DWI (debate) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

DWI (debate) - Essay Example However, before taking a stand in this issue, DWI should consider the legal and ethical implications of the change proposed by FCC. The further consolidation and merger among industry players will mean observance of more policies set by the government concerning duopolies and tripolies which are not currently allowed. DWI will also be faced with the challenge of operating in a less deregulated media industry. If DWI will merge with other media players, it will also be faced by the burden of delineating the responsibilities and ownership within the newly formed organization. Ethically, DWI should consider all its stakeholders including its customers, employees, competitors, lobbying groups, and other public relations. Since consolidation and merger often means downsizing, DWI should also be ready to legally give fulfill its liability to its employees. In this issue, the company should thoroughly consider its employees especially now that they are vocally expressing their opposition to the new policy. DWI's stand will surely have a huge impact on its image. It should be noted that researches have exposed that free TV does not really suffer from losses because most of these companies are connected or even owners of cable stations.

The Impact of Advertising on Women Essay Example for Free

The Impact of Advertising on Women Essay Everyday of our lives, we are exposed to dozens of advertisements, whether it be on television, the radio, in magazines, on billboards or signs, or anywhere else that companies try to reach us in an effort to promote the products they sell. Advertisers appeal to our hopes, dreams, wants and desires, and exploit our insecurities in an effort to sell us a product, ranging from cars, to household appliances, to a bottle of shampoo. Advertising affects everyone, whether they acknowledge it or not, and it often promotes something that is out of reach to the average person, such as great wealth, or a perfect body. Advertising often carries an overload or excess of meaning, such as statements of power, wealth, leisure, and sexual allure, and they also convey meanings of race and gender. (â€Å"Introduction: Media Studies†) As this paper will demonstrate, advertising is an extremely powerful tool which has the ability to change the way we perceive ourselves. Of particular interest is the effect that advertising has on women. Women are continually bombarded by advertisements in which they are told, directly or indirectly, that they must be thin in order to be beautiful, and they are marketed products that they are led to believe will help them achieve their desired body image of being thin. Women become convinced that they must look like sexy all the time, when in reality, it is almost impossible. Women often begin dieting in order to attain the perfect body that they are striving for, and they occasionally undertake more extreme measures to lose weight, such as bulimia or anorexia, all because they are led to believe, by advertising, that they must have a perfect body. Women are also sexually objectified in advertising, and viewed as merely sexual objects. This paper will explore in depth how women are portrayed in advertising and, more importantly, the impact which it has on them. In western culture, a slender physique has come to be regarded as the standard of feminine beauty; although it is an unrealistic benchmark for nearly all women. The average woman has a seven percent chance that she will be as slim as a catwalk model, and an even lesser chance that she will be as thin as a supermodel. (Konrad, 2008) A 2000 study found that the body fat of models and actresses is, on average, 10 percent less than that of a typical active, healthy woman. (â€Å"Behind the Hype: Dove’s Real Beauty Campaign†) The models that companies use in advertising are also getting thinner relative to the average population. Twenty years ago, models weighed 8 percent less than the average woman. Today, they weigh 23% less than the average female population. (â€Å"Beauty and Body Image in the Media†) However, these truths do not stop women from trying to attain the perfection they see in every day advertisements. Since advertising continually implies that women should be slender, those who do not have this particular body type often suffer from low self esteem and hold a negative self image of their body. After a study in which women viewed sexual and non-sexual ads, the women who viewed the sexual ads rated themselves as being larger, on average, than the women who viewed the non-sexual ads, and women who viewed the sexual ads also expressed greater dissatisfaction over their current physique than the women who watched the non-sexual ads. (Tygart) George Lipsitz has argued that consumer culture and media representations play a greater role than ever in defining identities. (â€Å"Just Do It†) When women see thinness represented in advertising, they would like to look like the models they see and have that same identity that is being shown to them. In addition to women feeling pressure to conform to the desired body type due to their constant exposure to it in advertising, they also are under pressure to attain the perfect body because they believe it is what men feel they must look like. According to a study published in American Behavioural Scientist (Choi et al. , 2008), women are able to realize that the images of supermodels that they see in advertisements are unrealistic and they recognize that they will not be able to attain the body of a supermodel. However, these same women feel that men who view these advertisements will not be able to ascertain the fact that the body types shown are unrealistic. Since women feel that men cannot discern the unrealistic nature of the female body that is presented in advertisements, they feel that men will expect them to meet the standards of beauty portrayed in these ads. Consequently, this leads women to desire to look like the models they see in advertisements, not necessarily because they want to, but because they believe that men view it as realistic and attainable. As stated by Choi, et al. (2008), â€Å"Women are influenced by unrealistic media imagery because they are well aware that men will view those images as real, and value them. † It is argued that, although women know the images shown to them in advertising are unrealistic, they are unable to ignore them, because of the threat of men judging their bodies. Since advertising has the effect of making women desire a thin, slender body that is almost impossible to attain, they frequently make radical efforts in an attempt to get it. An astonishing 75 percent of women who are a normal weight feel that they are in fact overweight. The Anorexia Nervosa Related Eating Disorders research group states that one in four college aged women undertakes unhealthy methods of weight control, ranging from skipping meals and laxative abuse, to self induced vomiting. (â€Å"Beauty and Body Image in the Media†) It has also been estimated that magazines directed to a female audience contain over ten times as many advertisements promoting weight loss than men’s magazines do, advocating a variety of solutions, from diet pills to cosmetic surgery. Researchers have shown that this advertising has led to an increase in eating disorders. (Choi, et al. , 2008) Teenage girls who already claimed to be dissatisfied with their body image showed a higher tendency towards dieting and bulimic behaviours after prolonged exposure to advertisements in a teen girl magazine. (â€Å"Eating Disorders: Body Image and Advertising†) Self-image is often affected in teenage girls because they cannot escape the message that their bodies are imperfect. â€Å"A Girl of Many Parts†) Many researchers believe that advertisers want women to feel insecure and disappointed with their body shape, since this will create the desire for an unattainable body that will increase the consumption of products that companies are trying to sell, such as skin care creams, weight loss supplements, and others. Paul Hamburg, a professor at Harvard Medical School, states: â€Å"The media markets desire. And by reproducing ideals that are absurdly out of line w ith what real bodies do look like, the media perpetuates a market for frustration and disappointment. Its customers will never disappear. † (â€Å"Eating Disorders: Body Image and Advertising†) In terms of sexual objectification, women agreed that they were sexually objectified in advertising, however, contrary to popular belief, younger women appear to no longer have an issue with it. The â€Å"third wave† of feminism today embraces sexuality, and views sex as power. (Dahlberg Zimmerman, 2008) Many feminists now believe it is acceptable for women to use their glamour to their advantage, as long as they are doing it out of their own free will. According to a recent study, young, educated women are not offended by the sexual objectification of women in advertising, which may be a product of the highly sexualized culture we live in today. (Dahlberg Zimmerman, 2008) Although women are deeply affected by how models appear in advertisements, by their desire to want to look like them, the women of today no longer appear to be affected by the sexuality in advertising, and in many cases, they are embracing it. To conclude the efforts, if any, which are being made to change the portrayal of women in advertising should be examined. Although advertising on the whole is still relatively unchanged with respect to its portrayal of women, some companies have altered the message they send about beauty and changed their advertising to reflect this change. An example is Dove, and its Real Beauty advertising campaign. Dove launched the Real Beauty campaign in response to a study it undertook among females aged 18 to 64, the majority of whom felt that advertising set an unrealistic standard of beauty for women that is nearly impossible to achieve. â€Å"Behind the Hype: Dove’s Real Beauty Campaign†) The ads featured the use of everyday women instead of professional models, and images that were not airbrushed in any way. The campaign has been well-received and led to an 11. 4% increase in Dove’s sales in early 2005, although, some critics stated that the campaign promotes obesity in a time when many Americans are struggling with weight issues. Since Dove introduced the â€Å"Real Beauty† advert ising campaign, both Nike and Levi’s released similar campaigns, featuring everyday people as opposed to models. â€Å"Behind the Hype: Dove’s Real Beauty Campaign†) It remains to be seen whether this trend will continue into the future, but at the very least it demonstrates that companies are beginning to provide an alternative to the advertising they had used in the past. In summation, advertising plays a considerable role in how women regard themselves and in their perceptions of how they should look. Advertisers use models with a physique that all but the few, most genetically gifted women could ever attain. As previously stated, he average model has a body fat percentage which is 10 percent less than that of a typical healthy, active woman, and supermodels, on average, weigh 23 percent less than the average woman. After viewing advertisements featuring supermodels, women often feel worse about themselves and begin to suffer from poor self-image and low self-esteem. Even a small amount of exposure to advertising has been demonstrated to make this occur; although women are exposed to hundreds of advertisements on a weekly basis. However, women no longer appear to be affected by the sexual objectification they see in advertising, which has been attributed to the third wave of feminism and the sexually charged culture that we live in. Women also feel pressure to look like a supermodel because, although, they often realize that what is advertised to them is not realistic, they believe that men do not realize this and want regular women to look like the models they see in advertisements. This leads women to seek out that body type, since they feel that men expect it from them. Women undertake everything from common methods of weight loss such as dieting to extreme measures such as anorexia to achieve the body that advertisers tell them they must have. The dissatisfaction they have with their bodies leads them to consume the products that advertisers are marketing to them. One company, Dove has taken a major step forward in its advertising, by using everyday people who have a normal body type in its â€Å"Real Beauty† campaign, and other companies have followed suit with similar advertising, but the majority of advertising still promotes an unrealistic body type as being ideal and desired. Until this changes, women will continue to hold on to the desire to look like a supermodel, however unrealistic that may be, they will continue to go to great distances to turn that farfetched dream into a reality.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder :: Post-traumatic stress disorder, PTSD

Introduction There has been a proliferation of interest in the development and nature of individual’s thinking patterns and processes following traumatic psychological exposure (Ehlers, Mayou, & Bryant, 1998). In particular, previous research has suggested that specific thinking styles and patterns preceding trauma predict a greater vulnerability and a poorer long-term prognosis of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (Dalgleish, 2004). Moreover, the literature has illustrated that adolescents can be predisposed to developing PTSD which develops as a result of either direct or indirect exposure to a trauma. For example, witnessing a trauma directly or learning about a specific traumatic event experienced by others (Finkelhor & Dziuba-Leatherman, 1994). Previous research has highlighted that adolescents that have been exposed to a trauma and PTSD may also be more vulnerable to developing aggressive and antisocial behaviours (Falshaw, Browne & Hollin, 1996), alcohol and drug dependence, hypervigilance and impulsive misconduct (Lynam, Caspi, Moffitt, Wikstrà ¶m, Loeber & Novak, 2000). Erwin, Newman, McMackin, Morrissey and Kaloupek (2000) suggest that a reason for this is that early exposure to trauma can have severe impact on adolescent’s functioning in terms of their emotions, cognition and behaviour, poor self-regulation and information-processing. Adding to this, Tyson & Goodman, (1996) suggest that it is these deficits in functioning coupled with the individual’s inability to regulate emotions that predispose them to engaging in protective aggression and dangerous re-enactment behaviours as a way of dealing with their exposure to trauma. The link between dysfunctional cognitions and PTSD has been widely explored by various researchers, and it has been suggested that a tight relationship exists between PTSD and antisocial behaviour in youths (Danckwerts & Leathem, 2003). However, little is yet known about the psychological mechanisms which underlie the relationship. This literature review will explore the underlying mechanisms which predict a greater vulnerability to the onset, development and maintenance of PTSD associated with young offenders. More specifically, depressive cognitions such as rumination and counterfactual thinking will be explored with reference to their link with PTSD. Defining Rumination and Counterfactual Thinking Individuals affected by PTSD often report symptoms of incessant ruminative thinking associated with a traumatic experience. The DSM-IV (American Psychiatric Association, 1994) does not however distinguish intrusive rumination and intrusive memories associated with the trauma in the development of PTSD. However, more recently various theoretical perspectives propose that the two are functionally distinct and should be regarded as separate entities (Ehlers & Clark, 2000; Joseph, Williams & Yule, 1997; Ehlers & Steil, 1997).

Criminal Justice Workplace Observation Paper

In any workplace the goal of the company is to perform all job duties so that work functions may be carried out accordingly. Jobs that are centered around the criminal justice system have an even more important task of getting things done because just like any other job, criminal justice ones have laws to uphold. This paper will discuss the Alabama Department of Human Resources (DHR) and its workplace observations. The leadership consists of three levels: upper management, middle management and lower level management. Upper management involves the judge of each case that passes through DHR. The judge is responsible for overseeing the case and making final decisions overall about the case. Middle management consists of the attorneys that are assigned to each case. Attorneys are responsible for making sure the legal aspects of the case in regards to the child are being followed. Lower management consists of the DHR workers. The DHR workers are responsible for making sure the welfare of the child is in their best interest. Culture is one of the most important factors in successfully managing a criminal justice workforce. It is extremely important for each of the above named participants to be able to understand the differing diversities that the courts may encounter. It is not uncommon for a DHR worker to have a caseload with different ethnicities and cultural differences. You can read also  Justice System Position Paper Sometimes, those cultural differences may cause an individual to speak a different language than the worker, judge, or attorney is familiar with. Language barriers can often cause problems with relaying actual problems that are going on with a case. If either of the above participants can fluently speak different languages then that helps not only the court participants, but the people that are involved in the case personally. This will cut down on the legal issues that could arise in cases. Speaking of legal issues, the law is an extremely serious matter in DHR. DHR workers have the ever daunting task of making sure they report behavior to the courts about the welfare of any child. The judges have to make sure they are upholding the law and interpreting it to the best of their ability, and attorneys are built to practice and exercise the good will of the law all according to their states’ statutes.

A Rationale for teaching the Foundation Subjects within Early Years and Primary Education

The underlying basis for the inclusion of foundation subjects within early years and primary education might not be immediately apparent, particularly for first year students studying towards qualified teacher status. This essay will, therefore, unfold the reasons for this inclusion whilst including specific reference to the enclosure of history teaching.The National Curriculum (NC), introduced in 1988 and currently undergoing revision, consists of the core subjects: English, mathematics and science; compulsory at all key stages, and the foundation subjects: art, design technology (DT), geography, history, information and communication technology (ICT), modern foreign languages (MFL), music, personal, social and health education (PSHE) and physical education (PE); most of which are compulsory at one or more of the key stages (DfE, 2013).It is also important to remember that Religious Education is included within the basic curriculum and is legally bound to be taught, however children can forego the subject at their parents request. Since 2008 the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) has become integrated within all childcare providers, except mother and toddler groups, nannies and short-term crà ¨ches, and covers the welfare and development of children (BBC). This essay will not only demonstrate a rationale for the inclusion of foundation subjects in both the EYFS and NC, but also examine how history is developed into children’s learning through both stages.Boys and Spink (2008) believe the foundation subjects and RE ‘have the potential to be the most powerful, most meaningful and most relevant areas of learning for all learners’ (p. xii). Hoodless (2008) develops this further with history, stating â€Å"the most significant reason for teaching history in primary schools is that it motivates children and captures their imaginations† (p. 2). Both statements reflect on the importance of teaching history and other foundation subjects, ye t focuses on extra-curricular benefits.History can lead to many cross-curricular links and it has been suggested by Davies and Redmond (1998) that teaching history in isolation ‘would be a horrible waste of universal discipline’ (p. 39). Looking at time-lines in history can help to develop mathematical skills, whereas art can be pulled in by the associations with drawing or painting ancient artefacts. Fines (2013) also believes in the importance of history due to its cross-curricular abilities, he says â€Å"history can contribute to learning across the whole spectrum of the curriculum and does so effectively† (p.6).As a core subject, mathematics is something that, when applicable, should always be integrated into a child’s learning. However, as a foundation subject itself, art is a skill which helps to develop children’s creativity and imagination, thus making art a valuable attribute that should be included when possible. Furthermore, childrenâ₠¬â„¢s art work is often used as displays within schools; this way of celebrating work is a great way of boasting children’s confidence as well as giving them a sense of reward.This is vital for motivation, enthusiasm and inspiration which will encourage children to get involved in further learning and therefore learn more effectively (NASP, 2003). The NC is currently undergoing revision, due for implementation into schools in September 2014. Government says the review comes from the need to catch up with the world’s best education systems. Prime Minister, David Cameron says this â€Å"revolution in education† is vital for the country's economic affluence and that it should be written by experts and not restricted to ministers' â€Å"personal prejudices† (BBC, 2013).According to The Guardian (2013) changes will be welcome across the Key Stages (KS). However, it claims that for KS1, history will not differ too much from the previous NC and that ‘the m ore noticeable changes are in KS2’. Both Key Stages will see a new stress in the importance of chronological understanding. This is a result of the 2011 Ofsted report in which it states â€Å"although pupils in primary schools generally had good knowledge†¦their chronological understanding and their ability to make links across the knowledge they had gained were weaker† (p. 5).Ofsted (2011) claimed that this was due to ‘many primary teachers not having adequate subject knowledge’ (p. 4). This developed the need for the curriculum to ensure that pupils study an overview as well as in-depth topics. The old curriculum (2000) states that pupils should be taught the knowledge, skills and understanding through: a local history study; three British history studies; a European history study; a world history study (p. 106). Whereas the Programmes of Study for the revised curriculum (2013) shifts towards how history fits together and how events from one time pe riod can affect another, maintaining that  teaching should combine overview with in-depth studies to aid pupils understanding on chronology (p. 3).In Ofsted-registered settings, children from birth to 5 years old work towards the EYFS as opposed to the NC. With regards to history, much of what this age range will learn comes from the ‘Knowledge and Understanding of the World’ aspect of the Early Learning Goals. It is expected that by the end of the foundation stage, children will ‘talk about past and present events in their own lives and in the lives of family members’ (DfE, 2012, p.9) The EYFS understands that it would be unrealistic for such young children to fully comprehend the defined body of factual information that is history, however a development of finding out about changes and passage of time is not (O’Hara and O’Hara, 2001, p. 18). There are many story books that can reveal to young children a language that identifies a concept o f ‘long ago’. Stories such as ‘When Grandma Was Young’ (Humphrey, 2000), ‘Elmer and Grandpa Eldo’ (Mckee, 2001) and ‘My Granny is a Pirate’ (Mcdermid and Robins, 2012) can invoke interest with early years children and inspire them to become inquisitive about the past.It has been suggested that time means nothing to young children. However learning to ask and answer questions through story reading will enhance their concept history. Therefore continuing to do so through the Early Learning Goals will prepare children, entering at primary level, to appreciate the importance of history (Lunn and Bishop, 2004). It is important to remember to children do not stop learning history when they finish their time at primary school. Maintained secondary schools follow the NC which maintains that all children will continue to learn history by means of the KS3 History Programmes of Study (2013).Therefore it is important to prepare children for mo re challenging and precise history learning. New topics shall be introduced so it is important children have the skills to ‘identify significant events, make connections, draw contrasts, and analyse trends’ (p. 72). It is, furthermore, defined that pupils will ‘pursue historically valid enquiries including some they have framed themselves’ (p. 72). This indicates towards children becoming independent critical thinkers, a valuable quality to have in adult life, this alone is a fundamental reason for the inclusion of history in the NC (DfE, 2013).Hoodless (2008) believes that history offers a range opportunities to overcome barriers in learning, with specific reference to gender, class and ethnic and cultural backgrounds. She believes that there are many ways to teach history to make it inclusive to everyone and says that â€Å"inclusive practise involves treating each individual with respect, included them equally in whatever is taking place and responding appropriately to their different needs† (p. 140). She argues that history education can reach individuals in different ways because of the many approaches and strategies used to teach it.For example, a child who struggles to read can be given visual sources to aid their learning rather than long pieces of text, thus benefitting the child more (p. 135). Another underlying reason for teaching history is because of the opportunities it can give to children from minority ethnic and cultural backgrounds. Although sensitivity must be empathised, using cases of past civilisations to stimulate an identification of how prejudgments, such as racism, sexism or any other type of discrimination, arose can then contribute to eliminating them (p.139).Boys and Spink (2008) expands on this by proposing that the history curriculum should be ‘culturally relevant to all pupils’ (p. 71). The United Kingdom has become a diverse multicultural society over the years. Consequently, Boys a nd Spink (2008) suggest that the NC study unit ‘Britain since 1948’ provides an opportunity to explore the Commonwealth immigration (p. 71). Exploring such a topic will provide children with an understanding of different culture’s arrivals into the United Kingdom which they might otherwise not ever be educated on.As part of the Professional Standards for qualified teacher status (QTS), teachers are expected to demonstrate that they are able to plan opportunities for children to learn in out-of-school environments (DfE, 2013, p. 8). Such settings as, museums, theatres, school visits, fieldwork and employment-based locations can all be used as a means for enriching children’s learning. From birth children are trying to make sense of their multi-sensory environment, making them active learners. To limit children’s learning to the classroom would be a shameful waste of the valuable resources that are on offer to enhance their education.Out-of-school lea rning helps to develop skills including decision-making, group work and critical thinking, all of which are key attributes to have. Hoodless et al. (2003) takes this further by saying that ‘the sensory experiences help all kinds of learner to remember and learn from the locality and its inhabitants’ (p. 136). Outside learning can be restricted to the school’s boundaries or the close localities and still offer the same benefits. The school itself can be studied for design elements that can be analysed to identify the age of the building.Taking a short walk out the school grounds can provide a wealth of people, building and landscapes that children can learn from. It is important to remember, however, the risk assessments that need to be carried out in order for these events to take place. In many cases consent from the parent will need to be given in order to take children out of school. It is also essential to prepare clearly structured learning objectives in ord er to achieve greatly from out-of-school learning and make the most of the time dedicated to such pedagogy (Hoodless, 2003, p.137-140).Furthermore, with the threatened return of rickets in children recently, giving them more chances to study outside could prevent this. The Telegraph (2013) reported that the increase has come from children spending ‘too much time indoors on computers and gaming consoles’ which is why incorporating outdoor study into children’s learning will benefit them entirely. Finally, multiple reviews of the foundation subjects within the curriculum only reflect on the commitment for enriching children’s learning that government have (Boys and Spink, 2008, p.xii). Foundation subjects influence cross-curricular and out-of-school learning, making them more appealing and beneficial for children. Additionally, Johnston (2002) talks of how young children [in the EYFS] develop knowledge of how the world works by exploring the world around the m. She says â€Å"the wider their informal experiences, the broader and deeper will be their understandings† (p. 24). This suggests that the integration of foundation learning within the EYFS is the source of children’s initial understanding of the world they live in.The need to develop a sense of history learning in the EYFS has been addressed by looking at the importance of invoking interest about the past. Furthermore, Ofsted (2011) found that history was a ‘popular and successful subject, which many pupils enjoyed’ (p. 5). This statement alone could be the rationale for teaching history in primary schools. A subject that can captivate students and encourage them to learn more is an underlying reason for that subject to be taught. A Rationale for teaching the Foundation Subjects within Early Years and Primary Education The underlying basis for the inclusion of foundation subjects within early years and primary education might not be immediately apparent, particularly for first year students studying towards qualified teacher status. This essay will, therefore, unfold the reasons for this inclusion whilst including specific reference to the enclosure of history teaching.The National Curriculum (NC), introduced in 1988 and currently undergoing revision, consists of the core subjects: English, mathematics and science; compulsory at all key stages, and the foundation subjects: art, design technology (DT), geography, history, information and communication technology (ICT), modern foreign languages (MFL), music, personal, social and health education (PSHE) and physical education (PE); most of which are compulsory at one or more of the key stages (DfE, 2013).It is also important to remember that Religious Education is included within the basic curriculum and is legally bound to be taught, however children can forego the subject at their parents request. Since 2008 the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) has become integrated within all childcare providers, except mother and toddler groups, nannies and short-term creches, and covers the welfare and development of children (BBC). This essay will not only demonstrate a rationale for the inclusion of foundation subjects in both the EYFS and NC, but also examine how history is developed into children’s learning through both stages.Boys and Spink (2008) believe the foundation subjects and RE ‘have the potential to be the most powerful, most meaningful and most relevant areas of learning for all learners’ (p. xii). Hoodless (2008) develops this further with history, stating â€Å"the most significant reason for teaching history in primary schools is that it motivates children and captures their imaginations† (p. 2). Both statements reflect on the importance of teaching history and other foundation subjects, yet f ocuses on extra-curricular benefits.History can lead to many cross-curricular links and it has been suggested by Davies and Redmond (1998) that teaching history in isolation ‘would be a horrible waste of universal discipline’ (p. 39). Looking at time-lines in history can help to develop mathematical skills, whereas art can be pulled in by the associations with drawing or painting ancient artefacts. Fines (2013) also believes in the importance of history due to its cross-curricular abilities, he says â€Å"history can contribute to learning across the whole spectrum of the curriculum and does so effectively† (p.6).As a core subject, mathematics is something that, when applicable, should always be integrated into a child’s learning. However, as a foundation subject itself, art is a skill which helps to develop children’s creativity and imagination, thus making art a valuable attribute that should be included when possible. Furthermore, childrenâ€℠¢s art work is often used as displays within schools; this way of celebrating work is a great way of boasting children’s confidence as well as giving them a sense of reward.This is vital for motivation, enthusiasm and inspiration which will encourage children to get involved in further learning and therefore learn more effectively (NASP, 2003). The NC is currently undergoing revision, due for implementation into schools in September 2014. Government says the review comes from the need to catch up with the world’s best education systems. Prime Minister, David Cameron says this â€Å"revolution in education† is vital for the country's economic affluence and that it should be written by experts and not restricted to ministers' â€Å"personal prejudices† (BBC, 2013).According to The Guardian (2013) changes will be welcome across the Key Stages (KS). However, it claims that for KS1, history will not differ too much from the previous NC and that ‘the more noticeable changes are in KS2’. Both Key Stages will see a new stress in the importance of chronological understanding. This is a result of the 2011 Ofsted report in which it states â€Å"although pupils in primary schools generally had good knowledge†¦their chronological understanding and their ability to make links across the knowledge they had gained were weaker† (p. 5).Ofsted (2011) claimed that this was due to ‘many primary teachers not having adequate subject knowledge’ (p. 4). This developed the need for the curriculum to ensure that pupils study an overview as well as in-depth topics. The old curriculum (2000) states that pupils should be taught the knowledge, skills and understanding through: a local history study; three British history studies; a European history study; a world history study (p. 106).Whereas the Programmes of Study for the revised curriculum (2013) shifts towards how history fits together and how events from one time period can affect another, maintaining that  teaching should combine overview with in-depth studies to aid pupils understanding on chronology (p. 3). In Ofsted-registered settings, children from birth to 5 years old work towards the EYFS as opposed to the NC. With regards to history, much of what this age range will learn comes from the ‘Knowledge and Understanding of the World’ aspect of the Early Learning Goals. It is expected that by the end of the foundation stage, children will ‘talk about past and present events in their own lives and in the lives of family members’ (DfE, 2012, p.  9)The EYFS understands that it would be unrealistic for such young children to fully comprehend the defined body of factual information that is history, however a development of finding out about changes and passage of time is not (O’Hara and O’Hara, 2001, p. 18). There are many story books that can reveal to young children a language that identifies a concept o f ‘long ago’. Stories such as ‘When Grandma Was Young’ (Humphrey, 2000), ‘Elmer and Grandpa Eldo’ (Mckee, 2001) and ‘My Granny is a Pirate’ (Mcdermid and Robins, 2012) can invoke interest with early years children and inspire them to become inquisitive about the past.It has been suggested that time means nothing to young children. However learning to ask and answer questions through story reading will enhance their concept history. Therefore continuing to do so through the Early Learning Goals will prepare children, entering at primary level, to appreciate the importance of history (Lunn and Bishop, 2004). It is important to remember to children do not stop learning history when they finish their time at primary school. Maintained secondary schools follow the NC which maintains that all children will continue to learn history by means of the KS3 History Programmes of Study (2013).Therefore it is important to prepare children for mo re challenging and precise history learning. New topics shall be introduced so it is important children have the skills to ‘identify significant events, make connections, draw contrasts, and analyse trends’ (p. 72). It is, furthermore, defined that pupils will ‘pursue historically valid enquiries including some they have framed themselves’ (p. 72). This indicates towards children becoming independent critical thinkers, a valuable quality to have in adult life, this alone is a fundamental reason for the inclusion of history in the NC (DfE, 2013).Hoodless (2008) believes that history offers a range opportunities to overcome barriers in learning, with specific reference to gender, class and ethnic and cultural backgrounds. She believes that there are many ways to teach history to make it inclusive to everyone and says that â€Å"inclusive practise involves treating each individual with respect, included them equally in whatever is taking place and responding appropriately to their different needs† (p. 140). She argues that history education can reach individuals in different ways because of the many approaches and strategies used to teach it.For example, a child who struggles to read can be given visual sources to aid their learning rather than long pieces of text, thus benefitting the child more (p. 135). Another underlying reason for teaching history is because of the opportunities it can give to children from minority ethnic and cultural backgrounds. Although sensitivity must be empathised, using cases of past civilisations to stimulate an identification of how prejudgments, such as racism, sexism or any other type of discrimination, arose can then contribute to eliminating them (p.  139).Boys and Spink (2008) expands on this by proposing that the history curriculum should be ‘culturally relevant to all pupils’ (p. 71). The United Kingdom has become a diverse multicultural society over the years. Consequently, Bo ys and Spink (2008) suggest that the NC study unit ‘Britain since 1948’ provides an opportunity to explore the Commonwealth immigration (p. 71). Exploring such a topic will provide children with an understanding of different culture’s arrivals into the United Kingdom which they might otherwise not ever be educated on.As part of the Professional Standards for qualified teacher status (QTS), teachers are expected to demonstrate that they are able to plan opportunities for children to learn in out-of-school environments (DfE, 2013, p. 8). Such settings as, museums, theatres, school visits, fieldwork and employment-based locations can all be used as a means for enriching children’s learning. From birth children are trying to make sense of their multi-sensory environment, making them active learners. To limit children’s learning to the classroom would be a shameful waste of the valuable resources that are on offer to enhance their education.Out-of-school learning helps to develop skills including decision-making, group work and critical thinking, all of which are key attributes to have. Hoodless et al. (2003) takes this further by saying that ‘the sensory experiences help all kinds of learner to remember and learn from the locality and its inhabitants’ (p. 136). Outside learning can be restricted to the school’s boundaries or the close localities and still offer the same benefits. The school itself can be studied for design elements that can be analysed to identify the age of the building.Taking a short walk out the school grounds can provide a wealth of people, building and landscapes that children can learn from. It is important to remember, however, the risk assessments that need to be carried out in order for these events to take place. In many cases consent from the parent will need to be given in order to take children out of school. It is also essential to prepare clearly structured learning objectives in order to achieve greatly from out-of-school learning and make the most of the time dedicated to such pedagogy (Hoodless, 2003, p.  137-140).Furthermore, with the threatened return of rickets in children recently, giving them more chances to study outside could prevent this. The Telegraph (2013) reported that the increase has come from children spending ‘too much time indoors on computers and gaming consoles’ which is why incorporating outdoor study into children’s learning will benefit them entirely. Finally, multiple reviews of the foundation subjects within the curriculum only reflect on the commitment for enriching children’s learning that government have (Boys and Spink, 2008, p.  xii).Foundation subjects influence cross-curricular and out-of-school learning, making them more appealing and beneficial for children. Additionally, Johnston (2002) talks of how young children [in the EYFS] develop knowledge of how the world works by exploring the world around them. She says â€Å"the wider their informal experiences, the broader and deeper will be their understandings† (p. 24). This suggests that the integration of foundation learning within the EYFS is the source of children’s initial understanding of the world they live in.The need to develop a sense of history learning in the EYFS has been addressed by looking at the importance of invoking interest about the past. Furthermore, Ofsted (2011) found that history was a ‘popular and successful subject, which many pupils enjoyed’ (p. 5). This statement alone could be the rationale for teaching history in primary schools. A subject that can captivate students and encourage them to learn more is an underlying reason for that subject to be taught.

God

God What proofs have been provided of the existence of god? Do you think that science is able to contribute to this debate, either to prove that God exists, or that he does not? 1 Abstract 2 Introduction a History of this debate From the time of Plato, there have been a considerable number of arguments postulated in favour of the existence of God. The definition of the word 'God' is ambiguous and has been used in so many different senses by different thinkers. However, all the debates in some ways or another clearly investigate on whether 'God exists'.Before looking deeper into the subject, a historical review will be an aid to our understanding.HISTORY.The trend of thoughts over this debate has undoubtedly been tainted by revolutions in social, political and moral acceptances. In medieval times, for example, one would be punished for disbelief in God or for questioning the 'sacred texts'.Gods and sodasGalileo had his finger cut off for 'blasphemy' when he simply postulated that the eart h revolved around the sun as this questioned statements in the Holy Bible.b Why is it important to debate this? The existence of a 'God', or 'Supreme Being' is very important in the life of a human being. In fact, it is very dear to many believers who have faith in a God and other devotees who practise a religion. Religion, which acknowledges God as the 'Supreme Being' who is the master of us all, is merely an instrument of a belief in the existence of God. But first and for all, it is a question of human existence, human life, his purpose on earth and finally, the ultimate death. The significance of a God also leads to some definition of the code of practice to be adopted in life, helping humans...

In The Red

In The Red Hester Prynne admonishes Pearl not to "always talk in the marketplace of what happens in the forest." (Hawthorne 206) Hester's words capture the essence of Puritan life- the vast stretches of the mind skirting the edges of common existence. Hawthorne's juxtaposition of the marketplace and the secret woods illustrates the incredible difference between the Hester presented to the world and Hester as she knows herself.The "mystery of the primeval forest" (Hawthorne, 192) represents the "moral wilderness" (Hawthorne, 192) Hester wanders. The forest's "shadowy uncertainty" (Howells, 278) paints the fears, doubts and passions present in Hester Prynne. Yet she masks these with indifference and her good works; they remain unseen by those who dwell in the marketplace. The community rejects her initially because of her sin; she retreats to the edge of the village into the forest. Her remoteness physically and spiritually widens the gulf between her and her peers.Leigh Hester

About Form DD-214 Request Report of Separation

About Form DD-214 Request Report of Separation The DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, generally referred to as a DD 214, is a document issued by the United States Department of Defense upon the retirement, separation or discharge from active duty of any service member who served in any branch of the U.S. Armed Services. The DD 214 verifies and documents the former service member’s complete military service record during both active and reserve duty. It will list items such as awards and medals, rank/rate and pay grade held on active duty, total military combat service and/or overseas service, and various branch-specific specialties and qualifications held. Persons who serve exclusively in the Air National Guard or Army National Guard will receive a form NGB-22 from the National Guard Bureau, instead of a DD 214. The DD 214 also includes codes describing the service members’ reason for discharge and their reenlistment eligibility. These are the Separation Designator/Separation Justification (abbreviated as SPD/SJC) Codes and Reenlistment Eligibility (RE) Codes. Why the DD 214 Might Be Needed The DD 214 is typically required by the Department of Veterans Affairs to grant veterans benefits. Private sector employers may also require job applicants to provide a DD 214 as proof of military service. In addition, funeral directors typically require a DD 214 to show a deceased person’s eligibility for burial in a VA cemetery with provision of military honors. Since 2000, the families of all eligible veterans have been allowed to request honors including the presentation of a folded United States ceremonial burial flag and the sounding of Taps, at no cost. Requesting a DD 214 Copy Online There are currently two government sources where copies of a DD 214 on other military service records can be requested online: The eVetRecs website maintained by the National Archives and Records Administration allows veterans or their next of kin to request copies of DD 214s and separation documents, as well as medical records, and replacement medals. Note that copies can be requested only by veterans or their next of kin defined as a surviving spouse that has not remarried, father, mother, son, daughter, sister, or brother.The eBenefits veteran’s benefits web portal managed jointly by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs and the United States Department of Defense. The service allows veterans to review, and print documents from their official Military Personnel File, including their DD 214. eBenefits claims to provide electronic copies within 48 hours. However, in order to request a DD 214, the veteran must have an eBenefits Premium Account. When requesting military records online via the eVetRecs service,  certain basic information will be requested. This information includes: The veterans complete name used while in serviceService numberSocial Security numberBranch of serviceDates of serviceDate and place of birth (especially if the service number is not known).If you suspect your records may have been destroyed in the 1973 fire at the National Personnel Records Center, also include: Place of discharge, Last unit of assignment; and place of entry into the service, if known. All requests must be signed and dated by the veteran or next-of-kin. If you are the next of kin of a deceased veteran, you must provide proof of death of the veteran such as a copy of death certificate, letter from funeral home, or published obituary. If You are Not a Veteran or Next of Kin If you are not the veteran or next of kin, you must complete the Standard Form 180 (SF 180). You must then mail it or fax it to the appropriate address on the form. The Defense Department issues to each veteran a DD-214, identifying the veterans condition of discharge - honorable, general, other than honorable, dishonorable or bad conduct. For complete instructions on how to apply for a copy of your DD-214, see Veterans Service Records from the National Archives and Records Administration. Be sure to download and complete BOTH SIDES of the SF-180. The back of the form contains important mailing addresses and instructions. The Standard Form 180 is formatted for legal size paper (8.5 x 14). Please print it that way if your printer can accommodate that. If your printer can only print on letter size paper (8.5 x 11), select shrink to fit when the Adobe Acrobat Reader Print dialog box appears. Costs and Response Time Generally there is no charge for military personnel and health record information provided to veterans, next-of-kin, and authorized representatives. If your request involves a service fee, you will be notified as soon as that determination is made. Response time varies dependent upon the complexity of your request, the availability of records, and our workload. Please do not send a follow-up request before 90 days have elapsed as it may cause further delays. National Archives and Records Administration

Raymond Carvers Catherdral Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Raymond Carvers Catherdral - Essay Example Robert had just lost his wife and was meeting her relatives in Connecticut. The narrator’s wife offers him a place to spend the night. While conversing with Robert, the narrator suddenly realizes that though Robert is blind, he is able to ‘see’ far better than the narrator with his eyesight. Thesis Statement The narrator comes upon the realization that even though Robert is blind, he is a better communicator because he uses his other senses of touch and perception as a means to establish a rapport with not only the narrator’s wife but his own wife Beulah as well. Thus Robert has had a much richer understanding with the narrator’s wife than the narrator himself- in comparison, their own conversational exchanges are few, terse and tensed. Discussion The short story writer Raymond Carver (1938-1988) has been acclaimed as one of the best proponents of this form of literature in the USA. His short but eventful life was tragic and interspersed with poverty and want. In a strange way, this state of affairs mirrors the life of Edgar Allan Poe, another short story writer of Gothic fiction. Both were slaves to the bottle. Born into a blue collar family where his father was a worker at a sawmill and his mother a waitress, Raymond nevertheless harbored a desire to write. This desire was sparked when Raymond attended creative writing classes in 1958 at Chico State College under the tutelage of John Gardner, another short story writer of some repute. Gardner took Carver under his wing and advised him to shorten his words from twenty five to fifteen to have a better effect. If that were not damning enough, the stringent editing of Carver’s editor Gordon Lish resulted in a further admonition and Carver having to condense his stories even further into five words for every fifteen. Of course, this would stifle Carver’s creativity and he ultimately rebelled against Lish (Halpert, 2005, 33). All writers love to have their own poetic license and freedom of expression. They also like the company of comrade souls with similar interests and outlook. This was probably one reason why Carter chose to divorce his longtime wife Maryann who was his childhood sweetheart (they had married when he was 19 and she 18 and had 2 kids by the time they were 20) and married another writer, Tess Gallagher in 1988. Their happiness was short lived though, Carver dying just six months into the marriage due to lung cancer. Carver uses a minimalist style and his stories are often sad and melancholy, yet they usually have a moral or lesson attached. One of more of the characters is likely to have been recovering from a tragedy, or set to become a victim of it. What is important is the reaction to this tragedy or circumstance. In Cathedral, the emphasis is on seeing rather than looking, feelings rather than appearances. The narrator does not seem to have a very good relationship or understanding with his wife. Their conversations are few and terse and strained, as though they are estranged or do not really understand or care for each other. For one, the narrator’s wife seems to recall her working experience with the blind man with pleasant memories. She especially recalls the way he touched her face, her neck, her hands etc. on her last day of work (Carver, 2008, 305). There is no sexual connotation here, it is just the element of feelings that the author wants to highlight. Despite his blindness, Robert seems to be imbued with a deep sense of

Ethics in Negotiation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Ethics in Negotiation - Essay Example It is usually an ‘anything that sells’ approach that is adopted by such sellers. Sellers tend to arbitrarily decide on prices since merchandise is acquired from a plethora of sources with no objective means of deciding on price (Kugel, 2013). They thus pitch a price according to the profile of the customer who visits, based on personal discernments about their willingness and ability to pay for the items. Most customers are however aware of this fact, and the more affluent ones quickly reject the initial price as it borders on exploitation. Hence, bargaining becomes necessary to avoid being taken advantage of by crafty retailers practicing price discrimination to maximize profits. With stalls set up very close to one another, a customer can look through the catalog of a number of vendors whilst standing in one of them. He can thus be aware of the quality of items offered by other vendors, which if greater, can be used as leverage against the current one. Vendors are typically reluctant to let go of customers once they start negotiations, and threats about opting to visit other stalls are extremely effective in getting them to reduce their asking price. They are aware that customers benefit from choice and selection, and if they do not comply with their reasonable wishes, another vendor will. A major factor behind the existence and prevalence of bargaining in flea markets is that of information asymmetry. In a normal market, a customer is aware about the details of merchandise such as the manufacturer, area of production, quality etc. This is not the case with flea markets, where customers are aware that they may be getting anything from a good quality reject of a top notch brand to a used up, ready for scrap item. Sellers in most cases know more about the products origins etc., and can thus often fool customers in believing that the product may be of higher quality than what

Islamic banking concepts Research Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Islamic banking concepts - Research Proposal Example The paper tells that Islamic banking focuses on the profit and risk concept than the interest alone as it is in the traditional banking for the calculation of returns. In the Islamic the risk of the individual sharing the financial resources is similar to banking borrower’s risk. The returns are also calculated in the similar manner. It is based on Shariah laws where in honesty and trust is the basic foundation of such approach. It is assumed that everyone from investor to borrower would be honest regarding their work and financial aspects. However it is borrower’s challenge to run the business and making it profitable. Hoq et al explain that the level of trust in the context of Malaysian Banks were determined by the basic belief of Muslim and non-Muslim customers on the bank for fulfilling its promises and obligations. â€Å"In this sense, when Islamic banks are operated on the basis of Islamic Shariah, trust becomes even more important dimension in gaining the custom ers than trust in the conventional banks.† Nevertheless, ‘Reba’ or Interest is forbidden under Islamic laws†. This changes the overall banking process very different from the conventional banking. Looking from the conventional banking approaches, Islamic banking and its product may sound complex. The overall development of products, designing, training manpower for the product management, business compliances, human resource and overall administration is much different from the conventional banking.

Introduction to Psychology ........Midterm quiz, Essay

Introduction to Psychology ........Midterm quiz, - Essay Example Moreover, some of the behaviors are the outcomes of unconscious mental activities. In other words, mental processes are conscious and unconscious. But we don’t know which behavior is the outcome of the conscious or unconscious mental processes. So psychological studies based on mental processes alone may not be logical In an experiment to determine whether a drug reduces anxiety, the experimenter manipulates who in the experiment gets the drug and who gets the placebo.   The variable that is manipulated is the drug.   In a double-blind experiment, neither the individuals nor the researchers know who belongs to the control group and the experimental group. In the above experiment the experimenter knows which subjects are getting the drug and placebo. In order to make the above experiment a double blinded one the experimenter should also unaware of what is given to the subjects.   A psychologist decides to study whether Buddhist meditation reduces anxiety and interviews 20 people who meditate regularly and 20 people who do not meditate at all.   The experimenter asks a series of questions designed to test anxiety level and finds that those who engage in meditation have less anxiety.     It is possible that people who are less anxious to begin with choose to meditate. Moreover it is not clear from the study that whether the subjects were suffering from anxiety disorders or not before the start of the meditation. It is also not clear that whether the subjects used any other medications at the time of testing the Buddhist meditations. The selection criteria of the subjects are also not evident from the study. It is quiet possible that some of the subjects might be children who usually experiences less anxiety compared to adults.    Identical twins come from same egg and sperm whereas the fraternal twins come from different eggs and sperms. Thus Fraternal twins develop

Sir Richard Branson, Chairman, Virgin Group, Ltd Case Study

Sir Richard Branson, Chairman, Virgin Group, Ltd - Case Study Example In the business circles, the talk is there may be not many business sectors, in which Virgin has not made his mark. â€Å"Conceived in 1970 by Sir Richard Branson, the Virgin Group has gone on to grow successful businesses in sectors ranging from mobile telephony, travel, financial services, leisure, music, holidays and health & wellness.† (Virgin, n. d.). Among other factors, this optimal growth is primarily due to the leadership of Richard Branson, particularly the combination of transformational as well as authentic style of leadership. Under these style, leaders will provide the employees under them maximum autonomy to plan as well as implement the various organizational processes. (Avolio and Yammarino, 2002). By adopting decentralization structure or even democratic form of management, these authentic as well as transformational leaders will productively involve employees in all stages of organizational management, giving them optimum responsibilities. This form of leade rship was prominently visible in Branson, when he launched those 400 odd companies. When an idea for a business arises in his mind or comes from others, Branson starts that enterprise by maintaining a controlling interest in it, and then will manage it in the initial phase. After the company starts to function in a steady manner, he will delegate leadership roles to the second rung leaders and will move on. This process of delegation and productively involving the employees was pointed out by Branson himself. He stated, â€Å"I come up with the original idea, spend the first three months immersed in the business so I know the ins and outs and then give chief executives a stake in the company and ask them to run it as if it’s their own,† (Sukhiy, 2007). This combination of authentic and transformational leadership styles can be aptly applied in United States, because with most of the prospective employees coming out of the current effective academic environment exhibiti ng entrepreneurial skills as well as willingness to take responsibilities, this style can be aptly applied business leaders in U.S. In addition, as these leadership styles can elevate the motivation levels of the employees and bring out their best, it can be adopted. Thus, if these leadership styles are followed in U.S., organizations there can diversify or expand their operations optimally, as the leaders can initiate new processes and just oversee them, by giving maximum responsibilities to their employees, who will take it to the logical and positive end. 2. Recommending a different leadership style that would make Branson an even more effective leader. Although from the above discussion of Branson’s leadership traits it is clear that he has maximally exhibited effective traits, there are room for improvement in some of his traits. One of the optimal traits of Branson is having a great vision. Because of such a vision, Branson takes high number of risks, when it comes to l aunching new companies or products or services. That is, without fully analyzing the product’s feasibility and success, Branson has impulsively launched many products or services, and sizable of them have ended in failures. Some of the examples, Virgin Cola, launched as a competitor to Coca-Cola,

Pub industry Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Pub industry - Case Study Example Certainly, this measure was applauded by the owners of the pubs and there are good reasons to expect the increase in the number of the customers. Another legislative initiative might more detrimental to the industry of pubs. Labor party has proposed to introduce total ban on the smoking in pubs, though it is still a proposal and is widely debated. In current edition of the proposed legislature smoking will be allowed only in those pubs that do not serve the food. One of the impacts is undoubtedly possible negative consequences for the business of the pubs. If this initiative is accepted, the pub industry will have to adapt itself to new environment and devise new ways to lure their steadfast customers. It can do it either by shifting to new pubs that will provide clients with drinks (new strategy should be devised in this case) or by reorganizing its chain of the pubs ( as Wetherspoon is large company it might try to reorganize its chain by establishing two types of the pubs- those which serve the food and those that do not. This reorganization should be based after thorough investigation of geographical and social factors, once the company has obtained a reliable data on where it would be more appropriative to open the pubs mentioned). Economic factors. The UK has one of the most developed economies in the world, with the annual growth rate of 1.7% percent in 2005. (Prediction). The GNP per capita is one of the highest in the world; it is one of the most important factors as it means high purchasing power of Britons, who enjoy going out and currently have less time, possibilities and inclinations to cook meal at home. Strong economy also means the possibility for expansions on the market and provides the company with stable environment to plan...Economic factors. The UK has one of the most developed economies in the world, with the annual growth rate of 1.7% percent in 2005. (Prediction). The GNP per capita is one of the highest in the world; it is one of the most important factors as it means high purchasing power of Britons, who enjoy going out and currently have less time, possibilities and inclinations to cook meal at home. Strong economy also means the possibility for expansions on the market and provides the company with stable environment to plan its future operations. Several import restrictions on the technological equipments or raw materials used in the production of the beer, might hamper the development of the industry. The industry might also suffer from low import duties on alcoholic drinks, which encourage customers to purchase the drink abroad. Social factors. Several social factors such as late marriage, increasing number of divorces and growing number of persons with high incomes as well as more hours spent at the workplace might influence the business of the pub industry. More and more people prefer to go out to dine at the pubs; the majority of them simply do not have enough time to cook the meals at home. That is why the company should study these factors thoroughly in order to understand what forces are driving people to dine out. There are no grounds to expect any technological innovations or breakthrough in the industry in the nearest future, neither there is a possibility for the breakthrough in the long-term.

Sir Richard Branson, Chairman, Virgin Group, Ltd Case Study

Sir Richard Branson, Chairman, Virgin Group, Ltd - Case Study Example In the business circles, the talk is there may be not many business sectors, in which Virgin has not made his mark. â€Å"Conceived in 1970 by Sir Richard Branson, the Virgin Group has gone on to grow successful businesses in sectors ranging from mobile telephony, travel, financial services, leisure, music, holidays and health & wellness.† (Virgin, n. d.). Among other factors, this optimal growth is primarily due to the leadership of Richard Branson, particularly the combination of transformational as well as authentic style of leadership. Under these style, leaders will provide the employees under them maximum autonomy to plan as well as implement the various organizational processes. (Avolio and Yammarino, 2002). By adopting decentralization structure or even democratic form of management, these authentic as well as transformational leaders will productively involve employees in all stages of organizational management, giving them optimum responsibilities. This form of leade rship was prominently visible in Branson, when he launched those 400 odd companies. When an idea for a business arises in his mind or comes from others, Branson starts that enterprise by maintaining a controlling interest in it, and then will manage it in the initial phase. After the company starts to function in a steady manner, he will delegate leadership roles to the second rung leaders and will move on. This process of delegation and productively involving the employees was pointed out by Branson himself. He stated, â€Å"I come up with the original idea, spend the first three months immersed in the business so I know the ins and outs and then give chief executives a stake in the company and ask them to run it as if it’s their own,† (Sukhiy, 2007). This combination of authentic and transformational leadership styles can be aptly applied in United States, because with most of the prospective employees coming out of the current effective academic environment exhibiti ng entrepreneurial skills as well as willingness to take responsibilities, this style can be aptly applied business leaders in U.S. In addition, as these leadership styles can elevate the motivation levels of the employees and bring out their best, it can be adopted. Thus, if these leadership styles are followed in U.S., organizations there can diversify or expand their operations optimally, as the leaders can initiate new processes and just oversee them, by giving maximum responsibilities to their employees, who will take it to the logical and positive end. 2. Recommending a different leadership style that would make Branson an even more effective leader. Although from the above discussion of Branson’s leadership traits it is clear that he has maximally exhibited effective traits, there are room for improvement in some of his traits. One of the optimal traits of Branson is having a great vision. Because of such a vision, Branson takes high number of risks, when it comes to l aunching new companies or products or services. That is, without fully analyzing the product’s feasibility and success, Branson has impulsively launched many products or services, and sizable of them have ended in failures. Some of the examples, Virgin Cola, launched as a competitor to Coca-Cola,

Answer the following questions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Answer the following questions - Essay Example Criteria, which allows for different pay structures include skills, efforts, responsibility levels and working conditions. These factors form the broader categories of pay levels. In deciding upon internal pay structures several other key factors also have to be considered. These include, whether the remuneration will be Job or Person Based; the degree of importance placed on performance and how its linked to remuneration; organisation’s position in the labour market (i.e. Pay Master or Low Payer) how important will internal and external equity be; degree of importance of hierarchy in pay; how flexible will the remuneration mix be, and what level of significance does seniority and job security holds (Lawler 2000). In addition to these, in determining pay levels an organisation must consider external and internal relativities, the worth of the person or the team to the organisation and the collective bargaining arrangements (Armstrong). Based on experience, the skills and degre e of importance placed upon performance in administering pay structures are the most important. In today’s competitive business environment, organisations need the best performance from the human capital in order to achieve a competitive edge. Therefore, skills, competencies and performance should be the main factors of importance influencing pay structures. Job Analysis resulting in Job Descriptions and Person Specifications. These facilitates the recruitment and selection process as well as training and performance appraisal functions Job Analysis involves the systematic gathering of information about jobs and analysing this information using subjective, rational or statistical analysis methods. One of the major decisions involved in a job analysis process would include, which method to use for information gathering on jobs. Secondly, how to analyse these collected data should be decided. While a host of

Management by exception Essay Example for Free

Management by exception Essay With the release of the new budget for year 9 from Competition Bikes, there are a couple of areas that are a concern that warrant being addressed. The first being the prediction of amount of bikes to be sold; Competition Bikes is expecting 3,510 units to be sold after a year 8 that sold only 3,400 units which was a 15% drop in sales from the year prior (which sold approximately 4,000 units) with zero drop in price point which may make it harder for customers to justify purchasing a bike in the current economy. Understandably, year 8 was in the middle of a recession and the economy could rebound for a productive year 9. However, with only an extra $984 being spent on advertisement, the expectations could fall short unless advertisement spending is increased to approximately the $2,000 range it was in year 7. Competition Bikes is putting themselves at risk for over ordering raw materials and a surplus of raw materials only takes up more storage space, which leads to extra money being spent for storage. There is also an issue with General and Administration Expenses. General and Admin expenses is the same amount as it was in year 8 ($170,000). However, in year 7, Competition Bikes spent $12,000 less and sold 600 more units then it did in year 8. Year 7 was proof that Competition Bikes has the ability to produce and sell a successful amount of bikes without having an extremely high operational cost. That extra $12,000 could be spread into other aspects such as: advertising, factory maintenance and even bonuses. 2. A flexible budget is a budget that adjusts or flexes for changes in the volume of activity† (Averkamp, 2013). A flexible budget is more useful than a static budget because it is based on actual output. The difference between an actual output and a budgeted amount is known as a variance. When the amount of the actual result is higher than budgeted, it is considered favorable, whereas when the budgeted amount turns out higher is unfavorable. Within the Competition Bikes flexible budget there are a few favorable variances, the first one of note being within Net Sales. The company had a budget of $5,247,250, with the flexible budget being $5,117,385, however the  final numbers were $5,096,847, which gives the company an unfavorable variance of -$130,065. Total Variable Cost however was a favorable expense. With a planned budget of $3,967,962 and a flexible budget of $3,869,612 the actual output was $3,805,400 the favorable variance came out to $98,349. Contribution margin was also an unfavorable variance (-$31,716). Advertising Expenses went over cost for an unfavorable variance of $3,754 from a standard budget of $28,412 and a flexible budget of $27,708. The extra money spent towards advertising may have been to help boost extra sales towards the end of the year. Transportation Out also went over its budget for an unfavorable variance by $5,607. However, there is more to the Transportation Out than what the budget says. The price of shipment is supposed to be $30 per unit and with 87 less units sold; there should be an extra $2,610 in the budget. This requires extra investigation. 2A. In terms of corrective action, the best course is to focus on where the points where there were unfavorable variances. A key point to that would be to also create realistic predictions of sales and budget. By predicting a high sales goal (one that exceeds the amount of units sold the year prior), Competition Bikes is potentially setting itself up for another down year. To prevent another unfavorable variance in Net Sales, which was affected by the unfavorable Actual Output of Units Sold. Although the projection output was missed by only 87 units, that totaled out to $130,065. It would behoove Competition Bikes to create realistic predictions (as stated above). Another idea would to be to examine the sales process. Compare and contrast what strategies were compared between the successful year 7 and the down year 8 to determine if any changes took place in the sales process and development. Competition Bikes should not have been as aggressive as they were following a down year. An improved variance here could also directly affect the Contribution Margin and Operating Income, which both were unfavorable. Advertising Expenses should be increased to the level of year 7. Competition Bikes lowered their budget for advertising but yet ended up spending more  anyway. With the economy still in a rut, the chances of hitting a high prediction is slim, especially with low advertising. Since fewer sponsors are using the products from Competition Bikes, it would be wise to advertise to a different market of users (i.e. college students, those who live in traffic congested cities (New York), bike cops, etc). Meanwhile, the transportation unfavorable variance could be fixed by determining what the additional costs were. Since the transportation cost per units is $30, with sales prediction 87 less than projected, that is $2,610 that could have put transportation costs into favorable. The additional costs could be because of rising fuel prices, toll roads, raises for drivers, etc. Many avenues have to be explored in the future to save money on transportation (renegotiate contracts, new source of transportation, new transportation company, etc.) 2B. â€Å"Management by exception is the practice of examining the financial and operational results of a business, and only bringing issues to the attention of management if results represent substantial differences from the budgeted or expected amount† (Steven Bragg, 2014). This practice can be effective as it leaves upper management with more serious issues. By utilizing accurate and up-to-date information, management can keep the budget on track and consistent with what was forecasted. One main target for Management By Exception is net sales. Breaking down the yearly goals into weekly or monthly targets will allow the company to better breakdown the trends and identify areas of need and growth. By monitoring the trend of sales, management can initiate discussions on how to improve sales and how to keep up with demand if sales are higher than expected. Competition Bikes would be wise to make start/restart contract negotiations to maintain consistent material and labor costs. Spending variance on materials was favorable but labor was unfavorable. If the price of the materials or labor increase substantially overtime, the budget could become more expensive, costing the company more money. Works Cited Averkamp, Harold. What is a flexible budget?. Learn Accounting Online for Free. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Feb. 2014. . Bragg, Steven. What is management by exception? Questions Answers AccountingTools. What is management by exception? Questions Answers AccountingTools. N.p., 5 June 2013. Web. 28 Feb. 2014. .

Effect of Flexible Working Hours on Motivation

Effect of Flexible Working Hours on Motivation INTRODUCTION As this is the research methods assignment so I did research on my selected topic which is Do flexible work timings increase the morale and motivation levels of employees? and come to know with different findings that what are the advantages and disadvantages of flexible working hours, and what other peoples opinion regarding that etc. So this research project put out to inspect the spirits and motivation levels of employees. On the basis of pilot sample evidence, it is seen that most employees would want to work in flexible timings and feel highly motivated when given the opportunity to do so. As flexible working hours is an advantage for many workers, which can help an organization to keep and retain its good and effective employees. Flextime can also enable workers to become more creative by organizing their work days around personal needs. No doubt that many firms are allowing its employees flextime and also keeping record for this, but some of the organization have core working hours for example, from 09:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. with an hour off for lunch. These core hours vary widely from company to company and industry to industry. Flextime employees are given the opportunity to schedule their additional working hours from 05:00 a.m. to 09:00 p.m. for example with at least eight total working hours a day or hours given by company. It can also be beneficial for parents who are working and want to spend a time each day with their children. Many employees foundd that their productivity can increase by setting flexible hours, which may enable them to work for calm time in early morning or evening. Some telephone salespersons, such as, may find that they have more success working late into the evening, rather than being forced to work during normal daytime hours. Some software engineers, research staff, or other people may feel that working late into the night is best for them as late night they can do better because that time they can do their work without any interruption. One of the key to successful flextime scheduling is to determine in advance all employees weekly or monthly schedules. Clearly, a company cant function if everyone is gone at the same time every day. Managers need to work out best possible flexible time schedules with employees, adjusting individual needs with overall company requirements. In todays rigid labor market, many types of businesses can offer flexible scheduling as a benefit to applicants. Research Objective This research study is trying to determine the benefits derived due to the preface of flexible working hours amongst the employees. To determine whether implementing flexible work timings will be impact on the self-esteem of employees motivation levels of employees. Significance: This research seek to find the result of flexible working hours provided to employees so to enable them to keep a balance in their personal as well as professional lifes.this research paper also develops the hypothesis on the different challenges which are faced by organizatons to be competitive in business. These Flexible work practice provides managers and employees with the opportunity to mutually plan adapted working arrangements to suit their joint needs. Here are some benefits of flexible work practices which are stated below (for institute); Saving of skilled employees who can otherwise leave the organization. Reduced training and recruitment costs due to lower employment turnover. Increased employee job satisfaction, commitment and resultant productivity. Improved employee morale and reduced stress Here are some benefits of flexible work practices which are stated below (for employee); Opportunity to combine family and personal responsibilities with career goals and personal development. Increased job satisfaction and motivation as a result of a better balance of work and family commitments. Reduction in stress as a result of more suitable working arrangements. Reasons why the need for new ways of working business drivers to change: Employers are under continual pressure to: Increase competitiveness Improve the quality and widen the scope of services to customers Boost productivity Manage the workforce more efficiently Reducing costs Increase the organizations capacity to innovate Improve morale and motivation of the workforce, aiding recruitment and retention of employees LITERATURE REVIEW It has been observed that by and large most employees would like to work in flexible timings since this gives them room for more activities. Also females are more likely to work in flexible timings than men. Flexible work timings can greatly help in boosting employee morale and motivation levels. Flexible Working we can say its a broad term, its Changes in the natural history of employment essentially moves to better variety and elasticity in work pattern,changes in technology enable work to be passed out in different ways. Flexible Contracts, Flexible Hours, Flexible Location, Flexible Tasks. There are the development in information and communications technologies which are in the process of enabling the new methods of working. These may incorporate or support the first category. PROBLEM STATEMENT However, recently it has been noticed that companies are increasingly facing challenges in terms of employee attrition and also dissatisfaction of employees due to the increasingly competitive market. To address this issue, companies have introduced flexible working hours for employees. Flexible timings ensure that employees continue to maintain their productive hours, as expected from them at their own comfort. Employees are expected to put in a certain number of productive hours per week and hence they have the comfort of logging in these hours at their own discretion. So our problem definition is: Do flexible work timings increase the morale and motivation levels of employees? THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK Inventory of Variables The variables in this research study are Motivation level / Morale of employees and Flexible timings. In our case, Flexible timing is the independent variable and Motivation level and the Morale of employees are the dependent variables. The relation between the two is the effect of flexible timings on the motivation level / morale of the employees. There is no moderating variable in this case which in any affects the relationship between the independent variable and dependent variable. Independent Dependent Variable Variable Motivation Level of Employees Flexible Work Timings Morale of Employees Direction of Relation Flexible Work Timing Have Positive Effect on Motivational Level of Employees Flexible Work Timing Have Positive Effect on Morale Of employees Explanation of established relationship among Flexible Work Timing Effect the Behavior of An employee. If an Employee is doing hard job then these flexible work Time Motivate Him that After doing Rest he can continue his work. So thats why its positive Effect. Flexible Time Also effect on the Morals of an Employee. Because it give opportunity to do something else In flexible work timing. Inventory of Propositions in a sequential order Flexible Work Timing Positively Effect on Motivational Level of Employees Flexible Work Timing Have Positive Effect on Morale Of employees HYPOTHESES In the traditional test of significance, two kinds of hypothesis are used the null hypothesis and the other one which is alternate hypothesis. Null hypothesis (Ho) is used for testing. It is the statement that no difference exists between the parameter and the statistic being compared. Second is Alternative hypothesis (H1) is alternative hypothesis is alternative hypothesis which holds that there has been a change. Testing of hypothesis can be explained as a six steps process Establishing a null hypothesis Choosing the statistical test on the basis of assumption about the population distribution and measurement level select the desired level of significance Parametric and non parametric tests are applicable under various conditions like parametric operates with the interval and ratio data and are preferred when their assumptions can be met. Non parametric tests do not require stringent assumptions about the population distribution and are less useful with less nominal and ordinal values. Before we start our research, based on our problem statement, we have come with the following hypotheses: 1.  Null Hypothesis: H0= Flexible timings do not have any effect on employee morale. Alternate Hypothesis: H1=Flexible timings have effect improve employee morale. 2.  Null Hypothesis: H0= Flexible timings do not have any effect on employee motivation. Alternate Hypothesis: H1=Flexible timings improve employee motivation. RESEARCH DESIGN A research design is used to guide a research study toward its objectives. The process of designing a research study involves many interrelated decisions. The most significant decision is the choice of research approach, because it determines how the information will be obtained. The measurement of processes of learning and the evaluation of the outcomes of the teaching-learning process have always posed major problems in research design. This is especially true where the desired outcomes are broadly defined as changes in interpersonal behavior: a complex of knowledge, values, perceptions, and behavioral skills. One purpose of this paper is to provide investigators with a review of the methodological problems involved in planning and conducting such studies. Unlike much research in the behavioral sciences which is primarily intelligible and of interest only to other researchers, research on human relations training is frequently written for and read by administrators and practitioners who may base action decisions on the findings. Their need is for guidelines which will aid them in evaluating the soundness of research reports and their applicability to practical decisions on the planning and conduct of training. This paper is equally addressed, then, to the creators and consumers of research on human relations training. Classification of Research The different research designs can be categorized into research design in case of: Exploratory Research Studies. Descriptive And Diagnostic Research Studies Experimental research Studies My Research based on Descriptive and Diagnostic Research Studies Because Descriptive research studies are concerned with describing the characteristics of certain individuals or a group. E.g. studies concerning whether certain variables are associated. Diagnostic research studies determine the frequency of with which something occurs or its association with something else. E.g. studies concerned with specific predictions, with narration of facts and characteristics concerning individual, group or situation. The descriptive as well as diagnostic research studies share common requirements. In both the studies, the researcher must be able to define clearly, what he wants to measure and must find adequate methods of measuring it. The aim is to obtain complete and accurate information, hence, the procedure to be used must be carefully planned. It should make enough provision for protection against bias and must maximize reliability. The design must be rigid and not flexible. Data collection techniques: The data of our research is collected in a survey is just like by filling up a questionnaire from 30  selected respondents, also the research is going to be conducted in natural environment where work proceeds normally. This research is a mix of both qualitative and quantitative research methods since we are going to use current statistics from previous researches and we have also conducted a survey of Employees on how their behave before and after Training and Development. There are 10 questions in each questionnaire. Population The population of this research are randomly chosen Employee of different age who are working in an organization. Random sampling technique is used to make sure we dont cherry pick our respondents. And the Targeted population is the employee of Tech pack Company. Sampling Form the sample of 30 respondents is drawn from which the selected population (before and after training) by using random sampling techniques. And check there working Ability by Production and quality. Tools of Data Collection These following tools Were used for Data Collection. Pilot sample. Field Research Collection of data its processing and analysis My method of collection of data will be with the help of a questionnaire, a sample of which is attached at the end for reference. We will cover those companies, which work with fixed timings. Using the data collected in the form of questionnaires, analysis will be performed and we can arrive at a conclusion whether flexible timings actually improve employee morale and motivation. Here we see that we are not able to calculate the values for à Ã†â€™ and X- µ , as à Ã†â€™ represents the standard deviation of the population and  µ represents the population mean. Both these values are not available to us. Hence we will be carrying out a survey on a pilot sample. For this pilot a sample size of 30 respondents is chosen. We see that for all the critical questions the Likers scale has been used for gathering data. On this scale option a would give us value 1, option b would give us value 2 and so on till option f which would give us value 6. Once the pilot data is gathered, we will use Microsoft Excel sheet to calculate the sample size. After the information has been composed from a representative sample of the population, the next step is to analyze the research hypothesis. Firstly the data i.e. the questionnaires would be checked for completeness and the wherever data is incomplete attempts will be made to get it filled up / or get it discarded. Then the data will be coded using the following formats:- Wherever the response to the question would indicate Yes /No we will use 1 for Yes and 2 for No In case of questions using the Likert scale, we will use the following coding convention Strongly Agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly Disagree This coding will be useful in analyzing the data using tools like Microsoft Excel. Frequency distributions of the supposed variables of interest will be obtained. illustration displays like histograms, bar charts would be constructed. Below is a sample of the frequency distribution, which would be obtained with pilot data using Excel. FINDINGS Tentatively this research study seeks to examine the effects of flexible work timings on the employees morale and motivation levels. Based on similar studies done in the past we are likely to conclude that:- Many employees would want the option of flexible work timings. This is because of the changing work environment. Today many people are working more than 60 hours a week instead of the regular 48 hours. This leads to increased stress levels. Working patterns have changed drastically too as workers in service industries such as banks, insurance companies and supermarkets increasingly have to be available to offer 24-hour services to the consumer. Similarly public sector workers are increasingly expected to provide services beyond the traditional 9am to 5pm day. Also more and more employees are becoming aware of flexible working arrangements. It is expected that females would be more likely than men to request for flexible work timings. This is because increasing numbers of women with young children are in work. In two-thirds of families both parents now work outside the home, up from under a half in the 1980s. Women with children under 6 are more likely to request for flexible timings. Meeting childcare needs would be expected to be the most common reason given by employees for requesting to work flexibly, particularly women. Since today many couples with small children are working in organizations, this leaves them with little time to take care of their little ones. If there is no one at home to take care of the children, then either one of them has to take leave to take care of the young one, or the kid is left in a daycare centre. By opting for flexible work timings, this situation can be managed easily with one of the partners staying back. Most of the employees would agree that an employee would be greatly motivated if given the chance to work in flexible timings. Flexible work timings enable an employee to balance his work life and personal life. It is  because of this that he tends to have lesser stress levels and feels good about his organizations caring approach. Hence the degree of motivation in greatly enhanced. When asked most of the employees would agree that an employee tends to be more productive to the organization if he / she are working in flexible timings. In flexible timings the employee can work at his own comfort level and at his discretion, which allows him greater control over his life. This greatly help to increase the productivity of the employee in his organization. It is expected that the majority of the employees would agree that an employee tends to be more committed to the organization if he/she is working in flexible timings. Due to the greater flexibility provided in flexible work timings, the employee feels a greater  sense of commitment to his organization. This is because h feels that the organization is doing a lot to help him, so in turn he / she should also give the same back to his organizations. Many of the employees would agree that an employees morale is higher when he/she are working in flexible timings. The morale of an employee is directly related to his motivation level. If the employee feels  greatly motivated, his / her morale will be greatly boosted and this helps the organization to a great deal. Much of the employees would agree that flexible timings help to a great extent in retention of employees. Because employees would have the option of flexible timings, they tend to have a great  attachment level to the organization. They would not readily leave the organization. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS This study is about to cover a bright picture of flexible working for the employees. There are some pros and cons of flexible working hours, but any how the advantages are more than disadvantages. As full time flexibility leads to complexity in the organization which will lead to destruction and loss of the company, it can be mangeable for employees but May there is no control of work between them. As a consequence it leaves many of the employees within the organization feeling unhappy about their work, life and balance in both of them. It depends on the employer how they design jobs and recruit for retaining something. And these findings do not implement on IT sector as IT sector is facing a number of such things as challenges such as: Unauthentic evidence Need to move for a narrow commitment Need to tackle different things like attitudes and behaviours Align promotion and reward on the basis of full time basis or part time basis This research study easily suggests that IT sector no doubt IT sector had taken first steps on creating a role of flexible working but they still need to be ensure their future competitiveness and success. All which is required is vision and leadership to capitalize on the sectors unique opportunities. RECOMMENDATIONS According to my point of view there are different recommendations for flexible hours, some of them are stated below: Design appropriate flexible working options It means that designing such a flexible working which is convenient for employees as well as for employer, it up to the individual agreement and proper planning. Time and scheduled everything should be pre-planned. Organizations should clearly mentione tha what is suitable and not suitable for flexible working hours for individual roles. Support managers to carry out flexible work options for employees One of the biggest obstacle to modify may be the attitude and perception of middle managers and line mangers. Organization often undervalues the degree to which these groups may feel destabilized and threatened by the need to change working practices. In particular, successful managers, who have built a strong high-performing teams on the basis of usual full-time, face to face collaboration in the office, are likely to regard new forms of flexible work, particularly remote working, as both undermining the foundations of their teams success. So these mangers should provide their concerns for working differently and trained them as they begin to focus on managing employees by their output and results. Providing difficult careers with promotion opportunities for those wishing to work flexibly The shade of career death is probably one of the major single barrier to the wider adoption of flexible working practices. Employees working flexibly need to be granted full citizenship rights at work, in terms of access to training, promotion and progression opportunities. This shift in attitude and practice is the stick that holds work life balance cultures together. Without such stick, flexible working practices have a much more limited impact on the recruitment and maintenance of key ability.