Monday, January 27, 2020
Impacts of Ecotourism: Singapore Case Study
Impacts of Ecotourism: Singapore Case Study A Case study of: Pulau Ubin Island, Singapore Introduction Background Many developing countries frequently use ecotourism as an excellent tool for promoting sustainable development. In many instance, ecotourism is suitable way to protect natural environment and create socio and economic benefit for the local community. What David Weaver says that interest in ecotourism is rationalized among tourism planners and marketers by number of potential assumption regarding sectors environmental, economic and socio cultural benefits (Weaver 1999). There are some ecotourism projects that support to the local community. On the other hand, many ecotourism projects have failed to address some fundamental issues and dont generate the very benefits that are expected to provide by ecotourism. Economic gain of ecotourism may turn into social and environmental damages when inadequately planned and implemented it. Anyhow, ecotourism has continued to gain popularity over the two decades and has developed into worldwide phenomena that show no signs of slowing down. The fact is that ecotourism is one of the rapid growing sectors in the tourism industry (Sharpley 2003). The demand for ecotourism is increasing at an annual rate of 10 to 30 percent (TIES 2000). In this circumstance, it is important to recognize possible physical environment, socio-cultural and economic impacts and its effectiveness as a strategy for sustainable development. Problem statement There are lot of negative impact on the environment and local community due to unsustainable planning and management of ecotourism (Honey 1999). In rural areas, managing and controlling the development of ecotourism may be somewhat complex because of lack of experiences on the subject of the carrying capacity of the host destination. Therefore, it is necessary to have an assessment of potential physical environmental, socio-cultural, and economic impact of ecotourism for the planning of sustainable ecotourism development in an area. Further Analyzing the potential of ecotourism as a strategy for sustainable development of a particular area is important to carry on development activities in future. In that way, Pulau Ubin doesnt experience rapid urbanization like other parts of Singapore. Still it has its own nature and unspoiled environment. But, Singapore government implements several ecotourism development projects on this small island right now. Those projects are so much problema tic and controversial. There are strong voices regarding environmental protection of the Island. Thus, indentifying potential impacts of ecotourism and its compatibility for sustainable development must be studied in Pulau Ubin Island Singapore. Justification of the study According to available literature, ecotourism is growing rapidly in Singapore (Herbig). At the same time, one of the problems regarding ecotourism is that it is developed without satisfying knowledge of the impacts on local environments. It is a rather new type of tourism and yet there are few clear papers written in this field particularly about Pulau Ubin. Therefore, it is better studying about potential physical environmental, economic and socio-cultural impact of ecotourism and its compatibility for sustainable development in Pulau Ubin Island Singapore. Therefore this research attempts to fulfill these objectives as much as possible. Objectives of the research and research question Objectives of this research are To assess possible physical environmental, economic and socio-cultural impacts of ecotourism To investigate the potential of ecotourism as a strategy for local sustainable development. The following research question will be used to address the purposes of the research What kind of impacts are on the physical environment, economic and socio-cultural due to development of ecotourism? What sort of factors should be taken into account before introducing ecotourism in the Pulau Ubin Island? How ecotourism can be utilized as a tool for local sustainable development Study Area Pulau ubin is the second the largest, first one is Pulau Tekong, offshore island of Singapore. It is located in the strait of johor just opposite to Changi. Pulau Ubin has been described as being boomerang shaped. Pulau Ubin is about 8 Km length and 1.3 to 1.7 Km breadth with the area of 10.3 Km2. It is almost flat land. The highest point is Puaka hill. It is around 74m height from sea level. Pulau Sekudu or Frog Island (opposite Chek Jawa), and Pulau Ketam (opposite Ubin Lagoon Resort) are the two major offshore islets which are very near to the Pulau Ubin. There are several rivers which are meandering through Pulau Ubin in which Sungei Besar and Sungei Mamam are the main rivers. Pulau Ubin is made up mostly of granite. This controls the much of the activities of the island. Especially the name Pulau Ubin arises from this crucial geological structure. Pulau Ubin doesnt experience rapid urbanization and industrialization like main land of Singapore. Still it has its own traditional w ay of living. Most of the people inhabit with the scattered settlement model. Major portion of the population around two third is Chinese and rest is Indians and malays. Major activities of income are subsistence farming, commercial fishing and net-cage fisheries, prawn farming, coconut plantations and so on. This small island is very popular for leisure and recreation activities among local and international tourist. (http://www.wildsingapore.com/ubin/places/geography.htm). Figure 01 Map of the Study Area Methodology Research design Research design helps researcher to decide research approach. That is to say, either qualitative or quantitative or the combination of both. Further, research design put a basic for analyzing the collected data. This will lead the researcher to think of time availability, practical problems and so on (Kitchin and Tate 2000). There are no specific rules and regulations as to how to develop research design. When Kitchin and Tate (2000) point out regarding research design, it is very difficult to give a guideline as to how to design a research. Most of the time, research design is the outcome of the knowledge and imagination of the researcher (Kitchin and Tate 2000). This means, research design comes from researchers own view and judgment. Selection of the research methods will vary according to the nature of the research. Besides, a research method depends on the research problem, research question and experiences of researcher. Accordingly, I adopt qualitative methods in this research to perform well. A literature review will be done to get more information regarding this study. In fact, Secondary data will be used as a supportive data to the primary data. In this research, qualitative methods will be used as key method to get information since this is going to deal with environmental, Economic and socio cultural impact of the ecotourism. Most part of the research may deal with community based activities. Justification of the methodology The qualitative method that I choose in my research is based on the nature of the study. This research partially deals with social aspect. Therefore, qualitative method is considered more suitable to assess possible physical environmental, economic and socio-cultural impacts of ecotourism. Crang (2002) points out that ââ¬Å"Qualitative approaches have enabled the study of, and emphasized the importance of, seeing economic activity as a set of lived practices, assumptions and codes of behaviorâ⬠. Further, Qualitative method is used to understand the lived experience and to reflect on it and sharing the meaning of everyday social world and realities (Limb and Dwyer 2001). In addition, qualitative method is used to collect about the activities, behavior and problems that the people face in their daily context. Further, qualitative methodology is considered as good to study about the diverse view of the stakeholders in the ecotourism since it involves with many different stakeholde rs interest. When we are more stick on the multiple meaning, representation then qualitative methodology is useful one (Limb and Dwyer 2001). Further, qualitative methods will help me to make sure the date that I am going to obtain from different interview in the field. In fact, qualitative methods have its unique features as I mentioned above. But there are certain limitations in the qualitative methods. For instance, sometimes it may be bias. That is to say, there is possibility to have researchers influence in the finding of the research. When many researchers use qualitative methods in their research, theme may be same, but interpretation of the same theme will be in different point of view according to researchers background. When Kvale (1996) points out regarding researchers bias, he says that, there is lack of objectivity in the qualitative research. Objectivity means here is freedom from being bias. There is another critique about qualitative methods that, information for the research use to collect from very small amount of respondents. Therefore it will not represent whole population or the society. Data Types, Sources and Collection This research will be contained both primary and secondary data. Most of the researches and other articles which are related to the study will be reviewed as secondary data. For instance, previous research about the Pulau Ubin Island. Basically, both primary and secondary data will be used to prove the objective of the research. Secondary data will be functioned as more supportive data to the primary data. Methodology of research Methodologically, this study will be carried out in three phases. Phase I concerns the literature reviews. This will be accomplished through searching literature on tourism and ecotourism to discover the possible impacts of ecotourism on visited destinations. The literature review covers books, articles, and website data which will be systematically assessed to identify the three major areas of economic, socio-cultural, and physical environmental impacts on eco-tourist destinations and ecotourism as a strategy for local sustainable development. Primary factors of above mentioned areas will be identified that influence of ecotourism developments and their impacts on the local levels. Phase II applies the factors elaborated upon in Phase I to assess the Pulau Ubin Island. This will be done by using the data that I am going to collect in Pulau Ubin Island during the summer of 2008. The data collection will include observations, interviews with elected officials and some governmental and private business entities, tourists (if possible both international and national tourist) and some secondary data sources. Phase III these data will be assessed according to the identified factors for two purposes: first, to assess possible physical environment, Economic and Socio-cultural impacts of ecotourism in Pulau Ubin Island; second, to look into the potential of ecotourism as a strategy for local sustainable development. Sample selection Respondents will be selected by using snowball sampling methods to address the research question and objective of the study. Snowball sampling methods will help the researcher understanding of the problem and research question. For example, key informants will be selected based on their professional status to get more and more relevant information. Tourists will be selected randomly including local tourist. This will diminish some kind of inconveniences to the researcher. Primary data will be collected through around 30 semi-structured interviews that will conduct with 30 people from June 15th to August 15th 2008. These interviews include: 14 villagers, 3 owners of restaurant, 2 employees of the restaurant, 4 employees from companies that are working in the study area, a person from central environmental authority of Singapore, a person from Ministry of Environment of Singapore and 5 tourists (both international and local). Therefore a total of 30 interviews will be conducted and analyzed as part of this research. Semi-structured Key informant and individual interviews In this research, primary and data will be gathered by using semi structure interview and direct observation. Semi structured interviews will be used to collect data from both individual and key informants. Semi structured interviews acts as an effective tool for collecting basic information stakeholders regarding ecotourism. ââ¬Å"Qualitative methods are methodologically appealing because they allow a wide range of experiences to be documented, voices to be heard, representations to be made and interpretations to be extracted. Open ended qualitative interviews are, after all, the obvious way of allowing people to speak for themselves about their own view and experiences of the worldâ⬠(Limb and Dwyer 2001). When we have interviews it generates lots of information very quickly. So it helps researchers to handle lot of topics of the research at a time. Sometimes, qualitative interview helps us to clarify the problems raised by the interviewer. Always interviews are really good f or studying peoples understanding of meaning, describing their experiences, clarifying their own perspective on their day to day live (Kvale 1996). There are certain critiques on the in-depth and semi structured interviews. That is to say, in-depth and semi structured interviews are very much dependent on the skill of the interviewer. This means, amount of the expected data is based on the expression of the interviewer and how interviewer interacts with informant. In many instance, interview may divert into another direction due to the skill of argument or interest of the informant and sometime there is chance to mislead the interviewer by the key informant (Mikkelsen 2005). This is also one of the disadvantages of having interviews. In the in-depth interviews, it is very difficult to keep important question from omitting that can address our research objectives. Always researcher has to be very careful on the topic and related question when he conducts interviews. Good interviews require expertise in both subject matter and interaction (Kvale 1996). In addition, flexibility of researcher in sequences and words of the interview may affect the result of the informant namely there may be different answers from the different perspective (Mikkelsen 2005). All interviews in this research will be carried out with take into account all of these strength and weakness of the interview. Interview guides are formulated to conduct these interviews (see appendix 01). Participant Observation Other than interviews, participant observation will also be engaged. Participant observation activities contain living with a family in the community, working with them and spending time to understand their activities, behaviors and so on (Laurier 2003). In that way there are possibilities to attain in tourism activities, and meetings of local residents in Puau Ubin Singapore. Participant observation will be used to harmonize and support the interview process in three ways; first, it yields insights that assist in the formulation of questions for interviews. Second, it makes easy relationships with local residents. Finally, participant observation offers the opportunity to confirm or question the information gained through interviews. When Smith (2001) points out ââ¬Å"there are lots of thing that can only be obtained through participant observationâ⬠. Participant observation and interviews are not separate activities, but mutually informative methods. When Kitchin and Tate (20 00) point out that direct observation is an inductive method to obtain fruitful information. It is important to note, however, that in this research the interviews are the primary source of data, while participant observation plays a supporting role. Data analysis Data of this research will be analyzed according to the theoretical frame work and objective and research questions of this research. The collected data in this study will also be analyzed according to the theoretical framework of the research. The collected date from interviews will be transcribed and coded into theme in relation to the concept, theory and interviewees response and researchers observations. In addition, secondary data will be analyzed by using text analysis. Use of the secondary date will help us to get more understanding of ground situation of the field. Validity and reliability In qualitative research, validity and reliability are two most important factors that should be taken into account when designing, analyzing and evaluating quality of the research. Conclusion of the qualitative research should be very strong and natural to accept it without further doubt or confusion (Kitchin and Tate 2000). There should not be bias in order to get validity and reliability in qualitative research. Validity in qualitative research is a tool to make sure the logical order, foundation, and soundness of the research (Kitchin and Tate 2000). Validity depends on the nature of the theme that we investigated in the field (Kvale 1996). Normally, validity in qualitative research means that true and certain of findings. It can be motioned in anther way that validity measures the truthful of how far reached its intended objectives. Researcher uses series of question to maximize the validity of the research. Each question should be justified in relation to the objectives and rese arch questions of the research to establish validity. Most of the time, validity interlink with empirical knowledge of the subject and area of the research. Reliability is some sort of trustworthiness of the research and findings. Validity and reliability are the two side of a coin because there is no reliability without validity. Presentation of validity will be good enough to reliability later. Patton (2002) says that ability and skill of the researcher in a qualitative research will have major influence on the validity and reliability. In addition reliability will depend on the respondents answer. Form instance, some informant will be reluctant to answer for some sort of question and sometimes they give sort of wrong or biased information. Therefore this will reduce the level of reliability of the study. I have planned to use a combination of qualitative methods to minimize the risk of bias. I will use both semi structured and direct observation to collect primary data. It helps me to crosscheck the data that I am going to collect in the field. I will keep my position as research student and try my best to convince my respondents. And also I will follow the ethical concept of conducting research. Further, snowball sampling method that I am going to use in this research will help me to get more correct or useful informant. This will increase validity and reliability of this research. Besides, there may be some kind of short comes in the date collection and interpretation. It is extremely not easy to avoid some unexpected incidents in the field. I as a researcher will try my best to keep validity and reliability of this research. Limitations Since Ecotourism and sustainable development is a broad topic, it is difficult to include all aspects. Therefore this research has been limited to identifying potential environmental, social and economical impacts of ecotourism and also, analyzing the potential of ecotourism as a strategy for local sustainable development. The study area has been limited to an Island to have in-depth study. Field work period is limited to two months. Researcher (me) may face some kind of language barrier in the field. Most of them speak Chinese. But there are people who speak either Tamil or English. Therefore, I hope that I would be able to manage it. Since the study area is very new for the researcher, it may consume few days to get familiar with the area and people. References Crang, M. (2002) Qualitative methods: the new orthodoxy? Progress in Human Geography 26, 5 pp. 647-655. Honey, M. (1999). Ecotourism and Sustainable Development: Who Owns Paradise? Washington, D.C.: Island Press. Kitchin, R. and Tate, N. J. (2000). Conducting Research in Human Geography: Theory, Methodology and Practice, Pearson Education Limited, Essex. Kvale, S. (1996). Interviews: An Introduction to Qualitative Research Interviewing, Sage Publications, Lund. Legends of Ubin [Online]à // Wildsingapore web site.à 2003.à 03 15, 2008.à http://www.wildsingapore.com/ubin/places/geography.htm. Limb, M. and Dwyer, C. (2001). Qualitative Methodologies for Geographers: Issues and Debates. Oxford University Press, New York. Mikkelsen, B, (2005). Methods for Development Work and Research: A new guide for practitioners, SAGA Publications, New Delhi. Patton, M.Q. (2002). Qualitative Research and Evaluation Methods (3rd ed.), Sage Publication, London. Paul Herbig, P( ?) CULTURE Influlences ON ECOTOURISM PARTICIPATION Marketing and the Environment Lecture Series Lecture 4: available at www.herbigandsons.com/lecture/Ecotourism.doc reviewed on 2008/04/21. Sharpley, R. (2003). Tourism: Tourists Society, ELM publication,Cambridgeshire. Smith, V. L., and Eadington, W. R. (ed) (1992). Tourism Alternatives: Potentials and Problems in the Development of Tourism, New York, John Wiley. The International Ecotourism Society, (2000) Ecotourism Statistical Fact Sheet, Journal of Travel Research. Available at http://www.ecotourism.org/WebModules/WebMember/MemberApplication/onlineLib/MemberApplication/onlineLib/Uploaded/Ecotourism%20Factsheet%202000.pdf reviewed on 2008/04/21. Weaver, D. B. (1999). Magnitude of Ecotourism in Costa Rica and Kenya, Annals of Tourism Research, 26(4), 792-816. Appendixes Appendix I Interview guide Individual Interview guide 01 Individual questions Your occupation? Your age? How long you are living in this area? What kind of economic benefits you gain from ecotourism in this island? What is your experience with ecotourism? Are you working in the tourism industry in this island? What economic activities are undertaken by your family members? What is your average income per month? How does ecotourism support you to improve standard of living? What is your perception on ecotourism in this island? General questions Is there any impact in this island due to ecotourism? Is there unemployment problem in this island? Could you observe any impacts on local employment in this island after set up ecotourism? How do the economic benefits from ecotourism support the services to the island? Most villagers are involved in which aspects of ecotourism? How do the villagers utilize their natural resources to support tourism? What are the local attitudes about sustainable ecotourism? What does the island still need to support sustainable ecotourism? How has the villagers quality of life been influenced by the advent of tourism? What are the negative impacts caused by tourism on the island? Key informant Interview guide 02 Individual questions When was these hotels established here? Why did you decide to establish ecotourism here? What is your experience with ecotourism? Have you observed any conflict related to community conservation? Do you think local people benefit from Ecotourism? How? General questions Who is the management authority? What is the source of funding for management of these hotels? What are the potential tourist attractions here? Where do visitors come from? International or local? What are the good and bad things about Ecotourism on the Pulau Ubin Island? Who is in charge of Ecotourism activities on the Pulau Ubin Island? What are the benefits and challenges about running ecotourism in this area? Does ecotourism contribute to the economic development on the Pulau Ubin Island? Does ecotourism contribute to conservation in the area? And How? What are the opportunities and constrains on livelihood or job in this area? What kind of challenges and opportunities are there in offering good services to the tourists? What types of outside influences are there in the ecotourism development? For instance political influence or public opinion on environment? Interview guide 03 For administrative officers What are the general objectives towards tourism? What are the specific objectives towards ecotourism development? What strategy (or policy) exists for ecotourism development in the Island? What legal documents exist to regulate tourism/ecotourism activities in the Island? What are the specific rules and regulations in these documents for tourism and ecotourism activities? What monitoring mechanisms have been put in place to monitor ecotourism development? What benefits have been realized in terms of ecotourism revenue (e.g. employment, conservation, services, other) for community development? What measures have been put in place to ensure that the local heritage is not threatened by the development of ecotourism in the area? Who are the major stakeholders involved in the management of the ecotourism in Pulau Ubin Island? What challenges have been faced with regard to ecotourism development in Pulau Ubin Island? What are the major constraints that inhibit ecotourism development in Pulau Ubin Island? What opportunities exist for ecotourism development in Pulau Ubin Island? What future plans exist for ecotourism development in this area? Interview guide for Tourist What are your motivations for visiting to this island? What did you like most during your stay on this island? What did you dislike about the stay here? What kind of gifts, souvenirs and services would you like to have available? What are you expectations from the trips to the island? Which elements of sustainable ecotourism do you believe the Island best meets? How did you travel to the area? What is your length of stay in this island? Number of people in your travel party to the island? How did you learn about the island ecotourism? Where are you from? What is your occupation? Who much money you are going to spend during your stay here? Age? Do you think you will travel to this island again? Do you have any other suggestion and comments of your visit? What do you think about ecotourism on the island? What are good things and bad things about ecotourism on the Pulau Ubin Island? Appendix II Work plan of report writing NO Program May 2008 June July August September October November December January February March April May June 2009 1. Proposal preparation X 2. Field work X X X <
Sunday, January 19, 2020
Palanca Awards Essay
The Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature (Palanca Awards) was established in 1950. The heirs of Don Carlos Palanca, Sr. found it most fitting to commemorate his memory through an endeavor that would promote education and culture in the country. The Palanca Awards aims to help develop Philippine Literature by: 1. Providing incentives for writers to craft their most outstanding literary works. 2. Being a treasury of the Philippineââ¬â¢s literary gems from our gifted writers and to assist in its eventual dissemination to our people, particularly the students. 62 years ago, the Palanca Awards called on Filipino fictionists to weave their best short story in either English or Filipino. Today, the Awards continues to challenge writers to pour out their creativity in various literary genres. Instituted in 1995, the Palanca Hall of Fame award is presented to a Palanca awardee who has achieved the distinction of winning five first prizes in the regular categories. TheKabataan Award of Distinction gives recognition to a Palanca awardee who wins four first prizes in this division. The Palanca Awards continues to pursue avenues that help share these literary gems with the rest of the countrymen, to whom Filipino literature ultimately belongs. These winning works are continuously made accessible to students, and all researchers and lovers of literature through the Carlos Palanca Foundation (CPF) library. Adding dimension to the Palanca Awards mission of encouraging excellence in literary writing, CPF is supporting a scholarship program for creative writing. The Foundation also seeks to foster the unbounded imagination and creative spirit of the Filipino through creative writing workshops and readings of award-winning works. Born from a simple dream made 62 years ago to help develop Philippine literature, the foundation holds steadfast to its mission of providing nourishment for the national spirit. â⬠¢Is not a secret that many Filipinos are unfamiliar with Philippine literature especially those written long before the Spanish arrived in our country. This is due to the fact that the stories of ancient time were not written, but rather passed on from generation to generation through word of mouth. Only in 1521 did the Filipinos become to be acquainted with literature due to the influence of the Spaniards on us. But the literature that the Filipinos became acquainted with are not Filipino made, rather, they were works of Spanish authors. â⬠¢The rise of nationalistic pride in the 1960s and 1970s also helped bring about this change of attitude among a new breed of Filipinos concerned about the ââ¬Å"Filipino identity. â⬠â⬠¢ The 1960ââ¬â¢s were, summarily, a period when writers seriously grappled with problems of art. The early 1970ââ¬â¢s saw a proliferation of politically motivated or committed writing and protest literature. Short-story writers became more conscious of the political milieu and of social issues in the wake of the increased activism all over the world and right in their country, especially during the troubled days of a dictatorial government. Some of the more recent fiction writers include Paulino Lim, Alfred Yuson, Jose Dalisay, Mario Eric Gamalinda, and Cristina P. Hidalgo. Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature, the countryââ¬â¢s most prestigious and longest-running literary contest. The Palanca Awards or Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature are literary awards of the Philippines. The Manila Standard called it the ââ¬Å"Pulitzer Prizeâ⬠of the Philippines. [1] It is one of the Philippinesââ¬â¢ most long-running award giving bodies. [2] History[edit] The Palanca Awards was established in 1950 to inspire Filipino writers to improve their literary works. [3] In the 1960s the Palanca Awards Committee started to fund the publication of Palanca plays and production fund were committed on 1975. [4] In 2009, it added a category for Poetry for children in both Filipino and English. [2] Winning is tough, and for many writers, it goes beyond the cash prize. Winning means a validation of their work, and for some, it means a step toward joining the ranks of the countryââ¬â¢s literati. It was to honor the legacy of Don Carlos Palanca, Sr. that the Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature was established in 1950 and the first award was given in 1951. Through this annual literary contest, the family and heirs of Carlos Palanca sought to keep his name alive, along with his legacy of discipline and perseverance, and to enrich the nationââ¬â¢s cultural heritage.
Saturday, January 11, 2020
Golden Ass Book Review
Apuleius. The Golden Ass. Translated by Joel C. Relihan. Indianapolis/Cambridge: Hackett Publishing Company Inc, 2007. Acknowledgements. Introduction. Maps. Index. Pp. xlv, 254. Apuleiusââ¬â¢ The Golden Ass describes the trials and tribulations of Lucius, a privileged man whoââ¬â¢s extreme curiosity leads to his unfortunate transformation into an ass. His journey as an ass leads to a newfound perspective, enlightenment, and eventual salvation. Relihanââ¬â¢s translation is vividly descriptive and allows the modern reader to relate to the tale. Although extremely complex and vulgar at times, The Golden Ass is an entertaining, humorous, and inspiring story which provides valuable insight into ancient Greco-Roman society. The Golden Ass consists of many stories which are all interconnected. Apuleius weaves folk tales and myths into the main story of Lucius, which draw parallels to the main theme of The Golden Ass. The reader must pay close attention to such tales, particularly that of Cupid and Psyche, as they are important in understanding Luciusââ¬â¢ redemptive journey. Although the format is often difficult to follow, it is crucial to the significance of the story . Luciusââ¬â¢ intense curiosity and inability to control his desires lead to his transformation and all the negative consequences which follow. Apuleius may have been attempting to convey the downfalls of greed and lust, showing that they always lead to trouble. Luciusââ¬â¢ experiences as an ass are often very funny and explicit. Apuleiusââ¬â¢ wit and use of sexual humor provide light-hearted entertainment for the reader. On the other hand, Lucius also lives the inhumane life of a slave after his transformation to an ass. He experiences a way of life he never thought of before his transformation. He is abused and fears for his life on several occasions. This perhaps reveals another moral of The Golden Ass, that is, treat others how you would like to be treated. The Golden Ass serves as an excellent historical document. It describes ancient Greco-Roman societyââ¬â¢s morals, social classes, and overall way of life. Apuleius offers insight into all sectors of society. Wealthy upper classes, thieves, artisans, and slaves are all depicted in great detail. The society portrayed in The Golden Ass is in chaos. Greed, immorality and crime are abundant. When Lucius is living with a group of robbers, the reader gets to see how their society functions democratically, as well as their desperation and greed. Luciusââ¬â¢ life as an ass shows his maltreatment as well as the abuse of the slaves around him. These descriptive passages cause the reader to empathize with both Lucius and the slaves. This makes his journey more meaningful and effective at the end. The portrayal of women in The Golden Ass shows that women were viewed very negatively. The Tale of the Wifeââ¬â¢s Tub, Millerââ¬â¢s Wife, and Drycleanerââ¬â¢s Wife, all describe women as adulterous and manipulative. Another story, the Tale of the Oppressive Land Owner, shows the tyrannical nature of the small land ownerââ¬â¢s of the time. These were likely the characteristics of the society in which Apuleius lived. Relihanââ¬â¢s translation offers several tools which are beneficial in helping the reader understand the text. The introduction provides a summary of the work and important background information about Apuleius. The maps and index are helpful to the reader, as they provide more detailed information about place location and character description. A glossary of major characters is not included, but would have been helpful. The Golden Ass is not for the conservative reader, as it contains explicit sex and violence. One must pay close attention to the story, as there are many details which could easily be missed. The Golden Ass is witty, descriptive, and historically relevant. Readers will be entertained by Luciusââ¬â¢ journey to redemption and gain information about ancient society. As stated in the first chapter, ââ¬Å"pay close attention and joy shall be yours. â⬠(p. 3).
Friday, January 3, 2020
Essay on Obesity in America - 1221 Words
Obesity in the United States continues growing alarmingly. Approximately 66 % of adults and 33 % of children and teenagers in the US are overweight. Obesity is the result of fat accumulated over time due to the lack of a balanced diet and exercise. An adult with a BMI (body mass index) higher than thirty percent is considered obese (Whitney Rolfes, 2011, pg. 271). Causes of Obesity According to the USDA, at the start of century 21st American people have increased their daily caloric intake by consuming five hundred calories more than in 1970. As cited by Whitney Rolfes (2011), there are many recognized causes of obesity such as genetics, environment, culture, socioeconomic, and metabolism among others; but the cause most evidentâ⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦The data collected from a survey performed by the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System regarding time, frequency and proportion of exercise reports that 58.1% of the interviewees were considered physically inactive; 29.8 % concluded with not having time for exercising. Besides, the statistics showed that there was not much difference between genders as it was almost the same percentage of passive lifestyle; however, there were differences when considering race and age (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2010). Consequences of Obesity According to the Endocrine Society webpage, obesity is an enormous concern in the United States and it is related with diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and hypertension. People with obesity have a higher risk of suffering a heart attack, abrupt cardiac death, angina, and cardiac arrhythmia than those that have a healthy body. Fat accumulation promotes higher levels of triglycerides and bad-cholesterol, and reduces the level of good cholesterol. Other potential health problems for obese people could be a stroke incident or renal failure. In the same way, overweight is a characteristic of young women diagnosed with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, hormonal dysfunction, and infertility. Furthermore, most of the people with diabetes (Type 2) are obese. The National Health and NutritionShow MoreRelatedObesity in America909 Words à |à 4 Pages When discussing the issue of obesity in America, it seems to be that there is plenty of blame to go around and most o f that blame falls on fast food companies. When searching for a concrete answer to the question used as my title, you will find none because there isnââ¬â¢t one. When asked this simple question, it is easy to blame the obesity problem on fast food considering 8 out of 10 Americans consume fast food according to a report done by the Huffington Post. But after doing more research you willRead MoreObesity in America787 Words à |à 4 PagesGood news! Weââ¬â¢re Number 2! As declared by a 2013 report from the U.N., America has only the second highest obesity rate in the world at 31.8%, second to Mexico with an obesity rate of 32.8%. America has held on to the title of most obese country for over 60 years. From 13% obesity in 1962, estimates have steadily increased right up to 2013ââ¬â¢s 32.8%. This may sound like good news, but the harsh truth is that America didnââ¬â¢t reach the number 2 spot through sweeping diet changes or social conscienceRead MoreObesity in America909 Words à |à 4 PagesObesity in America In the United States of America, there is a current epidemic of obesity throughout the country. Every age group is affected by this unfortunate trend. Even children are not immune to the national obesity problem. For a country that has an abundance of job opportunities, educational opportunities, and financial opportunities, it is a sad statement of fact that far too many people are tipping the scales in unhealthy ways. It is a fact that a disproportionate amount of the nationsRead MoreObesity : America s Obesity1204 Words à |à 5 PagesDraft Obesity in America How many times a week do you go out to McDonald s or Taco Bell for dinner? If you go more than once or twice a week then you really need to look at your diet and how healthy your lifestyle is. America is having a huge obesity crisis, too many Americans just donââ¬â¢t care about how much they weigh or unhealthy their lifestyle is. From the advertisement of the fast food companies, to people not being able to afford healthier foods, and people just being plain lazy, America hasRead MoreObesity in America2116 Words à |à 9 PagesENG 101 SL1 26 June, 2006 Obesity in America Obesity in America is a continually growing problem and even worse our own children are sharing in this problem. A commentary in the Washington Times reports that sixty million Americans are obese. What really is the meaning of obese? Obese is having a body mass index of thirty percent or more. In recent years, the percentage of obese Americans has risen. In the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted by the National CenterRead MoreObesity in America2898 Words à |à 12 PagesIn the United States today, obesity has become an enormous problem. In the last 3 decades, the number of people overweight has increased dramatically. A study done by the Centers of Disease Control showed that since 1980, one third of our adult population has become overweight. America is the richest but also the fattest nation in the world and our obese backsides are the butt of jokes in every other country (Klein 28). The 1980s were a time when Americans suddenly started going crazy over dietingRead MoreObesity in America995 Words à |à 4 PagesFences Essay As humans we all have certain motivations behind every action that we exhibit. This is called a hierarchy of needs, and in 1943 a scientist by the name of Abraham Maslow theorized it. When he discovered this characteristic of the human body, he came out with an organized chart, or pyramid. His pyramid showed five different levels, Basic needs, Safety, Love and Belonging, Self esteem, and Self-Actualization. Basically he created a blueprint for life. First you have to lay your foundationRead MoreObesity in America Essay1285 Words à |à 6 Pagesa long time, obesity has been one of the notable health concerns that America has struggled with during the last five decades .Obesity as a health concern is not limited to America alone, it is a serious concern among other affluent societies like European countries. A considerable number of Americans spend a significant amount of money trying to lose weight. Obesity become an important focus in the news items during the year 2002.According t o research findings, the rate of obesity among the AmericanRead MoreEssay On Obesity In America955 Words à |à 4 PagesObesity in America Over the years the obesity rate in America has increased significantly. From 1990 to 2016, the average percentage of obese adults increased from 11.1% to 29.8%. The escalating obesity rate in America has made obesity prevention one of the top public health priorities. Being overweight has become the new normal in America. Obesity is caused by eating too much and moving too little, depression, and the input of social media. A lot of people wonder why we are so concerned aboutRead MoreThe Problem of Obesity in America840 Words à |à 3 PagesObesity: one of the nationââ¬â¢s most critical health problems. ââ¬Å"Overweight is defined as having excess body weight for a particular height from fat, muscle, bone, water, or a combination of these factors. Obesity is defined as having excess body fatâ⬠(ââ¬Å"Centers for Disease Control and Preventionâ⬠). When energy input and output get out of balance, obesity arises. Many factors can cause someone to become obese such as genetics, metabolism, level of physical activity, and more. ââ¬Å"Overweight and obesity
Wednesday, December 25, 2019
The Harmful Effects Of Smoking Tobacco - 1547 Words
The Harmful Effects of Smoking Tobacco My purpose for writing this paper is to educate the reader of the harms and effects done onto a person from smoking Tobacco and persuade anyone thinking about or attempting to smoke Tobacco to consider the following for your own benefit. I will cover most harmful effects Tobacco has on not only the person using it but also the people around them. I will also show both sides of the argument with both the pros and the cons of smoking Tobacco as well as provide an argument for why Tobacco is bad for you and should be a banned substance like many other already illegal drugs. The history of Tobacco goes all the way to before the Americas were discovered by the Europeans and when it was only roamed by the natives inhabiting it. The Tobacco plant was originally used by the Native Indians at the time for many different reasons some being for medical and others being ritual related and in some cases it was used for coming of age ceremonies. ââ¬Å"Europeans believed that tobacco could cure almost anything, from bad breath to cancerâ⬠(The History of Tobacco). The smoking of Tobacco was also originally only used for these such things and not for recreational purposes this did not change until the Tobacco plant was quickly spread throughout the europeans soon after the Americas were discovered and this was the start of the current Tobacco that we are familiar with and know today. One argument people have for protecting Tobacco is that Tobacco hasShow MoreRelatedHarmful Effects of Smoking1418 Words à |à 6 PagesHarmful effects of smoking Doan Thi Huong Thao BAIU08155 International University HCMC Academic English 2 Bien Thi Thanh Mai Instructor May 17, 2010 Abstract Smoking is known to be a primary cause of harmful effects on health, family, environment and society. However, scientist research in health and environment, that researches show that smoking cause many diseases, even lung cancer. An aim of my study has been to determine that smoking also effect on family and society. Results indicatedRead MorePublic Awareness of Smoking and Tobacco663 Words à |à 3 Pageshazards of smoking is increasing, but it is still important to outline the main health problems that are associated with tobacco use. Tobacco smoking is apparently the most preventable cause of death in the United States, (Smoking: Health Hazards, 2005). The specific hazards of smoking include damage to the lungs, heart, and brain (Smoking: Health Hazards, 2005). According to Martin (2008), There are approximately 4000 chemicals in cigarettes, hundreds of which are toxic. Cigarette smoking is addictiveRead MoreEffects Of Cigarette Smoking Among Adult Smokers1264 Words à |à 6 PagesAbstract The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services developed a survey for the assessment of cigarette smoking among adult smokers. The assessment showed that there has been a significant decrease/decline in cigarette smoking amongst adults in the year of 2003. The survey proved that fewer adults are smoking in Los Angeles County than if the rate of smoking had remained the same as in previous years. This paper evaluates the findings in the assessment conducted by Los Angeles County DepartmentRead MoreTobacco Industry : Make Tobacco Products Illegal1009 Words à |à 5 Pages Make Tobacco Products Illegal Ellen Gossett Trevecca Nazarene University Abstract It can be argued that tobacco products are one of the deadliest legal drugs in the history of mankind. Most of the countries around the world are making progress to ban the sale of tobacco products and reduce smoking. Over the years, there has been a steady decline in global tobacco use; however, their needs to be steeper taxation on tobacco products, bans on smoking advertisements, incentives towards reducedRead MoreEssay on Smoking in America1122 Words à |à 5 PagesSmoking in America In the United States today, more than forty six million Americans are addicted to cigarettes. More people have died due to cigarette smoking than from narcotic drugs, World Wars I and II, and the Vietnam War combined (Bailey 1). The annual death toll for cigarette smoking is more than four-hundred thousand Americans a year, and is the number-one preventable cause of death in the United States. If Americans are aware of the lethal effects of smoking, why is it still so popularRead MoreHealth Risks of Tobacco Use Today Essay1238 Words à |à 5 Pages Tobacco Use Tobacco is a tall plant with wide leaves. The leaves are dried out and grinded up into little shreds and rolled up in paper making cigarettes. However, while cigarette companies are creating their product, they add many harmful chemicals, which are generally called tar, and toxic gases are added as well. Cigarettes are highly addictive because of a natural chemical in tobacco called nicotine. Though tobacco is harmful, you have to be 18 years old to purchase them from a store. In theRead MoreThe Health Effects Of Water Pipe Smoking1528 Words à |à 7 Pages Water-pipe smoking has become increasingly popular in the United States. Its potential impact on life-threatening conditions, nicotine dependence, and because of the lack of knowledge about its health effects, water-pipe smoking represents various public health hazards (Dugas 1). The health effects of smoking hookah are constantly misjudged, causing young adults to believe they are smoking without consequences to their well-being . This may not be their fault considering the mediaââ¬â¢s misrepresentationRead MoreE Cigarettes, The Next Big Thing1612 Words à |à 7 Pageswar against tobacco, or they are insidious menace that threatens to get kids hooked on nicotine and make smoking socially acceptable againâ⬠(Morin). E-cigarettes are now becoming more widespread, especially among young people. The electronic cigarette industry is growing rapidly in the United States due to the rising demand, which is stirring up opinions and research among the masses. While supporters argue that it is a safer and cheaper way of smoking and helpful for quality tobacco, opponents argueRead MoreInformative Speech : Effects Of Smoking816 Words à |à 4 Pages Informative Speech Title: Effects of Smoking Speaker: Kevon Jones, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University student Specific Purpose: To persuade the audience to avoid smoking Thesis Statement: Smoking has many dangerous effects on a smoker s health and the health of those around them; it harms every organ in the body and leads to premature death. Introduction I. Attention getter: According to Tobacco-Free Kids, ââ¬Å"about 400,000 people die from their own smoking each year, and about 50,000Read MoreHarmful Effects of Smoking806 Words à |à 4 PagesSmoking has become very common and fashionable, especially among young boys. This habit usually begins at school when boys try to experiment with every new thing that they can lay their hands on. Despite the warnings given by doctors about the ill-effects of smoking, people continue to smoke. Smokers are addicted to it, and even if they want to, they cannot refrain from picking up a cigar or cigarette and puffing away. Some youngsters smoke for the sake of society and some feel that would make them
Tuesday, December 17, 2019
Research Study On A Literature Review Essay - 1400 Words
4.2 Research Hypothesis Hypothesis Researchers almost never conduct a study in an intellectual vacuum; their studies are usually under taken within the context of an existing knowledge base. It helps to lay the foundation for the study and also inspire new research idea. Hypothesis in other words is an assumption for the research, the researchers organizes his or her ideas and critically thinks what could be the reasons for the stated research questions; thinking of the reasons or possible causal is referred to as hypothesis. Generally hypothesis give cruel before the study starts and the results of the study will be directed to confirm or reject the stated hypothesis. 4.3 Literature review: A literature review is a summary about previous studies on the topic, Conducted at the same time as defining the research question Why conduct a literature review? ââ¬â Helps ensure that your research is new ââ¬â Identifies what is known and not known about the topic ââ¬â Helps frame the research question properly ââ¬â Suggests potential research designs The literature review outlines what is known about the topic, Identify what remains to be known about the topic and suggest how your research will help advance knowledge to address the problem. This serves as the basis of your RATIONALE which justifies what the researcher does. With the reasons above literature review helps me to up to date with nursing information which I use daily in my practices, I cannot deliver any services out from the blue,Show MoreRelatedA Research Study On Literature Review1131 Words à |à 5 PagesOne of the stages in writing a research paper is the literature review. Since there is very little that has not been studied in some form, good researchers find out all they can about their subjects before they commence their own study. Not only is it imperative to acquire what is already know about the subject, but a literature review enables the researcher to identify what is not known or well understood (Lanier Briggs, 2014). By conducting a literature review, one verifies what else needsRead MoreNarrative Literature Reviews1589 Words à |à 7 PagesNarrative literature reviews Introduction n A literature review is a comprehensive study and interpretation of the work that has been published on a particular topic n A literature review should convey the knowledge and ideas that have been established on a topic and their strengths and limitations Why undertake a literature review? n To provide a review of the current knowledge in a particular field n Provide a description of research studies n Identify gaps in current knowledge n Identify emergingRead MoreRole of Literature in Research1513 Words à |à 7 Pages[pic]DEPARTMENT OF MANAGEMENT THE ROLE OF LITERATURE REVIEW IN THE RESEARCH PROCESS A TERM PAPER PRESENTED IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE COURSE RESEARCH METHODS BY SIAW-ASAMOAH JOYCELYN Literature simply is a body of written works. It is what has been written to be investigated, thus an existing body of written works or knowledge on a chosen topic or problem area. The name is often applied to those imaginative works of poetry and prose distinguished by the intentions ofRead MoreWhat Factors Are Involved in the Increasing Prevalence of Type II Diabetes in Adolescents living in Sub-Saharan Africa?1279 Words à |à 6 Pagesof the problem posed by type II diabetes. - Estimating the prevalence of type II diabetes among adolescents in Sub-Saharan Africa. - Identifying possible risk factors. - Making evidence based conclusions and recommendations for practice or further research. INTRODUCTION Diabetes mellitus is a deadly disease in many parts of the world. It is a disease condition that is usually characterized with an elevated blood glucose level. Researchers over the years have worked to determine the metabolic pathwaysRead MoreImportance And Characteristics Of Literature Reviews1615 Words à |à 7 PagesImportance and Characteristics of Literature Reviews A literature review examines existing research that is important to the work that you want to do. Literature reviews provide important background information and details about a specific research topic. Providing background information can help to demonstrate the importance of a topic, and can help to establish understanding of a subject or issue. An effective literature review also provides a space to elaborate on future work to be done on aRead MoreImportant Consideration in Making a Research Paper820 Words à |à 4 PagesOne of the most important early steps in a research project is the conducting of the literature review. This is also one of the most humbling experiences youre likely to have. Why? Because youre likely to find out that just about any worthwhile idea you will have has been thought of before, at least to some degree. I frequently have students who come to me complaining that they couldnt find anything in the literature that was related to their topic. And virtually every time they have said thatRead MoreNursing Interventions For The Management Of Patient Fatigue1004 Words à |à 5 Pagesmanagement of patient fatigue: a literature review. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 22, 2668ââ¬â2678. doi: 10.1111/jocn.12211 2. Is the review thoroughââ¬âdoes it include all of the major studies on the topic? Does it include recent research? Are studies from other related disciplines included, if appropriate? (25 points) In my opinion the review was fair, but the research study is weak due to several limitations. The reviewers clearly identified the limitations of the study such as, the sample size andRead MoreHrd Audit Literature Review683 Words à |à 3 PagesLiterature Review If you believe everything you read, better not read. (Japanese Proverb) [pic] What is a literature review? A literature review is an account of what has been published on a topic in the past. Its purpose is to inform the reader what has been established about a topic and what the strengths and weaknesses are. A literature review must be defined by a guiding concept and should not be a list of all the material that you can find (Porter, S. 2008, p.49). What isRead MoreLiterature Review On Childhood Trauma Essay1113 Words à |à 5 Pages Literature Review Article Critique Jocelyn Claudio Widener University September 25, 2016 Overview The authors of this literature review evaluated studies completed on adults who were 50 years or older and also experienced trauma as a child. They reviewed the impact childhood trauma has on their mental and physical health as older adults. They collected findings from 23 studies that were published between 1996 through 2011 and concluded that childhood trauma did in fact have negativeRead MoreArticle Critique Of Joshua Palkki1232 Words à |à 5 Pagescase study regarding two Latina students in which Palkki (2015) seeks to learn about their choral experiences and thereby discover avenues to improve choral teaching methods. A literature review is presented and after this the case study of these two students was explained and Palkki (2015) explains his conclusions. The purpose of this paper is to critique the strengths and weaknesses of this article in the following areas: Palkkiââ¬â¢s research purpose, his literature review, the case study and results
Monday, December 9, 2019
Strategies of Outsourcing and Offshoring â⬠MyAssignmenthelp.com
Question: Discuss about the Strategies of Outsourcing and Offshoring. Answer: Introduction: In todays business world, in order to sustain, business owners adopt ways and methods that can make their work flow fast and efficient(Kremic, 2006). Outsourcing is the only way that can prove beneficial as it assists in delegating work to outside people. The term outsourcing can also be defined as a process of delegating work to other people who are not joined with the firm but are supposed to carry certain tasks under agreed criteria(Bucki, 2017). Generally companies outsource tasks that require special treatment or the ones which could prove expensive for them. There are many ways by which outsourcing function can be carried like performing tasks in house, manufacturing in other units; IT enabled service, providing online jobs, or getting expert advices(Iqbal, 2013). Though there are many who do not believe in outsourcing as it has got many drawbacks also, but still on some or the other way has to delegate work to others like transportation, currier, engaging lawyers, etc. For a s ingle or limited group of people, to perform all the tasks are not possible and can lack quality(Mukherjee, 2014). In this research paper advantages and disadvantages of outsourcing business function will be reviewed and concluded after observing potential reasons for outsourcing in small and big organisations. Study made by many authors and researchers have been utilised in this paper to make detailed analysis of the topic to provide assistance to those who are planning to implement outsourcing function in their business. The primary feature of outsourcing i.e. performing work in shorter time along with cost reductive manner has made outsourcing function an integral part in many organisations. Companies outsources work to others in order to get involved with latest technologies and trends which could otherwise would have been difficult to perform under limited area and people(Pine, 2017). Thus external companies and agents with latest technologies are outsourced by major companies to get updated outcomes of latest trends. Time and cost saving are also significant objectives that makes organisations outsource their work along with getting efficiency(Iqbal, 2013). In the above figure it is clearly shown that objective behind outsourcing can be fulfilled in different manner but at the same time can become risk oriented without proper strategy. The reasons behind outsourcing are so apparent that sometimes many companies falls into its prey and has to bear unexpected losses(Mukherjee, 2014). To identify the pitfalls behind outsourcing it should be the primary target of businesses to recognize the risks before handed or else could lead them with adverse affects. In business where the work area is small and has limited capital, outsourcing becomes a great help as it enables sharing risks with outsourced agencies and thus releases risk of capital. Depending on the temperament of business, objectives behind outsourcing can vary but the ultimate goal lies in improving product/services(Syluancia, 2009). The scope or purpose of outsourcing is been identified to a great extent by business owners these days and have been accepted by them to fulfil many purposes(Riley, 2010). The basic scope provided by outsourcing, as shown in above figure can be further explained after evaluating it by placing different examples(Robe, 2017). Transitional or intermediary outsourcing is related to those tasks where company outsources particular task to outsiders for a certain period of time or till the task is completed. For example, delivery of goods, transporting raw materials to vendors, cleaning and sanitising, hiring mechanics for electrical fittings, labours, etc(Ahmed O. Al-Mutairi, 2015). These types of outsourcing provide a limited scope for risk as external agencies are engaged for shorter span of time. Selective outscoring is generally adopted by manufacturing companies as it deals in delegation of limited and particular work to outside companies on regular basis. Organisations where manufact uring small parts are not done in house as outsourcings confirm better way, selects other external companies to undertake that part in return of agreed costs. This function can be performed by outsourcing it to one or many companies at a time and involve risks higher than transitional outsourcing(Syluancia, 2009). Other examples are advertising function, computer related service, creative designer hiring, freelancers, etc(Pine, 2017). Lastly, there are organisations who believe in total outsourcing their business functions and assembling the entire work under their supervision. This kind of outsourcing is generally done in computer manufacturing companies where different parts of computers are assembled and is sold under name of outsourcing company. Many clothes manufacturing companies also outsources its works to different designers and tailors which are later on sold under companys name(Robe, 2017). In literature, outsourcing has gained much consequence and has become an important subject to study for researchers and writers(Kremic, 2006). The advantages of outsourcing can be identified largely which has made it an inevitable part of business. The below diagram gives an outline to the study which is further defined in a detailed and specific way with the help of studies made by different authors. Improve Company Focus has been an advantage which has made large companies adopts outsourcing. While work is delegated to outsiders, the management or executing part of the company gets released with energy which can be utilized in focussing other important areas while quality of the work is also not depreciated(Pine, 2017). Menial jobs can be outsourced as it comprises of minimum to no risk and leave the experts of the company to perform other growth oriented work. For example, in hotel business, if the regular purchasing or completed food delivery task is outsourced, it may release managers to perform other official works. In supply and logistics firm, transporting vehicles are outsourced which saves companys time and energy required for its regular maintenance of vehicle parts and hiring drivers(Robe, 2017). Reduced operating costs are another advantage recognised while outsourcing. This can also be said as main reason why small companies outsource its major work outside. While ou tsourcing, the need of hiring full time staff is eliminated and also to make arrangement to perform the task in house is not required(Ahmed O. Al-Mutairi, 2015). In manufacturing firms setting of machines is required and sometimes becomes difficult for the company to purchase and requirement of special trained staff for a particular task is also necessary. Outsourcing can be immensely used her for reducing cost of performing those tasks(Yeboah, 2013). Improvement in work quality is ensured in outsourcing as contracts are made by outsourcing firms and the outsourced agencies are obligated to perform the work under their conditions. While the experts are engaged, the efficiency and work quality is improved in cost effective way. For example, large organisations outsource its advertising part to social media and other advertising agencies that specialises in their field and with their experts and current knowledge about advertising, can provide better service to the organisations. While engaging experts to the company, business competence is gained. In organisation where large number of paper works is required to be dealt with along with handling legal cases, outsourcing can be done to experts who can handle the work more efficiently(Pellicelli, 2012). Like changes in government regulations and legal requirements is fast observed by experts of those fields and changes made according can be easily done without hampering business code. Strategic management is required in todays business scenario which can only be obtained by involving expert advices(Yeboah, 2013). Since their charges for full time service is higher, outsourcing becomes the way to get access to their expertise in reduced costs. For example, in construction firms where large number of contracts is made with suppliers and buyers, legal advices are required so that the companies are aware of government regulations regarding taxes and property leases. They outsource legal advisory works to agencies specialist in legal advising and corporate lawyers for getting acceptable advice(Gardener, 2015). Establishing world class technology is also ensured as outsourcing is generally made by the companies to them who are tailored with latest tools and procedures. Even if the company is older or has been established long way back, outsourcing its work to other companies with latest technologies can provide a scope for changeover to new trend. Smartphone companies utilising outsourcing techniques is visible in latest news where mobile producing companies outsources software development units to other advanced companies (Meyer, 2011). In airline industries also outsourcing have made a significant role where latest aircrafts and planes are manufactured by other companies with special and latest technologies(World Airline News, 2017). Lastly, to beat competition and gain sustainability, outsourcing plays an important role. This advantage is observed after realising all the above mentioned features and advantages of outsourcing by organisations as after realising it, the company must have b ecome enriched with all necessary features like cost efficiency, work effectiveness, expert engagement and time saving(Syluancia, 2009). To gain competitive advantage, the organisations follow strategic managerial procedures which can be in the form of self performance or outsourcing to other special agencies(Pellicelli, 2012). Thus the company is able to take on newer risks and challenges after outsourcing which might be helpful to overcome others in the same market area while reducing self energy for other expansion related work(Bucki, 2017). Outsourcing has many disadvantages also which has been discovered by researchers and had been estimated for business owners to make them aware of its cons while implementing it in their business(Simeoni, 2011). The following figure outlines major disadvantages of outsourcing and further explanation about it have been supported by various examples. Communication barriers are the most significant disadvantage noticed in outsourcing function as whenever outsourcing is done, it involves larger community of people belonging to different culture(Simeoni, 2011). There are times when the companies are unable to meet with the outsourcing agents personally and hence are unsure about their work quality. Where the outsourcing is done to other countries, this problem proves to be immense as language along with culture is highly diversified. This difference can lead to higher tendency of miscommunication and result in affecting the work performance(Telus International, 2017). For example, in construction industry the designing function is normally outsourced to other country experts to bring diversified and newer designs in their construction portfolio. If the designers are unaware of the climate or culture of the outsourcing countries and does not understand the actual requirement, the design sent by them can be of no use or when applied c an prove unsuccessful(Mahesh, 2009). The tendency of work quality reduction is higher in outsourcing as the external agents are more inclined to make profits rather than spending utmost time in product development or maintaining good quality throughout. As the quality reduces, sales also get down and hence prove to be fallback for the company. Management requires giving consideration to proper budgeting while utilizing outsourcing function as sometimes if miscalculated; outsourcing can prove to be cost escalating(Kremic, 2006). For example, in hospitals, cleaning function is normally outsourced to outer agencies. If the work area is limited and requires lesser time in cleaning and sanitising, the outsourcing can prove beneficial. On the other hand if the area is bigger and requires cleaning at regular intervals of the day with strict monitoring, outsourcing can prove expensive and hiring permanent staffing can then establish cost reductive way(Pine, 2017). The outsourcing agencies normally deal with many companies simultaneously to fulfil their primary target of profit earning. While they engage in many works at a time, propensity of delay at work is probable. Although agreements to maintain time punctuality is made in the agreements, still companies has to face trouble while not getting works done on time. This problem is normally faced while outsourcing transportation function and many companies face problems helplessly as the agents can easily make excuses of climatic and governmental issues(Kishore, 2010). Other issue faced by outsourcing companies are that they get delayed support by the outsourced companies at the time when any problem is identified in products or services. The external agencies who performs work for many companies might not get enough time to concentrate on each outsourcing company and while queries are delayed, the overall costs of the project is hampered along with companies getting annoyed. Lack of security o f data is another important disadvantage recognised while outsourcing. While internal management work is outsourced, data related to internal management and company secrets are sometimes required to be discussed with outsiders. Thus chances of getting them leaked become higher and loss of significant data might prove dangerous for the company(Telus International, 2017). For example, while outsourcing accounts maintaining function of business, the outsourced accounting agents or accountant may ask for credentials that are significant and at the same time necessary to present. If the outsourcing agent is fraud, they may make negative use of it and can even share or sell information with company competitors(Simeoni, 2011). Many companies also face problems while outsourcing as they tend to lose their control over the outsourced function. The external agencies or experts might not allow the company to invade into their work area and thus the owners remain unfamiliar with the work proces ses. Although they are entailed to spend expenses for work but to get control over it becomes difficult. The agencies sometimes take advantage of the situation and perform the work in inferior and degraded way(Mukherjee, 2014). Conclusion: It is important to understand pros and cons of outsourcing as it is continuously developing in business and has become an integral part of commerce(Kremic, 2006). Although researchers have provided with many reasons to implement outsourcing into business, at some areas gaps can be identified in the study which limits to cost and talent related function of outsourcing. To make the research more appropriate, those gaps should be identified by giving an insight to processes and methods of successful outsourcing. Objectives behind outsourcing are several but the major ones defined are introduction of talent and skill in the company along with reduction of cost(Riley, 2010). To save time and energy is also observed while outsourcing but at the same time can prove disadvantageous if not monitored with concern. Business owners who do not look into contracts before signing it with outsourced companies are normally the ones who suffers severely while other who take precautions gains utmost ad vantage of outsourcing(Pellicelli, 2012). The identification of advantages and disadvantages have been keenly observed in this report which can be summarised as advantages being potential enough to attract the business owners while disadvantages are the result which is faced by them due to negligence in strategic management(Kremic, 2006). References: A, V., 2017. 13 ultimate Pros and Cons of Outsourcing Offshoring. [Online] Available at: https://www.apoyocorp.com/13-ultimate-pros-and-cons-of-outsourcing-and-offshoring [Accessed 28 August 2017]. Ahmed O. Al-Mutairi, A.A.-H.a.K.F., 2015. Advantages and Disadvantages of Maintenance Outsourcing inManufacturing Companies: With Special References to JubailIndustrial City KSA. 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