e-Cottage: Writing Samples (Theresa)

Examples of writing, editing & publishing assignments

Newspaper column ("Life As I See It) Sunshine Coast FEVER (Port Alfred, Eastern Cape, SA)

Book Review (extract): Reading Patrick Maher's novel “Pleng's Song” published in 2012 started me wondering whether modern-day adolescents are better equipped to deal with life than generations past or if they are totally inept. “Pleng's Song” is a novel set in Thailand aimed at a young audience approaching adulthood. The main character's emotional life predisposes her to react in certain ways, all of which are influenced by her home life, schooling, her estranged relationship with her alcoholic mother and her fondness for an absent father who showers her with money; as well as an inner conflict about whether she fears or respects adults in positions of authority. A quick glance at the chapter titles provides a welcome reassurance of the positive culmination of the tale. The story as a whole delivers an entertaining account and perspective on how a young girl embraces her vulnerabilities, and is seemingly wholly ill-equipped to fend for herself in a world dominated by self-righteous people with separate agendas ... The purpose of the book, I believe, is to draw a parallel between youngsters today who are pampered and effectively deprived of opportunities to become self-determined to survive adversity and those who are either abandoned due to unanticipated circumstances or forced to grow up too fast in a world driven by greed, the desire for stardom and riches, and the power to influence. Yet this imbalance, as the story elucidates, is often unfounded. Most young people today are more intellectually aware of imminent threats than they are given credit, a trait that is sensitively revealed as the main character changes her outlook on life and principles ... This novel in essence explores the complexity of growing up in an often ambiguous and paradoxical world. Maher does not avoid or sugar-coat these complexities and plumbs the depths of a child's developmental crises. It is also a novel about personal transformation.

Brochure/Funding Proposal (Indigenous African Music): In traditional Africa, music is an integral part of life and is linked with the worldview of the society in which it is produced. It has social, ritual, and ceremonial functions as well as some purely recreational purposes. Traditional art forms, including music, are rooted in mythology, legends, and folklore, and are associated with gods, ancestors and heroes. Musical activities are ritualized and intended to link the visible world with the invisible. Dancing is often an important part of the ritual and spiritual aspect of music. Music is closely integrated into everyday activities in Africa. Vocal music, instrumental music, and dance are often inseparable, and the emphasis is on participation rather than on performance before an audience. Even in traditions where professionalism or virtuosity does result in a distinction between performer and audience, the audience often dances to show its appreciation. (extract)

Case Study (magazine publication): South Africa needs more entrepreneurs. The positive mixture of diverse cultures within the country offers aspiring business owner’s immense opportunities to explore their ambition to achieve self-employment independence, hopefully a business venture that will eventually contribute in some way to job creation, host apprenticeship and mentoring programs, and offer skills training for ordinary people to facilitate the end of poverty. While the media consistently espouses the importance of developing an entrepreneurial culture to advance economic upliftment, increased trade within domestic and global markets, higher levels of productivity and better skills training to stimulate an entrepreneurial ethos in the country, one company has stepped up to the plate by recognizing the potential of a micro business to substantiate the belief that “mighty things from small beginnings grow”. (extract)

Tactical solutions needed to strengthen workplace productivity (extract)
Today's workforce is made up of four distinct generations with conflicting attitudes, skills, and expectations. Generally referred to as Veterans, Baby Boomers, Generation X and Generation Y, these four generations—when well managed under a flexible strategic umbrella—have the potential to make the workspace more productive and comprehensive than it has ever been. Here are some solutions to help employers at a time when many businesses are under increasing pressure to change the work environment by offering work-life balance as a necessary perquisite to compete within the 24-hour global economy. In order to establish a flexible strategic umbrella to bring about better fitting work-place and work-life arrangements, it is important to understand the individualistic motivations and expectations of the people currently in your employ--which might include all four generations--as well as the constantly evolving needs of an emerging intrinsically different generation of employees. Biggest impact on US economy: Bear in mind that while the largest workforce today--made up of 85 million baby boomers born between 1946 and 1964—have hit the tail end of their customary working-lifecycle. Although this group will continue to have an enormous impact on the consumer marketplace, labor forces, and government finances, many Americans now in their mid-50s or easing into their 60s might be forced to delay retirement longer than their parents or grandparents due to financial constraints. The oldest of the baby boomers will turn 62 next year, the age at which they become eligible for Social Security benefits, which in all likelihood will be inadequate for many to sustain a financially secure old age. A recent government survey shows that while many workers by necessity have to stay on the job because fewer companies offer health insurance to retirees and an alarming number of private pension funds fail, most U.S. workers nearing retirement age prefer to scale back by rather working flexible hours as opposed to abruptly stopping work altogether. This arrangement in itself should be viewed as a positive alternative by employers because new human resources benefit from the all-important knowledge transfer and also averts potential skills shortages. An effective exercise is to give new staff member’s hands-on orientation experiences by having them spend at least a week working alongside experienced operators within their first month on board. You could even request that they write a one-page summary of what they learned from the experience. Employers are urged to make adjustments within the workplace to allow older people to continue working, such as introducing more flexible hours and re-designing pension plans. Simultaneously, the first wave of new young recruits, who are now in their mid-20s and younger, are starting to take their place in an increasingly multigenerational workplace. Statistics show that there are over 82 million young people, highly diverse in terms of attitudes, preferences and ethnicity, who are stepping up to join the corporate workplace. Competitive workaholics: Baby Boomers comprise nearly half of the current American workforce; they represent the largest generation in history and have had a tremendous impact on our economy. They place a great emphasis on individuality, value creativity and risk taking, challenge opinions, and resist exploitation. While they are generally optimistic team players and highly competitive “workaholics", adjusting to new technologies have been a challenge to some; even so, their contribution has humanized the workforce by focusing on the endeavors of individuals to initiate innovative solutions. Baby Boomers are committed to working long hours and as a result have difficulty juggling the demands of their work and domestic lives.

Growing Your Bottom Line by Going Green (extract)
It’s common knowledge that consumer confidence drives the new economy and remains an important variable in the marketing decisions of entrepreneurial business people, their suppliers and the entire population. But what exactly drives consumer confidence in today’s economic arena? Changes in Consumer Motivation Long before the onset of modern marketing, entrepreneurial enterprises used multiple ways to discern what their buyers wanted. Most ran small enterprises and knew their customers intimately, even to the point of designing or offering a custom product. They demonstrated their understanding that consumer motivation and behavior had a positive impact on energizing the economic system. While this basic premise remains unchanged that nobody has greater interest in consumer motivation and behavior than entrepreneurial business people, it is also accurate to state that basic consumer needs and decision processes are today universally challenged. Drastic implications of environmental factors are shaping marketing activities to the extent that supply of valid products and services exceed consumer demand but simultaneously provoke reaction from a growing population of consumers who are eco-aware. Not only does the emergence of this new breed of consumer challenge an entrepreneurial commitment to new product development, the new focus is especially on matching competitive innovations with environmentally-aware processes. Also, the shift in global consciousness has lead to increased stridency in demands by consumers for greater market transparency, authentic price comparison-marketing, and access to continual information based on their interests. Knowledge about the adverse affects of global warming on the planet has allowed many consumers to become eco-savvy and prefer to do business with companies that are also eco-aware. Consumer Confidence While important aspects such as excellent service, superior quality of products, job security, paying less for essential goods, refinancing mortgages at lower rates and seeing a healthy return on investments remain high priorities that inspire consumer confidence, the new breed of market-savvy consumers demand collaborative permission-based interactions with eco-aware companies that are worthy of their loyalty. Building a mutually beneficial relationship with this influential consumer segment requires focused dialogue that addresses their interests. Avenues to promote brand building include search software, blogs, hundreds of cable channels, TiVo, V-Cast, satellite radio, instant messaging and mobile phones. Eco-Aware Companies In our quest for progress, excessive consumption and pursuing the best lifestyle possible our generation has made many environmental mistakes in damaging the planet. It is not just the fault of governments and big businesses but also every consumer who purchased the products that harmed the earth through its manufacture or disposal. Just think about the thousands of hectares of rainforest being felled each year to provide grazing land for hamburger cattle. Similarly, birds are dying because they’re covered with oil spillage from ships carrying nuclear waste. Voluntary Simplicity Despite the severity of the situation, it’s not rocket science to adopt an eco-aware existence without making major sacrifices to one’s lifestyle, including things we do that use energy—keeping clean and warm, eating and preparing food, the way we relax and entertain ourselves—saving water, recycling, buying wisely and using less paper. I’ve long been fascinated by the philosophy of ‘voluntary simplicity’ encompassing ecological sustainability and self-sufficiency--a rewarding way of life that promotes a healthy environment and a peaceful, just, sustainable world. This philosophy is not meant to romanticize poverty or encourage complacency, nor am I suggesting that one should take a backward leap and return to a bare-bone economy. What I am suggesting is that one should re-evaluate the rhythm of one’s life and work, become socially responsible and eco-aware.

Tap into customers’ passions—but allow them to experience the brand on their own terms! (extract)
The baton of brand management has over a relatively short period of time been passed from basic persuasion through communication to connecting and interacting with empowered consumer segments. This leap forward is the natural progression due to persistent efforts to educate and inform consumers on how to contribute to the brand experience, while simultaneously building excellent public relations. Consequently, brands and people are today one and the same thing; they place a high premium on flexible customization and efficiencies offered by progressive technology and Just-In-Time production processes. A brand can only become great if it connects successfully with people and is willing to be guided by changing perceptions. Yet, despite the fact that brand-oriented consumerism is on a huge upward curve, it remains the responsibility of companies to pursue unrivalled relationships with consumers, based on the active interaction and intellectual investment a consumer makes when he or she patronizes a particular brand. This is the strategic glue that binds consumers emotionally to brands and helps build customer loyalty. Branding leadership is an awesome responsibility. It demands of the company to spend a great deal of time ensuring that it lives up to the market’s expectation. For me, great brands are born out of necessity which ideally should motivate companies to continually adjust their offering to changing trends, demanding lifestyles, nutritional shifts and expectations among target groups to maintain a sustainable identity in the marketplace. I’m a devoted admirer of the Kaizen business philosophy that promotes continuous improvement and lean product development, both vital elements in accelerating flexible customization and brand development. Kaizen has achieved huge economic benefits for forward-thinking companies worldwide in terms of helping them to continually improve quality, costs and cycle time; identify and eliminate waste; and implement an improved process for sustainability.

Training for the Budding Einstein
Intelligence is a skill that must be taught since children discover by experience not only what to think but also how to think. Being able to recall basic knowledge from memory is an important aspect of intelligence. A child may have all the facts needed to find a solution to a problem and yet fail to do so because he has no effective means of applying this knowledge and build an edifice of understanding. Parents can help their child to store and recall information by training him to create associations through creative visualization and mental picturing. Children have great imaginations and live in a world rich with fantasy.

Brand Awareness through Digital Multimedia Storytelling - An innovative marketing tool beyond Blogging
Companies today by necessity need to continually increase their competitive contest to win the time and support of potential consumers. Successful campaigns are run by combining blogs, video, rich content, audio files, RSS feeds, and even multiple web sites to engage consumers and draw their attention to a company’s services and products. Interactive Connections: Everyone knows by now that the best corporate Web content is all about exceeding customers’ expectations, offering customization to help different types of visitors to quickly find usable and relevant content, creating relevant niche areas that focus on brand building, and maintaining a CRM policy that allows customers to share their product tales online. Yet, compared to marketing in real time, the success of a marketing campaign on the Internet depends on far deeper interactive connections with customers if you hope to retain them.

From Persuasion to Conversion: Breaking through the clutter
Persuasion has been a common denominator in the arenas of economics, politics, religion, business, and interpersonal relations ever since humans began to interact. Yet since the inception of the 21st century consumers are being swamped with a breathtaking array of mega changes in the tools of motivation and coercion. Consider just a few epic changes that are making huge impacts on our daily lives--humanity is on the verge of a global nervous breakdown having to endure the AIDS pandemic, cultural clashes between East and West, political unrest, global warming, rising urbanization, socio-cultural impacts of IT technology, mounting poverty, and the proliferation of natural disasters. And the background for these events is an information, communication, and technology explosion the extent of which has engulfed modern society. We live in a world in which persuasive messages of various types continually compete for our attention and favor. What’s more, the remarkable times in which we live depend heavily on successful persuasion and innovative media to carry a multitude of persuasive messages, whether to broadcast warfare, rebuild war-torn countries, liberate oppression, feed the poor, accommodate an ever-growing world population, cultivate an entrepreneurial culture or elect a president of the United States.We have been persuaded that we cannot live without items such as ATM cards, plastic credit, remote control devices, mobile technology, personal computers and the Internet. Without demur we tolerate the need to be persuaded by the media and ardent marketers to support candidates, buy products that we may or may not need, do our part in saving and restoring the environment, take better care of their health, and to save toward a financially secure retirement.

CRM – Leading the consumer into temptation …
We’ve come a long way since the early pioneering days of the American Wild West when traveling salesmen would go from town to town selling patent medicine. It was claimed that this elixir would cure all known bodily ills from baldness to gout, which of course it never did. Today a new curative is on offer. Like its predecessor, this too, it is claimed, can do wonderful things from rejuvenating any flagging company to revolutionizing global customization. The name of this miracle cure? Customer Relationship Management. Much is already known about CRM and that there are significant benefits to be gained from both traditional and unconventional promotional initiatives including viral marketing, guerilla marketing, mobile marketing, and Blogging. While any of these initiatives can be construed as consumer networking, Internet technology has changed the way CRM utilizes the concept to create cost-effective publicity strategies to be closer to one’s customers and more responsive to their opinions. The primary investments to consumer networking are time, energy and imagination to reach consumers directly through their daily routine and to create a standard of excellence. Consumer Networking: When salesmen in the Old West pitched the latest cure-all to the unsuspecting masses they unwittingly unleashed the origins of western capitalism through their word-of-mouth campaigns. Even today the advantage of the effectiveness of W-O-M advertising as a credible resource must not be underestimated. The goal of any consumer networking campaign is to generate buzz or spontaneous word-of-mouth (W-O-M) communication to reach consumers isolated from all other media, although it is important that a product should be special in some way to give customers something to talk about. Approval or dissatisfaction with a company or brand often leads to word-of-mouth.

The Modern Imperative: Managing the Information Overload
The tools and connectivity of the digital age give us a way to easily obtain, share and act on information. Standard hardware combines with standard software platforms, creating economies of scale that make powerful computing solutions available to companies of all sizes. However, this new Web work style requires a well organized digital infrastructure that ensures an integrated flow of information to the right part of the organization at the right time; enables a company to perceive and react to its environment; senses competitor challenges and customer needs; and organizes timely responses for maximum and constant learning. Data organization can be as simple as developing the correct categories, or as complex as using innovative software for data mining and Knowledge Management.

Will RSS Overtake E-mail?
Many Internet pundits and researchers are thinking the unthinkable - that e-mail may be on its way out as the current most effective source of content delivery and publishing over the Internet. It seems like only yesterday that e-mail was touted as the Internet 'killer app' - the ultimate means of communication and a cheap, effective marketing tool. But spam and virus scripts have considerably dented the shining light of e-mail functionality, and many users are beginning to look for an alternative to e-mail to facilitate smoother online communication and a spam-free transmission of knowledge and information. The answer, some claim, lies with RSS news feeds.

Nurturing the Gregarious Personality
Is your child outgoing, sociable, talkative and adept at communicating with his peers and people in general? Your gregarious youngster possesses the gift of being 'people smart', which is a simple definition of Gardner's Interpersonal Intelligence. Such persons have the ability to understand and work with other people. A child who displays a gift for verbal comprehension and social intelligence may, however, be quite inept in other areas such as spatial visualization, number ability and perceptual speed. Parents should provide opportunities for their child to explore the areas of learning he prefers as well as those that are not as strong so that he may become a well-rounded individual who is successful in many aspects of life.

Is your child a budding Einstein?
Intelligence is a skill that must be taught since children discover by experience not only what to think but also how to think. A child may have all the facts needed to find a solution to a problem and yet fail to do so because he has no effective means of applying this knowledge and build an edifice of understanding. Parents can help their child to store and recall information by training him to create associations through creative visualization and mental picturing. Being able to recall basic knowledge from memory is an important aspect of intelligence. Children have great imaginations and live in a world rich with fantasy. Their ability to conjure up vivid mental images can be used to enhance their powers of information storage and recall. Making subjects come dramatically alive through visual association arouses their interest in learning even more.

Sales Tactics to Boost Your Bottom Line
Online markets are becoming increasingly competitive. Search engines are continually listing more and more sites that offer similar products. And just when you think you've given your site a fresh slant or created a new approach to feature your range, your competition seems to have had the same brain wave and you're back at the start line. Task-focused Messages: The most successful commercial web sites are those that provide quick bursts of information that deliver a focused, strong message and giving the user the option to seek more information through clearly identified links and resources; and of course, they are quick-loading. People read slower on screen than on paper, and most scan for information by running their eyes across the copy instead of reading every word. Viewing a collection of product images is no different. They scan the full spectrum to spot the one they want to focus on in detail and click … to go to the big picture.

Entrepreneurship par Excellence. Prinzipien, Ideen und Modelle für Existenzgründung im ... Principles, ideas and models for business startup in the information age. The development of new technologies opens large chances to enterprises, in order to be successful in the future. Established enterprises with their financial power, their market operational readiness level and above all their kundenbeziehungen have good conditions to recognize and convert in new products and services trends. But they are not subject also to a risk which can be underestimated: New technologies often kannibalisieren the own successful products - in such a way, as for example the Compact Disc (CD) gradually the Vinyl record from the music shops drove out. The management can make here crucial errors. New technologies come usually in thrusts of considerable extent. We think only of the developments, which by the steam strength in the transportation, by which telephone in the transmission of news or by the InterNet in the information technology were released and our world changed. [Die Entwicklung neuer Technologien eröffnet Unternehmen große Chancen, um in der Zukunft erfolgreich zu sein. Etablierte Unternehmen mit ihrer Finanzkraft, ihrer Marktpräsenz und vor allem ihren Kundenbeziehungen haben gute Voraussetzungen, Trends zu erkennen und in neue Produkte und Dienstleistungen umzusetzen. Aber sie unterliegen auch einem nicht zu unterschätzenden Risiko: Neue Technologien kannibalisieren oft die eigenen erfolgreichen Produkte - so, wie beispielsweise die Compact Disc (CD) allmählich die Vinyl-Schallplatte aus den Musikläden vertrieb.]

Press Release (extract) Cape Town, South Africa – THINK WELLNESS is the name of a new rehabilitation, health and lifestyle management centre recently established in the Western Cape. The development is situated on a beautiful fruit farm close to the village of Tulbagh—an hour drive from Cape Town—and opens on May 1. The center offers comfortable lodging in a tranquil environment that promotes healing through private counseling and holistic therapeutic treatments to help people with any form of addiction, stress-related disorders and other mental and emotional conditions. Recovery programs comprise primary and secondary care, outpatient care, reintegration, e-based counseling, and aftercare. Regular educational workshops focus on topics such as substance-abuse awareness, goal-setting, values clarification, self-actualization, relationships, life planning and management skills, and team building. According to the new paradigm in health and lifestyle management developed by THINK WELLNESS, the function of any society’s health system is ultimately tied to the philosophical convictions that people hold regarding the purpose of life itself. The THINK WELLNESS team of rehabilitation professionals develops a personalized program around each patient to facilitate treatment that is achievable and conducive to future well being using biofeedback as a measuring tool. The tailored yet flexible treatment program is designed around the personal needs and time constraints of each individual--people from all walks of life, including business executives, professionals, high-profile public figures and people with demanding schedules. A high premium is placed on maintaining confidentiality.

Editing: MBA Dissertation "Creating and Measuring Shareholders’ Value through Acquisition". The phrase Mergers and Acquisitions or M&A refers to an aspect of corporate finance strategy dealing with the integration and purchase of other companies and allied assets. Mergers are generally amiable where executives from the respective companies are contractually required to provide due diligence, yet acquisitions can also arise through a hostile takeover by purchasing the majority of outstanding shares of a company in the open market. While mergers often fail to add significantly to the value of the acquiring firm’s shares, the intention of a corporate merger is often aimed at eliminating market competition, cutting expenditure (for example, laying off employees, reducing taxes), managerial redeployment, "empire building" by the acquiring managers, or other plans which may not be consistent with public policy or public welfare. Motives that are considered to add shareholder value include:
• Economies of scale, which means the combined company may have the opportunity to condense duplicate operations to reduce costs relative to the same revenue stream, thus increasing profits.
• Increased Market-Share revenue—assuming that the company will be absorbing a major competitor—which will also boost its position in capturing increased market share, to set prices.
• Synergy—provided internal power positions have been consolidated, revised plans implemented to make better use of complementary resources, and external relationships with other companies restored.
• Geographical or other diversification is designed to smooth the revenue results of a company and over the long-term gives conservative investors more confidence in investing in the company.

Editing: Self-published Autobiography, "Black Leather Jacket" (2005) the life story of Scottie “Styles” Simpson – biker, gangster, bank-robber, master criminal, convicted murderer, soldier, poet, drug addict, musician, father, adulterer, millionaire brothel owner, and international drug lord; and finally reborn Christian. The story of Scottie Simpson's torrent life, written in his early fifties, is a personification of his single-minded devotion to make known his life experiences to enlighten people about the pitfalls of life's low roads and the emptiness in walking some of life's high roads. “I believe that I survived the many tribulations and near-death experiences over the past four decades because God has a plan for me and that it was necessary for me to experience a life of upheaval and strife to prepare me for my role as motivational speaker; and to share my testimony with people and to help them turn their lives around to become whole again.” .

Editing: Autobiographical Portfolio for LLB Degree
Comprehensive portfolio comprises cover letter, self-analysis of applicant's accomplishments and summary of goals and objectives; appended evidence (resume, awards, papers delivered, publishing, etc.) and critical discussion of degree. Editing MBA theses: The history of the MBA in South Africa cannot be separated from the historical, political and socioeconomic climate of the period when it was first introduced into the country. The first business school established outside the United States was also the first on the African continent, in South Africa, and dates back to the 1940s following World War II. South Africa in the forties was experiencing a rapid economic expansion due to its gold and mineral mining activities and involvement in industrial employment while the Second World War contributed directly to the country entering the second revolution in manufacturing. During this period of world history when resources for consumer manufacturing in Britain were directed to the war effort, South Africa initiated its own manufacturing industry instead of having to rely solely on imported goods. The mood in the country was one of optimism and economic hope.

Business Plan: The new generation of young adults in South Africa changes faster than any previous generation, hence it is essential to keep abreast of their shifting attitudes and behavior. They are subject to more change in their lifetime than any other in history and are not like any youth generation before them. However, once some have the ability, the experience and the skills to absorb these changes and are more open to innovation than previous generations, a large proportion of youngsters in South Africa today are becoming increasingly disillusioned due to the lack of employment. While many are unable to further their studies after formal schooling due to a lack of funds, many others with qualifications still find they lack employable skills. Given the crucial role of technology today, it is disturbing that only 27% of our youth can use a computer.

Web content: Aquamarine - the very name of this popular gemstone evokes mental images of the ocean’s splendor and vitality. This gem - composed of the mineral beryllium aluminum silicate - is pale greenish blue in color. It is said to have mystical powers and healing properties hence it being regarded as the universal symbol of youth, hope and health. While stones come in a range of colors the ideal color of Aquamarine is a refreshing pastel sea blue. Stones with a clear blue color - without green or gray - are generally the most valuable. Though almost all gemstones contain some degree of blemishes, the highest quality Aquamarine is transparent, with no internal flaws or external imperfections. Aquamarine is a hard durable stone (7.5 to 8), which makes it a good choice for jewelry that is worn frequently like rings; and is readily available in larger sizes. It is especially dramatic when cut in a rectangular or oval shape, with facets, many angled sides or cut as a cabochon - a smooth dome without facets.

Web content: Engagement ring buying guide - A couple’s engagement is a commitment to live a life together in connubial bliss, while the ring itself symbolizes something that is beautiful, rare and precious – like the love they share. The process of choosing an engagement ring that is as unique as the woman who is to wear it needn’t be a daunting undertaking. To my mind, choosing an engagement ring is best done together unless the prospective groom is thoroughly convinced of his fiancee’s taste in jewelry. Knowing what kind of jewelry she owns will give you insight into what to buy for future anniversaries and special events, but when it comes to choosing the engagement ring and wedding band, it is best to let her choose. Although this may sound less romantic as opposed to immersing a diamond solitaire in her champagne during a romantic candle light dinner, she will value your good judgment to elicit her opinion and in giving her what she wants. Even so, it is valuable to know whether she prefers modern or traditional jewelry. Does she favor white gold, yellow gold, two-tone (white and yellow gold) or platinum (currently the most popular metal for engagement rings)?

Web content: www.mba.co.za; What is an MBA? The MBA (Master of Business Administration) is an internationally recognized and geographically portable post-graduate, post-experience academic course in a number of subjects that together can be said to constitute the science of management.It is intended for those who work in business and management who seek career advancement, business ownership, or technical skills and business knowledge. The challenges imposed by the 21st Century place a high premium on upgrading skills and qualifications in order to meet the demands set by companies, customers and the environment that managers operate in. Management areas: Functional areas of management comprise Human Resource Management, Operations Management, Marketing Management, Information Management, Financial Management, Strategic Management and Organizational Behavior. At the end of an MBA programmer, the graduate emerges with an upper level knowledge of functional managerial and business issues as well as new conceptual skills ready to meet the demands that are set by the competitive business environment. However, in addition to developing strong technical skills, today’s managers must be able to influence people, interact with a broad spectrum of colleagues, customers and suppliers; and negotiate with individuals from all walks of life. They must know how their company relates to competitors in both the micro and macro business environments. What makes a good MBA candidate? A typical MBA candidate has several years of full-time, post-undergraduate work experience. The strongest candidates are dedicated, disciplined and focused on their intended career paths; they know what is required of them to achieve success and are clear about the particular area of interest they plan to pursue after obtaining an MBA degree. A good MBA student demonstrates evidence of leadership potential and consistent academic achievement. Other abilities include creativity, dedication, commitment and professionalism.

Web content & Print Magazine: Marketing column for US publisher aimed at Webmasters): Tracking the continual shift in consumerism relevant to online marketing It’s been called the holy grail of online marketing. Behavioral Targeting is one of the most talked-about areas in online marketing today. Based on gathering the most complete, current and relevant information about consumer behavior, consumer perception and consumer decision making processes - which the Webmaster is able to track by monitoring users’ movements through “page-views” of their Web site sessions – to win new customers. While using this technology to track where visitors go and what interests them about your site, may still be fairly new to some online marketers, it’s an effective form of Knowledge Marketing. The focus needs to be on constantly asking questions like “Are the people whom we want to target getting the right information in the most effective manner possible?” and “What can be done to maximize the feedback from this targeted audience?”

US print magazine: Current ideas on ‘How to Improve Customer Relations”. Today, more than ever, customers want good service and innovative offerings, plus better pricing, distribution, and product design. Above all, they want the convenience of connecting with a company that is “easy to do business with”; one that promotes knowledge management by focusing on individual customers’ needs. This means that Internet retailers should focus more on providing a quick, convenient and hassle-free shopping experience and less on trying to draw customers by just offering the lowest prices possible. However, I’m not saying that online merchants should begin to raise their prices, only that they should target their energy more on getting the customer in and out of the site as quickly and efficiently as possible.

US print magazine/web content: How to Monetize your Site. The secret to a successful web site is quality content that is both relevant and current, and which can generate revenue through affiliate partnerships, private label feeds, referral partners, media agencies and other programs. Even if your site is just for information purposes only, you can still make money and it won’t cost you anything to get started. Thanks to affiliate partnerships and related programs all you really have to learn is how to create a site that will make your visitors stick and order the product or service you offer. In an affiliate partnership you earn a commission or fixed dollar amount when an order is placed as a result of a referral. (http://www.2createawebsite.com/money/affiliate.html) Another way web content can serve to monetize Internet traffic more effectively is to match e-customer and business processes by providing “chunks” of target-specific information to facilitate customers’ decision-making processes. For more information about getting free traffic, learn how to get listed with Goggle (www.google.com).

US print magazine/web content: Strong Competitive Edge is prime revenue stream. One way to make a greater footprint in your industry is by watching and learning from your rivals. By closely monitoring competitors and knowing where the level of their state of art is can be extremely useful when planning your own marketing strategy. Though it sounds intriguing, competitive intelligence is simply the process of gathering and analyzing available public information about the activities and plans of competitors. The data used to study competitors come from a variety of sources – the simplest of these are ‘crawling’ competitor web sites to scrutinize their products and services, and subscribing to their online newsletter, as well as stream in news feeds. It is relatively common to use these observation techniques to collect competitive information.

US print magazine/web content: Scope for ROI catering for tunnel readers. The internet offers a very different environment for readers of online content. This is a neglected area of web design and marketing which is receiving more attention from experts as its importance is realized. The spotlight is on people who come to your web site with a specific task in mind. They are tunnel readers; impatient and demand fast access to the information they seek. Your site needs to be relevant and timely; your content useful and concise. I thought it appropriate to write the column in a style that explained tunnel reading by example. The Internet has become the predominant method of conducting business. This applies to both customers and between businesses. Visitors spend an increasing amount of time online searching for and reading information. This places a great emphasis on the need for relevant and to-the-point content.

US print magazine/web content: Driving youth-traffic to your site. It’s always been a good marketing tactic to invest liberally in one’s existing clientele, chiefly because it costs a whole lot less to market to consumers who are already sold on the quality of your product or service. Traditional marketing methods also support the idea that persuading a new prospect to part with his money or spend precious time getting to learn all there is about your business is a time-consuming and costly exercise. Yet, an important group of potential life-long customers that cannot be ignored is the dynamic yet somewhat impenetrable Youth Market, which presents a significant long-term opportunity for marketers.

e-book: Feng Shui & Kaizen in the workplace

US print magazine/web content: The Digi-Human. Is a new breed of human consciousness developing as a result of the Internet? Many people are attracted to the Internet not only because it is a repository of information and a relatively simple means to facilitate communication, but for another more exciting reason. The Internet and the advances in associated computer technology suggest a new way of perceiving reality. In fact, for some the Internet holds the possibility of a radical change in human consciousness and the discovery of new areas of experience. Others however, see this prospect filled with danger and fear that the interaction of the human mind with new technologies might result in a loss, rather than a gain, for humanity. There are those theorists who go even further and see the gravest danger for humanity insidiously hidden within the computer and the Internet.

US print magazine/web content: Macromedia Director and the Internet. The latest version of Macromedia Director, namely Director MX, is the continuation of a long series of upgrades and improvements aimed at making Macromedia's elite authoring program a top contender for Internet creation and development. It is also the culmination of a development towards narrowing the gap between Director, and its more lithe stable mate, Macromedia Flash. Originally Macromedia's flagship multimedia authoring tool - it was mainly used as a CD authoring application, but with the advent of the Shockwave format Director began to function as a fully animated Web presentation program. Essentially, Shockwave is the tool that allows Director files to be played on the Internet, while a secondary application, Afterburner, compresses Director Files to between 50 and 70 percent of their original size.

US print magazine/web content: Cutting the Wires: Connecting with Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi is being touted as the technology that will change the future of the Internet and networking. An indication of this promise is reflected in the obvious faith that main players in the computing world have in this technological innovation. Wi-Fi, or Wireless Fidelity, allows you to connect to the Internet from your couch at home, in bed in a hotel room or a conference room at work - without wires. Wi-Fi enabled computers send and receive data indoors and out; anywhere within the range of a base station. And the best thing of all, it's fast, In fact, it's several times faster than the latest cable modem connection. The interest in Wi-Fi is increasing dramatically. Intel, for example, has invested $300-millio. Intel's new wireless technology, named Centrino, which is a chip designed especially for laptops that can connect to the Internet through Wi-Fi. Essentially Wi-Fi is a technology that allows users to share Internet access relatively cheaply. Wi-Fi has the potential to allow you to take your work almost anywhere with you, making the possibility of real mobile computing a reality. The aim of W-Fi is to enable broadband access to anywhere on the Internet or a network, from a handheld or laptop computer, from almost any location.

Web content: Articles aimed at pre-school children. www.ednoland.com Titles include The Value of Story Time, Language Learning, Art and Creative Activities, Strike A Tune in Your Child, Teaching Naturalist Intelligence at Home, Boost your Child's Self-Confidence, Girls and Boys Come Out to Play, How Childhood Games Affect Adult Working Relationships.

Writing samples of general topics published in print magazines and ezines:

ColdFusion Meets Linux: Linux devotees will soon be able to use ColdFusion 4.5 to build e-business solutions of all shapes and sizes. At its annual U.S. conference, Allaire Corp recently announced that it would make its popular Web application platform available for Linux, following overwhelming consumer demand. This marks Allaire's first public support for the open-source operating system. Linux fans value reliability and technology control, and view ColdFusion as a strong and natural complement to their open-source operating system. Indeed, ColdFusion's tag-based scripting model - which is combined with load-balancing, fail over, advanced DB connection management, rich debugging, error handling and a full line of visual tools - make it an appropriate platform for the Web .ColdFusion 4.5 comprises the ColdFusion.

Chinese food: Real Chinese dishes are light, tasty and nutritious. How many overweight Chinese people have you met? Heart disease is nowhere near as common in China as it is in the West. In fact, in many areas of China it is usual to find people living to a remarkable old age. This article outlines the benefits of essential ingredients used in recipes and tips on authentic Chinese cooking. One of the basic tenets of a healthy diet is variation and balance, and we can learn a lot from the Chinese.

Learning to ride: Looking for something different to your usual fitness program? Horse riding is a great alternative to normal fitness routines. Learning to ride isn't just for children - there are millions of adult riders, all enjoying the physical and psychological benefits of this challenging sport. Aspects discussed in this article include what to wear and how to saddle up, mounting techniques and toning up your body. Horse riding is a great alternative to normal fitness routines.

Can physiotherapy help alleviate sinusitis? Many people today suffer from acute sinusitis, usually followed by respiratory infections such as a cold. While physiotherapy is most probably best known for the successful management and treatment of neuromusculoskeletal and lower respiratory tract disorders, it also plays a significant role in the treatment of upper respiratory tract disorders such as sinusitis.

Yoga in the balance: Yoga calms you down, gives you more energy and helps you stay young. Iyengar yoga is the complete exercise for mind and body, and unlike competitive sports, you can do yoga until you're 90. Simple stretch and relaxation exercises are discussed in this article. If the only exercise you get is carry groceries from the car to the house, don't try to run a mile around the track tomorrow. Try finding a once-a-week yoga class. Yoga improves posture, increases the intake of oxygen, and enhances the functioning of the respiratory, digestive, endocrine, reproductive, and elimination systems.

Rid your body of harmful toxins: Regaining good health requires effort. This doesn't have to be unpleasant, but should rather be seen as an interesting process of getting to know yourself. However, some people have trouble with this concept of changing to become well. They don't want to feel deprived of their cherished after-dinner drink, chocolate splurges, Sunday afternoon ice creams, cigarettes, or Porterhouse steaks. Some argue that life is only lived once and is meant to be enjoyed, so why give up bad habits. Others are afraid to give up habits that they perceive as lifeboats on the rough sea of life. To be honest, if these thoughts stand in your way of changing to become well again, perhaps it is time to take a long, hard look at your life, your personal priorities, and ask yourself how much longer you really want to live.

The cases and cures of urinary infections: The female body is a wonderful piece of natural engineering, but when it comes to the plumbing arrangements, evolution has allowed through one irritating flaw. Common triggers, prevention tactics and treatment are discussed in this article. Most cases of urinary tract infections, commonly referred to as cystitis, can affect any part of the body's "waterworks". Most urinary infections are caused by bacteria that enter the urethra from the outside. About 70 per cent of cystitis is caused by the bacterium E coli (Escherichia coliform).

Making Wooden Furniture: There is always a market for good hand-made furniture. Your profits lie in the design, quality of workmanship and the speed at which you produce. This article illustrates How-to instructions to make a Table, Garden bench, salad bowl and breadboard. Carpentry is as easy to learn as cooking or dressmaking. It's surprising how quickly the few basic techniques can be mastered, and how satisfying and economical it is to build even the simplest of objects. It's really a matter of organizing the tools and materials, then following the directions step by step, carefully and patiently. However, your projects should be something you are interested in making and useful upon completion.

How to be an effective Manager in 7 easy steps: This article examines the role of a manager; what management is; essential skills needed; and practical advice for organizations and managers seeking to become world class. Most people spend many years carrying out some skilled activity for which they have been trained and gained valuable experience - as employees. Every year, thousands of these employees are promoted to managerial positions because they have been successful in their profession. However, management is a profession in its own right and calls for certain competencies, which may be quite different from those they are accustomed to.

Organ Transplant - the Importance of signing up as donors: One of the most significant objectives in human life is to cultivate compassion for others. Throughout the world there is a growing recognition to foster a deep awareness of the suffering of others and wanting to do something about it. One area of human suffering that can be alleviated is through organ and tissue donation. The vast list of patients of all ages exceeds 36,000, with an additional 2,000 names added each month. Almost a quarter of these individuals are children under the age of 10, waiting for liver transplants.

The Dangers of Smoking - stop this preventable epidemic: Each year more than three million people around the world die from tobacco-related illnesses. Yet people continue to ignore the incontrovertible fact that smoking is a causative factor in lung cancer and heart disease; but just as important is the debilitating effect of smoking where it leads to the development of chronic bronchitis, pneumonia and emphysema. Another hazard of smoking is the deleterious effect on the mouth. Smoking upsets the natural bacterial flora of the mouth, causing unpleasant mouth odor and it stains the teeth, mouth, and even the skin surrounding the lips an unpleasant yellowish color.

Domestic Violence: Domestic violence - physical and mental abuse that occurs within the home between family members - sends as many people to the emergency room as any other form of illness, injury or assault. Home is all too often the place where the small and the weak fear to lie down and shut their eyes. Their worst enemies and potential killers are not strangers but lovers, spouses and those who claimed to have loved them once. Similarly, for every child who is abused or killed by a deranged person, dozens are abused and murdered by their own relatives, and in some cases, a parent or sibling.

Child abuse: However, reports on kidnapping, sexual abuse and domestic violence are constantly in the news and parents are forced to educate their child about safety and 'stranger danger', although the burden of resisting strangers with bad intentions should not fall entirely on the child. All children must be made aware of potential dangers facing them. They must never wander off with people they don't know or get into cars with them, and never accept money, gifts, candy or ice cream from strangers. Sadly, it's not only 'strangers' who are potentially dangerous, the attacker may be a close relative or trusted family friend and it is impossible for a young child to distinguish friend from foe, kind gentleman from habitual pedophile, pretty young lady from ruthless kidnapper.

Enjoy your old age: The true keynote of life is growth, not aging. Life does not grow old. So-called age is the deterioration of enthusiasm, faith to live, and the will to progress. For too long, being old has been depicted as a tragedy. While aging is often defined entirely in terms of the sick and needy, we are suggesting another course: attack old age as a problem to be solved.

Drunken Driving: They received the news from a police officer that came to their home late one night. Their child had died in a drunken driving accident. The officer would give them a few minutes to get dressed so they could go with him to identify the body. Thousands of trauma victims are admitted to hospitals each year. While 80 percent are automobile-accident related, more than half of these -- or at least one a day -- is put there by an accident caused by drunk driver. While Don't Drink and Drive and Arrive Alive bumper stickers will strike a cord with those who have lived the nightmare of a loved one on a stainless-steel table at the morgue - a more powerful approach is becoming increasingly necessary to warn people about alcohol abuse and drunken driving.

Kazakhstan: While apples are generally propagated by grafting a cutting from the fruiting tree and splicing it with a rootstock, apple trees are also reproduced from seedlings. Despite environmentalists’ wrestle to ban the use of pesticides and synthetic fertilizers and to promote organic farming, commercial apples today remain susceptible to a number of diseases due to human cultivation over many generations. But in Kazakhstan, none of this has taken place. Apple trees are screened for resistance to apple scab, fire blight, and cedar-apple rust - diseases that cause severe losses and low yields among cultivated apples – as well as cold hardiness and favorable rootstock characteristics. The solution lies with older varieties of plant material to preserve diversity in the apple gene pool; those found in Kazakhstan’s wild apples provides the desirable resistant genes for future apple breeding and insurance against diseases, insects, and even global warming.

Fen Shui and Kaizen: There exists a powerful parallel between Fen Shui and a business strategy known as Kaizen, which means gradual and orderly, continuous improvement. This business strategy involves everyone in an organization working together to make improvements without large capital investments. It focuses on eliminating waste in all systems and processes of an organization while guiding people to continuously improve their ability to meet expectations of high quality, low cost and on-time delivery. Fen Shui and Kaizen unite to optimize the use of space currently available and create the opportunity to grow within these boundaries. Re-organize the office layout by creating an efficient workspace to optimize the workflow process and maximize the capacity of machines; in this way you can better control inventories of new assignments, WIP and finished projects.

Customer Relationship Management: In today's competitive climate many businesses are finding that any advantages they try to establish through their core products and services are quickly eroded as others mimic them. Since leadership by such means is becoming increasingly transitory, businesses are seriously looking at other strategies by which to differentiate themselves from their competitors. High on their agenda is customer relationship management - the next stage of Web-based competition. Customer relations are the interactions a customer has with a company's products, people, and processes. This is the feel-good factor that is generated by the customer being treated with courtesy and attention at all points of their contact with a company and which motivates him or her to act as a salesperson on your behalf, by recommending your company to friends and relatives.

The Value of Story Time: The enjoyment of storytelling early in life is an incentive to children to learn to read for themselves. All children enjoy books, stories and rhymes. One of the pre-school child's first demands is Tell me a story! This is not only a desire for the pleasure stories give, but also an expression of an instinctive need. While the enjoyment of hearing a story is sufficient reason to tell a story, the child is also expanding his knowledge of the world around him, having situations explained he has already experienced, and learning to anticipate experiences yet to come. Most important of all, children need books and stories to develop intellectually and imaginatively. Reading aloud has obvious advantages, but stories can be read to children or told freely. The method used depends not only on the individual but also upon the type of story chosen and the circumstances in which the story is used.

Strategies for School Success: If you are wondering what formal skills, life-lessons and good habits your soon-to-be-kindergartner will have acquired at the other end, you're not alone. While children enter kindergarten with a range of abilities, school today is a completely different place from the one most of us remembers. Education philosophies and teaching methods have changed considerably, leaving many of us confused about what to expect from our children, and how best to help them achieve. Yet educators acknowledge the vital impact of learning that takes place within the family and home environment, on the child’s future potential. Parents introduce life’s practical needs by reading stories about fact and fantasy, teaching their young to tie shoelaces, use the telephone, and eat with customary utensils. Parents teach vocabulary, walking, swimming, develop talents, good social behavior is learnt and anti-social behavior is corrected, and all those important realities of a human’s participating in a culture.

Art and Creative Activities: From an early age children should - under close adult supervision - be encouraged to scribble in pencil or even ballpoint pen. It is believed that those initial communications are laid down as nerve traces in the brain and that children tend to base later drawings on these patterns. Because each child is unique, he will produce artwork that bears the stamp of his individuality. Moreover, while playing creatively, he is also learning other values, such as how to relate to others, how to exercise his intellectual powers, how to relax, how to dramatize his experiences, and how to express emotion - all essential to his development. Similarly, success in creative activities stimulates his feeling of self-worth.

How to boost your child's self-confidence: A negative self-image - a belief that nothing one does will have any favorable affect - can greatly diminish a child's ability; the way children see themselves has a major influence on how they will respond to intellectual, creative and social challenges. More than any other quality, children need a positive self-image in order to be happy, motivated and successful. A child with a positive self-image likes being him or herself, feels confident and has an attitude of I can!

Business Planning: A comprehensive, well-thought-out marketing strategy will help to convince investors of the accuracy of your sales projections. You will also have to provide details of any advertising and promotion plans. How will you advertise, price and distribute your product or service? Be specific and realistic about your goals, objectives and time scales, and consider the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats that may be encountered. Identify your target market, market position and market share. Evaluate all of your competitors and state exactly why and how you will be better. Describe the trends, size and growth potential of the market. Define your customers by asking who they are, and why they will buy your product or service.

Emotions can improve or weaken the immune system: Imagine taking a knife and splitting a ripe papaya fruit in half, revealing its yellow-orange flesh and shiny black pips. How do you react? I'm sure that the mere imagery of eating this delicious fruit has you salivating in anticipation. Have you not felt instantly hungry at the aroma of a juicy steak being grilled on an open fire? This is a simple exercise that demonstrates how 'thought' can provoke a physical effect. If the image of a papaya or the smell of a barbequed steak can turn our salivary glands on and off like a tap, what else can happen when we connect mind and body? It has only recently become quasi-respectable again to ask, and answer, questions about the mind and medicine: the next great advance in human evolution may well be represented by the ability of humans, working with a new understanding of brain chemistry, to preside over their own state of health and well-being.

Think and Dream Creatively: Twenty years ago I spent many hours with friends and family debating the meaning of life and whether our destiny was pre-ordained or self-determined. And while I don't remember if we came up with any conclusive answers, I recall thinking that as 21-year-old students we were hardly qualified or experienced enough to fathom life's purpose. But despite the restless times of our youthful folly, I was hopeful. Now, two decades later, and considerably more experienced, I think I've found the answer. Life's purpose is, as Indira Gandhi said, "to believe, to hope and to strive." Ironically, my 'new' philosophy sounds suspiciously like my old one, proving perhaps that while being older has not necessarily made me wiser, it hasn't dampened my spirit either. It is vital to approach life armed with Indira Gandhi's words and not only hope our unfolding destiny will be better, but believe it will be. Thus allowing us to strive to make it so. That means standing up for what we believe in. People not only have the right to shape their lives to make it better, but they also have a personal responsibility to do so.

The Modern Family and Beyond: No other century has had such a wealth of apocalyptic prophecies surrounding its closing years. And yet interwoven throughout the visions of a cataclysmic end to our warring age is one very particular thread of light - strengthening the family. However, few of us suspect that there is anything inherently wrong with our way of life. Violence, war, disaster, terrorism and insanity have become so habitual that we meet them with bland indifference, as though we have lost the capacity to be touched by life. Sadly, we accept that it is a natural part of being human to be lonely, anxious, insecure, alienated and in perpetual fear of death. The world we see that seems so insane is the result of a belief system that is ineffective because it is non-religious, materialistic and rationalistic. Nonetheless, the needs of society are changing. People are beginning to search for a new and better way of life, for spiritual enlightenment, a new awareness, a change of consciousness. However, in order to attain this transformation in humanity, we must look past the decay and disintegration around us.