Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Film Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 6

Film Analysis - Essay Example also tries to answer some major concerns like why these people have always remained so poorly understood and why their history is fraught with endless stories of struggle and strife. This essay aims to concentrate on one planning issue in particular which is cultural awareness and assimilation. This issue has a lot of depth and intensity to it which is why following discussion will be based on it. There are clear evidences present in the film to support this planning issue, each of which will be scrutinized in this essay. First piece of evidence supporting the fact that the film promotes cultural awareness and assimilation is when the FBI agent Ray Levoi begins to go deeper and has his first look at what is hidden under the surface. The surface image of Native Americans is very stereotypical which is created by the white elite forces. It speaks that all Native Americans are wild and deranged especially the infamous Indian tribes. The unmitigated hatred spawned by white people for Indian tribes is a very grave issue which forms the bedrock of this film. Levoi is more culturally aware than others and so, he believes that some Indian tribes may be vicious, but the same cannot be said for all. There is no reason to possess such racial hatred for the Indians as is possessed by characters like Agent Frank â€Å"Cooch† and Jack Milton in the film. Levoi has a different attitude than his partner Cooch toward Native Americans. He understands that there are power inequalities between the Indians and whi tes. After developing a harmonious standing with some tribal elders like Grandpa Sam, he come to know that these inequalities range from political power to social relationships. He sees that whites are certainly more privileged than Native Indians are and he sympathizes with local Indian tribes. This shows how culturally aware he becomes which helps him to swiftly assimilate with them. Another point highlighting Levoi’s cultural awareness is his association with Maggie

Monday, October 28, 2019

God bless Essay Example for Free

God bless Essay The novel WICKED WITCH OF THE WEST by Gregory Maguire focuses upon an evil soul of a witch, the dialog, One never learns how the witch became wicked, or whether that was the right choice for heris it ever the right choice? p. 231 explains how the wickedness of the witch cannot be truly explained or her personality assessed by the writer, it is up to the reader to decide on a conclusion regarding the motivations behind it. The four travellers Dorothy, Scarecrow Nick Chopper, Cowardly Lion’s discussion of the rumours about the witch while she herself listens to their talk decides to confront Dorothy next time. The writer also writes in detail about the birth of the witch as well as her family background, relating religion with the evil characters. Its people who claim that theyre good or anyway better than the rest of us, that you have to be wary of. (Maguire p. 357). The readers are being warned about the different natures of the characters in the end the domination of good against evil by stating, In the life of a Witch, there is no after, in the ever after of a Witch there is no happily; in the story of a Witch, there is no afterward. (Maguire P. 406) Thesis: In this society when we encounter evil, it is not only due to person’s own act but whole of the society is involved in the evil act. Every person has something good and bad in his character but sometimes society creates circumstances that a person is forced to become evil. Body 1 [Plot] This story begins with the birth of Elphaba the daughter of Frex and Melena, Melena was alone at the time when she give birth to Elphaba, as despite of being with his wife at the birth of their first child Frex had traveled to preach, specifically, the Clock of the Time Dragon. Melena give the birth to the daughter with green skin color which was very odd, for many years they hide this secret but when Elphaba grown up she was sent to the schools and college. Galinda was Elphaba first roommate but Galinda always ignore her, later on they become friends Galinda was working with Dr Dillamond, he was killed in this story from this point the sad part starts, Elphaba blame Madame Morrible and her robot-like assistant, Grommeti. But later on Fiyero comes into Elphaba life’s’ he, as she was alone they both had the affair but after few time he consider that Elphaba has murdered Madame Morrible, Fiyero was as well killed, and later on she was known as the witch of town as she did not fights against rumors about her and at last she died because of bucket of water which was throw on her to save her from fire. â€Å"The funeral was modest, a love-her-and-shove-her affair† (Maguire, p 154) The main character of this novel is Elphaba, an individual who was born with distinct features personality. The appearance is mocked by others living around her, A green child will be an open invitation for scorn and abuse. (Maguire P. 48). The interesting feature is the transformation of this person from a naive girl to the one seeking revenge thus attains the nickname WICKED WITCH OF THE WEST thanks to her malevolence. However this is justified by the extreme love the suffering in result she feels for her family friends. Another character Dorothy a young innocent girl, along with her escorts Scarecrow, Nick Chopper, Cowardly Lion is the opponent of the witch, but loved by the other people. She is also responsible for the witch’s death in the end of the novel.

Saturday, October 26, 2019

Carlo Levi’s Memoirs, Christ Stopped At Eboli Essays -- Carlo Levi Chr

Carlo Levi’s Memoirs, Christ Stopped At Eboli Carlo Levi’s memoirs, Christ Stopped At Eboli, describe his time spent as a political prisoner in the isolated and desolate village of Gagliano in southern Italy. He tells of the village itself and the surrounding settings and what it is like to be forced to live in a completely different environment to that which he is accustomed. In this literary reminiscence, Levi addresses the themes of impoverishment, religion, social divisions and the ever-present issue of death. The author discusses his own personal struggle with imprisonment and how he interacts with the bewildering individuals from the extremely Fascist mayor to the rough but quiet natured Giulia to the simple, untrustworthy peasants. Levi takes us through a life changing experience where discovering himself is not as easy as looking into ‘Narcissus’ pool’, but is a complex process of finding oneself through people, places, emotions, hardships and different viewpoints. This reflective work is important to Levi but he does not see it as a concluding viewpoint, he simply considers it another point in his life and over all just one stage in his writing career. Levi is a prisoner in the small village of Gagliano and is being forced to live there but throughout the writing Levi exposes the fact that he is not the only prisoner and that it is more than a physical imprisonment that is keeping him there. The images of imprisonment that Levi presents us with occur all through the novel starting with the second chapter and continuing throughout the course of the writing. He describes physical borders, mental incarceration and the turmoil of the other villagers and how they seem to be experiencing the same... ...relate to the peasants understand the Priest because he to is imprisoned. It is not onlt the characters and physical and mental characteristics that paint the image of imprisonment but also the setting. Set in the mountainous region of Lucania, the mountains are a prison within themselves. This image of imprisonment is easily noticed because it is so well placed and described and this may stem from the fact that Levi was an artist. Overall the image comes through strongly and in many cases and Levi uses many different techniques to convey this topic to the reader clearly. Christ Stopped at Eboli is perhaps one of the great books of our century. Its effective, convincing humanism seeks to breed understanding and widen mental horizons. Half—anthropology and half-literature, it’s also a book that any travel writer would give up their life to have written. Carlo Levi’s Memoirs, Christ Stopped At Eboli Essays -- Carlo Levi Chr Carlo Levi’s Memoirs, Christ Stopped At Eboli Carlo Levi’s memoirs, Christ Stopped At Eboli, describe his time spent as a political prisoner in the isolated and desolate village of Gagliano in southern Italy. He tells of the village itself and the surrounding settings and what it is like to be forced to live in a completely different environment to that which he is accustomed. In this literary reminiscence, Levi addresses the themes of impoverishment, religion, social divisions and the ever-present issue of death. The author discusses his own personal struggle with imprisonment and how he interacts with the bewildering individuals from the extremely Fascist mayor to the rough but quiet natured Giulia to the simple, untrustworthy peasants. Levi takes us through a life changing experience where discovering himself is not as easy as looking into ‘Narcissus’ pool’, but is a complex process of finding oneself through people, places, emotions, hardships and different viewpoints. This reflective work is important to Levi but he does not see it as a concluding viewpoint, he simply considers it another point in his life and over all just one stage in his writing career. Levi is a prisoner in the small village of Gagliano and is being forced to live there but throughout the writing Levi exposes the fact that he is not the only prisoner and that it is more than a physical imprisonment that is keeping him there. The images of imprisonment that Levi presents us with occur all through the novel starting with the second chapter and continuing throughout the course of the writing. He describes physical borders, mental incarceration and the turmoil of the other villagers and how they seem to be experiencing the same... ...relate to the peasants understand the Priest because he to is imprisoned. It is not onlt the characters and physical and mental characteristics that paint the image of imprisonment but also the setting. Set in the mountainous region of Lucania, the mountains are a prison within themselves. This image of imprisonment is easily noticed because it is so well placed and described and this may stem from the fact that Levi was an artist. Overall the image comes through strongly and in many cases and Levi uses many different techniques to convey this topic to the reader clearly. Christ Stopped at Eboli is perhaps one of the great books of our century. Its effective, convincing humanism seeks to breed understanding and widen mental horizons. Half—anthropology and half-literature, it’s also a book that any travel writer would give up their life to have written.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Effective Communication

Communication is central to everything we do and requires communication skills. Every day we face challenges like having conversations, getting and giving correct information, sending emails, developing effective relationships, holding meetings and working with a team, not only at work but also at home. Being able to communicate effectively is essential because no one guess what you want or what you think if you don’t tell them, and nothing is going to change if you do not propose a change. Firstly choose the right time and the right place.If you need to discuss something sensitive, you should try to stay where you can’t be overhead. Alternatively, when you are speaking for a large group of people, you should be sure that everyone can hear you perfectly. Organise you ideas in your mind before attempting to communicate them. You should organize your thoughts before speaking and choose the three main ideas and focus in those. If you have to make an important speech, you c ould practice it in front of a friend or a mirror and time yourself.An important aspect to communicate effectively is be articulate and not to be afraid of speaking. Be sure, say what you want to say, and do not regret it. The worst thing that you can do when speaking is to hesitate. One of most vital communication skills is eye contact and its effect in the communication. You can keep your listener interested in what you are saying. From my point of view, the main issue to effective communication is the listening part. Effective communication is based on both listening and speaking.Listen and do not interrupt when it is no longer your turn to speak. You will surely learn new things from listening to others and if you don’t understand something, you have to ask people to repeat ideas. Good listeners are always very appreciated because there are only a few. Finally, the most important piece of advice to becoming a greater speaker is smile as you are talking. Unless your main a im is to bore and sleep every one, you need to add some humour to your speaking and it holds your audiences attention. Effective Communication Effective Communication Communication comes in many forms. Two of the most commonly used are written and oral communication. It is very important to know how to do both with respect, common courtesy and proper etiquette. The way you communicate with the public says a lot about you. It lets people know if you are educated or uneducated. In the Criminal Justice field, communication is everything. When reports have to be written accurately is the top priority. One single wording or misspelling can cause anyone a case. Effective communication is essential is the understanding of a person and their situation.Communication also helps us build trust, friendships, and problem solving skills. As simple as a simple conversation may seem, you will be surprised how inappropriate communication can cause a misinterpretation in a conversation. According to (Robinson and Sigel, 2013), effective communication requires you to understand the emotion behind the information. So many different types of co mmunication exist in today’s world, for example, verbal and non verbal communication, formal and informal communication and electronic communication. This can include phone calls, text messages, and emails. Verbal and Non-Verbal CommunicationVerbal communication refers to the use of sounds and language to relay a message (Hanes, 2010). There are two basic types of verbal communication. They are interpersonal communication and public speaking. Interpersonal communication is what is known as a two-way conversation with both talking and listening. Non-verbal communication on the other hand is what we refer to as body language, signs, and symbols. It has no words related to it. This type of conversation also requires a person to know what they are trying to say. Any mistake in body language or signs can result in misinterpretation.Non-verbal communications include eye contact, body language, facial expressions, and gestures. Non-verbal communication represents 2/3rd of all types of communication. Out of all the communication techniques that are used today, verbal communication still seems to be the preferred method, the easiest to understand. Formal and Informal Channels of Communication The formal channels of communication in the criminal justice system are the strict procedures. The informal channels of communication consist of the undocumented sharing of information (Sinclair, 2012).Formal communication is organized and managed information that is shared with relevant individuals in order to secure coordinated action throughout the organization (Wilhelm, 2012). Communication in the criminal justice field involves a lot of privacy. Informal communication has a useful way of relaying information to other people. This type of communication is oral. Informal communication is like having a casual conversation. Overcoming Communication Barriers Everyone has had to overcome barriers in their life. Some people have had to overcome communication barriers.These ty pes of barriers are caused when a person is sometimes too shy to either speak up or speak in public; they may have speech impairments, or are unable to properly pronounce words due to their accents. Some of these barriers include emotional, physical, semantic barriers, and infective listening. Emotional barriers affect those with low self-esteem. These types of people tend to question what they are saying. Physical barriers involve the environment. Semantic barriers are when you cannot agree on what you are trying to say. To effectively overcome any communication barriers, one must first identify the barrier.Practicing your speech in front of more than one person can help with your public speaking abilities. Conclusion Communication is the number one way in which humans have learned to interact with one another. Communication comes in various forms, from oral to a basic look. Signs and body expressions are also considered communication because it involves two or more people and some thing is being said or noted. No matter what type of communication your prefer to use, make sure your are not only expressing yourself correctly and respectfully, but are also hearing what is being communicated to you. Effective Communication Communication is essential for an organisation to operate effectively and efficiently. Effective communication helps to ensure that information is relayed accordingly and accurately within the organisation. If the relay of information is inaccurate, the organisation’s productivity may be affected. This essay will describe the concept of communication in relation to management and explain how effective communication is undermined by barriers such as cultural differences, generational differences and filtering of information by referring to academic literature such as journal articles.Furthermore, an example will be used to explain how managers can increase the productivity and performance of their organisation by developing an effective system of communication. There are numerous definitions for communication but for the purpose of this essay communication will be defined as, the relay of information from one person to another (Robbins et al. 2011, p. 326). The authors also not e that communication is a key element in the role of managers as their job is to plan, lead, organise and control.Mikitka (2009) also confirms this by stating that managers need good communication skills as their job requires them to   increase efficiency, satisfy customers, implement strategies and disseminate information. Managers should also improve the communication skills of the employees (Bambacas & Patrickson 2008). The authors further state that employees will perform better if they are able to communicate with one another effectively. Therefore, communication skills are essential for an effective and efficient management.Cultural differences is a barrier for effective communication because different cultures provide people with different ways of thinking, understanding and communicating. Tagreed (2012) states that The growing presence of workers from different races and cultures has made dramatic changes to workplaces. The author further states that managers and co-worker s must note that words and expressions used to communicate can have vastly different meanings and implications for people from different backgrounds, and they must be careful to ensure that their intended messages are understood clearly as they communicate with culturally diverse co-workers.Sensitive topics such as race, religion and politics should not be discussed within the organisation as it may create conflicts (Bambacas & Patrickson 2008). Managers should note that work methods vary among different cultures. The Asian culture emphasises on collectivism while the American culture emphasises on individualism (Tagreed 2012). The author explains this by stating that managers who do not understand this difference will face problems as they may assign team based work to employees who are accustomed to working individually and ask employees who are accustomed to team based work to work individually.This may cause a problem as employees might not communicate with each other effectivel y. Gender is regarded differently in various cultures. Lin (2006) notes that females are still considered weak and not capable of decision making in some Asian cultures. The author mentions that if a female from America works in and Asian organisation, she will not be allowed to suggest ideas and participate in meetings. The author further notes that if a female from an Asian culture works in an American organisation, it is in her nature to be quiet and not communicate to her male co-workers including the manager.This may affect the relay of information as there is no effective communication. A key factor that makes cultural differences a barrier to effective communication is language. English is not the commonly spoken language in some cultures (Tagreed 2012). The author also states that globalisation has caused many organisations to operate in English. This has become a problem as employees who are not good in English are afraid or embarrassed to communicate to others (Lin 2006). The author further mentions that even if they do communicate, information passed is commonly inaccurate.The reason for this is because, they did not understand the information passed to them by their English speaking co-workers or the English speaking co-workers did not understand their accent (Tagreed 2012). This may result in inaccurate information being relayed. Generational Diversity is also a barrier for effective communication as different generations have different ways of relaying and processing information. Tolbize (2008) states that generational diversity has made the workplace more rigid and demanding. The author further states that the four ain generations in the current workforce are the Veterans, Baby Boomers, Generation X and Generation Y. Kyles (2005) notes that people communicate differently to others even if the difference in age is five years. The Veterans are also known as the traditional generation. The reason for this because the Veterans are strict followers o f formality and authority (Tolbize 2008). The author further states that the Veterans and Baby Boomers do not question authority and use formal methods and language when communicating. Generation X and Y are more flexible in their work life (Tolbize 2008).The author notes that they prefer informal communication and do not appreciate authority. These differences may cause a problem in communication as most middle or senior managers are Veterans or Baby Boomers and they would expect their employees to respect authority and communicate formally. Generational diversity also has an impact on work methods that may affect communication. Veterans and Baby Boomers prefer team work as they believe that by communicating with each other and sharing ideas they may develop new and innovative ideas that may increase the productivity of the organisation (Azaroff 2006).The author further states that Generation X and Y prefer working individually as they consider team work to be unproductive. The aut hor also notes that Generation Y will not be communicating much with others if they are assigned team work. Technology is another aspect of communication being affected by generational diversity. Kyles (2005) states the Veterans and Baby Boomers were born before technology was implemented and as a result they are not accustomed and do not rely on technology to communicate.The author further states that they prefer face to face communication, phone calls or written letters as opposed to E-mails. Generation X and Y were born during the time of technological advancements and modernisation of industries (Kyles 2005). As a result, they prefer electronic means of communication such as E-mails and Instant messaging. These small differences affect effective communication in an organisation. Filtering of information is a barrier to effective communication as the information being relayed has been altered. Filtering an be defined as,   the distortion or withholding of information to manage a person’s reactions (Butschi & Steyn 2006). The authors state that filtering can be intentional or accidental and it prevents members of an organization from getting the actual facts of a situation . Managers should note that filtering of information does not only affect effective communication but also the morale of employees (Tourish & Robson 2003). The authors further explain by stating that employees may have insecurities if they discover that information is being withheld from them .Filtering of information is also used to make information relayed appear more favourable to the intended person (Butschi & Steyn 2006). Another reason to frequent filtering of information in an organisation is to reduce information overload. Tourish & Robson (2003) state that many individuals have certain capacity to process information. The authors note that accidental filtering of information is common when employees or managers have an overload of work. They further state that time is ano ther reason for the filtering of information.For example, employees or managers tend to summarise information if they are in a rush. Filtering of information, be it intentional or accidental,   can lead to miscommunications in an organisation as information is translated or interpreted differently creating different versions. Managers should have a system to overcome these communication barriers as it will greatly affect the organisations productivity and performance. Managers can develop an effective system of communication by promoting the use of simple and unbiased language, promoting active listening and giving constructive feedback.Therkelsen & Fiebich (2001) state that effective communication is achieved when information is relayed and understood accurately. The authors further state that by using simple and clear words instead of ambiguous words and jargons information will be understood and relayed easily. The authors also state that words used should not be biased as it m ay be offensive to others. For example, instead of saying cleaning lady or cleaner, people should address them as maintenance worker. Managers should provide employees with guidelines on standard of speech and conduct to improve communication within the organisation.Managers should promote active listening because information is misunderstood in many occasions. Therkelsen & Fiebich (2001) state that there is a difference between listening and hearing. The authors define listening as, hearing with proper understanding of the message that is relayed. The authors also note that a sender may strive to deliver a message clearly. But the receiver’s ability to listen effectively is equally vital to successful communication. Listening takes practice and concentration and the only way to get practice is by communicating with people often (Therkelsen & Fiebich 2001).Managers and employees should give constructive feedback to each other as often as possible. Feedback does not have to be formal or verbal but it has to be constructive. Tourish & Robson (2003) state that constructive feedback helps people understand their mistakes and increases morale. The authors also state that even negative feedback can be delivered constructively. They also note that constructive feedback will lead to effective communication between managers and employees. Adopting these methods will increase effective communication with the organisation without compromising its productivity or performance.In conclusion, promoting effective communication with an organisation is not a simple task. However, by identifying and overcoming the barriers systematically, effective communication can be achieved. This essay has defined and described communication in relation to management and has identified cultural diversity, generational diversity and filtering of information as barriers to effective communication. Furthermore, examples have been used to show how to overcome these barriers without affect ing the productivity and performance of the organisation. References:Azaroff, R. 2006, â€Å"Ideas for managing a multigenerational workforce†, Federal Computer Week, vol. 20, no. 31, pp. 56-56. Bambacas, M & Patrickson, M 2008, â€Å"Interpersonal communication skills that enhance organisational commitment†, Journal of Communication Management, vol. 12, no. 1, pp. 51-72 Butschi, G & Steyn, B. 2006, â€Å"Theory on strategic communication management is the key to unlocking the boardroom†, Journal of Communication Management,  vol. 10, no. 1, pp. 106-109. Kyles, D. 2005, â€Å"Managing Your Multigenerational Workforce†, Strategic Finance, vol. 7, no. 6, pp. 52-55. Lin , L, 2006, â€Å"Cross-cultural Communications and Pragmatics Principle†, Cross-cultural Communication, vol. 2, no. 2, pp. n/a Mikitka, M. J. 2009, â€Å"Managing the Multi-Generational Workforce†, Material Handling Management, vol. 64, no. 8, pp. 11-11. Robbins, S, DeCenzo, D , Coulter, M, Woods, M, 2011, Management: The Essentials, 1st edn, Pearson Australia. Tagreed, I. K. 2012, â€Å"Cross-cultural Differences in Management†,  International Journal of Business and Social Science,  vol. 3, no. 6, pp. n/a Therkelsen, D. J. & Fiebich, C. L. 010, â€Å"Message to desired action: A communication effectiveness model†, Journal of Communication Management, vol. 5, no. 4, pp. 374-390. Tolbize, A, 2008, ‘Generational differences in the workplace’, Research and Training Center on Community Living, University of Minnesota, viewed on 19 August 2012, Tourish, D. & Robson, P. 2003, â€Å"Critical upward feedback in organisations: Processes, problems and implications for communication management†,  Journal of Communication Management,  vol. 8, no. 2, pp. 150-167. Effective Communication Communication is central to everything we do and requires communication skills. Every day we face challenges like having conversations, getting and giving correct information, sending emails, developing effective relationships, holding meetings and working with a team, not only at work but also at home. Being able to communicate effectively is essential because no one guess what you want or what you think if you don’t tell them, and nothing is going to change if you do not propose a change. Firstly choose the right time and the right place.If you need to discuss something sensitive, you should try to stay where you can’t be overhead. Alternatively, when you are speaking for a large group of people, you should be sure that everyone can hear you perfectly. Organise you ideas in your mind before attempting to communicate them. You should organize your thoughts before speaking and choose the three main ideas and focus in those. If you have to make an important speech, you c ould practice it in front of a friend or a mirror and time yourself.An important aspect to communicate effectively is be articulate and not to be afraid of speaking. Be sure, say what you want to say, and do not regret it. The worst thing that you can do when speaking is to hesitate. One of most vital communication skills is eye contact and its effect in the communication. You can keep your listener interested in what you are saying. From my point of view, the main issue to effective communication is the listening part. Effective communication is based on both listening and speaking.Listen and do not interrupt when it is no longer your turn to speak. You will surely learn new things from listening to others and if you don’t understand something, you have to ask people to repeat ideas. Good listeners are always very appreciated because there are only a few. Finally, the most important piece of advice to becoming a greater speaker is smile as you are talking. Unless your main a im is to bore and sleep every one, you need to add some humour to your speaking and it holds your audiences attention. Effective Communication Effective Communication Communication comes in many forms. Two of the most commonly used are written and oral communication. It is very important to know how to do both with respect, common courtesy and proper etiquette. The way you communicate with the public says a lot about you. It lets people know if you are educated or uneducated. In the Criminal Justice field, communication is everything. When reports have to be written accurately is the top priority. One single wording or misspelling can cause anyone a case. Effective communication is essential is the understanding of a person and their situation.Communication also helps us build trust, friendships, and problem solving skills. As simple as a simple conversation may seem, you will be surprised how inappropriate communication can cause a misinterpretation in a conversation. According to (Robinson and Sigel, 2013), effective communication requires you to understand the emotion behind the information. So many different types of co mmunication exist in today’s world, for example, verbal and non verbal communication, formal and informal communication and electronic communication. This can include phone calls, text messages, and emails. Verbal and Non-Verbal CommunicationVerbal communication refers to the use of sounds and language to relay a message (Hanes, 2010). There are two basic types of verbal communication. They are interpersonal communication and public speaking. Interpersonal communication is what is known as a two-way conversation with both talking and listening. Non-verbal communication on the other hand is what we refer to as body language, signs, and symbols. It has no words related to it. This type of conversation also requires a person to know what they are trying to say. Any mistake in body language or signs can result in misinterpretation.Non-verbal communications include eye contact, body language, facial expressions, and gestures. Non-verbal communication represents 2/3rd of all types of communication. Out of all the communication techniques that are used today, verbal communication still seems to be the preferred method, the easiest to understand. Formal and Informal Channels of Communication The formal channels of communication in the criminal justice system are the strict procedures. The informal channels of communication consist of the undocumented sharing of information (Sinclair, 2012).Formal communication is organized and managed information that is shared with relevant individuals in order to secure coordinated action throughout the organization (Wilhelm, 2012). Communication in the criminal justice field involves a lot of privacy. Informal communication has a useful way of relaying information to other people. This type of communication is oral. Informal communication is like having a casual conversation. Overcoming Communication Barriers Everyone has had to overcome barriers in their life. Some people have had to overcome communication barriers.These ty pes of barriers are caused when a person is sometimes too shy to either speak up or speak in public; they may have speech impairments, or are unable to properly pronounce words due to their accents. Some of these barriers include emotional, physical, semantic barriers, and infective listening. Emotional barriers affect those with low self-esteem. These types of people tend to question what they are saying. Physical barriers involve the environment. Semantic barriers are when you cannot agree on what you are trying to say. To effectively overcome any communication barriers, one must first identify the barrier.Practicing your speech in front of more than one person can help with your public speaking abilities. Conclusion Communication is the number one way in which humans have learned to interact with one another. Communication comes in various forms, from oral to a basic look. Signs and body expressions are also considered communication because it involves two or more people and some thing is being said or noted. No matter what type of communication your prefer to use, make sure your are not only expressing yourself correctly and respectfully, but are also hearing what is being communicated to you. Effective Communication Communication is essential for an organisation to operate effectively and efficiently. Effective communication helps to ensure that information is relayed accordingly and accurately within the organisation. If the relay of information is inaccurate, the organisation’s productivity may be affected. This essay will describe the concept of communication in relation to management and explain how effective communication is undermined by barriers such as cultural differences, generational differences and filtering of information by referring to academic literature such as journal articles.Furthermore, an example will be used to explain how managers can increase the productivity and performance of their organisation by developing an effective system of communication. There are numerous definitions for communication but for the purpose of this essay communication will be defined as, the relay of information from one person to another (Robbins et al. 2011, p. 326). The authors also not e that communication is a key element in the role of managers as their job is to plan, lead, organise and control.Mikitka (2009) also confirms this by stating that managers need good communication skills as their job requires them to   increase efficiency, satisfy customers, implement strategies and disseminate information. Managers should also improve the communication skills of the employees (Bambacas & Patrickson 2008). The authors further state that employees will perform better if they are able to communicate with one another effectively. Therefore, communication skills are essential for an effective and efficient management.Cultural differences is a barrier for effective communication because different cultures provide people with different ways of thinking, understanding and communicating. Tagreed (2012) states that The growing presence of workers from different races and cultures has made dramatic changes to workplaces. The author further states that managers and co-worker s must note that words and expressions used to communicate can have vastly different meanings and implications for people from different backgrounds, and they must be careful to ensure that their intended messages are understood clearly as they communicate with culturally diverse co-workers.Sensitive topics such as race, religion and politics should not be discussed within the organisation as it may create conflicts (Bambacas & Patrickson 2008). Managers should note that work methods vary among different cultures. The Asian culture emphasises on collectivism while the American culture emphasises on individualism (Tagreed 2012). The author explains this by stating that managers who do not understand this difference will face problems as they may assign team based work to employees who are accustomed to working individually and ask employees who are accustomed to team based work to work individually.This may cause a problem as employees might not communicate with each other effectivel y. Gender is regarded differently in various cultures. Lin (2006) notes that females are still considered weak and not capable of decision making in some Asian cultures. The author mentions that if a female from America works in and Asian organisation, she will not be allowed to suggest ideas and participate in meetings. The author further notes that if a female from an Asian culture works in an American organisation, it is in her nature to be quiet and not communicate to her male co-workers including the manager.This may affect the relay of information as there is no effective communication. A key factor that makes cultural differences a barrier to effective communication is language. English is not the commonly spoken language in some cultures (Tagreed 2012). The author also states that globalisation has caused many organisations to operate in English. This has become a problem as employees who are not good in English are afraid or embarrassed to communicate to others (Lin 2006). The author further mentions that even if they do communicate, information passed is commonly inaccurate.The reason for this is because, they did not understand the information passed to them by their English speaking co-workers or the English speaking co-workers did not understand their accent (Tagreed 2012). This may result in inaccurate information being relayed. Generational Diversity is also a barrier for effective communication as different generations have different ways of relaying and processing information. Tolbize (2008) states that generational diversity has made the workplace more rigid and demanding. The author further states that the four ain generations in the current workforce are the Veterans, Baby Boomers, Generation X and Generation Y. Kyles (2005) notes that people communicate differently to others even if the difference in age is five years. The Veterans are also known as the traditional generation. The reason for this because the Veterans are strict followers o f formality and authority (Tolbize 2008). The author further states that the Veterans and Baby Boomers do not question authority and use formal methods and language when communicating. Generation X and Y are more flexible in their work life (Tolbize 2008).The author notes that they prefer informal communication and do not appreciate authority. These differences may cause a problem in communication as most middle or senior managers are Veterans or Baby Boomers and they would expect their employees to respect authority and communicate formally. Generational diversity also has an impact on work methods that may affect communication. Veterans and Baby Boomers prefer team work as they believe that by communicating with each other and sharing ideas they may develop new and innovative ideas that may increase the productivity of the organisation (Azaroff 2006).The author further states that Generation X and Y prefer working individually as they consider team work to be unproductive. The aut hor also notes that Generation Y will not be communicating much with others if they are assigned team work. Technology is another aspect of communication being affected by generational diversity. Kyles (2005) states the Veterans and Baby Boomers were born before technology was implemented and as a result they are not accustomed and do not rely on technology to communicate.The author further states that they prefer face to face communication, phone calls or written letters as opposed to E-mails. Generation X and Y were born during the time of technological advancements and modernisation of industries (Kyles 2005). As a result, they prefer electronic means of communication such as E-mails and Instant messaging. These small differences affect effective communication in an organisation. Filtering of information is a barrier to effective communication as the information being relayed has been altered. Filtering an be defined as,   the distortion or withholding of information to manage a person’s reactions (Butschi & Steyn 2006). The authors state that filtering can be intentional or accidental and it prevents members of an organization from getting the actual facts of a situation . Managers should note that filtering of information does not only affect effective communication but also the morale of employees (Tourish & Robson 2003). The authors further explain by stating that employees may have insecurities if they discover that information is being withheld from them .Filtering of information is also used to make information relayed appear more favourable to the intended person (Butschi & Steyn 2006). Another reason to frequent filtering of information in an organisation is to reduce information overload. Tourish & Robson (2003) state that many individuals have certain capacity to process information. The authors note that accidental filtering of information is common when employees or managers have an overload of work. They further state that time is ano ther reason for the filtering of information.For example, employees or managers tend to summarise information if they are in a rush. Filtering of information, be it intentional or accidental,   can lead to miscommunications in an organisation as information is translated or interpreted differently creating different versions. Managers should have a system to overcome these communication barriers as it will greatly affect the organisations productivity and performance. Managers can develop an effective system of communication by promoting the use of simple and unbiased language, promoting active listening and giving constructive feedback.Therkelsen & Fiebich (2001) state that effective communication is achieved when information is relayed and understood accurately. The authors further state that by using simple and clear words instead of ambiguous words and jargons information will be understood and relayed easily. The authors also state that words used should not be biased as it m ay be offensive to others. For example, instead of saying cleaning lady or cleaner, people should address them as maintenance worker. Managers should provide employees with guidelines on standard of speech and conduct to improve communication within the organisation.Managers should promote active listening because information is misunderstood in many occasions. Therkelsen & Fiebich (2001) state that there is a difference between listening and hearing. The authors define listening as, hearing with proper understanding of the message that is relayed. The authors also note that a sender may strive to deliver a message clearly. But the receiver’s ability to listen effectively is equally vital to successful communication. Listening takes practice and concentration and the only way to get practice is by communicating with people often (Therkelsen & Fiebich 2001).Managers and employees should give constructive feedback to each other as often as possible. Feedback does not have to be formal or verbal but it has to be constructive. Tourish & Robson (2003) state that constructive feedback helps people understand their mistakes and increases morale. The authors also state that even negative feedback can be delivered constructively. They also note that constructive feedback will lead to effective communication between managers and employees. Adopting these methods will increase effective communication with the organisation without compromising its productivity or performance.In conclusion, promoting effective communication with an organisation is not a simple task. However, by identifying and overcoming the barriers systematically, effective communication can be achieved. This essay has defined and described communication in relation to management and has identified cultural diversity, generational diversity and filtering of information as barriers to effective communication. Furthermore, examples have been used to show how to overcome these barriers without affect ing the productivity and performance of the organisation. References:Azaroff, R. 2006, â€Å"Ideas for managing a multigenerational workforce†, Federal Computer Week, vol. 20, no. 31, pp. 56-56. Bambacas, M & Patrickson, M 2008, â€Å"Interpersonal communication skills that enhance organisational commitment†, Journal of Communication Management, vol. 12, no. 1, pp. 51-72 Butschi, G & Steyn, B. 2006, â€Å"Theory on strategic communication management is the key to unlocking the boardroom†, Journal of Communication Management,  vol. 10, no. 1, pp. 106-109. Kyles, D. 2005, â€Å"Managing Your Multigenerational Workforce†, Strategic Finance, vol. 7, no. 6, pp. 52-55. Lin , L, 2006, â€Å"Cross-cultural Communications and Pragmatics Principle†, Cross-cultural Communication, vol. 2, no. 2, pp. n/a Mikitka, M. J. 2009, â€Å"Managing the Multi-Generational Workforce†, Material Handling Management, vol. 64, no. 8, pp. 11-11. Robbins, S, DeCenzo, D , Coulter, M, Woods, M, 2011, Management: The Essentials, 1st edn, Pearson Australia. Tagreed, I. K. 2012, â€Å"Cross-cultural Differences in Management†,  International Journal of Business and Social Science,  vol. 3, no. 6, pp. n/a Therkelsen, D. J. & Fiebich, C. L. 010, â€Å"Message to desired action: A communication effectiveness model†, Journal of Communication Management, vol. 5, no. 4, pp. 374-390. Tolbize, A, 2008, ‘Generational differences in the workplace’, Research and Training Center on Community Living, University of Minnesota, viewed on 19 August 2012, Tourish, D. & Robson, P. 2003, â€Å"Critical upward feedback in organisations: Processes, problems and implications for communication management†,  Journal of Communication Management,  vol. 8, no. 2, pp. 150-167.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Stopping by the Woods On A Snowy Evening, Commentary

This poem was composed by Robert frost in 1922. It is narrative in style and consists of four stanzas, each stanza having four lines. Each verse is constructed in the iambic tetrameter, with eight syllables – one stressed and one unstressed syllable, alternately. As the title suggests, the poem features a journey through the woods. Frost is said to have composed this after a long night of work on another poem, ‘New Hampshire'. In the morning, when he stepped out of his cottage, it is said that he was so taken in by the scenic beauty of his surroundings that he was inspired to compose this poem there and then. Critics have marveled at the beauty of the poem, it required little thought and came to Frost in short bursts of revelation. He composed it in a matter of a few minutes. Though the language or diction used by Frost is simple, it suggests at an altogether deeper meaning. Frost's philosophy on life is reflected in this poem. The poem commences with an easy note and gives rise to wisdom later along. The persona and the author are clearly separated from each other into two different entities. The speaker is depicted at another time and place from that of the writer. The persona is a way-farer who journeys through the woods which offer him temptations which he wants to indulge in but ultimately resists. There is a mysterious quality about the woods, and the persona wants to observe and explore it further but is held back by social constraints. The line ‘I have promises to keep,' echo the obligations he has and he is forced to choose between nature and return to civilization. The title of the poem is apt and introduces the reader to the setting of the poem. Assonance can be seen in the title which gives it a soft tone, the ‘s' sound in words like ‘stopping', ‘woods' and ‘snowy' reiterates this. The poem starts off with the persona plainly stating a fact, it makes the reader wonder on the persona's acquaintance with the owner of the woods since he appears to know where he resides. The fact that the owner wasn't there to watch how beautiful his woods looked at that particular time seem to concern the persona, his tone is that of credible surprise. The ownership of the woods attributed to another person reveals his longing for a place of such beauty. The ‘w' sound is repeated in line 1, ‘Whose woods these are I think I know,' the ‘h' sound also creates a hushed effect. It is as if the persona is addressing the reader about the owner of the woods in hushed tones. This indicates the persona's appreciation and expression of feeling for natural beauty as seen in the lush woods. In this stanza, Frosts' tone becomes matter-of-fact, and it is ironic that the persona who is just a passerby while the same appreciation cannot be sensed on the owners part. The last line of this stanza, ‘to watch his woods fill up with snow' has visual imagery. It conveys a sense of distance from civilization. The ‘snow' signifies purity, an innate quality of nature. The second stanza deals with the persona halting in mid-journey. This brings on a reaction from his horse. The horse symbolizes a trained and habituated mind, stopping abruptly through the woods had brought a shadow of doubt, the horses' sense of direction was at play. ‘Without a farmhouse near' conveys a picture of the persona's earlier doings, due to force of habit the persona had always sought shelter in an enclosed space like that of a ‘farmhouse'. But now it seemed that he had simply stopped in a patch of clearing just to enjoy watching the sight of the woods. Lines 7 to 8: ‘Between the woods and frozen lake The darkest evening of the year', convey the particular time period when the persona records his halt in the woods. ‘Darkest evening of the year' refers to winter solstice which normally occurs around mid-December. The persona and his horse are so isolated that nothing stands between them and the ‘frozen lake'. The ‘frozen lake' indicates the bitter cold and hardship they had had braved just so that the persona could revel in the tranquility of the woods for some time. This stanza also echoes how the persona marvels at his own marvel of the silent, still uninhabited sanctuary of nature which had taken him in, the speaker emphasizes this oddity by how his horse found it ‘queer'. The poem's rhyme scheme is in order: AABABBCBA, and so on. The verses are almost uniform in length and open-punctuation has been used. Each verse starts with a capital letter indicating the beginning of a new line and there are no instances of enjambment. The third stanza starts off with the horses' objection, ‘to ask if there is some mistake'. The horse's reasoning ability and intelligence has been brought out, it is a best of habit and also of considerable intelligence. Through his narration of the horse Frost has also brought to light his appreciation of animals in particular. The penultimate line of the stanza emphasizes the stillness of the woods. Sensory imagery has been used in ‘easy wind' and ‘downy flake'. A hyperbole or an exaggeration on the nature of snow has been employed. It is worthy to note that snow doesn't make any sound. The last stanza expresses the persona's desire to explore the woods further. He's held back by unfinished business (‘promises') and knows that he can't afford leisure. ‘Lovely, dark and deep' calls attention to the fact that he can't afford to indulge in the awaiting pleasures of the woods. There is a sense of purpose in the persona's life, the persona gathers himself and sets off towards his destination. He knows that he can't allow himself the luxury of exploring the mysterious depths of the woods and stray away from his goals. The last two lines are direct repetitions of each other, ‘sleep' can connote two different meanings. The first mention of ‘sleep' can refer to rest and relaxation, while the latter can also refer to the ‘sleep' of death. This meaningfully signifies that he has many things left to do and that he can't afford to be held back by the penetrating beauty of the woods no matter how tempting they get. This firm denial brings him back to reality and he recollects everything. This poem alludes to another one of Frost's poems, ‘The Road Not Taken' where Frost places the persona in a similar situation where the persona is forced to make a choice between two paths. One of the paths is lush, green and very welcoming but he takes the one ‘less travelled by'. His mental struggles can be seen in both of these poems. This poem also bears a similar moral message as that of ‘The Lotos-Eaters' by Tennyson, in which the soldiers decide between their chance at bliss and their responsibilities and aims in life.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

5 Ways to Make Your Diversity Workshop a Success

5 Ways to Make Your Diversity Workshop a Success Organizing diversity workshops is a challenging undertaking. Whether the event takes place among coworkers, classmates, or community members, the likelihood that tension will arise is high. The point of such a workshop is to help participants understand diversity’s significance and how to relate to each other more respectfully as a result. To achieve this, sensitive subject matter will be shared, and issues will be raised that not everyone sees eye-to-eye on. Fortunately, you can take several steps to prevent your diversity workshop from flopping. They include setting ground rules, fostering team-building and consulting diversity experts. Let’s begin with the most basic element of presenting a diversity workshop. Where will it be held? In-House or Off-Site? Where you hold your diversity workshop depends on how comprehensive it will be. Will the program last a couple of hours, all day or longer? The length depends on how much information needs to be given out. Is this the most recent in a series of diversity workshops you’ve held? Then, perhaps a shorter program is more appropriate. On the other hand, if you’re presenting the first diversity workshop at your organization, consider planning for the event to take place all day someplace off-site, such as a nearby hotel or lodge in the woods. Holding the workshop in another location will keep people’s minds off their daily routines and on the task at-hand- diversity. Taking a trip together also creates opportunities for your team to bond, an experience that will be of use when it’s time to open up and share during the workshop. If finances are an issue or a day-trip just isn’t feasible for your organization, try holding the workshop somewhere on site that’s comfortable, quiet and can accommodate the necessary number of participants. Is this a place where lunch can be served  and attendees can make quick trips to the bathroom? Lastly, if the workshop isn’t a school-wide or company-wide event, make sure to post signs letting those who aren’t participating know not to interrupt the sessions. Set Ground Rules Before you begin the workshop, establish ground rules to make the environment one in which everyone feels comfortable sharing. Ground rules don’t have to be complicated and should be limited to about five or six to make them easy to remember. Post the ground rules in a central location so that everyone can see them. To help workshop attendees feel invested in the sessions, include their input when creating ground rules. Below is a list of guidelines to consider during a diversity session. Personal information shared during the workshop remains confidential.No talking over others.Disagree respectfully rather than with put-downs or judgmental criticism.Don’t give feedback to others unless you are asked specifically to do so.Refrain from making generalizations or invoking stereotypes about groups. Use Ice Breakers to Build Bridges Discussing race, class, and gender isn’t easy. Many people don’t discuss these issues among family members, let alone with coworkers or classmates. Help your team ease into these subjects with an ice breaker. The activity can be simple. For example, when introducing themselves, everyone can share a foreign country they’ve traveled to or would like to and why. Content Is Crucial Not sure what material to cover during the workshop? Turn to a diversity consultant for advice. Tell the consultant about your organization, the major diversity issues it faces and what you hope to achieve from the workshop. A consultant can came to your organization and facilitate the workshop or coach you on how to lead a diversity session. If your organization’s budget is tight, more cost-effective measures include speaking with a consultant by telephone or taking webinars about diversity workshops. Make sure to do your research before hiring a consultant. Find out the consultant’s areas of expertise. Obtain references and get a client list, if possible. What kind of rapport do the two of you have? Does the consultant have a personality and background that will suit your organization? How to Wrap  Up End the workshop by allowing attendees to share what they’ve learned. They can do this verbally with the group and individually on paper. Have them complete an evaluation, so you can gauge what worked best about the workshop and what improvements need to be made. Tell the participants how you plan to instill what they’ve learned in the organization, be it a workplace, classroom or community center. Following through on the topics raised will influence attendees to invest in future workshops. In contrast, if the information presented is never touched on again, the sessions may be considered a waste of time. Given this, be sure to engage the ideas brought forth during the workshop as soon as possible.

Monday, October 21, 2019

4 Books That Show You How to Write

4 Books That Show You How to Write 4 Books That Show You How to Write 4 Books That Show You How to Write By Mark Nichol No, that headline doesn’t read â€Å"Four Books That Tell You How to Write.† The verb is show, and that’s exactly what I mean. This post does not list writing guides, but if you want to learn how to create a memorable reading experience, follow the excellent examples below. Note that this is not a definitive list of the most exemplary books; it’s just four I’ve read recently that have fascinated me and made me think, â€Å"Gee, I wish I had written that† (and I can think of no better testimonial than that). 1. How to Distract People from the Fact That Your Book Is Educational by Making Them Laugh Book: In a Sunburned Country (Bill Bryson) Bryson, in this book and many others, sets out to entertain people and does so with great flair (and success). But he also loves to share his knowledge (and his passion for knowledge) with readers, and enhances nutritious information with tasty toppings of humor and whimsy. This book about his travels through and insights about Australia (a nation that, given its environment, is even more improbably successful than the United States) delights as it informs. Bryson has also written or edited books about science (A Brief History of Nearly Everything and others), language (The Mother Tongue: English and How It Got That Way and others), and more, and even when his work doesn’t live up to expectations (At Home: A Short History of Private Life), it’s still fun and fascinating. 2. How to Top Off an Engrossing Story About Exploration with an Ironic Twist Book: The Lost City of Z (David Grann) Few tropes stir the romantic adventurer in us as much as a jungle-exploration saga, and this book, based on the archetypal expedition into Green Hell from which popular culture has derived many of its notions about the subject, does the larger-than-life topic proud. The author retraces the steps of legendary Great White Explorer Percy Fawcett (allegedly an inspiration for Arthur Conan Doyle’s Professor Challenger), who, accompanied only by his son and the younger Fawcett’s best friend, set out to find evidence of a great civilization in the Amazonian jungle. The members of the expedition never returned nor, apparently, did many other adventurers who sought glory by attempting to discover both Fawcett’s fate and the object of his quest. Grann concludes this mesmerizing tale with a wry realization about the expedition’s goal that’s just too good for any but the most adept Hollywood treatment. 3. How to Debunk a Myth with an Even More Compelling Story Book: Mayflower: A Story of Courage, Community, and War (Nathaniel Philbrick) Philbrick peels away the facile fiction about Thanksgiving by booking readers passage on a sorely overcrowded one-hundred-foot-long sailing ship with a hundred passengers and more than two dozen crew members and integrating these additional travelers, through commanding scholarship and vivid writing, into the historic settlement the colonists formed against all odds. The story of their harrowing, heartbreaking first winter and their fumbling attempts to get along with their native neighbors, and an accurate account of their day(s) of thanks, stripped of schoolbook holiday hoo-haw, is refreshing. This account is framed by details about what led a band of religious dissidents and assorted â€Å"Strangers† (split about evenly in numbers) to unite in this venture, and by chapters chronicling the tragic misunderstandings and missteps that led to war between their descendants and their erstwhile indigenous allies. Tied together seamlessly, these episodes describe in a nutshell the story of the United States. 4. How to Make Being a Dork Seem (Momentarily) Cool Book: Moonwalking with Einstein: The Art and Science of Remembering Everything (Joshua Foer) Foer, the brother of the editor of the New Republic and of novelist Jonathan Safran Foer, holds his own against the literary accomplishments of his older siblings with this absorbing account of how he immersed himself in the highly esoteric world of memory masters and well, I won’t spoil it for you. Chancing on information about people who demonstrate prodigious memorization skills in competitions they train for with the intensity of Olympic athletes, Foer decides to try it out for himself, and takes us along for the ride. Along the way, we meet the man who inspired Dustin Hoffman’s character in Rain Man, as well as purported savant Daniel Tammet, whose memorization wizardry Tammet himself (perhaps disingenuously) attributes to autism, in addition to various mental athletes who seem to be exactly the type of poorly groomed, socially inept geeks you’d expect to find devoting much time and effort to a seemingly useless skill. But Foer also shares fascinating facts and history about memorization, and though he soon retires from his short career as a memory-competition participant, advocates the techniques he learned as tools any amateur will find beneficial in life. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the General category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:How to Format a UK Business LetterOne Sheep, Two Sheep, One Fish, Two Fish . . .5 Examples of Insufficient Hyphenation

Sunday, October 20, 2019

Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire - The Aftermath

Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire - The Aftermath The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire in 1911 was one of the most infamous industrial tragedies in American history. On a Saturday afternoon, a fire broke out in a clothing factory. While many were able to escape, the workers on the ninth floor were not alerted to the fire in time, and because there was only accessible door - locked from the outside to prevent theft or unauthorized breaks - most workers in that area were trapped by the fire. Firefighting efforts were not enough to save the ninth floor: the hoses could not work fast enough, and escape ladders did not reach high enough. The buildings elevator operators managed to make a few trips up to rescue workers before the heat warped the structure too much, but those were the only workers able to escape. 146 people died in the fire (mostly women) and there was an immediate uproar about the conditions that had led to the fire and the massive death toll. After the Fire: Identifying the Victims Bodies were taken to the Charities Pier on 26th Street at the East River. There, starting at midnight, survivors, families, and friends streamed past, trying to identify those who had died. Often, the corpses could only be identified by a dental filling, or shoes, or a ring. Members of the public, perhaps drawn from a morbid curiosity, also visited the makeshift morgue. For four days, thousands streamed through this macabre scene. Six of the bodies were not identified until 2011, almost 100 years after the fire. After the Fire: Newspaper Coverage The New York Times, in its March 26 edition, reported that 141 Men and Girls had been killed. Other articles featured interviews with witnesses and survivors. The coverage fed the publics growing horror at the event. After the Fire: Relief Efforts Relief efforts were coordinated by a Joint Relief Comittee, organized by Local 25 of the ILGWU, the Ladies Waist and Dress Makers Union. Participating organizations included the Jewish Daily Forward, United Hebrew Trades, Womens Trade Union League, and the Workmens Circle. The Joint Relief Committee also cooperated with efforts of the American Red Cross. Relief was provided to help survivors, and also to help families of the dead and injured. In a time when there were few public social services, this relief effort was often the only support for the survivors and families. After the Fire: Memorial at the Metropolitan Opera House The  Womens Trade Union League (WTUL), in addition to its help with the relief effort, pressed for an investigation of the fire and conditions that led to  the large number  of deaths, and also planned a memorial. Anne Morgan and Alva Belmont were the main organizers, and most in attendance were workers and wealthy supporters of the WTUL. Held on April 2, 1911, at the Metropolitan Office House, the Memorial Meeting was marked by a speech by ILGWU and WTUL organizer, Rose Schneiderman. Among her angry remarks, she said, We have tried you good people of the public and we have found you wanting.... She noted that There are so many of us for one job it matters little if 146 of us are burned to death. She called for workers to join in union efforts so that workers themselves could stand for their rights. After the Fire: Public Funeral March The ILGWU called for a citywide day of mourning for the day of the funeral of the victims. More than 120,000 marched in the funeral procession, and some 230,000 more watched the march. After the Fire: Investigations One result of the public outcry after the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire was that the New York governor appointed a commission to investigate factory conditions - more generally. This State Factory Investigation Committee met for five  years,  and proposed and worked for many legal changes and reform measures. After the Fire: Triangle Factory Fire Trial New York City District Attorney Charles Whitman decided to indict the owners of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory on charges of manslaughter, on the grounds that they had known that the second door was locked. Max Blanck and Isaac Harris were indicted for manslaughter in April 1911, as the D.A. moved swiftly. The trial was held over three weeks, beginning on December 4, 1911. Ultimately, jurors determined that there was reasonable doubt whether the owners knew that the doors were locked. Blanck and Harris were acquitted. There were protests at the decision, and Blanck and Harris were re-indicted. But a judge ordered them acquitted on the grounds of double jeopardy. Civil suits for wrongful death were filed against Blanck and Harris on behalf of those who had died in the fire and their families - 23 suits total. On March 11, 1913, nearly two years after the fire, these suits were settled for a total of $75 per victim. In comparison, the company received about $400 per victim from their insurance company, which totaled more than $60,000 more than the reported losses.

Saturday, October 19, 2019

Critically Analyse the Role of Customer Satisfaction and Loyalty in Essay

Critically Analyse the Role of Customer Satisfaction and Loyalty in the Strategic - Essay Example It is worth mentioning in this context that SMPP of a company comprises of certain specific steps on the basis of which companies should formulate as well as implement plans for accomplishing its objectives in an effective manner. These steps or procedures are required to be adopted by the management of companies with the objective of attaining a better strategic marketing plan inculcating the values of customer tastes and organisational profit objectives. There are usually four phases in an effective strategic marketing plan, which include determination of goals as well as objectives, analysing the situational position in various market segments, formulation of strategies and allocation of resources as well as monitoring process which should be followed in an appropriate manner with the aim of performing business activities effectively (Pajunen, 2012). Emphasising on this particular understanding, the paper will intend to discuss the SMPP strategies current practiced by companies to obtain high degree of customer satisfaction and loyalty. In this respect, the notions as well as perceptions of various authors will be interpreted through a rigorous literature review. Literature Review Strategic Marketing Planning Process (SMPP) The concept of SMPP is identified to be a vital element for companies to improve its competitive position in the global market segments (McDonald, 2006). As stated by McDonald (2006), SMPP is formulated as well as implemented by modern day organisations with the intention of acquiring better competitive advantages in relation to its products and/or services which are offered in the market segments. Companies should also identify their capabilities and business opportunities for conducting their business activities efficiently with the application of SMPP. McDonald (2006) stated that companies should determine market competitions as well as requirements of consumers in target market segments when focusing on SMPP implementation. Companies with the examination of all these factors will be able to perform their business operations effectively and competitively (McDonald, 2006). Moreover, McDonald (2006) also stated that there are certain advantages in accordance with which SMPP is adopt ed. For instance, with the virtues of effective SMPP implementations, companies will be able to identify opportunities as well as threats which are emerging in the worldwide market segments. Companies with the assistance of strategic plans will be able to adopt changes in the business environments in a rapid manner. Furthermore, companies will also be facilitated with the opportunity of allocating its resources in an appropriate manner with the implementation of an effective SMPP approach (McDonald, 2006). In a similar perspective, the article

Complete work Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Complete work - Essay Example For the few women who owned businesses, and were married â€Å"in manu† (meaning their husbands were in control of them), the groom together with his family was in charge of all the woman’s possessions. This law prevented women from owning anything they earned with the inclusion of her inheritance and dowry (Kidner, 2014). Women almost had no say in the ‘manus’ marriage and what the husband said was the last word on all the matters. I believe that if the women were given the opportunity to own property in the manus marriage, their families would have benefited more, as there would be two providers. In politics, women could not support their husbands in privacy and not in the public. Their public role was to attend to the traditional activities of household chores. At home they could weave, spin yarn in order to make clothes for their families (Kidner, 2014). If women had a say in politics and even participated in things like voting, most of the empire probl ems would be unheard of and the empire governed in a much better way. Women were also made to think that their role was to sit pretty at home, nurture their children and heed to their husband's decisions. Unlike today's society, fathers chose husbands for their daughters and girls got married at the legal age of 12 years (Kidner, 2014). Fathers allowing their daughters to become of age and then get married to the men of their choice would have resulted in decreasing the number of divorces as well as sexual promiscuity. The male dominance in the Roman Empire was a great influence on how women led their lives. The men were the determinants of what was good or bad for the women. They suppressed the voice of the women who only had an option of doing that which their husbands or fathers demanded from them. Their opinions did not matter and therefore were in no way an influence to the social norms nor the political attributes in the empire. This did not stop the women but they raised high above the norms and laws and managed to change their world. This persuasive paper shows how women changed some of the social factors of the Roman Empire. Women in the Roman Empire may not have had any political office or any voting rights but made great contributions in religion. They did this amidst the fact that they could not stand for their rights. Women always had to serve under a male figure, be it a husband or a father. Men dominated in the social field and politics but the amazing thing is that they were not a great influence on religion. As it was customary, the women took care of the homestead’s shrines, altars, and offering daily prayers. They would perform the necessary rituals to keep the household gods appeased. The Romans believed that these gods, when women appeased them, would live in harmony with the family. The appeased spirits would protect the home and family from any harm and so the women had to pay attention to how well they kept the gods. However, thi s changed over time as women became goddesses and there are coins present in the empire that have images of these goddesses. Helena was the woman who saw it that Christianity was the foundation of the Roman Empire (Winter, 2003). The chauvinistic male society made it clear that only males would assess education. Women, as per

Friday, October 18, 2019

Extraordinary Rendition Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Extraordinary Rendition - Research Paper Example and its conspiratorial partners. Although clearly illegal under international law, both Presidents Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush used kidnapping where normal extradition was unavailable to bring fugitives to trial. â€Å"The Supreme Court upheld the government's power to prosecute people who were seized in these abductions and kidnappings irrespective of their legality under international law in the 1992 case of United States v. Alvarez-Machain.† (Lobel 1). Not until 911, however, under President George W. Bush, did the process shift from law enforcement to a â€Å"preventative† measure, and the new policy of extraordinary rendition sent â€Å"individuals to countries not for the purpose of trial, but rather to gather intelligence about future wrongdoing through unlawful detentions and coercive interrogation† (Lobel 1). The estimated number of incidents has been assessed by the CIA as in the â€Å"mid-range two figures.† Based on facts stated by Grey o n Frontline in 2011, this number is probably an underestimate considering â€Å"Many renditions organized by the CIA involved the help not only of other U.S. agencies, such as the Pentagon, but the practical assistance of other countries, such as Egypt and Syria† (Grey no. 6). It is safe then to assume that rendition is not an operation of the CIA alone. Information gathered suggests it is operated through a series of interconnected governmental agencies, private operatives, such as now famous Blackwater, and private companies including Boeing Aircraft, which, through a subsidiary, â€Å"’offers everything needed for efficient’ spanning the globe† (Mayer par 1). The U.S. program prompted several official investigations in Europe into alleged secret detentions and unlawful inter-state transfers involving Council of Europe member states. Charges were filed against such actions based on article 3 of the United Nations Convention Against Torture cites the COE ’s responsibility as â€Å"guardian for human rights, democracy and respect for the rule of law in Europe,† citing its â€Å"†¦.numerous and systematic human rights abuses committed in the pursuit of the so-called â€Å"war on terrorism† (UN Resolution 1507 par. 1 & 3). British collusion in the process is clear in the case of a Pakistani rice merchant held for over six years at Bagram airbase, infamously known to human rights campaigners as â€Å"Guantanamo's evil twin†(Rose par 9). As Rose in his December 9, 2009 article in the Mail reports, a rice merchant was held without charges for six years after disappearing on a business trip to Iran. Crossing into Iraq he was captured by the British who handed him over to the Americans, countering British insistence that it does not take part in such activities. Additional evidence is suggested by a cable from the British requesting specific information on all intelligence flights to determine whether they â€Å"might put the UK at risk of being complicit in unlawful acts (i.e. the ferrying of prisoners through British territories)† (U.S. Embassy Cables par 1). Beyond the immediate EU member states, a web of collusion is also suggested, as one Pakistani prisoner subjected to torture by his Egyptian captors states that the â€Å"chief of Egyptian security informed him that Egypt receives $10

Problems in Total Quality in Workplace Assignment

Problems in Total Quality in Workplace - Assignment Example As such, organizations look for appropriate ways to manage such dynamic turbulent conditions and win over. One of the ways to do this would be through improving quality, which Narasimhan and Kannan observe that when organizations start â€Å"improving quality, it improves everything† which in the long run makes them â€Å"stay in business† (2011, p.445). The researchers define quality as a continuous process where organizations build and sustain relationships through assessments, anticipation and fulfillment of stated and implied needs. Over time, organizations have grown towards Total Quality, a concept that has shaped itself into a critical concept in strategic management. Total Quality refers to the attitude, culture and organization of a business entity striving to provide its customers with services and products satisfying their needs. This requires quality in all the operations of an organization with processes being executed right first time and waste and defects reduced from operations. Together with quality tools, management tools - cumulatively referred to as Total Quality Management - play a critical role in the reduction of wasteful practices and increasing business. Morfaw (2009) defines Total Quality Management as a philosophy or approach aimed at meeting the needs of customers and their expectations involving employees and managers through the application of quantitative methods that would continuously improve the products, services and processes in an organization. This combines the elements involved in both strategic management and sustainability on a single platform so as to ensure organizations survive longer. The nature of total quality makes it strategic: aims at organization’s long-term survival; perceives organizations as open systems with change as the only constant; and it is also futuristic by  nature (Narasimhan & Kannan, 2011).

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Analysis Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Analysis - Research Paper Example But the use of buffered lidocaine faces some issues as it is a compounded medication and needs to be procured from the pharmacy and with its short half-life the FDA requires this solution to be replaced weekly which has been adopted even for this present study. In the case of bacteriostatic normal saline, the presence of benzyl alcohol as a preservative and an anesthetic has been proposed as a suitable alternative for intradermal lidocaine. Other local anesthetics such as the topical lidocaine-prilocaine suffer from certain disadvantages as it is inappropriate for use on the day of the surgery, is not economical and needs to be applied 30 minutes prior to starting the IV for best results. The practice of using intradermal bacteriostatic saline instead of intradermal buffered lidocaine as the former was cost effective was adopted by a Midwestern community hospital as a pain management strategy during surgeries. However, the concern of the nurses in the hospital has been the lesser num ber of comparative studies that have determined efficacy of the two anesthetics. Additionally they have provided inconclusive evidence about the use of either intradermal lidocaine or bacteriostatic saline as an effective anesthetic prior to IV injection. Hence the present study aimed to determine the efficacy of the two anesthetics in order to bring about a practice change. ... However, previous studies have been inconclusive in comparing the effectiveness of the two anesthetics: intradermal lidocaine and bacteriostatic saline. Hence the present study was designed to compare the efficacy and determine the degree of pain using the two anesthetics and a randomized double-blind; quasi-experiment, and two-treatment, parallel designed study was conducted. The study was started after approval by the institutional review board. Both male and female same-day surgery patients in the age group of 18 to 80 were invited to take part in the study. The inclusion criteria were the presence of a physician’s order for a peripheral IV line and an ability to express the level of pain experienced. The sample size of the study included 150 adults who were admitted for same-day surgery between the months February and May. Two subjects required more than one venipuncture and in view of inaccurate reporting of the pain they were excluded from the study and others who were e xcluded include subjects allergic to lidocaine and others who had to take pain medication in the previous four hours. The degree of pain experienced by the subjects was measured using a modified verbal numeric rating scale (VNRS) in which the pain was recorded on a scale of 0 to 10. Buffered lidocaine for the study was prepared by a pharmacist using lidocaine and sodium bicarbonate and commercially available bacteriostatic saline was used. All the study subjects were blinded to the study solution and the basic demographics such as age, sex, race, IV location and catheter size were collected. The study protocol was explained to both the study participants and nurses who were responsible for the catheterization and informed consent was obtained from the participants.

The Capital Appellate Process and the Unkept Promise of the Essay

The Capital Appellate Process and the Unkept Promise of the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act - Essay Example All victims are entitled to appeals and should they apply for one, the state gives them an alternative for representation through a state sponsored attorney. While other convicted offenders begin their jail terms soon after the verdict is passed, death row culprits stay for long before facing justice. In Oklahoma, the duration between the judgment and the actual execution gets to up to ten years. This is contrary is normally contrary to the provision of justice, the society expects justice from the legal system, the justice in such a case is the execution of a victim, by delaying this, the society is deprived of the justice. To ensure the smooth and effective execution of criminals in time, the congress passed the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act (AEDPA). This Act aimed at speeding the execution process of the indicted criminals (Nicole 9). The act was informed by the fact that prisoners often suffered from death row phenomenon. The anxiety brought about by the lengthy waiting slowly seeps sanity out of such inmates. They therefore suffer mental breakdowns and become burdens to the state and risks to their fellow inmates. Th is threatened the safety of other inmates besides being an inhumane treatment. The paper is written in an official report format implying that it serves an official purpose. Its potential target is law scholar interested in understanding the operations of the judicial system and the coordination between the justice department and the department of correction. The paper provides the details of this relationship clearly outline the weaknesses that exist and the possible consequences of the weaknesses. The headline is bold and written in a font clearly larger than the rest of the text, this is a writing method employed by newspapers and magazines, its sole objective is to draw as much attention to the article from a browsing reader. Scholarly

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Analysis Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Analysis - Research Paper Example But the use of buffered lidocaine faces some issues as it is a compounded medication and needs to be procured from the pharmacy and with its short half-life the FDA requires this solution to be replaced weekly which has been adopted even for this present study. In the case of bacteriostatic normal saline, the presence of benzyl alcohol as a preservative and an anesthetic has been proposed as a suitable alternative for intradermal lidocaine. Other local anesthetics such as the topical lidocaine-prilocaine suffer from certain disadvantages as it is inappropriate for use on the day of the surgery, is not economical and needs to be applied 30 minutes prior to starting the IV for best results. The practice of using intradermal bacteriostatic saline instead of intradermal buffered lidocaine as the former was cost effective was adopted by a Midwestern community hospital as a pain management strategy during surgeries. However, the concern of the nurses in the hospital has been the lesser num ber of comparative studies that have determined efficacy of the two anesthetics. Additionally they have provided inconclusive evidence about the use of either intradermal lidocaine or bacteriostatic saline as an effective anesthetic prior to IV injection. Hence the present study aimed to determine the efficacy of the two anesthetics in order to bring about a practice change. ... However, previous studies have been inconclusive in comparing the effectiveness of the two anesthetics: intradermal lidocaine and bacteriostatic saline. Hence the present study was designed to compare the efficacy and determine the degree of pain using the two anesthetics and a randomized double-blind; quasi-experiment, and two-treatment, parallel designed study was conducted. The study was started after approval by the institutional review board. Both male and female same-day surgery patients in the age group of 18 to 80 were invited to take part in the study. The inclusion criteria were the presence of a physician’s order for a peripheral IV line and an ability to express the level of pain experienced. The sample size of the study included 150 adults who were admitted for same-day surgery between the months February and May. Two subjects required more than one venipuncture and in view of inaccurate reporting of the pain they were excluded from the study and others who were e xcluded include subjects allergic to lidocaine and others who had to take pain medication in the previous four hours. The degree of pain experienced by the subjects was measured using a modified verbal numeric rating scale (VNRS) in which the pain was recorded on a scale of 0 to 10. Buffered lidocaine for the study was prepared by a pharmacist using lidocaine and sodium bicarbonate and commercially available bacteriostatic saline was used. All the study subjects were blinded to the study solution and the basic demographics such as age, sex, race, IV location and catheter size were collected. The study protocol was explained to both the study participants and nurses who were responsible for the catheterization and informed consent was obtained from the participants.

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Critical Response to an Analysis of the Tempest by Shakespeare Research Paper

Critical Response to an Analysis of the Tempest by Shakespeare - Research Paper Example Wylie explains how the play shows that the discourses of colonialism and geography were already complex in the early seventeenth century. He calls it the â€Å"foundational colonial allegory† which is narrated by the ruler of the island, Prospero. Prospero recalls how he was usurped by his brother Antonio and King of Naples, Alonso who were shipwrecked but Prospero and his daughter Miranda reach the current island from which he speaks. The island was completely deserted except for one person whom they found, named, Caliban. Although Caliban owns the land, Prospero compels Caliban to start serving Prospero and consider him his master through his magical powers. This is indicative of the fact that the colonial forces always created an environment for the native people to feel obliged towards the settlers from abroad. The island which Shakespeare sketches in the play is probably one of the islands from the late sixteenth century located in the Mediterranean or the West Atlantic w hich shows how colonialism was a matter of history.

Monday, October 14, 2019

Cell phones Essay Example for Free

Cell phones Essay Complications come with the breakthrough of technology and this is especially true with cell phones. It is quite difficult to imagine how much change in communications occurred in just the past decade. I remember very well I acquired my first cell phone: it was what they call an analog (Frieden, 2007). It was pricey that time although it was a second hand one that a friend sold to me. It felt light and sleek at that time though by today’s standard, it is as heavy and bulky as the standard phone receiver. Today, it seems that the only people who are not using these miniature phones are infants. And that is even narrowing. There are several instances that demonstrate both the help and convenience, and irritation that this gadget brings. It is very functional; one can use it as a flashlight especially during concerts. One can also use it as mirror in case the lady forgets one and she wants to floss her teeth. How? Take a good snapshot of your toothy smile or make a video shoot of your grin. There a thousand and one uses of this communication instrument. Many so-called sex scandals were indecently recorded by individuals who have no very worthy pursuits with which they can pour forth their boundless energies. Moreover, criminals have developed fantastic means in order to milk money from people. One such case is a former student. There was this snatcher who was very ingenious about the cell phone he took. He did not throw the simcard away. Instead he started to send SMS to people in the phone book/contacts and asked them to foot this particular bill; the cell phone happens to have a program that allows the head of the family to make some deductions or send money to an intended person/persons. More than five responded positively and the snatcher-con-swindler had managed to milk money in substantial amounts from the owner’s friends and relatives. On the other hand many of a cell phone’s additional functions include (in the case of students) the accumulation of different poses from the cell phone’s camera, for keepsakes; a brief MTV production minus the costs; access to the internet and television shows among others. With these conveniences are handfuls also of problems. Have you heard for instance newly discovered requisites? Have you also heard of fingernail â€Å"stubs,† whose pastime is simply wanting to relieve themselves of their incessant boredom. How about the appearance of inseparability between the owner and the gadget? Not only that, many of those who spend time with their cell phones have started to overlook the effects of the distraction that their pre-occupation with the instrument brings. Reference: 1. Frieden, Robert. Telecommunications. Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2007 [DVD]. Redmond, WA: Microsoft Corporation, 2006.

Sunday, October 13, 2019

Effects Of Rising Fuel Prices Economics Essay

Effects Of Rising Fuel Prices Economics Essay This research project is being written because currently the UK is experiencing a recession, which has escalated the price of fuel and is affecting the supermarkets. The research will examine the impact of fuel prices on different supermarkets and their approaches taken to boost sales and improve competitiveness. The intended reason for presenting this research project is to show how supermarkets can become more efficient and supportive. In order to answer the research question the following criteria will be addressed: Formulate a research specification Implement the research project within agreed procedures and to specification Evaluation of research outcomes Present the research outcomes The fuel prices will be compared and contrasted for the supermarkets during the past 5 years between 2008 2012. It will then make recommendations based on the findings of the research and analysis. This report is to be completed by 22nd April 2013. Methodology This research which is being provided has made use of different resources; lecture notes, textbooks, newspapers, discussions with family members and internet websites for the different organisations mentioned e.g. Asda, Morrisons, Sainsburys and Tesco In order to complement the secondary data derived from research studies and published material, telephone interviews with several supermarkets will be conducted. The interview will include questions for the supermarkets both, as a consumer and a supplier of fuel directly to its customers. The research objectives looking to be achieved by the end of this report are Using available secondary data, to establish the pattern and trends of the impact of fuel prices on supermarkets in the last 5 years Collecting primary data to obtain first-hand account from company personnel, about their decisions and adopted strategies to manage the impact of rising prices, both as a consumer and supplier of fuel To make a set of recommendations on fuel incentive programme based on core product offerings This study was conducted as part of a HND in Business unit which involves conducting research and then presenting this in the form of a research project which takes into account all the research gathered. The main purpose of this unit is to conduct research on a topic or any current issues. It was decided to conduct my research based around How the increase in the cost of fuel is affecting supermarkets in 2008 compared to 2012. In order to help obtain individual and business views on how the price increase is affecting them, this will involve the gathering of information from 1:1 telephone calls and face-to-face interviews with supermarkets. The completed questionnaires will help make an overall analysis of the data at the end, in order to produce an evaluative report based on the findings. With the research provided, this helped me look at gaining more insight into how different supermarkets are operating in the current recession and what changes would be made in order to cope with the increase in fuel prices. Therefore this led to the setting of the aim, about exploring further into how supermarkets are operating by the fuel price increase in terms of distribution and sales. With the production of this research project, the supermarkets will benefit the most alongside the oil companies and consumers. However, the petrol stations will also need information in order to succeed. The need for the report is to highlight the price variations and how supermarkets adapt to change. Methodology Chapter Currently the global economy is experiencing a recession. As a result of this, the economy and individuals are facing problems like a rise in unemployment levels which means it is becoming harder to get a job, fuel prices increasing and a decline in the overall market level. In conclusion the recession means that the business sector is hit the largest alongside consumers. When doing the project there will be various steps involved. Firstly this will establish the goal of the overall chosen research topic How the increase in the cost of fuel is affecting supermarkets, and then determine my sample in regards to views on how and why the fuel prices are affecting the supermarkets. The next step would be the creation of the questionnaire which is to be distributed amongst businesses and those being interviewed. The research collected from the questionnaire will focus on prices paid for fuel. The interviews would be conducted and then data collated. Whilst carrying out my research into the topic about the fuel price increase the question which came to mind was Does the fuel price increase, as a result of the recession, affect supermarkets on a day-to-day operation? In regards to this researched question, this has led to me thinking about the level of impact in which fuel prices is having on different supermarkets. Therefore this helped me choose this as my research topic fuel price increase. In terms of the research question, my research objective which is being looked to be achieved is To identify the ways in which businesses operate in terms of distribution and delivery and how this contributes to success or failure. Research into the topic of fuel prices was chosen as it is a continual business issue, relates to the economy and was an interesting topic to gain more insight into. The other research idea Should healthy eating be promoted within schools? was discarded as it does not link into business, but brings in more persuasive ideas regarding healthy eating. The research objective was to identify the ways in which healthy eating can be encouraged. This type of issue is a continuing debate and has been discussed by the government and the NHS, leading to a variety of initiatives e.g. 5 a day. Should Microsoft technology be improved for businesses? was the other research topic but was then eliminated as it already improves regularly and helps them become more up-to-date. The objective of this research idea was To investigate into the type of features preferred by businesses and any improvements they would recommend. This project takes an Inductive approach, supported by secondary data gained from published reports and scholarly work. Also, primary data was obtained through a series of telephone interviews using semi-structured questionnaires. Implementing the inductive research approach was successful for this research project as the research question acquired various perspectives. Therefore, the overall conclusion could not be drawn until the research had been analysed. One benefit of using the inductive approach was that the main categories emerge as data is collected and analysed (BPP p234-235). However there were different limitations like it being time consuming and an intensive research method which required high levels of resources to help compare different views. Having collected all the information it would therefore not reveal any results at the end based on the analysis. This type of approach involves Qualitative data as the results were not number based and was targeted at a smaller population which consisted of supermarket transport managers who would have vast knowledge of fuel prices. This therefore helps ensure my results are valid, reliable and objective. The limitation experienced was that the reliability of the data was purely dependent upon my organisational skills and analytical knowledge. As the questionnaire was my collection method alongside interviews, this meant that it helped me check the reliability of the gathered data and explore ideas deeper through the interviews. For this research topic, the survey method will be implemented and will involve preparation of a questionnaire which will be answered by the various supermarkets. Using the survey method will help obtain information which can be analysed and patterns extracted and comparisons made (Bell, 1999). Non-Probability Sampling is a sampling method which is conducted and relies on the judgement of the researcher/s in terms of selecting their respondents. The sample size for the research used is smaller and this meant it could be targeted at specific respondents. The type of sampling method carried out for the research provided was Convenience Sampling because it allowed communication to specific people within the company. This method does not require or use any sample design. This sampling method was chosen over others e.g Random, Systematic or Quota sampling method due to the reason that it helped provide useful information, as the sample was kept representative according to the organisations being investigated into. Besides this type of sampling, Convenience sampling was more relevant to my research compared to Random Sampling, which would have involved the selection of the population randomly. It was decided as the 2nd type of sampling due to the fact that it works well with small groups. The questionnaire will provide information from the perspective of supermarkets, being both consumers and suppliers. Supermarkets consume fuel as part of their distribution costs and supply fuel to customers at their petrol stations. A questionnaire was created in order to help acquire very specific information from the interviewees. Research was conducted first hand because there was no research team available. Asking specific questions will help provide precise data which can be compared and analysed in the report. However, questionnaire responses may be misunderstood and have an adverse impact on overall comparisons. Information obtained relates to the current situation and was gathered within a short span of time, resulting in brief answers. The responses from the questionnaire will be put into a bar chart to show the comparisons of how the supermarkets are operating in terms of the fuel price increase. By putting the data in the form of a bar chart, it would help summarise the large set of data easily and can be understood. However there were other methods e.g. pie charts and histograms, which were discarded as the bar charts would represent the data more easily and at the end was able to make straightforward overall comparisons. Table 1 Research Action Plan Task 17/05/12- 24/05/12 25/05/12- 31/05/12 17/09/12- 21/09/12 22/09/12- 28/09/12 01/10/12-09/10/12 08/11/12 15/11/12 16/11/12 22/11/12 Topic Selection Complete Action Plan Complete Code of Ethics Complete Data Collection Complete Questionnaire Complete Research Obj Complete Sampling method Complete Proposal completion Complete Throughout this project the milestone progress reviews took place: When the research topic was decided upon 31st May 2012 On finalisation and gathering of literature sources mentioned in the literature review When the research project proposal had been done 22nd November 2012 On completion of main report critique Code of Ethics To ensure, within this project, the content included is based on my findings To monitor and record progress on the action plan progress table Completion of the research project within the specified time limit Questionnaire responses kept confidentially and not distributed amongst other interviewees Only to use qualitative data once approved by interviewee Interviewees receive copies of the final report Advantages of surveys Disadvantages of surveys Focus on data in comparison to theory Data implication can be ignored Caters for small-scale qualitative research Questionnaires and sampling could lead to lack in depth and detail Allows use of tools like questionnaire and telephone 1:1 interviews Inaccurate or not honest responses Results obtained fairly quick Time consuming in terms of accuracy and honesty If survey structure well organised then this means the analysis is made easier Surveys provide a range Sources of data and methods of data collation It was decided that there were advantages to collecting and using further existing secondary data, such as time and cost saving. However, since the data has been acquired by someone else, it could be out of date or unreliable. Because of this, it is imperative that the research is checked to ensure it is accurate and reliable to use for the research question. The research into surveys, deduced that Denscombe (1998) had proposed pros and cons as follows: Supermarkets will have cartels Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) who will sell fuel to wholesalers e.g. Shell and then sell it to Tesco. This will mean that Tesco will be dependent upon OPEC when getting their fuel. Whilst OPEC is a cartel, this means they would be known to dominate the market and want to get suitable prices. If Tesco were to make agreements with OPEC, they would find it hard because OPEC will not receive any benefits. Overall this issue would have a big significance on Tesco because they dont have any control with aspects such as how much petrol OPEC will supply to them as well as the prices charged. Justify the chosen methodology Morrisons Faculty team was involved in the collection of the primary data. They answered the questions accurately and the information provided, led to a better understanding about their operations. This helped to obtain the correct data, which provided other essential data based around current and future actions. There are minimal academic literature based around the topic of fuel prices which can be studied in order to help draw up an overall judgement based on the findings. This is a systematic topic and has been discussed by various experts in this field. Since secondary data collation involved collecting information from that which someone else had collected, the information was reviewed before including it in this research project. It was necessary to compare the different sources of secondary information and to include it after review. http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/03/16/article-0-12327C8B000005DC-223_468x343.jpghttp://www.gscape.com/images/econ/charts/WeeklyFuelPrices130212.gif UK Fuel Prices for Monday 17th September 2012 Avg Min Max Unleaded 140.05p 133.9p 152.9p Diesel 144.39p 138.9p 156.9p Super Unleaded 147.72p 139.9p 159.9p Premium Diesel 153.02p 146.9p 161.9p LPG 74.94p 67.7p 83.9p According to http://www.theupcoming.co.uk/2012/03/20/inflation-continues-fall-despite-the-rise-in-petrol-prices/ The Consumer Price (CPI) Index rate of inflation had fallen from 3.6% in January to 3.4% the following month during February. David Kern, the Chief Economist at the British Chambers of Commerce said, The marked increases in world oil and food prices since the beginning of the year are worrying and support our view that further declines in domestic inflation, both this year and next, will not be as sharp as the Banks Monetary Policy Committee. Conferring to the Daily Express on Tuesday 15th May 2012, Morrisons announced they were going to reduce their petrol prices by 2p a litre. This action being taken would lead to price wars occurring between both supermarkets and petrol stations e.g. BP, Esso and Texaco. As a result of Morrisons decreasing their fuel prices, this has led to other retailers looking to consider doing this. The main reason why Morrisons has chosen this is because it will help them stay more competitive especially in the current UK recession. With retailers like Tesco, they were considering 2p cut in prices as well as their 5p off vouchers on top. In accordance to the Telegraph published online, it mentions that The cost of oil has jumped 30pc over the last four months, raising fears that the recent easing in inflation would be temporary. Petrol prices rose 3.5p per litre during last month to  £1.35 while diesel increased 3.3p to  £1.40. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/economics/9549808/UK-inflation-eases-in-August-despite-rising-fuel-costs.html It is known that having high fuel prices will mean that various industries e.g. Primary Sector, Secondary Sector, Tertiary Sector and the commercial industry who rely on any form of transportation will find themselves having to increase their prices in order to maintain their profits and be cost effective. According to the Daily Express as of Thursday 6th September 2012, it mentions about The Office of Fair trading (OFT) looking further into the fuel price increase and their inquiry will address competition issues and concerns over price co-ordination. From customers views they reckon that when the price of crude oil decreases, this is not being reflected at the pump as quick as they would like. The Daily telegraph published 21st March 2012, talks about due to both fuel prices and food, this is therefore leading to higher living costs. There have been experts who warn that the situation is unlikely to improve in the short-term. Experts have warned that drivers may either change their job or quit as a result of an increase in fuel duty. It has been proven that A hike in fuel costs at the start of the holiday season will backfire as many people are already cutting back. Jayne Atherton mentions in the Metro newspaper on Wednesday 21st March 2012 that most manufacturers are likely to raise prices because of the spiralling cost of oil. Its believed that any added rises in the cost of oil will be a significant concern. Its mentioned within the Metro newspaper dated 25th September 2012 about 2 supermarkets starting a fuel price war; Asda and Morrisons. In terms of this price war, Asda say they will cut their prices on both unleaded and diesel by 3p to 135.7p and 139.7p. Conversely Morrisons also took the same action by reducing their prices 3p. This price war will therefore lead to other supermarkets e.g. Tesco, Sainsburys, Esso, Texaco and BP, wanting to follow the same procedure. Asda had an income tracker report done in 2008 which showed the huge impact high fuel prices have on the average familys monthly budget. During August it was reported that apart from fuel prices staying low last year, the costs at the pumps had rose. Within the Daily Mail on Saturday 22nd September 2012, it says that as oil has been rising slowly over months from $100 a barrel to $115 a barrel, this has pushed petrol prices and energy bills up for different UK households. Oil prices have however fallen dramatically within previous days with fears about the slowdown in the global economy hitting demand. The metro newspaper on 10th October mentions that as cost of fuel continues to rise, this is urging motorists to stay off the roads. As motorists vanish, most are staying off the roads to help save money and also reduce their unnecessary trips. The only constant they see is the fact wages arent increasing in line with inflation but there are other costs particularly petrol and diesel that are going up. Ross McGuiness makes a decision about them having no option but to cut back and some people have cut out their cars. His study into the fuel price increase leads to the debate about how prices are increased and passed on. As argued by Brian Madderson, he mentions that when purchasing fuel which costs  £50,000, 60% of the cost is made of fuel duty and VAT. This cost is paid by small retailers to the government through the supplier before the tax is collected from the customers. This led to him believing that is absurd. Furthermore Chris Hunt, General Director at UK Petroleum Industry Association, stated that rising fuel costs are down to emerging car sales markets within China and India. Chris Hunt also argues that increasing fuel prices will decrease number of sales, but will on the other hand lead to oil suppliers across UK, not profiteering. With the 3p increase in fuel duty, it was believed that benefits would arise such as creating of over 70,000 jobs and boost economy growth by 0.2%. Sky news also states that We appreciate the Governments aspiration to reduce the deficit but know that hiking fuel duty up by 3p in January will only make things much worse. This therefore shows that the change would make the deficit greater and not help the economy become more stable. FairFuel UKs national spokesman Quentin Willson said: We have always argued that fuel duty shouldnt be the Treasurys sacred cash cow it should be used as a lever for growth. George Osborne mentioned that the current fuel price increase which was set for January is to be scrapped. This was demolished with the aim to help the pressure put on workers and families who are currently in need. This increase was also considered carefully as it would coincide with the rail fares increasing and changes to child benefits. Going ahead with the 3p rise, doesnt make sense for economic recovery and deficit reduction. Lee Boyce argues that with the petrol price decrease, it is still making consumers pay more at the pumps. The AA, goes along with Lee Boyces idea concerning the prices not dropping enough. In relation to the prices paid by customers, it was found by AA that drivers were also once again suffering from a price postcode lottery where motorists in one area were charged as much as 5p a litre more than drivers a few miles away. Before 2002, the real price of fuel had been dropping, which led to a decrease in the numbers of fuel-poor households. The real price increases since 2003, resulted in a doubling of the fuel poor from 1.2 million households in England in 2003 to 2.4 million in 2006. In the White Paper, the government predicted some possible future fuel price scenarios and their likely effect on fuel poverty numbers. The graph below illustrates this: Figure : England Households in fuel poverty Graph 1: England households in fuel poverty One of the best insights into why the UK is failing on fuel poverty comes from a statement in 1976 by an early campaigner, Marigold Johnson, when commenting on the rise in fuel prices after the first oil crisis in 1973. It was believed it was Societys failure to plan for an age of high-cost fuels. Subsequently, fuel prices have risen and at faster rate than the RPI (Retail Price Index), during every year since 2003. Increase size in 2005, 2006, 2008 has been severe. With an increase of 105% in residential fuel prices since 2000, this sets against a RPI increase of 26%, which represents a real fuel price increase of 62%. Residential fuel prices within the UK, have effectively increased by 84% between 2000 and Fe February 2009 for the average household. When the cause of a fuel price rise is international energy costs, then the problem, is, to an extent, out of the governments control. Government and OFGEM (Office of the gas and electricity markets) are trying to ensure that price increases which are passed onto the customers are justified. Governments own coffers are receiving more money from the VAT levied at 5% on rising fuel prices. It would be expected that there is recognition regarding fuel poverty policy consisting of disastrous effects in which rapid fuel prices can have on the fuel poor, particularly since 2003. The potential impact of these price increases on progress towards meeting the targets set out in The UK Fuel Poverty strategy means efforts will need to focus on finding most sustainable way of tackling fuel poverty. During 2008, world oil prices were US $145 and during 2009 went down to $39, leading to predictions about fuel price levels and fuel poverty extent being difficult. Current Fuel prices Average Minimum Maximum Unleaded 138.6p 132.9p 151.9p Diesel 143.3p 137.9p 156.9p 22.2 Domestic freight transport: by mode Great Britain percentage 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 5,6 2005 7 2006 2007 8 2008 9 2009 10 Goods moved (billion tonnes kilometres) Petroleum products Road1 ZBZP 5.0 6.4 5.8 5.2 5.5 5.7 5.5 5.6 5.1 6.5 4.8 Rail2 ZBZQ 1.5 1.4 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.5 1.6 1.5 1.4 Water3 ZBZR 48.6 52.7 43.5 51.7 46.9 46.9 47.2 37.8 36.4 36.4 36.4 of which: coastwise ZBZS 33.3 26.0 23.1 24.2 23.3 26.6 30.3 22.7 25.0 26.5 27.1 Pipeline9 ZBZT 11.6 11.4 11.5 10.9 10.5 10.7 10.8 10.8 10.2 10.2 10.2 All modes ZBZU 66.7 71.9 62.0 69.0 64.1 64.5 64.7 55.8 53.3 54.6 52.8 Coal and coke Road1 ZBZV 2.2 1.5 2.1 1.5 1.5 1.2 1.5 1.3 1.6 1.0 1.0 Rail2 ZBZW 4.8 4.8 6.2 5.7 5.8 6.7 8.3 8.8 7.7 7.9 6.2 Water3 ZBZX 0.5 0.2 0.5 0.3 0.5 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.3 All modes ZBZY 7.5 6.5 8.8 7.5 7.9 8.5 10.2 10.4 9.8 9.5 7.5 Other traffic Road1 ZBZZ 150.5 151.5 150.6 152.7 154.7 155.6 156.4 159.7 166.4 156.0 137.6 Rail2 ZCAA 11.9 11.9 12.0 11.7 11.9 12.5 12.2 11.8 11.9 11.2 11.4 Water3 ZCAB 9.6 14.6 14.8 15.2 13.5 12.3 13.3 13.5 13.9 12.7 11.9 All modes ZCAC 172.0 178.0 177.4 179.6 180.0 180.4 181.9 185.0 192.2 179.9 161.0 All traffic Road1 KCTA 157.7 159.4 158.5 159.4 161.7 162.5 163.4 166.7 173.1 163.5 143.5 Rail2 KCTB 18.2 18.1 19.4 18.5 18.9 20.4 21.7 21.9 21.2 20.6 19.1 Water3 ZCAD 58.7 67.4 58.8 67.2 60.9 59.5 60.9 51.9 50.8 49.7 48.6 Pipeline KCTE 11.6 11.4 11.5 10.9 10.5 10.7 10.8 10.8 10.2 10.2 10.2 All modes KCTF 246.2 256.3 248.2 256.0 252.0 253.0 256.8 251.3 255.3 244.0 221.3 Percentage of all traffic Road1 ZCAE 64.0 62.0 64.0 62.0 64.0 64.0 64.0 66.0 68.0 67.0 65.0 Rail2 ZCAF 7.0 7.0 8.0 7.0 7.0