Research Process and Methodology Coursework - 1650 Words

Research Process and Methodology (Coursework Sample) Content: Explain a Systematic Marketing Research Process and MethodologyIntroductionMarketing research is a systematic search, gathering and analyzing of the facts and data on how to meet consumer desires and needs. In other words it is a means of gaining information on marketing problem and opportunities. Marketing research also serves the purpose of keeping up with competitorsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ market strategies.It is a systematic method of finding new concepts or ideas, getting feedback on proposed advertising or gaining insight into attitudes and opinions about a new product. Marketing Research is also helpful in variety of business decisions and to prepare a credible business plan such as capital planning, cash flow forecast, sales projections, pricing strategy, supplies and number of employees to be hired etc. Marketing research is often partitioned into two sets of categorical pairs, either by target market: Consumer marketing research, and Business-to-business (B2B) marketi ng research 1 Steps in marketing research process 1 Define the problem and determine and formulate the research questionIf you are considering conducting Marketing research chances are you have already identified a problem or the research question. To be effective, a research study must be both well designed and narrowly focused, this will help you identify the key terms and concepts you should use when searching electronic databases and print research resources. If the research question is too broad too much information will be obtained and large amount of resulting data will be difficult to analyze and there for of little use to organization. 2 Decide on the sources of information and sample profileDifferent sources of data are categorized as primary data that researcher collects and secondary data that already exists. Secondary data can further be classified as internal data which as the name signifies a company already has and external data which must be gathered from other sour ces. Researcher need to plan the sources well from which information can be obtained. 3 Consider your resource options and select the appropriate research approachThe process of primary research starts with whether question calls for descriptive, exploratory or casual research and choice depends whether research question needs to be answered with quantifiable facts and how an organization plans to use the information helps in making an appropriate decision.If the organization wishes to prove a fact about the demographic composition of its customer then descriptive study would be appropriate, but if wishes to find out about falling sales then it will need to conduct exploratory research and casual research will determine the effect of proposed change. 4 Plan the research methodDepending upon how research would be conducted, available Research method will include surveys, focus group, interviews, and observation etc. For example for exploratory research the emphasis is not on sample s ize but choosing the correct participant and the analysis of information they provide. 5 Conducting the research and collecting the dataThere are many methods of conducting the research. Mail surveys are quick and relatively inexpensive, they are ideal for seeking extensive feedback on customer satisfaction or other detailed surveys Telephone interviews allow you to rapidly obtain feedback from customers in a cost-effective.Focus groups are facilitated group discussions where customers and prospects explore a particular topic, usually under the guidance of a researcher. They are useful for gauging customer concerns or for getting their thoughts on potential changes. Personal interviews occur when a researcher interviews a customer one-on-one. This type of research is ideal for getting detailed information on customersà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ attitudes or how they perceive products or services. Observing customers at various points of contact in your business provides unbiased feedback about a pr oduct or service. 6 Performing data analysis and report the finding and recommendationsWhen analyzing data, always start from review of your research goals, this will help you organize your data and focus your analysis.There are as many reporting styles as there are research reports. As for reporting the results, the level and scope of content depends on to whom the report is intended.The end products of marketing research are conclusions and recommendations. Data is converted into information and conclusions are drawn, it is this final information which management needs to reduce the risks and uncertainties in management decision making.To be effective, marketing research has to be systematic, objective and analytical, and final conclusion of the research should meet the objective of the project. 2 Research MethodologyResearch Methodology is the system of collecting data for research projects. In Research methodology key questions are addressed: * What design strategy will be used * Who/what is the study unit * Who/what forms the population of the study * Sampling unit... Research Process and Methodology Coursework - 1650 Words Research Process and Methodology (Coursework Sample) Content: Explain a Systematic Marketing Research Process and MethodologyIntroductionMarketing research is a systematic search, gathering and analyzing of the facts and data on how to meet consumer desires and needs. In other words it is a means of gaining information on marketing problem and opportunities. Marketing research also serves the purpose of keeping up with competitorsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ market strategies.It is a systematic method of finding new concepts or ideas, getting feedback on proposed advertising or gaining insight into attitudes and opinions about a new product. Marketing Research is also helpful in variety of business decisions and to prepare a credible business plan such as capital planning, cash flow forecast, sales projections, pricing strategy, supplies and number of employees to be hired etc. Marketing research is often partitioned into two sets of categorical pairs, either by target market: Consumer marketing research, and Business-to-business (B2B) marketi ng research 1 Steps in marketing research process 1 Define the problem and determine and formulate the research questionIf you are considering conducting Marketing research chances are you have already identified a problem or the research question. To be effective, a research study must be both well designed and narrowly focused, this will help you identify the key terms and concepts you should use when searching electronic databases and print research resources. If the research question is too broad too much information will be obtained and large amount of resulting data will be difficult to analyze and there for of little use to organization. 2 Decide on the sources of information and sample profileDifferent sources of data are categorized as primary data that researcher collects and secondary data that already exists. Secondary data can further be classified as internal data which as the name signifies a company already has and external data which must be gathered from other sour ces. Researcher need to plan the sources well from which information can be obtained. 3 Consider your resource options and select the appropriate research approachThe process of primary research starts with whether question calls for descriptive, exploratory or casual research and choice depends whether research question needs to be answered with quantifiable facts and how an organization plans to use the information helps in making an appropriate decision.If the organization wishes to prove a fact about the demographic composition of its customer then descriptive study would be appropriate, but if wishes to find out about falling sales then it will need to conduct exploratory research and casual research will determine the effect of proposed change. 4 Plan the research methodDepending upon how research would be conducted, available Research method will include surveys, focus group, interviews, and observation etc. For example for exploratory research the emphasis is not on sample s ize but choosing the correct participant and the analysis of information they provide. 5 Conducting the research and collecting the dataThere are many methods of conducting the research. Mail surveys are quick and relatively inexpensive, they are ideal for seeking extensive feedback on customer satisfaction or other detailed surveys Telephone interviews allow you to rapidly obtain feedback from customers in a cost-effective.Focus groups are facilitated group discussions where customers and prospects explore a particular topic, usually under the guidance of a researcher. They are useful for gauging customer concerns or for getting their thoughts on potential changes. Personal interviews occur when a researcher interviews a customer one-on-one. This type of research is ideal for getting detailed information on customersà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ attitudes or how they perceive products or services. Observing customers at various points of contact in your business provides unbiased feedback about a pr oduct or service. 6 Performing data analysis and report the finding and recommendationsWhen analyzing data, always start from review of your research goals, this will help you organize your data and focus your analysis.There are as many reporting styles as there are research reports. As for reporting the results, the level and scope of content depends on to whom the report is intended.The end products of marketing research are conclusions and recommendations. Data is converted into information and conclusions are drawn, it is this final information which management needs to reduce the risks and uncertainties in management decision making.To be effective, marketing research has to be systematic, objective and analytical, and final conclusion of the research should meet the objective of the project. 2 Research MethodologyResearch Methodology is the system of collecting data for research projects. In Research methodology key questions are addressed: * What design strategy will be used * Who/what is the study unit * Who/what forms the population of the study * Sampling unit...

Effective Leadership Styles Within The Workplace - 1584 Words

Effective leadership styles Abstract An effective leader influences their employees in a desired manner to achieve goals and objectives. Different leadership styles can affect an organization’s effectiveness and performance. The objective of this paper is to analyze the review of literature on various leadership styles over the past years and how effective and ineffective different leadership styles are in the workplace. Introduction A leader is defined as a person with responsibility to influence one or more followers and directing them to achieve a set objective (Sethuraman, 2014). In order to achieve that set of objectives effortlessly, effectively, and efficiently, the most important and valued trait of a leader is an effective leadership styles. Effective leadership styles are required in every organization at every level to be successful. The success or failure of an organization depends on the quality of leadership particularly on the part of top management. An effective leadership style can be developed on the basis of understanding of the situations (Sethuraman, 2014). Top management should know which leadership style is needed based on the situation to be most effective to gain trust and respect from their employee. There is no single method of influencing the behavior of employees for every situation. The employee’s level of knowledge on the task and can determine which leadership style that wil l be most effective for the situation. Preparing leaders to leadShow MoreRelatedLeadership Style And Effective Communication Essay1253 Words   |  6 PagesLeadership Style and Effective Communication in the Workplace Introduction Blanchard, Hersey Johnson (2015) introduced the concepts pertaining to leadership styles, self-awareness in Chapter 11, and effective communication in Chapter 12. The two main ideas that will be taken away from the lesson review involve the use of feedback, and active listening, which helps in essential communication within the organization and in one’s daily life. When it comes to choosing the right style of leadershipRead MoreLeadership Style Of A Leader Essay934 Words   |  4 Pagesindividual possesses a certain capacity for leadership. Whether is is learned or innate, communication skills are a key factor in how a leader is perceived and followed. An individual’s leadership style is comprised of several factors within the workplace environment and the individuals that comprise it.Some theories debate whether leadership remains the same no matter the circumstance, where others maintain that individuals might use others to gain leadership for noble means. Regard less of the charismaRead MoreEthical Leadership Styles As Tools For Influencing Organizational Culture751 Words   |  4 Pagesto discuss ethical leadership styles as tools for influencing organizational culture while respecting the diversity of cultures embodied by employees. The variety of leadership styles are because of the cultural influences, people of different cultures have diverse beliefs and expectations about what is perceived as effective leadership (Jogulu, 2010). Due to the global environment were organizations operate, it is necessary to identify leadership models that will work within the various culturesRead MoreA Critical Analysis Of Democratic Leadership Style889 Words   |  4 PagesA Critical Analysis of Democratic Leadership Style Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Pà ©rigord, a French, bishop, politician, and diplomat, once stated â€Å"I am more afraid of an army of one-hundred sheep led by a lion than an army of one-hundred lions led by a sheep.† Leadership is defined as the ability to influence a group toward the achievement of a vision or a set of goals (Robbins Judge, 2013). Leadership inside the context of the workplace and the study of organizational behavior has the abilityRead MoreDifference Between Management And Leadership1738 Words   |  7 PagesTask 1 This part of the assignment will be explaining the difference between management and leadership. Then progressing onto a style of management and leadership, discussing the impact it can have on the staff team, parents and other stakeholders. Management style and leadership style. Managers and leaders are very similar as they both lead staff teams by motivation but they do this in different ways. Managers have more authority with the team and plan, organise and co-ordinate their team to mostRead MoreRole of a Project Manager1009 Words   |  4 PagesProject management The role of a project manager is the most challenging roles within the project team. As the project goes on and takes advances in its various stages a project manager should ensure that they are able to adopt according to the demands of the project that are ever changing. Clearly this particular project in the organization has been marred with many challenges. These challenges need a good project manager who ill ensures that the project gets completed successfully. The currentRead MoreLeadership Styles Of Hostile Workplace1458 Words   |  6 Pages Leadership Styles in Hostile Workplaces in the Military The military organization is susceptible to bullying in the workplace and hostile work environments due to the inherent nature of the military structure. Different leadership styles can be used to combat bullying and hostile work environments and minimize their effects. Some leadership styles further contribute to problem. Furthermore leadership styles that are helpful in one situation may contribute to problems in a different situationRead MoreThe Do I Trust Others?1342 Words   |  6 Pagesin people scored a five and individuals with more faith in people scores a one. Robbins collected the results from 4,200 students and separated them by their level of trust. After reviewing the Robbins analysis, we discovered that our score falls within the 50th percentile. People, who presumably have a lower amount of faith in others, tend to seek an education or position in the fields such as Marketing or Finance. Conversely, individuals who have a higher amount of trust in others may show interestRead MoreLeadership Styles Of The Workplace1166 Words   |  5 Pagesstressful, constantly changing and multifaceted. Leadership is the ability to influence others in order to attain goals (Lamberton Minor, 2014). Leaders in the workplace must take responsibility to ensure they do the right things. Leaders typically possess characteristics such as enthusiasm, dominance, emotional stability, self-assurance, and conscientiousness. They have a strong sense of ethics and work hard in order to build integrity in their workplace (U.S. Small Business Administration [SBA], nRead MoreImproving Leadership Effectiveness And Characteristics Of An Empowered Workplace1393 Words   |  6 PagesImproving Leadership Effectiveness In this paper, the reader will learn about improving leadership effectiveness. Principles and characteristics of an empowered workplace, importance of communication, high performance in the workplace, team concepts and member roles, problem solving styles, and the stages in the life of a group will be discussed as well as applied to the case study The Chattanooga Ice Cream Division. The reader will learn about the point of the case study, and how it illustrates

Analysis Of The Movie Opened Eyes - 2217 Words

Opened Eyes This story requires attention, please have full fixation on the lines below. Close your eyes and breathe in once then again†¦. be prepared for a lesson it is quite a mess. This is a true story that is mainly about how a neighbor of mine, in my old house changed how I viewed life. This neighbor was a middle aged man who moved in a few houses down to the right of my parent’s home. At the time, he was a tall and slim figure with slightly withered and paled skin. My siblings began to call him stalker, because whenever we were at the grocery store, mall, or library we would see him there too. They even thought it was appropriate to look up predators in the area to see if he was on the list, I generally let them know that they were going a bit overboard, but regardless of what I said they attempted to persuade me that it was alright, but I knew better. I still believed that they went too far, for the meantime let s call the man my siblings and I referred to as ‘stalker’ Edwin during the duration of this story. The first month there was an incident with Edwin, that made me rethink the reality of humanity. The beginning of my day started around 7 am, where the weak, pale yellow sun peeked up from the horizon, but the floor outside was too cold for the straight neighborhood cats’ liking and the frost was beginning its first stages of melting off the grass and leaving the front lawns in the neighborhood with a slightly blinding shine. It was the beginning of summer breakShow MoreRelatedThe Help Film Analysis Essay1686 Words   |  7 PagesHannah Struzynski Film/Documentary Analysis Paper: The Help ERS 100 Section 8 For my film/documentary analysis paper, I chose the movie The Help. This movie was actually originally a book written by Kathryn Stockett, but then in 2011, a screenplay was written and directed by Tate Taylor. I selected this film because it directly relates to some of the topics we talk about in class. Some of them being segregation and discrimination. In society today, segregation and discrimination play a huge roleRead MoreCultural Analysis Of Sleeping Beauty By Charles Perrault892 Words   |  4 PagesPayton Parrish King English 102 18 March 2017 Cultural Analysis of Sleeping Beauty The story of Sleeping Beauty is told in many different forms and is most famous from Walt Disney’s Sleeping Beauty. For example, the fairytale â€Å"The Sleeping Beauty in the Wood† by Charles Perrault is quite different than Disney s version. This fairytale should be researched because it has an interesting historical background and it is still culturally relevant to this day. The three main points that will be discussedRead More12 Years a Slave and Fruitvale Station Essay1389 Words   |  6 Pagesis no law at all†, proves that there is more to the legal system than just regulating it. The civil rights movement played a huge role in American culture. It opened the public’s perceptions on how there are some elementary social rights and equality rights that needed to be encountered in order for justice to be truthful. Through analysis of present day motion pictures that stem from American history such as â€Å"12 Years A Slave† and â€Å"Fruitval e Station† reveals some of the legal and ethical concernsRead MoreMovie Analysis : Gran Torino1649 Words   |  7 PagesHannah Swartout December 3, 2017 COM 325 Analysis Paper Gran Torino Analysis After losing his wife, Walt Kowalski was left with spoiled children and grandchildren, cigarettes, Pabst Blue Ribbon and his 1972 Gran Torino. Walt was retired from the military after serving in the Korean war. In the beginning of the movie Walt appears to be disgruntled, racist and tough-minded. He was not ecstatic that a Hmong family was moving into his deceased neighbors house. Meanwhile, the Hmong family next doorRead MoreLaunching the Bmw Z3 Roadster1583 Words   |  7 Pagesbeginning in October 1994. The case talks about the successful first phase launch of this new drop top beauty. The Z3 was introduced as a 1996 model year vehicle, shortly after being featured in the James Bond movie, Golden Eye. At that time Karen Sortito created the BMW campaign for the film Golden Eye. Afterwards, while the film was number one at the box office, sales of the car spiked. It focuses on the customers and how they suddenly picked up the marketing cues and stories depicted by the various pro motionalRead MoreThe Narrow Road To The Deep North And The Railway Man Essay1134 Words   |  5 PagesThrough the texts, Richard Flanagan’s The Narrow Road to the Deep North and Jonathan Teplitzky’s movie adaption of the bestselling book, by the same name, The Railway Man, both main characters explore the ideology of memory and how their strong prevalence of the past shapes themselves of the future. Because of events that shaped both Dorrigo Evans and Eric Lomax, the two characters often find themselves reminiscing on their past, which shows profound control of their present selves. Through the imagesRead MoreMAnagement 131254 Words   |  6 Pagesï » ¿ JAIME G. ASTOVEZA MWF FINANCE 6 6:00-7:00 PM REACTION PAPER M56 â€Å"Inside Job†   Ã¢â‚¬ Inside Job† provides a comprehensive analysis of the global financial crisis of 2008, which at a cost over $20 trillion, caused millions of people to lose their jobs and homes in the worst recession since the Great Depression, and nearly resulted in a global financial collapse. Through exhaustive research and extensive interviews with key financial insiders, politicians, journalistsRead MoreA Bug s Life, Sociology, Race, Social Stratification, Relationships1708 Words   |  7 PagesThis paper explains how the movie A Bug’s Life used sociological concepts to explain the challenges faced in an animated society of ants. They were overwhelmed with fear from the grasshoppers who constantly reminded them of their inferior class. Coming together and building relationships with one another was their only way out of their own demise. Stopping the grasshoppers from continuously using their race as a way to place them all within a low-class category. Despite their manip ulative ways andRead MoreFoucault s Theory Of Individual Power And Knowledge1596 Words   |  7 Pageswithout consequences due to a momentary lapse of judgment. Based on actual case law and a movie entitled â€Å"The Burning Bed† that starred Farrah Fawcett as real life Francine Hayes, a battered woman on trial for murder suffering with â€Å"battered woman’s syndrome† , â€Å"The Burning Bed† shocked the world with its premiere in 1984 which critically exposed many flaws in the legal and industrial institutions. This movie with not without controversy as it revealed to America and the world the brutal realityRead MoreBoy in Striped Pajamas1470 Words   |  6 PagesThe Boy In Striped Pajamas: A Movie Analysis The film is an emotional experience highlighting the tragedy of innocence, using the point of view of an eight-year-old German boy to expose the raw psychological devastation of the era. Its an unnerving film with a knockout punch for an ending, but it feels more acceptable as an educational piece than a profoundly rewarding work of drama. This movie is based on a book that goes by the same name, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, written by John Boyne

Dana Gioria Money Poem - 931 Words

Dana Gioia was once a business executive before become a writer, poet, and critic. He is much recognize, acclaimed, and awarded. President George W. Bush named him Chairman of the National Endowment for Arts in 2003. Money is a poem that is included in Dana Gioia’s book†The God’s of Winter.† This poem talks about something that everyone is very familiar with in their own way, money. No matter who you are, you know what money is and what money can do or cannot do for you. Dana Gioia illustrates in continuous metaphors that money can be earned, saved, shared, wasted, abused, and used, and that spending money is the prime objective of mankind. Dana Gioia starts off with a quote from Wallace Stevens that reads Money is a kind of†¦show more content†¦First off, he uses personification referring to money being able to talk, giving it human qualities. Money is something that travels from person to person and there is no way to keep track of where money is going or where it is coming from. It is a metaphor because money is something that is dirty and you would not be willing to put it in your mouth. However, people put money where their mouth is when they want to prove a point. Money has this certain sense of power. People know that you are very sure about a point you want to be made when you start to involve money. The poetic devices help to accomplish the purpose of relating money to different objects using metaphors to compare it with objects you may be familiar with, personification by giving money human qualities, visual imageries and paradoxes to show you the power that money possesses. Every single person has a certain kind of relationship with money whether it is because the y have plenty of it and like the rewards of having money. Or someone hates money because they do not have a lot of it and feels this hold them back from doing the things they want to do or obtaining items they want. This poem talks about every aspect of money. This poem tells about some good qualities and some bad qualities that money holds. I really enjoyed reading and figuring out the meaning of this poem, money can be used to help your needs and in some occasions hurt

The film Shrek challenge the fairytale genre Essay Example For Students

The film Shrek challenge the fairytale genre Essay Shrek the story of an ugly ogre, who goes on a daring quest, to rescue feisty Princess Fiona, to win back the deed for his beloved swamp from scheming Lord Farquaad, is a fairytale with a difference. It has the usual fairytale characteristics, but around every corner there is a twist to the tale. Shrek is an ugly ogre, who for years has been terrorised by the people of Dulock, as they feel that he is a threat, when really he just wants to be left alone. He lives in a swamp in a forest on the edge of Dulock, a kingdom ruled by Prince Farquaad. Now Prince Farquaad has banished all fairytale characters from his kingdom, and has sent them to the ogres swamp to live, but Shrek is unhappy about this and goes to Dulock, to try to win back the deed for his swamp. But Prince Farquaad wont back down without a fight, and so he sends Shrek on a daring quest to rescue the Princess of his dreams Fiona. So Shrek takes up his offer, and with a little help from his loveable loud mouthed donkey, and successfully completes his mission. Having Shrek as the hero defies the law of fairytale writing, because usually in fairytales the hero is young, handsome, popular and usually human, but in Shrek they have turned this around to make Shrek the hero, who is ugly, unpopular and is an ogre. But by using Shrek as the unconventional hero, it adds to the humour and gives the viewer a different side to the fairytale genre. It also makes you ask, why do all heroes have to be like they are in typical fairytales, when we can quite clearly see that from Shrek, it works if you turn this idea around. Lord Farquaad is the evil prince, who is selfish and too self contained to care about anyone else. He is looking for the woman of his dreams, and asks his Magic Mirror for help. The Magic Mirror suggests 3 princesses and Princess Fiona is one of them. Lord Farquaad then sets out to find a knight who is strong and brave enough to fight the dragon that protects the castle that Princess Fiona is stuck in. But all knights who try out fail, but when Shrek comes to have a word with Lord Farquaad about the deed to his swamp, Lord Farquaad sets Shrek the challenge of saving the Princess just for him, in order to get the deed for his swamp back.

Fine Art of Listening Essay Example For Students

Fine Art of Listening Essay When someone is talking, do you hear them talking, do you listen to what they are actually saying? When you speak, do you ever notice the body language you use, and the tone of your voice? When other people speak, do you notice peoples tones? Do you notice their body language? Communication consists of speaking to another person and also listening to another person. When listening to another person, you can tell how they are feeling by the tone of their voice, the words that they use, and their body engage. Other people can also tell a lot by your tone, words, and body language. Really feel that a skill only few people possess, but everyone should master is the art of good communication. Good communication skills start with good listening skills, Listening is the foundation for all good relationships, whether it is personal relationships, such as friendships or marriage, business relationships and even spiritual relationships. All relationships require people to listen and to give feedback on what they just heard. Most people do not actually listen when others speak to them. They hear what they are saying, but not what they mean. When you do not listen, you generally miss what people are trying to tell you. You only hear parts of what people are saying to you _ Most people, when in a conversation, start to think about what they will say and only hear parts of what others are saying. Other people begin to let their minds wonder if they start to get bored with the conversation. Friendships require you to have good communication skills. Mean, how can you e a good friend to someone and comfort them in a time of need if you never really know What is wrong? Friends need someone to listen to them when they need to talk about their thoughts and feelings.

Northern Home For Boys Essays - Personal Development, Demography

Northern Home for Boys Northern Home for Boys was first known as Northern Home for Friendless Children, which was founded in 1853 by Elizabeth Rutter. The home was dedicated to serving children in distress. Today the home serves neglected and abused boys who are referred through Children and Youth Agencies of Philadelphia and Delaware Counties. Northern Homes is one of the oldest facilities for children. The home offers on ground school, educational and recreational programs, social workers, child care worker, medical/health care and psychological/psychiatric services. I had the pleasure of meeting with Ms. Gale Hite, who escorted me through the various buildings, which house boys between the ages of 10 and 18. The average stay is 2 years. The mission of this facility is to reunite the boys with their families and to provide them with the essentials needed for becoming productive members of society. To accomplish these goals the boys are first welcomed into the facility by the Welcoming Committee. This committee consists of one boy from each unit. When a new boy is admitted he is assigned a buddy for two weeks to assist him in becoming familiar with the other residents. A Social Worker is assigned to each boy and his family. The responsibility of the Social Worker is to coordinate treatment services for the child and family. Individual counseling is provided weekly and group counseling four times a week. Establishing goals and reviewing levels of achieving goals are discussed on group level. Family counseling is provided on a family by family basis. Within the first 30 days of acceptance into the home an Individual Service Plan is developed. Goals, specific activities, services, the persons responsible for delivering these services and a time limited is stated in the ISP. A schedule of the child's visits with parents is also included in this document. The parents or guardian and a representative for the placing agency is afforded the opportunity to participate in the development of the ISP. The ISP is reviewed every six months to determine progress in achieving the goals. All participates are invited to the review. This facility also offers the level system, which consist of providing a consistent positive framework for setting limits in an age and behavior appropriate manner. The levels program allows room for development within safe guidelines. Positive contribution to the Northern Home's community, school attendance and performance, and the child's individual and group goals are weighted equally in the level program. Each group meets nightly to evaluate the progress around individual and group goals. These meetings help the boys understand each other and to stimulate the group into feeling successful. There are five levels in the program, probation, 1, 2,3 and independent. Probationary period is for one week providing intense focus on a child experiencing a critical time in placement. Boys on the first four levels will use a daily point chart. Each night this chart will be added up. The total points for the previous week will determine the child's current level, allowance and other privileges. A child must earn the number of points required to maintain that level for three consecutive weeks in order to move to the next level. Movement down a level occurs immediately when appropriate points are not maintained for the week. Movement down is one level at a time. Life skills are introduced in the independent level. The boys attend classes that teach them how to budget their money, shop, and to help them to become independent adults. A Sexuality Course is included for the purpose of family planning. Another positive reinforcement is the point system. Each day the boys start their day with 5 points. The boys lose point by misbehaving in school, which is judged by the teacher. All points retained each day will be added up at the end of the week and the boys have the opportunity to use their points in purchasing sportswear and school supplies from the school store. Home visits are an essential ingredient of the overall Residential Treatment Program. A child is not permitted to visit home until it is established to be a safe environment. Approval is given by the DHS. Once it is established that the home is safe the child can