Hotel Industry Research Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Hotel Industry - Research Proposal Example An Organizational structure defines how job tasks are formally divided, grouped and coordinated. The main elements to consider while designing an organizational structure are Work Specialization, departmentalization, chain of command, span of control, centralization and decentralization and formalization. The most common Organizational designs found in use are The simple structure is characterized by a low degree of departmentalization, wide spans of control, authority centralized in a single person, and little formalization. The strength of the simple structure lies in its simplicity. It's fast, flexible and inexpensive to maintain and accountability is clear. One major weakness is that it is difficult to maintain in anything other than a small organization. The decision making becomes slow as the organization grows in size because of its low formalization and high centralization. A bureaucracy is characterized by highly routine operating tasks achieved through specialization, much formalized rules and regulations, tasks that are grouped into functional departments, centralized authority, narrow spans of control, and decision making that follows the chain of command. The primary strength of bureaucracy lies in its ability to perform standardized activities in a highly efficient manner. One of the major weakness of this structure is that it causes departmental conflicts and highly inflexible always following the rules. There is no room for modification The Matrix structure is characterized by dual lines of authority and combines product and functional departmentalization. IBM adopts a modified version of the matrix structure in its overall operations. The strength of this structure lies in its ability to facilitate coordination and efficient allocation of specialists. The major disadvantage lies in the confusion it creates, its prosperity to foster power struggles, and the stress it places on individuals. The Team structure uses teams as the central device to coordinate work activities. Companies like DaimlerChrysler, Saturn, Motorola and Xerox have made extensive use of self managed teams to improve productivity at the operational level. In smaller companies, the team structure can define the entire organization. For instance, Imedia, a 30 person marketing firm in New Jersey is completely organized around teams. This structure is highly unsuitable for large companies. A Virtual organization is a small core organization that out sources major business functions. Ancle Hsu and David Ji run a virtual organization. Their firm, California based Apex Digital, is one of the world's largest producers of DVD Players, yet the company neither owns a factory nor employs an engineer. They contract everything out to firms in China. This is suitable for small and large organizations. The major advantage is the flexibility and the disadvantage is lack of managerial control in key aspects of business. The Boundaryless organization is an organization

Magnetic Tape Essay Example for Free

Magnetic Tape Essay Magnetic tape is a medium for magnetic recording, made of a thin magnetizable coating on a long, narrow strip of plastic film. It was developed in Germany, based on magnetic wire recording. Devices that record and play back audio and video using magnetic tape are tape recorders and video tape recorders. A device that stores computer data on magnetic tape is a tape drivOver years, magnetic tape can suffer from deterioration called sticky-shed syndrome. Caused by absorption of moisture into the binder of the tape, it can render the tape unusable. Merits: Capacity * One of the key advantages of magnetic tape is its capacity for holding data. Magnetic tape was the first medium able to hold a feature-length movie on a small, inexpensive device, thus enabling the home video market of the 1980s. In addition, compact cassettes can hold music on both sides, giving them a 90-minute total playing time, which is even greater than most CDs. Editing * Magnetic tape is also easy to edit using a traditional linear-editing system. This can involve duplicating a portion of a tape to a master reel, or physically cutting the tape and attaching the desired portions together with glue, splicing cement or adhesive tape. Editing in this manner requires no special computer equipment and may be less expensive and/or easier to learn than nonlinear digital editing. DEMERITS: Generation Loss * One of the disadvantages of magnetic tape is generation loss, which refers to the fact that each successive copy of a tape loses quality compared to the original. This can make it difficult to use magnetic tape for editing-intensive projects, or when extremely high fidelity is important. Digital media, on the other hand, can be copied and reproduced indefinitely with no visible or audible difference between the original and any of its copies. Durability * Another problem with magnetic tape is its tendency to stretch out over time, causing the quality of the data to deteriorate. On old video tapes, this generally appears in the form of poor audio, and picture data can eventually suffer as well. Over time magnetic tape acquires a layer of magnetic debris from recording and playback heads, which may need to be cleaned periodically to continue functioning. Mechanical Complexity * The mechanical complexity needed to use magnetic tape is another disadvantage of the medium. Items like cassette and VHS tapes include two separate reels, as well as a mechanism for exposing a small portion of the tape inside a player or recording device. Reel-to-reel tape players use multiple motors and moving parts, each of which is susceptible to mechanical failure. In the realm of digital media, flash-based memory uses no moving parts, thus eliminating this problem. Advantages and Disadvantages of a USB Flash Drive February 27, 2012 Advantages and disadvantages Advantages Compared to hard drives, flash drives use little power, have no fragile moving parts, and for most capacities are small and light. Data stored on flash drives is impervious to mechanical shock, magnetic fields, scratches and dust. These properties make them suitable for transporting data from place to place and keeping the data readily at hand. Flash drives also store data densely compared to many removable media. In mid-2009, 256 GB drives became available, with the ability to hold many times more data than a DVD or even a Blu-ray disc,[2] Most personal computers support USB as of 2010. Flash drives implement the USB mass storage device class so that most modern operating systems can read and write to them without installing device drivers. The flash drives present a simple block-structured logical unit to the host operating system, hiding the individual complex implementation details of the various underlying flash memory devices. The operating system can use any file system or block addressing scheme. Some computers can boot up from flash drives. Specially manufactured flash drives are available that have a tough rubber or metal casing designed to be waterproof and virtually â€Å"unbreakable†. These flash drives retain their memory after being submerged in water, and even through a machine wash. Leaving such a flash drive out to dry completely before allowing current to run through it has been known to result in a working drive with no future problems. Channel Five‘s Gadget Show cooked one of these flash drives with propane, froze it with dry ice, submerged it in various acidic liquids, ran over it with a jeep and fired it against a wall with a mortar. A company specializing in recovering lost data from computer drives managed to recover all the data on the drive.[42] All data on the other removable storage devices tested, using optical or magnetic technologies, were destroyed. Disadvantages Main article: Flash memory#Limitations Like all flash memory devices, flash drives can sustain only a limited number of write and erase cycles before the drive fails.[43][unreliable source?][44] This should be a consideration when using a flash drive to run application software or an operating system. To address this, as well as space limitations, some developers have produced special versions of operating systems (such as Linux in Live USB)[45] or commonplace applications (such as Mozilla Firefox) designed to run from flash drives. These are typically optimized for size and configured to place temporary or intermediate files in the computer’s main RAM rather than store them temporarily on the flash drive. Most USB flash drives no longer include a write-protect mechanism, although a small number have a switch on the housing of the drive itself to keep the host computer from writing or modifying data on the drive. Write-protection makes a device suitable for repairing virus-contaminated host computers without risk o f infecting the USB flash drive itself. A write-locked SD card in a USB flash card reader adapter is an effective way to avoid any writes on the flash medium. The SD card as a WORM device has an essentially unlimited life. A drawback to the small size is that they are easily misplaced, left behind, or otherwise lost. This is a particular problem if the data they contain are sensitive (see data security). As a consequence, some manufacturers have added encryption hardware to their drives—although software encryption systems which can be used in conjunction with any mass storage medium achieve the same thing. Most drives can be attached to keychains, necklaces and lanyards. The USB plug is usually fitted with a removable and easily lost protective cap, or is retractable. USB flash drives are more expensive per unit of storage than large hard drives, but are less expensive in capacities of a few tens of gigabytes as of 2011 Maximum available capacity is increasing with time, but is less than larger hard drives. This balance is changing, but the rate of change is slowing.. Most USB based flash technology integrates a printed circuit board with a metal tip which is simply soldered on. As a result the stress point is where the two pieces join. Some manufacturers quality control does not ensure a proper solder temp further weakening the stress point. Since many Flash Drives stick out from a users laptop or PC they are likely to be bumped repeatedly in their life time and may break at the stress point. Most of the time a break at the stress point results in permanent damage to the printed circuit board where the joint is torn from the circuit. However, some manufacturers produce discreet flash drives that do not stick out and others use a solid metal uni-body that has no easily discernible stress point.

What inspires you? :: essays research papers

What inspires you?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I have two things that inspire me in my life. One of them is my parents especially my mother, the other is the accident of my dad ¡Ã‚ ¯s company occurred in recent.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I will talk about the accident happened in March of this year. I live in States but my parents live in Korea. Only way we contact is using phone, or I visit them for every summer and winter vacation. If they don ¡Ã‚ ¯t tell me what is going on in our family there is no way to figure out that when I am in States. When I got home for this summer vacation, my dad asked me to come home early one day and he said that there is a serious thing that he wanted to talk to me. I had no clue what was going on. He said that there was a fire broken out in his factory. He owns huge furniture factory and he is C.E.O of this company. The biggest storage of his plant was gone because of the fire. It was about 1.8 million dollars worth, and it ¡Ã‚ ¯s gone now. People said that it was on the TV and newspaper for 3 days as a big tragedy. I visited there and I saw people working there to build new one again. The first problem he got was the loss of his assets and the second one was that he was getting too much of stress from that. I always got my personal expenses from my dad during vacation, but I just decided to work and make money. I know it is hard since I am taking 10 credits of summer courses during whole summer vacation. I strongly felt that I need to do something for my dad. So I applied one of the biggest accounting corporation in Korea, I got accepted as intern. It ¡Ã‚ ¯s been a little bit more than a month I ¡Ã‚ ¯ve been working, but the problem is that I only get 3hours sleep except the weekend. After I get home from work I eat dinner and start my homework and quizzes for my summer courses then I can go to sleep at around 3 or 4 o ¡Ã‚ ¯clock in the morning. I get really tired physically and mentally but when I think about what my dad was suffering from the accident it is nothing. I started thinking in positive way that this is good opportunity to overcome the suffer in my life. What inspires you? :: essays research papers What inspires you?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I have two things that inspire me in my life. One of them is my parents especially my mother, the other is the accident of my dad ¡Ã‚ ¯s company occurred in recent.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I will talk about the accident happened in March of this year. I live in States but my parents live in Korea. Only way we contact is using phone, or I visit them for every summer and winter vacation. If they don ¡Ã‚ ¯t tell me what is going on in our family there is no way to figure out that when I am in States. When I got home for this summer vacation, my dad asked me to come home early one day and he said that there is a serious thing that he wanted to talk to me. I had no clue what was going on. He said that there was a fire broken out in his factory. He owns huge furniture factory and he is C.E.O of this company. The biggest storage of his plant was gone because of the fire. It was about 1.8 million dollars worth, and it ¡Ã‚ ¯s gone now. People said that it was on the TV and newspaper for 3 days as a big tragedy. I visited there and I saw people working there to build new one again. The first problem he got was the loss of his assets and the second one was that he was getting too much of stress from that. I always got my personal expenses from my dad during vacation, but I just decided to work and make money. I know it is hard since I am taking 10 credits of summer courses during whole summer vacation. I strongly felt that I need to do something for my dad. So I applied one of the biggest accounting corporation in Korea, I got accepted as intern. It ¡Ã‚ ¯s been a little bit more than a month I ¡Ã‚ ¯ve been working, but the problem is that I only get 3hours sleep except the weekend. After I get home from work I eat dinner and start my homework and quizzes for my summer courses then I can go to sleep at around 3 or 4 o ¡Ã‚ ¯clock in the morning. I get really tired physically and mentally but when I think about what my dad was suffering from the accident it is nothing. I started thinking in positive way that this is good opportunity to overcome the suffer in my life.

How Does Hughes Create An Effective Description of a Windy Day?

Hughes uses a variety of poetic techniques to create an effective description of a windy day. He uses a lot of figurative language, such as metaphor, simile and personification. Hughes also creates the effect of a windy day using structural techniques such as enjambement, and the sound technique onomatopoeia. He often uses interesting lexis to help our imaginations. Hughes uses a lot of figurative language in this poem. One particularly effective technique is metaphor. He starts the poem with the metaphor – â€Å"This house has been far out at sea all night† This is very effective because it creates a very strong picture in your mind. â€Å"Far out† suggests isolation, and a mention of night suggests danger and fear. Another effective example of metaphor is â€Å"The skyline a grimace†. This suggests that the whole view and landscape is grotesquely distorted. A grimace means to pull a strange face, so this makes it an example of personification. The mental image is very clear too. Simile is another example of figurative language use by Hughes in this particular poem.What is the difference between a figurative and a literal analogy? â€Å"Flexing like the lens of a mad eye† This suggests that the view is constantly moving with the wind and the movement in my mind is visualised as everything bending, swaying and generally looking contorted. Similes are used throughout Hughes's poem. Another magnificent example of a simile is â€Å"Rang like some fine green goblet† This makes the house seem very delicate, as a glass will shatter if it resonates at a certain pitch. Glass is brittle anyway, so using this particular material as a simile would automatically suggest fragility. Another example of simile is â€Å"Black gull bent like an iron bar slowly†. This suggests that the gull is fighting against the wind's strength with all it's might. The mental picture it puts into my mind is very clear, and it makes me think that the wind is very powerful. Personification is a type of figurative language, giving an inanimate object humane characteristics. An example of personification occurs in line 13 of the poem: â€Å"The fields quivering, the skyline a grimace† The fields are ‘quivering' which suggests that they are afraid of the wind, and are shaking and ducking down to avoid the devastation that the wind can cause. In actual fact, the wind makes the grass bend over. Hughes uses structural techniques in his poetry, and enjambement is the one that probably stands out the most.

American Contibution to the Philippines Essay

Contribution of American to the Philippines 1. Independence – America helped the Philippines to eliminate the Spaniards in the country thus helping the Filipinos to end the suffering from the Spanish reign. This was the first step of the country to stand on their own and start a new beginning. 2. Government -we adapted and patterned some of our constitution with the Americans’. 3 Sports – Filipino favourite sport had been basketball, and other foreign sports instead of the national sports which is sipa. 4. Western style of clothing – this was also adapted as it is evident with the radical change from the conservative Maria Clara to the daring trends of fashion of the modern era 5. Communication – The Americans brought English, the lingua franca of the modern world 6. Principles – progressive liberal ideologies such as egalitarianism, democracy and equality 7. Education – they endowed an educational system patterned after that of the U.S. They sent educators in the Philippines which are known as Thomasites. However, American style of re-education was amero-centric in nature, causing Philippine society to self stigmatize itself in favor of American-centered products and ideologies. Effects of American Colonization in the Philippines. Effects of American Colonization in the Philippines.The effects of American imperialism on the Philippines are numerous. Some, however, stand out, most notably the installation of an American-style democracy and the prevalentattitude that anything American is â€Å"good†. Many of those in lowland Philippines, and most of the Christian population, for that matter, grew up in an increasing Americanizedsociety. The following American influence in the Philippines says it all: 1. Government -Partisan politics was one of the influences of the Americans on our government. Partisan politics means a politics that is devoted to or biased in support of a certain party, group or cause. Another effect of Americans in the government is the implementation of municipal elections. But after the creation of bicameral legislature, the election in the Philippines turned to be like the election of the Americans. Electors began to spend a lot just to win the election, and they began to think of their own personal welfare instead of the welfare of the Filipino people. Thus many of the American’s political practices were soon found in the Philippine archipelago. But this doesn’t mean that Americans contributed negative effects on our government but instead we learned the intricate machinery of the government, we learned how to make and governs laws. 2. Religion -During the Spanish colonization, the Filipino people were forced to convert their religion into Christianity (Roman Catholic). But after the colonization of the Spanish, Americans came and changed the religion into Protestantism which was the religious beliefs of the Americans. But later on, the Americans adopted the Roman Catholic Christianity after its invasion in the Philippines on July 4, 1946. Another is the establishment of the Iglesiani Cristo Church by Felix Manalo. And Jehovah’s Witnesses started to preach from one house to another. 3. Economic and Livelihood -The economic development of the Philippines under the Americans can be attributed to free trade relations that the Americans imposed upon the country. Philippine products were also allowed to enter American markets free of duty within quota limits. 4. Arts, Culture and Tradition -Filipino people began to adopt the American fashion statement using hats, long sleeved clothes and long sleeved polo inside it with matching neck ties for men. Another is the art of Oil Paintings which is the process of painting with pigments that are bound with a medium of drying oil. Red Blood Paint was also introduced which is a dark paint, also known as alizarin crimson school. 5. Transportation -A lot of transportation was introduced by the Americans to the Philippines, some are submarine, caretellas, railways, ancient bull carts, cars, etc. 6. Social Structure -Americans introduced the three class-models which includes the rich (wide array of elite groups), middle class (ambiguously defined social classes) and the poor (group that suffers from poverty). 7. System of Education -Schools were built for the Filipino citizen that teaches about the good formation including the rights and responsibilities of each person. American Colonial Policy – They promised to train the Filipinos in Democracy and Self-Government. They want the Philippines to stand on its own as a free and independent nation. – They shared power with the Filipinos in the government. Human Rights were protected. They developed the economy, improved hygiene and sanitation, and introduced the public school system. Contribution of Americans to the Philippines 1. Ecomonic Progress: – Population Explosion – New Land Policy – Agriculture Increase – Free Trade America – Business Flourished – New Industries – Improvements of Transportation and Communication – Better Budget – New Banks – International Exhibitions and Meetings Economic Problems( NEGATIVE) – We sold our raw materials cheap and bought expensive manufactured goods from America. – Colonial Mentality – Labor and peasant unrest spread in 1920s and 1930s – American Capitalists and businessmen controlled the new companies. – Filipino values like â€Å"pagmamano† was replaced by saying HI or HELLO. – Filipino food like â€Å"bibingka and suman† were replaced by American food like hotdog and French fries. Other American Contributions – Religious Freedom – Training in Democracy – Free Education – Better Health Service – Introduction of the English Language – Free Press – Democratic Family Life and Social Classes – Emancipation of Women – Recreation, Movies, Theater, Arts and Science ______________________________________________________________________________ Contribution of Spanish to the Philippines – Education- Science – Entertainment – Agriculture- Manner of Dressing- Architecture – Spanish Names (Trece Martires, La Trinidad,Aurora, La Union,Nueva Ecija) – Arts, Music and Literature (folk dance) – Language(nanay/nantl, tatay/tatle,abokado/avocado) – Religion(roman catholic) – Food (afritada,Estopado,Escabeche, pastel de lengua) – Spaniards introduced different forms of entertainment like: – Cockfighting- Flores de Mayo – Moro- moro- Santacruzan – Zarzuela- Duplo – Balagtasan- Different form of card games Reasons for Colonization: The 3 Gs (Spanish) GOD – the conversion of natives to Christianity GOLD- accumulation of gold or wealth GLORY- supremacy of spain over potugal as a superpower Social and Cultural Influences of the Spanish – The natives refused to cast off their indigenous cultural heritage and accommodated European art, literature, rituals and practices only after some modification. – Use of Gregorian calendar – Alphabet- dressing- burial pratices- wedding practices – Changes in names- adoption of fiesta-cuisine – western architecture (cottas or fortress, churches †modified Romanseque style†, antillen house – Language( chavacano,cebuano) – Literature – Painting (Juan Luna and Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo) – Sculpture (retablos, relleves â€Å"carved images in relief†) – Graphic arts (estampas, La Illustraccion Filipina) Negative features of the Spanish Colonial Government in the Philippines The indigenous population was relocated into settlements while conquistadors, friars and native nobles were granted estates in exchange for their services to the King, They were given the privilege to collect tribute from its inhabitants. In return, the encomienda were to provide military protection to the inhabitants; however, the system was abused and was largely replaced by administrative provinces by 1700. The encomienda system of government used by Spain was disliked by the inhabitants, which resulted in uprisings. A system of forced labor was also a result of the encomienda system of government. Encomienda – was a legal system that was employed mainly by the Spanish crown during thecolonization of the Americas to regulate Native American labor.

Free Essays on False Justice

False Justice Leandro Anrade, a thirty-seven year old man with a non-violent record, was sentenced to fifty years to life in prison for stealing 153 dollars worth of videotapes. Leandro’s sentence is a raw product of California’s Three Strikes Laws. California’s Three Strikes Laws were erected in March of 1994 and have been the center controversy since their debut. Basically the laws state that if anyone is convicted of any crime three times and it can be three different crimes, whether it be a petty, or serious crime, they are sentenced to twenty-five years to life automatically. (Marks 2) Do these laws even seem remotely rational? Not according to California prosecutors, who only use the law in about ten percent of the eligible cases. (Dolan and Perry 3) That means ninety percent of all prosecutors in California ignore the ludicrous laws because they are not reasonable judgments. Why would you even have the laws when it doesn’t achieve the purpose it was produced to do? The reason behind that question lies in one major fallacy; the laws are unjust to petty crime offenders. When California’s voters condemned the laws in 1994 they were put under the influence that it would only pertain to felony, or serious crime convictions. The fact that someone can be sent to jail for at least twenty-five years for writing bad checks, stealing videos, selling drugs and so forth is unfair to the criminals and the tax payers of California who have to pay for larger prisons to welcome in the massive amounts of criminals who are sentenced under the three strikes laws, sixty percent of them being non-violent offenders. (Marks 2) Overall the laws have decreased the crime rates in California, but that can also be the result of a trend in that generally the whole country has been experiencing within the last ten years. These unreasonable laws should be altered in that they should only pertain to felonies and serious offenses. Even though I fee... Free Essays on False Justice Free Essays on False Justice False Justice Leandro Anrade, a thirty-seven year old man with a non-violent record, was sentenced to fifty years to life in prison for stealing 153 dollars worth of videotapes. Leandro’s sentence is a raw product of California’s Three Strikes Laws. California’s Three Strikes Laws were erected in March of 1994 and have been the center controversy since their debut. Basically the laws state that if anyone is convicted of any crime three times and it can be three different crimes, whether it be a petty, or serious crime, they are sentenced to twenty-five years to life automatically. (Marks 2) Do these laws even seem remotely rational? Not according to California prosecutors, who only use the law in about ten percent of the eligible cases. (Dolan and Perry 3) That means ninety percent of all prosecutors in California ignore the ludicrous laws because they are not reasonable judgments. Why would you even have the laws when it doesn’t achieve the purpose it was produced to do? The reason behind that question lies in one major fallacy; the laws are unjust to petty crime offenders. When California’s voters condemned the laws in 1994 they were put under the influence that it would only pertain to felony, or serious crime convictions. The fact that someone can be sent to jail for at least twenty-five years for writing bad checks, stealing videos, selling drugs and so forth is unfair to the criminals and the tax payers of California who have to pay for larger prisons to welcome in the massive amounts of criminals who are sentenced under the three strikes laws, sixty percent of them being non-violent offenders. (Marks 2) Overall the laws have decreased the crime rates in California, but that can also be the result of a trend in that generally the whole country has been experiencing within the last ten years. These unreasonable laws should be altered in that they should only pertain to felonies and serious offenses. Even though I fee...

Baseball and Philosophy Thinking Outside the Batters Box essays

Baseball and Philosophy Thinking Outside the Batters Box essays Baseball and Philosophy Thinking Outside the Batters Box Baseball and Philosophy is a book that brings philosophy to the center stage or the pitching mound so to speak. Baseball and Philosophy is the sixth volume in the Popular Culture and Philosophy series. Other Books in the series include Volume 1 Seinfeld and Philosophy, Volume 2 The Simpsons and Philosophy, Volume 3 The Matrix and Philosophy, Volume 4 Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Philosophy, and Volume 5 The Lord of the Rings and Philosophy. The editor of the book is Eric Bronson, who also contributed to this book by writing one of the essays. Bronson heads the Philosophy and History Departments at Berkeley College in New York City. He co-edited the Lord of the Rings and Philosophy and contributed chapters to The Simpsons and Philosophy and Seinfeld and Philosophy. Baseball and Philosophy is comprised of 32 professors who wrote 24 essays. These professors explored philosophical questions about the who, what and why of baseball which demonstrate the games connection to larger issues of truth, justice, American identity, and human fulfillment. The topics covered in this book cover everything from How can Zen be applied to hitting to women playing baseball. Another topic which is highly controversial as well as highly publicized is is it ethical to employ deception in sports. This topic alone covers the controversy of Pete Rose being inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame as well as the use of steroids in the game of baseball. My favorite part of the book was the second essay in chapter 8 called Women Playing Hardball by Leslie Heaphy. This essay dealt with the parallels between men and women playing baseball. In this essay Heaphy argues that masculinity and femininity are culturally defined. Masculinity has come to mean power, strength, and muscle; femininity tends to mean weakness, passivity, and grace. Heaphy gives...

South Americas Uruguay and Its Geography

South America's Uruguay and Its Geography Uruguay is a country located in South America that shares its borders with Argentina and Brazil. The country is the second smallest in South America, after Suriname, with a land area of 68,036 square miles (176,215 sq km). Uruguay has a population of just over 3.5 million people. 1.4 million of Uruguays citizens live within its capital, Montevideo, or in its surrounding areas. Uruguay is known as being one of South Americas most economically developed nations. Population: 3,510,386 (July 2010 estimate) Capital: MontevideoBordering Countries: Argentina and BrazilLand Area: 68,036 square miles (176,215 sq km)Coastline: 410 miles (660 km)Highest Point: Cerro Catedral at 1,686 feet (514 m) History Prior to European arrival, the only inhabitants of Uruguay were the Charrua Indians. In 1516, the Spanish landed on Uruguays coast but the region was not settled until the 16th and 17th centuries due to hostilities with the Charrua and a lack of silver and gold. When Spain did begin to colonize the area, it introduced cattle which later increased the areas wealth.In the early 18th century, the Spanish founded Montevideo as a military outpost. Throughout the 19th century, Uruguay was involved in several conflicts with the British, Spanish, and Portuguese. In 1811, Jose Gervasio Artigas launched a revolt against Spain and became the countrys national hero. In 1821, the region was annexed to Brazil by Portugal, but in 1825, after several revolts, it declared its independence from Brazil. It did decide, however, to maintain a regional federation with Argentina.In 1828 after a three-year war with Brazil, the Treaty of Montevideo declared Uruguay as an independent nation. In 1830, the new country adopted its first constitution and throughout the rest of the 19th century, Uruguays economy and government had various shifts. In addition, immigration, mainly from Europe, increased.From 1903 to 1907 and 1911 to 1915 President Jose Batlle y Ordoà ±ez established political, social and economic reforms, However, by 1966, Uruguay was suffering from instability in these areas and underwent a constitutional amendment. A new constitution was then adopted in 1967 and by 1973, a military regime was put in place to run the government. This led to human rights abuses and in 1980, the military government was overthrown. In 1984, national elections were held and the country again began to improve politically, economically, and socially.Today, due to several more reforms and various elections throughout the late 1980s and into the 1990s and 2000s, Uruguay has one of the strongest economies in South America and a very high quality of life. Government Uruguay, officially called the Oriental Republic of Uruguay, is a constitutional republic with a chief of state and a head of government. Both of these positions are filled by Uruguays president. Uruguay also has a bicameral legislative assembly called the General Assembly that is made up the Chamber of Senators and the Chamber of Representatives. The judicial branch is made up of the Supreme Court. Uruguay is also divided into 19 departments for local administration. Economics and Land Use Uruguays economy is considered very strong and is consistently one of the fastest growing in South America. It is dominated by an export-oriented agricultural sector according to the CIA World Factbook. The major agricultural products produced in Uruguay are rice, wheat, soybeans, barley, livestock, beef, fish, and forestry. Other industries include food processing, electrical machinery, transportation equipment, petroleum products, textiles, chemicals, and beverages. Uruguays workforce is also well educated and its government spends a large part of its revenue on social welfare programs. Geography and Climate Uruguay is located in southern South America, with borders on the South Atlantic Ocean, Argentina and Brazil. It is a relatively small country with a topography consisting mostly of rolling plains and low hills. Its coast regions are made up of fertile lowlands. The country is also home to many rivers and the Uruguay River and the Rio de la Plata are some of its largest. Uruguays climate is warm, temperate and there are ​rarely, if ever, freezing temperatures in the country. More Facts About Uruguay 84% of Uruguays terrain is agricultural88% of Uruguays population is estimated to be of European descentUruguays literacy rate is 98%Uruguays official language is Spanish Sources CIA - The World Factbook - Uruguay. Central Intelligence Agency.Uruguay: History, Geography, Government, and Culture- Infoplease.com. Infoplease.com. (n.d.). Uruguay. United States Department of State.Uruguay - Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia.com.

Research paper The Apology of Socrates Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The Apology of Socrates - Research Paper Example It is often said that Socrates acted unwisely in this defense and prior to the charges being brought against him because he purposely incited the wrath of many of the more powerful people of Athens. However, the defense he presents to the court suggests Socrates understood something more than normal men. His argument in the end is not that he didn’t break the law of Athens, but that he was acting in a necessary capacity for the development of the free and democratic society he understood Athens to be. The first charge brought against Socrates was that he was spreading sacrilegious ideas because he challenges other people’s beliefs. Socrates acknowledges these charges when he speaks against old enemies that have spoken falsely â€Å"telling of one Socrates, a wise man, who speculated about the heaven above, and searched into the earth beneath, and made the worse appear the better cause† (Apology: 944). His defense regarding sacrilege is based on the statement of the Oracle which once pronounced him the wisest man alive. Such a pronouncement caused him to take up a series of inquiries looking ‘into the heavens and earth’ to discover why that might be so. He points out this was a journey of discovery to learn why what they said was true. â€Å"At last I went to the artisans, for I was conscious that I knew nothing at all, as I may say, and I was sure that they knew many fine things; and here I was not mistaken, for they did know many things of which I was ignorant, and in this they certainly were wiser than I was. But I observed that even the good artisans fell into the same error as the poets; because they were good workmen they thought that they also knew all sorts of high matters, and this defect in them overshadowed their wisdom† (Apology: 947). Villa says this reveals that Socrates â€Å"obviously cared greatly for his city and fellow citizens† (2001: 39). His method was intended to open their minds to greater thought within a

Week 6 Case Study 2 Submission Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Week 6 Case Study 2 Submission - Assignment Example A PKI is a foundation where it acts as an overall security whereby all the other components and features must work. This paper will not look into the underlying structure of cryptography. PKI is a very wide cryptographic technique. This paper will offer the real opportunities that can be adopted, by the Software Company, to remove their fears, and misconceptions on the use of this technology. In addition to this, paper will also look into the rationale as to why this technology is suitable for various business applications. There are components which are available in a PKI framework. These components include operational policies, security services, and interoperability protocols which are all geared to support the use of public-key cryptography. The generation and management of public keys occurs through the use of Certificate Authorities (CAs), Registration Authorities (RAs) and directory services which can be used to establish a list of trust. At the national level, the use of PKI can be very instrumental when dealing with security. One of the principles of PKI is to establish a trust hierarchy (U.S General Services Administration Government Smart Card handbook, 2004). In e-commerce, when dealing with trust mechanisms, there must be the provision of management control. There must be a management control at the Ministry of Information. In the e-commerce environment, entities, which are not known to each other, do not have enough trust that has been established to perform business, contractual, legal, or other types of transactions. For this trust to be achieved, the implementation of PKI should be done by using CA. In summary, the working of CA is as follows. For entities which are unknown to each other, they will each establish a trust relationship with a CA. The CA will perform some form of entity authentication according to the rules that have been established as has been noted by the

Human communication Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Human communication - Essay Example According to Saussure, a signifier is a label attached to an object under discussion, and the signified is the object or mental concept of the object. The two units form the sign, but no absolute rules connecting the signifier and signified exist. This creates an arbitrary relationship with the physical impression often contradicting the mental concept (Signs 2007). Toyota has applied this concept to the extreme with an advertisement that shows an idyllic country scene with a lush green landscape. The focus, however, is on one tree, entwined with almost naked human bodies ( Zero 2007). In this very visual ad, denoting, according to the accompanying text (which is so tiny, it is difficult to read), the need for balance between man and nature, the signifier, or label, is the title of the adZero Emissionsè ¬ ¡hich has no real connection to the pictorial aspect of the ad. Charles S. Peirce was a theorist of logic, language, communication and the general theory of signs. He expanded Saussures theories of signifier and signified, adding more theories to the communication process (Burch 2007). The scene in Toyotas ad follows Peirces concept of Icon, Index and Symbol. The object is zero emissions depicting its message of mans concern for nature, and the tree of life is an icon showing the connection and thereby creating the index. The symbol, however, is the arbitrary connection, the word TOYOTA printed in red . The word Toyota calls forth a picture of a car, which represents damage to the environment through harmful emissions. Toyota, however, in the text for the ad, promises zero emissions as a future goal. By combining visual and verbal, the company manages to create a positive image for its customers from an arbitrary connection, with a hybrid automobile representing the present global emphasis on green. The scantily clad men and women in the ad brin g to mind the Garden of Eden and this creates a mental image of

Parent Interview Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Parent Interview - Essay Example Joe is labeled as having autism; however he is also taking medication for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (i.e. ADHD). Currently, Joe is going to Harrison Elementary School in Livingston, Virginia. This school has grades from kindergarten thru sixth grade and in located in a middle- class area. Joe is in an autism self-contained class, and his classmates range in educational levels from third through sixth grade. Joe is in the fourth grade. He has been going to this school for five years and has been in the same autism program with three of his classmates for all of this time. Joe is well-known and liked around the school because he is very talkative and social. He also lives in a middle class neighborhood near his school. Joe is a very smart boy, but he is considered to be lower functioning because his test scores place him below grade level. Joe does not take the standard of learning tests (i.e. SOL); however he does qualify to take the Virginia Alternative Assessment Program test (i.e. VAAP). In school he does participate in general education activities, such as art, physical education, and music . In addition, he also has his academic work that is done in the general education classroom and his class. At this period in time, Joe has an Individual Education Program (i.e. IEP) in which he has several goals that he is working on, besides his general education activities and curriculum. His individual goals are in the areas of communication, fine motor/ writing tasks, classroom behavior, math, language arts and reading. Joe interacts socially with his peers and teachers. He responds to questions willingly, participates in all activates and has an average sized vocabulary. However, he likes to use words that begin with the letter s, which sometimes impedes communication. Joe’s goals include

Journal entry Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Journal entry - Essay Example They will also be motivated to deliver the work on time and ensure that they make the best use of time. To this end, new entries could be added to the existing journal as follows: The budget of the project is a reflection of the resources that are going to be put into the project. This shall not be in terms of monetary spending alone. Rather, several areas of the project that demand human resource, capital resource, time resource and energy resource have all been factored into the budget. Again, the budget does not only make a representation of the needed resources that are going to be invested into the project but expected income is also featured. On the whole, the procurement of equipment is expected to be the component of the project that will have a lot of drain on the budget. This is because only brand new machine parts are going to be purchased. Moreover, spending to be made by the staff is also expected to put a lot of financial on the budget. In all, sale of the engines to be produced will be the major source of capital for the project. The development of the project budget goes with the following entries in the journal: Calculating estimated income that the project will eventually yield when it is completed. The income shall be dictated by factors including time of completion, quality of project and number of pieces of equipment made. As already hinted, the quality of the project will go a long way to determine the income that the project is going to yield. This is because in today’s competitive world where value for money has become the order of the day, consumers and customers of good and products expect nothing less than absolute quality. This is a demand that puts the team under pressure to ensure maximum adherence to quality restrictions. To this end, there shall be a special review to the quality management plan that has already been structured to take care of management of quality issues in the project. The new modification shall

Parent Interview Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Parent Interview - Essay Example Joe is labeled as having autism; however he is also taking medication for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (i.e. ADHD). Currently, Joe is going to Harrison Elementary School in Livingston, Virginia. This school has grades from kindergarten thru sixth grade and in located in a middle- class area. Joe is in an autism self-contained class, and his classmates range in educational levels from third through sixth grade. Joe is in the fourth grade. He has been going to this school for five years and has been in the same autism program with three of his classmates for all of this time. Joe is well-known and liked around the school because he is very talkative and social. He also lives in a middle class neighborhood near his school. Joe is a very smart boy, but he is considered to be lower functioning because his test scores place him below grade level. Joe does not take the standard of learning tests (i.e. SOL); however he does qualify to take the Virginia Alternative Assessment Program test (i.e. VAAP). In school he does participate in general education activities, such as art, physical education, and music . In addition, he also has his academic work that is done in the general education classroom and his class. At this period in time, Joe has an Individual Education Program (i.e. IEP) in which he has several goals that he is working on, besides his general education activities and curriculum. His individual goals are in the areas of communication, fine motor/ writing tasks, classroom behavior, math, language arts and reading. Joe interacts socially with his peers and teachers. He responds to questions willingly, participates in all activates and has an average sized vocabulary. However, he likes to use words that begin with the letter s, which sometimes impedes communication. Joe’s goals include

Public Health and Safety Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Public Health and Safety - Essay Example These are just some cases where the public is left open to the hazards of the dangerous conditions of properties. In response to these alarming scenarios, UK had enacted several statutes to foster public health and safety. Already in place are UK's Torts Act 1977, laws on public nuisance, Public Health Act 1936, Defective Premises Act 1972, Fatal Accidents Act 1976, (Harpwood 2005,p.196-384) and the Occupiers Liability Act 1984. From the onset we must clarify that there is no contractual relationship between the owner of the property and the spouses . Since they came in to the premises uninvited , they must be deemed as trespassers as defined in the Occupiers Liability Act 1984 but the nagging question then is must the company be absolved from liability and the spouses be considered to have taken undue risk and must suffer for their own misfortune. Or must the company be liable for the damages done on the basis of 'res ipsa loquitor' principle on Torts as it cannot be denied that damages happened in its property and therefore there is an assumption of negligence and want of due care on its part. Thus, must the company be considered a tortfeasor which has the burden of proof of proving that it is not guilty of negligence in immediately fencing the condemned property after knowledge of possibility of causing harm to the public and that it exercised due standard of care. If it fails to prove both, must it answ er for damages incurred to the spouses on the basis of failing to qualify for the 'reasonable man test'(Bolton v Stone) and on grounds of nuisance. Lastly, whether spouses by trespassing in a property which has a warning sign that people will be entering at their own risk guilty of contributory negligence by which company can hide under the doctrine of limited liability and whether by such act the spouses must be assumed to have voluntarily exposed themselves to the risk and thus must be precluded from recovery for injuries they suffered therefrom under the principle of "volenti non fit injuria" (Barker 2002,p.181). 3 Statement of Relevant Laws The basic law that governs this case is the UK Torts Act 1977 specifically quasi-delict or culpa aquiliana which provides that where there is no preexisting contractual relationships between the parties, the party who by act or

School Safety Essay Example for Free

School Safety Essay In the last decade, school violence cases have drastically increased. Between 1997 and 1999, there was a rash of school shootings, the most notable occurring at West Paducah, Jonesboro, and Columbine. These examples are just a few instances in the long list of tragedy that occurs in the school setting. There is a broad spectrum of school violence and misconduct that keep school officials on alert: handbook violations, drug use, harassment, bullying, fighting and school shootings. With school violence on the increase, administrators are forced to re-evaluate school policies to ensure safety and security for the students and staff members. The National Education Association (NEA) supports policies developed by states, districts and schools to effectively address bullying and harassment that lead to school violence (NEA, 2002-2010). Although some officials feel that a zero-tolerance stance is the most effective means to combating bullying and harassment in the school setting, the NEA takes the position of educating school officials, parents, community members, and students on the effects of bullying and harassment. In an attempt to reduce bullying and harassment, the NEA works to promote school safety by presenting strategies to â€Å"reduce and eliminate bullying and harassment; expand access to counseling, anger management and peer mediation; provide ways for students to communicate with adults about rumors and threats; and develop instruction that teaches values like respect and responsibility† (NEA, 2002-2010). The school environment is one of the safest environments for children today. Students should feel comfortable coming to school and should be allowed to learn in an environment free for intimidation and fear. The NEA agrees with this statement and supports legislation requiring states, districts, and schools to adopt plans to prevent and respond to bullying and harassment incidents. References NEA. (2002-2010). School safety. Retrieved from http://www.nea.org/home/16364.htm

A Reaction Paper On A Country Doctor English Literature Essay

A Reaction Paper On A Country Doctor English Literature Essay Franz Kafkas A country doctor is a story about a doctor who is called upon in the middle of the night to attend to a seriously ill young man .Hampered by lack of transport means and extreme weather conditions, the doctor is at pains to come up with solutions to his problems. This essay paper will attempt to systematically examine the challenges and frustrations that the doctor encounters as the story unfolds. This essay will also answer the questions as to why the story may be referred to as a nightmare as well as explore the major themes brought out in this artistic tale that is indeed a replica of Franz Kafkas generation and the current modern society. Challenges and Frustrations The doctor is in a dilemma He is challenged by the fact that he has no means of transport to take him to the home of the gravely ill young man, ten miles away. The doctors horse had died due to the icy winter. My own horse had died the previous night as a result of overexertion in this icy winter. The doctor is frustrated at this point because no one in  Ã‚   the village was willing to assist him. My servant girl was at that very moment running around the village to see if she could borrow a horse but it was hopeless-I knew that. Out of frustration the doctor risks hurting himself by kicking the pigstys door. I kicked my foot against the cracked door of the pigsty which had not been used for years. The severe weather conditions pose a challenge to the doctor too. He has to endure the chilly snowstorm to go and attend to a patient. The doctor says, A severe snowstorm filled the space between him and me. The doctor does not hide his dilemma when he says, I stood there useless ,increasingly covered by snow , becoming all the time immobile. After treating the sick young man the doctor attempts to make his way home but the once strong and fat horses are old and tired, they move at a slow rate at which the doctor feels he will never reach home. Consider, We dragged slowly through the snowy desert like old men. The doctor is evidently frustrated when he says, Ill never come home at this rate. He becomes sad when he thinks of his home which was occupied by the Groom. In my house the disgusting groom is wreaking havoc, Rosa is his victim. The third challenge that the doctor encounters is the Groom. The doctor does not know how to deal with this stranger. First, when the groom brutally bites Rosa on her cheeks, the doctor only threatens the groom with words and calms down at once because he wanted to borrow a horse from the groom. At that moment, the doctor is almost the grooms slave. The groom eventually offers his horses to the doctor but decides to stay with Rosa instead of traveling with the doctor.   The doctor is therefore at crossroads. He does not know whether he should stay and protect Rosa from the brutal groom or go ahead and attend to the seriously ill Youngman. The doctor chose the later. However, as the story unfolds the frustrations of the doctor concerning this decision become apparent. Consider, I had to sacrifice Rosa as well, this beautiful girl, who lives in my house all year long and whom I scarcely notice-this sacrifice is too great. The doctor is challenged by poverty and too much work. He has dedicated his life to serving the district but is poorly paid. Consider, I am employed by the district and my duty do my duty to the full, right to the point where it is almost too much. Badly paid, but I am generous and ready to help the poor. The doctor has only one horse, when the horse dies the doctor lacks means of transport to enable him perform his duties efficiently. The doctor is evidently overworked. He is called at midnight to attend to patients. It seems he rarely sleeps since his night bell was always rung by villagers. When performing his duties the doctor is under pressure from the villagers. They want him to instantly cure their patients. The doctor is frustrated by this when he says. I am not a world improver. Themes The first theme that has been well brought out is the theme of suffering. At the beginning of the story, the doctor suffers psychologically because he has no means of transport to enable him reach the home of a seriously ill man. I was in great difficulty. An urgent journey was facing me.A seriously ill man was waiting for me in a village ten miles distant. The doctors horse had died and he was worried because no villager would lend him a horse. Of course, who is now going to lend his horse for such a journey? The extreme icy winter made the doctor to suffer. First his horse dies in the winter leaving him without means of transport and secondly the doctor has to endure the chilly weather to attend to  Ã‚   the patient. I stood there useless, increasingly covered by snow, becoming all the time more immobile. Rosa suffers when the groom bites her on the cheeks. On the girls cheeks are red marks from two rows of teeth. Rosa further suffers when the doctor leaves her to stay with the evil groom against her will. No, screams Rosa and runs into the house with an accurate premonition of the inevitability of her fate. The sick young man suffers too. The young man suffers from a deadly wound that is infested with worms. Consider, On his right side, in the region of the hip, a wound the size of the palm of ones hand had opened up. The young man having lost hope of living tells the doctor, Doctor let me die. The second theme found in this story is blame. The doctor blames his failure to attend t o a seriously ill patient on his lack of a horse. Consider, But the horse was missing- the horse. The doctor further blames the villagers for unnecessarily summoning him to attend patients who according to the doctor were just feigning illness. He blames the villagers further for not assisting him in time of need. Consider, My servant girl was at that very moment running around the village to see if she could borrow a horse but it was hopeless. The country doctor as a narrative constantly places blame for his failure on others, on the lack of horses, on the groom, on the villagers, on the young man. His narrative attitude is one of; if I have failed it is not my fault, but rather the fault of others (Gray 2009) Exploitation is another theme found in this story. Exploitation is unfair treatment of someone or use of a situation in a way that is wrong in order to get some benefit (Wikipedia, 2009) the groom appears at a time when the doctor is need of transport means and takes advantage of the situation to take Rosa against her will. I see how in addition she chases down the room putting all the lights in order to make herself   impossible to find. The theme of betrayal is also evident in this short  Ã‚   story. The doctor betrays his house help when he leaves he in the hands of the brutal groom. I had to sacrifice Rosa as well ,this beautiful girl who lives in my house all year long and whom I scarcely notice-this sacrifice is too great. He witnesses the bachelor force himself upon the house maid but rather than stay to access and disarm the stranger, the doctor allows the steeds to carry him off as the screams of his housemaid echo through the winter night. (Hemphill 2009) This short story may be called a nightmare. The doctor concludes that the sick young man is feigning illness after a brief examination. The doctor only observed the heartbeat of the patient. In his reasoning the patient was only seeking attention that he was not sick. The doctor in this story does not operate the way doctors in real world operate. Alex Hemphill observed that Franz Kafkas A country doctor is written in a stream of consciousness and includes all the making of a nightmare (2009) When the doctor kicked the door of the pigsty there emerged the groom and the two horses mysteriously. This is absolute fantasy and cannot happen in a real world.. Two horses, powerful animals with strong flanks shoved their way one behind the other. A country doctor can be read as fulfillment fantasy motivated by self exculpation (Gray 2009) Conclusion The doctor in Franz Kafkas -A country doctor is a reflection of some people in the society who sacrifice their lives to serve everyone but their efforts are hardly noticed by anyone. They are the unseen heroes of national development who would rather die than fail duty. Though frustrated by environment and a society that does not appreciate them, such people do not fear to encounter the challenges that lie ahead of them. Perhaps the doctor sums everything in his story by asserting that, To write prescriptions is easy but to come to an understanding with people is hard.

Essay --

Connor Peterson Miss. Cota Survival October 19th, 2013 The Tools of a True Survivor Jeannette Walls had a horrific childhood that truly brought out the survivor in her. Jeannette had troubles with her family, friends and siblings but she was not hindered by the difficult situations and the choices that she had to make. In order to survive she to had be resourceful and use what she had to her advantage and also learn to adapt to any situation. Through it all she had the drive and purpose of a true survivor. Her survival tools of Ingenuity, Adaptability and Purpose helped her to grow into the person she is today. Ingenuity is one of the survival skills that Jeannette possessed throughout her childhood. She continued to find new ways to accommodate herself in different situations. One such example is when she made herself braces because her parents could not afford them. Since she did not have the money to get them, Jeannette invented a clever way to make homemade ones. These braces (worn only at night so no one would know) were made from rubber bands and a coat hanger. In the survivor tool kit it describes ingenuity with, â€Å"you find novel uses and applications for everyday objects†(324). Jeannette’s braces clearly exemplify this quote. Ingenuity is also described as, â€Å"Bricolage: the art of building things from whatever materials are available.†(324). Jeannette used everyday objects such as rubber bands and a coat hanger to make a complicated set of braces. Besides from making braces, she also made her own catapult. Bullies would throw rocks at Jeannette and her brother on their walk home from school and then ride away on their bikes. Having limited resources, Jeannette used an abandoned mattress and some springs she found as ... ...n high school and she was striving for big goals, working hard to achieve them, and overcoming countless obstacles. Even when her father stole that piggy bank money she did not give up. Her purpose in life helped transfer her into adulthood. Without this determination and sacrifice, seceding into a successful adult would have been much more challenging. Each survivor has a set of tools at their disposal that can be used throughout their lifetime. Jeannette was able to overcome staggering odds to with her ability to use almost anything to her advantage and by being able to bend to the situation around her and constantly change. And finally, by having a drive in life that is simply incomprehensible, a drive and purpose so deep we cannot even begin to fathom its depth. Jeannette used these techniques to conquer her life and overcome every obstacle that stood in her way.

Last Sacrifice Chapter Twenty-six

â€Å"SHE'S WHAT?' I EXCLAIMED. The dream birds singing in the garden fell silent. â€Å"With them? Is that why they called the guardians?' Sonya's calmness continued, but she frowned slightly. â€Å"Victor and Robert didn't call the guardians. Why would they?' â€Å"Because †¦ because they wanted to get rid of Dimitri and me †¦' â€Å"Perhaps,' said Sonya. â€Å"But not while they were still in the house. Victor's as wanted as you are. It was only Robert's magic that got them out.' â€Å"Then who †¦' The answer hit me. I groaned. â€Å"John and Emily. I should have known it wouldn't be that easy. They were too quick to accept fugitives into their house.' â€Å"I actually think it was just John. Emily really did seem to believe you were innocent †¦ even if she didn't like why you were there. I also suspect she'd worry calling guardians would just draw more attention to Jill's identity. It wouldn't surprise me if John didn't even warn her about calling them. He probably thought he was doing everyone a favor.' â€Å"And instead, he lost his stepdaughter,' I said. â€Å"But why would Victor and Robert take her? And how the hell did two old men subdue a teenage girl anyway?' Sonya shrugged. â€Å"They're probably stronger than they seem. Compulsion also likely played a role. And as for why? Hard to say. But Victor wants power and control. Keeping the missing Dragomir with him is a good way to possess that.' I slumped against a tree. â€Å"We'll never get her to Court.' â€Å"We just have to find her,' said Sonya. â€Å"Which I should be able to do once she's asleep.' â€Å"More dream-walking,' I said. My hope began to rekindle. â€Å"You should go to her now. Find out–‘ â€Å"I've tried. She's not asleep. And I'm willing to bet they're keeping her awake for that very reason so they can put some distance between us. I'll keep trying, though.' It wasn't ideal but was the best we could hope for right now. â€Å"And Sydney and the Mastranos?' â€Å"Facing a lot of questions.' Sonya's face fell. I knew she still felt bad about abandoning her cousin, just as I felt bad about Sydney. I gently touched Sonya's arm. â€Å"It's okay. They'll be okay. What you did will help Jill.' She nodded. â€Å"How are we going to stay in touch? I can't always wait for you to be asleep.' Silence. Excellent point. â€Å"Maybe we could get a cell phone today †¦ God knows we've needed one. And well †¦ why don't you just come to us? Where are you anyway?' I wondered if I was making a mistake in inviting her to join us. Dimitri and I had gone to great pains to keep our location secret, and that run-in with the guardians had already been a bit closer than I would have liked. Aside from the obvious problems– imprisonment, execution, et cetera–being captured would take us out of the picture for helping Lissa. Yet, I was pretty sure Sonya was one of our allies, and at this point, she might be our only link to Jill. I'd made a similar gamble in revealing where we were to Victor. And while he had technically helped us, that help had obviously backfired. Nonetheless, I told Sonya the name of our campground and the best directions I could. She said she'd come–I didn't know how she'd manage it but suspected she was resourceful–and would keep trying to reach Jill. â€Å"Sonya †¦' I hesitated to speak, knowing I should just let her end the dream. We had important problems, more serious than what I was about to ask. Plus, this was personal territory. â€Å"What did you mean in the car †¦ when I said I'd shared a dream with my boyfriend? You looked surprised.' Sonya studied me for a long moment, those blue eyes looking deeper into me than I would have liked. Sometimes she seemed safer in crazy mode. â€Å"Auras tell a lot, Rose, and I'm very good at reading them. Much better than your friends probably are. A spirit dream wraps your own aura in gold, which is how I knew. Your personal aura is unique to you, though it fluctuates with your feelings and soul. When people are in love, it shows. Their auras shine. When you were dreaming, yours was bright. The colors were bright †¦ but not what I expected from a boyfriend. Of course, not every relationship is the same. People are at different stages. I would have brushed it off, except †¦' â€Å"Except what?' â€Å"Except, when you're with Dimitri, your aura's like the sun. So is his.' She smiled when I simply stared in stunned silence. â€Å"You're surprised by this?' â€Å"I †¦ that is, we're over. We used to be together, but after his change, he didn't want me anymore. I moved on.' Where moving on apparently meant holding hands and having close, heated moments. â€Å"That's why I'm with Adrian. I'm happy with Adrian.' That last sentence sounded almost defensive. Who was I trying to convince? Her or myself? â€Å"Behaviors and feelings rarely line up,' she said, sounding very Dimitri Zen-like. â€Å"Don't take this the wrong way, but you've got some issues to work out.' Great. Therapy from a crazy woman. â€Å"Okay, let's suppose there's something to this. I only really gave up on Dimitri a couple weeks ago. It's possible I'm probably still holding onto some feelings.' Possible? I thought about how acutely aware of his physical presence I always was in the car, the carefree harmony in the library, how good it felt to work with him in that way of ours, both so determined and almost never second- guessing the other. And only hours ago, in the guestroom †¦ Sonya had the audacity to laugh. â€Å"Possible? After only two weeks? Rose, you're wise in so many ways †¦ and so young in others.' I hated being judged by my age but had no time for temper tantrums. â€Å"Okay, whatever. I've still got feelings. But not him. You didn't see him after he was changed. It was horrible. He was depressed. He said he wanted to avoid me at all costs, that he couldn't love anyone again. It wasn't until this escape madness that he even started acting like his old self.' â€Å"He and I talked about that,' she said, face serious again. â€Å"About the depression. I understand it. After being Strigoi †¦ doing what we did †¦ you don't feel worthy of life. There's just guilt and darkness and the crushing memories of that evil.' She shuddered. â€Å"You †¦ you've acted differently from him. I mean, you look so sad sometimes, but at others †¦ it's like nothing happened. You're already back to your old self. Mostly. Why the difference in you two?' â€Å"Oh, I've still got the guilt, believe me. After Robert changed me †¦' There was venom when she spoke his name. â€Å"Well, I didn't want to leave my house, my bed. I hated myself for what I'd done. I wished I'd been staked to death. Then Dimitri talked to me†¦ . He said that guilt was inevitable. The fact that I can feel it proves I'm not Strigoi. But he told me I can't let that stop me from embracing life again. We've been given second chances, he and I. We can't throw them away. He also said it took him a while to realize it and that he didn't want me to make the same mistakes. He told me to embrace life and its beauty and the people I love before it was too late–even though it'd be difficult. Shaking that Strigoi past †¦ it's like a weight, always pressing on me. He swore he wasn't going to let it control him anymore–which, believe me, sounds noble but is very hard to do–and that he wouldn't let his life be pointless. He'd already lost s ome things forever but refused to let go of the rest.' â€Å"He said all that? I †¦ I'm not even sure what half of it means.' He told me to embrace life and its beauty and the people I love before it was too late. â€Å"Sometimes I don't either. Like I said, it's much easier said than done. Still, I think he has helped me recover more quickly than I would have on my own. I'm grateful. And as for you and your auras †¦' That small smile returned. â€Å"Well, you've got to figure it out. I don't believe in soul mates, not exactly. I think it's ridiculous to think there's only one person out there for us. What if your â€Å"soul mate' lives in Zimbabwe? What if he dies young? I also think â€Å"two souls becoming one' is ridiculous. You need to hold onto yourself. But I do believe in souls being in sync, souls that mirror each other. I see that synchronicity in auras. I can see love too. And I see all of that in his aura and in yours. Only you can choose what to do with that information–if you even believe it.' â€Å"No pressure,' I muttered. She looked like she was about to end the dream but then stopped and gave me a piercing look. â€Å"One thing to be careful of, Rose. Your auras match, but they aren't identical. Dimitri's is spiked with bits of darkness, leftover from his trauma. That darkness fades a little each day. You carry darkness too–but it's not fading.' I shivered. â€Å"Lissa. It's the darkness I'm taking from her, isn't it?' â€Å"Yes. I don't know much about bonds, but what you're doing–even if it's helping her–is very dangerous. Spirit tears us apart, no question, but in some ways †¦ I think we spirit users are built for it a little better. Not that it's always obvious,' she added wryly. â€Å"But you? No. And if you take too much, I don't know what'll happen. I'm afraid of it building and building. I'm afraid it's just going to take one spark–one catalyst–to make it explode inside you.' â€Å"What happens then?' I whispered. She shook her head slowly. â€Å"I don't know.' With that, the dream faded. I fell back into dreamless sleep, though my body–as if knowing it was time to take my shift–woke on its own a few hours later. Night's blackness surrounded me once more, and nearby, I could hear Dimitri's even, steady breathing and sense his warmth. Everything I'd just discussed with Sonya came pouring back to me. Too much, too much. I didn't know where to begin processing it. And no, I didn't know if I could believe it, not with what I'd seen in real life. Behaviors and feelings rarely line up. With a deep breath, I forced myself to be a guardian, not an emotionally distraught girl. â€Å"Your time for sleep, comrade.' His voice came to me like light in the darkness, soft and low. â€Å"You can get more rest if you need it.' â€Å"No, I'm fine,' I told him. â€Å"And remember, you're not–‘ â€Å"I know, I know,' he chuckled. â€Å"I'm not the general.' Oh lord. We finished each other's jokes. I do believe in souls that are in sync. Sternly reminding myself that Sonya's visit hadn't actually been about my love life, I recounted the rest of the dream to Dimitri, describing John's betrayal and Jill's abduction. â€Å"Did I †¦ did I do the right thing telling Sonya where we are?' Several moments passed before he replied. â€Å"Yes. You're right that we need her help–and she can find Jill. The problem is, Victor and Robert have to know that too.' He sighed. â€Å"And you're right that I'd better rest up for what's to come.' So, in that efficient way of his, he said no more. Soon, his breathing shifted as he fell back into sleep. It was amazing how he could do that with so little effort. Of course, that was something we'd been taught as guardians: sleep when you can because you don't know when you'll be able to again. It was a trick I'd never picked up. Staring into the darkness, I kept my senses sharp, listening for any sounds that might indicate danger. I might not have a talent for falling asleep instantly, but I could keep my waking body alert while still checking in with Lissa. Jill and our escape had occupied me today, but events at Court still weighed heavily on me. Someone had tried to kill Lissa, and a group of guardians had just dragged off Eddie. When I looked through her eyes, it was no surprise that I found most of my friends together. They were in a stark, intimidating room similar to the one she'd been questioned in about my escape–except it was larger. And with good reason. It was packed with all sorts of people. Adrian and Christian stood by Lissa, and I needed no aura reading to know the two guys were as uneasy as she was. Hans stood behind a table, hands pressed on it as he leaned forward and glared at everyone. Opposite Lissa, against the far wall, Eddie sat stone-faced in a chair with a guardian on either side of him. Both of his guards were tense, braced to leap into action. They thought Eddie was a threat, I realized, which was ridiculous. Yet, Hans seemed to share their opinion. He jabbed his finger at a photograph lying on the table. Taking a step forward, Lissa saw that the picture was of the guy who'd attacked her–a picture taken after his death. His eyes were closed, his skin gone pale–but it provided a detailed look at his facial features, bland as they were. â€Å"You killed a Moroi!' exclaimed Hans. I'd apparently tuned in to the middle of the conversation. â€Å"How is that not a problem? You're trained to protect them!' â€Å"I did,' said Eddie. He was so calm, so serious that the part of me that could still muster a sense of humor thought he was like Dimitri Junior. â€Å"I protected her. What difference does it make if the threat's Moroi or Strigoi?' â€Å"We have no proof of any of the details of this attack,' growled Hans. â€Å"You have three witnesses!' snapped Christian. â€Å"Are you saying our reports are worthless?' â€Å"I'm saying you're his friends, which makes your reports questionable. I would have liked to have had a guardian around to verify this.' Now Lissa's temper flared. â€Å"You did! Eddie was there.' â€Å"And there was no way you could have protected her without killing him?' asked Hans. Eddie didn't answer, and I knew he was seriously considering the question, wondering if he might truly have made a mistake. At last, he shook his head. â€Å"If I hadn't killed him, he would have killed me.' Hans sighed, his eyes weary. It was easy for me to be angry at him right now, and I had to remind myself he was just doing his job. He held up the picture. â€Å"And none of you–none of you–have ever seen this man?' Lissa studied the face once more, repressing a shiver. No, she hadn't recognized him during the attack and didn't recognize him now. There was really nothing remarkable about him–no notable feature you could point out. Our other friends shook their heads, but Lissa felt herself frowning. â€Å"Yes?' asked Hans, immediately jumping on that subtle shift. â€Å"I don't know him †¦' she said slowly. The conversation with Joe the janitor popped into her mind. â€Å"What'd the guy look like?' she'd asked Joe. â€Å"Plain. Ordinary. Except the hand.' Lissa stared at the picture a moment longer, which just barely showed a scarred hand with a couple of bent fingers. I had also noticed it in the fight. She lifted her eyes to Hans. â€Å"I don't know him,' she repeated. â€Å"But I think I know someone who does. There's a janitor †¦ well, a former janitor. The one who testified about Rose. I think he's seen this guy before. They have an interesting business relationship. Mikhail was going to make sure he didn't leave Court.' Adrian did not look happy at all about having Joe brought up, seeing as it implicated his mother for bribery. â€Å"They'll have a hard time making him talk.' Hans narrowed his eyes. â€Å"Oh, if he knows something, we'll make him talk.' He gave a sharp nod toward the door, and one of the guardians by Eddie moved toward it. â€Å"Find this guy. And send in our â€Å"guests.† The guardian nodded and left the room. â€Å"What guests?' asked Lissa. â€Å"Well,' said Hans, â€Å"it's funny you mention Hathaway. Because we just had a sighting of her.' Lissa stiffened, panic flashing through her. They found Rose. But how? Abe had assured her I was safe in that town in West Virginia. â€Å"She and Belikov were spotted outside of Detroit, where they kidnapped a girl.' â€Å"They'd never–‘ Lissa stopped. â€Å"Did you say Detroit?' It was with great restraint that she didn't shoot questioning looks at Christian and Adrian. Hans nodded, and although he gave the appearance of just passing on information, I knew he was watching for some sort of telling reaction from my friends. â€Å"They had a few other people with them. Some of them got away, but we caught one.' â€Å"Who did they kidnap?' asked Christian. His astonishment wasn't faked either. He too had thought we were safely stashed. â€Å"Mastrano,' said Hans. â€Å"Something Mastrano.' â€Å"Jill Mastrano?' exclaimed Lissa. â€Å"Jailbait?' asked Adrian. Hans clearly wasn't up to date on this nickname but didn't have a chance to question it because just then, the door opened. Three guardians entered, and with them was– Sydney.

Bbmdoc.233

CHRIST UNIVERSITY Hosur Road, Bangalore Department of Management Studies Course Plan-2012-2013 Subject/Code: Organizational Behaviour/BBM 232 |Name of the faculty | Email | |Dr. Jain Mathew |[email  protected] in | |Mr. John Paul |john. [email  protected] in | |Ms.Mary Thomas |mary. [email  protected] in | |Ms. Vinita Seshadri |vinita. [email  protected] in | INTRODUCTION To provide students with thorough knowledge in theory and concepts of organizational behavior, also to equip them to address the contemporary changes related to the behavior and performance of people in organizations today.Teaching and learning approach Each week's teaching sessions will comprise: Four- Hour lecture including student centered activity During which you will be introduced to the topic for that week. It is important to note that the coverage of each topic during the lecture will be incomplete unless you read the references provided and attempt the tutorial questions that cover that topic. It is important to note that for each topic a set of objectives is given and it is your responsibility to ensure that you meet those objectives.Recommended text books Stephen Robbins, Timothy A. Judge, Seema Sanghi, Organizational Behavior, 13th Edition Pearson Education, Journals Human Capital MBA Review HRM Review ICFAI HR HBR Review Case Folio Lecture Schedule: 1. MODULE – Introduction to Organizational Behaviour 1. 1 Objectives †¢ Understand the importance of interpersonal skills in the workplace. †¢ Describe the manager’s function, role and skills. – Week |Topics |Hour |Methodology | | |Nature, importance and purpose of organizations |1 |Discussion | | | | | | |Nov 5 – Nov 10 | | | | | |Managerial Skills by Robert Katz |2 |Lecture (C/PPT) | | |Management Roles by Mintzberg |3 |PPT; video showing various roles | | |Effective versus successful Managerial Activities|4 |Group discussion and reflections | | |- | | | | |Luthan’s study | | | 1B. 2 Objectives: On completion of the material you would be able to: †¢ Define Organization Behaviour †¢ Trace the historical roots of organization behaviour †¢ Explain OB Model †¢ Identify the major behavioral science disciplines that contribute to OB †¢ Identify the challenges and opportunities managers have in applying OB Concepts Week |Topics |Hour |Methodology | | |Introduction to Organization Behaviour – OB Model|1 |Lecture (C/PPT) | | | | | | |Nov 12 –Nov 19 | | | | | |Challenges in handling OB |2 |Group discussion and reflections | | |Contribution from other disciplines |3 |Concept Mapping | | |Case Study |4 |Use as a tool to explain how to approach OB case | | | | |studies | 1+. 2 Reference Prerequisite readings – Chapter 1 Stephen Robbins, Timothy A. Judge , Seema Sanghi , Organizational Behavior, 14th Edition Pearson Education 2. MODULE – II Personality 2. 1 Objectives: On completion of the material you would be able to: †¢ Define Personality, describe how it is measured and factors that determine n individual’s personality †¢ Identify Personality Traits relevant to OB and it’s applications in the workplace |Week |Topics |Hour |Methodology | | |Meaning & Determinants of personality |1 |Concept Mapping | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Nov 20 – Dec 4 | | | | | |Theories of personality: Type and Trait theory |2 |Activity: ‘Favourite Personality’ | | |The ‘Big Five’ Personality Traits |3 |Lecture (C/PPT) | | |Experiential Exercise: Big Five Personality |4 |Questionnaire | | |Trait | | | | |Myers-Briggs Indicator |5 |Lecture (C/PPT) | | |Psychoanalytical theory |6 |Lecture (C/PPT) | | |Erickson’s personality |7 |Lecture (C/PPT); Handout | | |Group Activity9-+ |8 |Write up on various personality +-+traits of famous | | | | |personalities | | |Case Study |9 |Case discussion/Written Analysis | 2. 2 Reference: Prerequisi te readings –Ch. 4 Stephen Robbins, Timothy A. Judge , Seema Sanghi , Organizational Behavior, 14th Edition Pearson Education 3. MODULE- III Learning Meaning of learning –– Learning theory of Organisational Behaviour-Classical- Operant conditioning- Cognitive- Observation Theory 3. 1 Objectives: On completion of the material you would be able to: †¢ Define and understand what is Learning †¢ Four theories which explains how learning takes place †¢ Learning principles which needs to be observed in any training programme †¢ Its impact on individual behaviour and organization Week |Topics |Hour |Methodology | | |Meaning of learning |1 |Concept Mapping | | | | | | | | | | | |Dec 5 – Dec 21 | | | | | |Learning process |2 |Discussion | | |Classical conditioning |3 |Lecture (C/PPT) & video | | |Operant conditioning |4 |Lecture (C/PPT) & video | | |Cognitive Theory |5 |Lecture (C/PPT) | | |Social Learning Theory |6 |Group discussion – ‘Role Models’ | | |Group Activity |7 |Presentation on videos depicting various learning | | | | |styles/skits | | |Principles of Learning-Reinforcement and |8 |Lecture (C/PPT) | |Punishment | | | | |Learning Curve |9 |Discussion | | |Case Study |10 |Case discussion/Written Analysis | 3. 2 Reference: Prerequisite readings – Chapter 9 K. Aswathappa, 9th edition, OB-Himalaya Publishing House / Chapter 4- Kavitha Singh-OB Text and Cases-Pearson Education / Chapter 4-OB- Hellriegel & Slocum- Thomson 4. MODULE- IV Attitudes Meaning, Characteristics and functions- Components-the ABC Model- Formation of attitude Meaning, Charecteristics, Components and Formation of attitudes. Change in attitude- Barriers to change- How to minimize the barriers. 4. 1 Objectives On completion of the material you would be able to: †¢ Contrast the three components of an attitude †¢ Discuss attitude and attitude formation †¢ Relate attitude to behaviour Week |Topics |Hour |Me thodology | | |Meaning, Characteristics and functions |1 |Concept Mapping | | | | | | | | | | | |Jan 2 – Jan 12 | | | | | |Components-the ABC Model |2 |Lecture (C/PPT) | | |Cognitive Dissonance; Job |3 |GroupDiscussion | | |Satisfaction/Dissatisfaction | | | | |Formation of attitudes- Changing attitudes |4 |Lecture (C/PPT) | | |Barriers to change, How to minimize the barriers |5 |Video | | |Case Study |6 |Case discussion/Written Analysis | 4. 2 Reference: Prerequisite readings – Ch 3 Stephen Robbins, Timothy A. Judge , Seema Sanghi , Organizational Behavior, 14th Edition Pearson Education 5. MODULE – V – PERCEPTION Meaning and definition – Need, Factors influencing perception, perceptual consistency, Context and definition,. 5. 1 Objectives: On completion of the material you would be able to: †¢ Understand importance and factors contributing for perception †¢ Understand the concepts in perceptual Organization Understand factors contri buting towards the interpretation of data |Week |Topics |Hour |Methodology | | |Meaning, nature and importance of Perception |1 |Concept Mapping | | | | | | | | | | | |Jan 21 – Jan 31| | | | | |Factors influencing perception |2 |Lecture (C/PPT) | | |Experiential Exercise 1 |3 |Story telling based on pictures | | |Perceptual Process |4 |Group discussion | | |Interpersonal perception 5 |Video | | |Case Study |6 |Case discussion/Written Analysis | 5. 2 Reference Prerequisite readings – Chapter 6 K. Aswathappa, 9th edition, OB-Himalaya Publishing House 6. MODULE –VI Group Behaviour and Group Dynamics 6. 1 Objectives: On completion of the module you would be able to: †¢ Analyse the different stages of group formation and development. †¢ Differentiate formal and informal groups. †¢ Know the factors that increase or decrease group cohesiveness †¢ Differentiate between groups and teams. †¢ Discuss the conditions for building successful teams. Week |Topics |Hour |Methodology | | |Meaning and types of groups |1 |Concept Mapping | | | | | | | | | | | |Feb 1 – Feb 12 | | | | | |Formation of groups |2 |Activity + Reflection | | |Characteristics of Groups (Size, Norms, Status, |3 |Lecture (C/PPT) | | |Roles) | | | | |Characteristics of Groups (Cohesiveness, |4 |Lecture (C/PPT) | | |Groupthink, Groupshift) | | | | |Group decision making |5 |Lecture (C/PPT) | | |Groups vs Teams |6 |Discussion | 6. 2 Reference: *Aswathappa –Ch. 14 and 15, Organizational Behavior (Text, cases and Games), 9th Edition, Himalaya Publication 7. MODULE – VII Leadership 7. 1 Objectives: On completion of this module you would be able to: †¢ Differentiate Leadership and management. †¢ Leadership styles and their impact on followers. †¢ Transformational leadership, women as leaders and charismatic leadership are emerging issues in leadership. Week |Topics |Hour |Methodology | | |Meaning, concept and Differences wit h managers |1 |Concept Mapping | | | | | | | | | | | |Feb 13 – Feb 23| | | | | |Leadership Styles |2 |Lecture (C/PPT) | | |Managerial Grid; Situational Leadership (Hersey &|3 |Lecture (C/PPT) | | |Blanchard) | | | | |Tannenbaum and Schmidt; Path Goal theory |4 |Lecture (C/PPT) | | |Transactional, Transformational & Charismatic |5 |Presentations by students | | |leaders | | | | |Communication: Meaning and importance, barriers |6 |Discussion | 7. 2 Reference: *Aswathappa –Ch. 18, Organizational Behavior (Text, cases and Games), 9th Edition, Himalaya Publication 8. MODULE – VIII Motivation 8. 1 Objectives: On completion of the material you would be able to: †¢ Identify major content theories of work motivation Explain the major process theories of work motivation †¢ Understand theories of motivation and evaluate their applicability today |Week |Topics |Hour |Methodology | | |Meaning and Concept of motivation |1 |Concept Mapping | | | | | | | | | | | |Feb 25 – Mar 4 | | | | | |Content Theories of Motivation – Two factor |2 |Presentations by students | | |theory, Theory X & Y | | | | |Alderfer ERG Theory; McClleland’s need |3 |Presentations by students | | |classification | | | | |Process Theories- Vroom’s Expectancy Theory, |4 |Lecture (C/PPT) | | |Porter-Lawler theory | | | | |Case Study |5 |Case discussion/Written Analysis | 8. 2 Reference: Prerequisite readings – Chapter 11- K. Aswathappa, 9th edition, OB-Himalaya Publishing House / Chapter 6- Stephen Robbins, Timothy A. Judge , Seema Sanghi / Chapter 8- Fred Luthans- OB- 9th Edition Mc Graw Hill. 9. MODULE-IX- Organizational Change 9. 1 Objectives: On completion of the module you would be able to understand †¢ The nature, level, need and types of change. †¢ The reasons for change in organization. †¢ The reasons why people resist change in organization. †¢ The change process. Week |Topics |Hour |Methodology | | |Nat ure and Levels of Change |1 |Concept Mapping | | | | | | | | | | | |Feb 25 – Mar 4 | | | | | |Types and Forces for Change & Lewin’s Model for |2 |Lecture (C/PPT) | | |Change Management | | | | |Change Process ( Six Stages) |3 |Lecture (C/PPT) | | |Resistance to change (RTC) and methods dealing |4 |Discussions | | |with RTC | | | 9. 2 Reference: *Aswathappa –Ch. 22, Organizational Behavior (Text, cases and Games), 9th Edition, Himalaya Publication Continuous Internal Assessment CIA 1 – Mid Semester Examinations for 2 hours and 50 marks CIA 2 – Comprising of the following 3 components of 10 marks each: i) Article Review – The student will be required to read a specified article and present the review in the following format †¢ Name of the Author, Year of Publication, Title of the article †¢ Objective of the study †¢ Methodology adopted – o Sample (Technique and size) o Tools o Analysis †¢ Findings of the study †¢ Recommendations of the author (ii) MCQ test. (iii) Case analysis – The case must be analyzed in the following manner †¢ Critical analysis o Key facts in the case o Central problem in the case o Theoretical concept it relates to †¢ Answer the Questions †¢ Recommendations/Suggestions + Conclusion CIA 3 – Comprising of the following 3 components of 10 marks each: (i) Written Case analysis of a comprehensive case following the format specified above. (ii) MCQ conducted through LMS (iii) Class participation evaluated through Q, Activities,

Managing Diversity at Spencer Owens Essay

The definition of diversity: The concept of diversity encompasses acceptance and respect. It means understanding that each individual is unique, and recognizing our individual differences. These can be along the dimensions of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, age, physical abilities, religious beliefs, political beliefs, or other ideologies. It is the exploration of these differences in a safe, positive, and nurturing environment. It is about understanding each other and moving beyond simple tolerance to embracing and celebrating the rich dimensions of diversity contained within each individual.1 Two corporations who have implemented diversity efforts and have dealt with the benefits and challenges of these efforts are Spencer Owens & Co. and Cityside Financial Services. When examining both diversity efforts, it is important to understand how well each company has done with previous and present efforts, the problems the companies are facing now and the root causes of these problems. While these companies have implemented their own efforts to diversify their staff, it is important to examine the similarities and differences in managing diversity. Spencer Owens & Co. How well has Spencer Owens done in its diversity efforts? Spencer Owens’ recent past shows a great deal of effort put into diversifying their workforce. In the mid-1980’s, Spencer Owens & Co. initiated a strategy to diversify the company’s employees from entry-level to executive ranks. Prior to this start date, the company had an all-white executive male team. From the start of this initiative, Spencer Owens did very well on its diversity efforts to hire people â€Å"on their merits and for their capacities to do what is expected or required of them. To implement  the plan, the company set hiring goals, communicating them to all employees and creating accountability.† Over the next ten years, this in turn created opportunities for women and people of color to become part of the team and establish career paths for them to be future leaders in various departments of the company. Following the start of this program (1985-1995), Spencer Owens was considered the most diverse staff in its industry accounting for 50% of the firm’s 150 managers and professionals were women, and 30% were people of color. Additionally, during this period, people of color that were hired into entry-level positions had been promoted and moved up into managerial positions. Four out of the12 member executive team were women and three were people of color. Extensive involvement in the efforts to attract, recruit and retain minorities and women in becoming managers, professional staff and directors were a key priority to the firm. Spencer Owens also knew that a key to internal diversity was to ensure the company’s policies and overall commitment to an equitable workplace by instituting affirmative action goals, along with, aggressive hiring and advancement practices that set high qualification and performance hurdles. 2  The team at Spencer Owens was proud of their company’s commitment to fairness and equality and to encourage the employees to be â€Å"colorblind† to gender and ethnic differences. Along with this strategy, the firm also initiated sensitivity training and held follow-up discussions. Multiple employees commented, â€Å"Everyone is the same and treated the same.† With feedback from these trainings and discussions, the firm went a step further to create networking groups for women and people of color. How well are they doing now? Why is the firm now having trouble? Recently, Spencer Owens diversity efforts have witnessed great changes while also encountering many issues and problems. In 2000, the firm hired Agnes Richards, their first woman executive in 45 years. Over the course of the next three years, Richards noticed that the diversity efforts were slowly unraveling and affecting the productivity of the company. For  example, Richards noticed friction among race relations, people of color were bringing charges of racism against the white workers, and there were new complaints made by the two networking groups. One of the first steps that Richards and her leadership team took was to reinstate the sensitivity trainings. However, it was noticed that there was poor attendance among the racial and ethnic minorities. In addition to these issues, Richards fired an African-American female manager due to tardiness issues and for portraying a bad attitude. At that point, employees became angry and frustrated. Due to the firm’s problems, Richards hired consultants to study the firm’s race and gender relations. The interviews revealed the following: †¢ Employees have concerns about the affirmative action initiative. †¢ White employees feel that the diversity program is adversely affecting the quality of the firm’s work. †¢ It is perceived that white male managers are opposed to new methods brought forth by newer employees. †¢ People of color are critical of affirmative action program, including superficial results and feel that they are tolerated and not accepted. †¢ People of color feel their ideas are easily dismissed. †¢ Perception that the network groups defend the minorities of the company. †¢ Overall feeling of retaliation and fear of being called a racist. What is the root cause (or causes)? Spencer Owens’s discrimination-and-fairness paradigm, which measures progress in diversity â€Å"by how well the company achieves its recruitment and retention goals rather than by the degree to which conditions in the company allow employees to draw on their personal assets and perspectives to do their work more effectively, had created a cognitive blind spot. As a result, the company’s leadership could not frame the problem accurately or solve it effectively.10 Instead, the company needed a cultural shift – it needed to grasp what to do with its diversity once it had achieved the numbers. Because of senior managers’ resistance to a cultural transformation, Spencer Owens continues to struggle with the tensions rising from the diversity of its workforce.10 The root causes of these problems is that the employees need to feel that the ways they may be different are understood and accepted.3 With the de-emphasis of sensitivity trainings and follow-up discussions, the team became isolated in their views on diversity versus affirmative action goals. The misunderstandings became apparent with the original mission â€Å"to consider people on their merits and for their capacities to do what is expected or required of them.† Many minority employees say they gain a sense of belonging in the workplace when their employers create opportunities for workers with diverse backgrounds to interact with others and to become involved as apart of a group. 3 The networks were a great idea for employees to feel connected to the company; however, the execution was not done properly. These diversity programs could have helped employees of different backgrounds by communicating feelings and experiences about climbing the corporate ladder or breaking through the glass celiling.3 However, these network groups became defenders for women and the other minorities due to the perception of treatment, opportunities, miscommunication between the minorities and the white employees. Additional root causes for the present problems include employees wanting fair treatment, a sense of belonging, understanding and acceptance, and a feeling that they are contributing. Cityside Financial Services How well has Cityside Financial Services done in its diversity efforts? Cityside Financial Services has done well in diversity efforts. In 1999, after 69 years of being in business, the company had become very much diversified with half of the employees in the company being females and 90% of the support staff was African American. In addition, 53% of middle managers, 42% of senior managers, and 25% executives were African American. Cityside operated as two units in their Sales Division: Retail Operations  and External Deposits. The retail operations unit was filled with mostly African American employees. The external deposits unit was made up of mostly white college graduates. Nearly equal numbers of managerial positions existed in each unit, giving whites and blacks similar advancement opportunities. Bank employees agreed that, â€Å"If you did your job well, you’ll be recognized and promoted for it.† 4 As stated in the article, â€Å"Over the years, Cityside Bank developed a reputation for being a high-functioning, multicultural organ ization.† While the bank itself was deemed to be a multicultural organization, the two sales units were founded on two separate and distinct models that it was described by one executive as â€Å"two different banks†. While the bank was diversified as a whole, these two units were very much specialized to their distinct client base. This separation of duties and ethnicities has led to some of the problems that the company presently is facing. While the External Deposit team was described as â€Å"white, smart, dedicated and loyal workaholics, it was also said that it’s not the perfect job for black staff that need a salary, may be hard-working, but not at that level.† In addition, some of the other red flags to the present problems included wealthy individuals complaining about the limited services being offered to them, other clients in Retail Operations feeling overshadowed by wealthier clients in External Deposits (and were leaving the bank), and the lack of understanding (no clear guidelines) by Retail and External as the best way to handle the new market segment. This lack of coordination compromised the bank’s efficiency and created trust issues between these two departments as to the best way to help clients. How well are they doing now? Why is the firm now having trouble? While the company continues to maintain an overall diversified work staff, they are now encountering significant issues in their diversity efforts. One of the main causes of the problems that Cityside is now facing is that they have sectionalized the company with African American employees  working in the Retail Operations department and the white employees working in the External Deposits department. Per the head of External Deposits, she commented that â€Å"the problem is what is expected of senior management here has a cultural bias towards whites. It’s not to say that African Americans aren’t also able to do all that. But because of historical racial issues, they have been limited.† According to one black officer in Retail, he commented that â€Å"white workers would not be able to handle the demands of the Retail unit.† He continued to say that â€Å"(whites) wouldn’t know what to do with people in this neighborhood.† This bias ties into ethnocentrism, which represents the feelings that one’s cultural rules and norms are superior or more appropriate than the rules and norms of another culture.5 In addition, poor career planning shows another problem that African American’s have faced as potential candidates in the External Deposit unit. When Ron Wilkens, one of the investors of the bank, wanted to learn more about how the black workforce viewed its career prospects, it was noted that the root problem was how they (African Americans) were perceived by the whites. Was he deemed as a decision maker and someone that understands the customer where his thoughts are taken seriously or is he someone that is viewed as good at operationally making things work? His black officer commented that he is respected by white colleagues, but questioned the value of his contribution to the firm seen by his white colleagues. While there is diversity in the company as a whole, there needs to be more diversity in each division to ensure that each employee is given an equal chance to grow and that customers are offered the best goods and services as possible. What do these cases have in common? There are some significant similarities between the two cases. First, both companies originally had an all-white staff. Both companies instituted programs to diversify their teams. For example, Spencer Owens adopted an  affirmative action plan while Cityside initiated an aggressive minority program. After these programs were implemented, both companies had double-digit percentages of their workforce made up of women and African Americans. It was noted in both cases that these companies were recognized in their industries as greatly achieving a multicultural organization. With that, both firms committed to a fair approach for advancing all employees. It was also noted that as the diverse programs were in action, both companies began to experience compromised efficiency as the staff began to have problems working together. At Spencer Owens, the affirmative action movement left some employees feeling alienated and unappreciated. The article states, â€Å"Many non-white professionals reported having their ideas routinely disregarded.† Furthermore, a Latino programmer staffer explained, â€Å"Until white people discover an idea, until they express it with their own words in their style, it’s as if it doesn’t exist.† This comment is similar to the quote made by one employee at Cityside who stated, â€Å"When a white man disagrees, he’s being strong. He’s taken with respect. When a black man disagrees, he’s being negative and whiny, militant and kind of like Malcolm X.† Both quotes show that while the companies made strides as far as diversifying their employee base, there is still a great difference in the way the ideas and contributions of white and minority employees are perceived. With this comparison summary, in both cases, the working environment involves how employees perceive one another. This is labeled as social cognition and social information processing. Social cognition is the study of how people make sense of other people and themselves. The perception process influences a host of managerial activities, organizational processes, and quality of life issues. 5 Additionally, stereotyping employees is also seen in both these case studies. At Cityside, African-American employees in the Retail Operations unit are deemed to be able to better relate to the â€Å"local community†, which is predominately African American. At Spencer Owens, there is a stereotype threat in which white managers are in fear of supervising people of color in  that â€Å"any constructive feedback could be perceived as being criticized and subsequently being called a racist.† Lastly, both companies conducted interviews and developed surveys to better understand the opinions of the staff in order to get to the root cause(s) of why tensions were on the rise. What differences do these two cases have? The main difference in the two cases is the approach the companies took to diversity. As previously stated, Spencer Owens used the discrimination and fairness paradigm, which has a â€Å"focus on equal opportunity, fair treatment, recruitment, and compliance with federal Equal Employment Opportunity requirements.† 10 This approach can make employees feel equal, but it can also lead to feelings of alienation and a loss of identity to the employees. This may be what led to the elimination of sensitivity training. In a sense, if we are all equal and are basically the same type of person, then there is no need to be sensitive to our differences, since this approach aims to eliminate the differences entirely. This approach is what led to the problems now being seen in Spencer Owens. Cityside used an approach called the Access and Legitimacy Paradigm. Supporters of this approach believed that you need â€Å"access to – and legitimacy with-a more diverse clientele by matching the demographics of the organization to those of critical consumer or constituent groups.† 10 Cityside put African-American employees in retail because they would be dealing with mostly clients of the same race and culture and this would give the company legitimacy in the community and increase sales. Where this approach went wrong is that it alienated African-American employees and clients. While the discrimination-and-fairness paradigm used by Spencer Owens aims to make all employees equal and the same, access-and-legitimacy, takes the opposite approach and separates employees by race, not allowing the two to work together or grow in their roles in the company. What approach to diversity might have been more effective in each of these cases? Diversity and Affirmative Action: Difference Affirmative action is selective in mandating changes that benefit previously disadvantaged groups. It is an outgrowth of Equal Employment Opportunity legislation.5 Diversity is inclusive, encompassing everyone in the workplace. It seeks to create a working environment in which everyone and every group fits, feels accepted, has value, and contributes.6 Managing diversity, while based on cultural change, is a pragmatic business strategy that focuses on maximizing the productivity, creativity and commitment of the workforce while meeting the needs of diverse groups. 7 Approaches to diversity that might have been more effective in these cases: Managing diversity entails recognition of the unique contribution every employee can make.5 Managing diversity also moves beyond valuing diversity in that it is a way in which to do business and should be aligned with other organizational strategic plans.6 Diverse employees offer an extraordinarily wide range of proficiencies for doing business in any marketplace. The following are different approaches that Wilkens and Richards could have taken to be more effective in their efforts (see footnote 8): 1. To attract young, new hires, college career fairs allow an employer to target people of color and women who may be good potential employees. 2. Employee referral programs: good employees typically associate with other good potential friends and associates. By implementing a program where employees refer other good candidates, employers can identify and reach out to others of the same race or background. 3. Recruitment: enlightened employers know that they need to take a hard look at their own tactics for generating diverse job candidates. These organizations take a serious look at their internal assessment around recruiting. With this, employers target key groups of employees and then mentor them so that they are able to navigate the system successfully. 4. Education/trainings: a successful diversity program will also educate all of a company’s employees to understand the business rationale behind their efforts. That way, the employees who don’t directly benefit from a company’s diversity efforts  understand that they still have a stake in the program’s success. In addition, encouraging employees to participate in skills-based volunteer projects can help unleash targeted skills.5 5. Mentoring programs: It is important to understand that a company cannot expect to change in corporate culture unless you get your full employee base involved. Partnering lower level employees with senior level employees, including diverse and promising professionals of color mentor-mentee sponsorships, may help facilitate the understanding of working together. 6. Merit systems: performance standards should be based on a thorough job analysis. Standards should be periodically updated. It is also suggested that the standards not be based on traits and personality factors; focus should be on behavior or performance – what the employee does.9 7. Company philosophy: seeking out practices that emphasize equality and teamwork in compensation and decision-making. What should Wilkens/Richards do to turn things around? In addition to considering the above seven items, Wilkens and Richards should contemplate the following actions: 1. Reinstate sensitivity trainings: this needs to be mandatory for all employees to improve the negative relationships between the team’s diversity as a workgroup, to help with conflict management and interpersonal dynamics.5 This training will help to encourage collaborative behavior and improve communication efforts amongst the groups. a. Diversity should be understood as the varied perspectives and approaches to work that members of different identity groups bring.10 2. Take steps to reduce negative effects of unconscious stereotyping and increase the use of group goals in heterogeneous groups. Rewarding groups to accomplish group goals might encourage group members to focus on their common objectives rather than on demographic faultiness that are unrelated to performance. a. The leadership team must understand that a diverse workforce will embody different perspectives and approaches to work, and must truly value variety of opinion and insight. 3. The leadership team must recognize both the learning opportunities and the challenges that the expression of different  perspectives presents for an organization.10 4. The organizational culture must create an expectation of high standards from everyone.10 5. The organizational culture must stimulate personal development.10 6. The organizational culture must encourage openness and make workers feel valued.10 7. The organization must have a well-articulated and widely understood mission.10 Conclusion: Wilkens and Richards must realize that increasing demographic variation does not in itself increase organizational effectiveness. They need to realize that it is how a company defines diversity –and what it does with the experiences of being a diverse organization – that delivers on the promise.10 These companies should develop an outlook on diversity that enables them to incorporate employees’ perspectives into the main work of the organization and to enhance work by rethinking primary tasks and redefining markets, products, strategies, missions, business practices, and even cultures. By instituting this learning-and-effectiveness paradigm for managing diversity, Wilkens and Richards will tap into true diversity benefits.10 References: 1. http://gladstone.uoregon.edu/~asuomca/diversityinit/definition.html 2. Ely, Robin. (April 17, 2006). â€Å"Managing Diversity at Spencer Owens & Co.† 3. Grensing-Pophal, Lin, (May 2002). â€Å"Reaching for Diversity Efforts in the Workplace.† 4. Ely, Robin. (April 17, 2006). â€Å"Managing Diversity at Cityside Financial Services† 5. Kreitner, Robert & Knicki, Angelo. (9th Edition/2010). â€Å"Organizational Behavior† 6. Stonybrook University. â€Å"Diversity and Affirmative Action: Difference† 7. www.business-marketing.com/store/affirmvsdiv.html 8. www.boston.com/jobs/diversity. (May 9, 2004). â€Å"DiversityWorks: How all Employees Benefit.† 9. Hodge, John. (June 1, 1993). â€Å"Relationship between managing diversity and merit-based systems.† 10. Thomas, David A. and Ely, Robin A. (September/October 1996). â€Å"Making Differences Matter: A New Paradigm for Managing Diversity.†