Operating System Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Operating System - Essay Example It should be noted that computers cannot function and will become useless without it. The operating systems in our modern times function in order to accomplish three major goals which include hiding the details of the hardware through the establishment of abstraction, to assign the resources to specific processes, and to provide the user with an interface which is simple and easy to use for his benefits (Muhammad 2). Because of their design and task in computing devices, OS have been named as resource manager where the primary resource is the computer hardware including processors, storage, input/output devices, communication devices and data. As a resource manager, the operating system generally functions by "implementing the user interface, sharing hardware among users, allowing users to share data among themselves, preventing users from interfering with one another, scheduling resources among users, facilitating input/output, recovering from errors, accounting for resource usage, facilitating parallel operations, organizing data for secure and rapid access, and handling network communications" (Muhammad 4). One of the main purposes of an operating system is to allow its user to run his preferred... The rapid technological advancement which allows the evolution of OS also enabled the creation of different types of operating systems. It should be noted that a single operating system like Windows 2000 falls into many categories as experts are able to lump the characteristics and features of these OS into one comprehensive type. The Graphical User Interface (GUI) is a huge development to the rather plain text boards that are features of early computers. The GUI is an OS which contains graphics allowing users to interact with computing devices usually through a mouse by the graphical icons and visual indicators. On the other hand, the multiple-user OS allows the use of computers by two or more individuals at the same time or different times. Individuals sharing the same computer benefits from this by keeping their privacy through their different accounts. Thus, their documents are hidden and are kept from each other. Multitasking OS denotes those which are capable of running two or more different software at the same time on the same machine. For example, Windows 2000 can run Internet Explorer and open Microsoft Word at the same also allowing the user to do multiple tasks in the computing device. Lastly, multithreading allows are those which allow different parts of individual or more software to run concurrently while multiprocessing is an OS which allows two or more computer processor. Works Cited Muhammad, Rashid. Operating System. N.d. 10 September 2008 Operating System. Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. 2008. 10 September 2008

Effective Training †Expectancy Theory Essay Example for Free

Effective Training – Expectancy Theory Essay Expectancy theory maintains that people will make an effort to achieve a standard of performance if they perceive that it will be rewarded by a desirable outcome (Wilson, 1999), giving more effort will result in better performance, these probable organizational rewards are valued by the employee, and better job performance will result to organizational rewards which includes an increase in benefits or salary. Desirable outcome is essentially a product of individual circumstances and perceptions and is therefore a subject to change. According to Wilson, at one time, lifelong employment and security of tenure at an equitable level of remuneration may have been the driving force for many employees. Those who have suffered the effect s of downsizing and redundancy are now likely to view the world in different manner, where jobs offering short term and reasonably remunerated employment prospects are more attractive than no job at all, and similarly, those in employment and those seeking employment are likely to have a positive view of work offering the prospect of development of differentiated and transferrable skills, as an investment in their future employability (Wilson, 1999). If one of the managers will say that he doesn’t have time for this theory stuff and he wants real-world training that will help him in his job, I will tell him first that, outsourcing, downsizing, delayering, and casualisation of jobs are all fashionable but these trends affect employees’ explicit or implicit relationships with their employer, and similarly, reduced career oppurtunities, shorter tenure, the need for transferrable skills to assist employability, and increased used of fixed term contracts weaken the traditional ties of loyalty to their company’s destiny psychologically as well as formally (Wilson, 1999). I will tell him that he should do anything which will encourage his employees to trust their organization or company because it is important to earn employees’ trust and loyalty to the company to achieve better productivity.

Consumer Behaviour Essay -- Technology, The iPhone

Symbolic Consumption: The iPhone In this era of emerging economies and growing globalisation, the demand for symbolic goods continues to expand, and at a fast rate. With recent advances in technologies such as personal digital assistants (PDA’s), satellite/tracking devices, mobile phones and many others springing up almost every day, it is not surprising that consumers would be willing to part with large amounts of cash for these products. One of such technological advancement is the iPhone, a fascinating instance of adaptation, which is fast becoming a most sought after brand. The issue however is whether this new technological advancement of the iPhone is going to be a continuous trend or will just fizzle out in the nearer future. To understand deeply the phenomenon of symbolic consumption, we must first understand what it means. According to Kerrigan et al. (2004), symbolic consumption deals with the consumption of products and services as sources of meaning. An important aspect of symbolic consumption is that consumers no longer consume products simply for their functional value, but for their symbolic value, for what these products mean to themselves and to others (Kerrigan et al 2004). In other words, these products more or less become commodity signs. Digital-era commodity goods like the iPhone are symbolic markers or what Thorstein Veblen would call conspicuous consumption or â€Å"status symbols† (2007). To make sense of this rapturous reception, the iPhone would however now be examined as a notable instance of symbolic consuming culture. In June 2007, the hottest cellular phone hit town, with a vast array of technological wonders never before put together inside a tiny gadget called cell phone (Blokdijk 2008). It was Ap... ...d therefore argue that products involve a form of natural process within which the designer plays a key role. Like any product, the iPhone has its own life span or in other words, evolutionary timeline, its own inherited traits, its own product design and its own adapted state through its environment. As global technology is continuously introduced and replaced, it would get to a stage where the symbolic value of the iPhone would no longer be appreciated. This is because more advanced and superior mobile devices would have come into place, thereby stealing the limelight from the iPhone. Additionally, the study of behaviors and attitudes towards a specific technology such as the iPhone are extremely vulnerable to new products and trends, making the findings of any study outdated in a very short period of time. In other words, social values also changes over time. Consumer Behaviour Essay -- Technology, The iPhone Symbolic Consumption: The iPhone In this era of emerging economies and growing globalisation, the demand for symbolic goods continues to expand, and at a fast rate. With recent advances in technologies such as personal digital assistants (PDA’s), satellite/tracking devices, mobile phones and many others springing up almost every day, it is not surprising that consumers would be willing to part with large amounts of cash for these products. One of such technological advancement is the iPhone, a fascinating instance of adaptation, which is fast becoming a most sought after brand. The issue however is whether this new technological advancement of the iPhone is going to be a continuous trend or will just fizzle out in the nearer future. To understand deeply the phenomenon of symbolic consumption, we must first understand what it means. According to Kerrigan et al. (2004), symbolic consumption deals with the consumption of products and services as sources of meaning. An important aspect of symbolic consumption is that consumers no longer consume products simply for their functional value, but for their symbolic value, for what these products mean to themselves and to others (Kerrigan et al 2004). In other words, these products more or less become commodity signs. Digital-era commodity goods like the iPhone are symbolic markers or what Thorstein Veblen would call conspicuous consumption or â€Å"status symbols† (2007). To make sense of this rapturous reception, the iPhone would however now be examined as a notable instance of symbolic consuming culture. In June 2007, the hottest cellular phone hit town, with a vast array of technological wonders never before put together inside a tiny gadget called cell phone (Blokdijk 2008). It was Ap... ...d therefore argue that products involve a form of natural process within which the designer plays a key role. Like any product, the iPhone has its own life span or in other words, evolutionary timeline, its own inherited traits, its own product design and its own adapted state through its environment. As global technology is continuously introduced and replaced, it would get to a stage where the symbolic value of the iPhone would no longer be appreciated. This is because more advanced and superior mobile devices would have come into place, thereby stealing the limelight from the iPhone. Additionally, the study of behaviors and attitudes towards a specific technology such as the iPhone are extremely vulnerable to new products and trends, making the findings of any study outdated in a very short period of time. In other words, social values also changes over time.

Rain- Directed by Christine Jeffs Essay

A child’s life has many milestones such as learning to walk, learning to talk and their first day at school. Throughout all these stages parents are obliged to provide guidance, safety and support for their children as they learn to interpreate the world for themselves. Christine Jeffs’ visual text, Rain explores the story of thirteen year old, Janey whose parents are so caught up in self-absorption, they neglect their parental roles to both Janey and her younger brother Jim.This up-bringing of Janey and Jim leave the audience pondering, Does the abandonment of morale parents roles shape a childs transition into adolescence? The consequences of neglecting Janey through her first steps into womanhood, ricochet on Janey’s parents, and damage her perception of the adult world eternally. From the viewer’s first introduction to Janey, a high angle shot of her floating in a starfish position, gives us a deceitful impression about this seemingly, normal carefree life of a young teenage girl. The typical sunny scenery, clear blue water and weatherboard batches sets Christine Jeffs viewers to believe that Janey is surrounded by family life and fun, sharing barbeques and summer swims at their beloved family batch. Christine Jeffs has deliberately juxta-positioned this with a shot of Janey and her mum swimming, however her mum is holding a glass of alcohol. Janey’s mother lets go of the glass, and as it begins to sink to the sea floor, a low angle shot shows Janey diving after it. This immediately leaves the viewer confused about the role model Janey is following, would a normal family allow their thirteen year old daughter to frantically chase a glass of alcohol, or would they be more concerned for their daughter’s safety in deep water? This initial establishment of Janey and her mother’s relationship reveal to the viewers that Janey is growing up under the influence of an irresponsible parent who fails to teach suitable p riorities to her young daughter. Janey is being led to believe that alcohol is desirable and should be prioritized even if detrimental obstacles are to be faced. This acceptation of alcohol becoming an idolized part of adolescence and womanhood reveal to Jeff’s audience that the inappropriate role model Janeys mum is offering her daughter is leading her towards an un-healthy road into womanhood and giving her the belief that the world is like one of her toy dolls, she can pick it up and be responsible when she feels like, or she can throw it away and hide it. Janey is curious about the next stage of her life, wanting to become a ‘woman’. All around her are clues to what this responsibility might entail, but she is left on her own to uncover if her adult role models portray adulthood appropriately.We are shown Janeys view from beside a tree of her mother kissing Cadey, a new family friend. We are then shown Janey witnessing her Mum kissing Cadey again through the bathroom door. Jeffs has deliberat ely positioned the audience to see through Janeys view of the bathroom door. This angle reveals to the audience that Janeys view of adulthood is limited, she is only exposed to the irresponsible actions of her mother, and is therefore copying an un-realistic role model. As viewers we are confused and disgusted that a married woman is being intimate with a family friend who is staying under the same family roof as her husband and two children, especially Janey who witnesses her mother’s actions and believes that being a woman means that drinking and kissing unfamiliar men at parties is normal. â€Å"It’s okay, it’s fun to kiss boys†, this quote , from Janey’s mother is an example of the inappropriate advice Janey is being given. Jeff’s viewers are positioned to see a mother, who leaves her children to their own devices, surrounded by strangers while she devotes her life to drinking and flirting with men at parties and family functions. Janey is influenced by this woman figure in her life, and meaninglessly kisses a boy of her age, before shoving him onto the floor, this is Janey’s perception of intimacy, as she has learnt from her mother and she believes her actions are meaningless and that she is in control of the consequences. The actions of Janey bewilder Jeff’s audience, as we realize that Janey is mimicking her mothers actions, however Janey does not have any true sexual desire and she is unaware of the situations she is leading herself into. Jeff’s audience begin to understand that because Janey had been left un-guided by her parents into her teenage life, she has no true understanding of how her actions will leave her vulnerable and she has no escape. Throughout the film, we are shown Janey’s feeling toward Cadey, a man who has participated in an affair with Janey’s mother, and takes advantage of Janey’s immaturity and inexperience with decision making. Cadey blatantly grooms Janey in front of her mother, making conversation with her which Janey believes she is in control of and feels special. â€Å"Would you like a drink?† Cadey offers Janey alcohol and cigarettes during a family outing on his boat, even though he knows she is only thirteen. Janey’s mu m is dissatisfied within her marriage and unaware that her self-absorption has left her oblivious to Janey’s encounters with Cadey and the obvious signs of his intentions. Later, when Janey ventures into the forest alone with Cadey we are shown a worms eye view shot, the tree height is enhanced, and as viewers we are positioned into Janey’s vulnerable situation. Janey is unaware of just how small she is and the situation she is setting herself up for with this grown man. The next shot of Janey lying in the crucifix position, naked on the forest floor is a worryingly disturbing scene for Jeff’s viewers, and outlines the vulnerability of Janey. Janey’s copycat behaviour of her mother and neglect of parental guidance throughout her stages of curiosity into womanhood from her parents has led her to tragedy. Raised by a poor decision making mother, whose own marital dissatisfaction led her to neglect her children, Janey also has to live with her poor decisions and actions with Cadey, which left her younger brother, Jim to his own devices alone at the beach resulted in him drowning. These consequences have ricocheted from Janey’s parents neglect of their roles and guiders and providers of safety to their children and Janey must now live with the catastrophic loss of her brother and horrifying entrance into womanhood due to her mis-guidance and belief that she, like her mother was in control. Janey’s limited guidance, experience and understanding of the world, left her vulnerable and exposed to predators such as Cadey, who took advantage of her parents neglect and her curiosity. Christine Jeff’s viewers are shown a tragic story of the consequences of poor parenting and decision making, and how our actions influence our younger generation. Through main character Janey, Jeff’s viewers are positioned to recognize the danger Janey and her brother are exposed to and how easy it is for our actions to be witnessed and used as a role model for others and we are left to ponder if our actions could damage the future of others who idolize their elders. Jeff’s audience are shown how through the neglect of guidance and parenting, childrens transitions into adulthood can leave them vulnerable and damaged for the rest of their lives

Ethics and Issues in Counseling Essay

Question 1 a) Ethics are a list of conduct or principles drawn with the purpose of providing a guideline to what defines professional practice (Corey, 2009) while values are the basis of one’s thoughts or ideals in which decisions are generated (Manthei, 1997). Certain institutions derive their own core values to help provide a guide to â€Å"proper† behaviors. In simple terms, ethics are like â€Å"rules† within a society, culture or institution while values are like â€Å"policeman† in our mind, helping us determine between desirable and non-desirable behaviors while keeping in mind these â€Å"rules† that governs them (Dolgoff, Loewenberg & Harrington, 2008). The professional code of ethics is a guide designed to determine what constitutes professionalism in which governs the institution in the best interest of the values of the profession (Corey, 2009). It not only serves as a clarification to existing and future members of the institution or association governing it, but also helps supports the mission and vision of the institution or association. Its objective is to provide guidelines to practitioners, clarify the professional stand of institutions and organizations governing these practitioners, and at the same time protecting the rights of clients (consumers) (Corey, Corey & Callanan, 2003). The Professional Code of Ethics also helps to bound practitioners ethically so that they do not try to impose their own values onto others and behave as moral authorities. While the Professional Code of Ethics may be written as clear as possible and as comprehensive as possible, in reality there are person’s feelings, values, as well as emotions involved, which are absent during the compilation (Betan, 1997). The ACA Code of Ethics (2005) states â€Å"Counselors terminate a counseling relationship when it becomes reasonably apparent that the client no longer needs assistance, is not likely to benefit, or is being harmed by continued counseling.† The practitioner would be caught in a conflict when his agency deems the client fit to be discharged but he feels otherwise (Betan, 1997). Ethical guides may not be easily integrated into one of vast cultural diversity like that of Singapore as most of the Professional Code of Ethics were formulated within that of a Western context. As such, cultural, socioeconomic as well as linguistic differences may have been neglected in the process (Betan, 1997); while the code may hold autonomy of client at high regards, the cultural stand of the client may not be so. Confidentiality itself also poses a great arguing standpoint especially in a multicultural context whereby there are traditions as well as cultural rules to adhere to (Welfel, 2012). Another important point to not neglect while considering the limitations of the Professional Code of Ethics is its congruency towards the local state laws (Betan, 1997). For instance, one state regulation for consumption of alcohol may differ that from another. In putting ethics into consideration, practitioners should also be aware of their own local state laws. b) Two values that I value as important in life are honesty and being just, ie to try my best to make sure I give or receive equal treatments. Being a straightforward person, I believe in being honest at all times and to take responsibility for your own actions. I believe in giving others a benefit of doubt, unless I have concrete evidence that he/she is telling a lie. I uphold the value of equality; to treat others the way you would like to be treated. Thus, I try my very best not to be bias and constantly remind myself to stay in a neutral stand when others are involved. Because I believe strongly in always giving others the benefit of doubt, I would not doubt on the credibility of my clients’ words even though they might sound absurd. By doing so, it gains trust from clients and help in rapport building with clients. On the flip side, if the client is not a willing client, he might manipulate the trust I have and may try to lie and mislead me. Due to my eagerness to be non-bias and be fair and just as much as I can, I may end up trying to argue and inevitably try to prove myself when some clients at times show biasness towards me due to my experience and age. This  could hinder my work with them as I might try to convince them that they are being bias and indirectly in one way or another, try to argue or indirectly try hard to prove myself. This may come across to some as being argumentative, especially when I always have something to retort back whenever they say something negative, thus spoiling the therapeutic relationship. Of course, being non-bias is important in the counseling relationship as it helps one to not be judgmental and to always maintain a partial perspective. Question 2 The 6 moral principles forming the basis of functioning at the highest level of ethical profession as summarized by Corey et al. (2003, p.16) are autonomy, veracity, justice, nonmaleficence, beneficence, and fidelity. Autonomy refers to the rights or freedom to decide and make independent decisions or choices in one’s own accord within a social and cultural context. Thus, the respect for such autonomy brings about an acceptance that others have a right to choose and act in accordance to his own wishes, unless they hinder the rights of others (Altmaier & Hansen, 2011); practitioners aim at encouraging independence in client and discourage client’s dependency on him. Veracity or truthfulness refers to the practitioner being obliged to be truthful with his clients (Corey et al., 2003). The guideline in the Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct of the American Psychological Association (2002) states, â€Å"Psychologists do not make false, deceptive, or fraudulent statements†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (para. 5.01b) since trust is very important in building up a good therapeutic relationship with clients. Justice means to be fair by providing equal treatment to all regardless of culture, religion, race, gender, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, disability or age, as they are entitled to equal access and treatment (Corey et al, 2003). To be nonmaleficence means to not cause harm, including actions that might pose a risk to harm another (Altmaier & Hansen, 2011). Practitioners are responsible for their clients to ensure that their risks for exploitation or might result in potential harm are brought down to a minimal (Corey et al, 2003). Beneficence refers to promoting the good and the wellbeing of clients and of others, to help clients grow and develop in their cultural context as well as doing good in their social context (Corey et al, 2003). In short, practitioners are responsible towards contributing to the welfare and growth of another being (Altmaier & Hansen, 2011). Lastly but not least, fidelity means to be truthful in making honest and realistic commitments and honoring these commitments (Corey et al, 2003). It is very important to build a trusting relationship between the practitioners and the people whom they work with and thus practitioners are responsible to make sure they honor fidelity at least on their end (Altmairt & Hansen, 2011). Question 3 a) The 8 essential personal attributes of an effective counselor are emotional intelligence (EQ), warmth and care, unconditional positive attitude (regard), genuineness and authenticity, patience, analytical ability, person-centered and nurturing style of communication and lastly, clear and specific communication. Emotional intelligence is defined as the ability to be able to distinguish and have self-awareness of one’s own as well as others’ emotions and feelings, and to be able to use this and guide one’s behavior and thinking, hence encourages development of emotional closeness with the client (Coetzee & Jacobs, 2006). Warmth and care is important in the therapeutic relationship in rapport building as it helps show client that the practitioner is genuinely concern (Coetzee & Jacobs, 2006). When warmth and care is present, practitioner is more aware of client’s cognitive and  emotional needs and the relationship will be more accepting towards each other (Coetzee & Jacobs, 2006). Unconditional positive attitude (regard) is important because it challenges client’s beliefs that if they do not behave in a certain way, others would not accept them. Client had to be sure that his counselor would still see him in the same way after the ‘awful truth’ is made known (Dryden, 1999). The role of genuineness simply means to be yourself; to be sincere, transparent and not putting on a false front (Palmer & Milner, 2006). This role of being genuine and authentic is one that is most challenging, as it requires one to have very high level of self-awareness (Palmer & Milner, 2006). It is important for counselors to have this quality due to the high level of trust needed in order to build effective therapeutic relationship with clients. Patience is an important attribute as different types of clients requires different amount of time to build the trust with practitioners and to be able to open up. While some clients do not have difficulty expressing themselves, some of them do find great difficulty in doing so and would then require much more patience and time from the counselor. Analytical ability is important in listening as it helps the counselor to be able to analyze his own emotions as well as facial expressions while listening to the client (Singh, 2007). In terms of case study, analytical ability is also important to the counselor in helping him to analyze and decipher the bulk of information being presented to him (Singh, 2007). Person-centeredness style of communication refers to the ability to communicate to accept another as a complete unique individual (Wood, 2009). That is to say, counselors do not form pre-conceptualized ideas on how the person is like and not make assumptions during the conversation with client. Nurturing communication occurs when parties involved in the conversation relate to each other in a caretaking manner; indicating to each other that the relationship is being valued (Wood, 2009). Last but not least, clear and specific communication is very important in ensuring that the counseling session is being communicated in the way that it is meant to, without allowing either parties involved to have any misunderstandings after the session. b) If I were to choose 3 attributes that I think are important for myself to undergo the necessary personal transformation, it would be patience, analytical ability and unconditional positive regard. I think that I sometimes lack patience in a counseling session and tend to unknowingly try to rush the conversation by interrupting and not giving client enough time to think about what was being said or asked. Also at times, client may need time for reflection, resulting in pauses during the conversation. While I understand the importance of having such ‘quiet moments’ in a counseling session, I tend to be impatient and would unknowingly try to say something to fill up these ‘uneasy moments of silence’. Analytical ability is something, which I feel I am lacked of. I find myself ‘lost’ in long lengthy conversations at times and unable to ‘process’ huge amounts of information shared. I tend to be more straight-forth in my facial expressions too, and I hope to be more cautious in this area, thus being able to give information being shared more thoughts instead of just deciphering it from the surface level. To be able to achieve complete unconditional positive regard in a conversation is I feel, requires that of a high cognitive level. As every single individual comes from a different background and different culture and social environment, unconditional positive regards is important if counselors want to build on having a therapeutic relationship with client. Without it, clients would not want to return for further therapies or might refrain from sharing certain important information, which could be helpful in the therapeutic process. References: American Psychological Association. (2002). Ethical principles of psychologists and code of conduct. Washington, DC: Author. Altmaier, E.M. & Hansen, J.C. (2011). The Oxford Handbook of Counseling Psychology. NY: Oxford University Press Betan, E.J.(1997). Toward a hermeneutic model of ethical decision making in clinical practice. Ethics Behaviour, 7(4), 347-365. doi: 10.1207/s15327019eb0704_6 Coetzee, M. & Jacobs, H.R. (2006) Career Counselling and Guidance in the Workplace. Cape Town, South Africa: Juta and Company Corey, G. (2009). Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy (8th Ed, pp. 37) CA: Cengage Learning Corey, G., Corey, M.S. & Callanan, P. (2003). Issues and Ethics in the Helping Professions. (6Th Ed) CA: Brooks/Cole Dryden, W. (1999) Four Approaches to Counselling and Psychotherapy. NY: Routledge Dolgoff, R., Loewenberg, F.M. & Harrington, D. (2008). Ethical Decisions for Social Work Practice (8Th Ed, pp. 19-23) CA: Cengage Learning Manthei, R. (1997). Counselling: The Skills of Finding Solutions to Problems. NZ: Routledge Palmer, S. & Milner, P. (2006) Integrative Stress Counselling: A Humanistic Problem-Focused Approach. GB: Sage Publications Co. Singh, K. (2007). Counselling Skills for Managers. New Delhi: PHI Learning Pvt. Ltd. Wood, J.T. (2009) Interpersonal Communication: Everyday Encounters. CA: Cengage Learning Welfel, E.R. (2012). Ethics in Counseling & Psychotherapy (5th Ed, pp. 150-160) CA: Cengage Learning.

Use of Estar and Ser with Adjectives of Marital Status

Use of Estar and Ser with Adjectives of Marital Status If you are learning to speak Spanish, you may be wondering which word describing martial status is correct - soy casada or estoy casada? The quick answer is that theyre both correct! With adjectives of marital status - ones other than casado (married) include soltero (single), divorciado (divorced) and viudo (widowed), along with their feminine equivalents - estar and ser are more or less interchangeable. Difference Between Ser and Ester Although the differences between ser and estar are usually distinct, that just doesnt seem to be so with the adjectives of marital status, where youll often hear the two verbs used with little difference in meaning. In some areas, however, one or the other may be preferred, and estar probably has an edge in everyday speech, at least with casado. Even so, use of estar can suggest (but doesnt always) there has been a change in marital status. Thus, you might ask a new acquaintance  ¿es usted casado? if you see his marital status as part of his identity. But you might ask a friend you havent seen for a while  ¿ests casado? as a way of asking, Have you become married since I saw you last? or Are you still married? Similarities With Other Spanish Adjectives The same is true with very few adjectives, such as gordo (fat) and delgado (thin), that describe personal characteristics. Both es gordo and est gordo can be used to say he is fat, for example. The latter often suggests that there has been a change, while the former may suggest merely a description of the way a person is. So the choice of verb can suggest an attitude - estar may suggest a state of being at the moment, while ser may suggest an inherent characteristic. In fact, that is the safest way to make your verb choice, and estar must be used where indeed there has been a change. But in everyday descriptions, the distinction of meaning isnt always a sharply clear one.

What is Group Think

What is Group Think Free Online Research Papers What is Group Think? To answer the question, â€Å"What is Group Think,† you really have to examine the human thought process. Group Think is a method of thought: a way of thinking performed by a group of individuals in an effort to curtail discord and to arrive at a sense of accord or agreement. During the Group Think process, individuals will test, analyze and evaluate the group ideas under examination. Yet, the answer to â€Å"What is Group Think† is even more complex than the latter definition. Group Think, while at first seemingly positive because group members work together toward a common and acceptable outcome, actually has a serious disadvantage. William H. Whyte established the phrase â€Å"Group Think† in 1952 to describe a group thinking process that disallows the promotion of uncomfortable views – this can prove to be disadvantageous to single group members or to the entire group as a whole because the suppression of viewpoints can result in a rationalized conformity. The Group Think mindset can occur for a number of different reasons and the closer group members are, the more apt the group is to partake in the group thinking process. Symptoms of the group think process include the suppression of negative points of view for the sake of group unity, the isolation of the group from other individuals with diverse opinions from those held by the group, and the quiet acceptance of overzealous leadership. Other symptoms of group thinking include an unquestioning attitude toward group decisions, the formation of stereotypical beliefs, and the closing off of oneself to ideas that do not support the group’s general thinking. Group Think sacrifices one of the highest universal principles in favor of a corrupted misnaming of a organizational disease. In the end, the answer to what is group think is that it is a form of thinking that should be avoided; instead a group should strive to establish an atmosphere conducive to diverse ideas and forms of expression. Research Papers on What is Group ThinkEffects of Television Violence on ChildrenThe Relationship Between Delinquency and Drug UseMoral and Ethical Issues in Hiring New EmployeesWhere Wild and West MeetResearch Process Part OneThe Fifth HorsemanQuebec and CanadaCanaanite Influence on the Early Israelite ReligionThree Concepts of Psychodynamic19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided Era

Two-Way Prepositions Part 3

Two-Way Prepositions Part 3 Believe it or not, two German accusative/dative prepositions make yet another distinction that English does not! The common prepositions  an  and  auf  can both mean on or at but they differ in how they are applied to surfaces. If an object is on or near a vertical surface (a wall, a chalkboard, etc.), then usually the prepositionan  is used. If a horizontal surface (a tabletop, a floor, etc.) is involved, then  auf  is used to express on or at. Look at the illustrations below... Horizontal and Vertical ON or ATAN  (vertical) and  AUF  (horizontal) AN  Ã‚  VERTICAL -  SENKRECHT  Ã‚  die Wand   the wall​​ An  object  approachinga vertical surface.The accus. phrase an die Wandanswers the question  wohin? An  object  on or atthe wall.  (vertical surface)The dative phrase an der Wandanswers the question  wo?    AUF  Ã‚  HORIZONTAL -  WAAGERECHT  Ã‚  der Tisch   the table​ An  object  approachinga horizontal surface.The accus. phrase auf den Tischanswers the question  wohin? An  object  onthe table.  (horizontal surface)The dative phrase auf dem Tischanswers the question  wo? Now, if youve been paying attention, can you say what the dative prepositional phrase  an dem Tisch  or  am Tisch  means? Unlike  auf dem Tisch,  an dem Tisch  means at or next to the table. If you are sitting at the table, you are  am Tisch. If you are sitting on top of the table, you are  auf dem Tisch! German is being very consistent here. If you are talking about your location in relation to the vertical part of the table (the legs, etc.), then you use  an. If youre talking about your location in relation to the horizontal top of the table, then you use  auf. This logic also applies to expressions like  an der Donau  (on the Danube). The use of  an  refers to being on the edge of the river. If were actually on the Danube (in a boat), then were  auf der Donau. More Examples  (A accus., D dative)Here are some examples of the uses of  an  and  auf: wo?  an der Ecke  D - on/at the cornerwohin?  an die Ecke  A - to the cornerwo?  an der Grenze  D - on/at the borderwohin?  an die Grenze  A - to the borderwo?  am Rhein  D - on the Rhinewohin?  an den Rhein  A - to the Rhinewo?  auf dem Dach  D - on the roofwohin?  auf das Dach  A - onto the roof Idiomatic ExpressionsBesides their normal uses,  an  and  auf  are also used in many idiomatic expressions and verbal phrases. Here are some examples: auf der Bank  - at the bankjemandem auf der Tasche liegen  - to live off of someoneauf der Straße liegen  A - to be down and outjemanden an der Nase herumfà ¼hren  - to lead someone around by the nose, take them for a foolworan liegt das?  - whats the reason for that? Most of the other two-way prepositions are used in idiomatic expressions as well. Related Links The Four German CasesA guide to the four German cases: Accusative, Dative, Genitive and Nominative. Includes cases and the  two-way  prepositions. A guide to the many ways to say by in German. Prepositional PitfallsPotential problems and how to avoid them.

Classic Airline's Marketing Solution Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Classic Airline's Marketing Solution - Essay Example Classic Airlines is the world’s fifth largest airlines and has witnessed a steady growth in the 25 years since its inception. However, though profitable, the airline has not been spared from the challenges that affect airlines. For instance, increased uncertainty about flying negatively affected the stock prices which saw Classic airlines recording a 10 % decrease in the share prices in 2004. Its negativity has resulted in low employee morale where consumer confidence seems to be declining. Loyal customers also seem to be jumping ship and those remaining are flying less frequently. The airline has come under spotlight as a result of the seemingly mounting problems hence this essay seeks to identify as well as to define the problem bedevilling Classic Airlines. A problem solving model will be applied in a bid to try to address the airline’s current crisis. A close analysis of the case shows that there are both internal as well as external pressures contributing to Classi c Airlines’ current crisis. The airline is operating in a competitive environment that is characterised by rising fuel while it is already incurring high operating costs. In a competitive environment, it can be noted that the companies will be fighting for the same customers hence the one with favourable services is likely to appeal to the interests of many customers. Whilst it has been observed that competition is fierce in the airline industry, it has also been noted that a closer look at the profiles of the other competitors shows that to a certain extent, some of them have a competitive advantage over Classic Airlines. The major strengths of the three given competitors indicate that they are dominant players in the industry and they have a global presence and a strong existing network in different destinations they ply. It has also been noted that these players have successful loyalty programs in place which is currently a problem that is affecting Classic Airlines. Its c ustomer loyalty base is waning and a holistic approach has to be taken in order to revive its diminishing fortunes. Another notable strength possessed by the competitors is that they have worldwide brand recognition and they are likely to appeal to a large number of customers. There are also internal factors contributing to Classic Airlines’ current crisis and these include labour costs. The firm is paying top salaries especially to pilots and other employees while other competitors are cutting back pay on such professions. Priority is given to the needs of the workers and this has increased the operating costs of the airline. High salaries offered to the employees are not commensurate with the actual economic state of affairs obtaining on the ground. The stance to give the employees the autonomy to decide destinations through a bidding system is also a contributory factor to the current crisis being faced by the airline. The high operating costs have limited the airline†™s ability to compete for valued frequent flier given that it is now confined in a restrictive cost structure. Thus, as noted by Ben Sutcliffe, Classic’s General Counsel, the main problem related to this approach by the airline is that it has one of the highest labour costs which are likely to jeopardize its future. This has mandated a 15 % cost

The Christian Tradition Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Christian Tradition - Essay Example The New Testament Christians also believe that they descended from the old Testament prophets and cannot deviate from such a believe in one true God since it worked well with their ancestors who were favored by God over other surrounding nations. There is also a belief that God will accept all who will come to believe in Him and renounce all other gods they have been worshiping (Grenz 75). Just like the Old Testament Christians, the modern Christians also believe that the Invisible God has revealed himself to us through Jesus Christ. They believe that Jesus is the messiah or the savior who is God’s own son and divine in nature (Harris 40). The bible in the gospel of John chapter 3 and verse 16 refers Jesus as God’s only begotten son who He gave to come and die for the forgiveness of sins of many. The New Testament Christians believe that Jesus died and resurrected to redeem us from our sins and this is for all who will believe in Him (Bible 823). Jesus is therefore the pillar of Modern Christians because their faith is totally based on Him. He is believed to be the Head of the church and the King of all creation hence Christians have to confess that Jesus is Lord to receive the salvation that comes from Him. Jesus is believed to have the divine nature in Him and He himself is God. In the gospel of John chapter 17 and verse 21, Jesus calls Himself the Son and God the Father to bring a distinction in His form. However, He declares that He the Son and God the Father are one (Bible 840). The New Testament Christians also believe that there is the indwelling spirit who guides them in their daily walk with God. Before Jesus left this world to go and be with the father, He promised to leave His disciples a helper and that is the Holy Spirit. In the gospel of John chapter 14 verses 16 and 26, Jesus declares the Holy Spirit coming from the Father and coming to represent Him in the world and

Social Security Act Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Social Security Act - Research Paper Example This program especially benefits those workers that have paid into the system during their entire working life. The Social Security Act helps to provide financial assistance for retirees, the unemployed, and people who have disabilities that prevent them from working and making their own living. Other categories of people that can benefit from Social Security include families with dependent children, maternal and child welfare, and the blind. The money for the Social Security fund comes directly from a percentage of a worker’s paycheck. Unfortunately, while those that currently receive Social Security appreciate the system, there are workers that are on edge about what will happen to them when they retire. There may be money in the system now - their money - but they fear that by time they retire there will be no money left for them. They are involuntarily contributing to a system they might not be able to benefit from when they retire. Another controversy in regard to the Social Security system was that there would be a loss of jobs, but this was given a convincing counterargument: older workers would be inspired to retire knowing that the Social Security system would take care of them financially, therefore making room for younger people to obtain jobs. Before the Social Security Act became what it is now, it was a system that lacked the proper security that people needed after retirement. The first version of the Act did not include women and minorities for unemployment insurance and old age pensions. The only jobs that were eligible for Social Security benefits were considered â€Å"white male† occupations. Teachers, nurses, hospital employees, government employees, and agricultural labor were among those occupations that were not qualified for Social Security (Dobelstein). At the time, women were only able to get their insurance through their husbands or children. However,

German assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

German - Assignment Example oon during daytime and will tie a rope in the oak tree and pull the moon down and when it lays on the ground, they will cover it with cloth so no one will notice the robbery. 6. Once back home, what do they do with the moon, and how do the people and dwarfs react? Once the travelers got home, they happily placed the moon up the oak tree and the people were glad the entire field as well as all of the chambers were filled with brightness, while the dwarfs came out and danced with joy. 7. When one of the travelers is getting sick and facing death, what does he order? When one of the travelers fell ill and foresaw his death, he requested that the fourth part or a quarter of the moon should be given to him and be laid upon his coffin. 9. Describe what the dead do when they wake up. When parts of the moon re-united in the underworld, the 4 travelers rose from their grave and became astonished when they knew that they could still see. They became amusing and accepted of the magistrate’s old life-style again. And eventually, they play, dance, get drunk until they finally quarreled to each and everyone. 10. Why do the dead prefer the moon to the sun? The dead prefer the moon because this is the only thing that they do not have in their previous land and that they could take parts of the moon to themselves. Once, there was a land that lived in complete darkness – no moon has ever appeared in it but only stars. When the sun set behind mountains, there comes a luminous ball stood high up an oak tree and generously poured out light to the entire land. Hence, the luminous ball in the oak tree served as a moon for the people who lived there. One night, four travelers who have came from another country planned to steal the luminous ball so they could bring it to their magistrate and her land that does not have a moon. They asked a farmer what that luminous ball stand for and later found out that it was their â€Å"moon† and could only give light or brilliance by pouring

Management Accounting Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 10

Management Accounting - Essay Example The two sections are not independent of each other and they are intertwined so as to work properly in achieving the specific goals they have been designed to. In the fast changing world and the high cost of business managers have to set up budgets for what to invest and understand the priorities to focus on. A budget is the plan set by the organization for the forthcoming period and it is designed at different level of the organization. The top management focuses on the master budget which is more detailed and requires integration and coordination of every part of the organization. The primary role of budgeting is systematic planning (Taylor III, 2013). The challenge of setting up a good master budget focuses more on the people hired to do and how they ensure they also are concerned with the macro while also being detailed to the micro management priorities of the business. Contrary to organization budgeting is not forecasting but is more of a leadership role of accompany than a financial one (Mettanen, 2005). Transaction cost economics this is the most complicating accounting calculation top managers’ face. It needs a lot of time and is more complex and it is widely used to decentralize multinational organization it involves understanding the tax related issue within the geographical area as well as ensuring that the cost incurred for raw materials is up to the required and that reducing operating cost (Laitinen, 2002The objective of this transfer cost is more of ensuring proper resource of allocation as well as minimizing cost and also having a competitive advantage over the rest of its competitors. Preparing of benchmarking involves a lot of consideration and managers in this have to understand the qualities required for the benchmarking and how to rate and rank the staff. The challenge when embracing this can lead to employees who think they are sacked. This requires

German assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

German - Assignment Example oon during daytime and will tie a rope in the oak tree and pull the moon down and when it lays on the ground, they will cover it with cloth so no one will notice the robbery. 6. Once back home, what do they do with the moon, and how do the people and dwarfs react? Once the travelers got home, they happily placed the moon up the oak tree and the people were glad the entire field as well as all of the chambers were filled with brightness, while the dwarfs came out and danced with joy. 7. When one of the travelers is getting sick and facing death, what does he order? When one of the travelers fell ill and foresaw his death, he requested that the fourth part or a quarter of the moon should be given to him and be laid upon his coffin. 9. Describe what the dead do when they wake up. When parts of the moon re-united in the underworld, the 4 travelers rose from their grave and became astonished when they knew that they could still see. They became amusing and accepted of the magistrate’s old life-style again. And eventually, they play, dance, get drunk until they finally quarreled to each and everyone. 10. Why do the dead prefer the moon to the sun? The dead prefer the moon because this is the only thing that they do not have in their previous land and that they could take parts of the moon to themselves. Once, there was a land that lived in complete darkness – no moon has ever appeared in it but only stars. When the sun set behind mountains, there comes a luminous ball stood high up an oak tree and generously poured out light to the entire land. Hence, the luminous ball in the oak tree served as a moon for the people who lived there. One night, four travelers who have came from another country planned to steal the luminous ball so they could bring it to their magistrate and her land that does not have a moon. They asked a farmer what that luminous ball stand for and later found out that it was their â€Å"moon† and could only give light or brilliance by pouring

Marketin Planning Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Marketin Planning - Essay Example The advisory committee helps the companies to reveal the strength and weakness in the strategic plans. It discusses the strategic responses with the companies and provides them with the outcome where the company has to improve. The companies are required to get registered with the committee, so that they receive continuous updates and monitoring from IHS CERA. The membership is taken on the annual basis and the committee delivers two research cycles to the companies, who are registered under it. The committee provides with the current scenario of marketing strategies of the industries. The companies will remain well aware regarding the changing perspective of the marketing plans that are undertaken by the industry (Petro Tech, 2012). The members are bound to receive the following from the committee: 1) Forecast or anticipation of the oil and gas industry of the United States 2) Get the access to the IHS CERA Database Centre. 3) Receive semi annual client meeting (invitation/ record o f the proceedings) Shell is the leading oil and petrochemical company based in Unites States. The company seeks to develop unique marketing strategy based on the current scenario of the marketing plans of the industry. ... Shells seek to maintain its position in the industry by meeting the global energy demand in a very responsible way. They aim at providing competitive returns for the shareholders. The company also seeks to develop a competitive edge, so that they can retain the best position in the industry. In new downstream markets, access to upstream resources has become very difficult as there exist high competition. But for Shell the main competitive advantage is their capability of project delivery and the operational excellence along with their concentration in the upstream businesses. The company has invested 80% of the capital in the upstream business in 2013. In the upstream business, the company focus on the exploration of new liquids and natural gas reserves. They aim at developing new projects where the technology and the know-how of the business can add value to the resource holders (Deloitte, 2013). The downstream and upstream engines are generating cash and developing the business, wh ich is strengthening the financial performance of the company.   The company makes investment in few selective growth regions. It thus applies distinctive technology to the growth regions and provides with excellent operating performance for extending the productive lives of the assets of the company and hence increases profitability. Their major strategies are the deep water, integrated gas and the resources that play an important role, such as shale oil and gas. The themes provide them with medium term growth and they expect to make the themes to be their core engines of the business in the near future. The future opportunities of Shell include the potential oil reserves of Iraq, Arctic, Nigeria and Kazakhstan. The opportunities are to be exploited by the company in order to

Time Definition Essay Example for Free

Time Definition Essay The thought Dont leave until tomorrow what you can today holds very important in this fast pacing world where time is a very important factor and I fully agree with the statement. The main reason for me to believe in this statement is a small but very significant word time. Time is a very precious gift bestowed to us by God and it must be used at the best of our ability. Man tends to get torpor at times, which makes him to keep work and other assignments pending. This increases his load of work and would require him more time to complete the task pended. There is another reason that I would like to lay stress on. Let me take a very common example to explain the point. A small hole in a cloth piece should be stitched when noticed in the earlier stage before it becomes a bigger hole when there will be a greater difficulty to thread up the damage. In a lineA stitch in time saves nine . One should never keep work pending and must be completed as early as possible. This would avoid a greater stress that would be taken to complete a pending assignment. Thus, one should never put off till tomorrow what can be done here and now. Besides time and load of work, there is another small factor that makes me agree to the thought-provoking adage. By post-poning things and keeping them to be done on the eleventh hour would make a person tensed. It would make a person feel more anguish and remorse about the pending task. He would not feel comfortable until and unless the task is completed. At times, when work especially an important task assigned is put off till tomorrow keeps getting postponed and never does the tomorrow come. He tends to put off his work and eventually may forget to complete what is assigned. Such carelessness costs a lot and can make a person get fired by an employer or even lose a job. So, why take such a chance. It is better to do work promptly or earlier for the better. Hence I conclude by the statement to never put off till tomorrow what can be done here and now.

An Introduction To Multiculturalism The Concept Sociology Essay

An Introduction To Multiculturalism The Concept Sociology Essay The definition of multiculturalism depends a great deal upon the context in which it is discussed. Concept of multiculturalism is constantly varying as more people make their voices heard to a recurrently increasing audience. Multiculturalism implies the diverse perspectives people develop and maintain through varieties of experience and background stemming from racial, ethnic, gender, sexual orientation and/or class differences in our society. Multiculturalism is the acceptance or promotion of various ethnic cultures. It is diversity valid to the demographic make-up of a specific place, often at the organizational level, e.g. schools, businesses, neighborhoods, cities or nations. In this context, multiculturalists advocate extending equitable status to distinct ethnic and religious groups without promoting any specific ethnic, religious, and/or cultural community values as central. Multiculturalism should preserve the ideals of equality, equity, freedom and respect for individuals and groups as a principle fundamental to the success of a nation. Background of British Public Life Style that embraces Multiculturalism the Evolution Britian is one of Europes most multi-cultural nations. There are a number of policy drivers and historical happening that have led Britian to evolve into multicultural society that it is today. There is no infliction of immigration in the 1914 and 1948 Nationality Acts. Immigration remained low, however until after 1948. In 1953 the total number of immigrants to Britain was 2000 and by the end of the first half of 1962 the number had risen to 94,500. The 1948 British Nationality Act established positive immigration rights to Citizens of Commonwealth countries. Britain experienced an increase in immigration rate in post war era due to deficiency of labor. Initially men alone came to Britain for jobs but in late 1960s and early seventies their families joined them. These included mostly Hindus, Sikhs, Muslims and Buddhists as well as Christians and they settled in London, in the Midlands and the North and in the seaport towns of Liverpool and Cardiff. The immigration load of 1960s and early seventies made UK an ethnically and religiously diverse community. The idea that the immigrant would ultimately merge and become part of the host culture which was given in mid-50s was rejected. These communities develop their own cultural values. Racial tension increased and by the end of 1950s immigrants were subjected to unprovoked racist attacks. This resulted in the notion that immigration and race relations were politically controversial issues and there was a growing campaign to introduce immigration controls. Between 1950 and 1955 certain control measures were adopted to reduce the influx to Uk as the number of West Indian, Indian and Pakistani immigrants increased. But in spite of the strict immigration policy the population of immigrants is still growing Over the last decade most of the immigrants came from the Indian subcontinent or the Caribbean, i.e. from former British colonies. In 2004 the number of people who became British citizens rose to a record 140,795 a rise of 12% on the previous year. This number had risen dramatically since 2000. The huge majority of new citizens come from Africa (32%) and Asia (40%), the largest three groups being people from Pakistan, India and Somalia. This resulted in changes to the British way of life and the UK became known as a multicultural community. However, more recently the term multiculturalism is becoming a contested concept both in sociological discourse and in recent policy making. The term multiculturalism is generally thought to have arisen in Britain in a speech by the then Home Secretary, Roy Jenkins in 1966. While this term is current in the UK there are often instances where local politics can serve to exclude minority cultures while promoting the values of the dominant white culture. Multiculturalism is also a term which describes aspects of social policy. Multiculturalism is used in a number of ways which can serve either to celebrate difference or to act as a cover for what, in any real terms, is another form of enforced assimilation. It also needs to be recognized that diverse ethnic groups now consist of large numbers of people who have been born in Britain. Causes for Reduction in Peoples Moral Value and Multi-cultural Understandings of Harmony in UK 1. Materialistic Lifestyles and Lack of Religious Influences Nowdays people are inclined towards economic advancement rather than social advancement on basis of sticking to the moral values. Simplicity has been taken over by extravagent life styles and extra needs. This brings human cirlce of behavior and brings about significant impact on the entire social fabric. There is lack of religious and spiritual influences on people, and they do not tend to believe in virtues and moralities. In the The Twilight of a Great Civilization, with reference to lack of religious influences on nations and consequent emergence of immoralities, Theologian Carl Henry stated that there is no fixed truth, no final good, no ultimate meaning or purpose, and that the living God is a primitive illusionà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ it champions mysticism, occult forces and powers, communion with nature and exotic religions. This concept of illusional God is taking up roots in various sections of British society. 2. Fragmented Family Structure A dysfunctional family is detrimental to the development of an individual and usually results in low self-morale. Among the numerous factors for the deterioration of morals among the youth, such as lack of religious education and appreciation and peer pressure, a dysfunctional family were stated as the leading causes. The family is the basic building blocks of society. Abuse whether sexual, physical, emotional, or mental is a very real and crippling problem in families today. Young adults, couples and elderly struggle with anxiety, depression, panic attacks, sex addiction, abuse, incest, sleep disorders, divorce, mid-life illness, death and many more problems. The family has dramatically changed over the last 30 years. This results in the deterioration of morals, values, beliefs, priorities, and life styles. Such disjointed social systems where an individual is so aloof from family would definitely show rejection and lack of trust to other members of the society especially those from alien cultures. Lack of harmony in family structures ultimately lead to lack of harmony in multi-cultural society. 3. Disillusioned Youth Young people are taught in our schools and colleges that ethics, morals, right and wrong depend upon the situation. Some teachers and professors use the concept of Values Clarification to inculcate students that their desires represent valid moral and ethical values. Many of these people have come of age and are among our highest leaders today. Morality is vital in all areas of society. It is the critical education young people obtain that imparts ethical values that endow with lasting benefits. Todays teachings produce mixed results. Name calling and bulling due to racism is prevalent in British schools and educational systems. This causes discomfort to students from other cultures and creates sense of disharmony. 4. Negative Messages by Media Billboards, magazines, TV commercials, music videos all portray messages of sex, violence and extravagant lifestyles. Blood gore horror flicks or action packed ones are all full of images of violence. Even video games have element of adventure by infusing streaks of violence by use of guns, explosives, daggers. These channels of exposure to voilence makes us prone to being emotionally insensitive, and enhance trends of agression, anger and violence in the society. Violent and aggressive trends call up for dis-harmony amongst various segments of multi-cultural society. 5. Racist Behavior Racists do not like foreign people who live in the UK, either as immigrants or as visitors. Racist behavior is more widespread in areas where there are many immigrants or in towns where there are many international students. Racist behavior implies the use of slang expressions. The British Crime Survey reveals that in 2004, 87,000 people from black or minority ethnic communities said they had been a victim of a racially motivated crime. They had suffered 49,000 violent attacks, with 4,000 being wounded. At the same time 92,000 white people said they had also fallen victim of a racially motivated crime. The number of violent attacks against whites reached 77,000, while the number of white people who reported being wounded was five times the number of black and minority ethnic victims at 20,000. Most of the offenders (57%) in the racially motivated crimes identified in the British Crime Survey are not white. White victims said 82% of offenders were not white. 6. Hatered Flared due to Terrorist Attacks According to a report by BBC race-hate crimes increased by almost 600 per cent in London in the month after the July 7 bomb attacks, with 269 more offenses allegedly motivated by religious hatred reported to the Metropolitan Police, compared to the same period last year.  [1]  Muslim community living in Britian becomes subjected to harsh attitudes because they are all believed to be from terrorist groups. Religious leaders of Muslim groups hold the view that government and race bodies for pursuing a policy which, he claims, has alienated Muslims. These views were stated to be absurd by the Commission for Racial Equality. This rift between those representing Muslim community and the Commission for Racial Equality reflect a deep set sense of opposing views. Suggestions to Enhance Understanding and Harmony amongst Various Sections of British Society Media Propagation Media can play a vital role in promoting peace and harmony oriented messages. Role of Educational Systems Children and students should be taught respect and tolerance for other cultural and religious trends prevalent. They must be taught to tolerate and accept rather than to retaliate and reject. Students from different ethnic backgrounds should be encouraged to share knowledge about their cultural heritage, and the teacher can add the element of fun and interactive learning in the whole process, so that the students affiliate positivity with this exercise. At higher educational level, knowledge can be shared on wider platforms through tutorial, or intellectual discussions. Role of Government and Legal Bodies Fair and transparent government mechanisms, policy making, and legal framework. Human rights should be followed rigidly and justice should be available to all regardless of color, race or religion. Role of Peace Organizations Various organizations can come into play to drive peace and harmony campaigns. For example, Peace Boat has been active in the field of education for peace and sustainability through the organization of educational voyages, based o ­n lectures, workshops and study-exchange programmes both o ­nboard the ship and in ports of call. Their Global University and International Student (IS) programmes provide innovative approaches to peace and sustainability-related studies through intensive learning onboard and direct exposure to issues in various countries. Equal Opportunities and Freedom to Express Cultural Values Government should ensure equal opportunities regarding availability of basic necessities, housing, education, health care, employment should be available to all the communities and social stratas of UK. People should not feel awkward to expressing their cultural norms in anyway. Law should be made flexible to allow people to wear hijabs and veils (Muslim women), turbans (Sikhs) etc at work and educational places. Government should ensure that the performance of various religious cultural activities and festivals are not hindered in any way. Changes at Individual Level At the end of the day all these suggestions can add up to be nil if each one of us individually fails to take others as they are. Each one of us must work and evaluate our holistic approach of going about things. No one can compel us to exhibit tolerance or respect towards other communities unless we feel the need to do so within ourselves. The question might be: Why the need to change anyway? The answer: Change for a secure, peaceful and brighter tomorrow! Policy Areas to be covered by Government to Promote a Multi-cultural Society In UK 50 years ago, when for the first time the effect of mass immigration was experienced, the need for policy, political and legal changes was felt. With this the concern of the Government was to integrate and assimilate the incoming groups into host communities. Policy making is very crucial as it can help in formulating policies which helps in determining the representation which various ethnicities receives in television or press. It helps in determining the code of conduct for these communities, the dress code, and content of education, the freedom for observing religious holidays and to celebrate festivals. With the years Multiculturalism has initiated many disputes but the The UK Government has focused less on establishment of multicultural policy and more on issues of inclusion and cohesion. While it was principally ignored under Margaret Thatchers Government the success of New Labor has meant that the term has grow to be a common currency in political debate and in policy making. In 1997 the ODPM was given task for a social exclusion unit which aims to embark on research into a number of different areas. Social inclusion and cohesion are not just used in relation to diverse ethnic groups but are the basis for policy making in a number of other areas such as mental health, early years education and homelessness. Issues of inclusion cover a host of areas and can range from the numbers of ethnic minorities using childcare facilities, to those undertaking further education of some kind to increase their employment prospects. Policy making aimed at reducing inequalities in both the labor and the housing market. In order to be successful anti-racist strategies need to be multi-faceted and aimed at subjective, institutional, and structural racism. Past policies have been deficiently focused because there is no clear consensus in Britain what equal opportunity and multiculturalism mean either in ideological or practical terms. According to a Policy Studies Institute (1982) report found that in the majority of diverse ethnic communities rates of unemployment were twice as elevated among these groups as they were in the governing host group. There is a continuing disparity in terms of wages, exclusionary modes of hiring and higher unemployment rates, certain ethnic groups experience greater success in the labor market than do others. Housing policies also tend to discriminate against asylum seekers/refugees and other diverse ethnic groups. Clearly there are problems in the categorization of diverse ethnic grou ps and in present policy making, which, instead of greater inclusion sometimes tends to further leave out such groups. In the light of above mentioned scenario of policy decisions and proceedings, it is suggested that to sustain and promote a healthy Multi-cultural Society the Government should address the following policy areas: 1. Economic Policy Areas Economic policies should attract intellectual capital, trade, skilled migration, education, tourism, and science/technology. Establish partnerships between government agencies and business, industry, tourism, and education sectors to promote and maximize the economic advantages of cultural diversity and promote the State as a destination to work and live together. Develop supporting strategies for multiculturalism in international relations, tourism, trade and export areas. Develop educational and promotional activities to increase awareness of the economic benefits of multiculturalism. Develop strategies in the public sector to better capture the benefits of a diverse workforce. 2. Policies to Support Communities Policies should be developed for funding and investing in communities to further multiculturalism through research, policy development, advocacy, community awareness, festivals, services, projects and networks. Policies should be formulated in consultation with agencies and stakeholders in the community and across government on multicultural affairs. 3. Policies to Strengthen Multiculturalism in the Public Sector Government agencies should ensure that regardless of cultural and linguistic backgrounds, all communities have equal access to services. 4. Policies to Strengthen Community relations and anti-racism Policies should be designed for strengthening the sense of belonging in their local environment and in the global community. Policies should be taken up to promote positive and cohesive community relations across the whole community through a renewed community relations plan. 5. Policies to Develop Multicultural Education in British Schools Educational systems should be developed keeping in view the requirements and cultural backgrounds of students coming from various backgrounds. Methods of teaching and interaction should promote multi-cultural harmony amongst the students. 6. Policies for Equal Opportunities Policies should be developed to eunsure that people from all communities have equal access to basic necessities, housing, education, health care, and employment Transparency in Government Operations Transparency in government operations will definitely bring in good understanding between different sections of society. In principle, a basic requirement for transparency in the overall structure and functions of government is a clear demarcation of the boundaries between the public and private sectors and, within the former, between different levels of government with respect to the state enterprise sector.  [2]  Transparent government operations would mean sound government policies, administrative frameworks, finances, good governance, and overall fiscal integrity. Transparent government operations would be accountable to all the communities dwelling in the UK. It would clearly distinguish provision of rights, protection by law and facilities by the government to the people. This would cumulate a sense of justice and equality in the society and hence promote greater level of social security and harmony. Role of Public in Promoting Harmony and Understanding Public can play a major role in promoting harmony by abiding by the law and respecting multicultural policies. As discussed earlier each one of use must develop a sense of tolerance and respect for other members of the society. Public can actively participate in other communities cultural activities and not only promote a sense of harmony but also learn about other cultures. At homes parents must teach their children how to respect and deal politely with foreign children at schools. At work place, shopping malls, community centers we must learn to respect and treat all members of the community equally. *********************** REFRENCES: Giddens, A., Sociology, 2001, 4th Edition, Cambridge, Polity Press. Skellington R. and Morris, P., Race in Britain Today, 1992, London, Sage. Braham, P. Rattansi, A. and Skellington, R., Racism and Antiracism, 1982, London, Sage. The Roots of Multiculturalism, Retrieved on 21st March 2010, from : http://www.law-essays-uk.com/free-essays/multi-culturalism-in-social-policy.php Winnail, Douglas S., Moral Decline Ahead, 2002, Volume 4, Issue 4, Retrieved on 19th March 2010 from : http://www.tomorrowsworld.org/cgi-bin/tw/tw-mag.cgi?category=Magazine19item=1104106519 Daniel, Finaz and Begawan, Bandar SeriConcern over decline in moral values, February 21, 2008, The Brunei Times, Retrieved on 20th March 2010, from : http://www.bt.com.bn/en/home_news/2008/02/21/concern_over_decline_in_moral_values Racism, UK Student Life 2002-2009, Retrieved 19th March 2010 from : http://www.ukstudentlife.com/Personal/Safety.htm#Racism Racism in the United Kingdom , Retrieved 19th March 2010 from : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racism_in_the_United_Kingdom#cite_note-3#cite_note-3 Freeman, Simon, Britain urged to wake up to race crisis, The Times, September 22, 2005, Retrieved on 20th March 2010, from: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article569491.ece Muslims alienated by UK policy, October, 2001, Retrieved on 20th March 2010 from : http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/1630513.stm Tatsuya, Yoshioka and Mari, Kushibuchi, Education for Peace Sustainability, Peace Boat, Retrieved on 19th March 2010 from: http://www.peacefromharmony.org/?cat=en_ckey=240 Braham, P. Rattansi, A. and Skellington, Racism and Antiracism, 1992, London, Sage. Solomos, J and Back, L., Racism and Society, 1996, London, Macmillan Press. Modood, T. and Berthood R., Ethnic Minorities in Britain Diversities and Disadvantage, 1997, London, PSI. Multicultural Queensland making a world of difference, 2004, Queensland Government Multicultural Policy, Retrieved on 21st March 2010 from http://www.multicultural.qld.gov.au/media/maq_making_world_difference_policy.pdf Transparency in government operations, Retrieved on 20th March 2010, from: http://www.questia.com/googleScholar.qst;jsessionid=LyCV9MlnLPYpsTFdkCRBW0jF039GFrJhRMnS6WNP54VSvCvQ9M1G!144947719!-2000885492?docId=5001407337

Robert Frost Biography :: essays research papers

Robert Lee Frost, born in San Francisco, California on March 26th 1874 was named after Robert E. Lee, the commander for the Confederate armies during the American Civil War. He’s an American poet, who drew his images from t he New England countryside and his language from New England speech. Although his images and voice often seem familiar and old, his observations have an edge of skepticism and irony that makes his work, never as old-fashioned, easy, or carefree as it appears. He was one of America’s leading 20th century poets and a four-time winner of the Pulitzer Prize.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  After his father’s death of tuberculosis in 1885, when young Frost was 11, the family left California and settled in Massachusetts. Frost attended high school there, entered Dartmouth College, but remained less than one semester. Returning to Massachusetts, he taught school and worked in a mill and as a newspaper reporter. A year later he married Elinor White, with whom he had shared valedictorian honors at Lawrence High School. From 1897 to 1899, he attended Harvard College as a special student but left without a degree. In 1912, at the age of 38, he sold the farm and used the proceeds to take his family to England, where he could devote himself entirely to writing. His efforts to establish himself and his work were almost immediately successful. A Boy’s Will was accepted by a London publisher and brought out in 1913, followed a year later by North of Boston. Favorable reviews on both sides of the Atlantic resulted in American publication of the books by Henry Holt and Company, Frost’s primary American publisher, and in the establishing of Frost’s transatlantic reputation. Much of his poetry is concerned with how people interact with their environment, and though he saw the beauty of nature, he also saw its potential dangers. Frost disliked free verse, which was popular with many writers of his time, and instead used traditional metrical and rhythmical schemes. He often wrote in the standard meter of blank verse, but ran sentences over several lines so that the poetic meter plays subtly under the rhythms of natural speech. Frost listened to the speech in his country world north of Boston, and he recorded it. He had what he called â€Å"The ruling passion in man †¦ a gregarious instinct to keep together by minding each other’s business.† Frost continued to mind his neighbors’ speech and business in his volume Mountain Interval (1916), which included the poems â€Å"The Road Not Taken†, â€Å"An Old Man’s Winter Night†, â€Å"Birches† and more.

Onganozation Development Essay

Q. Describe the implementation and evaluation feedback for the project. Ans. Alegent Health(AH) conducted six large interventions. USC’s researchers contracted to assess the impact of the interventions. They wanted to make an assessment to help the organization to learn how to leverage further change. The researchers described the perception of change and the employee involvement through the data they collected. Different people and executives were interviwed who were of the opinion that the change process was actually doing well. (Cummings & Worley, 2009, edition 9, p. 201) â€Å"Overall the majority of persons believed that the DAs were a great energizer for the organization, generated comprehensive strategies and catalyzed important changes. However the strengths of the DAs were mostly felt by top management while the perception of the DAs was weak in the middle of the organization. The absence of formal change management processes made important resource allocation decisions, trade-offs on technology, and coordination of quality processes across the systems more difficult. When the DA had more community participants, there were broader participation in the discussions, the debates were more intense, and the DA stayed on track. The results from the survey data revealed that the higher percentage of physicians the result was less comprehensive on the other hand when the DA had a high concentration of community participants, the vision was more comprehensive. Overall the DA affected a variety of changes in organization either directly or indirectly. †

Harmonium and Nettles Essay

Harmonium and Nettles both highlight the theme of memory. As they both are looking back over past memories that are painful, the poems feature the feelings of being helpless in stopping the hurt that was caused. The writer in Harmonium feels remorse for the things he hadn’t said to his father as Armitage states â€Å"then mouth in reply some shallow sorry phrase or word too starved of breath to make itself heard†. The writer in Nettles is protective of the recurring threat to his child that he can’t destroy. â€Å"rain had called up tall recruits behind the shed,† this quote shows the father cannot destroy them .They differ in the way they felt powerless however as in Nettles the father is feeling powerless because of a physical threat whereas in Harmonium it is an emotional threat of the inevibility of death and unspoken feelings that makes the writer feel powerless. Furthermore they both include the reality of family life as the poems are realistic and the poems, especially Nettles, have both the love and misery of family relationships. In Nettles the love in the poem is the protective instincts of a parent towards his son but the misery is the Nettles that had hurt his child and the fact that being protective isn’t enough to stop him from getting hurt. The realistic relationship in Harmonium is the family resentment and frustration from a son to his father. We can tell that the writer resents and is frustrated by his father as it says â€Å"and he being him can’t help but say†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. and I, being me† which shows that he is frustrated at their relationship. However the Harmonium is used to describe his father so therefore his family life whereas in Nettles it is reversed. The Nettles, that had caused pain for the boy, is actually describing soldiers and war therefore the underlying message is not about family b ut about war and the underlying message in Harmonium is not about the Harmonium but about family.

How working environment can impact on motivation Essay

(A) Describe, with examples, how working environment can impact on motivation and contribute to an effective workplace in travel and tourism, covering:- * Job location In travel and tourism, the holiday atmosphere at resort contributes to a sense of well-being. Customers are happy to be on holiday and it is relatively easy to have a positive attitude to work. Whereas if you were working in a call centre where you are office bound and have to spend most of the talking to customer on the telephone. The organisation has to consider how this poorer environment can be improved so that staff remains motivated. * Working conditions and Hours of work Hours of work vary tremendously throughout the industry- some people are happy to work unsocial hours because it fits in with their lifestyle or they wish to have time off when everyone else is working. However, the overall number of hours per week should not exceed 40. * Health and safety Safety and security factors must be considered in the workplace, and legislation such as the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 must be adhered to. Specific regulations also apply where food is served or where the chemical hazards, for example in a swimming pool. All these requirements are important. For some organisations a lapse in safety procedures can mean the collapse of the business and even a prosecution. Companies that organise activity holidays for children, for example must make health and safety a priority. Health and safety is important for both customers and employees. Employees need to know that they can go about their work in a safe environment and work together to ensure their customers are safe. * Equipment and Resources Sate-of-the-art equipment and a pleasant environment are important to motivate staff. * Social event Most companies have a Christmas party or social outgoing for staff. These are useful events to create camaraderie amongst staff and build teams. * Theories of motivation The motivation and commitment of employees is key to success of a team and therefore to the company. Several theorists have come up with models of motivation. The two of that we will look at are Maslow and Herzberg. 1. Maslow Abraham Maslow was an American who in the 1940’s developed a theory of motivation. The theory is valid still for understanding how people are motivated in the workplace. Employers can use it to provide conditions that fulfil people’s needs at the different levels. Maslow theory is displayed as a pyramid because employees can only move up the levels once the lower levels are fulfilled. So, an employee can’t achieve level 4 at work if they are having problems in their personal life or working with colleagues (level 3). Similarly, if they have just been made homeless (level 1) their concern will be finding shelter not performing at work. 2. Herzberg Herzberg’s theory is also known as the ‘hygiene’ theory. Herzberg identified characteristics which make people satisfied with their jobs and those which make them dissatisfied: ‘satisfiers’ and ‘dissatisfiers’. The satisfiers are factors which give people long-term motivation and enable them to enjoy their work: * The type of work * Promotion prospects * Having responsibilities * Sense of achievement * Personal development * Gaining recognition This dissatisfiers or hygiene factors need to be operating well in an organisation but according to Herzberg do not ultimately motivate people. These are: * Salary * Working conditions * Relationships with others- colleagues and managers * Company policy (B) Describe, with examples, how working relationships can impact on motivation and contribute to an effective workplace in travel and tourism, covering:- * Management style Management is about motivating people to act in certain ways so that the team can achieve its common goal. A good manager must inform, motivate and develop the team. The four types of manager/management I will be talking about are:- 1. An autocratic manager An autocratic manager makes all the decisions and announces them to the team. This person is the boss and so has full control. The main advantage of this kind of leadership is that decisions are made quickly, as no consultation is involved. Its other advantages include:- * Where there is a need for urgent action the autocrat will take control * Some team members gain security from being told what to do. Disadvantages include:- * Team members may become frustrated at their lack of control * There may not be room for the team to express creativity * There may be over-dependence on the leaders Autocratic management belongs in a traditional hierarchical structure. 2. Consultative management With consultative management, the leader still makes the decisions but discusses them with the team. The advantages include:- * The team is informed of what is going on * Open discussion is encouraged * The manager spends time with the team The disadvantages are that the team feel involved but frustrated by having no real power. 3. Democratic management With democratic management, the decision-making is shared among the team. The advantages include:- * Ideas are encouraged from everyone * There is greater involvement and commitment from team members * The team is likely to be supportive of the leader * The team is fully informed The disadvantages include:- * Some team members may not be able to cope with being involved in decision-making * The democratic process can take too long * The leader may not agree with the decisions of the team * Powerful team members may take over 4. Laissez-faire management With laissez-faire management the team is left to sort itself out and get on with its work. The manager does not get involved and therefore is not leading the team. The advantages include:- * Highly motivated and skilled people are able to get on with their tasks * The team is empowered The disadvantages include:- * New team members will be uninformed * The team may be left with little or no direction * Teamwork Teamwork skills are essential in the workplace. You must be able to work with other people in a team even if you don’t happen to like them. A team is a group of people who are working together to achieve common objectives. Even when you are not physically with other members of your team, you can work together by contributing to a sequence of activities with a common aim. If you were working as a resort representative in Spain, you would still be working in a team with colleagues in head office in the UK. 1. Team roles Good teams achieve synergy; that is, together they can achieve more than the members could individually. More ideas, energy and resources are generated as a group because:- * The team solves problems and makes decisions together * The team focuses on the priorities, with everyone working towards the same aim * The team provides a sense of belonging and a sense of status * The team provides a support network Not everyone in a team is the same- each person has their own strengths and weaknesses. If each person had the same weaknesses, the team could not work; there needs to be a balance of skills. A method of recognising individuals’ strengths and weaknesses is needed in order to build an effective team. The management expert R.Meredith Belbin has outlined nine team roles necessary for a successful team. One person can represent more than one role, as most people have strengths in more than one area. Belbin’s roles:- > Chairperson/ co-ordinator = The group leader, likely to be relaxed and extrovert, also likely to be a good communicator. They will build on the strengths of team members and give them encouragement. > Plant = The ideas person in the team, a person who is creative in looking for solution to problems, but not always good at details, and so may make careless mistakes. > Shaper = The task leader, who unites ideas and effort. Needs to be dominated and extrovert in order to make things happen. > Monitor/ evaluator = The team analyst, who is not so good at ideas but pays attention to details, thus keeping the team directed towards its target. > Implementer = The organiser of the team, who is able to make the ideas of the plant and shaper and turn them into manageable and realistic tasks. A practical, stable and disciplined person. > Resources investigator = The person who is outgoing and will explore and report on ideas and developments outside the group; is sociable and enthusiastic and good under pressure. > Team worker = A very people-oriented person, sensitive to others’ needs. The team worker has good communication skills and will be good at motivating other. A natural mediator, who will deal with any conflict within the team, this person is very good to have around in a crisis. > Finisher = A person who sticks to deadlines and likes to get on with things. Will probably be irritated by the more relaxed members of the team. > Specialist = This person is single-minded and a self-starter and provides knowledge and skills in specialist areas each of Belbin’s roles acquires a different level of important according to the objectives of the team and the stage in the team’s life. 2. team development Formal teams are part of the structure of an organisation and are planned in order to meet that organisation’s objectives. The formal team will follow rules and regulations and may meet on a pre-arranged schedule and complete administrative procedures. Examples in travel and tourism includes sales teams and marketing teams Informal teams work within or outside formal teams. They are sometimes based on personal relationships between members rather than on work roles. When you complete group work for assignments, you often choose the colleagues you wish. You choose to work with people you like and ones you know will be as committed as you are to the work. This is an informal team. There are several theories of team structure and development, which will help you to understand the effectiveness of teams. Bruce Tuckman (1965) identified four main stages of team development:- * Forming – at this stage, team members form their first impressions of each other and establish identities. They are sounding each other out and finding out what is expected of them. * Storming- the team members have, by now, become more used to each other. Members are prepared to put forward their ideas forcibly and openly; they are also prepared to disagree and so there may be some conflict and hostility. * Norming – the team now begins to establish co-operation. Conflict is controlled, views are exchanged and new standards introduced. * Performing – the team is now working together; it begins to arrive at solutions and achieve objectives. There can also be a fifth stage, called ‘adjourning’ or ‘mourning’, where the team has disbanded and the members miss being part of the team. * Job roles and lines of responsibility An organisation chart shows the structure of the company and how the work is divided into different areas. It also shows the lines of responsibility between staff, so that it is apparent who is responsible to whom. An employee studying a chart will find the possible promotions routes. The chart may show a hierarchical structure or line relationship. This is a very traditional structure and shows a chain of command with each person responsible to the person above them. It is sometimes referred to as a pyramid structure. Many organisations today would be depicted in a chart with a flatter structure. There are fewer layers of management, and each manager has a broader span of control. Restructuring of organisations often involves getting rid of middle managers, hence the flattened structure. * Channels of communication Open communication must be encouraged and ideas should be freely expressed in the workplace. There should be trust and support between team members. An effective leader can encourage good communication and shape the way the team works. * Verbal Verbal communication is the process of sending and receiving messages with words, including writing and there are different ways a person can do verbal communication 1. Telephone 2. Word of mouth 3. Video conference 4. Face to face 5. Presentation 6. Walkie-talkie 7. Meetings 8. Bluetooth/ headset (mobile phone) 9. Radio 10. Sign language * Written Written communication guarantees that everyone concerned has the same information and it provides a long-lasting record of communication for future such as 1. Books 2. Brochures/ leaflets, newspaper 3. E-mail 4. Text (written + electronic + verbal) 5. Fax (written + electronic) 6. Notice boards 7. Minutes of meetings * Electronic Electronic communication means any method used to convey a message that has been transmitted via electronic means such as e-mail, video conferencing, radio, TV, mobile phone, internet, fax etc. * Equal opportunities Legislation exists to ensure that personal receive equal opportunities and that there is no discrimination. The arts of parliament that you should be aware of are:- * Race relations Act 1976 This act makes discrimination on racial grounds unlawful in employment, training, education and the provision of goods, facilities and services. The two main type of discrimination involved in this Act are:- 1. direct discrimination:- discrimination against colour disability, citizenship 2. indirect discrimination:- discriminating a racial group * Sex discrimination Act 1975 This act makes it unlawful to discriminating against someone on the ground of gender, marital status, Gender reassignment or sexual orientation. The act was updated in 1986 to remove restrictions on women’s hours of work and then it allowed women to take h=jobs with flexible hours. This act not only covers discriminations in the workplace but in job advertisements and interviews. * Disability discrimination act 1995 This act makes discrimination against people with disabilities unlawful in respect of employment, education and access to goods, facilities, services, and premises. Employers are required to make reasonable adjustments to accommodate people with disabilities. Examples include providing specially adapted keyboards for arthritis sufferers, facilitating wheelchair access and relocating people with limited mobility to the ground floor. * Equal pay act 1970 This act was introduced to address the problem of women being paid less than men for the same work. It allows employees to claim equal value in terms of demands made on them, such as effort, skills and decisions made. There is also an EU Directive that state that for the same work or work of equal value, sex discrimination must be eliminated in all aspects of pay. * Other forms of discrimination Discrimination at work is a very serious issue and can result in large amounts of compensation being awarded following successful tribunals, not to set up policies to ensure that the workplace is free from discrimination. Measures to be taken include:- 1. Setting up a comprehensive equal opportunities policy covering all aspects of discrimination 2. Training staff in discrimination legislation and on how to implement the equal opportunities policy 3. Setting up complaints procedures for instances of discrimination * Employment rights act 1996 When someone gets a job they can aspect to receive a contract of employment. This is a legally binding agreement between the employer and the employee. Under the Employment Rights Act, the employer must give the employee a written document including the following information, in writing within 2 months of starting work:- 1. Name of employer and employee 2. Date employment began 3. Rate of pay and interval of pay 4. Hours of work 5. Holiday entitlement and pay 6. Job title and brief description of duties 7. Place of work 8. Notice entitlement and requirements 9. Sick leave entitlement and sick pay 10. Pension and pension scheme 11. Disciplinary procedures and grievance producers 12. Date of end of employment it fixed term 13. Additional details about working aboard if appropriate. * Notice board After one month of continues employment an employee is entitle to one week of notice if the employment ends. After 2 years’ employment they are entitle to 2 weeks’ notice, after 3 years, 3 weeks’ notice and so on. After 12 years the legal maximum 12 weeks’ notice is reached. A employee must also give notice of leaving to an employer. After one month of continuous employment, an employee must give a minimum of one week’s notice. Employees are entitled to normal pay during notice periods as long as they are working or available for work. * Redundancy Redundancy pay is calculated according to the employee’s age, length of service and salary. Employees can claim for unfair dismissal if they suspect: 1. There is no real redundancy 2. They were unfairly selected for redundancy Dismissal is treated as redundancy if the whole business is closing or a particular job disappears or requires fewer employees. An employer may offer alternative employment. If the employee unreasonably refuses it they are not entitled to redundancy pay. * EU Directives on hours and pay The European Working Time Directive was enacted in the UK through the Working Time Regulations 1998. This lays down the following: 1. A maximum 48-hours week, averaged over 17 weeks 2. at least 4 weeks’ paid annual leave 3. a weekly rest period of at least 24 hours in each 7-day period 4. a daily rest period of at least 11 consecutive hours between each working day 5. an in-work rest break of 20 minutes for those working hours or more per day Some sectors are excluded from the regulations; one of theses is transport. * National Minimum Wage Act 1998 This Act provides workers with a minimum hourly rate below which their wages will not fall. Those who work part time benefit most, because they are often badly paid. The Low Pay Commission advises the Secretary of State on the value of the minimum rate. A special lower rate applies to 18-to 21years-olds. * Maternity and paternity leave The Employment Relations Act 1999 provides for basic rights for maternity leave. There are three periods of maternity leave. Ordinary maternity leave is for a period of 18 weeks which coincides with the period for statutory maternity pay. This applies to all employees. Compulsory maternity leave extends to a period of 2 weeks after the birth; the employer must not permit the woman to return to work during this period. Additional maternity leave follows immediately after the original 18-weekperiod and must end within 29 weeks of the birth. Employees with at least one year’s service with an employer are eligible for the additional maternity leave. Under the same Act there are provisions to allow parents 3 months’ leave in order to care for a child. This is intended to be taken before the child is five. It is intended to be available to men and to women, in addition to maternity leave. Paternity leave is available to men to: 1. Have or expect to have responsibility for the child’s upbringing 2. Are the biological father of the child, or the mother’s husband or partner 3. Have worked continuously for their employer for 26 weeks ending with the fifteenth week before the baby is due. Eligible employees can choose take either 1 week or 2 consecutive weeks’ paternity leave (not odd days) * Statutory sickness pay An employer must pay Statutory Sick Pay to employees who become sick and who normally earn at least à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½79 per week. After 28 weeks, Incapacity Benefit or Income Support must be claimed instead. * Grievance and disciplinary procedures These must be included in the employee’s written statement or contract, or at least there must be a reference to where they can be found. Disciplinary producers deal with such maters as warnings to be given before dismissal. Warnings might arise from the following:- 1. Lack of capability or qualifications-although the employer has a responsibility to give training 2. Misconduct-which includes habitual lateness 3. Gross misconduct (for example, assault or theft) leads to instant or summary dismissal. Grievance procedures deal with complaints by employees who are not satisfied with aspects of their employment. Employees must be given the name of a person to whom a complaint can b made and should be informed of right of appeal. * Investors in people Investors in people is a UK quality standard development in 1990. Those companies who gain the award have proved that they invest in the training and development of their staff. This is beneficial to employees and also to customers and suppliers. The standard for Investors in people is based on four key principals: 1. Commitment from the top to develop all employees 2. Regular review of training and development needs 3. Taking relevant action to meet those needs throughout people’s careers 4. Evaluating training and development outcomes for individuals and the organisation in order to continuously improve These principals are subdivided into 24 indicators of effective practise, and the organisation provides evidence for assessment against the indicators. Once the organisation gets the award it is entitled to display the Investors in People logo on company literature. * ‘Buddies’ and mentoring Mentoring schemes are growing in popularity. They offer employees a one-to one relationship with a mentor, someone with greater experience and a willingness to listen and advice. The mentor and the mentee meet regularly and discuss aspects of the mentee’s job, such as career development. The mentor does not act as a line manager or superior and is never judgemental, but acts as a sounding board and is able to offer ideas and a different outlook on work issues. The Hilton hotel chain runs a mentoring scheme for its staff at all levels. Its purpose is to support staff in their career development. Mentors at the Hilton chain are often colleagues of the mentees doing similar jobs, which departs from the traditional model. All of the mentors have had mentoring training. Some companies have similar, but sometimes less formal, schemes where a new member of staff is given a ‘buddy’ as a source of information and help. * Job security Many contracts today are fixed term, especially in areas such as visitor attractions. This means that the period of employment is not indefinite but lasts for a period of months or a year or two. The reason for such contracts is flexibility for employers- they can lose staff on fixed contracts at the end of the period without penalty. However, such contracts are demotivating for staff as they worry about their future income and job prospects. C) Describe with examples, how incentives can impact on motivation and contribute to an effective workplace in travel and tourism including: * Remuneration Remuneration means how much you get paid. You would imagine that this is very important as a motivator. In fact, it is an important factor in attracting people to a company but research shows that it is not the most important incentive. * Performance related pay Bonuses are often based on overall profits and awarded to all employees- usually performance related. * Incentive scheme An example of an incentive scheme could be a competition that staff are invited to enter. The competitions may be based on generating new ideas within the company, or how to boost sales, customer satisfaction or commissions on sales. * Discounts Discounts may be given on holidays or travel for those working in the industry. Many who work in travel and tourism receive cheap travel, perhaps by going on standby if they work for an airline or by going on fact-finding trips to a destination if they work for a travel agent. * Holiday entitlement In the UK employees can expect around 4 weeks’ paid holiday per year. In the public sector more holiday is often given, but this may be balanced against lower pay. * Pension schemes A good pension scheme can act as an incentive for many people who are concerned about security in retirement. * Perks As a perk, employees in the travel and tourism industry are often provided with a uniform. They may get to travel or live aboard and be paid to live there. They may be provided with a company car. * Opportunities for promotion and progression Many employees need a challenge and if they are in the same position, doing a job they find easy, they may become bored and less efficient. Thus, opportunities to move on and face new challenges are an important incentive. Opportunities may arise within an organisation and good people are quickly promoted. You may wish to let it be known that you are interested in progression and ask to be sent on relevant training courses and conferences. D) Described, with examples, how training can impact on motivation and contribute to an effective workplace in travel and tourism including: * Training Those employers who wish o ensure an effective workplace will offer ongoing training and development to staff. There are several benefits to organisations add to their workforces. Training can: * Improve individual performance * Improve team performance * Allow staff to be better informal * Equip staff to deal with change and emergencies * Make for a more flexible workforce * Improve morale * Allow managers more time to manage through delegation of other tasks. * Induction training Employers have to provide instruction and training to ensure health and safety, and this is usually a part of induction training. The induction is the first stage of training and is given to new employees; it is important as new employees need to be made welcome and become effective in their work as quickly as possible. Induction covers: * The nature of the job * Introduction to the workplace and to staff * The lines of responsibility * Facilities such as toilets, lockers, canteen * Health and safety basics * Training opportunities * In-house training Large companies offer their own in-house training and may even write their own materials. These training courses are very beneficial as they are tailor- made to meet the needs of the company. * External courses Thousands of external courses are available. These may be specific to travel and tourism or other professional qualifications in areas such as marketing or human resource management. They may be offered by colleges, by travel associations or by private companies. Companies may allow individuals or groups to attend such courses. Some may be long term, leading to advanced qualifications, so a great deal of commitment is required on behalf of the individual.