My name is margaret

â€Å"My Name is Margaret† Our name identifies us in many ways. It connects us to who we are and connects us to our family. White people have had the power to express what identifies them best and black people really never got the chance to experience what identity is, it has always been prearranged for them. This passage's main point is about identity and breaking out of the silence that the whites have had over the black people, about taking control and breaking the norms. In this story, Margaret is angry with the fact that Viola Cullinan calls her by ‘Mary ust for her convenience because Margaret is too long. Twenty years. I wasn't much older than you. My name used to be Hallelujah. That's what Ma named me, but my mistress gave me ‘Glory,' and it stuck. I likes it better too. † -Miss Glory Miss Glory, the cook, mentions that her real name was ‘Hallelujah' and that her mistress gave her the name ‘Glory and it stuck. It stuck for twenty years but claims she likes that name better anyway and â€Å"It's shorter too. † This shows how much power the whites had over the blacks. They were a much more superior race. Margaret entions Mr. Cullinan only briefly. Margaret states â€Å"Her (Mrs.Cullinan) husband remains, but in my memory, undefined. I lumped him with all the other white men that I had ever seen and tried not to see. † So I thought that she didn't have any kind of relationship with Mr. Cullinan if she tried to ignore and not face him. It then starts talking about how he has two daughters with a colored woman and from my assumption, I think that he raped the colored woman since this did often happen in the 1930s. Margaret talks about the girls' father and then says â€Å"l was unable to emember what he looked like, although I had Just left him a few hours before, but I thought of the Coleman girls. I was troubled by this. What does Margaret mean she just left him? And if she did Just leave him, why was she unable to remember his face? I didn't know what this meant at first and I kept rereading this and came to the realization that she was raped. This is why she had hatred toward not only Viola, but her husband. I can imagine Margaret trying to close her eyes and trying not to see this man while raping her. It all makes sense now. But the sad thing is, she was aped by other white men as well if you read the paragraph about Mr.Cullinan again. As I read her story, I have to uncover something that isn't pleasant; in fact, it devastates the young girl and, one assumes, her family. Now, it doesn't say much about Margaret's family besides her mother and I was getting concerned whether I should include this as part of my essay. After trying to fgure out what I was being asked to include, I came to an understanding. Margaret is pregnant. There are so many hints such as her throwing up her lunch and talking about her stomach.Margaret breaks the china and it could be her mood swings taking cont rol. Her and her baby would make a family and it's devastating how such a blessing can come from something so tragic. At first I thought Margaret was angry because of her new name, but it was much more than that. Each race has their own prejudice toward one another; however, the whites v. blacks will never truly fade away. There will always be jokes and seriousness about this situation. The contlict will always go on. This story does need to be decoded with a close reading.There was a more personal reason for her anger. The author has made this an allusion. She is lost in wonderland, someone else's definition of her own identity, she was raped, and she is now pregnant and Just imagine all the pain and emotion. In the end, Margaret left that house with dignity. She didn't want to quit but Margaret's mother wouldn't let her quit for any reason. So she conducts a plan to get fired. She drops and empty serving tray and a casserole and two of the green glass cups that was Viola Cullinan' s mother's china from Virginia. Mrs.Cullinan cries as she bends down to pick up the broken china. Miss Glory comes running in and asks â€Å"Who did it, Viola? Was it Mary? Who did it? † Mrs. Cullinan then says â€Å"Her name's Margaret, goddamn it, her name's Margaret. † How ironic is that? Miss Glory is calling Margaret, Mary. â€Å"Mrs. Cullinan was right about one thing. My name wasn't Mary. † And during Margaret's tenth year, a white woman's kitchen became her finishing school. Margaret has found herself and will not be taken advantage of again, she is now the one holding power upon herself. My name is margaret â€Å"My Name is Margaret† Our name identifies us in many ways. It connects us to who we are and connects us to our family. White people have had the power to express what identifies them best and black people really never got the chance to experience what identity is, it has always been prearranged for them. This passage's main point is about identity and breaking out of the silence that the whites have had over the black people, about taking control and breaking the norms. In this story, Margaret is angry with the fact that Viola Cullinan calls her by ‘Mary ust for her convenience because Margaret is too long. Twenty years. I wasn't much older than you. My name used to be Hallelujah. That's what Ma named me, but my mistress gave me ‘Glory,' and it stuck. I likes it better too. † -Miss Glory Miss Glory, the cook, mentions that her real name was ‘Hallelujah' and that her mistress gave her the name ‘Glory and it stuck. It stuck for twenty years but claims she likes that name better anyway and â€Å"It's shorter too. † This shows how much power the whites had over the blacks. They were a much more superior race. Margaret entions Mr. Cullinan only briefly. Margaret states â€Å"Her (Mrs.Cullinan) husband remains, but in my memory, undefined. I lumped him with all the other white men that I had ever seen and tried not to see. † So I thought that she didn't have any kind of relationship with Mr. Cullinan if she tried to ignore and not face him. It then starts talking about how he has two daughters with a colored woman and from my assumption, I think that he raped the colored woman since this did often happen in the 1930s. Margaret talks about the girls' father and then says â€Å"l was unable to emember what he looked like, although I had Just left him a few hours before, but I thought of the Coleman girls. I was troubled by this. What does Margaret mean she just left him? And if she did Just leave him, why was she unable to remember his face? I didn't know what this meant at first and I kept rereading this and came to the realization that she was raped. This is why she had hatred toward not only Viola, but her husband. I can imagine Margaret trying to close her eyes and trying not to see this man while raping her. It all makes sense now. But the sad thing is, she was aped by other white men as well if you read the paragraph about Mr.Cullinan again. As I read her story, I have to uncover something that isn't pleasant; in fact, it devastates the young girl and, one assumes, her family. Now, it doesn't say much about Margaret's family besides her mother and I was getting concerned whether I should include this as part of my essay. After trying to fgure out what I was being asked to include, I came to an understanding. Margaret is pregnant. There are so many hints such as her throwing up her lunch and talking about her stomach.Margaret breaks the china and it could be her mood swings taking cont rol. Her and her baby would make a family and it's devastating how such a blessing can come from something so tragic. At first I thought Margaret was angry because of her new name, but it was much more than that. Each race has their own prejudice toward one another; however, the whites v. blacks will never truly fade away. There will always be jokes and seriousness about this situation. The contlict will always go on. This story does need to be decoded with a close reading.There was a more personal reason for her anger. The author has made this an allusion. She is lost in wonderland, someone else's definition of her own identity, she was raped, and she is now pregnant and Just imagine all the pain and emotion. In the end, Margaret left that house with dignity. She didn't want to quit but Margaret's mother wouldn't let her quit for any reason. So she conducts a plan to get fired. She drops and empty serving tray and a casserole and two of the green glass cups that was Viola Cullinan' s mother's china from Virginia. Mrs.Cullinan cries as she bends down to pick up the broken china. Miss Glory comes running in and asks â€Å"Who did it, Viola? Was it Mary? Who did it? † Mrs. Cullinan then says â€Å"Her name's Margaret, goddamn it, her name's Margaret. † How ironic is that? Miss Glory is calling Margaret, Mary. â€Å"Mrs. Cullinan was right about one thing. My name wasn't Mary. † And during Margaret's tenth year, a white woman's kitchen became her finishing school. Margaret has found herself and will not be taken advantage of again, she is now the one holding power upon herself.

Week Six

Use the Internet to research and evaluate two (2) commercial HR database systems for your organization. Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of each system and, based on your knowledge of human resources and database systems, propose one (1) package that would fit the needs of your organization. Suggest three (3) specific reasons why you would recommend that system over the other. Capterra is a HR database provider that can provide the needs an organization to help with their HR needs. Their fully integrated, web-based suite automates and simplifies performance appraisals, 360 degree feedback, learning management, succession planning, compensation management, job descriptions and recruiting. Halogen's products make HR best-practices accessible to companies of all sizes. They also offer specific suites to meet the unique needs of a variety of industries. † (capterra. com) â€Å"Waypoint open source and other web-based software applications outlined on this website have bee n developed by HR-Fundamentals limited.Since 2002 HR-Fundamentals ltd has been providing online tools to help employers manage their staff and their business more effectively. Our friendly and approachable attitude enables us to work with different types of organizations, in many industries, across many continents, to deliver visible results to their business. HR-Fundamentals ltd offer a wide range of bespoke and personal services to employers, directors, line managers and employees. Our services include web based software applications and online employment related documentation available for immediate download. † (waypointhr. om) One of the advantages that Capterra has to offers program that can track holiday and sick time, along providing software to process payroll. It handles HR needs such as pre-employment testing and background checks. Capterra assist with all onboarding needs such as applicant tracking. Capterra can assist with all of a company’s recruitment need s. The disadvantage that Capterra has is there are a lot of options to choose from, and the website doesn’t seem to be easy to follow. The customer can easily be lost and maybe confused on what type of service they may need to choose from.With Waypoint I feel it can provide more support what a company is looking for and the website is easier to understand. Customer will get the feeling this company understand their needs and is willing to give them the service they are looking for. Waypoint specializes in HR Software and Web Development. They have modules that assist with Exit Interviews, HR Intranets, Online Appraisals, and Online Recruitment. The disadvantage that Waypoint may have is that their website is vague and it may give a potential customer the impression that it doesn’t have the areas of expertise a company is looking for.I would propose the absence management online program â€Å"Absence levels can be reduced through monitoring and management, sending empl oyees a clear message that you take sickness absence seriously. Our web-based Online Absence Management software is easy-to-use and accessible from any PC via a web browser and includes many features to help you and your line managers monitor, manage and handle sickness, injury and medical related absences. †(WaypointHR. com) I would recommend Waypoint because the services are on point with a customer needs. They can provide services such as online absences, and Exit Interview, and Online Intranet.These are basic services that most companies would like and want to promote. I would use Waypoint because it has the recognizes what companies needs are what they needs to make HRIS more efficient within the company. Waypoint specialty is Web Development and that is a must for HRIS to be utilized to its full capacity. To reduce using a lot of paper, Waypoint has an option that will allow important forms to be downloaded instead of always printing forms out. Suggest three (3) efficien cies that an organization would gain from using a SAAS for its HRIS needs and three (3) inefficiencies from maintaining an MS Access-based database application. The efficiency of HRIS, the systems are able to produce more effective and faster outcomes than can be done on paper. Some of the many applications of HRIS are: Clerical applications, applicant search expenditures, risk management, training management, training experiences, financial planning, turnover analysis, succession planning, flexible-benefits administration, compliance with government regulations, attendance reporting and analysis, human resource planning, accident reporting and prevention and strategic planning.With the many different applications of HRIS, it is difficult to understand how the programs benefit companies without looking at companies that have already benefited from such programs. † (ezinearticles. com) â€Å"One such company is IBM. IBM has a paperless online enrollment plan for all of its emp loyees. Not only has the online enrollment saved the company 1. 2 million per year on printing and mailing costs, the employees enjoy working with the online plan. Since we began offering online enrollment, we've learned that employees want web access,† Donnelly [Senior Communications Specialist] says, so they can log on at home rather than through the company intranet. So the company has been working to put in place a web-based enrollment system that employees and retirees can access from anywhere (Huering, 2003). By utilizing the flexible-benefits application HRIS has to offer, IBM was able to cut costs and give employees the freedom to discover their benefits on their own time and pace. † (ezinearticles. om) â€Å"The privacy of employee information has become a major issue in recent years. With identity theft becoming a common problem, employees are becoming more sensitive about who sees their personal information, and the security it is kept in. By making sure empl oyee information that is kept in the HRIS is relevant to the company and making sure there is limited access (password protection) to such information, companies can make its employees more secure with the safety of their information. Whether electronic or paper, employee files deserve to be treated with great care.Establishing security and end-user privileges calls for a balance of incorporating, HR policy, system knowledge and day-to-day operations (O’Connell, 1994). † (ezinearticles. com) â€Å"Illogically or inconsistently stored data can cause a number of problems. In a relational database, a logical and efficient design is just as critical. A poorly designed database may provide erroneous information, may be difficult to use, or may even fail to work properly. Most of these problems are the result of two bad design features called: redundant data and anomalies.Redundant data is unnecessary reoccurring data (repeating groups of data). Anomalies are any occurrence that weakens the integrity of your data due to irregular or inconsistent storage (delete, insert and update irregularity, that generates the inconsistent data). † (www. databasedev. co. uk) Assess the (3) most significant risks associated with combining products from multiple vendors into one (1) HRIS. â€Å"IaaS allows organizations to avoid the large capital expenses associated with infrastructure and data centers.It also has a low barrier to entry and enables automated scaling. One negative aspect of IaaS is that it brings with it new security risks that require different measures. For example, due to stringent information requirements associated with regulations such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), and Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX), enterprises must carefully assess where such information resides and mitigate any privacy risks. In addition, how well IaaS works is vendor dependent. † (cloudcomputing. ys-con. com) The major drawback that mus t be mitigated is the security risk associated with centralization. In addition, since applications are centralized, version control and updates are relatively headache free and deploying software becomes instantaneous. On the other hand, applications that are centralized present enhanced security risks. (cloudcomputing. sys-con. com) Predict three (3) unintended consequences of not managing an HR database properly and how you would circumvent those situations from occurring.What is the impact of a poorly structured performance management process? If individual goals are not aligned with business strategy, then time and resources are wasted. Low employee engagement levels may mean that individuals are not performing at their best. Inconsistent evaluation criteria and rewards can lead to mistrust, lower productivity and higher attrition. If top performers see no differentiation in performance ratings, opportunities and compensation from underperformers, morale can suffer.Lack of docu mentation, visibility, and accountability can negatively affect stakeholders who are demanding more and more transparency. If accurate performance information is unavailable or difficult to access, training and development decisions along with project assignment decisions may not be made in the company's or the individual's best interests. An annual process will not adequately alert managers to problems in a timely manner. Last, but not least, a lack of proper documentation related to performance may result in legal issues. (www. successfactors. com)

Property Law- Adverse Possession Essay

Introduction To understand the comments made by Young J in Shaw v Garbutt (1996) 7 BPR 14 at 816, it is necessary to discuss the doctrine of adverse possession, it’s requirements and the history of how this law has been interpreted. Philosophy of adverse possession The basic underlying philosophy for the doctrine of adverse possession is that historically land use has been favoured over disuse. The doctrine protects ownership by barring stale claims of non-occupiers and errors in the title records. The intention is not to â€Å"reward the diligent trespasser for his wrong nor to penalise the negligent and dormant owner for sleeping upon his rights†¦Ã¢â‚¬  . At common law, the possession of land raises a prima facie presumption that the possessor is the owner, and modern cases concentrate on possession as the basis of proprietary interest. What this amounts to is that a person may acquire property without the consent of the actual titleholder if he or she possesses it long enough and meets the legal requirements. Situations may arise where a person who is not the rightful owner of land occupies the land without the permission of the rightful owner. This kind of occupation of land may be deliberate, for example by a squatter who is intentionally trespassing on the land, or it may be inadvertent, for example by a neighbouring landowner who unwittingly occupies the property. The person wrongfully dispossessed of the land has a right to bring proceedings against the occupier to recover the land. However, in certain circumstances, limitation law operates after a period of time to deny the rightful owner the opportunity to bring such an action. When this happens, the occupier is able to continue in occupation undisturbed except by anyone who can prove a better legal right to possession of the land. To seek a title by adverse possession, both the satisfaction of the common law requirements in relation to adverse possession and expiration of the relevant limitation period must be established. Requirements of an adverse possessor The Real Property Act 1900 s 45D (1)(b) provides that a person in possession of land may apply at any time to the Registrar General to be recorded as the registered proprietor of the land if: â€Å"the title of the registered proprietor of an estate or interest in the land would, at or before that time, have been extinguished as against the person so in possession had the statutes of limitation in force at that time and any earlier time applied, while in force, in respect of that land†. In NSW the current legislation on limitation of actions is governed by the Limitation Act 1969. S.27(2) of the Act states that the limitation period for an action to recover land is 12 years. S 45D(4) of the Act prevents the lodgement of a possessory application unless the whole of the period of adverse possession (in this case, twelve years) is expired. S.28 of the Act provides that the cause of any action accrues on the date of dispossession or discontinuance. To dispossess a rightful owner of land, actual possession of land without notice must exist. Actual possession consists of the following two elements: *factual possession – the appropriate degree of exclusive physical control of the land in question; and *animus possidendi – an intention to possess that land to the exclusion of all others including the true owner. One without the other will not be sufficient. To amount to adverse possession  the acts of possession must be inconsistent with the documentary owners intended use. In Beever v Spaceline Engineering Pty Ltd (1993) 6 BPR 13,270, 13,283, Bryson, J stated possession must be â€Å"actual, open, visible, notorious, continuous and hostile to the title of the true owner† to exist. In Mulcahy v Curramore [1974] 2 NSWLR 464, however, Bowen, CJ stated that to amount to possession the inclusion of the requirements â€Å"peaceful, not by force† must exist. In analysing this, Young J in Shaw v Garbutt posed the question â€Å"Is it a requirement that adverse possession be â€Å"peaceful, not by force†.† Adverse possession – inclusion of peaceful and not by force requirements Young J carefully considered the above judgment of Bowen CJ in Mulcahy v Curramore in light of the particular circumstances of Shaw v Garbutt and closely researched the definition of â€Å"peaceable† at common law. He did this in two ways; firstly he considered other judges definition of â€Å"peaceable† (including internationally); and secondly, he considered how precedence within Australia dealt with the interpretation of an aggressive act to protect one’s property whilst in adverse possession. Young, J detailed the literal translation of words used by Bowen, CJ to be â€Å"without force, without stealth, and as of right† . The Statute of Forcible Entry 1381 provides that entry into any lands except where entry is given by law must be peaceable and easy in manner. Contrary to this, is punishable by imprisonment. In Australia, the modern equivalent replacements provide ‘that it is lawful for a person in peaceable possession of land with a claim of right to use such force as he or she reasonably believes to be necessary to defend his or her possession against any person whether entitled by law to possession of the property or not, provided bodily harm is no caused†. Despite this offence of forcible entry, it was found in Hemmings v Stoke Poges Golf Club Ltd [1920] 1 KB 720 that † a person retaining possession of land has no civil action for damages against the rightful owner who forcibly enters the premises unless more force is used than is reasonably necessary†. The bench further observed that â€Å"it will still remain the law that a person who replies to a claim for trespass and assault that he ejected a trespasser on his property with no more force than was necessary may be successfully met by the reply that he used more force than was necessary if the jury can be induced to find it.† In Shaw v Garbutt many authorities are cited with varying interpretations of peaceable possession. Generally peaceable possession is seen as possession that is continuous and is not interrupted. That is it is equated not with the use of force or threats to defend possession of the land or disturbed by the commencement of a suit for possession. Clearly where violent and unlawful force is used in defending land criminal action can be pursued. Whether the possessor has been peaceable or not is a pure question of fact. Forcible or threatening conduct in warning people off property can be characterised as an act going to establish possession of the land. In Beever v Spaceline Engineering Pty Limited, the person in possession warned other persons off land by threatening with a shotgun. This was held to be â€Å"very unsatisfactory behaviour† however it was â€Å"an act of possession, in that it asserted a right to control the presence of the other person† . Young J in Shaw v Garbut t also stated that if the ‘warning off’ of the property was found to not be ‘peaceful’ at common law, the outcome of the case could have been different. In Bartlett v Ryan [2000] NSWSC 807 (16 August 2000) the specific facts of  the circumstances were considered and in this case the acts of force were determined such that the plaintiff was â€Å"deprived of the benefit of their adverse possession because it could not be said to have been nec vi nec clam nec precario, and particularly that it could not be said that it was peaceably and not by force that they had obtained and maintained possession† . As unlawful force was found an injunction was granted. Conclusion I return to the philosophy of the doctrine of adverse possession, which is fundamentally to protect property rights. The intention is not to encourage the wrongful taking of possession of land. To do so would only promote violent and unlawful acts, which would naturally occur between the parties disputing ownership of land. A person’s right to acquire real property by adverse possession begins with the wrongful occupation of another person’s property. In the event that an action is made to recover the possession of land by the rightful owner gives a circumstance where each party can exercise the rights to possession of that land. Whilst possession must be considered in every case with reference to the peculiar circumstances it is a requirement that all acts of possession be peaceable and without force, where peaceable infers uninterrupted and without force infers without violence. Protests and argument may not prevent the finding of adverse possession but obstruction and the use of unlawful physical force would.

Introversion and Extraversion as Personalities Essay

Introversion and Extraversion as Personalities - Essay Example In our modern day, the human race is eager to know their personality traits all of which tend to explain that human beings tend to associate themselves with. For instance Sigmund Freud's idea of ego, superego, and id and also Erick Erickson stages of personality development all of which can explain personality traits in different angles. However, this paper seeks to establish if there are differences between two personality types the extroverts and the introverts. This paper, therefore, begins with the assumption that extroverts and introverts are similar. In order for me to investigate this assumption and set the record straight, I read several articles and journals concerning personality which will inform my discussion (Cain, 24) This paper will outline the origin of the two personality traits, try to look at their difference, advantages, and disadvantages, and cite relevant examples and how these two types of personality can peacefully coexist with each other. Carl Jung describes introverts who as individuals who prefer their internal world of thoughts and feelings, dreams, fantasies and so forth. Jung states that† introvert is the state or tendency of being wholly or predominantly concerned with and interested in one’s own mental life.† Extroverts according to CarlJung are described as those who have the placed more emphasis on objectivity and surrounding influence. He claims that extroverts are more aggressive and social individuals. (Cain, 56) Carl Jung in detailing his model of human personality explains that introversion and extroversion are the ways in which humans respond to the world around them. Other adherent philosopher’s personality claims that one can have two personalities but one will outweigh the other. Carl disagrees completely he says that characters of introverts vary significantly with characters of extroverts. Hence need to find out if they are really different (Cain, 176).

BHS 328 B.S. Health Sciences Team Building (Mod 4 SLP) Essay

BHS 328 B.S. Health Sciences Team Building (Mod 4 SLP) - Essay Example When there is no effective communication then conflicts arises between people and we have to manage conflicts. Conflict resolution is the process by which an organization handles and resolves conflicts within the organization and within the organization and the community (Bill Warters 2000). There are various methods to manage conflicts: In health care delivery, team working is very important because you have to coordinate each and every thing. If your work is not coordinated, then their will be less coherence amongst the employees and therefore everyone will be working with their own interest and with their own feasibility. For example in a hospital, when a doctor is doing an operation, he has to work with his colleagues as a team so that a successful operation is done. If for example if the doctor is not communicating with the nurses for example during the operation, then they might do some mistake in understanding the doctors orders and could lead to problems. For resolution of conflicts, first of all you should have the skill to solve problems for example active listening, formulate the desired outcomes, identify the underlying interests and develop and analyze options. Your attitude should be such that it demonstrates knowledge of ethics of collaborative conflict resolution. You should be having the appropriate knowledge to solve conflicts. For example you should be having knowledge of cross cultural considerations when dealing with conflicts because a manager might have to deal differently with a western worker as compared to the south eastern (Bill Warters 2000). Conflicts are handled differently with different types of people but responses to conflicts fall generally under four broad categories including attack, avoid, soften and resolve. It depends on the situation in which you are handling the conflict and you take decision according to that. For example if there is a conflict between the government and the masses and the masses are violently reacting, then the government will also have to take violent reaction in response to it to solve the conflict. Suppose that I am the administrator in charge of oversight for an emergency unit at a hospital. A nurse administers the wrong medication dose to a patient. A second nurse wants to write-up the first nurse immediately. But I don't think so that writing up to her at this stage is a good option to resolve the conflict. In this case it is an emergency situation and writing to her and then getting the reply will take a lot of time and during this time the patient's life can be in danger. The second nurse should directly go to the first nurse and talk to her face to face and tell her that the dose which she gave to the patient

Setting up high performance teams Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Setting up high performance teams - Essay Example These factors underline the basis of the teams performing a singular whole than disjointed units within the framework of the organization or the group that they are working under. Constituting a team is an important measure since it explains the manner in which the team members would carry out their processes and activities in order to reach the ultimate objective – the goal which is in sight. Also the presence of a leader within the ranks is also significant since he is the one who ensures that commitment and devotion is laid towards the activities of the whole team and that the team members are dedicated to the cause of serving the objectives of the team. A leader would guarantee that the team members remain on their toes and are up and ready in order to outperform each other so that the end result is one which will make the team stand out as a whole. The objectives of the team are more quintessential than the individual members and this is one aspect that the leader brings with him whilst formulating a high performance team. (Opie, 2000) People selection and recruitment stands as a very essential step of the formulation of teams since right kind of people must be geared up to the task and it is a must to check the kind of motivation that these team members have at the very moment and whether or not the same would remain like that within the future. Thus these factors are deemed as very important whilst getting the people under an umbrella which would actually see that the teams would get the right kind of members within their hold and this is important since it will decide how the team would actually perform within the future and in the long run. One must understand that team members are committed to the task and remain in line with the strategies and tactics deployed by the team leaders so that the team is a high performing one, both in difficult circumstances and in times of ease as well. This eventually

Climate Change Impacts on Indigenous People Research Paper

Climate Change Impacts on Indigenous People - Research Paper Example According to archaeologists, food storage is widespread and sharing or reciprocity is integral to survival during climate change and catastrophes (Cherrington 18). Nevertheless, a great deal of what populations have created in reaction to catastrophe has also been quite unsound. Social and environmental pressures lead to a huge number of deaths and conflicts. Destruction of ancient civilizations is more widespread than survival. These are vicious and potent lessons to reflect on as individuals and/or groups try to learn from indigenous communities about climate change. Across the globe, agriculture was cultivated at the conclusion of the final ice age, at the advent of the Holocene roughly 11,500 years ago (Geoffrey 18). There have been significant alterations in hydrological processes and in intense weather episodes as well, and changes in temperature throughout the Holocene. The ‘Anthropocene’ theory states that human activities, mostly agriculture and deforestation, l ed to rise in carbon dioxide over the last eight thousand years and rise in methane gas over the last five thousand years (Geoffrey 18). If this hypothesis is true, there are significant repercussions for human-made climate change. Measurements of climate change have coherently revealed and verified that the Earth’s climate is shifting. As reported in the latest statements of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), there is clear and indisputable proof that the climate of the world is warming and that this is almost certainly caused by anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) provoked by human beings (UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs 95). Human activity has weakened the environmental strength of the planet by exploiting the atmosphere as a cesspool for GHGs. Climate change is an adverse reaction presently felt in the world as an outcome of the increase in greenhouse gas production and discharges as a result of burning of fossil fue ls, mostly for transportation and industrial operations. Due to this ‘smoke’ emitted from machines and automobiles, carbon dioxide gas is accumulated in the atmosphere and raises the intensity of heat in the planet (Chavez & Tauli-Corpuz 39-42). This occurrence is known as the ‘greenhouse effect’. Since the 19th century, global temperatures have risen by roughly 0.74%. A further increase in temperature is expected and indigenous peoples will be more seriously affected than other populations. The effect of climate change involves (UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs 95): diminishing polar sea ice and rising of sea levels, threatening low-lying coastal areas, notably many small islands in the Pacific; greater exposure to natural disasters, such as floods, and to frequent and intense extreme weather events; degradation of wetlands due to changing freeze-thaw cycles; glacial melts in high-altitude regions and subsequent inundations of valleys and hill areas; increased fires in tropical rainforests; changes in precipitation and desertification. Even though climate change is an occurrence that affects the entire world, affecting all peoples and places, different environments and areas are affected quite differently. Indigenous peoples are by now coping with effects of climate change in their everyday lives. Changes due to climate change, such as weakening of

Operations Management The increasing amount of Mass Customization in Essay

Operations Management The increasing amount of Mass Customization in the Automobile industry - Essay Example At that time, it is fair to say that consumers were more interested in the function of the product, and in the case of Henry Ford, his market domination prevented other manufacturers from offering personalization as a unique selling point. However, as automobiles became more affordable, consumers began to seek ways with which they could customize their possessions with a view differentiating themselves from other consumers, and to create their own sense of identity. The growing need to establish this identity led to the gradual customization in the automobile industry where automobiles could be produced to match individual consumer needs (Mayland and Heiland 2005). Mass customization requires a significant amount of input from all suppliers and producers involved in the operations management process. Each of these suppliers and producers will be part of other industries as well, which have their own technological advances and business strategies. For mass customization to be efficien t the automobile industry will have to look at changing its supplier relationships, but in doing so has to ensure that its relationship is not affect its suppliers relationship with producers. The automobile industry will therefore need to adopt a few examples of good practice from the service industry, as mass customization has introduced the consumer into its processes. Mass customization is likely to create a network of suppliers and a supply chain that is unique to traditional ones, but this may also involve adopting totally radical business strategies to maintain the inefficiencies. This may involve forming business alliances and partnerships that will enable the automobile industry to working closely with its suppliers by sharing more information and being involved in planning and forecasting as a group, as opposed to individually Table of Contents I. 1.0 History & Background of the Automobile industry The automobile industry is one which has its roots in America following the mass production of cars by Henry Ford in 1912 (Mozian et al 2007). The mass production of automobiles has now become a global phenomenon with other countries such as Germany, Brazil and Japan being key players in the industry. As a result of this global reach the automobile industry is experiencing influences which have forced the industry to re-assess the way they work. For instance, manufacturers are having changing relationships with their customers, as more demand high levels of personalization; manufacturers are having to form new partnerships with suppliers in order to meet their customer demands in terms of quality and cost; and these two influences have led to the need to re-invent the factory floor to accommodate the numbers and degrees of personalization demanded by the customer (Benko and McFarlane 2003). When Henry Ford mass produced the automobile in 1912, he introduced the concept of mass production which made it possible for industries to manufacture standard products in large quantities at low unit costs (Mayland and Heiland 2005). This meant that the automobile industry at that time, could manufacture automobiles that were identical, and this was largely possible due to consumer attitudes. At that time, it is fair to say that consumers

Gender and Sexuality, Race and Ethnicity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Gender and Sexuality, Race and Ethnicity - Essay Example Discrimination at the place of work has worked against women's rights for so long as men continue to monopolize the opportunities. Women have found their position through the provisions of law, to actively engage in serious studies and assume the positions of power in order to champion for the rights of those underprivileged women. The law provides that, under the Act 23 of the Universal Declaration, without discrimination, women have the equal right to equal work and equal pay. Through the platform of empowering from fellow successful women, those who are disadvantaged have taken this advantage to claim their right. By doing so, women have worked against the traditional perception of the masculine society that sees women as not able to assume some positions and not others in a working environment.Women have risen to command the Human Resource positions and avert that notion like in industrialized countries, where women have to bear with a salary that comes with their positions. Agai n, in these commanding positions, either as managers or human resource managers in a company, the voice of women in providing the same platform as men in promotional terms, bridges the gap of discrimination. As a result, today’s women find it easy to choose the kind of work they would feel like doing contrary to the cultural mentalities or educational discrimination. The current global woman lives in a society that would respond to her needs of learning and earn a job, of whichever position, away from the housekeeping bondage.

The rate of reaction Essay Example for Free

The rate of reaction Essay Add 50 cubic centimetres of hydrogen peroxide to a conical flask Add liquidised celery solution to hydrogen peroxide and place bung over conical flask After 30 seconds, see how much oxygen has been produced Celery Concentrations Volume of Celery (cm3) Volume of water (cm3) Concentration of celery (%) 80 20 80 60 40 60 40 60 40 20 80 20 Results Tables First Repeat Time (seconds) Celery Concentration (%) Amount of hydrogen peroxide (cm3). Volume of oxygen produced (cm3) Second Repeat Time (seconds) Celery Concentration (%) Amount of hydrogen peroxide (cm3) Volume of oxygen produced (cm3) Third Repeat Time (seconds) Celery Concentration (%) Amount of hydrogen peroxide (cm3) Volume of oxygen produced (cm3)Â   Averages Time (seconds) Celery concentration (%) Amount of hydrogen peroxide (cm3) Volume of oxygen produced Analysing evidence and concluding From the graph I have drawn using the above table of averages, I can see that as the concentration of the enzyme catalase increases, the amount of oxygen produced also increases. I can also see from my table of results that as the concentration of the enzyme increases, the volume of oxygen increases. This shows that the rate of reaction increases, which supports my prediction. The reason for this is the Collision Theory, as stated in my prediction. The Collision Theory states that the more particles there are in a solution or area, the higher the rate of reaction will be because there are more particles, therefore there are more collisions, meaning there is an increased chance of successful collisions in which the two particles react. In this experiment, when the particles react, they break down the hydrogen peroxide and create oxygen and water. As the volume of oxygen increased with positive correlation to the amount of the enzyme in the mixture, I can see that the rate of reaction was increased, thus proving my prediction to be correct. Please see also attached graph. Evaluation The experiment was relatively easy, in that the variables were easy to identify, control or measure, which means that the readings from the experiment should be very accurate. The apparatus was set up in such a way that I think the results are very reliable. The tubing and bung all fitted well into their respective receptacles, thus no oxygen could have escaped from there. The only time and place the oxygen could have escaped was the period between adding the liquidised celery to the hydrogen peroxide, and placing the bung into the conical flask containing the mixture. Unfortunately, there was nothing I could do to stop this, except try and replace the bung as quickly as I could. There do not seem to be any anomalous results, except in the third repeat when I was using a concentration of forty percent celery. After ten seconds, I measured no oxygen whatsoever, and I presume this was due to a fault in the tubing; perhaps there were slight gaps that I had overlooked during that repeat. However, as this is the only time there is an anomaly within the results, I must assume that the rest of my results are accurate and reliable, and therefore the equipment was set up correctly and performed well. I think that my results are sufficiently reliable to support my conclusion (see above) because they match my prediction and scientific knowledge of this subject, and the figures I have obtained seem reasonable. I know they are accurate because I was careful to be accurate when taking readings from the gas syringe, and I am sure they are reliable because they do match scientific theory, as taken from text books, etc. , and my prediction, which was made using scientific knowledge from various sources. To improve the reliability of the experiment, I think it would be necessary to find a way of feeding the celery into the conical flask, perhaps via another tube system, where it would be possible to add the celery to the hydrogen peroxide without losing any of the oxygen produced.

Importance of Feasibility Study System Analysis and Design

Importance of Feasibility Study System Analysis and Design This report analyses the importance of Feasibility Analysis to businesses when they are deciding on the viability of a proposed business venture involving the implementation or improvement of an information system. This report is split into three parts the initial part defines a feasibility analysis, the second part explains how an IT feasibility analysis should be conducted using the template of the IT Infrastructure Library (ITIL) and the last section in this report examines a completed feasibility study by Powerco, a utilities distribution Company in New Zealand. What is a feasibility analysis? As the words feasibility analysis suggests a feasibility analysis is carried out to decide on the viability of a proposed venture; basically it answers the essential question of is it a viable option and should the project be implemented. All stages of the analysis are carried out in order to answer this question. When researching it is clear that the majority of all large successful businesses conduct a feasibility study to ensure they embark on a viable project, for example Microsoft have a large research department situated in many different cities throughout the globe, this department collaborates with many institutions producing many feasibility analyses a year. When examining successful businesses such as Microsoft, I discovered they will not commit to a new project without first thoroughly assessing all of the variables and reviewing the probability of success through a feasibility study. The feasibility analysis process As a feasibility analysis is often time consuming and expensive (many companies pay consultants to perform the analysis), a preliminary study is undertaken to determine if it would be worthwhile to proceed to the feasibility analysis, within this preliminary study the evaluation of alternatives is made along with brief cost and benefit analysis. A feasibility study is usually conducted after the project managers have discussed all project ideas and every possible scenario, only if the results are positive the feasibility study begins. The content of feasibility Analysis Within a feasibility study it is necessary to discuss a number of areas including; details of the present system; what are the functions and objectives, who are the Stakeholders and the reasons to improve or replace the current system for example inconsistencies / inadequacies in functionality or performance, is there any possible solution alternatives and the advantages and disadvantages of the alternatives. Feasibility analysis can be split into four types; Operational factors; Operational feasibility is used to assess how well the information systems will work if implemented in the given environment. Define the urgency of the project If the project is implemented, will it be a success? Does management support the project? How do end users feel about the new system? People tend to resist change can this problem be overcome? Can management and end users adapt to the change? Has the proposed venture conflicted with organisational or government regulations? Schedule factors; It often takes time to build and implement an information system solution; will the project still be necessary on completion? The technology may exist, but are there the skills available to not only complete the project but complete it on schedule? Is the project deadline reasonable? Is the deadline desirable or mandatory? What are the results of failing to meet the project deadline? Technical; Technical feasibility is the measure of the practicality of specific technical information system solutions and the availability of technical resources. Often new technologies are solutions looking for a problem to solve: Is the technology for the information system solution practical? Does the necessary technology exist? Is the technology proven? Is the technology practical and reliable? Are the necessary skills available to design and implement the system? Is there the infrastructure to cope with ongoing maintenance (problems, upgrades) Economic; This is regularly the most important analysis made, it asks important questions; Is the project justified (i.e. will benefits outweigh costs)? Can the project be done, within given cost constraints? What is the minimal cost to attain a certain system? Which alternative offers the best return on investment? How much will it cost to maintain? The 12 Stages of an ITIL Feasibility Analysis ITIL is a global guidance document that provides worlds best practices for IT service management companies. ITIL guidelines are often used in feasibility studies and are broken down into twelve stages. These twelve stages are described in this next section and if necessary a brief example has been given; Introduction It is important that an introduction to the feasibility analysis is made; this introduction includes the content, the intent, the intended audience, the purpose, and organizational details of the feasibility analysis. Management Summary This stage summarises, what the other stages within the template will explain in more detail; this section provides a quick overview of the feasibility analysis and would include the following, an Introduction, Management Summary, Background of the Project, Objectives, Situation, Benefits, Problems and Risks, Technical Requirements, Options, Cost/Benefit Analysis, Financial/Budget Implications and Recommendations Background to the Project A project is proposed for a specific scenario and this step describes the reason the proposal exists. For example; current sales are at a low due to increased competition, the proposal is for a new company website, where customers are able to buy directly. Objectives The high level business purposes of the proposal, including the long-range management goals. For example, the proposed project is to increase sales by an estimated 15% per annum over the next ten years. Situation This step describes the present condition, without the service in place, including market conditions, it is necessary to highlight the need for the proposed system, and the consequences of the proposal not being authorized. Benefits In the benefits section, it is necessary to focus on the short term benefits of the proposal; this is different to the objective stage which focuses on the long term gains and the cost-benefit step which focuses primarily on the financial benefits. An example of this could be the increased customer satisfaction of the proposed website. Problems and Risks It is important to identify and assess possible problems and risks of the proposed project associated with it within the development, design, and deployment stages. This is done by doing a risk assessment on the proposed system; this will be used to identify problems in many different areas, including technologies, lack of user support, or resources. Technical Requirements Has the business the technological infrastructure for the proposed system? These requirements include knowledge of the hardware and software required, for example, does the business possess the database architecture, network structures, and hardware to sustain the website, will it be necessary to outsource? Options It is recommended in the ITIL framework that a feasibility analysis includes any alternatives to the proposal, including advantages and disadvantages and costs. An example of this could be advertising to increase sales and would show the estimated cost of this. Cost/Benefit In this step, the total cost of the project is calculated; this includes development, design, deployment, and maintenance of the new service. Costs include facilities, hardware, labor, and software. The project cost is compared to the financial benefits provided by the proposed system. What are benefits? These are examples of benefits, more accurate / timely information. Improved operation, increased flexibility of operation, increased output, error reductions, cost reductions; benefits can be placed into three different categories; Monetary; when money values can be calculated, Tangible; when benefits can be quantified, but monetary values cannot be calculated. Intangible; when neither of the others apply, this applies there is a benefit, but it cannot be quantified. There are different types of costs; Project related; development, purchasing, Installation, training costs, Operational costs; these costs are often ongoing costs and include; Maintenance on the hardware; maintenance, lease, materials Software; maintenance fees and contracts Personnel; operation, maintenance There are a number of tools used, which helps in the economic section of the feasibility analysis these are; Cost-benefit analysis (CBA); which estimates and totals up the equivalent money value of the benefits and costs of proposed projects to establish whether they are worthwhile. Payback Analysis; which is used to calculate how long it will take to pay the costs of the project Return on Investment Analysis; which compares the lifetime profitability of alternative solutions, Net Present Value Analysis: using current monetary values, profitability is determined of the proposed project, Return On Investment (ROI) compares the lifetime profitability of alternative solutions, (Lifetime benefits Lifetime costs) Lifetime costs and finally you can compare alternatives with the feasibility analysis matrix. Financial/Budget Implications Once the overall costs have been established, it is necessary to verify if the necessary funds are available, if so how? This may result in changes to the budget or priorities and reducing expenditure to accommodate the costs. Recommendations In this final step recommendations regarding the proposal are made including scheduling and budgeting Summary In summary these twelve steps that make up the ITIL is among the first activities a manager will undertake in preparation for a proposal for a new IT service, though it is important to remember these steps make a general guide and different information systems may require amendments. Examples of feasibility analysis Though the majority of businesses keep their own feasibility analysis private, research identified an interesting feasibility analysis conducted by Powerco. In this section I will briefly review this feasibility analysis in a case study due to the word restrictions on this essay and the extensiveness of the ITIL framework. Powerco has an estimated 410,000 consumers which makes it one of New Zealands largest utilities Companies. These customers expect a reliable service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Powerco applications are split between two platforms; Oracle RAC and Microsoft SQL Server, which has meant that the business had additional expenses of licensing, supporting, operating, and maintaining two systems. Additionally it was awkward for staff to alternate between the systems when working. As the Oracle platform of Powercos warranty cycle was approaching expiration, and the financial system was scheduled an important upgrade, it was clear to the company that it was time to reassess its options and whether it should consolidate to a single server platform or replace existing hardware. Powerco acknowledged that to consolidate the database platforms would create a more simple IT environment and would reduce the total cost of the database system significantly. The case for consolidation was simple why maintain two systems if you dont need to? explains Mr. Griffiths, Infrastructure Manager, Powerco. Powerco undertook preliminary study of the solutions and assessed the pros and c ons of Oracle versus SQL Server. This analysis pointed towards some significant advantages in choosing SQL Server over Oracle. These included reduced licensing and maintenance costs, ease of management and fewer requirements for a specialised skill set to manage and service the system. A feasibility study of migrating to SQL Server was then completed by consultants on Powercos behalf including a cost/benefit analysis, a risk assessment, analysis of the alternatives and the four factors discussed earlier in this report, this confirmed Powercos applications could be supported on SQL Server, with the remaining end of life applications being replaced with SQL Server compatible ones, the feasibility study showed that unlike other options Microsoft SQL Server, serving could be done in-house. Microsofts SQL Server was the cheapest option to license, maintain, and support, particularly because of the specialised nature of Oracle. The business would be more streamline and efficient with just the single platform. Increases security. Further Tangible and Non-tangible benefits. Due to the results of the feasibility study, Powerco changed from the two platforms to solely Microsoft SQL Server, the result of this consolidation has meant Powerco has been able to reduce costs significantly, also ensuring it was easier to maintain and manage in-house and eliminating the need for external consultants. The migration to SQL Server has cut the overall cost of ownership by $390,000 a year, also helping to streamline Powercos IT systems and have given a number of other Tangible and Non-tangible benefits. Conclusion In conclusion this report has explained what a feasibility study is and when it should be used, I have then reviewed the various stages which are recommended by the IT industry experts at the ITIL and have given an example of a successful feasibility study undertaken by Powerco. I believe to be objective this report should have explored examples of a unsuccessful feasibility study, however this was not possible due to my research not providing any suitable cases, but still the findings of this report are clear, it is advisable to do a feasibility analysis, as it is tried and tested and the vast majority of large and established companies use this method to check the viability of a proposed venture and are taking a substantial risk if a feasibility study is not carried out before embarking on new project.

Building Rapport By Listening English Language Essay

Building Rapport By Listening English Language Essay PR people need a few theories and models to help get to grips with the bigger picture and why communications matters. But for most of us we need to get on with it and be able to deliver material results. Here we look at some of the practical skills we need to master in order to do the job well. If we look at job descriptions for PR and communications professionals, the skills required can be sorted into three broad groups Briefing Skills Writing Skills Presentation Skills Finally being assertive is essential for any professional and PR practitioners particularly need this skill in their role as consultants so well look at this as a practical skill. Briefing Skills Building rapport by listening, questioning and observation of body language As communications specialists we are likely, through our careers, to work with a wide variety of people, particularly colleagues and clients. We may also need to conduct research with target audiences, by interviewing them on a one-to-one or small group basis. We may also need to work with and interview case history subjects in order to obtain material to write up afterwards. So skilful questioning and listening, along with competent note and minute taking, are all essential skills. We may take a brief in a relaxed and supportive environment on an aspect of business that requires a planned and proactive communications strategy. Or we may take a briefing when an issue has gone live or an incident has taken place where people are rushed, anxious and concerned, where we are expected to come up with a professional, immediate reactive response. Some briefings are excellent and all the information is there: a written version supplements a verbal briefing; there is complete openness; questions are answered thoroughly. Other briefings are partial, thin on detail, assumptions are made, the verbal briefing is poorly delivered, and sometimes the person taking the brief is and feels less senior and so potentially rather intimidated so the right penetrating questions may not be asked or assumptions go unchallenged. Mistakes get made this way hence the ability to handle a briefing competently is vital. Listening During a briefing we often need to get a lot of information out of people quickly and efficiently. And to do this we must be active listeners as well as skilled questioners. We must be able to concentrate on whats being said and to sometimes draw out what really matters. We need to hear what the client whether an internal or external client is anxious about, is excited about and what the core business issues really are. Listening is an active skill, not a passive exercise. Listening is more demanding than speaking, in terms of concentration. Because we lead busy lives, we can be distracted by other thoughts and this can get in the way of good listening. You have to get into the right frame of mind to listen. There are three levels of listening Peripheral Listening Done at subconscious level, formal and informal situations cocktail party syndrome eg at party, restaurant Apparent Listening We do it all the time look like we are listening but not really concentrating Active Listening Concentrating on the message being transmitted by trying to understand not only what is being said but how and why it is said Interpreting Understanding Evaluating Reacting Planning Responding Most people talk at c.125 words per minute but think at four times that speed. So listeners have spare mental capacity (which they could use to make useful notes) but which in practice means they can also go off on one, their minds can wander, they daydream and are distractedà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦unless they concentrate and listen actively. People feel unimportant, insignificant and disrespected if they sense their ideas, concerns, feelings and not being paid close attention or being taken seriously. But not only can the working relationship suffer, the ineffective listener can simply get things wrong! If you ask a question and get the answer you were expecting, you make assumptions and so miss some enlightening, new or additional important information. If you are busy getting your next question together in your mind you wont be listening to the current answer. Listening well Prepare to listen. If you can, do some research/reading before you go into a briefing session. For example read last years PR programme, an annual report, the latest media coverage and so on. Get into the right frame of mind Win:Win is what you should be aiming for, even if previous meetings with those briefing you have been challenging. Observe participants body language and speed of speaking (to pick up clues about areas of concern, urgency and any anxiety). Dont make assumptions but observe and tune in to the people involved. Sit to see. A fundamental point but having clear visual contact will aid concentration. Dont forget that placing your back to the sun means that the person youre listening to may not be able to see your eyes or facial expressions clearly. Likewise you want to see them clearly too. We gain so much more information if we listen to body language too. Avoid distractions. Apart from worrying about how much you have to do, other distractions can interfere with concentration; open plan offices, external sound, glass walls, television screens and mobile devices that people cant get their eyes and attention away from. Be careful about these interfering with your concentration when you are listening. Show empathy and build rapport. At the opening stages of a briefing its useful to show empathy so that rapport is built with the other person. Empathy is an attempt to understand the other person, to understand how the person feels and thinks and sees the world. Its getting a sense of their perspective. The issue is not to agree, disagree, or make judgements but to make a genuine effort to understand how the person briefing you sees the opportunity or issue. Look at it from their point of view and then add your own perspective as a communications consultant. At the start of a meeting use similar or matching language and body language to assist in building rapport. Show you are interested in the subject so that the person briefing you feels more inclined to engage and communicate back. Practise. Take every opportunity to practise and improve your listening skills. A colleague of mine listens to Radio Four documentaries and then recalls key points afterwards and includes these in her blog posts. Practical active practical listening techniques Checking understanding One of the ways to check your understanding of what has been said is to use feedback. In your own words, repeat back to the speaker what you understood her/him to have said. This will: Check your understanding of whats being said. Help eliminate any unintended messages which the speaker didnt mean. Demonstrate your interest in whats being said. Demonstrate that you really understand. Let the speaker think about whats being said. Encourage a clearer explanation of complex points. For example, you may hear: Its a sensitive situation because of the potential financial impact on the business. You could check understanding by responding: So youre saying that there may be a knock-on effect on profitability? Re-statement reflects a genuine attempt to understand the other persons point of view and helps to identify any issues that arise. Summarising This is more than re-statement or reflection, it is drawing together the main themes and key points from what you have heard. This facility can often be essential when the briefer has given a rather rambling and incoherent brief. Summarising what you have heard will help to check back the facts and assumptions. Summarising can also: Indicate that you have understood what has been said. Move the conversation on. Make an effective break point or end to the meeting. Establish a starting point at a subsequent meeting. 10 rules for great listening: Stop talking. Try to put the briefer at ease, get them to feel that they have your attention and you will respect their thoughts. Show that you want to listen. Look and act interested. Remove distractions. Empathise with the briefer. Be patient as far as you can. Monitor and supress any impulse to judge or counsel too soon. Avoid argument and any implied criticism. Ask questions Stop talking! Questioning The ability to ask great questions is, in my opinion, one of the most crucial skills anyone working in communications should master. Great questioning helps you get the information you need: to prepare a sound PR proposal, to understand the opinions, thoughts and feelings of a stakeholder, to write a focused report, to assess a situation, to get to the heart of the matter. The right questions achieve clarity, promote reflection, enhance creativity and help work out solutions. As you get more senior and are responsible for coaching and mentoring others, great questions are a key way to help people reflect and learn. Whatever the context, great questions show you are listening and paying attention to your subject. Its not simply a question of the right questions either; its also the way you ask them so pay attention to your tone of voice and body language too. Using the Right Questioning Style Open questions help the other person define the opportunity or issue and to explore it. They provide factual information and the other persons thoughts and possibly their feelings behind it. Open questions can also generate thinking and reflection and ensure that focus is kept on the issue. Well timed open questions can change how someone looks at an issue too and can help identify actions to take. Open questions are always a good place to start a discussion or a briefing as they do exactly that open up the dialogue. Open questions most often start with What, How, When and Where or Tell me aboutà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ What can I/we do for you? What do you think the opportunity is? Whats your role in this issue? What have you tried so far? What worked? What didnt? Have you experienced anything like this before? (If so, what did you do?) What can you do for yourself? What are the business needs? How will that benefit the business? What is important about that? What is holding the business back? What if you do nothing? What is this costing? How much control do you have in this situation? What options do you have? What support do you need to assure success? What do you need us to do for you? What do you hope for? Whats preventing you from ? If you could change one thing, what would it be? How will you know you have been successful? What does success look like? Imagine a point in the future where your issue is resolvedà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦how did you get there? What would you like to ask us? Journalists use these open questions frequently when interviewing subjects for features and news pieces: Did youà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦? Are youà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦? Whatsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦? How manyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦? Whereà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.? Depending on the situation, be careful when asking open questions that begin with why. A why question makes people feel defensive, accountable to justify their actions. You do need to ask why questions to clarify causation especially when working out what has happened if an incident has taken place just be careful of the phrasing so it doesnt look like any blame is being apportioned and that it doesnt sound like finger pointing. 2. Closed questions can be used to check facts, or as a summary. Use them sparingly as they tend to elicit simple yes or no answers. Have you toldà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦? What I think Im hearing isà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ is that right? 3 Clarifying questions help you and your subject understand the key point and get to the bottom line. They can uncover the root cause of issues. These are especially useful when conducting research interviews and doing in-depth profiles of case histories. Ask questions about the persons point of view, perspectives, beliefs, values and actions. Great provocative questions can prompt light bulb moments which can shift things positively and quickly. When you launched your brand what what did you imagine would be the impact on your life? When did you first consider you had achieved success? 4. Reflecting questions enable the questioner to clarify what has been said and to get the subject to talk freely and in depth. Reflecting questions call for the questioner to engage in active listening. Using their own words you encourage further information. Reflecting questions often begin: You said thatà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ You sound as if à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦. I get the feeling that à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦. 5. Extending questions are used to invite further explanation and to prompt a further answer: How else couldà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦? Could you tell me more about..? 6. Comparative questions are useful where the questioner may need to compare a situation on a before and after basis: What has it been like sinceà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦? What difference has à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.. 7. Hypothetical questions may allow the subject to explore ideas and issues in a non-threatening theoretical environment: Imagine a future whereà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦how would you feel? If you were faced with the same situation again would you do anything differently? 8. Rephrasing or paraphrasing may be used when the questioner is not clear what the subject thinks, feels or means and allows you to play back what has been said: Are you saying thatà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦? Let me see if I understand the problem completelyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ 9. Linking questions are useful for picking up clues but depend on active listening. The question is formed by picking up an earlier response from the subject: You mentioned earlier thatà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ how would youà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦? Leading questions (a sub-section of closed questions) should generally be avoided. A leading question is asked in order to lead another to a pre-determined answer or conclusion. This sort of question comes across as dishonest and manipulative. You can recognise leading questions because they are statements that can often can be answered yes or no. That said, journalists may use leading questions in interviews Youre a Conservative, arent you? How did you react? Were you furious? How much money went missing more than a million pounds? Assumptive questions (which can be annoying but, if phrased well, can get into interesting areas) are also used extensively by journalists. Were you educated in a private or state school? How many redundancies will there be? Are you married or single? (when the answer may be neitherà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦) When did you last beat your wife? Direct, suggestive or loaded questions which are manipulative but are often used again by journalists to provoke a response and add tension into proceedings Scientists have proven that cigarette smoking cause cancer so why should manufacturers be allowed to continue to promote them at all? What sort of person would disagree with campaigns to control birth rates? Ghandi said non-violent protest was the only way dont you agree? Socratic Questioning Academics often use Socratic Questioning to facilitate investigation and dialogue. The US-based Foundation for Critical Thinking published a paper in 2006 by Richard Paul and Linda Elder that defined nine types of Socratic questions, useful for critical enquiry Questions of clarification What do you mean by X? What is your main point? How does this relate to X? Could you put that another way? Could you say more about that? Why do you say that? Let me check I understand do you mean X or Y? Can you explain that further? Can you give me an example? Would this be an example of X? How does this relate to the brief/issue? Is your basic point X or Y? What do you think David meant by that remark? What do you believe he actually meant? Questions That Probe Purpose What is the purpose of X? What was your purpose when you said X? How do the purposes of these two people vary? How do the purposes of these two groups vary? What is the purpose of addressing this question at this time? Questions That Probe Assumptions What are you assuming? What is Karen assuming? What could we assume instead? You seem to be assuming X . Do I understand you correctly? All your conclusions depend on the idea thatà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.. Why have you based your reasoning on X rather than Y? You seem to be assuming X. How would you justify taking this for granted? Is it always the case? Why do you think the assumption holds here? Questions That Probe Information, Reasons, Evidence and Causes What would be an example? How do you know? What are your reasons for saying that? Why did you say that? What other information do we need to know before we can address this question? Why do you think that is true? Could you explain your reasons to us? What led you to that belief ? Is this good evidence for believing that? Do you have any evidence to support your assertion? Are those reasons adequate? How does that information apply to this case? Is there reason to doubt that evidence? What difference does that make? Who is in a position to know if that is the case? What would convince you otherwise? What would you say to someone who said ? What accounts for ? What do you think is the cause? How did this come about? By what reasoning did you come to that conclusion? How could we go about finding out whether that is true? Can someone else give evidence to support that response? Questions about Viewpoints or Perspectives You seem to be approaching this issue from perspective. Why have you chosen this perspective rather than that perspective? How would other groups or types of people respond? Why? What would influence them? How could you answer the objection that would make? Can/did anyone see this another way? What would someone who disagrees say? What is an alternative? How are Kens and Roxannes ideas alike? Different? Questions That Probe Implications and Consequences What are you implying by that? When you say , are you implying ? But if that happened, what else would also happen as a result? Why? What effect would that have? Would that necessarily happen or only probably happen? What is an alternative? If this and this are the case, then what else must be true? Questions about the Question How can we find out? Is this the same issue as ? How could someone settle this question? Can we break this question down at all? Is the question clear? Do we understand it? How would put the issue? Is this question easy or difficult to answer? Why? What does this question assume? Would put the question differently? Why is this question important? Does this question ask us to evaluate something? Do we need facts to answer this? Do we all agree that this is the question? To answer this question, what other questions would we have to answer first? Im not sure I understand how you are interpreting the main question at issue. Could you explain your interpretation? Questions That Probe Concepts What is the main idea we are dealing with? Why/how is this idea important? Do these two ideas conflict? If so, how? What was the main idea guiding the thinking of the character in this story? How is this idea guiding our thinking as we try to reason through this issue? Is this idea causing us problems? What main theories do we need to consider in figuring out ? Are you using this term in keeping with educated usage? Which main distinctions should we draw in reasoning through this problem? Which idea is this author using in her or his thinking? This there a problem with it? Questions That Probe Inferences and Interpretations Which conclusions are we coming to about ? On what information are we basing this conclusion? Is there a more logical inference we might make in this situation? How are you interpreting her behaviour? Is there another possible interpretation? What do you think of ? How did you reach that conclusion? Given all the facts, what is the best possible conclusion? How shall we interpret these data? Understanding body language Non-verbal communication is often the way we show the emotional side of our relationships with others. Effective body language works alongside our spoken words in order to convey meaning more clearly. Give positive signals by Arriving on time Show you are committed to the aims of the meeting Show interest in what is being said When you talk in the meeting give everyone some eye contact by moving your eyes around the room Try and control the tone of your voice so that it is calm and unflustered with variation in tone and pitch Dont yawn Pick up signals from other peoples body language You can watch other participants and try to assess their thoughts and feelings even if they are not saying anything. Some important signals to look for are; Eye contact people who are looking at you are likely to be listening. People who look away from you when you talk to them may be nervous Body direction usually in meetings everyone sits facing the chairperson. If someone turns their body away they may be unhappy with what is happening, changing direction completely or possibly pushing their chair back may show a great degree of dissatisfaction Posture this can be interpreted in many different ways. Sitting back may be a sign of disinterest or of being relaxed. At an informal meeting sitting on the edge of the seat may be an indication of fear or tension. Head movements the obvious ones are the nod or shake of agreement or disagreement. Most people will unconsciously nod or shake their heads and this provides you with a lot of information. Facial expressions again at a meeting facial expressions such as smiling frowning questioning are often unconscious and can reveal information about what the person is thinking. Body language clues that often reveal whats going on with the listener Smiling, open and positive gestures, standing or sitting close, lots of eye contact, nodding, tilting head = empathy and rapport Sitting with crossed leg towards you = defensiveness, distrust Sitting with crossed leg away from you = willingness to trust Rigid or tense body posture, staring eyes, clenched fists, clasped hands, tightly folded arms, foot tapping, finger pointing = anger, aggression, irritation, nervousness, Downcast eyes, hand over mouth, frequently touching face, shifting weight from one leg to another, fidgeting = nervousness Picking fluff from clothes, pulling at ears, stifled yawning, gazing around the room = boredom Non-verbal communication By developing awareness of the signs and signals of body language, you can more easily understand other people, and more effectively communicate with them. The difference between the words people speak and our understanding of what they are saying comes from non-verbal communication, otherwise known as body language. There are sometimes subtle and sometimes not so subtle movements, gestures, facial expressions and even shifts in our whole bodies that indicate something is going on. The way we talk, walk, sit and stand all say something about us, and whatever is happening on the inside can be reflected on the outside. By becoming more aware of this body language and understanding what it might mean, you can learn to read people more easily. This puts you in a better position to communicate effectively with them. Whats more, by increasing your understanding of others, you can also become more aware of the messages that you convey to them. This article will explain many of the ways in which we communicate non-verbally, so that you can use these signs and signals to communicate more effectively. How We Communicate A famous study by Albert Mehrabian found that non-verbal language makes up 55% of how we communicate in face-to-face interactions. He also concluded that we communicate as much as 38% of our message through our voice (tone, pitch, and so on), with as little as 7% through the words we actually say. Understanding and recognizing the signs and signals that make up this 55% can help you when you communicate with others. There are times when we send mixed messages we say one thing yet our body language reveals something different. This non-verbal language will affect how we act and react to others, and how they react to us. So, lets take a look at some scenarios, and see how body language influences your perception and reactions. First Impressions and Confidence Recall a time when you met someone new at work. Or think about the last time you watched a speaker deliver a presentation. What were your first impressions? Did you sense confidence or a lack of confidence in them? Did you want to associate with them or not? Were you convinced by them? Did they stride into the room, engage you and maintain eye contact or were they tentative, shuffling towards you with eyes averted, before sliding into a chair? What about their handshake firm and strong or weak and limp? Moving along in the conversation, did they maintain solid eye contact or were they frequently looking away? Did their face appear relaxed or was it tight and tense? What about their hand and arm movements? Were their gestures wide, flowing and open or were they tight, jerky and closed? As you observe others, you can identify some common signs and signals that give away whether they are feeling confident or not. Typical things to look for in confident people include: Posture standing tall with shoulders back. Eye contact solid with a smiling face. Gestures with hands and arms purposeful and deliberate. Speech slow and clear. Tone of voice moderate to low. As well as deciphering other peoples the body language, you can use this knowledge to convey feelings that youre not actually experiencing. For example, if you are about to enter into a situation where you are not as confident as youd like to be, such as giving a big presentation or attending an important meeting, you can adopt these confidence signs and signals to project confidence. Lets now look at another scenario. Difficult Meetings and Defensiveness Think of a time when you were in a difficult meeting perhaps a performance appraisal or one where you are negotiating deadlines, responsibilities or a contract. In an ideal world, both you and the other person would be open and receptive to hearing what each other has to say, in order to conclude the meeting successfully. However, often, the other person is defensive and doesnt really listen. If this happens during an appraisal meeting, and its important for you to convey to your colleague that he or she needs to change certain behaviors, you really want them open and receptive to you so they take on board what you are saying. So how can you tell whether your message is falling on deaf ears? Some of the common signs that the person you are speaking with may be feeling defensive include: Hand/arm gestures are small and close to his or her body. Facial expressions are minimal. Body is physically turned away from you. Arms are crossed in front of body. Eyes maintain little contact, or are downcast. By picking up these signs, you can change what you say or how you say it to help the other person become more at ease, and more receptive to what you are saying. Equally, if you are feeling somewhat defensive going into a negotiating situation, you can monitor your own body language to ensure that the messages you are conveying are ones that say that you are open and receptive to what is being discussed. Working with Groups and Disengagement Have you ever delivered a presentation, and had a sense that people werent really buying into what you had to say? What about working with a group to facilitate a consensus on responsibilities and deadlines? Was everyone on board with the ideas, or did some appear disengaged? Ideally, when you stand up to deliver a presentation or work with group, you want 100% engagement with all concerned. This often doesnt happen on its own, though. But you can actively engage the audience when you need to if youre alert to some of the typical signs and signals of people not being engaged. Some of these signs and signals include: Heads are down. Eyes are glazed, or gazing at something else. Hands may be picking at cloths, or fiddling with pens. People may be writing or doodling. They may be sitting slumped in their chairs. When you pick up that someone appears not to be engaged in what is going on, you can do something to re-engage him or her and bring their focus back to what you are saying, such as asking them a direct question. And while this is going on, make sure that your own body language is saying what you want it to. Lying Of all the non-verbal body language that we may observe, being able to tell whether a person is lying or not will stand you in good stead. Some of the typical signs and signals that a person is lying include: Eyes maintain little or no eye contact, or there may be rapid eye movements, with pupils constricted. Hand or fingers are in front of his or her mouth when speaking. His or her body is physically turned away from you, or there are unusual/un-natural body gestures. His or her breathing rate increases. Complexion changes such as in color; red in face or neck area. Perspiration increases.

Essay --

Throughout Mark Twain’s novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, he uses his young character to bring light to the injustices of society. Along his adventure, Huck meets different characters, each representing what Twain sees as a fault of society At the beginning of his adventure Huck finds Jim on Jackson’s Island. Twain uses Jim to symbolize the injustice of slavery. During the 1840’s, the southern society saw slaves as property, not as people. Because they were â€Å"not human†, the selling of the inferior beings was justified. Since Huck grew up in this setting, he at first believed slaves were not human. After travelling with Jim Huck began to realize that the being he at one point saw only as a slave was a human being with human feelings. Huck saw Jim’s humanity in the way he reacted to his trick, to the way he cried about his daughter, and even in the way he treated him. By the end of the book, Huck realizes that despite what society may think of him, and despite what even God may think of him, he had to follow his heart and act upon what he felt was right. Later in his adventure...

The Color Purple Essay -- essays research papers fc

The Results of Celie’s Physical and Mental Abuse   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In 1982 Alice Walker titled her Pulitzer Prize Winning novel, The Color Purple, which is symbolically meant to reflect radiance and majesty (Columbia). It is a story, entirely conveyed through letters, of one young black girl’s struggle to escape the brutal and degrading treatment by men, which had become a constant part of her life. Instead of focusing on race throughout the novel Walker accords â€Å"greater importance to power, the power to be, to concretize one’s self, as to mold others† (Dieke 102). This completely unbalanced power ultimately leaves Celie feeling alone and controlled, which affects her relationships with men and influences her relationship with women, mainly Shug Avery. The horrifying effects of rape and what Celie thought was incest so greatly scarred her for the rest of her life that she lost the ability to love, became confused about her sexuality, and subconsciously denied her right to an identity.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  For a considerable amount of time Celie blindly accepted the fact that she would be treated like a slave in her own home. As a result, Celie demonstrated intense fear and a complete lack of love toward her husband. Because Mr. _____ had originally wanted to marry Celie’s older sister Nettie he felt that in settling for Celie he had the right to treat her as his property. Celie was completely aware of these arrangements â€Å"Mr. _____ marry me to take care of his children. I marry him cause my daddy made me. I don’t love Mr. _____ and he don’t love me† (Walker 57). As opposed to most marriages being based on trust, love, and commitment, their bond was based on authority, obedience, and service. Mr. _____ immediately brings Shug Avery into his home when he heard that she was sick so that Celie could take care of her along with his children from a previous marriage. After a short period of time Celie learns about their past and about Mr. _____’s current feelings for Shug. Celie’s blatant disregard to Mr. _____ sleeping with Shug again displays complete apathy toward her husband. Mr. _____’s aggressively dominant role does not denote the conventional husband/wife relationship it seems to more closely represent a master/slave relationship. Mr. _____’s constant oppressive presence causes Celie to live in continuous fear. Celie explains that M... ...novel Celie’s traumatic experiences have had a great impact on the entirety of her life. Once married she constantly lived in fear being incapable of love and unable to control her misguided sexual emotions.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Bibliography Bradley, David. â€Å"Novelist Alice Walker: Telling the Black Woman’s Story.† New York Times Magazine 8 Jan. 1984: 24-37. Dieke, Ikenna. Critical Essays on Alice Walker. Westport:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Greenwood Press,1999. Gates, Henry Louis Jr. and K.A. Appiah. Alice Walker   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Critical Perspectives Past and Present. NewYork:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Amistad Press Inc, 1993. http://www.Womenshistroy.about.com â€Å"Race and Domesticity in The Color Purple† African American   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Review 29 #1 Spring 1995:67-82. The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition Copyright 2001   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Columbia University Press. Walker, Alice. The Color Purple. Orlando: Harcourt Brace   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Jovanovich Publishers 1982. Walsh, Margaret. â€Å"The Enchanted World of the Color Purple.†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Southern Quarterly 25 (1987): 89-101.

School Dress Code Standards

Most schools impose regulations on how students should dress. The sole intent is to keep students safe and get focused on academics. A well centered dress code couple with other appropriate interventions can have a position impacts on the fraternity of the school’s social environment (Hanks, 2004). School Dress Code Standards The supporters of the dress codes have come up with a list of advantages of standardized dress code in school. First, a sincere concern about safety is an overriding impetus towards the implementation of dress code policies. If everyone in school dresses alike there will be less violence in schools. There is a definite connection between clothing style and violence in schools. This is because many students will associate an image or sometimes a stigma to certain styles mostly gang-style clothing (Hanks, 2004) In many cases students have become targets of unintentional violence simply because of wearing a certain color combination which can be afflicted to a certain gang. An example is a popular style where boys wear baggy pants and oversized shirts. This image is closely associated with inner-city gang members who wear such loose fitting clothes so as to better hide weapons or drugs, which can also be carried to schools (Hanks, 2004). The students hunger to be fashionable is another dimension connecting clothing style and school violence. In this case students may envy other children’s clothes due to the lack of financial resources to purchase similar clothes and get abreast with style. Subsequently students’ have been injured or even get killed for their designers’ clothes or the professional sport-team paraphernalia. When students feel safe and secure they tend to perform better academically. Hence, enhancing academic performance is another argument that favours dress code policies (Feiler, 2004). Dress code in general helps children to follow on their school work instead of paying attention to what they and others are wearing. Imposing a dress code will prohibit wearing of clothing that can be disruptive. The other benefits attached t uniforms that can help enhance performance, includes; enhanced displine, respect for teachers, fewer distractions and improved classroom behavior. The other point to make on dress code in schools is the peer pressure. Middle school students’ can sometimes become cruel. In this case, if a child does not wear the right brand or style of clothing other student can make life a difficult for that student (Feiler, 2004). By removing the status depicted by clothing labels uniform becomes a great equalizer. The income of the child’s family is also concealed by the uniform which can thus eliminate a mark of distinction or shame. If the school uniform is attractive it promotes school spirit and self image the same way an athletic team uniform promotes spirit and unity (Feiler, 2004). If a dress code is instituted, many families will realize the great benefit of not having to buy so many expensive clothes for their children who maybe fashion conscious. With some comparisons the cost of uniform is significantly less compared to the cost of the latest fashions. Parents will also welcome uniforms because they have an added peace to the home. This means that if the school imposes what to the students should wear to school it will become one less battle to fight in the morning (Feiler, 2004). Dressing seductively poses a great distraction to the opposite sex. This makes sense why it’s important to put restrictions to what can worn in school. Sexual thoughts are frequent in middle school and in high school and hence most students do not need visual aids because their imagination is active enough. Uniform makes school not to be the appropriate avenue to express oneself especially in terms of clothing. The student should use his mind and voice so as to appropriately express his thoughts opinions and questions. Uniform and dress codes should be used as a part of life. Most of jobs have certain kind of restrictions that pertains to dress. Children and students should be made to adhere to simple roles such as those of dress codes while in school (Craik, 2005). Attendance is improved by imposing school uniform because the student will always have something acceptable to wear. Sometimes students may miss school just because they do not have something cool to wear or because their shirt that was cool was wet to wear to school. How we dress matters a lot as even for the entrepreneurs that work out of their home tend to feel that their working is more productive if they dress appropriately other than working in pajamas (Craik, 2005) Conclusion Students should dress respectively when in school. They can be allowed to wear what they want but only to a certain extent. They should not be allowed to wear their pants around their knees or miniskirts. This is sloppy and does not show self respect or self confidence. Also there is no business that wants to hire a man with pants down her knees. If one wants a good job, then one needs too wear properly, as this shows respect. There are many reasons to why schools should impose dress codes its not for the hindrance of individuality but to promote a better life and one’s self-confidence. If you want to have a good education and a well paying job you have to dress for it (Craik, 2005)