Project Management Careers

Project Management Fall 2012 Search the internet for terms project management, project management careers, project portfolio management, information technology project management. Write down the number hits that you received for each of these phrases find at least 3 web sites that provide interesting information on one of the topics write a two page paper summarizing key information about these 3 web sites as well as project management institution’s Web site (www. pmi. org).Gant charts were dominantly used in the beggings of project management however in the 1950’s Entire jobs and professional careers were made around the idea of a â€Å"project manager†. Now in beginning of the 21st century technology has revolutionized the field of project management once again. My research and search results have shown that Project Management Jobs have sustained demand over the last 8 years compared to the general field of technology jobs which has seen steep decline since 200 4. Google Trends AnalysisOne of the articles I had read form InformationWeek was titled â€Å"Project management Gets Lean† (IT can't afford to do projects the old way. Lean project management gives a better picture of success or failure. ) In this article they explain a scenario where workers feel like projects are happening to them and not because of them. The article goes on to say that, Project managers can get so wrapped up in Gantt chars and forecasting that they often don’t look at the overall picture and this can lead to scope skewing or project failure.Managers have to start approaching projects as Participation over Compliance. Compliance makes everyone feel like a captive prisoner where was participation can give the individual the perception of being a part of the solution. It is staff attitude which often accounts for a projects success or failure. Also if a group does not understand a project is can often add confusion that may hinder the perceived succes s of an assignment. If at all possible it is best to keep it simple; adding complexity to the user is often not a requirement of a complex system.All users are not power users and do not require the grandiose system that upper users need. It is not a coincidence that Information Technology people often look to project management when they are interested in a career change. Both fields have Rigid deadlines, tight budgets, require careful planning, painstaking deployments all of which are common variables Information Technology and project management. It is difficult to classify a project as success for failure because most often projects in the IT field are never complete.As summed up in the article, the nature of IT means you are never done. Only when a project is a failure are you done. Having the ability to recognize failure is a skill that many project managers lack due to inflated ego. Figure A General Search Results Google Search ResultsProject ManagementAbout 691,000,000 resul ts   Project Management CareersAbout 138,000,000 results Project Portfolio ManagementAbout 84,200,000 result Information Technology Project ManagementAbout 190,000,000 results| http://www. nformationweek. com/global-cio/interviews/leaving-it-4-job-options-for-frustrated/232900489? queryText=project%20management http://www. informationweek. com/global-cio/personnel/project-management-is-finally-getting-re/227800091? queryText=project%20management http://www. informationweek. com/software/project-management-gets-lean/232600005? printer_friendly=this-page http://www. google. com/trends/explore#q=project%20management%20jobs%2C%20Information%20Technology%20Project%20Management;cmpt=q

Sample – Report Writing

Sample Report A Formal Report Sample Reports A FORMAL REPORT THE EFFECTS OF STRESS ON BUSINESS EMPLOYEES AND PROGRAMS OFFERED BY EMPLOYERS TO MANAGE EMPLOYEE STRESS Prepared for Dr. Robert J. Olney Southwest Texas State University Prepared by Charles Dishinger Nancy Howard Bill Kiagler Sherry Seabrooke Donna Tucker November 29, 20– S-29 Copyright  © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. Sample Reports ii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page LIST OF TABLES†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. iii LIST OF FIGURES†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ vABSTRACT†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ SECTION I INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. Introduction†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ Statement of the Problem†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. Significance of the Study†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. Scope of the Study†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ Review of Related Literature†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ Methods of the Study†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ Source of Data†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ †¦. l S-30 Copyright  © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. iv 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 3 3 4 4 4 6 6 6 6 7 8 9 10 11 Sample Reports iii LIST OF TABLES Table 1.Programs Offered by Employers to Manage Stress †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ S-31 Copyright  © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. Page 8 Sample Reports iv LIST OF FIGURES Figure Page 1. Age Distribution of Respondents †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 2. Negative Effects of Stress on Work Performance †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ S-32 6 7 Copyright  © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. Sample Reports v Abstract This study was conducted to determine the effects of stress on employees and the methods employers use to manage employees' stress.It was limited to the perceptions of Central Texas business employees, who were selected using a nonprobability, convenience sampling method. A questionnaire consisting of three parts was used to collect primary data. The collected data were analyzed and interpreted using simple statistical techniques. The findings of the data indicated that the areas found to be most negatively affected by stress were j ob satisfaction/morale, courtesy, creativity, and productivity. In addition, personal appearance and absenteeism were listed as the areas least affected by stress. According to the results of the tudy, employers today are offering a wide variety of needed programs to manage the stress of their employees. One of the main conclusions drawn from the study was that stress does negatively affect the work performance of employees. Therefore, stress is not just an individual issue but an issue that must be addressed by both the employer and the employee; the work performance areas negatively affected have a direct effect on the company as a whole. S-33 Copyright  © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. Sample Reports The Effects of Stress on Business Employees nd Programs Offered by Employers to Manage Employee Stress Section I Introduction to the Study Introduction Today, many organizations and employees are experiencing the effects of stress on work performance. The effects of stress can be either positive or negative. What is perceived as positive stress by one person may be perceived as negative stress by another, since everyone perceives situations differently. According to Barden (2001), negative stress is becoming a major illness in the work environment, and it can debilitate employees and be costly to employers.Managers need to identify those suffering from negative stress and implement programs as a defense against stress. These programs may reduce the impact stress has on employees' work performance. Statement of the Problem The purpose of this study was to determine the negative effects of stress on employees and the methods employers use to manage employees' stress. Significance of the Study There are three primary groups that may benefit from this study. The first group, consisting of employees in today's business organizations, may learn to identify ways that stress negatively affects their work performance.Identifying the negative effects ma y enable them to take necessary action to cope with stress. By sharing this knowledge, employees can act as a vehicle to help management implement appropriate stress reduction programs. The second group that may benefit from this study is employers who may gain insight as to how stress is actually negatively affecting S-34 Copyright  © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. Sample Reports 2 employees’ work performance. Finally, educators can use these findings as a valuable guide to incorporate into their curriculum.By emphasizing to students the importance of developing programs to deal with stress, the students may be able to transfer this knowledge to the workplace, thereby improving the quality of the work environment. Scope of the Study This study was limited to the perceptions of full-time business employees as to the negative effects that stress has on work performance and the steps that employers are taking to manage stress. For the purpose of this study, wh at constitutes full-time employment is defined by the employer. This study was restricted to businesses operating in the Central Texas area.The Central Texas area encompasses all communities within Hays, Kendall, Travis, and Williamson counties. For the purpose of this study, stress is defined as disruptive or disquieting influences that negatively affect an individual in the workplace. Data for this study were collected during the fall of 2002. Review of Related Literature Barden (2001), a freelance writer specializing in health care and a former managing editor of Commerce and Health, stated the importance of wellness programs and gave specific examples of corporations that are successfully implementing such rograms. The Morrison Company currently saves $8. 33 for every dollar spent on wellness by offering programs such as weight loss, exercise, and back care. Axon Petroleum estimates that wellness programs will save $1. 6 million each year in health care costs for its 650 employe es. In addition to Morrison and Axon Petroleum, Barden cited the savings for six other companies. According to the Wellness Bureau of America, the success of these companies offers concrete proof that wellness programs pay off by lowering health care costs, reducing absenteeism, and increasing productivity.Foster (2002), a professional speaker on stress-management, surveyed midlevel managers and found stress to be a major determinant in worker productivity. According to the study, the primary areas affected by stress are employee morale, absenteeism, and decision making abilities. By recognizing that a problem exists and by addressing the issue, managers can reduce stressful activities and increase worker performance in the business organization. Harrold and Wayland (2002) reported that increasing stress affects morale, productivity, organizational efficiency, absenteeism, and profitability for both individuals and the organization.The problem for businesses today is knowing how S-3 5 Copyright  © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. Sample Reports 3 to determine stressful areas in their organizations and how to use constructive confrontation methods to reduce stress and improve efficiency. According to the authors, organizations that make a positive effort to deal with stress not only help build trust among their employees, but also increase the productivity of their employees and the organization as a whole. Maurer (2002) stated that stress-induced illnesses are prevalent in the workplace today, and stress is the problem of the sufferer and the employer.Stress causes absenteeism and can lead to other problems such as drug addiction, alcoholism, depression, and poor job performance. According to Maurer, the annual Barlow Corporation Forum on Human Resource Issues and Trends reported that large numbers of companies noticed severe levels of stress exhibited by employees. The forum's panelists agreed that more needed to be done in the workplace to hel p employees manage stress. Some of the suggestions were to expand wellness programs, offer stress-management seminars, and teach staff how to balance work and family life.Maurer also noted that Olympic TeamTech, a computer management company, has dealt with employee stress by providing training programs, monitoring employee concerns, and meeting once a month to be proactive instead of reactive. Olympic TeamTech's turnover is less than the industry average. Schorr (2001), a stress-management consultant, stated that stress causes problems in the workplace which negatively affect employee health and organizational productivity. Stress can lead to problems such as job dissatisfaction, alcoholism, absenteeism, physical ailments, and poor job performance.If managers know how to prevent and cope with stress, productivity can be increased. Many companies instituted stress-management programs that led to a decline in absenteeism, a decrease in sickness and accident costs, and/or an increase in job performance. Schorr reported that a stress inventory, available from a stress-management program, can assist executives and managers in assessing employee stress. The inventory can identify the sources of stress, which may include physical elements as well as other factors.Once these sources have been assessed, the program can provide the necessary skills for coping with the problems, and participants can learn that there are alternative ways of reacting to stress. Methods of the Study Source of Data Data for this study were collected using a questionnaire developed by a group of students at Southwest Texas State University. The questionnaire was divided into S-36 Copyright  © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. Sample Reports 4 three parts. Part one consisted of a list of 15 work performance areas that may be negatively affected by a person's level of stress.Respondents were asked to indicate whether stress increased, decreased, or had not changed their work per formance in each area. They were also asked to indicate from the list of 15 work performance areas the area that was the most negatively affected by stress and the area that was the least negatively affected by stress. In the second part of the questionnaire, a list of 17 programs was provided and the respondents were asked to indicate which programs their companies had implemented to manage stress. Part three was designed to collect demographic data for a respondent profile, including full-time employee classification and age group.A copy of the questionnaire is contained in Appendix A on page 12. Sample Selection The respondents involved in this survey were employees working in companies located in Central Texas. A nonprobability, convenience sampling technique was used to collect primary data. Each member of the research team was responsible for distributing three questionnaires to members of the sample. To ensure confidentiality, respondents were given self-addressed, stamped en velopes in which to return their completed questionnaires to Southwest Texas State University. Controls were used to eliminate duplication of the esponses. Statistical Methods Simple statistical techniques were used to tabulate the results of this study. The primary data were analyzed using a percent of response. To compute the percent of response, the number of responses to each choice was divided by the total number of respondents who answered the question. In question one, the percents of responses for the negative effects of stress on the 15 work performance areas were reported. The results of the next two questions were tabulated by totaling the number of respondents who chose an area they believed was least or most affected by stress.The fourth question reported the percent of respondents whose employers offered the listed programs to manage stress. Questions five and six asked the respondents to indicate if they were considered full-time employees and to indicate their age gr oup. Limitations of the Study This study may be limited through the use of a questionnaire as a data collection instrument. Because questionnaires must generally be brief, areas that may have been affected by stress may not have been included in the questionnaire. S-37 Copyright  © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. Sample Reports Also, all programs that may be available to employees for managing stress may not have been included in the study. The study may also be limited by the use of a nonprobability, convenience sampling method. The sample of business employees for the study was chosen for convenience and may not be representative of the total population of business employees. Care should be taken when generalizing these findings to the entire population. Finally, the use of simple statistical techniques may introduce an element of subjectivity into the interpretation and analysis of the data.All attempts have been made to minimize the effects of these limitations on the study. S-38 Copyright  © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. Sample Reports 6 Section II Findings, Conclusions, and Recommendations Introduction This study was designed to determine the effects of stress on employees and to discover methods employers use to manage employees' stress. Sixty questionnaires were distributed to business employees in the Central Texas area, and the response rate was 78. 3%. This section includes the Findings, Conclusions, and Recommendations. FindingsThe findings will be presented in three sections according to the following characteristics: Demographic Profile, Areas of Job Performance Affected by Stress, and Programs Employers Offer Employees to Manage Stress. Demographic Profile All returned responses from the sample were considered full-time employees by their employers. The respondents were also asked to indicate their age group; all age ranges were represented in the results, as shown in Figure 1. The breakdown consisted of 2. 1% under the age of 20, 33. 7% between 20 and 29, 29. 4% between the ages of 30 and 39, 26. % between 40 and 49, 5. 4% between 50 and 59, and 3. 3% were 60 and over. AGE GROUP 5 1 — Less than 20 1 6 2. 1% S-39 Copyright  © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. 26. 1% 5 — 50 to 59 Figure 1: Age Distribution of Respondents 29. 4% 4 — 40 to 49 3 33. 7% 3 — 30 to 39 2 4 2 — 20 to 29 5. 4% 6 — 60 or over 3. 3% Sample Reports 7 Areas of Job Performance Affected by Stress The respondents were given a list of work performance areas that might be affected by stress and were asked to identify whether stress increased, decreased, or had no change on their work performance.Only respondents who indicated stress negatively affected an area were considered in these findings. Of the 15 areas listed, four areas were identified as having a response rate of more than 50. 0%. These areas were as follows: job satisfaction/morale (73. 9%), courtesy (65. 2%), accuracy (52. 7%), and creativity (51. 6%). Similarly, Schorr (2001) stated that a significant number of employees' creativity is negatively affected by stress. Also, Harrold and Wayland (2002) agreed that morale is strongly affected by stress. Falling within the range of a 30. 0 to 50. 0% response rate were cooperation (49. %), organizational skills (46. 3%), initiative (45. 2%), productivity (42. 8%), alertness (39. 4%), decision making abilities (39. 1%), and perseverance (35. 5%). Harrold and Wayland (2002) established that increasing stress and anxiety are having a negative influence on an individual's organizational efficiency and productivity. The findings that negatively affect work performance are shown in Figure 2. Figure 2: Negative Effects of Stress on Work Performance 15 13 11 9 7 5 3 1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 S-40 10 42. 8% 73. 9% 39. 1% 52. 7% 51. 6% 28. 0% 46. 3% 65. 2% 20 30 40 ProductivityJob Satisfaction/Morale Decision Making Abilities Accuracy Creativity Attentio n to Appearance Organizational Skills Courtesy Copyright  © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. 50 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 60 49. 5% 45. 2% 26. 6% 39. 4% 35. 5% 25. 8% 28. 3% 70 Cooperation Initiative Reliability Alertness Perseverance Tardiness Absenteeism 80 Sample Reports 8 Central Texas employees indicated the area they believed was most affected by stress and the area they believed was least affected by stress. According to the results, job satisfaction and productivity were thought to be most affected by stress.On the other end of the scale, areas least affected by stress were personal appearance and absenteeism. However, Schorr's (2001) study found that, on the average, individuals experiencing stress are more inclined to be absent or tardy. Programs Employers Offer Employees to Manage Stress Question four listed 17 programs offered by employers for managing stress. Respondents were asked to indicate which programs their companies had implemented to manage stress. Th e responses for each program are shown in Table 1. Table 1: Programs Offered by Employers to Manage Stress.TYPE OF PROGRAM Insurance RESPONSES 72% Breaks Educational Assistance/Reimbursement 51. 0% Access for Disabled 42. 6% Alternate Schedule 34. 0% Employee Assistance Programs 34. 0% Wellness Programs 34. 0% Flextime 29. 8% Stress Management Seminars 29. 8% Training Programs 29. 8% Piped Music 17. 2% Assigned Parking 17. 0% Employee Empowerment Programs 17. 0% Ergonomically Correct Furniture 17. 0% Financial Counseling 8. 5% On-Site/Assistance with Child Care S-41 69. 2% 4. 3% Copyright  © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. Sample Reports 9Insurance received the highest number of responses (72. 0%), whereas, therapy received the lowest (2. 1%). Playing classical music and creating a comfortable work environment were found by Foster (2002) to be low cost stress reduction programs. Although these are inexpensive programs to implement, a relatively small response rate w as given for piped music (17. 2%) and ergonomically correct furniture (17. 0%). Maurer (2002) stated that it is necessary for companies to design programs that enable employees to assess stressful situations and develop a rational mode of behavior.In contrast to Maurer's research, only 17. 0% of the respondents indicated that Employee Empowerment Programs are being offered by their employer. A response rate of 34. 0% in the category of wellness programs/on-site fitness facilities was obtained. Barden (2001) reported programs that improve an individual's physical condition are both a positive and an effective method of managing stress. The remaining methods for managing stress were varied. Listed in decreasing percentages, they are as follows: breaks (69. 2%), educational assistance/ reimbursement (51. %), access for disabled (42. 6%), alternative schedules (34. 0%), Employee Assistance Programs (34. 0%), Wellness Programs (34. 0%) flextime (29. 8%), stress management seminars/classe s (29. 8%), training programs (29. 8%), assigned parking (17. 0%), financial counseling (8. 5%), and on-site/assistance with child care (4. 3%). Conclusions On the basis of the findings, several conclusions concerning the effects of stress on Central Texas business employees can be drawn. The findings of this study indicated stress does negatively affect the work performance of employees.Job satisfaction and productivity were indicated as two areas most affected by work-related stress. Therefore, stress cannot be considered just an individual issue because reduced job satisfaction and lower productivity has a direct effect on the company as a whole. From this study, it can be concluded that employers have realized the importance of managing stress in the workplace because of the wide variety of programs now offered to manage stress. Of all the programs offered by employers, insurance is the most frequently offered means for managing stress.Because insurance acts as a security net fo r employees and is offered the most, it can be inferred that employers contend that insurance is the most effective means for managing stress. S-42 Copyright  © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. Sample Reports 10 Recommendations Based on the findings and conclusions in this study, the following recommendations are made: 1. 2. Employers should conduct a survey of the programs they already offer to discover which programs are the most effective for managing their employees' stress. 3.Employees should share their ideas for managing stress with their employers in order to help their employers implement appropriate stress reduction programs. 4. Educators should incorporate into their business curriculum discussions of stress in the workplace and ways to manage stress. 5. S-43 Employers should offer various stress reduction programs to help employees manage stress because stress is prevalent in the workplace. Additional research should be done. First, other areas negatively affected by stress should be studied to determine if stress affects other aspects of an employee's life.In addition, other factors should be examined to learn what the personal and work-related causes and symptoms of stress are for an individual. Copyright  © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. Sample Reports 11 Bibliography Barden, Nancy Ray. â€Å"Wellness Programs: Everyone Wins. † Commerce and Health, November 2001, 28–42. Foster, Lucy Barnes. â€Å"Workplace Stress: Changing the Pattern. † Sales and Marketing Journal (2002), 32–33. Harrold, Robert and Wayland, Michael. â€Å"New Methods to Reduce Workplace Stress. † Industrial Concepts, June 2002, 19–21. Maurer, Marcia K. Is Stress Running Your Life? † Modern Office Innovation, February 2002, 27–28. Schorr, Leslie. â€Å"Coping with Stress, Boosting Productivity. † Employment News, Spring 2001, 23–26. S-44 Copyright  © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. Sample Reports Appendix A Questionnaire The Effects of Stress on Business Employees Students in the Graduate School of Business at Southwest Texas State University are conducting this survey to determine perceptions of the effects of stress on employees. The survey also is designed to determine efforts employers are making to help employees manage stress.Please return this questionnaire in the enclosed postage-paid envelope by Friday, November 8. 1. How does stress most often affect you at work? Please mark one response per line. AREA AFFECTED Productivity Job Satisfaction/Morale Absenteeism Decision Making Abilities Accuracy Creativity Attention to Personal Appearance Organizational Skills Courtesy Cooperation Initiative Reliability Alertness Perseverance T di S-45 Copyright  © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. INCREA SE DECREA SE NO CHANGE Sample Reports 13 2.Which one area from question 1 do you believe is most affected by stress? 3. Which one area from question 1 do you believe is least affected by stress? 4. Which of the following means for managing stress does your employer offer? Please mark all that apply. __ Employee Assistance Program On-Site/Assistance with Child Care Assigned Parking Employee Empowerment Programs Educational Assistance/Reimbursement Breaks Wellness Program/On-Site Fitness Facility Financial Counseling Access for Disabled Stress Management Seminars/Classes Training Programs TherapyAlternative Schedules (part-time, time off for family, etc. ) Flextime Piped Music Ergonomically Correct Furniture Insurance (security net for employee/family) Other (please specify) Note: Questions 5 and 6 are included in this questionnaire as a means of developing a demographic profile of our respondents. 5. Are you classified as a full-time employee by your employer? Yes 6. No Please check your age group. Less than 20 20 to 29 30 to 39 40 to 49 50 to 59 60 or over Thank you for taking time to help us. We value your i nput. S-46 Copyright  © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

A View of the Human Physique As Illustrated Through Different Art Works

A View of the Human Physique As Illustrated Through Different Art Works The following works of art all depict the human body: Woman of Willendorf (Paleolithic, 28,000-25,000 BCE), Pharaoh Menkaure and Queen Khamerernebty (Egypt, 2490-2472 BCE), and the Dying warriors of both the east and west pediments of the Temple of Aphaia (Archaic into Classical Greece, 480 and 490 BCE, respectfully). The broad ideas these figures can be associated with, paired with their smaller level details, together demonstrate how cultural ideals regarding body image change and develop over time. The Woman of Willendorf, sometimes called â€Å"Nude Woman,† is one of the oldest pieces of art found. She is eleven centimeters tall and made of limestone. We know very little about her and cannot make any grand conclusions (though we have â€Å"assigned† meaning to her to satisfy these holes). A few other figurines from the last Ice Age have been discovered, and they were of women as well, highlighting curvature and breasts. The Woman of Willendorf has been associated with fertility, given the name Venus, who is goddess of love and fertility. The figure does not have any facial detail. We do have, however, extremely exaggerated breasts and stomach, and the detail of the vulva. This could certainly lead us to the thought that fertility is indeed the symbol here. What does this indicate? Maybe robust women were more fertile and were the idealized size. Maybe a woman’s main purpose was fertility alone. Maybe larger women were considered healthy. We do not have muc h to go by, but this is where we can consider human sculpture history more or less to begin. The Egyptian statue of Pharaoh Menkaure and Queen Khamerernebty provides us with a representation of a high-figure male and female during the Pyramid ages. Menkaure and his queen stand side by side, made in sandstone, emerging forward with both their left feet outward (most female figures would not do this, which indicates that Queen Khamerernebty could in fact be Menkaure’s Queen-Mother.) They look forward and their almost-stoic faces give a sense of â€Å"other world† – they are in motion, stepping into eternity, and we are watching them in all their beauty. Menkaure has a very detailed face which feels unique. He has smooth skin with no imperfections and a hardy structure: he is quite the image of youth. He wears a traditional pharaoh headpiece, the royal beard in place, and holds the ceremonial cloths – he is in normal pharaoh stature, and this artwork celebrates him. His queen is constructed beautifully. She has a mature body with breasts shown through her clinging clothing, and again, a detailed, unique face. These figures are beautiful and we look at them in amazement, but they are not exactly idealized like typical royal artwork. They are individuals, set in these roles. We can compare this Egyptian art to artwork from earlier periods: we have developed ideals, styles in art based on the literal trends of Egyptian culture, and furthermore, different meanings and purposes of artwork: this sculpture would function as a piece to ensure rebirth for the king during afterlife. The Dying Warriors of both the East and West Pediments of the Temple of Aphaia provide us with a look at the evolution of Greek sculpture in particular. In 490 BCE, the West Pediment figure was made. It is just one part of a lively Trojan War-scene pediment. We see this warrior fallen; he has been impaled in the chest. He is trying to remove the weapon from his chest though he will probably die, all the while sporting his archaic smile common to the art period (to enliven the work of art; not to portray a particular emotion). His legs are flailing in a sort of schematic, perfected way – it is like a pose. This artwork symbolizes a wounded warrior, but it does not do so realistically. It symbolizes a wounded warrior using limited expression and the current standards – both capabilities and ideals – regarding displaying the full body. On the East Pediment, approximately ten years later BCE, we have a far more complex rendering of a hurting warrior. Not only is our body more realistic in its muscle and skin transitions, but we have bodily movement that is believable. The artist thought about what it was like to fall, and this work expresses that very concept. We also lose our archaic smile, as this marks the beginning of the Classical Period in Greece. The face looks a bit tired, and is downward as the soldier tries to hoist himself up with his shield – another object added to the imagery of the scene. We feel this defeat, and through the Hellenistic Period and beyond, emotional concepts which it seems are skimmed here, are explored much more in-depth. We have looked at a limited number of representations of how cultural ideals around the body change over time. Developing cultures evolve to appreciate certain aspects of the human body, in specific ways and to represent defined values or messages. Some 30,000 years ago, what we now call the â€Å"Woman of Willendorf† depicted a human being, specifically a woman, and a robust one. Maybe this translates to an ideal, or to a symbolism or affiliation with fertility. Fast forward many cultures, and we have Egyptian pharaohs being portrayed. We see political hierarchy and religion, defined body ideals, and individualism having developed, all of which are being represented through art. Fast forward further, and we have established war politics displayed in art openly, fierce propaganda exploration and growing expressions of detail, liveliness, and eventually, concepts of emotion and imperfection.

Culture studys neo-nazi music culture Assignment

Culture studys neo-nazi music culture - Assignment Example The emergence of the neo-Nazi music in England took place in the year 1970s with the concert which was titled as ‘Rock against Racism’. Followed by this concert, the array of racists who were involved with the neo-Nazi skinheads was identified to be ‘Rock against Communism’ (RAC). The musical concert was intimately involved with the encouragement of the nationalist neo-Nazis, racists and socially unrest themes with the intention to continue succession and thus imbibe such beliefs within the young generation (Jewish Virtual Library, 2012). The concepts of the music culture which intentionally generated as a moral panic had been considered with the obligation of the neo-Nazi culture that is currently being pursued by the young population. This moral panic involved with its categorisation of races, social groups and communities by the feeling of anxiety and emotional energy concerning the perceived values and beliefs that was typically focused during the music concert (Shayovitz, 2011). Hence, as the prime focus on the neo-Nazi music culture has been observed to imbibe the beliefs amid the young generation, it becomes quite apparent that the cultural movement is likely to have a strong impact on the young population. It also because of the increasing preferences for modern music amid the young generation, that neo-Nazi music culture can have a long lasting impression over this population. The formulation of the Neo-Nazi music culture took place with the consideration of the Jewish holocaust, as one of the utmost crimes during the Second World War era which was carried out by Adolf Hitler with the commitment to set up the Nazi despotism. The catastrophe of the Jewish holocaust is considered as one of the foremost reasons for the occurrence of such ascension of neo-Nazis in Germany in the Second World War. There

Individualsm and collectivism Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Individualsm and collectivism - Assignment Example Collectivism advocates for the importance of social groups always having cohesion. Therefore collectivists will focus mainly on the society or the nation or even the community and not on individuals (Donohue, 1995, p.7). In the United States, individualism and collectivism can be seen in many ways. Individualism can be dated back to the 17th and 18th century in United States. A perfect event of individualism in American history was the frontier. A person was believed to fail or to succeed based on their own individual effort. Many people actually died during this period trying to prove to them that they can be individualists in the frontier farms and the forests. Certain people like Franklin and Washington succeeded based on their own intelligence and ambition and they are perfect examples of individualism (Kim, 1994, p.23). Collectivism is something that was mainly practiced in United States after the world war. Events like United States gaining its independence from Europe in 1776 also shows that individualism worked really well for America. Today, United States wants to be a bigger part of something by practicing collectivism. An event of collectivism in United States was the political system whi ch happened to be representative democracy. In such an event when a president is elected by the majority the people are all expected to embrace their new leader. An ideal case in point would be the choice of Barack Obama as the president in 2012. The totality of the votes casted in the college showed the collectivism of the people in the election of the president (Kitayama, & Cohen, 2007, p.259). In the real world experience some people believe that individual work is what will make them successful while others believe working collectively in a society is what will bring about success. These two aspects help one understand the cultural differences of people. In individualist culture they put the

Industry Research Completion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Industry Research Completion - Essay Example According to Domansky and Williams (2006), the global automotive industry encompasses a few principal manufacturers such as General Motors, Toyota, Honda, Ford, Volkswagen and DaimlerChrylser that serve the global market. The globalization of automobile industry has resulted from the setup of overseas facilities and mergers between firms in recent times. The joint venture of General Motors and Toyota in New United Motor Manufacturing, Inc. and Fiat holding an 85% stake in Ferrari are examples of such mergers. The Automobile Industry is one of the most important industries in the world, employing millions of people, generating billions of dollars in world revenues, placing more than 806 million vehicles on the roads, accelerating the business and commercial activities and linking person to person, area to area and country to country. It is more than a 100 years old. It came into existence in Germany and France and later grew in USA as a result of mass production. However, Papatheodorou and Harris (2007) state that considering the level of employment and revenue it generates, the industry is suffering from financial crisis with profit margins falling from 20% in 1920s to 5% in 2007. This may be due to the maturity of automobile markets in developed countries. According to Encarta Online Encyclopedia (2009), the Automobile Industry has tried to reduce the cost of transportation through mass marketing, mass production and globalized production. The world is headed towards the crisis of recession and economic slump which is expected to reduce automobile sales worldwide. The present economic downturn has proven to have hit the automobile industry sharply and there has been rapid decline in the sales of the industry. Political and economic instability, credit crunch, banks being more particular about auto financing and the rising prices of cars has impacted the

Brain Drain from India to the UK Outline Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Brain Drain from India to the UK - Outline Example I cannot fully agree with the negative perspective concerning the brain drain, as one should consider the benefits of labor emigration to the country itself. Relocation of both gifted and incompetent specialists from India has been occurring subsequent to the nineteenth century. In the mid-1800s, after the nullification of subjugation, the British delivered Indian workers to its provinces to work in manors (Upadhya, 2013). Streams to the UK topped in 1968 when confinements were at last situated setup. The numbers diminished from the top of 23,000 for every year to 5000 for each year (Raveesh, 2013). Truly, Indians left because of better financial open door abroad. This is most likely still one of the fundamental reasons why Indians leave today. However, numerous variables add to the Indian departure. Understanding these elements will help policymakers enhance conditions to urge Indians to return or to stay in any case. A number of medical understudies in India select to study abroad due to increasing expenses and constrained limit at their open organizations (Raveesh, 2013). The therapeutic cerebrum deplete in India not just decreases the number of specialists accessible for consideration, however, it likewise evacuates the individuals expected to push for health awareness changes (Hawkes, Kolenko, Shockness & Diwaker, 2009). Indian understudies traveling to another country for their higher studies costs India a remote trade outpouring of $10 billion yearly (Prakash, 2012). A great many Indian researchers, specialists, engineers and other qualified persons have moved and are staying in different nations. In total terms, India is among the nations, which lose most exceptionally talented laborers to outside business sectors (Prakash, 2012).

Activity Based Costing vs.Traditional Approach (Sober Plc) Essay

Activity Based Costing vs.Traditional Approach (Sober Plc) - Essay Example Financial information forms the basis for much of the decision-making for organizations, and the need for more accurate information continues to grow. Ignorance of the manufacturing realities may put an organization at risk of losing its competitive edge, which inevitably results in loss of profitability and crippling losses. Traditional volume based costing techniques present numerous challenges to organizations, especially in the modern manufacturing environments, where the overhead costs continue to rise. In addition, introduction of new technological advancements in the production processes invalidates traditional cost allocation mechanisms and articulates the need for organizations to switch to new and more market aware costing systems. This paper discusses traditional versus activity based costing with regard to a case on a global motorcycle company currently in a managerial stalemate over the most appropriate costing method. Introduction Traditional costing techniques can be h ighly misleading in their estimation costs of particular products, markets, or organization activities. Traditional approach to allocation of overheads is blind to the factors that drive costs, which are known as cost centres in activity based costing (Luehfing, 2005). ... Background to the Case The senior management staff at Sober Limited engages in a heated ideological standoff because of different viewpoints regarding the appropriate accounting policy for the company. The finance manager proposes adoption of a new costing system, which is activity based costing (ABC), and highlights the fact that the method can prove that the production of one of the company’s primary products, Fireball motorcycle, is no longer profitable, and in fact eats into the company’s profits from other segments. The chairman, critical of activity based costing and favourably predisposed towards traditional costing methodology, expresses his confidence in existing costing methodology, which shows that the production of Fireball is still a viable and profitable option. In addition, the chair claims that the use of activity based costing will only result in unnecessary cost overruns for the company. Analysis of labour hours and ABC in the context of Sober Public L imited Company Sober uses traditional volume based absorption costing to allocate overheads. The company allocates overheads according to the number of labour hours, although sweeping technological changes have put serious credibility as to the relevance of the use of labour hours to allocate costs. The company has had to reduce the size of the workforce due to the introduction of new manufacturing technology. New and more fitting cost drivers than labour hours are now available, and they include deliveries to retailers, set-up costs, and purchase orders. The company seriously considering and questioning the appropriateness of traditional cost allocation methods for overheads in the fundamentally altered manufacturing and market environments. The company sells the motorcycles globally, and the

The Firm and Strategic Human Resource Management Essay

The Firm and Strategic Human Resource Management - Essay Example In order to function efficiently and effectively, people must be managed well. Human resources management (HRM) is the art and science of dealing with people at work for the optimum achievement of individual, organization and society’s goals. While general management is the orchestration of all the resources, human resource management is limited to people management – their motivation, acquisition, maintenance and development. Strategic human resources management (SHRM) is defined by Boxall & Purcell (2003) as â€Å"concerned with explaining how HRM influences organisational performance. They also point out that strategy is not the same as strategic plans. Strategic planning is the formal process that takes place, usually in larger organisations, defining how things will be done. However strategy exists in all organisations even though it may not be written down and articulated. It defines the organisation’s behaviour and how it tries to cope with its environmen t.† Boxall & Purcell have been intrigued by theories and applications of SHRM that they have written several discourses on the subject including the article entitled Strategic Human Resource Management: Where have we come from and where should we be going? In this regard, this essay aims to present a brief synopsis of the paper to outline the content and to identify the nature of the discourse. A discussion of the results of the paper would be proffered in terms of stating the key claims of the findings and determining what it adds to the body of knowledge on SHRM. In addition, the findings from the article would be related sporadically with discussion from the literature in the course module. An assessment of the methods used by Boxall & Purcell would be touched on, as required. Likewise, an identification of the researchs practical implications would be determined; as well as an assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of the paper, as finale. Authors Boxall & Purcell proffered in

Right to Die persuasuve speech for Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Right to Die persuasuve speech for - Essay Example Imagine April dying in less than a year in a most horrible way, on a hospital bed while her baby is crying to be held by her and only her. Maybe she won’t even die. Maybe she will be living on life support. Imagine the trouble her husband will have in moving on if she’s just there and just how critical it will be, at a time like this, to move on, for the baby’s sake. I’d like to talk about the reasonable acceptability of ‘rational suicide’, ‘euthanasia’, ‘mercy killing’ or ‘dying with dignity’. Each of these gives every person the right to die with dignity and gives them the authority to choose the time of their death and how and with whose help it should happen (Sokol, 2007). My main points throughout this debate will be focused around two major arguments – â€Å"Those two arguments are the mercy argument -- the notion of sparing someone unnecessary suffering -- and the self-determination argument, the right to determine ones own fate or level of care while dying.† (Newman, 1992). First of all, many patients on respirators or life support systems are not conscious and so do not have the power to decide whether they want to live or die (Fisher, 2006). In such cases, families or doctors have to decide and do their best to relieve the patients and family members of pain. In such cases, mercy killing seems to be a great option for the patients, and a decision that they themselves must probably have made. Even when some patients are made aware of their life expectancy, they should be allowed to choose death as right of self-determination and choosing one’s own fate. Secondly, there is a risk in everything but when the benefits outweigh these risks, a counter approach which is risky is still taken. For example, every time we travel in our cars, we risk the threat of accidents or being killed on the road. Despite the many deaths that take place because of road accidents, this risk is ignored, keeping in mind the

The Socialist Movement Responsible For Bringing Mussolini To Power Essay Example for Free

The Socialist Movement Responsible For Bringing Mussolini To Power Essay In 1922, following several years of hard work by the Fascists, Benito Mussolini was sworn in as Italys Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and Interior Minister by King Victor Emmanuel. However this event did not simply just happen, as many different factors built up to Mussolinis appointment. It is certainly arguable that the failure of the Socialist movement was responsible for bringing Mussolini to power, but it is undoubtedly not the only factor that led to this fateful appointment. However, a large majority of these other factors can be linked back to Socialist failures, and so therefore I believe that the failure of Socialism is the most important reason for Mussolini coming to power in 1922. Despite having a growing amount of support in the post-War period, the Socialists had a number of clear underlying weaknesses that Mussolini would be able to exploit, and which therefore were extremely beneficial to him gaining power. The party lacked real order and a strong leader, attributes that Mussolini intended to instil into his party and to exploit to gain support. Historians argue that the Fascists were able to drastically over exaggerate the threat of Socialism to those even remotely opposed to the Socialists, and evidence appears to back this theory up. A prime example of this is the events surrounding the proposed General Strike of August 1922. The Socialists plans to take action drastically backfired, when through a lack of support and a small resistance from the Fascists, their efforts failed after a day. The Fascists however dramatically played up both the danger that the Socialists were stirring up, and also how the Fascists had been the ones that had broken it up and saved the country from turmoil. By continually emphasising the supposedly vital role that they were playing, Mussolini and the Fascists were able to make themselves a permanent feature of Italian politics, where they would then be able to prove how vital they were to stability within Italy. Finally, it has been argued by many historians that the Socialists certainly had the capability to become a mighty force, yet its leaders believed that this was inevitable and therefore did not do what was necessary to make it a reality. I believe that Tom Behan bests describes this, when he comments that the leadership believed that all they had to do to win this revolution was wait for it to drop into their laps. In contrast, Mussolini and the Fascists took advantage of every opportunity presented to them and fought hard to gain the power that they did, and this is indeed another crucial aspect to why the Fascists were able to succeed whilst the Socialists capitulated. It is clear that Mussolini was able to use the Socialists failings and declining support to boost his own partys image, with these methods having a major effect on Mussolinis rise to power. As well as the direct failures of the Socialist party, there are also a number of other issues that have close ties with the Socialist movement and were therefore exploited by Mussolini and the Fascists to gain power. The conclusion of World War One brought with it a new Socialist following, and this resulted in the Socialist party asserting itself as a major contender for power within Italy for years to come. This increasingly large following was buoyed by the recent Communist revolution in Russia, and rumours that a similar uprising was on the horizon spread throughout Italy. However, along with the growing support for the Socialists came a large and growing opposition to their party, with many people fearful that an uprising similar to that found in Russia would have an extremely detrimental affect on their personal wealth. There was a clear divide within Italy between those who supported Socialism and those who were against it; you were either for or against, with little in betwe en. Included within this opposition was the growing number of people with strong Nationalist beliefs, whose desires for a strong Italy were ignited by the mutilated victory that they believed had be gained from the War. The Nationalists hatred of the Socialists and yearning for a powerful Italy gave Mussolini a window of opportunity that he was able to whole-heartedly exploit. After being previously excluded from the Socialist party and after seeing this opportunity, Mussolini set up his own party, the Fascists, not necessarily because of his beliefs, but to fuel his desire for power and to be back involved within politics. With this lack of a strong political ideology, Mussolini was able to create a party that incorporated ideas from both the Left and the Right, creating what he believed to be a combination that would generate support from the angry Nationalists yet not turn those with Socialists views completely against them. The use of violence by the Fascists against the Socialists was another extremely effective policy used by Mussolini, which was used to amplify the strength of the Fascist party and in doing so helped to gain support and ultimately bring Mussolini to power. It has already been established that those who were not supporters of Socialism were opposed to it, and this gave Mussolini a very large amount of people that he could attempt to bring around to his way of thinking. By forcefully opposing the Socialists, he was potentially appealing to around 60% of the population, and Mussolini believed that he would be able to turn a large proportion of these people towards Fascism. He felt that the fear and respect that the violence brought, accompanied with peoples desire for a strong leader, could lead to him gaining power, and it certainly proved to be a factor. Following the events of Fiume, which will be discussed later, Mussolini was fairly confident in the knowledge that violence towards his opposition would gain respect and support from the masses. DAnnunzio had confirmed this, and with a similar ideology, Mussolini believed that he could gain success on an even larger scale. Finally, this violence was also able to exploit the weaknesses in the Liberal government and remove them as a serious contender for long term power within Italy. The Liberal government had proved in Fiume that they were weak and could not stand up to violence, and this again proved to be the case. They could not stand up to Mussolinis overly-exaggerated strength, and this turned many influential figures, such as King and his family, away from the party as they too looked for strong and decisive leaders who would be able to further Italys status. With so much support being taken away from the other contending parties through the use of violence, it enabled the Fascists to take full advantage, and so is therefore an extremely important reason why Mussolini was able to come to power. Another important aspect of Mussolinis rise to power is the effects of the 1919 and 1921 elections. After only gaining 5,000 votes in the 1921 elections, which was approximately one vote for every thirty-four gained by the Socialists, Mussolini and the Fascist party realised that they would need to change their ideology if they were to gain power at any stage in the near future. Therefore, Mussolini decided that it would be necessary to change his partys policies to turn them away from the perception that they were still a Left Wing party. The Fascists believed that instead of fighting the PSI for the Left Wing votes, they would be better off moving toward more Right Wing polices to take advantage of the large amount of people who were opposed to Socialism. By taking advantage of this hostility, and by using many of the other actions that have and will be discussed, he believed that he would be able to gain power within Italy, and this certainly proved to be the case. This is also an extremely important point when analysing how strongly Mussolini felt about his partys ideologies. It is widely argued that he was purely interested in gaining power by using whatever means he had available to him, and the ease at which he shifted his ideology appears to back up this theory. Following the 1919 elections, the elections of 1921 also played a vital role in Mussolinis rise to power. For the first time, Prime Minister Giovanni Giolitti placed the Fascist party on his electoral role. Giolitti enjoyed the support of the Fascists, and tolerated the violence used against their opposition and to gain control of local governments. His belief that the Fascists would prove to be a more moderate and responsible party upon taking power is an excellent example of how Mussolini was able to manipulate important people to achieve his ambitions throughout his rise to power. Within the election itself, the Socialists (approximately 30%) and the Catholic party gained the most votes, but with such conflicting ideas they in effect cancelled each other out. This meant that a coalition Liberal government became the dominant party, which played right into Mussolinis hands. With such an easily exploitable party in control, the Fascists would be able to prove how important they were to Italys stability by proving how weak and ineffective their opposition were. Again, this is another important factor as to how Mussolini was able to come to power in 1922, and as we have seen, has a large deal to do with the Socialists inadequacies and failures. On the contrary, there are also a number of aspects that are very important in understanding how Mussolini and the Fascist party were able to come to power in such a short period of time but that are not related to the Socialist partys failures. The first of these are the events that occurred in Fiume through the actions of Gabrielle DAnnunzio. Angry at the so-called mutilated victory, many Nationalists believed that action had to be taken so that Italy could prove itself as a great nation, and to do this some believed it was necessary to forcibly take control of areas that the people believed to be rightfully theirs. This led to Gabrielle DAnnunzio, the writer and war-hero, to take matters into his own hands. With 2,000 other Nationalists, DAnnunzio marched on Fiume and took control from the inter-Allied occupying forces. These events were extremely important in aiding Mussolinis rise to power, as he was able to see the weaknesses that he could exploit within Italy, and used a large amount of DAnnunzios ideas for how to make his party appear more powerful. Features such as the wearing of military uniforms and black shirts, using the Roman salute, giving grand speeches to his followers at rallies (which included the use of rhetoric), using castor oil to humiliate opponents, and his method of government were all copied from DAnnunzio, as Mussolini could see how successful they had been when previously used. Also, the events illustrated how force could be used to gain and retain power, and therefore the weaknesses of the current government. It became clear to Mussolini that if he used violence to achieve his aims, it was highly likely that the government would be incapable of stopping him, especially if he played up his partys strength to make them appear unstoppable. This proved to be greatly important for Mussolini in 1922 as the time of his appointment approached, as if the King and government had stood up to him he would have been defeated, but he had played up his strength so much that nobody was willing to challenge them. The next reason that led to Mussolinis appointment, that did not regard Socialism, was the fact that there was a genuine liking for Mussolinis own individual qualities and the Fascist ideology as a whole. As we have already seen, Mussolini acquired many of the ideas that DAnnunzio employed and used his own qualities to make them effective tools for the Fascist party. Mussolini was able to give grand speeches to his supporters, which showed others that he had confidence in what he was doing and this was enough to turn some people to the Fascist way of thinking. The fear that had been generated in recent years following events like the Biennio Rosso diminished in Mussolinis presence, this being comforting for many people following years of turmoil. Many people purely craved a decisive and powerful leader, not necessarily sticking with their traditional parties, but following anybody that they believed would get something done and improve the state of their country. Mussolini offered this, and this is therefore one of the many possible solutions for why he was able to gain power in such a short time period. It has already been made clear that the prolonged weakness shown by the Liberal government greatly helped Mussolinis rise to power, and this can be examined further. With Mussolini already gaining the support of those opposed to Socialism, he was also able to not only turn people away from the Liberal government, but to use them to make his own party appear more powerful and more effective. The Liberals were failing with both internal and foreign issues, and so any successes made by the Fascists were amplified by these demonstrations of weaknesses by the Liberals, therefore gaining support for the Fascists and aiding Mussolini in his quest to gain power. Next, the Liberal government were not able to deal with the violence used by the Fascists towards the Socialists, and this made it appear both acceptable and a necessary step to gaining a secure Italy. The events of July 1921, when only a dozen officers were able to defeat nearly five hundred Fascists through force, shows that the thuggish actions of the Fascists could have been comfortably dealt with, yet the Liberals and the Monarchy still did not conclusively act. With Giolitti also adding the Fascist party to his electoral role and therefore assuring their position as a genuine political force to be reckoned with, people no longer saw the Fascists as a radical party attempting to cause chaos, but as a party who really knew how to get things done. In comparison to the Liberals, Mussolini and the Fascist party appeared to be a lot more competent and effective alternative, and only boosted Mussolini on his route towards power. Finally, it is impossible to ignore the role that the King throughout Mussolinis rise played, King Victor Emmanuel III. Described as a man who was cowardly, pessimistic and lacking in confidence, it was clear that it would not take much for Mussolini to gain power when the opportunity arose, and it is widely argued that if a stronger man had been King then Mussolini would have never achieved his position of power. With the threat of the March on Rome rising, he made his decision regarding the Prime Ministers call for Martial Law before quickly changing it, this proving the last straw and emphasising the Kings weakness and incompetence. If he had stood by his original decision and taken forceful action against Mussolini and his proposed March on Rome, then it is highly probable that Mussolini and his party would have been crushed there and then. Historians argue that Mussolini was sure that if the King and government had used force against him his plans would have failed, backed up by the evidence that he had an escape plan to Switzerland prepared. However, the weak King did no such thing and the hype that Mussolini had created about the strength of his party and men was just too much for him to handle. Even with the debate that Mussolini was not entirely in control of the Fascists and was therefore pressurised into the sudden push for power, the facade that had been created was large enough to see the Fascists through, and so can therefore be regarded as insignificant. The Kings actions were just the final deeds that enabled Mussolini to come to power, yet even at such a late stage it is clear that, with just a small bit of courage, Mussolini could have been stopped, and so therefore the Kings role can be deemed a vital aspect of Mussolini coming to power. On balance, although not the only reason that culminated in Mussolinis rise to power, it is clear that the failure of Socialism was the most important factor that led to his appointment. As well as the direct failures of the Socialists that Mussolini was able to use to his advantage, many other important issues can be linked closely to the weaknesses of the Socialists which were therefore exploited my Mussolini. Historians such as Behan also acknowledge how the capacity was there for the Socialists to succeed, but unlike the Fascists were unable to capitalise on this. This accumulates to give the impression that although the other ideas are very important, Socialism and its links with other problems was the most important of all of these, and it is can unquestionably be argued that if there had been no Socialist party present between 1919 and 1922, then Mussolini may never have got to his position of power.

The dramatic significance Essay Example for Free

The dramatic significance Essay A view from the Bridge was written and set in the mid 1950s. Arthur Miller (the author) in his biography Time Bends explains the idea of the play came from a story he had heard about a longshoreman, but until he visited Sicily a few years later, and saw for himself the poverty of the people he did not use this idea. The play was set in Red Hook, Alfieri in his opening speech described Red Hook a slum and he mentions Al Capone, the greatest Carthaginian of all and tells us (the audience) that Frankie Yale was cut precisely in half by a machine gun on the corner of Union street This is also showing us the type of violence and culture in this place. Work here has very little pay and the people, often newly arrived immigrants looking for better opportunities, are exploited by the bosses. Arthur Miller was very concerned to let his audiences know about the tough lives of these people. Alfieri, in his first speech aimed directly at the audience mentions And now we are quite civilized, quite American. Now we settle for half, and I like it better. I no longer keep a pistol in my filing cabinet. He says this because in the twenties before this Red Hook was The slum that faces the bay on the seaward side of Brooklyn Bridge. It was The gullet of New York swallowing the tonnage of the world because people used to take matters into their own hands and forgot the law but now they dont now we are quite civilized. The word Gullet sounds ugly and emphasises the nature of this area. The scene we are studying is significant because we are able to see the antagonism of Eddie towards Rodolfo intensify, and become dramatised in the form of a boxing Lesson. The scene also shows how close Catherine and Rodolfo become after Eddie trying to separate them. We also see the way Beatrice is mostly in the middle of the characters. She is very aware how tense Eddie is becoming due to the growing relationship between Catherine and Rodolfo. However she is very pleased with them both. We also see Marco agreeing with Eddies authority but warning him not to bully his brother by having a show of physical strength, this show of strength prefigures what happens at the end of the play. Before Alfieris speech to the audience Eddie came and spoke to Alfieri about Catherine and Rodolfo. His first excuse he is trying to convince Alfieri that Rodolfo only wants his papers and his second excuse is that he is a homosexual. Eddies real reason is that his love for Catherine is out of control. Eddie is trying to do this because he thinks Catherine deserves better that Rodolfo and also says for an excuse that Rodolfo is only after Catherine for his papers to be an American citizen. Alfieri tells Eddie that the only way to get Rodolfo into trouble with the law is to tell the authorities about the illegal immigrants.

Government And Private Hospital Differences Health And Social Care Essay

Government And Private Hospital Differences Health And Social Care Essay In many countries, controversy surrounds the roles of government and the private hospitals. While bigger states such as The United Kingdom and Germany have many government hospitals that could really overcome the demands for the patients. On the other hands, some poorer countries, the government hospitals are really very poor. In these hospitals the patient must buy his medications from the nearby pharmacies. A private hospital is a hospital owned by company. This practice is very common in the United States and Australia. In the United Kingdom, private hospitals are distinguished from the National Health Service (NHS) institutions that provide health care free at the point of use for the patient. A government hospital also known as public hospital is a hospital which is owned by a government and receives government funding. This type of hospital provides medical care free of charge, the cost of which is covered by the funding the hospital receives from the government. The government hospitals is a good healthcare that is available to all, regardless of their wealth. It is not just meets the needs of everyone but it also free at the point of delivery. However, the services provided by the government hospitals is the first come first served. The Doctors could treat those who were in most need of treatment and were suffering from the most serious illness. The problems for this are that some patients have to wait along time. Not just the government hospitals waiting lists are so long that patients could be faced with an anxious and possibly painful wait of many months, before gaining admission. But when the patient is given a date it will be one that suits the hospital and not the patient. On the other hand, in the private sector patients can get immediate admission for non-life threatening operations. In addition, patients can choose when they want to be seen, opting for surgery when it fits in with their job or holidays. In addition to the patientà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s choice of when they want to be seen, in the private hospitals they also have other choices such as choosing which consultant that is going to be carrying out there operation. They have no restrictions of visiting hours along with extras such as individual rooms with telephones, satellite television, en-suite bathrooms and a wide variety of meals to choose from. The population is growing larger and living longer, which is putting extra, demands on the government hospitals in terms of both time and costs. Either increasing spending on the government hospitals or encouraging more people to go private can overcome the above limitations. Private hospitals give patients options for coverage and a choice of physicians. Patients can choose their preferred hospital or clinic with private health care. Private hospitals care allows patients to be seen promptly. Private hospitals reduce the governments share of the health care burden. There are many advantages of using private hospitals rather than the government hospitals. Private hospitals have a profit incentive to cut costs and maintain a good service, which is essential to attracting customers. Private hospitals also face competition which is another reason for better quality services. These factors are absent in government public services. On the other hand private hospitals it reduces the money the government pays to the government hospitals. It will also reduce the waiting lists. Other benefits for the private hospitals are that there will be no queues. Although waiting times on the government hospitals have improved in recent years because of the new technology, you will still have to wait for at least a couple of weeks for treatment but you will not have to wait this long for private treatment. In the private hospitals if the worst happens, your treatment will be as quick as it can be. You can also choose your consultant and where you want to be treated when using private hospitals. Using the private hospitals you do not have to worry about being on a mixed-gender ward. Depending on your policy, you may have a private bathroom. The visiting hours are also unrestricted. You will also be likely to be seen by the same consultant throughout your treatment. Despite the above advantages for the private hospitals there are also many disadvantages. These include depending on your policy and any previous medical conditions, but most policies only cover short-term illness or injury. With so many companies offering private hospitals, it is difficult to know which option would best suit your needs. Because of this you get what you pay for: the more cover you want, the higher your premium will be. As you cannot predict illness, you might develop a condition that is not covered when using the private hospitals. Private hospitals might not have the same depth of expertise found in teams within the government hospitals. Even thought the private hospitals offer better facilities they are extremely costly so only wealthy patients gets admitted if compared with the government hospitals. In public hospitals there are qualified while private hospital offers some times better health care treatment. In a private hospital the equipments are of standard quality and generally there is risk for the patient since a large number of people looks after a single patient. In a public hospital, the case may be entirely different. There may be a single or no person at all to be looking after the sick patient. Government hospitals are funded by the government and therefore cannot turn away patients. On the other hand the private hospitals are privately funded and make their own rules. Because of this the private hospitals reject uninsured patients. The government hospitals are funded by the government so that they are there to help the poor and anyone who might have health problems while private hospital is not bound by the government to help the poor but they are better equipped and better medical care. The government hospitals receive government assistance, and therefore are required to treat people regardless of their ability to pay while the private hospitals do not receive such assistance, and therefore are better suited only those who can afford to go. Sometimes the government hospitals can offer a greater choice of equipment than the private hospitals, as the money needed for many treatments and procedures is very expensive. Private hospitals may struggle to purchase or loan all the screening equipment they need to offer a full service so occasionally the private patient may need to be treated in the government hospital in order to receive the care they require. As the private hospitals have smaller equipment than that of the government hospitals, they can often afford to update their smaller items of equipment fairly frequently something that the government hospitals might struggle to do. The private hospitals have little scope to perform immediate life-saving operations but it may be able to carry out semi-urgent procedures depending on the surgeonà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s availability and amount of theatre time available. On the other hand the government hospitals are highly equipped to manage any form of emergency surgery. Many patients believe that the government hospitals often have bad reputation in terms of medical attention. Dormitory style rooms rather than private hotel rooms are normal in the government hospitals but you will usually get the medical attention you need. Sometimes, for major medical procedures, a private hospital will ship you off to a government hospital anyway. In poorer countries, the government hospitals are really too bad. Some of them might not have any medicines at all. The patient has to buy them from nearby pharmacies. Even worse than that sometimes there might not be any doctor at all who is on duty. The problem that will result this is that the patient will have to choices. The patient has to go to Private hospital or unfortunately, he has to suffer for his diseases. Conclusion There are several differences between the government and private hospitals, some of which have been outlined above. Although some private hospitals provide extensive cover for eligible cancer treatment including out-patient consultations, diagnostic tests and therapies as well quality treatment with a choice of consultants and specialists and patient privacy in a clean and comfortable environment, usually with an en-suite room and 24 hour help line offering medical information and guidance, many patients might not afford to pay for such private hospitals. But, as the government hospitals are funded by the government and can go there for treatment any patient regardless of their wealth. Therefore, it is highly recommended that all parties i.e. government and private hospitals should work together to quality healthcare system. When you have health problems, you are concerned a lot where to pursue your medical practice. You can choose between a private hospital and government hospital. But before you make a decision, you have to consider your priorities. If you can go to the government hospital and you have the chance to see the doctor, then it is advisable that you go there. This is because the government hospitals are funded and managed by the government and/or local authorities. They know better what is good for there citizens. However, if you do not lucky to see the doctor and you should go into a waiting list, then you should consider going to private hospital otherwise, your health problem might increase and reaches where it is out of help.

Aristotle and Heidegger Allowing Personal Accountability Essay

Aristotle and Heidegger Allowing Personal Accountability A disquieting article recently appeared in The New York Times. The article chronicles the story of Larry W. Peterman, resident of Provo, Utah, owner of a successful adult video store, and defendant in a case in which he was charged with selling obscene material. During Peterman’s trial, the following information came to the fore, "As it turned out, people in Utah County, a place that often boasts of being the most conservative area in the nation, were disproportionately large consumers of the very videos that prosecutors had labeled obscene and illegal. And far more Utah County residents were getting their adult movies from the sky or cable than they were from the stores owned by Larry Peterman."11 Mr. Spencer, a public defender who described himself as a devout Mormon said, "The fact is that an awful lot of people here in [Provo] are paying to look at porn. What that says to me is that we're normal."22 Provo’s "normal" residents buy twice as much pornography as the occupants of other comparably sized American cities.33 Ostensibly most, if not all, of Provo’s predominantly Mormon inhabitants have heard their church leaders constantly, unequivocally decry pornography.44 Yet despite constant warnings, not only are Provoans incontinent, they are statistically twice as incontinent as their other small-town counterparts. What could explain this weakness? Moreover, what is it in us that seems to make us prone, or whereby we make ourselves prone, to incontinence? Aristotle in his Nicomachean Ethics and Martin Heidegger in Being and Time both offer models of human action that account for human weakness, which Heidegger calls inauthenticity and Aristotle names akrasi... ...iversity Press, 1993) John Haugland, "Heidegger on Being a Person," in Nous 16, no. 1 (1982) Martin Heidegger, Being and Time, trans. John Macquarrie and Edward Robinson (New York: Harper and Row, 1962) Soren Kierkegaard, Fear and Trembling: Dialectical Lyric, trans. Howard V. and Edna H. Hong (New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 1983) Daniel N. Robinson, "Psychology as a Human Science: Rationality, Volition, and the Moral Point of View," in Aristotle's Psychology (New York: Columbia University Press, 1989) Amelie Okensberg Rorty, "The Place of Contemplation in Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics," Mind 87, no. 347 (Jul 1978) M.T. Thornton, "Aristotelian Practical Reason," Mind 91, no. 361 (Jan 1982) C. Terry Warner, "The Aristotelian Strategy," in "The Possibility of Self-Deception" (Department of Philosophy, Brigham Young University, photocopy)

Sa pagitan ng lumang libro :: Foreign Language Essays

Sa Pagitan ng Lumang Libro Chapter I: Bagong simula Isang araw habang nakaupo ako sa ilalim ng punong mangga, nasabi ko, â€Å"Hay naku, parang kailan lang natapos ang klase, magpapasukan na naman†. â€Å"May bago kaya akong kaklase? Doon pa rin kaya papasok ang mga kaibigan ko?†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. Ako nga pala si Roxanne Marie Lopez ang naglalahad ng storya ng buhay ko. Isang umaga,† Hay, 6:00 na ng umaga na pala, pasukan na, kailangan ko ng magmadali†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Nang nasa skul na ako, una kong nakita si Ate Camille, skulmeyt ko, ganda ng bati ko nang mapalingon ako at mapansin si Lawrence, malapit na kaibigan ko kaso medyo nakakainis kasi masyadong manhid. Ay! Di ko pala naikukwento, crush ko pala siya di niya nga lang alam. Binati ko rin naman siya. Ang pinagtatakahan ko lang, nang paakyat na ako, nagtutumpukan ang mga estudyante, hindi ko nga alam ang dahilan. Tamang-tama dahil nakasalubong ko si Karen at sinabi niya sa akin na graba daw kami kaswerte dahil kaklase namin ang isang sikat na teen actor ng Japan. Siya si Kaijiro Natsume. Ang pelikula niya ay kasalukuyang pinapalabas ngayon sa paborito kong channel ko. â€Å"Ha?† sabi ko. Para kasing di kapani-paniwala, dito pa mismo sa silid-aralan naming. Napag-alaman ko pala na 17 gulang na pala siya. Ang layo ng edad sa amin. Pero syempre sa Japan may grade 7 talaga at pahinto hinto siya dahil sa mga pelikula na kanyang ginagawa. Pagkatapos ng ilang lingo, inayos na ng aming guro ang pwesto ng aming mga upuan, nakakagulat dahil katabi ko siya, kaya nga kapag kinakausap ko siya, hirap din akong mag-english e, pero nakakatuwa kasi ang talino niya sa Science at Math. Minsan naikwento niya pala sa akin na kaya siya nandito sa Pilipinas ay dahil may –business contract-ang pamilya at pagkatapos nito ay babalik na rin sila sa Japan. Nakakatuwa nga e, dahil may libre akong tutor sa lahat ng subjects kaya matataas lagi ang aking iskor sa mga pagsusulit. Isang araw may bakante kami oras sa hapon, naku! Nakatulog ang lolo, kaya umalis muna ako sandali, nang medyo nakakalayo na ako sa upuan ko, lumapit ang mga malalapit kong kaibigan na kaklase ko at sinabi nila â€Å"alam mo, napapansin ko malapit n a kayo niyang si Kaijiro, minsan nga ang –sweet- niyo kaya kinikilig kami palagi†. Sabi ko, â€Å"Ano ba kayo, syempre magkatabi kami natural magiging malapit na kaibigan ko siya†. â€Å"E papaano na si Lawrence, may gusto ka sa kanya di ba?

sphere critique Essay -- essays research papers

Sphere   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Sphere is an interesting story about a group of scientists from different disciplines who are brought to a super-secret underwater site where the U. S. Navy has discovered a mysterious, glowing sphere. Although the movie was very interesting, a lot of scientific facts, it was just too long and there were parts of the film where I found myself yawning. I give the movie a thumb up for being the movie my teacher chose to show the class. Although the movie was directed by Barry Levinson and starred Dustin Hoffman, Sharon Stone, and Samuel L. Jackson it would not be a movie I would pick off the shelf and rent for my own interest.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Psychologist Norman Goodman is summoned to the middle of the Pacific Ocean, to provide trauma-assistance in what he believes to be a plane crash. When he arrives he is informed that a ship laying fibre optic cables between Honolulu and Sydney had come across an unknown object 1000 feet under the ocean. The navy using SLS side looking sonar was able to detect an aerodynamic fin longer than a football field and longer than any known wingspan. Also using the fusel lodge extra high resolution SLS bottom scan they figured out that the spacecraft was buried under 8 yards of quarrel. Knowing that the pacific quarrel grows at a rate of an inch a year they were able to calculate that the spacecraft crashed about 300 years ago. Also there is a low level hum that the sonar can pick up.    ...

Complementing Texts: Homer’s The Odyssey and Dante’s Inferno Essay

Ever since human beings started telling stories for entertainment or for edification, heroes have made incredible journeys against what seem like impossible odds. In the beginning, heroes often these journeys to reach a goal, often in defiance of the gods who, for whatever reason, had imposed limits upon the main character of the story. In Homer’s story, The Odyssey, this limitation is that the gods will block his way home until he speaks to the sage Tiresias. By contrast, Dante Alighieri’s character of Dante primarily seeks to find answers to his questions; that is, knowledge, as a means to find salvation. While both heroes interact with the underworld to accomplish their aims, the stories complement each other, rather than mirror each other. In many ways, Dante’s text â€Å"corrects† the story found in Homer’s work, making it suitable for Christian audiences. Careful examination of texts reveals how some of these areas differ significantly between them. Some of these differences include the nature of the underworld itself and the hero’s interaction with it, the knowledge that Odysseus’ mother has of the living world, and the shared rule of the underworld. The Nature of the Underworld and the Heroes’ Interaction with It Like Dante’s Hell, Homer’s underworld is not a pleasant place to spend eternity. It is dark and gloomy; the inhabitants have dulled senses. The underworld into which Odysseus looks is Hades, not the Elysian Fields, where heroes were blessed with eternal happiness. Rather, the â€Å"unhappy dead† live there, cursed to bleak and boring existences for the rest of eternity. The dead who exist in Hades are those who have died unburied, like Odysseus’ friend, Elpenor, who died falling from a ladder leading from Circe’s roof, as well as Tiresias and Odysseus’ unhappy mother. And yet, misery of the inhabitants is one of several similarities between the two underworlds. One interesting difference between the Homer’s Hades and Dante’s Hell is that the stories’ heroes find their entrances in extremely different locations. Odysseus finds the entrance to Hades in a harbor at the â€Å"western edge of the world,† while Dante finds the entrance to Hell in the midst of a dark wood. While these differences might seem insignificant, they are, in truth, indicative of the different purposes behind the journeys that the heroes undertake. The harbor at the end of the world represents physical distance traveled; Odysseus is on a quest to return home to Ithaca, a goal that the gods have prevented him from attaining. It is an earthly goal, however, with measurable distances that must be traversed. While the ocean that Odysseus travels provides room for a communal journey through which he attempts to bring his crew home, Dante’s dark wood provides a far narrower field. It is restrictive and personal, perhaps driven by the solitary nature of Dante’s quest for knowledge and redemption. The distance that Dante must travel, therefore, is not one of finite measurement; rather, it exists within himself. It is a spiritual journey with no physical boundaries. Ultimately, this difference is magnified by the many levels of Hell, with its myriad levels, terraces, and malboges. In addition to the differing nature of the underworld as portrayed by each poet, the nature of the interaction that each hero has with the underworld and its inhabitants also varies. In order to interact at all with the inhabitants of the underworld, both heroes must make a rite of passage. Odysseus enters the realm of Hades by making a blood sacrifice of a ram, collecting its blood in a pit. Through this offering and by offering the appropriate supplications to the gods, Odysseus is able to call forth the souls of the dead. Being surrounded by the dead causes him to become afraid; however, he regains sufficient courage to control them and to question them. The character of Dante, however, must actually pass through the gates of Hell, ‘abandoning hope’ in order to learn what he desires. Although Odysseus is in the world of the dead, he is sure enough of himself to regain control, as opposed to Dante, who relinquishes all of his control to Virgil as then enter the underworld realm. While less â€Å"heroic† than Odysseus’ actions, this submissive behavior is actually of great importance, which again is based in the heroes’ purpose in entering the underworld. It is clear, that although both heroes must enter the realm of the underworld, each for his own purpose, Odysseus does not actually travel through Hades as Dante does through Hell. Rather, the dead approach Odysseus, coming â€Å"up in a crowd from Erebos: young men and brides, old men who had suffered much, and tender maidens to whom sorrow was a new thing; others killed in battle, warriors clad in bloodstained armor† (124) all surround his sacrificial pit in response to the ram’s blood that he has offered. This difference is also a significant one and related to the point made above it. Although Odysseus immediately appears to be the supplicant, by making the blood offering that attracts the dead, he is also in control of it. The dead must do his bidding in order to feed and give him the information that he requires. By contrast, the character of Dante physically travels into the midst of the souls of the damned. While he is under his own volition, Dante is a pilgrim, who must make an effort to gain his knowledge. He follows Virgil as Virgil leads, interacting with the souls on their own level in their own environment. This difference would also make Dante’s tale more appealing to Christian audiences. Although Odysseus’ cunning and strength were admired by the audience that lived at his time, the lesson of humility that the character of Dante both learns and teaches would be considered more acceptable to Alighieri’s audience. Although he is taking the initiative to learn on his own, like a proper pilgrim he is taking instruction from a master and listening to the moral lessons set before him. For those in the audience who recognize that he might have been contemplating suicide, Dante is also in the process of repenting. Knowledge of the Living World Odysseus seeks not merely wisdom from Tiresias, but he also seeks knowledge of his future in the living world. In truth, both Tiresias and Odysseus’ mother have clear knowledge of the living world, which they freely share with him in their turn. What is more, it is accurate knowledge, which allows him to prepare for his future, should he ever arrive at his destination. In a sense, both Tiresias and Odysseus’ mother are as living beings that have merely been transported to a new existence on an alternate plane, in that they can take initiative to see what lies ahead and then share it with him. Given that in other myths inhabitants of Hades are able to travel freely between the worlds with the gods’ permission, it seems apparent that the ancient Greeks saw the underworld as a place from which people could escape to return to the living if they had enough virtue or if they had a hero to aid them. This kind of belief is opposed to both Dante’s belief and to the belief of the Christians who formed his audience. Dante’s souls, perpetually trapped in their state of torment, must continuously atone for their actions on earth. They are surrounded by the reminders of their sins, perhaps tormented by the very things that they desired in life. At times, their appearance is dramatically altered to match their crimes. The only hope for the souls in Hell is Judgment Day, at which time they may be redeemed–or they may find themselves condemned to suffer throughout eternity. Even then, redeemed souls would not interact with the living; instead, they would pass into Heaven. Once again, the difference between the two realms and their inhabitants may be explained by virtue of the perception of the audiences for which the poets were writing. To the Greeks, life in the underworld was not necessarily a punishment. Certainly, the inhabitants of the underworld could experience punishment, even that of a perpetual nature. One good example of this kind of punishment would be Sisyphus, condemned to roll a boulder to the top of a hill for eternity, only to have it escape him and roll to the bottom again before it reaches the peak. However, the underworld is a plane of existence to which all humans will eventually travel. The underworld itself is divided into sections that provide reward or punishment or which simply continues the miserable existence that people had when on earth. This difference is, once again, quite different from the perspective of the Christian audience served by Dante, which viewed the underworld for punishment only. It is this understanding of the underworld being for punishment that would also limit the dead’s interaction with the living. Dante’s dead are unable to access the living world and, when encountering the character of Dante, are unable to learn from what he tells them. They have no minds and no insight, unlike the dead that Odysseus encounters, who know that they are suffering and why and yet are unable to interact with the world of the living in order to minimize their experiences. The Shared Rule of the Underworld In The Odyssey, both Hades and his wife, Persephone, rule the underworld. Although Hades has control over the underworld as a whole, Persephone is the Queen of the Women, with the ability to overrule even her husband in control of that group. In terms of importance, while this difference might seem trivial to some readers, it is perhaps of greatest significance of all of these points. Hades is not omnipotent, in that Persephone has equal control, if not greater control in some aspects of ruling the underworld. She strikes fear in Odysseus’ heart equal to that of her husband, in that Odysseus describes Hades as â€Å"mighty,† but Persephone as being â€Å"awful,† which would be synonymous with her being terrifying. This kind of rule would be unsurprising to the ancient Greeks, who lived in a world ruled by many gods. It also paralleled the arrangement of the gods on Mount Olympus, to a certain extent: Hades and Persephone, who ruled the world of the dead, mirrored Zeus and Hera, who ruled the world of the living. To the Christians that formed Dante’s audience, this arrangement would have been more than just a little shocking. Christians worship a single God who, while He might have different and while He may employ different helpers in the angels and the saints, has dominion over the living and the dead. As with the ancient Greek deities, God and Satan somewhat mirror each other. Despite Satan’s impressive appearance in The Inferno, however, he is as much a prisoner of Hell as its other residents. In addition, Satan does not mirror God’s power; rather, he is only capable of destruction, not creation. Conclusion In many ways, Dante’s Inferno complements and corrects Homer’s The Odyssey. Both are tales that bring a hero into contact with the underworld in order to achieve a particular goal. In the case of Odysseus, this goal is worldly and finite, while in the case of Dante, the goal is spiritual and may lead to eternal salvation. Several differences, among others, that indicate the complementary and corrective nature of Dante’s work are those of the nature of the respective underworlds and the heroes’ interaction with the inhabitants, the knowledge that the dead have of the living world, and the shared rule that Hades and Persephone have over the ancient Greek underworld. The story of heroic travels through the underworld is not a new one, neither was it new when Homer wrote The Odyssey. In the days of passing history and learning through oral means, such stories were necessary teaching tools. However, each culture imposed its morals and beliefs on this kind of tale. The different between these two stories provide an excellent example of how this cultural influence stamps this kind of heroic story with differences throughout history.

Global Business Cultural Analysis

Kenya lies to the east of the African continent and has a coast on the Indian Ocean. The country straddles two of the most famous lakes in Africa – Lake Turkana and Lake Victoria. At its heart is Mount Kenya from which the country takes its name. The Kenyan population is heterogeneous, comprising seven major ethnic groups as well as tens of smaller ones and non-Kenyan communities. There is a religious mix with a Christian majority and Muslim and indigenous religious minorities. Formerly a British colony, Kenya achieved independence in 1963. Understanding the various cultural norms and ethnic and religious groups is essential when doing business in Kenya. Kenyan Culture – Key Concepts and Values Group-relations – Kenyans have strong affiliations to their ethnic group or tribe and sometimes place them in front of the ‘nation’. The family is at the heart of Kenyan life and is given priority over everything else. Several generations will live together in one house with all family members taking care of one another. Absenteeism from work or delays in performing tasks due to family obligations is frequently experienced in Kenya and is viewed as perfectly acceptable. Religion – The majority of the population is Christian (Protestant and Catholic) but there is also a substantial Muslim (Sunni) minority. At the same time Animism and ancestor worship remain widespread. Both Christians and Muslims have managed to incorporate traditional practices into their respective religions creating unique blends to suit their particular needs. Time – In general, Kenyans have a more relaxed approach towards time and live at a slower pace. It is not unusual to wait half an hour for someone to arrive for an appointment and this is seen as perfectly acceptable. Taking care of personal affairs first is regarded as more important than arriving on time. This being said, today particularly in the private sector there is a growing trend of punctuality and observing deadlines. Doing Business in Kenya is the one of Africa’s more affluent nations and is seen a business hub for East Africa. The country’s economy has been hampered though by corruption and a reliance on certain goods whose prices have failed to rise sufficiently. Kenya has also been affected by the global economic downturn and in 2008 saw a 7% drop in its GDP growth from the previous year. Despite this, tourism, manufacturing and investment have predominated in the Kenyan economy over the last four decades giving Kenya a prized position within Africa. Understanding how Kenya’s economy and politics impact its business culture will help you when doing business in Kenya. Kenyan Business Part 1 – Working in Kenya o Working practices in Kenya †¢ Business hours in Kenya are from 9:00am to 4:00pm, with a one hour break for lunch between 1:00pm and 2:00pm. Some businesses also operate on Saturday mornings. Kenyans have a flexible attitude towards time, so don’t be surprised if business meetings or social events begin late. Punctuality tends to be expected when dealing with foreigners though, so make sure to arrive on time. Kenyans do not tend to schedule a precise end to meetings. What matters is not adhering to a schedule but ensuring that everybody involved is satisfied with the outcome. Therefore make sure to leave enough time in your agenda when attending a meeting. English is widely spoken in Kenyan business environments and you can expect your counterparts to have good language skills so you can conduct your business in English. A little knowledge of basic Kiswahili phrases always leaves a good impression and can help to break the ice. Structure and hierarchy in Kenyan companies †¢ Business hierarchies are generally clearly defined, especially in family owned companies. Although employees are welcome to give suggestions and comments, the final decision is taken by senior members or managers. Education and experience are important qualities and main sources of credibility. A personable character can earn extra credit. Foreigners tend to be approached with high regard simply on the basis of their international expertise. Hierarchy plays an important role in the business structure of Kenya. Be mindful of a colleague’s title and their place in the organization. Decision making in Kenyan businesses tends to work on a top-down basis, with objectives set and decisions made by those in the highest positions. Respect and deference to one’s elders should be observed when in Kenya. First business meetings are often quite formal until the relationship is established. Relationships outside of the business environment can help build stronger ties too. The unofficial and informal nature of networking out of the office can help cement a stronger working relationship. This is often done by offering your colleague a drink or meal. Kenya Business Part 2 – Doing Business in Kenya o Business practices in Kenya †¢ Being a polychromic society, Kenyan business practice focuses on getting things done by order of priority rather than working to a set time schedule. In many businesses the working day will halt at specific times for Muslim members of staff to pray. Business attire is formal in Kenya. Men wear suits and ties while women wear long dresses or skirts which reach below the knee. Women do not usually wear trousers although this trend is slowly changing. Women should make sure their shoulders are covered and should not wear anything too revealing. Business cards are often used in Kenya and should be given and received with both hands. Marketing boards are state-controlled or state-sanctioned entities legally granted control over the purchase or sale of agricultural commodities. Since the mid-1980s they have declined in number under pressure from domestic liberalization and from international trade rules that increasingly cover agriculture. Where reforms have been widespread and successful, marketing boards have vanished or retreated to providing public goods, such as strategic grain reserves or insurance against extraordinary price fluctuations i. . the National cereals board, the Tea board of Kenya. Where reforms have been less successful, the weaknesses of private agricultural marketing channels have been revealed by the rollback of marketing boards, often leading to calls for reinstatement of powerful marketing boards. It is often suggested that an exporting country should set up a price stabilization fund to insulate farme rs from fluctuations in the world market price, by collecting a proportion of farmers’ revenue when prices are high and paying it out when prices are low. A typical price stabilization fund is set up for an export crop. In years when the world price is high, some of the returns are paid into the fund; in years when it is low, the accumulated revenues are used to bring up the price. There are many variations on this basic model. Some of the funds soon collapse, while others go on for years, surviving but not necessarily achieving their objectives. The objectives of the fund are usually obscure, sometimes deliberately so. For example, farmers press for stabilization without making it too obvious that to them stabilization means a lower limit to prices rather than an upper limit: in other words, they want a higher average price. Consumers think of price stabilization as imposing minimum prices rather than both maxima and minima. It is often assumed without discussion or evidence that price stabilization benefits the farmer and is beneficial to the economy. To provide price stability, marketing boards set the prices for farmers. During a season of high prices in the world market, they stash funds over and above the set local target, which they later use to cushion farmers whenever the global market prices plummet. The marketing boards possess the sole legal authority to purchase commodities from farmers and to engage in trade. Through the boards, governments typically fix official producer prices for all controlled commodities. Marketing boards provide a guaranteed market for the farmers, absorbing all marketed surplus at the official producer prices, and maintaining extensive buying networks and storage facilities throughout the production regions. Grain marketing boards commonly handle the strategic food reserves for emergency situations, and have the responsibility to import food in shortage seasons. They also stabilize prices, thus protecting farmers from sharp fluctuations. The boards also obtain funds for sales promotion, research and extension services. To raise farmers' bargaining power- especially to prevent over exploitation of farmers by middle men. The boards also improve quality regulation. In the last two decades, the production of primary exports in our country has been dwindling, and in some cases, almost ceased altogether. The crops in question are pyrethrum, sisal, cotton, coffee, and to a lesser extent, tea. The NCPB sells seeds and fertilizers to farmers at subsidized rates and buys their produce at higher prices than the market price, as a way of offering incentives to farmers. To ensure food security, NCPB has silos all over the country that store grains in times of surplus production and sell them in times of food shortages at affordable prices. This helps improve the country’s food supply situation. The Kenya Meat commission which was recently revived, served an important role, during the droughts that ravaged the country, by buying cattle from owners, who would otherwise have suffered a very big loss as the animals would have perished in the drought. Now the farmers can replenish their herds when the drought passes. The Kenya Cooperative creameries is also another marketing board that buys milk from farmers at better prices than go between and hence offering a ready market to milk as a produce in the country. The Coffee board of Kenya and the Kenya Tea Development Authority also buys produce from farmers at good prices, so that farmers are ensured of a market for their produce and can be able to develop themselves from income earned. The boards then sell the produce through exports. This board deals with buying pyrethrum from farmers and finding a market for it. Boards established by the colonialists have, on the whole, been playing a major role in marketing most of these crops, but the majority is inefficient, corrupt, and unable to bring the necessary changes to the agricultural sector to meet the challenges of global competition. Measuring whether the above objectives have been achieved is difficult, since most of these boards offer minimal public information and data important for analysis. In the current global market, private firms, with the intent of maximizing returns, will always hunt for the best world prices. Their staff is likely to be more qualified than the bloated workforce littering our boards. Farmers would be better served by private entities. Since new farmers are always joining a given sector, the system of stabilization is disadvantageous to the old ones. Funds set aside earlier end up cushioning even the newcomers. Since the 1990s, the target prices set by the boards seem to have been out-paced by the rate of inflation. In real terms, it is the farmers who experience negative returns for their products. Most crops in our country come from specific regions where weather conditions are favorable. Centralization of the marketing boards dampens the enthusiasm of farmers. It is in the best interest of the country for income obtained in a certain region to remain there in the hands of farmers, save for the taxes raised by the State. Some senior employees at the head offices, who do not even come from the areas in which the crops are grown, sometimes earn more in a year than do farmers in their whole lives. Our marketing boards are government revenue collectors rather than price stabilizers. Farmers pay more taxes at the hands of these boards, than they would otherwise. The establishment of various agencies in the agricultural sector for various crops is wasteful in terms of overheads and inexperienced staff. The very objectives for which the boards were set up can be handled by the Ministry of Agriculture in collaboration with co-operatives and private marketing enterprises. The subsidies embedded in grains pricing systems, coupled with heavy overhead costs associated with high administrative, transportation and storage costs, soon created huge tax burdens. The pan territorial pricing system meant higher transportation and handling costs in moving commodities from some remote areas, and the management of large volumes of commodities in storage was costly. In addition, the monitoring of private trade was not only costly but generally ineffective, especially for food commodities in shortage seasons. E. g. The National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) of Kenya accumulated an estimated loss of about $300 million by 1993, in contrast with central government expenditure on agriculture of $33 million. Marketing boards also face organizational challenges. Their susceptibility to bureaucracy and corruption increased both the inefficiency in their operations and the transactions costs for farmers and consumers. In 2011 Kenya’s economy recorded moderate growth, driven primarily by financial intermediation, tourism, construction and agriculture. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth is projected to expand modestly in 2012 and 2013. In 2011 it was held back by an unstable macroeconomic environment characterized by rising inflation, exchange rate depreciation and high energy costs. Limited rainfall in the first half of 2011 resulted in a decline in aggregate food production, a factor that contributed significantly to runaway inflation. The inflationary pressures experienced in 2011 and the depreciation of the Kenyan shilling (KES) can be traced back in part to the Central Bank of Kenya’s decision to cut its repo rate from 7% to 6% in December 2010 in a bid to revive lending and stimulate growth. However, increased consumer demand pushed up prices and put pressure on the Kenyan shilling as demand for imports increased substantially. Inflation is projected to fall to single figures in 2012 and 2013 thanks to improved food production and stability in fuel prices. The year 2011 was marked by the passing of legislation to put into effect the new constitution and the appearance of six Kenyan citizens at the International Criminal Court, while political parties began preparing for elections expected in 2012. Youth unemployment is a growing problem in Kenya as it makes up 70% of total unemployment. The Youth Enterprise Development Fund, operational over the last five years as the main intervention agency, has, among other actions, disbursed almost KES 6 billion to some 157 538 youth enterprises; organized youth trade fairs; built simple infrastructure for young people; and started pre-financing training for the young. The fund will be expanded in the coming years to ensure increased employment for the young.