Pay for Time Not Worked

The average hourly rated full-time employee makes about $33,000 a year in year. Which broken down to all the time given off, only actually earns about $26,000. As for the employees which are paid through set salaries, the average Individual makes about $40,000 In which only about $33,000 Is worked productively. As we can see, we are losing out about $7,000 per employee, hourly or not. All the given non-productive is the same for all employees across the board. As you can see, this issue needs to be addressed and hence my recommendations. We have 60 employees in our corporate office.On average, we lose out on about $420,000. 00 a year. We can definitely cut back on some of these non-productive hours and start making them profitable. All employees get 10 days vacation, we can change our probation period from 90 to 120 days, and employees are not allowed to take any time off until they have successfully surpassed 6 months. Furthermore, depending on your start date with the company, we c an prorate the amount of vacation time allowed. If you commence In the months of November or December, vacation does not apply being that we go by the calendar year.In regards to holidays, we can exclude from having he day after Thanksgiving off, this would save us about $9500. 00 for this one day alone and it would increase our productivity during the holiday season which can be very beneficial in our case being that property management companies always have tenants calling into the office right before a major holiday. Moreover, company policy states that there should be 10 days of training for every department. Nevertheless, the training period of 10 days does not need to apply to everyone. I believe that some procedures can be learned in one week as opposed to two.Training policies should be adjusted depending on department and position. Anyone who Is eager to learn can do it in the allotted time and If this is not the case, other individuals need to be seeded especially If the p osition Is not entry level. Lastly, another aspect of â€Å"non-productive time† which can be reduced Is the minutes on the coffee break. There are currently two dally coffee breaks which are 15 minutes each. We can reduce them to 10 minutes or 5 minutes each and the caffeine addicts would nave no Dados to complain . We would a Know Tanat people are at tenet ease longer Duty enjoying their coffee at the same time.In conclusion, non-productive time can be educed in a manner that will benefit the company but no upset the employees at the same time. The economy right now is a tough one and no one wants to be out of a Job or get their hours cut back because we all have bills to pay every month. The proposed changes are both realistic and possible. It is Just a matter of presenting it to the employees in a manner in which they understand is needed for the company and beneficial. We can always make comparisons with other companies who have it worse than we do and this would help th em see that less non-productive time is better than no non-productive time.

Coffee Shops and Mobile Apps

Researcher Role The researcher role in this qualitative study was to oversee the data collection process and analysis of the study. The data collection and analysis process consists of gathering and measuring themes of interest in a fashion that answer questions and evaluate outcomes. Participants The population of this study was employees and customers of coffee shops.The participants for this convenience sampled, interview study consisted of employees and customers of local coffee shops located in the Saint Paul, MN. Participants were contacted in person and asked to participate in the study. Overall 15 customers and employees were solicited. Participants were told a brief overview of the purpose of the study and presented a consent form. The consent form contained information relating to the purpose of the study and information ensuring the participant that their identity and confidentiality would not be compromised.Data Collection Technique Before collecting data, the researcher completed the required ethical training by reviewing and understanding the ethical principles and guidelines for the protection of human subjects of research. Informed Consent A walk up approach method was used to solicit prospective participants for this study. It was stressed that participation was voluntary and confidential. A letter in Appendix A was prepared for interested parties. If prospective participants did not show an interest in the interview, they could Just decline to participate and no further involvement was needed.Instruments The two data collection instruments, one for employees and one for customers, were composed six structured open-ended questions in Appendix B. The questions were designed to capture participant feelings about mobile app technology and its adaptability to coffee shops. Data Collection Data was collected through an in person structured open-ended interview. The researchers were able to interview the participant during the end of the work day by walking up to the prospective participant and asking if they had a couple of minutes to answer a couple of questions.The researcher would then ask the participant six questions and record the participant response. The interview would end with the researcher thanking the participant for their time. Data Analysis Data Analysis Technique The raw data was separated into the two instruments and analyzed by group first. Through the first pass of each questionnaire, the researcher highlighted and noted interesting thoughts from each of the individuals and then determined which comments stuck out more frequently and noticed comments that were unique but very valid points, both for and against the mobile app idea.By doing this, the researcher was able to develop themes and then make an assessment as to if the customer or employee saw potential with the app and if there was going to be a level of demand high enough to support the amount of investment and increase in resources within the coffe e shops. Data Analysis – Customers The researcher was able to get 8 customers varying in age and gender to take the 10 to 15 minutes with me to answer the 6 question questionnaire. As expected, the researcher got many similar answers to the questions however; the researcher did collect some very interesting comments that were unique.It was found that of all the customers have heard of this mobile app technology and of those, 75% said that they would use the technology if it were available. The main theme for participants who said yes was because they thought it would be a great way to save time and avoid re typically compulsive and would not want to use a telephone to order in their vehicle. The customers who answered yes agreed that they would use it for all of the items on the menu, especially the food items because those tend to take a little longer.When asked about potential complications all said they could see things going wrong particularly regarding the quality and te mperature of the pre-ordered items. A few were concerned about the actual mobile app technology staying current and functional. Another idea was to add a feature to the app to act as a reward punch card. Data Analysis – Employees The employees, on the other hand, had a bit of a different view on the functionality of having a mobile app ordering process.All seven of the employees interviewed shared the knowledge of the technology, but only 14% thought that it would work and the others thought that it only could work or it would be rather challenging to implement successfully. The employees shared the same concerns as the customer about quality and temperature however, this was more of their focus because they have certain standards they have to meet based on their business model. It was also made apparent that the majority of coffee shops business model involves face-to-face contact for suggestive selling and for customers to come in and stay a while.Many of the employees thou ght that there would have to be a dedicated member working in a distinctly different area of the store with more resources, for example more screens, a new POS system, more counter space and more employees. Some of the thoughts were that mobile app users and regular order in customers should not be forced to be in the same line. This could cause client satisfaction to be decreased. That being said the employees did have many positive things to say about the mobile app.Many thought that there would be more organization behind the counter and it could increase sales and revenue and it could reach a completely new realm of clients. Some thought that this would work great for locations with a drive thru window. Many said that this would be a great opportunity for larger orders for example when people need coffee for more than 5 people at once. The larger coffee canteens take a while to make and get ready for customer pickup especially during busy times. Lastly, to go with that it was sa id by many that they could see this working much better if there were a limited menu for the app.Limitations/Delimitation's Limitations in this exploratory research were that when trying to interview employees, there were a couple of times we were rushed or interrupted because of customers. In addition, we were limited to only the population that was in the coffee shop at that time therefore not allowing for a large demographic diversity. Population and Sampling The target population of this study consisted of customers of a coffee shop in the United States. The expected size of the sample was over 25 participants where we didn't know anything about if they even drank coffee or visited coffee shops.Also we had no idea if they were handy with mobile APS. Data Collection E-mail or a message board requests via Backbone and Linked were used for this study. This method made sure that participants knew this was voluntary and confidential. A letter on the first page of the survey was prepa red for interested parties to learn more about the study. If potential participants did not want to partake in the survey, they could disregard the request and no further contribution as needed. Instrument The data collection instrument (Appendix C) was composed mostly of quantitative closed-ended questions.

Trifles Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 2

Trifles - Essay Example cture, including altering the starting and stopping points to some degree or another to either sharpen or soften the impact of the climax, it is true that most of our most popular stories follow this basic concept. However, Susan Glaspell, author of Trifles, has been accused of completely abandoning this basic structural framework within the play, creating instead a meandering, pointless and climax-less exposition that communicates its power through the very powerlessness of its main characters and the absence of the primary protagonist. A closer understanding of the basic plotline of the story reveals that Glaspell did not abandon this common structure, but instead placed it in an unusual context, purposely de-emphasizing the climax to illustrate the necessary actions of women with little to no power of their own. The play begins with the entrance of two women and three men into a gloomy farm kitchen that turns out to be the former home of John and Mrs. Wright. This is typically where exposition would start as the author begins to set up the story and this is exactly what Glaspell does. She includes some foreshadowing regarding the nature of the relationship between the couple as Mr. Hale continues to drop hints that John was cruelly dominating toward his wife. Telling the story of how he found the couple upon his arrival the morning of John’s death, Mr. Hale indicates that he had hoped to convince John to get a telephone and felt perhaps speaking about it in front of Mrs. Wright might have some positive effect as she was sure to want one as well. â€Å"I thought maybe if I went to the house and talked about it before his wife, though I said to Harry that I didn’t know as what his wife wanted made much difference to John.† This indication of a master/servant relationship is carried throughout this opening segment of the play and deliberately throws emphasis upon the men’s ideas regarding John’s death while allowing the two women to slip almost

That's news to me Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

That's news to me - Essay Example Sometimes, it feels weird to be a part of some platform where anybody can share anything any time which can be approved of or disapproved of by anybody. One way technology influences how I receive information is that news is no more credible to me than theories because both can be right or wrong. One way technology influences how I send information is that it makes me be a critic of my own work before sharing because I am aware that people in the online world know me by what I share. Modern technology has changed my perception of news broadcast over the mainstream media. Before, when I was a child, and the world was not quite as influenced by the Internet as it happens to be today, I used to believe everything shown or talked about in the television news. As I grew up, used the internet, and started to realize through blog posts and online discussion forms that news are selected and modified by various television channels in such a way that their personal interests are served, the cr edibility and reliability of information retrieved from the mainstream media news has been reduced for me. ... ortant, and I have no doubt in it because even I use the Internet to get news more than I use the television, then I believe that all sorts of news are very subjective. Modern technology has made me more critical about what I share with the world. In the real or physical world, I do a lot of jokes and casual talking with people because I know that the people I talk to know me otherwise. Even if I am saying stupid jokes, I am confident that my friends would accept them because they know what sort of a person I am. On the other hand, when I am using the Internet to share any information, be that my status on social networking website, or a photo I have recently taken of myself, I take my time to think whether it is the right status or photo to share. This is because I understand and agree to the fact that â€Å"as digital media continues to evolve, it will be today’s youth who’ll reshape the future content and delivering of news and information† (Garland cited in L ancaster). Many a times, I select some people from my friends’ list to deter my status or photo to be shared with them because of personal reasons or my lack of trust in those friends. I am not so conscious and critical in what I express or share in my everyday life otherwise. Concluding, Internet has had a profound effect in my approach toward receiving and sharing information. Under this effect, I have lost confidence in news but have become more critical about what I share with the world. I cannot control others but I can control myself. So I tend to be very responsible, considerate, and rational while commenting upon a post or a video or even while writing and sharing a blog over the Internet. I want to be a source of help and good guidance for others, which is what makes me criticize my own work that

Financial Markets and Risk Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Financial Markets and Risk - Essay Example The long term savings and investment products offered by banks and NBFI’s are mostly life assurance, pensions and other investment products such as fixed deposits with a long term maturity. Fixed deposits are time deposits which give a higher interest rate than the normal demand deposits. Pension products are aimed at meeting the retirement needs of investors wherein a lump sum amount is given to the investor which is accrued over the years. Investing in bonds (government and corporate) is another option where there is more safety even though the returns may be comparatively less. Some banks and many NBFI’s provide platform to invest in mutual funds also. II. Implications for individual savers and investors of a significant increase in the general interest rates. The most visible effect due to the increase in interest rates is on the loans borrowed and deposits made by individuals. An increase in interest rate means increase in the repo rates of banks. This will result in an increase in the mortgage loans’ interest as well as other loans and debts like credit card debt. The increase in interest rate on loans will force the individuals who already borrowed the loans to pay more on the interest and this will lead to fewer savings. Those who had plans to borrow loan will postpone the same in order to be relieved of the extra burden of higher interest repayment. Another aspect is with the timing preference of making deposit. Since the interest rate is high, the return on investment from banks in the form of deposits will also be high which will prompt the individuals to make more investments out of their savings. Exchange rate changes can also be an effect of interest rate change. When the interest rate increases, there will be more inflow of foreign money in the form of FIIs. This will lead to an increase in the value of the domestic currency. The implications are that, the individuals who invested in foreign currency will see their value of i nvestment come down in terms of domestic currency due to the decrease in value of the foreign currency, other factors remaining the same. Also this will make imported goods relatively cheaper to the domestic buyers which in turn force the domestic producers to reduce their products’ price which means more savings for the individual. Rise in interest rates will also affect stock and securities like bonds. When interest rate rises, the price of existing bond falls. This is because investors can get higher rates on newly issued bonds. A rising interest rate may affect the stock market also because 1) investors will turn to buy bonds as they give better yield, 2) investors need to pay more to borrow money and spend them, which will lead to a slump in the growth of many companies which produce consumer goods. III. Risks to commercial banks of a significant rise in general interest rates. All banks face interest rate risks. Changes in interest rate can reduce a bank’s earnin gs and lower its net worth. Interest rate risk is defined as the volatility in earnings or the value of a financial institution owing to unexpected changes in interest rates. â€Å"The chief source of interest rate risk is the mismatched re-pricing of a financial intermediary’s assets and liabilities.†

Neuroleptic malignant syndrome Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

Neuroleptic malignant syndrome - Essay Example Neuroleptic malignant syndrome is no exception since it is a lethal and rare mental disorder (Varcarolis and Halter, 2010, p. 331). According to Keogh and Doyle (2008), Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS) is the idiosyncratic reaction to neuroleptic medication. It has serious and adverse effects on individuals that may result in death. This disorder occurs when patients: are under neuroleptic medication regardless of the duration of use, use antipsychotic medication and patients will exhibit signs and when patients use antidepressants. As observed, majority of patients shows signs and symptoms of NMS after two weeks of commencing treatment antipsychotic treatment. These symptoms, according to Varcarolis and Halter (2010) are: altered mental status in patients, muscular rigidity in a patients, hyperthermia, fever, urinary incontinence, motor abnormalities such as lack of movement coupled with tremor, and automatic function that is high or low pressure (p. 331). Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome can present a broad range of clinical manifestations that can pose a challenge to early detection. The diversity and complexity of its clinical features may not always be welcomed as it leads to confusion among nurses. In order for the nurse to avoid this, they should be aware of NMS classical features such as muscular rigidity, automatic instability and hyperthermia (Koegh & Doyle, 2008). Instant and proper treatment of this disease is advised. It demands prompt, and recognition of the disorder at an early stage and adoption, and implementation of pharmacological interventions such as the use of dopamine agonist is required. In addition, antipyretics such as paracetamol can be administered to reduce fever. Prompt discontinuation of antipsychotic is also helpful as articulated by Koegh & Doyle (2008). In addition, symptomatic management of this disorder is also significant. Nurses are required to monitor patients with this disease

Physiology Presentation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Physiology Presentation - Essay Example Chyme travels to small intestine, where the pH is alkaline to activate enzymes for breakdown of proteins, carbohydrates and fats, liver secretes bile for the emulsification of fat, while pancreas secrete insulin and glucagon for controlling blood sugar level converting from chyme to chyle. Numerous microvilli of the small intestine, lined by blood vessels absorbs the food as now it is in simpler forms namely monosaccharide, amino acids, fatty acids and glycerols. The refuse moves to large intestine (water absorption takes place) for expulsion. Respiration is done through nose, pharynx, trachea, bronchia, bronchioles and alveoli. It encompasses exchange of oxygen and carbon-di-oxide in lungs converting the deoxygenated blood collected by veins to oxygenated blood to be circulated back to body tissues through arteries. The exchange of gases mainly takes place in alveoli and in capillaries of numerous tissues. Blood vascular system plays an imperative role in transporting food as well a s oxygen to all the body parts and eliminating carbon-di-oxide from each tissue.

Information and knowledge in technology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Information and knowledge in technology - Essay Example Such information flow cannot be regulated by the government. Search engines have evolved into very efficient machines today. The first search engines did not meet the needs of the average person. Searches yielded irrelevant information. Companies paid search engine companies to show their websites whenever a customer searched for a certain word or group of words. For example, when a person searched in Yahoo for the word â€Å"car," BMW was among the first websites to appear even before a website that defined the word â€Å"car" (Battelle, 2005). While such advertising models were beneficial to businesses, customers hoped that an efficient search engine would be created. People wanted a tool that would help them get information fast. When Google was created, it answered most of the customer’s needs. First of all, the philosophy that drove the creation of Google was to organise all the information of the world so that people could easily search and get it. The company refused to follow the model of Yahoo and other search engines. In fact, it took some time before Google thought of a way of monetising the search engine. Deep down their hearts, they wanted to help people out. It is the reason Google is the number one search engine on the planet. Other companies followed the model set by Google, so included Microsoft with Bing. Google and other modern search engines earn money through advertising. They use pay per click model whereby all the adverts that appear after the customer searches for information depends on what the customer has looked. It is not a random system. Social media is another method through which people get information. Human beings are social and they do not live in isolation. The fact that people can connect and communicate with loved ones post photos and content such as music and video have revolutionised the way we live. Companies such as Facebook and Twitter facilitate massive transfer of information for people who have signed up for

Sexism - Social work Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Sexism - Social work - Essay Example Religious writings the date back two thousand years ago illustrate how women were thought to be of no essence. 1 Timothy 2:16 â€Å" I permit no woman to teach or have authority over men. She is to keep silent.† Thus, the term sexism has been far more associated with discrimination against females. When society began to depict the roles of men as heads of nations and kingdoms, pioneers of expeditions and discoveries, brave heroes of war, engineers of technology and infrastructure, great thinkers and philosophers, etc., it unconsciously instilled prejudicial thoughts -- that there exists an inferior gender, the female gender. In the years to come, the â€Å"battle of the sexes† would not be limited to the male and female genders but to the transsexuals as well. (Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia, 2007) The rise of the feminist movement which began in the late 19th century of the western society was a result of years of suppressed freedom, restlessness, frustration and oppression. As women were labeled by men as the â€Å"weaker sex,† they were denied access to education, suffrage, political representation, employment and equality under the law. The clamor for change and equality became a resounding battle cry of the feminist movement. They protested about double standards dictated upon by society in which, they argued, were exclusively favorable to men. It is not surprising then how the movement has evolved through modern times. When once their sole purpose was focused on creating equal opportunity for women, they became hungry for dominance and authority by suppressing men and propagating negative views about them and thus, have become instigators of sexism as well. Transsexuals are also victims of sexism. They have been openly criticized as having gender identity disorders which are psychological in nature. They are often the recipients of verbal abuse and have been labeled as fags,

NORMALIZATION AND SQL DDL STATEMENTS Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

NORMALIZATION AND SQL DDL STATEMENTS - Essay Example Atomicity ensures that no incomplete transactions are ever executed by the system which ensures the state of data always remains stable despite any hardware/software failures. Consistency ensures that only those transactions will execute that do not violate any of the database consistency rules which ensures data remains valid. Isolation ensures uninterrupted single transaction processing e.g. the concurrent transaction requests are handled serially i.e. one transaction at a time. Durability ensures that transactions are logged and therefore transactions can be rolled back at any time. Database normalization is a set of guidelines that helps in organizing data efficiently which improves the overall performance of a DBMS. It helps remove data redundancy (does not allow duplicate data storage in multiple tables) which in turn reduces the space consumed by database. Furthermore, it improves data consistency by allowing only sensible and logical data dependencies between tables (e.g. a table stores only data that is related). There are five normal forms of database; 1NF, 2NF, 3NF, BCNF and 4NF. Mostly, normalization till the third form is enough for most database system applications. 1NF helps eliminate duplicate column from a table and identifies unique column(s) i.e. through primary key. 2NF separates data subsets into separate tables forming foreign keys. And 3NF ensures all columns in a table are dependent only on the primary key. The exercise helped in understanding the concept of ACID model and offered a hands-on approach to designing and optimizing a database design. It helped in practicing the application of the most widely used normalization guidelines on a previously formed database model. Furthermore, it also helped practice the DDL statements involved in the actual creation of a database application in

Change Management and Communication Plan Essay Example for Free

Change Management and Communication Plan Essay Riordan Manufacturing has decided to make a change to company’s customer management system. The company does not currently have any formal system for managing their customer information and has traditionally left this up to individual employees. This new system will require all employees to use one customer management system. Your team is now working to help Riordan implement this planned change. Your team must do the following in your role as consultants: †¢ Review the intranet site for Riordan Manufacturing including Human Resources – Organizational Charts, Employee Files, etc. , and Sales Marketing – Marketing Information Systems. †¢ Create a change management plan and communication plan of 1,050- to 1,400-words. Your plan should include the details from section I and section II outlined below. Section I: Change Management Plan Identify the current formal and informal power structures in the organization. How might the power and political structure of the organization affect employee behavior? Identify the most appropriate and effective organizational structures for Riordan Manufacturing that will help them accomplish their planned changes. Section I: Change Management Plan Riordan Manufacturing formal leaders consist of the chief executive, presidents, vice-presidents, high-level managers, middle-level managers and low-level managers. Each person is responsible for implementing changes that will benefit the structural system for the company. According to the organizational charts, the organization is separated by various departments into functional areas. According to the organizational charts, the organization is separated by various departments into functional areas. For example, in the Human Resource they are responsible for benefits, policy and procedures, job classification, annual reviews and survey results just to name some of the functions within the Human Resource Department. Informal leaders have non-official positions like secretaries, maintenance people, auditors and others who are less important but carry out the vision and mission of the company. A gatekeeper does not hold a position of authority, but they usually work closely with the formal leaders of the company. The power and political structure of the organization may frustrate employees when decisions are made that are unclear or not communicatedand lack vision or reasoning behind the decisions. The system relies on clear and concise communication at all times. It is important that chief executive officer is given accurate information at all times. Riordan Manufacturing discovered some problems with their employees; such as an inability to motivate employees and how to reduce the high turnover rate within the company. This was discovered through the Riordan human resources department structure which does not allow employee empowerment and as a result is delaying potential growth due to the unbalanced profits, and reduction in sales. The human resources department needs to revisit some of their decisions to strength their portion of the structure and better the company for the future. The high turnover rate has caused lack of employee motivation, low morale and with pay levels below their competitors’standards; there is lack of structure in the performance review process within the entire company. These issues can be corrected by creating a coaching, feedback process, and planning career development programs by either creating or improving their current performance reward systems. Riordan Manufacturing has selected a structure that will require all employees to use one customer management system. In doing so, Riordan has adopted a structure that closely resembles a bureaucratic nature. Standardization is the key concept in manufacturing. The formal leaders within the Riordan Manufacturing are each responsible for implementing changes that will benefit the structural system for the company. Organizations structures can have significant effects on its members. Potential effects of a bureaucratic structure on employee behavior are attributed to its formalized, mechanistic model where fairness in policy and procedures is a large indicator of job satisfaction. The bureaucratic environment in which Riordan Manufacturing adopts high levels of work specialization contributes to higher levels of productivity, but may sacrifice in areas of lower job satisfaction. This could be connected to the high turnover rate at Riordan in addition to the low pay levels when compared to similar markets. Management needs to consider the organizational structure and its effects on employees on an individual basis. In a bureaucratic environment management may consider looking into characteristics of employees that help determine their potential in working in such a structure and train employees through coaching and training to help them adapt to the vision Riordan management would expect from its employees, employing those that that prefer routine and security of specialized jobs may perform better in a manufacturing organization like Riordan. Riordan Manufacturing culture can be described in a descriptive term. The current structure and management operations would like to reverse some of the current trends in the workplace that affect its organizational culture. Recent discoveries have uncovered problems influencing culture at Riordan such as levels of motiv ation and tenure at the company. It was discovered that Riordan human resources department structure does not allow employee empowerment and are delaying potential growth because of the unbalanced profits and reduction in sales. The new system aspires to create a new culture where management motivates its employees through a reward system and competitive pay, where workers find management approachable with ideas to improve work processes, while following the idea that helping to implement change will benefit the structural system of the company. Riordan human resources department reassessment of its structure can positively impact Riordan’s overall organizational culture by focusing on pay and its incentive packages. Management at Riordan can consider news ways in which to improve its culture. Ideally, upper management would encourage mid-level management to allow feedback from employees to improve work processes while still following the chain of command to create improvement. Though there are more stringent rules in a manufacturing plant, Riordan management wants to instill its trust in its workers, making them feel they are trusted and that their individual judgment is supported. The new operations at Riordan involve team work that encourages positive interaction, collaboration, goal setting, and a reward system that supports its desires for improved culture at Riordan Manufacturing. †¢ Recommend a strategy to implement the changes over the next 12 months. †¢ Describe how you will evaluate the success or failure of the planned change. Section II: Communication Plan Create a Communication Plan for the proposed change covered in the Change Management Plan. In the Communication Plan, complete the following: Select the most appropriate channels to communicate the change to the employees, and explain why you selected these channels. Identify the potential barriers to effective communication and strategies for overcoming the barriers. Develop a message for one of the selected communication channels. In the message, complete the following: †¢ Identify those areas affected by the change. †¢ Establish the need for the change. †¢ Create a sense of urgency around the change. †¢ Outline next steps in the change process.

Concepts of Age and Ageing

Concepts of Age and Ageing The ageing process is of course a biological reality which has its own dynamic, largely beyond human control. However, it is also subject to the constructions by which each society makes sense of old age. In the developed world, chronological time plays a paramount role. The age of 60 or 65, roughly equivalent to retirement ages in most developed countries, is said to be the beginning of old age. In many parts of the developing world, chronological time has little or no importance in the meaning of old age. Other socially constructed meanings of age are more significant such as the roles assigned to older people; in some cases it is the loss of roles accompanying physical decline which is significant in defining old age. Thus, in contrast to the chronological milestones which mark life stages in the developed world, old age in many developing countries is seen to begin at the point when active contribution is no longer possible. (Gorman, 2000). Age classification varied between countries and over time, reflecting in many instances the social class differences or functional ability related to the workforce, but more often than not was a reflection of the current political and economic situation. Many times the definition is linked to the retirement age, which in some instances, was lower for women than men. This transition in livelihood became the basis for the definition of old age which occurred between the ages of 45 and 55 years for women and between the ages of 55 and 75 years for men. (Thane, 1978). When elders are replaced with â€Å"the elderly† the world loses veneration. The word elders in Hebrew meant â€Å"beard†. In the Old Testament the elders were head of the households, prominent men of the tribes, and leaders or rulers in the community. The biblical requirements of an elder are described in these passages 1 Timothy 3:1-7 states If someone aspires to be an elder, he desires an honorable position. So an elder must be a man whose life is above reproach. He must be faithful to his wife. He must exercise self-control, live wisely, and have a good reputation. He must enjoy having guests in his home, and he must be able to teach. He must not be a heavy drinker or be violent. He must be gentle, not quarrelsome, and not love money. He must manage his own family well, having children who respect and obey him. For if a man cannot manage his own household, how can he take care of Gods church? An elder must not be a new believer, because he might become proud, and th e devil would cause him to fall. Also, people outside the church must speak well of him so that he will not be disgraced and fall into the devils trap. Titus 1:6-9 states â€Å"An elder must live a blameless life. He must be faithful to his wife, and his children must be believers who dont have a reputation for being wild or rebellious. An elder is a manager of Gods household, so he must live a blameless life. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered; he must not be a heavy drinker, violent, or dishonest with money. Rather, he must enjoy having guests in his home, and he must love what is good. He must live wisely and be just. He must live a devout and disciplined life. He must have a strong belief in the trustworthy message he was taught; then he will be able to encourage others with wholesome teaching and show those who oppose it where they are wrong.† Long ago older people meant something, they were cherished and loved and respected. Since they were older they to the people around them were seen to be wiser. Now elders are no longer they are now referred to as the elderly, individuals who are no longer valuable to society, individuals who have become a burden to people, who no longer contributed to society. In Erickson (1982) theory Integrity versus Despair, which occurs in the later adulthood in ages 60 years and older, he stated aging as being a state of an individual’s development. In this stage the crisis, integrity versus despair, Erikson (1982) suggest that during the beginning of the stage the individual will experience a sense of mortality. This emotion maybe a reaction towards the individual who is going through retirement, the death of a spouse or close friend, or it may be simply a consequence from the constant changing of social roles. Erickson (1982) states this sense of mortality precipitates the final life crisis. In this final life crisis it manifest itself as a review of the individual’s life career. This is similar to Butler’s (1963) life review, individuals review their life career to determine if it was a success or if it was a failure. During the integrity phase the individual value their whole life as satisfactory and gratification. On the cont rary, with despair the result is negative. This negative resolution marked itself as a fear of death a sense that life is too short and depressing. The roles of the elderly actions their relations and interactions with older individuals. Sociologist uses three different perspective to explain this functionalist, symbolic and interactionism. The first functionalist analyze the ways in which the parts of society work together to keep society running effortlessly. Functionalist found that people with better resources who stay active who stay active in other roles adjust better to old age (Crosnoe and Elder 2002). Within the functional perspective there are three social theories that explains the way in which older people might deal with the later life experience. The first is the disengagement theory. The disengagement theory states that withdrawing from the society and social relationships is an ordinary part of the growing old phase. Because men focus on work and women focus on marriage and family, when they withdraw they will be unhappy and directionless until they adopt a role to replace their accustom role that is compatible w ith the disengaged state (Cummings and Henry 1961). The second theory under the functional perspective is called the activity theory. According to this theory, activity level and social involvement are key to this process and key to happiness (Havinghurst 1961; Neugarten 1964; Havinghurst, Neugarten and Tobin 1968). In the activity theory it states that the more active and involved the elderly is the happier he/she will be. Reformulations of this theory suggest that particular informal activities, such as hobbies are what most effect later life satisfaction (Lemon, Bengtson, Peterson 1972). The third is the continuity theory. In this theory the elderly makes certain choices so that they can uphold stability in personality, structure and belief and also the external structuring which includes relationships, active and involvement throughout the elder years. This is an attempt to maintain social equilibrium and stability by making future decisions on the basis of already developed social roles (Atchley 1971, Atchley 1989). The conflict perspective is guided by the opinion that social groups compete with other groups for power and resources, within the conflict perspective there are three theories of aging within this perspective, the first being modernization theory (Cowgill and Holmes) support that the primary cause of the elderly losing power and influence in society are the parallel forces of industrialization and modernization.. Modernization is the transformation of a total society from a relatively rural way of life based on animate power, limited technology, relati vely undifferentiated institutions, parochial and traditional outlook and values, toward a predominantly urban way of life based on inanimate sources of power, highly developed scientific technology, highly differentiated institutions matched by segmented individual roles, and a cosmopolitan outlook which emphasizes efficiency and progress. (Cowgill 1974: 127). As society modernize the status of the elderly becomes less and they are more likely now to be involved in social rejection. The second part of the perspective is age stratification theory (Riley; Johnson and Foner 1972). This theory states that the society might be stratified by age, just as there are stratification in terms of race, gender and class. Same age provides a foundation of social control, while different aged groups will have a fluctuating access to social resources for example political and economic power. The final part of this perspective is the exchange theory (Dowd 1975), a rational choice approach suggest that we experience increased dependence as we age and must increasingly submit to the will of us. In relationships most are built on a mutual exchange, as the elderly become less able to exchange resources they will see their social diminish. The third perspective is social interaction, which focuses on how society is made through the day to day contact of individuals furthermore the way people recognize themselves and others based on cultural symbol. Rose (1962) subculture of aging theory focuses on the community created by the elderly when they are excluded due to their age voluntarily or involuntarily from participating in other groups. In this theory it proposes that the elderly will disengage from society and develop new pattern of relations with other peers who share mutual backgrounds and interest. Another theory within the symbolic interaction perspective is selective optimization with compensation theory. (Baltes and Baltes 1990) based their theory on the idea that successful personal development throughout the life course and subsequent mastery of the challenges associated with everyday life are based on the components of selection, optimization and compensation. According to this theory, our energy diminishes a s we age, and we select (selection) personal goals to get the most (optimize) for the effort we put into activities, in this way making up for (compensation) the loss of a wider range of goals and activities.

Reinforced Concrete Fibers Vs Continuous Steel Construction Essay

Reinforced Concrete Fibers Vs Continuous Steel Construction Essay Abstract In todays economic climate nothing is as important as saving money. With respect to the construction industry, it is vital that actions taken to save money will not hinder the structural and design integrity. Typically, the greatest savings are achieved through the development of new materials and processes. One development expected to save money in the future is fiber reinforced concrete (FRC). Although, the concept itself is dated; recent advances have allegedly created lighter concrete with an increased crack resistance. Aside from increased performance, FRC is also thought to decrease labor costs commonly associated with traditional steel reinforced concrete (SRC). The following report is a review and comparisons of each system characteristic. Introduction Concrete is arguably one of the most commonly used construction materials. The success of the material is due to its ability to resist upward and downward loads known as compressive strength. However, tensile strengths of plain concrete are relatively low. Tensile strength is considered a materials ability to resist pulling forces. To compensate for this, concrete is reinforced using various methods depending on the application. The most common method of reinforcing is steel reinforced concrete (SRC). Steel reinforced systems have been utilized since the early 1900s and have proven to be successful. Despite the success, the construction community is showing an increasing amount of interest in fiber reinforced concrete (FRC). The following sections dissect the characteristics of each system and reveal the inherent distinctions. Research Criteria For the purposes of investigation and clarity research was conducted on concrete slab construction only. The systems have been evaluated and compared with respect to mechanical and design characteristic. Cost and labor practices as well as other concrete building systems such as; beams, foundations, and bridge decks have not been considered for this study. This provides a uniform comparison of both systems. Description of Design Concepts Steel Reinforced Concrete A steel reinforced slab is a composite system consisting of steel and concrete. The steel is typically rods factory welded in a mesh pattern known as welded wire fabric. For larger slabs, and most other applications, the steel is manufactured rods commonly referred to as rebar. Unlike welded wire fabric, the rebar must be tied together. Depending on the application the steel can be unfinished, galvanized, or epoxy coated. Continuous steel primarily provides tensions resistant. The assessment of steel reinforced systems is done with respect to cast-in-place one, and two way slabs reinforced with continuous steel only. Corrugated and waffle slabs have not been considered in this evaluation. Fiber Reinforced Concrete Fiber systems are the addition of natural or man maid fibers to the concrete. The most popular fibers today are; nylon, steel, glass, and natural. The fibers are typically added to the concrete mix either as a monofilament or fibrillated fibers. Monofilament fibers are individually added to the mix and are used where preservation of the finish is a priority. Fibrillated fibers are added as large bundles which break down in to smaller bundles of connected by perpendicular fibers. Fibrillated bundles typically yield a stronger bond than monofilament fibers. The major benefit derived from the use of FRC is improved concrete durability. (Committee, 2006). All FRC systems reviewed consist of only simple fiber reinforcing. Systems using a combination of continuous steel and fibers or any manufactured products containing fiber reinforcing have not been considered in the evaluation. Differences With respect to the mechanical behavior of concrete in slab construction FRC and SRC slabs are fundamentally different. As, SI Concrete Systems representative, Mel Galinat explains, The current methodology for reinforced concrete is based on the steel rebars continuous reinforcing function and tensile strength characteristics. (Marsh, 2001). The bar is laid continuously in each direction to accept and distribute tensile loads to balance the system. The grid pattern ensures that tension in either direction is resisted. Additionally, the pattern segregates the aggregates and prevents cracks from spreading. When using rebar the grid is tied at the intersections and overlapping lengths. The slab becomes a composite system of steel and concrete composite system. Depending on the slab size, control joints are strategically installed throughout the slab to further minimize cracking. In a fiber reinforced slab system the concrete itself is manipulated. The fibers vary in size depending on the application, however, when setting a related standard, ACI considers, Common lengths of discrete fibers range from 10 mm (3/8 in.) to a maximum of 75 mm (3 in.). (E-701Committee, 2006). The fibers are added directly to the concrete ingredients while mixing; resulting in a random distribution of reinforcing fibers. Consequently, the fibers do not align continuously throughout and prevents the system from working together. As proven with the steel system tension loads are successfully resisted with continuous reinforcement. The lack of synergy among the fibrous members provides minimal tensile strength. An experiment conducted by the ACI in 2006 looks at the characteristics of fiber reinforced concrete in order to establish uniform design criteria for the concept. The study reviewed eight concrete slabs, one with no reinforcement and the remaining slabs were reinforced with various types, sizes, and combinations of fibers. When compared to an unreinforced concrete slab on grade, the fiber reinforced concrete provided better resistance to concentrated loads. For this reason, even at relatively low volume fractions ( Although advantageous to concrete slabs, concentrated loads are only one of the many forces exerted on a slab. Other loads, common of concrete slabs, were not considered in the ACI experiment. These results demonstrate the fibers ability to increase the concretes flexural strength. Materials with high flexural strength resist deformation caused by loads. Flexural stress is caused by concentrated loads such as; heavy equipment or industrial machinery. Therefore, fibers are commonly added to concrete mixes for large industrial slabs and airport runways. In an elevated slab system, where loads are high and unsupported spans are common, current fiber reinforcing cannot efficiently replace continuous steel. Another characteristic which differentiates fiber and steel reinforcing is each systems approach to crack control. As detailed in the ACI Committee 302 documents; Polypropylene, polyethylene, nylon, and other synthetic fibers can help reduce segregation of the concrete mixture and formation of shrinkage cracks while the concrete is in the plastic state and during the first few hours of curing. As the modulus of elasticity of concrete increase with hardening of concrete, however, most synthetic fibers at typical dosage rates recommended by the fiber manufacturers will not provide sufficient restraint to inhibit cracking. (ACI Committee 302, 2010). Moreover the fibers reduce the spread of cracks caused by shrinkage and temperature change rather than increasing the overall resistance. As expanded further in the ACI Materials Journal, It is usually assumed that fibers do not influence the tensile strength of the matrix, and that only after the matrix has cracked do the fibers contribute by bridging the cracks. (Shah, 1991). Therefore the fibers work reactively by responding to loads, whereas continuous steel works proactively by resisting loads. The continuous steel is strategically positioned in anticipation of certain loads, thus providing a resistance. Conclusion As explained by the Portland Cement Association (2010); Fibers should not be expected to replace wire mesh in a slab on ground. The current experimental results show no evidence of a fibrous additives providing equal, or superior, strength when compared to traditional steel reinforcement. The effects of fiber reinforcing on a concrete slab are inherently different than traditional steel. Continuous steel resists particular stresses while fiber reinforcing responds to different stress. The traditional methodology of designing and constructing concrete slabs using continuous steel reinforcement has slowly developed overtime and has become a highly proven and widely accepted system. Fiber reinforcing is still a young concept, however, design criterion are slowly being developed and studied. The system does show potential for crack control and increased flexural strength. Combining the flexural strength of fibers and tensile strength of continuous steel one can see that such systems woul d be helpful for slabs enduring high concentrated loads. The fibers help maintain the flat surface by resisting flexural stress while the continuous rebar resists tension stress

Hester Prynne Sanction :: essays research papers

Hester Prynne Sanction   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The persistent issue of corporate punishment has been the proverbial thorn in the side of many people throughout history. Corporations have caused many people huge amounts of both physical and emotional pain due to instances of improper mechanical maintenance, ignorance towards the environment, and the manufacture of life threatening products. The main problem that lies as an obstacle in front of prosecutors of these corporations is, who do they punish? The Lord Chancellor of England questioned, â€Å"Did you ever expect a corporation to have a conscience, when it has no soul to be damned, and no body to be kicked?† Countless victims throughout history have been perplexed to come up with a solution to answer the Chancellor's question. How can people throw a corporation in jail, or have them compensate for their immeasurable losses? In his work The Hester Prynne Sanction, Peter French analyses ways in which the courts can change how they punish corporations more effectively. This essay will take a critical look at French's solution, examining if it is an effective and morally justified fashion of punishing corporations.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In our society, retributive ideals have been implanted in us, as the famous biblical â€Å"eye for an eye† concept seems to be society's manner with which we punish criminals. This is an interesting case though, because corporations don't simply have one individual they can place the blame upon. Rather, they are comprised of hundreds or even thousands of people, and therefore there is no extensive punishment prosecutors can place upon everybody who is employed by a corporation. In a famous case in Indiana involving Ford Pinto whose â€Å"cost benefit analysis regarding the redesign of the gas tank on the Pinto† cost a person his life. The firm ended up paying $200,000, but how can you place a price on human life? And furthermore, who can you go after for retribution? The engineer who drew up the plans? The CEO who approved the change? Or even the Factory worker who placed the new tank in the car? None of them, according to the current laws, writes French. â€Å" The idea that a corporation can pay a court fine or a set sum to the relatives of its' victim in a homicide case, and therefore expiate its guilt is, however, regarded by many people as a shocking affront to justice.† Very few of these cases can be directly linked to individual negligence or intentional recklessness, and the fines can easily be written off as business expenses. The corporations usually recover fines quickly by means of higher prices. This poses a major problem for society, because the

Jean Paul Marat: Target and Martyr of Liberty Essay -- Jean Paul Marat

Jean Paul Marat: Target and Martyr of Liberty The French Revolution produced countless influential politicians throughout its tumultuous course. As a political figure in the French Revolution, Jean Paul Marat began as a nonentity and became a martyr to the revolutionary patriots of France. His influence is often misconstrued, and sometimes overlooked. Although he was not a political leader like Robespierre, his influence was substantial in that he motivated many people through his writings and powerful personality. Through his involvement with the Cordeliers’ Club and his journal Ami du peuple, started September 1789, Marat was able to express the indignation of the bourgeois class through his hopes for social revolution. His conspiracy theories and alleged prophetic outlook on the Revolution created an aura of mystery and intrigue around him, as well as detestation. Because he often stood alone behind his radical ideas, Marat became marked as the scapegoat for various controversial events of the period, and was se veral times forced into hiding to evade the law. Targeting Marat was an easy and effective way for the warring factions in the National Convention to assert their political dominance. It is curious how a virtual unknown and newcomer to government could become so crucial to the politics of the French Revolution, only to be murdered by another unknown in a seemingly isolated event. Marat’s assassination played a great part in what became the cycle of the Terror. Even though he was not a preeminent leader, both his life and death had an impact on the course of the Revolution. Because of his incendiary political beliefs and bold nature, the government targeted Marat, however, his assassination by the outsid... ...manities Press, 1997. Germani, Ian. Jean Paul Marat: Hero and Anti-hero of the French Revolution. Lewiston: The Edwin Mellen Press, 1992. Gottschalk, Louis R. Jean Paul Marat: A Study in Radicalism. New York: Benjamin Blom, 1927. Gough, Hugh. The Newspaper Press in the French Revolution. London: Routledge, 1988. Marat, Jean Paul. Polish Letters. Bibliophile Society, 1905. Miller, Stephen. Three Deaths and Enlightenment Thought. Lewisburg: Bucknell University Press, 2001. Popkin, Jeremy D. Revolutionary News: The Press in France 1789-1799. Durham: Duke University Press, 1990. Scherr, Marie. Charlotte Corday and Certain Men of the Revolutionary Torment. New York: AMS Press, 1929. Sydenham, M.J. The Girondins. London: The Athlone Press, 1961. Walzer, Michael. Regicide and Revolution. New York: Columbia University Press, 1992.

Crime and Punishment :: essays papers

Crime and Punishment The main character of the novel Crime and Punishment by Feodor Dostoevsky, Raskolnikov, is in reality two totally contradicting personalities. One part of him is the intellectual. This part is cold and inhumane. It is this side that enables him to commit the most terrible crime imaginable - taking another human life. The other part of his personality is warm and compassionate. This is the side of him that does charitable acts and fights out against the evil in his society. This dichotomy of Raskolnikov’s personality can be clearly seen through the dream about the mare, as well as through other characters in the novel. Raskolnikov's dream about the mare can be used to probe deep into his mentality to discover how he really feels inside. The dream suggests that Raskolnikov is a "split" man; after all, his name in Russian means, "split". He has a cruel and thoughtless side as well as a caring, compassionate side to his personality. Through the dream and the symbols within, a reader can cast Raskolnikov, as well as other characters from Crime And Punishment, into any of the various parts in the dream. Each part that a character takes on leads to a different conclusion about that character. Raskolnikov himself "fits" into the positions of Mikolka, the child, and the mare. If Mikolka, the drunken owner of the mare, were to represent Raskolnikov, then the mare would most probably represent Alyona Ivanovna. The senseless beating of the mare by Mikolka is similar to the brutal attack on Alyona by Rodion. These heartless attacks foreshadow the crime that Raskolnikov is contemplating. Dostoevsky unveils Raskolnikov's cruel side during this dream, if it is to be interpreted in this way. Similarly, the little boy could represent Raskolnikov’s compassionate side. The child, watching the beating, realizes the absurdity of it. He even rushes to Mikolka, ready to punish him for killing the mare. This illustrates Rodion's internal struggle while contemplating the murder of Alyona. His humane side, the child, tells him to ‘live and let live’. And his "extraordinary" side, according to his definition, tells him that he should eliminate Alyona altogether, for the good of mankind. The flip side of this is that the mare itself could represent Raskolnikov. However, the burden which the mare must carry (the cart, the people, etc.

Review of related literature and studies Essay

This chapter represents the review on related literature and studies regarding topic about the Perception of the people of Polomolok towards Notre dame-Siena College of Polomolok Bachelor of Arts Major in English: Basis for Effective Advertising Strategies. Bachelor of Arts major in English (AB English) is a four year baccalaureate degree program designed to provide a strong background in the study of English. Its goal is to help develop students’ analytical and creative powers with particular respect to the basic acts of communication, critical thought, responsible speech and competent, insightful language and communication skills. or The program stresses literally analysis, diversity, critical thinking and written and oral communication skills through a rigorous curriculum of literature, composition, language and linguistic and communication studies. It is an excellent preparation for careers in teaching, media, advertising writing and publishing; for graduate or professional studies in English, communication or law and for the advancement in any field where communication skills are important. or AB English program in Notre Dame-Siena College of Polomolok was started, School Year: 2008-2009. At present the population of AB English was increased since 2008 until now. However if we compare the trends of the population of the arts and sciences baccalaureate degree program of the other competitive school such as: Notre Dame of Dadiangas University, Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Colleges, and Holy Trinity College, have a big differences in terms of population. That’s why we conduct this study to determine the perception of the senior high school students of Barangay Poblacion, Polomolok , South Cotbato. Related Literature Foreign Literature Based on an article from an Internet website entitle â€Å"Choosing Social Networking Sites Carefully† from an anonymous writer. It focuses on how to choose the right networking websites. Everyone knows how big social networking is for business owners these days. Social networking was originally intended to make it easier to maintain personal relationships, but businesses have made social networking a priority as well. Businesses of all sizes have taken part in social networking to promote their business in ways that they could never have dreamed of fifteen years ago. In order to make the most of social networking, businesses must learn to manage their social networking resources carefully. It requires an investment of time and sometimes money just like anything else. In recent years more emphasis has been placed on business networking through Facebook. Nevertheless, it is not as effective for professional networking as sites like LinkedIn, and Twitter is just as good a platfo rm for many viral marketing programs. These sites still can be worth joining even for users who aren’t interested in paying for premium memberships. However, if they have a hard time finding and connecting with other users with the free plan, they should be careful before they invest a substantial amount of time and energy using them. Businesses especially need to be concerned about the number of paid business networking sites that are almost completely inactive. They exist only to continue scraping membership fees, mostly from new clients who don’t know what (or how little) they are actually getting from the services. The best rule of thumb is to focus on either the most popular networking sites or those that are most specifically targeted to a niche audience. New businesses must always keep in mind that benefits from social networking only come with hard work. They must approach social networking just like any other business strategy and look for the best return on their investment. Local Literature Benjamin Jr. (2003) suggested some tips in creating good design. Such as: a) keep it simple, b) keep everything organized and coherent, c) keep it fresh, d) keep it browser neutral, e) make sure that the pages look more or less the same which browser is used, and also f) keep that there are people who use older version of the browsers. Leona Tomlinson emphasized accessibility to improve the browsing experience of website visitors. However, at present accessibility Statements in general seem to add little value in assisting website visitors. They are often difficult to find and contain complex language and technical jargon that can be bewildering. Related Studies Foreign Studies The Advanced Networking group at Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center conducts research on network performance and analysis in support of high-performance computing applications. They also develop software to support heterogeneous distributed supercomputing applications and to implement high-speed interfaces to archival and mass storage systems. Their researchers focus on such areas as TCP implementations, tools to tune TCP for better performance and software to monitor and improve network performance. In addition to their own research, PSC networking experts participate in national networking research efforts such as Web100 and Net100. Local studies The study of Cocadiz entitled â€Å"Customized Cordian Networking† focused on providing better communication between the school and alumni and their fellow classmates and batch mates. The system features a data base that has the records of all the student and alumni of Sacred Heart College throughout the years. It has an accessible connectivity to online database where it can search alumni and batch mates on the proposed study. Synthesis Most of the foreign and local literatures have the same concept as Game Shield. A social networking site that is very easy to use will attract more users. Both have features of accessibility to connect gamers with each other. By the help of this studies the researchers have gathered information more easily because the information’s from this studies have help us compare and analyze the logics and the situation’s based on the needs of the respondents.

Ignorance to the Truth Essay

Often in tragic literature, authors infuse characters with a tragic flaw such as hubris. One work that explores an exuberant amount of pride is Oedipus Rex by Sophocles. In this play, Thebes is stricken with a plague and Oedipus, the King, will sacrifice anyone to save it. In the process of finding a solution, Oedipus realizes that he fulfills the prophecies that say he will kill his father and marry his mother. In the play, Sophocles shows Oedipus’ hubris by using irony. Characterization is also used to enhance the effects of pride on Oedipus’ ability to see logistically. Both characterization and irony play an important role in supporting the theme that excessive pride is a bad thing because it prevents people from viewing life with logic and leads to their downfalls. In the drama, Oedipus Rex, readers analyze the theme by looking at Oedipus’ tragic flaw. Sophocles describes how Oedipus changes from being a powerful and majestic king to being â€Å"the world’s outcast† (Sophocles 66). For instance, Oedipus’ hubris is shown from the beginning of the play when he steps down from the altar. He addresses the people of Thebes to discuss the deadly plague that has come to Thebes. Oedipus explains that he hears the â€Å"sound of prayer and lamentation† and that he himself â€Å"who bears the famous name,† has come to listen to his people (Sophocles 4). Oedipus shows how prideful he is when he refers to himself as being famous amongst the people of Thebes. Also, the fact that he comes forth when he hears prayers, indicates that he views himself as an equivalence to the gods because he defeated the Sphinx. Oedipus’ boasting relates to the theme because it foreshadows his tragic fate that he will kill his father and marry his mother as destined by the gods. Oedipus’ pride continues throughout the play when the messenger announces the death of King Polybos of Corinth. Specifically, Oedipus thinks that he is the son of King Polybos and that he escapes his prophecies by leaving Corinth long ago. Oedipus explains that he â€Å"never touches [Polybos],† so he will not â€Å"give heed to the birds that jangle above [Pythian’s] head† (Sophocles 50). Oedipus fails to realize that Polybos is not his real father, which relates to the theme of hubris. The overwhelming sense of pride in himself is what makes him blind to what is real. To support the theme of Oedipus Rex, Sophocles uses dramatic irony throughout the play. Creon tells Oedipus that the murderer of King Laois must die in order for Thebes to recuperate from the plague. Oedipus shows concern for the well-being of the city but also for himself. He says that he will â€Å"avenge the city and the city’s god† (Sophocles 9). He further exclaims that â€Å"for [his] own sake, [he will] get rid of evil† because the murderer of King Laois might â€Å"decide at any moment to kill [him]† (Sophocles 9). Although Oedipus shows true concern for Thebes, his pride propels him to state that he will get rid of the murderer for his own benefits. The dramatic irony is that Oedipus is unable to realize that he will not benefit because he will ultimately have to be punished. Oedipus’ misconception connects to the theme because Oedipus fails to see that he is the murderer of King Laois. Dramatic irony is also shown after Iocaste realizes that Oedipus’ prophecies have come true and Oedipus refuses to give up his search for the truth of his birthplace. Oedipus says that he â€Å"is a child of Luck; [and that he] cannot be dishonored† (Sophocles 58). The irony is that the audience knows Oedipus’ tragic fate, yet Oedipus believes he is a child of luck. The irony relates to the theme because his pride blinds him to see the reality that he has fulfilled his prophecies. The overall use of dramatic irony enhances the theme of pride preventing a person from seeing things logistically. In addition to irony, Sophocles uses characterization throughout the play to enhance the theme. For instance, Tiresias, a blind prophet reveals Oedipus’ fate and Oedipus refuses to believe it. When Tiresias accuses Oedipus of weaving his own doom, Oedipus objects by exclaiming that he saves Thebes by defeating the Sphinx. He says that Tiresias’ magic â€Å"or the gods, for the matter† are useless (Sophocles 22). Oedipus is indirectly characterized as very self-centered and haughty. Oedipus’ ego relates to theme because he is so cocky that he does not perceive what Tiresias is saying. Instead, he reminds everyone of the time that he defeats the Sphinx. Oedipus gloats on past victories without dealing with present problems involving Thebes. Along with being self-centered, Sophocles characterizes Oedipus by incorporating epithets into the chorus’ lines. Oedipus summons the shepherd in search of primary proof of the murdering of King Laois. The chorus explicitly calls Oedipus a â€Å"tyrant [who is a] child of Pride† and that his â€Å"haughtiness and high hand of disdain/ Tempt and outrage God’s holy law† (Sophocles 46). Oedipus is indirectly characterized as a tyrant. The chorus denounces their King, which relates to the theme because Oedipus’ pride leads him to be â€Å"caught up in a net of pain† (Sophocles 46). By using characterization, the author shows the reader how Oedipus’ pride leads to his downfall. Hubris often leads to a tragic fall and causes people to become oblivious to the real world. Sophocles creates dramatic irony in the play Oedipus Rex to enhance the plot. The use of dramatic irony highlights how blind Oedipus is to his fate. It shows how Oedipus’ life changes from being a majestic King to an egocentric man who has given up all hope. Oedipus Rex leads the reader into analyzing his or her own life. People should be proud of their achievements as long as they avoid becoming insolent. A healthy dose of pride always does a person well, but an exuberant amount of it, makes him or her ignorant to the truth.

Haefren-Baum Case

Name of the business: Haefren Baum GmgH Nature of the business: Haefren Baum is a retailer of high quality home furniture located in Cologne, Germany. They have also added three outlet stores in Rhineland, a nearby suburban area. Marketing Analysis: Haefren retails high quality furniture manufactured by Wiegandt has advertised aggressively in order to build and maintain a strong brand image. Haefren benefited tremendously from the successful marketing provided by Wiegandt. Wiegandt has However, because the nature of the product is high-end and durable, sales are subject to fluctuations of the business cycle.During the economic boom leading up to 1993 Haefren, as well as the industry in general, enjoyed strong sales. However, the economic bust in 1993 has slowed sales growth. Decreased consumer confidence caused industry sales growth to decrease from 42. 9% in 1992 to 9% in 1993. Haefren experienced negative sales growth during this period. Haefren has a strong competitive position; h owever, it is quickly deteriorating. The addition of 3 outlets give Haefren an opportunity to capture a wider market than it currently has. However, new competitors entering the market are all competing for stagnant demand.European retailers are also entering the German furniture market which makes it even harder for Haefren to maintain its competitive advantage. Operations Analysis: Haefren obtains its merchandise directly from the manufacturer, Weigandt. Weigandt has provided â€Å"fairly liberal† credit terms which include a discount for early payment (2% 10, net 30). However, they have jeopardized their lose credit terms because of inefficiencies with their receivables, inventories, and fixed assets. A major issue that Haefren needs to address is the delinquency of their customers accounts.From 1993 to 1995, days sales outstanding have increased to 77 days, which is dramatically higher than the 30-day monthly installment terms. This delay in collection is creating cash fl ow problems for Haefren. It is causing them to fall behind on their payments to Weigandt and miss out on significant savings from the early payment discount. The increase in its collection period was expected in 1993 due to the worsening economy. However, the economy is now improving and Haefren’s collection period is still increasing. This signals to inefficiencies within the company’s collection department.Perhaps, they should even consider increasing the down payment required to establish credit. The sluggish sales in the furniture industry can account for the increase in inventory days. Haefren inventory in 1994-1995 stayed on the floor for around 129 days before it was sold. The longer period that they are holding inventory is increasing their cost of goods sold. Not only are they holding inventory for a longer period of time, but they are also underutilizing their fixed assets. Fixed asset turnover decreased for Haefren from 1993-1994. They constructed three new outlet stores which should have helped them with sales.However, due to the sluggish demand, these new fixed assets are not returning the sales they were supposed to. Haefren needs to consider whether these outlets are worth the investments. They could potentially benefit from sending inventory from their retail store to the outlet sooner. Even if they have to sell it at a discount, if they do not lose money on it, the lower revenue would be more beneficial. It appears that Haefren might be experiencing problems with human resources as well. They carry a debt account for notes payables for employees.This account reflects loans that have been made from the employees, or their relatives, to the company. Why are they borrowing from employees? This could potentially come from accrued wages, which would be an even greater issue. Financial Analysis: Haefren’s funding has come from bank loans and utilizing credit from its vendors. Funding needs increased due to the addition of 3 new outlet stores. These outlet stores have increased Haefren’s debt over the three years in questions. Along with this new debt, two of the original partners sold their shares to the other two partners.It seems like there are too many changes going on at Haefren all at once. In regards to cash flows, Haefren is performing poorly. Cash flows from operations are unhealthy and the total cash on hand has declined over the three years in question. Total cash flow from operations is positive, however, they appear to be driven by depreciation. Their negative net income (net loss), is not driving operations cash flow in a positive direction. They are also carrying a great deal of inventory which is consuming their cash. In order for them to drive up net income they need to find a way to decrease their inventories.Accounts receivables are also impacting cash flows in a negative way. A/R have increased each year, which can be attributed to the weak economy. This drag in A/R is causing the m to receive cash-in after cash goes out. Their cash flow problems are evident when analyzing their account payable days. Wiegdant has given them competitive terms (2% 10, net 30), however, Haefren cannot meet those terms. Their account payable days have increased to 66 days. It is taking them twice as long to repay their current liabilities. All of these cash flow problems are having a negative impact on their liquidity.Their quick ratio is increasing from year to year, but it is being driven by inventories. Their Current ratio also appears to be ok; however, it is being driven by accounts receivables. Although they appear to going in the right direction, it is not a good sign for Haefren. Inventories and receivables are also driving down operating margin. The positive cash flow from investments reflects the addition of the three new outlets. Investing in long term assets is a good thing. Ideally, the addition of these assets (outlets) should have led to higher revenues for Haefren . However, they invested in those assets at the wrong time.Their sales growth (revenues) cannot support the addition of the outlets. Weak sales led to a negative return on equity and the addition of the three outlets led to a negative net profit margin. The interest being paid on the current debt in 1995 was 3. 08% of their net sales. Haefren cannot handle any more debt without first making significant changes to their operations. Summary: A weak economy has led to Haefren poor financial conditions. They expanded at the wrong time, right when the economy went sour. They also need to handle their inventories and accounts receivable in order to avoid further cash flow problems.

Curriculum mapping

Answer to why curriculum mapping. Comprehensive curriculum maps promote higher achievement levels as the vision of the map is created by a team of education experts not only from within the school or system, but also includes central office personnel and instructional leaders. These education leaders involve all the teaching staff of the school to provide data and information about the content, skills, and assessments administered in their classes. Important skills, content, and assessments methods are chronologically addressed and cater to the schools academic calendar.Teaching load of each teacher is displayed on the map and this makes it very easy to review as the issues in sequencing of instruction become obvious and can be corrected easily if required. So curriculum mapping is an effective tool to improve teaching skills of the teachers and competency levels of the learner. It is also an effective process for documenting and analyzing what is being taught and when. A very import ant benefit of this mapping is the teachers can quickly gauge what students mastered in the preceding grade and plan teaching without wasting time and effort on unnecessary reviewing and re-teaching.Precious teaching time is appropriately utilized in building skills and improves knowledge levels. A well organized curriculum map ensures same time line for a given subject topic, being uniformly practiced in all the classes of the same grade. Learning is made more relevant by identifying common points which means overlaps in course content. Interdisciplinary connections can be made by the teachers in their lesson plans. The students too identify and link information among courses and the teachers can plan lessons at a higher level.In a nutshell all important educational and curricular activities are reflected for every classroom within a department, school, or district level. Total education of the students in a school is effectively addressed. The information is so organized that it p resents and provides a timeline of instruction of the complete course for all the teachers. Hayes-Jacobs (1997) said, â€Å"Curriculum mapping amplifies the possibilities for long-range planning, short-term preparation, and clear communication†.A curriculum map developed by the teachers in the school helps them to effectively communicate about the course content and related skills that will be used in the classroom. All teaching lesson plans are modified to cater for all the students in class. Teaching program developed in collaboration with other educators and experts in the field always have cohesive instructions because they are evolved by integrating curriculum with content standards leading to formation of customized curriculum guides. Teachers can develop a Blue print for teaching objectives to coordinate instruction both horizontally and vertically.(Kathy Tuchman Glass 2007) shows teachers how to develop a customized, personalized process to prepare their curriculum wh ile folding content into a larger curriculum map. Curriculum map is an excellent resource not only for teachers but helps curriculum directors, staff developers, and principals to lead there teachers to evolve an academic calendar map for a complete session to educate their students. The components of this mapping serve as a benchmark to determine what students should know and be able to do.It provides an action plans for school leaders and provides processes to make standards manageable. Educators are able to translate there mission and vision in an effective manner. Not only the school managers the teachers are able to share resources and are able to teach beyond the facts. Public schools can plan to produce thinkers in place of core thinkers with this concept of integrated content plans. Educators who have adopted curriculum mapping, found this is a practical approach to create the culture and structure needed to effectively align curriculum and meet standards.Roles of district l eaders, curriculum directors, principals, and teacher leaders are defined pointing at leadership strategies for each phase, including discussion of roles and responsibilities. The initiative also provides information and facilitates how leaders can create professional development maps and professional roles maps. In most of the public schools it became clear that a curriculum mapping exercise was an essential backbone to any decision about innovative teaching as it highlighted the depth of innovative activity that is needed to make teaching relevant.Innovative teaching shifts the mindset from quantitative assessment that examines what students ‘know’ to a mindset of understanding, what students are ‘learning’ (Henri, 2002). A curriculum mapping exercise initiates ‘what is taught and when’ and also assists instructors in reflecting and adjusting their own lesson units (Payne, J. 2001). When referring to teaching topics educators often talk of te aching ‘topics’. The emphasis is on ‘teaching’ and ‘topics’. To be a curriculum practitioner you require understanding academic-practice knowledge and the array of curriculum work from policymaking to evaluation.Thomas W. Hewitt (2006). Change is inevitable hence it becomes important for students to explore and examines current issues. A good practitioner understands the necessity to keep mapping the learning path relating to current issues and trends that affect both the knowledge and the work of curriculum. When it comes to curriculum mapping, for many educators, â€Å"there is a gap between the compass and the clock – between what’s deeply important to us and the way we spend our time† (Covey, Merrill & Merrill, 1994, p. 16). Sometimes the time factor to convert perspective into practice is ignored at the managerial level.Experienced teachers cannot digest the fact that after effectively teaching for more than a decade w hy they need a curriculum map. Muhammad (2009) wrote, â€Å"Educators’ personal belief systems may be the most powerful variables perpetuating learning gaps in our public school system† (p. 14). At times in order to meet the deadlines of completing the course content teacher may not account for the learning pace of the students and overlook important aspects. According to Schmoker (2006), â€Å"Mere collegiality won’t cut it. Even discussions about curricular issues or popular strategies can feel good but go nowhere.The right image to embrace is a group of teachers who meet regularly to share, refine and assess the impact of lessons and strategies continuously to help increasing numbers of students learn at higher levels† (p. 178). References 1. Angela Koppang (2004) Curriculum Mapping: Building Collaboration and Communication Journal article by; Intervention in School & Clinic, Vol. 39 2. Bena Kallick, Jeff Colosimo, Heidi Hayes Jacobs (Jul 2008) Using C urriculum Mapping & Assessment Data To Improve Learning (Paperback) Publisher: Corwin Press 3. Janet A.Hale, Heidi Hayes Jacobs ( 2007) A Guide To Curriculum Mapping: Planning, Implementing, And Sustaining The Process 4. Thomas W. Hewitt (2006) Understanding and shaping curriculum: what we teach and why 5. Covey, S. R. , Merrill, A. R. , & Merrill, R. R. (1994). First things first. New York: Simon & Schuster. 6. Muhammad, A. (2009). Transforming school culture: How to overcome staff division. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree. 7. Schmoker, M. (2006). Results now: How we can achieve unprecedented improvements in teaching and learning. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.

Art and Technology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Art and Technology - Essay Example This section of the Tapestries provides information dated back to a time when the battle had not taken place. The choice to explore the Battle of Hastings is critical to gaining knowledge that relates to the fact that the battle marked the very last time that the Island was conquered by a foreign power. This section therefore provides a one-time conflict that any scholar throughout the world ought to know about. Ubiquitous is defines as act of being everywhere, all at the same time (Smith 53). Ubiquitous computing is a form of computing paradigm that is considered to be the next big thing in the computer industry. Every day is characterized by a number of ubiquitous computing elements and activities. One of these is mobile devices in the context of Ubiquitous computing. Mobile development has developed mobile capacities and capabilities to a more complex aspect, allowing mobile devices to handle user environments; like setting up reminders based on the location of the phone. Biometrics is another ubiquitous computing observed. It is a privacy control mode of computing characteristic to many firms and organizations. Biometrics employs physical characteristics, and a user can be identified by simply touching the ubiquitous device. Ubiquitous networking is another example. Computing activities and performance heavily dwells on networking. Transmitted computing networks are not visible yet they are actually put into use. Ubiquitous networks range from low power, short range, ad hoc to wireless networks and systems (Smith

Telecommuting at IBM Indiana Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Telecommuting at IBM Indiana - Essay Example It was in the 19702 that the company enjoyed about 70% of the computer market share. The reputation that the company name was tagged with gave the company trusted reputation. Half of the company’s business volume was spread out worldwide. It was in the mid-1980s, however, that the company started to have problems. The profits of the company had started to plunge down. Analysts concluded that the reasons behind the downfall were not many but were strong enough to shaken an established company. They were: the bureaucratic and slow moving setup of the company, maintenance of old business strategies and reluctance to replace them with newer ones, incorrect assessment of business risks. As said by Ducker (1993), it is a business sin to sacrifice tomorrow’s opportunity on the altar of yesterday. This was precisely the reason why IBM got off-track its road to success. Though IBM did try to cope up with the growing trends of the market by introducing a PC in the market almost o vernight after Apple introduced the first PC in the mid-1970s but they could actually never get out of the MAINFRAME mask that they had put on themselves. Then the time came when IBM was being administered by JOHN AKERS who was a career IBMer in the ear 1985. Since the downfall of the company had already begun several steps were being taken by the administered in order to downsize the company. A summary of the downsizing of the company can be viewed in the attached table. Table 1: The IBM Timeline from 1970 to 1994. YEARS PROGRESS AT IBM. 1970s IBM owns about 70% of the computer market share. 1980s IBM continues to grow but at a slower rate. 1985 Profit margins begin to slip. 1985 – 1993 Downsizing resulted in employee number moving from 405,000 to 300,000. 1987 – 1992 Stocks dropped from $176 to $ 49. 1991-1992 Unprecedented losses. 1994 Employee number decreases to 225,000. The administered however resigned in the year when despite all his efforts the company continu ed to lose stocks and suffered major losses in year 1992.Louis V. Gerstner then replaced the former head of the company. Further downsizing of employees was then consented upon by the management of the company. THE PROPOSAL The establishment of the company’s office in the state of Indiana was an evident example of the problem the company was facing overall. The Indiana office reduced its number of employees to about 30% in the year 1992. The General Manager Operation s for the State of Indiana was foreseeing another cut in the number of employees. This step was extremely unaffordable as any further cut in the number of employees could have resulted in the deletion of key essential employees of the company that were required to run it. This could have put the company into further trouble. An alternative idea was proposed by the then operations manager of IBM Indiana Office in the year 1993. He proposed that instead of reducing the number of personnel working at the organizatio n furthermore the employees should be equipped with technological devices to assist them. This would in turn enable the employees to be able to work from home. The terminology commonly coined for such a task is Telecommuting. TELECOMMUTING While all the other offices of the IBM were trying their hands at downsizing the people at Indiana were eager to try something new. The first person to take up this change was none other than the executive Vice President of the Indiana Operations himself. It was decided that employees who spent more than half of their

How the media portrays the Palestinian-Islaeli conflict, and what the Research Paper

How the media portrays the Palestinian-Islaeli conflict, and what the truth really is - Research Paper Example es that the international public has inadequate understanding of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as a consequence of their lack of factual knowledge. While many people lack any information at all about the origins of the conflict, it is evident that most of them are unable to identify the different actors and players in the conflict and therefore have limited or no understanding of what is actually going on in this conflict (Deprez and Karin, 187). The answer as to why public opinion on this long-time topic is so limited or there is significant lack of understanding of what is actually going on is inherent in the news production processes of the international media. The international media finds itself largely influenced by both Palestinian and Israeli lobbies and pressure groups that seek to distort the coverage to favor either side. Although it is unfair to hold the media solely responsible for the distorted public perceptions about the Palestine-Israel conflict, they play an important role in shaping public perception and opinion on international issues. In this light, this paper investigates the portrayal of the Palestinian- Israeli conflict in the media and the various factors that influence the coverage to favor either side. The paper tries to explore what is covered by the media and how it is presented vis-Ã  -vis the real situation on the ground or indeed the truth about the whole conflict so far. Most studies that have been carried out on media representation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict mainly concern the presence of contextual information, reporting on victims, the choice of labels for reporting, and the use of actors and sources from both sides of the conflict (Stein, 137). Almost all the studies reach the conclusion that the media represents the Israelis and Palestinians in different ways. Although the studies mostly highlight a bias in favor of Israeli, it must however be pointed out that the studies largely focused on the Israeli and US

Coca-Cola Brand Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Coca-Cola Brand - Essay Example Target customers could be reached by offering the product that is packaged in can, to the manufacturers of sporting goods, gasoline stations, organizers of big sporting events, club wears, clubs and discos and clubs. b. Names of customer segments. These are the sportsmen, athletes, casual sports drinkers, lifestyle users, recreational users, teenagers, long distance drivers, night time workers and variety seekers who would like to experiment a new taste of drink. The market place of US, Western Europe, Great Britain, Germany, Spain, Mexico and Latin America have been chosen because, Coke has established a foothold in terms of market position in these areas. (Sami,Ullah, Khan). Launching of a new product will not cost too much in terms of publicity, PR and advertising Coke has been known for its quality product. Dealers will be encouraged to stock up with the product to increases sales, profitability and growth. Potential customers will be interested with PowerAde because of the belief that the product will give them the energy they need and that they trust that the product will look after his/her health, so that they can have all the fun they want without worrying for their health. As an energy drink, consumers buy them because they need it for their work. d. What kind of differentiated marketing strategy you will use to reach the target market? PowerAde will come in the form of cans. As an energy drink, it has a clear purpose that will differentiate it with other drinks. It can also be offered as an advertising media itself, by making a tie-up with promotion of events. For instance, the PowerAde in can may promote Olympic events, Milo marathon, Disney movie, car racing and big sports events that will attract

Hajj The Pilgrimage to Makkah Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Hajj The Pilgrimage to Makkah - Essay Example When people from all around the world stand in silence and in a row while praying in the mosque, it shows the exhibition of equality and discipline among the Muslims. Hajj is an annual congregation of worship. 2. Lesser pilgrimage is known as the Umra and is commonly referred to as Haj-e-Asghar. Although many acts of worship performed in Umra are those performed in of Hajj, there are certain fundamental differences as Hajj is obligatory, Umra is not. Hajj can only be performed on prescribed dates, but there isn't any time and date fixed for performing Umra. It is undesirable to perform Umra between 9th and 13th of ZilHajj of the Islamic calendar. Umra can be performed individually (while Hajj is performed in groups) and is a shorter course of pilgrimage. 3. Ihram: Pilgrims put on Ihram during the Hajj ritual. They are 2 white sheets of unsown cloth. One sheet is used for covering the lower portion of the body (from the navel downwards) and the other is used for covering the upper portions of the body. Head while remaining uncovered. Ihram for women is their everyday clothes. It is compulsory for women to cover their heads, but no cloth should touch their faces. Before putting on the Ihram the pilgrim should first take a full bath and clean his body thoroughly. He may then put on Ihram and cover his head with some unsown piece of cloth and offer prayers. Ihram is the first and foremost obligation of Hajj.