Piracy Off Coast of Somalia Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Piracy Off Coast of Somalia - Essay Example The Northwestern region of Somalia declared themselves independent in 1991 and in 1998 the Northeastern region established the Puntland State of Somalia. (Ould-Abdallah, 2008). In 2002 local leaders in Baidoa also established a Southwestern State of Somalia. Background shows that before 1990 piracy was not a serious problem on the coast of Somalia. There were a few small incidents with fishing boats, leisure craft and ships, but nothing serious. However, in the 1990s a more organized form of piracy was seen in armed groups attacking vessels claiming to be Coast Guards protecting territorial waters of Somalia. This form of piracy expanded in 2000 to any seafaring vessels that came within or even close to Somalia’s territorial waters. The pirates boarded the vessels and held both ship and sailors hostage for ransom. (Ould-Abdallah, 2008). Interestingly, the pirates are not concerned with cargo or reuse of the ship; they are only concerned with obtaining the ransom. The ships are sailed to one of the bases where the pirates can obtain supplies while demands are being communicated. Since the pirates are armed, it is very difficult to attempt a rescue. The process is very open and they feel very secure that the ransom will be paid to bring the hostage situation to a safe conclusion. (Ould-Abdullah, 2008). The following research information deals with what is going on now, why we are involved, the costs, United States policies, and possible alternatives. Why Piracy in Somalia: Somalia is ravaged with social upheavals, human hardship and environmental challenges. Piracy has become a way to make quick money that is more appealing than any other means of income. There is some risk involved, but the benefits have shown to outweigh the risks. There have been few arrests and fewer injuries suffered by the pirates. (Ould-Abdullah, 2008). The country suffers from poverty, unemployment, environmental drawbacks, and low incomes. There have been lost resources due to dro ught and illegal fishing as well as security and political issues that allow piracy to continue in Somalia. Until someone comes up with a better solution for income generation and the pirates are dealt with more severely, it will continue. It is important to note that the pirates firmly believe they have every right to attack illegal vessels that are in their territorial waters. They feel that their fishing resources are being stolen daily by vessels from Europe and Asia. This has been going on for years; however, nothing has been done about it internationally. Therefore, the Somalia pirates believe their actions are warranted to control the injustice. (Ould-Abdullah, 2008). â€Å"Some pirates have claimed they act as a de facto coast guard, protecting Somalia from illegal fishing and dumping of toxic wastes.† (Minter; Volman, 2009). However, most will admit that they do it for the financial gain, even though some used to be fishermen. In the article by William Minter and Dan iel Volman in June 2009 they contend that piracy alone will not likely provoke U.S. intervention even if U.S. citizens are captured. Most of the captured hostages have been from the Philippines and other developing countries. The shipping companies see the ransom as minor expenses compared to the economic situation worldwide. (Minter; Volman, 2009). In an article by Mark Doyle in 2006 he states that the problem is generally off the long eastern coastline of

Elements of Gothic Literature Essay Example for Free

Elements of Gothic Literature Essay Gothic literature was born in 1764 when Horace Walpole published The Castle of Otranto, which is considered to be the first gothic novel ever written. Gothic literature was originally written as a reaction to the age of reason, order, and the politics of eighteenth-century England. Containing anti-Catholic sentiments and mythical aspects, Gothic literature explored the tension between what we fear and what we desire. The stories were usually set in some kind of castle or old building that showed human decay and created an atmosphere of mystery and suspense. Often, one of the main characters would be some sort of damsel in distress, threatened by some man. The words chosen in these novels and short stories were very descriptive, creating overwrought emotion and often, feelings of gloom and horror. Also, within the plot, some sort of ancient prophecy, along with omens and visions, could usually be found. The most important elements to the structure of canonical gothic literature, however, are supernatural and unexplainable events. In The Castle of Otranto, much of the plot surrounds one unexplainable incident: a giant black helmet falls on Prince Conrad, thus killing him. Because of Prince Conrads death, Manfred, his father, captures a passing peasant, Theodore, and pursues Isabella, Conrads fiancee. Later, it is learned that Jerome (the minister) is Theodores father. If the helmet had never fallen on Conrad, Manfred never would have stopped Theodore, and Jerome would never have found his long lost son. Manfred, still believing that Theodore is guilty of dropping the helmet by sorcery, is ready to execute him. At this point in the story, Isabellas long lost father appears, which halts Theodores execution. It is later learned that Isabellas father found her because a dream he had led him to a monk, who led him to Otranto. The supernatural event here is the dream, which turned out to forecast reality. He accuses Manfred of not being the rightful ruler of Otranto. Eventually, everything is confirmed when the giant version of Alfonso the Good that has been living in the castle (another mysterious incident) breaks through the walls and proclaims Theodore the natural heir of Alfonso and the rightful ruler of Otranto. The Ruins of the Abbey of Fitz-Martin, whose author remains anonymous, also has a similar dependency on a chain of supernatural events. Sir Thomas Fitz-Martin acquires an abbey, which he finds in ruins. He is certain it can be repaired, so he and his people venture inside. Upon exploring the abbey, Fitz-Martin opens a door with difficulty, only to be met with severe shrieks from inside that particular room. Later in the story, the superstition surrounding those screams is explained. Evidently, every night, the ghost of St. Anna can be seen walking up to the altar. She stays there until midnight, and then walks to the south tower. She screams three times, and the ghost of the evil Baron, who possessed the abbey years before, comes. Then, Anna chases him with a fire-brand in one hand and a dead baby in her other arm. The two ghosts eventually come to the Barons old room, where dismal yells and dying groans can be heard from. Fiery lights surround the Barons old room until the clock that hasnt been touched in years strikes two, or sometimes three oclock. This story of supernatural occurrence strikes the curiosity of Rosaline, Sir Thomas Fitz-Martins daughter, who then decides to go investigate the south tower. When she does, she finds the torture chamber where they killed St. Anna so many years ago. She is debating whether or not to go in, when she hears a voice commanding her to enter. She feels almost possessed, as the voice tells her to reach inside the coffin. When she does, she pulls something out and takes it with her, fleeing in terror. It is the supernatural phenomenon of this voice that brings in St. Annas story, which is written on the papers with which Rosaline fled in terror. The Vampyre by John Polidori casts an interesting slant on the element of supernatural events. The entire story is a supernatural event because Lord Ruthven is a vampire, a supernatural creature. Before this is revealed to the reader, however, there are important unexplainable events that allude to his being a vampire and are of utmost importance to the story. It is the mystery of Lord Ruthvens appearance that first attracts Aubrey to him, and thus begins the story. Aubrey wants to get to know him better, hopefully to  understand the enigma of his demeanor. They leave on a trip together, and Aubrey notices that Lord Ruthven is extremely charitable. He also notices, though, that Lord Ruthven always gives his money to the scoundrels of society, those who will piddle away the charity pursuing their vices. Then he realizes that all who receive money from Lord Ruthven end up far worse than they were before the charity. Although Aubrey cannot explain this, it intrigues him and makes him wonder if there isnt a spark of evil in Lord Ruthven. Some time later, Aubrey receives letters from his sister and his guardians. The letter from his sister is very loving, but the letter from his guardians bears only bad and mysterious news. They tell him that his traveling companion is pure evil, that all the women at home that he wooed because of their virtues, have now come forth and shown that they are tainted, and pursue their vices publicly. The people of their town find this unexplainable and very unnerving. He was suspicious of Lord Ruthvens evil before, but upon reading the letter, Aubrey decides that he must leave Lord Ruthven for the remainder of the trip. Aubrey travels to Greece, where he stays with a kind family and falls in love with their daughter, Ianthe, although he does not act on it. It is here that he learns the legend of the vampire. One day he goes to a place to research, and they tell him to be back before dark because of the vampire. He loses track of time and it is soon dark. He hears a scream and runs toward it. He finds a hut, and picks up a dagger that is inside. However, he is too late. Ianthe was murdered by the vampire. Aubrey falls into a fever and Lord Ruthven returns to him and nurses him back to health. Soon after this, they are attacked by robbers and Lord Ruthven is wounded. He dies, but makes Aubrey promise to him that he will not speak a word of his death. When Aubrey goes back for Lord Ruthvens body, it is gone, and the robbers tell Aubrey that they had to put it in the moonlight the first night of Lord Ruthvens death. They go to where they left the corpse, but it has mysteriously disappeared. Aubrey decides that it is time to go home. On his way home, he goes through Lord Ruthvens things and finds a shaft that matches the dagger he found in the hut exactly. This confirms for Aubrey  that Lord Ruthven is the vampire. When he arrives home, his sister holds a drawing-room. Here, Aubrey is snatched by the arm and told to remember his oath. Aubrey is dumbfounded because Lord Ruthven is supposed to be dead, but here he is, pursuing his sister. This drives him into a terrible fever. During this fever, he figures out that his sister is engaged to Lord Ruthven and fears for her. He tries to stop the wedding, but everyone thinks that he is crazy and dismisses him. His sister is killed at the end of the story. The fact that Lord Ruthven is a supernatural creature accounts for all of the supernatural events and the entire story. If he was not a vampire, his demeanor would never have attracted Aubrey initially, and Aubrey never would have gone traveling with Lord Ruthven. Had Aubrey not gone traveling with him, he never would have discovered that Lord Ruthven was a vampire, and gone crazy. If Aubrey had not gone crazy, he would have been able to stop the wedding and save his sisters life. Supernatural and unexplainable events are crucial to the plot of a gothic story. Often, they act as the backbone of the plot and many of the circumstances and coincidences rest upon them. In The Castle of Otranto, they act as the coincidence drivers as well as supply some of the omens and visions, another element of gothic literature. They bring the real story to the surface in The Ruins of the Abbey of Fitz-Martin, and provide the foundation for the story in The Vampyre. Without the element of supernatural and unexplainable events, much of the canonical gothic literature would not stand on its own.

Things Fall Apart Essay examples -- English Literature Essays

Things Fall Apart An African man, Chinua Achebe, wrote the novel, Things Fall Apart, at the age of 26. The story portrays his theme of life, when one thing stands another stands beside it. The main character, Okonkwo, lead a somewhat complicated life. As it began, it was ruled by courage and strength, but he chose to end it with a weak escape from every challenge he had ever been given, suicide. As his life began he was given nothing. His father, Unoka, was a disgrace to Umuofia. He was extremely lazy, and more in debt than anyone could even remember. Okonkwo worked extremely hard for everything he had ever had in his possession. He began his fame at a very young age, as a wrestler. His victory with Amalinze, the cat, was the beginning of his successful life. He harvested all of his crops alone, with no help. He was a strong and courageous warrior, as well as leader. When the Priestess of Agbala took his daughter, Ezinma, he followed behind, showing that he cared. This also counteracts the fact that, â€Å"He had a slight stammer and whenever he was angry and could not get his words out quickly enough, he would use his fists.† (Achebe 4) He was known for his fiery temper, which on occasion acted out unnecessarily. On one instance he beat his wife, Ojiugo, merely because she didn’t have his food ready. In the outcome of an ultimatum with Mbaino, Umuofia was give n a young boy, Ikemefuna. Okonkwo took care of Ikemefuna for three years, but when Ezeudu said, â€Å"That boy calls you...

Comparing the Use of Setting in The Shawl and The Portable Phonograph E

Use of Setting in "The Shawl" and "The Portable Phonograph"  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚   In literature, setting is often used to enhance or develop characters, provide realism, and create a mood or atmosphere for a story (Roberts 256). Two short stories, "The Shawl" by Cynthia Ozick and Walter Van Tillburg Clark’s "The Portable Phonograph" explore victims of war in the vivid settings that the authors have created. Although both works are vague as to geographic setting and place in time, the authors’ detailed descriptions of the character’s surroundings envelop the reader and lend an air of authenticity to the tales (Kauvar 180). "The Shawl" and "The Portable Phonograph" differ in their treatment of symbolism and characterization but their ingenious use of setting to create a theme unites these two stories. "The Shawl" and "The Portable Phonograph" both open with intense, haunting descriptions; Ozick shocks readers with her portrayal of "the Holocaust in searingly vivid sensory impressions" (Watson 892) and Clark dedicates his first three paragraphs to describing a desolate, war torn plain devoid of almost all life. Clark immediately creates a sense of a dangerous, foreboding world, describing a "sensation of torment" that "arose from the stillness of the earth air beneath the violence of the upper air" (Roberts 260). The reader is left with an impression, filled with detail, but moreover, overflowing with emotion. "The Shawl" and "The Portable Phonograph" contain objects that are critical to the stories and to the mental states of the characters contained within. In the former story, the Rosa believes the shawl protects her baby from the horrors of the Holocaust, the scrap of cloth provides her with hope that the next generation wi... ...rough their thoughts. The settings in these two stories act as more than simply a backdrop for a tale, they are used "to create meaning, just as painters include backgrounds and objects to render ideas" (Roberts 255).    Works Cited Kauvar, Elaine M. Cynthia Ozick’s Fiction: Tradition and Invention. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1993. Magill, Frank N. ed. Critical Survey of Short Fiction, Vol. 2. Pasadena: Salem Press,1993. Roberts, Edgar V. and Jacobs, Henry E. Literature: An Introduction to Reading and Writing. Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall, 1998. Sheehy, Gail. Spirit of Survival. New York: William Morrow and Co., 1986. Stine, Jean C. ed. Contemporary Literary Criticism, Vol. 28. Detroit: Gale Research Co., 1984. Watson, Noelle, ed. Reference Guide to Short Fiction. Detroit: St. James Press, 1994.   

Job Enrichment Essay

The cost of not applying this people-oriented philosophy is that workers become unmotivated, and dissatisfied which leads to low productivity and quality and high absenteeism and turnover rates. The average turnover rate in the building service industry is more than 100 percent. This means that if you have a crew of 10, you will have to hire more than 10 new people over the course of a year just to maintain your crew. You will spend a lot of time filling in for the employees who quit, adjusting work schedules, training replacements and answering a thousand questions from people who don’t have the authority or the knowledge to make decisions on their own. High turnover in the industry is even more significant for another reason: It means that we aren’t doing our job well as supervisors and managers. All levels of management must know how to work with people. Compensation and the work itself are factors, but management certainly shares responsibility when a worker quits. Study after study shows that workers can be motivated to work hard if they are involved, given responsibility and recognized. Job enrichment is one way to accomplish this. The Case For Job Enrichment Most employees are trying to reach the economic level at which their basic needs for food, shelter, health care, job security and the like will be fulfilled. Usually less fulfilled but equally important, are the employee’s intangible needs for knowledge, achievement and general self-satisfaction. These higher-level needs can be fulfilled only through work that is personally significant or meaningful to the employee. Meaningful work not only improves the motivation of employees and serves their human needs, but also increases their productivity and the overall effectiveness of the organization. 10 Meaningful work: ⠝‹ Involves employees in the identification and solution of problems that affect them and the organization. ⠝‹ Provides employees with the feeling – not the pretense – that they are personally contributing to the organization. ⠝‹ Provides employees with the opportunity to do the work they do best. If employees are performing meaningful work, they are highly involved in solving work problems that touch them personally and they share in the planning, organizing and controlling of what they do. With this comes increased understanding, achievement and stimulation, which combine to boost motivation and the organization’s effectiveness. One of the most effective ways to make work more meaningful is through vertical job loading or job enrichment. It goes a long way toward ensuring that the job satisfies people’s higher level needs and that employees are motivated to greater performance. Job enrichment can reduce turnover and give supervisors more time for work that cannot be easily delegated. Taking the time to build in motivators can result in increased job satisfaction and much smoother operations for your company. The argument for job enrichment can be summed up quite simply: If you have people on the job, use them. If you can’t use them on the job, let them go. If you can’t use them and you can’t let them go, you will have a motivation problem. Principles Of Job Enrichment Job enrichment is essentially a structured system of increasing employee responsibility and authority through effective, welldirected delegation. However, it is important to remember that only responsibility and authority can be delegated; accountability cannot. With that in mind, let’s look at the five principles of job enrichment. Principle 1: Remove controls. The first principle of job enrichment is to remove some controls while still retaining accountability. As dis- BSCAI Services Magazine November 2005 cussed above, the supervisor must always retain accountability but can remove or lessen some of the controls on subordinates when they are ready for it. Obviously, this can’t be done with employees who have just started on the job. If it is, they’ll be overwhelmed and confused, and the results will be disastrous— for them and for their supervisors. But it can and should be done when the employee is ready for it. Example 3. A lead person with a particular knack for training is made an on-the-job trainer. Example. When a cleaner has completed an initial training period, the supervisor checks on his work less often, perhaps weekly instead of nightly. Vertical Versus Horizontal Loading In this example, the employee has achieved a certain level of expertise. That achievement is recognized, not just with words, but also with actions. The fact that some controls are being removed demonstrates confidence in the employee. It increases the employee’s responsibility and control over his or her own work, and that improves motivation. Principle 2: Assign a complete natural unit of work. The second principle of job enrichment is to assign employees a complete project—a complete natural unit of work—whenever possible. Doing this increases their sense of accomplishment. They can see the results of their own work more clearly. It increases their accountability for that work and fosters pride in a job well done. Example. A cleaning team is given complete responsibility for everything within their area. Of course, the employees must see these as positive changes, and be interested in making them. Assigning new or specialized tasks recognizes some special ability in an individual employee, and it provides an opportunity for growth and advancement. One warning: It is important to distinguish between vertical job loading and horizontal job loading. Job enrichment involves vertical loading, or increasing the importance of the job upward. Horizontal loading merely increases the amount of work required without providing for growth and more responsibility. Here are some examples of horizontal job loading: ⠝‹ Rotating the assignments of a number of jobs that need to be enriched. This means general office cleaning for a while, then restrooms, then trash removal, etc. ⠝‹ Removing the most difficult parts of the assignment in order to free the worker to accomplish more of the less challenging assignments. ⠝‹ Challenging employees by increasing the amount of production expected. If the employee cleans 4,000 feet a night, see if he or she can clean 5,000. Principle 3: Give employees additional authority. The third principle of job enrichment is to give employees additional authority and freedom. Whenever possible, people should be given the authority to make decisions about their own work. Example. An experienced work crew is given responsibility for inspecting their own work. Obviously, the additional authority has to be realistic and consistent with the person’s job, and the person has to be ready for it. This is different from just piling on more work. It is giving the person some new authority and responsibility because he or she has demonstrated competence in other areas. This gives people recognition and a sense of achievement, and that again improves their motivation. Principle 4: Make reports directly available. The fourth principle of job enrichment is to make periodic reports available directly to employees rather than just to their supervisors. Example. Inspection reports are given directly to the crew responsible for cleaning the area. Again, this lets employees know that they are important. It gives them recognition, keeps them informed, and gives them direct feedback on their performance. Principle 5: Assign new or specialized tasks. The last principle of job enrichment is to assign people new or specialized tasks, enabling them to become experts. Example 1. A general cleaner is trained to become a floor machine operator. Example 2. An employee is given responsibility for quality control for an entire account or series of accounts. Circle No. 11 on Free Inquiry Card November 2005 BSCAI Services Magazine These examples of horizontal job loading do nothing to make a job meaningful and should be avoided at all costs. They actually reduce the employee’s personal contribution rather than providing an opportunity for growth within the job. In confusing horizontal for vertical loading, supervisors and managers often merely enlarge a job’s meaninglessness instead of enriching it. Developing A Job Enrichment Program Whether or not you apply these job enrichment principles depends on you and the people who work for you. While nearly everyone needs recognition and a sense of accomplishment, not all employees want more challenging work, additional responsibility, and a chance for advancement. Some workers may be meeting their higher level needs off the job, they may have other needs entirely, or they may simply lack the ability. Other employees, though, will have the potential and desire for more. They may need to be coached because of fear or a sense of inadequacy or they may need to be prodded because of a lack of ambition. But they should be encouraged to take advantage of opportunities, if they have the potential to better themselves and the company. For those employees who have the potential and the drive to move up, managers and supervisors have a responsibility to provide opportunities for further training and advancement. According to Steve Garcia, CBSE, of SMI Facility Services of Albuquerque, New Mexico, job enrichment begins when the employee is hired. The employee needs to feel that his or her employment is not a dead-end job. It should be explained to him or her that the goal of the company is to train, develop and promote employees.   And, notes Garcia, it is important that the company follows through with this process. â€Å"In most cases, company training involves learning only how to clean, which is fine, in the beginning, but I think shortly thereafter it should go a step further by teaching employees how to inspect, how to interact with customers and how to train new employees.† â€Å"Imagine telling your cleaner that you will be stopping by tonight to review an inspection report he has filled out himself,† he continues,â€Å"I think you will find in most cases the facility will meet or exceed the expectations of the company and the customer. Your employee will also feel his role with the company is more than just a janitor. He will realize he plays a key role in the entire process.† In addition, Garcia believes job enrichment allows a company to have a pool of well-qualified, loyal employees, which can move into higher positions within the company. Approach these jobs with the positive attitude that they can be changed even though years of tradition may have led managers and supervisors to believe that the content of the jobs is unchangeable. Get Employee Input Once the jobs are selected, the next step is direct participation by the employees whose jobs are to be enriched. Get a group of workers together to develop a list of changes that may enrich these jobs. They will be a valuable source of ideas and their participation will help ensure the success of any changes. Do not be concerned about the practicality of their suggestions at this time. Just generate a list without getting sidetracked into discussions about how they could be implemented. Once the list is complete, you and the group should screen the list to eliminate suggestions that involve dissatisfiers rather than actual motivation. (You may want to implement changes that eliminate dissatisfiers as well, but right now your focus should be on job motivators.) You should also screen the list to eliminate any horizontal loading suggestions. Be sure suggestions are specific and concrete. Generalities, such as â€Å"Give us more responsibility,† are very difficult to implement and are virtually meaningless. You want things you can carry out and measure or observe in some way. For example:The work team will inspect their own work nightly and the supervisor will inspect weekly. This actually gives the team more responsibility but in a specific, defined way that can be implemented and observed for its effectiveness. Use direct participation by the employees whose jobs are to be enriched. They will be a valuable source of ideas and their participation will help ensure the success of any changes. Implement The Program Once the job enrichment program begins, there may initially be a drop in performance. This is because changeover to a new job or way of doing things can lead to a temporary reduction in efficiency. But don’t lose faith! If the above steps are taken and the principles of vertical job enrichment followed, your employees will be motivated to achieve the growth and self-fulfillment they need and want. Clearly, job enrichment takes some work. It has to be built into a job. That takes some time and effort at the beginning but like good training, it will pay off with more motivated employees who are willing to work hard and capable of working independently. Ultimately that means improved motivation and job satisfaction. Select The Right Jobs The first step in putting job enrichment into practice is to select those jobs as candidates for job enrichment that meet the following criteria: $ Current attitudes are poor Motivation will make a difference in performance Changes will not be too costly This article was excerpted from the Building Service Management Program Volume Three – Motivation And Training. The program is a multi-volume training course that covers the technical aspects of cleaning and maintaining buildings as well as the management skills required in an increasingly complex and demanding industry. For more information on the program, contact BSCAI’s Information Central at 1-800-368-3414 or visit www.bscai.org go to the on-line store and click on publications. BSCAI Services Magazine November 2005

revolutions of 1848 essays

revolutions of 1848 essays The revolutions of 1848 occurred in almost every country of Europe. The revolutions left all of the countries involved wondering why it had happened and just exactly what it was that had happened. People were revolting against the extensive government control that dominated their lives. The people who determined the laws of a constitutional monarchy were virtually all nobles and upperclassmen. The people wanted to be represented equally so that they would not be treated unfairly concerning matters such as taxes, punishments, and employment. The revolutions of 1848 were not successful in the fact that nothing good came of them, but they were successful in the sense that some changes were made in favor of the revolutionists. The goals of the revolutionaries of 1848 were to get better lower-class representation for the peasants. They were tired of being treated so poorly when they were the ones that supported the country the most of all classes. The first hint of a revolution being near was the period of famine that racked Europe in 1846. The prices of grain were driven up due to its dearth. The famine of Europe affected everyone, including the poor, workers, employers, and investors. Likewise, people all over the continent were crying out for a more democratic nation. The people of Europe began to revolt, following the example set by the French Revolutionists and the revolts in Poland in 1846. They demanded freedom of speech and freedom of assembly, saying that both were inalienable rights of men. Parisians protested against their governments repressive acts. The people of Prussia were building barricades in Berlin as a way of protesting their government. There were protesters all over Europe trying to get away from repressive matters and unequal opportunities for employment and government offices. Very few of these issues were changed with all of the revolts. One thing that the revolts did create was the creation of a gap...

Case Analysis-Zenith Essay Example

Case Analysis Case Analysis-Zenith Essay Case Analysis-Zenith Essay Case Analysis Zenith In the case, the situation is that Zenith Electronics Corporation considers marketing research to forecast demand for a new technology, High Definition Television (HDTV). Zenith’s previous marketing research methods and the alternative forecasting plans are described in the case. Zenith is a company that has been played successfully in TV industry and has done marketing research previously for its various products. Its previous marketing research is based on the historical data such as previous technology trends. However, there is no historical data for HDTV since it is a new technology. So, Zenith first think about other information such as Color TV’s penetration rate to know if HDTV adoption would be similar to any other product’s adoption. And the company looked at how marketing plays a role in forecasting demand for HDTV. Zenith formed a marketing team to better do research on consumer’s acceptance and demand for HDTV. The marketing team first decided to do the Aspect Ratio Study to see if customers really want the HDTV’s wider screen which is 16:9 even though it costs premium of $300 and broadcasters would still produce 4:3 aspect ratios. This study is to find the customers’ preference as price changes, program content changes, and diagonal size changes. For this study, marketing team recruited participants who have bought TV in past year from the shopping mall in a single city. Survey was conducted as a paired-comparison conjoint methodology. Participants are exposed to the situation to choose one over the other one in two options. And they are also asked to display their various measures of preference like overall preference. The way this study is conducted is well related to the main objectives. Because HDTV’s 16:9 aspect ratio is inevitable feature, it is important to first make sure if customers are satisfied with this feature despite of various changes. In this study, researchers will look at how customers would react toward different price level for this wider screen TV. So, from this point, Zenith can find out if it can make profit and if customers are willing to pay premium for HDTV. Also Zenith considered different circumstances such as customers might still get 4:3 signals in their 16:9 aspect ratios which results side-curtained display. By making the study situations like the one can happen in real world, researchers can get more accurate and reasonable data from the study. As looking at this research technique in the other side, there are some possible shortcomings or errors in the Aspect Ratio Study. The place where participants would be recruited is limited. They would be selected from a shopping mall only in a single city. Because the place is limited to a single city, there is possibility the data would be not accurate and would not work for other cities. As another potential error in this study is that the result data would not be a very detailed or useful to forecast actual demand for HDTV. Because this is just a repeated comparison of two options and making choices, customers might not have enough time to be sure they actually want one option. Overall result may indicate how customers make trade-offs and customer preference. However, in real world, there isn’t always the situation of choosing one thing over another one. There are countless options of values to choose for customers. Besides this Aspect Ratio Study, five other alternative plans to consider are described in the end of the case. First one to consider is Dealer Research. This technique would be helpful to understand dealer’s concerns and to build up a good relationship with dealers. But my critique is that customers might be skeptical towards dealers even though this research would help controlling the sales channel to influence customers in retail stores. Zenith also considers Secondary Source Research as another option. This research is attractive in a fact that it could be done immediately. However, because HDTV is a very new technology, it would not be accurate to forecast the growth of HDTV industry by using historical data on all other electronics. For rest of research plans’ biggest shortcoming is the time. HDTV innovators and qualitative research on early adoption could be placed in next year. Also for this research, it only aims for innovators and early adopters. So there is possibility that data would not reach customers after them. And HDTV/NTSC-TV preference test can also be done in next year. This study actually needs to have a working model of HDTV. So it might be more effective. However, developing the program for the study might cost a lot. As a last alternative, HDTV consumer awareness/†halo effect† survey is the most time-consuming study. This can be done only after HDTV is introduced in the market. So, there is a risk of failure or a possibility of negative impact on company when they actually launched HDTV production. If the introduction isn’t effective enough, it would be very high-cost to do this survey.

Jordanians and Palestinians in the West Bank Essay Example

Jordanians and Palestinians in the West Bank Essay Example Jordanians and Palestinians in the West Bank Essay Jordanians and Palestinians in the West Bank Essay This paper contains a discussion of the West Bank settlers paticularly, the Jordanians and Palestinians. The similarities and differences of the two cultures in terms of their practices and ideologies as well as their beliefs were delved into. An analysis on how the two cultures co-exist in the area despite its history of their fight for power over the West Bank is also provided. The paper also discusses on the conquest of the Israeli forces over the area and the effects of their occupation to the Palestinians and Jordan settlers in the West bank as well as their present economy. Jordanians and Palestinians Living the Test of Times at the West Bank West Bank, is a southwestern Asia territory that bound by the Jordan territory in its eatern portion and Israel on its north, south and western portions. It is geographically placed seen on the western bank of the Jordan river. This territory was once part of Palestine but was formally annexed by Jordan in 1950. Jordan ruled the area until 1967 and during its rule, it granted full citizenship to Palestinians who were then living in the area (Encarta online encyclopedia, 2007). The armies of Syria, Egypt and Jordan engaged into a six day war with Israel, in 1967. The Arab armies were defeated and Israel took control of several territories occupied by Syria, Egypt and Jordan and such included the West Bank. In 1988, Jordan ceded to the Palestine Liberation Organization all territorial claims to the West Bank, however, this did not do much because Israel also tried to establish its rule over the area. Israel imposed its laws in the West Bank governing the Palestinians in the process (Encarta online encyclopedia, 2007). The Israeli government introduced various reforms and improvement in the area, however, not all of these reforms benefitted the West Bank inhabitants. The Israeli built roads for their exclusive use only, the Palestinians were prohibited from utilizing it. The Palestinians also tried to establish their claim over the West Bank against the Israeli government. The clash on the establishment of power in the West Bank, led to bloody uprisings. It was only through a peace convention in 2006 that Israeli government agreed to retreat its forces in the area   (Encarta online encyclopedia, 2007). Majority of the population in the West Bank are Palestinian Arabs and 10 percent of the population in the area are Christian Arabs. Agriculture is the primary economic activity of the people because of the lack of more fruitful economic ventures in the area. Most of the job opportunities can be found on neighboring Arab countries like Israel. The currency that are ciculating in the area are the Israeli new sheqel and the Jordanian dinar. The dialects in the West Bank are similar to the Jordanian dialect (Encarta online encyclopedia, 2007). According to a Time magazine article, the Jordanian rule of the West Bank was more palatable for the Palestinians than the rule of the Israelis because they share the same culture. The Israelis were like robbers who took the Palestinian culture away from them. However, this does not mean that the Palestinians accepted the Jordanian rule with open arms. The two groups also had their share of uprisngs in the quest of both parties to retain power over the West Bank area. The Jordanian government invested heavily on the West bank even if this was already under the Israeli control because it had the aim of recovery. The investment made by the Jordan government on the area somehow uplifted the economy in the West Bank, however, this positive standing in the economy did not last long as other wars and uprising ensued thus, crippling the areas available resources (Encarta on line encyclopedia, 2007) The Palestinians in the West Bank are the original settlers of the area. They were the original heirs of the West Bank before it was occupied by various conquerors, among them were the Jordanians and the Israelis (Encarta on line encyclopedia, 2007). Based on culture and practices, the Palestinians and the Jordanians are almost similar. In terms of religion, both are attached to the Muslim faith. Majority of the Palestinians and Jordanians are Sunni Muslim, the largest sect in Islam. Others practice different religions such as Christianity, Jewish and the other Muslim sects (every culture, n.d.). For the Palestinians and the Jordanians, the role of women is basically to produce children and tend the household needs, they are not expected to work beyond the house and perform the duties of a man. Rarely is a woman perceived to be of equal rank as that of a man especially in the olden days. It is only recently that the women are allowed to perform other roles besides the tending the house needs and the children. Many women now are part of the workforce and are even doing mens job. This shift of ideology was not because of cultural influence from the West but because of the dire need for women to take these roles. Life is economically difficult in the West Bank and all efforts must be contributed to find work and provide food for the family (every culture, n.d.). Aside from these similarities, the two cultures also share the same belief in terms of courtship and marriage. They do not adhere to the Western style of dating and courtship. Their beliefs dictate that the man and the woman should have associated with each others families before they should enter into a romantic relationship. Courtship does not mean entering into a simple relationshipit means marriage (every culture, n.d.). Marriage is an important rite of passage for both cultures. They usually celebrate this with a feast catering 200 to 2,000 guests. A similar kind of celebration is also undertaken whenever a child is born, especially if the child is a baby boy. The Joradanian society has a higher regard for boys than girls. The Palestinians share the same ideology (every culture, n.d.). It is also the practice of the Jordanians to build houses that are several stories high; this is in preparation for the marriage of their sons. The sons who marry take their wives to the family home and live on one story of the house. The women take charge of the cooking   as well as the household chores while the men do not contribute any effort to the household works as they are prohibited by their culture from engaging in such activites. The Palestinian men also do not do houesehold chores. They have high regard for gender roles and distinction of the sexes (every culture, n.d.). People from both cultures are also very hospitable. They do not allow their visitors to bring anything, they provide for all the needs and the guests are expected to consume all that they serve. People from both cultures are also very formal and conservative, as compared to the Western people (every culture, n.d.). Most of the Jordanians and Palestinians also have a very good educational background. There is a great number of them who have attended school in universities and finished college degrees. However, those who are in the West Bank do not have very good jobs because there are only a few high paying jobs in the region. Most of the educated serve in   Israel where there is a higher pay offered and in nearby Arab countries which have better economies. These Muslims, however, do not hold high positions in the countries that they work for because the priority are the local inhabitants. Aside from these they are not also given the same salary as to that   of a local employee who hold the same position; they receive a lower salary. This practice can be attributed to the fact that the Israelis look lowly to the inhabitants of the West Bank, which happens to be a part of their conquered state until 2006 (every culture, n.d.). Among the dissimilarities in the culture of the Jordanians and the Palestinians is their heritage. The Jordanians have a country of their own- Jordan whereas the Palestines do not have a territory that they can call their own. The Palestinians are displaced and most of them are refugees in different Arab countries including Jordan. The Palestinian territory in 1947 was divided by the United Nations into two- the Palestinian state and the Jewish state. The Palestinian Arabs who comprised sixty-five percent of the population then did not agree of the partition plan and as a result thereof, a war ensued. The Palestinian Arabs lost in the war   while the Jewish state successfully established Israel in 1948. The Palestinians tried to establish their power in the area but they were not successful. This failure has led to poor stature of the Palestinians in the present day (Encarta online encyclopedia, 2007). The water scarcity in the area also contributes to its poor economic standing, it lacks better resources that could provide for the needs of the people. The various uprisings and the surge for power in the area is also a factor. Instead of concentrating on enriching their economy, the Palestines are busy fighting for their right to rule their land from the Israelis. The Israeli government played hard in giving up the West Bank leadership as compared to the Jordanian government which ceded its interests to the Palestine Liberation Organization. This cession of interests may have been a factor for the co-existence of the Jordanians and Palestinians in the area. Another factor may have been the fact that the Jordan government houses many of the Palestinian refugees in their country and their sharing of similar religious belief and culture. The fact that majority of both cultures adhere to the same Muslim sect is a great factor. They do not have a clash of ideologies as compared to Christians and Jews who have great disparities in their principles and the ideologies that bind them. In addition, the Palestinian culture in the West Bank also have a great influence from the Jordanian culture because of its conquest of the area for nearly seventeen years and the curriculum that the education system in the West Bank region follows   is patterned after the Jordanian curriculum. This type of curriculum may have been a factor in building a smoother relationship between the two cultures because they get to have a deeper understanding of each   others beliefs and background. However, it must be noted that not all those who have Jordanian citizenship in the West Bank are really Jordanians. Many of those who hold such citizenship are Palestinians who have been living in the West Bank before the Palestinian National Administration came to power (Encarta online encyclopedia, 2007). References Microsoft Encarta online encyclopedia (2007). â€Å"West Bank†. Retrieved April 22, 2008, from   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761557747/West_Bank.html Microsoft Encarta online encyclopedia (2007). â€Å"Modern Palestine†. Retrieved April 22,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   2008, from http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_701844116/Palestine_Modern.html Every Culture (n.d.). â€Å"Jordanians†. Retrieved April 22, 2008, from   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   everyculture.com/wc/Japan-to-Mali/Jordanians.html Every Culture (n.d.). â€Å"Palestinians†. Retrieved April 22, 2008, from   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   everyculture.com/wc/Germany-to-Jamaica/Palestinians.html Every Culture (n.d.). â€Å"Culture of Palestine, West Bank and Gaza Strip†. Retrieved April 22,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   2008, from everyculture.com/No-Sa/Palestine-West-Bank-and-Gaza-  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Strip.html Time magazine (1978, June 19). West Bank: The Cruelest Conflict. Retrieved April 22, 2008,   Ã‚   from time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,919757-1,00.html

Human Health Risk Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Human Health Risk - Essay Example The Safe Drinking Water Act calls for security plans of water systems utilizing groundwater sources. The process involves in protecting the surface area above an aquifer from contaminations infiltrating into the groundwater (http://www.lenntech.Com/groundwater /contamination.htm#ixzz0XC smocST, retrieved 18 Nov. 09). Pure water comprises of indispensable chemical constituents of water. Drinking water generally contains a certain quantity of minerals, which it gets from its source, storage conditions, treatment, supply, and household plumbing system and their conditions. These minerals and components mostly take place at very low degrees and do not present a major risk to human or animal health (http://earthsci.org/teacher/basicgeol /groundwa/groundwa.html, retrieved 20 November 2009). A broad range of chemical compounds can lead to contamination of groundwater if released to the underground environs. They are organic and synthetic compounds, inorganic compounds, like pesticides, and other pollutants. Since drinking water arrangements obtain their water from groundwater origins so if the source is polluted then naturally the drinking water is also contaminated (http://earthsci.org/teacher/basicgeol /groundwa/groundwa.html, retrieved 20 November 2009). Groundwater is in constant motion; even though the rate of its movement is normally slow than the water movement in a stream. The reason behind the slow motion is that the ground water has to pass by the complex passages between open spaces inside the rock. Initially the groundwater moves down as a result of the pull of gravity. Groundwater can also move up as it flows from high-pressure regions to low pressure regions (http://earthsci.org/teacher/basicgeol/groundwa/groundwa.html, retrieved 20 November 2009). The chemical contamination mentioned above is known as "point sources" of water contamination. Chemical pollution in water will have the same effect as that of any other kind of

Business operation & system Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Business operation & system - Essay Example Contrary to few decades ago, nowadays, operations managers are enjoying a noteworthy status and importance in the companies; however, at the same time, they are confronting the pressure of ensuring efficiency and efficacy in different processes of the business. In particular, this report is an attempt to identify and examine different aspects of operations management while utilizing case study of an organization that will enable a comprehensive understanding of different strategies and techniques of operations management that will be beneficial for huge number of organizations globally. Business of Choice As mentioned earlier, the report includes a case study that will make it easier to understand the importance of operations management in an organization. For this reason, the researcher has selected ‘Tesco’ (Humby, Hunt & Phillips, pp. ... Contrary to other organizations, Tesco has not only been able to tolerate the adverse impact of global recessions and economic booms but one can observe significant expansion and development in its outlets and centres that is one of the major reasons of its success in the British, as well as global market. For this reason, the Tesco has been the choice of this report that will include its different processes, infrastructure, and activities to carry out the process of scrutiny in the context of operations management. (System Diagram of Tesco’s Retail Store) From this introduction of Tesco, the company does not stand less than a legend in its field as it has been successful in surviving with success for so many years since its establishment in the year 1919. Due to such long success story, Tesco has remained in focus of critics and business experts (Humby, Hunt & Phillips, pp. 15-46, 2007) since a long time, and everyone is always looking for the magic formula of Tesco that has enabled the company to survive, as well as achieve success during recessions as well. Once again, contrary to usual organizations, Tesco has put no efforts in hiding its magic approach, and has been discussing it everywhere, calling it ‘Tesco’s way’ (Humby, Hunt & Phillips, pp. 41-77, 2007). While analyzing Tesco’s way, it is an observation that it is nothing but an efficient application and implementation of operations management’s strategies and methodologies that have facilitated the organization to achieve success in the field. In particular, integration of technology with trained staff, and amalgamation of infrastructure with efficient planning in different

The Relationship between history, theory, and doctrine in the Essay

The Relationship between history, theory, and doctrine in the evolution of military tactics - Essay Example Military Tactic and Strategy Military tactics are the means and art of which an organization of army employs techniques and weaponry to defeat the enemy during battle (Clausewitz, 1832). It is the lowest level of military planning, followed by operational, and encompassed by the highest level which is military strategy. Military strategy has evolved to mean more than war time but now encompass even peace time and the strategies involved to prevent war itself (Lider, 1981). Previously, Clausewitz (1832) defined military strategy as â€Å"the deployment of the battles as the means toward the attainment of the object of war,† (12). Hart (1980) also re-joined with his description as â€Å"the art of distributing and applying military means to fulfil the ends of policy,† (page) both of which imply armed violence. However, it is also notable that strategy meant more that the use of armed violence but covered policy, political, economic, ideological and techno-scientific means of nations in pursuit of victory (Lider, 1981). Earle (1944) included in military strategy even activities of peacetime to encompass non-military factors of economic, psychological, moral, political, and technological aspects to become an art of controlling all the resources of a nations and its allies to secure vital interests against enemies, perceived or otherwise. It integrates all military efforts and policies as a â€Å"grand strategy† for peace and war time. War is the object of which should be prevented or prepared for in peacetime. Osgood (1962) also defined military strategy as â€Å"nothing less than the overall plan for utilizing the capacity for armed coercion – in conjunction with the economic, diplomatic, and psychological instruments of power – to support foreign policy most effectively by over, covert and tacit means,† (5). Third definition of military strategy included both the means and the ends so that it uses the entire state power o r its aggregate potentials to attain the whole or majority of its political goals (Lider, 1981). Holloway (1979) added in the grand strategy all elements of a society’s power to support its security objectives with the main one being the prevention of â€Å"the loss of our way of life† (19). Principles of Military Tactics There are a variety of military tactics employed in battlefield. One of them is the United States’ Army’s version which trains soldiers of the following: Simplicity in a tactical plan maintains simple concept and execution where failure points are avoided. Direct tactics can make other people understand fully their actions and the part of others. This will aid them in contributing to the success of a maneuver. Surprise will keep the enemy wondering and can be employed using subtle appearance in urban self-defense, stealth and deception in battlefield, or any daring action which is least expected by the enemy camp. Speed is doing as fast as possible whatever is needed and be ready for the next long before the enemy has time to react on the first. Security considers safety at all times with its rear and flanks to keep the enemy from doing what the combatant wants to do to them. Violence of action will destroy the will of the enemy to fight (Curahee, 2008) The principle of military tactics also cover the main objective, which is a particular aim such as disengagement from an advancing enemy or maintaining movement through protection of advancing troops. Principles also employ various practical tactics that include

Vessel electrical Distribution system Assignment

Vessel electrical Distribution system - Assignment Example These are vessels that apply complicated operational systems as extra precaution against accidents and that also needs effective management system, even employing well-tested computer software for electricity distribution and communication. Great example of modern large vessels are cruise ships, commercial and industrial ships and tankers, military ships, pipe layers, and drill, which have complicated electrical distribution systems with multiple generators, distribution boards, and significant essential services located throughout the vessel. The type of distribution system needs a power management system which is responsible for the automatic start/stop control of the generators, loads, and all interconnections inside the distribution ring. A ring-main configuration provides at least two power sources for each essential component. Electrical distribution and control systems become problematic sometimes due to the growing number of consumers and distribution units. In this scenario, we must be able to provide detailed attention on the complex distribution and control systems and a focus on the special operation and reliability. Working on these systems requires a collaborative effort as this is a real challenge for engineers and technicians. The crew who will operate need proper training. The worldwide shortage of qualified technical personnel affects the marine industry and superimposes the human factor on the operation issues. Engineering activities during the design of large distribution systems include the use of new modern tools, software packages, and often dynamic simulation analysis, all of which can lead to an increasing number of errors. One particular problematic area is the application of converters, which are related with so-called harmonic distortion. Converters need filtering equipment, which are quite expensive. Multiple installation or

Using case law critically assess the concept of characteristic Essay

Using case law critically assess the concept of characteristic performance in Article 4(2) of the Rome Convention (Rome 1) - Essay Example ution of the terms of the contract which is the main feature of the contract , has , at the juncture of signing the contract , characteristic performance will be decided with his routine domicile, or ,in the case of a company or any incorporated body , its head administration office. Nonetheless, if the contract is carried mainly in the ordinary course of their profession or trade, then the country shall be the country where the chief place of business is located or as per the terms of the contract, the execution of the contract is to be carried out from a place of business instead of chief place of business, the country in which the other kind of business is located.† Article 4(5) of the Rome Convention provides an exception to the rule 4(2). It provides that Article 4(2) will not be applicable if the distinguishing feature cannot be evaluated, and the assumption in the paragraph 2 shall be overlooked if it seems from the background in its entirety that the contract is more intimately linked with another nation. It is to be observed that Rome 1 varies from the Rome Convention as regards to the contract of carriage. In general parlance, the complicated and supple system under the Convention has been replaced by a system with a stern choice of law regulation and with a thin escape clause in Rome I. Where the parties have not consented on the place of delivery, the applicable law under Rome 1 will be, it is advocated, to be concluded under Article 4(2), where the nearest connection litmus test would be extended under the convention. Rome 1 which offers a selection of the law system for contracts of carriages with certainty at the cost of flexibility offered under the Convention. (Ferrari & Ferrari 2009:108). Article 4(2) of the Rome I Regulation uses the stipulation of â€Å"characteristic performance, â€Å"stating that: â€Å"Where the features of the contract would be covered by more than one of the points detailed in (a) to (h) of paragraph or the contract is not

Vessel electrical Distribution system Assignment

Vessel electrical Distribution system - Assignment Example These are vessels that apply complicated operational systems as extra precaution against accidents and that also needs effective management system, even employing well-tested computer software for electricity distribution and communication. Great example of modern large vessels are cruise ships, commercial and industrial ships and tankers, military ships, pipe layers, and drill, which have complicated electrical distribution systems with multiple generators, distribution boards, and significant essential services located throughout the vessel. The type of distribution system needs a power management system which is responsible for the automatic start/stop control of the generators, loads, and all interconnections inside the distribution ring. A ring-main configuration provides at least two power sources for each essential component. Electrical distribution and control systems become problematic sometimes due to the growing number of consumers and distribution units. In this scenario, we must be able to provide detailed attention on the complex distribution and control systems and a focus on the special operation and reliability. Working on these systems requires a collaborative effort as this is a real challenge for engineers and technicians. The crew who will operate need proper training. The worldwide shortage of qualified technical personnel affects the marine industry and superimposes the human factor on the operation issues. Engineering activities during the design of large distribution systems include the use of new modern tools, software packages, and often dynamic simulation analysis, all of which can lead to an increasing number of errors. One particular problematic area is the application of converters, which are related with so-called harmonic distortion. Converters need filtering equipment, which are quite expensive. Multiple installation or

Has Americas foreign policy been successful in the Middle East Research Paper

Has Americas foreign policy been successful in the Middle East - Research Paper Example The foreign policy of America represents the ways of interacting with different overseas nations of the world along with setting standards for interacting with the individual citizens, corporations and organizations. The prime goal of the US foreign policy is to establish a secure, prosperous and democratic world, which would serve beneficial for the people of America and others as well as who belong to various international countries. In this context, the US has separated foreign policies for the Middle East countries that determine its relation in terms of carrying out effective trade and foreign relations with the same. The strategic interest of the US over the Middle East countries is the major reason behind the formulation and the execution of the foreign policies. Justifiably, Middle East nations have huge deposits of oil and therefore acquiring this product is the main strategic interest of the US. The US foreign policy for the Middle East gained its significance after the end of World War II. During the Cold War, the American foreign policy aimed at preventing the anti-communist regimes of Soviet Union towards the Arab countries (Dow Jones & Company, 2015). However, after the attack of 9/11 in the year 2001, the US foreign policy started concentrating on addressing and mitigating anti-terrorism related activities (Johnson, 2015). The US possesses diplomatic relations with different Middle East countries apart from Iran, as this nation once went with anti-American regime in the year 1979 (Chomsky, 2010).

Branches of Psychology Essay Example for Free

Branches of Psychology Essay Abnormal psychology is the area that looks at psychopathology and abnormal behavior. 2. Behavioral Psychology (Behaviorism) )Is a theory of learning based upon the idea that all behaviors are acquired through conditioning. 3. Biopsychology It is focused on the study of how the brain influences behavior is often known as biopsychology. 4. Cognitive Psychology Focuses on internal states, such as motivation, problem solving, decision-making, thinking and attention. 5. Comparative Psychology Comparative psychology is the branch of psychology concerned with the study of animal behavior. 6. Cross-Cultural Psychology Branch of psychology that looks at how cultural factors influence human behavior. 7. Developmental PsychologyThis branch of psychology looks at development throughout the lifespan, from childhood to adulthood. 8. Educational PsychologyBranch of psychology concerned with schools, teaching psychology, educational issues and student concerns. 9. Experimental PsychologyBranch of psychology that utilizes scientific methods to research the brain and behavior. 10. Forensic PsychologyForensic psychology is a specialty area that deals with issues related to psychology and the law 11. Health PsychologyIt is focused on how biology, psychology, behavior and social factors influence health and illness. 12. Personality PsychologyIt is focused on the patterns of thoughts, feelings, and behavior that make a person unique. 13. Social PsychologySocial psychology seeks to explain and understand social behavior and looks at diverse topics. 4. Sports psychology Is a interdisciplinary science that draws on knowledge from the fields of Kinesiology (human kinetic) and Psychology. Mathematical psychology   Is an approach to  psychological  research that is based on mathematical modeling(mathematical concept and language) 16. Clinical psychology Clinical psychology also promotes adoption, adjustment and personal development. 17. Evolutionary psychology This looks at how human behavior has been affected by psychological adjustments during evolution. 8. NeuropsychologyStudy the structure and function of the brain in relation to clear behaviors and psychological processes. 19. Occupational psychology Study the performance of people at work. 20. Integral psychology  Branch of psychology that presents an all-encompassing holistic rather than an exclusivist or reductive approach 21. International  or  global psychology Is an emerging branch of  psychology  that focuses on the worldwide enterprise of psychology in terms of communication and networking. 22. Legal psychologyBranch of psychology  involves  empirical,  psychological  research of the law, legal institutions, and people who come into contact with the law. 23. Media psychology Seeks an understanding of how people perceive, interpret, use, and respond to a media-rich world. 24. Systems psychology Branch of both  theoretical psychology  and  applied psychology  that studies  human behaviour  and  experiencein  complex systems. 25. Theoretical psychology  It is concerned with theoretical and philosophical aspects of the discipline of  psychology.

Anthropomorphism in Disney Movies

Anthropomorphism in Disney Movies In the Disney world, not only can inanimate objects become alive, but life is expected of them. (Field, 1945:57). The depiction of animals and objects has played an important role in the world of Disney and is central to its oeuvre. The relationship with nature has become the source of inspiration, taking one back to the fantasies in which imagination and reality merge together to create a divine cosmos where animals speak, plants and trees act consciously and inanimate objects feel emotion. Disney transports us to a universe free from time and space, where one can retain their lost youth and enter a place of adventure harping back to an imaginary world only a child can behold. Disney successfully endows animate and inanimate objects with energy of their own, associating them with human nature, suggested by their profile or purpose: Here everything becomes so splendidly relative- a beetle lumbering along with heavy self-importance becomes a great big fellow and immediately assumes the role of some diminutive little creature darting about with playful determination to outwit the others stupidity What, for instance, is to an enlightened soul more obvious than an insect orchestra? And for instruments? Well, why were flowers shaped like trumpets? (Field, 1945:56) To relate to the animal world is an impulse that has occurred throughout history, first recorded in hieroglyphics and ancient Palaeolithic cave paintings most notably the Lascaux caves which depicts the everyday occurrences and encounters between the species of human and beast in their natural surroundings and environment, preserving history. From a historical perspective, the use of anthropomorphism has been apparent within entertainment for centuries in particular vaudeville, but mostly through illustration. Illustrative literary sources have proved widely influential to animated film acting as a vehicle to enhance form and style. Artists such as Ernest Griset, John Tenniel, Honorà © Daumier and Arthur Rackman previously interpreted animals in their work and the Disney animators praised their ability to caricature society and human behaviour. Titles such as Aesops Fables and the Fables of Jean de La Fontaine were illustrated by J.J Grandville and later by Gustav Dorà © with many well known fables and follies being re-used in Disney. The story-telling aspect of animals that possess the power to talk, comment and become intertwined with human characteristics compliment a fable creating a timeless contribution to literary tradition. It is important to protect and renew these stories as they continue to be popular and act as a bridge between young and old. Robin Allan notes that as humanity has become less dependent on animals for its day-to-day life, this century has seen an increase in the anthropomorphic impulse, from Beatrix Potter in the nineteen hundreds to Kermit the Frog in the nineteen eighties (Allan, 1999:20). Over time, animals have progressed from being regarded as work animals to being ones of domestication, bestowed with quasi-human qualities. Disney was intrigued by the miniature worlds of insects and animals and aspired to seek out the understandings of character and personality in order to perfect movement believably, exaggerating the traits and features of humans and creating a likeness to a persons appearance. Disneys concern with the caricature urged him to study personality because for him, it was the action that held great importance. Disney summarised in 1935: The first duty of the cartoon is not picture or duplicate real action or things as they actually happen, but to give a caricature of life and action. The point must be made clear to the men that our study of the actual is not so that we may be able to accomplish the actual, but so that we may have a basis upon which to go into the fantastic, the unreal, the imaginative and yet to let it have a found of fact, in order that it may more richly possess sincerity and contact with the public I definitely feel that we cannot do the fantastic things based on the real unless we first know the real. (Disney, cited in Watts, 2002: 108) There is a huge amount of emphasis on the elements of a picture being not a mere representation but an individual that can step out of the page, talk to you and be alive. What became known as hyperrealism meant that each character became more aware of their bodies, encompassing its own personality in which the illustrators must learn and understand; Mickey is not a mouse, but a person. The story crew will psychoanalyse each character, and from each mans suggestion will evolve on paper a character with defined proportions and mannerisms (Hollister, 1994: 26). Walt Disney encouraged the study of movement through the establishment of an art school. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (David Hand et al, 1937) focused more on fantasy, with endearing little animals, however in Bambi the artists had to get closer to nature, and were trained in animal locomotion and anatomy with live animals being brought into the studio and artists being sent out on field trips to zoos and the natural environme nt (De Roos, 1994: 56). By observing traits and mannerisms of the living and combining it with animal characteristics, artists could also look deeper into the action; unearthing mood, personality and attitude, to create a character that would be adored by the spectator in which Steven Watts describes as personality animation (Watts, 2002: 108). This style of animation became a trademark for Disney and allowed figures to enjoy freedom from restraint. Sergei Eisenstein, Soviet filmmaker and theorist likens Disneys work with totemism, in which humans have an embedded spiritual affinity with animals or plants: In Disneys works animals substitute for people. The tendency is the same: a displacement, an upheaval, a unique protest against the metaphysical immobility of the one-an-forever given. Its interesting that the same kind of flight into animal skin and the humanization of animals is apparently characteristic for many ages, and is especially sharply expressed as a lack of humaneness in systems of social government and philosophy. (Leyda, 1988:33) Animals are represented as spiritual beings, linking them closely to the world of humans, but their natural detachment and own sense of personal worldliness creates a barrier. Referring back to the plasmaticness of the animated form, Eisenstein focuses on the metaphorical role of the animal story in which the animals renounce authority. During the era of the American depression, the theme song, Whos Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf? from the short Three Little Pigs became an iconic anthem. David E. James discussed Eisensteins views on Disneys early work: Disneys films were then a lyrical, limitlessly imaginative revolt against the disciplinary regimes of the capital, against the big grey wolf who in America is behind every corner, behind every counter, on the heels of every person especially those of the working class. (James, 2005: 271) There is an emphasis on the importance of cartoons and animated animals being able to liberate humanity from the woes of life, representing a certain freedom and acting as a vehicle to make statements be it political or cultural. The concept of the real gave animation the possibilities to explore and expand the peripheries of fictional space. Eisenstein explored the appeal of the plasmatic and the flexibility of animals and objects with the ability to change and reanimate at will. The very ideaà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦of the animated cartoon is like a direct embodiment of the method of animismà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦And thus, what Disney does is connected with one of the deepest traits of mans early psyche (Leyda, 1988: 129). Eisenstein focuses on Merbabies (1938) in which animals substitute for other animals, in this case fish are substitutes for mammals; An octopus with four legs, a fifth as a tail, a sixth as a trunk. This is a reconstruction of the worldà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦according to fantasy. You tell an octopus: be an elephant, and the octopus becomes an elephant. You tell the sun: Stop! and it stops (Leyda, 1988: 3). Sergei Eisenstein was overwhelmed by Disneys appeal and his mastery, with his ability to perfect technologically but also to understand the inner psyche of human thoughts, feelings and ideas. Eisenstein believed that these hand drawn cartoons were a metaphor for human liberation, reviving the passion and everlasting power of youth when people still aspired to become whatever they wish (Leyda, 1988: 21). As the world had to endure the oppressions of daily life, cartoon shorts acted as a popular art form, filled with gags and comedic performances by animals acting as a comic relief and morale-raiser-in-chiefà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦The cartoon animal could always bounce back (Wells, 2009: 13). The Disney narratives establish a moral paradigm that offer a fairy tale happy ending with the victory of good over evil, whilst still having to struggle with trials and tribulations along the way. This classic formula presented by the Disney Studio allows an anthropomorphic animal to engage and communicate with the viewer with narratives symbolic of the unavoidable vicissitudes humans have to endure in life. Wells demonstrates this: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦characterised by initial establishing of spring or time of new birth or community ritual, normally followed by a rupture in this apparent calm and continuity, prompting a new journey. The character finds new friends, and through adventures, trial and suffering, overcoming major challenges, resolves any schisms and overcomes. Community is restored, main character completes journey and is advanced spiritually and practically. (Wells, 2009: 124) Through anthropomorphism, animation uses the act of performance by animals to challenge how we perceive ourselves. Through Disneyfication, the Disney films address a family audience, combining visual pleasure with mature themes whilst still entertaining and educating. Paul Wells suggests there is a moral ecology within the Disney narratives. For example in Bambi, its assumedà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦that wild animals inhabit a moral universe and that people would do well to emulate the innate morality- the natural law- of the wild (Wells, 2009: 76). Humans seek out a mutual understanding by use of adapting a moral ecology with the animal. Disney instructed his workers to uncover the subconscious of the viewer in order to bring to life the feelings, fantasies and dreams that each of us has had at some point during life. Steven Watts notes that a preoccupation with the dream state in Disneys early films triggered a fusion of intellect and emotion, superego and id (Watts, 2002: 108) to the extent that audiences forget their extraordinary beginnings. The animated film draws human and animal into the same unconscious, primal remit in which both adult and child are reconciled with the specifities of the animated filrm, and this is through spectacle. Steven Wells explains: it is important, then, to once again consider what is distinctive about animated depictions of such animals, and in amore specific sense this seems to lie in the relationship between inherent primal connections between humankind and animal and the ways in which animation can formally and self consciously predicate its design and motion to recall such connections. These essentially operate in two ways- as a model of empathy through juvenilisation and interrogative awe, played out through spectacle. (Wells, 2009: 81) There is arguably an association between childhood and animalism, and the fantasy that is offered to us through culture, whether it is through toys, circuses or childrens literature. Animals often had a very special place during childhood with anthropomorphism being the result of this alliance. Richard deCordova observes that animalisation in the world of children holds a powerful purpose as it associates the child with nature and thus establishing their innocence and their detachment from the overpowering elements that corrupt the fabric of social life: The childs relationship with nature and association with innocence on the one hand and primitivist vitality of the other could be effectively concretized through symbolic procedures that linked the child to animals. (deCordova, 1994: 211). Not only are children being bound with nature, they are intertwined with a basic, primal kinship with animals. The innocence of youth is illustrated through animation by awarding each character with juvenile characteristics bringing together both child and animal. With animals and children, hierarchy is flattened and the two can act as equals, to the point where children are more compatible, emotionally and spiritually alike to animals than to their adult peers. Animation creates a model for which through the factors of change, the affiliation between the two species can be explored. Animated characters can chose who they want to be: animal or human, innocent or rebellious of neither of these. They can act as a representational aid to address issues that could not easily be addressed directly and because of the form in which they are presented, it is generally accepted. Anthropomorphic films unify both man and animal, enabling a relationship unachievable in reality, in the same way literature has done before it. Word count: 2117

Essay --

Introduction India is the world’s second most populous country after china having a population that exceeds 1 billion people (Indiastat, 2014). Jason Burke from The Guardian’s newspaper claims that India wants to join the Russians, the US and the Europeans by sending a rocket to mars: to steal china’s existing situation and despite it’s failure the government insists on sending the rocket again. The Economist newspaper mentions that it’s not just India that has space ambitions but other countries too. Such as China and Nigeria. However, a number of people believe that the Indian population cannot afford the mission to mars because of the poverty they suffer of. This essay will highlight the reasons of why the Indian population cannot afford the mission, which will include the malnourished population, the homeless and lack of education. Malnourished population The World Health Organization reports that India’s malnutrition rates are between the worst in the world (Stuart, 2013). Jason Burke from The Guardian newspaper claims that it is estimated that More than 40% of the children living in India are malnourished. Food is considered one of the main essentials of life and without it the person cannot survive. The Economist newspaper mentions that two-fifths of the India’s children remain underdeveloped from malnourishment. The Economist adds that India's space ambitions could appear like a spare of money. Most of the government’s money is directed toward the attempt for the success of this mission. India’s space programme cost approximately 1Billion$, with the failure of the mission it requires another billion dollar for the second attempt. This can jeopardize the million lives of the poor residents of India. Considering the est... ...mars mission will have to wait for another 2 to 5 years for another chance (Burke, 2013); which means that the population of India will have to struggle and survive till the Indian government would provide them with all their needs. Conclusion The discussion above has examined evidence, which supported my hypothesis that the Indian government cannot afford the mars mission because of the malnourished population, the homeless people and the lack of education. Indeed, as previously discussed India’s high population is enduring the pain and the poverty. The mars mission could have devastating effects on the Indians since all of the money is directed toward this expenditure. The National governments should examine the status of each individual in India; to prioritize the people needs over the governments and to create a stronger nation that do not suffer poverty.

The Beauty Industry in China :: essays research papers

Within 21 years, from 1983 to 2004, the sales volume of China's beauty businesses has increased 260 times, according to the country's first annual report on the beauty sector, recently released by Chinese economists. While the traditional beauty sector in China refers mainly to such services as hairdressing, massage and face-lifts by medical means, the modern beauty sector expands to cover the areas of beauty-related education and marketing, the production and research of cosmetics and related instruments, and even includes ornaments, packaging materials as well personal image consultation. With a 15 per cent annual growth, the beauty sector is turning into another huge money-maker after the boom in the real estate, auto, electronics and tourism sectors. Moreover, the revenue of the sector is expected to reach 176.2 billion yuan (US$21.3 billion) this year and double in the next five years. From the perspective of cosmetics, a similar track is visible: The annual average spending of Chinese on cosmetics, in the early 1980s, was about one yuan (12 US cents), the figure rose to five yuan (60 US cents) in the early 1990s, and 25 yuan (US$3) at the end of 2000. In big cities like Beijing and Shanghai, the annual average spending on cosmetics has reached 80-100 yuan (US$9.6-12), although still much lower than the figures for many developed countries, roughly US$35-70. China is currently home to 1.54 million beauty parlors and nearly 3,800 cosmetic companies, and almost 8 million people are actually working in beauty-related businesses, plus another 4 million whose jobs are connected to the sector. A survey of five major cities in China: Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu and Wuhan, shows that the most popular beauty items include SPAs, stone massages, Yoga, foot massages and nail treatments. Despite the huge advances witnessed over the past two decades, "huge gaps still exist between China's beauty sector and its counterparts in developed countries," said the vice-president of the Beauty and Cosmetics Association of Central China's Henan Province. "Compared with overseas beauty and cosmetics rivals, the domestic companies lack competitive advantages and are markedly overshadowed in such aspects as management, talent and brands," he said. Statistics from the annual report show only 11.72 per cent of the practitioners have a two-year college or higher educational background, while the practitioners who have a junior middle-school or an even lower education, and those who have a senior middle-school or secondary technical school education account for 38 per cent and 50.

A report on Arranged Marriages Essay

Arranged marriages are marriages that are arranged by someone other than the couple themselves, usually by the parents or family. Arranged marriages are experienced all over the globe, some countries include Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Canada and India. These types of marriages have numerous positive and negative points. In a great part of Asia, marriages are still arranged by parents and family. Arrangements are frequently made simply on rational grounds. In countries such as different as Jordan and Cambodia, daughters are usually married to distant family. Arranged Marriages are very controversial. Many people argue that choosing your life partner is a fundamental right, and others seem to say that mommy and daddy know best. The truth is that arranged marriages are completely legal and practiced in many cultures. In the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, everyone has fundamental freedoms. These freedoms are the basic rights that Canadians have. They state that everyone has fundamental freedoms; freedom of conscience and religion; of thought, belief, opinion, and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of communication; freedom of peaceful assembly; and freedom of association. The fact of the matter is, arranged marriages are a cultural thing, and the law is very hesitant to get involved. Most commonly today, children can choose if they want to get an arranged marriage. If the child is lucky, the final vote will be theirs. The idea of arranged marriages is very difficult for our western countries to comprehend. In the western countries, the idea of marrying a stranger seems unnatural and odd. Most North Americans can’t seem to recognize the idea of marrying an outsider. Although, this practice is generally the way things are done in Indian and Muslim countries, they will most likely continue to seem strange to North Americans. In Western countries, we lean on focusing our attention on more material issues such as sex, love, and beauty, which are the center of our relationships. People get married for such reasons, and then as a result, get bored of one another quite easily. In Eastern countries, they tend to look for more practicality in their mates. They look for aspects such as integrity, diligence, ambition, humility and generosity. Arranged marriages can be successful, but either the man or woman may be displeased with the spouse that has been chosen for him/her. Sometimes, the man and woman get along, but at times there can be a lot of conflicting differences. In the case of any marriage, certain qualities are required in order to sustain a healthy relationship. Patience, love, understanding, trust and kindness are a few of many helpful attributes that would help create a long lasting marriage. No matter what your reasons for marrying someone, you can make it a successful relationship by simply being courteous and respectful. In some cases, arranged marriages can improve the social standing of a family. In other cases, women get the chance to get employment, but women are usually stay-at-home mothers. There are certain rules that apply to arranged marriages. For one, you have to be the same nationality, so an East Indian would be pressured to marry one of his kind. In the Sikh culture and religion, the son or daughter have to marry the same caste, which means that the lower class would marry a low class person, and a high class would marry a high-class person. In India, if you try to get a divorce your way out of an arranged marriage, your parents will disown you. In Pakistan, 90 percent of marriages are arranged, compared to Japan, where only 25-30 percent of all marriages are arranged. Some Indian women have overdosed on drugs, in order to escape the harsh reality of their unwanted marriage. Statistics provide evidence that arranged marriages are no less happy, and  even more stable, than so-called love marriages. Through the ages, mothers have reassured their young daughters by the time they where married off that they don’t have to worry; love will come by itself. In some cases, people have grown to love each other, and other cases were not so fortunate. Marriage can be a big decision in one’s life, whether you are getting married because of an arranged marriage or marrying for love. The basis on which marriage is created depends on an amount of factors, which include cultural, economic, and social aspects. Love, on the other hand, is the only factor needed for a love marriage. Two people might support their marriage on rushed, blinding love and find out that they aren’t in the least bit well matched. As Mamoon states, â€Å"Love, marriage and compatibility are not the same†¦ Two people can be completely compatible yet have no love for each other and vice versa.† Although, love might be a beautiful basis for marriage, it is not necessarily the best way to go when choosing whom you want to live with and how you want to be provided for, for the rest of your life. My personal opinion on marriage in general is that it’s all relative. If you feel comfortable that you can choose a suitable spouse, which you will be with for a lifetime, then that should be your personal choice to make. However, if you feel that your parents could decide better than you could, then there is definitely nothing wrong with getting an arranged marriage. The most important thing is that you’re happy. It’s not the route you take getting there, but the destination. If you are married your dream mate, then why does it matter how you found them?

Learning Team Peer Evaluation Essay

Team C members discussed the Implementation, Strategic Controls, Contingency Plans assignment and the feedback provided for each team member’s document. In the discussion, each team member had an opportunity to summarize the strengths and weaknesses of each paper. Members noted several areas for improvement and team members will use the suggestions to make revisions to individual paper. Areas for Improvement The most common section requiring additional work is the key success factors section. Budget, forecast financials, and break-even charts require additional clarification. Some papers thoroughly cover most of the requirements but miss one area. The second topic addressed is the lack of detail for functional tactics, milestones, tasks, and resource allocation. A couple of team members are experiencing trouble identifying specific measurable objectives for their implementation plan. According to Pearce and Robinson (2013), â€Å"Objectives must clearly and concretely state what will be achieved and when it will be achievedâ€Å" (p. 193 ). The third suggestion for improvement was to tie the risk management plan to the implementation plan. Some team members struggled with describing the change in risks with the implementation plan and management of the risks. Other minor suggestions for improvement include the grammar and APA formatting. Areas of Strength Each team member prepared a well organized first draft. The papers provide an excellent understanding of the member’s company and the implementation plans suggested. The drafts indicated that the team members had performed significant research for the papers. Each team member received multiple tips or suggestions for improving his or her paper. For example, a team member suggested using tables for the financial statements to increase ease of reading. Another member pointed out the importance of the SWOT analysis as  part of the risk management plan. Conclusion Team C members completed the Implementation, Strategic Controls, and Contingency Plans assignment, provided feedback to each team member, and will use the feedback to finalize their individual paper. The exercise allows a team member to get a different perspective on the same assignment and receive valuable suggestions for improving the member’s work. Each team member’s paper is stronger due to this process. References Pearce, J.A. & Robinson, R.B. (2013). Strategic management: Planning for domestic and global competition (13th ed.). Retrieved from The University of Phoenix ebook collection database.

Comperative Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Comperative Analysis - Essay Example These 6 poems (Heritage, Night in the Coal Camps, and White Highways of James Still; Johannesburg Mines and The Negro Speaks of Rivers of Langston Hughes; and A Poem for Myself by Etheridge Knight) coming from different poets reflect the similar opinion and perception of its residents. One of the central themes that these poets raised is the state of natural environment of the Central Appalachian. Whether it was James Still’s vivid description of the natural environment he is in or Langston Hughes’ reflective elaboration of his environment, most Appalachian poets, as represented by these two writers, reflects the influence of the environment to the thinking of the poets. However, unlike romantic writers that adulate the beauty of the place where he lives in, these poets convey the dire and dreary condition of the place. With these physical setting, various poets from these area were able to describe the effects that such environment gives them: a place of dismay and pessimism. Still’s poem, â€Å"Heritage,† for example tells us the â€Å"prisoning hills† wherein the poet lived despite the gradual degradation of the forest as described by the following lines: â€Å"And one with death rising to bloom again, I cannot go/ Being of these hills I cannot pass beyond.† In â€Å"Night in the Coal Camps,† Still further emphasized the not only the condition of the Central Appalachian terrain but also the status of the laborers in the area. In two verses, the poet illustrated the somber mood and tone of the Central Appalachians. In masterfully written words, Still was able to establish a parallelism between the â€Å"cold, frozen, unquiet† landscape of the area and the â€Å"sleepless† laborers with â€Å"mouths hollowed in breathing.† The inclement working condition worsens the strict slavery that is found herein. The inhumane condition of workers in the region was also the theme of Hughes’ short poem Johannesburg Mines, The Black American poet

Earned Value Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Earned Value Management - Essay Example The most vital component of EVMS is recognizing the real time investment occurring within the project compared to planned value and actual cost. This will illustrate whether the project is exceeding costs and whether it is behind schedule. It is important to recognize that PV is also considered the Budgeted Cost of Work Scheduled, which is imperative for determining earned value. Projects have technical performance aspects (progress) that is related to budget and should be assessed in comparison to actual costs incurred. Planned budget of $180,000 with an actual cost of $200,000 would, without EVMS, be $20,000 over budget. However, EVMS might illustrate that the technical progress started earlier than expected, thus the project is now ahead of schedule and might be more apt to meet PV budget. This is why EVMS is linked directly to cost and performance. My view is that EVMS is a more practical assessment of a project since it takes more into consideration than just costs. It recognizes expert progress based against time schedules, to make a more accurate assessment of project value or potential losses. It is a viable tool for assessing projects because it takes time and talent into consideration (Goodpasture, 2004) along with recognition of costs, something needed for strategic project management in order to gain a broader picture of whether the project is meeting its intended budget and progress

Learning the Knowledge and Skills Required of the Profession Essay

Learning the Knowledge and Skills Required of the Profession - Essay Example I am an international student who was born and raised in Russia. I am currently 17 years old. As a young and optimistic individual, I am keen on pursuing a Management course from the Glendale Community College, pegged as one of the renowned educational institutions in the United States. I acknowledged that management is one of the traditional courses that offers vast opportunities for employment. Likewise, since I have been recognized by my parents, peers, and academic instructors, as manifesting leadership traits and skills, I deemed it appropriate to pursue an endeavour where leadership skills could be put to effective use. My professional goals include applying to a global organization right after earning a degree. I would like to be exposed to the organization’s operations that encompass a widely encompassing sphere. As such, as I reviewed the courses in Glendale’s management program, I acknowledge that in the near future, I would like to pursue higher education thr ough taking a master in business administration (MBA) degree. The management course would significantly assist in identifying areas of interest in applying management theories. At this point, I am particularly enthusiastic about delving into human resources management, which is considered a dynamic and multi-dimensional field of specialization – since it involved understanding and evaluating diverse traits, skills, competencies, and abilities of people from varied geographic and cultural orientations. Concurrently, I acknowledge that Glendale would be the perfect educational institution that would provide the theoretical framework, as well as harness the essential skills to become a practising manager in the near future.