The Chartered Management Institute Leadership and Management Case Study

The Chartered Management Institute Leadership and Management Case Study Introduction The Chartered Management Institute, CMI, is a UK based organization with the mandate to provide both practicing and would be managers with the best management and leadership skills. Being the only chartered organization in the UK that is devoted to improve management and leadership practice, the magnitude of CMI’s mandate cannot be underestimated.Advertising We will write a custom case study sample on The Chartered Management Institute Leadership and Management specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More It is assumed that, while only a fifth of managers in the UK have the necessary professional requirements, it is expected that at least 0.8 million new management positions are likely to be created by in five years’ time (CMI, 2010). This statistics comes at a time when management has been declared as the biggest profession in Britain. CMI is an organization that draws best practices from established customs such as th e National Occupational Standards. Using these standards, CMI is able to set the best benchmarks for both corporate and individual clients. CMI’s main aim is to promote the attainment of the best leadership and management skills. Due to its successes, CMI’s expanding membership currently stands at 86000 individuals and about 450 corporate members. These figures were taken in 2010. CMI is not a mere leadership and management accreditation body. It is an organization that creates real value for its clients through practical lessons. To attain this, CMI has a variety of mechanisms through which managers can attain the best leadership and management skills. As such, CMI’s training is designed from mentorship programs, case studies and extensive research. CMI delivers its training program both formally and informally, mostly through on the job training, e-learning among other mechanisms. CMI offers the Chartered Manager Award but only to those managers who demonstrat e competence in at least 6 key management skills. As such, CMI is a very critical body in not only in improving management and leadership training but also in acquisition of desirable professional qualification for managers What are the benefits of well trained and qualified managers to employees, businesses and the UK economy? CMI main mandate, as previously stated, is it to ensure that managers attain the best management and leadership skills. Coincidentally, well trained managers accrue numerous benefits not only to employees but also to businesses, and by extension the UK economy. The table below highlights these benefits. On employees On business On the economy Leadership Well trained managers lead to improved employee motivation, which improves employee productivity, better performance, increased efficiency , reduction in absenteeism as well as improved employee health Well trained managers attract and retain top talent Qualified managers inspires trust and improved empl oyee attitudes Qualified managers improves the willingness of employees to accomplish job tasks; this effectively improves employee participation, enables employees to have a say in decision making and creates a very high level of employees satisfaction Qualified managers encourages sharing of ideas, creativity, innovativeness and ingenuity Employees are equipped to understand consumer demands and thus improve quality standards Employees have an increased level of awareness of duties and expectations, leading to increased ownership of work related tasks Employees are involved in setting and delivering of goals, strategies and objectives Employees gain a deeper understanding of the company’s vision, mission and direction in which the business is headed. Employees are motivated to do things right Derives employee commitment to their duties and the entire wok process Improved employee productivity leads to positive impacts on UK business in that Businesses achieve positive reput ation Reduction in cost of doing business Reduction in employee turnover Improved job attendance rates Improved business performance Businesses attain a professional and productive environment The attainment of growth and development of businesses Businesses are able to meet demands of employees Businesses attain their goals, objectives as well as meet business strategic plans Increased business profits; a 10% increased investment in employee improvements programs results in 1,500 pounds annual profits per employee Employees who do things right and are committed to their work leading to the improvement of firm’s competitiveness The UK economy and retains global competitiveness Improved service delivery leading to satisfaction within the British consumers base The UK economy grows as a result improved performance by UK employees as well as business enterprises 10% increased investment in employee improvements programs leads to 1.8 million pound annual income Management Abili ty to effectively manage, organize and coordinate employees. Effectively measure employee performance Effectively gains and retains control of employees leading to increased adherence to instructions Qualified managers enable employees to accomplish urgent and risky tasks Employees find work related activities rewarding Employees are able to think for themselves and are willing to be involved in decision making Businesses are able to attract and retain talented employees Improved employee performance that fits with a company’s business plans Business are able to meet strict deadlines while overcoming difficult challenges Risks and hazards are managed without delays Business are able to make and meet future forecast and plans Improved performance across industries which effectively increases their ability to meet the demands of the UK economy What is the relationship between leadership and management? Leadership and management involve the organization and control of people and physical resources for the attainment of a company’s goals. Nevertheless, the difference between Leadership and management is best captured through their definitions. While Leadership enables managers to direct a team to willingly utilize its capabilities, management on the other hand, involves organizing team members as well as other resources for the purpose of the attainment of set goals.Advertising Looking for case study on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This implies that leadership and management have a relationship and that they are not exclusive of each other. According to the Chartered Management Institute CMI, management is divided into three major categories, and involves making forecasts and planning, controlling individuals within the team, directing the utilization of all resources as well as issuing instructions to team members (CMI, 2010). Management also involves contr olling the work process and the activities therein and correcting team members for the purpose of the attainment of set objectives. There are three subcategories of management, and in each of them, managers ought to develop leadership skills as follows. For senior managers, leading and inspiring employees is of crucial importance. Middle level managers also need to lead their teams to attain set objectives while junior level managers ought to start learning team leadership skills. Leadership on the other hand, enables the attainment of these objectives with minimum obstructions. Leadership involves enhancing the capabilities of team members, while establishing and effectively communicating to the team the direction in which the team is headed. While this usually leads to higher productivity, it nevertheless involves influencing team members to be willingly engaged in the work process. As a result, leadership usually attains high level productivity for the each of the team members. S ubsequently, the overall team performance improves. Thus, while management involves the control and organization of resources, leadership influences employees to be willingly involved in the work process. This leads to improved productivity. Why do effective managers need to acquire leadership skills? From the assertions made above, it is evident that effective managers do not necessarily possess leadership qualities. This therefore underlines the need for effective managers to develop leadership skills. CMI asserts that modern day managers not only need to enhance their management skills but also need to develop leadership skills. This is to enable them to meet demands of an evolving profession. So far, it is evident that by acquiring leadership skills, managers are able to motivate their employees to achieve beyond expectations. Leadership skills enable effective managers to use their influence to the extent that they motivate employees not only to work willingly but also to own t he responsibilities entrusted to them. This improves satisfaction with their work and positively the level of productivity. As explained earlier, effective management involves organizing resources, as well as controlling the work process and the activities there in, in line with the plans and forecasts of the organization. However, the global economy has increasingly become competitive. Firms require more than effective managers to survive in an increasingly competitive atmosphere.Advertising We will write a custom case study sample on The Chartered Management Institute Leadership and Management specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This further underscores the need for the development of leadership skills amongst managers. Leadership is also crucial for senior level managers especially in six key areas. Leadership skills enables senior managers to inspire trust amongst members of an organization, effect change within the organization, un derstand and meet the demands of the consumer, management of information for best outcomes, as well as personal management. Additionally, leadership enables senior managers not only to manage resources and the work process but also to ensure that very high quality outcomes are achieved and maintained (CMI, 2010). CMI’s assertion on effective management is not a mere theoretical gimmick. CMI provides a practical example by citing the achievement of one of its members, Justin Skinner. A PhD holder in Math and Statistics, and intending to move into a senior management position, Skinner undertook a diploma course in management (CMI, 2010). This resulted to not only becoming a better manager, but also leading his team to also out perform others within the industry. Thus learning how to manage people is necessary but learning how to lead them is essential. Management styles A survey conducted by CMI indicates that most managers use inappropriate management styles. CMI asserts that most of the managers in the UK fail to understand that different tasks require different management styles. As such, managers fail to adjust their management style according to the nature of the task at hand. This kind of approach leads to undesirable outcomes. CMI aims to equip managers with skills that enable them to adopt the most appropriate management style that ensures desirable response from employees. To illustrate the usefulness of adapting different type of management style for each task two scenarios are here in outlined. The first scenario involves a team that enjoys working together and whose purpose is to introduce changes in the working practice. This type of a scenario requires a type of manager able to engage employees to the maximum, while building trust within the team. As such, theory Y manager seems appropriate for this type of task. The appropriateness of theory Y managers for this scenario is necessitated by overarching perceptions about employees. Unlike theo ry X managers who believe that employees dislike work, have to be pressed and controlled to attain set objectives, theory Y managers perceive employees as capable of thinking for themselves and able to make the right decisions for the team as well as for themselves. Theory Y managers also believe that employees can generate useful ideas and are able to manage themselves.Advertising Looking for case study on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Two issues from this scenario make theory Y managers most appropriate; team work and change management. According to CMI, one of the key competencies that effective managers ought to develop is the ability to encourage creativity, ingenuity and innovativeness, and effectively drive change. Doing this requires the type of manager capable of inspiring trust within the team as well as encourages employees to share new ideas that generate innovative solutions for work related challenges. Additionally, theory Y managers perceive employees as people who want to be fully engaged in the task and therefore create the necessary environment for employee engagement. This not only allows for team work but also for shared ownership of the task (CMI, 2010). Having outlined the qualities of the appropriate type of manager for this scenario, it is thus important to outline the type of management style most appropriate for theory Y manager. CMI outline four basic types of management styles, two of wh ich are the most appropriate for this scenario. These are democratic and laissez faire styles of management. Laissez faire is especially useful for a team of highly skilled experts and thus employees have the freedom to make decision. However, laissez faire is likely to result to loss of control within the team and therefore breed chaos. Since employee commitment is one of the urgent needs in this scenario, the need for democratic management seems to override laissez faire management style. Democratic managers encourage equal participation of all employees. They also share information indiscriminately with employees, which effectively achieves employee’s commitment (CMI, 2010). This enables the managers to create the necessary environment through which the team is able to effect change. Scenario two involves a potentially hazardous task that requires urgent action. This scenario is the opposite of scenario one in that it requires less creativity but strict adherence to instru ctions. As such, obedience rather than innovativeness is the most urgent need in this scenario. This requires a manager who is able to effectively control employees especially in accomplishing difficult and potentially hazardous tasks. Thus, unlike theory Y manager, theory X manager is the most appropriate for this scenario. In addition, theory X manager ought to employ the type of management style that enables the issuance of strict instructions without negotiations. As such, in a potentially risky situation, theory X manager is able to retain control within the team and as such ensure the attainment of set objectives without any objection from team members (CMI, 2010). As such, autocratic management style is the most appropriate for this scenario. The effectiveness of CMI’s chartered status in improving management training Acquisition of leadership and management skills is necessary for managers if firms are to remain relevant in a competitive global economy. CMI provides n ecessary opportunities for the acquisition of such skills. To do this CMI has developed an effective qualification framework that leads to the attainment of the ultimate management status, the Chartered Manager Status. Chartered Manager Status is very effective in improving the training of managers in the UK. To attain this status, CMI has developed a training regime that enables managers to acquire skills. This is done through numerous avenues that increase opportunities for leadership and management training. Is also involves both formal and informal training. For instance, CMI conducts on the job training which gives managers a chance to learn from experience. Additionally, CMI offers e-learning opportunities for managers willing to learn theoretical principles of effective management. This is besides the social networking opportunities offered within CMI training programs, and through which CMI implements its mentorship program. Within its management training program, CMI has de veloped a very effective assessment criteria based on extensive research and case studies (CMI, 2010). This ensures that the assessment criterion through which the Chartered Manager Status is attained is not only accurate but also leads to the most desirable outcomes. In offering all these opportunities, CMI underlines the importance of the Chartered Manager Status in improving management training within the UK. It is also imperative to note that the attainment Chartered Manager Status involves the acquisition of multiple management skills. As explained earlier, CMI has identified six areas where managers ought to develop key competencies. The six key competencies are purpose driven leadership, the ability to institute change by tapping on people’s creativity, the ability to identify and meet customer demands, personal development, information sharing as well as meeting and sustaining very high quality standards. A manager has to demonstrate all these skills before Chartered Manager Award if offered. The Chartered Manager Status is the highest professional standard for managers and comes at a time when, according to CMI, only a fifth of the managers in the UK are properly qualified. The attainment of its 1000th member in 2010 is not only a milestone in increasing CMI membership but also in increasing the number of accredited managers within the UK. As such, Chartered Manager Status is very effective in improving management skills. Chartered Manager Status also allows managers to understand the skills they possess, those they need to acquire and how to effectively utilize them in different contexts. The relevance of CMI in developing management training Management is the largest profession in Britain, and will continue to generate new job opportunities in the near future. Managers have over the years gained skills through job experience, meaning that it is likely to take a longer period of time before managers gain all the relevant skills. In a world tha t is increasingly becoming competitive, there is need for managers to have the necessary skills before they enter into the job market. Additionally, the acquisition of such skills ought to be based on best practices that ensure the attainment of the most desirable outcomes. There is also need to have a standardized criterion through which managers within the UK are trained. This is the primary reason why it is important for British managers to have accredited organization such as CMI supporting them. CMI supports managers in the acquisition of the highest level of management and leadership skills. To attain this objective, CMI follows a variety of accredited standardization qualifications based on National Occupational Standards. CMI uses such standards not only to set the benchmarks for which its leadership and management training programs are based but also to design assessment criterion. Additionally, the same standards are utilized by CMI to measure the performance of managers. Besides this, it is important to note that CMI is not a mere leadership and management accreditation body. CMI aims at giving the best value to its members, especially individual managers. CMI delivers best value through an array of practical lessons it offers not only during training but also through their management careers. The Chartered Manager Award is one of the accredited methods through which CMI instills best management and leadership skills. Since CMI realizes that not all managers can be served through Chartered Manager Award, it has put in place other mechanisms through which it helps practicing and would-be managers to acquire the best leadership and management skills. These include its mentorship program, e-learning opportunities, networking events, on the job training among others. While this increases opportunities for managers to gain the best management and leadership skills, managers ought to realize that such opportunities are rarely available outside CMI’ s domain (CMI, 2010). As such, managers willing to gain the best management and leadership skills have no option but to seek help from CMI and other similar institutions. Reference List CMI. (2010, Nov 05). The importance of effective management. The Times. Retrieved from slideshare.net/cmi_managers/the-importance-of-effective-management

Avogadros Law Example Problem

Avogadros Law Example Problem Avogadros gas law states the volume of a gas is proportional to the number of moles of gas present when the temperature and pressure are held constant. This example problem demonstrates how to use Avogadros law to determine the volume of a gas when more gas is added to the system. Avogadro's Law Equation Before you can solve any problem regarding Avogadros gas law, its important to review the equation for this law. There are a few ways to write this  gas law, which is a mathematical relation. It may be stated: k V/n Here, k is a proportionality constant, V is the volume of a gas, and n is the number of moles of a gas. Avogadros law also means the ideal gas constant is the same value for all gases, so: constant p1V1/T1n1   P2V2/T2n2V1/n1   V2/n2V​1n2   V2n1 where p is pressure of a gas, V is volume, T is temperature, and n is number of moles. Avogadro's Law Problem A 6.0 L sample at 25 °C and 2.00 atm of pressure contains 0.5 mole of a gas. If an additional 0.25 mole of gas at the same pressure and temperature are added, what is the final total volume of the gas? Solution First, express Avogadros law by its  formula: Vi/ni Vf/nfwhereVi initial volumeni initial number of molesVf final volumenf final number of moles For this example, Vi 6.0 L and ni 0.5 mole. When 0.25 mole is added: nf ni 0.25 molenf 0.5 mole 0.25 molenf 0.75 mole The only variable remaining is the final volume. Vi/ni Vf/nf Solve for Vf Vf ​ Vinf/niV​f (6.0 L x 0.75 mole)/0.5 moleVf 4.5 L/0.5 Vf 9 L Check to see if the answer makes sense. You would expect the volume to increase if more gas is added. Is the final volume greater than the initial volume? Yes. Doing this check is useful because it is easy to put the initial number of moles in the numerator and the final number of moles in the denominator. If this had happened, the final volume answer would have been smaller than the initial volume. Thus, the final volume of the gas is 9.0 Notes Regarding Avogadro's Law Unlike Avogadros number, Avogadros law was actually proposed by   Amedeo Avogadro. In 1811, he hypothesized two samples of an ideal gas with the same volume and at the same pressure and temperature contained the same number of molecules.Avogadros law is also called Avogadros principle or Avogadros hypothesis.Like the other ideal gas laws, Avogadros law only approximates the behavior of real gases. Under conditions of high temperature or pressure, the law is inaccurate. The relation works best for gases held at low pressure and ordinary temperatures. Also, smaller gas particles- helium, hydrogen, and nitrogen- yield better results than larger molecules, which are more likely to interact with each other.Another mathematical relation used to express Avogadros law is: V/n k Here, V is the volume, n is the number of moles of the gas, and k is the proportionality constant. Its important to note this means the ideal gas constant is the same for all gases.

Guidance to Simmons Ltd Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Guidance to Simmons Ltd - Essay Example The paper will explore possible merits and disadvantages of the two sources together with their associated legal implications towards a profound judgment. Capital markets and loans offered by commercial banks posse’s different features and characteristics that derive varied legal implications. Financing through capital markets for instance grants control and supervisory authority to the financiers over management of the financed institution. Subsequently, it leads to legal obligations by a company and its management towards interests and opinions of the financiers over the company. Commercial banks as a source of finance also impute a variety of legal liabilities on the borrowing entities such as provisions for loan repayment together with interest. (Sagar Rachna, 2005, 132). Failure to fulfill repayment terms would amount to breach of contract and further resources in litigations (Miller Roger, Iollowell William, 2010, 106-108). Though other aspects of capital market such as fixed securities exhibits similar legal conditions as loans from commercial banks, issuance of shares have distinct property in which the company is not under legal duty to repay. (Longenecker Justin & Loeza Ma, 2010, 311). Bank loans on the other hand have the disadvantage of varying interest rates within the repayment period. As a term to a contract, the company would be subjected to and legally bound by any act by the bank to increase the interest rate. This would in turn make the financing process more expensive (Padmalatha Suresh, 2011, 158). International bond issue and international syndicate bank term loan Just like the capital markets and commercial banks poses varying legal implications, issuance of international bonds and acquisition of loan from a syndicated banks impose a number of legal advantages and disadvantages. According to Livingston Miles, the two varieties of international bonds, â€Å"foreign bonds and Eurobonds† are subject to different regulations (Li vingston Miles, 1999, p. 249). While Eurobonds are issued in single currencies and are not subjected to legal restrictions, foreign bonds are issued in more than one currency across national markets in which they are sold. A Eurobond issued by a company in the United States in US dollars would be internationally sold in that currency while a foreign bond can be sold in any currency depending on the national market. Eurobonds are therefore characterized by simple legal formalities as they are not subjected to domestic laws. At the same time, Eurobonds are easily transferable and are not subjected to taxation. Foreign bonds on the other hand would require knowledge of the issuing company’s domestic national laws, a process that might me costly in legal fees. While Eurobonds are not strictly subjected to taxation due to its free transferability, a universal advantage of international bond issuance is that it provides a wider scope of finance source for institutions. Simmons Comp any therefore has a variety of options in the international bond market (Livingston Miles, 1999, p. 249), (Madura Jeff, 2009, p. 79). Syndicated bank loans are on the other hand viewed as an integrated approach that links features of traditional banking system to those of bond financing system. Consequently, it has been identified as a â€Å"more competitive†, â€Å"more market oriented and cost effective† source (Armstrong Jim, 2003, p. 23). Though the source is appropriate for large amount of finances, it requires significant disclosure of information by the borrower. The terms of

Booker T washington Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Booker T washington - Essay Example One of the most prominent amongst this school is the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama. This school operated with a purpose to deploy such skills which prove to be profitable for the black Americans as well as the oppressed minorities. His purpose was to empower the troubled minorities and the black nation and unite them on a single platform. In this novel he does not forget the generosity of the instructors and the humanitarians who were involved in the education process of the black as well as Native Americans. "I was born a slave on a plantation in Franklin County, Virginia. I am not quite sure of the exact place or exact date of my birth, but at any rate I suspect I must have been born somewhere and at some time." (History, Booker) Booker had a very disturbed childhood. Since he was born during a time where slavery was at its peak and no records where maintained of the slave class therefore his birthday remains controversial. As he was born in a state where black Americans were not c onsidered human therefore he was forced to work in the mines with his stepfather. During the time when a child was supposed to be enrolled to acquire his basic education, Booker on the other hand had become a victim of child labor. He had to spend his entire day in the furnace and whatever time he got after that he spent on educating himself through the book his mother gifted him. Later a school was established within their region with a purpose to educate the blacks. Thus he wanted to get enrolled in the school, when he asked his parents they refused as their financial state did not allow them to lose a child who was earning bread and butter for their family. This disturbed state had a profound impact on Booker and inspired him to do well for his nation, and bring about a change within them Booker spent his childhood as a slave. At an age where he was supposed to go to school he worked at a burning furnace. Later he was a slave to the whites where he used to carry his mistress to s chool at an age where he should have been carrying his luggage to school. At Virginia it was a trend that all the white families owned a black slave who used to perform their everyday chores as well as obey their master's command what so ever it be. He states in his autobiography that his masters were cruel and they did not have any sort of humanity remaining in them. The answer to the question that how his masters treated him was answered at various points in the book. In the book he wrote that his life when it started was a victim of misery, desolation and despair. But he believed that he was fairly lucky when it came to masters who kept him as slaves as they were not as cruel as others. the worst part that Booker experienced was that he had to get whipped if he reached late for work. So apparently he was victim of physical assault as well. He even describes the height of brutality which his uncle faced when he asked his master to pray. For this act he was whipped with hunter made out of cow leather by being tied to the bark of a tree. This was the level of torture and the inhumanity that a slave had to experience during that era. Further "Black and white abolitionists in the first half of the nineteenth century waged a biracial assault against slavery. Their efforts proved to be extremely effective. Abolitionists focused attention on slavery and made it difficult to ignore. They heightened

Social Networking Essay Example for Free

Social Networking Essay In this report I will be outlining what Social Networking Sites are. A growing number of different Social Network Sites allows people to reunite and communicate without the limitations of distance or time. Enabling people to have regular interaction and keep up to date with the everyday life of others. So how do these sites work and why are they so popular? Associates may include close friends, family, distant relatives, old school friends, previous work colleagues or just shared interests. Whilst you will have frequent face to face contact with many of these people, others you will not. It is thought that our interactions with others, enhances our individual well-being. Due to the mainstream popularity of Social Network Sites where many people engage, they are a useful platform for both businesses and academic learning, with the creation of forum groups, they provide and extension of class discussion. Communication pages are a great benefit for schools and colleges to update information for parents and students. Not forgetting the functional applications, designed to support education. Many sites introduced games and other â€Å"applications† to entertain users and combat the flatness for new users during the early stages and those with a low number â€Å"friends†. Facebook has a large number of Applications available. Most sites contain common aspects, including a personal â€Å"profile† to allow the user to identify themselves, possibly with a photograph and a short description. They can then link to other people they know within the site to create a list of â€Å"friends†. Additional information may also be invited, such as age, location, hobbies and interests. ‘Their network of connections is displayed as an integral piece of their self-presentation’ (boyd et. al 2007). Some sites such as Twitter allows users to change the appearance of their profile page, this site is very popular with celebrities. As always, there are negative aspects to using online social network sites and the growing concerns surrounds the privacy methods in place. It is imperative that these sites are responsible with the control and use of data held for their users. Not only for the risk of data theft, but companies have been known to pass personal details on to third parties and used for unsolicited emails, also known as spamming. In addition to this, data mining software is repeatedly used to spy on regularly visited web pages and purchases to target the user to a more precise market. It is reported that many users have experienced cyber-bullying, which can have a major impact on personal health and well-being, causing anxiety and fear. Trolling is another increasing menace, where a user tries to impersonate another user, by setting up an account in another persons’ name using their pictures, intentionally causing upset by being offensive to others. Other risks include grooming, where sex pests try to build a trusting relationship online, with the aim to eventually meet. However, sites such as MySpace and Netlog are pro-active with the increasing number of sexual predators active on their site and often liaise with law enforcement to monitor and intercept such activities. Therefore, it is clear why many people prefer to completely avoid them. Launched in 1997, SixDegrees was the first Social Network Site. It had the same characteristics that we see today. Despite having millions of users, it did not develop into a worthwhile business. SixDegrees closed in 2000. The site creator deemed the site was ahead of it’s time. Today the top most popular Social Network Sites are: Facebook and Twitter. Strong contenders include MySpace, and LinkedIn. To summarise, I would describe Social Network Sites to be speed socialising, as we all have busy lives and may find it hard to make time for our close friends and family. This method enables people to socialise with a wider circle of friends you wouldn’t necessarily have time to socialise with. It is important to be aware of the personal details we are supplying about ourselves and the consequences it could have, it may seem obvious but it is essential that people should only share information that you are happy for others to know. But, if used with both common sense and caution the sites can be very positive and gratifying. [Word Count: 700] References DirectGov, 2012. Social Networking Service [online] Available at: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Parents/Yourchildshealthandsafety/Internetsafety/DG_182627 [Accessed 13 April 2012] Boyd, d. m. and Ellison, N. B. (2007) ‘Social network sites: definition, history, and scholarship’, in Donelan, H., Kear, K. and Ramage, M. (eds) Online Communication and Collaboration: A Reader, Abingdon, Routledge, pp. 261–281.

One flew over the cuckoos nest Essay -- essays research papers

There are three major conflicts in the novel, One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest, by Ken Kesey. Both internal and external in nature their causes, effects, and resolutions are explored in great detail.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The cause of the conflict between Mac and Ratched begins immediately. As soon as McMurphy enters the ward he shows his individuality. He’s loud, brassy and the chief says, â€Å"He sounds big.† McMurphy publicly introduces himself and stands out from the rest of the men. He shows that he wont be controlled. Ratched wants and expects complete control. She refers to Mac as a, â€Å"Manipulator,† who will, â€Å"†¦use everyone and everything to his own end. Ironically Ratched is also a Manipulator. Miss Ratched chooses the orderlies to control them, she wants them to hate so they take their anger out on the patients.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ratched’s first win against McMurphy is when he challenges the ward policies on the music. He demands for the music to be shut off or at least turned down. Knowing that all the men are watching she completely humiliates Mac by telling him that she wont turn the music down further more she treats him like a child when she tells him to take his hands off her glass because he was staining them. â€Å"†¦don’t be so selfish,† says Miss Ratched when Mac asks for the music to be turned down.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ratched’s second major win against McMurphy on the ward is when she forces the men to ignore him and not to play cards with him. Using the threat of rationed cigarettes the patients are still much too afraid of Miss Ratched to go against her orders. McMurphy is completely left alone by the men and Ratched shows that she maintains control.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Although McMurphy does not get the votes of the men because the fear they hve of Ratched McMurphy still comes out victorious when in the end the men eventually do vote to watch the world series. When the men do vote Ratched looses complete control over her ward and it’s the first time the men defy her as a group. â€Å"And we’re sitting there head up in front of that blanked out television set†¦and she’s screaming behind us.†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  McMurphy mocks and taunts Miss Ratched when he runs around with his towel on. He wasn’t assigned a uniform and when Miss Ratched tells him to stop running around in the towel Mac stops and... ...g because after this Mac has lost three time in a row to Ratched or the combine. Chief sees the trouble Mac has to lift the control panel and finally gives up, the control panel, to chief, is a symbol of the combine and the fact that Mac cant lift it destroys Chief.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  One of Chief major wins against the fog is when the men all come together to back up Mac for the world series and the comments that everyone makes to her. Chief say, â€Å"†¦I quit worrying about the BIG NURSE and the combine behind her.† For the first time in his life he saw people clearly and not just the black outline around them.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Another great win for Chief is when he enters the pool with all the other men. This is a big win because the Chief is so afraid of even the ground that to enter a pool is a great progress for him. Also Chief begins to see the ward as â€Å"clean and silent† and not humming of machinery. Chief even takes a big step when he stands up and looks out the window of the ward.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The resolution to Chief’s conflict is after he kills Mac and escapes the institution at the end of the novel.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  

Arguing the Existence of God from Religious Experience

Analyse the argument for the existence of God from religious experience â€Å"A religious experience offers a sense of the ultimate and an awareness of wholeness, a consciousness of the infinite and an absolute dependence. † Edward Schleiermacher. Religious experience has been a contentious subject for philosophers of religion in trying to actually define what a religious experience is, along with psychologists and religious believers. Otto, James, Hardy and Schleiermacher are among many people who have tried to define a religious experience and there basic understanding is it is an encounter with the divine.It is non-empirical, a personal occurrence that brings with it an awareness of something beyond ourselves. Those who have had such an experience count it as the ultimate proof of the existence of God. It is difficult to find a common theme with religious experiences due to the variety but you can divide them into two basic groups; a direct experience and an indirect experi ence. Testimonies of the occurrence of religious experiences can be found throughout human history, but do they prove that humanity has a link with God if they are true and if they are false, why are we so ready to believe them?Every testimony of a religious experience is unique and most occur to individuals in private but others are ‘corporate’ experiences, when large numbers of people share in the same experience. Despite the testimony of believers there is a vast range of alternative explanations for such events which means it is impossible to arrive at a definite understanding of religious experience and to verify or falsify whether such events occur. The argument from religious experience is an inductive argument.Those who believe that religious experiences are proof of Gods existence usually argue inductively and look at the subjective testimonies of individuals to draw similar conclusions from their experiences that can only be explained in terms of the existence of God. Thus Richard Swinburne in ‘Is there a God? ’ argues inductively that it is reasonable to believe that God is loving and personal and would seek to reveal himself to humanity as an act of love to enable people to bring about good; â€Å"An omnipotent and perfectly good creator will seek to interact with his creatures and, in particular, with human persons capable of knowing him. Swinburne suggests that religious experiences can be felt empirically and interpreted non-empirically through our ‘religious sense. ’ Thus, if someone has a religious experience, we should believe the experience has taken place, even if their experience differs from others. In analyse of the inductive argument, it is strong as there is evidence that after the experience the experient is changed forever. Moreover some of the greatest events in history have resulted from people having religious experiences, such as Paul’s conversion after seeing a vision of Christ and was instrumented into spreading Christianity around the world.Nevertheless, the continued problem remains that the conclusion is only the best answer that appears probable on the basis of the evidence offered. The conclusion depends on an accurate interpretation of the evidence which may be influenced by the beliefs of the experient or the person interpreting the experience. The cumulative argument for religious experience is based on the view that if you take all the arguments about religious experience together, then they are more convincing than one argument alone.If all the testimonies to religious experiences are taken into account, then this would certainly add weight to religious experience as proof of the existence of God. Swinburne concludes his work with the cumulative argument and believes that when the arguments are considered in isolation of the others they don’t prove God, but put together, they make an overwhelming argument which cannot be denied in the grand s cales of Atheism Vs Theism. But it has been argued the theory is logically and mathematically flawed as taking many low probabilities and adding does not make on more probable argument – in fact the opposite.You should be multiplying the weak arguments to get a very weak argument. Richard Swinburne believed that unless we have good reason to think that someone is not telling the truth we should work on the principle that what they say is the case, these are his ‘principles of testimony and credulity’. Under his principle of testimony, he argues unless we have evidence to the contrary we should believe what people say when they claim to have had a religious experience: â€Å"In the absence of special considerations, the experiences of others are as they report. Furthermore Swinburne created the principle of credulity that holds the belief that unless we have overwhelming evidence to the contrary, we should believe that things are as they seem to be. In ‘The Existence of God’ he wrote; â€Å"How things seem to be is a good guide to how things are.. † Therefore in his view, religious experiences provide a convincing proof for the existence of God. In support if Swinburne’s position, empirical research undertaken in recent years has indicated that as many as 40% of people have at some time in their lives had an experience that could be classified as religious.Furthermore in 1969, the Religious Experience Research Unit in Oxford surveyed people by asking them the question: ‘Have you at any time in your life had an experience of something completely different form your normal life, whether or not you would describe it as God? ’ Many responded positively, saying it was the first time they had told anyone about their experience but it had been one of the most important moments of their lives.However one difficulty Steven Law highlights in his book ‘The Puzzle of Ethics’ is taking such ‘rev elatory’ experiences at face value is not restricted to one faith. He wrote, â€Å"Catholics see the Virgin Mary. Hindus witness Vishnu.. the fact that people have so many bizarre and often contradictory experiences.. ought to lead someone who claims to have had a ‘revelation’ to treat their experience with caution. † Law calls for experients to question their experience and for atheists to remain sceptic, as the experient could easily have mistaken their experience.The argument from religious experience is a posterior which means that it is based on experience, and if the experience is reliable it may lead to reliable conclusions. Many theists believe in order for a belief in God to be rational, they don’t need to back up their experience with proof as God’s existence was directly revealed to them through a personal experience of God. Those who have experienced may have done so but the evidence doesn’t strongly support that conclusion for non-religious believers.

Outline and comment on the two schools Essay

â€Å"Outline and comment on the two schools of thought involved in the study of the nature-nurture debate in development. Explain, using examples, why this debate gives rise to so much controversy†.  The debate concerning the two schools of thought involved in the study of the â€Å"nature versus nurture† is one of the most controversial and long-lasting debates in psychology. Psychologists disagree whether a particular part of behaviour had taken place through genetic and heredity factors or through experience in their environment and learning. Psychologists are trying to answer, â€Å"What makes us who we are?† and consider two main influences. Firstly nature which is involved in genes and heredity, and their influences on our development, and secondly nurture which is involved in external influences on our development such as the environment and nurturing. Psychologists were divided into two schools of thought, firstly the nativists, who are concerned with the nature side of the debate. In 1943 Gesell argued that genes and chromosomes that are inherited are the main influence in child development (Hayes and Orrell 1996, pg 2). For example: Gesell found that the development of physical coordination in a baby seemed to follow an orderly sequence, beginning with its head, and gradually moved down the body. Gesell regarded these sequences of development as being fixed and genetically determined (Hayes N 1993, pg 31). See more: what is essay format Genes are lengths of DNA, which carry instructions that control everything that happens inside a cell. They are passed onto the next generation in order to avoid extinction. Each body cell contains two sets of 23 chromosomes and each chromosome contains up to 4000 genes. (Barber M et al 2000, pg 480). Every newborn baby has around 60,000 genes; they have two copies of each gene and inherit one set from the mother and one set from the father. (Barber M et al 2000,pg 504). We portray some of these genes in our similarities in appearance to our parents or other members of our immediate family, or when generations have been skipped. For example our eye and hair colour is similar or our height, build and weight is similar to our parents. Genes can be recessive or dominant. For example: The gene that gives the colour in brown eyes is a dominant gene and the blue gene that results in blue eyes is a recessive gene. A child will have brown eyes if one of its parents had brown eyes even if the other parent had blue eyes. That child will still have the blue-eyed gene and may pass it on to the next generation (Hayes and Orrell 1996, pg 5). Some diseases are inherited mainly because of faulty genes. For example: Huntingdon disease is caused by a faulty gene and causes premature degeneration of the brain (Barber M et al 2000,pg 504). Down’s syndrome is another example of a genetic disorder, which has resulted from the presence of an extra chromosome and causes physical and mental handicaps to different degrees of severity (Hayes and Orrell 1996, pg 4).  As well as inherited characteristics and features there is also evidence of inherited behaviour. This was shown in 1938 in Lorenz and Tinbergens 4 characteristics in animal behaviour: Stereotyped – this behaviour happens the same way every time.  Species specific – this behaviour is specific to a certain type of animal.  Isolation – this behaviour is the same as others of their species, even if they have been isolated.  No practice – this behaviour appears as a complete unit even if the animal has had no chance to practice it. (Hayes and Orrell 1996 pg 9 & Class notes)  Imprinting is a type of behaviour that can form rapid attachments and is also believed to be genetically influenced. For example: Ducklings had become imprinted on a human being. Lorenz found that ducklings would adopt him if he were the first moving thing they saw. He believed this would only take place in the critical period, up to 25 hours after hatching. This was questioned by, (W Slucking in 1964.) After his own study of the same experiment, he found the period was extended if the ducklings were isolated from one another, and hadn’t been able to imprint on each other (Hayes N 1993, pg 39). Behaviours we inherit don’t show up all at once. Certain forms of behaviour emerge when the individual is mature enough. This is known as maturation, for example, the physiological changes that take place in puberty (Hayes & Orrell 1996 pg 7). There are disagreements between the nativists and behaviourists about whether or not maturation is purely genetic. (Hayes N 1993, pg 32).  This brings the debate to the other side of the disagreement and behaviourists also known, as empiricists, believe nurture is the main influence in development. In 1913, J.B. Watson attempted to make psychology `Scientific`. Previously psychology had concentrated on the study of the mind, Watson argued that the mind was not suitable for valid scientific research, so instead he studied behaviour (Hayes N 1995, pg 3). Watson was a total empiricist believing the environment was the only important factor in an individual’s development. He considered that a child was born as tabula rasa – a blank slate, which experience would write upon to produce the person (Hayes & Orrell 1996, pg 2.

IMPACT OF CULTURAL ON INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS Essays

IMPACT OF CULTURAL ON INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS Essays IMPACT OF CULTURAL ON INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS Essay IMPACT OF CULTURAL ON INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS Essay Impact of Cultural on International Business Name: Institution: Course: Tutor: Date: Impact of Cultural on International Business The saying that â€Å"one man’s meat is another man’s poison† is true and applicable in many areas and fields. The business sector is not an exception. This is mainly applicable when it comes to dealing in cultural matters. Doing business outside a country that is of a different culture other than yours can be quite a daunting task. Lack of knowledge of that particular country’s culture can lead to disaster if not failure in making a deal more often than not. Countries in the Asian continent have very different cultures than countries in America especially the U.S. It is important for one to know the culture of the people one is going to do business with. One might end up doing more harm than good. The â€Å"A-Okay† sign in the U.S., for instance, is a very offensive gesture in Brazil. It is the equivalent of the middle finger sign. Most business people do this sign with the aim of showing the other party that everything is okay but end up loosing a business deal as a Brazilian may see it as offensive: a sign of disrespect and humiliation. In the countries that practice the Muslim religion, showing the sole of the foot is seen as dirty and very disrespectful. It would not be very advisable to cross ones feet or one foot on top of the knee (casual sitting), as the Americans do, when trying to strike a deal with a Muslim in the Muslim countries. Shaking of the head does not necessarily mean â€Å"no† in Bulgaria. People shake their heads in order to show that they are listening. Most Americans and other people not familiar with this sign take it as though the Bulgarians are negative towards them. Alcohol plays a very big role in business dealings in some countries. This is contrary to the American way of doing business. In most Asian countries, liquor or beer may be shared in many business social events at any time of the day. Apricot brandy is served even in the morning in a country like Hungary. Refusing such an offer is seen as if one is being rude or cannot be trusted, unless one has a very good excuse. In other cases, punctuality is not as important in some countries as it is in others. For example, people in Sweden and Germany are strict timekeepers as compared to those in Spain, Costa Rica and Italy who are more flexible. Giving a gift to a Japanese businessperson, especially when wrapped with gold or red, can lead one into getting a good business deal. It is considered a good gesture; however, the gift should not be opened in front of the giver. It is considered disrespectful. When it comes to decision-making, people in a country such as Germany value decisions made b y panels while on the other hand, Americans advocate individual decision-making. The Ann Arbor, Mich., Company had its share of problems when it went international. When the company took its operations to Japan, it had to alter the way it delivered the pizzas from what it was used to in the U.S. Addresses there are determined by a building’s age rather than a particular sequence. The company’s business in Aruba also had to adjust to a number of differences. Motorcycles could no longer be used due to the strong island winds. Trucks had to be purchased in order to solve the problem. The situation in Philippine was not any better. The location of stores was carried out using feng shui, an art from China that positions buildings in accordance to a spiritual flow. The stores had to be kept open for more hours than in other areas as people stayed up more hours. In Italy, the people complained of the way the pizzas were made. The sauce was too bold and there were heavy toppings. Unfortunately, the pizza delivery company closed down and left the country. All these are cultural challenges that can be overcome if a company does thorough research before moving its business to the appointed location. For example, the company should have enquired about the environmental condition of Aruba before moving there. This could have saved the company the extra expensive of buying the motorcycles then buying the trucks. The inconveniences experienced in that situation would have been absent. It would also be advisable to have collaboration or an alliance with one or two business people who know the cultures of the appointed location and the origin of the mother company. In this way, these people will advice accordingly. For example, the company could have gotten Japanese people who know about the address system of the U.S and of Japan. In this way, the address situation could have been solved earlier. If a solution had not been found, then the business would not have been set at all in that part of the world. This applies to the situation in Phili ppine as well. The business in Italy had to adjust its way of preparing pizzas to the Italian style. It was necessary to close the business down. Conclusion As Ace, a company that went international even to Shanghai, China did, it is important to adjust to the cultures and business conditions of the country in which one is establishing a business. If it means including a native of China on the team establishing the business in order to get more knowledge and more access to the people in China for instance, then companies should do so. Doing the American way of doing business when trying to establish a business in Spain may not be advisable, if it is at the expense of the business itself. It is important for businesspersons to know the cultures of the countries or places where they are willing to establish a business. It would make business deals and transactions much easier. References Carlo, A. M. (Oct. 2006). Overseas Adjustment: Shanghai DC Lifts Ace’s Prospects. Home Channel News. New York, Volume 32, Issue 13: 26-28 Gibson, R. (Sep. 25, 2006). Small Business. Wall Street Journal, Page R. 8 Wade, J., (2004). The Pitfalls of Cross-Cultural Business. Risk Management, 51(3): 38-42.

ESL Shopping Vocabulary Exercise to Fill in the Gap

ESL Shopping Vocabulary Exercise to Fill in the Gap Put each of the following words or phrases in the correct gap. tag, label, cashier, bargain, receipt, exchange, take back, try on, fit, advice, shop assistant, credit card, check, select, cash, refund, size, sale If you want to go shopping there are a number of things you have to consider. If you would like to find a _____ you should make sure to go to a _____. The only problem with a sale is that it is sometimes hard to _____ something once you buy it. Many stores also refuse to give a _____ on anything you have bought. If you are looking for clothes, make sure to _____, check the _____ to make sure that it is a good _____. Another good idea is to look at the _____ and _____ to see instructions for washing, etc. Its always a good idea to also ask the _____ for _____. Finally, when you go to the _____ you can usually pay by _____ or _____ if you dont have the _____. Never forget to get the _____! Answers tag, label, cashier, bargain, receipt, exchange, take back, try on, fit, advice,  shop assistant, credit card, check, select, cash, refund, size, sale If you want to go shopping there are a number of things you have to consider. If you would like to find a  bargain  you should make sure to go to a  sale.  The only problem with a sale is that it is sometimes hard to  exchange  something once you buy it. Many stores also refuse to give a  refund  on anything you have bought. If you are looking for clothes, make sure to  try them on,  check the  size  to make sure that it is a good  fit.  Another good idea is to look at the  tag  and  label  to see instructions for washing, etc. Its always a good idea to also ask the  shop assistant  for  advice.  Finally, when you go to the  cashier  you can usually pay by  credit card  or  check  if you dont have the  cash. Never forget to get the  receipt!

Peculiarities of media creation nowadays Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Peculiarities of media creation nowadays - Essay Example The creation of media in USA was initiated as a political decision of technological invention. This led to the political decision of having a state run postal service that eventually affected the society in one way or the other. The government through laws such as the public access to information laws clearly demonstrated the role of the state in shaping the path that journalism, mass media and mass communication would be affected. It also shows how future media would be created and how it influences the society either socially, politically or politically and how it relates to the global perspective. Eminent scholars have argued that political decisions, considerations and reasons led to the creation of the media in United States (Starr 2004, p.2) as a profitable and powerful institution where the decisions made led to the growing number of communication empires currently witnessed in the nation and the world at large. He states that technology and economics cannot singlehandedly exp lain the communication media currently present. To him communication media has got a direct impact on the exercise of power and understanding the media must account itself while taking into account political considerations. Therefore political decisions will continue to influence the media for a long time and its creation. In America, the framework provided either institutionally, politically or legally is favourable to the creation and development of media. The environment came about as a concern made of political considerations in which the American Constitutional framework and the defining political and legal decisions produced a viable and vibrant network of communication for the United States and later the world. The aforementioned coupled with the freedom of speech enshrined in the First Amendment of the United States Constitution led to the subsidization of newspapers through a comprehensive postal network that ensured some form of privacy. This encouraged people to take thes e forms of media for their daily activities as communication networks quickly spread to a much wider area of the society supported by a conducive legal and political climate. Politics has therefore converged with modern media as literacy and news receive more attention through the media that is utilized by them in all scenarios. Audiences can create the media by making themselves available to the media or making use of the particular media front and this explains the rationale for the existence of the media in our daily lives. The utilization of the media by those who provide it is always targeted towards a particular audience all the time. It is important to note that all prospective providers of media platforms must give account of their target audiences before any form of media is made or adopted (Gupta and Brooks 2013, p.201). Exploration of the target audience and its position within the system of mass communication allows the media creators or providers to identify sites of co ntestations in the system. The audiences in the media create contexts within which to combine the media and other life-style experiences as people create time to make use of different media in their daily tasks. Influence of Globalization on Media Globalization in relation to the media studies refer to the strengthening of connections between persons in the society that enables us understand the world as one to create awareness of our own place and how it relates within the world experience. As an

INTERNATIONAL STUDIES IN BUSINESS Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 4

INTERNATIONAL STUDIES IN BUSINESS - Assignment Example It will argue the fact that constructivist criticism concerning realism is justified. However, this is largely dependent on the alternative procedural decision making process offered by the constructivists. To illustrate this, arguments as well as practical problems that call for constructivist criticism on realism will be analyzed. A common ground between constructivists and realists arises on the question of whether moral concepts possess values of truth. The two groups acknowledge the existence of truth-apt in moral concepts. The difference, however, surfaces about the role of moral concepts as well as what do renders them true. As realists would have it, moral concepts could have values of truth because they illustrate normative entities or facts that exist independently of those concepts themselves. Metaethical constructivists, on the other hand, oppose the fact that all that moral concepts are meant to elaborate the reality. Constructivism may be understood as a different view that the function of a normative concept uses to refer schematically to the solving a practical problem. Contrary to traditional analysis, constructivists’ account of a concept is aimed at working out solutions to problems.   The approaches to moral concepts differ between constructivists and realists in terms of nature. Constructivist have centered their criticism mainly revolving on the radical knowledge that defines the reality as a function of moral concepts. In addition to that, there exists other reproaches against realist views. One of the main questions asked is which phenomenon describes the decision making process better-realism on constructivism based on moral values. The second would be whether one view of the reproaches against another are acceptable. Last but not least, which would be explained further, would be which theory would be more credible and under what conditions. Realist views, on one hand, and constructivists’ views,