The Autocratic Leader

1. Introduction to Autocratic Leadership There are several effective leadership styles used to run organizations. The autocratic style basically tells employees what to do. This style is defined as excessively demanding, with one way of communication-from management to employee. Managers possess the power to coerce â€Å"subordinates† to accomplish the mission. Decision making comes from the leader(s) and the opinion or input of the employee is not considered. Nevertheless, autocratic leadership can be useful in certain situations or types of businesses. At times, management must utilize this type of leadership to achieve important goals. 2. Martha Stewart – An Autocratic Leader Autocratic leadership is a management style that places pressure on employees to produce a product, service or image. This style is reminiscent of a dictatorship but in some businesses or military organizations, this type of leadership is necessary. Many employees have worked with an authoritarian manager and are used to it, require it, and even expect it. A good example of an autocratic leader is Martha Stewart who has built an empire based on her teaching techniques for simplicity and creativity in the home: cooking, crafts, finding the perfect housewares, etc.; all accomplished with great attention to detail. Whether people have admired Martha Stewart or not, one cannot argue that she has remained careful, consistent and demanding of her employees. She's very successful in nearly all of her endeavors, and often, if not always, has used an autocratic management style. It's common knowledge that it's her autocratic leadership style that has made her a success in nearly every form of media. Martha Stewart's critics (who are many) argue that she would have found even more success had she not relied so heavily on the autocratic style of leadership. 3. Autocratic Leadership in the Group Project Setting Another circumstance where autocratic leadership can be helpful is while working on group projects. When a group has no designated leader, a project can fail. When each group member expresses their own opinions and tenaciously holds to them, conflict is sure to arise. In this circumstance, project quality may suffer or literally come to a standstill. Groups need an autocratic leader who can hold to the decisions made by or for the group. The leader should seek for solutions to problems that arise in the project and then delegate the task to the members of the group. Steve Jobs, founder of Apple, Inc., was a very successful autocratic leader. He was typically authoritative and made every major final decision for Apple. Some argue that autocratic leadership can never lead to success – it's controlling and solely based on the personality and style of the manager. But an effective autocratic leader can achieve great success in bringing a project to completion. During the first stages of developing an entrepreneurial organization, implementing an autocratic leadership style will enable the company to have and keep direction and momentum. A leader who is autocratic should apply his/her style wisely and with trepidation.

Help Improve own and team practice in schools Essay

The ability to reflect on one’s own practice is crucial because you can evaluate your effectiveness and assess how well you think you are doing and identify any areas that need improvement or development. 1.1 Take a note of children and young people’s responses to own practice My placement is working with year 4 children who I engage with well and I get the general impression from their responses to my interaction with them that they enjoy working with me and that I assist their development. I had written feedback from one of the Teaching Assistants I work with and she has written; â€Å"Juley gets on well with the staff and has a natural rapport with the children†. This evidence supports my own belief that my practice is at the right level and style for 8 and 9 year old children. One of the more articulate children in my class said to me a 2 weeks ago â€Å"I really like working with you Miss. Hickman, you make maths fun†. One of the children I work with a lot who struggles with concentrating for any length of time asked me to help them read their book as I have done on a number of occasions. I asked him why he wanted me to help and he replied â€Å"I like how you explain things â€Å". My responses to any of the children when I sit down to work with them is always positive with lots of smiling and leaning in to me and at the beginning or end of class the children often come up to me to show me something or tell me something about their weekend which demonstrates to me that the children enjoy interacting with me. 1.2 Ask for constructive feedback on own practice from colleagues For this part of the assignment I produced a document which requested feedback from the Year 4 teacher I mainly work with and the TA I spend a lot of time working with. I handed this in last week and I collected the report this week when I attended school for my placement. I have included the two completed forms in this report . Read more:  Teamwork in Schools Essay The Year 4 teacher who I work mostly with also gave me a good feedback report including the comments â€Å"Excellent group and 1-2-1 work† and â€Å"great support to less able children†. The only development area he has highlighted is â€Å"to work with G&T (Gifted and talented) children more† which when I spoke to him he stated that this was not a failing on my part but down to him allocating me such groups to work with and he has written on the form in relation to  this goal â€Å"Teacher driven† so I know it is for him to allocate to me in the future. Again I am very encouraged by his feedback on the form and in person and this indicates to me that I am performing well and in the right manner. 1.3 Take notes of responses to own practice from others The Teaching Assistant gave me very positive feedback, including stating â€Å"She is very capable and willing to carry out any task give to her† and she also wrote â€Å"Juley gets on well with the staff and has a natural rapport with the children†. I am very pleased with this feedback which she has based on examples which she has given in her report. I feel I am performing to the best of my ability and the positive comments give me much encouragement that I am performing my role well and this motivates me to continue in the same vein. She did not highlight any areas for development but when I spoke to her she suggested that in order for me to get a wide range of experience I sometimes attend school for the afternoon sessions as this is when the children do other activities such as art and science which would be good experience for me. I currently only attend on morning sessions and hence my only experience with regards to subject matter is literacy and maths. I shall make a point next term of changing the sessions I attend to widen my experience and develop myself further. 1.4 Evaluate all aspects of own practice See attached job description and marked areas evaluating my performance. Section 2 Be able to improve own practice 2.2 Describe the importance of continuing professional development Continuing professional development (CPD) is almost always crucial in any position in any industry. In order to perform to the best of your ability as a school staff member a key aim should be CPD. This ensures that knowledge is developed and kept up to date and ones skills are honed and built upon. Within education teaching techniques are always changing and evolving and CPD assists in a fundamental way with keeping up to date with these changes. If a school promotes CPD then it is likely that it, as an institution, regularly reviews procedures and practices in vital areas such as safeguarding and Health and Safety. From an individual’s perspective being proactive in ones CPD gives a sense of achievement and confidence will be  instilled. This makes for a good and proficient teaching assistant who is prepared to seek feedback from colleagues and amend or change their own practices accordingly. In terms of an individual developing their career CPD is essential as investing in this demonstrates that there is an interest in progressing and developing the role. It is crucial that a written record is kept of one’s professional development in a file with dates, names of courses, certificates, appraisals and other relevant information. Appraisals are an essential part of CPD and are a way of identifying strengths, areas to improve and ways to improve. It can identify goals and targets which can then be worked towards and development measured using the SMART model. Section 3 Understand the work of the team 3.1 Describe why team work is important in schools In all areas of working life team work is of great importance. Team work means that a shared sense of purpose is felt and a common purpose is identified. This bonds individuals into a team and creates the ideal scenario for success and achievement. The identification and understanding of an individual’s role and that of the other team member’s roles is crucial as is the recognition of how the different roles complement each other and work together. Regular meetings with regards to roles and aims of the team are a very important part of the process of working as a team. The meetings enable the team to prioritise ways of working together, it enables the team to reflect on progress to date and to set new goals and identify other ways of getting the best out of being a team. A successful team can be represented by various characteristics which include respect for one another, a sense of purpose, commitment to the aims of the team which are demonstrated every day by each team member and regular communication between team members. Another very positive factor of a good team with members getting on well together is that it provides a good role model for children, they will recognise the respect the adults have for each other. 3.2 Describe the purpose and objectives of the team in which they work. The main purpose of team work is: -To promote children’s learning and behaviour. – To share both experiences and acquired knowledge in order to achieve better results with teaching and supporting children. -To promote equal opportunities and positive attitudes and to support diversity. – To provide a safe emotional environment for children. – To motivate children to use their full intellectual potential. – To support and respect one another. -To foster the good relationships and links already created with the local community and families. Within a work role it is highly likely that you will in fact be a member of a number of teams and they will have different specific objectives such as supporting a named child or to give general support within a specific class. However it is usually the case that the more general objectives of all the different teams have at least some, if not all, of the objectives listed above. 3.3 Describe own role and responsibilities and those of others in the team. Within any team in any industry it is crucial that each team member understands their own role, how it fits in with the team and other team members as well as understanding the role of other team members. Communication is a vital role for all team members and being able to liaise and interact with each other makes for a highly functioning team. All team members should feel that their opinion is valued and regular meetings enable the exchange of ideas and promote team objectives and create a sense of unity. Meetings also give a good idea of how what you are doing fits in with the school or team as a whole. The role of a Teaching Assistant is to work under the guidance and instruction of the teaching staff. Most work is carried out within the classroom during lessons but very importantly before lessons with preparation and the clearing up after classes. The support of specific pupils who may have special needs is also a key responsibility and working either one to one or in a small group is common place and key. This role description is a supporting role and different to that of a teacher whose main responsibilities include developing lesson plans, teaching, assessing pupils and tracking their development and fostering an atmosphere of learning, promoting essential personal character traits and setting a  good role model for pupils to emulate and aspire to. 3.4 Describe the importance of respecting the skills and expertise of other practitioners It is very important to respect the skills and expertise of other practitioners as it enables the development of good working relationships. The recognition that all team members bring something different but equally vital to the team is a core element to a successful team as is the acknowledgement that individuals can in turn learn from colleagues and thus develop. By listening to others, respect is demonstrated and usually reciprocated and in turn nurtures good working relationships. If all team members have the qualities of self-respect, self-esteem, confidence and the ability to do their role competently then the foundations of the team are strong and the performance enhanced. The fundamental point to be always kept in the forefront is that in order to have good working relationships with other team members you need to show that their opinions and expertise are considered, listened to and respected. A point to note however is that one should challenge and debate any opinions that one does not agree with as healthy debate is both rewarding and productive producing new ideas and solutions to problems. Section 4 Be able to support the work of the team 4.1 Support the purpose and objectives of the team The aims at Kingston Park Primary school are clearly laid out in the prospectus and on their website. These are â€Å"We aim to work together to provide a happy, caring, secure, stimulating learning environment in which children are treated as individuals, enabling them to become independent learners, with respect for each other, pride in themselves and in our school community. We provide a range of extended curriculum activities to develop the whole child and promote self-esteem and personal development â€Å" These aims cascade down to all levels and are seen in the purpose and objectives of the team in which I have been working at the school. Within my role I support many of these such as promoting positive behaviour by demonstrating consistent good behaviour myself, creating stimulating learning environments by preparing materials for use in class and ensuring a secure environment always being mindful of health and safety issues. I always try to promote a positive professional attitude whilst at school. I demonstrate a strong work ethic by always asking the TA’s if there is anything I can do and show  willingness to do even the most basic of tasks because it ultimately supports the schools objectives. I have attended every placement day I have said I would attend and have always been punctual and smart. 4.2 Carry out own role and responsibilities within the team. My role and responsibilities within the team include: – Supporting teaching and learning in the classroom. For example teaching a small group of less able children how to do multiplication in maths using the grid method. – Provide general support to the teacher in the organisation and management of the pupils and classroom. For example I set up the tables for the lessons by putting out the books and materials needed and ensure the children are sat at the correct tables. – Promote the inclusion of all pupils ensuring they have equal opportunities to learn and develop. For example last week I took two students for whom English was their second language and read a book with them and helped them write sentences about the book. They needed more focused help and would not have understood the tasks in the larger classroom setting. – To be responsible for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of the children. For example when there was a fire alarm I assisted in getting all the children in the class safely out of the building. A typical morning on placement involves the following: – Liaising with the teacher to find out the running order of the morning, what the lesson will involve and ways in which I can assist. – Setting up the tables with any equipment – Liaising with the TA to establish if there are any tasks to do – Working with a small group of less able children with maths or literacy – Working 1-2-1 with an individual child perhaps listening to them read or helping them with addition – Writing up in the relevant document the progress of the child I have been working with and giving the teacher feedback on their progress. – Clearing up after lessons and doing any admin. tasks allocated to me including mounting work on backing paper, putting up a display or filing work. Throughout all of these tasks good communication is key and I feel I communicate and interact well with the children and staff alike. Overall my placement allows me to support the purpose and objectives of the  team in a professional and helpful way and I promote the team ethos needed to work successfully in the school environment. 4.3 Communicate clearly with team members and others, making sure they have the information they need. Communication is a key skill in my role as a volunteer in school and my ability to communicate well contributes to and supports the work of the team. When I am given a task to carry out by one of the teachers or Teaching Assistants I will always ask questions if I am unsure or if I need to clarify something. I am often given the task to take a less able group of children in maths or literacy and not only communicate with the children well but also feedback how the children have done at the end of the lesson. I also work on a one to one basis with individual children and then not only feedback their performance to the staff but also write up about their progress in their books and in the official pupils record sheets. This good communication is essential for the team to be able to monitor children’s progress and then plan for the future. 4.4 Interact with others in a way that supports good team work My interaction with staff at all levels has been excellent to date. I have liaised effectively with staff from the Deputy Head to the kitchen staff and caretaker and have been able to support the school team in many small ways through this interaction. One example was whilst in the staff room on a break a few of the Teaching Assistants were folding up raffle tickets, of which there were hundreds, to put in the bowl for the Christmas raffle draw. I offered to help with this in order to get more tickets folded and did this on my coffee break. This interaction supported the school team and I was thanked by a few other staff members for volunteering. 4.5 Identify and suggest ways in which the team could improve its work, challenging existing practice where necessary. I have not yet identified an issue whereby I felt the need to suggest ways in which the team could improve its work. I do now feel confident enough to do so should the situation arise and I will submit a learning journal to evidence this as and when I have encountered the situation. 4.6 See attached case studies. 4.7 Seek advice and support from relevant people when needed. See learning journal

Virginia's winery business plan example Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Virginia's winery business plan example - Essay Example The sustainability of the winery to competitive advantage will be to seek and attract younger generation wine consumers2. The main source of market will be analysed through internet perceptive marketing methods that will apply the use of flashy websites. The primary use of this marketing method is that it allows sales of wine through the internet3. Moreover, there shall be a 5K wine run that will incorporate the county’s clubs especially the Augusta County Track Club. This initiative will run or operate for the three years with the aim of supporting local area runners thereby publicizing the name of the new company among the locals4. Additionally, the Virginia’s Winery will host a series of events including business meetings and weddings among other festivals that will be conducted throughout the year. In the beginning of the operation, the winery will have three distribution channels. These channels will mainly provide retail services for the product within the company and outside the company as well as internet sales. Notably, these three channels will provide the business with the most accessible and effective primary and secondary markets5. Additionally, competitive pricing strategies where prices slightly below other local premium wineries will be applied to these new products in order attract younger generation among other wine consumers6. Finally, profit generation and maximizing of profit will be achieved through the analysing of different operational costs to ensure that the company will be generating a modest profit to cover all its expenses. To start the operation of the company, Virginia’s winery will need a long-term loan that will be operated in line with credit as the amount that will help cover the start up operational costs of the winery. By the ninth year of operation, the Winery will get switched to a net income corporation. At this point, the management will establish customer based

Is Motivation Significant To Effective Workplace Management Essay

Is Motivation Significant To Effective Workplace Management - Essay Example An expectation is primarily concerned with promises to be fulfilled while a motive is an intention of acting in a certain way or doing something. Lastly, a drive is a push factor that pushes someone to act in a particular manner. All these factors play a pivotal role in motivating people hence effective managers must understand their employees and what motivates them. In order to understand what motivates an employee, the manager must find out what that employee’s needs are and what goals they have set for themselves. There are two distinct categories of theories of motivation and these are content and process theories. According to Finchman & Rhodes (25), content theories of motivation focus on what motivates an individual. They are typically concerned with determining the specific needs that motivate people. On the other hand, process theories attempt to describe and analyze how people are motivated, that is, how behavior is aroused, directed and sustained (Schultz, 54). Mas low’s hierarchy of needs is probably the most recognized theory of motivation. The hierarchy comprises of five levels of needs namely physiological, security, social, self-esteem and self-actualization needs (Schultz, 54). The seeds develop from the bottom to the top and in as far as organizational performance is concerned, there is the need for managers to identify the needs and goals of the employees in order to be better positioned to satisfy them. There are two assumptions underlying the needs theory.

Conclusion on Private Equity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Conclusion on Private Equity - Essay Example After the buyouts, the private equity firms are able to manage the companies in to making profits, after which they are sold to other investors. The private equity firms do a financial refurbishment of the companies facing a crisis. The Private equity firms also rebuilt the financial structures so that the companies get the ability of becoming productive financially. The major aim of the private equity firms is to make substantial returns to investors and to make their profits from the capsizing companies (Cendrowski, 2011 p89). The Blackstone Group is firm that deals with private equity it is based in America in the New York state. The investment company has got interests in vital businesses across the world. Blackstone is one of the largest firms that deal in a leveraged buyout transactions. They also have an interest to the real estate sector more so the commercial real estate business. The company is able to buyout a failing company, restructure the management of the company, put in a few investors and then they are able to turn around the financial status of the company in remarkably little time. The firm will then take out profits in the form of commissions that are deducted for the management of the company, and they also charge a performance fee that they will use to quantify their profits. The Southern Cross Healthcare is among the top companies that provides healthcare to the United Kingdom community. The Southern Cross have specialized their health care to care for the elderly people and those suffering from mental health in the residential and long term nursing homes. The Southern Cross business is also specialized in offering health care services to people who are suffering from brain injuries, and psychiatric issues. The company owns more than one hundred and sixty homes. Southern Cross was faring well under the management of John Moreton until the buyout of West Private Equity and Health care investments came along. Blackstone acquired Southern C ross by a buyout that was done in 2004 for a tune of ?162 million. They operated more than one hundred and sixty two homes whereby a majority of the homes were leased. Blackstone then put down its management skills on Southern Cross and invested in the company to make it one of the best health care providers in the United Kingdom. They also managed to acquire the Nursing Home Properties which were put under Southern Cross; this increased the portfolio of Southern Cross and made the health care provider become the largest health care provider in the United Kingdom. Later in 2005, Blackstone also acquired the Ashbourne Group which they also included in to the portfolio of Southern Cross. This still increased the financial credibility of Southern Cross, and this was at the same time increasing the quality of the services that they were giving to the people. Blackstone acquired the Ashbourne group with the aim of increasing the quality of services to Southern Cross. So far, the manageme nt methods of Blackstone to Southern were being done correctly, and the company was raking massive profits to investors, and management of the company was also benefiting. Apart from the management and the investors benefiting, the society was getting value for their money in terms of the

Politics and Sport Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Politics and Sport - Essay Example The ideology has the tendency to promote mobility socially, fight for the rights of the society occupants most so the women. At the same time the ideology fights for equality in inclusion between the minority and the majority in the society as they try to promote policies that exploit new ways of doing sports as they emerge (Riordan 2007, p.2). The impacts of the ideology on sports has since died in Europe specifically the USSR with most of its impacts still only being felt in the countries of the far East like China, Cuba and North Korea. Countries most so the ones which did not practice communist sports got interested in the game after the countries like Germany and Soviet Union excelled in the Olympics (Riordan 1978, p.16). Therefore, they wanted to know how such countries were treating sports. The findings were much extensive; the ideology tries to use models of sports that transform the society from handling sports in a traditional manner into a modern manner. Sports is used to promote important life issues like health and hygiene, productivity of the people, defense or even the integration of diverse ethnic communities of a country (Lee and Bairner 2009, p.97). Communism and sports derived a basis from the fact that most of the countries that practiced it had a lot of rural and illiterate population. Communism presents sports as an agent of social change as guided by the state, hence the essence of the leisure classes which used to be held after revolutions or liberations (Senn and Riordan 1992, p.43). Certain theories under communist ideology stressed on the importance of steadiness in the physical as well as the mental states of the human beings. This prompted and encouraged sports a lot as it was considered wise and vital to develop the mental and the physical aspects of the population alongside the other. Most of the communists’ countries posses’ political instability as an issue of controversy coupled with less economic and social

Summery Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Summery - Article Example While the supporters of the concept tries to establish the fact that the diversified work force have positive impact over the productivity of the organization and therefore directly contributes toward the increased revenue and productivity of the organization, many others do not subscribe to the fact. While the entire industry, both from the functional as well as academia, accepts that work place as well as work force diversity are the most upcoming concepts that is implementing sea change in the industry, many of the scholar and the managers do not agree that such diversity is always helpful and should be most sought for the organizations. Many of them points out that diversified work force do not have any specific attribute rather is just a strategy for the multi – national corporations and other organizations to comply with the government regulations as well as to comply with the demands of the pressure groups. The article of the Issue 7, ‘Is Diversity in the Workplace a Worthwhile Goal for Corporations?’ is undoubtedly one of the most discussed and debated topics of the present world of today. The article clearly encapsulates the fact that while many of the leaders of the managerial as well as the academic fraternity supports the syndrome of diversified work force, many others perceives that such diversity does not have any positive impact over the productivity and the profitability of the organization. The article sums up the view point of Nancy R. Lockwood and Roger Clegg. The belief of Nancy R. Lockwood can be studied from HR Magazine that was published in the June of 2005 and Roger Clegg penned down his belief in the National Review Online on 21st January of 2002 with the heading of ‘Diversity Nonsense’. The recent trade in the job market of the United States clearly depicts the change in the structure and trends of the employee force. Even

Economic Development and Urban Revitalization Essay

Economic Development and Urban Revitalization - Essay Example Traceable to the reconstruction efforts envisaged after World War II, in an effort of reconstructing Europe, many new towns and cities became founded on this ideal (Bingham & Mier, 1994). As Michael and Robert (1996) allude, they were created around TOD communities with various TOD principles became incorporated into the planning and subsequent development of these areas. Half-a-mile radius circular planning has been the standardized measure between which TOD catchment areas were placed. This distance does correspond to a distance that is manageable, for existing populations to walk, in the quest of accessing transportation. The essence behind this is the provision of features designed with the intention of encouraging utility of public transport means; in addition to distinguishing such a development from what is considered urban sprawls. As part of a given region’s larger undertaking of community economic development, TODs do entail principles of CED strategy. This is primarily a strategic plan that aims at enhancing a given community’s economic development. This is informed by the fact that such strategies can be utilized in not only updating the region’s official Community Plans, but also zoning by-laws. This is informed by the fact that priorities based on economic development, often do have a fundamental impact on community policies; and specifically so, in regard to land-use planning. A professional in economic development would thus be majorly advantaged, having the requisite knowledge of CED strategy; to be further improved through TOD initiatives (Michael & Robert, 1996). In augmenting CED strategies with TOD planning as Fischer (1995) envisages, urban habitations are interconnected in a networked manner, via the prevailing transport network systems; thus enabling easy movement of goods and society.  

Week4 presentation Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Week4 presentation - Assignment Example There are various reasons why it took a long period for the American constitution to be amended from 1870 to 1913. However, the main reason was the fact that senators were elected by governors indirectly instead of being directly elected to the senate by the United States citizens. This slowed down the amendment process since senators enacted laws that benefited themselves and governors who had elected them to the senate instead of protecting the interest of the ordinary American citizen. This can be proved by the fact that amendments to the United States of America constitution practically began after the amendment in 1913 where power to elect the senate was left to the American citizens. One reform that took the Christian approach in the United States of America between the late 19th century and 20th century is the 18th amendment that was adopted in 1919. This was a law reform that banned the sale, consumption, buying, and importing alcoholic beverages. This reform took a Christian approach since alcohol made people behave in an unethical manner. The second reform that was based on the Christian approach was abortion, which was enacted in many states. Christianity also prohibits abortion hence such a reform was supported by most citizens. The 19th amendment that was adopted in 1920 in the United States of America is a good example of American reforms that took the socialistic approach. This amendment provided for the right of women to  vote in any election involving the government. This is considered a socialistic approach since it meant that women would vote for people who would fight for their needs in the legislature hence good governance. Another example of a reform that took a socialistic approach was the17th amendment that provided that senators would be elected by citizens from their state. This provided good governance since it meant that

Approval Letters Essay Example for Free

Approval Letters Essay SAE-UMP Chapter Shell Eco-marathon Asia 2013 Team. 1) Nik Fadhil B Nik Mohammed 24-Jul-1990 23 Year Old EC09051 (Yr. 4) Bachelor of Electrical Engineering (Power System) Faculty of Electrical and Electronics Engineering 2) Muhammad Hisyamuddin b Jaafar 11-Jan-1990 23 Year Old MH09014 (Yr. 4) Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering with Automotive Engineering Faculty of Mechanical Engineering 3) Wan Nurul Syahirah Binti Wan Lanang 15-May-1992 21 Year Old FB11041 (Yr. 2) Bachelor of Mechatronics Engineering Faculty of Manufacturing Engineering 4) Mohd Najmi Bin Harith 19-Aug-1992 21 Year Old MH11099 (Yr. 2) Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering with Automotive Engineering Faculty of Mechanical Engineering 5) Muhammad Taufiq Bin Taha 6-Feb-1992 21 Year Old FA11025 (Yr. 2) Bachelor of Manufacturing Engineering Faculty of Manufacturing Engineering 6) Nur Aisvah Binti lsmail 2-Jan-1992 21 Year Old MH11062 (Yr. 2) Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering with Automotive Engineering Faculty of Mechanical Engineering 7) Muhammad Haziq Bin Mazlan 4-Sep-1992 21 Year Old MH11042 (Yr. 2) Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering with Automotive Engineering Faculty of Mechanical Engineering ) Muhammad Najmuddin Bin Moskori 13-Nov-1992 21 Year Old MH11020 (Yr. 2) Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering with Automotive Engineering Faculty of Mechanical Engineering 9) Wan Muhamad lzzudin Bin Wan lbrahim 4-Nov-1992 21 Year Old MH11038 (Yr. 2) Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering with Automotive Engineering Faculty of Mechanical Engineering 10) Loo Fu Hong 6-Dec-1991 22 Year Old MC12051 (Yr. 2) Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering with Automotive Engineering Faculty of Mechanical Engineering 11) Mohd Firdaus Bin Mohd Rosli 20-Nov-1989 24 Year Old MH09086 (Yr. 4) Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering with Automotive Engineering Faculty of Mechanical Engineering 12) Mohammad Hanif Bin Rameli 11-Sep-1992 21 Year Old MH11032 (Yr. 2) Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering with Automotive Engineering Faculty of Mechanical Engineering 13) Tang Shuen Cherng 15-March-1992 21 Year old FB12056 – (Yr. 2) Bachelor of Mechatronics Engineering Faculty of Manufacturing Engineering 14) Muhammad Khaidir B Azman 24-March-1994 19 Year Old MB12061 – (Yr. 1) Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering with Automotive Engineering Faculty of Mechanical Engineering 15) Muhammad Nabil Fikri B Mohamad -Dec-1993 20 Year old MA12070 – (Year 1) Bachelor of Mechatronics Engineering Faculty of Manufacturing Engineering 16) Nor Arina Binti Ali Kangsa 4-Jan-1992 22 Year Old MH11090 – (Year 2) Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering with Automotive Engineering Faculty of Mechanical Engineering 17) Wan Amir Haziq B. Wan Mohd Pandi 15-July-1994 19 Year Old MB12056 Bache lor of Mechanical Engineering with Automotive Engineering Faculty of Mechanical Engineering 18) Ng Yee Shian 25-April-1992 21 Year Old MC12054 – (Year 1) Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering with Automotive Engineering Faculty of Mechanical Engineering 9) Raja Imran Shah B. Raja Badrin Shah 24-Apr-1992 21 Year Old MH11036 (Yr. 2) Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering with Automotive Engineering Faculty of Mechanical Engineering 20) Muhammad Aiman Safwan B. Jubri 11-Jan-1994 19 Year Old MB12068 – (Year 1) Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering with Automotive Engineering Faculty of Mechanical Engineering 21) Ng Wei Ming 21-Jan-1992 21 Year Old MC12056 – (Year 1) Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering with Automotive Engineering Faculty of Mechanical Engineering 22) Nor Fadilah Binti Ahmad 19-June-1991 22 Year Old MH11097 – (Year 2) Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering with Automotive Engineering Faculty of Mechanical Engineering 23) Lee Shun Jian 25-June-1992 21 Year Old FB12043 – (Year 1) Bachelor of Manufacturing Engineering Faculty of Manufacturing Engineering 24) Chan Chao Shiung 24-August-1989 FB12061 – (Year 1) Bachelor of Manufacturing Engineering Faculty of Manufacturing Engineering 25) Mohd Aiman Bin Mahusin 19-Jan-1990 MH09068 (Yr. 4) Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering with Automotive Engineering Faculty of Mechanical Engineering 26) Mohd Amiruddin Bin Alias 14-Jan-1992 MH11076 (Yr. 2) Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering with Automotive Engineering Faculty of Mechanical Engineering 27) Nurul Hasnah binti Awang 24-May-1992 FB11011 (Yr. 2) Bachelor of Mechatronics Engineering Faculty of Manufacturing Engineering 28) Muhamad Syazwan Bin Zolkafli 6-Jul-1991 MH11074 (Yr. 2) Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering with Automotive Engineering Faculty of Mechanical Engineering 29) Che Wan Abdul Rashid Bin Che Wan Hitam 14-Jan-1992 MH11015 – Yr 2 Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering with Automotive Engineering Faculty of Mechanical Engineering

Understanding The Definition Of Internationalisation Systems Commerce Essay

Understanding The Definition Of Internationalisation Systems Commerce Essay Internationalization consists of standardized products or service through globally standardized marketing and production processes that target standardized customer needs. Internationalisation can be described as the process of increasing involvement in international operations (Welch Luostarinen, 1988: 36). Another definition proposed by Calof and Beamish (1995: 116) denotes internationalization as the process of adapting firms operations (strategy, structure, resources, etc) to international environments. Kutschker and Bà ¤urle (1997) as both definitions have crucial fact internationalisation needs an overall support from the organisation as it is changing the environment to expand in various manners the process mostly consists of macro factors to evolve. 3. The Uppsala Approach in detail The Uppsala approach was an outcome of Swedish researchers (Johanson and Wiedersheim-Paul, 1975; Johanson and Vahlne, 1977) which focused their interest on the internationalization process. Studying the internationalization of Swedish manufacturing firms, they developed a model of the firms choice of market and form of entry when going abroad. Their work was influenced by Aharonis seminal (1966) study. (Svend and Hollensen2004) It is seen that companies begin their operations in abroad in fairly nearby market and gradually penetrated distant market. Companies should entry in new market with the export agents and sales subsidiaries. The approach specifies direct relation between market knowledge and market commitment is postulated, as knowledge can be gathered with effective use of human resources. Consequently, the better knowledge about a market can be derived, the more valuable are the resources and the stronger the market position of the firm. Uppsala approach requires general knowledge and market specific knowledge, where as market specific knowledge can be derived from practical experiences by entering the new market. However the approach stress on experimental learning as it cannot be acquired by objective knowledge (e.g., through marketing researches or reports) and must be gained mainly through direct experience. As the approach deals with experimental learning the human resource should be managed i n proper manner. It has distinguished between four different modes of entering an international market, where the successive stages represent higher degrees of international involvement market commitment. They as follow Stage 1: No regular export activities (sporadic export). Stage 2: Export via independent representatives (export modes). Stage 3: Establishment of a foreign sales subsidiary. Stage 4: Foreign production manufacturing units These four stages deal with as no regular export activities in new market and knowing the market by experimental learning which helps in utilization of resources in effective ways. Exporting through independent agent can be suitable way of entering in new market as most of the firms prefer the way of entry. Consequently, the threats and opportunities in a new market will be discovered primarily by those people who are working there. Experience generates business opportunities and constitutes a driving force in the internationalization process (Johanson and Vahlne, 1990: 33). The model is founded on four core concepts: Market knowledge, market commitment, commitment decisions and current activities. Market knowledge and market commitment at a certain point in time are assumed to affect the commitment decisions and how the activities are carried out in the subsequent period, which in its turn will influence market knowledge and market commitment at later stages. On the basis of these four concepts, and by making the assumption of instrumentalism, the model predicts that the basic pattern of firms internationalization is to start and continue to invest in just one or in a few neighbouring countries, rather than to invest in several countries simultaneously and That the investments in a specific country are carried out cautiously, sequentially and concurrently with the learning of the firms people operating in that market. Firms are supposed to enter new markets with successively greater psychic distance and the market investments develop according to the so called establishment chain. Mats Forsgren. (2000.p5) This model deals with entering new market which is nearby or investing in single country rather than making a mess. It has leapfrogging tendency which allows entering in distant market. It shows companies can learn from their past experiences and practical knowledge. In these cases, competitive forces and factors override psychic distance as the principal explanatory factor for the firms process of internationalization. Furthermore, if knowledge of transactions can be transferred from one country to another, firms with extensive international experience are likely to perceive the psychic distance to a new country as shorter than firms with little international experience it can affect the smaller firms in case of psychic distances. The approach requires long term involvement in market to gain knowledge. The approach can be cost efficient to apply at initial stage but can take long time evolve the production barriers. The approach underlies crucial importance people interest involved in the process. By sales subsidiaries it can be easy to find problems and opportunities in the market. 3.1 Advantages It deals with indirect exporting of product with help of external export agents or merchants. Low cost entry method which helps using capital in other factors quickest way of entering the new markets. Establishing foreign sales subsidiaries can help increase sales, potential customer base in market and creates market awareness about the product which identifies customer tastes and cultural factors which may change as per new market. By using foreign manufacturing unit labour cost and cost of production can be minimized. Drawbacks Occasional exporting of goods can divert customers interest. Lack of knowledge in initial phase as the exporting is done by agents or exporting merchants. Inter-organizational learning in a business network implies that deep and long-lasting business relationships facilitate the assimilation of tacit knowledge from the different factors in the market. Human resources development programmes should be to gather knowledge about market. The Uppsala Model implies that different groups at the operational level have a profound influence on the internationalization process. It is a relatively extreme bottom-up perspective, where the bottom plays the leading part and the headquarters play walk-on parts. It is not ease to apply for small firms in case of psychic distance. 4. Macro environmental forces and impact on an organisations internationalisation decision-making process. Partnerships As Partnerships and Alliances are increasing as companies realize it is not always desirable to manage all stages. These may mislead when the organisation wants go solo in the market as culture integration, domestic or international, are mentioned as the biggest challenges for alliances. Distribution channels The distribution channels may affect as carrying products to various place where there is lack roadways or long distance it may cost more than estimation cost of distribution of material to market. Technological Technology continues to exert the biggest current and future impact on organizations. At the same time the Internet and intranets are changing the way employees interact with customers and each other. It needs innovation in the technology and manufacturing process, the services should be customer friendly, fast reaction, and acceptance of change. Competitors They may create obstacles in entering the market and provide misleading informations about market to stop new firms and may create monopoly for some products. Public pressure groups These factors directly affect or impact the organization and they influence the managerial decision, the organizational goals, structure and targeted groups of customers.  Competing Political, sustainability of the Physical Environment, Advances in Science and Technology Cultural As per the new market it is hard cope up with diverse cultural factors involved, Cultural, and Religious Ideologies. Regional, cultural groups may involve in restricting the foreign companies to enter in the market to nationalise the trade. Suppliers Suppliers of raw material and various inventories for production as it may impact on cost of production and it may change from market to market factors change. 5. Example related to Internationalisation Various industries in automobile have approached this kind of strategy in strong global competition. Such as SKODA, VOLKSWAGEN, VOLVO, GENERAL MOTORS, and Productivity within the industry has risen over the years, and consumers are offered increasingly better products at lower prices. More and more manufacturers are establishing plants in countries where production costs are considerably lower and also purchasing more components there. In time, production costs for the major producers will essentially be at the same level. 5.1 Strategies Most of these companies have first started with exporting the products and then after studying market started their production in developing nations. The Volkswagen Group safeguards its future through local production operations with integrated growth in markets such as China, India and Russia. Worldwide, the Volkswagen Group has 61 production facilities in 21 countries. General motors and Skoda have their production houses in developing nations where the cost of production is less as compared to exporting the products. In case of VOLVO about 95% of the companys production capacity is located in Sweden, Belgium, Brazil and the USA. But the company is moving towards low cost of production countries such as China, India and about 22% of their production is from Brazil. Continuing to cut costs and drive out complexity in all aspects of operations. 5.2 More efficient purchasing Purchasing is another area where we have implemented changes in order to improve our cost position; mainly through better coordination at the global level they have also intensified our cooperation with suppliers in order to cut the costs of components. [But] there is a good deal still to be done. Among other things, we are increasing the share of purchases from low-cost countries. 5.3 Moving production to low-cost countries There has been change in the business model for units that could be considered as non-core operations or in which profitability was too low. [For example], instead of continuing production in the US and EUROPEN nations, which was less and in some cases non profitable, they have started to out-source their products from the manufacturers in China and Brazil and India. Maintaining competitive production in the changing the business models. It is also important to continue relocating production from high-cost to low-cost countries. Most of companies goals are too achieved by 2012. Sources: Companies website: www.volvo.com/trucks,www.gm.com www.volkswagen.com/annualreport, www.new.skoda-auto.com 6. The Process of Internationalisation Internationalisation fundamentally alters the price-setting strategies of domestic economic agents. This is true for agents operating in product markets, factor markets and financial markets. At a micro level, internationalisation directly alters pricing behaviour by deepening product and factor markets. More potential buyers and sellers imply greater competition and a reduction in excess returns. At a macro level, internationalisation also has the potential to change the incentives faced by public policy makers (David Gruen and Geoffrey Shuetrim 1994.P.312) From the above definition it can be derived that trade between two or more nation where there is potential buyers and sellers of good in which the pricing behaviours may alter from product and various factors involved in market which directly or indirectly benefits consumers .The factors involved in these process may vary from place to place but to enter new market knowledge is essential. It can be complex as policy and regulations change as per the market. It can make potential market for customers. There are various trade unions to promote international trade such as WTO World Trade Organisation, EU European union , ASEAN Association of South-East Asian Nations, NAFTA North American Free Trade Agreement ,AFTA ASEAN Free Trade Area, COMESA Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa. They encourage the trade within the members union. 7. Main challenges in Internationalisation The informal trade barriers for internationalisation are such as lack of information on business opportunities and weak contract enforcement. The Financial burden such as exchange rate risk, political risk and credit risk as they may change as per the market secure local trade. Foreign regulatory environment can change the norms of trade for the industries. The lack of domestic support structure in way of financial support, advice by responsible people can make a change. Cultural and linguistic barriers cannot be changed as we have seen in case of various fast food companies e.g.: K.F.C in India and Japan. The geographic distance between nations can make impact on their trade system. There must be two way communications among countries members which are involved in the system. As the market changes there has to be innovation in the product which suits to the market. Absence of specialised labour in work force can be challenging impact on organisation in internationalisation of market. There has to promotion of networks to gather information about new market. The border zones and cross-border cooperation in various nations the cross-border situation is critical most of the times these may impact on system. 8. CONLIUSION This report is made to analysis the internationalisation is widely seen to be the dominant tendency of our time and it is very complex process and not easy to apply in practical. There various macro aspects have affect the decision making process of organisation. These factors can be taken under control by the firms. According to the report it is specified that after using the processes there can proper utilization of resources the organisation can minimize the cost of production. The internationalisation is challenging process with changing markets and foreign regulatory environments. Moving production to low-cost countries is effective factor in internationalisation as it can be efficient utilization of investment in new market. There are various organisations which help in the process as WTO, EU, and ASEAN.

Acquiring Skills in a New Language Essay -- Communication, Writing Ski

Introduction A fundamental aspect of acquiring skills in a new language is the ability to communicate messages in writing. For a teacher of English as a second language, nurturing students to develop sound writing skills is crucial to the success of the student both as a learner of the language, and their skills communication skills in reading, speaking and even listening in English. The natural ability of native speakers to communicate in a given language does not automatically indicate proficiency in their writing skills, which must be acquired. The psycholinguist Eric Lenneberg noted that writing is a culturally specific and learned behaviour (Brown, H.D, p334). Consequently, writing skills are important to developing a student’s appreciation of Western culture and a student who does not acquire sound writing skills is deprived of many benefits of reading and communicating with the Western world. This essay will explore the key principles for developing writing skills for non-English speakers, and how these principles can be applied by a teacher of English writing skills in a classroom context. The essay will explore relevant literature and research in this area. Key Principles for Developing Writing Skills The ability to write and express oneself in a second language with accuracy and coherence is a complicated skill. As stated by Celce-Murcia, as many native speakers of English never master this skill (Celce-Murcia, M, p187). Mastery of English Fundamentals That good writing skills take time to develop is understandable since good written expression draws on many other aspects of one’s English abilities – including a good grasp of English grammar, accurate spelling, extensive vocabulary, unders... ... ability to read widely improves a learner`s writing skills. In designing classroom activities, a teacher could apply pedagogical practices that exercise a range of these skills. Joy Reid suggests the use of cooperative and group work that offer writers authentic audiences, the integration of language skills in class activities, and the use of relevant, authentic materials and tasks (Carter, R and Nunna D, (Eds), p32). Conclusion As Prabhu states, there is no best method to teaching English writing (Prabhu, N.S, p175) and a successful teacher is likely to use a combination of all these methodologies. In a classroom context, the best methods focus on the process of writing, the use of free expression in the framework of learned conventions and controlled expressions, and the teaching of culture simultaneous with the teaching of language skills and writing.

The Emotion, Imagination and Complexity of Wordsworth and Coleridge :: Biography Biographies Essays

The Emotion, Imagination and Complexity of Wordsworth and Coleridge      Ã‚  Ã‚   The 19th century was heralded by a major shift in the conception and emphasis of literary art and, specifically, poetry. During the 18th century the catchphrase of literature and art was reason. Logic and rationality took precedence in any form of written expression. Ideas of validity and aesthetic beauty were centered around concepts such as the collective "we" and the eradication of passion in human behavior. In 1798 all of those ideas about literature were challenged by the publication of Lyrical Ballads, which featured the poetry of William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge. Wordsworth and Coleridge both had strong, and sometimes conflicting, opinions about what constituted well-written poetry. Their ideas were centered around the origins of poetry in the poet and the role of poetry in the world, and these theoretical concepts led to the creation of poetry that is sufficiently complex to support a wide variety of critical readings in a modern context.    Wordsworth wrote a preface to Lyrical Ballads in which he puts forth his ideas about poetry. His conception of poetry hinges on three major premises. Wordsworth asserts that poetry is the language of the common man:    To this knowledge which all men carry about with them, and to these sympathies in which without any other discipline than that of our daily life we are fitted to take delight, the poet principally directs his attention. (149)    Poetry should be understandable to anybody living in the world. Wordsworth eschews the use of lofty, poetic diction, which in his mind is not related to the language of real life. He sees poetry as acting like Nature, which touches all living things and inspires and delights them. Wordsworth calls for poetry to be written in the language of the "common man," and the subjects of the poems should also be accessible to all individuals regardless of class or position. Wordsworth also makes the points that "poetry is the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings: it takes its origin from emotion recollected in tranquility" (151). These two points form the basis for Wordsworth's explanation of the process of writing poetry. First, some experience triggers a transcendent moment, an instance of the sublime. The senses are overwhelmed by this experience; the "spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings" leaves an individual incapable of articulating the true nature and beauty of the event.

Racial tensions and problems Essay

Racial tensions and problems are common for multiracial countries. They are unavoidable as wherever there is a mixture of cultures, there always is prejudice. As far as the history is concerned, blacks were the ones to whom the hatred was directed the most. Laissez-faire- the initial policy of the British government towards migration proved to work for country’s disadvantage, which only became clear in the years that followed. Negroes, Indians, Asians or any other ethnic minority whose skin color is darker than that of WASP (White Anglo-Saxon Protestants) are referred to as black. For these people the term â€Å"equality of opportunity† is far from the truth and their struggle for â€Å"freedom† seems to be endless. They experience many humiliations on everyday basis and often are objects of bullying. They find it difficult to assimilate owing to many reasons and the society is not helping them at all. However, in accordance with some claims, there exist certain opportunities that these people may take an advantage of. The children of black families are said to be the ones that can make the most of the two cultures- the native and the target one. Owing to their susceptibility, it is easier for them to assimilate than for their parents who have a strong feeling of identity and are often nostalgic about their origin. Mixed schools are places where black children learn about the target culture and socialize with their friends of different origins. It is an opportunity for them to enrich their cultural values and at the same time preserve their own. Due to the disrespectful attitude they meet with everyday, these children become much more motivated to do well at school than their peers. It is education that is inculcated into their mind since it is essential to lead a decent and respectful life in future. On the other hand, schools are often places of terror for black students. In fact, they are bullied and intimidated on every occasion. There are many racist groups including skinheads, whose ideologies are close to that of Nazis. â€Å"The skinheads beat the Bengalis with baseball bats and bottles  and drove at them in a van. One Asian was beaten unconscious  as the mob returned for a second assault just minutes  after the first one. When police searched their van they found  a swastika flag, white supremascist literature as well as machete,  axe, knives and a CS cannister.† (‘Asian Weekly’ 12 July 1993) Blacks are considered as enemies or plague of the country and these subgroups refer to themselves as the cure. Their severe attacks most often have fatal effects or even result in suicides. The victims are innocent adolescents whose only crime seems to be their complexion. Strange as it may seem, elocution and clothing can contribute a lot to an improvement of ones image and status. There are numerous blacks who became successful on television or in politics and many other walks of life. These people surely do not consider themselves different from their parents or ancestors; neither do they consider themselves better. It is hard work that has got them so far and they have every right to be proud of themselves. This may be regarded as the very last step of acculturation where a person is fully assimilated and integrated into the target culture. At this stage one may say that the opportunities for blacks become almost equal with those of WASP. People seeing a black man on television reading news no longer see a black speaker but a speaker who happens to be black and that is a grave difference. It can be safely said that speech manner and impeccable appearance combined with good education opens a window of opportunities for blacks, however, not many of them are willing to accept this chance. â€Å"The fact that many black teenagers dress in the style  of extremist groups, such as the rap group Public Enemy,  conjures up images of hostility and aggression in some people’s  minds. Rightly or wrongly, they will be equated with the attitudes  that such groups represent.† (‘The Sunday Times’ 30 August 1992) Making an effort to assimilate is crucial. Most of young blacks do exactly the opposite. Their appearance and offensive language stray too far from the established norms that exist in a given society. By doing that they exhibit a very negative attitude toward life, which is portrayed not as a desire to assimilate but the converse. Because of the facts presented above only a small percentage of blacks gains respect and a good position in life. This gave rise to something which was termed an â€Å"affirmative action†. All it meant was that employers, to some extent, were forced to give job to people from ethnic minorities. In every institution there must have been a certain percentage of these people employed in order to create a general feeling of equality. Positive as it may seem, this also created problems. It was a â€Å"backstab† for people of the target culture because their jobs were threatened. General attitude was that blacks are given the jobs of whites who are often better skilled to do them. Considering an assembly-line job it did not matter much but a police force was more serious issue. Blacks were teamed with whites to patrol the streets not because their abilities or test scores were high but because they were black and that was an outrage. The society was very negative toward the idea of affirmative action and remained so until today. All in all, I would venture to say that the parents are the ones to be blamed for the problems that their children have with assimilation. It is often their attitude and the feeling of nostalgia that does not allow the youngsters to adopt the target culture. The children are left confused and undergo an identity crisis trying to reconcile themselves to a particular culture. This is where all the problems result from and they seem to outweigh the opportunities that I presented above. Yet, the hope for better future is still at hand. Next generations of blacks will certainly analyze the faults their parents and grandparents had made and allow more freedom of choice for their children. REFERENCES ‘Skinhead mob jailed for attack on Asians’ in â€Å"Asian Weekly† (12th July 1993) ‘Young, gifted and not-too-black’ in â€Å"The Sunday Times† (30th August 1992) BIBLIOGRAPHY Fiedler, E., Jansen, R. and M. Norman-Risch., 1995. America in close-up. Harlow, Longman. O’Driscoll, J., 1995. Britain. Oxford, OUP. ‘Growing up BLACK in Britain’ in â€Å"She† (January 1991) ‘My parents are racist’ in â€Å"Just Seventeen† (1st June 1994) ‘Skinhead mob jailed for attack on Asians’ in â€Å"Asian Weekly† (12th July 1993) ‘When Asian youths hit back’ in â€Å"The Guardian† (16th september 1993) ‘Young, gifted and not-too-black’ in â€Å"The Sunday Times† (30th August 1992)

Interpersonal Communication Case study Essay

#1.) After reviewing the information in this case study, you find that Parris’ husband, Lavar, was not listening when Parris first told him to pick their daughter up from school. Explain how Lavar and Parris should use effective empathic listening and responding skills to discuss this issue. I think that Parris should talk to Lavar and see why he is forgetting, they should talk it out and not get mad and yell, maybe Lavar is so swamped with work he has all his attention focused on work that he forgets. Likewise Parris works all the time and she does not forget so maybe Lavar isn’t really paying attention to Paris in what she is saying or he is generally forgetting what Parris is asking him to do. #2.) What are the five activities that make up the process of listening? Using the case study scenario, describe how Lavar might not have listened properly because he did not focus on one or more of five steps of the listening process. The five activities that make up the process of listening are: Selecting, Attending, Understanding, Remembering, and Responding. Lavar did not listen properly because he did not remember and probably wasn’t attending, his mind was probably elsewhere thinking about something else when Parris was talking to him. #3.) What are four common listening styles? Which listening style does Lavar employ? What about Parris? Can you foresee problems with a couple who have different listening styles? Why? 1) Relational-oriented 2) Critical-oriented 3) Analytical -oriented 4) Task-oriented. I think that Lavar employs the Task- oriented one the most because he seems to be interested in focusing more on accomplishing a task  than on focusing on the communication relationship when listening to others. Paris could be more a critical listener she seems to be good at evaluating information she hears, and is able to hone in on inconsistencies in what someone says. I think that there could end up being a lot of problems for these two if they do not figure out how to communicate and listen to each other properly. #4.) Using the specific examples from the case study, list and discuss at least three listening barriers that may cause conflict between Lavar and Parris. 1) Distractions: We get distracted by what is going on outside (our surroundings) and inside ourselves. 2) Attachment to personal beliefs and values: We tend to find facts and evidence that support our views and we dismiss anything that weakens them. 3) Misinterpretations: When we add an interpretation to what someone’s saying or doing, we introduce possible errors in communication. I think that for Lavar, his problem could be distraction. He is not really paying attention to what Parris has asked of him. #5.) Given the path you choose in the case study, do you believe Parris’ reactions will help Lavar and her overcome their listening differences or is she just masking the problem? What might she do differently to enhance their communication? I think that Parris is just masking the problem she is not really looking at why they are not communicating well enough she just thinks it is all on him, when it is not it is on both of them to be able to communicate effectively to each other. She can talk to Lavar and find out why he is not doing what she asks, is he ignoring her or is he not sure of what she wants because of bad communication?

College Dropout Essay

In the article, â€Å"The Dropout Dilemma: One in four college freshman dropout†, Jonathan Whitbourne touches the issue of college students dropping out. Whitbourne provides insight into the top six reasons that college students drop out. According to American College Testing, â€Å"one in every four students leaves college before completing sophomore year† (cited in Whitbourne 1). While this article is well written, it could use some more facts and provide some of the author’s credentials. The article begins with a story about Michael Van Adams. He was an exemplary high school student with an outstanding academic record. After highschool, he thought he was ready to tackle any hurdle that was presented before him, including his college education. Michael was quickly proved wrong. High school students spend so much time trying to get into college that they are often forget the fundamentals needed to be prepared for college life. â€Å"A large number of students are Ill equipped for the challenges of college† (2). One of the main skills that these students are lacking due to the time consumed with admissions is the coursework; which can be drastically different than high school. Other factors include: no longer living at home; which for many students this is the first time, and managing time and money. When these factors are present, it can lead to unneeded stress. Many colleges have been studying why the dropout rate is so high and attempting to construct a course or program to prepare students . These â€Å"Survival Courses† (2) are to prepare students for the tasks that lie ahead. One school that has been providing a course for college preparation is the University of South Carolina since 1972 (2). The article also provides six of the top reasons that college student’s dropout. In addition to the reasons, the article also provides six survival strategies to help prepare and prevent new students from falling into the same pattern. The author does not provide his credentials or whether or not he is qualified to write this article. An extra step is needed to find out that he is the lead web editor at a corporation. The author began as an editorial intern in sports; therefore he is not exactly qualified to write on college dropouts. Though the author has been an editor for Healthy Kids’ Magazine, he is not an subject matter expert in the field. Nevertheless, because he does have research and editorial experience, this allows him to be taken seriously on the topic. Even without the actual author having all of the necessary qualifications; the article is clearly not biased and is completely objective. There is very limited presence of personal opinion and the facts, when presented, are undeniable within the text. The author has provided numerous of good examples of students that have come face to face with the horrors of being a new college student. The beginning of the article begins with an introduction about student named Michael VanAdams. As you get more into the content of the article there is a reference made about Sara Stanton. Though there is dialogue from these individuals there is no proof stating whether or not Whitbourne himself interviewed these students or if he just came across their stories. Using strong subject matter experts within the field can make an article or study more reliable. In the essay, Whitbourne also uses the expertise of Vincent Tinto and Robert Feldman. Tinto is the Chairman of the Higher Education Program at Syracuse University in New York. He is also the author of Leaving College: Rethinking the Causes and Cures of Student Attrition. In addition, Robert Feldman is the Director of Undergraduate Studies in the Department of Psychology at the University of Massachusetts. The combination of these individuals greatly contributes to the overall prestige of the article. Another factor that is important when writing articles is the prominent use of facts to back the author’s findings and results. Whitbourne did not use a lot of facts to back his article. The use of statistics, facts, quotations, and citations could have helped his article be more reliable. The statistics and references that were used were wonderful, nevertheless they were scarce. When a topic like this is being discussed the reader needs to feel confident in what he/she is reading. Without the proper statistics and citations the persuasiveness of this article can be questioned.

Countering Global Terrorism

Terrorism is defined by the U. S. Department of Defense as the calculated or predetermined use of violence or threat of violence with the intention of inflicting fear so as to intimidate governments or societies in pursuit of goals that are mainly social, religious or political. It is a critical issue that needs to be addressed effectively as its consequences are many and harmful. Terrorism is mostly triggered by radical ideologies of hatred, oppression and revenge. Fighting global terrorism is not just about disarmament but it is a war on conflicting ideas or views.The US has been very keen in protecting her citizens especially after the 911 attacks that shook the whole world. It encourages or rather promotes freedom and human dignity as an effort of reducing the chances of people indulging in perverse ideologies. The root causes of terrorism are varied and they depend on one’s stand whereby the causes cited by the victims of terror for instance the US are different from thos e cited by the perpetrators. The US is categorical that its enemies exploit Islam to air their oppressive and hate ideologies.(National strategy for combating terrorism). Terrorists on the other hand argue that the US and other western powers are the major causes of the problems facing the Muslim world as a whole. In indulging in terror activities they aim at eradicating the western dominance and to ensure that Islam remains intact. The US however views this school of thought as a means of paving way for additional attacks not only to the US but to its supporters or allies too. They argue that their main aim is to exploit the major disparities between the Muslim and the non Muslim and take full control.The declaration of Jihads or holy wars to those with divergent ideologies is a clear indication of how Islam is exploited to spread radical ideologies. (Chase A, 2004). The root causes can be categorized as economical, social, demographic, political as well as cultural. Poverty is cit ed by some as a cause of terrorism but it is surrounded by divergent views. It can be opposed by the fact that most terrorists involved in the 911 attacks were from the middle class and in fact Osama bin Laden the leader was from an affluent upbringing. The war in Iraq was also viewed as a cause for terrorism.This ideology can be dismissed by the fact that way before the US had deposed the Saddam Hussein’s regime terrorist plans to attack were being carried out. (National strategy for combating terrorism). Citing the war on Iraq according to the US is therefore a way of justifying terrorism rather than a cause of terrorism. Terrorism is also not due to the Israeli- Palestine issues as plans for the 911 attack started in the 1990s when peace talks were being carried out. Political alienation according to the US is a key factor promoting terrorism.In most cases the leaders of terror gangs recruit members from the states where there is minimal freedom of speech. Democracy is und ermined and it becomes difficult to bring about change. (National strategy for combating terrorism). Such people are easy targets as they are very vulnerable to manipulation by those with violent and destructive ideologies. Terrorists are able to convince such people that the causes of all their problems are due to the western dominance. Past grievances and perceived injustices are made fresh in their minds making them internalize revenge motives.The use of propaganda, miscommunication and conspiracy theories keep the terrorism spirit alive in such people’s hearts. Bjorgo in the Root Causes of Terrorism explains how terrorism is a by product of a long process of radicalization in the process or preparation for extreme acts. It takes time before terrorists can actually act. Although there are great economic and social injustices in most Arab countries with a reputation of producing terrorists, this factor has never been cited as a cause for the attacks. It therefore suffices t o say that the social and economic injustices in the Arab world do not trigger terrorism.Illiteracy can also be cited as a cause of terrorism but it has been established that despite the rise in the literacy levels in the Arab world terrorism has increased. (Bjorgo T, 2005). This could be attributed to the fact that as people become more educated they can better understand the political, social and economic ills surrounding them and can therefore react accordingly. The notion that democracy would ensure the effective elimination or abolition of terrorism is not only an understatement but a great misconception. This is attributed to the fact that not all democracies are equally inclusive or respect the rights of the minorities.(Club De Madrid, 2005). In cases where the minorities feel that they are excluded from the main stream they can join hands to express their grievances which can be through radical means. Liberal democracies ensure that there is freedom of speech as well as tole rance of dissent which can be exploited for terrorist activities. Separatism, left wing and right wing extremism as well as religions are factors that can trigger terrorism in democratic countries. Terrorism within a democracy is affected by the level or degree of social, ethnic and political heterogeneity of the state in question.The more a society is divided the higher or greater the risk of terrorism. Transitional or new democracies are also at a greater risk of experiencing terrorism due to the fact that their authorities may not have gained popularity to be strong enough. In areas where a legacy of oppression is still fresh in people’s minds the chances of registering terror attacks are high. Countries like Chile, Argentina, Spain, and Algeria are good examples of how terrorism affects the effective transition into democracies. (Club De Madrid, 2005). Weak states are more susceptible to terrorism as they can easily become hosts for radical conspiracies.States with prolon ged civil conflicts and instability precipitate high numbers of refugees who seek shelter in other states and terrorists can use this to find shelter. Club De Madrid in the International Summit on democracy, terrorism and security, Addressing the causes of terrorism explain how democratic states practicing stable democracies have minimal chances of terrorism from within but they risk terror attacks from without. Their actions abroad are monitored by many and they may trigger opposition which can be magnified through terror attacks.Actions that are viewed by other states as lacking International legitimacy can be considered as unjust and the radicals may view violent means as an appropriate tool to respond. (Club De Madrid, 2005). The US seems to have lost direction in preventing future attacks especially from the Arab or Muslim world. The use of war as an effort of curbing terrorism is not an effective approach. The war led to the death of many innocent soldiers as well as Iraqis an d this creates room for the emergence of terror gangs to show their discontentment. The US ought to respect the sovereignty of other countries and stop imposing leaders on them.It should leave the independent states to carry out their operations independently instead of influencing the decisions they take especially regarding foreign policies. It should also stop playing double standards by applying the bill of rights without discrimination. (Rogers P, 2005). Should any terrorist be arrested they ought to undergo trial before they are arrested and should not be imprisoned before it is carried out. In my opinion, the US should stop the war in Iraq and try to address the allegations of their dominance and its effect on the people.Using forceful means may work in suppressing their enemies but this would not be successful in the long run. The US ought to let the people enjoy their freedom by exercising what they feel is best for them. What they think is best for the Arab world may not b e necessarily be the best for them given the fact that the two regions are different in many aspects. The US has not been very effective in the fight against terrorism as there are instances where terrorists have been successful in their deeds without the US knowledge. Terrorists have been able to move with the times where they have taken advantage of globalization in their operations.They have been able to use the new media like the Internet to recruit new members, train them, seek funds as well as spread their propaganda messages without leaving any mark behind that can lead to their location. The use of the Internet has an added advantage in the sense that it is global in scale, easy to access, less regulated and less costly. The new media has therefore created a barrier in the successful fight against terrorism. (Hamm M, 2005). Terror gangs have become less centralized making it hard for the US to locate and eliminate them.Again, not all states in the world are US allies and som e do not support their ideologies. Instead some find the causes of terror gangs justified and go the extra mile of supporting them by sponsoring their activities abroad as well as harboring them in their countries. Good examples of such countries are Syria and Iran. The strategies carried out by the US are not without criticism from their enemies. The war in Iraq is one strategy that has been used by some as a political weapon where it is cited as a reason behind the persistent terror attacks.In the fight against terrorism, military power, diplomatic, financial intelligence and law enforcement agencies activities are used. Denying terrorist the access to important tools or equipment needed to survive is a way of paralyzing their undertakings. When terrorists are denied finances and weapons they cannot carry out their activities effectively. The current counterterrorism strategies have been moderately effective in fighting terrorism. Advancing democracies is mostly cited as a way of fighting terrorism.The US cites this as a strong point in the fight against terrorism based on the argument that the lack of open systems where people can air their views is a reason behind the emergence of violent ideologies. Another approach used is the prevention of future attacks by terror gangs or networks. Terror networks are also denied the support of rogue states as well as the control of states that they are likely to use as a base for their terror activities. The US has also laid foundations to build the institutions and structures that are needed to fight terrorism until the bitter yet successful end.Other nations have been sensitized on the need to join hands in the global war against terrorism to a greater level where it is more than ensuring that justice prevails by bringing to justice the perpetrators of the 911 attack. These efforts have seen some nations change from being part of the problem to being part of the solution. (National strategy for combating terrorism). The US Patriotic Act has made a remarkable difference in counterterrorism efforts. The formation of the counter terrorism fund had a positive effect in ensuring that the Department of Justice had the required finances to promote their effectiveness and efficiency.(US Department of Justice, 2004). The Act faces much criticism from those who view it as a way of compromising with their civil liberties. However, the Bush administration has through the act have been able to increase their ability of sharing intelligent information which have been used effectively in the fight against terrorism. Laws have been updated to incorporate the changes brought about by technology. Increased surveillance has enabled the authorities to react swiftly to deter terror attacks.Surveillance in the public places which tend to be targets by most terrorists discourages them from perpetrating their heinous acts. (Michaels W, 2002). According to Mark Hamm’s report on Crimes Committed by Terrorist Gro ups it is clear that most terrorists are likely to be involved in money laundering, bank robberies, theft of credit cards and document counterfeiting in trying to satisfy their needs for existence. The law enforcement officials can hinder the effectiveness of terror gangs by simply being keen in preventing the crimes that promote their survival.Curbing what may seem normal criminal activities may have spill over effects in the fight against global terrorism. It is appropriate that the US government invests in intensive research on the causes, effects and means of eradicating terrorism. The research would provide accurate information and the approach used to address terrorism would also be accurate. (Hamm M, 2005). Government officials in the immigration departments must also be keen in their operations. Terrorists must gain access to the areas they want to attack and if this is denied the chances of them committing their acts are minimized.Through their routine work, immigrant offic ials may deter terrorism in the sense that they can identify counterfeit documents of potential terrorists and deal with them before it is too late. (Hamm M, 2005). Routine border inspection can also identify terrorists and thus hinder their effective operations. Local police officers through their routine activities can curb terrorism. The media can play a significant role in determining the success of the efforts or policies adopted to fight terrorism. Media bias can have a negative effect and make the policies unpopular.A positive effect can be created is the media is willing to support the set policies. If the media intentionally ignored the vital information when informing the people of what the government is doing to fight terrorism then the policies might not be supported by many. The information created by the media can also be confusing or misleading paving way for criticism and consequently lowering the efforts made to ensure the success of ‘war on terrorism’. The media has been used by terrorists to show the masses that they still exist. This is clearly evident in the self-declaration of international terrorists that they intend to strike.(National strategy for combating terrorism). This way their supporters and sympathizers are motivated as they can see that the battle is not over. Law enforcement agents must cooperate if the war on terrorism is to be successful. Effective communication must be enhanced so that the fight against terrorism is successful. With combined resources, expertise and intelligence then terror acts would be effectively abolished. The future war on terror is not bliss. Using war to prevent terror attacks has not restored peace and security and instead terror and grief has filled across the Arab world for instance in Afghanistan and Iraq.Many innocent civilians have lost their lives courtesy of the US policies. The remnants of the war can easily collude and wage war against the US as a way of revenge for their loss . The US is laying grounds for fundamentalism and extremism by sowing seeds of hatred which will grow into fruits of a new form of terrorism. (Daniel B and Simon S, 2005). The US should change its strategies as the existing ones are a total failure. Instead of putting the lives of many people on the spot the US ought to explore oil reserves in her soil or better still use alternative sources of energy if it feels threatened by the oil producing countries.Reducing its dependence on the Arab oil producing countries would be one way of their not wanting to poke their noses into the affairs of the Middle East as a whole. The use of diplomacy would also have yielded better results than the use of military force. War brought about the destruction of the country’s economy creating loopholes for bitter feelings that can be expressed through terror attacks. The US is slowly but surely losing its popularity across the globe. Countries that supported their policies have changed their st and.This has been attributed to the fact that some think the US war in Iraq is not just a war on terrorism but a way of ensuring their control over the oil producing countries and consequently maintaining her status quo as a world super power. Another major reason for reduced support is the fact that it has failed to honor the Geneva convections. It is known for not respecting the International laws by the imprisonment of suspects without trial as well as the torturing of others. (Rogers P. 2005). Critics also argue that thorough investigations were not carried out before the termination of the Saddam Hussein regime was terminated.Proper establishment that he had links with the al Qaeda and that he produced weapons of mass destruction ought to have been done before he was destroyed. The US is also accused of playing double standards where it supports oppressive and undemocratic nations like Palestine probably because by doing so it is at a better position. It should address the unde rlying problems affecting the developing countries. By doing so the developing nations would stop viewing them as being out to dominate them. It is illogical to argue that at one point in time terrorism will be a resolved issue.As long as the US policies are not approved or readily accepted by all and there is the existence of extremists then terrorism is here to stay. The rise of left wing terrorists also increases the extent to which domestic terrorism poses a threat to USA. These include extremists like the animal rights and environmental extremists. (Hamm M, 2005). According to my opinion the future position in the ‘War on global terrorism’ will be negative or unsuccessful. The strategies that it is using work to create more enemies and chances are that in the year 2015 these enemies will collude and react to have their voice heard by the whole world.Trying to control the Islam world will not yield a positive effect on the Muslim countries. Terrorists will have a st rong point to motivate people to indulge in terror gangs. The world will become a more dangerous place to live in instead of becoming a haven of peace. The reduced cooperation with other countries to back the US policies is also a worrying fact as far as the global war on terrorism is concerned. Countries opposing the US policies increase the spirit of anti -Americanism and they can magnify their displeasure by supporting the terror gangs. References: Alston Chase. 2004.A Mind for Murder: The Education of the Unabomber and the Origins of Modern Terrorism. W. W. Norton & Company publishers. Benjamin Daniel and Steven Simon. 2005. The Next Attack: The Failure of the War on Terror and a Strategy for Getting It Right. New York: Times Books. Club De Madrid. 2005. The International Summit on democracy, terrorism and security. Addressing the causes of terrorism. Volume 1. Mark Hamm. 2005. Crimes Committed by Terrorist Groups: Theory, Research, and Prevention, Part II, Cases 4 & 5. Retrieve d on 18th June 2008 from http://www. mipt. org/pdf/Crimes-Committed-Terrorist-Groups.pdf National strategy for combating terrorism. 2006. Retrieved on 18th June 2008 from http://www. whitehouse. gov/nsc/nsct/2006/nsct2006. pdf. Tore Bjorgo. 2005. Root Causes of Terrorism: Myths, Reality and Ways Forward Rutledge Publishers. Paul Rogers. 2005. Endless war. The global war on terror and the new Bush Administration. Oxford Research Group. US Department of Justice. 2004. Report from the field. The USA Patriotic Act at work. July 2004. William Michaels. 2002. No Greater Threat: America after September 11 and the Rise of a National Security. Algora Publishing

Perasuasive Sales Letter Essay

This short letter revolves around one important point: blood donated for infusions can be stored for no longer than 72 hours, after which it will be discarded. This means that people are in serious danger of dying depend on the daily efforts of all Americans who donate blood to save them. Today, the situation is critical because national supplies stored at Red Cross have dropped to dangerously low levels. This means that many people may not survive for very long once they get into a traffic accident or collapse because of a health problem. Luckily for them, professionals from the Red Cross over the years have developed impressive expertise in finding, processing and using donated blood. More importantly, they have developed an effective way to raise interest in blood donation through initiatives such as Blood Mobile. An impressive example of a life saved is that of five-year-old Melissa who was diagnosed with multiple congenital heart defects at birth, which caused her first open-heart surgery a week after her birth. To this point, her life has depended on using donor bloods that keeps her alive. Without 50 units of blood donated by different people, she would not have overcome her illness and survive till this day. The effort to collect blood for transfusions is going around the nation: restaurants, company offices, even beauty parlors – quite a wide range of businesses have already hosted Red Cross blood drives. The Pechanga Casino Entertainment Center can also make a serious contribution to the ongoing donation effort by hosting a Red Cross Blood Drive. By doing so, we will undoubtedly be able to gather large amount of blood, helping many people to cope with their illness. The mission of this campaign is clear and appealing. It consists in delivering donors’ blood to those patients who need it urgently. In doing so, the casino will attract people who qualify for blood donation. To be eligible for take part, one has to be over 17 years of age and weigh no less than 110 pounds. I am sure that a large number of people who meet these criteria as well as their friends and relatives will be willing to come to our casino to participate in the noble effort. Today, we can help thousands of people in urgent need of blood supply through a simple, yet effective effort. The Pechanga Casino Entertainment Center can organize a Red Cross Blood Drive, and I will be more than happy to lead the effort. Given my past experience in organising Toys for tots drive last year, I feel confident in handling the promotion for the event, especially since I know the Red Cross will supply plenty of materials to help in the organizing process. We can make a contribution to saving thousands of lives through hosting this event, a contribution that will improve our corporate image in this locality and beyond. In the words of Melissa’s mother, we can â€Å"give a piece of themselves† to help those in whose position we can find ourselves at some point. I am positive that many employees will share my enthusiasm for the event. I also have trust that the community will not let this event pass unnoticed and will regard the organisation that initiated it with high esteem. You can assess for yourselves the promises it holds for the growth of our business.

Final Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 9

Final - Essay Example For example, when the British and USA drones are physically present in Afghanistan, control is through satellite from USAF base outside Las Vegas, Nevada. When launched in the conflict zone, controllers carry out the operation on video screens in specially designed trailers stationed at Nevada desert. One controller ‘flies’ the drone, another operates the sensors, cameras and monitors just like a video game while the third person is in contact with the ground troops and commanders in the war zone. The CIA has been using drones in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iraq to assassinate terrorist leaders, most notably the Al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden. At least 36 American armed UAVS are present over Afghanistan and Iraq airspaces at any particular time. Many people have confused the non-flying robots for drones thereby further confusing their benefits and liabilities. Drones have several benefits among them Safety; they have greatly reduced military casualties since they carry no one. They are also significantly cheaper to purchase, fuel, operate and maintain than regular airplanes. Drones carry less risk to the military hardware since they are smaller and can fly much lower than the traditional airplanes. They have longer operational hours without fatigue since they have no human pilots. Besides, drone pilots or operators can easily hand off drone controls without any operational downtime (Collard, 2013). They are very accurate with pinpoint accuracy over great distances thus reducing collateral damage to infrastructure and civilians. Drones are also very lethal to enemy combats than regular airplanes. They have greatly increased surveillance process, reconnaissance, and general military intelligence through spying. Lastly, they a re easier and faster to deploy than most of the military alternatives. Some of the liabilities of drones include limited abilities since they cannot communicate with civilians for detailed

Shortcomings of GDP Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Shortcomings of GDP - Essay Example It only sums up the outputs of production and does not include intermediary goods and those consumed households (Tyson and Lund 2014). As a result, it does not measure the social welfare and their lifestyles. A country may have high GDPs annually, but there are still cases of increased poverty among its citizens. Additionally, GDP does not include incomes from black markets and other nonmarket activities that are sources of employments and better economic welfares. Lack of including economic activities that directly contribute to an individuals welfare has become a major setback especially in the United States (Tyson and Lund 2014). GDP includes gross incomes and does not account for economic factors such as depreciating capital stocks. On the other hand, solutions have been introduced to modify GDP as a measure of economic welfare. They include the introduction of indexes in the environmental and personal welfare sectors. The Human Development Index (HDI) and Environmental Sustainability Index (ESI) have been introduced to provide for omissions that the GDP does not cater for in the economy. Since GDP does not account for social welfare, the HDI can be used as a measure of individual qualities of life and later be included in the GDPs final tally. GDP can also be modified by including other measures of income such as the Gross National