ALL STATE INSURANCE COMPANY Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

ALL STATE INSURANCE COMPANY - Essay Example That is why goals must, simultaneously with being challenging, be possible to reach. Unrealistic goals can only be counterproductive. How can goals serve as an unifying force in organizations? Having goals put in front of all people in the organization makes them all equal regardless of their particular position within the structure. Managers and regular employees alike, are challenged to meet certain expectations. Most importantly, the role of goal setting is to provide a challenge. Without a clear, specific and reachable goals organization members are more likely to a) work slower, b) perform poorly and c) lack interest in changing a) and b). If we compare model of goal setting offered in the textbook and one in place at Allstate Corporation we find that they are similar in many aspects. By placing the simplified version of the model developed by Locke and Latham side by side with the description of Allstate’s particular example, the first observation is that many key words from the former are clearly repeated in the latter. Allstate has been working on developing goals for decades now and it is clear that they came a long way in that regard. Key words, such are feedback, goal clarity, direction, rewards and satisfaction are integrated masterfully in Allstate’s goal setting program, making it very effective and, also, still innovative. Two components that contribute to this effectiveness are the fact that 40,000 employees of Allstate are evaluated in terms of performance on regular basis. This makes the challenge a constant in the process, not only a one time thing. The other interesting aspect comes from t he fact that company’s executives and managers draw a large portion of their compensation (25%) from Allstate’s Diversity Index. That way they are committed in implementation of the program. Allstate recognized the importance of mediators and moderators in goal setting schema and keeps making them accountable for programs success. Diversity Index

Pre Marital Counselling Essay Example for Free

Pre Marital Counselling Essay Premarital Counselling is therapy with two people prior to their marriage, to help give them more realistic ideas of what to expect and how to cope with living with another person as a spouse; relating to each other as a committed pair. By taking the time to explore the reasons you came together, your similarities, your differences, your hopes and your dreams, as well as your expectations of one another, it is sometimes possible to avoid the disappointments that many couples face with the passage of time. Pre-marital counseling offers the opportunity to explore your differences in a relatively safe, supportive, constructive environment. And while some couples may choose to postpone their union until key differences can be resolved, most couples find that pre-marital counseling helps to prepare them for the kind of life they would like to build together. Premarital counseling can help ensure that you and your partner have a strong, healthy relationship — giving you a better chance for a stable and satisfying marriage. Premarital counseling can also help you identify weaknesses that could become bigger problems during marriage. Through premarital counseling, couples are encouraged to discuss a wide range of important and intimate topics related to marriage, such as: Finances, Communication Beliefs and values Roles in marriage Affection and sex Children amp; parenting Family relationships Decision making Dealing with anger Time spent together. The initial period of any relationship is called the honeymoon period; and after that fairytale, marriage can be a rude reality check. In most cases, quarrels over money, family and trust break a couple apart. A pre-marital session helps partners accept each other better and avoid future complications or conflict. Contrary to popular belief, pre marital counseling isn’t only for couples who are going in for an arranged marriage. It is also very important for couples who have had long courtships or have been living together. In arranged marriages, the people going to spend their life together are perpetual strangers, with no idea of what lies ahead of them. In India specifically, arranged marriages are sealed with just one word of advice for the bride â€Å"you HAVE to adjust, and you HAVE to compromise. Premarital Counselling ensures that the couple do not just â€Å"fulfill† the responsibilities of marriage for their family, but also participate in it wholly as individuals. In india marriages are seen as a ‘union of two families’ and the individuals who are supposed to spend the rest of their life together, they get lost in the entire plan. Pre Marital Counselling ensures that doesn’t happen. People who have had long courtships and have been living together, need it perhaps more than than people who’re going in on for arranged marriages . Why? Because once you’re living in with someone ,you think you know everything that there is to know about that person and marriage cant spring any surprises. But guess what? You WILL be surprised greatly by what surprises pre marital counseling will bring for you. Marriage changes the set of expectations two individuals have from each other. More issues have to be dealt with, like children, financial planning etc. Most couples spend more time planning their weddings than their marriages!. If you think about the amount of financial and emotional investment that goes into preparing for the wedding itself, doesn’t it make sense to invest a little in strengthening the relationship at the onset? Many couples preparing for marriage honestly believe they are strong going into the union – and they probably are in a lot of ways. Being caught up with all the loving feelings and other feel-good stuff going on ahead of nuptials, couples often don’t consider the potential pitfalls. Those â€Å"pitfalls† are often times what leads them into a therapist’s office some time down the line. Here six great reasons to get pre marriage counseling: 1) Strengthen Communication Skills:  Being able to effectively listen, truly hear and validate the other’s position is a skill that isn’t necessarily a â€Å"given† for many people. Couples that really communicate effectively can discuss and resolve issues when they arise more effectively. You can tune up your talking and listening skills. This is one of the most important aspects of emotional safety between couples. 2) Discuss Role Expectations:  It’s incredibly common for married couples to never really have discussed who will be doing what in the marriage. This can apply to job, finances, chores, sexual intimacy and more. Having an open and honest discussion about what each of you expect from the other in a variety of areas leads to fewer surprises and upsets down the line. 3) Learn Conflict Resolution Skills:  Nobody wants to think that they’ll have conflict in their marriage. The reality is that â€Å"conflict† can range from disagreements about who will take out the trash to emotionally charged arguments about serious issues – and this will probably be part of a couple’s story at one time or another. There are ways to effectively de-escalate conflict that are highly effective and can decrease the time spent engaged in the argument. John Gottman’s (www. gottman. com) research has shown that couples who can do this well are less likely to divorce in the end. 4) Explore Spiritual Beliefs:  For some this is not a big issue – but for others a serious one. Differing spiritual beliefs are not a problem as long as it’s been discussed and there is an understanding of how they will function in the marriage with regards to practice, beliefs, children, etc. ) Identify any Problematic Family of Origin Issues:  We learn so much of how to â€Å"be† from our parents, primary caregivers and other early influences. If one of the partners experienced a high conflict or unloving household, it can be helpful to explore that in regards to how it might play out in the marriage. Couples who have an understanding of the existence of any problematic conditioning around how relationships work are usually better at disrupting repetition of these learned behaviors. ) Develop Personal, Couple and Family Goals:  It amazes me how many married couples have never discussed their relationship goals – let alone personal or family. I honestly think it just doesn’t cross their minds! This is a long term investment together – why not put your heads together and look at how you’d like the future to look? Where do you want to be in five years? Approximately when would you like to have children? How many children? There are many areas that can be explored and it can be a fun exercise to do together. Pre marriage counseling doesn’t need to be a long process, especially if you feel you’re starting out with a very solid foundation and only need some clarifications and goal-setting. For some people who are poised to start out the marriage as a â€Å"higher conflict† couple or have deeper issues to contend with, the process could take a bit longer. Regardless, be sure to take the time to invest in your marriage as you might in the event itself. The return on your marriage investment has the potential to be life long What you can expect Premarital counseling typically includes five to seven meetings with a counselor. Often in premarital counseling, each partner is asked to separately answer a written questionnaire, known as a premarital assessment questionnaire. These questionnaires encourage partners to assess their perspectives of one another and their relationship. They can also help identify a couples strengths, weaknesses and potential problem areas. The aim is to foster awareness and discussion and encourage couples to address concerns proactively. Your counselor can help you interpret your results together, encourage you and your partner to discuss areas of common unhappiness or disagreement, and set goals to help you overcome challenges. Your counselor might also have you and your partner use a tool called a Couples Resource Map — a picture and scale of your perceived support from individual resources, relationship resources, and cultural and community resources. You and your partner will create separate maps at first. Following a discussion with your counselor about differences between the two maps, youll create one map as a couple. The purpose is to help you and your partner remember to use these resources to help manage your problems. In addition, your counselor might ask you and your partner questions to find out your unique visions for your marriage and clarify what you can do to make small, positive changes in your relationship. Keep in mind that you bring your own values, opinions and personal history into a relationship, and they might not always match your partners. In addition, many people go into marriage believing it will fulfill their social, financial, sexual and emotional needs — and thats not always the case. By discussing differences and expectations before marriage, you and your partner can better understand and support each other during marriage. Early intervention is important because the risk of divorce is highest early in marriage. In Pre marital counseling, as couples you become aware of so many issues that you never thought existed earlier between you two. Premarital counseling is a way to pull the darkness out from its hiding places so that you can turn it over in the light and see it for what it actually is. Remember, preparing for marriage involves more than choosing a wedding dress and throwing a party. Take the time to build a solid foundation for your relationship.

Broken Hearts :: Medicine College Admissions Essays

Broken Hearts    My home has been a place of healing for many broken hearts, both literally and figuratively. My younger sister had two open heart operations before the age of two. I was three years old, and I tried to be the best big sister in the world. I thought that if I loved her enough, her heart would heal itself. My brother was three and thirteen when he had his heart surgeries. This time, I was older and much more fearful, but my brother is the proud new owner of Vinny the Pulmonary Valve. Thus, two hearts have healed quite literally in my home.    The figurative healing in my home sets it apart from many others. I have learned the importance of love and support in the face of trouble by watching my mother, the backbone of a local parent support group. Families need to know they are not alone, that I, too, was scared to see my brother gasp for breath after running up a flight of stairs.    I have seen more aspects of the personal side of medicine than many people my age. I understand first hand the comforting effect a friendly smile and reassuring confidence from a doctor has on both patients and families. My family history is what sparked my interest in medicine, but my own experience has held my attention in recent years.    Eager to gain hands on experience after high school, I volunteered at Strong Memorial Hospital conducting a clinical study of patient referral patterns and shadowing a pediatric cardiologist. I watched a child's fearful face turn to an expression of amazement as he listened to the sound of his own heart. The little boy was so fascinated that he hardly noticed as Dr. Harris completed the check-up, expertly assessing reflexes, color, peripheral pulses, and responsiveness in the moments before the novelty of the sound wore off. Stethoscope in hand, I searched gingerly for the sound of the boy's leaking valve but was not in time. The smile faded, and I lost my chance. I felt an immediate sense of awe at Dr. Harris's swiftness, skill, and compassion toward the fearful little boy.    The following summer I was a University of Rochester Summer Research Program scholar, doing my first laboratory research. I studied surface deformations of the chick embryo myocardium during normal and experimentally altered ventricular growth, learning the frustration of research obstacles and working to overcome them.

Neil Postman Essay -- essays research papers

Throughout the span of the past few weeks I have traversed the globe, visiting several countries and regions, only to realize that although new methods develop, language as a way of expressing ones self has remained the most effective. Despite this fact, language still has its pitfalls. Neil Postman, in his essay “Defending Against the Indefensible,'; outlines seven concepts that can be used to aid a student in better understanding the language as a means of communication. He describes how modern teaching methods leave a student vulnerable to the “prejudices of their elders';, further stating that a good teacher must always be skeptical. He urges teachers of all subjects to break free from traditional teachings as well as “linguistical tyranny';   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  His first principle regards the process of definition. As I sit in an every day classroom I notice several things. Many, if not all student simply nod their heads while a teacher explains, be it a theory in Math, or a formula in Science. Not once have I encountered a student willing to raise their hand and question the definition, or meaning that a teacher has rambled off to them. Neil Postman states his feelings on this best when he writes, “ It is a form of stupidity when to accept without reflection someone else’s definition.'; He wants people to realize that definitions are not god given, and that to question the validity is acceptable. Upon looking in a dictionary at any word you will see that all have several meanings. The same may apply to our lives, while one definition may apply to you another may not.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The ability to question a definition is a crucial part of communication. For example: in the practice of law a case might call for someone to define the freedom of press, and that very definition may mean two completely different things to two different people. Postman’s first principle was one that I feel needed to be addressed. Too often our teachers impose the same definition they learned, valid, or not. If one is not allowed to defend a definition, especially an unjust one, then communication becomes more difficult.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  “All the knowledge one could ever attain is by asking questions, so logically these questions should be properly formed.'; Postman&... ...  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A metaphor, used as a communication skill, is best described in a political way. Think of Reagan’s Voodoo economics, or Bill Clinton building a bridge to the 21st century. Politicians can easily scam an ignorant voter, should one not understand a metaphor. For example: Clinton refers to building a bridge, but does not tell us with which tools he intends to build it with. This particular concept is valid alone for the above reason. Whether you are talking to a teacher or watching television, metaphors need to understand.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The fifth concept is that of reification. This means confusing words with things. We falsely associate simple words with things they don’t even resemble. This occurs many times when we communicate. Sometimes used to exaggerate the importance of a detail when telling a story, or trying to increase the appeal of consumer goods. Postman wants reification to be taught in school so students may see the inner workings of it. Reification is a very potent thing in every day life, and the study of reification in school is an admirable thing. Students should be made wary of advertising gimmicks.

You Get Stronger While Facing Difficulties

Our society is consistently changing. Different generations of people may have different kinds of life. Since my mother and I grew in different environments, we may have different set of values. I have had interview with my mother who grew up in an environment which is different from mine, and I found that our personal history, sense of cultural and social history are very different. Although she grew up in a relatively poor environment, she still succeeds due to her hard work. My mother was born in Hong Kong. She has two brothers and two sisters. At the time when she was a child, Hong Kong was not a rich city.The majority of people were poor. In my mother's family, since there are five children, they did not have sufficient income to maintain their lives. In this case, my mother needed to get a part-time Job after school in order to reduce the family financial burden. According to my mother, she always worked till 11 pm every day. She added † [This was really very hard. ] At t hat time, there were only a few ways to entertain. When my mother had spear time, she usually listened to the radio. She always said that Refortifies † [At that time I was bored. I could only listen to the radio when I had time. When comparing to her, I grew up in an environment which had many kinds of entertainment. Watching television, playing computer games and surfing the Internet are major types of activities that we do after school. Since Hong Kong is richer when compared to the past, most of the kids do not need to get part-time Jobs. These show that we grew up in different environment. Obviously, my mother faced more difficulties than me. Besides that, my mother thought that she was like living in a reign country. In terms of race, more than 90% of Hong Kong people are Chinese.However, since Hong Kong was a British colony before 1997, our national identity was not clear. According to my mother, every time she traveled to another place, she had to say her nationality wa s British, although her race is Chinese. She always said -3–t%-o [It strange. ] She added m, was in a place where the majority of the populations are Chinese. However, this place was ruled by another country. I was like living in foreign country. ] Luckily, since the majority of the populations were Chinese, my mother could still participate in a home country traditions. Clammed. L could still celebrate Chinese festivals such as Lunar New Year; I could also eat Chinese food everywhere. ]According to my mother, racism problem in Hong Kong still existed when she was young, although it was not serious. â€Å"she said. [People usually thought that White people were more superior. ] Apart from that, before 1997, Hong Kong was a British colony in which English was the only official language in the city. According to my mother, all the subjects at school were aught in English, [l have to read English book every day because all the textbooks were in English. She added, tiff, [In thi s case, I needed to learn an additional language other than Chinese. ] On the other hand, Chinese songs were very common. My mother quite enjoyed listening to Chinese songs. She said there were local Cantonese songs and Mandarin songs from Taiwan. When compared, nowadays the importance of English in Hong Kong has declined. There are more and more high schools use Chinese as medium of instruction. In other words, nowadays Hong Kong is more likely to be a Chinese city. In terms of culture, now it is â€Å"easier† to live in Hong Kong than before.Although my mother faced some cultural difficulties before, she tried her best to deal with it. Therefore, she can have a better life nowadays. Last but not least, my mother faced a lot of social problem when she was a child. She really concerned about social issues when she was a child. She said † [l am not a recent immigrant; I was born in Hong Kong. I should be more concern about social issues. ] According to my mother, there w ere many social problems. For example, at the time when she was a child, the irruption problem was quite serious.My mother said that the police department was the most corrupted department in the government. â€Å"Г*, † she claimed. [At that time, the majority of people hated police very much. ] Furthermore, the housing problem in Hong Kong was also very serious. My mother said, † [At that time, many people lived in squatter areas. ] She added, [l was comparatively luckier because I could live in public housing estate. ] When compared, due to the establishment of Independent Commission Against Corruption (IAC) in 1974, at the present, the corruption problem has been greatly improved.Besides that, since Hong Kong people are richer than before, they can live in tall buildings instead of living in squatter areas. Although my mother did not live in a good environment, she did not give up, so she can succeeds and have a better life at present. In conclusion, the growing environment of my mother and me are really different. She grew up in a relatively difficult and poor environment. Although she faced many problems, she did not give up. Working hard to solve all the problems that she faced, now she can have a better life. This positive attitude should be learned.

How To Save Your Job When You’re About To Get Fired

How To Save Your Job When You’re About To Get Fired Your performance review wasn’t good. Or maybe you just smell the blood in the water. You’ve got a bad feeling that you- or even your job- is on the chopping block. Rather than just hang your head, admit defeat, and start your job search anew, why not try a few of the following steps to save your job? At least then you can say you gave it your best shot. 1. Stop slacking.If you’ve built a reputation for being lazy, it’s never too late to turn it all around. It will be hard to shake off, but with a bit of work, not impossible! Figure out why you haven’t been giving it your all at work. Eliminate your biggest distractions, like your phone or social media accounts or even particularly chatty coworkers. Identify the projects that you can drum up passion for and then devote yourself to getting stuff done and start delivering real results.2. Take responsibility.Did you miss a deadline? Fail to deliver an important project? You can’t go back in time and undo this, but you can assume full accountability for what happened. Don’t blame anyone but yourself and see how you can fix the problem. Then fix it- fast.3. Handle disgruntled clients.You said something to a client and now they’re threatening to walk. Figure out- by asking coworkers and team members what went wrong and whether you were inappropriate or out of line- then figure out if the situation is fixable. If you weren’t at fault, approach your boss with the full picture. Be honest and provided you didn’t do anything outrageous, your boss should back you up.4. Stop gossiping.You’ve been outed as an office gossip- whether for a one time whopper offense, or a routine habit. You’ve probably got a very narrow window to prove yourself worthy of keeping on. Let your boss know you understand the severity of your behavior and the consequences and insist upon turning over a new leaf. Apologize to any injured parties and behave yourself more professionally in future.5. Have a heart to heart.It’s not out of line to have a sit-down with your boss and have an honest conversation- especially if you two have been out of touch or out of sync. Ask about the communication lapse. Ask whether there is anything you’re not doing or delivering that you could focus on improving. Reiterate your passion and commitment to the position and make it clear you’ll do whatever it takes to stay on board.6. Make a performance improvement plan.Say your performance has been lackluster, and your boss confirms that you’re not in the best of standing. Sit down and come up with a plan with clear indicators of renewed success. Then set about systematically meeting every goal on your plan tick by tick. Get yourself out of your slump as soon as you can. It will be much easier with clear guidelines. And don’t be afraid to ask for coaching and/or feedback.7. Go the extra mile.With everything. Make yourself an expert in a new software. Make a positive and lasting contribution- the bigger the better. Have a stellar attitude at all times. Help out your team and coworkers. Anticipate your boss’s needs. Show your value to the company and your strengths as a team player and you’ll be in much better shape.The crucial thing is to make sure you’re taking steps to bulk up your career  and making changes- and lasting ones. Slapping a temporary band-aid on the situation will not save your job. Overhauling your work ethic and performance, however, just might do the trick!

African Americans in Science and Their Accomplishments

African Americans in Science and Their Accomplishments African Americans have made significant contributions in various fields of science. Contributions in the field of chemistry include the development of synthetic drugs for the treatment of chronic ailments. In the field of physics, African Americans have helped to invent laser devices for the treatment of cancer patients. In the field of medicine, African Americans have developed treatments for various diseases including leprosy, cancer, and syphilis. African Americans in Science From inventors and surgeons to chemists and zoologists, African Americans have made invaluable contributions to science and humanity. Many of these individuals were able to have great success in the face of bigotry and racism. Some of these notable scientists include: Otis BoykinDOB: (1920 - 1982)Major Accomplishments: Otis Boykin invented 28 electronic devices including the control unit for the heart pacemaker. He patented a wire precision resistor that was cost effective to manufacture and improved function in electronic devices such as transistor radios, missile systems, televisions, and IBM computers. Other inventions of Boykin include a burglar-proof cash register, an electrical resistance capacitor, and a chemical air filter. Dr. Ben CarsonDOB: (1950 - )Major Accomplishments: This Johns Hopkins pediatric neurosurgeon and professor led a medical team that became the first to separate Siamese twins successfully. Dr. Ben Carson was also the first to perform an interuterine procedure for the treatment of a hydrocephalic twin. He also performed a hemispherectomy (removal of half of the brain) in an infant to stop severe epileptic seizures. Emmett W. ChappelleDOB: (1925 - )Major Accomplishments: This biochemist worked for NASA and discovered a method for detecting bacteria in water, food, and body fluids through studies of bioluminescence. Emmett Chappelles studies in luminescence have also produced methods for using satellites for monitoring crops. Dr. Charles DrewDOB: (1904 -1950)Major Accomplishments: Best known for his work with blood plasma, Charles Drew helped set up the American Red Cross blood bank. He also established the first blood bank in England and developed standards for collecting blood and processing blood plasma. Additionally, Dr. Drew developed the first mobile blood donation centers. Dr. Lloyd HallDOB: (1894 - 1971)Major Accomplishments: His work in food sterilization and preservation improved processes in food packing and preparation. Dr. Lloyd Halls sterilization techniques have been adapted for use in the sterilization of medical equipment, spices, and pharmaceuticals. Dr. Percy JulianDOB: (1899 - 1975)Major Accomplishments: This research chemist is known for developing synthetic steroids for use in the treatment of arthritis and other inflammatory diseases. Dr. Percy Julian also developed a process for creating a soy protein foam that was used to extinguish fires on aircraft carriers. Dr. Charles Henry TurnerDOB: (1867-1923)Major Accomplishments: This zoologist and behavioral scientist is known for his work with insects. Turners studies with honey bees demonstrated that they can distinguish colors. Dr. Charles Henry Turner was also the first to demonstrate that insects can hear sounds. Dr. Daniel Hale WilliamsDOB: (1856-1931)Major Accomplishments: Dr. Daniel Williams founded the Provident Hospital in Chicago. In 1893, he performed the first successful open heart surgery. He is also the first African American surgeon to perform surgery on the pericardium of the heart to repair a wound. Other African American Scientists and Inventors The following table includes more information on African American scientists and inventors. African American Scientists and Inventors Scientist Invention Bessie Blount Developed a device to help disabled persons eat Phil Brooks Developed the disposable syringe Michael Croslin Developed the computerized blood pressure machine Dewey Sanderson Invented the urinalysis machine

A Career Profile essays

A Career Profile essays On October the tenth I interviewed Mr. Jonathan Franklin Raymond. Mr. Raymond intrigued me because he graduated from a prestigious college, yet he has never utilized his degree. With Mr. Raymonds permission, I will refer to him as Jon throughout the interview and paper. Jennifer: What were your hobbies as a child? Jon: I read a lot of comic books. I also had a chemistry set. In fact, I had my own little laboratory. It consisted of my chemistry set, a microscope, and a weather station. I also liked to build things. Jennifer: Would you consider yourself has having been a social child? Jon: Yes, I guess so. I had a few really close friends. I never really cared what other people thought of me. I was quite unmindful of what other people thought. Jennifer: What did your father do for a living? Jon: My father was a jeweler. He worked for my grandfather up until I was in high school, then he had his own business. Jennifer: What did your mother do for a living? Jon: She was a schoolteacher all of her life. She taught choir until I entered high school, then she started teaching elementary education. Jennifer: Did either of your parents go to college? If so, where? Jon: My mother got her bachelors degree in drama at Mac Murray College in Abilene, and she got her Masters degree in education. My father also went to college, for two years, in Abilene. He was pre-law major. Jennifer: Did your parents stress the importance of a good education to you when growing up? Jon: Oh absolutely! My whole life there was no doubt that I would go to college. Jennifer: What were your favorite subjects in high school? Jon: Latin, chemistry, and current events. Jennifer: Did you do well in high school? Jon: I did pretty well. I was a B honor roll student. I mad the A honor roll once, when I was a sophomore. Jennifer: I am surprised that you still remember that. Your parents must have praised you highly. Jenn...

Student Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Student Analysis - Essay Example I do not blame her nativity though, neither her ignorance. However, responding to a topic one has no adequate knowledge of is not a simple task. She does well though in explaining why she feels that her failure to understand the deer problem is Kristof’s fault. Despite the fact that she defends her ignorance on the deer problem by pointing out that many people are as confused as she is, she does not give enough evidence supporting this argument. Nonetheless, she agrees that Kristof has a point that there is a problem with the deer. Swinton successfully though convinces the reader that the failure of Kristof to give solid evidence on the deer problem is the main reason for her ignorance. This is understandable, especially because of her assertion that in the short essay, Kristof did not adequately raise enough arguments to support his thesis. She agrees that he is convincing enough on the fact that the deer problem needs a solution. However, she takes a stand that there must be alternative solutions to the problem, rather than just hunting

Applied Information Technology Project Research Paper

Applied Information Technology Project - Research Paper Example The goal is for companies to minimize the potential for losses and maximize the use of limited resources for improvement. Risks are inherent and managing them will allow decision makers to provide sound strategies. Technological risks lead to a non?completion, under?performance the acquired product or service which likely is traced from supplier. Technological risks happen when suppliers fail to fulfill their promise of providing top notch product or service. Often suppliers encounter internal problems which include substandard technology, obsolete process or ineffective workforce. Companies often experience difficulty in shifting trajectories once a certain technology is used. This may create problems if the procurement takes place before competing technologies have been explored adequately. This risk should presumably be of particular relevance in procurement of products in the fluid phase (Utterback, 1994). Business Problem Statement This proposal explores on Hewlett-Packardâ€⠄¢s method of addressing supply chain issues using Procurement Risk Management (PRM). General Benefits Cost savings. The intention of developing a system such as PRM is to reduce cost of materials and other related costs. PRM is designed to provide flexible schemes that improve the planning and production processes. Moreover, PRM addresses pricing mechanisms that involve pricing and emphasizing value to the materials obtained from the suppliers. HP is involved in the production of materials to ensure that returns are reduced and quality is maintained. Supply availability. The level of supply needs to be maintained at levels that will sustain continuous business. The lack of supply is a big problem especially with firms that rely on such components. For technology manufacturers, memory chips are considered as the most volatile component in terms of supply. Most strategies involve signing long-term deals with suppliers including requirements such as marking clients as priority when su pply decreases. Cost prediction. Companies succeed because their cost forecasts are accurate hence cost planning is implemented. The proposed system aims to identify cost sources. Most important, unexpected costs are prevented and the results are met within the agreed budget. High Level Approaches Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) developed as a structured mechanism combining strategies, resources, technology, and knowledge to assess and manage the uncertainties that various enterprises face as value is being generated encounter (Hoffman, 2009). ERM facilitates effective management of risks that organizations encounter, and the management of potential opportunities entrenched in those risks. The main objectives of the Enterprise Risk Management approach can be summarized through these steps: measurable organizational goals have to be specified; organization has to determine the risks that can adversely affect the goals; methods need to be established to mitigate the risks (Francis an d Richards, 2007). Stebbing (1994) suggests some elements to be emphasized in creating quality manuals. These aspects include policy statement, authorities and responsibilities, organization, system element outlines, and list of procedures. To further ensure quality, the company has some lofty targets. By the time wherein the system has been deemed to be effective, the company will apply for an ISO certification. The recognition is concrete proof of the company’

Business law environment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Business law environment - Essay Example Thus, both Andrew and Ivor are principals with respect to third parties, agents with respect to each other, and have equal rights and duties owing from being part of a fiduciary relationship. 2 The inherent fiduciary nature of partnership entails that good faith characterise all the actions of both Andrew and Ivor relative to Hi-Tek Kitchenware transactions. This is because in a fiduciary relationship a partner is entrusted with the obligation to act for the benefit of the other, implying that Andrew must act for the benefit of Ivor and Ivor, on the hand, must act only, in transactions related to the firm, with the benefit of Andrew in mind. Thus under ss 28 to 30 of PA 1890, the duties and obligations of partners all embrace this element. In the duty of disclosure, under s 28 of the said Act, obligates a partner to reveal all and every transaction that he entered into in behalf of the other partners. 3 Both Andrew and Ivor therefore, are required under this provision of the Act to disclose to each other all transactions and negotiations they entered into in their capacity as agent of each other. In the landmark case, for example, of Law v. Law 4 a partner offered to purch ase another partner’s share of the firm to which the latter accepted. He found out belatedly however, after the sale, that the partner to whom he sold his share had failed to disclose certain assets of the firm. When the case was brought to court, the latter held that the duty to disclose is an obligation that each partner must carry out although in this case, the sale was not annulled because it turned out that the selling partner had agreed to a sale without prior disclosure. 5 Another duty of a partner to each other is the duty to account which comes under s 29 of PA 1890. Under the said section, Andrew and Ivor are duty-bound to account to each other all profits or benefits of any kind they gained from all

Exploring the Violence in Television and Its Effect in Childrens Essay

Exploring the Violence in Television and Its Effect in Childrens Psyche - Essay Example Violent content is 9 percent above average in children's programming, and cartoons are the most violent (Center for Communication and Social Policy, 1998). We are all aware that our daily lives are studded with different types of violence. Social psychologists have asserted that much of our behavior is learned by watching others. And what do children see on TV They are exposed to more violence. This further validates what the children have seen in the neighborhood, it makes violence such normal fare -- everyone's doing it, not just in their neighborhood, but all over world. More than the adults, it is the children that have greater propensity to imitate the things they have watched on television. For them, TV represents violence as an appropriate way to solve interpersonal problems, to get what you want out of life, avenge slight injuries and insults and make up for perceived injustices. How extreme is the problem of violence in television Does it really transmit aggressive behavior to children Does it affect their psychological health This paper will try to tackle the link of TV violence and aggression to young viewers and try to analyze what are the possible solutions that can be done to thwart the incremental effects of violence in television. Two large scale studies--the University of P... They counted the number of violent acts using the definition, "the overt expression of physical force, with or without weapon, against self or other, compelling action against one's will on pain of being hurt or killed, or actually hurting or killing" (Gerbner et al. 1978, p. 179). Furthermore, they required that the violence be plausible and credible, which rules out idle threats, verbal abuse, or comic gestures with no credible violent consequences. The violence may be intentional or accidental. In addition, violent accidents, catastrophes, and acts of nature are included. Signorielli (1990) clarified: Any act that fits the definition, regardless of conventional notions about types of violence that may have "serious" effects, is coded. This includes violence that occurs in realistic, serious, fantasy, or humorous contexts. "Accidental" violence and "acts of nature" are recorded because they are always purposeful in fiction, claim victims, and demonstrate power (p. 89). On the other hand, the NTVS (1996) analyzed more than 10,000 hours of television programming across 23 channels over 3 years using the definition of violence as: An overt depiction of a credible threat of physical force or the actual use of such force intended to physically harm an animate being or group of beings. Violence also includes certain depictions of physically harmful consequences against an animate being or group that occur as a result of unseen violent means (p. 1-48). Their interpretation of violence in media messages is based more on harm to viewers than on harm to media characters. It is known that a very small percentage of violent

Intellectual Property Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Intellectual Property - Essay Example The law offers rights of control to the creators of literary works, films, music, artistic works, software, and typographical agreement of printed editions on the way their work may be engaged. The mentioned rights include; public performances and broadcast, adapting, lending copies, copying, as well as renting. Copyright is an automatic work, which arises when a person or a company creates something new (Holland, 2007). In order for one to qualify for this right, the work created should be considered as innovative, and display or unveil some degree of skill, labor, or judgment. For a party to receive the protection of copyright, their works must be interpreted in regard to independence creation instead of the notion behind that creation. For instance; if one writes a book, the idea of the book itself may not be protected, however, the actual content in that book would be protected. A different person has a right and, is entitled to write a book employing the same idea as long as they do not copy the owner’s idea or adapt it when writing their works (Bouchoux, 2009). Generally, the person or a group who authored the original work exclusively owns the work, which is referred as â€Å"first owner of copyright† according to the Act of 1988. However, if this work is created and formed as part of occupation, then the company will actually be the first owner, this being the employer of the person who created the work (Davies, & Cheng, 2011). Titles, colors, names, and short phrases are not normally put into consideration as unique or ample and extensive enough to be taken into consideration, though designs such as a logo, which combines these features may be covered. In other words, works that prompt anotion may be secured and protected, but the idea behind that work may not. Commissioned or freelance work generallygoes to the author, unless there is a contract, which is an agreement for the service. Similarto any otheradditional asset, copyright can be sold or

Exploring the Violence in Television and Its Effect in Childrens Essay

Exploring the Violence in Television and Its Effect in Childrens Psyche - Essay Example Violent content is 9 percent above average in children's programming, and cartoons are the most violent (Center for Communication and Social Policy, 1998). We are all aware that our daily lives are studded with different types of violence. Social psychologists have asserted that much of our behavior is learned by watching others. And what do children see on TV They are exposed to more violence. This further validates what the children have seen in the neighborhood, it makes violence such normal fare -- everyone's doing it, not just in their neighborhood, but all over world. More than the adults, it is the children that have greater propensity to imitate the things they have watched on television. For them, TV represents violence as an appropriate way to solve interpersonal problems, to get what you want out of life, avenge slight injuries and insults and make up for perceived injustices. How extreme is the problem of violence in television Does it really transmit aggressive behavior to children Does it affect their psychological health This paper will try to tackle the link of TV violence and aggression to young viewers and try to analyze what are the possible solutions that can be done to thwart the incremental effects of violence in television. Two large scale studies--the University of P... They counted the number of violent acts using the definition, "the overt expression of physical force, with or without weapon, against self or other, compelling action against one's will on pain of being hurt or killed, or actually hurting or killing" (Gerbner et al. 1978, p. 179). Furthermore, they required that the violence be plausible and credible, which rules out idle threats, verbal abuse, or comic gestures with no credible violent consequences. The violence may be intentional or accidental. In addition, violent accidents, catastrophes, and acts of nature are included. Signorielli (1990) clarified: Any act that fits the definition, regardless of conventional notions about types of violence that may have "serious" effects, is coded. This includes violence that occurs in realistic, serious, fantasy, or humorous contexts. "Accidental" violence and "acts of nature" are recorded because they are always purposeful in fiction, claim victims, and demonstrate power (p. 89). On the other hand, the NTVS (1996) analyzed more than 10,000 hours of television programming across 23 channels over 3 years using the definition of violence as: An overt depiction of a credible threat of physical force or the actual use of such force intended to physically harm an animate being or group of beings. Violence also includes certain depictions of physically harmful consequences against an animate being or group that occur as a result of unseen violent means (p. 1-48). Their interpretation of violence in media messages is based more on harm to viewers than on harm to media characters. It is known that a very small percentage of violent

Negative Effects of Illegal Immigration in the U.S Term Paper

Negative Effects of Illegal Immigration in the U.S - Term Paper Example Legal immigration benefits the U.S. each year; however, it’s illegal counterpart does not. Illegal immigration in the Unites States creates big problems for many businesses. "Three hundred thousand illegal immigrants enter the Unites States each year" (Green 4). Every year many illegal immigrants sneak across the U.S. borders, or forge the right papers. Many businesses in rural areas hire illegal immigrants knowingly for outrageously low prices. This hiring is not only degrading to the appearance of the US, but is unfair to other businesses that hire U.S. citizens. Illegal immigrants create greater competition between businesses, but for the ones that don't hire them it unbalances their earnings. Since illegal immigrants can be hired for much less than minimum wage, companies can maximize their profit by buying products cheaply, and cutting costs in staffing their facilities. The United States government has tried to enforce laws about the employment of illegal aliens, but has given up time and time again. Some employers may have even employed an illegal immigrant without even knowing it. Some immigrants obtain the papers for a citizenship, but instead of getting them signed by officials, they forge them and end up getting away with it. â€Å"Politicians, scholars, and citizens alike pronounce the immigration policy â€Å"broken,† as the number of illegal immigrants has reached an estimated 11 million.† (Papademetriou 2005). The issues of both immigration and naturalization are currently extremely sensitive and important issues facing the United States. The Immigration and Naturalization Act of 1952 clearly asserts that no illegal aliens are allowed into the United States. â€Å"In 2008 alone, 1,305 bills related to illegal immigration were introduced in the United States; 206 laws and resolutions were passed in 41 states.† (National Conference of State Legislatures 2009). Immigration and naturalization laws must be enforced in the U nited States, and without it America would become overpopulated and immigration would be out of control. The INS was organized in 1952 for the sole purpose of controlling immigration in to the United States. There are two ways of becoming a citizen of a country, which are by birth and naturalization. Naturalization is a process by which people become citizens from one country or region to another. Some countries do not allow naturalization or immigration due to over population circumstances. (Levey. 67). Illegal immigrants are breaking the federal law when they do not follow this process. Regardless of their reasons, they need to be held accountable for their actions. On February 7, 2003 the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) released its latest estimate for the size and growth of the illegal alien population in the United States. "The INS estimates that there were five million illegal aliens living in the United States, with the number growing by 275,000 each year."(Kobac h) New numbers are for the long term, illegal population is those who have been in the United States for at least one year. Many people question exactly how many illegal immigrants are really in the country. â€Å"In 2009 the Department of Homeland Security estimated that there were 1.68 million undocumented immigrants living in Texas. (The nation as a whole is said to have 10.8 million, according to the DHS; Texas has the second highest number of

The changes in Education Essay Example for Free

The changes in Education Essay This week it was announced by ministers that A levels and GCSE`s in secondary schools will be replaced by a Baccalaureate. Baccalaureate exams are already used in France, Germany and the United States of America. The government are hoping to start this system in September 2004. A Levels were first introduced in the 1950`s and GCSE`s were introduced when O levels were phased out in the 1980`s and have caused much discussion and many arguments by Head teachers and Education ministers during the last few years. The education secretary said that A Levels were too narrow and exclusive. If there is going to be an English version of the Baccalaureate it will make things far easier to study at universities abroad because they would understand the qualification that a student in Britain would achieve. Recently AS Levels have been introduced by many schools across the country. This has given a student the opportunity of choosing up to 5 subjects to study for one year and then dropping one or two of these subjects before continuing with the remaining ones. This gives the pupil a much broader education as they are not just studying for the same 3 subjects during the two years of studying. I am not sure if these exams have been a success because everyone moans about them as students have to take continuous examinations. Change at schools must always cause complaints because it is very hard after so many years to adjust to new rules. Heads of schools have to change the way their teachers educate the pupils, and new guidelines have to be carried out nationally. This must be very disruptive during the first couple of years for both students and pupils participating in this scheme, and after the fiasco this year with the marking of them, I do wonder if change is a good thing. Education is changing rapidly, and we will know by the end of the year if the Baccalaureate will definitely be in force. The Baccalaureate will include English, Maths, and Science and then students will be able to choose from a range of academic and practical courses. Work experience will be a must for anyone who takes the exam as will voluntary work. If the baccalaureate is introduced there will be fewer exams and more internal assessment. This will give a student much more of an all round education, and would be more varied on a day to day basis. This would make education much more original and personal, and could be tailor made for each individual pupil. This I am sure would make the normal school day far less boring. I would welcome an opportunity like this. I think every student should participate in voluntary work. This would give everyone a chance to help others and would save money for local councils, as it would have to employ less paid staff. The Baccalaureate will have to be accepted by all the Universities, in England and abroad, especially in Europe, and have the support from future employers, especially those in industry, otherwise this new exam will not work in Britain. It is yet to be decided what it will include. But it will change the way 14 to 19 year olds are taught. Ministers and Headmasters think that this is the most significant way forward and it will be the biggest change education has seen for years. There would be different levels of attainment. As yet they have not decided what these levels will be called but it is likely that they will be along the lines of foundation, intermediate and advanced. Mathematics, English and Science and Information Technology will be compulsory for GCSE and pupils will have to be educated in Sex Education, Physical Education and Religious Education. Pupils will also have to study citizenship. At fourteen years of age pupils will be free to drop many other subjects, which have been compulsory in the National Curriculum, including History, Geography, Art and Music. These subjects will now only be optional. College training will be offered locally on a one or two day a week basis. Day release would also be available to some pupils. With employers so that they could gain skills, which they would never be able to achieve at present at their school. It would also give a pupil the chance to decide if they enjoyed college, wanted to work or pursue a different field all together. I welcome this, and think that the more choices offered the better. If I personally cannot have these choices I hope my younger sister will be able to benefit from the new curriculum. There are big shortages of trained engineers, technicians, hairdressers and plumbers at present and by doing these new regimes of studying, pupils will have a much better chance of future employment. Many students are bored by school education and would welcome the chance to study something more vocational, and maybe this would keep them at school until 19 rather than leaving at 16 with very few qualifications and no prospects of a job. Also if a student enjoys his or her day release, a job might be offered there and then for the participating pupil, and the employer would then be obtaining an apprentice that knew what he was doing. On the other hand employers will only be able to offer a limited number of jobs and this may leave a large percentage of unemployed students with very few qualifications. These work related GCSEs would be renamed and would combine both academic studies and more practical work; they will be tried out across the country in various schools this coming September. Industry will benefit from this as many more students will be trained in the relevant work and not just fresh from a class without any experience. Another change on the way is the way that the league tables for exam results are calculated. It will show the difference between advantaged and disadvantaged pupils at each school. Each school throughout the country will then be awarded a grade from A to E depending on their excellence or their failures. This is meant to be much more understandable and will offer more information to parents choosing schools for their childrens future education. People need to know the correct facts, and by changing the tables slightly, this will offer just that. Before the league tables were started several years ago, it was virtually impossible to obtain information about how well or how badly pupils had faired in their exams at school. So in my opinion the tables have been a great help. Also by printing these tables in all the newspapers, it has been made everyone aware of the academic successes of schools around the country. This also has meant that everyone is aware of the schools that have done very badly academically and this has made the government enforce an improvement during a certain period of time, or they have threatened closure and/or a change of management. This must be good for education in the future. It can only improve schools especially those in disadvantaged areas, where expectations of pupil performance is low. Every student should be aware of poor teaching and academic successes and although it might not always be possible to enter the school of your choice, it will enforce better education at all schools around the country and hopefully the worst offenders will be greatly improved or shut down. All students whether in Independent Education or State Education should be offered the same curriculum with the choice of vocational subjects. Employers must welcome these changes as well. I have enjoyed my education, and am looking forward to furthering it, but would have preferred a much more varied curriculum. I have a job on a Saturday which has given me an insight into retail, and have secured work experience in a large organisation in the summer which will be very interesting for me. But although I know I want to study art I have no idea in which area I would like to continue and if I had been able to study in a more practical manner, maybe I would be more knowledgeable, and more able to progress in the appropriate area.

How Important Is Language Variation Towards Language English Language Essay

How Important Is Language Variation Towards Language English Language Essay Since English is used globally as the international communication tool, the number of English users increased rapidly, Kachru (1992 cited in Andrews, A Tsui 2007) says. Even in the next few decades will witness an unprecedented rapid growth in the number of English users of English worldwide range from a rather conservative 700 to 800 millions to a more liberal estimate of two billion. Moreover, this fact evokes the number of English users from many different countries which draw impact to the various language styles, accents, dialects which is familiar with term of language variation . Furthermore, recently the majority of English users and English teachers are not native speakers of English, and they do not use the same linguistic forms (Henry, P 2009). Additionally she explains that understanding language variation is fundamental to understand the use of and teaching English in global context. Moreover, nowadays language variation becomes a main issue among linguists and sociolinguists because it has relationship with social communities. The use of the language is various according to social groups because they do not use the language in similar way, as the way language that is used to greet and compliment is distinctively expressed in a particular cultural group (Holmes, 2008 pp.3) This paper will deal with the question of How important does language variation toward language teaching? This issue will contribute some ideas for English teachers, especially for EFL contexts to generate awareness of English teachers to language variation in international communication. The consideration of this awareness will draw some ideas for teachers to design teaching materials appropriate with recent phenomena of the use and the users of language which are very various. Furthermore, the teaching aids are considered play important role to assist more understanding to the language variation itself. Besides, teachers will prepare the learners to be good English users with highly understanding to how to use language appropriately towards the diversity of language use and users to avoid miscommunication and maintain the politeness, and to support good career and study in the future. DISCUSSION Language can identify the person cultural background because the language and culture can not be in isolation (Sapir, E, 1920s cited in Hinkel, 1999). That is why, when someone speaks another language (English), the way he/she speaks will be influenced by the way he/she thinks in his first language. As claimed by Holmes (2008, pp.153) that the way you speak is usually a good indicator of your social background with many speech features that can be used as clues. Moreover, culture is the domain of humanity that includes all social aspects such as activities, group systems and human behaviours (Hinkel, 1999 pp.1). Therefore, sociolinguists investigate what the connections between language and society are. Specifically, Holmes (2008,) asked three main questions in sociolinguistics that focuses on the reasons why do people in different social context speak differently, the concerns to the language in social functions, and it is used in conveying social meaning (pp.1). It is obvious that the different background of the language users will give impact to the variety of language. Furthermore, in term of the use of language, Holmes (2008) states that people use a language to signal their membership of particular group and to construct different aspects of their social identity; social status, gender, age, ethnicity and the kind of social networks people belong to turn out to be important dimension of identity in many communities. For example, in term of gender, women tend to reinforce their own subordinate status; they were colluding in reinforce their own subordination by the way they spoke in the interaction which is considered more polite than men (Lakoff, R cited in Holmes, 2008, p. 284). Additionally, she illustrates the example of the use tags questions. Although the use of tags questions is slightly different in number of men and women to use it, females purpose to use tags questions to make her sentences softer and to sound more polite. Besides, the way between females and males in giving complement is different. Men tend to use short expression such a s you look nice, in comparison females will use longer expression than males such as oh dear, look at you, you look so gorgeous, In term of age, in Indonesia, younger people will address to older people or to people who have higher position by addressing them with some term of words such as bapak (sir), and ibu (madam). It is different with western culture where younger people merely address the older people by their name. This issue reflect to the way they communicate when they are not in their contexts which draw some confusion which is the correct way to address older people in western country. Indonesian students in the beginning will feel uncomfortable to address their lecture by name; they will feel they are rude and on contrary for westerners, who come to Indonesia, they will bring their culture or their way to address older people by name then Indonesian will think they are rude. That is why, by having good understanding towards language variation, it will help language user s to have good communication from different countries. What is more, according to Chaer Agustina (1995 cited in Prasastie 2006), the term of language variation is based on two opinions existing: the first is language variation is language happens as the result of the variation in society and variation in language function. Further they explains that if the users of a language are homogeneous group in term of ethnic, social status or fields of job, the variation will not exist which means that the language itself become uniform. Additionally, the second opinion they mention that language variation already exist in order to fullfill its function as a mean of interaction in doing various community activities. The ways of teachers speak will be different to the ways of people who work in fish market. Teachers will speak better than fish seller because the image or their work place background determine to the ways they speak. Based on Holmes (2008) in general language variation is divided into regional variation which covers international varieties, intra-national or intra-continental variation, cross-continental variation, social variation which covers social accent, and social dialects which covers standard English, caste dialects, social class dialects (vocabulary, pronunciation, grammatical patterns). In order to make the idea of language variation clearer and why it is considered significant for language teaching, the writer provides one example of social dialects because the research of social dialects in many different countries has revealed a consistent relationship between social class and language pattern (Holmes 2008, p. 141). Moreover, she explains that in caste dialects case where the categorisation of people is based on the commonality of social and economy which generally reflects the use of social dialects (pp. 141). Holmes (2008) takes Indonesia as the sample where social divisions are clear cut. In addition, she writes about an Indonesian student who was trying to explain to her English friends about the complication of social dialects in Java and the ways in which Javanese speakers signal their social background. This student describes how almost every different word fit together in patterns or levels use which depend on who we are talking to. Further, Holmes (2008) presents some samples of words use in Java such as Padjenengan as you in English to point someone from higher class social status, and kowe as you to refer to someone for low class social status. Another sample which is similar to Java social dialects, in Aceh the use of different vocabulary also indicates the different social background of the speakers. The word ulon tuan (I) in English is considered from high social class and educated person compare to use the word ke which is considered rude and impolite and the speaker are ass umed from low social class and uneducated person. Despite of that, the variation of language does not only cover both the users and the use but also the contexts and the adressees of the language that affect the code variety (Holmes 2008, pp. 235). Consequently, some people are more aware of some factors like how they communicate to people who they often and will meet and what are the contexts of the communication whether it is formal or informal situation in order to maintain politeness or to show to what particular social class the speakers belong. Moreover, Fukada Asato (2004, pp. 1994-1995) emphasises the intention of how polite the speakers are in certain situations by using the verbal strategies. Additionally, Holmes (2008, pp.270) said that The rules for polite behaviour differs from one speech community to another and it is culturally determined which different speech communities emphasize different functions and express particular functions differently. For instance, the strategy of apology or request is different between China or Japan or Indonesia. In context of China, the Chinese speakers are not likely to use negative politeness in form of indirect request if face threatening act is not significant or the relationship between speaker and hearer are close. Lee, C.F.K (2004) stated the result of report through her paper about it. She said that : since politeness is basic and essential in communication in many cultures, people are inclined to use redressive actions, for instance, the negative politeness strategy of being indirect, to avoid the face-threatening act or minimising the feeling of imposed on (Lee, C.F.K 2004 p.58). However, Brown and Levinson argue (1987 cited in Lee, C.F.K 2004, pp.58) that the use of redressive actions are different from one culture to another cultures because the consideration of relationship and social distance. For instance, in Japanese culture teachers are highly respected, hence while students or Japanese speakers are talking to teachers, they use of referent and addressee honorific forms to give rise to politeness that they acknowledge their addressee and this acknowledgement due to teachers place (Haugh, M. 2005, pp.63). Beside politeness issue that teachers must aware in their teaching due to the language variation is to teach students how to interact with other speakers appropriately to avoid miscommunication or misunderstanding that usually occurred in intercultural communication. Leigh, J (2004) states that we should not be surprised therefore, to see that the interaction of diverse parochial behaviours across cultural borders often leads to unintended misunderstanding even conflict. Furthermore, he explains that this misunderstanding may appear as the received meaning of the various exotic behaviours messages which are found offensive, even they were not meant to be so. In another words, the miscommunication can be happened because of the different interpretation of the words or expressions or question used to convey the meaning according to different speakers. For example, the question of did u have a good weekend? This question gets different responds from different speakers like Australian sp eakers will respond the question with short respond such as oh it was great, while French speakers will give long respond by telling the whole story about their weekend that includes who were the participants, what happened, where did they spend the weekend and many other information. This case obviously shows that some typical conversational routines in French and Australian English, and the miscommunication that may arise between two speakers from different cultural backgrounds (Beal, C 1992, pp.23). Moreover, based on the sample above, Beal (1992) explains the indication that even the trivial daily phrase may accelerate various understanding related to the expected responses. In addition, Leigh, J (2004) states It is no wonder, therefore, that language is a function of physical and social environment, and that there is great idiosyncratic in each of the numerous language around the world. In language teaching, teachers may not merely emphasise learners to acquire linguistics features or the how to use the language in communication without considering the important of culture from not only the language but also from the cultural background of the various English users all over the globe where English is as lingua franca for international communication. Moreover, Hinkel (1999) illustrates how teachers view of ourselves, our students, and relationship among cultures are represented not only through explicit instruction regarding cultural differences in rhetorical and aesthetic values for texts, but also implicitly in the course content, assignments, and class discussions which engage with the students. Furthermore, Hymes and Gumperz (1960s 1970s) made explicit connection between culture and language and treated interaction and speaking as culturally defined practices, which means the emphasizes the need of studying to the social context that will influence the interacti on of the language users. Therefore, based on the teachers awareness of language variation to the diversity of language use and users from different cultural background, teachers should notice to what they must do in their teaching in order to arise the students awareness to the issue above to maintain politeness, to avoid the misunderstanding or miscommunication, and to improve their academic of language in order to get better opportunity of study or occupation in future. Research has proven that students who have language variation awareness, a positive attitude towards learning of variation, and a clear understanding of the role of variation and identity, culture and communication (Allen, B. H 1973). Due to the facts, therefore the design of curriculum, teaching materials, aids, and techniques might be useful in preparing learners to encounter with English speaking community with the wide range of diversity. The development of teaching materials according to Hinkel (1999, p. 132) are from a variety of perpectives. It means that the development of teaching materials depend on what are the aims of teaching itself. Because in this paper the concentration is the language variation, teachers must think wisely what are the best material can be used to introduce the variation of language and to improve their ability to use the language in the diversity of language users. For example the use of movie as the materials and aids of teaching, in which students can analyse how the language used differently from different users. Moreover, movies (or other authentic media) will bring learners attention to the forms and sociolinguistic variables (Rose, K. 1999). Other possibility of teaching mat erial is using leaflets or tourism brochure, advertisement, magazine, newspaper, radio broadcasting, TV news from different countries. And, perhaps teachers can provide preintermediate EFL text book that aims at international target cultures such as text book written by Priesack Tomscha in 1993 titled One World, Secondary English that was commented by Cortazzi, M, Jin, L (1999, pp. 209) that this book is accompanied by cassettes featuring not only a range of native-speakers accents but also some from non-native speakers from around the world . Hence, students with the assistance of teacher can learn, analyse and compare how people from different countries use the language by also looking at the similarities and differences. Apart from that, there are some advantages for learners in purpose of learning and understanding more about the language variation which can make students understand of how to use the language in different situations; formal and informal, and know how to use the correct expression or to answer the question properly due to whom they are speaking. Moreover, by learning and understanding the language variation, students will build up their confidence to use the language due to different contexts and language users appropriately and comfortably. It also can avoid miscommunication because to have a good communication can not solely depend on lexis and syntax. Therefore, the learners at least have to master intersectional competence that is clearly explained by Celce-Murcia, et.al. (1995 cited by Hall 1995, in Hinkel 1999 pp.137). They elaborated four points of this competence. This competence involves such context-specific knowledge as (1) the goals of the interactive practice, the roles of the participants, and the topics and themes considered pertinent; (2) the optional linguistic action patterns along which the practice may unfold, their conventional meanings, and the expected participation structures; (3) the amount of flexibility one has in rearranging or changing the expected uses of practices linguistic resources when exercising these options and the likely consequences engendered by the various uses; and (4) the skill to mindfully and efficiently recognize situations where the patterns apply and to use them when participating in new experiences to help make sense of the unknown (pp.137). What is more, teachers may not ignore the importance of learning standard language for their students because according to Andrews. S, Tsui, M.B.A (2001, pp.1-3), recently the setting of standard as benchmark for accountability and quality is the main requirements for English education. Moreover, they explain that the increase of requirement of Standard English has increased, especially in economic sector. What is more, Holmes (2001) also mentions that the number of Standard forms in everyones speech increases in formal contexts like in schools or law courts, while vernacular forms increases in relaxed casual contexts such as play ground and the home. However the Standard English users are limited. Therefore, the linguist and the educationalist suggested that the curriculum should cover language awareness to enable the mastery of language standard variety in order to achieve the equality of educational opportunity (Hawkin, 1999 cited in Andrews, S, Tsui, M.B.A 2001, pp. 1-12). Furt hermore, Holmes (2001, p. 349) states the similar issue that Standard English has an enormous legacy of overt prestige and for well over a century it has been promoted as the only acceptable variety for use in all official domains, including education compare to vernacular dialects. The issue of Standard language the writer assumes is not as a hot issue in Indonesia, what is familiar for both teachers and students towards teaching English merely formal and informal English. Even many Indonesian have no idea about what dialects they use whether British or American, because the dictionary which is used mostly mixed between British and American dialects. The dictionary author is Hassan Sadeli. Although many other dictionaries such as Oxford or Cambridge are also available, however, many Indonesian use Hassan Sadeli dictionary because it is probably easier to use and understand. In addition, it also presents the vocabulary in two different ways; English translated into Indonesian and Indonesian translated into English. That is why when Indonesian students want to continue to study abroad, and they have some difficulties in joining IELTS or TOEFL tests due to the Standard language used in those tests that Indonesian students are not really familiar with. Additionally, attitude to language is one consideration that language planners must take into account when they select a suitable language development as an official or national language (Holmes, 2001, p. 343). Because if the language planners do not decide what language is formally used for certain contexts, official, education, and so on, hence it will draw some disadvantages for the language users who use vernacular dialects in their daily life without being told to also learn and master the Standard English which will offer more opportunities for future career or future study especially study abroad. So, it is not surprisingly, if it has also been found that attitudes to the way people speak affect employers decision about whom to hire (Holmes, 2008, p. 354). CONCLUSION Language teaching always brings some ideas to culture, it is not only culture of the language learn or taught (English) but as well as the culture of the users of language and the ways the users use the language which is widely range in diversity. That is why, the discussion of language variation which covers some aspects which includes language users social status background that shows how they use the language differently. The language variation is considered important in language teaching because its contribution of cultural values regards to the different ways of using the language functions or other aspects of language like vocabulary, pronunciation and so far so forth. So that students know how to adjust themselves while interacting in intercultural communication in order to maintain politeness and avoid miscommunication. The writer wish that in the future the language planner would decide which dialects as the standard language, whether it is British or American dialect, so teachers or educationalists would design the curriculum or books or teaching materials which can cover the differences of language (culture, users, and the use). Moreover, if the standard language has already decided both teachers and learners would perform better to achieve their aims in teaching and learning the language. In another words, it will give clearer goals of learning the language. Some teachers who are from non-English countries face some difficulties in teaching cultural and pragmatic paradigm of face-to-face interactions because students would find problem to have direct contact with members of different communities around them (Hinkel, 1999, p. 134). What is more, the other problematic remained is the lack of teachers awareness to language variation, it is assumed because the limitation of resources and research of language variation which is considered not popular in Indonesia.

The Cult You’re In Essay -- Literary Analysis, Kelle Lasn

Everyone is in a consumer’s hypnosis, even if you think you are not. When you go to a store and pick one brand over the other, you are now under their spell. The spell/ hypnosis is how companies get you to buy there things over other companies and keep you hooked. Either through commercials or offering something that you think will make your life better by what they tell you. For example, you go to the store and you need to buy water, once you get to the lane and look, there is 10 different types of water you can buy. You go pick one either because the picture is better or you seen the commercial the other day and you want it. During the length of this paper we will talk about two important writers, Kalle Lasn the writer of â€Å"The Cult You’re in† and Benoit Denizet-Lewis writer of â€Å" The Man Behind Abercrombie & Fitch†. They both talk about similar topics that go hand and hand with each other, they talk about the consumers â€Å"Dream†, how companies recruit the consumers, who cult members really are, how people are forced to wear something they don’t want, and about slackers. What is The Dream we all have? Think about the main things that you strive for in life. Well everyone else in the world has the same dream because companies or â€Å"cults† in bead this dream to pull you in to their â€Å"cult†/ group. They make it seem that you will be happy with having this dream and they can help you get close to it by you buying their stuff. Lasn specifies on this dream everyone as he said â€Å"Dream by definition, are supposed to be unique and imaginative. Yet the bulk of the population is dreaming the same dream. It’s a dream of wealth, power, fame, plenty of sex, and exciting recreational opportunities† ( lasn, 380). This dream is feed to us by the peopl... ...teens can shop elsewhere ‘In every school there are the cool and popular kids, and then there are the not so cool kids,’ he says† (Denizet-Luis, 369). So if your different then there target audience you don’t belong in the group which would consider you a type of slacker. All and all, we are all in a consumer cult if we want to or not. If you go to the store all you see is brands and you need to buy one no matter what. But what you can do is stop over buying things you don’t need that you think will make you happy. The companies are manipulative in many ways because they show you this â€Å"dream† of a life by buy their stuff, once you are hooked on it they recruit you, bring you in to the cult, make you do stuff you don’t want to, and then if you become a slacker they alienate you away from the other â€Å"cut† members so you can’t influence them to become a slacker too.

Pan paniscus bonobo :: essays papers

Pan paniscus bonobo Pan. Paniscus (bonobo/pygmy), chimpanzees, are similar to Pan. Troglodytes (common chimpanzees), in many ways. Because of this, I am only detailing some of the differences. Currently the bonobo population numbers less than 20,000 individuals, the bonobo is listed as an endangered species by the United States fish and wildlife Service. â€Å"The bonobo is threatened by forest destruction for forest products and agriculture, they are hunted for food and sale for pet trade† (AZA, 1998, p.2). Bonobo populations have been greatly reduced by deforestation and human encroachment. â€Å"The bonobo is in high demand for bio-medical research, since hunting bans are not always enforced, they are heavily poached† (Bonobo, 2000, p.1). â€Å"One of the major threats to this species is that its range lies entirely within the country of the Democratic Republic of Congo† (AZA, 1998, p.2). Geographic Range: Historically the bonobo is considered a rare species relative to other apes because of its small range and habitat limitations†(AZA, 1998, p.2). The populations are discontinuous and widely scattered. Bonobos live near the Zaire River in the lowland rainforests and swamp forests. Morphological: â€Å"Bonobos can be distinguished from chimpanzees by their more slender frame, longer hind limbs, shorter clavicle, and smaller molars. â€Å"It has been established through molecular genetic analyses that the chimpanzee genus, P. paniscus, is most closely related to humans and shares approximately 98% genetic identity† (AZA, 1998, p.1). Bonobos are generally smaller than chimpanzee genus, P. Troglodytes and are less dimorphic, males are only 30% heavier’ (Hodgson, 1998,p.1). â€Å"There is sexual dimorphism in the canines where the males’ are longer than the canines of the females†(Flannery, 2000, p.1). â€Å"Molecular biologists estimate that the bonobo diverged from its relative, the common chimpanzee, only about 1.5 million years ago†(Kano, 1990, p.1). â€Å"The body structure of the bonobo is an adaptation for climbing and living an arboreal lifestyle in the rainforest† (AZA, 1998, p.1). â€Å"This little known ape is not really a chimpanzee, gorilla, or an orangutan. It is a very unique creature, whose anatomy resembles that of â€Å"Lucy† the most famous find of pre-human skeleton† (Bonobo, 2000, p.1). â€Å"Because of the similar morphological traits, some anthropologists consider the bonobo to be the best living prototype for the common ancestor of humans and African apes† (AZA, 1998, p.1). Thus, it would follow that the bonobos have many human-like morphological, physiological, and behavioral traits. Natural History: â€Å"Major foods of the bonobos include fruits, shoots, leaves, seeds, flowers, and bark.

Eastman Kodak Marketing Strategy Essay

Q1. Summarize the market characteristics and trends. In the photo film market the major suppliers were Kodak, Fuji, Agfa and 3M. Fuji and Kodak sold only branded product whereas Agfa and 3M sold their film as branded product as well as to other firms in private label. Total Market In 1993 the total market was around 670 million 24 – exposure rolls. Typically a consumer paid between $2.5 and $3.5 for a 24 exposure rolls. So in average they used to pay $3 for a 24 exposure roll. So Total Market = 670million * 3=2 billion Market Share The market within USA was monopoly as Kodak’s market share was about 70%. But worldwide, the market was competitive. Fuji was a strong competitor in worldwide sales (Fuji -$10 billion, Kodak – $20 billion). Appendix A depicts the unit market share of Kodak in U.S. Market Growth The market’s annual unit growth rate was averaged only 2%. So this is basically a fully developed mature market. We can categorize this market as Cash Cow according to the BCG growth share matrix. The annua l growth of Kodak had been only 3%which is much lesser in compare to the rivals. Appendix B depicts the annual growth rate of different companies. Consumer Information Consumer were less educated about the technical aspects of film and view it as a commodity often focusing on price alone to purchase. Appendix C depicts the graph showing the consumer buying pattern trend. Price Tier Based on the price tiers there were multiple category of brands (i.e. Superpremium, Premium Economy & Price) available in the market. Appendix D depicts the price tier ranges. Superpremium brands were not the major sellers . For Premium products of Kodak, the gross margin was approximately 70%.It seems that Kodak implemented market skimming price strategy to handle Premium products. Fuji’s gross margin was about 55% for the economy brands. The margin of  Price product was lower. This lower price brand was targeted towards the segment of customers where consumers were less educated about photography and focused on price alone to purchase. Appendix E depicts the different distribution channel of the overall photo film market. Q4. Considering introduction of Funtime and ignoring Royal Gold, calculate the market shares of Funtime and Gold Plus that would make Kodak indifferent to introduce Funtime or take no action. Evaluate how realistic it is to improve profits with introduction of Funtime taking into account the existing market segments and plausible competitive reaction. Reasons for failure of Funtime The first problem is that they plan not to advertise. This seems to be a mistake because funtime is a new product for the consumers. Consumers need to be educated that they have a new product offering and they need to know what the value proposition is. However, if there is no education of the product, which could lead to consumers to believe that Kodak is offering less quality for their existing products, rather than rolling out a new lower price alternative. In case of failure of the funtime, Kodak Gold and Royal Gold would be able to maintain the same share of the market currently because of brand Loyalty and separate segment of customers targeted. The extra expenses done (packaging, features, styling) to release this product would be a loss for Kodak. But in the near future as the price sensitive customer segment remained unserved by Kodak and growth in private label film activity will decrease the market share of Kodak. Reasons for Success of Funtime and side effects on the market shares Making a move to enter the Economy Tier is a smart play for Kodak. The market appears to be heading toward price being the most important dimension for consumer. So the customer segment who tend to view film as a commodity and often buy on price alone (Price Sensitive Customer Segment) is the main target of funtime. A few of their ideas seem to make sense: For instance, it is probably a good idea they only offer limited speeds. This would probably be sufficient for consumers who are buying in this tier. Also, making them available in value packs seems like a good idea because they will be able to sell more units (rolls) of film this way. Positive Side effects and Market Share: If launching funtime is successful then the market share of Kodak Gold would  remain the same because of its loyalty and brand, Ektar market share will be converted to Royal gold share because of its special segment offering (special occasion) and finally funtime will be able to target the price sensitive segment .As a result the market share of Kodak should be restored back to 75% or more in the upcoming years. As shown in exhibit 2 there would be definite loss of revenue of Fuji and Others. Polaroid and Private market share will remain unaffected as they are out of scope market for Kodak. Negative Side effects and Market Share:Now there are few major drawbacks. As the offer is limited throughout the year consumers may just wait until that time of year to buy fun time film instead of buying their other Kodak products that are available year round. This can cannibalize Kodak’s Gold Plus market share in premium category. Kodak Gold Plus was the flagship brand of Kodak and Kodak’s gross margins were believed to be about 70%.So if the market share of Kodak Gold Plus reduces it may lead to huge loss for Kodak as a whole. As shown in Exhibit 2 though the market share of funtime has increased and it has snatched 5% (Fuji + others) from competitors but it has also capability to cannibalize the market share of Gold Plus which can reduce 10% or more. Like Kodak Gold Plus if we keep the same assumption that the gross profit margin is 70%, retailer’s margin is 20% for funtime then we will be able to see (Exhibit 1) that the profit earned for Kodak Gold plus is $0.39 per unit. Exhibit 3 shows that the total revenue from market has been (1777 – 1692) =85 million dollars It can also be stated that as being limited throughout the year the market growth of fun time will be very less. Also lowering industry profitability by reducing average price of film would keep the customer expectation of lo wer prices in the future product release.

From One War to Another Essay

The French and Indian war, a war that had assembled the largest number of troops ever, was caused by more than a hundred years of rivalry between the two countries, had several consequences on the British Empire, and impacted the colonies greatly. When the fire of the French and Indian war was blown out, another match was dropped, starting another war. The main causes of the French and Indian war also known as the Seven Years war, was due to the constant hostility of the two large Empires. Although peace was kept surprisingly well, at the beginning of colonization in the New World, the Ohio River brought upon a new battle. Not only the French and English wanted control of the Ohio River Valley, but the Native Americans who were living there also believed that it was rightfully their land. All held the notion that the Valley was a strategic economic location and none were willing to give it up, which led to the start of small battles. Eventually, this led up to a declaration of war from Britain to France. This caused both France and England to suddenly begin seeking friendship with the Indians in order to have them as allies. Although the English won the war, the consequences that they faced were immense. The war had increased Britain’s debt to 133 million pounds by 1763, which led to much hatred towards the colonies who were unwilling to help pay this debt. Grennville, and other men of the British Empire bestowed it upon the colonies as their duty to participate in paying the debt.. Grenville took it upon himself to impose harsh acts, such as the Sugar and Stamp act, inorder to take revenue from the colonies. This outraged many colonialists, including Patrick Henry, who at one of Virginias House of Burgesses meetings, openly protested the stamp act, and the unjust acts of the empire. Not only did the British feel that they colonies should take part in paying the debt, but they also held a feeling of resentment due to the colonists minimal of participation in helping with the army, and supplying food and clothing. The British were infuriated that the Colonies were so uncooperative, and unappreciati ve after all they had done for America.. This led to increased tension and unrest between the colonies and Britain. Quite different from the repercussions of the war of the British, the colonies had very different consequences. Men like George Washington who had participated in the battle began to see that the redcoats were not as powerful as they were thought of, and that they would not always be able to serve and protect the colonies. Also, with colonialists fighting the war beside eachother, this interaction with the other twelve colonies opened the eyese of the colonies making them aware that when united together, they could become a force that could challenge the British Empire. Also the Colonies were angered by the harsh acts initiated by the British, and began to despise the Parliamentary rule. Leading other colonies and people to protest Grenvilles acts; together they held an intercolonial gathering of nine colonies, called the Stamp Act Congress, which lead to the Governors writing to the British Government of how they should be in charge of their own taxation as they saw the British system of taxation without representation as unjust and unlawful. This perception led them to increasingly doubt their loyalty to the empire and these events led to the American Revolution. Beginning as a rivalry between the French and English which caused the Seven Years war, lead to drastic consequences of both the colonies and the British. The British Empire had a huge debt, and lost their relationship with America while the colonials began to imagine breaking free of British rule.The end of a war lead to another war.

Viual Aid and Gantt Chart Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Viual Aid and Gantt Chart - Essay Example For large organization, the focu i uually on improving the maintenance activitie uch that minimum amount of fund are expended (Anily et al., 1999; Alfare, 1999; Burke and mith, 1999a, b). The high cot of breakdown maintenance could be unbearable uch that the need for preventive maintenance become obviou. The afety of equipment and employee i improved by preventive maintenance ervice. Thi ha ignificant impact on the production proce. Reaching maximum plant availability through minimal delay and breakdown and optimal equipment working condition reduce or eliminate the need for ubcontracting ome apect of the job (Chen and Liao, 2005; Cheung et al., 2005). Thi ha a reducing effect on the uually large maintenance budget of many organization. Maintenance cheduling i uually baed on preventive maintenance activitie (Oke, 2004). In an organization where a large number of equipment are operated, preventive maintenance cheduling offer a mean of achieving continuou indutrial operation without which ytem utenance would be extremely difficult. ince the cot of implementing preventive maintenance cheduling i more economical than that of replacing broken down equipment, in the long t erm, it i more economical to implement thi maintenance option. ound maintenance cheduling i indipenable for high maintenance performance, which in turn facilitate the production proce to yield maximum output. Thi i attained when preventive maintenance upport continuou improvement programme. Effective maintenance cheduling require pecific time and labour allocation, knowledge of equipment hitory, pare availability, knowledge of work and facility priority rating, job pecification, etc. Maintenance cheduling promote effective utilization of both maintenance and production team, notably through minimizing idle time, breakdown and delay (Zhou et al., 2004; Gharbi and Kenne, 2005; Kim et al., 2005). For many year, extenive cientific documentation ha been made on cheduling both maintenance and operational activitie for profit (Yamayee et al., 1998). Recently, the focu of reearcher ha hifted from near optimal olution to the development of optimal olution approache. Thu, the recent work of Charle-Owaba (2002) i important in thi repect. The problem olved i the imultaneou cheduling of reource-contrained operation and maintenance (ee alo Oke and Charle-Owaba, 2005, 2006a, b). The current tudy i an extenion of the novel work of Charle-Owaba (2002). The remaining part of the paper i organized a follow: the next ection dicue the model formulation. Under thi ection, the notation ued in the model are dicued. In addition, the model aumption relevant to ea veel maintenance and operational activitie are explained. In thi ection, the algorithm governing the original model developed by Charle-Owaba (2002) i preented with detailed tep explained for it practical application. till in thi ection, the model framework i preented with mathematical equation upporting the original tructure preented by Charle-Owaba with ome extenion of the idea. Thee tep are preented in a logical manner peruaive enough for the reader to follow. In particular, the three-dimenional wave equation methodology i adopted. ection three dicue the cae tudy of a hipping company. Thi ection conider apect, which include the cae decription, ome variable affecting cot of hip maintenance and their mathematical repreentation,