Bohr and the Periodic table :: essays research papers

Bohr's Model   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  There are three main parts of an atom the electrons, protons and the neutrons. Each part has charge. It is rather positive, negative, or neutral. An electron always has a negative charge. Protons always have negative charges. Then finally the neutron is a neutral charge or a charge of zero. If the charge of the whole atom it zero that means there are an equal number of positive and negative pieces. An electron can be found anywhere around the nucleus, and the protons and neutrons are in the nucleus. You can not pin point were the electrons are but the area that it can be in is called a shell. Periodic Table   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  On the periodic table the horizontal rows are called periods, and the Vertical columns are called groups. Elements that are in the same row have something in common. Elements in the same period have the same number of atomic shells. Every element in the top row has one shell for its electrons. The second row has two shells for their electrons. Now, the most shells for one element is seven. Less specific groups are called families. Families are grouped by their chemical properties and how the elements react with the outside world. The columns in the periodic table are mostly used to make families. A family of elements can be found in many different ways. An isotope is an atom that is missing or that has an extra neutron. Ionic Bonds   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ions are atoms with an extra electron or a missing electron. But a normal atom would be neutral because it has the same number of electrons as the atomic number. If you are an atom and you are missing one electron, it does not mean that you are another atom, but you are not a complete atom either. You are something new, an ion. The goal of an atom is to be happy. If you have filled shells you are called stable. When you give up the extra electron you are attractive and other atoms want to bond with you. The two main types of bonding are covaent and electrovalent. Ionic bonds are really groups of charged ions held together by electric forces. Covailent Bonds   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Covailent compounds happen when the electrons are shared by the atoms.

Divisive, but Effectual: Reinstating the Draft Essay -- U.S. Military

Ever since World War II, the last war that garnered full American support, the percentage of American citizens enrolling in the U.S. Army has diminished significantly. The U.S. is a major military power in the present world; American soldiers are engaged in many multi-theater positions, consequently dispersing troops over various regions worldwide. As only one in ten citizens has served in the US Army, American knowledge of military conditions is rapidly lessening along with the national harmony that complements such knowledge. Therefore, the comprehension that American security is closely associated with a formidable military never resonated within the greater part of modern American citizens. Although antiwar activists may decry compulsory conscription as unconstitutional, it needs to be reinstated in order to solidify the meaning of being an American citizen, boost the economy by providing jobs, and unify the American people with enhanced homeland security. Generally, reinstating the Constitutional draft would solidify the meaning of being an American citizen. Often, wealthier and more privileged people are able to ask for exemption from serving, so representation of soldiers in combat is composed of less-privileged citizens. With compulsory conscription, all American citizens, men or women, ages 18-26 are subject to be recruited for the armed forces. In fact, only 4 members of the 107th Congress who voted in favor of the Iraq war had children serving there. Politicians would know how it feels to have loved ones in a war, instead of freely speaking about wartime without experiencing it in any way. 1 (206) Americans feel that public support for war in foreign countries is not strong because the soldiers fighting are poorly rep... ..." CQ Researcher Outline, January 11, 1991. http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre1991011100 (accessed March 19, 2012). "Binding the Nation: National Service in America." U.S. Army War College, 2008. http://www.carlisle.army.mil/usawc/parameters/Articles/08winter/grigsby.pdf (accessed March 12, 2012). â€Å"Learn about National Service." Americans for a National Service Act, . nationalserviceact.org (accessed March 19, 2012). Greenblatt, Alan. "Upward Mobility." CQ Researcher, April 29, 2005. http://www.cqpress.com/product/Researcher-Upward-Mobility-v15-16.html (accessed March 14, 2012). Farrell, Brenda S. "Military Personnel: Evaluation Methods Linked to Anticipated Outcomes Needed to Inform Decisions on Army Recruitment Incentives." U.S. Government Accountability Office, September 19, 2008. http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-08-1037R (accessed March 19, 2012).

The Architecture of Moshe Safde Essay -- Architecture

Moshe Safdie is an architect who really examines how a building can shape an area. Not only how the space may look but its functionality, impact on the environment, and impact on the surrounding community. He seeks to engage and enrich the communities making unique and inviting spaces to fit the needs of each project. (Safdie Architects) One of Safdie's most well known buildings is Habitat 67 (or Habitat). The concept of Habitat began in Safdie's master's thesis. He submitted the idea to the 1967 World Exhibition and, when it was accepted, established his own firm to help see its completion. (Safdie Architects) A series of carefully planned and stacked concrete blocks, Habitat seeks to create a space where every resident of the apartments would have access to natural lighting and a private garden area. It was the building that launched Safdie into a very successful career at a fairly young age (being 29 when it was built). The use of natural light and intimate spaces inside larger vessels have carried throughout all his work regardless of exterior design. (TED) Due to his Jewish heritage and early success, he established a second office in Jerusalem in order to help restore the city. (Sheets) In 1976, one of the projects he received was an extension of Yad Vashem Holocaust museum to be dedicated to the one and a half million children that died during the Holocaust. He felt there were already so many museums dedicated to information about the Holocaust that he wanted to take a different approach to this one. Instead of old clothing and drawings of the survivors, he proposed they tunnel into the hill to a cave below and using images such as photographs and a single candle to convey the heaviness of the loss of the children. T... ...ometimes I don't like the messages I see, pieces such as Serrano's Piss Christ conveys a message that a Jackson Pollack just doesn't. Pendulums can only swing so far before they come back. The art world, like everything, reflects this. It seems the reverse has already began in many ways though only the future will say for sure. Works Cited Arc Space. 1 August 2005. 1 June 2012 . Architect's Newspaper. 1 June 2012 . Safdie Architects. 31 May 2012 . Saieh, Nico. ArchDaily. 26 July 2010. 1 June 2012 . Sheets, Hilarie M. "Architectural Extrovert." ARTnews April 2011: 60-63. TED. March 2002. 31 May 2012 . The Architecture of Moshe Safde Essay -- Architecture Moshe Safdie is an architect who really examines how a building can shape an area. Not only how the space may look but its functionality, impact on the environment, and impact on the surrounding community. He seeks to engage and enrich the communities making unique and inviting spaces to fit the needs of each project. (Safdie Architects) One of Safdie's most well known buildings is Habitat 67 (or Habitat). The concept of Habitat began in Safdie's master's thesis. He submitted the idea to the 1967 World Exhibition and, when it was accepted, established his own firm to help see its completion. (Safdie Architects) A series of carefully planned and stacked concrete blocks, Habitat seeks to create a space where every resident of the apartments would have access to natural lighting and a private garden area. It was the building that launched Safdie into a very successful career at a fairly young age (being 29 when it was built). The use of natural light and intimate spaces inside larger vessels have carried throughout all his work regardless of exterior design. (TED) Due to his Jewish heritage and early success, he established a second office in Jerusalem in order to help restore the city. (Sheets) In 1976, one of the projects he received was an extension of Yad Vashem Holocaust museum to be dedicated to the one and a half million children that died during the Holocaust. He felt there were already so many museums dedicated to information about the Holocaust that he wanted to take a different approach to this one. Instead of old clothing and drawings of the survivors, he proposed they tunnel into the hill to a cave below and using images such as photographs and a single candle to convey the heaviness of the loss of the children. T... ...ometimes I don't like the messages I see, pieces such as Serrano's Piss Christ conveys a message that a Jackson Pollack just doesn't. Pendulums can only swing so far before they come back. The art world, like everything, reflects this. It seems the reverse has already began in many ways though only the future will say for sure. Works Cited Arc Space. 1 August 2005. 1 June 2012 . Architect's Newspaper. 1 June 2012 . Safdie Architects. 31 May 2012 . Saieh, Nico. ArchDaily. 26 July 2010. 1 June 2012 . Sheets, Hilarie M. "Architectural Extrovert." ARTnews April 2011: 60-63. TED. March 2002. 31 May 2012 .

Erikson’s stages of psychosocial development Essay

1. Carl Roger’s Humanistic theory is based upon the idea that everyone has the potential to make a contribution to society and be a good and likeable person if his or her needs are fulfilled. Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers led the humanistic theory movement and it was Maslow who developed the â€Å"pyramid of needs†. Sigmund Freud’s Humanistic theory is based upon the idea that everyone has the potential to make a contribution to society and be a good and likeable person – if their needs are fulfilled. Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers led the humanistic theory movement and it was Maslow who developed the â€Å"pyramid of needs†. Sigmund Freud believed that people have three levels of awareness, which are the conscious, preconscious, and the unconscious. Freud developed a detailed theory on how our own thoughts and feelings affect our actions. It is known as Freud’s Psychodynamic Theory. 2. The five basic traits that most describe differences in personality are Neuroticism – A tendency to easily experience unpleasant emotions such as anxiety, anger, or depression. Extroversion – Energy, surgency, and the tendency to seek stimulation and the company of others. Agreeableness – A tendency to be compassionate and cooperative rather than suspicious and antagonistic towards others. Conscientiousness – A tendency to show self-discipline, act dutifully, and aim for achievement. Openness to experience appreciation for art, emotion, adventure, and unusual ideas, imaginative and curious. Erik Erikson maintained that personality develops in a predetermined order. Instead of focusing on sexual development, however, he was interested in how children socialize and how this affects their sense of self. He saw personality as developing throughout the lifetime and looked at identity crises at the focal point for each stage of human development. These eight stages were Trust Versus Mistrust, Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt, Initiative vs. Guilt, Industry vs. Inferiority, Identity vs. Role Confusion, Intimacy vs. Isolation, Generativist vs. Stagnation, Ego Integrity vs. Despair.

Father of Science Fiction: H. G. Wells

H. G. Wells is the True â€Å"Father of Science Fiction† At the very end of the Victorian Era, there emerged a man of literature the likes of which the world had never before seen. Some know him best as an English novelist, though most of his works were not novels. Some call him a political and social commentator, due to the didactic themes in many of his works. Due to inclusion of the social and natural sciences in his works, he is also known as a popularizer of science.His devotion to the development and establishment of future studies as a science most certainly garnered him the reputation as an early futurist. His pervasive influence in the development of the science fiction genre is indisputable. However it was his masterful weaving together of futurism and speculative fiction into a single body of work dedicated to the future of mankind that earns H. G. Wells the title of â€Å"The Father of Science Fiction†. Herbert George Wells was born in Bromely, Kent, England in September of 1866, the son of a maid and a professional cricketer.When he was eight years old Wells broke his leg and began reading library books to pass the time, stimulating his desire to write. He attended a number of schools throughout his early life, acquiring an xtensive background in physics, astronomy, and chemistry. He even studied biology under Thomas Henry Huxley at the Royal College of Science, acquiring extensive knowledge in the theories of evolution. Joining the school Debating Society nurtured his interest toward social issues and reform.Wells considered himself a socialist and was a member of the Fabian Society that included other such notable members as George Bernard Shaw and Virginia Woolf. At that time he also founded The Science School Journal, allowing him a forum to develop his pen for literature, expressing his iews on society and perfecting his burgeoning fiction. After doing some teaching, he eventually graduated from The University of London with a Ba chelors of Science in zoology. His prolific writing career that followed included hundreds of works over the span of fifty years.His talent for combining the possibilities of science and technology in the form of fictional stories that became known as â€Å"science fiction† or as the genre was known in Britain at the time, the â€Å"scientific romance†. Science fiction as a modern literary genre is distinguished by its use of real cientific ideas and concepts to form a story that is plausible within a futuristic or alternative-world setting. The imaginative elements of science fiction are largely possible within the realm of scientific theory and fact.This differentiates science fiction from other speculative genres such as fantasy and horror in that those works are not concerned with scientific and technological possibility. Even Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (1818), though certainly innovative in using themes of science fiction, is more accurately classified as a horro r novel. Horror and fantasy genres also delineate rom science fiction in that they include magical and supernatural elements that are absent from the realistic and logical science fiction genre.Though some story elements of sci-fi can be purely imaginary, accurate depictions of science and technology are used to tormulate realistic conjectures ot the tuture, or even alternative timelines of the present or past. What distinguishes H. G. Wells from earlier authors who delve into themes of modern science fiction is that he studied science as a primary disciplinary field and applied his knowledge in a literary fashion, focusing on scientific and technological plausibility. All of Wells' scientific romances contain realistic elements that are based on applied scientific methodology and knowledge.Some of these include such famous works as The Time Machine (1895), The Invisible Man (1897), and The War of the Worlds (1898). Though Wells is considered the â€Å"Father of Science Fictionâ₠¬ , it is often argued that Mary Shelley's Frankenstein is the first work that could be considered true science fiction. Many of the innovative themes used by Mary Shelley unquestionably fall into the realm of modern science fiction. Never before had any story been written about a man of science† (the term â€Å"scientist† was not yet coined and would not be until 1834) that performs â€Å"experiments† in a â€Å"laboratory'.Written as a response to the recent Industrial Revolution, Shelley uses fantastical scientific innovations to explore the moral and ethical consequences of technology, a device used by nearly all modern science fiction writers, including Wells. However, unlike Wells, Shelley's works include precious little in the way of actual scientific fact or theory, leaving the audience to speculate about their plausibility. Her education, though broad and advanced for a oman of the Romantic era, was in literary studies and included no instruction in th e natural or physical sciences.Her sources were limited to discussions with her peers of earlyl 9th century experiments in vivisection and galvanism, the latter of which is an antiquated term for the stimulation of muscles by electric current, applied in the case of Frankenstein to the reanimation of dead tissue. Her scientific education is in contrast to Wells, who had an extensive educational background in the sciences. Although Shelley's science is neither plausible nor the main focus of her story, its ealistic nature made Frankenstein truly frightening to her audience, which was her intention in using such scientific elements.Shelley had originally conceived the work as a horror story, thus her themes of science fiction become secondary to the theme of horror as the focus of the work. She inspired the archetype of the â€Å"monster† that followed in literature and film. Though Shelley's idea of using science merged with fiction was innovative for the time and implemented by later writers (including Wells, and not for another 80 years), Frankenstein's designation as science fiction remains ncillary to that as a landmark novel of the horror genre.The title of â€Å"The Father of Science Fiction has also been applied to popular French writer Jules Verne, but is more accurately applied to H. G. Wells. While certainly a brilliant and talented writer that heavily influenced science fiction as a genre of literature, Verne's novels can easily be disputed as works of true science fiction. Much like Shelley's Frankenstein, the works of Verne contain elements and themes that are considered scientific but accessory to his primary literary theme.Much attention is given to Verne's Voyages Extraordinaires, a series of fifty-four stories hich include such famous works as Journey to the Center of the Earth (1864), From the Earth to the Moon (1865), and Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea (1869). At the time of their publication, the technological advancements pre sent in Verne's works had been extrapolated by him to aid in his fantastic voyages, but would soon atter become scientific realities. This earned him the reputation ot being a technological prophet, a reputation also held by Wells.Some of his prophecies that came true include the electric submarine, the helicopter, and a â€Å"projectile† to carry passengers to the moon. Although Verne's scientific prophecies were at times more grounded in reality than those of Wells, they were made almost primarily in the area of transportation, unlike Wells, whose prophecies were made in multiple areas of science. The argument can be made that Verne himself inspired these technological advancements. Many pioneering submarine, aviation and rocketry innovators have credited Verne as the inspiration for their successful inventions. However, Jules Verne was in no way a scientist. He was educated as a lawyer and studied geography, the latter of which inspired him to write his stories of adventur e and travel. Verne argued incessantly that his stories were not meant to be read scientifically, and even stated â€Å"l do not in any way pose as a scientist†2. The science he did use in his stories was well researched; Verne often spent time in the company of the best contemporary scientists of his day, consulting them on possibilities of future technology that he could realistically yet fantastically apply to his adventure stories.While not all science fiction writers are scientists, the case of whether Verne or Wells is â€Å"The Father of Science Fiction† can favor Wells as the true â€Å"Father† when it's argued hat Wells' scientific educational background gives him credibility and authority. His use of scientific elements as the primary theme of his works (unlike Verne, whose science was used as an auxiliary to the theme of adventure) makes him more deserving of the title. Also, Verne's title of â€Å"technological prophet† passed to Wells because of his dedication not Just to science but also the serious exploration and inquiry of the future.In 1901, H. G. Wells wrote a book called Anticipations of the Reactions of Mechanical and Scientific Progress upon Human Life and Thought which is onsidered the â€Å"first comprehensive and widely read survey of future developments in the short history of predictive writing†3. Wells was not the first person to take seriously the study of the future, but rather he had access to a vast amount of early speculative writings, including some utopian novels that explored the future state of society, that he combined into a single body of work.With the development of scientific thought during the 18th and 19th centuries and the movement of scholars away from religious apocalyptic future inquiry, scholarly thinking and literature that ealt with general human progress instead of eschatology began to emerge. The development of social sciences that studied human interaction showed predictiv e power when applied to how future society might develop. Many 19th century novelists such as William Morris synthesized sociology with speculative fiction perfecting the utopian novel that gives an image of an ideal society set in the future.Earlier works inherited by Wells that included futurist themes often had a different purpose than the actual scientific study of the future such as exploring God and nterpreting history. In Anticipations, all the early tendencies toward future thought were combined by Wells into the first volume of work that gave complete attention to futurist ideas and systematically explored the future. Like the works of Verne, Anticipations investigates the future of transportation, accurately predicting major highways and interstates as well as the prevalence of motor vehicles.He accurately predicts the rise ot suburbia and huge metropolises as an enormous unbroken sprawls of middle-class life. The book also dwells extensively on the future of world rder an d government, even predicting the formation of the European Union. After the publication of the book, the Royal Institution requested a lecture on future study, which he published under the name The Discovery of the Future (1902). The lecture calls for a whole new science to establish an ordered and working vision of the future, and is known to this day to be the birth of future studies.Wells continued this theme with other works dedicated to the future such as A Modern Utopia 1905), The Future in America (1906), What is Coming? (1916), A Year of Prophesying (1925), The Fate of Homo Sapiens (1939) and many, many more. His work The Shape of Things to Come (1933) is a fictional outline of future history, the title a phrase coined by Wells that has been used countless times and is still used today. The term â€Å"foresight† used in Anticipations was also coined by Wells.Wells' other accurate future predictions include lasers, cell phones, the Internet, and the atomic bomb (a phr ase he used in his book The World Set Free [1914] to describe the bombs that would not be developed until the 1930's). The attention that Wells gave to surveying the future not nly established future studies as a legitimate science, but also helped firmly established future thought as a major theme of science fiction. Before Wells published Anticipations, he published his first and most well-known novel The Time Machine (1895).The story features a scientist known only as â€Å"The Time Traveler† who built a device that can move through time. This device is known as a â€Å"time machine†, a term coined by Wells and still used to this day in reference to such a device. The Time Traveler Journeys forward in time almost 800,000 years and meets a peaceful society of child-like humans known as the Eloi. He also meets the frightening race of Morlocks that live underground and are keepers of the technology that achieve the above-ground serenity.The Time Traveler also soon lear ns that the Morlocks feed on the Eloi, and that their technology is used to keep the Eloi passive. He comes to the conclusion that the two races are a product of Darwinian evolution and the large gap between the social classes of British society. He speculates that the Eloi were once the leisure class, and due to their conquest of nature with technology they have become feeble in an environment where intelligence and strength are no onger necessary for survival. He also speculates that the Morlocks are descendants of the oppressed working class.This application of Darwin's theories as a literary motif echoes Wells' education under Huxley who was known as â€Å"Darwin's Bulldog†. Before publication of The Time Machine, the premise of time travel as a plot device had been used very little. There were some old folk tales and less than a handful of modern fictional works that had included time travel. The idea was certainly popularized by Wells and considered the inspiration of a ll later science fiction works that feature time travel. Like Anticipations, it also established time settings in the future as a major element of science fiction.Wells is the first author to use modern science fiction elements to compose social and political commentary. The Time Machine famously illustrates the possible future consequences of a stratified society that becomes too dependent on technology and will be subject to a form of extreme social Darwinism. In The War of the Worlds, Wells examines Victorian attitudes and values. In his story of Martians attempting to colonize Earth and exterminate humans, Wells provides an imaginative vehicle tor ommentary on British Imperialism.Wells also explores morality and technological ethics, specifically within the realm of vivisection and genetic engineering in his novel The Island of Dr. Moreau (1896). The use of science in a fictional setting to make a didactic point is a reoccurring theme in Wells' scientific romances. It has since then became a major literary device in modern science fiction works to explore the impact of technology on society and humanity. In his best-known and most influential work, 2001 : A Space Odyssey (1968), British author Arthur C.Clarke explores the moral and hilosophical implications surrounding technology and artificial intelligence, evolution, and alien life. Clarke was strongly influenced by Wells; he was even vice president of the H. G. Wells Society. The British author C. S. Lewis was a champion of science fiction that is philosophically reflective and includes a moral point. He created his Cosmic Trilogy as a direct influence by H. G. Wells, citing his novel The First Men in the Moon (1901) as â€Å"the best sort [of science fiction] I have read†4.Out of the Silent Planet (1938), the first book in Lewis' trilogy, is so similar to The First Men in the Moon that the opening age says â€Å"Certain slighting references to earlier stories of this type which will be found in the following pages have been put there for purely dramatic purposes. The author would be sorry if any reader supposed he was too stupid to have enjoyed Mr. H. G. Wells fantasies or too ungrateful to acknowledge his debt to them. â€Å"5 Wells' influence on science fiction extends to many more authors, including British science fiction author Olaf Stapledon.Stapledon himself was a heavily influential writer, contributing many ideas to the genre of science fiction. Stapledon and Wells orresponded for over a decade, both creating ideas together and borrowing from each other. In his book The Billion Year Spree, Brian Aldiss calls Stapledon the â€Å"greatest of Wells' followers†6. Wells' science fictional reach extended beyond the sphere of British authors and diffused quickly to America, where his influence can be seen in such notable science fiction authors as Isaac Asimov and Robert Heinlein.During the 19th and 20th centuries, when the idea of the utopia as story element be gan to have a prominent place in literature, Wells himself wrote a number of utopian novels such as A Modern Utopia (1905) and Men Like Gods (1923). Wells progresses the idea of the utopia with his novel The Time Machine by turning the theme into an anti-utopia point of view. He illustrates the seemingly utopian society of the Eloi, and upon the discovery of the violent Morlocks, the world transforms into a horrifying dystopia.In his novel When the Sleeper Wakes (1899) about a man who falls asleep for two hundred years and wakes up in the future, Wells gives definitive form to the dystopia as a science fiction theme. This theme was taken up by later authors, most notably the British authors George Orwell and Aldous Huxley in their amous novels Nineteen Eighty-Four (1949) and Brave New World (1932) respectively. These two novels have been explicitly touted by their authors as directly influenced by the works of Wells, and have in turn influenced many other authors, works, philosopher s, thinkers, and even nations and governments.The achievement of H. G. Wells in the development of science fiction as a respected and important literary genre is unquestionable. His background as a scientist combined with his adept queries on futuristic ideas provided a springboard into an illustrious and intluential literary career His creative inventions ot science fiction themes such as the time travel, alien invasions, and invisible men have taken their place as staples of sci-fi literature.This, along with his numerous coined terms, technological prescience and populizing of proto-science fiction themes into mainstream literature designate Wells as the most important science fiction writer the genre has ever seen. And when his pervasive influence on future science fiction writers is regarded along with his other contributions, the only conclusion that remains is that H. G. Wells is the true â€Å"Father of Science Fiction†. Works Cited Wells, H. G. Anticipations of the R eactions of Mechanical and Scientific Progress upon Human Life and Thought.

Company Analysis: Sunrise Senior Living Essay

Sunrise Senior Living Inc. is one of the top firms in the rapidly growing long-term care industry. They provided a number of services for senior citizens including assisted living, meals, transportation, housekeeping, and licensed and highly skilled nurses for certain residents who require 24 hour care. The company was started in 1981 in Fairfax, Virginia by married couple Paul and Terry Klaassen who had a vision of creating alternative senior living options that emphasize quality of life. They have started what is now the most recognized company in the industry boasting innovative products and services for senior citizens. Ultimately after thoroughly researching the company’s credentials, I decided that Sunrise Senior Living would be a favorable investment given that it is part of quickly expanding industry, it is the top firm in the industry, and expert analysts believe that it is a smart investment. Introduction and Statement of Purpose The purpose of this report is to provide a thorough analysis of Sunrise Senior Living in order to make a decision as to whether this company is worth investing in. This report will include an analysis of the company’s history and public relations, the company’s financial performance and trends, economic variables that affect the company, and an overview of the industry and competing firms. In order to conduct this analysis, all of the components previously mentioned have been researched in depth. All analysis and suggestions made will be supported with valid evidence from a variety of different sources. Financial analysis will include a glance at the company’s balance sheets and income statements of the past few years along ith their performance in the stock market of the past few years. The basic structure of this report consists of an executive summary, a brief introduction to the report with basic information of the Sunrise Senior Living Inc. , a more sufficient overview of the company outlining the research conducted in order to draw conclusions regarding the objective of the report, a comprehensive analysis of the company under the criteria previously mentioned, my personal recommendations as to whether an individual should invest in this company, and finally, an appendix with all necessary tables, graphs, etc. hat are necessary to support my recommendations and more clearly illustrate some of the company analysis. Sunrise Senior Living Inc. is a company based in Fairfax County, Virginia that provides a number of senior living services in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Germany. Sunrise Senior Living offers independent living services which include housing, meals, transportation, housekeeping, and licensed and highly skilled nurses for certain residents who require 24 hour care. Also, these assisted living communities boast nostalgic neighborhoods that provide uniquely designed accommodations, services, and care to support residents who are cognitively impaired or face issues with memory loss, including Alzheimer’s disease. Finally, it provides a medication management program, which includes the storage and distribution of medications as directed by the resident’s physician. As of December 31, 2009, Sunrise Senior Living operated 384 communities, including 335 communities in the United States, 15 communities in Canada, 27 communities in the United Kingdom, and 7 communities in Germany. The company was founded in 1981 by Paul and Terry Klaassen who had a vision of creating alternative senior living options that emphasize quality of life. (Yahoo Finance) Sunrise Senior Living Inc. is in the healthcare sector of the long term care facilities industry. The senior care industry is continually growing because of the increased life-span of the population. With the Baby Boomers entering the age of retirement, the senior citizen population is currently supplying a huge market for companies who provide these service-oriented products (Business Week). In fact, according to an article by Senior Care  Marketer, â€Å"The senior care industry is booming and it’s just getting started as the baby boom generation cares for their aging parents and require care themselves as they transition into their own senior years. People sixty-five years and older represent the fastest-growing age group in the United States, and it is projected that the 75+ population will increase 70% by 2025. By 2030, 70 million Americans will be over the age of 65 – that’s one out of every five Americans! †(Senior Care Marketer). With that said, there a number of competing firms that are seeking to reap the benefits of this growing industry. Sunrise Senior Living is currently the leading competitor in the senior care industry. However, there are number of other firms that are close behind including Brookdale Senior Living, Emeritus, Gentiva, Odyssey Healthcare, and ResCare. Overview Company History and Background As previously mentioned, Sunrise Senior Living Inc. was founded by Paul and Terry Klaassen more than 25 years ago. The idea for this now successful business originated in Holland where Paul Klaassen would visit his grandparents as a child. Paul’s grandparents lived in assisted living homes called verzorgingstehuizen. These assisted living homes are very similar to those offered by Sunrise today. The verzorgingstehuizen allowed its residents to be independent while simultaneously providing support or care for those who needed it. To start this company, a youthful and energetic Paul and Terry Klaassen sold their home and moved into a run-down nursing home in Northern Virginia. Paul and Terry went on to renovate this nursing home and open up their first location of Sunrise Senior Living. Paul and Terry cared for the residents themselves in their first years of business, but word quickly spread regarding their new successful business. As demand for their services increased, they opened up two more locations in the mid 1980’s. Taking on a similar strategy as they did with the old nursing home, they opened up new locations by renovating older buildings and converting them into warm environments that were fit for caring for senior citizens. By 1987, Paul and Terry opened their first Victorian-style mansion which is now a nationally recognized icon for their company. (Sunrise Senior Living) As with any successful business or corporation, it all starts with a vision and mission statement which provides direction and purpose. When founding Sunrise Senior Living, Paul and Terry Klaassen wanted to â€Å"champion quality of life for seniors in a home-like, resident-centered environment, unlike existing, more institutional options. † Their operating philosophy originates from a deep seated certainty in the method in which they accomplish the most premium quality of care of every individual. These convictions that have served as the foundation for Sunrise Senior Living’s mission statement are now also the foundation for Sunrise’s Principles of Service and Core Values. These set of principles and values currently direct Sunrise’s team members and employees at all of their locations worldwide. Sunrise Senior Living’s Principles of Service include preserving dignity, nurturing the spirit, celebrating individuality, enabling freedom of choice, encouraging independence, and involving family and friends. Their core values include passion, joy in service, stewardship, respect, and trust. Each member of the Sunrise Senior Living team is encouraged to follow these principles and core values to ensure that each resident or client receives the most premium caliber service. Sunrise Senior Living) At first glance, one may question the importance of information such as mission and vision statements. However, by evaluating and analyzing a company’s mission and vision statements, it becomes possible to take a deeper look into the company’s culture and goals which can often be an indicator of their success and or failure in various fiel ds. Also, as an investor, it is important to possess a thorough understanding of the company’s purpose and values. Although the primary concern for most investors is the return they will receive on their investment, another factor that investors consider is the company’s reputation which is linked to their morals and code of ethics. For example, an investor may choose not to invest in a certain company even though it would provide large returns on his or her investment because he or she may not agree with the company’s mission and vision statements. Products and Services As previously mentioned Sunrise offers a number of different services and amenities for senior citizens. These services include assisted living, Alzheimer’s and memory care, independent living, skilled nursing, and short term stays. Not to mention that Sunrise also offers different financial options for those residents who have trouble with payments. Under each main service offered are a number of more specific programs as well. For example, one program in particular that Sunrise is known for is their reminiscence neighborhoods, which is part of their Alzheimer’s and memory care treatment. These specially designed neighborhoods were created in order to allow senior citizens to re-live their glory days. To do this, members at Sunrise Senior Living begin by gaining an understanding of the senior’s life stories without overlooking minute details. The reminiscence program encompasses a number of different activities that allows them to retain the spirit of their youth. It includes encouraging residents to participate in common daily practices such as gardening, sewing, office work, and household chores. Additionally, the reminiscence program offers â€Å"Snoezelen† environments which are essentially forms of stimulation for the senses and are used to maintain calmness and serenity among all of the seniors. These â€Å"Snoezelen† environments integrate music, aroma therapy, peaceful sounds, and visual displays for an experience that is incredibly soothing. (Sunrise Senior Living) Although Sunrise Senior Living offers a number of innovative and unique services, their customer and employee reviews are mixed to a certain degree. In order to best find out the opinions of customers and employees regarding Sunrise, I decided that it would be best to examine random personal accounts of both customers and employees. I have examined a number of different websites and blogs in which individuals share their experiences with Sunrise Senior Living. Customer and Employee Reviews Measured up is a website that offers a wide variety of customer reviews and complaints of a number of businesses worldwide. There was recently an instance that occurred on June 19, 2010 in which a Sunrise neglected to aid one of their resident’s who fell and broke her leg and eventually needed a hip replacement surgery. The review off the company was written by the daughter of the woman who fell. She, unfortunately for Sunrise Senior Living, had only the worst things to say about the company. After the incident, Sunrise, according to the daughter of the woman, did not offer fair compensation for the injury of her mother. She also stated that the members at Sunrise did not give any form of apology whatsoever and â€Å"treated the entire affair with as cold a heart as they could muster. † She even went on to say that the â€Å"Sunrise Difference† was cruelty, malice, and disdain. She also strongly advised any individual with elderly loved ones to stay away from Sunrise Senior Living because she thought they were cold and malicious. (Measured Up) As aforementioned, this incident occurred on June 19, 2010. It is especially relevant because of how recent this whole affair took place. As with any company or organization in general, it takes only one mishap to permanently tarnish a reputation. The incident with the woman falling is obviously going to be detrimental to Sunrise Senior Living’s reputation. This is important because it is a tribute of customer satisfaction, even though it was only one incident. This decrease in customer satisfaction, if great enough, will be reflected in the financial performance of the company because clients will no longer demand Sunrise’s services as much. Employee reviews of the company are arguably equally as important as customer reviews given that ultimately, it is the employees who are running these companies. According to Glassdoor, a blog that provides insight and internal reviews of jobs and companies, Sunrise Senior Living received an average employee rating of 2. 6 out of 40 reviews, meaning that employees feel that working at Sunrise is â€Å"Ok. † Also, Mark S. Ordan, CEO and Director of Sunrise since March of 2008, received a 44% approval rate by employees. Although these statistics are from a relatively small sample, considering that Sunrise consists of close to 5000 employees, it is still a testament to the entire company’s satisfaction in their workplace. (Glass Door Reviews) Recent News Recently, Sunrise Senior Living has done some restructuring with regards to their upper level management as well as the relationships they hold with some of their joint ventures. Namely, they have appointed Marc Richards as Chief Financial Officer, Greg Neeb as Chief Investment and Administrative Officer, and David Haddock as the General Counsel. In terms of their joint ventures, Sunrise Senior Living is currently working with Ventas, HCP, and CNL Lifestyle Properties. In order to understand the restructuring of these relationships it is necessary to possess a basic understanding of the function of each of these companies. (Sunrise Senior Living – Investor Relations) Ventas is one of the country’s primary healthcare real estate investment trusts. Their increasing portfolio contains 602 healthcare-related facilities that contain roughly 50,000 licensed beds and senior housing units which are located advantageously in 44 states in the US and two provinces in Canada. Ventas) HCP, a real estate investment trust, was established in 1985 and is a publicly traded company of the S&P 500. Their portfolio contains 673 properties in 42 states and Mexico, and mezzanine loans and other debt instruments. All of which are spread across the healthcare industry including senior housing, life science, post-acute/skilled nursing a nd hospital. (HCP) CNL Lifestyle Properties, also a real estate investment trust, is a company that invests in properties projected to produce income that focus primarily in lifestyle related industries. CNL Lifestyle Properties purchases properties and leases them on a long-term basis with the potential of long-term revenue. CNL Lifestyle Properties owns 10 ski resorts, two former Six-Flags owned and branded parks, two former non branded Six-Flags Parks, and three former Six-Flags owned water parks just to name a few. (CNL Lifestyle Properties) Sunrise Senior Living has restructured with Ventas through sale of joint venture interests which brought forth funds improving their balance sheet as well as reaching a new agreement that allows Sunrise to continue to manage senior living facilities owned by Ventas. With HCP, Sunrise has ended management contracts with 27 communities which has allowed them to reduce their debt. Finally, Sunrise has gained 40% ownership interest, from 10% in the previous year of a wholly owned subsidiary of CNL Lifestyle Properties, offering the opportunity to purchase their new partner’s interest in the venture. All of these adjustments are consistent with their strategy of pursuing sole ownership of the assets they manage.

Differences in cultures Essay

Culture impacts the strategies of marketer for different markets and consumer groups. There are various factors which impacts culture for instance globalization, internationalization and development in the telecommunication sector. These have enabled transfer of ideas and views of one culture to another. Hence impacts the populations worldwide. Various markets today are transforming to homogenous marketplace. The differences in consumer preferences and choices are reducing day by day. Either consumer would ask for totally different product or will buy something which is common. The choices of consumer are based on the factors like his needs and financials. As said by Williams, â€Å"People across cultures can do the same thing for different reasons or motives, and people in different countries may do different things for the same reasons. †(Mooij and Marieke K. de, 2004, p. 138) Cultural values vary with product categories. A marketer would use those attributes of any product which are culturally more accepted to design its marketing, selling and advertisement strategies. Buying motives will be different in different cultures. For instance for a particular country having automobile can be a status symbol while in other having environmental friendly vehicle can be more important issue. Culture impacts the attitude and decision making capability of the consumer. It impacts the branding, packaging and promotions strategies. Different Colours and shapes have different meanings attached to it. Marketer needs to understand these meanings and factors in order to decide for the marketing mix product, price, place and promotion. The packaging which plays different roles for the marketer and consumer from protecting the product to attracting the consumer requires special attention so that it can be accepted within the target consumer groups. â€Å"Throughout the past two decades globalization has resulted in saturation of domestic markets which lead companies to become more international. The ideal strategy in the evolution to the international marketplace would be to produce, package and sell the exact same product that was sold in the domestic market. This concept is supported by a variety of researchers (Samli, 1995), who declare that 75% of the world market may be quite alike culturally. Yet, this might be an egocentric perspective of the world, ignoring the unique qualities of each culture. In quintessence, the remaining 25% of the world is culturally different. † (Weber, J. M. et al. , 2002, p. 396) I. i. a. Various Factors Influenced by Culture There are various factors influenced by culture. The reason why people buy certain product at specific period of tie may be influenced by the cultural setting of the individual. Organizations’’ prior to launching their product or setting any operational study go through the cultural aspects of the specific market. This helps organizations to serve and operate within that area effectively. Many global standard products, assumed to be culture-free, are brought for different reasons across cultures. But there are differences in understanding certain product attributes and varying buying motives which can be well explained by underlying cultural values that vary by product category. For instance, advertising appeals which are effective in one culture may result in different responses when used in another culture such as, in UK beer advertising uses humorous appeals and German car advertising uses technological appeals. Apart from advertising appeals even in case of basic needs the motives of buying varies as for example, motives for buying a car may vary between safety, status, design, and environmentally friendly, all based on different cultural values. (Mooij and Marieke K. de, 2004) Some of those are discussed below: †¢ Attitude †¢ Ethnocentrism and Ethnic Background. †¢ Lifestyle †¢ Language †¢ Aesthetic Experience †¢ Purity †¢ Colour Perception †¢ Selective Perception †¢ Communication †¢ Visual Images †¢ Shopping & Buying Behaviour Attitude: Attitude of individuals are guided by their values and beliefs. These factors are also influenced by the culture individual belongs or lives. Attitudes have an impact on behaviour and vice versa. Different culture shows different kind of attitudes on various issues like countries of origin of products, brands, ethical standards and many more within its members. Ethnocentrism and Ethnic Background. â€Å"When consumers prefer products or brands from their own country to the products or brands from other countries, this is called Consumer Ethnocentrism† (De Mooij, pp. 120). The social identity of the product varies according to its country of origin. The products from west are considered prestigious and sophisticated while products from china are considered to be low quality products. Lifestyle: As mentioned in the work of Mooij and Marieke K. de, (2004) Lifestyle is defined as the way of living. Living across the globe is different in different cultures. Language: Language is a medium of communication. It can be either in written, spoken or even in sign form. Language is an expression or a demonstration of a society and culture. Various elements of culture like thoughts, ideas, values, beliefs are reflected through language. Particular language represents its own cultural framework. Speakers of different languages not only say things differently, they experience things differently. Aesthetic Experience: Aesthetic experience refers to the experience of pleasure or displeasure caused by stimuli that are perceived as being beautiful or not beautiful, attractive or un-attractive, and rewarding or unrewarding (Russell et al., 1997. p. 125). The aesthetic value can be created by the visuals, shape, language use and others. Particular society may consider particular factor important for instance Visual language is culturally specific in Western cultures. In Asian cultures visuals plays an important role in the imagination. For the Asian designers as centering is meant to be a fundamental principle in visual art in many Asian cultures. There is a big difference on the aesthetic appeals impacting individuals in east or west. In Asian cultures complexity in the designs and visuals is very common. The use of Colours and shapes will be different. Usually bright Colours are used in Asian countries which have its own meaning attached to it. Brides usually wear red bridal uniform as red is the symbol of prosperity and growth in many cultures. Environment: Different cultures deal with the environment in different ways. In the west countries like Britain and US environmental concerns are so high these concerns have impact on the product manufacturing to product packaging strategy. The packaging would vary according to the environmental standards. This is the reason why the use of poly begs have been replaced by the recyclable paper and products for the packaging. Purity: Purity is a subjective terms used by the researchers and academicians. Purity is sometimes attached to the cleanliness and sometimes to the soul of people. It varies from culture to culture. In some culture eating food from hand may be acceptable while in other it can be unacceptable. The recent controversy on the leading reality show of UK â€Å"Big brother† the aspects of culture and purity come into picture where one member refused to eat meal prepared by the other member and would have been one of the issues of content. Colour Perception: â€Å"Colours are known to posses emotional and psychological properties (Hevner 1935; Ward 1995). † (Thomas, J. M. et al. , 2000) According to Gunnerod (1991), Japanese consumers prefer white, while consumers from Hong Kong prefer red. Tektronix (1998) found that in India, orange is considered the most sacred Colour by Hindus whereas the Ndembo in Zambia do not even consider orange as a separate Colour. In a study a Housewife’s were given 3 different packages containing the same detergent of different Colours; blue Colour (quiet Colour), the second yellow (it had strong visibility) and yellow with blue stripes. The feed back of consumer was that detergent in Blue did not clean properly. While detergent in Yellow – ‘was too strong’ and Yellow with blue stripes ‘was just perfect’. The results can be based on various factors of an individual. In US Colours are associated with certain images. These images are as follows: †¢ BLUE is associated with Wealth, Trust, and Security †¢ GRAY is associated with Strength, Exclusivity and Success †¢ ORANGE denotes cheapness †¢ YELLOW, ORANGE, BLUE are connected with happiness †¢ RED, BLACK, BROWN are connected with sadness The perception of Colour is different across cultures. In Dutch culture RED is the prominent Colour comes to mind whereas in US it is BLUE. Similarly BLACK and BROWN are the two Colours strongly associated with Sad and Stale in various cultures has some additional meaning of Formal in Brazil, Colombia, PRC and Taiwan. These Colours are considered Masculine in Austria, Hong Kong and US. BLUE, GREEN and WHITE Colours are associated with Peace, Gentle and Calm in almost all the countries. Colours like GOLD, ORANGE and YELLOW which do not posses strong association with any of the Colour meanings and are some how close to one another. In India white Colour is also associated with mourn. People wear white Colour clothes in death ceremony. Widows in Hindu culture wear white dress throughout their life after the death of husband. They are not allowed to use any form of Colour. While in west white is used as a Colour of the bridal dress. Selective Perception: Perception of an individual regarding any particular aspect depends on number of factors like values, beliefs, level of education and others. It can be defined as selective observation of reality. Selective observation is distorted understanding and formation of view regarding particular thing. People see what they want to see and how they want to see. They reinforce their perception by seeing certain things and would hardly like to change it. Selective perception is a universal phenomenon. It is reinforced by culture. Communication: Communication is a process through which ideas, emotions, faith belief and actions are transferred to one individual to another. To communicate properly one should have the knowledge of rules of communications, norms and other factors of the related community. One of the most important aspects of proficient communication is knowledge of appropriate words used at a particular point of time. There is a strong relationship between culture and language. Each of these factors is functional and mutually complementary to each other. In the process of communication message is selected and encoded in order to transfer meaning to the receiver. Cultural knowledge provides the basis for interaction. The purpose of communication may also be different across cultures. †¢ Visual Images: Most of the researches on perception are carried out in Western societies. Since the development of visual perception depends on certain kinds of learning experiences, due to which there are cross-cultural differences in perception. Evidence of a basic cross-cultural difference in perception was reported by Turnbull. Some studies suggest that the integration of pictorial elements varies cross-culturally. The correct naming of elements of a picture does not predict ability to correctly perceive their mutual relationships. There are significant cultural differences in pictorial perception and recognition. As discussed earlier, complex visual images, relying on implicit meaning, can be better processed by members of collectivistic cultures who are more used to deriving meaning from context, than by members of individualistic cultures who are made used to simple visual images that carry explicit meaning i.e. pictures speak for themselves. A picture that is very meaningful for the members of one culture because it expresses important values of that culture can be completely meaningless to the members of the other culture. For instance, imagery is a very important element of advertising which has been undervalued in research due to the historical focus on verbal communication in US. This has been proved by an advertisement of Benetton in which a black women is nursing a white baby, was been awarded fro its message of unity and equality in Europe. Simultaneously, the same advertisement stirred up controversy in US, since many believed it depicted a black nanny in the subordinate role as a slave. Shopping & Buying Behaviour: Shopping & buying behaviour is also to a large extent affected by the culture of the nation. In low power distance cultures more number of women work part-time so it influences the number of visits they make to the shop where as in high power distance cultures women mostly work full-time so they have fewer shopping-time.