The Study Of Psychology And Psychology - 984 Words

Firstly, it is important to know what is meant by the term â€Å"science†, and then to establish whether psychology adheres to this. The Oxford English Dictionary defines science as â€Å"the study or knowledge of the physical world, based on observation and experiment†. This immediately raises issues about this debate as many areas of psychological research do not involve the observable. For example, the areas of Clinical and Counselling psychology rely on a patient’s thoughts and feelings to help determine whether they suffer from a mental disorder. Owing to an advancement in technology, however, phenomena that was once labelled as unobservable can now be observed. One example of this includes emotions, including happiness, sadness, disgust, fear,†¦show more content†¦This, however, should not be taken at face value as these bodies would not want to portray themselves as being unscientific. Nevertheless, there is an overall positive effect of the psych ological bodies seeing themselves as scientific as empirical research will be promoted further, making psychology as a subject more scientific. Furthermore, psychology has become more scientific by the need to move away from pseudo-scientific perspectives. One such perspective, is Freud’s Psychodynamic approach. This focuses on the subconscious mind, and as this phenomena cannot be observed, it has been argued that the Psychodynamic perspective is unfalsifiable and untestable. Both of these elements are key parts of what makes a science. However, others have argued that the Psychodynamic perspective is testable, but that it has just failed those tests (Hansson, 2015). review The Behavioural perspective was the first to try and move psychology as a subject away from the unscientific by focusing on observable and measurable behaviour to gain empirical evidence. Moreover, since the 1970s, the Biological perspective has grown hugely with neuropsychology now being a dominant approach. This shows that psychology has made a move to become more scientific in its approaches and methods over time. review It has been argued that demarcation should be unchanging throughout time. Dolby stated that if

The Romantic Period Stressed Instincts, Affection, and Love

The Romantic period or Romanticism was a literary movement that had sprung in England in late 18th century. The rise of the movement was precipitated by the issuing of Lyrical Ballads by William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge .The movement came to cope up with the general tenors of the Industrial and Enlightenment age .It stressed on things like instincts, affection , love,the heart over the head .It came also to celebrate such things as mysticism and the natural world.Romanticism also highlighted feelings as fear, fright, terror, horror and wonderment. The movement had been established upon a motley of founding stones among them are Man’s uninon and harmony with the natural world, Man’s detachment from nature , human fallibility, human reconciliation with the divine and the belief in redemption and Man’s retrieval from sin through the contemplation of nature. Romantic thinkers believed in the possibility of social advancement not through judgemental orthodoxes pioneered by the Enlightenement thinking but through a restoration of union between Man and nature. (â€Å"Romanticism†) Babu78 in his presentation prepared to introduce The Romantic Period in England points out that not until the 19th century that the Romantic movement launched an avalanche of literary productions. The body of noteworthy British novels featuring Romantic ethos comprise the works of the Bronte sisters, namely Wuthering Heights(1847) , The Tenant of Wildfell Hall(1848) and Jane Eyre (1847) andShow MoreRelatedWilliam Wordsworth s Use Of Language, Imagery, Narration, Rhythm, Tone, And Points Of Style1505 Words   |  7 PagesWilliam Wordsworth’s use of language, imagery, narration, rhythm, tone, and points of style prove that he is a leader of the Romantic movement. His focus on a rustic life, children, and the maternal passion in the most simple to the most tragic settings enables him to show what it means to be a child in the radical Romantic period. To Wordsworth, â€Å"poetry is the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings; it takes origin from emotion recollected in tranqui lity† (111). Therefore, his purpose of poetryRead MorePsychology Theories Self Reflection2594 Words   |  11 Pagesunaware of having certain troubling motives, wishes or desires but they influence you negatively just the same). In general, psychodynamic theories suggest that a person must successfully resolve early developmental conflicts (e.g. gaining trust, affection, successful interpersonal relationships, mastering body functions, etc.) in order to overcome repression and achieve mental health. 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Jay Gatsby is the central character of The Great Gatsby and Dick Diver is the counterpart of Tender Is the Night and both these two men fall in love with the beautiful and wealthy girls of the upper class and they want to get these girls to enter into the upper class by their efforts. Although they devote their whole life to win the wealth and position, both of them fail totally at last. Why doRead MoreOrganisational Theory 230255 Words   |  922 Pagesfigures in organization theory. They provide an indication of the ways in which different theorists . xvi Preface developed their understanding of organization and social science theory as part of the background in which the different periods of organization theory developed. Concluding grid Most of the chapters conclude with a grid in which we return to the learning outcomes and then summarize the way in which these learning outcomes provide challenges to the organization in the twenty-firstRead MoreStephen P. Robbins Timothy A. Judge (2011) Organizational Behaviour 15th Edition New Jersey: Prentice Hall393164 Words   |  1573 PagesWorkers More Satisfying Jobs?) †¢ New Case Incident (Crafting a Better Job) †¢ Updated Case Incident (Long Hours, Hundreds of E-Mails, and No Sleep: Does This Sound Like a Satisfying Job?) Chapter 4: Emotions and Moods †¢ Entirely new Opening Vignette (Love at Work: Taboo No More?) †¢ New feature: glOBalization! †¢ New Myth or Science? (â€Å"We Are Better Judges of When Others Are Happy Than When They Are Sad†) †¢ Revised introduction to the topic †¢ Review of research on moods and employee attachment †¢ New section

Personal Narrative My Soul, Josh Fleisher - 1567 Words

My SOUL, Josh Fleisher, that i had last year did a nice job with me being an incoming student. I would like to be able to have the same opportunity as he did and make the transition from high school to college go much smoother than it would be at other schools. Im hoping to gain friendships with some of the incoming freshman, but also hope to gain work ethic and break out of my shell. I was quiet in high school and would like to branch out and help others that are transitioning and make it much easier on them. Also to meet other souls that may be connections and close friends that ill have for the rest of my life is truly remarkable to me. Im hoping to gain experience among working with others regarding performing scenes for the incoming students or just being able to talk with the incoming families about what Miami is like and how incredible it can be, purely on how you make it. In the summer of 2015, i worked at Evans Landscaping, a company based in Cincinnati. I had worked there for three years at this point and this was the first time that i was given my first company truck and workers. I was thrilled to be given a leadership position after the time i had spent working there. I was given a job that required removing a brick patio from a family s backyard. The problem was all of the water pipes that were laid out underneath the patio. If i broke a water pipe, or one of my workers, that would mean the company would have to pay for it and i most likely would be taken off

Sexuality and Gender free essay sample

Sexuality and gender are still extremely hot topics in America. Nobody but a man and a woman can get married in most of the states, and people protest gay marriage very strongly based on a number of different things like religion, morality, and a personal discrimination against homosexuality. In America and the West, nearly everybody believes that there are two genders: you are either a man (with biologically male reproductive organs) or a woman (with biologically female reproductive organs). Although some people do believe that someone can be born as the so-called â€Å"wrong gender† (meaning they feel like they were born with male reproductive organs but are actually a woman, or vice versa), this is not the mainstream opinion. The way that countries and people view gender and sexuality tells a lot about that culture, and it is often rooted very much in their history. Although in America people believe in the two-sex theory now, this was not always the case. Before Europeans ever came to America, the Native Americans lived here and they had some very fluid beliefs about gender. Their ideas were more complex than the simple distinction between male and female that we make today. When the Europeans began settling in America, they brought their one-sex theory along with them. Just like in so many other ways, the continent of North America has been a melting pot of ideas about gender and sexuality, but just as Europeans dominated the North American continent, their ideas about gender have become dominant in society. By comparing two competing arguments about human sex and gender, the one-sex model of the West and the three-sex model practiced by indigenous people, we can begin to understand the role that culture plays in ideas of sex and gender. Although it is no longer believed, the one-sex theory was a very influential set of beliefs with scientific background that has influenced current Western thought on gender. This theory essentially states that men and women have the same body. The male body is considered â€Å"normal† or the â€Å"dominant† body, and women’s bodies are simply the male body turned inside out. Additionally, body fluids were the same in both men and women. At the time, â€Å"medical experts thought these fluids could convert into one another and therefore what might look like distinct fluids in men and women were simply different forms of a single, endlessly protean substance† (Page 30). These fluids like semen and menstrual blood were interchangeable and although they presented differently in men and women, they were the same substance at their core. Men and women (and their related physical characteristics) were different because of temperature and humidity. Medical experts believed that men’s bodies were hot and dry, causing the sex organs to expand and develop externally. Women, on the other hand, were moist and cold, and their sex organs developed internally. Despite these differences, though, all bodies were human, with male and female characteristics, rather than being thought of as fundamentally different based on gender. Although the one-sex theory seems like a very strict and narrow definition, men and women were in danger of changing sex if they engaged in activities of the other gender and thus men became too cold or women became too hot. Since all people had the same basic body with different characteristics, gender could be changed if you took on the characteristics of the other gender and developed like them. This view was influenced by the belief in the hierarchy of God and humans. God was seen as the ultimate being at the top of the hierarchy, and people were of one body made in his image. Men were closer to God on the hierarchy and women were below them, even more imperfect. This view was informed by religion but also by their scientific understanding at the time. Even though it seems like it would be easy to explain a third gender (intersexed, or hermaphroditic) within one-sex theory (someone who is colder than a man but warmer than woman), intersexed people were generally just assigned either male or female gender. This was mainly because there were very clear social ranks for men and women, and intersexed people had to be assigned to one rank or the other. Three-sex models are much more common among indigenous people, including Native American tribes. The actual characteristics of the three-sex model can vary from culture to culture, but the general theory is this: individuals who did not clearly identify as male or female could be assigned their own third gender identity. These indigenous cultures often practiced rituals around adolescence that ushered children into their ultimate gender role. For those who identified as either male or female, that included traditional roles and rituals. Females were often isolated at the time of their first menstrual cycle, and they learned their tribe’s traditionally female duties from older women in their family. Males were often separated from their female relatives around adolescence and they learned traditionally male roles from their male elders. Teens who identified as intersex go through a different set of rituals exclusive to their gender identity. For example, in a Sambian tribe, male teens go through six stages of initiation into male adulthood and live exclusively with male relatives. Intersexed teens are allowed to remain at home with their mothers, and they go through an abbreviated version of three of the six initiation rituals. This third gender is accepted, rather than portrayed as unnatural or evil. What do these two competing theories tell us about our own cultural construction of two genders? We can make two conclusions from an examination of these theories. First, Westerners have always viewed indigenous beliefs as â€Å"uncivilized† or â€Å"barbaric†, so it is not surprising that this notion of a true intersexed person which was accepted in indigenous cultures has been condemned throughout Western history. Second, our current understanding of two sexes, male and female, as our gender model is rooted in the philosophical split of science and religion, and it has not changed much for several hundred years. I will look at Western attitudes toward indigenous beliefs and how this has helped hold discrimination against those who do not identify as male or female in place. I will then look at how our current two-sex model came to be and why it has not changed despite many advances in science. When Europeans colonized the Americas, they did not have any respect for indigenous people or their beliefs. There were generally two attitudes toward native people. Either they were seen as hopeless barbarians (and possibly a threat) who needed to be eliminated. Or they were seen as savages who needed to be reformed and brought to Christianity. With both attitudes, the native people were not allowed to keep their culture or their beliefs. There was a great amount of discrimination against these people and their ideas. Although many Americans today like to think that we live in a society that has moved past racism and discrimination, a majority of Americans still do not believe in anything other than strictly male and strictly female genders. This is shown in national opinions on gay marriage and on transsexuals. Although there have been gains in marriage equality in certain states, many Americans still believe that gay marriage is wrong and the only acceptable relationship is between a biological male and a biological female. Many people discriminate against transsexuals, which can be seen in the fact that a lot of the medical procedures they need are not covered by most health insurance plans, the fact that violence and murder crimes against transsexuals is nearly 100 times higher than for the average population, and the fact that people and the media almost always depict transsexuals as some sort of freak or abomination. They are either demonized or they are a punch line. We have not progressed to believe that more than two sexes are possible, but why did start believing in two sexes instead of one in the first place? As one author, Lacquer, argues, it is because â€Å"science and religion parted ways, with the natural and biological worlds becoming increasingly denuded of any extra factual significance† (Page 33). The hierarchy of God, then imperfect man, then more imperfect women, with all beings in likeness of each other, was no longer accepted because religion and science were becoming separate realms. The human body â€Å"was no longer an illustration of the cosmos†. Now the physical differences in gender were labeled separately. There were also political reasons for this change: around this time, feminists were beginning to demand a voice and more power. Although women initially approved of the distinction between men and women because science was no longer classifying them as an inferior man, ultimately this distinction lead to the idea that there are male roles (public, strong) and female roles (private, domestic). However, a combination of philosophical changes and political unrest led to the rise of the two-sex belief. Although many would classify the new two-sex model as more progressive and forward-thinking than the old one-sex model, I would argue that this is not exactly true. Scientifically, it is a more accurate model because it has been proven that there are important biological distinctions between men and women. However, the idea that this is a progressive way of thinking is not so accurate anymore. Yes, we progressed enough to understand that there are fundamental biological differences between men and women. This has no doubt helped us greatly in the field of medicine, especially reproductive health. However, medical science has shown since then that there are in fact people who do not identify as either gender, and they have their own health concerns. But we do not acknowledge them or their unique needs. They are in fact most times ridiculed in our society. We progressed up to a certain point in our understanding, and then we stopped. I believe that this is because Western culture was moving in such a way that the importance and all-knowing nature of religion was being questioned, while science was the new champion of the day. But just like scientists came up with eugenics and racial science to discriminate against people of different ethnicities, scientists also interpret their findings based on their preconceived ideas of gender. They interpret their findings into the model of the universe that they understand. Until society accepts the idea of alternative gender identities, we will be stuck with the two-sex model, which may have been progressive for its time, but now it is anything but.

Extraction of Caffeine from Tea Leaves Essay Example

Extraction of Caffeine from Tea Leaves Essay Extraction of Caffeine from Tealeaves Perez, Albert Solomon K. *; Quiambao, Marie Angela C;. Pascua, Hanna Harriette R. ; Patricio, Maria Roxanne DC. ; 2-Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, College of Science University of Santo Tomas Espana St. , 1015, Manila Abstract Caffeine is soluble in both water and organic solvents, solid-liquid extraction and liquid-liquid extraction were used in the experimentation process. Caffeine was extracted using hot water, however, due to its medium polarity; it was further separated from water soluble compounds using a polar non-protic solvent, dichloromethane (CH2Cl2). Sublimation was then used for the purification of the targeted compound. Based from the data collected, 5. 758g of tea leaves contains 3. 96% caffeine. After the purification process, 0. 2279g of caffeine was obtained from 0. 4948g crude extract with 46. 06% yield. Melting point determination was used to characterize the caffeine yielded. However, the melting point range of the caffeine collected (190Â °C -215 Â °C) was lower than the melting point of the accepted value (238 Â °C) which may be due to experimental errors committed in the extraction and washing process. Introduction Tea has been consumed as a beverage for almost 2,000 years starting in China. It is the most widely consumed beverage after water [1]. Their active participation in trade resulted in its introduction to Europe. The active component in tea is caffeine (C8H10N4O2). Caffeine belongs to an extensive class of compounds known as the alkaloids. Alkaloids are a diverse group of compounds that are found primarily in plants and contain basic nitrogen atom(s). The basic nature of these compounds makes them exists mostly as salts. We will write a custom essay sample on Extraction of Caffeine from Tea Leaves specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Extraction of Caffeine from Tea Leaves specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Extraction of Caffeine from Tea Leaves specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Many alkaloids have profound effects on the nervous system and acts as a mild stimulant examples are other well-known alkaloids such as morphine, strychnine, quinine, ephedrine, and nicotine. Aside from being a mild stimulant, caffeine is one of the most promising organic compounds in medicine, in a study by Miura, T. et al. , green tea extracts showed lowering in blood pressure of a mice with diabetes type 2 and thus a plausible treatment for diabetes[2]. However, caffeine may be associated with serious ventricular arrhythmias in susceptible people. Caffeine may increase beat-to-beat heart rate variability and also QT interval variability during rapid eye movement sleep[3]. Caffeine cannot be obtained directly; every pot of coffee or cup of tea involves solid/liquid extraction, the extraction of organic compounds from solid ground beans or leaves using hot water as the liquid. The lower molecular weight polar molecules such as caffeine dissolve in the hot water and are removed from the high molecular weight water-insoluble cellulose, protein, and lipid materials. Over 200compounds, some in only trace quantities are extracted from the solid into a cup of coffee or tea. Figure 1 shows the chemical structure of caffeine. [pic] Figure1. Caffeine While solid-liquid extraction is the most common technique used to brew beverages and isolate natural products, liquid/liquid extraction is a very common method used in the organic laboratory. Organic reactions often yield a number of by-products, some inorganic, some organic. Also, since they do not go to 100% completion, some starting material is also often present at the end of an organic reaction. Liquid-liquid extraction is often used as the initial step in the work-up of a reaction, before final purification of the product by recrystallization, distillation or sublimation. Varying extracts from various plants have been used as teas, potions, medicines and poisons. However, these extracts can contain a mixture of many different chemicals, often only one or few are responsible for the activity of the extract. The objective of this experiment is to isolate, purify and characterize caffeine from tea leaves. Moreover, to calculate the percent yield of caffeine. Results and Discussion Extraction of caffeine from tea leaves through solid-liquid extraction using water bath would cause the tea leaves to swell and release caffeine and other compounds such as tannins. To further separate caffeine from other soluble compounds, an organic solvent, Dichloromethane (CH2Cl2) was used. Dichloromethane (CH2Cl2) selectively extract caffeine from the tea extract by separating it from the other organic compounds and leaving them suspended in water. Table1. Relative Weights of Products Yield of Products | |Brand of tea leaves |Nature’s Pride | | | | |Extraction | |Weight of beaker |28. 6880g | |Weight of beaker |34. 4460g | |+ tea leaves | | |Weight of tea leaves |5. 58g | |Weight of evaporating dish |115. 7196g | |Weight of evaporating dish |116. 2144g | |+ crude caffeine | | |Weight of crude caffeine |0. 4948g | | | | |Purification | |Weight of empty vial |32. 2127g | |Weight of empty vial |32. 406g | |+ caffeine crystal | | |Weight of caffeine c rystal |0. 2279 | Extraction uses the solubility differences of these molecules to selectively draw the product into the organic layer. Liquid-liquid extractions using 20mL dichloromethane was done three times to ensure the highest percentage of caffeine separation. All portions of dichloromethane was mixed and was washed with 20mL 6M NaOH in the separatory funnel, to remove acidic content from the solution that may have remained after the extraction with dichloromethane. The ‘washed’ dichloromethane solution was filtered through a filter paper containing anhydrous Na2SO4 to further dehydrate the solution, hydrating the Na2SO4 into its hydrated form Na2SO4Â ·H2O. Table 1 shows the different weights of the sample obtained through extraction and purification before its characterization. Crude caffeine, about 0. 4948g was obtained through recrystallization, and was purified. Purification was facilitated by sublimation with an air bath to gather the pure crystalline caffeine. The crystalline caffeine was found to be 0. 276g in weight. The percent recovery and percent caffeine can now be computed through: % recovery = [pic] % caffeine = [pic] % recovery = [pic]% caffeine = [pic] % recovery =46. 06%% caffeine = 3. 96% To characterize the sample, determination of the melting point was used. Table 2 summarizes the results of melting point determination of the sample and standard caffeine subjected to an oil bath consisting of cooking oil at 150 degrees celsius. Table2. Melting Point Determination |Melting Points (? C) | |Sample caffeine |Standard caffeine | | | | |T1 | |190 degrees |225 degrees | | | | |T2 | |215 degrees |228 degrees | | | | |190-215 degrees |225-228 degrees | The accepted value for the melting point of caffeine is 238? C [4]. The experimentally determined temperature for the sample caffeine was very low in comparison to the standard and the accepted value. The standard caffeine had close values and a smaller melting point range. Errors could lie in between the melting process, as the standard underwent some thermal decomposition evident in the slight change in the color of the sample while melting. The temperature obtained explicitly shows the presence of impurities on the sample caffeine, as the presence of non-volatile solutes owers the temperature and increases the melting point range of a sample. Imprecise reading and observations could have been one of the reasons for the slightly lower melting point temperature readings for the standard caffeine. Experimental For the extraction of caffeine, commercialized tea bags (3) were used as a source of tea leaves. Tea leaves were removed from the bags and were weighed. After weighing the tealeaves, solid-liquid extraction was done using 100-mL water and was allowed to boil for 5 minutes. The sides of the flask were then cooled in a running tap water for 2 minutes. An ice cube was mixed in the tea extract to facilitate cooling to room temperature. The tea extract was transferred in a separatory funnel containing 20-mL of dichloromethane to facilitate liquid-liquid extraction of caffeine. The CH2Cl2 was found to be in the lower layer and was drained into a clean flask. The remaining solution in the separatory funnel was again treated with 20-mL CH2Cl2 twice to further extract the remaining caffeine. All CH2Cl2 fractions were combined. All of the CH2Cl2 was returned to the separatory funnel and that was washed with 20-mL 6M NaOH solution. After washing, The CH2Cl2 layer was drained into a flask through a funnel with a fluted filter paper containing half spatula of anhydrous sodium sulphate to remove the remaining water content. The CH2Cl2 was subjected in a water bath to further concentrate the extract. The crude caffeine was weighed and the numerical value was recorded. For the purification process, the crude caffeine was transferred into a filter tube with a fitted inner test tube which served as the ‘cold finger’ and was placed in a hot air bath. The crude caffeine was allowed to sublime to gather crystalline caffeine at the bottom of cold finger tube. The cold finger was constantly refilled with ice water to facilitate sublimation. The crystalline caffeine was scraped off the cold finger tube and was placed into a vial. For the characterization of crystalline caffeine, the caffeine crystals were grinded into a very fine powder. A micro capillary tube was sealed at one end which acted as a micro test tube. The open end of the micro test tube was dipped into the vial containing pulverized caffeine crystal and was dropped inside a long glass tube until the sample reached a height of 0. 5-1cm. The same procedure was done on the standard caffeine sample. For the melting point determination, the two samples were secured in both sides of a thermometer. The thermometer was dipped into a beaker containing cooking oil heated at 150 degrees (oil bath). The temperature range between the first appearance of liquid within the sample until the disappearance of the last traces of solid was recorded. Conclusion The extraction of caffeine is a critical experiment, as it uses different chemistry principles such as solubility rules and a substance’s physical properties. The percent yield of 3. 96% is a reasonable finding since green teas are found to contain only 3-5% of its dry weight. Impurities which caused the melting point lowering of the sample could have resulted from experimental errors and could have occurred during the extraction and washing processes. In addition to experimental errors, the presence of soluble tannins in tea leaves complicates the isolation of caffeine, this could have been fixed in the solid-liquid extraction state through the addition of CaCO3 to separate tannins and keep them suspended in the water. References [1]Alan M Iris M (2004). The Empire of Tea. The overlook press. ISBN 1 – 58567 – 493- 1, p. 32. [2] Miura, T. , Koike, T. , Ishida, T. (2005). Antidiabetic activity of green tea (Theasinensis L. ) in genetically type 2 diabetic mice. Journal of Health Science, 51(6), 708-710. [3]Yeragani, V. K. , et al. (2009). Caffeine and Cardiovascular Health:What Do We Know? Caffeine and Health Research. New York, NY: Nova Science. [4]Lide, D. , ed. (2007) CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics,Internet Version 2007, (87th Edition), , Taylor and Francis, BocaRaton, FL: CRC press LLC. [5]Spiller, G. (1998). Caffeine. Boca Raton. FL: CRC press LLC.

Implementation Plan for Friar Tucker Galleria Project

Implementation Plan for Friar Tucker Galleria Project Free Online Research Papers To survive in this highly competitive business market, companies have to be alert, constantly on watch and come up with new business plans. Development of a project implementation plan is crucial to the success of any business venture and Friar Tucker International (FTI) is no exception. Companies not only have to be selective in the projects they acquire but they have to ensure the projects are in line with the strategic plans of the company. Since no strategy is perfect and without risk, companies need to be aware of risks and constantly on watch. The ability to manage risks allows companies to remain competitive, retain and acquire new customers. Outlining the requirements prior to starting a project can eliminate confusion. Ensuring that time, resources, and issues are all taken into account, planned for, and addressed is a significant part of making sure that the project will meet the measurement of success. Friar Tucker International (FTI) is a growing company in the hospitality business whose core business revolves around fine cuisine and entertainment. Over the years Friar Tucker has entered into agreements to manage several fine food restaurants, sports bars, hotel chains and other family and corporate entertainment establishments. As the business has increased the number of projects that have come to the doors of Friar Tucker has increased significantly. Therefore, the company needed to have a strategy in order to decide which projects the company should accept and which one’s the company should let go. In order to achieve that the Chief Executive Officer of Friar Tucker, Ricardo Bellini formed a Project Selection Committee consisting of several upper management members and a consultant. These members were assigned to research all the potential projects and align them with overall strategy and experiences of Friar Tucker. This paper covers Friar Tucker’s current organizational strategy, the unique implementation plan developed for completing the Galleria project, the implementation planning process at FTI, and conclusion. Friar Tucker’s Strategy FTI is hospitality services chain with1200 employees, who live the vision of being among the top 10 providers in their industry by offering innovative marketing and superior service levels (Anonymous, 2008). FTI also has a secondary vision to attract more visitors and customers through their food and entertainment establishments and to ensure an enjoyable family experience. FTI wants to establish their presence in the entertainment hospitality segment, consolidate their presence in the cuisine business by expanding into specialty cuisine establishments, and to expand into the corporate entertainment segment. The Galleria project fits into these key focus areas while strengthening the corporate primary and secondary visions. Although not ideal, Friar Tucker will have to outsource most of the operations to a construction vendor on its Galleria project since FTI does not currently possess the experience needed to handle such projects. Further, this new project will enhance the brand image of FTI. The Galleria project will enable FTI to drive growth and thus coincide with its vision of becoming a top 10 hospitality services provider. What makes this project even more lucrative and attractive at this time is that it will produce multiple revenue streams because of the diverse scope of the project. No strategy is perfect and without risk. However, with Friar Tucker being in the hospitality industry without any major competitors, the risk of building Galleria with Atoll Solutions is minor. In order to minimize risk, Atoll Solutions has created an implementation plan and presented the plan to Fr iar Tucker. The Galleria project strategically aligns itself with the core values, visions and focus areas that FTI has developed. The Galleria is a proposed entertainment center that houses a multiple screen theater, indoor gaming, restaurant, two bistro cafà ©s and a shopping mall that offers several thousand square feet of retail space. This enterprise is expected to attract a variety of customers considering it is designed to be a complete entertainment center. Since the Galleria is a new project, it is expected to build new core competencies that will allow FTI to achieve their vision of becoming one of the top ten hospitality providers in the industry. The Galleria will also establish a presence into the corporate entertainment segment and strengthen their presence in the entertainment segment (Anonymous, 2008). Friar Tucker also hopes to strengthen their brand image through the projects they implement. The Galleria project has the potential to impact the vision and objectives of Friar Tucker International. Each person associated with the implementation of this project must successfully complete their tasks on time to avoid delays or failure of the project. The project team also needs to identify any shortfalls, risk factors and consequences associated with the Galleria project. Based on the selection process, Friar Tucker International made a decision to invest in the Galleria project to gain entry into the entertainment and hospitality market where it considered it to be the next strategic stronghold for the company. The Galleria project demonstrated a more favorable outcome. Unique Implementation Plan for Completing the Galleria Project The thoughts and ideas for the Galleria Project are humongous, and if accomplished successfully will put Friar Tucker International at the forefront of the hospitality service industry (Anonymous, 2008). There are many deliverables planned for Project Galleria, as well as timelines and those ultimately responsible for the deliverable. The implementation plan for the Galleria project will begin with selection of the specific design and construction process for the facility. Together with Friar Tucker’s Project Selection Committee, Atoll Solutions’ design team will create a concept that suits the diverse needs of a hospitality services provider while attempting to appeal to a broad customer base. The project team, at this point, becomes accountable for the successful completion of the Galleria project. The first order of business for the project team is to develop an estimate for the project time and cost. The project team must understand the importance of the project ti me and cost estimate. â€Å"Cost, time, and budget estimates are the lifeline for control; they serve as the standard for comparison of actual and plan throughout the life of the project† (Gray Larson, 2006). Atoll Solutions has presented an impeccable implementation plan. The plan includes an entertainment hub, indoor gaming facilities, a restaurant, cafes and a shopping mall called the Galleria to be completed within one year of the projects start date. The actual building will be created within one year as well as the amenities. Atoll Solutions will present Friar Tucker with several different designs for Galleria. The Galleria Project is a new opportunity for Friar Tucker International to expand in new area, strengthen their presence in the market and attract new kind of customers. The rationale should extend beyond meeting any requirements; rather, the motivation should come from an intimate awareness of the near- and long-term outcomes derived by the project. The uniqueness of this plan will require an implementation of a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) which will define all the elements of the project in a hierarchical framework and establishes their relationships to the project en d item (Gray Larson, 2006, P. 106). This will also define the communication channels and assist in understanding and coordinating many parts of the project (Gray Larson, 2006, P. 107). On the other hand as a company, Friar Tucker International needs to take into consideration the types of project constrains such as technical, physical and resources constrain that will affect the project (Gray Larson, 2006, P.242). This will simultaneously run side by side with the implementation of the WBS, and paint a perfect picture of how the project will run and be monitored. After the design has been finalized, Alan Tanaka, FTI Business Development Manager, and the Atoll Solutions Project Supervisor will work together to construct a project network and a time-phased budget. The project network and a time-phased budget are needed to control schedule and costs as the project is being implemented (Gray Lawson, 2006). Together they must take into account necessary actions, tasks, financial issues and success factors when developing the implementation plan. The planning horizon and project duration play a major factor estimate due to the uncertainty of future events. â€Å"The people factor can also introduce errors in estimating times and cost. For example, accuracy of estimates depends on the skills of the people making the estimates† (GrayLarson, 2006). Gray and Larson (2005) states that â€Å"Project estimating is a complex process†. The quality of time and cost estimates can be improved when these variables are considered in making the estimates and that managers recognize time, cost, and resource estimates must be accurate if project planning, scheduling, and controlling are to be effective.† FTI’s project team must decide which estimating method will best provide an accurate time and cost forecast for the Galleria project. Breaking down the budget into time-phases and further breaking down the time-phased budget into specific costs, allow FTI’s project manager to effectively control the costs associated with the project. Managing the costs of the project and delivering the project on time are two of the CEO’s highest measurable for project success. The project team must have an accurate project budget developed before moving onto resource scheduling. These â€Å"pre-implementation† processes are a necessity before beginning the actual work on the project. These processes will allow the Galleria project team to map a guide that will lead them into the implementation process and to the eventual conclusion of a successful project. Implementation Planning Process The critical success values include keeping the investment under the allotted budget, breaking even at the earliest, multiple revenue streams, develops new competencies, strengthens the corporate brand image and attracting new customers. These values have been determined to instrumental in the success of a project. Project selection is just part of the process that FTI has developed to strengthen their project management system. Vendor selection has also become a structured process to ensure the right vendor is chosen for the project. Ricardo has changed the seemingly random nature that projects had previously been selected by establishing a Project Selection Committee (PSC), (Anonymous, 2008). Their purpose is to identify the type of projects the company should consider. Additionally, they will play a pivotal role in the implementation plan of the Galleria project. Timely completion is important because the sooner the project is finished, the sooner it can begin generating revenue. Subcontracting will form a significant portion of the cost for the total project so the Project Selection Committee has weighed several factors that have led them to choose Atoll Solutions as its contractor. FTI has not worked with Atoll Solutions on projects in the past but they do have a good reputation, their costs are reasonable, and they are known for quick turnaround times all which should serve to mitigate Friar Tucker’s risk in the project and has led to their selection. The Friar Tucker International-Atoll Solutions partnership should prove to if adheres to the implementation plan that has been established through budget and time controls and risk mitigation. The CEO developed a vendor selection matrix that provides the project selection committee with a valuable resource to select the vendor that will provide the best service to the project. The values include meeting the proposed time line, coming in at or under cost, experience, financial stability, process maturity, quality of resources and their track record with FTI. The higher the score that the vendor receives, the more likely the vendor is to provide services that are in alignment with the scope and values of the project. Implementation planning ensures that the detailed planning, resources, and performance expectations are aligned to support the achievement of the company. The building of Galleria involves more than just drafts and designs. A planning process must exist and all involved in the process must understand their role. Each responsible party must know when and what action to take when necessary, which is why Atoll Solutions picked a unique implementation team. The ch osen team is dedicated only to work with Friar Tucker and ensuring quality and customer satisfaction. If Friar Tucker is not pleased with one activity, the team is responsible for correcting the activity and making sure Friar Tucker is pleased with the results. Atoll Solutions has agreed not to make any major decisions without speaking to Friar Tucker. Even though Friar Tucker has a contingency fund in place, the ideal project would not touch the contingency fund. Atoll Solutions do not want to make any waves. Atoll has issued a sample implementation plan to Friar Tucker when the company asked for bids. The implementation plan identified those responsible for doing the assigned activity, estimated costs, and issues relating to permits. Atoll used a unique strategy by researching companies Friar Tucker have used in the past. The company was looking for any risks or issues Friar Tucker experienced with other contractors. After gathering the list, Atoll decided to present Friar Tucker with a solution. Conclusion FTI is poised to enhance its position in the hospitality services industry with its Galleria project which has a proposed commitment completion date of 12 months at a cost of $1.85 million. With a mission â€Å"to attract more visitors and customers through food and entertainment industries, and provide a great family experience† (Anonymous, 2008) the project also promises to boost Friar Tucker into the top 10 hospitality services providers within just a few short years. Moreover, this project is aligned with the organization’s overall strategy because it maps well with FTI’s focus on the entertainment hospitality segment and makes the logical choice of projects to pursue at this time. The dynamic hospitality services environment creates many unique challenges for many companies just as it does for Friar Tucker. There are a number of factors that can vary widely including managed work environments, employee knowledge and skills, customer expectations, technology, business standards, and competition. The key factors to implementing a successful project plan is to plan early, re-evaluate often, and to keep the lines of communication open among company leadership, project vendors and suppliers, and project workers. A detailed implementation plan will emphasize the need for control, involvement of people, research, constant reporting, occasion auditing, and will be supported throughout by management until it is implemented satisfactorily. Friar Tucker has been successful implementing project in the past. The CEO has decided that in order to continue the growth of FTI, the projects Friar Tucker decides to pursue must completely align with the strategic objectives of the company. This led to the creation of a project selection committee and the development of the project and vendor selection matrices. In conclusion, Friar Tucker International will implement and construct the Galleria Project successfully using the tools available to them. This will make them strategizing for success and planning a series of tactical moves to direct the company to their ultimate goal. The attention given to a project network, implementing the WBS and the components of a risk management process, will increasingly be fundamental and help Friar Tucker International to manage the risk and control the project which will result in a successful implementation and greater outcomes. Friar Trucker needs to concentrate on delivery of their business strategy, â€Å"How do you close the gap between business strategy and results? It’s about delivery, and the assurance that you can deliver† (Project Management Institute, 2004 p. 391). The ability of any organization to survive and evolve rests in its ability to adapt, change and deliver what the customer wants or needs ‘Now’. â€Å"In the modern evolving organization, project managers will be focused on business aspects, and their role will expand from getting the job done to achieving the business results and winning in the market place† (Gray Larson, 2006, p. 22). A key activity is ensuring that the portfolio strategy is always aligned with corporate and business strategy, â€Å"Corporate Strategy is created as means of considering and articulating how an organization’s corporate goals and objectives will be pursued and achieved† (Morris Jamieson, 2004, p. 1). References Anonymous. (2008). Selecting and Initiating Projects Simulation. Retrieved February 26, 2008, from http://ecampus.phoenix.edu.secure/resource/resource.asp. Gray, C., Larson, E. (2006). Project Management: The Managerial Process. The McGraw-Hill Companies. Retrieved February 26, 2008, from University of Phoenix, eBook Collection Morris, P., Jamieson, A. (2004). Translating Corporate Strategy Into Project Strategy. Newtown Square, Pennsylvania: Project Managment Institute, Inc. Project Management Institute (2004). A guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (3rd ed.). Newtown Square, Pennsylvania: Project Management Institute, Inc. Table 1 Optimal Solution Implementation Plan Action Item Deliverable Timeline Who is Responsible Develop specific design and construction process 15 days PSC Committee Select major project oversight manager/contractor administrator 15 days Ricardo Bellini, CEO Project network/time-phased budget 30 days Tanaka/AS Project Supervisor Review and approval of project deliverables and costs 40 days PSC Committee Implement project management plan 60 days AS Contractor Team assigned to Galleria Project Monthly progress reports to Project Selection Committee First week of every month AS Project Supervisor Project turnover/acceptance 1 year Ricardo Bellini, Dennis McGee, Alan Tanaka Research Papers on Implementation Plan for Friar Tucker Galleria ProjectThe Project Managment Office SystemAnalysis of Ebay Expanding into AsiaMarketing of Lifeboy Soap A Unilever ProductOpen Architechture a white paperIncorporating Risk and Uncertainty Factor in CapitalPETSTEL analysis of IndiaResearch Process Part OneRiordan Manufacturing Production PlanMoral and Ethical Issues in Hiring New EmployeesInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married Males

HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE A PROBLEM BY MOUSTAFA BAYOUMI Essay

HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE A PROBLEM BY MOUSTAFA BAYOUMI - Essay Example 9/11 is an incident the changed not only the course of history but uncountable lives. It gave the world a reason and a new direction to be vigilant. But most of all, 9/11 also became a crusade, a holy war, a war to purge the world of the evil that changed the way Americans looked at things. Everything has been tinged in the shade of suspicion since them. The world has been torn asunder in two, Us or Them which can be taken as a euphemism for the World or the USA. The US war on terror that started out as the war against those who caused the country the mighty suffering of 9/11 has been spilled from the battlefields and war zones into the houses of ordinary people. It has been seeped into the lives of ordinary people, people who had nothing to do with the atrocities committed on the fateful day of 9/11. aside from taking the war on terror to the arid lands of Tora Bora and or the fertile banks of Tigris and Euphrates, United States have initiated a war on its on ground and in the heart of one of the greatest cities in the world; Brooklyn, New York. Moustafa Bayoumi's How Does It Feel To Be A Problem, is an endeavor to delve deep into a war United State has waged against some of its own citizens and how the mounting paranoia at Pentagon has shattered the lives of some of the innocent bystanders that got caught in the crossfire. Bayoumi has utilized copious amounts of ethnographic data using the lives of some of the collateral damage the war on terror has caused. Using the first hand account of the lives of seven young Arab-Americans, Bayoumi explores the dark crevices of this new war, whose victims are indicted and trialed only because of their ethnicity and religion, hence coining the new term Islamophobia. Using a very simple and heartwarming dialect, Bayoumi tells us of the struggles these seven innocent people whose crime was to be from the same creed and ethnicity that was at war with the United States. Their lives are the testament of this new breed of hate crimes and racial segregation that has swept not only all across America but also has taken the whole world into its ugly clutches. After painstakingly interviewing and observation, Bayoumi draws a very intimate narrative of the lives of seven young Arab-Americans who may have Arab blood in their veins but are American by all aspects and narrates of how their worlds turned upside down after 9/11 when their ethnicity became the reason for them being ostracized and profiled not only by the populace but the state itself. How Does It Feel To Be A Problem, tells of the paranoia that gripped United States after 9/11 and the how it gave birth to a new breed of racial profiling and hate crimes, where everything that has anything to do with the East has been eyed with fear and suspicion. How Does It Feel To Be A Problem, introduce us to Rasha, Sami, Lina, Akram, Yasmin, Omar, and Rami, all young, all American-Arabs who either spent their entire lives in United States or moved here for the prospect of a better future. All of them belongs to Brooklyn, NYC, home to the largest number of Arab Americans in the United States and also termed as "Mecca of Arab America" (Brooklyn