PAS Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4250 words

PAS - Case Study Example After 6 months, I was asked to run the whole station store and gas pumps. The gas was closed a year after it was closed due to its line expiry. It was due to this reason that Pas Automotive repair decided to acquire a building that was the year 2000, hence the business became steady from then. Pas Automotive is luckily located on one of the busiest  streets in Sydney 500 Prince Street. With a large lot of 20 plus cars and access to the roadways, situated in 3 different directions. In business, Pas automotive repair company is among the automotive repair shop that deals with all repairs on both cars trucks boats as well as lawn mowers. In addition, the company deals with rebuilding various vehicle engines as well as changing engine oil. As the business is at a tender age, the company has a total of seven employees. Our services include; service calls, self service work where customers will be picked from a prevailed position and the problem they are encountering on their vehicle asc ertained just on time and at affordable price. Our prices depend on the  labor  guide, being serviced and provided by all of our service stations. We also give a discount price to students and  seniors. More so we have affordable and special hourly rate of 60.00 dollars an hour and this makes us cheap on the market as compared from our competitors. Research on the Pas Automotive Repair as a sole  proprietor  business is very useful. Firstly, it will aid in making a forecast to affiliate the current situation, therefore supporting the potential increase in service provision. Additionally, while delivering the service, the industry looks forward in growth and developing around the globe. There are several factors that limit their use, which may be reflected later. Moreover, the statistical analysis of the pas automotive repair company and distribution channels, which is very essential in making sound decisions, will be evaluated. Secondly, the study of online and traditional agency services (in terms of understanding consumer needs) is relevant not only for the owners of Pas Automotive Repair Company, but also for the insurance companies, transportation and others. Through the data, a clear analysis of the various factors affecting the industry is evaluated. This leads to increased efficiency and consequently increased returns. Additionally, research of the subject carries a statistical and social nature, which makes it necessary to understand the consumer behavior, as well as their knowledge of the possible opportunities. Increasing Sales and Profits One of the main objectives of advertising is to augment sales and profits. Most companies nowadays employ advertising to impart people regarding their products and services. Some forms of advertising lend themselves more to producing immediate profits. This can be with adverts availed through Billboards. The company will process and markets their services under a brand name of Pas Automotive Repair Compan y. Encourage Trial and Usage Pas Automotive Repair Company will frequently use advertising to hearten trial and convention of new services they unveil to their customer. The company will lope their advertising to bring in their services to the public as well as their customers. The company will initiate public enticements to first-time service consumers and will work based on brand equity among techniques Forms of advertisement In any company as per the requirements of marketing strategies,

Artical Analysis Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Artical Analysis - Assignment Example of financial statement, as well as changes that affects the financial statement and several other significant matters like uncertainties, estimates and management judgments. The PCAOB believes in the fact that communicating these matters with the investors will help in reducing the uncertainties and doubts, as the management of the company has more important information than any of the third party. The new audit report suggested by PCAOB maintained the authenticity of the old report by retaining its basic elements. However it focused on providing its users with much more information about the audit as well as the auditor. The PCAOB was confident that if the proposed changes are accepted by the organizations, then it will certainly increase the disclosure of the information of the auditor that would be beyond the traditional pass/fail auditing approach. It is presented in the article that if the proposed changes are accepted then they will certainly affect the responsibilities of the auditors, as well as the expectations of the clients, creditors and investors. I certainly agree with the opinion of the writer as the changes proposed by the PCAOB will make the report more relevant to the investor as they will have more significant information present in the report. The investors and other users of the financial report will not have to take the help of a third part to extract important information about the company, as the relevant information will already be mentioned by the company in the report. Another advantage of the amendments made in the traditional report is that it will present to the investor the value and strengths of the audit leading towards better public awareness. The article states that the changes will certainly help the organization to get close to their investors and other users of the financial statement, which I believe is true. This is because the major goal of the standards and the amendments proposed by PCAOB is to improve the existing

Compare two movies by the characters , transporter 3 and death race Essay

Compare two movies by the characters , transporter 3 and death race - Essay Example (Tasker, pg 4) Characters form an integral part of a movie, but in action movies we find, that priority is given to ‘action over dialogue, characterization or emotion.† These movies are more of â€Å"visually exciting, conceptually shallow entertainment machines.† (Tasker, pg 104) Characters, especially the hero, in such films are known for their physique than their psychology and â€Å"broad sentimentality replaces emotional complexity or depth.’ (Tasker, pg 112) In the two action movies, Death Race 2000 and Transporter, both revolving around cars and car chases, the hero features in almost all the scenes, but he provides no peek into his psyche nor the reasons which drive into the course of action he is in. In Transporter, the hero is â€Å"a compromised man doing good† while in Death Race he is â€Å"a U.S. working man, doomed to wage the proletarian fight.† (White, 2008) The hero is forced to take recourse to certain objectionable means in order to achieve his ends, which often deal with physical violence and races, where victory is achieved through death-defying stunts. Another very important attribute of the hero in an action movie is that he has a heart of gold and would go to any lengths to protect the poor and defenseless. ( White, 2008) is forced to don the mantle of Frankenstein, the victor of death races, broadcast to a depraved public, hungering all the time for action. Jensen has been arrested wrongfully, and is made to take part in the race, staged over three days, where the final goal is to remain the last person alive, in this modern-day gladiatorial spectacle. The prison becomes the arena and the warden is the circus master, who drives the whole contest. Jensen shows that he has a moral streak in him and is ready to do anything which would restore to him his honor and name. He is in prison because he is unemployed, and this futuristic

Separation of Powers Within the United Kingdom Constitution Essay

Separation of Powers Within the United Kingdom Constitution - Essay Example The English government has three branches which include: the executive, the legislature and the judiciary. The U.K is a constitutional monarchy. The monarch is the executive head of state while the Prime Minister is the head of government. Additionally, the Executive includes cabinet ministers, civil service, the police and the armed forces. The Executive formulates and implements government laws. The legislature, formally the â€Å"Queen in Parliament† is responsible for making laws. The judiciary is supposed to be free from parliament and the executive and is responsible for resolving conflicts between institutions of the state, individuals and the state and individuals, immune from criticism. Separation of powers, strengthened by the rule of law and parliamentary sovereignty is highly emphasized in the English Constitution. There would be no liberty if the same man or the same body exercised those three powers. The powers of the three arms of government generally overlap. The British Constitution does not strictly separate the powers. This is mainly due to the complexity and the interrelated nature of the functions of the state. A solid example of overlap between the three branches is the position of Lord Chancellor who is a member of the Cabinet, the head of the judiciary and also chairs the House of Lords when they sit as a legislature. The Constitutional Reform is currently reforming this role to highlight SOP. However, some argue that such a position acts as a bridge between the executive and the judiciary. ... However, some argue that such a position acts as a bridge between the executive and the judiciary. The executive and legislature have great connections in exercise of their powers. According to Bagehot (1867) that relationship is the â€Å"efficient secret of the English Constitution.† Overlaps are evident as seen when ministers sit in parliament and perform legislative functions; and the executive tends to control MPs to vote in a certain way. The government is usually made up of the party with the majority of seats in the House of Commons, which means that the executive has great control on legislative decisions. The Prime Minister, cabinet and bureaucracy determine the legislative agenda and the cabinet. Also, many judicial officers such as the Attorney General and the Lord Chancellor are appointed by the government. The executive generally dominates especially in cases where the government has a firm majority in the House of Commons to the extent that it is assured of winn ing major votes in the House. In Britain, a government of national majority coalition draws its political leadership in dominant control of authoritative decision making; and national public policy. The legislature may interfere in executive roles when government loses a vote of confidence and through Acts of parliament which may affect executive decisions. There is an overlap between the Judiciary and the Executive in that the Lord Chancellor who is the head of Judiciary also sits in the cabinet. In this case a member of the Judiciary finds himself in the cabinet. Again the Lord Chancellor chairs the House of Lords when they sit as legislature. In this instance a person who heads the Judiciary also chairs the proceedings of the legislature. There is

The Modern Nuclear Family Essay Example for Free

The Modern Nuclear Family Essay The nuclear, isolated, or restricted family is not a recent phenomenon, but has existed in many cultures throughout human history. Indeed, the extended family of several generations is found mostly in relatively advanced, stable, and affluent, but not yet industrialized societies. Very primitive and very sophisticated societies seem to prefer the nuclear family model. However, nuclear families can vary in the degree of their isolation and restrictedness. For example, before the Industrial Revolution the Western nuclear family was often embedded in a larger social unit, such as a farm or estate, an aristocratic court, or a village populated by relatives. Many older city neighborhoods also kept kinship ties strong, and thus even very small families remained open to the community. Family visits might be frequent and extended; children might freely circulate and feel at home in several households. On the other hand, we have seen that, beginning in the late 17th century, a trend toward closeness reduced the size of many larger households and changed the relationships between the remaining family members. They became more concerned about each other. They needed each other more. The idyllic home of the bourgeois became an island of serenity in the gathering storm of modernization, a haven secure from the world out there, from aggressiveness, competition, and class warfare. We have also seen how this home sheltered women and protected the children from sexual and other temptations. Other nasty social realities were also kept safely at bay. The family income was no longer earned inside, but rather outside the house. The division of labor between the sexes became more pronounced as men spent more and more time away from their families as wage earners in factories, shops, and offices. Their wives became almost the only companions of their small children whose care and education was now their main responsibility. (Formerly, these tasks had been divided between mothers, grandmothers, nurses, and servants.) Virtually the only middle-class men who still worked at home were doctors and lawyers in private practice. As a rule, however, the bourgeois family saw its head and breadwinner only when he returned from his work at night. This work itself remained an abstraction to both his wife and his children. The removal of productive work from the home into the factories had, of course, important consequences for all family members. It was no longer necessary for any of them to develop strong roots in any particular community or to become attached to a particular house. Instead, they became free to move about, to follow industrial development into new settlements, to go after the jobs wherever they might be. Moreover, family connections became less important, as factory work became ever more rationalized and efficient. Nepotism gave way to hiring and promotion on merit alone. By the same token, the new worker, business man, or bureaucrat no longer had to take care of distant relatives. He now worked exclusively for his own small family and this made him more industrious. He could advance faster, since his income had to support only very few people. Thus, the individual husband and father was no longer weighed down by traditions or extensive social obligations. In addition, the education of his children and the care of his aged or sick parents began to be taken over by the state. In view of these developments, many observers have noted a fit between the nuclear family and industrialism. In other words, small, intimate, and mobile families seem best suited to advance the cause of industrialization and, conversely, industrialization seems to encourage the formation of small families. After all, in modern industrial societies there is a general trend toward equality and personal independence. This, in turn, allows for the free choice of a marriage partner, place of residence, and occupation. In an extended family these freedoms are always restricted, because a wrong choice would affect too many relatives. Thus, people who want to take full advantage of the new possibilities normally marry late and keep their families small. However, this rule also has its exceptions. Sometimes large families are more useful, because they can serve as a back-up unit by providing shelter and aid at crucial moments. This may be especially important for lower-class individuals who try to move up, although the higher classes often also maintain extensive family ties. Thus, even in fully industrialized societies one can find many men and women who appreciate the traditional extended family or at least a large network of relatives. Still, by and large, the closely-knit nuclear family has been dominant in Western societies for the last several generations, and thus it has shaped the general perception of what a family should be: A man and a woman marry for love, have two or three children, live alone by themselves in a family home or apartment, and spend all their free time together. The man leaves for work in the morning, while the woman takes care of the children and the house. She also cooks dinner and ministers to her exhausted husband when he returns at night. Once or twice a year, at Thanksgiving or Christmas, there is a brief, ceremonial get-together with other relatives at Grandmas house, but otherwise everyone keeps his distance and minds his own business. Obviously, according to this ideal model, the family members are relatively isolated from the larger kindred and, indeed, from the rest of the community. However, they are to be compensated for this isolation by a greater emotional warmth inside the nuclear circle. Father, mother, and children are to be the world for each other. A deep mutual love is supposed to keep them together and boost their morale as they compete economically with other small family units. Unfortunately, as many families have discovered, things do not always work out that way. The lack of wider contacts is often perceived as crippling, too much closeness becomes oppressive, and inescapable familiarity breeds contempt. Therefore, almost from the beginning, the modern nuclear family has also been subject to criticism. In Victorian times, when the cult of the home was at its height, this criticism was expressed mainly by great bourgeois writers, such as Flaubert, Ibsen and Strindberg, who denounced the hypocrisy, shallowness, and dullness of middle-class life, and who exposed the suffering and vicious psychological infighting behind the facade of respectability. The family was further criticised on philosophical and political grounds by Friedrich Engels who tied it to the origin and maintenance of private property. Finally, Sigmund Freud provided perhaps the most serious, if indirect, accusation when he described the happy nuclear household as the breeding ground of neurosis and sexual perversion. At any rate, by the late 19th century the disadvantages of the bourgeois family model had also become evident to many average men and women. The emotional hothouse atmosphere of the home began to seem stifling, and what once had been praised as a sanctuary was more and more often condemned as a prison. In the traditional extended family, children had been able to choose between several male and female adult role models; now they had only their parents. Formerly, their early education had been shaped by a number of different people and a variety of influences; now they depended entirely on their own mother and father. Actually, the latter was not even always available. Since he no longer worked inside the house, his children had no clear conception of his social role. Instead, he became simply an abstract provider and disciplinarian, a mysterious and distant authority figure. He was occasionally loved, frequently feared, but rarely understood. At the same time, the wife and mother found herself more restricted than ever before. Her greatly increased maternal duties kept her confined inside her four walls. She could venture outside only for a visit to church or to go shopping. Her world had shrunk, and her functions were narrowly circumscribed. She had to be feminine, motherly, sensitive, proper, and in all matters of importance she had to defer to her husband. It is understandable, therefore, that many Victorian women began to resent the nuclear family and their position in it. Thus, it was a signal of things to come when, in Ibsens A Dolls House, the heroine Nora simply walked out on her husband and children. As time went by, more and more women demanded complete legal equality with men and the freedom to develop their full potential as human beings. They began to struggle for the right to vote and the reform of marriage and divorce laws. They also entered the work force in ever increasing numbers. Finally, during World War I, they proved their capabilities in many formerly inaccessible jobs and thereby further emancipated themselves from the home. {See also The Emancipation of Women.) Recent decades have seen a continuation of this trend. In many families today both husband and wife work outside the house, while the children spend much of their time in a nursery, daycare center, kindergarten, or school. As a result, the emotional ties between family members have become somewhat less constrictive, and a greater tolerance prevails. The influence of peer groups has grown, not only for the children, but also for their mothers. The traditional male and female roles are being reevaluated. The mass media keep everyone in touch with the larger community and its continued transformation. Still, the family circle as such has not widened. Grandparents are rarely part of the household, but live on their own in retirement villages, senior citizen centers, or nursing homes. Unmarried relatives move to a singles hotel or apartment building. Thus, the average American family remains fairly small. Indeed, there are now many fatherless families consisting only of a woman and her children. The one-parent family or core family is usually described as an incomplete nuclear family, and there is a general assumption that it is socially undesirable. The lack of a father figure is seen as detrimental to child development, and hasty generalizations are made about undue female influence. In the U.S. these comments sometimes even have racist overtones, as mother-child families are frequently found in the poor black population. However, with the rising divorce rate, this family type has also become increasingly common in the white middle class. Indeed, at the present time about 1 out of 6 children in America lives with only one parent, and the number of such households may well increase in the future. After all, our welfare regulations and other government policies often have the effect of breaking up families that would otherwise stay together. Our legisiatures have not yet learned how to test new laws through family impact studies which would reveal such unintended consequences in advance. Still, in the meantime it should be remembered that the one-parent family is not necessarily bad. In the years following the two World Wars, millions of women have successfully brought up their children alone, and this impressive example should caution us against superficial judgments. Moreover, upon closer examination, many core families are discovered to maintain close connections to wider kinship groups and thus turn out to be more open and viable than might have been supposed. Finally, we know that there are also many father-child families which have not received sufficient critical attention. It is another question whether the nuclear family itself, even when complete, is still the best available option. Many people today are convinced that small, single households are uneconomical and wasteful, that they are still emotionally unhealthy, that they perpetuate outmoded sterotypical sex roles, and that they produce competitive, egotistical children in an age when universal cooperation seems the only hope of mankind. It is also argued that the modern family no longer has any other function than to provide love and intimacy, and that this is by no means enough to justify its existence. Indeed, since families have been largely relieved of their economic, educational, and protective functions by the state, sexual attachment has become the nearly exclusive basis of marriage, and this basis is notoriously weak. Frequent divorce and remarriage, however, while perhaps practical for the adults, hardly seem in the best interest of the children. Under the circumstances, it is only fitting that a number of thoughtful men and women should continue to search for more stable, new and improved family models.

The internal ans external environmental forces Essay Example for Free

The internal ans external environmental forces Essay SWOTT Analysis: Candy BusinessThis paper examines the internal and external environmental forces and trends to consider when opening a candy business. This paper will look at the legal and regulatory forces of a sole proprietorship and social external trends to consider. The internal forces and trends that will be analysis are strategy, structures, goals, culture, and leadership. Legal and regulatoryThis business is going to have a sole proprietorship which means that the candy shop will be owned by one individual. This will leave the owner responsible for all the legal and financial liabilities of the business. Sole Proprietorships are probably the simplest and cheapest forms of business organization. They do not require registration with local, state or federal governments (other than taxes and special regulatory agencies). They are businesses which have one owner and they do not have stock. The sole proprietor owns all assets and is responsible for all debts. If the business cannot pay its bills, creditors can sue the owner to collect. The company does not conduct legal or contractual transactions, rather the owner does. Advantages of the sole proprietorship include:†¢Ease of formation no legal registrations†¢Low overhead income reported as ordinary income to the owners. Taxes tend to be straight-forward†¢Easy control and direction established by the owner no boards or advisors. †¢Suitable business form for many types of products, services and enterprises (Sole Proprietorship, 2008). Being a sole proprietor means that the owner will need watch their competition to make sure that they do not lose customers to the competitions that also sale sugar-free candy. Sole proprietor also means the owner assumes all liability risk. SocialThe candy business will work to promote a healthier environment by advertising their sugar free candies more then regular candy. But they are in the business to sale candy; this will also give their customers an opportunity to make a healthier choice when it comes to candy. The candy business will sale their candy online, to ensure the safety of their web  site orders, credit card numbers are never stored. The information is never sent to a database to retain the information. The only information that is kept is customer names, addresses, and emails so that they can follow up with customers if something goes wrong with their purchase (Van Otis Chocolates, 2005). StrategyThe proposed candy business has a very unique business strategy because of the specialized product that the business sells. The candies sold are considered to be top of the line product that is only available in certain stores, which keeps the stature of the candy high. The candy business has centered sales around the sales of their sugar free candies for those people who love candy, but need to watch their sugar intake for different health reasons. StructuresThe candy business will operate both as a brick and mortar business in a mall and an ecommerce business. This way the business will reach more customers and the candy business will try to keep consistency between their ecommerce site and their brick and mortar store. That way if customers see something on the web site but do not want to purchase on the site they can come to the store and make their purchase. The candy business will offer all the same products to help satisfy the consumers needs. GoalsOne of the number one goals of the candy business is the availability of all products offered in the store to be available on the website. This is important because their candy is the favorite to people all over the country who wish to have the entire store available to them. Another goal of the candy business is to sale Weight Watchers candy in the store. This will bring those customers that are trying to loss weight but need something sweet sometime. This will also help with the growth of the business. Even though there are other candy stores out there who also sale sugar free candy, this will help pull customers to this store and that Weight Watchers candy is available in this store that other candy store to not sale. CultureCandy in general is deemed childrens food, just as toys in general are labeled for childs play. Most likely, a person would expect an event  intended for children to be a more appropriate venue to serve candy than an event intended for adults. But surprisingly, adults lead the way in candy consumption. In fact, according to the National Confectioners Association, adults over age 18 consume 65% of all candy (Hudak, 2008). Americans did not always have a sweet tooth. When candy was first made and sold in the United States, most people considered it a frivolous luxury for women of means (Knowlton, 1999). Most dentist will tell their patients not to eat a great deal of candy, but if a person rinse, brush and floss faithfully they can keep from getting cavities just like with any other type of food. LeadershipA sole proprietor has complete control and decision-making power over the business. All responsibilities and business decisions fall on the shoulders of the sole proprietor and investors will not usually invest in sole proprietorships. A sole proprietorship can hire any number of employees. A strong leadership is needed to grow the business. Without good leadership and a management system the business could close. Management needs a measurement and improvement system that makes the orchestration of day-to-day activities possible so there is true business-needs alignment-a system that not only monitors operations, but also provides the entire workforce with information that can be used up and down the line to make sure everyones performance supports corporate strategies for any business to succeed (Breyfogle, 2007). When opening a business there are many things that need to be considered. Doing a SWOTT analysis can help a business to know where they need to focus their needs to grow their business. Having a strong management system and good leadership skill can help a business grow and be successful. References Breyfogle. F.W. (2007). Quality Management. Retrieved July 21, 2008, fromhttp://www.qualitymag.com/CDA/Articles/Feature_Article/BNP_GUID_9-5-2006_A_10000000000000105938Hudak, D. (2008). Pop Rocks: A Discussion of Childrens Culture and Candy Consumption. Retrieved July 20, 2008, from http://www.candyfavorites.com/shop/pop-rocks-history.phpKnowlton, B. (1999). American Topics: How Candy Became Dandy. Retrieved July 18, 2008,from http://www.iht.com/articles/1999/07/22/topics.2.t_5.phpVan Otis Chocolates. (2005). Social and Legal Issues. Retrieved July 20, 2008, fromhttp://it.snhu.edu/classof2006/mcgannheather/vanotis/Social_Legal.htmSole Proprietorship, (2008). Retrieved July 19, 2008, fromhttp://www.companiesinc.com/incorporate/businesstypes/soleprop.asp

Purpose of Phenomenological Research

Purpose of Phenomenological Research Understanding the meaning of peoples lived experiences is the focus of phenomenology (McConnell-Henry, Chapman, Francis, 2009). Phenomenology is the philosophy or method of inquiry whereby all truths are understood through self awareness (Dictionary.com Unabridged, 2006). Ascribed from the words phenomenon and logos, an implied meaning of phenomenology is the logical interpretation of a phenomenon. Phenomena refer to any observed occurrences that are understood in our minds. Whereas logos is the human ability to think and express thoughts clearly into words (Vivilaki Johnson, 2008). In the mind, phenomena are interpreted logically through the use of logos (Vivilaki Johnson, 2008) to enhance meaning and understanding of lifes experiences (Bryne, 2001). Method Philosophical Base Phenomenology can be viewed as atheoretical in that it may not use a pre-selected theoretical framework (Mapp, 2008; Munhall, 2007). The epistemological and ontological theoretical basics of phenomenology have been established for decades by various philosophers with different methods (Mapp, 2008). Therefore, a thorough understanding of the theoretical underpinnings of phenomenology is essential when establishing the methods for a phenomenological research study. When qualitative researchers explain their methods using the phenomenologist they ascribe to, this foundation allows the unique ability of examining the world from a distinct phenomenological perspective. Thus, the philosophy and theory of the method itself guide the study when phenomenology is the theoretical framework (Munhall Chenail, 2008). From a phenomenological viewpoint, the subjective experience of each person is examined for meaning and understanding, and not quantified into statistical data. While the scientific method has centered on the discovery of knowledge with little regard for the meaning of life experiences (Bryne, 2001), phenomenological studies are rising to provide insight into life experiences, particularly those surrounding health (Vivilaki Johnson, 2008). The three schools of thought related to phenomenology include Husserlian, Heideggerian, and Dutch/Urecht. Edmond Husseri, a mathematician, philosopher, and Father of phenomenology, believed the researcher should contain their beliefs and experiences through a process called transcendental consciousness or bracketing to objectively understand and describe the essence of a participants lived experience (Hunter, 2004; Mapp, 2008). The descriptive approach used in Husserlian phenomenology to explain phenomena is further delineated by van Manen (1990) into two forms, immediate and intermediate. The first form refers to the immediate lived experience and the second form is symbolic and refers to a mediated description such as text or art works, revealing greater analysis (van Manen, 1990). In contrast to Husseri, Martin Heidegger, a pupil of Husseri, meshed hermeneutics with phenomenology possibly due to his early theological background. He believed the researcher used previous beliefs and experiences to interpret the participants experience. Heidegger contended that being-in- the-world made it virtually impossible to bracket beliefs because the researchers prior knowledge, or fore-structure, would facilitate understanding the meaning of lived experiences(Mapp, 2008; McConnell-Henry, et al., 2009). There are two features in the interpretative approach used in Husserlian phenomenology. One part points to what the lived experience reveals and the other part points out the meaning of something already interpreted such as art work or text (van Manen, 1990). Both philosophical views, descriptive and interpretative were used with the Dutch/Urecht school of thought (Mapp, 2008; McConnell-Henry, et al., 2009). The philosopher, van Manen, believed the terms descriptive and interpretative could be used interchangeably. He seemingly concurred with the argument that all description is ultimately interpretation (van Manen, 1990). Each of the three philological underpinnings for phenomenology may overlap their theoretical base and generate confusion. This is no surprise given that the meaning of the lived human experiences is diverse with an endless range of inquiries(Hunter, 2004). Key Assumptions Phenomenology is supported by a number of key assumptions (Munhall, 2007; Orb, 2000). Each person involved in the research study will be referred to as participants. Participants are willing to speak openly and truthfully about their experiences. The phenomenological question is a meaning question that is clear and easily understood by the participant. The therapeutic imperative of nursing (advocacy) takes precedence over the research imperative (advancing knowledge) if conflict develops. The ethical system of deontological (people are not to be treated as means) reflects qualitative nursing. The researcher will continually inform the participant, renegotiate, and ask permission as unexpected changes occur during the study to reflect process consenting. The researcher will make no attempts to engage in problem solving. It is possible for the researcher to discover and understand the participants perception and derive meaning of their lived experience. The researcher acknowledges any beliefs, biases, assumptions, or presuppositions that may that may hinder the veracity of the study. The researcher is an active medium for the voice of their participants without altering their life experiences. The sample is adequate and appropriate reflecting saturation and replication. The researcher will not generalize study results. Appropriate Situations for Use Phenomenology is widely used in various areas of research that deal with human experiences such as nursing, psychology, sociology and education (McConnell-Henry, et al., 2009). Several phenomenological nursing research studies were examined. In one study, Clarke (2009) used a reflective diary to provide transparency, self-development, and clarification of her thoughts and feelings as a novice researcher. Another study conducted by Koch (1994) examined the rigor involved in a study of elderly patients who were victims of negligence. A study on spiritual care for the ill patients without religious affiliation identified several implications for policy change to affect current nursing practice and the educational preparation of nurses (Creel, 2007). Research on experienced emergency nurses stressed the importance of knowledge and experience as key to intuition (Lyneham, Parkinson, Denholm, 2008). The final study cited the experience of advance beginner nurses employed in psychiatric facilities with limited educational preparation and the need for change in the ed ucational arena (Waite, 2006). Each of the studies examined were useful in communicating how participants view the world as they experience the studied phenomenon (Munhall, 2007). The results of the studies are most useful when the researcher allows the data to speak to the reader (van Manen, 1990). Most important, the phenomenology studies create hope. In addition, these studies can be used to liberate us from long held beliefs that cut-off the voice of a persons lived experience (Munhall, 2007). Sample Research Questions The questions in phenomenology research are meaning questions and unlike problem questions, they are not designed to be solved. Instead, the questions allow significance and understanding of phenomena. Phenomenological questions are never closed out with a correct answer. These questions remain open to provide new meaning and insight to those who hope to benefit from the response (van Manen, 1990). Phenomenological questions are questions of wonder that resonate in the heart of the researcher whereby the researcher lives the question and becomes the question by questioning over and over again until the question reveals the essence of its nature. In contrast, empirical research allows statistical data to answer the question for masses of people with no regard for the unique lives of participants. The question in phenomenological research focuses on the phenomenon studied and what the experience is really like for the participant. The knowledge derived from the simple question, what is it like? not only helps participants think and talk about their experiences, but it pulls the reader into the phenomenological description and instills wonder about the phenomena revealed and aids understanding of human experiences (van Manen, 1990). Formulating the research question has some similarities to empirical methods in that the research question is formulated according to the chosen philosopher and the aim of the study. For example, if Heidegger is the philosopher, then the question will focus on being in the world. As an example, the question would reflect the experience the being is in and ask: What does it mean to be a human being and have this experience (Munhall, 2007)? According to Munhall (2007), it is imperative that meaning be the primary focus of the study. Sample questions that focus, reflect meaning, and understanding of the phenomenon are as addressed (McConnell-Henry, et al., 2009; Munhall, 2007; van Manen, 1990). What is/are meaning(s) in this experience or phenomenon? What is being described here? What is it like to be a person having this experience? What is it like for those surrounding the person? How is the phenomenon reflected and manifested in human relationships? What is the evolving meaning(s) that surrounds the phenomenon over time and how does this manifest itself in human experience? What is the nature of the lived experience? What does it mean to be a . . . ? What does this . . . mean to you and what do you mean to this . . . ? What does this really mean? Data Analysis Most Common Methods Unlike empirical research, there is no method of procedures that are quickly understood and mastered when conducting phenomenological research (Munhall, 2007). Phenomenology with its emphasis on understanding the lived experience does not lend itself to specific steps in an effort to protect the veracity of the phenomenon (Groenewald, 2004). Description of methods are not designed to be linear procedural steps, but rather a way to understand the approach to phenomenological research (Munhall, 2007; vanManen, 1990). According to van Manen (1990), methods cannot be fixed, but as questions arise during the research, methods may be either discovered or invented. Munhall (2007) purposed a two-fold purpose for developing a phenomenological method of inquiry. Her first intent was to aide students and colleagues in various efforts such as novice researcher understanding, preparation for dissertation proposals, institutional review board approval, and grant applications. Secondly, she wanted qualitative research established with the same credibility and respect as the scientific method (Munhall, 2007). Munhall (2007) derived her analysis method from the work of van Manen. The main philosophical difference between Munhall and van Manen is that Munhall views phenomenological research as a problem solving agent that can effect change in policy and practice. In addition, she believes phenomenological research results can augment the capacity for caring and compassion, and enhance awareness of unknown and erroneous information (Munhall, 2007). An overview of the methods for phenomenological inquiry and data analysis described by Munhall (2007) is compared to the different phenomenological approaches. Table 1 depicts the similarities of three common methods, descriptive/interpretative (van Manen, 1990), descriptive (Waite, 2006), and interpretative hermeneutics (Crist Tanner, 2003). How Results Are Usually Presented Results are written in a narrative format and condensed into a summary of major interpretations. The narrative should reflect the most meaningful aspect of the research study that could shed light on the problem studied and potentiate social change. Participants are generally asked to read the summary to verify the meaning of their lived experiences. Understanding the lived experiences of the people in the world in which they live can have powerful implications for issues such as non-adherent behaviors (Munhall, 2007). Munhall (2007) purports that non-adherent behavior results from not understanding the patient and the meaning of a behavior to the patient. Findings from phenomenology studies should be disseminated to give voice to the lived experiences of the participants (Munhall, 2007). The thrust of phenomenology is to give birth to the ideas of others (Vivilaki Johnson, 2008). Phenomenological research studies are rooted in caring about the experiences of participants and the desire to make a difference. The question upon the completion of the study is So what? These studies command interventions for change that are viable and designed to make a difference (Munhall, 2007).