Subculture Groups

It’s hard to choose just one subculture that I belong to. I am a working mother, student and a wife. But if I had to classify just one, I would put myself into the mother category. Being a mother is a hard job, and can’t be taken lightly. It’s a twenty four hour, seven day a week job and is something I would not change for the world. We are commonly called the heroes for being there to take care of the sick, sad or angry child. The taxi driver, because as everyone knows, we are always there to give rides back and forth to whatever activity our kids need.There is also the punisher. If you a mother, you know all about that one, the person who always has to punish because the dad is the majority of the time, the easy going one! There are so many names for our group, and of course, we are the lucky ones of all the groups, because of all the learning, patience and understanding we all gain. Regardless of your background, all mothers would agree that the perception of being a mother thrives on being the best mother you can be to the best of your ability.All mothers share the same values, and that is raising a happy, healthy smart child. Even though at times its tough, and you just want to scream, teaching your kids, feeling the love from your child and nurturing them is what every mother lives off of. As a mother, I have learned that many things. The relationship that I have with my son has taught me understanding. I watch him grow, and realize that all the hard times that I’ve dealt with, and all the pain I’ve gone through, is all worth it.Even though my social life has dwindled, and I barely have time for myself, I find that Many men think that being a mother is an easy job, and some always want to know why we are always so tired (or maybe it’s just my husband). If you are not part of this group, there is no way to understand the feelings, heartache, and worry that constantly stay on our minds. This subculture that Iâ€℠¢ve been apart for the last five years has helped me grow and realize that I’m not alone.I’m so lucky to be a part of this group, and I wouldn’t change it for the world. I stand beside a great group of women, who to me are my heroes. The last five years with my little man have taught me a lot. I’ve learned patience, understanding, and how to love. I’m proud to be a part of this group, and am glad that I always have someone who understands what I go through each day. Mothers stand out in a crowd, and are the toughest women out there!

Culture and cultural objects Essay

Culture and cultural objects influence every aspect of our daily lives. In fact, cultures can be â€Å"understood as systems of symbols and meanings that even their creators contest, that lack fixed boundaries, that are constantly in flux, and that interact and compete with one another. † (Vaughn and Rotney, 2006) A very important aspect of our cultural lives lies within music, literature, sculpture and other arts, traditions, cinema, and theater. UNESCO (2002) described culture as â€Å"†¦set of distinctive spiritual, material, intellectual and emotional features of society or a social group, and that it encompasses, in addition to art and literature, lifestyles, ways of living together, value systems, traditions and beliefs. † This leads us to conclusion that culture, in its ultimate form, is a set of theoretical and physical objects which symbolize and thus influence every aspect of our daily lives. I have long thought about what these objects might be in the United States of America. As we are a very diverse society and pretty much a melting pot of other nations, there was a wide variety of cultural objects from comic strips to hip hop music that came to my mind. However, I have chosen the cinema of the United States as the topic of my paper. Inmy opinion, our cinema has not only a local but also a global cultural impact which can not be ignored. I will research the history of cinema in the United States and provide specific information in reference to that industry and some of the people who made it a cultural phenomenom in the United States and worldwide. The focus will be on the work of Walt Disney. History of American Cinema American filmmakers have a huge domestic and international audience. As a matter of fact, the United States of America are considered to be a film-making superpower along with a very few other countries worldwide. The main segments in film-making history in United States include the silent film era, the Classical Hollywood era, and the New Hollywood era. In the United States first films were made in New York City, which very fast developed into a movie production center. However, due to relatively high expanses associated with that geographical area, many movie producers began moving west. Due to the fact that sunlight was available almost all year, many of them chose Soutern California as their final destination. During this period movie production peaked and the American public could view the first movies by ways of traveling theaters and storefornt teaters. Only later was the concept of a commercial movie theater as we know it today developed. The first movies were basically low quality pictures with no sound, as the sound was not introduced to the motion picture business until the 1920’s. In the 1920’s began the golden age of motion picture. This is a period of time when movie production peaked and when some of the most famous movies ever have been shot. This happened especially during World War II. Motion Picture studios of that time began creating patriotic movies which had a bonding effect on Americans. This was very usefull during those dangerous and challenging times. One such movie is the now famous picture â€Å"Sargeant York† which presents a typical american farm boy who is called to service and consequently becomes a war hero. The positive conclusions of these movies left the audiances in good mood, longing for more of the same. At the same time, these movies formed a culture which identified itself with the main characters of the particular movie by believing in the patriotic message that they sent. Following World War II many technological developments ensured that the quality and sound of the motion picture became significantly better. The fact that the United States became a global power with military and civilians stationed all over the world also helped with exporting and introducing into new cultures some of the movie products which were produced. Very fast, the United States began developing into an entertainment superpower. American movies and music were sought after all over the world. Over the next few decades we would see movies which had huge impact on culture in United States and elsewhere. Characters such as John Wayne and music stars like Elvis Presley became famous and idolized mainly because of how they were portrayed in the motion picture. Perhaps one of the best known examples is the Star Wars collection of movies. These films are considered to have set the largest cultural bench mark in the film industry. â€Å"Star Wars references are deeply embedded in popular culture; references to the main characters and themes of Star Wars are casually made in American society with the assumption that others will understand the reference. † (Brooker, 2002) Star Wars was one of the productions which entered lives of their fans on an unpresedented scale and in unpresedented ways. It went as far as becoming a religion to some fans in the United Kingdom. In addition to Star Wars and similar movies, people like Walt Disney have created characters and whole industries which affect our culture on a daily basis. Recent history and current developments in the American film industry continue to reinforce the fact that this is one of the most influental industries in respect to the development and expension of American culture. Going to the theater with the whole family still remains one of the most popular activities and a variety of productions ranging from comedies to drama and action movies are available. This implies that this form of entertainment will continue to grow and prosper in United States. But, who are the people who made all this possible and how do they think? The famous and and their effect on culture One of the most famous people in the entertainment world is Walt Disney. Many kids know the names of his characters long before they learn the names of their extended family members. â€Å"Walt Disney was born to Elias Disney an Irish-Canadian, and his mother, Flora Call Disney, who was of German-American descent. His father moved to the United States from Canada after his parents failed at farming there. † (Thomas, 1976) He began his career in Kansas City as an independent cartoonist. Following a fairly successful start he moved to Hollywood where he and his brother opened up a studio and began producing motion pictures. Some of his work from that era includes Alice Comedies and Mickey Mouse. During his career he received multiple Academy Awards as a recognition for his work and dedication. Walt Disney and his work are one of the prime examples of how film (in this case cartoons) can have cultural impact on a domestic as well as international level. The geniality behind Disney’s characters has made them popular all over the world. Even during the hights of cold war, when any contact with the West was forbidden, the children and grown ups in the eastern countries such as Russia knew and enjoyed Walt Disney’s work. â€Å"The popularity of Disney’s products and characters was instantaneous and unmistakable, not only in the U. S. but in other countries. Because of the international distribution of Disney films and the merchandising efforts that accompanied them, the Disney Company developed a reputation that was magnified far beyond the relatively small company’s resources. And that reputation has continued. † (Wasko, 2000) Thanks to motion picture, Disney Company has grown and developed into a giant that operates in several industries including theme parks, hotels, travel, film productions, and TV. Even today, many years after his death, we can see the impacts of his work. Literally everybody know about Mickey Mouse and other of his characters and it is very common that today’s grand parents have enjoyed the same cartoons when they were children as their grandchildren today. This is the extent of cultural impact and legacy that people like Walt Disney have left us through filmmaking. This is visible through his companies’ success. â€Å"As of 2007, the company has annual revenue of over U. S. $35 billion. † (Walt Disney Company, 2008) The ability to effectively tell stories is one of the most crucial gifts that a film producer has to have. Depending what kind of film is being produced, the message can be different. This is why it becomes increasingly important to understand what this message and convey through picture to the public. This is equally important to success of comedies such as Shreck or to success of more serious movies portraying accurate historical facts. In addition to being an effective story teller, technology plays a huge role in todays movies. We can see plane crashes, car accidents, war scenes, as well as animated movies which appear extremely real. This is largely possible due to significant advances which were achieved in computer technology and robotics. Many of these innovations can be seen and reviewed in various theme parks and movie studios. In recent years a new form of film has been breaking through – and that fairly successfully. Movies such as Shreck, Cars, and other animated features are setting new standards. â€Å"Relevant data show that the annual output value of animation products and their derivative products in the United States, the largest exporter of entertainment products in the world at present, has amounted to over US$5 billion. † (Fang, 2008) However, not only new movies are popular. Thanks to animation, we have seen the rebirth of old classics in ways that are hard to believe. Conclusion Film making industry in the United States of America has left a lasting cultural impact, not only on the United States but also on the rest of the world. As a main exporter of entertainment we have created a cuture that feeds and grows on excellent made movies of all genres as well as traditional cartoons such as those of Walt Disney. As a matter of fact, people with visions, such as Walt Disney, have created a cultural revolution in the United States and worldwide. Children and grown ups across the world are familiar with American characters such as Mickey Mouse to the point that they have adopted this amerian icon as their own. The characters of these movies are having huge impacts on other industruies as well. It is a well known fact that once apopular movie such as for example â€Å"Spiderman† comes out, T-shirts, shoes, lunch boxes, bysicles, and other items with character imprints will follow in order to profit from the popularity of the movie characters. This also indiactes that film has as much impact on our overall economy as it had on our culture. Today’s trends are indicating tha this will continue. We hear almost on a monthly basis about new blockbusters which bring in hundreds of millions of dollars in the offices. Another indirect impact that the movie-making industry has on us is through the actors. Some of the actors are extremely popular and many people lkisten tow hat they have to say in reference to current politics and all other issues worldwide. This has created a very powerfull tool for the film industry as the owners and actors can have significant effect on public opinion. This has been demonstrated very recently in San Francisco, California during the demonstrations against the Chinese human rights violations in Tibet. The famous actor Rishard Gere was one of the initiators of the very successful protests. Other examples include many actors such as Arnold Swarzeneger who entered public service after Hollywood and became quite succesful, largely thanks to their fame. One could easily say that by being part of the film-making industry in United States, one becomes a part of the most powerful propaganda machine in the world. References Findley, Carther Vaughn and John Alexander Rothney (2006). Twentieth-century World. Sixth edition, p. 14. UNESCO. 2002. Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity. Information retrieved on April, 25th 2008 from http://portal. unesco. org/ Brooker, Will (2002). Using the Force: Creativity, Community, and Star Wars Fans, Continuum International Publishing Group Wasko, Jean (2000). How Mickey Converged on America. Information retrieved on April, 25th 2008 from http://flash. uoregon. edu/W00/mickey. html Thomas, Bob (1976,1994). Walt Disney: An American Original. New York: Hyperion Walt Disney Company (2008). Financial Information. Walt Disney Corporate Website. Information retrieved on April 25th, 2008 from http://corporate. disney. go. com Ai Fang and Wang Xiao (2008). China making breakthrough advances in animation industry. Information retrieved from China Economic Net Website http://en. ce. cn/Insight/200804/17/t20080417_15183331. shtml

5 Tips for Incoming High School Freshmen

Starting high school can be exciting, stressful, and at times, overwhelming. It’s also a time you should be exploring, trying out new opportunities, and making the most of your experiences. Here are five tips for starting off high school on the right foot. Now that you’re older, you have more flexibility as to how you spend your time. Search for groups and activities that align with your interests. Not sure where to start? Try out different clubs at your school. Check out How to Determine Which Clubs to Join: A Guide for Freshmen for ideas. Joining different clubs and trying out activities will allow you to meet new, like-minded people. It will also help you hone your area of specialization , or area that aligns with your interests and talents and path you want to pursue. This can guide your academic and career focus. In a similar vein, freshman year is a great time to try out new things. While every year matters, this year is lower stakes than the other high school years. Even if you’re not sure if you’ll like something, try it out and see. You can always cull your list of activities later. Read A Guide to Extracurricular Activities for Grade 9 for more advice. If you have choices in what courses to take, explore your options in this area as well. For instance, there might be an elective that interests you. Think about getting a job or internship as well; that will give you real-world experience early on. You may have heard that your grades don’t matter this year, but that’s not really true. While it is true that colleges won’t pay as much attention to this year as other years, you should get into the habit of studying and being productive now. That way, you’ll be in good shape later on. For advice on developing good studying and organization habits, read Eight Tips to Use Your Time Efficiently and Stay Organized in High School . Being organized will also help you manage your stress. Consider using planners and calendars to make sure you’re on top of everything you need to do. In this free guide, we'll explain how to set up a solid foundation for the rest of your high school experience. Enter your name and email below to download the guide. It’s not too early to think about college. You don’t need to start filling out applications, of course, but you should be setting goals . Think about the path you need to take to achieve these goals. Set incremental â€Å"sub† checkpoints to help you achieve your larger aspirations. For instance, if you’re hoping to become the editor of your school newspaper, consider the steps you need to take to get there, such as attending meetings, writing killer articles, and bonding with and learning from the current editor and the newspaper’s advisor. Don’t be afraid to ask for advice from parents, teachers, guidance counselor, older students, and even peers. If you feel like you’re getting overwhelmed, it can be helpful to talk to someone for support and guidance. Take some time to get to know your teachers. You’ll probably have more than you did in middle school, and your teachers, in turn, probably have many students. Developing connections with your teachers can be a substantial addition to your support system, since it will give you another resource for academic help. Additionally, when it comes to ask teachers for college recommendations, your teachers will be able to speak to your character, not just the papers you’ve written. It’s also important to develop a relationship with your guidance counselor. Make sure you introduce yourself and check in occasionally , so your guidance counselor really gets to know you. Like your teachers, she can be an excellent source of support and will be able to write about you as a person in your recommendation letter. High school won’t be easy, but try to get the most out of the challenges it brings. Take your time seriously, and create a plan for success. While you’ll face challenges along the way, having a plan, trying out new opportunities, and using your support system will help you manage your time well and prepare yourself for the future. Looking for help navigating the road to college as a high school student? Check out the Mentorship Program . Our mentors drive significant personal and professional development for their high school mentees. Combining mentorship with engaging content, insider strategies, and personalized analyses, our program provides students with the tools to succeed. As students learn from successful older peers, they develop confidence, autonomy, and critical thinking skills to help maximize their chances of success in college, business, and life.

Processing-structure-property relationships in (TPE-E) nanocomposites Lab Report

Processing-structure-property relationships in (TPE-E) nanocomposites - Lab Report Example This area of research is extremely promising because such systems possess higher dispersion then conventional organolclays do. Also, it is worth mentioning that examples from both literature and experimentaly achieved data point out that alkyl-ammoniums used as organo-modifiers have limited applications for apolar polymers. Scheme 1: Alkyl-ammoniums used as organo-modifiers For such polymers interactions with clay is usually low and further entropic barriers prevent mixing of an inorganic clay with the desired polymer. In other words, alkyl chain-clay interactions are low. To overcome this organo-modifiers are used but, as our studies suggest, low thermostability (Changes in composition start to occur at approx. 2200C) of the produced modified clay will limit the scope of potential applications. 4.1 Modification of Clay As it was previously stated, it was necessary to modify Fluormica (Somasif ME 100) Prestine clay to increase its mixability with the polyester TPE. The employed type of clay is hydrophilic. This factor contributes to poor solubility in hydrophobic polymers. It terms of structure, Fluormica (Somasif ME 100) is made of layers which are held together by electrostatic forces. These layers carry the negative charge, while positively charged cations are shared equally between stacks of layers. This structure is not easy to brake, what is another factor to poor mixability. In order to modify the studied clay ion exchange reactions were used. The chemical formulation is Na0.66Mg2.68(Si3.98Al0.02)O10.02F1.96 [65] and the particle size is about 650 nm. (Cation Exchange Capacity is 100 mequiv/mol). Thus it can be presumed that cations such as Na+ and Mg2+ can be substituted by an alkyl-ammonium (Scheme 1) cations. Alkyl-ammoniums carry different hydrophobic groups consequently, producing various hydrophobicity. Hydrophobic chain makes the modified clay more compatible with the organic matrix. Employing different alkyl-ammoniums it will be possible to mak e the clay compatible with almost any required polymer. Moreover, treatment with described organic modifiers will separate clay plates. This will afford intercalated and exfoliated materials which can be used to produce nanoparticles. To describe the produced modified clay it is necessary to analyse Fourier transform infrared spectrosctrum(FT-IR) then move on to X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) before finally commenting on thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) curves. 4.2 FT-IR The major peak for all the studied samples occurs at 902 cm-1 (Scheme 2). This wavelength can be associated only with carbon-oxygen-carbon symmetric stretch absorbtion. There is only one peak in this region there are no peaks formed by asymmetric carbon-oxygen-carbon absorbtion. The next major peak occurs at 2925 cm-1 but not for all studied entries. ME 100 and ME100 CC do not possess such peak. The formed peak is due to asymmetric stretch of CH2-O group. The described peaks prove the presence of specific bo nds in the molecule. Scheme 2: FT-IR spectrums of the modified clay samples. 4.3 XPS On the Schemes 3 and 4 ME 100 is the unmodified clay and all the entries from 2 to 8 present various modifications. It is seen that not all Na+ and Mg2+ are substituted by N+R4. In ME 75 Etho substitution is the most efficient and ME 100 CC shows only slight reduction on Na+ and Mg2+ quantity. No Sample Code O (%) C

Cause of Action Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Cause of Action - Essay Example Rob and Bunny Sherman and the tort law seems to be one of the most essential laws concerning the personal injury suffered by Rob Jr. As Mr. Bunny wants to bring suit against the Church of the Divine Light which caused personal injury his son by intentional torts, false imprisonment etc of Rob Jr., the best legal move will be in this line. There is vital evidence about Rob Jr. being tricked, falsely imprisoned, mentally threatened, psychologically oppressed, and illegally compelled to demand money from his parents. All these harassments and mental as well as personal injury suffered by plaintiff’s son indicate the possibility of taking civil action on the law of tort, undue influence, coercion, holding a person against his will etc. Also, legal action can be taken, on expert recommendation, against the Church of the Divine Light which is not an organized or registered church. The cause of action in the given case includes suing against Mr. Tom Marsden who was responsible for the civil wrongdoing against the plaintiff’s son and the law of torts serves best in this case. The case under discussion provides cause of action relating to law of tort, especially, intentional tort. â€Å"An intentional tort is any deliberate interference with a legally recognized interest, such as the rights to bodily integrity, emotional tranquility, dominion over property, seclusion from public scrutiny, and freedom from confinement or deception. These interests are violated by the intentional torts of assault, battery, trespass, false imprisonment, invasion of privacy, conversion, misrepresentation, and fraud.† (Tort Law) http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Tort+Law Significantly, four objectives are served by this law of torts. Thus, Mr. Rob can seek compensation for the injuries his son has suffered by the culpable action of the defendant.

My Political Socialisation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

My Political Socialisation - Essay Example My father reads political news from newspapers and political magazines as well as watching a lot of news and political discussions online. Views were weak but as I have developed the knack for politics and have surrounded myself with political friends including my father, I have found that my views are changing from being weak to strong. I cannot really confess to being that strong but I am not weak either. On the issue of voting, however, I am fairly strong enough in political affairs to change and be sure to make the correct voting decision based on my political analysis of the candidates. I have engaged in a few political activities and one peaceful political demonstration. I am however yet to identify a good political organization to become its member but it is on my agenda and will soon happen. These political activities have been influenced by my friends and my father. The political demonstration was my friends’ idea and influence which my parents did not agree to, howev er on the other political activities, my father has pushed and encouraged me and some even joining me to carry them out. Lucky for me, I have interest in politics even though they did not develop that long ago. What however impeded their quick development was the lack of political interest my mother and older siblings had and I spent a lot of time with them more than with my father because of his work. However, when he reduced his work travels and was home more often, I found my political niche slowly shifting.

The Election of 1828 Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The Election of 1828 - Research Paper Example The longest elections in american history have opened a new era of democracy and have brightened the way for future changes that will build constant vision of modern society. By 1828 the United States was by no means a nascent democracy by all standards with elections being hallmarks of a growing democracy. However, some elections were deemed as significant as they were controversial that they changed the election culture and served as a blueprint from which future political developments sprouted from. By the end of 1828, Americans had voted into office a man who was widely regarded as a champion of the common people1. The 11th elections proved to be a turning point in American history as, in as much as it was mired in smear underhand tactics and open character assassination, it heralded a return of party politics as it managed to whip the masses into two major party lines and the consequent party conflicts and bitterness would resonate for years. Andrew Jackson’s loss in the 1824 elections which were regarded as a ‘corrupt bargain’,2 and his ride to victory four years later through the support of the poor or working class clearly formed a template many future elections that were to follow where political power closely resembled the growing population of the United States. It was now possible for a person of humble descent like Andrew Jackson to ascend to the highest pinnacle of political power unlike where it was a reserve of a small clique of aristocrats. Andrew Jackson won in the election of 1824, but faced a loss to John Adams when the election was deferred to the House of Representatives3. He (Andrew Jackson) and his loyalist were outraged when the House of Representatives because of the influence Henry Clay, an unsuccessful presidential candidate and speaker of the house, awarded the presidency to John Quincy Adams. One may wonder if the process was free and fair and totally unbiased as a few days later, the president-elect John Quincy Adams named Henry Clay his secretary of state4. At the time, this was a position that had been a launch-pad for future presidents. The American people who had clearly demonstrated their preferred candidates felt betrayed by the very system that unified them as a people. One is compelled to raise various questions on the turn of events since Andrew Jackson won a plurality of electoral votes in the election which meant that he was the ultimate choice of the Americans. Andrew Jackson was devastated by the turn of events and one would understand his reaction at the time and devoted himself for the next four years to winning the presidency in the 1828 election: the next election. The modern Democratic Party was formed through the efforts of Andrew Jackson’s loyalist, Martin Van Buren. This political machine was one of the many strategies they used. Van Buren worked extra hard to gain popularity in the East as Andrew Jackson was already popular in the west. Nominations for the 182 8 elections changed and legislatures were tasked with the job of making the nominations. John Quincy Adams was re-nominated by the National Republicans while the Democrats nominated Andrew Jackson. The nomination presented a rematch between two great rivals of the time, Andrew Jackson and President John Adams. The campaign was one of the nastiest in American history. The elections of 1828 proved to be unique from all the previous elections in American history in various ways. The campaign was marked by considerable cased of mudslinging. This vice was uncommon during previous elections

All medical care should be free in our society Essay

All medical care should be free in our society - Essay Example The word professional is the key here. In the dictionary it is defined as a person "engaged in a profession or engaging in as a profession or means of livelihood". Since profession is an occupation from where the professionals earn their livelihood, this expense has to be paid out of somewhere. Expecting the medical center to pay for the services of doctors, nurses and other staff would be a heaven at earth. Furthermore expecting the professionals to not get paid for their services would be implausible as they have to feed and live themselves. So therefore this cost has to come from somewhere, be it the patients, charities or the government. Charities exist for the welfare for the people. They collect from the willing donors and distribute the income to take care of the needy. If a person is in need of an operation, a local hospital may conduct the operation free of cost for the patient, but pay for the surgeon and the resources used in the operation through the charities received. Interestingly, this process is not at all free since somebody in the society is paying for it. Even if that person is not the patient himself/herself, a member or members of the society are paying for the medical bills of that patient. This sort of 'free' medical aid provision is also seen in some of the European countries and in the US.

Understanding information Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Understanding information - Essay Example A week ago, Merryhall Management Company held a fashion show in the main atrium of its large shopping centre in West London that aimed to promote Merryhall as â€Å"West London Center of Fashion.† This report presents the results and analysis of the data obtained from the 120 completed and collected questionnaires. The statistical data of the results (frequency and descriptive data) are also appended to this report. The fashion show featured a diverse collection of style and trend including â€Å"designer† items for shoppers of all ages and genders. In line with this event, the Merryhall management was interested in ascertaining the fashion products that would appeal to its shoppers, thus distributed questionnaires which gauged the extent to which the fashion show had been of interest to the attendees of the show. In line with this event, the Merryhall management was interested in ascertaining the fashion products that would appeal to its shoppers, thus distributed ques tionnaires which gauged the extent to which the fashion show had been of interest to the attendees of the show. This report presents the results and analysis of the data obtained from the 120 completed and collected questionnaires. The statistical data of the results (frequency and descriptive data) are also appended to this report. Question 1: Shoppers’ Ratings to Different Aspects of the Fashion Show The shoppers were asked about their perception towards five specific aspects of fashion show: (a) quality of the clothes shown; (b) variety of the clothes; (c) staging of the show; (d) modeling of the clothes; and (e) ease of viewing the show. In order to gauge the perception of the 120 respondents, they were asked to gauge each aspect of the event using a four-point rating scale (very good, good, poor, and very poor). In terms of the quality of the clothes featured in the fashion show, 56, or 46.7%, out of the 120 respondents, which make it 46.7 %, said that the featured cloth es were â€Å"very good.† Thirty-five, 29.2%, respondents said the clothes were â€Å"good.† On the other hand, there were a total of 29 respondents, 24.2%, who provided a negative feedback on the clothes shown at the fashion event. Therefore, 75.8% of the shoppers who witnessed the event liked the quality of the featured clothes, and 24.2% of the shoppers said that the clothes shown at the fashion event had poor quality. In terms of variety, majority of the respondents (55.8% or 67 people) said that the variety of the clothes was â€Å"good.† Only 31 respondents, 25.8%, said that the variety of the clothes was â€Å"very good.† Significantly, there were only a small number of the respondents, 22 shoppers, who did not like the variety of the clothes shown at the event. This indicates that the shoppers, at least those who watched the fashion show, liked the selection of clothes that Merryhall presented although most of them were not so intensely enthusiast ic about it. When it comes to staging, again Merryhall received mostly positive feedbacks from the respondents. Forty-two or 35% of the respondents said that the staging was â€Å"very good,† and 63 or 52.5% said that it was â€Å"good.† Still, there were shoppers who did not feel happy about the staging of show but they were very few, 12.5% of the respondents in particular. The modeling of the clothes also received a positive feedback from the shoppers who saw the fashion event. A total of 69 respondents, 57.5%, said that the modeling was â€Å"good,† and only 12 respondents said it was â€Å"very good.† A considerable number of respondents commented on the poor modeling of the clothes during the fashion show. In total, there were 39 respondents who rated the modeling â€Å"

Business Strategies of the USA and UK concerning Iraq and Afghanistan Essay

Business Strategies of the USA and UK concerning Iraq and Afghanistan - Essay Example The banks faced the consequences of believing that the credit boom will go on forever which resulted in banks giving more and more â€Å"suicide loans† ranging to 120% of the house value (Macwhirter, 2008). The regulators like Financial Services Authority (UK) and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (US) were unable to track the situation. They were in the awe of the banking sector and interpreted they knew what they were doing but their interpretation received a jolt as soon as the financial world was engulfed by the web of recession.The Banking crisis affected almost all the countries in the world but there were some exceptions like, if we look at the Indian Banking Sector, we will see it crunched a bit at the time of the crisis, but it stood firm after that. Indian financial sector’s huge dependency on US was evident that it would be largely affected by the crisis. Many were of view that the effect would be huge. It was told that the banking sector would suffer , as the companies and the household sector in India definitely felt the pinch of the crisis in the US. (Rammohan, 2010). But unlike the US and UK the Indian banks were stronger in dealing with the situation and succeeded in it. Firstly, it was due to the ability to maintain spreads- return on advance minus cost of funds. The Indian banks have been able to do so because of the high proportion of current and savings account (Casa) deposits. The current accounts have zero interest payment and savings account has a low interest payment on them. This way the banks have been able to minimize the cost. Secondly, the banks have been able to generate income from fee-based services such as sale of mutual funds and insurance products. The large untapped customer base helps to increase the income of the banks. Thirdly, the slowdown has not resulted in the increase of provisions in the rising NPAs. The deceleration of growth rate of 9% to 7% is not a disaster. The Indian companies entered the s lowdown with solid financials, which was not a bubble like that of the US. It was more of a genuine case of higher growth and demand. Fourthly, the Indian banks invested in Government securities in good proportions, which helped in maintaining profit levels at the times of crisis.

Long Key Pine Rocklands Habitat Essay Example for Free

Long Key Pine Rocklands Habitat Essay Visiting the Everglades National Park’s Long Pine Key Rockland Habitat, I felt like one of the billions of people on earth right now that are tired of their hustle and bustle lifestyles albeit addicted to them. Like those people, I have a daily schedule that leaves me little or no time to consider visits to beautiful places such as the Pine Key Rockland Habitat on a regular basis. We make plans to take vacations, and we watch television as though it is a necessity. But, the Long Pine Key Rockland Habitat reminds me that there is much more to real life than we imagine we have the time to dwell on. What if all of us talked about pine rocklands and other marvels of nature on a daily basis – leaving our toxic thoughts about people and situations behind? Life, I believe, would be far more pleasant if we only took the time to experience change within ourselves. Indeed, the Pine Key Rockland Habitat did not only inspire calmness in me but also encouraged me to discuss my thoughts on modification of mindsets with close friends. I believe that the fresh air of the Pine Key Rockland is mind altering especially if we have spent too long a while in a cluttered region of the world. People throng cities to raise their standards of living and compete to purchase new technologies not only to raise their standards of living further but also to show off. Yet, places that take us back to our roots as human beings continue to beckon us home. ‘There is much more to life,’ they inform us. ‘Instead of trying to be like everybody else, take your time to visit such places in order to reconnect with your roots and become original in your thinking. ’ I felt that the Long Pine Key Rockland Habitat was communicating with me thus. I wrote a poem along these lines because poetry allows me to express my most important thoughts in a few words. Use of many words reminds of noisiness and even noise pollution associated with our hustle and bustle lifestyles. Poetry, on the other hand, takes me back to the Pine Key Rockland Habitat with its aura of calm. My poem about Pine Rocklands is a sonnet, â€Å"A Picture of the Earth As Seen from Outer Space. † I chose the sonnet form because it is convenient to use. This style of poetry is traditionally used for songs of love. Because love was an essential feeling for me to feel toward the Pine Rocklands as they took me beyond the tense hustle and bustle lifestyle to soothe my nerves, the sonnet form was appropriate to use. The sonnet is about reconnecting with all that remains glorious on the earth at a time when humans develop complicated machinery to leave it. After careful studies, scientists conclude that they are still unable to find habitable places like earth beyond earth. Earth remains as home and life on it is not never-ending. Thus, the poem has the Long Pine Key Rocklands Habitat telling the individual with more on his hands than he can manage to take a break and return to his roots in his thinking. It is a given that the reader, as though traveling beyond earth on a complex piece of machinery, cannot give up on his hustle and bustle lifestyle completely to return to life in a forest. The Pine Rocklands understand this, which is why they advise the reader to approach it for greater knowledge than before instead of entirely disregarding it. Humans did not have to create the Pine Rocklands, so therefore gaining knowledge through the ecosystem is easier than developing machinery to leave the earth. Like a rocket in space, the Pine Rocklands are known to burn in order to maintain themselves. The main difference between the two is the following: space ships remind us of man’s ingenuity while pine rocklands remind us of God, the creator of marvels of nature. In a dog eat dog world, I believe it is necessary to remember God so as to be well-behaved and advise others to be so, too. Although my poem, â€Å"A Picture of the Earth As Seen from Outer Space† does not reflect on God, it clearly defines the differences between God-made technology, which is the Pine Rocklands, and man-made technology, that is, the space ship that human beings seem to have escaped on. The space ship is a metaphor for our hustle and bustle lifestyles. Because the Long Pine Key Rocklands burn in order to sustain themselves, the metaphor was useful. But the main facet of the Pine Rocklands discussed in this poem is their appearance as a wonder of nature untouched by the hustle and bustle lifestyle of modern people. The Pine Rocklands are not only worth visiting but also remembering through photographs and pictures we save in our memory banks. Moreover, they offer an overabundance of knowledge. This, too, is touched upon in the poem. After all, scientists may study biodiversity in the Pine Rocklands just as well as psychologists may conduct research on relaxation there and seekers of truth may ask for reasons behind things within themselves or from God. What is more, the Pine Rocklands of the Everglades National Park are not the only place on earth to define as â€Å"A Picture of the Earth As Seen from Outer Space† in the context of the poem. Fortunately, our earth has plenty of such marvelous places to visit and refresh our minds. Thus, this poem may be edited to include names of all pine rocklands on earth. The earth has a furnace within, that is, the molten magma in its core. For this reason, I believe it could apply to all marvels of nature on earth regardless of whether they are pine rocklands or other ecosystems. Only the names may change. The fact that countless people of the world need to connect to the environment at this point in time – especially because of the dangers their hustle and bustle lifestyles pose to the ecosystem – remains unchanged. A Picture of the Earth As Seen from Outer Space We have left it to go onward, Though earth remains home, beckoning Us: Defying gravity, bird In the sky, o space ship, coming Home would be far more interesting! I am the Pine Rocklands, I too Burn to stay alive, as giving Of knowledge – I am homelike too! Get down, come back, do not attempt More than you can handle, return To refresh your eyes, I have bent Down before you. Simply return Home. Live with me, watch me from a distance; There is no place like home, with your presence.

Body Fat and Eating Disorders Paper Essay Example for Free

Body Fat and Eating Disorders Paper Essay Obese people have an overall morality rate almost twice that of non obese people. They are more than three times as likely to develop diabetes. Obesity is associated with unhealthy cholesterol levels and impaired heart function. It is estimated that if all Americans had a healthy body composition, the incidence of coronary heart disease would drop by 25%. Other health risks associated with obesity include hypertension, many kinds of cancer, impaired immune function, gallbladder and kidney diseases, and bone and joint disorders. These risk from obesity increase with its severity, and they are much more likely to occur in people who are more than twice their desirable body weight. Body Fat The distribution of body fat is also an important indicator of future health. People who tend to gain weight in the abdominal area have risk of coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and stroke twice as high as those who tend to gain weight hip area. The reason for this increase risk is not entirely clear, but it appears that fat in the abdomen is more easily mobilized and sent into the bloodstream, increasing disease related blood fat levels. In addition to risking physical health, obesity can impair psychological health. Being perceived as fat can be the source of ridicule, ostracism, and sometimes discrimination from others; it can contribute to psychological problems such as depression and low self esteem. For some, the stigma associated with obesity can give rise to a negative body image, body dissatisfaction, and eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia. What Influence Behavior Obesity is an result of intricate interactions of biology, behavior, and environment. Recent hypothesis in the scientific community suggest the current obesity epidemic is being driven largely by environmental factors (high energy/ high fat foods, fast foods consumption, television watching, â€Å"super sized† portions) rather than biological ones. Individuals are bombarded with images and offers of high fat, high calorie, high palatable, convenient, and inexpensive foods. Today’s stressful lifestyles compound the effects of environmental factors by impairing weight loss efforts and by promoting fat storage. Health Problems Associated with Anorexia Nervosa, and Bulimia Nervosa, and Binge eating disorder. When it comes to Anorexia Nervosa, and the cycle of self starvation. The body is denied the essential nutrients it needs to function normally. It can cause an abnormally slow heart rate, and low blood pressure. When it comes to Bulimia Nervosa, and the recurrent binge and purge cycles of bulimia can affect the entire digestive system ad can lead to electrolyte and chemical imbalances in the body that affect the heart and other major organ functions. Electrolytes imbalances that can lead to irregular heartbeats and possibly heart failure and death. When it comes to Binge eating disorder often result in the same health risk associated with clinical obesity. High blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, secondary diabetes, gallbladder disease, and heart disease as a result of elevated triglyceride levels. Conclusion When it comes to eating disorders sometimes your regular medical doctor is not the best one for treating these disorders. You may need to seek the help of a psychologist, because there are usually some mental issues involved in eating disorders. References: Eating Disorders Health Consequences, By John M. Grohol, Psy.D, Jun.1, (2010), Retrieved from, www.psychcentral.com Health Risk of Excess Body Fat, n.a., n.d., Retrieved from, www.teach.valosta.edu Environmental and Life Influences on Obesity, By P.J. Brantley, V.H. Myers, H.J. Roy, Jan., (2005), Retrieved from, www.ncbi.nim.nih.gov

Functions of Organizational Communication

Functions of Organizational Communication INTRODUCTION Organizational Communication can be defined as a process through which organizations are created and in turn create and shape events. The process can be understood as a combination of process, people, message, meaning and purpose. Functions of Organizational Communication: It is the means by which a manager ensures co-operation of subordinates. It is the exchange of meanings among members of an organization. It is the glue which binds the elements of an organization together. It builds the very structure of an organization i.e. who communicates with whom about what. Can misunderstanding of a few words literally mean the difference between life and death? They can in airlines business. A number of aviation disasters have been largely attributed to problems in communication. There are other fields also in which there are examples to illustrate how miscommunication can have deadly consequences. Good communication is essential to any groups or organizations effectiveness. Research indicates that poor communication is probably the most frequently cited source of interpersonal conflict. Because individuals spend nearly 70 percent of their working hours communicating-writing, reading, speaking, listening-it seems reasonable to conclude that one of the most inhibiting forces to successful group performance is a lack of effective communication. No group can exist without communication: the transference of meaning among its members. It is only through transmitting meaning from one person to another that information and ideas can be conveyed. Communication, however, is more than merely imparting meaning. It must also be understood. In a group in which one member speaks only German and the others do not know German, the individual speaking German will not be fully understood. Therefore, communication must include both the transference and the understanding of meaning. An idea, no matter how great, is useless until it is transmitted and understood by others. Perfect communication, if there were such a thing, would exist when a thought or an idea was transmitted so that the mental picture perceived by the receiver was exactly the same as that envisioned by the sender. Although elementary in theory, perfect communication is never achieved in practice, due to unavoidable reasons. 2.1 What is Communication? The term communication has been derived from the Latin word communis which means common. It was Aristotle who, for the first time, brought about a systematic study of the communication process. According to him, there are three essential elements in a communication system, namely, the speaker, the speech, and the audience. Communication strictly stands for sharing of ideas in common. The word communication, however, has many and varied meanings. Popularly speaking, it refers to the various means of transmitting information from individual to individual, individual to a group of individuals or from one place to another. It is a transmission of messages, ideas, methods, skills, and thoughts between two or more persons. It is a mutual exchange of facts, thoughts, opinions or emotions by the use of symbols, words, pictures, figures, graphs and so on. Communication is the chain of understanding which permeates an organization from top to bottom, from bottom to top, and from side to side, and which moves the organization ahead towards its stated objectives. It is the cohesive force which holds the group together. Vardaman and Halterman opine: Communication is the flow of material, information, perception and understanding between various parts and members of an organization. In the words of Allen, Communication is the transfer of meaning from one person to another. Mitchell goes a step further and observes, Communication involves more than just having the right information — the information should be believed, weighed correctly, reach the right decision-makers and result in the appropriate action. Rogers and Rogers have reiterated this point of view. They opine Communication is a process by which an idea is transferred from a source to the receiver with the intention of changing behaviour.. ..Communication is made with the intention of achieving results/change in knowledge, attitude and overt behaviour. Communication is a process in which senders and receivers of messages interact in a given social context. Interpersonal communication refers to the exchange of information and transmission of meaning between two people. Organizational communication is the subject that deals with the exchange of information and transmission of meaning throughout the organizational hierarchy. Since the leader or the manager accomplishes organizational objectives through people, it is essential to communicate what the leader or the manager wants people to accomplish, how to accomplish, where to accomplish and more important, why to accomplish. To communicate the organizational philosophy, objectives, procedures, and practices to all employees is not easy, because communication is a very complex phenomenon. In communication, the people must understand what they are trying to communicate; they must be willing and able to understand them; they must accept their communication or message or information or goals. Thus, all social phenomena are a function of communication. 2.2 FUNCTIONS OF COMMUNICATION: Communication serves four major functions within a group or organization: Control, motivation, emotional expression and information. Communication acts to control member behaviour in several ways. Organizations have authority hierarchies and formal guidelines that employees are required to follow. When employees, for instance are required to first communicate any job related grievance to their immediate boss, to follow their job description, or to comply with company policies, communication is performing a control function. But informal communication also controls behaviour. When work groups tease or harass a member who produces too much (and makes the rest of the group look bad), they are informally communicating with, and controlling, the members behaviour Communication fosters motivation by clarifying to employees what is to be done, how well they are doing, and what can be done to improve performance if its supbar. The formation of specific goals, feedback on progress toward the goals, and reinforcement of desired behaviour all stimulate motivation and require communication. For many employees, their work group is a primary source for social interaction. The communication that takes place within the group is a fundamental mechanism by which members show their frustrations and feelings of satisfaction. Communication, therefore, provides a release for the emotional expression of feelings and for fulfillment of social needs. The final function that communication performs relates to its role in facilitating decision making. It provides the information that individuals and groups need to make decisions by transmitting the data to identify and evaluate alternative choices. No one of these functions should be seen as being more important than the others. For groups to perform effectively, they need to maintain some form of control over members, stimulate members to perform, provide a means for emotional expression, and make decision choices. Almost every communication interaction that takes place in a group or organization performs one or more of these four functions. 2.3 THE COMMUNICATION PROCESS: Before communication can take place, a purpose, expressed as a message to be conveyed, is needed. It passes between a source (sender) and a receiver. The message is encoded (converted to a symbolic form) and passed by way of some medium (channel) to the receiver, who retranslates (decodes) the message initiated by the sender. The result is a transference of meaning from one person to another. The exhibit above depicts this communication process. This model is made up of seven parts: (1) the communication source, (2) encoding, (3) the message, (4) the channel, (5) decoding, (6) the receiver, and (7) feedback. The source initiates a message by encoding a thought. The message is the actual physical product from the source encoding. When we speak, the speech is the message. When we write, the writing is the message. When we gesture, the movements of our arms and the expression on our face are the message. The channel is the medium through which the message travels. It is selected by the source, who must determine whether to use a formal or informal channel. Formal channels are established by the organization and transmit message that are related to the professional activities of the members. They traditionally follow the authority chain within the organization. Other forms of messages, such as personal or social, follow the informal channels in the organization. The receiver is the object to whom the message is directed. But before the message can be received, the symbols in it must be translated into a form that can be understood by the receiver. This step is the decoding of the message. The final link in the communication process is a feedback loop. Feedback is the check on how successful we have been in transferring our messages as originally intended. It determines whether understanding has achieved. 2.4 DIRECTION OF COMMUNICATION: Communication can flow vertically and laterally. The vertical dimension can be further divided into downward and upward directions. Downward Communication that flows from one level of a group or organization to a lower level is a downward communication. When we think of managers communicating with employees, the downward pattern is the one we are usually thinking of. Its used by group leaders and managers to assign goals, provide job instructions, inform employees of policies and procedures, point out problems that need attention, and offer feedback about performance. But downward communication doesnt have to be oral or face-to-face contact. When management sends letters to the employees homes to advise them of the organizations new sick leave policy, it is using downward communication. So is an e-mail from a team leader to the members of her team, reminding them of an upcoming deadline. Upward Upward communication flows to a higher level in the group or organization. Its used to provide feedback to higher-ups, inform them of progress toward goals, and relay current problems. Upward communication keeps managers aware of how employees feel about their jobs, co-workers, and the organization in general. Managers also rely on upward communication for ideas on how things can be improved. Some organizational examples of upward communication are performance reports prepared by lower management for review by middle and top management, suggestion boxes, employee attitude surveys, grievance procedures, superior-subordinate discussions, and informal gripe sessions in which employees have the opportunity to identify and discuss problems with their boss or representatives of higher management. For example, FedEx prides itself on its computerized upward communication program. All its employees annually complete climate surveys and reviews of management. This program was cited as a key human resources strength by the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award examiners when FedEx won the honor. Lateral When communication takes place among members of the same work group, among members of work groups at the same level, among managers at the same level, or among any horizontally equivalent personnel, we describe it as lateral communications. Why would there be a need for horizontal communications if a group or organizations vertical communications are effective? The answer is that horizontal communications are often necessary to save time and facilitate co-ordination. In some cases, these lateral relationships are formally sanctioned. More often, they are informally created to short-circuit the vertical hierarchy and expedite action. So lateral communications can, from managements viewpoint, be good or bad. Since strict adherence to the formal vertical structure for all communications can impede the efficient and accurate transfer of information, lateral communications can be beneficial. In such cases, they occur with the knowledge and support of superiors. But they can create dysfunctional conflicts when the formal vertical channels are breached, when members go above or around their superiors to get things done, or when bosses find out that actions have been taken or decisions made without their knowledge. Diagonal Communication This occurs when communication occurs between workers in a different section of the organisation and where one of the workers involved is on a higher level in the organisation. For example in a bank diagonal communication will occur when a department manager in head office converses with a cashier in a branch of the bank based on the high street. 2.5 INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION: How do group members transfer meaning between and among each other? There are three basic methods. People basically rely on oral, written and non-verbal communication. Oral Communication The chief means of conveying messages is oral communication. Speeches, formal one-on-one and group discussions, and the informal mill or grapevine are popular forms of oral communication. The advantages of oral communication are speed and feedback. A verbal message can be conveyed and a response received in a minimal amount of time. If the receiver is unsure of the message, rapid feedback allows for early detection by the sender and, hence, allows for early correction. The major disadvantage of oral communication surfaces in organizations or whenever the message has to be passed through a number of people. The more people a message must pass through, the greater the potential distortion. For example, if you ever played the game telephone at a party, you know the problem. Each person interprets the message in his or her own way. The messages content, when it reaches its destination, is very often different from that of the original. In an organization, where decisions and other communiquà ©s are verbally passed up and down the authority hierarchy, there are considerable opportunities for messages to become distorted. Written Communication. Written communications include memos, letters, electronic mail, fax transmissions, organizational periodicals, notices placed on bulletin boards, or any other device that is transmitted via written words or symbols. Why would a sender choose to use written communications? They are tangible and verifiable. Typically, both the sender and the receiver have a record of the communication. The message can be stored for a indefinite period. If there are questions concerning the content of the message, it is physically available for later reference. This feature is particularly important for complex and lengthy communications. The marketing plan for a new product, for instance, is likely to contain a number of tasks spread out over several months. By putting it in writing, those who have to initiate the plan can readily refer to it over the life of the plan. A final benefit of written communication comes from the process itself. You are usually more careful with the written word than the oral word. You are forced to think more thoroughly about what you want to convey in a written message than in a spoken one. Thus, written communications are more likely to be well thought out, logical and clear. Of course, written messages have their drawbacks. They are time consuming. You could convey far more information to a college instructor in a one-hour oral exam than in a one-hour written exam. In fact, you could probably say the same thing in 10 to 15 minutes that it would take you an hour to write. So, although writing may be more precise, it also consumes a great deal of time. The other major disadvantage is feedback, or lack of it. Oral communication allows the receiver to respond rapidly to what he thinks he hears. Written communication, however, does not have a built-in feedback mechanism. The result is that the mailing of a memo is no assurance it has been received, there is no guarantee the recipient will interpret it as the sender intended. The latter point is also relevant in oral communiquà ©s, except it is easy in such cases merely to ask the receiver to summarize what you have said. An accurate summary presents feedback evidence that the message has been received and understood. Employees Handbook: As business grows in size, management often turns to the use of an employee handbook as a communication tool to inform employees on issues such as company history and products, human resource policies, employee compensation and benefits, training assistance, health services, safety, security, employee responsibilities, and work standards. Handbooks are also useful to supervisors and administrators for ensuring consistent implementation and enforcement of company policies. These are intended to help in the induction of newcomers and to provide all the employees with a clear-cut understanding not only of the general policies of the management but also of the nature of the business, its sources of supplies, its customers, its products and the range of benefits and services available to its employees. Many organizations publish illustrated handbooks, depicting cartoons, charts and photographs. House Magazines and Newspapers: Some organizations maintain one or more employee magazines or journals. These are meant to keep employees well informed of the development in the business and to acquaint them with the personalities and activities of the organisation. It can explain the policies of the management in easily understood terms. House magazines contain news, and personal and social items. There may be references to parties, marriages, births, retirements, honours and awards. Financial Reports: Such reports describe the essential facts concerning the conduct of business, its expenses and profits, its income and distribution of financial standing. of the organisation and create understanding between the management and its employees. Bulletin Boards: Usually, big organizations keep a bulletin board for 50 to 100 employees in attractive colours, types and formats. These boards contain a wide range of material such as someones choice of cartoons from newspapers and magazines, pin-up photographs, events in the lives of present or former employees and other items of common interest. Audio-Visual Aids: Sound films, movies, slides, tapes may be played back to the workers. Such audio-visual aids have an obvious advantage of describing a companys range of operations and products, in illustrating how financial and other decisions are made, or in explaining work rules. Notice Boards: Notices are often pasted o the factory walls or gates or placed in glass covered notice boards, and these are hung at appropriate places in the premises of an organisation, near the canteens or factory gates. These notices usually depict abstracts as desired under the various statutes as well as notices of the various institutions in the establishment such as the sports club. Suggestion System: The suggestion system is designed to enlist the co-operation of subordinates in effecting improvements and in eliminating waste and to provide an avenue for a working communication with the management. Rewards are offered for suggestions which results in greater productive efficiency. In some organizations, suggestion boxes are located at convenient places throughout the plant. Communication with Public and Government: Organisations educate the public about their various activities through advertising, campaigns, meetings and conferences. Organisations also establish and organize special groups to communicate with the important segments of government. Proper communication plays an important role in a large organization, and there has to be a proper balance between the oral and written forms of communication. It need hardly be said that the choice of any method depends upon the purpose to be accomplished and the likelihood of its success. Quite often, it is better to use more than one method to convey the same information so that one can reinforce the other. Nonverbal Communication Every time we verbally give a message to someone, we also impart a nonverbal message. In some instances, the nonverbal component may stand alone. For example, in a singles bar, a glance, a stare, a frown, and a provocative body movement all convey meaning. As such, no discussion of communication would be complete without consideration of nonverbal communication-which includes body movements, the intonations or emphasis we give to words, facial expressions, and the physical distance between the sender and receiver. It can be argued that every body movement has a meaning and no movement is accidental. For example, through body language we say, Help me, Im lonely; Take me, Im available; Leave me alone, Im depressed. And rarely do we send our messages consciously. We act out our state of being with nonverbal body language. We lift one eyebrow for disbelief. We rub our nose for puzzlement. We clasp our arms to isolate ourselves or to protect ourselves. We shrug our shoulders for indifference, wink one eye for intimacy, tap our fingers for impatience and slap our forehead for forgetfulness. The two most important messages that body language conveys are (1) The extent to which an individual likes another and is interested in his or her views and (2) The relative perceived status between a sender and receiver. For instance, we are more likely to position ourselves closer to people we like and touch them more often. Similarly, if you feel that youre higher status than another, youre more likely to display body movements-such as crossed legs or a slouched seating position-that reflect a casual and relaxed manner. Body language adds to, and often complicates, verbal communication. A body position or movement does not by itself have a precise or universal meaning, but when it is linked with spoken language, it gives fuller meaning to a senders message. If you read the verbatim minutes of a meeting, you wouldnt grasp the impact of what was said in the same way you would if you had been there or saw the meeting on video. Why? There are no records of nonverbal communication. The emphasis given to words or phrases is missing. Facial expressions also convey meaning. A snarling face says something different from a smile. Facial expressions, along with intonations, can show arrogance, aggressiveness, fear, shyness, and other characteristics that would never be communicated if you read a transcript of what had been said. The way individuals space themselves in terms of physical distance also has meaning. What is considered proper spacing is largely dependent on cultural norms. For example, what is considered a businesslike distance in some European countries would be viewed as intimate in many parts of North America. If someone stands closer to you than is considered appropriate, it may indicate aggressiveness or sexual interest; if farther away than usual, it may mean disinterest or displeasure with what is being said. Its important for the receiver to be alert to these nonverbal aspects of communication. You should look for nonverbal cues as well as listen to the literal meaning of senders words. You should particularly be aware of contradictions between the messages. Your boss may say she is free to talk to you about a pressing budget problem, but you may see nonverbal signals suggesting that the is not the time to discuss the subject regardless of what is being said, an individual who frequently glances at her wristwatch is giving the massage that she would prefer to terminate the conversation. We misinform others when we express one message verbally, such as trust, but nonverbally communicate a contradictory message that reads, I dont have confidence in you. 3.1 COMMUNICATION TYPES: Internal/Organizational Communication This is communication that takes place within (or across) an organization. In addition to the usual face to face, telephone, fax or mail; modern organizations may use technology to communicate internally. Technology may be used for e-mails or a linked internal communication system such as the intranet which is an internet system designed solely for use by those working for the organization. External communications Conversely external communication is communication between the organization and those outside the organization. Modern organizations may design technological systems so that they can communicate with customers and undertake e-Commerce. Alternatively they communicate with other businesses through the internet or similar systems and undertake e-Business. Functions of Internal and External Communications; Technology has rapidly expanded the types of internal and external communication available to organizations. The diagram illustrates the vast array of internal and external communication available. Combined together internal and external types of communications allow various sectors of the local, national and international community to interact, liaise and conduct business. 3.2 Objectives of Communication Communication is not an end in itself. There is no use of communicating just for the sake of communicating. It is a means and a very effective means for the solution of managerial problems and for attainment of managerial objectives. Since managers work through others, all their acts, policies, rules, orders and procedures must pass through some sort of communication channel. The purposes of communication are: To develop information and understanding which are necessary for group effort? To provide an attitude which is necessary for motivation, co-operation and job satisfaction? To discourage the spread of misinformation, rumours, gossip, and to release the emotional tensions of workers To prepare workers for a change by giving them the necessary information in advance. To encourage ideas, suggestions from subordinates for an improvement in the product and work conditions, for a reduction in time or cost involved and for the avoidance of the waste of raw material. To improve labour-management relations by keeping both in contact with each other. To satisfy the basic human needs like recognition, self-importance and sense of participation. To serve auxiliary functions such as entertainment and the maintenance of social relations among human beings. The purpose of communication is to establish asocial environment that supports effective interaction and to ensure that the workforce has the skills to share information and co-ordinate their achievements efficiently 3.3 Importance of Communication Organizations cannot exist without communication. If there is no communication, employees cannot know what their respective associates are doing, management cannot receive information on inputs, and management cannot give instructions. Co-ordination of work is impossible, and the organisation will collapse for lack of it. Co-operation also becomes impossible, because people cannot communicate their needs and feelings to others. Every act of communication influences the organisation in some way or the other. As such effective communication tends to encourage better performance, improves job satisfaction, creates proper understanding, and develops feeling of involvement among the people. Chester Bernard (1938) has considered communication to be the very first function of a manager and has viewed it as the shaping force which links people and purposes together in any co-operative system. In the practice of management, Peter Drucker (1954) has observed that the managers main instrument for operating his affairs is information. The management process has widely been discussed as one which embraces the functions of planning, organizing, leading and controlling, which are intimately involved with and dependant on, communication. Organisational structure is definitely tied to the communication systems. Communication is the key to effective teamwork, for both are based on the common fundamentals of information, understanding, consultation and participation. Communication is an essential skill at every level of organisational functioning and for organisations of all types, whether social, governmental, or commercial. According to Miner and Miner there Ware four basic types of communication network: (a) the regulative network ensures security, conformity to plans and the achievement of productivity through the communication of policy statements, procedures, and rules; (b) the innovative network is concerned with problem-solving and change through such techniques as suggestion systems and meetings; (c) the integrative network is directly related to consideration of employee morale and organisational maintenance; and (d) the informative network relates to employees effectiveness and productivity through a direct dissemination of information and training programmes. 3.4 Rules for Communication: A few basic rules should be followed in planning for and carrying out communications of all kinds, written and oral, regardless of form or format. Clarity: To be effective, communications must be understood, and to be understood, they must be clear. Brevity: It makes both written and oral communications easier to understand. Only one idea should be used in a sentence. Simplicity: Short, simple words, phrases, and sentences should be used. Every word should count. Extra words only serve to confuse. Precision: Precise words should be used. Integrity: Communication should always be used as a means, never as an end. During any major change programme, internal communication in an organisation is extremely. Important. It must be borne in mind in this context that communication is more than a dialogue. It builds on trust and openness among colleagues, and results in common understanding of the organisational issues that have a long-term bearing on the future of the organisation. 3.5 Formal and Informal Communication Basically, the two most important media of communication in an organisation are formal and informal communications. Formal communications are those that are official, that are a part of the recognized communication system of the organisation. A formal communication can be from a superior to a subordinate, from a subordinate to a superior, intra-administrative, or external. These communications may be oral or written. Informal communication is those that are outside the formal, recognized communication system. Informal communication originates spontaneously outside the formal channels and is the natural responses to the need for social interaction. Within the organisation, whatever its style or form, cohesive informal groups develop. Extensive research has shown that these informal work groups have tremendous power in shaping attitudes, behaviour, and consequently, production. They share a set of beliefs, values, and socially acceptable behaviours. In other words, group members come to think and act in similar ways, and this encourages feelings of closeness among them. In industry, at every level of organisational life, employees are bound together in informal groups and develop a

Gertrude as an Innocent Victim or a Sexually and Morally Corrupt Woman

Gertrude as an Innocent Victim or a Sexually and Morally Corrupt Woman in Hamlet Shakespeare’s character Gertrude is one of much mystery; in relation to this there are many questions that need to be answered to establish Gertrude’s innocence through out the play. Some examples of these questions are, was Gertrude in some kind of relationship with Claudius before the murder of her late Husband and did she know about the murder before or after it was committed? Does she love Claudius or is it just her status that she is protecting? And did she ever love the late King Hamlet? At the beginning of the play when we learn about the late King Hamlet’s death and Gertrude’s hasty marriage to his brother Claudius, we are faced with a question on the audience’s awareness. It can be assumed that the marriage to her brother- in-law is purely because of Gertrude’s weak personality, resulting in a dependency on men and the means of protecting her status and her power. We also question the love between the Gertrude and Claudius; this is because there is no suggestion of a resemblance between the late King and his brother. The description that we are given about late King Hamlet maybe slightly distorted, as it is Hamlet who tells us this, and he is noticeably loyal to his father. It is also possible to argue that the love that the late King and Gertrude shared was not that strong as the only evidence to suggest this has been told to us by Hamlet and he maybe slightly bias. First we notice that Gertrude does not display her grief for her dead husband, and suspicions mount when she also tells Hamlet that he should stop his mourning as well.... ...unishment upon death. She does not show any untoward hatred towards Claudius showing that she may not be aware of his cruel deed. In the end Gertrude drinks the poison which can suggest many things; that she has no knowledge of the poison or that she feels guilty of her late husband’s death, and cannot carry on with the corrupt behaviour between her husband and her son, or that she is protecting her son and saving his life. When she attempts to consume the drink she is stopped suddenly by Claudius, but she replies â€Å"I will my lord, I pray you pardon me†, is this the request of someone who is guilty, someone who is tired of the fighting between her two dearest or of someone with no awareness of what was going to happen? This for many readers is the critical part of the play in determining her innocence or guilt.

Physics of Caterpillar Tracks :: physics tank tracks

Every time you see one of the CATs clearing the hill at university of the snow, you probably don't see anything amazing about it. However, caterpillar tracks used on it are just ingenious and its invention is comparable to the invention of the wheel. History First vehicles powered by the steam engine started to appear in the early 1800s. Various machines started slowly replace horses. It was especially true for the jobs that required a lot of power. Transportation, of course, was the first and the most beneficial adopter. Goods could be carried across large distances with relative ease. No wonder that farmers were also eager to adopt engines. By that time most of the work was done using horses and basic tools. Problems Steam powered harvesters and tractors were introduced by the end of 19th century. It started to gradually replace horses. However in some regions they created new problems as well. Vehicles proved to be too heavy for soft soils and often stuck and even sunk. Experiments with various sizes of wheels didn't produce good results. Increasing size of wheels just made vehicles heavier and more difficult to operate. Benjamin Holt of Holt Manufacturing figured that using an old trick of pouting planks before the wheel would improve cross-country ability. By doing so, it provides solid plane for better traction and lower pressure on the ground since size of the plank is larger then of the wheel. Basics The main advantage of the track over the wheels is that it can distribute a very large force over a large area. That means that instead of applying all the force on little area where wheels touch the ground, it applies it over the whole area of the track. In physics terms it can be expressed as P = F / A where P is pressure, F is force and A is area. Less force applied to every square meter means that it's harder for the heavy vehicle to sink into the ground. Another benefit of the tracks is that large area of contact allows to have a very good traction with the ground. That is why tracks are used for mission critical jobs, including military use and high cost operations, such as excavations and space rocket movements. Drawbacks Even though caterpillar tracks provide very good cross-country ability, they have its drawbacks. Because of the weight and the construction of tracks speed of the vehicle is limited in comparison to the wheeled machines.

The Grapes of Wrath - Beauty in the Midst of Hopelessness Essay

The Grapes of Wrath: Beauty in the Midst of Hopelessness    The Grapes of Wrath portrays life at its darkest.   It is the story of migrant workers and the hardships and heartbreaks that they experience as they are driven from their land - the land that   they have lived on for generations - so the banks can make a profit.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Sure, cried the tenant men, but it's our land.   We measured it and broke it up.   We were born on it, and we got killed on it, died on it.   That's what makes it ours - being born on it, working it, dying on it.   That makes ownership, not a paper with numbers on it (p.45).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Steinbeck follows the Joad family as they leave their farm to forge a new life in the land of opportunity - California - where life is golden and jobs are abundant . . . or so they think.   They are met with distrust and dislike by the residents of the cities they pass through, and they have little success in finding jobs with salaries that they can survive on. Once the Joads reach California, they discover that the situation there is much the same; the jobs are sparse and wages low.   People are starving to death while fruit rots on the trees.   Once again, this is so others can make a profit.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   And children dying of pellagra must die because a profit cannot be taken from an orange.   And coroners must fill in the certificates - died of malnutrition - because the food must rot, must be forced to rot (p.477).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Steinbeck masterfully weaves a powerful and gripping story of hope, heartbreak, and survival, alternating the account of the Joads' journey with chapters that take a step back and show the struggle of the United States as a whole.   This gives the book a depth that is rarely achieved in literature - at le... ...rror behind - strange things happen to them, some bitterly cruel and some so beautiful that the faith is refired forever" (p.166). Sources Cited and Consulted Cunningham, Charles D. "Solidarity, Sympathy, Contempt: The Mythology of Rural Poverty in Depression America." Diss. Carnegie Mellon U, 2001. French, Warren. "John Steinbeck" Contemporary Literary Criticism. Vol. 1, Gale Research Co.: Book Tower: Detroit 1973. Lechteihn, Yuri. "The Awakening of Tom Joad." 2 pp. Online. Internet. 30 April, 2004. Available http://www.ac.wwu.edu/~stephan/Steinbeck/grapes.html. Steinbeck, John. The Grapes of Wrath. New York: Penguin Books USA Inc, 1993. Timmerman, John. John Steinbeck’s Fiction. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1986. Wilson, Edmund. "The Noonday Press." Contemporary Literary Criticism. Vol. 13, Gale Research Co. Book Tower: Detroit 1973.

Business Project

Mike Wardingley Define the term â€Å"the learning organization. †Ã‚   In what ways can the principles of the learning organization strategically impact an organization? A learning organization is one that: -Seeks to create its own future. -Assumes learning is an ongoing and creative process for its members. -Develops, adapts and transforms itself in response to the needs and aspirations of people, both inside and outside itself. – Allows people at all levels, individually and collectively, to continually increasing their capacity to produce results they really care about.A company that cares about development and their future will be a learning organization. Wide profit margins are great but a great company will not only worry about the bottom line, but the personal and professional development of their employees as well. An atmosphere of learning and improvement will also help spurn new and improved processes. Google has become a company that allows the employees to c ontinually improve and fosters creative thinking. The work environment is relaxed and the perks allow the employees to be free thinkers.Companies that put effort and money into the development of their employees will see a much bigger return in the end. Tuition assistance, college loan repayment programs, and during work learning opportunities will keep the employees happy as well as constantly developing into more educated and productive workers. Using the Internet, research the Small Business Administration’s website (www. sba. gov). What different types of financing are available to small firms? Besides financing, what other programs are available to support the growth and development of small businesses?The types of financing that are available to new small businesses are: * Loans * Grants * Bonds * Venture Capital In addition to the financing options, the Small Business Administration has set up a large number of other forms of assistance to make sure a new business has all the tools necessary to succeed. There is an online training program that will help an owner with starting, managing, financing, and contracting the new business venture. The Small Business Administration has also developed programs to help other types of new business owners.The Women’s Business Center was set up to help women start and maintain a successful business. The Veteran’s Business Center was created to help US Military veterans start a new fresh start after leaving military service. The US Export Assistance Center was established to help small businesses with the difficult task of beginning new exports to other countries. This difficult process is tough but made much easier with the help of the SBA. The SBA is a free resource that can help you develop a new business plan and then make a move to start your business and set you up for success.Define the term â€Å"emotional intelligence (EI). †Ã‚   What are the key elements of EI? Why is so important to successful strategic leadership? Emotional Intelligence (EI) is the capacity to reason about emotions, and of emotions to enhance thinking. It includes the abilities to accurately perceive emotions, to access and generate emotions so as to assist thought, to understand emotions and emotional knowledge, and to reflectively regulate emotions so as to promote emotional and intellectual growth.The four key elements are: 1. Self Awareness 2. Self Management 3. Social Awareness 4. Relationship Management A good manager knows not only who he/she is, but also who each one of their employees is as well. Not just that they have a wife and 2 kids, but knows about what makes them who they are. The likes/dislikes, the personality, the past, and the future goals should be vitally important. This is key to making sure the work center is productive and free of hostility.While opinions will differ, too much dissention and strife can kill not only office camaraderie but production as well. Fosteri ng healthy work relationships can also ensure that office cohesiveness stays on track. While the consequences of unhealthy relationships can be very costly, developing good and healthy relationships with employees can pay off in the end. Knowing each employee on a personal basis can help you better know how to interact with each employee and get the most productivity in return.

A building management system – (BMS)

THE CHALLENGEThe university wanted to implement a cohesive edifice direction scheme, and derive greater control of a big figure of bequest systems on the campus, including warming, air-conditioning and airing ( HVAC ) , entree control, and fire dismay systems. They besides wanted to supervise and pull off H2O and energy ingestion. Many of the edifice systems did non associate back to estates for cardinal control. This made it hard to supervise, manage and command the systems, and hence present a consistent degree of service to staff and pupils. Remote entree to the control systems was merely as of import. The university wanted to be able to put clip agendas, alteration edifice temperature set points, see dismaies on failures, and look into issues remotely without holding to physically direct an applied scientist to site.What is a Building Management System and how does it work?The BMS is a â€Å" base entirely † computing machine system that can cipher the pre-set demands of t he edifice and command the affiliated works to run into those demands. Its inputs, such as temperature detectors and end products, such as on/off signals are connected into outposts around the edifice. Programs within these outposts use this information to make up one's mind the necessary degree of applied control. The outposts are linked together and information can be passed from one to another. In add-on a modem is besides connected to the system to let distant entree. The degree of control via the BMS is dependent upon the information received from its detectors and the manner in which its programmes tell it to react to that information. Equally good as offering a precise grade of control to its environment, it can be made to dismay on conditions that ca n't run into specification or warn of single points of works failure. Occupancy times for different countries are programmed into the Building Management System such that the works is brought on and off to run into the occupier demands. These times are frequently under optimal start control. This means that the warming works is enabled, at a varying preset clip, to guarantee that the het infinite is at the set desired temperature for the start of the twenty-four hours. The Building Management System hence, based on the outside air temperature the infinite temperature and the edifice construction, determines the works start clip.Why do we necessitate a Building Management System?All Buildings have some signifier of mechanical and electrical services in order to supply the installations necessary for keeping a comfy on the job environment. These services have to be controlled by some agencies to guarantee, for illustration, that there is equal hot H2O for sinks, that the hot H2O in the radiators is sufficient to maintain an occupied infinite warm, that heating with airing and perchance chilling is provided to guarantee comfort conditions wherever, irrespective of the figure of residents or single penchants. Basic controls take the signifier of manual shift, clip redstem storksbills or temperature switches that provide the on and off signals for enabling pumps, fans or valves etc. The intent of a Building Management System ( BMS ) is to automatize and take control of these operations in the most efficient manner possible for the occupiers/business, within the restraints of the installed works. In add-on to its control maps, a BEMS typically proctors and records a wealth of information associating to conditions within a edifice and the operation of the HVAC and other services. Increasingly its responsibilities besides include the logging of energy-meter readings, a tendency that is likely to go on as demand for sub-metering grows. On most systems, informations and scenes are accessed through PC-based graphical user interfaces ( supervisors ) . In their modern signifier these powerful devices allow the user to rapidly voyage to the information they want to see and see it in a signifier that is easy to understand. When the supervisor is enabled to work as a web waiter, its shows can be viewed from any Personal computer on an organisation ‘s IT web – or via the Internet – a standard web browser being all that is needed. Importantly, the informations and scenes available to a user can be precisely tailored to that individual ‘s demands. When A BMS supervisor is enabled to work as a web waiter, its shows can be viewed from any Personal computer utilizing merely a standard web browser. Andover Controls has supplied edifice control solutions to the University of Derby for over 10 old ages. Over the last five old ages, all of the university ‘s Andover systems have been upgraded to Infinity- enabling the Estates Department staff to supervise and command the environmental and security demands of the campuses from a figure of Personal computer based workstations. Installed within each of the chief installations, the cardinal instruction installation, larning resource Centre, cardinal catering installation and undergraduate and postgraduate adjustment edifices. Some of the steps which are critical to the edifices ‘ environmentally sustainable design and which are controlled by the Infinity system include:Assorted manner extremist L & A ; ouml ; w-pressure airing.Use of the edifice construction to supply airflow canals ( floor nothingnesss, corridors and stairwaies ) and air annealing ( aggregate concrete construction ) .Thermal wheels to supply the most efficient heat exchange and therefore retain heat and cool air within the edifices.Shade Louvres, leaning blinds and sunshades to cut down solar addition yet increase natural daytime.Improved natural visible radiation degrees to cut down the demand for artifical lighting.The usage Low energy visible radiations, activated by people presence ( PIR )Ninety per cent of concerns believe there would be a better consumption of edifice direction systems ( BMS ) if the engineering was more user-friendly and cost effectual, harmonizing to a study carried out by TAC Satchwell. The research showed that cost is turn outing a major barrier to many smaller concerns and administrations taking on constructing control engineering, while the engineering itself is perceived to be excessively specialized and unaccessible. TAC Satchwell ‘s study besides revealed that 20 per cent of concerns believed at that place was non adequate buy-in for edifice controls at a council chamber degree. Simon Ward from TAC Satchwell, said that this could alter following the publication of the Government-commissioned Stern Report, which claims that planetary heating could be the universe economic system $ 9trillion over the following 25 old ages. Ward believes the merchandise will let little and average sized concerns, every bit good as small-scale public sector building undertakings, to do the most of the long-run cost nest eggs that BMS can convey. He said: â€Å" Building controls have arguably ever been about economic systems of graduated table. It makes perfect sense to utilize BMS on larger undertakings, where the cost of put ining the engineering can be offset rapidly by significant energy nest eggs. The instance is less obvious when covering with smaller edifices. Smaller administrations have neither had the fiscal clout nor the specialized accomplishments to take edifice controls and installations direction earnestly. â€Å" When it comes to salvaging energy, it is besides critical to guarantee that any strategies have the full support of everyone in the administration. TAC Satchwell helped present energy nest eggs of 12 % and cost nest eggs of & A ; lb ; 55,000 in merely 18 months. The function of installations direction has grown quickly over the last 20 old ages from a mostly unrecognized country of concern in the 1980s into a multi billion lb industry. However, harmonizing to Richard Strode at BMS specializers TAC Satchwell, it is non merely the value of the industry that has changed. The duties held by installations directors are germinating excessively. â€Å" The range of work undertaken by today ‘s installations directors is unusually variable and some estimations put the industry ‘s value every bit high as & A ; lb ; 180 billion in the UK entirely ( CFM 2004 ) . Increasingly, installations directors are expected to transport the universe on their shoulders – they have become the new defenders of the environment. The Climate Change Levy, the EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, the EU Emissions Trading Scheme, Part L ordinances and Building Log Books are all guaranting that energy is progressively on the corporate docket. A installations director is now expected to carefully equilibrate the demands of employees for a safe and comfy environment and those of the employer to cut down energy costs and heighten the bottom line, with those of the Government to cut down C emanations. Alternatively, it needs to supply them with the tools necessary to hold a opportunity of run intoing their energy preservations marks. The most effectual manner of making this is through user-friendly engineerings such that can expeditiously and economically command, look into and analyze edifice operations to assist manage and understate energy use. Developments which enables secure entree to webs via a web browser, and the Andover Continuum Wireless Solution give installations directors the chance to salvage the planet remotely † . â€Å" This ability to entree a edifice ‘s information, around the clock from anyplace in the universe, makes fine-tuning that energy direction merely that small spot easier – particularly for directors of multiple sites † .