Preparing for Success Essay

Education is the basis of creating a life full of wealth and contentment. Obtaining a high school education can help one succeed in his or her future and give one the opportunities to pursue his or her aspirations. Unfortunately many students lack the education, resources and knowledge to enter adulthood after graduating high school. They are not sufficiently prepared to enter into the work force, succeed at a university, or have any understanding on how to be an ethical citizen. Students should be given the chance to develop a strong work ethic, be given the opportunity to explore different careers and college options, acquire skills that will help them in college and obtain an understanding of how their government works before graduating high school. A strong work ethic is obtained by developing a sense of independence and becoming dependable. Every year, if students’ reliance on teachers was decreased, they would be forced to rely on themselves to remember when coursework i s due. During my senior year at the high school I attended, El Molino High School in Forestville California, students in my English class were given a syllabus with an outline of the course and dates when homework was due. The teacher did not remind us when assignments were due, and we had to remember when work was due. In college, a student has to rely on himself or herself to take notes, remember when homework is due, and study on his or her own for exams. Therefore academic skills learned in high school should be similar to the skills required in a college classroom and those that people can use in their adult lives. Students graduating from high school should†¦be able to read with understanding classic literature and write well-organized and grammatically sound essays; they should know the basic outlines of American and European history, have a good beginner’s grasp of at least two natural sciences as well as pre-calculus mathematics (Gutting). Having these basic skills and learning to become self-sufficient would make the transition from high school to career less stressful for those who decide not to attend college. Being independent and learning to rely on oneself will help one become more  dependable, and in turn, a better employee. To strengthen a student’s work ethic, high schools should require students to rely more on themselves, which would help students become more independent. Students will not know what career they want to pursue once they graduate high school if they are never given the opportunity to investigate and experience different occupations. For students who have decided not to attend college, high school should be the institution where different careers can be explored. High schools should have the responsibility of helping students find internships or job shadowing opportunities specific to careers students are interested in. At El Molino High School a career based project, during our senior year, was given so students had the opportunity to research the occupation they are interested in. They were then required to find an internship or a volunteer opportunity related to the career topic they had selected. Students could then find out what they liked and didn’t like about the career through first-hand experience and have more insight into whether or not they wanted to pursue that career after graduation. For my project, I chose to volunteer at a convalescent center to gain experience in the nursing field. After the project was over, I knew nursing was the right career for me, and decided to pursue a degree in the health care industry. But if a career based learning project is not required, counselors should help students find internships, attend job fairs, and find classes that would be beneficial to the career a student wants to pursue. High school should be a place where students are given adequate preparation for the work world, whether they are attending college or not. In high school, many students have no idea which college they should attend. Counselors should take the time to discuss with each student his or her plans for after graduation. The counselor and the student should then construct a list of universities that have programs corresponding with the degree the student wants to pursue. At the end of my junior year at El Molino High School, I met with my counselor and we created a list of ten colleges that had respectable nursing programs. Making the list helped me to narrow down my search and choose a college, but many students at my high school did not take advantage of the opportunity to meet with their counselor because the information about meeting was not broadcasted well.  Meeting with a counselor when going through the college process is incredibly helpful. If more students made the effort to receive help from high school counselors and counselors made a better effort to reach out to all students when exploring college options, they would have an easier time choosing a university. High school should thoroughly prepare students who are planning to seek a higher education after graduation. Academic skills learned in high school should be similar to the skills required in a college classroom. Developing adequate study habits is key to success in college. Studying for a couple hours every day, whether or not there is homework, should be second nature to a student when he enters college. Attaining proper note taking skills in high school and figuring out a format that best helps one study is a critical aspect to receiving good test grades. Some students do not have a chance to learn how to take usable notes. At Analy High School, which is a high school near El Molino, students were never taught how to take usable notes which made it more difficult for them to study for tests due to poor organization of the notes they did take. I taught one my friends from Analy the note taking styles I had learned. After he mastered the different styles and started taking organized and usable notes his grades improved. A specific section in freshman English should teach students the different note taking styles. In my sophomore English class we were introduced to different not taking styles including the Cornell method, which I found was a very useful way to study for tests. Another element that should be incorporated into high school curriculum is different essay and paper formats. Many high schools only teach the MLA paper format, and do not cover APA, which is the format many college students are required to use for their papers. If core classes taught techniques that students could utilize in college, the transition between institutions would be less difficult. After graduating high school, students should have a general understanding of how their government works in order to become competent citizens. According to Theodore Sizer â€Å"knowledge of the government to the extent the child will be equipped to make informed choices among persons and issues that affect his own governance† (119), is one of the general elements of an efficient education system. To make decisions when voting that will benefit oneself, he or she needs to be informed on all the candidates and propositions. When I was in Advanced Placement  Government, my class spent a significant amount of the first semester researching candidates and understanding the propositions for the 2012 election. Though few people were eighteen and had the ability to vote, reviewing the information in the voting packet helped us understand how the voting process works, and how to read the propositions thoroughly so we when we did vote, we could understand exactly what we would be voting for. All high schools should offer a course that helps students understand the voting process and sufficient information about the American government should be provided to all students before they have the capability to vote. High schools should be able to sufficiently prepare students for their lives after graduation by giving them tools to develop a strong work ethic, explore colleges and careers, and understand how the government works. If students were given these opportunities for improvement in high school, the transition into an adult life would be easier. Works Cited Gutting, Gary. â€Å"What Is College For? (Part 2).† The New York Times: The Opinion Pages. 11 Jan. 2012. 17 Nov. 2013. Sizer, Theodore. â€Å"What High School Is.† Reading Culture. White Plains, NY: Longman, 2011. 119.

Marketing planning Essay

Main characteristics of marketing oriented organisation The marketing is a management and customer satisfaction strategy which is focused on the customer satisfaction and it is also involved in various  functions like advertisement, promotion, selling products and services of the business, product planning, and product development, market research and market analysis. According to Keller, (2009) Marketing can be described as the marketing can be described as the management process which is responsible for identification, anticipation and satisfaction of customers of the organization for developing improved profitability of the business. According to the Philip (2009) the marketing can be described as the process of managing profitable customer relationship through retaining retain existing customers of the organization and attracting new customers through developing value for the customers and satisfying their needs through developing products and services needed by them. Types of organizations: According to marketing point of view there are two types of the organizations, market oriented and product oriented organizations (B&C, 2010). Product Oriented organizations: The focus of the product oriented organisations is on the development of product and selling these products through the different approaches of marketing. Characteristics of marketing oriented organisation: the market oriented companies are focused towards the satisfaction of needs and demands of the customers through analysing customer needs and then developing products and services to satisfy these needs. The customer needs are identified by these organizations and then the resources are allocated to meet these needs (Mangold, Faulds, 2009). The market oriented companies have four main features or characteristics which are given below, Shared Values: the customers are always kept as priority by these types of the organizations and the value is shared with customers by providing them quality products and services. Organizational Structure: the flat type of organizational structure is developed and preferred by these companies as compared to the traditional business structures. The clear vision is developed and communicated by these organizations for motivation of stakeholders including customers. Strategy: the overall business strategy forms the basis of the marketing strategies and planning of the market oriented companies. The basic goal of the market strategies is to achieve the overall business goals and objectives of the organization. The more flexible strategies are developed by these organizations to respond to changing business environment (Mangold, Faulds, 2009). Stakeholders: The  ideas and values are exchanged by the organization with different stakeholders of the organization to develop relationship with the business. From the analysis given it can be concluded that Ikea is a market oriented company as it has incorporated the core characteristics of the market oriented companies (Menon, 2008). Explain the various elements of the marketing concept with reference to the Ikea’s marketing activities. The Ikea has implemented various elements and the concepts which can be analysed as 5 Cs and 4 Ps of the marketing and they are given as below, 5 Cs of Marketing Company: the company described as the vision, mission, purpose and core values of the company which motivates stakeholders of the business (Menon, 2008). Customer: the customers are segmented into profitable components of the business. Collaborators: These are the stakeholders of the company who include investors, employees, customers, competitors, community and Government. Competitors: This includes analysis of the core competitors of the business, their market position, strengths and weaknesses. Context: Context refers to the analysis of the present and future prospects of the organization in the long turn and this is analysed through the internal and external business environment of the organization. 4Ps of marketing are: The four Ps of the marketing are essential and basic element for the development of effective marketing strategies of the business and these can be described as below, Product: the product is the development of the product or services based on the customer needs developed to satisfy needs of the customers (Menon, 2008). Promotion: this include determination of how the product will be marketed and promoted to attain greater market share and growth, through different promotional techniques like TV ads, online marketing or sales promotion (Newman, 2002). Price: One of the important elements of the marketing is the determination of price on which the product will be offered to customers. Place: The place is the identification and planning how the product will be placed in the market, through physical stores or the other elements. Identify and critically assess the benefits and costs of marketing approach for Ikea. The marketing approach adopted by the Ikea has different benefits for the business. Ikea has successfully  developed business of the organization in UK and Europe and segmented the business of the organization to the office and home furniture users. The business has developed the marketing strategies to develop and promote business products of the organization for satisfying customer needs through delivering quality products to the customers. The business has developed strategies for effective customer care as a part of the marketing strategies which is the part of benefits of marketing approach. The long term relations with the customers are developed by the business through effective customer relationship and developing trust in products of the organization. the costs of the ineffective marketing can lead to the failure of the product being offered or less effective response from the customers (Newman, 2002). Task 1.2 A) Identify and explain macro and micro environmental factors which influence marketing decisions of Ikea The business strategies of Ikea are affected by the various internal and external factors of the organization. These factors can be described as the macro-environmental factors and micro-environmental factors. The micro environmental factors of the Ikea are described as below, Micro-environmental Factors: these factors include various factors which have direct impact on the business strategies of the Ikea and it also impact on the business planning and strategies. The Micro factors impacting the Ikea are given below, Customers: the survival of the Ikea is based on the identification and meeting needs, wants and providing the benefits of their customers. the failure to meet the needs of the customers can lead to the failure of the business as the satisfied customers are most important for the business (Newman, 2002). Employees: the employees are considered as the most important assets of the business and the satisfaction and development of effective workforce of the business is the most important element for the successful business. Suppliers: the increase in the prices of raw material and change in the quality of the raw material has direct impact on the marketing mix of the business. The good relationship with the suppliers helps business to develop effective quality of the products offered by Ikea. Shareholders: the expectations and relationship of stakeholders of the business has positive and negative impacts on the strategies of the business. Media: the innovations and changes in the media can be analysed  and the successful adoption of these changes and innovations can positively impact the organizational communication and marketing strategies. Competitors: the name of the game in marketing is differentiation. The business can be successful through developing competitive advantage as compared to its competitors through developing core competencies of the business. Macro-environmental Factors: The macro environmental factors are which are beyond the control of the Ikea and these can be opportunities of threats to the business strategies of Ikea. There are following macro-environmental factors effecting marketing and business strategies of the Ikea and these can be analysed through PESTEL analysis: Political factors: the political factors include the rules and regulations of the UK government, which can be minimum wage, or the interest rate regulations. Economic factors: Economic factors include the inflation rates, or the interest rates which can impact the consumption parents of the customers effecting sales of the organization. Social: the UK is highly diversified with the multilingual and multinational people from all over the world. The trends in the social preferences of the customers can impact the business strategies of Ikea. Technology: there are various technological implementations in the market and these are more frequent in the UK market. B) With your understanding of the topic on Segmentation, propose segmentation criteria that the organisation can use for two products in different markets. The market segmentation is one of the basic elements for the development of the products of the business in the market and the segmentation refer to the identification of the customers with the similar needs and preferences based on the analysis of the customer needs and buying behaviours. The aim of the segmentation is to develop the groups with the same needs and buying behaviours. For example the sofa set for the home users and the business users will be demanded with different needs for the same product for the different market segments. The needs of the home users will be different as compared to the business users and this will also impact the buying behaviours if the customers as well. C) Sketch out those factors that influence the choice of targeting strategy by the organisation with reference to the financial capability of sponsors Targeting strategy: The targeting strategy is based on the analysis of the target groups based on the market segmentation and then the process and approaches of targeting potential customer segments is developed by the organization to develop market share of the product to be launched by business. The targeting strategy of the Ikea involve various steps which include the development and identification of the effective segment market, choosing appropriate segment for the product and then analysing the product to be offered in a particular market segment. The Ikea has developed the target marketing strategy for developing and offering various products for the different segments instead of the generic marketing. Importance of financial capability of Sponsor: One of the important factors affecting the business is the financial capability of the sponsor. The finances are the lifeblood of the business and for all business and marketing strategies the financial resources are considered as the important element to remain competitive in the business. for the success of the business good target market strategy and the financial sponsor ship is essential as these play as the backbone of the business to be more competitive in dynamic changing business environment. D) How does buyers behaviour affects marketing activities in two different buying situations putting into consideration The behaviour of the customers towards the product refer to the process of selecting, purchasing and consuming the product by the customers to attain satisfaction. And analysis of these abhors is essential for the business to develop effective strategies and products. There are various factors affecting the buying behaviours of the customers and these can be explained as given below, Cultural factors: the most important elements of the customer buying behaviour is the cultural factors as the buying behaviour of the customers is highly effected by the culture of the customers. For example the McDonald was failed in India when they introduced beef burger and the organization faced huge losses. Social Factors: the social factors contain the reference groups like the role, status and family. Personal factors: the personal factors include the analysis of the age, occupation, income levels, life styles and the economic status of the customers. Psychological factor: these are also very important factors affecting the buying behaviours of the customers. These factors affect the buying behaviours of the customers of  the Ikea in different ways which can be in favour of the business and these can go against the organization. the increased income and life standard of the customers may lead to increased sales level of the products of the organization same the families will be buying more products of the business as compared to the single. Task 1.3: A) Describe how products are developed By Ikea There are different steps are involved in the product development strategy of the Ikea for the product development in the market to attain sustainable growth in the business. There are following steps performed by Ikea for the effective product development by the organization, Idea generation: the product development strategy if Ikea starts with the idea generation in which the idea regarding the new product is developed and shared, these ideas can be internal or the external. The internal ideas are the innovation by the organization while the external ideas can include the development of product as a result of competitor’s idea. Idea screening: the next step is idea screening which includes the analysis of the market acceptability, impact on satisfaction of the customers, analysis of the demand of the customers and then the approval of the idea based on the rate of success of the given idea. Concept development and Testing: after approval of the idea in screening the next step is to execute the idea into concept and the feasibility of product development is identified in this section, which through the analysis of the skills, abilities and sources required developing the required product. Concept development and Testing: the next step is the execution of the idea into product and then the features and quality of the product is tested and analysed. The target markets and customers are identified for the given product. Marketing: after development of the product the next important step is to communicate the product in market through using different marketing strategies and marketing tools and techniques. This is analysed through the test marketing. Commercialization: the final step is the commercialization of the developed product to attain sustainable growth and success for the Ikea. B) Distribution Management: The distribution management refer to the process involved from the attaining raw material to the selling and delivering product to customers. The distribution includes the packaging, inventory, supply chain and logistics. The distribution strategies involve how the product will be developed and distributed to the end users in a more efficient way. There are two mediums used by the organizations for the distribution of the products and services of the organization to the final consumer, which include wholesaler and retailers. The Ikea is distributing its products by using wholesale medium of distribution. Wholesale market involves the selling goods and services of the organization direct to the buyers and for this purpose the Ikea has developed its stores in UK and Europe. This leads to the development and distribution of the product at flexible and low price. C) How are prices set to reflect an organisation’s objectives and marketing conditions? The pricing strategies include the identification of the pricing objectives, and then development of the pricing strategies based on these objectives, there are various pricing objectives of Ikea for determination of the price of products to be offered in the market, Financial Objectives; The financial objectives include, Profit maximization Maximizing sales revenue Improving cash flows of the business Marketing Objectives: Increasing sales Maintaining and growing market share Building brand D) Show an illustration of how the organisation (Ikea) integrates its promotional activities to achieve its marketing objectives. In recent years, many newspapers and television channels lost their audience, since traditional print and broadcast media as main promotional tools have faced major challenges (Gurevich et al., 2009). Research by Forrester Jennings conducted in 2007 shows that audiences and attention are shifting to online channels, as 52% of Europeans are regularly online at home. Around 36% of European Internet users watch less television, 28% have reduced their newspaper and magazine reading and 17% have decreased listening to the radio since going online (Palmer and Koenig-Lewis, 2009). Taking into  consideration the above facts, we can say that the information revolution (Internet, mobile and social media) is significantly changing traditional marketing campaigns, which can be adjusted to those new technologies. The significance of social media is shown by a recent study which was pointed out that an overwhelming 88% majority of marketers are now using some form of social media to market their business1. The same study, which set out to understand how and why marketers are using social media to grow and to promote their businesses, found that Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and blogs are the top four social media tools used by marketers1. Palmer and Koenig-Lewis (2009) define social media as an â€Å"online applications, platforms, and media which aim to facilitate interactions, collaborations and the sharing of content† (p.165). They further point out that the importance of social network media lays in the interaction between the consumers and the community, as well as in the facilitation of â€Å"asynchronous, immediate, interactive, low-cost communications† (Ibid.). One of the major examples of social media usage by companies is Victoria’s Secret’s Facebook page with its more than two million followers. On this page, followers can view videos, photos, take quizzes and print coupons2. In politics, the most significant example of social media use is the United States‟ presidential election in 2008. The Barack Obama campaign used such online promotional tools as Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and others3. For the past two years, Facebook has overwhelmingly been pro-Obama virtual territory. Some have attributed Obama’s victory to a â€Å"Facebook effect†3. The Ikea has used the social media strategy for the integration of the marketing strategies with the product orientation and the promotional strategies of the business. Task 2: A) Attempt a suggestion of marketing mixes for two dissimilar segments in consumer markets. For the specialised market entry the company offering products in the consumer markets should develop and focus on the market segmentation and it should develop market segment. The marketing mix is developed by the business after the market segments for the development of the effective market share of the business. For example, a new brand in soft drink â€Å"Nix Cola† can be launched in specific consumer market like 99p or pound land as a established retailer. Once it gets success then it can be launch in different segments and restaurant and coffee shop. It would benefit the organisation from huge marketing costs and  will enhance its brand penetration in the market. C) Critically explain how and why international marketing differs from domestic marketing with reference to Ikea International marketing involves the satisfying the needs and demands of the global customers. Organisations should consider the values, customs, languages and currencies before doing the international marketing. For example advertising in Nepal and China should use in local languages. The potential market size, degree and type of competition, price, promotional differences, product differences as well as barriers to trade have to be analysed alongside the cost-effectiveness of various types of transport. But for the domestic marketing; organisation should consider for the local factors and local needs and demands of the buyer. So, in the case of Ikea as well company should consider the domestic and international marketing factors. People from all across the globe are keeping eyes on London so it should position its marketing strategy for international market and domestic market separately. References: B&C (2010), What’s This Stuff Called â€Å"Social Media†?‟ Benefits & Compensation Digest March 2010, Vol. 47 Issue 3, pp.1550-4190. Boyd, D.M., Ellison, N.B. (2007), Social Network Sites: Definition, History, and Scholarship. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, article 11 Bowler, Shaun David M. Farrell & Richard S. Katz (eds.). 1999. Party Discipline and Parliamentary Government. Columbus, OH: Ohio State University Press. Carabiner Communications (2009), „Social Media: How B2B Companies Can Connect‟ Available from http://www.carabinerpr.com/socialmedia/. Chaffey, D., Ellis-Chadwick, F., Johnston, K., Mayer, R. (2006), Internet Marketing, Prentice Hall: United Kingdom. Gurevitch, M., Coleman S., and Blumler J.G. (2009), Political Communication Old and New Media Relationships. The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science; 625; p.164 Kotler, P (1975), Overview of political candidate marketing. Advances in Consumer Research, vol. 12 Kotler, P and Armstrong, G (2008), Principles of Marketing. Pearson Education Limited Learmonth, M (2009), Social Media Paves Way to White House. Advertising Age, Vol. 80, Issue 11 Mangold, G.W., Faulds, D.J (2009), Social media: The new hybrid element of the promotion  mix. Business Horizons, Kelley School of Business, Indiana University. (2009), p. 357-365. Menon, S.V (2008), Political Marketing: A Conceptual framework. ICFAI Business School, Ahmedabad. Mintzberg, H, Ahlstrand, B and Lampel, J (1998), Strategy Safari: A Guided Tour Through the Wilds of Strategic Management. The Free Press, New York, 1998. Newman, B.I. (2002), The role of marketing in politics. Journal of Political Marketing, Vol. 1, pp.1-5. Olausson, M (2007), The People’s Revolution: Implications of Web 2.0 and Social Media Applications. Strategy Analysis. Strategy Analysis LTD. Osuagwu, L (2008), Political marketing: conceptualisation, dimensions and research agenda. Marketing Intelligence & Planning, Vol. 26, No. 7, pp.793-810. Palmer, A and Koenig-Lewis, N (2009), An experiential, social network-based approach to direct marketing. International Journal of Direct Marketing.Vol. 3, No. 3, pp.162-176. Rowley, J (1998), Promotion and marketing communications in the information marketplace. MCB University Press. Saunders, M., Lewis, P., Thornhill, A. (2007), Research Methods for Business Students. Harlow: Pearson Education Limited. Solomon, M. (2009), Consumer Behaviour: Buying, Having, and Being. 8th Edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson. Stelzner, M.A. (2009), Social Media Marketing Industry Report. Michael A. Stelzner. Tozian, G (2009), Mastering Social Media Marketing: Its 6 categories and 10 benefits. Overland Agency, Inc 2009. Trebnick, C (2008), Social Media Market Dynamics and Impact on Communications Infrastructure. America’s Growth Capital. Weber, L (2009), Marketing to the Social Web: How Digital Customer Communities Build Your Business. Wiley inc. Yin, R.K. (1994), Case Study Research, Design and Methods, Thousand Oaks. Sage Publications, Inc. Yin, R.K. (2003), Case Study Research, Design and Methods. Third Edition. SagePublications, Inc. Zarela, D (2010), The Social Media Marketing Book. O‟Reilly Media, Inc. Zhang, W., Johnson J., Seltzer, T., Bichard, S. (2010), The Revolution Will be Networked: The Influence of Social Networking Sites on Political Attitudes and Behavior Social Science. Computer Review 2010, originally published online June 12, 2009.

A Brief Analysis Of A Streetcar Named Desire

A Brief Analysis Of A Streetcar Named Desire A Streetcar Named Desire, by Tennessee Williams, is an American drama play written in 1947. The play is widely considered an American classic and revolves around a cultural clash between the main characters. One of the more tragic figures is Blanche DuBois, as she is a character who feels confused, lost, conflicted, and lashes out sexually. Blanche represents the â€Å"old† South because of her way of thinking, values, and lifestyle. Contrary to Blanche, Stanley Kowalski is a main character that is portrayed as being dominant, aggressive, and sexual. Stanley represents the â€Å"new† South because of his dominance and control over Stella. Both these characters embody values which portray William’s message of the â€Å"old† versus â€Å"new† South. Tennessee Williams attempts to show through Stanley’s character that American is changing into a more aggressive, direct, and raw society. Stanley is a very dominant and somewhat arrogant character , who usually gets what he desires, such as when he rapes Blanche. Another clear example of Stanley’s dominance is the Napoleonic code, â€Å"we have the Napoleonic code according to which what belongs to the wife belongs to the husband† (35). His controlling and sexual character is evident throughout the play, including in the end in which he makes love with Stella after Blanche is taken to the hospital. Sexuality is also a theme throughout the play, as Williams is a homosexual and attempts to demonstrate homosexuality in a positive light through Stanley’s superficial and egoistical actions. An evident example is when Blanche wanted Stella to come with her and says that Stella is almost everything that she has in this world. However, Stanley sees Blanche taking Stella away and refuses to let Stella go, acting as if an animal that is protecting his territory. An example is when Stanley establishes power over Blanche through his marriage, as they are both fightin g for Stella, â€Å"Stella has embraced him with both arms, fiercely, and full in the view of Blanche. He laughs and clasps her head to him. Over her head he grins through the curtains at Blanche† (73). Stanley remains hostile towards Blanche throughout the play because of this incident, and meanwhile Blanche is having a difficult time adapting to the â€Å"new† South. Stella is unlike Blanche in the sense that she has learned to accept and adapt to the â€Å"new† South, however Blanche is still trying to cope with the loss of her husband. She could not overcome losing her husband, as he was a large part of her life and she was becoming mentally ill and delusional from the loss, â€Å"you know what I shall die of? I shall die of eating an unwashed grape one day out on the ocean† (136). An example is how she is consistently bathing to feel like a â€Å"new person†. She attempts to wash off the dirt which resonates from the past and tries to clear he r mind with frequent showers. Blanche also resorts to alcohol to alleviate her problems; however she has to hide it, as she realizes that it will hurt her reputation, â€Å"She rushes about frantically, hiding the bottle in a closet† (113). All this begins with the death of her husband.

Religion in colonial America Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Religion in colonial America - Essay Example Women were also actively involved in the caring of sick during the epidemic of small pox. Special assembly prayers were held for sick as at one time almost 100 people felt sick every day. This was considered as four times more lethal than the plague, though the city had faced the wrath of fire also. Women along with men however, actively engaged themselves into removing the ruins as well as re-building of the city. (National humanities Center, 2013).  Ã‚  While life before revolutionary war was based upon living a typical life where woman was required to focus on the household work, the life during the war was a bit difficult. Those whose husbands had gone to war were made responsible for taking care of their families, while at the same time doing tasks which were mainly male-oriented. Apart from working and caring of the children and elderly, women were active in playing their part n society.  It is critical to note however, that women, especially in Boston were subjected to law s which prevented inter-racial marriages. Black women were especially not allowed to marry with the white males and vice versa. These laws actually restricted the freedom and movement of women in choosing their own relationships. This also prevented a widow like me to actually look for re-marriage and enter the new relationships based upon mutual understanding and respect for others.  Those who were single or widowed like me tended to perform duties in war besides working as spies. Women who were young.... Women were also actively involved in the caring of sick during the epidemic of small pox. Special assembly prayers were held for sick as at one time almost 100 people felt sick every day. This was considered as four times more lethal than the plague, though the city had faced the wrath of fire also. Women along with men however, actively engaged themselves into removing the ruins as well as re-building of the city. (National humanities Center, 2013). While life before revolutionary war was based upon living a typical life where woman was required to focus on the household work, the life during the war was a bit difficult. Those whose husbands had gone to war were made responsible for taking care of their families, while at the same time doing tasks which were mainly male-oriented. Apart from working and caring of the children and elderly, women were active in playing their part n society. It is critical to note however, that women, especially in Boston were subjected to laws which pr evented inter-racial marriages. Black women were especially not allowed to marry with the white males and vice versa. These laws actually restricted the freedom and movement of women in choosing their own relationships. This also prevented a widow like me to actually look for re-marriage and enter the new relationships based upon mutual understanding and respect for others. Those who were single or widowed like me tended to perform duties in war besides working as spies. Women who were young and physically fit were encouraged to take part in the revolution and contribute towards making things happen. The era before revolution actually helped Boston women to have an improved political understanding of the events and how they could contribute

Response Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 28

Response - Essay Example They were trained to embrace death without fear or panic. To ensure they faced their dreadful challenges, as society’s militants, they were prepared psychologically to be ready for death by accepting to die when presented with a dilemmatic situation of choosing either life or death. The philosophy that deemed essence of Bushido undoubtedly helped to instill gallantry amongst the Samurai warriors. It was like they were fighting a battle they had nothing to lose. Their only mission was to take down as many enemies as possible. This religion/ philosophy influenced the psych of the warriors making them protect Japan from its foes. However, this philosophical concept is distinctly dissimilar from that Judeo-Christian view of death. In Judeo-Christian, people are alive until they physically die. The unrelenting wars that were seen in Japan during the mid-20th Century can be attributed to these cultural teachings that the fighters had. The Japanese World War II was battled by the philosophical conceptions that significantly motivated the warriors to engage in an unrelenting battle. As a matter of fact, the challenge Japan gave America and other nations during the World War was as a result of its deep culture that had saliently spelt out ‘dos’ and ‘don’ts’. As Benedict recounts, it was virtually difficult to understand the real nature of the Japanese culture. It is like the Japanese had a ‘bipolar’ culture that constituted all the extreme features. Its inimitability and unpredictability would confound every rival that sought to challenge Japan. No one knew what to include in the propaganda meant to demoralize the Japanese soldiers. Japan was a mystery. They were invincible; they were a real puzzle to the international community. The secret to Japan’s tenacity was on their deep cultural philosophy known as ‘Essence of Bushido’. The Japanese soldiers’ mental status

The influence of birth order on personality Essay

The influence of birth order on personality - Essay Example The theory of Adler would not be applicable for those families that have more than 3 children as there is nothing stated for middle children (Carducci, 156-60). Independence is the main characteristic of the first-born children. Even if they were given the full attention of both parents upon birth, this will change once the second child is born. The attention that would be given by the parents would be divided between the 2 children. Much burden however can be felt by second born children as they are always in the shadow of the first born. There are signs of inferiority that were observed with second born children (Carducci, 156-60; Adler & Mairet, 96-110). Being the youngest child has its positive and negative influences in its personality. Positive effects would be that the youngest child would feel more pampering as there are more people that surround them. The presence of the parents and the older siblings would create a blanket of comfort for the youngest child. This factor could also have negative effect on the child’s personality. Being the youngest in the family, there are quite a number of fulfillments that they need to overcome and to outshine the older siblings to prove his or her capabilities. Most of the times this creates the sense of discouragement in a child and be carried through once the person steps to adulthood (Carducci, 156-60). There are families however that only has 1 child in the family. The only child theory states that these children do have the tendency to be pampered more and be accustomed of being the center of attention. Once this comfort and attention is not given to the child, there is a tendency of becoming more timid, passive and withdrawn. This is the total opposite of being the first born in a family with more than 1 child. The first born children are independent while the only child, though also a first born, is more withdrawn and dependent type of personality (Carducci, 156-60). These theories may be used in trying

New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) or on the NASDAQ Analysis Essay

New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) or on the NASDAQ Analysis - Essay Example Ford Motor also has magnificent dividend coverage. At the current state, Ford Motor is trading at some 4% dividend yield with some potential if Ford Motor will continue with its expansion. Ford Motor is on a recovery plan hence a reason to watch it. NYSE stock is risky for investments. Investing in such market is tricky and need more strength and resilience that many stock beginners lack. Taking stock investments with Ford Motor, for example, is risky because the automotive industry is cyclical and any time the vehicle business can fall hence affecting the investment. However, investors should always consider the tomorrow of a company before making investments. The future of Ford Motor is bright for example with the new model F-150 model holding a lot of potential in North America market. Ford Motor is the fifth largest world automobile manufacturer. The size is measured in volume of production with Ford making more sales in Ford’s European operations. Ford’s automotive is highly regarded in quality compared to its competitors. Ford size has been affected recently in the past where it had to reduce the production volume in U.S due to high production costs incurred in increased wages. The company is growing and it has the potential for the future. Growth is evident in the companies’ plans and implementation, which is slowly taking into track. One of the best strategies used by Ford Motor was the Global Product Development System, which is a tool for sharing designs globally. The strategy has been helping in developing vehicles fit for the different class of customers in the whole world. In the last quarter in 2014, Ford Motor achieved pre-tax profit of 6.3 billion dollars and net income of 3.2 billion dollars. Outlook for the pre-tax profit in this 2015 is 8.5 billion dollars to 9.5 billion dollars. The fourth quarter earnings were 26% past the 23% expectations per share by analysts. The price or earnings in stock are currently at 20.8% Ford

Economic development in bahrain Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Economic development in bahrain - Essay Example Her population is 1.05 million with birth rate of 18 per 1000, death rate 4 per 1000, life expectancy is 74.7 years, birth rate is 2.6 children per woman, and literacy rate is 86.5 percent. It is mainly a Islamic country with 81.2 percent Muslims with ethnic groups like 62.4 percent Bahraini, 37.6 percent non-Bahraini, 9 percent Christian and 9.8 percent others (Bahrain, n.d.) Bahrain also known as al-Ihsa (Arabic) is a coastal town bounded by the Pursian Gulf on the east with Iraq above and Oman below is famous for its pearls (Nadwi, 1936, p.24). The history of this Arabian country finds it roots back in 2300 B.C. The land of Bahrain was the hub of ancient civilization of Dilmun, a pronominal trading center at that time connecting the civilization of Sumeria in Mesopotamia with the Indus Valley in India. After the degeneration of the civilization of Dilmun in 600 B.C., the most phenomenal incident which took place there was the overtaking of Bahrainian rule by the Carmathians (half-muslim, half -Magians) during the Muslim age and they established this place as their central political arena. The Carmathians were dethroned by the Sunni rulers in 976 and developed a powerful Muslim rule there. The pearl treasure of Bahrain became an immense attraction for the foreign invaders and plunderers as a consequence of which many foreign rulers ruled this place for a significant time period like during the 13th and 14th century the Mongols ruled there who were dethroned from their powers by Portuguese invasion in 1521 who ruled for about a century and then taken over by Bahranian rule which was followed by Omanian rule for some time then for a certain period of time the Persians ruled who were defeated by Al Khalifa clan invasion in 1783. Although the Al Khalifans were removed by the sultanate of Oman for some time they regained power in 1811. On the other hand the colonial expansion of Great Britain imparted its focus toward

The Amazing Spiderman 2 Movie Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

The Amazing Spiderman 2 - Movie Review Example The script has an overstuffed plot that has too many antiheroes. The movie could have been better if it had a cleaner script and fewer anti-heroes, coupled with thoughtful editing. For a teenager, this overstuffed plot and storyline work, but an acute audience consider it as a sensory burden. In the end, the middle of sub plots obscures the main character since he does not have sufficient screen time. The ludicrous humor does not work well with the performance. The villains, an inane anti-hero christened Electro, the Green Goblin and the machine like Rhino, present below par. Harry fights Spiderman without a manual or any directions on the operation of the machine he finds himself driving. Both characters fail to create the necessary dramatic tension that is a characteristic of superpower movies.Some of the special and visual effects are too complex, while some are considerably cartoony and ingenious. Deplorably, this makes the film wearisome and overlong. The movie is far from amazi ng considering it's exhausting experience and insufficiency in storytelling etiquette. The director damages the action fundamentals through the superpowers of the several villains. Considering it is a series, The Amazing Spiderman 2 provides an unsatisfactory backward step. It appears as if the movie is building on a future movie, rather than concentrating on the present edition. The last 10 minutes are perceptible a trailer for The Amazing Spiderman 3. It repeats mistakes loathed in the previous sequels involving the Spiderman.

Arthurian and Grail Poetry Essay Example for Free

Arthurian and Grail Poetry Essay In 1871, Swinburne produced a new collection of poems which he entitled â€Å"Songs Before Sunrise†, which echoed a whole generation’s sentiments about Italy’s struggle for freedom. The poet’s stellar piece, â€Å"Hertha†, was yet another offering to the pagan altar upon which he worshipped. Hertha, the goddess of fertility, is written as the speaker of a dramatic monologue that aims to declare her superiority and immortality over the Christian God, a tactic Swinburne used to get the attention of the Victorian audience. He emphasizes, through Hertha, the significance and importance of Mother Nature over God, and provides line after line of physical representations of a â€Å"mother† that gives life and nourishment to her offspring, compared to a God who, in Swinburne’s logic, false and provisional. Also, by centering on the â€Å"body† of Hertha, Swinburne stays true to his established tradition of sensuality and passion. He ends the poem with Hertha saying â€Å"I am man†Ã¢â‚¬â€completing the ultimate pagan principle of man’s harmony and unity with nature. Swinburne’s most celebrated work, among his legendary pieces, is 1882’s â€Å"Tristram of Lyonesse†. A veritable triumph in the technical sense, the poem was skillfully written to feature long romantic couplets punctuated with a brilliant arrangement of vowel sounds, rhythm, and alliteration. Swinburne exposes his concept of passion masterfully in this tale of lovers who care for nothing else but their love, and would go to any length to keep the fire burning. Often referred to as Swinburne’s ode to the English dramatists, â€Å"Tristram† is, to this day, the most exemplary rendition of the English couplet. IV. Other Literary Accomplishments As much as Swinburne was known as an exceptional poet was his reputation as an excellent critic. From 1868, he managed to produce a number of volumes of literary criticism, with the best contained in Miscellanies and Essays and Studies. In this series, the genius and poetics of Swinburne are satisfyingly revealed and explored. He also published A Study of Shakespeare, in which he expressed his own great technical competencies and proficiencies in the areas of music and rhythm in poetry, by praising the iconic master of story, song, and technical excellence. It is quite apparent that Swinburne had intentionally limited his paganistic and atheistic principles to his poetry—the literary criticism that bears his name almost always stays firmly on the positive side, with nary a mention of technical or thematic shortcomings of the authors he discusses. With Swinburne’s passing in 1909, the Victorian society of England lost one of its greatest masters in lyric poetry, whose genius and brilliance were quite overflowing that he found it necessary to go against the tide, and stand by the least accepted constructs of society. V. Conclusion The question regarding Swinburne’s religious influences in his poetry has been clearly answered, and has validated the original logic proposed. There are indeed references to Christianity and traditional beliefs in almost all his poetry, which he strategically decided to use to disprove many of the paradigms established by the Church. With his declared propensity to explore the ideals of physical pain and pleasure, sexual passion, and excessive living, through a great deal of wit, sarcasm, and morbidity, the reading audience is left shocked and astonished way beyond their accepted levels. However, it takes one as talented as Swinburne to effectively realize the relationship between two opposing poles—Christianity and immorality—and use the commonalities to create an ideology that is all at once controversial and unacceptable, but also incredible and brilliant. Bibliography Apiryon, T. ‘Algernon Charles Swinburne’, The Hermetic Library, 1995, retrieved 12 July 2008 from http://www. hermetic. com/sabazius/swinburne. htm Bartleby, ‘The Rossettis, William Morries, Swinburne, and Others’. Bartleby. com, retrieved on 12 July 2008 from http://www. bartleby. com/223/0508. html Cymru, Gordd. ‘Arthurian and Grail Poetry’, Celtic Twilight, 2000, retireved 12 July 2008 from http://celtic-twilight. com/camelot/poetry/swinburne/index. htm Representative Poetry Online, ‘Selected Poetry of Algernon Charles Swinburne (1837- 1909), retrieved on 12 July 2008 from http://rpo. library. utoronto. ca/poet/319. html Sawhney, Paramvir, ‘Gestalt Paganism in AC Swinburne’s Hertha’ The Victorian Web, 2006, retrieved on 12 July 2008 from http://victorianweb. org/authors/swinburne/sawhney9. html Thomas, Edward, ‘A Modern Bacchant’, The New York Times, 29 December 1912.

Tasks on Management Skills

Tasks on Management Skills Task 1 Identify and evaluate the importance of the personal and professional skills, outlined above, for a successful manager, which enable the manager to meet organizational and own goals (1.1a) The changing role of management: Mary Parker the mother of modern management ,defined management as the art of getting things done through people . At one time, that meant that managers were called bosses, and their job was to tell people what to do and watch over them to be sure they did it . bosses tended to reprimand those who didnt do things correctly and generally acted stern and bossy. Many managers still behave that way. Perhaps you have witnessed such managers yelling at employees at fast-food restaurants or shop floors. Today management is changing from that kind of behavior. Managers are being educated to guide, train, support, motivate, and coach employees rather than to boss them around. Modern managers in progressive companies emphasize teamwork and cooperation rather than discipline and order giving. Managers in some high-tech and progressive firms of all kinds dress more casually, are more friendly, and generally treat employees as partners rather than unruly workers. In general, therefore, management is experiencing a revolution. Managers in the future are much more likely to be working in teams, thisll appraise them below them as well as those above, and theyll be assuming completely new roles in the firm. The following table summarizes the managers different roles. Planning Setting organizational goals Developing strategies to reach those goals . Determining resources needed. Setting standards. Directing Leading, guiding, and motivating employees to work effectively to accomplish organizational goals and objectives. Giving assignments Explaining routines Clarifying policies Providing feedback on performance. Organizing: Allocating resources, assigning tasks, and establishing procedures for accomplishing goals. Preparing a structure (organization chart) showing lines of authority and responsibility. Recruiting, selecting, training, and developing employees.. Placing employees where theyll be most effective. Controlling Measuring results against corporate objectives. Monitoring performance relative to standards. Taking corrective action. Some modern managers perform all of these tasks with the full cooperation and participation of workers. Empowering employees means allowing them to participate more fully in decision making. Tasks and skills at different levels of management: Anyone who has ever played a sport such as basketball, football, or soccer knows theres a tremendous difference between being an excellent player and excellent coach (manager). Often a good player will volunteer to coach the neighborhood team and be disaster as a manager. The same thing happens in business. Few people are trained to be managers. Rather, the process of becoming a manger is similar to the sports example. A person learns how to be a skilled accountant or salesperson or production line worker, and then- because of his or her skill- is selected to be a manger. The tendency is for such managers to become deeply involved in showing others how to do things, helping them, supervising them, and generally being very active in the operating task. The further up the managerial ladder a person moves, the less such skills are required. Instead, the need is for people who are visionaries, good planners, organizers, coordinators, communicators, morale builders, and motivators. Managers must have three skills: Technical skills: involve the ability to perform tasks of a specific department such as selling (marketing) or bookkeeping. Human relation skills: include leadership, motivation, coaching, communication, morale building, training and development, help and supportiveness, and delegating. Conceptual skills: refer to mangers ability to picture the organization as a whole and the relationship of various parts to perform tasks such as planning, organizing, controlling, system development, problem analysis, decision making, coordinating, and delegating. The first line managers need to be skilled in all three areas. Most of their time is spent on technical and human relation tasks (assisting operating personnel, giving direction, and so forth). First line managers spend little time on conceptual tasks. Top managers, on the other hand need to use few technical skills. Instead, almost all of their time is devoted to human relations and conceptual tasks. One whos competent at one level of management may not be competent at higher levels and vise versa. The skills needed are different at different levels. The most difficult task for most managers to learn is delegating. Whats delegating? Delegating is assigning authority and accountability to others while retaining the responsibility for results. Managers are usually selected from those who are skilled at doing what the people they manage are doing. As we noted earlier; most progressive managers of the 21 st century will be team leaders. They will set specific goals in corporation with a team of workers, set up feedback and communication procedures (control procedure) , and minimize the tendency to continually look over the teams shoulder to make sure its doing things the managers way . Employees will be given freedom (empowered) to decide the hows and whens of completion of specific tasks as long as the goals are accomplished on time. Decision-making is choosing among two or more alternatives. It sounds easier than it is in practice. In fact , decision making is the heart of all the Management functions. We have six Ds of decision making, which are: Define the problem Describe and collect needed information Develop alternatives Decide which ethical alternative is best Do whats indicated ( implement solution)) Determine whether the decision was a good one and follow up. Managers often have computer terminals at their desks so they can get internal records and external data of all kinds. But again no data in the world can replace a manager who is creative and make brilliant decisions. Decision-making is more art than a science. Its the one skill most needed by managers and leaders in that all the other functions depend on it. Task 2 Provide a range of practical methods suitable for developing or improving the skills discussed in 1.1b Learning managerial skills: We have explored the broad categories of skills needed by various levels of management. Now lets be know more about specific skills needed to be a good manager. a) Verbal skills: The bulk of a managers duty will involve communicating with others. a communicate his idea to others. To prepare for such tasks, he should take oral communication courses. At least half of communication is skilled listening. A good manager mixes with other managers, workers, clients, stockholders, and others outside the firm . he or she listens to recommendations and complaints and acts on them. Active listening requires the asking of questions and feeding back what youve heard to let others know he is truly interested in what they say. b) Writing skills: Managers must also be able to write clearly and precisely. Much of what he want others to do must be communicated through memos, report, policies, and letters. Organizations every where is complaining about many graduates in ability to write clearly (which will affect our future managers). So if from now on, a future manager, develop good writing skills, he will be miles ahead of his competition. That means he must practice writing, it helps to write anything like, diary, letters, notes and so on. With practice he will develop the ability to write easily- just like he speaks. Also with this shill he will be more ready for his career in management. c) Computer skills: The office of the future will be an office full of computers and related technology. Memos, charts, letters, and most of other communication efforts will involve the computer. When a manger is practicing writing, practice on a word processor. The truly efficient manager of the future will be able to effectively use and take advantage of the continuing developments in technology. d) Human relations skills: A manger works with people and that means that good managers know how to get along with people, motivate them, and inspire them. People skills are learned by working with people. good leaders begin early by assuming leadership positions is sports, community groups, and so on. A manager must be aware of how others react with him. If he cause negative feelings or reactions, he has to learn why? He doesnt be afraid to make mistakes and upset others. That is how he could learn. But also he has to learn how to work with others . What is managing diversity? Is building systems and a culture that unite different people in common pursuit without undermining their diversity. Research has shown that heterogeneous (mixed) groups are more productive than homogenous (similar) groups in the work place .men and women, young and old, and all other mixes of people can learn not only to work together but also to work together with more success. In the future, mangers must learn how to deal effectively with people from different cultures. Managers will also be asked to work in foreign countries. The more skilled he can become in other languages and in working with diverse cultural groups, he will be an effective manager. e) Time management skills: One of the most important skills for new mangers to learn how to budget their time effectively. There are many demands on managers time that they need to learn to control telephone interruption, visits from colleagues, questions from subordinates, meetings scheduled by higher management, and such. . This could be by setting priorities, delegating work, choosing activities that produce the mot results and dealing with interruption. f) Technical skills: To rise through the ranks of accounting, marketing, finance, production or, any other functional area , the manager should be proficient in that area. About 60 percent of top mangers have taken courses beyond their bachelors degree. The most common areas of technical expertise among top managers are accounting and finance together. Marketing came in second. Slightly more than half of the top 1000 chief executive officers in the country has a graduate degree. As an example of the skills needed by managers to carry out their work successfully, Ill apply it on my organization and how they are trying to develop these skills from now .They believe that we are the future managers and professors, so we have to learn and apply these skills from now on . I work as a teacher assistant in MIU ( Misr International University). We use to have to attend workshops to improve and develop our ( assistants) skills. These work shops were mainly discussing the following topics : Lesson planning Class management Time management Presentation skills Look at these , these are skills needed from us to have as future professors in MIU.We have to learn how to control a class, how to deal with trouble makers, how to finish what we plan for in the time required..etc. They kept telling us that we are the managers of the class . They resembled the class as an entire organization and Im the leader, manager, controller and evaluator . also they train us to parctice talking in English all the time , to be able to handle all the class teaching in English. Also we have to have excellent computer skills. All of these skills is better off to be learned from now , to apply it in our future careers. This is a simple article from the internet disscussing what should managers do to develop their career. What is expected of me? How well am I doing? Sales Manager: You need to learn how to do relationship selling. Sales Associates response: What exactly does that mean? Executive to manager: You need to be more of a leader and less of a traditional manager. Managers response: What exactly does that mean? The world of work is changing so fast, its difficult to communicate changing expectations quickly and clearly. This is especially true in areas such as sales skills, project management skills and leadership skills. The changes expected in these areas arent easy to observe and measure and, up to now, most companies didnt attempt it. But with competition heating up and hierarchies melting down, the focus on performance and career development has become more intense. For this reason, competencies have become a new tool in the workplace. Competencies are clearly spelled out expectations for a certain role (a leader) or a job (sales associate). They go far beyond a job description to create a template for ideal performance. This tool can then be used for things such as hiring, day-to-day coaching, training and development and performance reviews. Once individuals know what the expected competencies are, the next question is, How am I doing on them now? Many organizations put the competencies into a format that can be used as a feedback instrument. Then they use it to gather 360 degree feedback. This refers to getting feedback from people all around you; your boss, your peers and your employees. Gathering feedback from other colleagues has many advantages. In addition to his or her managers feedback, it also reveals what peers and employees think. It is more comprehensive and less prone to individual bias, since there are multiple perspectives. For example, a manager, who may have thought that his boss was just being picky about his communication skills, will begin to take it seriously when everyone around him is also suggesting that he needs improvement in that area. But there are pitfalls to avoid when setting up competencies and a feedback system like this. If it isnt done well, the damage control will overshadow any good that may have come from it. Here are some things to consider:  · Create a participatory process, where representatives help to establish the competencies and how they will be used. If this process is done to them, rather than by giving them some control, there will be more resistance during implementation.  · Make the competencies as specific to the job as possible. The more generic they are the less effective they will be. In addition, it is key to word the competencies in behavioral language, so everyone knows what the competency means. For example, instead of Effective sales skills, include some behaviors, such as, Builds trust through accountability, honesty and follow-though, or Looks for additional ways to help clients solve their business problem before, during and after the sale, or Makes realistic commitments for themselves and the team, and does what it takes to keep those commitments.  · Use the feedback for coaching and development rather than a for a performance review or to weed out ineffective managers. Although it can eventually be folded into the performance review process, it creates less defensiveness if people have a chance to work on their skill gaps before they are evaluated on them. It isnt fair to surprise employees with a performance review on expectations they havent seen before.  · No matter how open the culture is, people are reluctant to be honest unless they can give feedback anonymously. Later, if managers are genuinely willing to discuss their feedback openly, individuals will come forward with their personal feedback and advice. Initially, each manager should collect data from a minimum of three or more peers and three or more employees so that confidentiality is preserved.  · Time and trouble can be avoided by using an experienced third party to guide the group and to independently gather and tabulate the feedback for each manager. When we help organizations with this process, we find that people are more willing to be honest when they know that a neutral party is doing the tabulation and individual feedback reports.  · Give the data and any summary report back to the manager, not to their boss. Hold managers accountable for creating an action plan that they will co-develop with their manager. The plan should include how they plan to leverage their top strengths and how they plan to improve their weaker areas. The plan should also include how the boss can help with that development.  · An overall report on the organizations strengths and development needs can be used to determine what the training priorities are, what should be included in a core curriculum and where training dollars should be spent.  · An independent third party can provide help to a manager who is struggling with his/her feedback and what to do about it. If they are unfavorably surprised by what their peers or employees think, they will probably appreciate guidance in how to approach their colleagues for more clarity.  · Managers should meet with their manager at least once a year to go over their action plan and discuss progress. The best career development happens on the job, so its important that manager play an active role by coaching their employee, giving them new and challenging assignments that will play to their strengths and develop weaker areas. Companies are realizing that more sophisticated performance management has a bottom -line pay off and individuals are demanding more coaching and development on the job. Systems like these can be a win/win for everyone. Outcome 2 Personal Skills Audit Task 3 Provide evidence of the various personal skills audits carried out as an aid to understanding where you stand with regards to achieving the objective of becoming a more effective manager. These to include the obligatory analyses of the personal learning style and skills audit. Choose from the strengths and weaknesses these reveal, samples that will affect the development of the 4 skills from outcome 1 (1.2a). SKILLS AND TECHNIQUES FOR EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT Good Time Management is an essential quality for anyone who needs to work efficiently and effectively in an everyday working environment. It is essential if you are to achieve the organizations objectives and indeed the individuals personal objectives. There are many techniques which, when combined, give an individual (or team) the skills required to time manage the task effectively. In a nutshell, time management is all about making the most efficient and effective use of your time. Some examples of these skills and techniques are as follows: a. Planning and Organization b. Prioritizing c. Delegating d. Review and Monitoring PLANNING AND ORGANISATION Information/Anticipation: Successful planning requires accurate information from which decisions are eventually made. This accurate information is crucial if these decisions are to be well judged and implemented successfully. An element of anticipation is also a bonus if you are able to best guess a possible arising which may influence your decision. Flexibility: The planning must also be flexible as not all plans are set in concrete Circumstances change and the overall plan must remain flexible and capable of change as the situation determines. Sufficient time spent planning can greatly reduce the overall time taken to complete an activity and should always consider all factors which may have an influence on the tasks final outcome. By giving the objective the correct amount of time in the planning phase, and by factoring in any events which could (if not considered) destroy or devalue the overall outcome of the task. Goal Setting: By ensuring clear goals are set from the outset, and by keeping a constant review of the tasks progress, a successful outcome should ensue when coupled with other skills and techniques in successful time management. Planning should be considered not just in the short term for each single objective but also include daily, weekly and long term planning. PRIORTISING As suggested, planning alone will not necessarily ensure successful objectives are met. Allocated time must also be prioritized in a manner that focuses on the goals set during the planning phase. Many people often spend their day in a frenzy of activity but because they are prioritizing their time correctly, they achieve a lot less output. PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL SKILLS REQUIRED TO MANAGE EFFECTIVELY ATTRIBUTES OF A MANAGER To manage effectively, an individual requires many skills and various personal qualities to enable the successful completion of his, or her, objectives. The skills and qualities combine to shape the management style of the individual and the style can directly affect the final outcome of the task completion. These attributes could be broken into four main headings as follows: Proficiency Technical Competence Social and Human skills Conceptual Ability Within each of the above headings there are many sub groups which all combine to give the individual manager his unique style of management which can, or may not be, particularly effective. SPECIFIC COMPETENCES Communication: Managing well requires sound communication skills above all else. No manager can relay their planning and intentions without this basic skill. It is vital that communication, by whatever means, relays the information to the staff and that more importantly, the information is understood and deliverable. Two way communication is essential, everyone will have some part to play in the exchange of information and the communication process. Planning: Sound planning ensures the objectives are met and met within the framework of the organizations structure. Effective planning at the outset will ensure there is a realistic chance of completion in line with the goals set. Knowledge and Information gathering: Planning without the necessary information will very often prove unsuccessful. It is vital that the information is gathered and the plan drawn up based on this information. Accurate information is essential if the plan is to prove a success. Problem solving/decision making: As with any plan there are nearly always options and many ways to skin a cat This will involve decision making and problem solving which the manager can make more effectively if the correct information is in place and the correct people in the team consulted. Time prioritizing: Good time management is vital, without it the manager will become less and less effective as his or her time will be spent less and less productively. The art of successful time management is one which all successful managers must master. Training and Development: The workforce can only be as good as they training they receive and the same applies to management. Personal development and training aimed at improving managerial technique should always be encouraged. Review and Monitor: As with all managed tasks, the monitoring and review of the progress and outcome is essential if lessons are to be learned and improved techniques are to be developed. The process on review should encourage an exchange of information of all those personnel involved and sound two-way communication is essential. Goal Setting: The planning and information gathering stage will provide sufficient knowledge for a manager to set some targets and goals. If this information is accurate and the manager skilled in making judgment, a realistic goal can be set with achievable outcomes in the time given. Interpersonal Skills: The ability of the manager to relate to his staff is vital. It is this communication and personal skill which will persuade the staff member to perform for his manager, that feeling of inclusion and a belonging which the manager relays to his staff member. The successful manager needs to be caring, companionate, and where possible remain calm under a crisis. Listening skills are also essential as are negotiating skills. A good team player normally combines most of these interpersonal skills and uses them to good effect in everyday management. 3. PERSONAL SKILLS AUDIT AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN TABLE 1:- PERSONAL SKILLS AUDIT Skills Examples and evidence Score 1 5 (5 highest) Communication and Literacy skills Good use of written English gained from producing engineering assignments and written formal management reports during my seven years in the Aeronautical Research and Development. department at Bae Systems. Oral presentation skills adequate and improving. Many chances to practice them in seminars and presentations. Prefer making individual presentations to group presentations as then I am more in control of the structure and flow etc. In future I intend practicing any presentation that I have to give in front of a small audience of friends a few times in order to check that it has good content, structure and timing. I am also developing communication skills in a work context. Clear communication between myself and my sub contractors and boss is important. Also, am developing good interpersonal and communication skills in my contact with colleagues at work as well as in my dealings with customers. 4 Group Interpersonal Skills Working with others I have plenty of experience of working as part of a team and being an effective member of a group. This began with sport at school and continued throughout my 27 years in the armed forces where teamwork is essential and vital in certain situations. My current employment offers frequent opportunity to take part in group work as part of the weekly team planning and reporting meetings. I always try to make a positive contribution as my final decision on the outcome of the discussions will decide if the objectives are met, or not. At work, I play the lead role in decision making but consult all my team members on a democratic basis.. This ensures all the team members have a valued input and builds a healthy team ethos. I think that I am quite good at welcoming new employees and helping people to fit in and adjust to the pattern of work. I want to improve my leadership skills further through courses targeted in this area and by continuing to plan and organize team events and expeditions. 4 Organization Personal Skills Independent Learning and Working I am self-motivated as long as the task is interesting and holds my attention. The freedom to make decisions free from senior managers input helps greatly and means I can plan and schedule the work as I choose. Although I feel my Time Management is quite strong, I aim to improve my time management strategies regarding the meeting of programme deadlines for the customer. I currently hold three levels of Sports coaching award and coach Tennis at several different locations. This requires commitment and dedication as the lessons are not always charged for. I have had a number of jobs in the past two years and have been lucky in that I have had to take the responsibility and act on my own initiative in each of the roles. 3 Research Problem Solving Skills I try to view problems as challenges rather than major obstacles. I think that I am systematic and logical when it comes to thinking about problems and their solution. I have developed these skills both as an individual and as part of working in groups where the group task which we are set is frequently of a problem-solving nature, have also gained a good grasp of the processes which one needs to go through to solve problems i.e. problem definition, generating alternative solutions, selection of most appropriate response and the eventual implementation of a carefully-considered solution. 4 ICT Skills I started developing computer skills when I entered into the Research and Development department 9 years ago. I have since carried out the European Computer Driving Licence and work regularly with all MS Office products. I also use MS Project for my planning and scheduling of works but am without formal training on this software. I would like to spend some time on a placement course to improve my skills on this product. I am confident using e-mail and use it on a daily basis both to communicate with my clients, customers and sub-contractors. I also use email a great deal at home to keep in touch with my friends and family. I use the internet for research as well as online banking and booking holidays, reservations, flowers and shopping etc. 4 Application of Numerical Techniques Good basic grounding in maths skills including graphs/charts GCSE grade A and BTEC mechanical engineering. I have good skills at mental arithmetic which is vital for fast track quotations for the customer during unforeseen work and additional items not scheduled. 4 Outcome 3 PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN Task 4 Provide a personal development plan- see format supplied by Edexcel showing how you intend to use the knowledge from outcomes 1 and 2 to further enhance or develop the skills you need to improve your managerial effectiveness. This to include a statement of objectives (SMART) and a SWOT analysis.(1.3a) DELEGATION Another important technique of successful time management is the ability to delegate work effectively. Delegation, used wisely, is an essential tool of the successful manager. It can free valuable time to enable the manager to target his or her time more effectively and thereby increasing the chances of a successful outcome. Delegation should be applied using the S.M.A.R.T. principles and not over ambitious. Where: S à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.. Specific M à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.. Measurable A à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.. Achievable R à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.. Realistic T à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.. Time The delegation should achieve the desired results through a clear, concise brief which should match the authority and responsibility of the individual and should be used consistently and through the management/staff chain as required. Another positive outcome of successful delegation include improved flexibility within the team, upskilling, increase in morale and motivation, reduced sick leave and a improved team environment where team members feel more informed and inclusive. Task 5 Provide evidence of the monitoring and feedback undertaken where relevant and any adjustments made to the plan so that

The Death of my Father Essay -- Autobiography Essay, Personal Narrative

Everyone has milestone days in his/her life that change the direction of his/her life for better or worse. Let me tell you one of my experiences that I will never forget from when I was 12 years old. It was Friday night, I took a shower, and one of my aunts came into the bathroom and told me that my dad was sick but he was going to be ok. She told me that so I did not worry. I finished taking a bath, and I immediately went to my daddy’s house to see what was going on. My dad was throwing-up blood, and he could not breath very well. One of my aunts cried and prayed at the same time. I felt worried because she only does that when something bad is going to happen. More people were trying to help my dad until the doctor came. Everybody cried, and I was confused because I thought it was just a stomachache. I asked one of my older brothers if my dad was going to be ok, but he did not answer my question and push me away. My body shock to see him dying, and I took his hand and told him not to give up. The only thing that I heard from him was, â€Å"Daughters go to auntie...

white fang :: essays research papers

Part I opens as London vividly describes the "wild, the savage, frozen-hearted Northland Wild." Two men, Henry and Bill, struggle to pull the long, narrow coffin of Lord Alfred on a dog sled through the cold, desolate terrain. Dressed in fur and leather, their faces are completely covered in frozen crystals. Making the setting bleaker, the men are being pursued by a pack of hungry wolves. Down to only three cartridges for their guns, the travelers are unable to shoot at the wolves, whose behavior is becoming more brazen. Bill voices concern to Henry about an extra dog at feeding time, who appears out of nowhere and blends in with the six regular sled dogs. The next morning the men find one dog missing, lured away by the wolves. A dog that both men agree is not very smart. As Bill and Henry travel through the frozen, snow covered territory they notice the wolves following a little closer every day. Building fires at night to keep warm and to keep the wolves at bay, the men sense the animals closing in slowly but surely every day and every night. The next morning as Bill is feeding the dogs he notices the wolf (a she-wolf) amidst the sled dogs and is able to land a blow with a club. The following morning the men find another sled dog, Frog, gone. Unlike Fatty, the first dog to disappear, Frog was "no fool dog" and also the "strongest of the bunch." The men eat a very gloomy breakfast, harness the sled and repeat another day across the frozen Northland. After dinner, however, they decide to tie the dogs to stakes with leather straps to prevent another dog from running away to certain death. As they settle down for the evening the dogs become agitated and Bill and Henry look up to see the she-wolf wandering through the camp, eyeing the dogs. She is a decoy for the wolf pack, remarks Henry, luring the sled dogs away as food for the pack. After much discussion, the men decide it would be prudent to use some of the remaining ammunition to take care of the troublesome she-wolf. Left with only three dogs, the men start out the next morning only to meet more catastrophe as the sled overturns on a bad price of trail. Stuck between a tree trunk and a large rock, the men are forced to unleash the dogs to straighten the sled.

Selling-Out the Asian-American Community in Amy Tans The Joy Luck Club :: Joy Luck Club Essays

Selling-Out the Asian-American Community in The Joy Luck Club i wish i could join in the universal praise for amy tan and her best-selling novel "the joy luck club." i wish i could find the latest chinese-american literary dish as appetizing as the rest of the american public does. but i can't. before amy tan entered the scene, public images of asian america had not developed since the middle of the century. the asian american male did not exist except as a barbaric japanese or vietcong soldier. the asian american female remained the adolescent suzy wong pipe dream, toyed with for a while and then deserted. amy tan, a gifted writer, had the chance to change those images, to dispel the public's misconceptions and to forge a new asian american identity. instead, she copped out on her obligations, meekly reinforcing every conceivable stereotype. if you believe tan's first novel "the joy luck club," asian amerca is some mystical oddity, conforming to the mascot-culture view of the white thirtysomething women who predominated at tan's reading. san francisco chinatown is filled with hysterical chinese women playing secret mah jong games. china itself is a dreamlik landscape, filled with secrets and traditions, all exuding a delicate, storybook aura. chinese mothers are all one-dimensional, superstitious and ignorant. their chinese phrases are delightful italics with quaint meanings. of course, what chinese comedy would be complete without a couple of garbled english words? when tan was late for her berkeley reading, her white husband directed the audience to mimic her mother's amusing syntax: "why so late?" rimshot. amy tan's heroines are the white mother-in-law's dream come true. these china dolls talk and have strong feminine sympathies. as one of tan's heroines admits, "i used to push my eyes on the sides to make them rounder." futile self-denial, but, oh, isn't it cute? tan's heroines gain identity by separating themselves from and looking down on their culture. when the heroine in "the kitchen god's wife" hears about her grand auntie's "spirit money," she sneers are her aunt's attempt to "bribe her way along to chinese-heaven" immediately suggests a negative contrast to the "truer" western heaven. the same dichotomy is used with men as well. asian american men are inadequate -- they're either bothersome brothers or unsuccessful lovers who lead to "apathetic boredom." love with a white male, however, is different.

Factors Affecting the Grades of Freshmen Engineering Students Essay

INTRODUCTION This chapter is the input section of the paper. It includes the background of the study, the statement of the problem, hypotheses of the study, theory base (technical framework), its significance, as well as the scope and the limitation of the study, and its definition of terms. Background of the Study Academic performance according to the Cambridge University Reporter (2003) is frequently defined in terms of examination performance. College grading is an exceptionally complex phenomenon because it is subject to both external social forces and internal changes of the participants (for example, students, faculty) policies and practices (for example, grading policies) and other factors (Birnbaum, 1977)Ecoamists view grades as a reward for academic performance, which is assumed to be related to individual academic ability as well as the quantity and effort the student puts forth in educational activites (Becker, 1965; Hanushek 1979)Psychologist suggest that motivation, self-effacy and other psychological variables all make differences inindividual achievement and grades (Bandura, 1994; Marsh and Roche, 2000; McKeachie and others, 1990) Faculty members have the primary responsibility in assessing student academic performance and assigning grades to students. Faculty backgrounds appear to matter somewhat in assigning grades to students. adjunct faculty members tend to distributehigher grades than regular faculty. (Chen and Cheng, 1999;Sonner, 2000). Student academic ability and engagement in college are important determinants in academic performance. (Pascarella and Terenzini, 1991). There are many possible factors why the students able to get high or low grades. These factors are classified into four categories: student-related, teacher-related, environmental-related, and financial-related factors. Their grades based on their works throughout the semester. This study is subjected to the Freshmen Engineering Students of the University of Southeastern Philippines. It attempts to determine the correlation of the perceived factors that may or may at affect the grades of the freshmen Engineering students. By conducting study, the result will provide exact information on what will be the effective ways to achieve and  maintain ideal grades for the students to pass their course. The study will also provide what are the basic problems encountered by the freshmen Engineering students of University of Southeastern Philippines that affect their misbehavior. (repository, 2011) Statement of the Problem The study aims to determine the Perceived Factors Affecting the Grades of Freshmen of College of Engineering of the University of Southeastern Philippines S.Y. 2012 – 2013 More specifically, the study aimed to answer the following questions: 1. To what extent is the academic performance of the Freshmen Engineering students Hypotheses of the Study The following are the hypotheses of the study: 1.) Teacher-related factors: 1.1. There is a significant relationship between the modulation of voice of the teacher to the grades of the freshmen Engineering students. 1.2. There is a significant relationship between the teaching strategy of the teacher to the grades of the freshmen Engineering students. 1.3. There is a significant relationship between the mastery of the teacher’s subject matter to the grades of the freshmen Engineering students. 1.4. There is a significant relationship between the outputs given by the teacher to the grades of the freshmen Engineering students. 2.) Student-related factors: 2.1. There is a significant relationship between the students’ interest to the grades of the freshmen Engineering students. 2.2. There is a significant relationship between the students-professor relationship to the grades of the freshmen Engineering students. 2.3. There is a significant relationship between the student-parent relationship to the grades of the freshmen Engineering students. 2.4. There is a significant relationship between peer pressure to the grades of the freshmen Engineering students. 3.) Financial-related factors: 3.1. There is a significant relationship between financial assistance to the grades of the freshmen Engineering students. 3.2. There is a significant relationship between budget management to the grades of the  freshmen Engineering students. 3.3. There is a significant relationship between the demand of needs or requirements to the grades of the freshmen Engineering students. 4.) Environmental-related factors: 4.1. There is a significant relationship between the schools’ ambiance to the grades of the freshmen Engineering students. 4.2. There is a significant relationship between the schools’ facilities to the grades of the freshmen Engineering students. Theory Base This study is primarily anchored on John Riley & Sons, Inc. which states that the factors mentioned that affects the grades of the College students are: Economic View, Faculty, Institution, and the students’ self-interest. College grading is an exceptionally complex phenomenon because it is subject to both external social forces and internal changes of the participants (for example, students, faculty) policies and practices (for example, grading policies) and other factors (Birnbaum, 1977)Ecoamists view grades as a reward for academic performance, which is assumed to be related to individual academic ability as well as the quantity and effort the student puts forth in educational activites (Becker, 1965; Hanushek 1979) Psychologist suggest that motivation, self-effacy and other psychological variables all make differences inindividual achievement and grades (Bandura, 1994; Marsh and Roche, 2000; McKeachie and others, 1990) Faculty members have the primary responsibility in assessing student academic performance and assigning grades to students. Faculty backgrouds appear to matter somewhat in assigning grades to students. adjunct faculty members tend to distributehigher grades than regular faculty. (Chen and Cheng, 1999;Sonner, 2000). Institutional characteristics influence grading practices. Grades are not uniformly awarded across institutional types. Public institutions tend to award lower gradescompared with their private counterparts. Students at different Carnegie-type institutions receive different grades. Students at doctoral universities tend toreceive the highest grades compared with students enrolled in other types of schools. (Kuh and Hu, 1999) This theory suggests that self-interest (students’ performance), faculty, institution, and financial-based factors could affect the grades of the students. This  theory strongly supports the hypotheses of the study. Conceptual Framework Figure 1 shows the independent and dependent variables of the study. The study attempts to identify the relationship between the teacher-related, student-related, financial-related, and environmental-related factors to the grades of the freshmen Engineering students of the University of Southeastern Philippines. Independent VariableDependent Variable Teacher- related factors: * Modulation of teacher’s voice. * Classroom management. * Teaching strategy. * Mastery of the subject/subject matter. * Outputs given to the students. Student-related factors: * Student-interest. * Student-professor relationship. * Student-parent relationship. * Peer pressure. Financial-related factors: * Financial assistance. * Budget management. * Demand of needs or requirements. Grades of the Engineering students of the University of Southeastern Philippines Figure 1. Schematic Diagram of the Study Variables of the study The independent variables (IV) of the study are the following classification of factors: teacher-related, student-related, financial-related, and environmental-related factors. Thus these factors could or could at affect the dependent variable (DV) which is the grades of the Freshmen Engineering Students of the University of Southeastern  Philippines. Teacher-related factors. The modulation of the teacher’s voice, classroom management, teaching strategy, mastery of the subject or subject matter, and the outputs given by the teacher could or could at affect the grades of the freshmen Engineering students. Student-Related factors. The students’ interest, student-professor relationship, student-parent relationship, and peer pressure could or could at affect the grades of the freshmen Engineering students. Environmental-Related factors. The financial assistance given to the student, budget management, and the demand of needs or requirements could or could at affect the grades of the freshmen Engineering students. Significance of the Study The study was conducted mainly to provide information regarding The Perceived Factors Affecting the Failing Grades of Freshmen of College of Engineering of the University of Southeastern Philippines S.Y. 2012 – 2013.The feedback of this study would benefit the following: Teachers. This study informs the teachers to be aware for the cases of the students who’ve been involve in failing their subjects and help them motivate the students to listen properly during class hours and to fulfill their requirements given to them. Students. This study encourage the students to be more responsible and more serious of their studies. Parents. This study helps the parents to be aware of their students’ needs in school. That includes their financial assistance and parental guidance to their students. Future researchers. This study would serve as a reference to their studies and could be counted as a reliable source. Scope and Limitation of the Study The study focuses on the Perceived Factors Affecting the Failing Grades of Freshmen of College of Engineering of the University of Southeastern Philippines. Generated to a survey questionnaire is our primary data used which was also used in interview guide with the students. The respondents of the study were randomly picked ten (10) students of every section in the  said department. The study covers the first semester of the school year 2012-2013. Definition of Terms * Freshmen Engineering students. This refers to the participants of the study which are taking their college degree in the University of Southeastern Philppines, Barrio Obrero, Davao City. * Teacher-related factors. This refers to the factors in which the teacher is the one being subjected that could or could at affect the grades of the freshmen Engineering students of the University of Southeastern Philppines. In this study, the teacher-related factors are: modulation of teacher’s voice, classroom management, teaching strategy, mastery of the subject matter, and the outputs given to the students. * Student-related factors. This refers to the factors in which the student is the one being subjected that could or could at affect the grades of the freshmen Engineering students of the University of Southeastern Philppines. In this study, the student-related factors are: students’ interest, student-professor relationship, student-parent relationship, and peer pressure. * Environmental-related factors.This refers to the factors in which the environment is the one being subjected that could or could at affect the grades of the freshmen Engineering students of the University of Southeastern Philppines. In this study, the environmental-related factors are: school’s ambiance and the school’s facilities. * Financial-related factors.This refers to the factors in which money is the one being subjected that could or could at affect the grades of the freshmen Engineering students of the University of Southeastern Philppines. In this study, the financial-related factors are: financial assistance, budget management, demand of needs or requirements.