The Soldiers Of 351st Ordnance Company - 1734 Words

When I went on mobilization to Fort Lewis, Washington and left my son in the care of my parents, I thought my parental duties would be set aside until I returned home. Unfortunately, the soldiers of 351st Ordnance Company would prove me wrong with their excessive alcohol consumption, commonly term â€Å"binge drinking,† and destructive behaviors. I would then spend the next year sharing the responsibility with four other junior noncommission officers in the task of taking care of soldiers. Despite the efforts of myself and the others we were not fully prepared to handle some of the outrageous events and lack of engagement from the leadership that would challenge us during the tour. My abilities as a junior noncommission officer and the understanding of leadership were redefined and I learned exactly what it meant to ensure soldiers have proper guidance, leadership, positive morale, and well-being. The Ordnance Company of over 200 soldiers was mobilized due to an administrative error when the mission at Fort Lewis only required a platoon size element of 50 soldiers. Right from the start there was a lot of confusion and concern on what exactly the unit would be doing at Fort Lewis and how the excess three fourths of the company would be employed. The unit traveled via commercial air from West Virginia to Seattle, Washington and then shuttled by bus to Fort Lewis where we would spend the next year. When the unit arrived to Fort Lewis the Battalion Commander of the 80th

External Factors and the Real Estate Free Essays

Assignment 1. 3 External Factors and the Real Estate Industry By Karen Chapman 11 November 2012 Assignment 1. 3 Index: 1. We will write a custom essay sample on External Factors and the Real Estate or any similar topic only for you Order Now The demographic environment: 1. 1Cultural diversity trends and developmentsPage 3 1. 2Demographics of own area, vs. national demographics and trendsPage 3 2. The economic environment: 2. 1 The current economic environmentPage 3 2. 2 Socio-economic factorsPage 4 3. The political environmentPage 4 4. The technological environmentPage 5 5. The competitive environmentPage 5 6. The legal environment: 6. 1 Regulations pertaining to property ownershipPage 5 . 2 Regulations pertaining to land use controlsPage 6 6. 3 Other rules and regulationsPage 6 ConclusionPage 6 ReferencesPage 6 Assignment 1. 3 Introduction: The real estate industry is hugely affected by external factors, which have the effect of either having a positive or negative impact on us as real estate agents. When the economy is good houses sell and buyers are able to qualify for bonds. When the economy is in a downturn then houses stay on the market for a lot longer. Buyers are more reluctant to take the plunge and buy propert y. Repossessions increase and banks often become more reluctant to grant bonds. 1. The demographic environment 1. 1Prior to the repealing of the Group Areas Act the residential housing market was segmented by race. Each race group was legally only allowed to stay in certain areas and neighbourhoods. After the repealing of the Group Areas Act and the democratisation of South Africa after our first free and fair elections for all races in 1994, different race groups and ethnicities started living together in the same neighbourhoods for the first time. With South Africa being welcomed back into the international community we also now have more clients from around the world. This has also resulted in a major paradigm shift for estate agents – from serving one race group previously we are now dealing with clients from every race and ethnicity from both South Africa and around the world. To be successful and effective, estate agents have had to learn to be sensitive to, and understand, different cultures and their customs. Buyers and sellers have also had to learn to be more tolerant towards the different cultures and norms of their neighbours. 1. 2The demographics of my â€Å"farm area† are representative of the national urban demographics and trends. 2. The economic environment 2. 1 The world economic crisis has also negatively impacted on the South African economy and this had had a direct negative impact on our housing market. Due to cut backs and layoffs many homeowners are finding it difficult to meet their bond commitments and as a result many homes are being repossessed by the banks. Buyers are also experiencing difficulties in obtaining bonds from banks one of the main reasons being that South African banks appear to fear further repercussions from the global credit crisis and continued job losses (up to 400 000 before the year end) House prices have continued to fall. Absa’s senior property analyst Jacques du Toit said house prices dropped further in nominal terms in June, by 4,4% year-on- Assignment 1. 3 year, while in real terms, prices were down by 11,1% year-on-year in May. But the residential market is expected to improve early in 2013 Mortgage stress has increased from 55 000 in the second quarter of 2011 to 155,000 in the second quarter of 2012. Severe mortgage stress, where bondholders are over 4 months in arrears, has almost doubled in a year and increased sharply in June to over 72 000 home owners from 55 000 in the first quarter. Despite the lower interest rates there are more sales in execution than ever before. Currently there are approximately 4 500 houses per month which are being sold forcibly through legal channels which includes sales in execution, insolvency sales and bank’s voluntary distressed sales channels. . 2 With the global economic meltdown, retrenchments and unemployment have become more and more of a reality in South Africa. With the increased unemployment levels, bondholders have become more hard-pressed to make payments and this has led to an increase in defaults and consequently repossessions. Other homeowners have tried to sell their properties as they have become more financially strapped. This has resulted in an over supply of properties on the market (a buyers market) and as a result some buyers are able to negotiate more favourable/lower prices on houses. Many buyers are also reluctant to buy because of economic uncertainty. (job loss/retrenchment). Banks stringent lending criteria have also prevented potential buyers from obtaining loans. The net result being that the property market has been severely negatively impacted. 3. The political environment: The change in the political environment in South Africa has also resulted in a change in the real estate industry. Agents had to previously deal with clients from one race group e. g. but with the repealing of the Groups Areas Act we now deal with clients we previously never dealt with i. e. ifferent race groups, ethnicities and nationalities In 20 years, South Africa has achieved many successes, including greater political stability and greater economic freedom. Research Worldwide. com has just published results of its annual survey, which showed that property investments in South Africa showed an actual total return of 15,1% last year. South African commercial real estate outperformed sixteen other major countries. The real estate boom in South Africa and low interest rates continues to encourage homeowners to feel confident and spend buying those houses for sale, farms for sale and commercial property for sale Assignment 1. 3 4. The technological environment: Technology has become an integral part of Real Estate over the past few years. Property software programs have played – and will play an increasingly important role in the future of Real Estate. To remain competitive real estate agencies need to use the latest technology to benefit their business. The real challenge is to find a software application (programme) that supports all facets of the industry, cutting out the need to duplicate day-to-day work. The world wide web enables estate agents to operate globally as properties can be viewed from anywhere in the world. An agent can create a virtual office in his car with a laptop, 3G connection and a cell phone. 5. The competitive environment: The real estate industry has often been perceived as an unprofessional industry because there have been no entry standards for those wishing to join the industry. However, this is changing as all real estate agents are now required to obtain the FETC: Real Estate Level 4 qualification to enable them to practice as agents. This has benefits for both the industry and clients – the industry will have knowledgeable and qualified/professional agents which will enable both buyers and sellers effectively. Qualified agents will be in high demand in the industry. 6. The legal environment 6. 1 Regulations pertaining to property: There are a number of acts that govern property ownership in South Africa: Sectional Titles Act 95 of 1986 Makes it possible for different persons to each own a portion of a building Companies Act 61 of 1973 Share block shares must be transferred in terms of the Companies Act Share Blocks Control Act 59 of 1980 Controls the operation of Share Block schemes Housing Development Schemes for Retired Persons Act 65 of 1988 Regulates the development and alienation (sale or lease) of accommodation in schemes which are â€Å"Housing Development Schemes† as defined by the Act The Estate Agencies Affairs Act 112 of 1976 Safeguards the interests of members of the public in their dealings with Estate Agents The Estate Agencies Affairs Board is a regulatory body established by the above Act. Alienation of Land Act 68 of 1981 How to cite External Factors and the Real Estate, Essay examples

Marketing and Retail Book Industry free essay sample

Your company has developed a new educational electronic game. Your target market is 4-6 year old children. What research methods would you use to test this product concept? Choose at least three methods that you believe will provide valuable information, and describe your research strategy. (Points : Three research methods that will give more valuable information about the product concept areas below. Focus groups: Discussion of selected members (a mix of parents, teachers, academicians and psychologist) in a focus group will help the company gain insight about what the customers are think and how they perceive the product (Kotler, 2000). This will also help in identifying any gaps between the product presently available in the market and what the customers want. Unstructured interviews: Unstructured one on one interview with parents, teachers, and psychologists can help the company gain more information by using probing questions. Questionnaires: Questionnaires with a combination of open ended and closed ended questions can be sent to the respondents over the email and they can send their replies over the email. TCO C) Choose a specific brand (i. e. , Coke, Nike, McDonalds, etc. Using this brand as an example, describe what makes this a unique brand that is easily recognizable by consumers. What do you, as a consumer, think of when you see this brand logo? How would you describe a Brand? What roles do Brands play in the market and what signals success? The brand selected for this question id McDonalds. The vibrant logo of the company makes the brand easily recognizable. The golden arches of McDonalds was born of architecture. The arches were a design that formed the shape of the letter M in a unique way. The color combination of yellow and red in this logo plays the trick (The Independent, 2008). The brand gives an impression of a vibrant and happy environment or place. In a cluttered business environment branding plays an important role in adding distinguishing factor to the company’s product or service and increases brand recognition and brand recall among the target customers. This would in turn lead to increased sales and increased profits for the company. 3. (TCO H) Let us look at the retail book industry as an example. There are a lot of people who buy a wide variety of books. Using this industry as an example, divide this market into smaller market segments. Describe at least three of these markets segments. By making some assumptions, describe some characteristics of the target market (end customers) for each of these market segments. Also what are the key criteria for segmentation to be effective? Smaller market segments of the retail book industry are as below: -Children: Childrens’ books, graphic books and fictions are targeted towards the children. The gatekeepers for this segment are the parents and guardians. So for this segment communications are to be targeted to the kids in a was so as to involve the elders and encourage them to buy the products for the children -Fitness enthusiasts: Yoga books, fitness book, diet advising books interest the fitness enthusiasts. So this market is targeted based on their behavioral aspects. -Students: The stuents buy text books, reference books. Again So this market is targeted based on their behavioral aspects. Segmenting the retail book industry can be done based on the key criteria of demographic, and behavioral aspects. An increasing number of companies are basing their prices on the customers perceived value of the product or service. Explain the concept of perceived value pricing. What is the key to pricing in this manner? How might the marketer determine the price that the consumer might pay in exchange for that value that they receive? Perceived value pricing is the method of pricing a product or service based on what the customer is willing to pay for the product, rather than on arriving at the final price based on the costs and expenses (Kotler, 2000). The price is determined based on the competitor’s product. An analysis is done on how the customer perceives the company’s products in comparison to the competitors’ products. Based on this understanding and the competitors’ prices the pricing is done. 5. (TCO F) You are the Sales Manager for your company. Your sales team is one that, once they gain the initial sale, enjoys considerable repeat business. Sales reps are paid a base of $35K and their commission package can add as much as $49K a year (average). Top producers make as much as $65K a year in commissionalong with their base pay, they make $100K. Sales reps have not been aggressive in pursuing new business. They have become comfortable in making repeated sales calls on their existing customers to be visible and to handle any issues. Your VP of Sales wants to see a 12% increase in NEW business next year. How might you structure the compensation plan to drive selling behaviors that would result in more effort being made to gain new business? Being a sales team the primary motivator for the team will be financial incentives. In the given scenario, it is important for the VP of sales to restructure the incentive structure. The restructuring can be done in the following way. Giving 100 percent weightage for the any fresh business that the sales reps get from a new customer. the focus for this is customer acquisition. Giving 40 percent weightage for the new business that comes from the existing clients. Assuming that there is a threshold after crossing which the sales reps become eligible for commission. More conditions can be added to the threshold. For instance, even if the sales reps meet their threshold of sales, they have to meet at least 70 percent of their new customer acquisition target in order to be eligible for the commission/ incentive. 6. (TCO E) Why do intermediaries bother to sponsor their own brand? What is the role of private label brands in the market place? From the consumers viewpoint, why would you or wouldnt you buy these generic brands versus more well-known brand names? Does it depend upon the product being sold? The intermediaries bother to sponsor their own brand in order to be competitive, profitable and cost effective. It is easier to own brands in own store than in other stores as they do not have to pay for shelf space. The intermediaries explore the excess capacity of the manufacturers and introduce them as private label at a low cost. The costs involved are lower and so the intermediary can sell those products at low price and gain higher profit margins. The private labels also provide a differentiating factor among the competitors. Many a times customers prefer generic brands and private labels over branded products because both are of similar quality and price of generic brands are lower (Kotler, 2000). But whether a customer chooses a generic brand or more well-known brand names it often depends on the product the customer is buying. For convenience products customers often prefer generic brand over more well-known brand names. Describe the supply chain strategy using demand chain planning. By looking at the company as the center of a value network, how will this approach enable the company to be more financially efficient? Demand chain planning refers to forecasting the market demands for a product or service and then adjusting the production, supplies and distribution based on that. Using demand chain planning supply chain strategy will be decided based on the historical data and statistical and customer forecast of the expected sales. Once these figures are generated, the supply volume and time is decided to match the demand. In this way excess supply and excess stock/ inventory can be checked and controlled, making the whole supply chain functions more cost effective for the company. 8. (TCO J) With the memory of the many companies showing poor judgment and poor ethics, such as BP, Toyota, Enron, WorldCom, Arthur Andersen, and others fresh in your mind, you have been asked to advise your companys CEO on to how to minimize the risk of a similar event occurring at your company. Specifically, what recommendations would you make to your CEO that would minimize unethical business and marketing practices by your employees, such as those alleged to have occurred at these and other companies? The recommendations are as below. -All organizations claim them to be fair and legitimate. Due to absence of clarity of the exclusivity, the companies fight over years to win. It often comes out to be marketing stances to gain over competitors. Lawyers of the organization prepare a case to defend their parties and not to defend what is right. In the process the company spends time, energy and money to win over patents. Ethically such resources can be diverted for the betterment of the employees, their working condition and even society as a whole. This would increase the value of a firm and reinforce its culture (Jones, 2013). -These ethical dilemmas are to be addressed in line with the ethical commitments of the organization. For this purpose a code of ethics stating corporate policies and practices should be referred to. -For successful implementation of the code of ethics, employees need to understand the practical implications of the code and know its significance. Trainings in ethics raise awareness of the employees about the code. Now that you have completed the Final Draft of your Marketing Plan, were you to begin anew, what would you have done differently insofar as your efforts to segment your TARGET MARKET and your efforts to reach that TARGET MARKET via your promotional mix? What would you have done differently? Please be sure to provide a graduate level response based on the marketing principals learned in class. Be sure to refresh your instructors mind by providing one sentence that communicates what your Marketing Plan brought to market. The marketing plan was for a jewelry shop in Abu Dhabi. The company name is ABC Company. To define the target market I would do two things differently. Firstly, I will define my target customer based on a primary research. Secondly, I would consider the psychological aspects like willingness to purchase, purchase frequency and readiness to purchase to define the target segment. I would promotional mix, I would like to consider options for an interactive customer engagement. This can be done through creating an interactive website with a forum for interaction, and making active social media pages by continuously updating and encouraging customers to interact. 10 (TCO G) Sales Promotions offer consumers an incentive to buy. Name at least four different types of sales promotion tools, tell how you would use them, and provide an example of a type of product or service you would promote using this tool. Failure to provide all of the requested information will result in a loss of points. Sales promotion refers to a host of activities taken up to boost the sales of a product (Kotler, 2000). Four different types of sales promotion tools are as below. -Price promotions: Also referred to as price discounting, these are discounts on normal price of the product or more of the product at the same price in order to increase sales volume at the cost of loss in profit. This can be used for shopping products like electronic goods, apparels, etc -Coupons: Coupons are certificates, usually distributed with magazines news papers etc. , which offers price reduction for some specified items to the holder (Pickton, Broderick, 2003). This promotion strategy can be used for services like salon, spa, gym memberships. The coupons are distributed as part of advertisement in newspapers/ magazines and can be redeemed at select outlets. -Free gifts: The customers are offered gift with purchase and thus marketers attempt to increase sales volumes in the initial stage of the product life cycle. This can be applied to shopping goods, for example, the customers are given key chain as a free gift when he buys a pair of shoes. -Free samples: The customers are offered free samples of new products in an attempt to increase awareness of the product and induce the customer to try using the product. This can be applied for convenience goods like shampoo. When a new variant of shampoo is launched, the manufacturer often gives small satchet (say, 5ml or 10 ml) of the new shampoo free of cost.

Wharton to Offer Free Online MBA Program Essay Example

Wharton to Offer Free Online MBA Program Paper Free online MBA program is something that you can only imagine to find these days given that the programs are really expensive. Wharton Business School decided to offer bigger piece of its studies fully online and for free. If you were waiting for such opportunity now it’s your chance to grab it while you can. This would make Wharton the first business school that offers online program completely for free. The only thing you need here is time and you’ll get part of the same education that MBA students are getting today. The difference here is that you are not required to pay anything. Wharton already has its own Coursera platform that offers 5 electives. From now on, you can search for its brand new Foundation platform that is designed from few courses. These courses are from the field in operations management, corporate marketing, financial accounting, and marketing. This free online MBA program will be presented and taught by Wharton’s senior professors. All courses will be served to you through recorded lectures and will give you couple of exercises during the process. The length of the courses is ranging between 6 and 10 weeks and you will need 8 hours during the week for each one of them. Operation management already started yesterday (September 30th) and the interval between courses is 2 weeks. According to the managing director of Wharton, Don Huesman, all students who will enroll to this free online MBA program will gain great knowledge. They will learn the basics and the courses are only a replication of what the first year students learn in paid MBA courses. The students who are paying to get online MBA program education need to complete 9 courses. Four of these courses are now available online for free and six other electives. We will write a custom essay sample on Wharton to Offer Free Online MBA Program specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Wharton to Offer Free Online MBA Program specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Wharton to Offer Free Online MBA Program specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Students interested to enroll to this program can follow the course without any additional requirements and work. However, for those who are more committed into getting the proper education, there are many homework, readings, quizzes, etc. If you need a certification that you have completed the course, this free online MBA program offers you verifiable certificate for completing it. You need to pay $49 in order to enroll the â€Å"signature track† and you’ll get the proper verification at the end. According to Huesman, this free online MBA program can be used by many students to see what kinds of lessons are included into the real program. This could represent a test for them in order to see if this program is what they have been searching for and is Wharton the best school for getting wider education. You must be wondering why Wharton is doing this. The answer could be simple, because they tend to show their real face to many professionals why they need to pick Wharton. Through this education given for free, the students can see if Wharton is the right pick or not. Wharton already has a long history of successful students who took their online MBA programs. There are many great and successful degree programs which are more expensive and require more time and commitment. Thousands of professionals have enrolled Wharton’s online MBA program and many more will get these new and free offer. You won’t get all business skills from this free online MBA program, but you’ll get the chance to see what you can expect when you enroll to their full-time online MBA courses.

Two Inverted Idioms

Two Inverted Idioms Two Inverted Idioms Two Inverted Idioms By Maeve Maddox As the residents of my state prepared for a cold front, one of the local television anchors remarked, We are in store for a big chill. His meaning was that extremely cold weather was about to descend upon us, but that is not what he said. The word store in the idiom â€Å"in store for† means, â€Å"a stock of something laid up for future use.† Figuratively speaking, events or conditions (like a cold front) are â€Å"in store for† those who will experience them in the future. The people of the state were not in store for the big chill. The big chill was in store for the people of the state. Here are some examples from the Web that get it right: More Snow in Store for Turkey, Jerusalem This Weekend The New Congress: What’s In Store for Natural Health? That same television anchorman, reporting news about two businessmen, said, They’re in the works of opening up two new restaurants. The businessmen are not â€Å"in the works†; the two new restaurants are â€Å"in the works.† One meaning of works (noun) is â€Å"the working parts of a machine.† For example, one removes the back of a clock to reveal the works inside. â€Å"In the works† is a figurative expression meaning â€Å"being prepared† or â€Å"in development.† The processes or stages of getting something done are being compared to the workings of a machine. Here are some examples from the Web in which the expression is used correctly: A new big solar panel farm in the works in California Beamdog confirms that a new Baldurs Gate game is in the works Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Expressions category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:75 Synonyms for â€Å"Angry†Homogeneous vs. HeterogeneousWhen to Spell Out Numbers

History of Scuba Diving and Pioneer Jacques Cousteau

History of Scuba Diving and Pioneer Jacques Cousteau Modern scuba diving gear consists of one or more gas tanks strapped to the divers back, connected to an air hose and an invention called the demand regulator. The demand regulator controls the flow of air so that the air pressure within the divers lungs equals the pressure of the water. Early Diving Gear Ancient swimmers used cut hollow reeds to breathe air, the first rudimentary snorkel used to enhance our abilities underwater. Around 1300, Persian divers were making rudimentary eye goggles from the thinly sliced and polished shells of tortoises. By the 16th century, wooden barrels were used as primitive diving bells, and for the first time divers could travel underwater with more than one breath of air, but not much more than one. More Than One Breath In 1771, British engineer, John Smeaton invented the air pump. A hose was connected between the air pump and the diving barrel, allowing air to be pumped to the diver. In 1772, Frenchmen, Sieur Freminet invented a rebreathing device that recycled the exhaled air from inside of the barrel, this was the first self-contained air device. Freminets invention was a poor one, the inventor died from lack of oxygen after being in his own device for twenty minutes. In 1825, English inventor, William James designed another self-contained breather, a cylindrical iron belt attached to a copper helmet. The belt held about 450 psi of air, enough for a seven-minute dive. In 1876, Englishmen, Henry Fleuss invented a closed circuit, oxygen rebreather. His invention was originally intended to be used in the repair of an iron door of a flooded ships chamber. Fleuss then decided to use his invention for a thirty-foot deep dive underwater. He died from the pure oxygen, which is toxic to humans under pressure. Rigid Diving Suits In 1873, Benoà ®t Rouquayrol and Auguste Denayrouze built a new piece of equipment a rigid diving suit with a safer air supply, however it weighed about 200 pounds. Houdini Suit - 1921 Famous magician and escape artist, Harry Houdini (born Ehrich Weiss in Budapest, Hungary in 1874) was also an inventor. Harry Houdini astonished audiences by escaping from handcuffs, straitjackets, and locked boxes, often doing so underwater. Houdinis invention for a divers suit permitted divers, in case of danger, to quickly divest themselves of the suit while submerged and to safely escape and reach the surface of the water. Jacques Cousteau Emile Gagnan Emile Gagnan and Jacques Cousteau co-invented the modern demand regulator and an improved autonomous diving suit. In 1942, the team redesigned a car regulator and invented a demand regulator that would automatically fresh air when a diver breathed. A year later in 1943, Cousteau and Gagnan began selling the Aqua-Lung.

The health and sanitary conditions within womans prisons (United Essay

The health and sanitary conditions within womans prisons (United Kingdom) not mental health - Essay Example (Toolkit for health care needs assessment in prisons) A committee known as Friends World Committee for Consultation have been taking up the issue of criminal justice and caring about the conditions that prevail in the prison for the last 350 years of their existence in UK. This committee feels that particularly there is need to give importance to women and girls particularly female juveniles under the age group of 18 years, in the prison during their imprisonment period following trial. Also there added concern is also includes their stay in hostels or similar places like the prison or about the general health care conditions of the babies and children of imprisoned women when both the child as well as the mother are inside the prison. (Women in Prison and Children of Imprisoned Mothers Preliminary Research Paper) The reason for the emergence of such committees is to understand and make the issue of the conditions of women and girl prisoners inside the prison, and also to collect information and ideas to resolve the issues and analyze them better. It is generally felt that though both men and women are subjected to imprisonment, there has been little consideration about the care and various needs of the imprisoned women. This way of omitting the care taken on women prisoners could be due to the strength of the women prisoners that is the number of women prisoners are much lesser in number when compared to men. (Women in Prison and Children of Imprisoned Mothers Preliminary Research

Waiting For Guffman Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Waiting For Guffman - Essay Example (McCormick, 2011). The comedy in Guffman is the cut-above diversity, based on associations and underlined by the hopes of the characters. Corky St. Claire is played by Corky, an immigrant from Broadway who has discovered a place for exceptional abilities as the de facto ruler of Theater in Blaine. The town dentist is played by Levy who for the very first time is trying out. Perky is played by Parker Posey, emotional and maybe useless ingà ©nue who labors at the Dairy Queen. Catherine OHara and Fred Willard show the saying that corresponding sweat suits deceive a discontented marriage. Llyod Miller is played by Bob Balaban, the music administrator who is grounded in realism, although his idea that the cast may use some of the preparation time basically practicing the dances and songs is met with antagonism (Waffle, 2002). Essentials to the movie are Corky St. Clair’s conventional gay mannerisms. He allegedly has a wife named Bonnie, whom nobody in Blaine has ever noticed or met. When Johnny Savage is enforced by his doubtful father Brian Doyle-Murray to leave the show, his roles is taken over by Corky, which were evidently planned for an actor who is young and masculine: a forceful young frontiersman, a despairing soldier, and a small boy with a beanie and shorts. At the performance of the show, the seat of Guffman is perceived to be unoccupied, much to the disappointment of the cast; Corky guarantee them that the producers of Broadway constantly appear behind schedule for the performance, and certain enough a man almost immediately occupies the seat reserved for Guffman. The audience receives the show very well, and St. Clair requests the unspecified Guffman behind the scenes to speak to the actors. Upon his arrival, he states that he is not Guffman, and his visit to Blaine was to see the del ivery of his niece’s baby but

Social Change According to Foucault and Fromm Essay Example for Free

Social Change According to Foucault and Fromm Essay For many years before Michel Foucault and Erich Fromm put forward their respective theories on social analysis, Karl Marx’s concepts on the contradiction between social classes based on the relations of production were dominant in providing theoretical and practical guidance of forces promoting social change. As a result, revolutions were waged by the forces of social change, which later on gave birth to the world’s biggest socialist countries, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the People’s Republic of China. Other countries in Eastern Europe, Asia, and Latin America followed suit, with leading revolutionary organizations also espousing basic Marxist doctrines. Due to the successes achieved by such revolutions, many sociologists and academics began accepting the correctness of Marxism and socialism as an alternative social system to capitalism. However, even before the 1950’s, major weaknesses in the socialist systems as practiced by the Soviet Union and China began to emerge. Such weaknesses led sociologists to reconsider their admiration of Marxism without necessarily compromising their stand for social change. Erich Fromm, who belonged to the Frankfurt School which advocated the adaptation of Marxism to the realities of the 20th century, observed the excesses of the Soviet Union under Stalin and became critical of the model of social change advocated by the Soviets as well as radical socialist revolutionaries. Michel Foucault, on the other hand, who was a member of the French Communist Party, became disillusioned with the party’s continuing support of the Soviet Union and with its position in France’s national politics. Both Foucault and Fromm, at one point, considered themselves adherents to Marxist social analysis and its theory and practice of social change. This does not, however, mean that they can be compared to Marxist-Leninist revolutionary theoreticians in terms of strictly adhering to the concepts of dialectical materialism, socialist revolution, and communism as the ultimate objective. They upheld only essential part of Marxism that is characterized by humanism and its stand for progressive social change in order to achieve humanist concerns. In doing so, both Fromm and Foucault managed to develop respectively their own distinct perspectives on the methods of analyzing society. Such theories were not truly devoid of Marxist elements but, nevertheless, these were meant to be applications of some of Marx’s ideas to the more contemporary social issues. Consequently, they also proposed novel concepts on how social change must be achieved, all of which essentially do not espouse violent revolutions or the authoritarian one-party state structure that socialism in practice has been known for. Because of this, both Fromm and Foucault were criticized by Marxists and socialists even within the academic circles to which they belong. Foucault’s Discipline and Punish: the Birth of the Prison is a study on the social foundations and the theoretical concepts in the establishment of the modern prison systems. The study focuses on the Foucault’s observation and historical research on the development of the penal system in his native France. However, his findings and conclusions are proven to be relevant not just for his particular society alone but for all modern societies in Europe and North America. Before Foucault came out with his ideas in Discipline and Punish, most of the conclusions regarding the development of the prison system were based on the notion that reformists within the state were decisive in introducing more humane forms of punishment. The reformists, allegedly, just happened to become more compassionate through time and had determined that criminals and other deviants should no longer be subjected with corporal punishments done in full view of the public. Foucault argued that the invention of the prison was the decisive factor why such public corporal punishments were no longer the preferred mode of penalizing criminals. In this regard, he asserted on the idea that that it was not the government or the powerful bloc of people running it that grew the moral conscience which prompted them to discard corporal punishments but the introduction of a new form technology that allows disciplinary measures instead. Foucault cited the Jeremy Bentham’s Panopticon as the embodiment of such technological advance. With this concept, he subscribed to the Marxist theory that man’s ideas are not independent of material objects but is influenced by it. Here lies the essence of Foucault’s view on social change; that it cannot be achieved merely because man’s ideas willed it but that it should be based on material conditions. Foucault explained that society is itself a prison. He wrote that â€Å"prison continues, on those who are entrusted to it, a work begun elsewhere, which the whole of society pursues on each individual through innumerable mechanisms of discipline† (Discipline and Punish). With the state above it and with the existence of different forms of hierarchies in schools, churches, and organizations, society is essentially held together by a structure of disciplines. Because of this, it is necessary for penal systems to be established in order for society to survive. Without it, there will be chaos that can lead to the disintegration of society itself. To this effect, it appears that Foucault is an apologist for the existence of prisons or the maintenance of status quo. In his book, he pointed out that â€Å"in its function, the power to punish is not essentially different from that of curing or educating† (Discipline and Punish). Thus, he insisted that the state is necessary. The coercive apparatuses of the government must be maintained. This does not, however, mean that Foucault had departed from the progressive standpoint of social change. He explained that it prisons are indispensable facilities but these are also subject to changes. However, such changes should not lead to the elimination of the prison system but to the improvement of its conditions in order to make it more effective in disciplining and rehabilitating the incarcerated. Since society is like prison, it is clear that Foucault advocate social change but not the extent of destroying the state and ultimately the concept of modern society itself. For him, the key to social change is clearly not revolutionary cataclysm but discourse. Intellectual discourse is the venue in which social issues are addressed and solutions that encourage the transformation of society are achieved. He placed emphasis on the importance of intellectuals in social change, whose work is â€Å"is not to mould the political will of others; it is, through the analyses that he does in his own field, to re-examine evidence and assumptions, to shake up habitual ways of working and thinking, to dissipate conventional familiarities, to re-evaluate rules and institutions and to participate in the formation of a political will (where he has his role as citizen to play)† (Green 1997 p. vii). Erich Fromm’s Escape from Freedom, which came out in 1941, was influential in introducing a new perspective on analyzing society. While most of the earlier methods of social analysis were based on observations of human interaction within a society, Fromm focused on the psychological and philosophical aspects of individuals. Consequently, his analysis on society is primarily dependent of the individual’s mental and moral state and not on the structures or hierarchies in the political, economic, and cultural spheres. In this sense, he deviates from the Marxist theory that man’s ideas are shaped by forces beyond his subjective control. In Escape from Freedom, Fromm explained that man is inherently an advocate of his own freedom but he also seeks a particular order or hierarchy of power that would guarantee the advancement or the defense of such freedom. While he was critical of capitalism, he was also disillusioned with the socialist alternative as practiced by the Soviet Union. Because of this, he found the medieval societies more beneficial towards man than either capitalism or socialism. He articulated that medieval societies were indeed inadequate in providing freedom to the individual along contemporary definitions but then the individual was also not alienated. Instead, â€Å"in having a distinct, unchangeable, and unquestionable place in the social world from the moment of birth, man was rooted in a structuralized whole, and thus life had a meaning which left no place, and no need for doubt†¦There was comparatively little competition† (Escape from Freedom). Fromm believed that people did not sense any form of exploitation or oppression during the medieval era because an individual â€Å"was born into a certain economic position which guaranteed a livelihood determined by tradition, just as it carried economic obligations to those higher in the social hierarchy† (Escape from Freedom). It is clear Fromm places so much emphasis on the human being’s psychological factor in analyzing society and even in achieving social change. Contrary to Marx who stressed on the conflict or hatred between social classes and the inevitability of social transformation through revolutions, Fromm stated that â€Å"love is the only sane and satisfactory answer to the problem of human existence† (Art of Loving 1956 p. 133). In elucidating about freedom, he wrote in Escape from Freedom that human beings naturally desire freedom but they also fear it so much. The excesses in the capitalist culture are proofs how such abuse of freedom has become detrimental to society. Because of this, Fromm does see the necessity of social change. However, his eclectic mix religious eastern and western religious mysticism with social critique has resulted into a standpoint for social change without the necessary concrete exposition on how this can be achieved. Both Michel Foucault and Erich Fromm stood for the necessity of social change. However, they differ in the means of analyzing society. Foucault based his on the premise of power relations in society while Fromm on the innate human nature of freedom and love. Foucault considers the material structures as the principal factors that affect social change. Fromm, on the other hand, points out that it is the will of human beings that is decisive. What is common to both, however, is the necessity for dialogue. Foucault sees the importance of intellectual discourse in order for social reforms to be initiated. For Fromm, such dialogues are necessary so that men will come to agree on the vital changes that should be achieved. For the left, however, especially the Marxists from which they were associated in their earlier years, both are reformists or even conformists. For them, the theories of Foucault and Fromm only serve as an excuse for the continuation of the status quo. References Foucault, M. (1975). Discipline and Punish. Retrieved 12 May, 2010. http://www. sparknotes. com/philosophy/disciplinepunish. Fromm, E. (1956). The Art of Loving. New York, NY: Harper. Fromm, E. (1941). Escape from Freedom. Retrieved 12 May, 2010. http://www. scholierenliefde. nl/Frommenglisch. html. Green, R. L. (1997). English with an Accent: Language, Ideology, and Discrimination in the United States. London, UK: Routledge.

The American Dream in Arthur Millers Death of a Salesman :: Death of a Salesman

The American Dream in Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman Within the tragic play, Death of a Salesman, Willy Loman destroys himself trying to achieve a dream. Yet, the dream that destroys Willy is not one that he has chosen. Willy Loman does not choose this destructive dream because he does not know himself, Willy Loman does not choose a dream at all, one is forced upon him by society. Willy Loman spends the expanse of the play trying to achieve wealth, fame, and the like of others. These ideas epitomize the American Dream, to become a successful, well-liked businessman. Willy's true dream, however, was very different from this. Throughout the play you can see evidence that Willy feels trapped by this dream that he feels obligated to fulfill. Society has dictated to Willy that the American Dream is "the" dream, and no other dream is acceptable. Because of this dictation, Willy abandons his true dream of living on his own, in the country, where he can support himself by farming, and living from the land. The proof of Willy's true dream appears in short scattered bits. "God, timberland! Me and my boys in those great outdoors! Yes, Yes! Linda, Linda!" he cries exuberantly at the idea of moving away from the city. By the idea is quickly killed by the society surrounding him. "You wait, kid, before it's all over we're gonna get a little place out in the country, and I'l l raise some vegetables, a couple of chickens..." once again, society surrounding Willy crushes this dream, his true dream, forcing it back into the subconscious of Willy's mind, where it remains for the duration of the play, only surfacing at a few times, when the dream that Willy is trying to fulfill becomes so horrible that he remembers that he had another dream, or when the false dream is looking as if it might be coming to a close, and he will be able to move on to take on his real dream. In the climax of the play, when Willy realizes that he is loved by his sons, a slight awakening occurs in Willy's mind. He begin to understand that his true dream, of living in the country, is identical to that of his beloved son, Biff. Biff has never been able to follow his dream because of his father pushing him into the false dream of being a businessman.

Navajo Religion

Curiously, the Navajo peoples have no word In their language that can be directly translated to â€Å"religion†, In the way we perceive It (Woman 536). Rather, the term ‘religion' refers to their world view. Anthropologists define religion as a set of attitudes, beliefs, and practices dealing with supernatural powers. The Navajo do not divide the secular from the holy; life and religion are one in the same. The Dine religion has a deep connection with the supernatural. Gods, spirits, monsters, and other supernatural beings play a large part of their everyday life.Din Dinned, or the â€Å"Holy People†, are viewed as gods by the Navajo. The term used for the deities does not Imply that these are virtuous gods, but that they are powerful and dangerous. It is considered the duty of humans to preserve a harmonious connection with the Holy People (Woman 539). The Navajo are polytheistic; however the Changing Woman is possibly the most cherished deity. Her twin sons, Mon ster Slayer and Born For Water, their father the Sun, and her make up some sort of â€Å"Holy Family† which is often seen in myth and ritual (Woman 539).There can be confusion about which Din Dinned appears In certain myths and rituals because different Ames are occasionally used to represent the same deity (Woman 539), The Navajo have a heavy sense of animism, which is the belief in spirits. Nearly everything in the universe contains a human-like inner form Ones). This inner-form is very similar to the concept of a soul. Aside from natural phenomena, such as mountains and plants, material objects such as arrowheads can even contain this in-lying â€Å"soul† (Woman 539). However, death and ghosts are greatly feared In their society (Nonfood-Grimm 1801).The dead are burled promptly without any accompaniment of a public ceremony. (Adams 253). To keep the deceased from returning, all of their possessions would be destroyed or rendered useless. This would be done so person al belongings would follow the deceased into the afterlife, therefore, keeping them happy and giving them no reason to return (Inform-Grimm 1801 ). The Holy People and spirits are central to Navajo life. Monsters plague their peripheral existence. Monsters may help explain a disastrous situation every now and then, such as The Monster Who Kicks People Down the Cliff, but It Is not something one would come across every day.Because of the Navajo everyday connection with the preternatural, myth plays an important role in day-to-day activities. Most myths discuss how things came to be, such as how humans came about. The creation myth of the Navajo describes the four worlds the Din Dinned passed through before creating the first earth surface people, known as First Man and First Woman, in the fifth world (Martinez 35). Myth also has a direct link to ceremonies and rituals the Navajo perform. The Changing Woman influences a very important rite of passage for girls who reach puberty. It is said the Changing Woman grew from infancy to maturity in four days.To honor this myth, upon a girl's first menstruation cycle, she partakes in a ritual known as the Kendal. The Kendal is a four day ceremony which begins with a blessings chant, and finishes with the young woman blessing a number of small children by lifting them, and killings their heads. TLS Is done so â€Å"their bodies grow There are few ceremonies, however, that mark a life-change. The Navajo see seven stages in life, however only three are recognized through ceremony. The first is at birth, where both the mother and child are washed, chanted over and sprinkled tit pollen to protect them from evil.The second applies only to girls, as it is the puberty ceremony discussed above. There is no puberty ceremony for boys. The third would be marriage. A brief blessings chant would take place, followed by a feast for family and friends (Inform-Grimm 1800). Most Navajo ceremonies and rituals focus on restoring â€Å"h ¶GHz ¶Ã¢â‚¬  or universal balance and harmony Cones 337). This is most often done through ceremonials. Ceremonies are often held in a Hogan (a house, or building) in a group setting (Woman 537). Ceremonies can employ multiple types of ritual.Offerings are sometimes made to the Din Dinned to attract attention and obligate their assistance. Another common practice is a sort of a sacred meal. Pollen is often consumed in addition to prayer. This is because pollen is personified as Corn Pollen Boy and his cohort Corn Beetle Girl, who together represent fertility, life, and happiness. Perhaps the most common form of ritual found in the Navajo religion is prayer. Prayer is often seen in the form of chants, and songs (Woman 541). All of these rituals can be combined to maximize the chance of contact with the supernatural.The Navajo interesting view of the inner-form make the sacred aspect of religion interesting. Because nearly all things in the universe have this human-like inner form, whether it be one of the four cardinal directions or a Din dinned, there is no clear separation of sacred and profane (Woman 539). As mentioned earlier, the main duty of man is to preserve a harmonious relationship with the Holy People. A person may rely on this relationship for healing, or for good fortune in the future. Ceremonies are rarely ever done in a private setting. Even in a girl's Kendal Rooney, the various segments are done with others.During the Kendal, it is customary for the young woman to race, in honor of the run the Changing Woman took towards the dawn. The subject of the ceremony races with other girls her age (Inform-Grimm 1800). The beliefs of the Navajo also easily fulfill both the intellectual and psychological needs of the society. Because of their strong belief in the supernatural, natural phenomena can easily be explained. When one falls ill, it can often be blamed upon a ghost or possibly improper contact with a Din Dinned. This is a very simple explanati on for why negative experiences may occur.One can find relief from these tragedies by expecting a cure from a ceremony (Woman 537). The major religious practitioner in the Dine society is called a singer. Singers are full time specialists who dedicate themselves to learning one or two major chanteys (Woman 538). A chantey is essentially a ceremony. However, the ceremonies performed by the Navajo are often long and drawn out, lasting two, three, five, or even nine nights (Adams 252). Singers spend years studying a single chantey with an older expert, who receives gifts from their apprentices as payment.Singers hold very high status and sometimes act as informal leaders in their communities (Woman 538). Because they are able to have full-time religious specialists, the Navajo religion religious practitioners, as well as group prayer, which is all present with the Dine. Religion plays a key role in the everyday life of the Navajo peoples. Their world view is evident through their belie fs and actions. The Dine views provide the society with important values and ideas. The use of religion by the Navajo gives an example of how a society can be positively affected by a unique belief system.

Management Evolution Essay

The evolution of management can be traced back to the start of the Industrial Revolution. â€Å"Management and leadership abilities were not thought of as learnable skills but derived from one’s heredity. There did not exist the need for a theory of management: leaders were born, not made. † (Montana & Charnov, 2008, p. 14). This belief ignored the need for a written theory of management and focused on the practice itself. As industrialization increased and spread, problems related to the factory system began to appear. Large numbers of workers were needed to keep up with the rapid economic expansion. Many of these workers were immigrant, unskilled, and non-English speaking. Managers did not know how to train these employees. This led to a scientific study of management and to what is today known as management theory. Classical School of Management The first management theory, Scientific Management, arose because of a need to increase worker efficiency and productivity. Emphasis of this approach was placed on the best way to get the most work accomplished. Focus was on examining the work process and developing the skills of the workforce. The classical school owes its origins to several contributors; including Frederick Taylor, Frank and Lillian Gilbreth, Henry Gantt, and Mary Parker Follet. Frederick Taylor is often referred to as the â€Å"father of scientific management†. He believed that organizations should study and gain an understanding of work and develop precise procedures to complete it. â€Å"Taylor believed that economic prosperity could only be achieved by maximal worker productivity, which in turn, would be the product of making workers more efficient† (Montana & Charnov, 2008, p. 5). By analyzing every job through scientific observations, he felt there was only one best way of doing a job. He believed managers should study each job and determine the minimum necessary steps needed to complete it. Individuals step would be analyzed to determine the most efficient way of performing it. Managers would then total the time of each individual task to determine the optimum amount of time necessary to complete the entire task. Workers would then follow the precise instructions of management. If tasks were not completed in the optimal amount of given, workers were removed from the job. He believed this system gave managers power over workers. Workers could no longer resist management demands. Managers possessed the knowledge and workers performed their detailed steps. Frank and Lillian Gilbreth were a husband and wife team that studied job motions. â€Å"The Gilbreths are considered pioneers in making use of motion studies to improve worker efficiency† (Montana & Charnov, 2008, p. 16). Frank analyzed worker actions to determine the best possible method of performing a given job. When he understood all the motions, he would seek to improve the efficiency of each action and reduce the number of motions required to accomplish the job–a process called job simplification† (Montana & Charnov, 2008, p. 16). Managers would then select, train, and develop workers with devised procedures. Lillian extended this theory into the home in an effort to determine the ideal way to complete household tasks. Henry Gantt developed the Gantt chart; a work scheduling chart that measures planned and completed work along throughout each stage of completion. The Gantt chart is a powerful planning and evaluation tool used by managers. He believed inefficiency was a result of management unrealistic production standards. According to Gantt, â€Å"work standards should be determined by scientific observation and measurement, and only then may realistic work standards be set† (Montana & Charnov, 2008, p. 17). Gantt also believed that workers should be rewarded for good work through a bonus system. He felt that workers would be more productive and achieve higher levels of production if there was an incentive. To motivate workers to go beyond the daily production quotas, he pioneered the use of a production bonus (Montana & Charnov, 2008, p. 18). Gantt also focused on the importance of quality leadership and management skills and their relationship to building effective industrial organizations. Mary Parker Follet is often referred to as the â€Å"mother of conflict resolution†. â€Å"Her research and writings pointed to a collaborative approach to problem solving that advocated compromise† (Montana & Charnov, 2008, p. 17). Follet focused on the importance of establishing and developing common goals within the workplace. She believed workers should be allowed to participate in the decision making process. She believed workers could and would comply and follow management’s logical requests without being given too many orders; workers should not be micromanaged. â€Å"The classical approach to management theory had asserted that the key to worker efficiency and organizational productivity was efficient job design, use of appropriate incentives, and effective managerial functioning† (Montana & Charnov, 2008, p. 23). This approach emphasized the work elements and eliminated the human dimensions. Behavioral School of Management The behavioral approach stresses that effective management will come from an understanding of the worker† (Montana & Charnov, 2008, p. 23). Emphasis of this approach is based on the belief that every human being has social and physiological needs which affect performance and motivation. Focus was on improving the self-esteem and self-confidence of the workforce. Contributors to the behavioral school include Elton Mayo, Chester Barnard, and Douglas McGregor. Elton Mayo was the founder of the human relations movement. â€Å"Mayo concluded that factors other than the physical aspects of work had the power of improving production. These factors related to the interrelationships between workers and individual psychology† (Montana & Charnov, 2008, p. 25). Mayo believed that if workers were treated with respect and their needs were being met, they would be more productive and their work would be more efficient; therefore both the employee and management would benefit. Mayo is known for his work conducted at the Western Electric Company in Chicago; known as the Hawthorne Experiments. He was able to prove that the relationship that employees have with management directly affects productivity. He concluded that management needed to be more directly involved with employees. Chester Barnard developed the acceptance theory of management, which focuses managerial authority. He believed that employees themselves determined if managerial order is legitimate and acceptable. He felt that in order for employees to accept that managers have legitimate authority to act, they must first understand the communication they receive from management. Employees must also feel that the communication that is received is consistent with the organization’s purpose. Bernard believed that managers needed to share a common purpose and express a willingness to cooperate with the employees. â€Å"Douglas McGregor, in distinguishing between the pessimistic Theory X view of employees and the optimistic Theory Y, had a dramatic impact on management theory and practice† (Montana & Charnov, 2008, p. 27). Theory X which characterized the views of Taylor is based on the assumption that the average human being dislikes work and that because of this dislike they must be threatened and controlled before they will work. Theory X also assumes that the average person desires security and prefers being directed. Average people dislike responsibility and have little ambition. Theory Y which characterized the views of Mayo is based on the assumption that if a job is satisfying and the working conditions are good, then the worker will be committed to the organization. Theory Y also assumes that if the average worker is committed, then they will not only accept, but seek responsibility. McGregor believed that managers should operate with the belief that workers will contribute more to an organization if they feel valued and are treated responsibly. The behavioral approach to management theory focused on the workforce and their needs; the human element of the organization. This approach emphasized work as a group activity and aimed at increasing work productivity through collaboration. Production Operations Management (POM) Approach The Production Operation Management Approach to management was developed in response to increasingly difficult operational problems and a rapidly changing environment. The concepts of the POM Approach were based on the belief that the scientific method was the solution to problem solving. Herbert Simon was a major contributor to the POM Approach. â€Å"Herbert Simon is best known for his research in decision-making and information processing but also made contributions to cognitive psychology, computer science, public administration, philosophy of science, and artificial intelligence† (Montana & Charnov, 2008, p. 29). Simon coined the term satisficing which was based on the belief that executives rarely had access to perfect information. They were more apt to accept data acquired early in a search and seek solutions or accept choices that are deemed good enough for their purposes. He believed that seeking the maximal solution or result expended resources. â€Å"Production operations management stresses a systems approach that views the total operating system and analyzes a problem within that system. The problem is seen to exist as it relates to the total system, and any proposed solution is evaluated as it relates to the same system† (Montana & Charnov, 2008, p. 30). The POM approach focused more on production and less on the human factor. Contingency Approach The contingency approach to management is the most recent school of thought about management. It combines the ideas of the other three approaches and states that there is no one universal set of management principles or one best way by which to manage an organization. This approach is based on the belief that to effective, planning, organizing, leading and controlling must be contingent on the circumstances in which an organization operates. Different problems require different solutions. â€Å"This approach arose out of the observation that the three earlier approaches to management–the classical, the behavioral, and productions operations research–did not always lead to an acceptable solution† (Montana & Charnov, 2008, p. 1). The contingency approach applies to all areas of management, not just organizing and leading. This approach takes into consideration both the internal and external environments of the organization. Conclusion â€Å"The foundations of the various approaches to schools of management theory are found in a variety of disciplines, incl uding economics, psychology, sociology, mathematics, philosophy, and industrial engineering. But management theory, even though it makes use of other scholarly areas and the observations of the practicing manager, has emerged as a separate area of study since the 1940’s† (Montana & Charnov, 2008, p. 4). The thoughts and ideas of the classical school have been analyzed and developed over the years; however the basic concepts are still in practice today. Relation to Work Environment I believe that the contingency approach to management is the most effective. The classical, the behavioral, and productions operations research approaches all are based on a universal approach, one best way, of management that applies the same techniques to every organization. As a manager I have come to realize that not all people and every situation should be handled identically. I believe managerial decisions and actions are contingent upon a given situation. Managerial styles and techniques must vary according to the circumstances of the situation. To be effective, managers must determine which factors are relevant in what situation. I believe the most important aspect of the contingency theory is that it accounts for the human factor. As the Dining Services Director at Miles Community College, I am required to make daily decisions concerning both my department and the organization as a whole. I believe that to be an effective manager it is necessary to evaluate each and every situation to come up with the appropriate decisions and actions. I understand that each and every situation is unique and requires a situational analysis. I also believe that every decision I make affects the organization therefore my decisions are based on the goals and values of the organization as a whole. I believe that the contingency theory best fits my management style.

Notes from the underground essays

Notes from the underground essays The UM starts out talking about the office he worked in when he was twenty-four: apparently he hated everyone there and likewise, they hated him. The narrative then derails while the UM describes the Russian national character, which he believes eliminates fools and elevates Romantics who appreciate the "sublime and beautiful." Returning to his description of his life, he notes that he had no friends and was always alone, spending most of his time reading. He admits to satisfying his private desires in various "dens of vice." The UM then describes an incident in a bar one night in which an army officer moved him away from a billiard table as though he were a piece of furniture. He said nothing to the man, but fostered deep seething resentment for this insult. He would run in to this same officer in the street, and try to stare him down, but would always end up stepping out of the way for him (the officer never recognized him). He writes the officer a long letter listing his grievances, but does not send it. Instead he decid es to meet the officer in the street and bump against him instead of stepping aside. The event, when it happens, is anticlimactic: he and the officer bump shoulders, and the officer continues on his way, seeming not to have noticed. The officer is late r transferred, and the UM never sees him again. The UM then describes how he would spend most of his time either depressed or dreaming of grand lives for himself, all of which involve becoming an important charitable man, beloved by all. He remains caught between two extremesa hero or a hermitwith no middle ground between the two. Sometimes, the UM immersed himself so deeply in the "sublime and beautiful" that he would be filled with a great love for mankind, and a deep desire to see others. On these days, he would generally go to visit his supervisor, with whom he was friendly, a lthough the visits were always disastroushe would feel nervous and un...

Bust, Burst, and Arrest

Bust, Burst, and Arrest Bust, Burst, and Arrest Bust, Burst, and Arrest By Maeve Maddox Yes, I know that just about everyone uses the word bust as a noun to mean arrest and as a verb to mean arrested. Phoenix police discuss soured drug bust that killed Chandler officer †¦a Merrill Lynch banker†¦ was busted along with seven others yesterday for participating in an illegal game†¦ I know too that its common to use the word bust to mean burst or break. Hurricanes roaring across the Gulf of Mexico create strong enough underwater waves to dig up and potentially bust open oil pipelines Innovative Sound Device Could Bust Cancer Cells Holiday price stings could bust the family budget. Commonly used or not, these uses always register as nonstandard with me. Colloquial, yes. Appropriate in some idioms, yes. Acceptable in a formal context, no. The verb burst means to break suddenly when in a state of tension. Balloons burst. Bubbles burst. Burst means to break the outer covering and discharge the matter. Boils burst. Burst means to open out, to disperse. Flowers burst into bloom. Seed pods burst. We get wet from a sudden cloud burst. And, of course, undersea oil pipes burst. Undersea wells break or break down. Used informally, the word bust is acceptable in certain idioms: to bust a bronco (break a horse) to go bust (to lose ones money at gambling) boom or bust (economic prosperity or failure) drug bust (drug arrest, raid) to bust (to arrest, or to be discovered in an illegal or disobedient act) This deliberately playful headline about the discovery of a publicity hoax plays on two colloquial meanings of bust as a verb, burst and found out as culpable: Balloon Boy Busted In standard usage, bust is a noun with such meanings as A piece of sculpture representing the head, shoulders, and breast of a person. The upper front part of the human body; the bosom (esp. of a woman). The measurement around a womans body at the level of her bust, usually measured in inches My inability to accept bust as an unexceptionable synonym for break or arrest may be totally irrational. Nevertheless, whenever I hear it from the mouth of a news announcer, or see it used in the context of a formal news story, it strikes me as nonstandard and unnecessarily jarring. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Misused Words category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:50 Redundant Phrases to AvoidTelling a Good Poem from a Bad OnePersonification vs. Anthropomorphism

Midterm Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Midterm - Essay Example Teachers who scored high in the survey were contacted through an individual interview, which was a blend of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation. This study increased the research about motivation among teachers, and supported future studies related to motivation among teachers in urban schools and the influence of demographic characteristics upon their decision to stay. Central questions that this study sought to answer were: Are science teachers in urban setting intrinsically motivated about persisting in urban schools? Do years of experience/race affect science teachers’ motivation (autonomy, relatedness, and competence)? How the decision to stay was affected by science teachers’ practice and identity? These questions were answered based on results of the Intrinsic Motivation Study. The results of this study suggested that teachers have intrinsic motivation as well as extrinsic motivation. It was found that years of experience and ethnicity did not affect teachers†™ motivation to stay and teach in urban schools. Chapter 5 provides a full account of the data and results of the study. The following paragraphs provide a summary of the findings of the study, discussion, implications, and recommendations for future research. Interpretation of Findings Survey The majority of teachers did not agree on reporting which intrinsic motivation factors were more important to them. There might be other motivational reasons (extrinsic or intrinsic) that result in their job persistence. In this study, I only investigated the autonomy, relatedness, and competence among science teachers. I recommend future researchers to do compression between extrinsic and intrinsic motivation among teachers, which will give a better vision about the motivational factors. Next, findings from the analyses revealed that none of the dependent variables were impacted by the independent variable. The results from ANOVA indicated that it could not attribute differences in intrinsi c motivation and working experience to either ethnicity or teaching experience. The independent variables that were studied did not significantly affect the majority of science teachers’ intrinsic motivation. In terms of years of experience, the findings came to an understanding of Huang and Moon (2009), who found that after 21 years of teaching experience, student achievement dropped. In this study, 36.2% selected a general response, indicating more than 15 years of teaching experience. Also, The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) certification found that many teachers were still in the stage of gaining proficiency and improving their effectiveness after an average of 11 years of teaching. So, experience might not be a precise variable to test competence, autonomy, and relatedness. Hence, it is recommended for future researches to find the experience more valuable by conducting such a study which compares beginners with stayers. In terms of the ethnic ity, the majority of teachers were white as 68.1% of them indicated having White/Caucasian ethnicity. The high percentage of Caucasian ethnicity was likely to bias the data; however, my data supported The National Education Association (2007), which reported that more than 38% of schools across America do not have teachers of color in