Monday, December 23, 2019

Shostakovich - 3111 Words

Dmitri Shostakovich: A Musical Representation of Communist Russia In the musical world, no one is as controversial as Dmitri Shostakovich. Although he died not 30 years ago, many aspects of his life still remain to be a great mystery. When he was alive, many in the world believed he was a Communist and a devoted servant of Stalin. It was not until after his death that the truth had come out. Or had the truth been there all along? Many believe that this was because his music expressed a lot of nationalism and idolized Stalin. However, in an attempt to escape the red fist of Stalin, Shostakovich made his music appear to be nationalistic when really it is full of sarcasm and hidden messages. Shostakovich showed his contempt Stalin and†¦show more content†¦Since Shostakovich was unable to express his ideas about Communism openly, he had to resort to sarcasm to show his resentment to the party. But how can one prove that Shostakovich used sarcasm in his works? Sarcasm in nonvocal works is usually evi dent when lots of techniques from different style periods are used. This creates contrast and exaggeration in a piece to represent sarcasm (Dmitri ). Several works of Shostakovich demonstrate this technique, but one of the more well known pieces is the Leningrad symphony. In Shostakovichs 7th Symphony, otherwise known as the Leningrad symphony, he uses a great deal of Sarcasm. During the time when the symphony was written, Shostakovich and his family were in Leningrad when the Nazis sieged the city. As the war continued, the symphony became a song of the Russian resistance against Germany (Dmitri ). The true intentions of the symphony have been highly debated. When taken at face value, it appears that Shostakovich was attempting to conform to the Soviet standards and write a piece full of patriotic themes, but when taking a more in depth look, it can be said that the piece has a double meaning (Simon, Politics ). In order to save himself from the threat of being taken away by the Se cret Police, Shostakovich wrote the piece to please Soviet authorities. He portrays Russia asShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Dmitri Shostakovich And Sergei Prokofiev2012 Words   |  9 Pageswestern â€Å"formalism†. For prominent Soviet composers Dmitri Shostakovich and Sergei Prokofiev, the struggle to maintain influence within the music world and continue composing was unequaled. Confronted with many obstacles during the course of both of their respective musical careers, Shostakovich and Prokofiev battled through the Soviet regime, their wielding their compositions as weapons in the fight for creativity. Dmitri Shostakovich was a rising star within the world of Soviet music. His FirstRead MoreDmitri Shostakovich : The Greatest Composers Of The 20th Century And The Most Important Soviet Composer1567 Words   |  7 Pagescentury and the most important Soviet composer, Dmitri Shostakovich created some of the most richly complex and experimental pieces of his time. His musical education and career took place entirely in the Soviet Union, where he created his greatest masterpieces including 15 symphonies and 15 string quartets. He forayed into several different mediums including compositions of concertos, ballets, motion-picture scores, and opera. In addition, Shostakovich was at often the center of controversy because hisRead MoreHow Dmitri Shostakovich Adhere From The Conventions And Traditions That Were Normalized? Classical Music1181 Words   |  5 Pageswill be discussing the extent that Dmitri Shostakovich adhered to and rebelled from the conventions and traditions that were norm alized in classical music and I will offer varied examples of the many times Shostakovich has obeyed and dissented within music throughout his career. The career span of Shostakovich extends from 1926 when he presented his first major work, Symphony No.1 to 1970 when he presented Quartet No. 7. Born Dmitri Dmitrievich Shostakovich on the 25th September, 1906, in St. PetersburgRead MoreThe Role Of Music As A Reflection Of The Human Condition1161 Words   |  5 PagesShostakovich, Soviets, and Suppression Scholars and artists commonly describe music as a reflection of the human condition. The period in history from the mid-1930s onward marked a tragic phase in twentieth century music and this reflection: the total politicizing of the art by totalitarianism means. Dictators, including Joseph Stalin of the Soviet Union, were manipulating popular culture to take control of their people. Stalin supported the idea of a â€Å"Soviet modernism,† a school of art that wouldRead MoreEssay on Russian Composers1830 Words   |  8 Pagesare able to capture mood through a unique ability to capture exactly what they feel. Exactly how the Russians are able to do this is unknown, though through this, the greatest composers have turned out to be Russian. Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff and Shostakovich are all able to write and portray the most detailed feelings and moods, and it is to them that we owe the advancement of all music. Tchaikovsky is one of the most beloved composers in history. An inspired craftsman of melody, orchestration andRead MoreThe Greatest Composers Of The Twentieth Century1863 Words   |  8 PagesIn the forty-one years since his passing, Dmitri Shostakovich is one of the most widely discussed and fiercely debated composers in Western Music. His compositions are known throughout the world, and his life and morals are a discussed passionately amongst musicologists with his catalogue consisting of 15 symphonies, 15 string quartets, 37 film scores, and a number of pieces in other genres. For someone that is considered one of the greatest composers of the twentieth century, there lacks a consensusRead MoreConcert Critique : The Houston Civic Symphony1078 Words   |  5 PagesDmitri Shostakovich. Shostakovich was a Russian composer who was born in 1906 and died in 1975. At the young age of 9, his mother taught him the piano which he used to help build income in his family after his fatherà ¢â‚¬â„¢s passing. He composed 15 symphonies, 15 string quartets, and several other works. During this time in Shostakovich life the Soviet Union was under the control of Joseph Stalin. Massive purges, loss of life and loved ones, and bans on music of traditional composers. Shostakovich was afraidRead More Dmitri Shostakovich and Johann Sebastian Bach Essay1486 Words   |  6 PagesDmitri Shostakovich and Johann Sebastian Bach Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975) was one of the greatest composers of Soviet Russia. Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) is regarded today as the father of Western music. They came from opposite ends of music history and lived in entirely different environments, but Shostakovich was undoubtedly influenced by Bach’s music, and their respective musical styles came from the same core tradition of Western music. But most importantly, underneath the obviousRead MoreAmerican Politics During The Vietnam War1370 Words   |  6 Pagesother side of the world. Both Paul Hindemith, under the Nazi Regime, and Dmitri Shostakovich, under the communist reign of Stalin, managed to fight political oppression through their music. The two composers had very different ways of doing so. Hindemith wrote two separate pieces, one that directly opposed the Nazi regime, and another that was so nationalistic he was forgiven for his previous ‘mistakes’, whereas Shostakovich wrote a single piece which seemed just as nationalistic as Hindemith’s symphonyRead MoreThe Chicago Symphony Orchestra s Presentation Of Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No. 1 And Schostakovich s Symphony No1133 Words   |  5 Pageshis audience. The first concerto was played at the symphony orchestra and is a piece mainly dominated by the piano; the piano’s lead role reflected Rachmaninov’s major skill and talent as a pianist. The other composer’s piece performed was Dmitri Shostakovich, who was born in Leningrad, Russia. He was also famous composer that notably connected his experiences of conflict, and grief of war with the music. The revolution in his upbringing sparked and inspired many of his orchestra compositions. Music

Sunday, December 15, 2019

Develop Road Safety Culture Free Essays

Transportation is one of the basic things that people use and need in their everyday lives. We use different modes of transportation like airplanes, trains, boats, cars, and motorcycles. But the most abundant and commonly used of these are the cars, buses, and motorcycles. We will write a custom essay sample on Develop Road Safety Culture or any similar topic only for you Order Now This is the reason why there are a lot of vehicular accidents that happen every day. It may be caused by a lack of discipline of the driver, refusal to follow traffic rules, or poor infrastructure. Vehicular accidents usually lead to injuries or even death.However, there are traffic laws that may prevent these kinds of accidents to happen, but it is still up to the driver to follow these rules. Every day when we open the newspaper we read about many road accidents. Millions of people nowadays are killed of accidents. But did anybody try to analyse the reasons of this serious problem? How to avoid this much of accident every day? Who is responsible for it? How can we manage to decrease the danger effects of these accidents? How can we develop a system where the road safety culture can easily inherit? Simply it’s by understanding our road safety rule ; regulations.The only solution to avoid these kinds of problems is to develop a road safety culture in general people so that they follow the Safety rules and obey the laws of Traffics. Many people are not learning about road safety at their schools. In my opinion, I see that we must educate our children in young ages about road safety ; how to safe ourselves when we are walking in the road. Many of our children go to schools by foot when their schools are not far away from their houses. This is not only the teachers responsibility as well as their parents responsibility too. Apart of this the Government also has too look very deeply into the roads infrastructure and creates the different lines as per the category of the vehicle and Zebra crossing with the attendants who will help needy people to cross the roads. I understand that nobody want to have an accident in his life. And nobody wants anyone to accuse him. In my opinion there are two major reasons for this high number of accidents, speed ; carelessness. So we must advise drivers to drive on the limits of the local roads ; accuse them or their families when the reason of accident was because of high speed driving.Drivers must be well educated regarding road safety ; what to do what not to do. This is also not enough to control the speed, Government need to take a strict action about this to create a low that the people should fear to drive very fast or beyond the speed limit. Normally once the License if granted to one person that is valid for next 15 years, but I think it should be reduced to 5 Years and after 5 Years he has to give again the written and driving test for the renewal of the Licenses. Many people are killed, left seriously injured ; incapacitated for life. Why?Because many teenagers drive without license, drives fast ; careless regarding this issue, talking over phone while driving, non-maintained vehicle or drunk. All the signals at least should have CCTV cameras so that is any one breaks the signals can capture by Camera. RF IDs should be installed in every car so that by the help of speedometer the speed and the details of the car can be captured easily. Huge number of the Traffic control Cops need to be appointing so that before thinking of breaking any traffic rules any one can see the appearance of the cops also to punish.These are the least not last Road safety tricks; we just need to remember whatever we learnt and follow these ru les and I think to make a Culture to follow the Road safety rules Media, campaign, Education system and the strict rules can help us to develop and a Road Safety Culture in Modern era. If we all contribute to create a society where everyone just follow the rules and also help others to follow Road safety rules then very soon I think a Culture will automatically develop and which will automatically inherit to our children. How to cite Develop Road Safety Culture, Papers

Saturday, December 7, 2019

Person

Person-Organisation Fit Essay Contents Person-Organisation Fit2 Forms of P-O fit2 Measures of P-O fit3 Antecedents and outcomes of P-O fit3 Impacts of P-O fit on organisation and individuals4 Performance4 Turnover4 Homogeneity and creativity5 Comparison P-O fit with P-J fit5 Effective management of person-organisation fit6 Importance of Assessing P-O fit in employee selection6 Nurturing P-O fit after the selection process7 Managing P-O fit in organisation with high diversity7 Conclusion10 References12 Bibliography16 Person-Organisation Fit Person-Organisation fit(P-O fit) is broadly defined as the compatibility between people and organisations (Kristof 1996); a compatibility of values and expectations between employee and employer. It is the congruence of an individual’s beliefs and values with the culture, norms, and values of an organization. Forms of P-O fit Kristof (1996) further explains P-O Fit has three main forms. * The first is supplementary fit. It exists when the characteristics of one thing are similar to the same characteristics of something else. * The two other forms of P–O fit are different aspects of complementary fit. Rather than similarity, complementary P–O fit is about one of the parties (the individual or the organization) making the other whole (Muchinsky and Monahan, 1987). It can take several forms such as needs–supplies or demands–abilities relationships (Kristof, 1996). A high level of individual complementary P–O fit exists when the organization supplies what the individual needs. A high level of organizational complementary P–O fit exists when an individual has the abilities, attitudes etc. that the organization demands. Measures of P-O fit Person’s fit to the organisation can be measured on four different levels * Measuring similarity between characteristics of people and organisations * Measuring the goal congruence with organisational leaders or peers (Vancouver, Millsap Peters 1994) * Measuring similarity between individual preferences or needs and organisational systems and structures (Cable Judge 1994) –this reflects the needs-supplies fit perspective. * Measuring similarity between characteristics of an individual personality and organisational climate-sometimes labelled as organisational personality. Bowen et al 1991) Antecedents and outcomes of P-O fit According to Schneider’s (1987) ASA (Attractive-Selection-Attrition) framework people and organisations are attracted to each other based on their similarity. Thus both applicant job choice behaviour and organisations’ hiring practices are the major antecedents of P-O fit. Following organisation entry individual and organisational so cialisation practices contribute to P-O fit. Socialisation helps establish P-O fit between newcomers and organisation (Chatman 1991; Cable Parsons, 2001) Impacts of P-O fit on organisation and individuals High level of P-O fit is related to a number of positive outcomes. P-O fit is correlated to work attitudes like job satisfaction and organisational commitment, organisational citizenship, self reported team work, creativity, and contextual performance (Boxx, Odom and Dunn, 1991; Chatman 1991). It can also predict intention of quit and turnover. Performance Holland (1985) stated that individuals will achieve greatest performance when their skills and traits fit those of the organization. In support of this statement, Caldwell O’Reilly (1990) found that P-O fit is positively related to job performance. Turnover Research examining the relationship between P-O fit and turnover suggests that employees whose values match those of their organization are less likely to experience feelings of incompetence or anxiety (Chatman, 1991). In contrast, employees who do not have a strong fit will either self-select out or will be released by the organization. For this reason, employees who fit with the organization are likely to have higher job satisfaction and lower intentions to quit than those who do not. This is also a measure of organizational commitment (Caldwell O’Reilly, 1990; Chatman, 1991; Saks Ashforth, 1997; Vancouver et al. 1994). Homogeneity and creativity P-O fit research also suggests that employees who have strong fit also possess certain degree of similarity or homogeneity (Lopez McMillan-Capehart, 2003). As a result, a criticism of P-O fit is that it results in employees who think similarly and thus there is less innovation and creative in the organization. Payne, Lane Jabri (1990) have questioned the desirability of too great a fit in creative industries, as ‘group think’ is detrimental to the innovation process. Comparison P-O fit with P-J fit Person-Job fit (P-J fit) is the most common way fit is defined by organizations. Person-Job fit involves the measurement of what we often refer to as â€Å"hard† information about a candidate’s suitability for the tasks that are required for successful performance of a specific job (Handler. C 2004). â€Å"Hard† aspects of P-J Fit include things such as a candidate’s specific skills, their levels of knowledge about specific subject matter, and their cognitive abilities. On the other hand, the elements of P-O Fit are rather soft. That is to say, it’s much more difficult to examine the job-related outcomes of a match between person and an organization as it elates to abstract concepts such as â€Å"values† and â€Å"culture† then it is to examine the outcomes of the match between harder traits, such as a person’s mathematical ability and the related aspects of their job performance. Just because it’s softer in nature and involves less objective constructs then P-J Fit, that doesn’t mean P-O Fit i s any less important. These insights on the two fit concepts suggest that they are complimentary measures that should account for different aspects of job performance and other organisational behaviors of an employee. Effective management of person-organisation fit As can be seen from the nature of the P-O fit, its involvement in the organisation and individual development starts at the selection process itself. It is then nurtured to grow by socialisation trends in the organisation. In this section effective management of P-O fit at various stages is discussed in detail Importance of Assessing P-O fit in employee selection In employee selection research , P-O fit can be conceptualised as the match between applicant and broader organisational attributes. Judge Ferris, 1992;Rynes Gerhart, 1990). P-O fit is very important in maintaining the flexible and committed workforce that is necessary in a competitive business environment and a tight labor market. (Bowen, Ledford Nathan,1991;Kristof 1996) Schneider’s (1987) ASA framework suggests that the sort of people within an organisation shape that organisation, yet that the culture of an organisation endures through changes in personnel. There i s then, a dynamic interaction between the people entering and leaving an organisation and its cultural characteristics. Dress Code EssayWe know that some degree of fit among employees is necessary to have harmony; on the other hand extreme levels of fit can lead to negative consequences such as lessened creativity. This is a dilemma many companies now face. By being attentive to the organizational climate and to the manner in which employees are socialized, it is possible that managers can nurture dissimilar employees so that they fit well with the organization while maintaining their uniqueness. References * Bowen,D. E, Ledford,G. E Nathan,B. R(1991) Hiring for the organisation,not the job. Academy of Management Executive ,5(4) 35-51. Boxx W. R. ,Odom,R. Y. ,Dunn, M. G(1991) Organisational values and value congruency and their impact on satisfaction commitment and cohesion. Public Personnel Management 20,195-205 * Bruce Watt, Mark Busine, Emma Wienker (2005) RECRUITING FOR CULTURE FIT DDI Australia Research Report. * Cable D. M. , Judge, T. A(1994). Pay preferences and job search decisions : A per son-organisation fit perspective. Personnel Psychology. 47,317-348. * Cable, D. M. and Parsons, C. K. (2001) Socialization Tactics and Person-Organization Fit. Personnel Psychology, 54, (1), pp1-23 * Chatman J. A(1991) Matching people and organisations:Selections and Socilsation in public accounting firms. Administrative Science Quarterly 40,423-443. * Caldwell, D. , Chatman, J. , and OReilly, C. , (1990) Building organizational commitment: A multi-firm study Journal of Occupational Psychology, 63, pp. 245-261. * Dr. Charles Handler (2004) The Value of Person-Organization Fit , http://www. ere. net/2004/05/20/the-value-of-person-organization-fit/ * Hobman, E. V. , Bordia, P. , and Gallois, C. (2003), Consequences of feeling dissimilar from others in a work team Journal of Business and Psychology, 17, pp. 301-325. Holland, J. L. (1985), Making vocational choices, Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ. * James, L. A. , and James, L. R. (1989), Integrating work environment perceptions: Explorations into the measurement of meaning, Journal of Applied Psychology, 74, pp. 739-751. * Jones, G. R. (1983), Psychological orientation and the process of organizational socialization: An interactionist per spective, Academy of Management Review, 8, pp. 464-474. * Judge, T. A Ferris, G. A (1992). The elusive criterion of fit in human resource staffing decisions, Human Resource Planning,154, 47-67 * Kristof,A. L(1996). Person-organisation fit: An integrative review of its conceptualisations, measurement and implications. Personnel Psychology,49(1),1-49 * Kwiatkowski R, (2003) Trends in organisations and selection: an introduction Journal of Managerial Psychology 18, 5 pg 382-394. * McMillan- -Capehart A, Lopez T. B, (2003)Reconciling Employee Dissimilarity and P-O Fit, Journal of Diversity Management 2,4 pg 33-42 * Meyer, J. P. , Allen, N. J. , and Gellatly, I. R. (1990), Affective and continuance commitment to the organization: Evaluation of measures and analysis of concurrent and time-lagged relations, Journal of Applied Psychology, 75, pp. 10-720. * Muchinsky, P. M. Monahan, C. J. (1987): What is person-environment congruence? Supplementary versus complementary models of fit. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 31, 268-277. * Payne, R. L. , Lane, D. and Jabri, M. (1990) A Two-Dimensional Person-Environment Fit Analysis of the Performance, Effort and Satisfaction of Research Scientists British Journ al of Management, 1, pp45-57 * Richard, O. C. Grimes, D. (1996). Bicultural interrole conflict: An organizational perspective, The Mid-Atlantic Journal of Business, 32 (3), pp. 155-270. * Rynes. S. L Gerhart,B. (1990). Interview assessments of applicant â€Å"fit†: An exploratory investigation . Personnel Psychology, 43,13-35. * Saks, A. M. and Ashforth, B. E. (1997) A longitudinal investigation of the relationships between job information, sources, applicant perceptions of fit, and work outcomes. Personnel Psychology, 50, pp394-425 * Schmidt,FL. , Hunter J. E (1998) The validity and utility of selection methods in personnel psychology:Practical and theoretical implications of 85 years of research findings. Psychological Bulletin,134 (2) 262-274. * Schneider, B. and Goldstein, H. W. and Smith, D. B. (1995) The ASA framework: an update. Personnel Psychology, 48, pp747-773 * Vancouver, J. B. ,Millsap,R. E. Peters P. A (1994) Multilevel analysis of organisational goal congruence. Journal of Applied Psychology 79,666-679. * Van Maanen, J. , and Schein, E. H. (1979), Toward a theory of organizational socialization. In B. M. Staw (Ed. ), Research in Organizational Behavior, 1, JAI Press, Greenwich, CT. * Bibliography * Boisnier, A. and Chatman, J. A. (2003) The role of subcultures in agile organizations. In R. Peterson and E. Mannix (ed) Leading and Managing People in Dynamic Organizations, Mahwah, NJ: Earlbaum, pp87-112 Bretz, R. D. and Judge, T. A. (1994) Person-organization fit and the theory of work adjustment: implications for satisfaction, tenure and career success. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 44, pp32-54 * Carless, S. A. (2005) Person-job fit versus person-organization fit as predictors of organizational attraction and job acceptance intentions: A longitudinal study. Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, 78, pp411-429 * Chao, G. T. , O’Leary-Kelly, A. M. , Wolf, S. , Klein, H. J. and Gardner, P. D. (1994) Organizational Socialization: Its content and consequences. Journal of Applied Psychology. 79, (5), pp730-743 * Chatman, J. (1991) Matching People and Organizations: Selection and Socialization in Public Accounting Firms. Administrative Science Quarterly, 36, pp459-484 * Cooper-Thomas, H. D. , Van Vianen, A. and Anderson, N. (2004) Changes in Person-Organization Fit: The impact of socialization tactics and actual P-O fit. European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology, 13, (1), pp52-78 * Jansen, K. J. Kristof-Brown, A. (2006): Toward a multidimensional theory of personenvironmentfit. Journal of Managerial Issues, 18 (2), 193-212. Jones, G. (1986), Socialization tactics, self-efficacy, and newcomers’ adjustment to organizations Academy of Management Journal, 29 2, pp. 262-279. * Kristof-Brown,A. L(2000). Perceived applicant fit: Distinguishing between recruiters’ perceptions of person-job fit and person-organisation fit. Personnel Psychology,53(4) 643-671. * Lievens, F. , Decaesteker, C. , Coetsier, P. and Geirnaert, J. (2001) Organizational Attractiveness for Prospective Applicants: A Person-Organization Fit Perspective. Applied Psychology: An International Review, 50, (1), pp30-51 * Morley, M. J. 2007): Person-organization fit. Journal of Managerial Psychology, 22 (2), 109-117. * Pervin, L. A. (1989), â€Å"Persons, situations, interactions: the history of a controversy and a discussion of theoretical models†, Academy of Management Review, Vol. 14, pp. 350-60. * O’Reilly, C. A. , Chatman, J. and Caldwell, D. F. (1991) People and organizational culture: a profile comparison approach to assessing person-organization fit. Academy of Management Journal, 34, pp487-516 * Sekiguchi T. (2003),A Contingency Perspective on the Importance of P-J Fit and P-O fit in Employee Selection Academy of Management , 4

Saturday, November 30, 2019

Josquin Desprez free essay sample

In the history of Western music Josquin Desprez became one of the most influential composers. Not much was known about this great composer’s time on earth. A lot of what people know about his life is expressed through his music. Josquin’s estimated date of birth is said to be 1440. Recent research shows that his birth date could have been later sometime in the 1450’s. Before he died in 1521 Desprez made a huge impact on the music during the Renaissance. Years after Josquin Desprez’s death, his music was distributed all throughout Europe and Germany. A quote from Todd M. McComb, who wrote a discography about Desprez, helps one to understand why his music became so popular and it says, â€Å"The clear textures and text declamation which Josquin employed set the stage not only for the next developments of technical harmony, but for the clarity and conciseness demanded by the Counter-Reformation of Palestrina et al. We will write a custom essay sample on Josquin Desprez or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page as well. Josquins output displays a rare combination of innovation and accomplished technical mastery, and has retained for him a position as the most prominent composer of the early sixteenth century, perhaps the high point of Western music as a whole. † This simply meant his music was recited clearly and concisely. He was doing things that no other composer had done to music. He also improved the techniques other composer had been using for years. This statement by McCobb sums up the reasons Desprez was honored so much for his music. His style allowed him to compose over a hundred motets and many other works while he was alive. Polyphonic imitation was a common technique in motets. Polyphonic imitation is where one musical line shares or imitates the same musical theme as the proceeding line. One song by Desprez, titled Ave Maria- Virgo Serena, uses polyphonic imitation all throughout the piece. This piece describes his work the best. One said, â€Å"With his strict canonic opening and subsequent structural interplay,† this song is a perfect example of his style. The songs meaning comes from when the angel Gabriel told Mary about Jesus’ birth. Hail thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. (Luke 1:28) is a scripture from the bible that is quoted in the song. Centuries later the song is still very popular. Since Desprez, many many composers have remade the song Ave Maria. I have heard the song played in theatre, at weddings, church, and now for a music assignment. Out of all the renditions of Ave Maria the version by Beyonce Knowles has made this song one of my favorite songs. Now that I have heard Josquins original version I see that Beyonce was nowhere near close to resembling this song. The most important aspect of the song is the imitation of the soprano voice to alto to tenor then bass and her rendition was more like a solo with a different meaning. Through his music Josquin Desprez influenced many composers of his time and he still continues to influence composers of modern times. To some, Desprez is still noted as the greatest composer of Western music and also a leader in Renaissance music. Josquin Desprez brought to the table polyphonic imitations which are still used today in chorus. Today Desprez’s work that happened centuries ago are still the influence for some artist today.

Monday, November 25, 2019

The Companys Strengths Through the Implementation of Its Strategic

The Companys Strengths Through the Implementation of Its Strategic The Companys Strengths Through the Implementation of Its Strategic Approaches – Case Study Example ï » ¿ Hansgrohe AG is a 109-year old company that has built a solid reputation in the sanitation sector as a leading innovator in kitchen and bathroom fixtures, particularly mixers, showers and shower systems. The company prides itself in creating original products that aim to define a more functional, more comfortable and more beautiful state of the art for bathroom appointments and fixtures. Hansgrohe products are visible in prominent prestige projects among which are the giant luxury cruiser â€Å"Queen Mary II†, in Terminal 5 of Heathrow Airport in London, and in the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, the tallest man-made structure ever built. Other sites include the Chancellor’s office in Berlin, New York’s Yoo luxury apartments, and the Masdar City Institute of Science and Technology in Abu Dhabi. The Company was founded by Hans Grohe in Schilltach in 1901. Water as an element has always been a passion for the founder, as well as a commitment to accuracy, craftsmanship, and the meticulous working style attributed to his orientation in the Black Forest. These are values with which he imbibed his Company are the defining features that have made Hansgrohe the internationally renowned company it is today. Hansgrohe is a private shareholding company and is therefore not listed for public trading in the stock market. Its shareholders are Masco Corporation (USA) which has 68 percent ownership in the company, and the rest (32 percent) is controlled by the Klaus Grohe family. Staying private is part of the management control and adherence to the standards of Hans Grohe that have defined the Company since its inception. With a nominal capital of â‚ ¬ 61 million, the Company realized its most recent sales revenue of â‚ ¬ 668 million and earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) of â‚ ¬ 110 million. Profit realized for the year amounted to â‚ ¬78 million, for a net profit margin of 12 percent, at a time when the financial crisis has rendered double digit margins, let along positive profit, a rarity. The Company has four brands by which it showcases its creativity and innovativeness. Its mother brand, Hansgrohe, has made a mark in innovative excellence in fittings in showers. Its second brand, Axor, is known for its exclusive designer collections for individual bathroom solutions. A third brand, Pharo, arrives at wellbeing solutions for the bathroom, and finally Pontos is renowned for its grey water recycling systems for the sustainable handling of resource water. The various brands showcase the Company’s strengths through the implementation of its strategic approaches, namely (1) innovation jump, (2) global speed and channel management, (3) productivity, (4) internationalization and streamlining of business practices, and (5) organizational development and reinforcement of management teams. In the assessment of its annual performance, Hansgrohe’s productivity was seen to have increased by +1% with a reduction in working capital by -12%. It was also determined that sales revenue per employee increased to â‚ ¬ 218,000, which is attributable to the positive results of the Company’s personnel incentive programmes as well as streamlining efforts that eliminated unnecessary costs and expenses. In the emerging markets, the Company’s sales increased by +12%, redounding to an overall contribution of international sales amounting to 80 percent of the Company’s total revenues. Of the total sales figure, 34 percent is attributable to the introduction of new products with significant innovative features. Hansgrohe has emerged from its humble beginnings and is now a multinational corporation with ten production facilities in three continents, as well as sales companies and support locations in 36 countries. Its worldwide presence in the sanitation industry is distinguished by innovative products and excellent support service (Hansgrohe website).

Friday, November 22, 2019

Analysing Strategy And Operations Management

Analysing Strategy And Operations Management Today’s business environment is complex, dynamic and uncertain and is influencing the strategies of modern enterprises (Beirnat, 2004). It is generally understood that there is a growing change in relationships between buyers and sellers which are impacting the way in which business is conducted (Buttle, 2007). Industry reports suggest that changes in today’s social and economic environment have had an impact on consumer spending behaviours. In such an unpredictable environment, the management of customer relationships becomes vital to the success of a business (Dyche, 2002). This realisation has prompted studies in the area of strategic management with the aim of gaining an understanding of a firm’s internal and external environment and developing strategies to exploit internal capabilities and external opportunities (Slack et al, 2006). The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the activities of John Lewis and explore its business operations in relation to Mich ael Porters generic strategies model. The paper will continue by examining Michael Porters value chain analysis and apply the theories practically to John Lewis. The paper will also discuss how the added value creates distinctive competences and lead to a competitive advantage for the business. Company Background John Lewis plc John Lewis is a UK retailer which comes under the umbrella name of John Lewis Partnership. The Group comprises of John Lewis department stores, Waitrose supermarkets, John Lewis Direct and the direct services company Greenbee. It is a public limited company owned by its employees (Partners) who influence the running the business and who benefit from a share of the company’s annual profits. The chain has an upmarket image which appeals strongly to a middle class core customer base. Chart 1: John Lewis Plc market share 2003 – 2007 (Mintel, 2007) The chart shows the market share growth for John Lewis from 2003 to 2007. The chart displays a steady g rowth pattern during this period. It would be fair to suggest that John Lewis has been performing well within the market as it market share has grown year on year. Mintel reports forecast that the retailer will continue to witness steady growth within its industry and states that John Lewis will be one of few retailers who will sustain growth despite changes in the economic climate and consumer spending behaviours. Activities John Lewis department stores offer a wide range of goods, including electrical, home playing fields and tennis courts; two large country estates with parklands; a sailing club with five cruising yachts and two country hotels offering holiday accommodation for partners. Partners are also enrolled in a pension scheme, given very generous holidays, and are part of a death in service insurance scheme. Additionally, upon completing twenty five years of service with the Partnership, they are given six month paid break.

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

The Lottery Shirley Jackson Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Lottery Shirley Jackson - Essay Example The people are all speculating on who is likely to win the draw. When one of them, Tessie, picks the paper with the black mark on it she protests that the draw has been unfair. The people ignore her and eventually hurl stones at her. ‘The Lottery’ tells of the evil that exists within all people, even those that look harmless. The people in the town have continued to practice the ancient tradition of the lottery despite the lack of knowledge of the original purpose of the ceremony (Murphy 105). This tradition is practiced with the knowledge that at the end of the draw, a person will be chosen at random to be stoned to death. The person’s friends and family are expected to participate in the act. The event has been compared to other practices such as Halloween, showing that it is acceptable to the members of that community. The willingness to participate in such an event shows the evil present in the people. The people from the town are reflective of man’s need and desire for a scapegoat, an object or person through whom they can release their frustrations. This is the object or person through whom they are able to project their undesirable characters. Such an object can then be destroyed by being offered as a sacrifice, or through some ritualistic act. The fact that the killing of a person at the end of the lottery draw has been turned into a ritual makes the act of killing someone (murder) acceptable to people who otherwise appear normal and religious. The turning of the practice into a ritual masks the evil and brutality of the act. The choice of characters and their names advance the main idea in the story. The characters are given ordinary names and live ordinary lives. This is suggestive of harmlessness and morally upright way of life. The fact that they all take part in the annual ritual of stoning one of their own to death suggests that one would have been wrong to judge them on the appearance of normalcy that they have. They are

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Discussion Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 4

Discussion - Case Study Example In asexual reproduction, new organisms develop from a cell or cells of the parent without the fusion of nuclei in processes such as binary fission, budding and sporulation. In sexual reproduction, there is the production of specialized sex cells/gametes and the fusion of their nuclei to produce a fertilized egg cell. Metabolism is the sum of the physiological processes by which an organism maintains life. These processes produce energy which is used by the body to build up new cells and tissues; provide heat and engage in physical activities (Barnhart, 1986).. Response to stimuli is a situation in which the body or a part of the body is excited to transmit an impulse along a nerve, moving a muscle or increasing the heart beat rate. Reproduction is shared by all things that are alive as they all either reproduce sexually or asexually. It is important for the continuation of life among the living organisms. The outcome of a chicken farmer who allowed her best egg-laying chickens but not the poor producers to reproduce was is an example of artificial selection. This is because he modified the process of natural selection in the chickens by only choosing the best ones. This led to the increase in the egg production over the

Saturday, November 16, 2019

The Crucible by Arthur Miller Essay Example for Free

The Crucible by Arthur Miller Essay From seeing the slight unease his wife was feeling, Proctor already felt under pressure when Hale then asked him if he too knew his Commandments. Hale: and you mister? Proctor: a trifle unsteady I am sure I do, sir. The reason why John is unsteady is not only because is he under pressure here by Hale but he knows he is repeating the commandment of Thou shalt not commit adultery. This is pressure in it self as John knows that he has in fact broken this commandment and his dear wife Elizabeth is still cold and unforgiving towards him. The stage directions then go on to tell us how Hale is worried about Proctor and his good wife Elizabeth. Proctor then realises he must sternly tell Hale there be no love for Satan in this house, mister to make sure his and his wifes names are not blackened in the village. These examples show the pressure that the people of Salem are under and what role they have to live up to. Hale goes on to use religious terms in more of his sentences. For example, my duty is to add what I may to the godly wisdom of the court, you surely do not fly against the Gospel, the Gospel-, God keep you both, pray calm yourself and so on. These all emphasize how religion is a part of everybodys role and lifestyle in Salem and that it is so greatly important to them. Hale uses these saying to protect his beliefs and make sure that no one can disagree or talk wrong of God and the Gospels. By being able to say I pray it, I pray it dearly to others, this shows that Hale must see himself higher than the rest of Salem in order to be bale to pray for them and also put a fear into them of God and that He is what can save them, if only they pray. The serious nature of the society can be seen in Act 1, in part of the Titubas confession. Abigail says aloud amongst all the hysteria, she often makes me laugh at prayer! The people in the room calm down as they are trying to take this in, but a person mocking prayer is far beyond their thoughts and understanding. This was taken very seriously. In another example, it is noted down how many times a year one comes to church. When Hale first starts to question Proctor he says to him, in the book of record that Mr Parris keeps, I note that you are rarely in church on the Sabbath day. As Salem takes this so seriously and the church has a major influence on the people of Salems life, Proctor sees this as a very big mark against his name and is quick to defend himself. Proctor slightly rebelled against these rulings and often worked on his land for several days at a time. This made the people of Salem very suspicious of his ways and he was often talked about. Such things indicate peoples expectations in such a society. The end of Act One shows Titubas confession and how Miller uses a certain technique of short snappy sentences such as, I dont compact with no devil! anxiety and the force of God to show the pressure that Tituba is under to confess whether it be true or not. The importance to save her life is much greater, and is the main thing that is forced upon Tituba to make her lie about conjuring spirits. We can tell this where Putnam says, this woman must be hanged! She must be taken and hanged! it is after this point that Tituba realises it is better to make a false confession and let Hale tear her free then to die. The irony of this is that it is better to lie in such a deeply religious society in order to save ones life, then to let your life be taken for God, which is the focal point of lifes of Salems citizens.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Another New Horizon :: Personal Narrative Writing

Another New Horizon What did Mississippi have in common with New York, Hong Kong, Boston, Australia, Vancouver, Venezuela, Montreal, the Philippines, China, and Toronto? Nothing. Those were my exact thoughts as my parents tried to explain why we had to move once again. With a missionary as a father, our family constantly moved from country to country. When we had finally settled down in Canada, I had hoped that I would, for the first time, find some stability in my life. I listened to my parents and nodded while my heart broke for the thousandth time. Though I was only nine years old, I felt like I had already lived a lifetime of good-byes. As I stumbled up the stairs, I didn’t even remember where we were moving to; all I knew was that it was my world we were now moving from. I thought of all the friends I had already left behind, and I couldn’t even bear to think of the friends I would now have to leave. On the morning we left for Mississippi, my father picked me and my brother up from our beds and gently laid us down on the back seat of our small car. He never woke us up, knowing I would cry all the way to the airport. I thought about my best friend, Tim, as we waited to board the plane. I had promised him I would never forget him. But my greatest fear every time we moved was that I would forget. I was afraid of losing mymemories—the only things I could keep with me no matter where I went. I feared that if I just looked away for a second, I would lose my most precious possessions. I wanted never to lose the memory of Tim’s face whenever he laughed at my jokes or the feeling of invincibility when I finally made my Australian school’s soccer team or even the boring French songs we sang in our Canadian classes. I worried that once the bruises from my Kung-Fu classes had healed, perhaps all of Sensei’s teachings would just fade away. I feared most of all that I would forget who I was—that once the memories had passed, the very soul of my being would slip through my fingers. I thought that perhaps with every place I left, an irreplaceable part of me would also be left behind. The passengers began boarding the plane, and my brother and I fought only half-heartedly for the window seat.

Monday, November 11, 2019

Public order Essay

Step 1 1. Why is public order necessary? Primarily, its purpose is to maintain an ideal state of public decency as possible. A set standard applied to all citizens with little to no gray area in needed for this purpose. Without public order and its controls, no threat of repercussions against acts exists (to include criminal, personal or political violence) potentially creating a free-for-all and ensuing chaos. 2. Does our society have enough public order or too little? Unless the US implements a system commensurate with that of a totalitarian/communist government, it is hard to measure whether current public order policies are sufficient or lacking. Having said that, I believe there are enough controls in place to justify the amount that we do have without infringing on rights. As of now, they are stringent enough to make potential criminals at least consider the weight of actions before they act on them. Considering the individual wills and motives of 300 million people, the current system is doing as good a job as can be expected. Step 2 3. What can crime statistics tell us about the crime picture in America? How has that picture changed over time? It gives those that report/analyze crime rates data about how specific crimes can be compared across a spectrum of areas time. There have been three separate ebbs and flows of crime over nearly 70 years of statistics collection. The most consistent factor has been due to major shifts in the male population and socio-economic picture (wars, baby-boom civil rights struggle) during these times, coupled with increased government and law enforcement efforts.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Five Levels of Maslow’s Hierarchy in Cast Away

Pysiological Needs, includes the most basic needs that are vital at survival, like the need for water, air food and sleep. Security needs, includes needs for safety and security. Security needs are important for survival, but they are not as demanding as the physiological needs. Some examples are health insurance, shelter from the environment. Social needs, includes needs for belonging, love and affection. Examples of Social needs are friendship and families help fulfill this needs for companionship and acceptance. Esteem needs, becomes increasingly important after the first three needs have been contented.It includes the needs for things that reflect on self-esteem, such as social recognition, accomplishment, social recognition. Self-actualizing needs, is the highest level of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. People that are self-actualizing are self-aware, concerned with personal growth, less concerned with the opinions of others and interested fulfilling their potential. The nee ds that appeared to be most urgent and necessary were the Physiological needs; Chuck Noland’s actions agreed with Maslow’s Hierarchy when we got on the island, he immediately sought food.The items that were already present on the island were Coconuts, Rocks, Sticks, and Palmetto Leaves. They met the needs of Physiological and Safety. The items that Chuck Noland used from the FedEx boxes were Clothing, Volleyball, Ice Skates, and VHS tapes. The needs that these items met were Physiological and Love. The movie Cast Away, Chuck Noland was stranded on an island. He was stuck there for about four years. As the years went by, he became more aware of how to survive.He knew how to find food, how to make shelter, and how to keep himself company. He used his volleyball that was in a FedEx box as a friend to talk to. He used leaves and sticks and sunlight to build a fire. He used porta potty as shelter. He also used anything for food. He was the only one who survived on that isla nd from all of his co-workers. He finally built a boat and went in the water. Soon he found a huge ship that he climbed onto and sent home. When he got home nobody recognized him. Also when he got home, he got told bad news.His fiance that he was planning on marrying thought he was dead and fell in love with his dentist, and ended up marrying him. In my opinion I do think Chuck Noland met his need for self-actualization during his stay on the island. For example, self-actualization means self-aware, concerned with personal growth, and less concerned with the opinions of others. He honestly didn’t care what other people that about him, he thought he was successful and a hard worker. All in all, the movie Cast Away was very good movie that represented the five levels of Maslow’s Hierarchy.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Accounting History Essay Example

Accounting History Essay Example Accounting History Essay Accounting History Essay A SHORT HISTORY OF ACCOUNTING AND BUSINESS The history of accounting is as old as civilization, among the most important professions in economic and cultural development. Accountants invented writing, developed money and banking, innovated the double entry bookkeeping system that fueled the Italian Renaissance, were needed by Industrial Revolution inventors and entrepreneurs for survival, helped develop the capital markets necessary for big business so essential for capitalism, turned into a profession that brought credibility for complex business practices that sparked the economic boom of the 20th century, and are central to the information revolution that is now transforming the global economy. Twenty-first century accounting will resemble rocket science and will continue to be among the critical professions of the new century. Accountants have not excelled in public relations, but their story is fascinating. And here it is. There are no household names among the accounting innovators; in fact, virtually no names survive before the Italian Renaissance. It took archaeologists to dig up the early history and scholars from many fields to demonstrate the importance of accounting to so many aspects of economics and culture. This book covers the great events. From merchants and scribes long before writing and money, to today’s global information networks. Accounting history is summarized in seven chapters. An overview places accounting in perspective. In some ways accounting hasn’t changed since Luca Paciolli (father of modern accounting) wrote the first textbook in 1494. On the other hand, accounting has led the information revolution. Many aspects of 21st century accounting will be unrecognizable by today’s professional leaders. Understanding the role of financial needs today and in the future requires an understanding of the past. The role of accounting in the ancient world is coming into clearer focus with new archaeological discoveries and innovative interpretations of the artifacts. It is now evident that writing developed over at least five thousand years- by accountants. The roles of trade, money, and credit also have long and complex histories. It is difficult to overestimate the importance of double entry bookkeeping. It was central to the success of the Italian merchants, necessary to birth of the Renaissance. The Industrial Revolution depended on inventors and entrepreneurs, not accountants. It is the survival of their firms that required innovative accounting and, later, the development of a profession. Big business, particularly the railroads, required capital markets that depended on accurate and useful information. This was supplied by the expanding accounting profession. The earliest of the Big Eight started in mid-nineteenth century London. Turn of the century America saw the rise of really big business, governable because of improvement in cost accounting. But the Crash of 1929 and the subsequent Great Depression demonstrated problems with capital markets, business practices, and, yes, considerable deficiencies in accounting practices. Many aspects of current accounting practices started with the flood of business regulations from the Roosevelt administration. The earliest electronic computers were funded to assist the World War II efforts. By 1950 massive efforts were begun to automate accounting practices, a continuing process. A global real-time integrated system is a near reality, suggesting new accounting paradigms replacing double entry and generally accepted accounting principles. Why read this book? What we do today in accounting is based on a 10,000-year history. Understanding this history is necessary to comprehending the linkages of accounting to career potential, financial regulation, tax, accounting systems, and management decision issues. This history also is a powerful tool to predict the accounting of the next generation. The father and the first innovator of accountancy is Luca Pacioli (1445 1517), also known as Friar Luca dal Borgo, is credited for the birth of accounting. His Summa de arithmetica, geometrica, proportioni et proportionalita (Summa on arithmetic, geometry, proportions and proportionality, Venice 1494), was a textbook for use in the abbaco schools of northern Italy, where the sons of merchants and craftsmen were educated. It was a compendium of the mathematical knowledge of his time, and includes the first printed description of the method of keeping accounts that Venetian merchants used at that time, known as the double-entry accounting system. Although Pacioli codified rather than invented this system, he is widely regarded as the Father of Accounting. The system he published included most of the accounting cycle as we know it today. He described the use of journals and ledgers, and warned that a person should not go to sleep at night until the debits equalled the credits! His ledger had accounts for assets (including receivables and inventories), liabilities, capital, income, and expenses - the account categories that are reported on an organisations balance sheet and income statement, respectively. He demonstrated year-end closing entries and proposed that a trial balance be used to prove a balanced ledger. His treatise also touches on a wide range of related topics from accounting ethics to cost accounting.

Monday, November 4, 2019

Hildegard Peplau - Theory of Interpersonal Relations Assignment

Hildegard Peplau - Theory of Interpersonal Relations - Assignment Example The theory highlights the roles played by nurses while providing relief to patients; these roles include the role of a stranger, the role of a person who owns and control resources, a person who provides counseling and lead individuals (Butts, 2011, p.271). The theory argues that there are four phases of interpersonal relationship through which nurses and patients pass through. These phases includes: in the first stage the problem experienced by patients is defined, in the next phase identification takes place, next alternatives for the solution of that problem are figured out, and lastly one of the selected alternatives is used to solve the problem (Meleis, 2011, p.633). All four metaparadigm concepts are involved in this theory; patient is the person who seeks to reduce the level of anxiety with the aid of nurse’s intrapersonal skills, environment is involved as the nurse takes into consideration the culture of the patient while conducting different roles, health of the pati ent is made better by counseling and the involved of nurse in the process is involved. This theory is applicable in all centers including practice, administration and education. This theory needs to be learned by nursing students so they can apply it during their practice as nurses experience patients with anxiety issues on day to day

Saturday, November 2, 2019

Identify and describe a minor character in the novel, The Alchemist Essay

Identify and describe a minor character in the novel, The Alchemist - Essay Example Fatima is an Arab girl who meets with Santiago in an oasis on the way to the pyramids. On the way to Egypt, Santiago takes time to listen to the desert and the main reason is to discover the soul of the world. The Arab girl reaches in the oasis together with other people where Santiago starts a conversation with Fatima, during the entire conversation Santiago falls in love with Fatima and Fatima falls in love with Santiago (Coelho, 1993).  As the caravan starts to go to the alchemist to learn the secret of alchemy who lives in the desert, Fatima as a desert woman is willing to wait for Santiago so that the hidden treasures in Egyptian pyramids can be disclosed and thus fulfill his personal legend. The purpose of Fatima is to encourage Santiago and go to Egypt and thus promised him that if he finds the treasures, they will marry. Additionally Fatima was looking for her man though she had interest in the hidden treasures. The camel driver meets with Santiago on their way to the oasis where their main agenda was to visit the alchemist in the desert. During this time, it is when Santiago is ready to go to Egypt to find the hidden treasures. After loosing everything in the flooding river Nile the camel driver is content with his daily routine of riding the camel. The purpose of the Camel Driver is to update Santiago and make him understand the importance of the present. The Tribal Chieftain is the guard of the oasis since the oasis should not be attacked since it was a violation of rules of the desert. After Santiago shares a vision with the tribal chieftain of two hawks fighting in the sky meant that it was an army entering the oasis to destroy it and attack those who were around. The interpretation of the vision makes the tribal chieftain to arm the men and prepare them well incase if they are attacked by enemies. The purpose of the chieftain is to make sure that in the oasis omens are listened carefully and thus when around one should be aware of desert

Thursday, October 31, 2019

Strategic issues of Zara Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Strategic issues of Zara - Essay Example It is interesting to mention that the basic retailing theme that is followed by the flagship brand is highly unique in nature. The brand of Zara largely focuses on the process of providing fashionable retail products of average quality at highly competitive prices to the consumers of the world (Morris, 2013). It needs to be mentioned that the brand of Zara is largely present in various markets around the world. Also, the company has attained tremendously high levels of efficiencies in regards to maintaining the distribution channels as well as managing the logistics and supply chain. It can be said that the efficiency of the supply chain attained by the flagship brand Zara helps in attaining significant advantages related to shorter product lifecycle, shorter turn around and reduced time for production. Thus, it can be said that the logistic and supply chain efficiency can be treated as a pillar of strong point and significant advantage for the company. ... Detailed analysis of the competitive forces It can be highlighted that the best way to undertake an analysis of the competitive forces that are affecting the business prospects of the retail company is to conduct an analysis of Porter’s competitive forces. It needs to be mentioned that Porter’s five forces strategy talks about the competitive issues that arises from the multiple factors like bargaining power of suppliers, bargaining power of consumers, power of substitutes, threat of new entrants as well as inter firm rivalry (HBR, 2008, p. 4). Source: HBR, 2008 p. 4 Now matching Porter’s five forces competitive strategy with regards to organizational issues of Zara, it can be said that several challenges and cases can be highlighted at the same time. Talking in regards to the bargaining power of the suppliers, it needs to be highlighted that more than 50% of the retail merchandise of Zara are produced in an in house fashion. It is important to highlight that bec ause of this particular practice, the globally acclaimed retail organization has developed the advantage in regards to gaining momentum in various complex task based process, lower cycle time as well as minimization of error. However, talking in more details in regards to manufacturing practices, it can be said that the various processes involved in the manufacturing process of the firm’s end products are often outsourced to the network of local cooperatives, who work with the company only on the basis of long term good will. Hence, in this particular case, the negotiation power of the suppliers and local manufacturers are pretty low as compared to that of the organization.

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

The Historical Context of International Communication Essay

The Historical Context of International Communication - Essay Example The developments in film, advertisement and radio ushered a new era in communication and mass culture. Radio as a propaganda tool was first utilized by former USSR and then all the nations of the world followed the suit. Communist and capitalist propaganda used radio all over the world to promote their point of views. Third world countries used communication tools for promoting health care, education and culture. Third World countries genuinely felt the disparity in communication technologies between developed and developing countries and demanded for more just treatment. The MacBride Commission is the result of such efforts by Third World. The commission called for impartial, balanced and responsible reporting. USA opposed the commission as it deemed it more pro Soviet Union. The opponents called the proposals as instrument against freedom of press and information. This opposition came to an end with Soviet disintegration. Opinion The chapter is a detailed look at the role of differ ent communication devices through out history and world. The writer presents different facts and figures from ancient time to colonial era in order to press the point that communication is vital aspect of any empire. The writer then discusses in detail the impact and role of telegraph from 19th Century onwards on different social and political aspects of the world. The writer then relates the development of journalism and radio with telegraph in 20th Century. At the end the writer gives a detailed look at the impact of radio during the Cold War. The chapter is according to the title and it gives a very detailed look at the historical development of international communication. The data regarding length of cables of telegraph and the spread in different areas of the world may confuse the reader but the information is very helpful in understanding the development. The writer has used simple language and starts from ancient time in order to present the main argument. The writer is able to give a cursory look at the ancient history and then focuses on colonial era in order to make argument clear. Overall the reader may find the data presented in the chapter a bit taxing but for scholarly purpose the chapter is very well documented. The logical sequence and development enable the involvement of the reader. The writer overlooks television and internet but still the effort is very good. Summary : The Technology and Society Science has brought many changes in the society. In order to investigate the issue of social changes and scientific discoveries there are two schools of thought. One group attributes all the changes in the society to the scientific inventions. For them scientific discoveries produce change in the society. The other group takes a less radical view by stating that changes in the society are going on the new scientific inventions just contribute in these changes. Both of these views take technology and society in isolation. Military and commercial nee ds forced improvement in communication. These social factors were to great extent satisfied by the development in the field of telegraphy, telephony and early stages of radio. The need of addressing masses in new political world gave power to press but this political urge was satisfied by television. This complex situation set the stage for broadcasting. The use of different broadcasting tools for social communication and political manipulation greatly influenced the rapid technological advancement in the field of communication. Political stimulus and economic benefits made television a popular medium for bringing change.

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Project Report on Himalaya Products

Project Report on Himalaya Products INDUSTRY SNAPSHOT The global medical industry is one of the worlds fastest growing industries, absorbing over 10% of gross domestic product of most developed nations. It constitutes of broad services offered by various hospitals, physicians, nursing homes, diagnostic laboratories, pharmacies and ably supported by drugs, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, medical equipment, manufacturers and suppliers. The medical and health care industry provides enormous employment opportunities to choose from. Apart from using the services of medical professionals, this industry also utilizes the expert services of public policy workers, medical writers, clinical research lab workers, IT professionals, sales/marketing professionals and health insurance providers. SIZE OF THE INDUSTRY The United States of America has one of the largest medical and healthcare industries in the world, followed by Switzerland and Germany. The USAs medical industry comprises of more than 750,000 physicians and 5,200 hospitals. USA witnesses approximately 3.8 million inpatient visits and 20 million outpatients visit on a daily basis. Furthermore, the United States of America has the largest workforce i.e. one in every 11 US residents employed in the health care business. The Global prescription drug market was $550 billion in the year 2006. Also, the total health care expenditures across the world were $4.5 trillion last year. Of which, US solely account for $ 2.2 trillion, $ 2 trillion in OECD countries and remaining $ 0.3 in other countries of the world. MAJOR SEGMENTS OF THE INDUSTRY The global medical industry is highly fragmented, comprising of various ancillary sectors namely medical equipment and supplies, pharmaceutical, healthcare services, biotechnology, and alternative medicines sectors. Medical Equipment and Supplies: It consists of various establishments or units engaged in designing, manufacturing, selling and distributing of surgical and medical instruments, ophthalmic, lab apparatus, electro medical, dental, irradiation, surgical appliances and supplies. Pharmaceutical Industry It consists of several establishments involved in developing, researching, marketing and distributing drugs or medicines. Globally, the market share of pharmaceutical industry is US $340 billion. The global pharmaceutical sales account for US$ 602 billion, with an annual growth rate of 7%. Healthcare Services Industry It includes various establishments dealing in different type of services like testing, outsourcing, compliance, chemical analysis, transcription, quality assurance, validation, and other types of services. The global market share of biotechnology services industry is worth US $ 50 billion, which is soon expected to witness a hike in coming years. Presently, pharmaceutical testing service industry values to US $ 5.9 billion, which is predicted to reach US $ 9.5 billion by the end of 2009. Microbiological testing service industry accounts for US $ 2.4 billion. Globally, the medical outsourcing services industry accounts for approximately US $ 200 billion. Biotechnology Industry It is one of the most research-intensive segments of the global healthcare industry. Biotechnology industry is composed of many establishments, which are engaged in making wide variety of biotech products. Biotechnology is primarily being used by the pharmaceutical industry but there are other industries like agriculture, mining, waste treatment industries as well, which are making continuous use of biotechnology. Biotechnology companies focus on developing methods or products used for preventing, diagnosing and treating dozens of life threatening and chronic diseases. The biotechnology industry has mushroomed since its inception and at present it is equivalent to US $ 50.7 billion. China, USA, India, Australia, and France are the market leaders of biotech products in the world. Alternative Medication Industry It consists of various groups involved in the promotion of different forms of alternative medications and therapies like ayurveda, homeopathy, aromatherapy, massage therapy etc. The total market size of alternative medicine is valued at US $2.7 billion while global market for traditional therapies accounts for US $60 billion. Dietary Supplements Industry As per the Office of Dietary Supplements, consumers in the USA spent $20.3 billion on dietary supplements in 2004. This comprises of vitamins, minerals, herbs, botanicals, amino acids, whole foods, nutraceuticals, etc, the USFDA regulates dietary supplements differently than the conventional foods and drug products. Regulated by the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA), the manufacturers are responsible for ensuring the safety of dietary supplements before they are marketed. The industry derives much of its demand from growing health awareness, ageing population, consumer spending, and nutrition trends. Bringing out innovative products, effective merchandising and competitive pricing determines the manufacturers profitability. Supplements are sold via supermarkets, drugstores, Internet, mail orders, health food stores, and by direct sellers. KEY GROWTH DRIVERS OF THIS INDUSTRY There are various factors, which govern the growth of the medical and healthcare industry. Some of the key factors are: Continuous investments in research development has resulted in increased productivity and better quality of drugs, medicines, medical instruments, hospital equipment, and other medical supplies used in medical industry. Provides employment to large chunk of human population. United States of America has the largest workforce i.e. one in every 11 US residents employed in the health care business. Increased costs in the medical treatment in the developed nations have driven patients to migrate to Asian countries. Rise in ailments among the ageing population especially in developed nations has led to the increase in demand of variety of drugs or medicines. Innovative techniques of drug discovery and drug development, new cures and treatments, gene testing for insurance, genetic predictions of disease and related issue, human cloning and reproductive technologies are the other key drivers of the medical industry. FUTURE PERSPECTIVE OF THE INDUSTRY The future perspective of medical industry seems to be immensely bright and encouraging for this industry in terms of the expected surge in global demand and upsurge in investments. Several trends such as globalization, continuous investments in research and development, newer techniques of drug development and discovery, product proliferation, mergers and acquisitions are the key drivers of this industry. Increasing corporatization of Private Healthcare in the backdrop of a growing and affluent middle class is an emerging trend that has been pushing the growth of this industry. Health Insurance and Medical Tourism are the other significant trends, which are governing the global healthcare and medical industry. Most of the nations are now emphasizing on the accreditation of medical professionals so as to ensure legitimacy of the services provided by them. Robust advancement in the field of information technology will allow critical medical data to be processed and transferred quickly over larger distances, thereby saving time of both the patients and physicians in the speeding delivery of treatment. THE INDIAN HEALTHCARE MARKET India Spends US $ 22.7 Billion On Healthcare HEALTHCARE MARKET (2005 VS 2025) Healthcare is the third largest growth segment in India THE CURRENT STATUS OF HEALTHCARE Out of pocket semi-urban and rural expenses higher than Urban DRIVERS OF GROWTH Increasing health awareness, Increasing spends on health Health Insurance penetration Increasing disease burden lifestyle diseases Awareness of healthcare and preventive care Employer provided healthcare Community based health plans INDIA PREFERS PRIVATE PROVIDERS Private expenditure as % of total expenditure on health : 82.7 (2004) MAJOR PLAYERS Healthcare services is highly unorganised segment in India ABOUT HIMALAYA The Himalaya Drug Company was founded in 1930 by Mr. M. Manal with a clear vision to bring Ayurveda to society in a contemporary form and to unravel the mystery behind the 5000 year old system of medicine. The Himalaya Drug Company is a leader in the Indian phyto-pharmaceutical (Ayurvedic) products ever since its founder M Manal, while visiting Burma in 1930, discovered how elephants were pacified and developed the worlds first anti-hypertensive drug, Serpina. It offers a wide range of pharmaceutical, personal care, consumer and animal health products. Over 300,000 doctors around the globe have endorsed Himalayas products and consumers in over 70 countries rely on Himalaya for their health and personal care needs. The company has pioneered the use of modern science to rediscover and validate the secrets of Ayurveda, the centuries-old Indian system of medicine. It employs cutting edge-technology to create pharmaceutical-grade ayurvedic products. Himalaya is dedicated to providing the highest quality and consistency in herbal care products and the company was also awarded the ISO 9001-2000 certification in 2003. Himalaya has always focused on developing safe, natural and innovative remedies that will help people live safe and healthier lives. Himalayas history is one of innovation through research. The company believes that ideal healthcare system lies in the synergy in between ayurveda and modern science. Himalayas constant endeavour is to create innovative products that satisfy the health and personal care requirements of contemporary living. VISION To bring Ayurveda the source of natural medication, to the society in a modern-day form and to untangle the mystery behind the 5000 year old system of medicine. MISSION Establish Himalaya as a science based, problem solving holistic brand with its source entrenched in the ancestry of nature and characterized by trust and healthy lives. Not just consider the local markets but also broaden their horizons across regions (worldwide) with a long term in-depth approach, by adopting the highest ethical standards at each step. Value, consider and utilize the inputs of all the stakeholders of the Himalaya family to garner the seed to shelf policy. The focus is on adopting eco friendly practices to support the environment that we live in. The employees are expected to support the Himalayan promise of exceeding consumer expectations each and every time. PRODUCT SERVICES Himalayas products can be broadly classified into 3 main ranges viz. Healthcare Health maintenance, eye care, skin care, cardiac care, immune booster and cough control Personal Care Health care, oral care, hair care, skin care and baby care Animal Health Daily care products for sensitive cats and dogs Each of the products under the categories mentioned above are ayurvedic and have no side effects after use. Constant innovation has been the mantra of the management at Himalaya. Himalaya has had some exceptional innovative products in its product offerings that has helped it grow in stature. Some of the most successful innovations that have helped Himalaya become the leaders in Herbal Healthcare are as follows; Serpina Derived from the plant serpentina. It was a natural tranquiliser with anti-hypersensitive properties. Was the world first natural hypersensitive medicine launched in 1930. Liv. 52 An apt example of innovation at Himalaya. The RD department was given the job to come up with a natural remedy that improved liver function as that was the main concern of people then in 1950. The team came up with a natural medicine that became the hallmark of innovation. Today, 1 billion tablets and 13 million syrup bottles of Liv. 52 are sold annually across the globe. Bonnisan A sweet tasting natural paediatric digestive tonic introduced in 1972. Soon after launch it became the leading brand in its category and today is Indias number 1 paediatric digestive product. On further research in Malaysia, Bonnisan also helped cure the long standing asthama problems in several preteens. Reosto A unique herbomineral preparation that slows bone loss and strengthens bone. The plant hormones that are present present in Resto influences the bone formation and also minimizes the risk of fracture cased by osteoporosis. Menosan It is an ideal alternative to Hormone Replacement Therapy. Menosan helps women during the menopausal and post menopausal stages. The plant derived hormones i.e. phytoestrogens are completely risk free and help women cope with the menopausal discomforts and mood swings. PureHands A herbal sanitizer that kills 99.9% of the germs and prevents infection. The germicidal action on Neem, freshness of lemon and softening action of hrivera has helped this product gain acceptance in the market. Himplasia A product that was launched in 2002 to help aged men deal with the prostrate problems. This is a natural product with no side effects and men could start taking this medicine early and hence restrict the growth of the prostrate. Hair Loss Cream This product helps reduce hair loss, stimulate hair growth, increase hair thickness and improve tensile strength of hair. The regular use of this product lead to a 20% reduction in hair loss in just 2 weeks. In their effort to do something good for the society, Himalaya has also forayed into many community services and corporate citizenship programs, which are a part of their corporate social responsibility. This has been broadly classified into Health, Education, Community and Environment. Himalaya has constantly been investing in Training, Education and community welfare projects. They have taken the global cultivation practices, contract cultivation techniques and rain water harvesting techniques to the farmers. Partnerships with companies like Shristhi Special Academy (NGO) and IDEI has helped them walk an extra mile towards community services. GLOBAL PRESENCE Himalaya has grown from being an Indian Ayrvedic brand to a global player with its products being well accepted in more than 70 countries. It has a sound base in USA, Middle East, Europe and Asia and has been diversifying its base rapidly. Himalaya went onto instituting a global company in the name of Himalaya Global Holdings Ltd. which is a parent company of the Himalaya Drug Company worldwide. The company has its offices strategically located in 7 regions through which they reach across to 71 countries. One of the offices in Bangalore (India) extensively looks into the pharmaceutical operations for India, Russia and Asia Pacific while another office in Bangalore looks into only the consumer products. They have their other offices in: Europe Latvia, Middle East Dubai which also caters to the South African region U.S.A. Texas Houston which caters to USA, Canada, Mexico, South America and the Caribbean Singapore This office caters to East Asia and South Pacific Johannesburg This office caters predominantly to South Africa HIMALAYA NEW INITIATIVES Himalaya has come up with State of the art Retail Outlets that cater to only Himalaya Products. This is a strategy adopted by Himalaya to entice customers to buy more Himalaya products. This chain of exclusive Himalaya stores is a retail strategy adopted by the company to increase the accessibility, visibility and enhance the consumer shopping experience. In the fiscal year 2006, Himalaya has 92 exclusive retail stores and the number has been increasing ever since. These retail stores also act as crucial information centers where the customer queries are answered by trained managers. Also, these outlets are electronically linked to a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Cell, which is assisted by a team of medical doctors who respond to specific customer health queries. Customer Interaction Management Himalaya outsourced the entire integration project to a company called Talisman. CIM has helped Himalaya respond to the queries from the customers, doctors and distributors. The main advantage of outsourcing CIM was that they got the module up and running in 2 weeks. Hence, all the queries were catered to and the expertise of Talisman helped them build and strong and fool proof CIM. Also, the work load has been reduced as the primary scanning is done by customer service representatives of Talisman and then the calls / emails are forwarded to the in-house people.

Friday, October 25, 2019

Trifles Essay -- essays research papers

Trifles, written by Susan Glaspell, is a real life murder case that uses symbolism to help solve a mystery. Glaspell's use of dialect, set on a midwestern farm, emphasizes the town's gender-separated society. Isolationism, a quilt, and incomplete house work are the three key symbols in the play the help the reader figure out who murdered Mrs. Wright's husband. First of all, isolationism is an important clue in the murder case. Mrs. Wright's farmhouse is located in a hollow, down in the woods, which puts her in a secluded place. Mr. Hale, a friend, came to talk to Mr. Wright about a party telephone, but he said, "He put me off, saying folks talked too much anyway . . . " (59). This is an example of how Mr. Wright did not want himself and his wife to have contact with anyone in t...

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Employee Recruitment and Retention on the Plumbing and Heating Industry Essay

The way in which companies recruit and retain their employees is considered as a competitive weapon. Not until recently that firms are becoming serious on the act of recruitment as the Bureau of Labor statistics estimates that jobs will grow faster at a rate that is not proportional with the labor force, hence forcing the aforementioned to appeal to various groups such as omen and minorities. As such not only recruitment is very vital but also retaining employees (Denton, 1992, p. 14). According to Frank Doyle, the senior vice president of corporate relations at General Electric: â€Å"For U.  S. corporations, tomorrow’s competitive battle will be won or lost on the strength of their ability to build and retain a skilled work force† (Richman 1990, 76 as cited from Denton, 1992, p. 14). General Electric believes that labor shortage does not significantly matter if companies know which people to hire and to retain. For instance, companies such as Merck & Co. often times target certain universities or campuses that give a more detailed specialization on certain knowledge and skills that are very vital to their business. The Plumbing and Heating Industry  The plumbing and heating industry has been experiencing shortages as well on their workforce due to the difficulty of finding skilled plumbers and retaining them. It needs several numbers of years training on order to become a qualified plumber and heater and such also requires a deep dedication for a lifelong learning process. Certain skills are also necessary to be a good plumber such as â€Å"need a head for heights, the ability to work in cramped conditions and the stamina to complete physically hard work day after day† (The Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering, 2007). In addition with this, plumbers also need the intelligence to solve complex equations. More importantly, they must have the expertise and flexibility to install various systems and the capability to comprehend the logic of various systems. They should also have the ability and initiative to solve a problem and a passion to know and apply various technologies on their work. Plumbers and heaters must also have a creative mind and a sound judgment, and finally they should be professional and honest (The Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering, 2007). Employee Recruitment Interviews In order to find the right people, the process of interviewing and getting to know them not only through their answers but also through their eye contacts, body languages and the likes (Dibble, 1999). For instance, some companies like Merck often conduct a 30-minute interview in order to assess the qualifications of prospective employees. Hewlett-Packard did it further by implementing a technique called â€Å"behavioral interviewing† that is developed by organizational psychologist Paul Green that would assess the future behavior of a prospective employee based on his or her past behaviors. In using this technique, interviewers can design employee questions that would allow them to elicit behaviors that are closely related to the job that they are looking for (Denton, 1999, p. 16). The process of behavioral interview often times identifies 21 skills that are very vital for certain jobs such as â€Å"coping, decisiveness, assertiveness, tolerance of ambiguity, written communication skills, creativity, commitment, team building, versatility, and leadership† (Denton, 1999, p. 17). For the aforementioned skills there are still eight job behaviors that are needed to be known such as how prospective employees deal with â€Å"varied duties, deal with diverse groups, respond to others’ needs, be socially flexible, â€Å"roll with the punches†, understand individual differences, make others comfortable, exhibit wide range of social behaviors ( â€Å"More† 1988, as cited from Denton, 1992, p. 17). Decentralized Hiring Traditional recruitment approaches that focuses on interviewing prospective employees by a single person is no longer deemed as vital nowadays. For instance, the Springfield Remanufacturing Corporation (SRC) one of America’s most successful small companies still has their hiring process as a group activity. SRC adopts a non-traditional method of recruitment by having all of their applicants have five or six interviews with various individuals that he or she might be working with (Denton, 1992, p. 18). Recruitment through Reputation The reputation of the company is also one of the leading factors in which highly knowledgeable and skilled employees will desire to work for the aforementioned. For instance SRC received more than 2,500 applications for a small company that only employs 300 people. It could also be noted that the company only pays $6 or $7 per hour, yet applicants are still flocking to them. One significant reason for this is its reputation for being one of the best places to work. One of the ways of doing such is the capacity of a company to manage the diversity of their workforce (Denton, 1992, p. 19). The shortages in terms of prospective employees is a growing concern among companies that is why there is a need to focus more on recruiting minorities and women. However, in order for a company to have a wide application pool, such must first establish to have a good reputation of being able to effectively manage organizational diversity (Denton, 1992, p. 20). Aggressive Recruitment for Entry-Level Workers One of the best ways to tap to a good employee resource is through recruiting entry-level workers through implementing various programs such as â€Å"Adopt-a-School† or â€Å"Join-A-School†. These programs allow companies and organizations to establish partnerships between business and schools which may involve elementary school, vocational school or even a university (Denton, 1992, p. 5). The main value of such programs is the establishment of closer relationships between schools and in a macro perspective, creating better understanding businesses and industry. More importantly, partnerships such as like these, would allow companies to easily recruit personnels that can improve the company’s image that could help the prospective applicants to view your company’s business as a career, hence a better chance of creating a wide labor pool (Denton, 1992, p. 26). Employee Retention If finding good people is hard, so as looking for ways to make them stay. One of the companies that have displayed such an admirable trait is Federal Express, wherein they have emphasized the importance of retention, recruitment and employee relations (Dibble, 1999). If a particular company is very careful in terms of recruiting, there is also a relatively better match of keeping them. One best way of doing such is the company centralizing all of its recruitment centers (Denton, p. 47). After which, they provide immense value on putting their people first on their list. Good employee relations for Federal Express involve â€Å"deeds that impress employees and improve relations† (Denton, p. 48). According to Fred Smith, CEO of Federal Express, â€Å"I think a lot of companies talk about how their employees are their most important asset, but where you can really tell whether it is very important or not is how much their senior management spends on the issues† ( Trunick 1989, 19 as cited from Denton, 1992, p. 48). Through implementing the philosophy of â€Å"people, service, Profits† the company makes their people feel that they are indeed needed in the organization. They let them answer several basic questions such as â€Å"What is expected of me, and what do you want me to do? † (p. 48). These questions are answered by having all of their employees attend extensive orientation programs wherein the Federal Express’ values are discussed Incentives Career advancement is not the only incentive that will make people stay within the organization. For instance the use of awards program that is designed to reinforce a particular desired behavior such as superior quality of work and customer centricity played a lot in terms of motivating employees to stay (p. 49). One very good example of this is Federal Express’ â€Å"Bravo Zulu Voucher Program: wherein employees who displayed admirable work performance such as going beyond what is expected of them are able to receive cash or non cash rewards. Also, their â€Å"Suggestion Awards Program† allow employees to participate in the management process by sharing their ideas that will enable the company to improve its operations. Any idea implemented that will lower costs, increase productivity, revenues or promote safer working conditions will receive recognition and $100 to $25,000 worth of cash (p. 49). Communications Open Communication among employees is also vital to solve a problem. The internal employee response program allows employees to find answers to situations that they perceived as something that is disagreeable, controversial or is contrary to existing policies. If employees express negative concerns about their work or with the management, the latter is expected to respond within 14 days. These concerns are assured to be forwarded to the CEO (p. 50). Appeals Board The Appeals Board is a venue wherein decisions among complaints could be given and also disciplines could be implemented. However, it is very important that when keeping such a type of venue for resolution of organizational conflicts, the organization must have the capability to streamline its process to make the time alloted for every case reasonable enough (Denton, 1999, p. 52). Survey, Feedback, Action (SFA) An annual survey of employee attitudes is also important for the company to measure its employee opinions and to make changes that could hopefully change not so favorable employee attitudes to the company (Dibble, 1999). This assures that the management will see clearly what its team feels about the organization. In addition such allows a fair gauge of attitude and anonymity among employees (Denton, 1999, p. 52). Education and Trainings Continued learning is a venue wherein employees themselves would feel that they are indeed valued by the company. As such it us also very relevant as well that the organization will invest on trainings or even scholarships to employees who wanted to continue their education (Logue, Yates and Greider, 2001, p. 46-47). Conclusion The Plumbing and Heating Industry has been experiencing a significant decline in terms of its workforce. Hence in order to solve this problem the industry must be able to adopt effective recruitment and employee retention practices that were formulated in theory and practice of various management scholars and organizations. For the purpose of this research, in order to have an effective recruitment process, the research has emphasized the importance of: Interviews, Decentralized Hiring, Recruitment through Reputation, and Aggressive Recruitment for Entry-Level Workers. On the other hand, in order to retain employees, companies must be able to focus on: Incentives, Communications, Appeals Board, Survey, Feedback, Action (SFA), and Education and Training.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

A researcher strongly believes Essay

1.A researcher strongly believes that physicians tend to show female nurses less attention and respect than they show male nurses. she sets up an experimental study involving observations of health clinics in different conditions. In explaining the study to the physicians and nurses who will participate, what steps should the researcher take to eliminate experimental bias based on both experimenter expectations and participant expectations.? The first step should be to consider that using an experiment in clinical conditions is a bad idea. An ethnographic study might be a better approach. The next step should be to consider what is really being studied. Is the point of the study to determine how physicians treat female nurses when compared to male nurses, or is it to determine the degree of difference? Would the individual’s gender (both that of the doctor and that of the nurse) make a difference? The results of a study would not be valid without considering the possibility that it is gender, not sex, that makes the difference. If pressed to design this experiment, I would gain permission to do the observation (or experiment, if you prefer). Then I would ask the doctors and nurses involved to participate in training vignettes. I would film the vignettes so that my work could be triangulated by other researchers. I would have a research assistant play the role of a patient, but would not disclose to the doctor and nurse that this was not a real patient. I would ask the doctor(s) to film the training vignette, perhaps of the way to decide whether or not to order a particular type of test, twice. The first time they would be given a male or female nurse; the second time, the reverse. The videos would be observed by myself and a research diary kept, with my personal feelings about the vignettes and the participant’s actions recorded so that any bias could be accounted for later. I would write my conclusions about the individual’s behaviors. Then, I would have two other researchers do the same. The conclusions of the three researchers would be compared and if two of the researchers had the same opinion about the behaviors of the physician, that opinion would be recorded as the official observation. The outlier observation would be recorded and archived. If the time was available I would film each physician six times: with a masculine male nurse, with a feminine male nurse, with a masculine female nurse, with a feminine female nurse, and with an obviously transgender male and female. The repetitive nature of doing this could easily be explained by saying the â€Å"client† was not clear what they wanted yet. 2.In what ways is the â€Å"fight-or-flight response helpful to humans in emergency situations? The fight or flight response helps the individual who is in an emergency situation to get the â€Å"blood pumping† so that the body can effectively run, or fight. The heart rate goes up; the individual may sweat or develop goose bumps. The sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system governs flight or fight. Once the emergency is over – or perhaps, there never was an emergency, but the person believed there was – the parasympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system takes over and helps calm the body down. The parasympathetic system stores energy for the next time it is needed in an emergency. The simplistic answer to this question is that fight or flight helps the human body prepare to survive. 3 Much research is being conducted on repairing faulty sensory organs through devices such as personal guidance systems and eyeglasses, among others. Do you think that researcher should attempt to improve normal sensory capabilities beyond their â€Å"natural† range (for example make human visual or audio capabilities more sensitive than normal)? What problems might this cause? This is both a question of science, and of ethics. We may be able to do something (even without unwanted side effects) but this does not mean we should. Once the capacity exists to better ourselves through technology, individuals who are in competitive situations will want this technology to make themselves more competitive. Perhaps a cochlear implant, for example, can be used not only for the non-hearing to hear, but to make the hearing have something resembling super-hearing, without being detectable by others. It is easy to foresee a situation where CEOs would want this implant to make  it possible to hear what members of the board are muttering, or that football players would want it so they can hear what the opposing quarterback is saying in the huddle. From a technical perspective, however, the human body is not comprised of stand-alone parts any more than a car or truck is. The body is put together in a system. The body’s parts are designed to work together in a particular way, much the same way that the carburetor, air filter, engine, spark plugs, and cooling system are designed to work together in a vehicle. The vehicle cannot work correctly if the driver of a 68 Mustang takes out the fuel pump designed for that vehicle and inserts one designed for a 2002 Humvee. The frame is not the same; the engine is not the same. Parts are not plug-and-play; they are not interchangeable. They have to be matched. In a car, trying to string together parts designed for a variety of vehicles will result in one of three outcomes: either the parts won’t work together as a whole, they will work together but badly, or they will work together and then blow out prematurely. The human body would be exactly the same. One size does not fit all.