Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Answering Questions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Answering Questions - Essay Example Intended strategy is often planned unlike emergent strategy which is which emerges incrementally. Emergent strategy, therefore, is often used to respond to emergency situations. Intended strategy has a well laid out structure and plan whereas emergent is usually informal and doesn’t have a well laid out structure (Grant, 2010). Another difference is that intended structure is as a result of critical thinking and execution while emergent is often based on trial and error. Intended strategy involves analyzing situations while emergent strategy is based on exploring options or finding out solutions. This school is visionary in nature and it has a centralized leadership through the Chief Executive Officer (Ireland, Hoskisson & Hitt, 2009). It has a body the where crucial decisions can be taken and comprehensive tactics can be deduced. These bodies use intuition, visions, inspiration, and inspiration as tools for guiding their decision making process Its strategy comes about through constant experimentation and adapting to situations. This means that strategies are gained through experience (Grant & Jordan, 2012). The more the experiences the greater the knowledge learned from them. There is no clear pattern to describe how strategies are formulated. Internal Strategic Analysis is undertaken to evaluate and organization’s strategic capabilities and so as to know its main strengths and weaknesses, and sources of the sustainable competitive advantage. The model used is SWOT analysis. This means that the strength and weaknesses likely to impact the strategy development is reviewed. The information need is derived using an internal analytical tool such as value chain and financial analysis. Organizational purpose tries to explain the reason for the existence of the organization. Corporate social responsibility, on the other hand, is the endeavor of organizations to act ethically by taking care of the welfare of its staff members and

Monday, October 28, 2019

Jacques Lacan On Masochism Philosophy Essay

Jacques Lacan On Masochism Philosophy Essay A consideration of Lacans interpretation of the Oedipal complex will provide further support for the contention that homoeroticism is both internal to and disruptive of masculine identity. Lacan follows Freud in assigning a central role to the Oedipal complex and its relation to castration, but he articulates the phenomenon in terms of his understanding of the relationship between subject and signification. In Lacans account the subject finds his way to selfhood through the work of the signifying system. The subject does not employ the cultures signifying elements to construct an identity but finds itself in signification, spoken by the signifier. Given this relationship to signification, the subjects self, meaning and desire are articulated from the site of the Other. The externalised reference point for the subjects self-identity creates a gap, a loss, a lack, a sense of alienation at the heart of subjectivity. Forever trying to close the gap of subjectivity the subject is constant ly substituting objects for the phallus in an attempt to restore a fantastic wholeness that may never have been there in the first place. Although Lacan insists that the phallus is a pure and transcendent signifier, that it is neither an object nor an organ, but only a fantasy and an ideal he often describes the phallus using terms that evoke the penis. Also, his description of how the subject realises and overcomes the castrating, alienating loss that accompanies its entry into language establishes a strong equivocation, if not an identification, between the phallus and the penis. Although all subjects experience the alienation attending the entry into language and thus all subjects seek the phallus and its fantastic substitutes, the subject comes to realise something about where the phallus and is not, given that the Other is the source and site of desire. Given the desire of the Other for the subject, the subject comes to an awareness that the Other does not possess the phallus, but is searching for it; the desire of the Other creates a longing on the part of the subject to become the phallus for the Other. Although the structural terms of Lacans description are subject and Other, implying that any desiring other could come to be understood as lacking the phallus and requiring completion by and through the subject. Lacan exclusively describes the lacking Other as the lower-case other, or more precisely, the mother. Whereas neither the subject nor the Other have an official gendered identity when discussed in the most general terms, Lacans description of the symbolic order requires that desiring others be positioned in specific gendered roles so that the subject can imaginatively overcome its alienation. In fact, in order for the symbolic structure to operate on Lacans understanding the only answer to the ever-circulating lack generated by the self-alienation of signification that can serve to cover the gap in subjectivity is the Name-of- the-Father; there is no maternal or feminine equivalent. The actual father in a relation akin to that of the penis and the phallus is, of course, always a stand-in for the symbolic Father, a vague approximation of the figure that secures the Law and halts the flow of the chain of signification initiated by the desire and language of the Other. At the same time in an account similar to the admission that the phallus is the image of the penis where the actual father does not sufficiently approximate the symbolic Father, the subject is likely to succumb to psychosis, unable to find its moorings in the ever-flowing tide of language, unable to structure a stable self. Lacan identifies a number of ways in which the actual father can fail to resemble sufficiently or successfully the symbolic father. First, if the actual mother fails to treat the actual father as an authority figure, as a figure who could instantiate and enforce the Law, then the relationship to the symbolic Father will be marred. Second, if the actual fathers life is riven with failures to attain the achievements and successes culturally assigned to male subjects, then he will also falter in resembling the symbolic Father. Third, if the actual father is so overwhelmingly successful, establishes himself as such a close approximation to the symbolic Father, then he also presents a problem for the subject because the actual fathers inevitable weaknesses and flaws will appear that much more glaring and hypocritical in relation to the symbolic Father he almost exactly approximates. Given the multiple ways in which the actual father can fail to resemble the symbolic Father, given Lacans a dmission that the actual father is always an imposter for the symbolic Father, given his admission that even the symbolic Father is only a fantastic substitute for the phallus which is itself only an imaginary object, are we compelled to conclude that virtually all subjects must be psychotic to some degree or another? Regardless of how we answer this question, Lacans theoretical discourse reveals, at the very least, an attempt to secure a privileged function for paternal authority, a longing for the (f/F)ather to rescue the subject from the chaos, lack and loss that the (m)Others desire generates. In this way, although not explicitly acknowledged in these terms, Lacans theory of the subject betrays a desire for the father that Freudian discourse willingly admits. What is missing from this account of alienation, desire and the phallus is any explicit recognition that the subject could experience the father as the desiring other. The logic of the Lacanian structural order demonstrates why this must be ruled out as a possibility. On the one hand, if the father could be the other who desires the subject, then the father would be recognised as lacking the phallus in the same way that the mother does. In Lacans system, desire signals lack; if the father is (also) a site of lack then the symbolic order will collapse because the Name-of-the-Father exists precisely as an answer to the ever-present, ever circulating lack signified by the phallus. On the other hand, if the father is either the source of a homoerotic desire for the son or the object of the sons homoerotic desire, then, given the sexual order that Lacan assumes and the dominant fiction presupposes, the actual father is distanced from the symbolic Father because of the kind of sexual desir e circling around him. Insofar as homoerotic desire flows between the father and son, psychosis inevitably results i.e., homoeroticism makes the subjects achievement of a self impossible. At the same time, the subjects quest for an un-alienated sense of self is fuelled by a desire to rest secure in relation to the Father and the Fathers Law. The longing for selfhood is discursively represented by Lacan as a captivation with the (F/f)ather that both is and cannot be homoerotic. Freuds representation of normative masculinity can keep homoerotic desire discursively alive because it strives to make the objective facts of biology that institute the heterosexual and patriarchal organisation of desire and identity appear natural and inevitable. The boy will always choose the penis; the penis signifies maleness and implies heterosexual desire. Because Lacans account of subjectivity does not take anatomy as its foundation, it cannot admit the possibility of homoerotic desire into the realm of masculine identity without revealing the arbitrary resolution of the alienating effects of signification in favour of the heterosexual and patriarchal status quo. If the boy finds himself in a universe comprised solely of others, lack and desire, then there must be some mechanism for fixing the relationship between some others, some lacks and some desires, if the gendered and sexualised division of power is to be maintained. Taking Freuds thoughts on mourning and melancholia as her primary texts, Judith Butler argues in Gender Trouble that the lost, repressed, perpetually unacknowledged, eternally mourned object of homosexual desire is necessary to the consolidation of masculinity and that a strong sense of oppositionally defined gender identity serves to maintain the lost homosexual object through a constant gesture of disavowal. Butler also demonstrates through a close reading of Freud and Lacan on the Oedipal complex that the social prohibition on homosexuality is transformed by their texts into a heterosexual disposition that provides heterosexual desire with a natural rather than cultural origin. More importantly, however, Butler concludes her discussion of the relationship between heterosexual desire and the lost homosexual object with a consideration of the relationship between disavowed homoerotic desire and the construction of the female subject. The woman-as-object must be the sign that [the masculine subject] not only never felt homosexual desire, but never felt the grief over its loss. Indeed, the woman-as-sign must effectively displace and conceal that preheterosexual history in favour of one that consecrates a seamless heterosexuality. Butler contends that the construction of the woman as a sexual object and the repression of the homosexual substratum of masculinity are implicated. Given this mutual implication, it seems that tracing the figuration of homoerotic desire in representations of normative masculinity has the potential to alter the construction of womens relationship to sexuality and subjectivity. This section began with the suspicion that there might be sites in psychoanalytic theory, in addition to discussions of masochism, where the dominant fiction regarding masculine subjectivity could be unsettled. Through a discussion of both Freuds and Lacans understandings of the masochism and the Oedipal complex, I have sought to map one of these sites, to trace the presence of homoeroticism in psychoanalytic representations of masculinity, even where it is absent from the explicit terms of the discourse. Attending to this homoerotic substratum of normative masculinity provides three critical insights for the larger questions motivating the dissertation. First, based on this account of the relationship between normative masculinity and homoerotic desire, we can understand why masculinity resists being the object rather than the agent of the gaze. Where the masculine subject is exposed to the gaze, erotic desire is never far behind. When erotic desire envelops the male body, it often renders that body capable of homoerotic contemplation or at least suggests the possibility of homoerotic contemplation of the male body generally. Such a presentation of the male body brings to conscious attention the thin, if not discernible, line between normative and homoerotic masculinity. Castration, loss, lack, otherness, visibility; these are the characteristics that the dominant fiction attempts to exclude from its articulation of masculine subjectivity. What makes this task of exclusion, repression and displacement nearly impossible is the conjunction of masculinitys dependence on display for securing its privileged position and spectacles tendency for exposing the lack inherent in masculinity as well as the dependency of masculinity on the other to retain its ascendant position. Masochistic fantasies help to secure the venerable and desirable status of the paternal figure, but they do this at the cost of demonstrating the dependence of masculine subjectivity on the ever-receding, unattainable love of a masculine other. Phallic visual displays often serve to align the penis with the phallus, but they also function to expose the insufficient and paltry nature of the organ when placed alongside the imaginary ground of its significance. Narratives of womans nature as irredeemably and essentially castrated, as naturally and inevitably passive in relation to male (heterosexual) desire certainly constrict the cultural possibilities available to female subjects, but they often reveal the desperate anxiety to disavow the narcissistic, homoerotic dimensions of masculine subjectivity. Representation poses a dilemma for masculinity: the display of its power is both necessary for the justification of its privileges and an essential feature of its demise. Freud and Lacan have attempted to cover up the cracks inimical to their own enunciative function in order to secure an authoritative position for masculine subjectivity; like even the most masterful artists, however, the discursive elements exceed their progenitors; the device is, more often than not, in many ways laid bare. The dominant fiction of masculine power, privilege and plenitude is both more resilient and more vulnerable than it might at first appear. This can make a political project that depends on hermeneutic intervention as its primary strategy, like the one pursued here, seem astonishingly naÃÆ'Â ¯ve and refreshingly incisive in turn. As such a hermeneutically grounded vision of political change assumes, revelation of the dominant fictions fictional and political character can be accomplished only by a close examination of the fictions terms and structures. To state this claim in the terms of the material under consideration, perversion is intelligible and identifiable only in relation to the Oedipal drama; subversion is accomplished primarily through a diagnostic, symptomatic and internal critique of the dominant fiction. This is not an empirical claim about the veracity or universality of the Oedipal structure, but rather a methodological claim about how best to do the work of transfor ming the dominant fictions regarding masculinity, femininity, and subjectivity. The structuring and definitional terms of the prevailing discourse must often be taken as the starting points for any oppositional discourse, for the sake of intelligibility, legitimacy, credibility, authority. This strategy of close, but subversive, reading will continue to guide my interpretation of other representations of masculinity and the male body. The political work of reconfiguring cultural fantasies about the meaning of masculinity will depend, at least initially, on the ability to re-signify the features of the relevant hegemonic discourses. Without expecting a completely new narrative outside the reigning signifying practices, this perspective is informed by a belief in the possibility of variable narratives using the terms of the dominant signification system to disturb the hegemonic understanding of masculine identity. Whether such hope is fantastic or delusional will be demonstrated in pa rt by the analysis of the next chapter, but can ultimately be confirmed only by the fantasies and practices that such interpretive interventions instigate. 2,447 words

Friday, October 25, 2019

The Power of Zeus Teleios in the Oresteia :: Aeschylus Oresteia

The Power of Zeus Teleios in the Oresteia      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Is the action in the Oresteia preordained? Is the trilogy simply a working through of destiny and fate; the ultimate telos of the events being the downfall of the house of Atreus? Are the characters in the story destroyed by themselves or by the necessity of the deeds that are carried out? These are some of the questions I will discuss in this essay.    I wish to concentrate on the end of the story as we know it, the Eumenides, with reference to character portrayal in the previous parts of the trilogy. The characters I am really interested in discussing are Klytaemnestra, the Erinyes and Orestes in particular, but am also going to make brief reference to the characters of Elektra and Athena.    Klytaemnestra appears in all three plays in the trilogy: which through repetition, for me at least, makes her the most important character. More than anything, in the Oresteia, we watch Klytaemnestra become powerless. It is her transgression of limits1 that we see rectified.    Klytaemnestra in Agamemnon is a strong and wilful woman, who relishes her part in the downfall of Agamemnon himself. She is proud of her action, accepts full responsibility for his death at her hands; she takes her vengeance against him for the death of Iphigeneia2. This is shown in lines such as 'I exult' (A 1417) and after she kills him, 'you think I'm some irresponsible woman?' (A 1425). Aeschylus uses her to embody the powerful 'heroic' ethic of vengeance - blood for blood.    This is unusual firstly because she is a woman; it would seem more appropriate to use a hero in the traditional Homeric sense to embody a heroic ethic. Secondly, we have the dichotomy between the markedly female Erinyes, visualising the nature of 'blood for blood' in Eumenides and the act of vengeance itself - expressed in Homer as a male 'heroic' ethic.    We know this is the start of a trilogy because an audience cannot see a woman - especially one as anti-matriarchal as Klytaemnestra - triumph over a king as famous and respected as Agamemnon. Her downfall is intrinsically tied in with his; she catches herself in the 'great net' (A 1402) and it is her struggles that 'merely tightened the tangle.' (A 1403).   

Thursday, October 24, 2019

History of American Football Essay

Beginning of Football Football as well as rugby and soccer are believed to have descended from the ancient Greek game of harpaston. Harpaston is mentioned frequently in classical literature. where it is often referred to as a very rough and brutal game.The rules of this ancient sport were quite simple: Points were awarded when a player would cross a goal line by either kicking the ball, running with it across the goal line, or throwing it across the line to another player. The other team’s objective was simply to stop them by any means possible. There was no specific field length, no side line boundaries, no specified number of players per team, only a glaring lack of rules. Most modern versions of football are believed to have originated from England in the twelfth century. The game became so popular in England that the kings of that time (Henry II and Henry IV) actually banned football. They believed that football was taking away interest from the traditional sports of England, such as fencing and archery. Walter Camp Walter Camp was born April 17, 1859, in New Haven, Connecticut. He attended Yale from 1876 to 1882, where he studied medicine and business. Walter Camp was an author, athletic director, chairman of the board of the New Haven Clock Company, and director of the Peck Brothers Company. He was general athletic director and head advisory football coach at Yale University from 1888-1914, and chairman of the Yale football committee from 1888-1912. Camp played footba ll at Yale and helped evolve the rules of the game away from Rugby and Soccer rules into the rules of American Football as we know them today. One precursor to Walter Camp’s influence was William Ebb Ellis, a student at the Rugby School in England. In 1823, Ellis was the first person noted for picking up the ball during the soccer game and running with it, thereby breaking and changing the rules. In 1876, at the Massosoit  convention, the the first attempts at writing down the rules of American football were made. Walter Camp edited every American Football rulebook until his death in 1925. Walter Camp contributed the following changes from Rugby and Soccer to American football one side retained undisputed possession of the ball, until that side gives up the ball as a result of its own violations the line of scrimmage 11 on a team instead of 15 created the quarter-back and center positions forward pass standardized the scoring system, numerical scoring created the safety, interference penalties, and the neutral zone tackling as low as the knee was permitted – 1888 a touchdown increased in value to six points and field goals went down to three points – 1912 The NFL or the National Football League, was formed in 1920 soccor/football Soccer is one of the most popular sports in Europe and the Americas. It has a vivid and interesting history in the world of sports. Early evidence of soccer being played as a sport finds occurrence in China during the 2nd and 3rd centuries BC. In China, it was during the Han dynasty that people dribbled leather balls by kicking it into a small net. Recorded facts also support the fact that Romans and Greeks used to play ball for fun and frolic. Some facts point to Kyoto in Japan where kicking of ball was a popular sport.It is said that early growth of the modern soccer started in England. Some amusing facts even mention that the first ball used was the head of some Danish brigand. It is said that during medieval times, the old form of soccer used to allow many ill practices like kicking, punching, biting and gouging. The main aim was to carry the ball to a target spot. People grew so fond of the game that they would throng the field all day long. Sometimes the competition grew fierce and masses got so wild that there were frequent incidents of violence during the game. It is also said that soldiers admired the game so much that they missed archery practice to watch it King Edward III banned soccer in 1365 owing to the growing incidents of violence and military indulgence in the sport. In 1424 King James I of Scotland also proclaimed in the Parliament— â€Å"Na man play at the Fute-ball No man shall play football When and where exactly did soccer start is a question that has no precise answer to it. You can easily say that this popular game has been played for more than three thousand years. The nativity of modern-day soccer must be credited to Britain. It was also known as the association football, with Scotland and England being the co-founders of the systematic game of soccer. Modern History of Soccer: 18th Century onwards In 1815, a major development took place that made soccer popular in Universities, Colleges and Schools. The popular English School and Eton College came forth with a set of rules, known as the Cambridge Rules. Football was segregated into two groups; some colleges and schools opted for Rugby rules that allowed tripping, shin kicking and also carrying the ball. These rules were exclusively prohibited as per the Cambridge rules.The history of modern-day soccer was established in 1863. In October 1863, eleven representatives from London clubs and schools met at the Freemason’s Tavern to set up common fundamental rules to control the matches amongst themselves. The outcome of this meeting was the formation of the Football Association. In December 1863, the Rugby Football and Association football finally split as the supporters of the Rugby School rules walked out. Firmly establishing the foundation of soccer in 1869, the Football Association strictly banned any kind of handling of the ball. Soccer’s popularity spread rapidly during the 1800s as British sailors, traders and soldiers introduced the sport to different parts of the globe. Italians, Austrians and Germans drew to Europe, while Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil adopted the sport in South America. FIFA was established in the year 1904 and by early 1930s, different leagues were operating from various countries. FIFA is credited with organizing the first world cup in Uruguay. The history of soccer is rich with events, development and its growing craze all over the world. You will find yourself amazed as you learn about different times of this wonderful sport that has held our awe and admiration for over 3000 years. why is soccer called football The game that the rest of the world calls football or â€Å"the beautiful game† goes by a different name in the United States and Canada soccer. Americans adopted the name soccer after almost 100 years of playing this game under the name football.The game’s history and development provides important clues about the use of the word soccer to identify the game in the countries  that do not call it football.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

1984 †Reflection Paper Essay

Our postmodern society has become dependent upon twenty-first century technology. This technology is developed to make our lives easier, more efficient, to encourage communication, and to enhance the quality of experience. Our society craves the latest technological fads and Internet crazes. We’ve become addicted to an entity that promises us a bigger, better, & brighter future. However, while technology appears to have made our lives easier in some respect, it has raised numerous issues that challenge the moral framework of every major corporation and government. Orwell’s 1984 is a haunting vision of a future with no future. A future where technology controls every aspect of an individual’s life. Orwell introduces the concepts of The Ministry of Truth, The Thought Police, and BIG BROTHER. These omniscient entities continually monitor the movements, speech, and writings of every citizen. See more: The stages of consumer buying decision process essay Since Orwell’s book 1984 written in 1948, we have developed methods to produce more advanced and less costly computer technology. Value Added Networks continue to rise in popularity. Data warehousing (information availability) and data mining (information analysis) have become hot topics in today’s world. Personal data that has always been available, but not easily accessible, is now computerized and merged with larger databases. These databases are linked to form massive data repositories. This practice is not limited to the private sector; government databases such as the Department of Motor Vehicles and criminal records are accessible to those willing to pay for access. The ability to desegregate personal information and profile individuals is easier than ever. George Orwell’s vision of the world is depicted primarily through the omni-present tele-screen. This piece of technology not only allowed BIG BROTHER to broadcast propaganda, but also monitored individual activities. Similar surveillance technology actually exists throughout the United Kingdom. Intelligence is gathered using inexpensive hardware cameras. Specialized software handles the storage, analysis, and correlation of facial images to a central database. Modern examples of large central data banks are already under development. Microsoft’s .NET web initiative entails the compilation, storage, and distribution of an online customer’s personal information. Such a venture is only possible with the latest hardware running Microsoft software technology. This technology includes the use of XML code to withdraw selected information from a central bank of database servers. The positive aspects of such an intelligence endeavor includes: Access to valuable information that might save your life; information such as allergic reactions to medication etc; the ability to transfer or withdraw bank funds from your mobile phone; the ability to account for controlled substances such as chemical & biohazard materials; and combat international terrorism and crime. The often overlooked negative consequences of technology include: Criminal profiling; medical profiling by insurance companies; telephone & electronic mail privacy intrusion; tracking credit card & other personal spending patterns to target marketing and sales; tracking travel via passport, airline ticket sales, license plate scanning, & facial algorithmic surveillance. Orwell describes an extreme in isolation and control. A place where government agencies use technology to propagate normal thought. Technology is used to unite millions; however, it has the capacity to isolate one part of the world from another. Winston Smith, a worker for The Ministry of Truth, not only falsifies history by writing people out, but also creates non-existent historical figures. In Orwell’s 1984, control is enforced/exercised by censoring information and even rewriting history. A frog that is placed in a pot of cool water and slowly heated is said to never notice the danger until it’s time for soup. In Orwell’s 1984, what seems, may not be. The logical might be illogical. What is right could be wrong. What was intended for good could become unjust. Most critics shot down Orwell’s ideas when the book was initially  reviewed in 1948. However, with the advent of modern technology, I feel overwhelmed by the thought of personal information abuse. Abuse not only in a ubiquitous government, but extending to the private sector. Ironically, concepts from Orwell’s 1984 are referenced in everything from modern day advertising, such as Apple Computers, to The Simpson’s Cartoon Halloween Special. Therefore it is evident that technology can be used to restrict basic freedom and civil rights. With the risk of losing important freedoms, we must fully understand the implications of new technology.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

The Hydrogen Fuel Economy essays

The Hydrogen Fuel Economy essays This article talks about how the hydrogen economy will be coming. There are a lot of obstacles that they must surpass to form a hydrogen economy. In the year 2003, President George W. Bush announced a 1.7 billion research program to develop a vehicle that would make the air cleaner and use less oil. Toyota came to the U.S with two of them. The first one was a sedan called the hybrid. The hybrid is a gasoline-fueled internal-combustion engine supplemented by a battery-powered electric motor. The hybrid got approximately fifty miles to the gallon. The other vehicle was an SUV, which drove its electric motor with hydrogen fuel cells. Now the next question would be which vehicle out of these two would be the better one. This question is a very important question because it can have a big impact on the amount of money being spent for the research. Robert Wimmer, a research manager, says that both vehicles are about the same. The hybrid can be responsible for more carbon dioxide emission, and also a variety of other pollutants according to the Department of Energy. In another aspect, the hybrid is excellent because it already exists as a commercial product and can already cut pollution presently. Hydrogen fuel cells have two main attractions. First, they do not make any pollution during usage. Secondly, hydrogen can come from many sources. Pure hydrogen does not exist on earth. The good thing about hydrogen is that it can be used for other things like powering homes. Researchers are trying to find ways to turn things into hydrogen, but the processes they come up with are either unaffordable or unavailable on a commercial scale. They can make hydrogen from natural gas, but that would be a waste of natural gas because they can use natural gas itself to produce electricity. One thing that they should be working on is hydrocracking and hydrotreating. The U.S could save three million barrels of oil a day that way. Hydrocracking a...

Monday, October 21, 2019

A Definition and Introduction to Ergonomics

A Definition and Introduction to Ergonomics Ergonomics is a term thrown around by health professionals and marketing mavens with a cavalier attitude. For some, it has a very specific meaning. For others, it covers everything under the sun. With all this different verbiage flying at you, you are probably starting to wonder, â€Å"What is Ergonomics?† Definition of Ergonomics Ergonomics derives from two Greek words: ergon, meaning work, and nomoi, meaning natural laws, to create a word that means the science of work and a person’s relationship to that work. The International Ergonomics Association has adopted this technical definition: ​ergonomics (or human factors) is the scientific discipline concerned with the understanding of interactions among humans and other elements of a system, and the profession that applies theory, principles, data and methods to design in order to optimize human well-being and overall system performance. That is not the most efficient definition of what ergonomics is. Let us keep things simple. Ergonomics is the science of making things comfy. It also makes things efficient. And when you think about it, comfy is just another way of making things efficient. However, for simplicity, ergonomics makes things comfortable and efficient. What Is the Study of Ergonomics? At its simplest definition ergonomics, it  literally means the science of work. So ergonomists, i.e. the practitioners of ergonomics, study work, how work is done and how to work better. It is the attempt to make work better that ergonomics becomes so useful. And that is also where making things comfortable and efficient comes into play. Ergonomics is commonly thought of in terms of products. But it can be equally useful in the design of services or processes. It is used in design in many complex ways. However, what you, or the user, is most concerned with is, â€Å"How can I use the product or service, will it meet my needs, and will I like using it?† Ergonomics helps define how it is used, how it meets your needs, and most importantly if you like it. It makes things comfy and efficient. What Is Comfort? Comfort is much more than a soft handle. Comfort is one of the greatest aspects of a design’s effectiveness. Comfort in the human-machine interface and the mental aspects of the product or service is a primary ergonomic design concern. Comfort in the human-machine interface is usually noticed first. Physical comfort in how an item feels is pleasing to the user. If you do not like to touch it, you wont. If you do not touch it, you will not operate it. If you do not operate it, then it is useless.​ The utility of an item is the only true measure of the quality of its design. The job of any designer is to find innovative ways to increase the utility of a product. Physical comfort while using an item increases its utility. Making an item intuitive and comfortable to use will ensure its success in the marketplace.   The mental aspect of comfort in the human-machine interface is found in feedback. You have preconceived notions of certain things. A quality product should feel like it is made out of quality materials. If it is lightweight and flimsy, you will not feel that comfortable using it. The look, feel, use, and durability of a product help you make a mental determination about a product or service. Basically, it lets you evaluate the quality of the item and compare that to the cost. Better ergonomics mean better quality, which means you will be more comfortable with the value of the item. What Is Efficiency? Efficiency is quite simply making something easier to do. Efficiency comes in many forms, however.​ Reducing the strength required makes a process more physically efficient.Reducing the number of steps in a task makes it quicker (i.e. efficient) to complete.Reducing the number of parts makes repairs more efficient.Reducing the amount of training needed, i.e. making it more intuitive, gives you a larger number of people who are qualified to perform the task. Imagine how inefficient trash disposal would be if your teenage child wasnt capable of taking out the garbage. Efficiency can be found almost everywhere. If something is easier to do, you are more likely to do it. If you do it more, then it is more useful. Again, the utility is the only true measure of the quality of a design. And if you willingly do something more often, you have a greater chance of liking it. If you like doing it, you will be more comfortable doing it. So the next time you hear the term ergonomics, you will know what it means to you. And, hopefully, that is a comforting thought.

Sunday, October 20, 2019

Arthur Harris - World War II Arthur Bomber Harris Biography

Arthur Harris - World War II Arthur Bomber Harris Biography Early Life: The son a British Indian Service administrator, Arthur Travers Harris was born at Cheltenham, England on April 13, 1892. Educated at Allhallows School in Dorset, he was not a stellar student and was encouraged by his parents to seek his fortune in the military or colonies. Electing for the latter, he traveled to Rhodesia in 1908, and became a successful farmer and gold miner. With the outbreak of World War I, he enlisted as a bugler in the 1st Rhodesian Regiment. Briefly seeing service in South Africa and German South-West Africa, Harris departed for England in 1915, and joined the Royal Flying Corps. Flying with the Royal Flying Corps: After completing training, he served on the home front before being transferred to France in 1917. A skilled pilot, Harris quickly became a flight commander and later commander of No. 45 and No. 44 Squadrons. Flying Sopwith 1 1/2 Strutters, and later Sopwith Camels, Harris downed five German aircraft before the end of the war making him an ace. For his accomplishments during the war, he earned the Air Force Cross. At wars end, Harris elected to remain in the newly formed Royal Air Force. Sent abroad, he was posted to various colonial garrisons in India, Mesopotamia, and Persia. Interwar Years: Intrigued by aerial bombing, which he saw as a better alternative to the slaughter of trench warfare, Harris began adapting aircraft and developing tactics while serving abroad. Returning to England in 1924, he was given command of the RAFs first dedicated, postwar, heavy bomber squadron. Working with Sir John Salmond, Harris began training his squadron in night flying and bombing. In 1927, Harris was sent to the Army Staff College. While there he developed a dislike for the Army, though he did become friends with future Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery. After graduating in 1929, Harris returned the Middle East as Senior Air Officer in the Middle East Command. Based in Egypt, he further refined his bombing tactics and became increasingly convinced in aerial bombardments ability to win wars. Promoted to Air Commodore in 1937, he was given command of No. 4 (Bomber) Group the following year. Recognized as a gifted officer, Harris was promoted again to Air Vice Marshal and sent to Palestine and Trans-Jordan to command RAF units in the region. With World War II beginning, Harris was brought home to command No. 5 Group in September 1939. World War II: In February 1942, Harris, now an Air Marshal, was placed in command of the RAFs Bomber Command. During the first two years of the war, the RAFs bombers had suffered heavy casualties while being forced to abandon daylight bombing due to German resistance. Flying at night, the effectiveness of their raids was minimal as targets proved difficult, if not impossible, to find. As a result, studies showed that less than one bomb in ten fell within five miles of its intended target. To combat this, Professor Frederick Lindemann, a confidant of Prime Minister Winston Churchill, began advocating area bombing. Approved by Churchill in 1942, the doctrine of area bombing called for raids against urban areas with the goal of destroying housing and displacing German industrial workers. Though controversial, it was approved by the Cabinet as it provided a way to directly attack Germany. The task of implementing of this policy was given to Harris and Bomber Command. Moving forward, Harris was initially hampered by a lack of aircraft and electronic navigation equipment. As a result, early area raids often were inaccurate and ineffective. On May 30/31, Harris launched Operation Millennium against the city of Cologne. To mount this 1,000-bomber raid, Harris was forced scavenge aircraft and crews from training units. Utilizing a new tactic known as the bomber stream, Bomber Command was able to overwhelm the German night air defense system known as the Kammhuber Line. The attack was also facilitated by the use of a new radio navigation system known as GEE. Striking Cologne, the raid started 2,500 fires in the city and established area bombing as a viable concept. A huge propaganda success, it would be some time until Harris was able to mount another 1,000-bomber raid. As Bomber Commands strength grew and new aircraft, such as the Avro Lancaster and the Handley Page Halifax, appeared in large numbers, Harris raids became larger and larger. In July 1943, Bomber Command, working in conjunction with the US Army Air Force, commenced Operation Gomorrah against Hamburg. Bombing around the clock, the Allies leveled over ten square miles of the city. Heartened by the success of his crews, Harris planned a massive assault on Berlin for that fall. Believing that the reduction of Berlin would end the war, Harris opened the Battle of Berlin on the night of November 18, 1943. Over the next four months, Harris launched sixteen mass raids on the German capital. Though large areas of the city were destroyed, Bomber Command lost 1,047 aircraft during the battle and it was generally viewed as a British defeat. With the impending Allied invasion of Normandy, Harris was ordered to switch away from area raids on German cities to more precision strikes on the French railroad network. Angered by what he perceived as a waste of effort, Harris complied though he openly stated that Bomber Command was not designed or equipped for these types of strikes. His complaints proved moot as Bomber Commands raids proved highly effective. With the Allied success in France, Harris was permitted to return to area bombing. Reaching peak efficiency in the winter/spring of 1945, Bomber Command pounded German cities on a routine basis. The most controversial of these raids occurred early in the campaign when aircraft struck Dresden on February 13/14, igniting a firestorm that killed tens of thousands of civilians. With the war winding down, the final Bomber Command raid came on April 25/26, when aircraft destroyed an oil refinery in southern Norway. Postwar In the months after the war, there was some concern in the British government about the amount of destruction and civilian casualties caused by Bomber Command in the conflicts last stages. Despite this, Harris was promoted to Marshal of the Royal Air Force before he retired on September 15, 1945. In the years after the war, Harris stalwartly defended Bomber Commands actions stating that their operations conformed to the rules of the total war started by Germany. The following year, Harris became the first British commander-in-chief to not be made a peer after he refused the honor due to the governments refusal to create a separate campaign medal for his air crews. Always popular with his men, Harris act further cemented the bond. Angered by criticism of Bomber Commands wartime actions, Harris moved to South Africa in 1948, and served as a manager for the South African Marine Corporation until 1953. Returning home, he was forced to accept a baronetcy by Churchill and became the 1st Baronet of Chipping Wycombe. Harris lived in retirement until his death on April 5, 1984. Selected Sources BBC: Sir Arthur Bomber HarrisRAF: Arthur Bomber Harris

Saturday, October 19, 2019

Study Skills Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Study Skills - Essay Example Study skills are never attained fully formed, any more than a grown man pops out of his mother’s womb. According to Cottrell(2003 p3)They evolve and mature through repetition, trial and error, critique from others and continued reflection as you progress through your individual journey as a learner The purpose of this module is to provide the opportunity to acquire and develop the study skills that will be necessary to successfully complete this course to a standard that I am aiming for. Being a competent independent learner is derived from being self motivated, being able to manage personal learning processes, good time management skills and continually reflecting on what and how you learn best and tailoring your energies to suit. Within this portfolio I will examine the development of learner independence, time management, self evaluation of personal learning, production of an action plan and improving my essay writing skills. If as anticipated this is completed successfully it will add additional skills to my current ones and aide me in my current quest to secure a higher second grade result on this degree course. Learner independence or autonomy can be defined as â€Å"capacity to take responsibility for, and control of, your own learning, whether in an institutionalised context, or completely independent of a teacher or institution† (Thornbury, 2006). Learner independence is the ability of the learners to control their learning process (Holec, 1981). In the present age, when knowledge is growing at very fast pace because of the ongoing research work and rapid advancements in technology, the importance of independent learning cannot be overemphasized. Learners must understand that the education they are provided with at institutions is time-constrained, and what they need to learn is not limited to what they are taught in schools. Most learners used to learning in

Friday, October 18, 2019

VAMPIRE SOCIAL FEAR Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

VAMPIRE SOCIAL FEAR - Essay Example The concept of the existence of vampires was further glorified by eminent classic and contemporary literature authors that have created frenzy amongst the masses regarding the existence of these creatures. (Belanger, 2005, p. 49) As mentioned earlier, on a literary front the idea of vampires have fascinated, amazed and scared people throughout the ages. The belief in the existence of demons and spirits has been a prime aspect of all faiths and are often deemed to be the forerunners of the creation and concept of vampires; a dead blood-sucking nocturnal being that is largely associated with evil and the damned. Roman, Greek and Mesopotamian cultures all had a common notion regarding the existence of vampires but the concept itself gained more shape in Eastern Europe, where the legends narrated that vampires were revenants of sinner, suicide victims, people involved in witchcraft and corpses under the possession of malicious spirits or people who died of vampire bites. There were count less speculation regarding the appearance of vampires and before human physical features were used to typify Vampires, they were vastly believed to bestial creatures, which were damned for the rest of eternity and their existence was only meant to plague the living. The Description of the appearance of vampires is illustrated immaculately by the following quote from Sacred Hunger authored by Michelle Belanger, a self-proclaimed Psychic-vampire, who has published several books on this entire concept and has demonstrated the contrasts between the media portrayal and folkloric image of vampires, she states, â€Å"The vampire has come a long way since its beginnings in folklores†¦ Though, monstrosity in their hungers there is an ineffable something that inspires their so-called ‘Victims’ to willingly open their veins. Yet in stark contrast, the vampires we encounter in the tales of Eastern Europe are little more than corpses. These foul and bestial monsters terrorize whole villages, filing their victims with horror and disgust.†(Belanger, 2005, p. 14) Therefore, from the aforementioned quote it is abundantly clear that there is a huge schism between the perception of vampires in contemporary and the portrayal of folklores. Belanger has defined the true meaning of vampirism and the prevalence of this belief in gothic sub-cultures. It has become more of an identity for people and the term ‘vampirism’ itself is not used to signify bestial behavior or monstrosity, and is now given similar connotations as people who are left-handed; the latter due to the widespread belief that left-handed people are evil. The aforementioned analogy describes that vampirism is no longer emblematic of a blood-thirsty creature but all those people who are in pursuit of vital energy. However, this is still a subjective approach to the subject and having mentioned the prose will focus its attention back to the area under discussion that is whether or no t the social fear derived from these creatures is in anyway valid and the amount of insight provided by literature and conception of fictional characters to demonstrate this aspect. Therefore, the substance of the following prose will juxtapose the folkloric illustration of these creatures and how authors have portrayed the image of these creatures. In order to gain greater amount of insight in to the subject, the prose will

Open the Social Science Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Open the Social Science - Essay Example tain level of â€Å"cultism† develop around the male population, which causes them to be held in an almost deity-like way for the potential they hold as sources of propagation of the species. We might be surprised to see some very unusual circumstances develop around the males; the â€Å"Amazonian woman,† fiction come to life where a largely female society might â€Å"use† men in way that is now associated with fulfilling sexual fantasies, and for which some people even today might pay a high price to experience. Bizarre â€Å"tribal† ceremonies have historically and anthropologically surrounded the human male/female conditions, and in a society that where the population scales are permanently changed in a way that men would be less accessible to women, we might expect to see some very strange â€Å"ceremonial† tendencies manifest themselves even in a civilized culture. What we probably would not see in a society where the male/female proportions we re permanently altered, is a tendency towards same sex relationships. It is unlikely that because of a shortage of men heterosexual women would turn to lesbianism, especially since it would not propagate the species. To the extent that that did occur, it’s unlikely that we would see it in a pattern of â€Å"permanent relationships,† since a lesbian experience probably wouldn’t be any more satisfying to a heterosexual women in a society where there fewer men than it is in a society where there is a balance in the male-to-female numbers. 5.) Having gone to study a culture, with no knowledge of that culture’s language, and challenged by the rule of not asking questions, yet with the goal of determining what behavior within that culture was deemed by the culture to be â€Å"deviant,† would require employing a methodology of carefully documenting behavior through observation. It would be necessary to employ a methodology that pays strict attention to the emotional responses of the members of the society to the behaviors

Driving. Information Technology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Driving. Information Technology - Essay Example A mention of programming to a non programmer sends shivers down the spine. However, few drivers do not realize how easy programming can be if only they understood similarities that exist between the two activities. Most drivers would agree that turning a steering wheel, engaging acceleration pedal and so on requires the use of muscles but certainly not much. On the other hand, programming or instructing a computer requires the use of intelligence in selecting proper instructions, anticipating response from the machine etc (Kent, 2006, 76). Just like driving, intelligence needed in programming is certainly not much especially if a person can relate programming to driving. It would not be possible to learn how to drive without involving yourself in the act. A person should understand that a computer only does what it is instructed to do just like a car follows the direction pointed by the driver. The computer system is able to utilize the CPU to perform a set of four basic operations c alled machine cycle on every instruction. First the control unit fetches the instruction from memory. Second, it decodes the instruction into commands that the computer will understand and then execute the command. Finally, the control unit writes the final result into the memory (Keith, 2006, 7). This process can be illustrated by a scenario where a person has to drive to a location he or she has not previously visited but needs to get there out of necessity. The four operations of the machine cycle are replicated in most activities that we do everyday. Driving to a place where a person has never been before is one of these activities and it requires plenty of careful planning. Any aspiring programmer must be able to conceptualize the four basic operations of the machine cycle and this can be done best by comparing the whole idea to a person going to visit a new friend in a location one has not been to before. Through twists and turns of fate, you happen to meet a nice person with whom you would be very glad to sit down and share a cup of coffee as you engage each other in some meaningful discourse. You have a problem that is bothering you and suddenly you happen to bump on someone with the solution. Forget about the nature of the problem and focus on how you get to be acquainted with the person and what follows afterwards. You happen to overhear someone discussing an issue with others that is related to a personal problem that you are going through. You later decide to talk to the person in private and the person is only more than willing to help. Unfortunately, since the person is so busy and is in a hurry, he decides to tell you where you can meet one evening and he forgets to give you phone number and all you can do is to find about his place of residence on your own. The only thing that you got is little clue of where he lives but you have never been to the place before. To drive to the place would require you plan your journey pretty carefully to avoid missing the place. To this end, the plans that you make would be pretty much be similar to the four operations of the machine cycle. The driver must bear in mind that the person told him he is only found at the place of his residence at a certain time in the evening and therefore should avoid as much as possible any delay related issues. The driver who in this case must not disclose any details of his activity due to its

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Management Principles Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

Management Principles - Essay Example This leader is actively involved in coaching, training, directing and supervising the team members’ performance. The team leader appreciates and recognizes good performance on a regular basis. Moreover, he provides feedback to the people that do not perform well or achieve the required targets. This team leader reports to a manager. The manager provides targets and directs what tasks to be performed. Very often, the manager takes all decisions related to work and staff members. The monthly and yearly targets and goals are decided by the manager. Although the manager monitors the work, he is not proactive in appreciating or rewarding good performance. The manager holds all authority in distribution and control of stationery and other facilities related stuff. Keen observation reveals that the team leader follows situational leadership style, as proposed by Hersey and Blanchard (Schermerhorn, 2009). The team leader keeps changing his style according to the situation. For example , he trains and coaches team members on the job and continuously monitors and encourages so that they achieve the required targets. He appreciates those that achieve or exceed their performance targets. He also delegates extra responsibilities to the good performers so that they are motivated. He involves all team members in important discussions related to work and/or tasks assigned by the manager.

Discussion of the theories on Optimal Capital Structure Essay

Discussion of the theories on Optimal Capital Structure - Essay Example The study by Modigliani and Miller was based on the following assumptions: 1. There are no brokerage costs. 2. There are no taxes. 3. There are no bankruptcy costs. 4. Investors can borrow at the same rate as corporations. 5. All investors have the same information as management about the firm’s future investment opportunities. 6. EBIT is not affected by the use of debt. This theory says that if these assumptions hold true, the value of the firm is not affected by the capital structure. This situation is expressed as follows: VL = VU = SL + D. Here VL is the value of a levered firm, VU is the value of an identical, unlevered firm, SL is the value of the levered firm’s stock and D is the value of its debt. As we know that WACC is a combination of cost of debt and cost of equity. The cost of debt is lower than the cost of equity. As a company raises capital through debt, the weight of debt increases and hence, it drives up the cost of equity as equity gets riskier. According to the assumptions by Modigliani and Miller, the cost of equity increases by an amount to keep the WACC constant. In other words, under these assumptions it does not matter whether the firm uses debt or equity to raise capital. So, capital structure decisions are irrelevant in such conditions. Modigliani and Miller: The Effect of Corporate Taxes In 1963, Modigliani and Miller relaxed the assumption that there are no corporate taxes. The corporate tax laws favour debt financing over equity financing because the tax laws allow companies to deduct interest payments as expense and on the other hand dividends are not deductible. So this treatment encourages debt financing. Interest payments reduce the amount the firm pay s to the government in the form of taxes and more of its cash is available for its investors. Hence, tax deductibility of the interest payments acts as a shield for the firm’s income before tax. Modigliani and Miller presented this concept as follows: VL = VU + Value of side effects = VU + PV of tax shield. They further simplified the concept as: VL = VU + TD. Here T is the corporate tax rate and D is the amount of debt. This relationship is expressed in the graph below. If the corporate tax rate is 40%, then this formula implies that every dollar of debt will increase the value of the firm by 40 cents. Hence, the optimal capital structure is 100% debt. Under this theory, the cost of equity increases as the amount of debt increases but it does not increase as fast as it does under the assumption that there are no taxes. As a result, under this theory the WACC falls as the amount of debt increases. This relationship is shown in the following graph. Miller: The Effect of corpor ate and personal taxes Later Miller brought in the aspect of personal taxes in this model. He said that income from the bonds is considered as interest which is taxed as personal income at a particular rate (Td). On the other hand, income from stocks comes in the form of dividends and capital gains. The tax on long-term capital gains is deferred until the stock is sold and the gain is realized. Of the stock is held until the owner dies no capital gains tax is paid. So he concluded that the returns on stock are taxed at a lower effective tax rate (Ts) than returns on debt. Looking gat this, Miller argued

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Management Principles Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

Management Principles - Essay Example This leader is actively involved in coaching, training, directing and supervising the team members’ performance. The team leader appreciates and recognizes good performance on a regular basis. Moreover, he provides feedback to the people that do not perform well or achieve the required targets. This team leader reports to a manager. The manager provides targets and directs what tasks to be performed. Very often, the manager takes all decisions related to work and staff members. The monthly and yearly targets and goals are decided by the manager. Although the manager monitors the work, he is not proactive in appreciating or rewarding good performance. The manager holds all authority in distribution and control of stationery and other facilities related stuff. Keen observation reveals that the team leader follows situational leadership style, as proposed by Hersey and Blanchard (Schermerhorn, 2009). The team leader keeps changing his style according to the situation. For example , he trains and coaches team members on the job and continuously monitors and encourages so that they achieve the required targets. He appreciates those that achieve or exceed their performance targets. He also delegates extra responsibilities to the good performers so that they are motivated. He involves all team members in important discussions related to work and/or tasks assigned by the manager.

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Communication Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Communication Management - Essay Example This document particularly relate to the development of Communication Management Strategy for Digital Training Program at Wal-mart Corporation. Wal-mart has always given importance to the employee training and development programs as it has been an integral part of its employees’ career path (Working At Walmart: Training and Development, 2013). However, due to the advancing technology and increasing size of Wal-mart’s business the corporation now requires establishing a digital learning and training program in order to better improve its customer services and overall employee relationships. Following are the most significant objectives of Communication Management Strategy for Wal-mart’s Digital Training Program (Corporate Communications Policy, 2012). The scope of this document is actually restricted to different aspects of Wal-mart’s Digital Training Program which basically includes its unique business approach. This is further related with the organization’s ongoing communication procedures with all the stakeholders. This document will be helpful in evaluating the progress and effectiveness of the entire project while making a strict stakeholder analysis and the impacts of digital training project on the organization’s global image. Additionally, the communication management strategy aims to combine the organizational mission to its capabilities and resources (Tripathi, 2009). Formal business communication is based upon a comprehensive process which primarily emphasizes over message i.e. the actual content which has to be delivered. It can be either in verbal words or symbols (Means, 2009). For instance, in case of Wal-mart’s Digital Training Program the stakeholders would have to be informed about the training needs of employees, their skills, competencies etc. At a later stage the message might also be directed towards employees in order to gain their content regarding training strategies.

Monday, October 14, 2019

Case Study: Audit Processes of a Computer Company

Case Study: Audit Processes of a Computer Company Introduction Internal auditing is a consulting activity on a company that is independent. It aims at helping a company/ form evaluate its managerial system, identify issues in the firm and control the process of governance. Therefore an internal audit helps in supporting the board in their duties of completing important businesses in the company. The main issues faced by the auditor is whether research and development costs expensed in establishing technological feasibility were properly expensed or capitalized when appropriate. A good audit plan when implemented improves business performances and increases sales in a company. Definitions An internal audit is a tool used in firms to evaluate how effective its management system is and its quality. An internal auditor is any person who is qualified enough to have a responsibility of performing the audit process Nonconformance is the situation where the practice of a company is in disagreement with the standard practices KCN Analysis of the Audit Strategies Section Purpose Audit Strategy OBJECTIVES OF THE ENGAGEMENT This lists the services to be provided by the audit firm to KCN. The aim of this process is to define Keyton Computers Networks Inks internal audit for the purpose of evaluating the companys effectiveness.This is the audit of KCNs financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2015, and the issuance of a letter of engagement. BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY CONDITIONS To evaluate KCNs business and the industry it operates in KCN sells and services micro-computers, networking hardware and software to different businesses. PLANNING MEETINGS Shows the meetings that have been made with the clients and CPA team One meeting so far held with client and one with engagement team OWNERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT Shows/ indicates who owns and manages the company. Owners: Terry Keystone, Mark Keystone, John Keystone, Keith Young, and Rita Young. Managers: Terry and Mark Keystone OBJECTIVES, STRATEGIES AND BUSINESS RISKS This establishes clients goals, how they planned to achieve it, and the commensurate risks, and how they planned to overcome these risks. The main aim is to increase revenues 110% and increase net income to112% for each of the next 3 years.   To achieve this there will be need to: (1) advertise aggressively, sell to customers with higher risk profiles, and to develop new software.    The primary risks involved are not being able to produce the desired results and exceeding increased sales with credit losses. Another possible risk is not producing products in the software development. MEASUREMENT AND REVIEW OF FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE These are the ways used for performance evaluation. The procedures include inventory and receivables turnover, aging of accounts receivable, and the total inventory balance. PROCEDURES TO ATTAIN AN UNDERSTANDING OF CLIENT AND CLIENTS OPERATING ENVIRONMENT This tells the procedures to be done so the auditors can understand the client and the clients environment. For this audit strategy, the auditor needs to 1) review the prior years audit, 2) make inquiries from management, 3) analyze KCNs minutes of its board of directors meetings, 4) evaluate performance reports, 5) analyze company website, 6) appraise industry reports, and 7) assess business newspapers including the Wall Street Journal. AUDIT APPROACH This defines the general plan to be taken. Just like last years audit, the accountants assigned to KCNs audit have to make a plan about the companys tests of controls to gauge whether its control risks are below the maximum for the identified assertions. SIGNIFICANT RISKS Primary risks identified by the auditors. The primary risks involved are not being able to produce the desired results and exceeding increased sales with credit losses. Another possible risk is not producing products in the software development, and analysis of the quarterly results showed significant bonuses awarded to officers. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING AND AUDITING MATTERS This are matters of concern in accounting and auditing Two primary concerns exist: whether accounting for extended warranties is done properly and cost of software. PLANNING MATERIALITY The auditor computes the materiality threshold. Review of sales, total assets, and pretax net income, to plan for materiality, $70,000 was established as the measure. SCHEDULING AND STAFFING PLAN This is the audits schedule. It also identifies the human resources assigned to the engagement. This includes the target dates for each major section of the audit starting from the interim audit work up to the updating of the management letter.The firm budgeted 118 hours for the engagement. KCN Risks RiskImplications and Response The primary risks involved are not being able to produce the desired results and exceeding increased sales with credit lossesthrough the extension of credits to high risk customers This increases the risk of bad debt expense misstatement and the corresponding allowance. The auditors can revise their estimates on the value of an account, and ignore the procedures previously done. Bonuses for the clients officers There could be an increase in the risk of quarterly results misstatement to extract the maximum bonus for officers.Also this motivates the officers to work more for more bonuses. The auditors may respond by reducing the number of the staff as long as they can handle their duties, to reduce number of people receiving bonuses. KCN Capitalization of Software Development Costs For KCN, the auditor has to determine whether research and development costs including those expended to establish technological feasibility have been properly booked as expenses or capitalized wherever appropriate.The audit firm will then identify the point of feasibility for the software product.The primary risks involved are not being able to produce the desired results and exceeding increased sales with credit losses by selling to high risk customers. The implication of this factor is that it creates a chance for misstatement of bad debt expense and the allowance for bad debts. Moreover, auditors will either increase or decrease their evaluation of the worthiness of the accounts receivable and avoid relying on previously done procedures. KCN Ratio Analysis Keystone Computers Networks, Inc. Analytical Review of Financial Ratios For the Period Ended December 31, 20X5 Details of Computations of 2005 ratios Ratio analysis may be difficult when there are no major changes in ratios.   However, the following might be considered: Number of Sales in Accounts per day Changes in credit policy and customer mix Improved economic conditions Exaggerations of sales Understatement of purchases Turnover of Inventory Change in the policy of the inventory exaggeration of inventory Understatement of the commodities bought by the company As KCN competes with companies that are much larger than itself and some even older in the computer and software business, the economic pressure is a lot. Whether bor not the company succeeds depends on how it handles the competition, for example, being able to attain and maintain a qualified market. This may increase its growth in the software sector by up to 6%. Conclusion The audit process is an important part of a company. Using the ratios and factors above, the Keyton company auditing process was carried out.   The increased profitability level resulted to a number of ratios with significant changes.As mentioned in the first part of this discussion paper, the auditor needs to determine whether research and development costs are properly expenses or capitalized when appropriate. The auditors determined that accounting for research and development was followed and all it needs to do is to identify when the software product became technologically feasible. As stated above, implementing these policies from the auditors reports will increase the sales for example, up to 6% in software alone. This supports our thesis statement. References Chesler, L. (1981). Baseline audit plan. Santa Monica, Calif. Kagermann, H. (2008). Internal audit handbook: Management with the SAP-Audit Roadmap. Berlin: Springer. Pickett, K. H. S. (2006). Audit planning: A risk-based approach. Hoboken, N.J: Wiley. Why did the Compromise Fall in 1860? Why did the Compromise Fall in 1860? During the beginning of the nineteenth century, the relationship between North and South deteriorated over the issue of territorial expansion. In 1850, the issue of slavery was slowly dividing the North and South sections of the United States; both factions were of similar origins and had a myriad of common bonds. Frantic efforts at compromise were launched such as the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 and The Missouri Compromise of 1820. However, the sectional rift only increased with the Brooks-Sumner incident and any chances of compromise were terminated with the Supreme Court decision of the Dred Scott case in 1859. The two powerful parties of the Second American Party System, the Democrats and the Whigs, were dumbfounded and could not find a solution to the slave question, which ultimately lead to their destruction. From their remains rose two new political parties, the Republican Party and a southern party devoted to the defense of slavery. Their battle in the election of 1860 would decide the future and fate of the United States. By 1860 all attempts at compromise had failed, and within a year the nation was in the midst of a bloody Civil War that would cost over 600,000 American lives and divided many families in the process. The types of economies that developed in the three regions of the United States in the first half of the nineteenth century had a powerful impact on political goals and decisions. The South grew important cash crops such as cotton, tobacco, sugar, and rice. The North was far more industrialized than the South or even the West, having shifted from mercantile capitalism. At the same time the West shifted from subsistence farming to commercial agriculture and produced more foodstuffs, such as corn and wheat, than the other two regions. The North came to rely more and more on western foodstuffs and in return, westerners became consumers of northern industrial and commercial products. By the 1850s the North and West were economically joined, and the Norths economy was rapidly evolving into a modern-day industrial and commercial system. In the South, cash crops such as rice and tobacco were grown extensively. Yet no commodity was more important to the South than cotton. One southern politi cal leader was so certain that the rest of the nation depended on the Souths cotton production that he declared, Cotton is King! Cotton was one of the most important commodities in the world in the nineteenth century; many factories in the Northern states as well as European countries such as Great Britain and France needed cotton for their important and prosperous textile industries. Yet this was all done on the backs of abused slaves who worked tirelessly night and day to pick the cotton of their masters plantations. In the early 1800s Northerners were content to allow slavery to reside in Southern states. Only when Southern leaders sought to expand slavery did many Northerners become concerned. The Missouri Compromise of 1820 was an attempt to maintain the balance in the Senate between slave and Free states. Senator Henry Clay, known as the Great Compromiser, worked out a compromise in which Maine would enter the Union as a free state while Missouri would be admitted into the Union as the northernmost slave state. As a result of the compromise, slavery was then prohibited north of the 36 °30 parallel making a clear distinction between the northern and southern states. This boundary would then later be challenged by events such as the Dred Scott case, yet it marvelously managed to avert war for forty years, and thus set it aside for a later generation to fight, but the damage to American nationalism helped to erode the so-called Era of Good Feelings in which the popular James Monroe presided as president. During 1828, Congress passed a tariff that protected Northern industries but had the unwanted consequence of driving up domestic prices. This, while beneficial to the growing industry in the North, greatly crippled the South who suffered as their economy largely depended on the import and export of domestic goods. As a result, this new bill outraged Southerners who began calling it the Tariff of Abominations. South Carolina spearheaded Southern concerns by citing the doctrine of nullification, which allowed individual states to nullify proclamations of the federal government that would be found to be unconstitutional or inhibit the states rights. The issue of nullification was taken up in the Senate in the famous Webster-Hayne debate in which Daniel Webster of Massachusetts, the Senates leading orator, responded by challenging the Souths apparent willingness to subvert the Union for regional economic gain. In doing so, he broadened the debate beyond land, tariffs, and slavery to a co nsideration of the very nature of the federal republic. In 1832 Congress modified the tariff of 1828 by retaining high duties on some goods, but lowering others to rates held before the treaty. A South Carolina convention, under the leadership of current vice-president John Calhoun, later that year adopted an Ordinance of Nullification, voiding the tariffs of 1828 and 1832 in the state. The claim was that because the South tended to export food and import manufactured goods these tariffs were abusive and unfair; this new Ordinance supported free trade and generally opposed protective tariffs. The South Carolina state legislature funded a volunteer army and threatened secession if the federal government tried to force the state to comply with the tariffs. President Jackson, though an advocate of states rights, responded forcefully and threatened to invade South Carolina if its leaders refused to participate in the collection of tariff duties. To the ambitious malcontents in South Car olina, he proclaimed emphatically, the laws of the United States must be executed. . . . The Union will be preserved and treason and rebellion promptly put down. Jacksons proclamation stimulated an outburst of patriotism all over the country, isolating South Carolina from the rest of the Union. President Andrew Jackson asked Congress to grant him the authority to use military force to collect tax revenues and to subdue South Carolina. Congress complied by passing the Force Bill of 1833; the bill gave the President the authority to close ports or harbors at his will. This in turn would require opponents to the tariff to travel a distance to carry out any threats or insurrection against federal facilities. Hostile acts against government facilities or personnel would then be considered pre-meditated and blatant. Fortunately, however, the president never had to resort to military action. The crisis was averted when Congress passed a bill that reduced the productive tariff the following year. These events were dubbed the Nullification Crisis and the Compromise of 1833. Though war was averted, South Carolina now became the hotbed of southern dissent. The crisis of 1850 may never have occurred if a more common resource was discovered in California. But since gold was so rare, and therefore very valuable, Californias population skyrocketed. By 1850 over 100,000 hoping-to-strike-it-rich settlers, also known as forty-niners, flocked to California in hopes of attaining vast wealth in the gold that was said to be so abundant there. Without waiting for federal approval, the inhabitants of California called a convention, framed a constitution that prohibited slavery, and applied to Congress for admission as a state without first becoming a territory, this was made possible due to the vast influx of people who had emigrated there from the east of the United States as well as those who had immigrated from other countries. California had become very populous. The questions of whether California should be admitted as a free state and slavery should be allowed in New Mexico and Utah, two other territories asking to be allowed into the Union a t the time, generated a great deal of controversy both within Congress and throughout the nation. President Taylor supported Californias admission. Though the slaveholding president supported the proposal, other slaveholders throughout the country did not follow suit. Many southerners quickly threatened that they would secede from the Union if California was admitted as a free state. The Great Compromiser Henry Clay then once again stepped into the fray and proposed a compromise to this problem; this would be known as the Compromise of 1850. The compromise itself was more a series of bills than an actual compromise, these bills included among other things, that California would enter the Union as a free state; a more stringent Fugitive Slave Law of 1850 was guaranteed to be rigidly enforced. The law itself was already present, but it was rarely followed due to it being so poorly enforced as well as fierce opposition from Northerners who refused to hand in runaway slaves to the ever unpopular slave hunters; a settlement of the boundary between Texas and New Mexico; an indemnity to be paid to Texas for the relinquishment of its claims to a large portion of New Mexico; the slave trade would be banned in Washington D.C. (District of Columbia) though the ownership of slaves would not be abolished in the capital. This idea arose mainly because in this time period many European nations, with which the United States of America did business with, had already abolished slavery throughout their country, and it would leave an unfavorable impression on a foreign diplomat to see slaves which were no longer allowed in their own country, still present in another with whom they were considering associating themselves with ; the Mexican Cession, or the land taken from Mexico as a result of Americas victory in the Mexican-American War, would be divided into two new territories, New Mexico and Utah. Both territories would determine the status of slavery in their areas by popular sovereignty. Popular sovereignty was a system that would determine whether the state or territory would be free or would allow slavery by mean of holding local elections in said state or territory, Democrats would advocate popular sovereignty during the election of 1860. The compromise was made official with the signing of President Millard Fillmore. This passage by Congress delayed the onset of the Civil War for more than eleven years. The Bleeding Kansas period came about due to the Kansas-Nebraska Act. Democrat and Illinois Senator Stephen Douglas introduced the Kansas-Nebraska Act to further the construction of a Transcontinental Railroad to Chicago despite being warned by Frederick Douglass that the bill was an open invitation to a fierce and bitter strife. For the Bill to pass he needed the votes of southern Democrats, who were unwilling to support him unless the new Territories needed to accomplish it were open to slavery. Douglas thought that by proposing that the status of slavery in the new territories be governed by the principle of popular sovereignty, he would satisfy both pro and anti slavery factions. However, his bill in effect, repealed the Missouri Compromise of 1820, which barred slavery north of latitude 36à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ° 30. This brought as consequence that the Southern Whigs voted with southern Democrats in favor of the measure, and the northern Whigs rejected it, creating an irreconcilable spl it that left Whigs unable to field a presidential candidate in 1856. In the congressional elections of 1854, the southern Democrats became the dominant voice both in congress and within the party due to the split with the northern Democrats. The Cotton Whigs, who had economic ties with southern slave owners, were convinced that the bill would encourage antislavery feelings in the north. They urged southern politicians to vote against the bill, but were utterly ignored. This convinced them that compromise with the South was impossible and the nation watched horrified as the residents of Kansas slaughtered each other in pursuit of sectional goals that increasingly seemed to represent the divisions of the country. Since popular sovereignty would decide Kansass fate, it seemed that the majority of Kansas antislavery farmers would align Kansas with the Free states. Proslavery sympathizers in neighboring Missouri were not about to stand by while their neighbor cast its lot with the free s tates on account of its land being fertile and perfect for growing and farming cotton, the white gold of the South. Soon, border ruffians crossed into Kansas with the intention of making it a slave state. Border ruffians terrorized Kansas and intimidated others to vote proslavery with vicious threats and cast fraud ballots during elections to help elect their candidates into office. In response, Northern opponents of slavery like the New England Emigrant Society began sending supporters to Kansas. Fighting soon erupted as advocates of slavery created a government in Lecompton, Kansas and their opponents established an antislavery government in Topeka. Shortly thereafter, proslavery forces massacred citizens of the antislavery town of Lawrence. In retaliation, a violent abolitionist named John Brown organized his own massacre of five suspected proslavery advocates at Pottawatomie Creek in 1856. The Democratic President Pierces decision to remain aloof from the events in Kansas furthe r damaged what was left of his partys cohesion. In the ensuing months it seemed as if Kansas would enter as a free state, but a new problem arose; enter President James Buchanan. The newly elected President Buchanan accepted the proslavery Lecompton Constitution, which would admit Kansas as a slave state. Certain democrats then agreed to unite with the young Republican Party in 1858 to oppose the Lecompton Constitution, their efforts were not in vain and Kansas was ultimately accepted into the Union as a free state. The election of 1856 attracted one of the highest voter turnouts in American history. Ordinary citizens were sharing the politicians concerns about the growing sectional rifts in the nation. The northern turnout also showed that the threat posed by expansion of slavery was greater than that posed by new immigrants. In 1856 the people of the United States heard about the looting and burning in Kansas, about John Browns massacre at Pottawatomie, and about the Sumner-Brooks incident on the senate floor, ostensibly causing the unprecedented voters outpour. In the latter incident, Senator Charles Sumner of Massachusetts suffered permanent injuries from an attack by Congressman Preston Brooks of South Carolina. Using abusive and accusatory language in his The Crime Against Kansas speech, Sumner had singled out for ridicule Senator Andrew Butler of South Carolina. Sumners rude and personal attack suggested that the senator was drooling. South Carolina, Sumner cried, had sent to the Senate a Don Quixote who had chosen a mistress who, though polluted in the sight of the world, is chaste in his sight- I mean the harlot, Slavery. Talk of sexual connection between white Southerners and slaves was always explosive. Senator Butlers nephew, Preston Brooks, did not bother to challenge Sumner to a duel. Brooks said that the Yankee would never give satisfaction and would therefore refuse or flee from the challenge. Instead, Brooks strode into the Senate chamber and, finding the Massachusetts lawmaker alone, brutally beat Sumner with his cane, nearly ending his life. In Brooks mind, he was simply avenging an intolerable affront to his uncles honor. Each man found his action perfectly justifiable and the action of the other outrageous. So far had the behavioral codes of the North and the South diverged, and their attitudes were mirrored by their respective sections. The nation lay as divided as the senators. President-elect James Buchanans support for a pro-southern decision by the Supreme Court further aggravated sectional differences. In Dred Scott vs. Sandford, a southern-dominated Supreme attempted, in vain, to solve the political controversy over slavery. Scott, a slave, had been taken by his owner to Illinois, a Free State, and Wisconsin Territory north of the Missouri Compromise line. During that time, Scott married another slave and had a daughter who was born in free territory, then returned to Missouri, a slave state. Once in Missouri Scott sued for his freedom and that of his wife and daughter on the grounds that residence in free lands had made them free. Chief Justice Roger B. Taney declared the Missouri Compromise unconstitutional asserting that the federal government had no right to interfere with the free movement of property throughout the territories. Taney dismissed the Dred Scott case on the grounds that only citizens could bring suits before federal courts and that b lack people were not citizens. The five southern members of the Supreme Court concurred with the decision along with one Northerner, Robert Grier. President-elect Buchanan had pressured Justice Grier into supporting the majority. Clearly as a sectional decision, Southerners expressed satisfaction and support for the Court, Northerners disagreed. They found themselves questioning the power of the Supreme Court to establish the law of the land. The racist attitude of the Supreme Court was a bitter blow to the free blacks in the North. The South was overjoyed with the Courts ruling. The North was outraged; Northern Democrats like Senator Steven Douglas of Illinois found it increasingly difficult to reconcile their support of popular sovereignty in the Dred Scott decision. Under Douglass definition of popular sovereignty, it was always the white majority that would make decisions about black mens freedom. Lincoln responded to this definition by stating that for a man to rule another man without his consent was tyranny. Lincoln succeeded in pressing Douglas on the issue of slavery in the territories after Chief Justice Taneys Dred Scott decision. Lincoln used this opportunity to attack Douglass popular sovereignty idea. For how could the people of a territory vote against slavery, if Chief Justice Taney said that every American had a right to carry his property with him? In response, Douglas introduced his Freeport Doctrine. The doctrine was dubbed after the Illinois town where Lincoln and Douglas had met for one of their debates. The doctrine said slavery could not exist without friendly legislation to support it. Anti-slavery voters could simply refuse to pass such laws and slavery would effectively be kept out of the territory. Douglas concluded then that popular sovereignty was entirely consistent with Chief Justice Taneys ruling. However, the Freeport Doctrine alienated many Southern Democrats. Douglas had actually stated the essence of the doctrine previous t o the debate at Freeport, but its prominent public assertion at Freeport contributed, along with other political disputes, to antagonizing those in the Southern United States who were demanding ever-increasing protections for slavery, and who subsequently insisted on the repudiation of the Freeport Doctrine in order to block Douglas presidential bid in 1860. Containing slavery became important to Northerners, who believed that as slavery expanded, Northern industrial capitalism would become limited. To fight this fear a new political party emerged in the 1850s, the Republicans, whose political goals were free labor, free soil, free men. The industrial capitalists, owners of the Norths factories and workshops had the most to gain by containing the spread of slavery and expanding capitalism. For example, as capitalism expanded, they hoped to expand the labor pool, by supporting a loose immigration policy, which in turn would drive down the wages that they would have to pay for workers. Just as the planters dominated the South, the industrial capitalists profoundly influenced the Norths political, economic and cultural system. In addition, their political and economic objectives often clashed with those of the Souths planter class. In the South, militant political leaders, referred to as fire-eaters due to their adamant nature to raise cont roversial disputes, especially with their northern counterparts. These fire-eaters chafed at the notion of containing slavery, let alone abolishing it entirely, naturally bringing about disputes between the two. These clashes were mostly due to slavery as the industrial capitalists wanted to expand the white labor pool and southern plantation owners wanted to keep their slave force. Though compromises such as the Missouri Compromise, the Kansas-Nebraska Act, and the myriad of bills proposed by Henry Clay in the Compromise of 1850, it helped to divert attention from the topic and to try and appease both sides, but conflict was inevitable. As discussed earlier, both the North and the South consisted of entirely different ideals and culture by the nineteenth century. These divisions were brought to light in both the violence of the Brooks-Sumner incident and the racist decision of the South-dominated Supreme Court during the Dred Scott case. By the time Abraham Lincoln, the sixteen pre sident of the United States of America, took office the southern had already seceded from the Union. There was no longer room for compromise, Lincoln was given two options; to allow the Union to crumble or fight to preserve it. They thought themselves to be to economically powerful, politically influential, and the North and the rest of Europe too dependent on their White Gold for slavery to be abolished. They were wrong.

Sunday, October 13, 2019

The Reapers Image :: essays research papers

The Reaper's Image   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  This story is about two men who were transporting an antique mirrow from the first floor of an old museum to the fifth. Their names were Spangler and Carlin. This mirror had a history of being haunted, and some people would look into the mirror and see a hooded figure standing behind them. This figure was presumed to be Death, and whenever someone would see this figure they were never seen again. Carlin spends the whole story trying to convice Spangler that this is really true, but Spangler just calls Carlin crazy. Finally, near the end of the story, Spangler looks in the mirror and sees a dark inperfection in the corner, which he mistakes for friction tape. When Carlin tells him that there is no friction tape on the mirror, Spangler becomes sick and leaves for the bathroom. The story ends with Carlin waiting for Spangler to return.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I thought that this story was very good, because it started off really slow and worked it's way into a really interesting plot. I liked the end because it never really finished, it left the ending up to the reader. This seems to be a common theme in a lot of Stephen King's stories. He likes to leave the reader in suspense, and keep them wondering. Here There Be Tygers   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  This story is about a little boy named Charles who is in elementary school. He has to go to the bathrrom really bad, but he is afraid to ask because the teacher does not like him. Finally the teacher sees him squirming and asks him if he needs to use the restroom. He says yes and is very embarassed in front of the class, so he leaves quickly. When he steps into the bathroom, he sees a tiger lying in the corner, and it looks hungry. He goes back outside and sits there for a while wondering what he should do. His friend Kenny finally comes up to him because his teacher noticed that he was gone a long time. Charles tells him that there is a tiger in the bathroom, but Kenny does not believe him. Kenny goes into the bathroom and does not come back out. Then even later, his teacher comes and starts yelling at him. She goes into the bathroom and she doesn't come back out either. The story ends with Charles coming back to class and reading a story about a rodeo.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  This is another story that ends really abruptly. It was strange because after knowing that his friend and his teacher were both killed by a tiger, he

Saturday, October 12, 2019

Intent and Motive in The Devil and Tom Walker and The Devil and Daniel

Intent and Motive in The Devil and Tom Walker and The Devil and Daniel Webster  Ã‚     Ã‚   Washington Irving, in writing "The Devil and Tom Walker", and Stephen Vincent Benet, in writing "The Devil and Daniel Webster" illustrate to the reader the consequences of man's desire for material wealth and how a person's motivation for a relationship with the devil affects the outcome of the "deal". In these two different, yet surprisingly similar narratives, the authors present their beliefs about human intent and motive. In "The Devil and Tom Walker", the story is seen of a stingy man and his nagging wife who "...were so miserly that they even conspired to cheat each other" (128). In the story, one sees a man make a deal with the devil, who in the story is known as "Old Scratch", for the sole purpose of personal gain. Tom Walker, seeing only the possible wealth that he could achieve, bargains with the devil and finally reaches an agreement which he sees to be fair. Tom does not see the danger present in bargaining with such a powerful force for so little gain. There is a note of humor present in the narrative, which adds to the sense of danger that is present making deals that one does not intend to keep. Commenting on the story, Larry L. Stevens notes that "This tale,..., comically presents the results of valuing the dollar above all else." This story does a very good job of conveying a message to the reader about human values. In the story Tom is seen as a very self-centered man who cares only for himself and his own well being. He is not even phased when he discovers the remains of his wife hanging in a apron in a tree; "Tom consoled himself for the loss of his property with the loss of his wife" (132). Tom is portrayed in ... ...Daniel Webster". in Adventures in American Literature. Ed. Fannie Safier et al. Athena Edition. Austin: Holt, 1996. 635-643. Discovering Authors. Macintosh. CD-ROM. Detroit: Gale Research, 1993. Irving, Washington. "The Devil and Tom Walker". in Adventures in American Literature. Ed. Fannie Safier et al. Athena Edition. Austin: Holt, 1996. 128-135. Masterplots II: Short Story Series. Ed. Frank N. Magill. Vol. 2. Pasadena: Salem Press, 1989. Peck, David. Masterplots II: Short Story Series. Ed. Frank N. Magill. Vol. 2. Pasadena: Salem Press, 1989. 575-578. Stewart, Larry L. Masterplots II: Short Story Series. Ed. Frank N. Magill. Vol. 2. Pasadena: Salem Press, 1989. 579-581. Wagenknecht, Edward. "Washington Irving: Moderation Displayed". Oxford UP. 1962. 233. in Discovering Authors. Macintosh. CD-ROM. Detroit: Gale Research, 1993. 3.

Friday, October 11, 2019

Nonverbal Communication Essay

1.1 Identify the reasons people communicate. There are several reasons why people coomunicate in the work setting. * To promote relationships and offer support – Arranging regular contact and building a shared system of support. * To maintain relationships – As the practitioner, it is important to be able to build and maintain a strong bond and trust between yourself and the child and also with the parents/carers. * To exchange information – This could be verbal and non-verbal. Staff can exchange information in the form of ‘handing over’ in settings such as respite care homes. Information can be exchanged by writing in ‘communiction books’. Practitioners and parents/carers also exchange information regularly. * To negotiate and liase with others – Early years managers will often liase with the parents/carers and also other professionals. * To express needs and feelings – Children and young people should feel free to express their needs and feelings to adults. They should feel confident that we will acknowledge them and try our best to m eet their needs. 1.2 Explain how communication affects relationships in the work setting. Communictaion is the key to creating a positive working environment. Creating effective relationships in the work setting allows you to support other people in times of need and vice versa. Read more:  Identify the different reasons why people communicate  essay 2.1 Explain how to establish the communication and language needs,wishes and prefernces of individuals. As a practitioner, you havr to accomodate the individual needs,wishes and preferences of the people you encounter. Culture, language, Gender, Religion, disability and environment are all things that could becaome a communication barrier between the practitioner and other people. You need to be able to show empathy and give support at the appropriate time. Take into account the individuals preferences and wishes and meet their needs as much as you can. 2.2 Describe the factors to consider when promoting effective communication. There are many factors to consider when promoting effective face-to-face communication. A busy and noisy environment will deter effective communication, whereas, a quiet place will allow the children and young people to feel more relaxed. Personal space also needs to be valued. Being too close may make the other person feel uncomfortable. 2.3 Explain a range of communication methods and styles to meet individual needs. As mentioned before, communication is not only verbal, it is also non-verbal. Effective communication consists of listening, responding, questioning and understanding at the appropriate times and in the right manner. There are a range of methods we can use to communicate, such as; * Facial expressions and eye contact * Body language * Tone of voice * Turn-taking In order to know and choose which method is most effective, you have to take into account their culture/religious beliefs, for example, as a muslim, eye contact is considered a form of disrespect. 2.4 Explain how to respond to an individual’s reactions when communicating. When communicating there are cues and signals the other person gives to us. We need to learn how to pick up and respond to those signals appropriately. There are a few points that can help, such as: * Maintaining eye contact (if appropriate) considering each culture. * Maintaining an open posture – Try to keep your body and hands neat and relaxed. Nodding occasionally for positive support. * Showing that you are listening – Giving the speaker brieg prompts to continue, such as ‘yes’ or ‘go on’ * Listening with undivided attention – Give the speaker the time to talk. Do not interrupt. Allow them to finish. * Listen to what is not openly said – The soeakers body language may give you a clue to their ‘hidden feelings’. These points allow you to be an ‘active listener’ Active listening is when you are not only focusing on what is being said, but also  the feelings and emotions that are being expressed. 3.1 Explain hwo people from different backgrounds may use and/or interpret communication methods in different ways. People with different cultures and beliefs communicate in different ways. We need to have respect for their views and give them the confidence to express themselves freely and make choices without being judged or scrutinized. A person with confidence issues may struggle to express themselves. They should be encouraged to practice their communication skills with others but in their own pace. A childs family background may affect the way they communicate, as every childs home life is unique. This needs to be taken into consideration. 3.2 Identify barriers to effective communication. There are a variety of barriers to effective communication, such as: * Environment – A noisy setting with lack of privacy, or maybe a building which is not accessible to all, e.g – wheelchair users. * Disabilty and impairment – Children with disabilities and impairments may communicate in different ways. Staff may have to be trained to recognize and familiarize themselves with this kind of communication barrier. * Additional language – Enhlish may not be the mother tongue of every child. Practitioners need to support the child to develop an additional language which may only be applied in the setting. * Blocking the others contribution – During face-to-face communication there are several facial expressions which may block the communication of the other person, such as: yawning, fidgeting, a look of boredom etc. 3.3 Explain ways to overcome barriers to communication. There are a variety of reasons why there may be a communication barrier. The key to overcoming barriers is identifying the particular problem and then you will be better prepared to overcome it. There are several things you can do to help overcome communication barriers. I speak clearly and maintain eye contact depending on religion, as some religions find this offensive. I allow plenty of time for communication it is important to give the other person your undivided attention and make them feel that their contribution is important to you. I put the other person at ease by keeping my body and  hands relaxed and talking to them in a quiet place where we are less likely to be disturbed, if possible. I avoid making assumptions or judgements, I understand that some people have difficulty expressing themselves. I never assume that I know what they are trying to say and always check that I have understood. 3.4 Explain strategies that can be used to clarify misunderstandings. Misunderstandings can cause lack of trust and resentment, both of which lead to flawed relationships. There are two practical techniques for checking understanding: Paraphrasing: Paraphrasing means using your own words plus the important main words of the other person, to check accurate understanding of wht he or she has just said. This allows the practitioner to clarify that he/she has understood what the other person has said, and the other person will have his/her story presented back to them clearly. Reflecting: In this way, the emotional content of the message is explained. This helps the other person to understand and appreciate the effect the problem is having on his/her life. The practitioner will also be reflecting a feeling of empathy. 3.5 Explain how to access extra support or services to enable individuals to communicate effectively. In the setting, there may be people who are unable to communicate as well as others. Practitioners need to know when to call in help from outside professionals. There are a few training courses that practitioners can also take part in that would help, such as: Makaton, PECS, British sign language and signalong. 4.1 Explain the meaning of the term confidentiality. Confidentiality means respecting the privacy of any information about a child and his/her family. Confidentiality is very important when working in a children and young peoples setting. All practitioners need to practice confidentiality and not abuse this trust. 4.2 Explain ways to maintain confidentiality in day to day communication. In some circumstances, confidentiality may have to be shared with your line manager. If you suspect that there may be a child protection issue, this  will have to be shared with your manager in strict confidence. All parents should be aware of the settings policy and understand that certain things, such as, a childs dietary requirements or allergies will have to be shared with all staff to prevent any mishaps. There may be incidents discussed in work meetings. The children should not be identified and information shared should not be discussed beyond the group. 4.3 Describe the potential tension between maintaining an individuals confidentiality and disclosing concerns.