International Business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words - 1

International Business - Essay Example In the year 1995, Amazon.com launched its first online shopping site, while eBay did their web portal in 1996 (Palmer Kimberly, 2007). 1-1 The development of online shopping In this 21st century, the use of the Internet (World Wide Web) has been through a very dramatic growth of ensuring efficiency, proper connectivity, security, usability and cost effectiveness. These achievements have been realized by getting many of its benefits especially for commercial companies’ positions as was the case in 1993. The World Wide Web was initially developed to be used as a commercial tool, by the British scientist Tim Berners-Lee (Berners-Lee, 2000). Instead of using the Internet solely as a technological tool, it quickly became an effective channel used for the commercial outlet purposes by business vendors and customers who are world wide. By late 2000, the total number of immense internet users had risen to more than 450 million because of its conveniences (Nua, 2012). According to esti mates done by Nua (2012), there were already more than 30 million hosted websites as reported by the various server organizations by 2012 (Web update, www.nua.ie/surveys). The estimated number of users have since its invention increased, signifying that online purchasing and transactions have been on the rise as well (Joines, Scherer & Scheufele, 2003). Online transactions such as purchasing of both goods and services have been cited by many of the web prototypes’ users as advantageous over the traditional techniques that were initially used since web portal applications do not commit consumers to shop at any specific times or specific locations .This advantage of web application has created a quantum leap from the traditional ways of shopping. According to (Joines et al. 2003), online shopping is classified as the most convenient method for customers since all commercial websites provide online visitors with advantages of easily browsing through the available goods and servi ces, and effectively purchasing any of their products and or services at any time by just a click of the button. Equally important, online customers are provided with chat and call applications where they are able to discuss their needs with their product providers and get immediate responses at very low or no costs at all. Additionally, customers have been able to benefit profoundly by using the online transaction methods because of the products’ or services’ reduced prices. Online shoppers are therefore able to shop from any vendor who is offering the desired goods/ services around the world at very low prices. Besides purchasing, no transit charges are appended to small items (Oppenheim et al., 2006). Searching through the internet for products/ services and finding more information about them before doing purchases is always very important to avoid false buying/ purchases. Unlike for the traditional method of

Person who made substantial contributes to or signifcantly employed Essay

Person who made substantial contributes to or signifcantly employed economic principles - Essay Example Mises’ relentless accounts of economic phenomena all led to a singular conclusion—a recurring theme throughout his greatest treatises that â€Å"the only viable economic policy for the human race was a policy of unrestricted laissez-faire†¦ with government strictly limited to the defense of person and property within its territorial area† (Rothbard). In the face of growing tides of statism and collectivism running through economic philosophies of his contemporaries in the first quarter of the 20th century, Mises remained resolute in his insistence upon a free, uninhibited marketplace. But aside from his heterodox views, Mises made significant contributions to economics as a universal discipline, among which are the three (a monetary theory of the trade cycle, a priori epistemology, and the impossibility of rational economic calculation in a socialist economy) to be discussed here. The first of these contributions was, of course, his monetary theory of the trade cycle. By this theory, introduced in The Theory of Money and Credit, he states that â€Å"whatever constitutes money in a market must originally have derived its value from a non-monetary use† (North, 2001). This theory is a so-called â€Å"regression theory† in the sense that it makes a statement about the beginnings of money’s use in society. Mises’ theory of money formed the basis of F. A. Hayek’s 1974 Nobel Prize, â€Å"awarded for†¦ pioneering work in the theory of money and economic fluctuations and for†¦ penetrating analysis of the interdependence of economic, social and institutional phenomena† (Machlup, 2003, p. xv). A piece of this Misean theory of money is the observation that money is not pursued for its own sake, but rather in pursuance of purchasing other goods, and business cycles are the inevitable result of unbacked expansions of cred it. Because, as the theory goes, money is not an

Hospitality And Tourism In Lebanon Tourism Essay

Hospitality And Tourism In Lebanon Tourism Essay Lebanon is a very old nation rich in natural beauty. It provides charming seashores and internal mountainous area with fresh surroundings. Accommodations vary from extravagance establishments to mid-range hotels providing to families. Leisure can be set up in these hotels for both children and parents. Transportations in Lebanon are easy to access; buses and taxis are all over the place. Lebanon is famous for its old and new attractions for example museums, grottos and ski resorts. Cities as well are attractions to tourists; in each city there is something new to learn about and experience. Lebanon is filled with local and international restaurants. Prices differ as you get to choose the location and type of cuisine. Besides that, cruises became popular in Lebanon, different type of games in it has let the tourist to come and experience. Other gaming sectors are also found in Lebanon, for instance skiing, and bungee jumping from the high mountains within the destination. The clubs present plenty of preferences and mixtures of services so guests can experience and have fun. The mixture of entertaining and meetings has aimed to the higher the expansion movement in tourism. Apart from that, most of the facilities marketing departments have adopted a customer segmentation system so as to optimize revenues and reduce on the expenses. This leads to maximized yields. Segmentation gives the clients a sense of belonging and makes them loyal to the clubs. The sales staff is also highly trained so that they can handle ambitious targets and execute them in real time. Lebanon welcomes the guests with its warm hospitality that everyone talks about. Introduction Lebanon, the smallest country in the Middle East, has been an important destination and a spotlight to tourists from around the world for its strategic position next to the Mediterranean Sea. Its tourism industry rate has been increasing each year. Lebanon is popular for its ancient history that had gone from the remains of ancient Roman to well conserved palaces of the medieval times. Looking at its touristic side, Lebanon is the only Arab country that offers skiing activities, and for its breathtaking scenery, it offers a spectacular view of the old and new. As for its night life, Lebanon has the best restaurant club in the Middle East, the Sky Bar, where foreign lives the inspiration of its special events and wild life. Beside the night parties, Lebanon still maintains its high quality food such as Tabouleh, Hommous, Kebbeh, and not forgetting its traditional desserts Knafe and Um Ali. On the other hand, hospitality plays a very important role where traditional Lebanese hotels are highly recommended for their gracious services. Hotels there welcome you with the best hospitality in which they make sure to please their guests. By far, Lebanon is one of the most popular Arab countries that most tourists visit and speak highly about its hospitality. Accessibility The transportation infrastructure in Lebanon is very different as some areas have high quality especially modern primary and secondary roads, bridges, highways and most importantly the Beirut international airports. Whereas some parts of the country still have poor road conditions due to the Lebanese civil war in (1975-1990) and Lebanon War (2006) with Israel that damaged the roads and railed networks massively. The major forms of transport in Lebanon are buses, taxis, and ferries. The most popular mode of transportation is the service taxis, which is easily identifiable from the red number plate. Apart from travelling from the international airport, one can travel through to Lebanon from Cyprus by ferry and Damascus by road. Amenities Tourists would like to improve their experience when traveling; therefore they would like to shop. Lebanon is very well known for its fashion designers, so tourists are able to visit the boutiques that are located in Beirut. Malls are located in Beirut as well. Traditional Lebanese shops can be found on the streets, where tourists can have a look and grab something for a memory. Also, festivals like Baalbek, Byblos and Beiteddine take place each year presenting different themes. Mostly, these events have opportunities toward tourists to find out remarkable sites and cherish some moments. In addition, Lebanon includes best hospitals with experienced doctors that have completed their field in Europe. When it comes to education, universities in Lebanon are widely recognized as the best edification in the Middle East. Attractions Lebanon holds large selection of valleys, old structures, and admired traveler places that must be explored by tourists when visiting. From Beirut to Baalbek, Sidon to Tyre, Tripoli to Byblos, and many more cities in Lebanon are themselves tourists attractions. Beirut National Museum is an example of the historic monuments that was recognized in Lebanon in 1937 and was officially opened in 1942. This museum holds several pieces of antiques and work of art back then from the ancient era. Another museum tourists visits the most is Gibran museum that opened in 1995. Besides that, Jeita Grotto a beautiful limestone cave is positioned in the North of Beirut. Its one of the main attractions and was elected to be one of the 7 wonders of the world. It consists of lower and upper caves. Tourists should take a boat to discover the lower cave, as it controls a belowground river which supplies the Lebanese with fresh water. Accommodations Lebanon is always ready when it comes to accommodations. Other than hotels and chalets, many cities in Lebanon like Batroun and Jounieh offer apartments and villas for rent. One of the trendiest is SAIFI Suites; it is to be found in the center of Beirut. Its next to the Gemmayzeh; the best place for social and entertainment activities at night. This 4-star hotel tends to provide Wi-Fi without charging the customer, and leisure centers for relaxation. For site seen, this accommodation contains a balcony in each suite where you are able to glaze at the beautiful view of the town. The hotels restaurant and wine lounge, serve selections of food and beverages to satisfy the customers needs. There are room types in this hotel; one of them is the deluxe one-bedroom suite that holds a maximum of two people and is for 844 AED per night. Restaurants Lebanon still maintains its reliability when it comes to food. The traditional Lebanese food is highly spoken about and enjoyed by many people around the world. However, tourists can experience not only Lebanese cuisines but also different types of cuisines that are extended throughout the cities and villages restaurants in Lebanon. All restaurants differ in prices depending on the location and the category they fall in. For instance, Al Dente is an Italian restaurant in the Albergo Hotel at Achrafieh. Ità ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢s a quiet restaurant, where tourists can listen to Italian music playing in the background while dining. Moreover, downtown Beirut includes many restaurants with reasonable prices that satisfy everyone. Karam Beirut is one of the restaurants there, which targets many tourists who look for the best Lebanese restaurant. Hotels Known for its hospitality, Lebanon offers the tourists 500 different choices of hotels to experience. These hotels are classified from their quality and service depending on the position and price. Most top hotels that provide greatest services are known to be located at the sea-side. For example, The Riviera Hotel, a 5 star rate in Beirut, located opposite to the Mediterranean Sea, was opened in 1956. This hotel is identified as one of the most visited accommodation by tourists. One hundred twenty guest rooms and suites provided are modernized to add a trendy experience to this deluxe atmosphere. Fifty six years and this hotel still maintain its steadiness comparing it to others. Moreover, the prices differ from a season to another; in summer vacation tourists come to visit Lebanon therefore the prices of hotels are set to be high. However, from October till May the prices are flexible and able to be discussed. Clubs and Mice Facilities Being a country located in the Middle East, Lebanon is not widely known to be a tourist destination. This is due to the circumstances facing the region since over the years; war has been the most major situation that prevails. This made it difficult for the country to emerge as a destination for meetings, incentives, conferencing and exhibitions (MICE). Business events sector is a sector that is among the top sectors in terms of growth in any economy (Baum 2009, p.8). However in recent years, Lebanon has defied these adverse circumstances. There are many incentive rewards that accompany audience to a conference to any country (Weber 2002, p.102). The country has even described the sector as one of the key drivers of the economy in terms of foreign direct investment. Tourists coming into the country always mean an improvement to the domestic economy. Since the country is still gaining ground in the industry, there are not as many MICE facilities and clubs as compared to the western co untries. Regardless, the rate at which the sector is growing is worth noting given all the odds against the country. To attract more tourists, modern facilities have been built for future use. Most of them have contemporary interior designs, with each unit being self-sufficient. Each unit contains a private bar for clients to enjoy their stay in a sophisticated manner. The clubs have interactive television systems that allow tourists on the forum to interact through video conferencing. International satellite channels are also available in these facilities. Internet connectivity is paramount since it is the easiest way to connect and also interact on a real time basis. It is also important for staying in touch with all the stakeholders involved including their families back at home. Apart from the suites, there are also large conferences halls, to improve meetings and conferencing. One of these clubs, Club Rotana, is in Beirut. Most tourists visiting Lebanon for conferencing purposes end up at this modern club. Movenpick Hotel and Resort also located in Beirut is another key MICE facility in Lebano n. This hotel held a dynamic conference on education and networking in the month of October this year. These star hotels attract clients due to their charming look and comfort. Gaming and Cruising Sector The luxurious suites and advanced technology are not the only centers of attraction in these facilities. There are other activities that make these facilities significant tourist attraction sites. This is because the resorts have cruising and gaming spots. The games range from casinos to skiing in the mountains. Most of the facilities are in the capital city Beirut since the city is in a favorable environment for conducting activities such as cruising. Facilities such as Club Rotana have Casinos. This is because most tourists engage in these activities during their leisure time. One company offering cruising services is the Abou Merhi Cruises. This company has several cruise ships that tourists use during their cruising endeavors. Abou Merhi is in Beirut, the heart of Lebanese tourism and MICE facilities. This firm also boasts of over thirty two gaming machines, and also over seven poker games. The hotels will assign each of these games their own tables. Different clients can gather at different tables according to their taste. Casino gambling is illegal in some countries. In Lebanon, it is legal. This attracts clients that come from those countries where it is illegal to gamble at casinos. Abou Merhi is complete with hotel residence suites. This firm owns a cruising boat known as Orient Queen. The tourists are able to gamble in a casino and at the same time cruise during any time of any day. Some clients do not like gambling. They will play Bingo which is easier to do than gambling. This game does not require an individual to have any experience so as to enjoy. One can chat and make friends while enjoying a day long cruise. Gambling is not the only game offered in Lebanon. There are other exciting and fun games such as lottery, dog racing and horse racing. These games not only show excitement but they also add to the experiences of tourists and this will convince them to continue visiting the country. The combination of fun and conferencing concerns in these Lebanese clubs has led to the upward trend in growth, in tourism. Hospitality management, HR Practices, and Marketing Management Companies The development of these sectors has emanated from the management of the facilities and policies set by them. Management is a key driver in the growth of any business. It involves taking into account every aspect of the business and making decisions concerning the business. In order to satisfy their clients from abroad, the managers of these facilities have to make decisions on hospitality and design routines that are secure according to the clients. International hospitality management in Lebanon is capital intensive (Yu 1999, p.99). Some of these clubs such as Club Rotana have lounges facing the Mediterranean Sea giving the tourists a spectacular view of the sea. The tourists are also subject to private reception when they are checking in and also when they are checking out. Most of the clients that visit Lebanon in search of MICE facilities belong to the upper class in the society. They prefer better and luxurious spots. Privacy is paramount for these clients. This is why most clu bs and MICE facilities are situated in magnificent locations to attract these clients. The administration also ensures that their clients have access to daily local newspapers on a daily basis. This keeps the clients at par with what is happening globally. This is an appropriate hospitality decision made by managers of these facilities. This makes the facilities self reliant such that the clients do not have to travel elsewhere searching for informative media such as the newspapers. The Human Resource section only hires qualified staff that is capable. This is done to ensure that the staff upholds professionalism and perform their duties with integrity. Their purpose is to provide the best when it comes to Arab hospitality. They dedicate their energy to raising standards in the hotel and accommodation industry. The clubs know that if standards are low, they will not attract as many clients especially from foreign countries. They must provide services that are hard to find in the clientsà ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢ countries. The management of these facilities also commits to learning of different cultures of different countries so as to be able to provide the best according to the clientsà ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢ backgrounds. This is the only way that they will be able to understand what their clients prefer most. With this knowledge, the clubs will be able to satisfy their clients and ensure that they make the club their destination of choice if they ever visit Lebanon again. The marketing departments targets attracting corporate clients and maintaining close contacts with them. Personal relationships between the clubs and the clients create friendship. This friendship translates to formation of loyal customers. The customers will attract their close allies and recommend the clubs to them. This creates an increased market base for the clubs from all around the world. Franchising and ethical Franchising has become a popular interest in Lebanon. Since the tourism sector is still developing, most businesses are resorting to franchising their products in order to appeal to new clients globally. The hotels and clubs use names of already established brands in other countries so as to gain access to these markets. Once foreign clients know about these clubs and hotels, they will earn interest. This will create a new market for the Lebanese clubs and hotels. Lebanon has liberal laws that guarantee the existence of a free market. The laws also encourage foreign investment. The Lebanese Commercial Code governs all the companies in Lebanon, and as a requirement, the companies have to maintain a lawyer. The lawyer ensures that the decision makers understand legal procedures in the event of any decision making. All corporations doing business in Lebanon have to pay a tax rate of not more than ten percent of the net profits. The corporations should also pay a five percent rate on div idends. The Lebanese business entities maintain the integrity and treat their clients with respect. They also treat their employees well to ensure their businesses success. Conclusion Lebanon started to build new facilities to magnetize tourists. Today, Lebanon holds many attractions where visitors can explore via much transportation. It also contains great activities such as skiing, caving, and swimming to entertain tourists. It as well provides bungee jumping and parachuting that occur in the mountains. Hotels and restaurants are always opened to welcome tourists and locals with the best they have. City and country clubs are always there with their facilities to allow you both relax and amuse. In general, visiting this small country that is full of artificial and natural thrills will allow the tourist to experience and gain knowledge about the Lebanese culture.

Norms Essay -- Sociology, Breaking the Norms

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  It is 9:00 PM on a Sunday night. Televisions all across America tune into MTV. Millions of viewers will now spend the next thirty minutes watching a television program titled 'Jackass'. While watching this program, the viewers will observe everything from people eating hard boiled eggs in an attempt to purposely vomit, to a man testing out various self defense devices on himself. Next week viewers will tune into the same program to see the same kinds of stunts performed. The reason that America watches these kinds of programs, and the participants in them perform these stunts, are because 'norms' are being broken. A norm is something that is generally accepted by a society as the right thing to do, or the way things are supposed to be. For example, a norm would be to enter an elevator and stand facing the front for the duration of the trip. Breaking that norm would be to enter the elevator and face the back for the duration of the trip. It is not what is expected. Different norms exist in different societies, and when these norms are broken within these societies people pay attention, because it is not an occurrence observed on a regular basis.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  For our class project, each student was asked to break a norm that exists in our society and record the reactions of observers and results of the experiment. The norm I chose to break was the idea of driving normally-the belief that cars should be driven by pushing the gas pedal and moving in a forward motion, not a...

Merck and River Blindness

Onchocerciasis, known as river blindness, is caused by parasitic worms that live in the small black flies that breed in and about fast-moving rivers in developing countries in the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America. The disease, if untreated causes extreme discomfort and eventually, blindness. In 1978, the World Health Organization estimated that over 300,000 people were blind because of the disease and another 18 million were infected. At the time, there was no safe cure (Trevino, & Nelson, 2011).In 1978, Merck, while testing invermectin (a parasite killing drug for animals), found that invermectin killed a parasite similar to the one that caused river blindness. The problem for Merck was that river blindness generally only affects people in very poor areas and there was very little chance to recoup their financial investment by selling the drug.The ethical dilemma represented by this situation is focused on what course of action Merck should take. Does Merck invest precious res ources (both time and money) into testing and developing a drug that will not increase their profits? Or should Merck invest the resources knowing that their work, while not profitable, has the potential to save millions of lives and end the suffering of tens of millions more?On the Merck website, I found this listed first among their Values: Our business is preserving and improving human life. We also work to improve animal health. All of our actions must be measured by our success in achieving these goals. We value, above all, our ability to serve everyone who can benefit from the appropriate use of our products and services, thereby providing lasting consumer satisfaction (Our values, 2008). Corporate success (profit) vs. Corporate philosophy, while it is easy to  talk about ethics and charity, the river blindness scenario was a huge test of Merck’s corporate character.Section 2: StakeholdersAfter reading the case in our textbook and going out to read about this river bl indness issue, I have changed my opinion on who the stakeholders are in this situation (compared to what I wrote in the weekly discussions). The stakeholders, in my opinion are:1)Merck shareholders and investors 2)Merck employees 3)Merck management 4)People affected by (or potentially threatened by) river blindness This list is not a ranking of stakeholder importance as that is truly a subjective measure based on your view of the situation.Merck shareholders and investors may or may not share the company’s â€Å"people first† vision. For this group, the impact must be looked at in light of how the development of a drug (that will most likely be given away for free) affects the return on their investment. We have to remember that not all investors are rich billionaires like Warren Buffet, some are average, working class folks who rely on their investment income to help them survive. People invest in Merck because they expect a certain reasonable return on their investme nts and Merck has a responsibility to act in the best interest of their shareholders. If Merck decides to spend time and money on a philanthropic endeavor, how does the investment of time and manpower affect their other drug trials?Merck employees are stakeholders because their livelihood depends on Merck making enough profits to continue paying them. A few years ago I would not have viewed employees in this light but the more I learn about the company/employee dynamic, I begin to understand that employees, whether or not they have some financial interest in the company (other than salary), have a vested interest in the success of the company. Like the shareholders, employees make a choice to invest in a company. In their case, it is an investment of time and their investment is tied to  professional growth. Merck must make decisions that do not recklessly jeopardize the future of their employees.Merck management’s stake in this is similar to that of the employees. The diff erence is that not only are they invested professionally; the management team has been given stewardship over the Merck brand and corporate identity. They must make the decisions that set the company’s path so that the brand is financially successful while being true to the corporate vision that was discussed earlier.Last, but certainly not least, we get to the people who are affected by the river blindness disease. These people have voice in what Merck chooses to do but at the same time they are the reason that Merck is in business in the first place. As of 2006, estimates are that 37 million are infected with, and up to 100 million people are at risk of contracting, river blindness (Hearney, 2007). For a company like Merck that claims to be more concerned with people than profits, these people are definitely stakeholders in Merck’s decision to move forward with invermectin trials.Section 3: Analysis Based on Ethical TheoriesCultural relativism means that any decision is right (or wrong) depending on whose side you are taking at the moment. Because the United States doesn’t have a single, ethical baseline that guides our actions, each individual view holds equal weight and there is no absolute right or wrong. For this case, Merck could decide to cut the research on invermectin, order it’s scientists to not discuss the issue, and sit back while millions of people suffer through a horrible existence without a second thought. People who oppose Merck’s decision would have no standing to say anything about the decision because it is the right decision for the business culture in which Merck operates.For the suffering masses, this decision could be viewed as something akin to the Nazi decision to kill millions of Jews but based on the cultural relativistic school of thought, their view would not be any more important or morally superior than Merck’s. Part of the problem with this theory is that we are forced to accept barba ric actions as acceptable (burning people at the stake, cannibalism, beheading, â€Å"honor† killings,  stoning, etc.) because it is accepted by another culture. I find it ironic that there would have been a huge public outcry (from the very people who support cultural relativism) if Merck had decided to stop testing and not develop the drug. In general, these â€Å"liberal and enlightened† folks are only tolerant of the cultures and people with whom they agree.The teleological approach to this dilemma would require an examination of the issue and a breakdown of all the possible consequences of the various options presented.StakeholderDevelop – HarmsDevelop – BenefitsDon’t develop – HarmsDon’t develop – Benefits Merck ShareholdersCosts of development causes delays in other projects. Lost revenues cause stock price to drop. People on fixed incomes lose dividend money and are forced to live in poverty.Positive public reaction t o charitable act. More investments, higher stock prices.NoneFocus resources on other drug lines could result in higher profits, increasing stock prices. Investors make more money and their standard of living increases.Merck EmployeesCompany loses money, loss of profits forces layoffs.Chance to contribute to a worthwhile cause. Work on invermectin could lead to breakthroughs in other drugs.Loss of respect for Merck leadership. Perception that values are overshadowed by financial considerations.Focus on more lucrative products, increasing profits and salaries/benefits. Merck ManagementLoss of time/resources forces delays in other projects/products. Delays cause stock to drop.Loss of job.Public confidence spikes, stock price goes up. Influx of cash allows us to expand other projects.Public confidence crashes. Backlash forces investors to pull out. Jobs lost due to loss of capital. Focus on more lucrative products, increasing profits and salaries/benefits. People affected by river blind nessPossible fatal side effects (similar to other drugs).Cure for disease increases standard of living.Continued suffering from disease.None.Using the chart above, we would look at how the benefits and harms balance out to maximize the benefit for society. Obviously, using this method, we can see that the benefits of continuing the research and development of this drug has the potential to save millions of lives while the potential harms  are restricted to the loss of some profits and the possible delay of some other drugs. This approach isn’t about right or wrong; as long as the maximum societal benefit is reached, the actions taken to get to that point are not part of the equation.The deontological approach removes the harm/benefit comparison and focuses on the duty and obligation of Merck to do the right thing once they discovered that there was a possible cure for this disease. Merck’s corporate values statements show that this is the approach they choose to take in their daily operations. Profits are not the prime motivator, helping people is what they are all about. In this case, Merck decided to continue the research and help the people regardless of the consequences involved.According to the Merck website, since 1987, Merck has donated more than 2.5 billion tablets of MECTIZAN ® (ivermectin) in more than 30 countries worldwide. According to some deontological approaches, certain moral principles are binding, regardless of the consequences. Merck’s stance now matches up with what George W. Merck said in 1950, â€Å"We try never to forget that medicine is for people. It is not for profits. The profits follow, and if we have remembered that, they have never failed to appear. The better we have remembered that, the larger they have been.†As someone who follows the deontological approach myself, I can appreciate how difficult it can be to remain committed to this principle. Merck is a business and as such it doesn’t ex ist to give money away. I have argued that the people who invest in Merck have a huge stake in what the company does but part of the investment process is doing due diligence and research to make sure you are comfortable with how a company operates.Merck devotes an entire section of their website to Corporate Responsibility and they have detailed information on the initiatives they support. Part of the culture at Merck is one of giving back to the community and helping others so for Merck, the decision to develop invermectin was an easy one. Having a strong moral and ethical foundation makes it easy to make the right decision when faced with â€Å"easy† decisions that fall into the ethical gray area.The virtue ethics approach would looks at the motivations and intentions of  the decision maker as opposed to the results of his or her actions. In this case, if Merck had decided not to pursue the research and the CEO stood up and explained that the reason was because they had an obligation to their shareholders to focus on developing products that would be profitable, he would have been right due to the professional expectations of his office. CEO’s are supposed to make companies profitable, period.As long as Merck was operating legally, the moral questions about the results of the decision are not relevant to the virtue ethics approach. If the board announced that Merck, based on their stated corporate values, was going to continue to expend time and resources on a cure for river blindness even though it wasn’t a profitable project, their motivation for action would be guided by Merck’s established values and the sense of corporate responsibility that is important to them. Neither position would be wrong regardless of the outcomes because both courses of action were guided by the best intentions of their leadership.Section 4: Conclusion and RecommendationsIn this case, I feel that Merck made the proper decision based on their core c orporate values and the deontological approach to ethical decision-making. While I might have gone a different direction if I was making decisions for Merck, it is obvious from all my research that this program is helping millions of people each year. I was wrong about the river blindness issue in my original discussion post, this isn’t just about philanthropy or looking good for the public, this program (and the many other like it) run by Merck is all about being true to their core values.Even when they could not get financial backing for this project, they did what they felt was right regardless of the cost. The success of the river blindness campaign led Merck to begin providing ivermectin to treat lymphatic filariasis (Elephantitis) in Africa (Voelker, 1998). I am not so naà ¯ve as to think that Merck isn’t reaping some benefits from these programs but whatever small reward they are getting is well deserved when measured against the lives they have touched.There a re no recommendations I could make for Merck in the way they handle these situations. Merck’s actions are consistent with their stated policies  and they have managed to thrive while ensuring that the original intent of their founders (people before profits) is not lost in the rush to be commercially successful.

Early diagnosis of autism and impact on prognosis Essay

Autism and IQ Introduction Early diagnosis of autism and impact on prognosis: a narrative review   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Fernell, Eriksson and Gillberg (2013) based the study of the individuals affected by ASD on the magnocellular theory. The theory’s main constructs include that the people suffering from the disorder will have impaired magnocellular transmission networks and that the impairment is the cause of their problems in the processing of information on movement and motion. The theory also explains the problem as one, where results from the abnormal nature of magnocellular neural networks and a variety of sensory systems, unlike in the case of other similar conditions like dyslexia.The main constructs of the theory used by the authors of the article are based on the malfunctioning nature of the networks that guarantee that the working of the human brain is effective and optimal. The main constructs explored under the theory incorporated into the study are related in a variety of ways.Theyinclude the neurodevelopment deficiencies found in the brains of these individuals are the main cause for the impairment of the individual’s social instinct.The article draws on the behaviors that are manifest from the nature of these individuals, to conclude that the impairment of brain networks lead to socially instinctual deficiencies, for example,slowness in flicker-pedestal evaluations. In real life situations, the individual is not able to indicate the appearance of the different squares.Fernell, Eriksson and Gillberg (2013) contended with the premise of the theory that the effects seen arise from physiological underdevelopment of the brain. They also offered the explanation that impaired development or underdevelopment is caused by a variety of medical deficiencies. Based on the research done in a five-year period, they highlighted that there is a wide variety of causes, including the developmental deficiencies, early detection and trials to correct the issue and the effects of treatment. The effects explored included the impairments seen in the social functionality of the child and the outcomes of the treatment plan. For example, one of the effects explained was that there is little evidence of effective results arising from early interventions (Fernell, Eriksson & Gillberg, 2013). The article explored a variety of variables that are either moderating or mediating, depending on their nature and levels, including being epileptic and the fragility of the x syndrome. In the working out of the various constructs, the researchers controlled for the outside factors and variables, and reached the conclusion that there is litt le effectiveness in the early intervention models developed. From the study of the meta-analyses of the studies published by Pub Med in last five years. The researchers found some information showing that the adoption of early intensive treatment led to the successful correction of the problems found in children suffering from ASD. The interpretation of the findings was that more study was needed to explore the link between the impaired development of the networks and the intensity of behavioral corrections. Based on the article’s area of study as well as its findings, some information gaps were exposed, including those on whether the mediating variables of epilepsy among others could hold the key to the positive outcomes. The effects of the mediating factors should be explored further, so as to find out whether it will be necessary to develop a new theory incorporating them (Fernell, Eriksson & Gillberg, 2013). The main constructs explored under the theory incorporated into the study are related in a variety of ways.Theyinclude the neurodevelopment deficiencies found in the brains of these individuals are the main cause for the impairment of the individual’s social instinct.The article draws on the behaviors that are manifest from the nature of these individuals, to conclude that the impairment of brain networks lead to socially instinctual deficiencies, for example,slowness in flicker-pedestal evaluations. In real life situations, the individual is not able to indicate the appearance of the different squares.Fernell, Eriksson and Gillberg (2013) contended with the premise of the theory that the effects seen arise from physiological underdevelopment of the brain. They also offered the explanation that impaired development or underdevelopment is caused by a variety of medical deficiencies. Based on the research done in a five-year period, they highlighted that there is a wide variety of causes, including the developmental deficiencies, early detection and trials to correct the issue and the effects of treatment. The effects explored included the impairments seen in the social functionality of the child and the outcomes of the treatment plan. For example, one of the effects explained was that there is little evidence of effective results arising from early interventions (Fernell, Eriksson & Gillberg, 2013). The article explored a variety of variables that are either moderating or mediating, depending on their nature and levels, including being epileptic and the fragility of the x syndrome. In the working out of the various constructs, the researchers controlled for the outside factors and variables, and reached the conclusion that there is little effectiveness in the early intervention models developed. From the study of the meta-analyses of the studies published by Pub Med in last five years. The researchers found some information showing that the adoption of early intensive treatment led to the successful correction of the problems found in children suffering from ASD. The interpretation of the findings was that more study was needed to explore the link between the impaired development of the networks and the intensity of behavioral corrections. Based on the article’s area of study as well as its findings, some information gaps were exposed, including those on whether the mediating variables of epilepsy among others could hold the key to the positive outcomes. The effects of the mediating factors should be explored further, so as to find out whether it will be necessary to develop a new theory incorporating them (Fernell, Eriksson & Gillberg, 2013).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Randomized, controlled trial of an intervention for toddlers with autism: the Early Start Denver Model   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Dawson and colleagues (2010) did a randomized study exploring the effectiveness of the ESDM model of treatment. The ESDM is a developmental model of treatment based on behavioral interventions and is intended to lessen the severity of the effects of the toddlers suffering from ASD. The mediating and moderating areas explored through the study included the age of the children, which ranged from 18 to 30 months. The independent variables of the study included the delivery of ESDM model of treatment, and the dependent variable beingchecked towards theory development was the reduction in the severity of the ASD condition. The theory under exploration was the empathizing-systemizing theoretical model. The main position of the theory is that the children suffering from ASD get fewer scores in adaptive behaviors like empathy as compared to their peers (Dawson et al., 2010). The theory is based on the outlook that the effects of autism limit a chi ld’s ability to adapt to social situations and their environment.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The main constructs of the theory include the systematized nature of social functionality, sensory manipulation, and the working of motor-based systems. The relationship of the constructs is that the impairment in the development of the brain leads to the reduced effectiveness of the autistic child. The cause of the phenomena includes the impairment in the development of the brain. The effects include the low levels of emotional ability (empathy), sensory manipulation including tapping; and motor manipulation like rocking. The mediating variables included the ages of the children and were not demonstrated to have any effect on the effectiveness of the treatment (Dawson et al., 2010). In the operationalization of the constructs, the study used a study group and a control group. The study split the sampled children of ages ranging from 18 to 30 monthsinto two groups (control and study).In addition, it delivered the ESDM treatment over a two-year period and demonstrated that the method yielded results.The study adopted a statistically comparative study of the children’s standardized scores. The study showed that the treatment was effective, and the study contributed to the advancement of the theory that the developmental effects can be reduced. The results of the study could widen the scope of the theory among others as many have maintained the position that treatment does not yield results(Dawson et al., 2010). Systematic Review of Early Intensive Intervention for Autism Spectrum Disorders   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Warren and colleagues (2011)based their study on the theory of applied behavioral evaluation. The main constructs of the theory include that the principle that child learning can be utilized to improve the affected behavioral areas, through behavioral learning. The implications of the principle are that, despite that it may be impossible to solve the problems completely; it is possible to reduce the severity and develop behaviors that reduce their adversity. The relationship between the constructs is based on the outlook that behaviors are learned and that the impaired behavioral areas can be improved through specificallytargeted learning. The learning that is effective for different individuals is often different, depending on the severity of the ASD in the different areas of underdevelopment. The causes in a relationship include the impairments of the children’s brains, and the effects of behavioral training. The mediating factors explored in the study include the outlook of the behavioral training and its effectiveness. The aspects taken into account as determinants of the effectiveness of the process include the team that administers the behavioral training. In the operationalization of the constructs, the study explored the study explored the modeling based on the early start Denver system. The study entailed the review of the literature that explored the field during the years spanning from 2000 and 2010. The study was mainly a literature review of the studies done, in the past, in the area. The study did not apply any statistical analyzes, due to its nature. The findings of the study included that the Lovaas-based model of treatment, among a few other early intensive training for behavioral development, improved skills like language, cognitive abilities, and social behaviors. The interpretation of the results was that early interventionism is useful in countering or lessening the severity of the impacts of ASD. Autism spectrum disorders: an overview of diagnosis andtreatment   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Brentani and colleagues (2013) based their exploration of the problem of ASD and the corrective measures employed to address it, on the developmental milestones of children aged between 0 and 3.The article started by exploring the wide array of developmental impairments that resemble ASD, including a Heller’s syndrome.It emphasized that they all result from the faulty or compromised working of the child’s brain systems(Brentani et al., 2013). The effects of ASD explored include the abnormality of social engagement, creative play, and language skills. The major constructions explored by the authors in the review included the diagnostic models used, main areas of evaluation, the scales and tools for evaluating the problem and the information generated through epidemiological treatment models. In exploring the wide array of constructs, the authors reviewed the studies exploring ASD and the different variables. The relationship b etween the constructs includes that some contribute to the development of ASD The relationship between the constructs includes that some contribute to the development of ASD andothers are the outcomes(Brentani et al., 2013). The causes covered by the study include drugs administered for symptom control and the scales used to evaluate the problem and their effects on the management of the problem. There are no mediating or moderating constructs, but the dependent constructs include the change of the symptoms of ASD. The study was mainly a review of theliterature; therefore, it did not employ any research methods. Using the outcomes of the study, there was no information reported on the recovery of the subjects covered by the study after they were subjected to the corrective and management-based treatments. Further, the study gave the impression that it is necessary to develop multi-professional teams in the exploration of the problem of ASD. In addition to its engagement with management or treatment models (Brentani et al., 2013). Autistic spectrum disorders: Diagnostic and Therapeutic challenges in Mexico   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Marquez-Caraveo and Albores-Gallo (2011)explored the nature of ASD, which are developmental impairments that affect three areas, including the skills of communication, interactive skills in social settings and motor movements. The study explored in the article is based on the developmental theory of mind blindness. The theoretic model that emphasizes the blindness of the mind, is based on the concept that the autism of a child is initially noticed by parents. Among the other people within the social circle of the child as early as when they are as young as 12 months of age.The theory highlights that the areas of cognitive and interactive development that are impaired include the child’s ability to observe the behavior of another and then adjust in response. One example of real-life experience that demonstrates this area of weakness is that you will find the autistic child looking outside the window, but they will notice little on th e view outside the window. In exploring the theory, the researchers highlighted that less than 38% of families seek medical advice, even after noticing the developmental deficiencies that give evidence of ASD. The researchers also highlighted the necessity of training health and educational service providers, on the developmental course of social communication and interactions as well as language acquisition. By developing the experience and the knowledge needed to discover the problems of the children, they will report the condition before it escalates to levels that are more adverse. The theory highlights that the areas of cognitive and interactive development that are impaired include the child’s ability to observe the behavior of another and then adjust in response. One example of real-life experience that demonstrates this area of weakness is that you will find the autistic child looking outside the window, but they will notice little on the view outside the window. In exploring the theory, the researchers highlighted that less than 38% of families seek medical advice, even after noticing the developmental deficiencies that give evidence of ASD. The researchers also highlighted the necessity of training health and educational service providers, on the developmental course of social communication and interactions as well as language acquisition. By developing the experience and the knowledge needed to discover the problems of the children, they will report the condition before it escalates to levels that are more adverse.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The major constructs explored in the study included the discovery of the symptoms of autism, the instruments for assessing the problem, and the psychosocial treatments that can be used to address the problem. The relationship between the various constructs is one that demonstrates a continuum model.This is where the observation of symptoms should lead to the use of dedicated tools to study the problem and initiating psychosocial treatment to reduce the severity of the problem.The cause variable is the symptoms of ASD. The mediating and in some case moderating variable is the evaluation of the problem using dedicated tools. The dependent variable is initiating psychosocial treatment, which leads to the reduction of the problem. The constructs were mainly explored as a continuum of events, and not operationalized as cause-effect based phenomena. The study was mainly a literature review exploring the literature developed about ASD, its treatm ent and the course of discovery. The article led to questions on the importance of training/ teaching parents on ASD, so that they can detect ASD early and initiate psychosocial development for better outcomes. The mediating and in some case moderating variable is the evaluation of the problem using dedicated tools. The dependent variable is initiating psychosocial treatment, which leads to the reduction of the problem. The constructs were mainly explored as a continuum of events, and not operationalized as cause-effect based phenomena. The study was mainly a literature review exploring the literature developed about ASD, its treatment and the course of discovery. The article led to questions on the importance of training/ teaching parents on ASD, so that they can detect ASD early and initiate psychosocial development for better outcomes. The mediating and in some case moderating variable is the evaluation of the problem using dedicated tools. The dependent variable is initiating psychosocial treatment, which leads to the reduction of the problem. The constructs were mainly explored as a continuum of events, and not operationalized as cause-effect based phenomena. The study was mainly a literature review exploring the literature developed about ASD, its treatment and the course of discovery. The article led to questions on the importance of training/ teaching parents on ASD, so that they can detect ASD early and initiate psychosocial development for better outcomes. References Brentani, H., de Paula, C., Bordini, D., Rolim, D.,  Sato, F.,  Portolese, J., Pacifico, M.,  &McCracken, J. (2013). Autism spectrum disorders: an overview of diagnosis and treatment.Rev. Bras. Psiquiatr.   35 (Supl. 1), S62-72. Dawson, G., Rogers, S., Munson, J., Smith, M., Winter, J., Greenson, J., Donaldson, A., &Varley, J. (2010). Randomized, controlled trial of an intervention for toddlers with autism: the Early Start Denver Model.Pediatrics, 125 (1), e17-23. Fernell, E., Eriksson, M., & Gillberg, C. (2013). Early diagnosis of autism and impact on prognosis: a narrative review. Clin Epidemiol, 5, 33-43. Marquez-Caraveo, M., & Albores-Gallo, L. (2011). Autistic spectrum disorders: Diagnostic and Therapeutic challenges in Mexico. Salud Mental, 34, 435-441. Warren, Z., McPheeters, M., Sathe, N., Foss-Feig, J., Glasser, A., &Veenstra-VanderWeele, J.A. (2011). Systematic Review of Early Intensive Intervention for Autism Spectrum Disorders. Pediatrics,127(5), e1303-e1311. 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