How to Read a Meniscus in Lab Measurements

The meniscus is the curve seen at the top of a liquid in response to its container. The meniscus can be either concave or convex, depending on the surface tension of the liquid and its adhesion to the wall of the container. A concave meniscus occurs when the molecules of the liquid are more strongly attracted to the container than to each other. The liquid appears to stick to the edge of the container. Most liquids, including water, present a concave meniscus. A convex meniscus (sometimes called a backwards meniscus) is produced when the molecules of the liquid are more strongly attracted to each other than to the container. A good example of this shape of meniscus can be seen with mercury in a glass container. In some cases, the meniscus appears flat (e.g., water in some plastics). This makes taking measurements easy. How to Take Measurements With a Meniscus When you read a scale on the side of a container with a meniscus, such as a graduated cylinder or volumetric flask, its important that the measurement accounts for the meniscus. Measure so that the line you are reading is even with the center of the meniscus. For water and most liquids, this is the bottom of the meniscus. For mercury, take the measurement from the top of the meniscus. In either case, you are measuring based on the center of the meniscus. For a flat meniscus, make sure the liquid is level. Usually placing the container on a lab bench does the trick. You wont be able to take an accurate reading looking up at the liquid level or down into it. Get eye level with the meniscus. You can either pick up the glassware to bring it to your level or else bend down to take measurements in situations where youre concerned with dropping the container or spilling its contents. Use the same method to take measurements each time so that any errors you make will be consistent. Fun Fact: The word meniscus comes from the Greek word for crescent. This makes good sense, considering the shape of a meniscus. In case youre wondering, the plural of meniscus is menisci.

Reflection On My Encounter With Conflict - 1842 Words

Unanswered Questions: Reflection on my Encounter with Conflict Overlooking my journal entries, I found that conflict is a prominent theme. This is because of differences between people and usually it ends up as a conflict that needs to be resolved. With this I want to understand if I am capable of handling conflict in both my career and life. Conflict is common to everyday life, and usually my approach is to shy away even if I am right. I have come to understand that there are various ways to better manage conflict. There are different interpretations, but I view conflict as a clash due to different interest or values. Although conflict usually between two or more people, I have likewise discovered that in my everyday life, I encounter conflict within myself and attempting to balance this has proved a big challenge. As a person, I think that conflict has both its positive and negative aspects, but the most common areas noted not only in the clinical placement, while performing as a student nurse, but also in everyday life while interacting with people. The idea of living in a different country, as an immigrant, especially Canada, has opened my eyes to many values. The fact that we are all different, from varying backgrounds, multiple cultures and extraordinary heritage all make us unique. But this uniqueness ought to pull everyone together, but at the same time, it separates people. Everyone is now placed in groups causing difficulty in interaction. Although, personally I amShow MoreRelatedThe National Safety And Quality Health Service850 Words   |  4 PagesDemonstrate Reflection: Form, Present and Support Own Opinions The National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standard 2 Partnering with Consumers requires all health professionals to provide consumer-centred care and to design the care in partnership with the patient and the family (Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in health Care, 2012). The NSQHS Standards (2012) identified patient and family-centred care and engagement as one of the national priorities. As such, in order toRead MoreThe Importance Of Guidance For Leaders And Employees1097 Words   |  5 PagesIntroduction: A successful leader must communicate effectively with their staff and remains supported when difficult issues arise within the work environment. Conflicts among staff is a major issue within the healthcare system and often time occurs between physician, nurses, patients and their family. Leaders must listen empathetically and intervene when conflict arises. Failure can results in chaos and thus creates a toxic environment for all that can destroy an organization. The purpose of this paper is toRead MoreI Am A Effective Leader715 Words   |  3 PagesWhen I saw my final result for this assessment, I was not totally surprised because I enjoy working independently. I believed that working collaboratively with team members makes me lazier and reduces my willingness to work efficiently. Most of the time, I noticed that I work alone because I believed it saved time, and made me more responsible and accountable for my actions and ideas. However, this trait has affected me negatively becaus e it reduces my ability to work cooperatively with team membersRead MoreSelf Reflection Essays817 Words   |  4 Pages  Self- ­Ã¢â‚¬ Observations   and   Self- ­Ã¢â‚¬    Reflections    Maximum   1000   words   each   term    The   purpose   of   these   three   reports   is   to   demonstrate   how   you   have   used   the   learning   journal   to    develop   your   self- ­Ã¢â‚¬ awareness   from   term   to   term.   (See   Section   11   about   the   Learning   Journal)    Each   report   is   due   at   the   first   class   meeting   after   each   reading   week.    Guidelines:    The   Reports   should   include   your   reflections   about:       Read MoreSummary Of The Stories Boys By Susan Minot958 Words   |  4 Pagesstory â€Å"Lust† her style and tone of writing was in a way a self-reflection /confession - explaining her numerous sexual encounters with men. In terms of the narrators, all three stories had a female in common as the narrator. First, â€Å"Boys† is written from a 3rd person’s point of view, with the mother being the narrator. The mother speaks of the two-twin brothers’ journey through life, from boys to men. The twin boys face multiple conflicts throughout their life, going from their sister being diagnosedRead MoreQuestions On Global Studies : Spring Final Project1167 Words   |  5 PagesRyan Ramsdell June 1, 2015 Global Studies 1 GS1 Spring Final Reflection For our Global Studies 1 spring final project we had to think of a thesis that used â€Å"Through my history and English courses, I have learned...† as a starting/expansion point. We were to write journals that responded to different open ended questions about the process of this project and about our experiences in this course. The main part of the project is the product which was a medium of our choice that exhibits a meaningfulRead MoreRole Of Manager : The Role Of Manager872 Words   |  4 PagesManager. Conflicts. I remember a conflict in which I were involved during my adult nursing II (med-surge) rotation at Northside Hospital. One of my colleague nurse student shared with me her concern about a procedure performed by her preceptor which was different than the procedure technique taught to us in class from the nursing book. She realized that the required steps were not fallowed, but she was afraid to make any comment to her preceptor because we were warned not to do so (conflict avoidance)Read MoreThe Ten Bsw Program Competencies Help Student Students Analyze And Evaluate Professional Development1638 Words   |  7 Pagesinto the classroom and field. The first competency based on identifying as a professional social worker requires constant self- reflection to ensure the NASW Code of Ethics are being followed, and to continue to develop as a professional. I consider self-reflection to be strength of mine as I log each day, and analyze each part to evaluate my strengths and weaknesses. Fro m my log, I know what areas I need to work on and be conscientious of. As a student new to the social work field I find professionalRead MoreSocial Work As a Profession685 Words   |  3 PagesChoosing social work as my future profession was a decision I made after much reflection, considering the fact that more than just a profession, social work is a vocation that I must commit to, professionally and personally. One of the main reasons why I decided to pursue social work as my future profession is that I have always been interested and passionate about social issues, particularly those I find relevant to my life. My experience living close to informal settlers in my community exposed meRead MoreHow Technology Has Affected Me As An Individual1482 Words   |  6 Pagesvery deterring aspect in my life. It has affected me as an individual, as a team member and also as an emerging health professional. However, during my participation in this course I have come to understand that it i s important to make myself better, and that will resonate in other aspects of my life. My journey started when I decided to select this course. Of course I just picked it on a whim because the title indicated complex communication, just to try breaking out of my shell, and becoming more

Confucius philosophy Essay Example For Students

Confucius philosophy Essay As Confucius philosophy still remains in the heart of many Chinese people, his images of the greatest professional teacher of all time, the greatest philosopher in Chinese history and his influence toward the future and the past 2000 years of Chinese civilization has made his thought the essence of the Chinese culture. He always said the importance of teaching could change the future of the civilization. And he also encouraged his students to explore the various things to learn, but be very selective and careful. The purpose of Confucius teaching was practical and esigned to help each person improve his character and conduct, and perhaps become prepared for an official position in the court. According to one passage in the Analects, Confucius taught four things: culture, conduct, loyalty, and truthfulness. 1 Culture consisted of literature and music. Confucius suggested the value of each: Let a man be stimulated by poetry, established in character by the rules of propriety, and perfected by music. 2 These pursuits were means by which one may achieve the higher ideal of following the Way. The gentleman extensively studies literature and restrains himself with the rules of propriety. Thus he will not violate the Way. 3 And also Set your heart upon the Way. Support yourself by its virtue. Rely on goodness. Find recreation in the arts. 4 Confucius put the moral duties before the arts as the essential activities of the gentleman. A young mans duty is to behave well to his parents at home and to in love to all, and to cultivate the friendship of the good. If, when all that is done, he has any energy to spare, then let him study the cultural arts. Confucius taught many topics around these subjects, but the most importance of these is the ropriety, ritual and the Way of being a Gentleman. From these to achieve the Jen. Confucius had one overwhelming message: if we are to achieve a state of orderliness and peace, we need to return to traditional values of virtue. These values are based entirely on one concept: Jen, which is best, translated as humaneness. This humaneness is a relatively strange concept to Western people, because it is not primarily a practicable virtue. The rules of propriety offered a code of accepted behaviour that demonstrated to themselves and others that they were cultured and proper gentlemen. For Confucius, the gentleman knew and behaved according to the rules of propriety. In the first chapter of Analects, Yu-Tzu gives the value of the rules of propriety. Among the functions of propriety the most valuable is that it establishes harmony. The Way of the ancient kings from this harmony got its beauty. It is the guiding principle of all things great and small. If things go amiss, and he who knows the harmony tries to achieve it without regulating it by the rules of propriety, they will still go amiss. 6 Confucius explains what can happen if conduct is not guided by propriety. Courtesy not bounded by the rules of propriety becomes tiresome. Caution not bounded by the rules of propriety becomes timidity, daring becomes insubordination, straightforwardness becomes rudeness. 7 Nevertheless, Confucius did not believe in over-wallowing in ceremonies, and the feelings should be proper to the situations. In ceremonies it is better to be sparing than extravagant. Funeral ceremonies should be observed in deep sorrow rather than in fear. 8 By the same mean, When substance, one becomes pedantic. When substance and refinement are properly blended, then one is a gentleman. 9 Confucius knew that the ancient routes had been reduced in his time, and that such reduction was politic. Were anyone today to serve his prince according to the full rules of propriety he would be thought a sycophant. 10 Many Confucius students were interest to become officials in government and so as Confucius himself, wanted the opportunity to advise rulers. His aim is to put his knowledge into practice. A man may be able to recite the three hundred Odes; but, if when given a post in the government, he does not know how to act, or when sent on a mission to far parts he cannot nswer specific questions, however extensive his knowledge may be, of what use is it to him. 11 Nevertheless, an official must improve himself and regulate his own conduct before he could hope to rule over others. Hence, self-improvement was prerequisite to engaging in politics. If a minister makes his own conduct correct, he will have no difficulty in assisting in government. But if he cannot rectify himself, how can he possibly rectify others? 12 Despite Confucius illustrates wisdom and Jen as essential to ruling, they still must be accomplished with dignity, and according to propriety. He explains why. He whose wisdom brings him into power, needs goodness to secure that power. Else, though he gets it, he will certainly lose it. He whose wisdom brings him into power and who has goodness to secure that power, if he has not dignity to approach the common people, they will not respects him. He whose wisdom brought him into power, who has goodness to secure that power, and dignity to approach the common people, if he handles them contrary to the rules of propriety, full excellence is not reached. 13 Confucius believed that officials political action should follow the Way. His actions will vary depending on whether the government is following the Way or not. Confucius gives this advice for the different circumstances: Have sincere faith and love learning. Be not afraid to die for pursuing the good Way. Do not enter a state that pursues dangerous courses, nor stay in a chaotic one. When the Way prevails under Heaven, then show yourself; when it does not prevail, then hide. When he Way prevails in your own land and you are poor and in a humble position, are ashamed of yourself. When the Way does not prevail in your land and you are wealthy and in an honourable osition, are ashamed of yourself. 14 These was someone misunderstand how to put the Way into practice. Chi Kang-tzu asked Confucius if it would be a good idea to kill those who had not the Way in order to help those who had the Way. Of Mice and Men Essay ThesisThe collection began with the songs of Chi and Houchi, covered the great period of the Shang and Chou kings and carried it down to the times of the tyrants Yu and Li. It begins with a song of marital love, and therefore it is said the song Kuan-chih heads the collection of Feng; Luming heads the collection of the Little ya; and Chingmiao heads the collection of the Sung. Confucius personally sang all the three hundred and five songs and played the music on a string nstrument to make sure that it fitted in with the score of hsiao, wu, ya, and sung. Through his efforts, the tradition of ancient rites and music was therefore rescued from oblivion and handed down to posterity, that they might help in the carrying out of this ideal of a kings government and in the teaching of the Six Arts. 27 Lin Yutang tells us that the six Arts could not only refer to the six classics mentioned above but also to the six branches of study practised during these times, namely propriety, music, archery, carriage-driving, reading, and mathematics. 8 Also in considering these later accounts, we must be aware of the tendency to glorify and expand on what Confucius did. Although Ssu-ma Chien often went against orthodox Confucian beliefs, he was susceptible to exaggeration, as can be seen from this: Confucius taught poetry, history, propriety, and music to 3,000 pupils of whom 72, like Yen Tutsou, had mastered the Six Arts. 29 There is one more marvellous anecdote from Ssu-ma Chien concerning Confucius playing of music. Confucius was once learning to play on chin (a string instrument) from the music master Hsiang-tzu, and did not seem to make much progress for ten days. The music master said to him, You may well learn something else now, and Confucius replied, I have already learned the melody, but have not learned the beat and rhythm yet. After some time, the music master said, You have now learned the beat and rhythm, you must take the next step. I have not learned the expression, said Confucius. After a while, the music master again said, Now you have learned the expression, you must take the next step. And Confucius replied, I have not yet got an image in my mind of the personality of the composer. After some time the music master said, Theres a man behind this music, who is occupied in deep reflection and who sometimes happily lifts his head and looks far away, fixing his mind upon the eternal. Ive got it now, said Confucius. He is a tall, dark man and his mind seems to be that of an empire builder. Can it be any other person than King Wen himself? The music master rose from his seat and bowed twice to Confucius and said, It is the composition of King Wen. 30 The term Gentleman, chun-tzu, is mean to be the member of the upper class by Confucius, the man of virtue and propriety. The Analects appears to be the earliest work in which chun-tzu was used to imply high moral standards in a person; here it denotes the ideal man whom all men should cultivate their characters to imitateSuch a man, noble in virtue, was not necessarily a noble in social status. 31 This is an indication of the tremendous influence Confucius must have had. Ssu-ma Niu once asked Confucius what the term gentleman meant. Confucius said that a gentleman has no distress or fear. Ssu-ma Niu then asked if this is meant by being a gentleman. The master said, On looking within himself he iscovers nothing wrong. What is there for him to anxious about of fear? 32 A gentleman is not worried by what others think of him, only that he corrects himself. There are three things, which a gentleman must watch out for certain main inclination. There are three things which a gentleman guards against. In his youth when his physical powers are not yet settled, he guards against lust. In his prime when his physical powers are full of vigour, he guards against strife. In old age when his physical powers are decaying, he guards against avarice. 33 Confucius gives his students an laborate catalogue of the concerns of a gentleman as guidelines for their behaviour. The gentleman has nine cares. In seeing he is careful to see clearly; in hearing he is careful to hear distinctly; in his looks he is careful to be kind, in his manner to be respectful, in his words to be sincere, in his work to be diligent. When in doubt he is careful to ask for information; when angry he has a care for the consequences; and when he sees a chance for gain, he thinks carefully whether the pursuits of it would be right. 34 The essential purpose of Confucius philosophy was to help people to become good. The propriety, ritual, and the Way to be a Gentleman are just the first step of the Confucius theory. Self-improve, unionize family, rule the state, and conquer the world. 35 These are the levels a superior man must go through. In order to become the superior man, self-improvement is the fundamental part of the success. Although Confucius might be not a modern Master, but his sayings and his encouragement of personality development will never be forget. As the Chinese people and the world stepping into the next millennium, Confucius will be in the minds of many people, as they think of the greatest teacher in Chinese history.

The 60s And Freedom Essays - Counterculture Of The 1960s, New Left

The 60s and Freedom Most of the time, when thinking back to the sixties, people remember hearing about things such as sex, drugs, and racism. However, what they often tend to overlook is the large emphasis "freedoms" had on the era. This does not just refer to the freedoms already possessed by every American of the time. This focuses on the youth's fight to gain freedom or break away from the values and ideas left behind by the older generation. While some authors when writing about the sixties give serious accounts of the youths' fights to obtain these freedoms, others tend to take a different and more dramatic approach to showing the struggles involved in these fights. Yet, all of the authors have the same basic values and messages in mind. They all, more or less, aim to show the many freedoms which their generation was fighting for. These fights were used to help push for freedoms from areas such as society's rules and values, competition, living for others first, and the older generation's beliefs as a whole including the freedom to use drugs. The younger generation just wanted a chance to express their own views rather than having to constantly succumb to the values and rules left behind by the older generation. The two different approaches used by authors to express these views are often representative of the two main systems used by youths to help gain their freedoms. The first approach, taken by the Port Huron Statement and authors such as Gerzon, Reich, Revel and Gitlin, follows the ideals of the New Left. The New Left represents youths striving for political change through cultural means. People are encouraged to work for their ideals. In contrast, the second approach, taken by Rubin and Didion, reflect the ideals and mannerisms of the "Be-in" society. The "Be-ins" represent another group of youths who attempt to gain freedoms through more radical means. This group focuses on more idealistic goals. The members yearn for a utopian society. However, both groups feel that the youth in society should be able to express themselves and live their lives in their own way, not some way left behind by the previous generation. The way left behind by the older generations is greatly influenced by events which occurred during that time. Unfortunately, because of many of these events, Americans lost their sense of hopefulness in the American society. The reasons are various: the dreams of the older left were perverted by stalinism and never recreated; the congressional stalemate makes men narrow their view of the possible, the specialization of human activity leaves little room for sweeping thought; the horrors of the twentieth century, symbolized in the gas-ovens and concentration camps and atom bombs, have blasted hopefulness (Port Huron Statement 166) Unfortunately, however, these feelings possessed by the previous generation seemed to contribute to their views of man as "a thing to be manipulated, and that he is inherently incapable of directing his own affairs" (Port Huron 166). Supporters of the New Left disagree strongly with these views. In fact, the Port Huron Statement makes a point of cutting down these beliefs, claiming that the New Left will not support the idea of human beings as things or objects. Then the document takes it one step further in saying that the incompetence attributed to humans is, in fact, caused by the society in which they live. They have been manipulated into thinking they were incompetent by their surroundings (166). Reich even goes as far as to say that "it is a crime to allow oneself to become an instrumental being" (Reich 56). The older society, by viewing man as incapable of controlling his own life, has also led their generation to concentrate primarily on institutions, public interest, and society as the basic reality. However, the younger generation deals more with the self. One should be able to create their own values, lifestyle, and culture (Reich 56). Rubin seems to claim, in a more vocal manner, that the older generation has not left a place in the world for the younger generation to live. The older society has already done everything which can be done. Instead of helping the youth in society to learn about being themselves, they seem insistent on controlling the youth. They place them in schools to keep them off the streets, they send them away to Vietnam. The older members of society are only trying to keep the youth from spoiling what already exists. They are intent on molding the

10 Tips to Balance Parallel Sentence Structure

10 Tips to Balance Parallel Sentence Structure 10 Tips to Balance Parallel Sentence Structure 10 Tips to Balance Parallel Sentence Structure By Mark Nichol In crafting sentences that compare one thing to another or represent one thought in contrast to another, writers often omit key words or phrases because they misunderstand how one phrase is balanced against another. In constructing sentences with parallel structure, think of the two parallel elements as figures on a seesaw, and the connecting word or phrase as the fulcrum, then check whether the elements on either side of the fulcrum are equally balanced: 1. â€Å"We often pay more attention to them than our own children.† This ambiguous sentence means either that we pay more attention to something than we do to our children, or that we pay more attention to something than our children do. This slight revision reflects that the writer meant the former choice. (â€Å"We pay more attention to them† is balanced against â€Å"[we pay attention)] to our own children.†): â€Å"We often pay more attention to them than [we pay] to our own children.† 2. â€Å"His version is created not with brush and ink, but countless Lego blocks.† The parallel phrases in this sentence, balanced by the fulcrum but, are not â€Å"with brush and ink† and â€Å"countless Lego blocks,† but â€Å"brush and ink† and â€Å"countless Lego blocks,† so repeat with: â€Å"His version is created not with brush and ink, but with countless Lego blocks.† 3. â€Å"The story here is not one of privacy infringement so much as the way real estate is changing because of technology.† The fulcrum in this sentence is â€Å"so much as,† and the phrase â€Å"is not one of privacy infringement† must be balanced against one that starts with the same verb: â€Å"The story here is not one of privacy infringement so much as it is the way real estate is changing because of technology.† 4. â€Å"The rainwater boon isn’t so much about taste as reliability in a region where hundreds of wells dried up in the last drought.† This sentence has the same fulcrum as the previous example does, but notice how the sentence reads more smoothly and has more impact because of the inversion of the constituent phrases: â€Å"In a region where hundreds of wells dried up in the last drought, the rainwater boon isn’t so much about taste as it is about reliability.† 5. â€Å"They protect consumers from purchasing products that are not effective or even dangerous.† Without the repetition of the phrase â€Å"that are,† this sentence crashes to a halt with the false parallel terms effective or dangerous. Omit the first word and the fulcrum from the equation, and the resulting sentence, â€Å"They protect consumers from purchasing products that are not even dangerous,† does not retain the meaning. The point about dangerous products needs a complete phrase: â€Å"They protect consumers from purchasing products that are not effective or that are even dangerous.† 6. â€Å"They believe in cultural and racial diversity, but not diversity of opinions.† Take away the first phrase, and you’re left with an omission in â€Å"They (don’t) believe diversity of opinions,† so the preposition in must accompany both phrases: â€Å"They believe in cultural and racial diversity, but not in diversity of opinions.† 7. â€Å"Thanks for your generous assistance and support of these books.† If â€Å"and support† is omitted, the phrase â€Å"assistance of these books† stands out as faulty, so repair the error with one of these two options: â€Å"Thanks for your generous assistance with and support of these books,† or â€Å"Thanks for your generous assistance and for your support of these books.† Better yet, perhaps, is â€Å"Thanks for your generous assistance in supporting these books.† 8. Beagles rely on their acute sense of smell to chase their quarry and alert hunters with their high-pitched barks. Beagles rely on smell to chase their quarry and alert the hunters? No. Their smelling and their barking are two parallel attributes. This sentence requires two independent clauses with parallel subjects: â€Å"Beagles rely on their acute sense of smell to chase their quarry, and they alert hunters with their high-pitched barks.† (A fulcrum assisted by a â€Å"not only . . . but also† phrase might seem useful at first glance, but that revision alters the writer’s intent.) 9. â€Å"Those who clashed with the color scheme were getting fired or relegated to the stockroom.† Without a balance to either side of or, the sentence implies that people were getting fired to the stockroom or relegated to the stockroom. Repeating the verb clarifies that only the second option involved the stockroom: â€Å"Those who clashed with the color scheme were getting fired or were relegated to the stockroom.† 10. â€Å"Families have been leaving the city not so much because of the form housing takes but its price tag.† The parallel phrases here are (or should be) â€Å"because of the form housing takes† and â€Å"because of its price tag.† Without the following fix to the second phrase, the reader trips into a prose pothole: â€Å"Families have been leaving the city not so much because of the form housing takes but because of but its price tag.† Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Grammar category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Comparative Forms of AdjectivesDriver License vs. Driver’s License50 Musical Terms Used in Nonmusical Senses

Free Essays on Marriage Versus Living Together

Marriage versus Living Together I chose the article Marriage versus Living Together published by Jo McGowan because it displays a difficult decision that many of us make in today’s world. We either choose to marry, then live together, but more commonly among young people today, we choose to live together, then marry (maybe). In this article McGowan explains the pros and cons of this question. The author also shows that different cultures see these choices in a different perspective. Marriage in the United States is not permanent, unlike other cultures. In India for example, â€Å"divorce is practically unheard of† (Scott and Warren 84). Once an Indian person chooses a significant other, they stay with them, even if they never marry, they choose to marry to become accepted; the social norm. Therefore in India, people have more of a permanent thought on commitment, and even a commitment to live with each other. In America, we have seen divorce from our parents, friends, parents’ friends, and even pastors. We do not believe in the permanence of anything, let alone just living with each other. Americans do not fully understand the concept of marriage. We believe that living together is marriage without the ceremony, and if there are problems in the relationship we are able to call it quits many without complications. I believe that marriage and living together are quite different, both in communication and in commitment. Americans believe that living together and marriage are the same thing. Americans believe that living together will allow them to try one another out, to see if they are compatible. While this makes sense, it allows us to call it quits when things become a rough, not seeing that there will always be rough times which make a relationship stronger. While in a marriage we are committed to the other person and are more apt to try to work out a minor disagreement, and the marriage becomes more secure. W... Free Essays on Marriage Versus Living Together Free Essays on Marriage Versus Living Together Marriage versus Living Together I chose the article Marriage versus Living Together published by Jo McGowan because it displays a difficult decision that many of us make in today’s world. We either choose to marry, then live together, but more commonly among young people today, we choose to live together, then marry (maybe). In this article McGowan explains the pros and cons of this question. The author also shows that different cultures see these choices in a different perspective. Marriage in the United States is not permanent, unlike other cultures. In India for example, â€Å"divorce is practically unheard of† (Scott and Warren 84). Once an Indian person chooses a significant other, they stay with them, even if they never marry, they choose to marry to become accepted; the social norm. Therefore in India, people have more of a permanent thought on commitment, and even a commitment to live with each other. In America, we have seen divorce from our parents, friends, parents’ friends, and even pastors. We do not believe in the permanence of anything, let alone just living with each other. Americans do not fully understand the concept of marriage. We believe that living together is marriage without the ceremony, and if there are problems in the relationship we are able to call it quits many without complications. I believe that marriage and living together are quite different, both in communication and in commitment. Americans believe that living together and marriage are the same thing. Americans believe that living together will allow them to try one another out, to see if they are compatible. While this makes sense, it allows us to call it quits when things become a rough, not seeing that there will always be rough times which make a relationship stronger. While in a marriage we are committed to the other person and are more apt to try to work out a minor disagreement, and the marriage becomes more secure. W...

Strategic Social Challenges of Wal-Mart Article

Strategic Social Challenges of Wal-Mart - Article Example Reducing greenhouse emissions can save money for their consumers. The company also planned to give preference to the suppliers that participate in this program. They have started recycling plastic to eliminate waste and they are also working with their suppliers and educating them. Packaging should be from renewable or recyclable material to save cost and they decided to work with their packaging supplier. Recycling can save on landfill costs. As far as products are concerned, Scott said they would introduce products that are safe and produced in a sustainable way. They are introducing organic products to eliminate toxins in different product categories  such as paper, food, fisheries, and electronics. Apart from the environment, they also decided to focus on product sourcing, health care, wages, community involvement, and diversity. They are trying to ensure that all the workers are treated properly. They also want to bring in insurance for all their Associates and establish basic health care clinics to bring greater access. They would also focus on the wages as this has been the area of criticism but they claim to be abiding by the minimum wages laid down by the Congress.   They believe in diversity and would continue to hire the minorities and the women and also increase business with minorities companies. Wal-Mart was aware of the challenges that the company was facing as they proposed to revise their Associate benefits and the public reputation during their Board Retreat in 2005.

Should there be any specific limitations on the powers of the Essay

Should there be any specific limitations on the powers of the president - Essay Example Americans hold consultations in high regard, and it is even required by the Constitution. Consultation, decision-making and deliberation are fundamental concepts in the Constitution, with frequent mentions of participation and collective approaches to situations. Even the Constitution itself is the result of consultation among past leaders (Meter 102). Successive presidents have disregarded the need for greater consultation and acted without consulting Congress or the Senate. Limiting the president’s power should be a priority for the American public and Congress to prevent impunity from creeping into the presidency. More often than not, presidents get away with individual decisions that go against the consultative spirit of the Constitution (Meter 96). The Watergate scandal brought a halt to the â€Å"imperial presidency† and the concentration of presidential power. However, it appears that this halt was only temporary. In the wake of the scandal, Congress enacted multiple laws meant to change the political process. Revelations during the Watergate inquiry into money-laundering convinced Congress to allocate public financing of national elections, limits on private campaign donations and spending, public revelation of sources of financing, and to implement campaign finance regulations through an autonomous Federal Election Commission. The Watergate scandal acted as an eye-opener for Congress, pushing it to do more to protect American people from power-hungry executives. The decision by Nixon to order wiretapping of Democratic Party headquarters symbolized to Congress and other legislators – the early indications of concentration of power and increasing abuse of power by presidents. Nixon clearly violated the law and ethical standards of the office of the president of the United States by ordering domestic espionage, which is illegal in the United States. His impeachment and subsequent

Hatha Yoga Essay Example for Free

Hatha Yoga Essay A complete Hatha Yoga session should be aimed at holistic wellness of mind, body and soul. It should contain a well designed sequence of Asanas or yogic poses, Pranayam or breathing exercises, relaxation techniques, and Dhyana or Meditation. The Yoga session should begin with a prayer or chanting of â€Å"Om†, the primary sound of universe. This helps in relaxing and focusing the mind, and bringing calmness to the senses. This should be followed by warming up exercises known as â€Å"Yogic Suksma Vyayamas† to improve flexibility of joints and muscles, so that we do not suffer from pulled muscles while performing Asanas. This should be followed by a sequence of Asanas, first supine poses, then prone poses, followed by seated poses and finally standing poses. Asanas should be followed by relaxation poses such as â€Å"Shavasana† or Corpse pose. Pranayam or breathing exercises should be performed after Asanas. The session should end with Dhyana or Meditation to calm the mind. The first part of the session includes warming up with Suksma Vyayamas, the aim is to warm up the major joints of the body. First Vyayama involves movement of neck to right and left, followed by forward and backward bending, each for 10 times. Next one involves moving the arms in circular movements clockwise then anti-clockwise, 10 times each. This should be followed by raising each leg, one by one, forward and moving it in small circles, clockwise and anticlockwise, 5 times each. Asanas should be performed now in following sequence- first supine postures like â€Å"Chakrasana† or Wheel pose which is an inverted pose and then â€Å"Halasana† or Plough pose which is its counter pose, then prone postures like â€Å"Dhanurasana† or bow pose and â€Å"Bhujangasana† or Cobra pose involving backward bending, followed by sitting postures like â€Å"Balasana† or Child pose which is a counter pose of Bhujangasana, â€Å"Vakrasana† or twisted pose and â€Å"Poorna Paschimottasana† which is a forward bending pose, and finally standing postures like â€Å"Trikonasana† or triangle pose involving side stretch, and â€Å"Tadasana† or Palm pose which involves stretching of the whole body. Asanas should be followed by â€Å"Shavasana† or Corpse pose for relaxation. After relaxation Pranayam like â€Å"Bhramari Pranayam† should be done, followed by Meditation. Thus my session includes- Yogic Suksma Vyayamas for warming up, and following Asanas: Chakrasana or Wheel pose- Involves bending backward of torso like an arch. It strengthens the back and abdomen, affects all the organs of the body, and cleans the Chakras. Halasana or Plough pose- Involves raising the legs and then lowering them behind the head, toes touching the ground, forming a plough. It enhances the benefits of Chakrasana, being its counter pose. Also regulates the function of Thyroid and Thymus glands. Dhanurasana or Bow pose-Bending backward holding both ankles with hands, and stretching the body like a bow. Improves digestion, strengthens the back, shoulders, arms, and legs. â€Å"Bhujangasana† or Cobra pose- Involves lying in prone position and raising head and shoulders like a cobra. It strengthens back, shoulders, and neck and improves respiration. â€Å"Balasana† or Child pose- Involves sitting and bending forward, face touching the floor. It is the counter asana of Cobra pose, enhancing its benefits. â€Å"Vakrasana† or twisted pose- One leg is bent at knee, and the other is straight, the waist is twisted to the opposite side of the bent leg. It improves flexibility of spine, waist and legs. â€Å"Poorna Paschimottasana†- It involves sitting with stretched legs and bending forward to hold the toes with hands, face resting on thighs. Greatly improves spinal flexibility. â€Å"Trikonasana† or triangle pose- Involve sideward bending and stretching making a triangle. Improves waistline, strengthens the arms, and improves balance of the body. â€Å"Tadasana† or Palm pose- Arms raised upward, pulling the body upwards while standing on toes. It improves balance, reduces belly fat, and improves height and agility. Finally, doing â€Å"Shavasana† or Corpse pose, lying down with relaxed limbs and neck like a corpse for deep relaxation. I’ve chosen â€Å"Bhramari Pranayam†, sitting with legs folded, deep inhalation followed by exhaling with a humming sound, while keeping the mouth closed, ears closed with thumbs and fingers placed on closed eyes, for complete relaxation of mind; followed by deep breathing, with mind focused on breath in a state of Dhyana or Meditation. Yoga postures should be done slowly with smooth movements, jerky and harsh moves should be avoided. Each posture should be held for 15-20 seconds initially, gradually increasing the practice time to 5 minutes. â€Å"Yoga† means a communion of mind, body and divine. It improves flexibility and balance making us fitter, calmer and happy. It helps in maintaining hormonal balance. One should practice yoga for its multiple benefits.

Learning Theory Essay -- behaviorism, social learning, cognitive learn

Learning is defined as a, "relatively permanent change in an organism's behavior due to experience" (Myers, 2010). The purpose of this paper is to present a critical analysis of the different theoretical approaches and explanations for learning through an examination of the theories of behaviorism, social learning and cognitive. I will investigate the principles and postulates of each theory, their strengths and their weaknesses. It is my belief that because each theory is best applicable to varying types of learning, it is best that a combination of each is used to provide the most complete learning experience. Behaviorism is a theory that focuses on objectively observable behaviors, while discounting mental activities. Behavior theorists thus define learning as an observable or quantifiable change in behavior through the "universal learning process" known as conditioning. There are two types of conditioning, classical and operant, each of which yield a different behavioral pattern. Classical conditioning, also referred to as, "Pavlovian conditioning," is a type of learning in which an organism learns to associate two stimuli: the conditioned (an initially neutral stimulus) and the unconditioned (a stimulus that routinely triggers an unconditioned response). If the conditioned stimulus accompanies the unconditioned stimulus, one will eventually learn to elicit an anticipatory and preparatory conditioned response in the presence of the conditioned stimulus alone (p 228). Although the ideas of classical conditioning were incomplete, "if we see further than Pavlov did, it is because we stand on his shoulders." (p 235) He provided us with a type of learning that is virtually applicable to all organisms dur... ...ent can take place of what is happening, and whether it is positive to enlarge the students' contributions in learning from life, thereby reducing the adaptive role of the teacher. To seek a best way to structure learning runs the risk of imposing conformity on what should be a rich and diverse experience. As you can see, each theory has its positive and negative aspects, which is why I suggest a pragmatic approach that considers both the learner and the subject matter at issue and then opts for the approach -- classical/operant conditioning, social learning, cognitive, or a combination -- that best suits that particular learning experience. Works Cited: Myers, David G. (2010). Exploring Psychology, eigth edition. New York: Worth Publishers. Rabinowitz, B., Siegel, Dr. S. & Spear., Dr. N. (2004). Class tapes: COCR958 The Science of Psychology.

Human Resources Management JC Penney Essay

JC Penney is ranked number 153 in the fortune 500 company list in the United States for the year 2012. They are one of the largest companies, and have been around for one hundred and ten years. Recently, Management has embarked upon new strategies to improve the company and create a better shopping experience for their customers. To do so, some of their sales tactics, as well as employee training to ensure a successful transaction, as well as satisfaction of customers has been examined and improved greatly. JC Penny has embarked on a new sales strategy to boost sales for the Christmas season. Starting Black Friday through Christmas Eve, employees will be handing out more than 80 million small, holiday-themed, circular buttons to customers. This is a ploy used to increase sales, since behind each button is the chance for customers to win great prizes. This is believed to be a better approach than mailing out coupons, since it ensures customers visit the store; increasing sales and giving them a cut above the rest of their competitors. Apart from using this strategy, the company has recently embarked on marketing strategies to equip employees with the necessary knowledge and tools, to improve sales on an everyday basis. Some of these includes: new pricing strategies, new logo and advertising. What they have done with their sale pricing strategies is made their sale prices into everyday low prices for customers to enjoy yearly. In addition to that, there is also easy to decipher tags. JC Penny is changing the way sales are distinguished by using a new tagging system to identify different prices. A red tag shows an â€Å"Every Day† price, a white tag is a â€Å"Month-Long Value†, and a blue tag shows the â€Å"Best Price.† This provides clarity for customers and makes it easier for them. New logo and advertising also has great influence on customers mentally. According to their press release,â€Å"the new JC Penny logo, which combines the elements that have made JC Penny an enduring American brand, by evoking the nation’s flag and JC Penney’s commitment to treating customers fair and square.† This make customers feel welcomed and appreciated and causes an increase in activity among the population of the United States. However before this can be possible, there must be employees who are competent enough to handle the task. For this purpose there are strategic processes which must be adhered when hiring new workers. This is believed to help in obtaining the best suited applicants for the job. These include individuals who are willing; and also share in the vision of the company. The process by which applicants are recruited into the company is similar to that of most business places; which takes the form of an interview. The interview process is intense and helps the employer to test many different skills and attributes of the employee. This is necessary since it allows employers to meet with potential workers face to face. Therefore it helps to distinguish if they are able to represent the image of the company physically both in attire and expression. In addition it helps employers to screen potential candidates to determine the most honest and experienced candidates. Also it helps to find out the punctuality of employees, something that one has to take into consideration; since unpunctuality can lead to upsets and setbacks in a business. It will also help to give an understanding of the knowledge the prospective employer have of the company. By knowing this, one can be able to tell if potential employees know what is expected of them. After the hiring process is over, the staff must be competent enough to deal with customers. They should have the knowledge and experience to do this in such a way as to build long term relationships with customers. This is to ensure smooth transactions and to avoid the loss of customers through unfriendly habits. JC Penny often provided training for new staff to ensure that they are able to understand and display the image that they would want to portray by the company; to ensure customer satisfaction and avoid hostility and unfriendly approach. One of the training programs offered by JC Penny for new employees is the planning and merchandising trainee program. This helps to give trainees the opportunity to experience first hand how buying, planning, allocation and inventory management integrate to produce products in JC Penny stores nation wide and on jcp.com. The 17-week training program is fast-paced and high-caliber. It gives employees the opportunity to gain insight into store environment processes, visit a logistics center, attend specialized training classes, and more. It also fosters interaction among the staff since Planning and Merchandising team members work side-by-side with other trainees throughout the entire process. A host of projects, activities and hands-on training also helps to facilitate learning; making the process enjoyable for participants. Having senior managers mentoring and coaching you to success will only lead to great achievement. Apart from training of new applicants, development training is also very important in the process of continuing to acquire success. This is because as time change so too do people and therefore strategies that were effective ten years ago may not be as successful today. For this purpose companies have to continue to train their employees so they will be able to comply with the changes of society; since strategic training received over a decade ago won’t be profitable in the workplace today. JC Penny provides sales associates with the skills they need to help the company achieve their business objectives in a challenging, supportive learning environment that fosters achievement. They are given the opportunity to build their skills and improve hands on relationships with customers; as they obtain experience to promote development. Associates typically are trained for a particular department, such as home decor or women wear, but may rotate from department to department based on need; they will also complete additional training for other departments. Helping them to be well rounded individuals who will be equipped enough to fill in where ever they are needed in the company. Therefore this additional training helps employees to be better equipped than when they first entered the workplace; increasing competent performances, and improving their ability to handle situations. In addition to normal rotation training, employees also have the opportunity to participate in developmental workshops offered by the company for which they qualify. Therefore this will help to mold them into very capable young individuals, with great experience for future endeavors. Because of the sales force strategies used at JC Penny, the company is noted as one which has both the interest of employees and customers at hand. The training offered to their staff is well executed and well received; resulting in JC Penny being described as a company that turns jobs into careers. In addition, it also creates innovative ways for customers to view the shopping experience; since the sales tactic they use make the experience much more easier, straight forward and convenient than most of their competitors.

Human Resource Management Process Essay

Human Resource Management Process Introduction            The role of a Human Resource department is ever changing in today’s volatile business environment. Over the years HR have become strong strategic partners within an organization by providing functions such as recruitment, training and development and retention. Human Resource, in order to be strategic, works directly with all levels of management in an effort to help with strategy and the growth of the company to meet their vision. One very important aspect is talent acquisition. Having the right people in key roles within the organization is vital to the success and growth of any company. Performing this function includes job analysis, task and KSA statements, preparing job descriptions, recruiting, and then setting compensation. The entire process from job analysis to compensation is discussed as follows; Job analysis            When a new job is created or a vacancy occurs, it is the role of a HR representative to fill that void. In order to perform this function they need to first understand what role they are trying fill is and what skills and responsibilities this new role would require. By conducting a job analysis they are able to further define important elements of any job and then search for the person or people that are the most qualified and would be a good fit for the company. Job analysis is the process of describing and recording aspects of jobs and stipulating the skills and other requirements necessary to perform the job. It refers to the process of Gathering and collecting information about responsibilities, duties, skills, the outcomes and the environment that influences working in a particular job field. The job analysis process will help the HR managers find the ideal candidate for the position. Task statement            Task analysis is the process by which a task statement is derived. The task statement is the most important element of task analysis process because it provides a standardized, concise format to describe worker actions. It is a document that defines and describes the specific job to be performed by the candidate. The creation of these task statements may take considerable thought and insight. However, the rewards of conducting this due diligence before taking on the task of hiring a new employee, makes the process very simple and less stressful. Everything is clearly defined and above all, measurable in the future. KSA statement            KSA statements are the job related knowledge, skills and abilities that an applicant must perform successfully in a certain position. It is a statement that helps employees in the process of identifying the employee who best fits in a particular field. KSA statements help hiring managers identify the knowledge, skills and attributes needed to successfully perform a specific job. Knowing the tasks that have to be performed, helps you to identify the KSA that the candidate must possess in order to perform to the companies standards and in return hire the right candidate. Job description            Writing a job description is an important step in the human resource staffing plan. A job description typically outlines the necessary skills, training and education needed by a potential employee for a specified job. It provides an outline of what should be done by a particular employee in a specific position. It should give a brief overview of the role, how it relates to the organizational vision, a list of key responsibilities, requirements and qualifications.Once a job description is prepared, it can serve a basis for interviewing candidates, orienting a new employee and finally in the evaluation of overall job performance. By incorporating and utilizing job descriptions, an organization can better understand the experience and skill set needed to enhance the overall success of the company. Recruitment plan            Once the Job analysis, Task statements, KSA statements and the job description are completed, the next step is to search for candidates. A complete recruitment plan identifies vacant positions in an organization that need to be filled so that so that an adequate job advertisement can be created and placed appropriately for a specific period of time. Most recruitment plans include searching both internally and externally from the organization. When organizations choose the right people for the job, these people are not only great performers with their job, but also tend to stay with the organization longer. Selection method            The key to the selection process is to choose a strategy for screening candidates that will allow an organization to view the most qualified candidates for the vacant position. Employee selection process usually entails reviewing, screening, interviewing, testing then selecting the best available candidates for theavailable position. Organizations also make use of many outside agencies when completing the selection process. Drug screening and reference checks are often done by a third party. Many companies are beginning to incorporate assessment tests and activities into the selection process to insure additional training is not necessary for potential candidates. A selection method chosen by the organization should allow the selection panel of a company to pick the candidate that is most suited to fill the vacant position. Performance evaluation            A performance evaluation is a review and discussion of an employee’s performance of assigned duties and responsibilities. Performance evaluations need to be in place to support decisions made by management and the HR department. The appraisal is based on results obtained by the employee in their job. These evaluations can also be used to teach as they may show areas that need improvement as well as provide backup for recognition of a job well done. It measures skills and accomplishments with reasonable accuracy and uniformity.The performance evaluations need to be structured and performed in a timely manner as well and managers need to be trained appropriately has to how to conduct these evaluations. Compensation plan            Compensation is a systematic approach to proving monetary value to employees in exchange for work performed.Compensation may achieve several purposes assisting in recruitment, job performance, and job satisfaction. Job analysis can be used in compensation to identify or determine skill levels, compensable job factors, fiscal and supervisory responsibilities and required level of education which is related to salary level. Job descriptions are used as a tool for determining salary ranges.Many people associate compensation with money but when looking for a job, many compensation packages are designed with a package of products in mind. Due to the fact that compensation isn’t just about the dollar figure, compensation packages need to be discussed in great detail when hiring new employees.Overall compensation strategies have to be designed to meet the overall objectives of the organization.            Would you change anything in your process at this point? No I wouldn’t change anything. This is because of the following reasons:            I don’t think that I would change anything about my paper because I did do extensive research on a HR Receptionist position to determining the skills, qualifications and experience needed for this type of positions. There is a legal need to do a job analysis. Employers who wish to demonstrate that their selection processes are valid will need to start with the job analysis. There are also management reasons for doing the analysis. It yields an improved process for obtaining, retaining and managing organization’s work. Job description communicates the organization’s expectations to its employees. Conclusion            In conclusion, we have discussed the importance of the job analysis process which includes task statement, KSA statement and job description. Job analysis is the procedure used to determine tasks, duties and responsibilities of each job, and identify knowledge, skills and abilities appropriate to perform the job.The job analysis process can render positive outcomes like increased profits, employee retention and reaching overall organizational goals when implemented successfully within an organization.            We have also discussed importance of human resource department’s ability to recruit, select candidates appropriately and continue ongoing performance evaluations with the organization’s employees.An organization cannot build a good team of working professionals without good Human Resources. The key functions of the Human Resources Management team include recruiting people, training them, performance appraisals, motivating employees as well as workplace communication, workplace safety, and much more. As you can see, human resource plays a very big role in the foundation of an organization. Literature review on compensation Introduction            Compensation can be defined as any rewards obtained by employees in return for their labor. Compensation can be divided into three aspects, that is; direct financial compensation, indirect financial compensation and non-financial compensation. Direct financial compensation consists of pay received in the form of wages, salaries, bonuses and commissions provided at regular intervals. Indirect financial compensation includes all financial rewards which are not included in direct compensation, and form part of the social contract between the employer and employee such as benefits, leaves, retirement plans, education and employee services. Non financial compensation refers to topics such as career development and advancement opportunities, opportunities for recognition as well as work environment and conditions.            As much as many employees focus on direct financial compensation, it is the non-financial rewards that are more effective in the long term employee engagement. Job position covers the various duties such as interesting duties and responsibilities, autonomy, challenges, authority feeling of achievement, advancement opportunities and opportunities for recognition.            Work environment focuses on; competent supervision, fun and effective co-workers, flexible scheduling, modified retirement and fair and consistent practices and policies. Scholarly review            Levels of firms’ productivity widely depend on good compensation strategies. In small businesses, coordination between general resource management practices lacked, hence, diminished productivity levels. Besides, personnel related problems are arising as a result of unclear, outlined policies on human resource management and compensation in small businesses. Inadequate and inefficient management of human resources often adversely affects employee’s perception of equity, resulting in dissatisfaction, inadequate motivation, higher turnover and lower productivity (Tate, et al, 1982). Unlike small businesses, large businesses rely on a well organized, formal personnel development to ensure effective human resource management.            There are various policies that aid in proper human resource management and increment of productivity levels. These policies are based on both wage payment and other fringe benefits. In order for these policies to effectively work, one need to enact proper maintenance practices which include; appropriate induction of an employee, conducting performances review, providing employee service and instituting governance.            However, the surveys were done to come to a conclusion on the gap that was observed between ‘what could be’ and ‘what was’ (in terms of professional human resource management) might be caused by at least four factors; a lack of formal personnel management training, a lack of perception on the part of decision makers that productivity is improved by use of generally accepted human resource management practices, a lack of incentive because employers are family members or an inability to use human resource management practices effectively because of size and monetary constraints.            Compensation can also be achieved through recognition of personnel. Recognition of personnel is done by considering the following; the length of service, above and beyond program, peer to peer, retirements and sales. Rewarding of the recognized personnel is done through; certification and or plaques, cash gifts, certification and company logo merchandise. Recognition is meant to; salute years of service, create a positive work environment, encourage high performance, foster a culture of recognition and raise personnel morale.            Not all gestures succeed. Celebrating employees can also backfire, as far as the research conducted by Business Scholars at Harvard Business School. There were two reasons that emerged; first, â€Å"employees strategically gave the program improving timelines only when eligible for the reward, and call in sick to retain eligibility,† scholars explain. Secondly, â€Å"employees with perfect pre-program attendance or high productivity suffered 6.8% productivity decrease after program introduction, suggesting they were de-motivated by awards for good behavior they already exhibited.†            Compensation related issues have called for relevant compensation plans and decisions in order to cater equally for personnel. There are various decisions that human resource management makes concerning compensation as highlighted below;            Compensation decisions are essential in compensation strategies. Compensation of personnel depends on the market position (level of pay relative to competitors), internal versus external orientation, hierarchy (the pay structure and the basic-job versus skills-for the pay structure reward mix, and the basis of research performance versus seniority, groups versus individual and criteria used) (Lawler 1981). These are issues that determine decision of salary increment.            Increasing list of decisions has raised doubts about the efficacy of a strategic perspective. It brings to mind the multiple facts of job satisfaction that made the constraint more complex than originally conceived (Heneman, 1985), hence, t is necessary to differentiate decision which are strategic from those that are not.            Compensation decision making widely depends on the strategic policies as highlighted below;            Competitiveness, whose degrees vary among various organizations and among occupations within them, from a strategic perspective, competitiveness refers to positioning a firm’s compensation relative to its competitors (Belcher, et al, 1987). It deals with total return trade off decision.            Internal structure- the internal pay structure is a fundamental policy that requires strategic decisions. Typically it refers to the distribution of rates or internal pay differentials. (Simon, et al,1987.) Decisions involved depend on the issue of pay, equity and slope of the hierarchies.            Forms of pay- this is another policy that pertains the forms of the mix of various elements of total compensation (Heneman, et al, 1973). Decisions include the number of forms to offer, the degree to which each is contingent to employees maintaining their membership in the organization like entitlement, or performance like incentives, relative importance of each form and the proportion of the workforce eligible for each firm.            Basis for increase-decisions based on the strategic policies involved in granting pay increase are also involved; they range from an emphasis on short versus long term incentives (Caroll, et al, 1987).            Role in the human resource strategy- description of firm’s human resources strategies plays a very important role in decision making (Dyer, 1985).            Administrative style- this process is used to administer compensation decision, also referred to as strategic properties. It deals with issues such as employee participation, communication centralization and dispute resolutions mechanisms.            Compensation planning and administration has various challenges which require efficient decision making criteria. These compensation related decisions are formulated to do away with disputes that may result from pre hiring pay, ongoing employment, legal compliance, equal pay out and fair labor standards acts. Conclusion            From what we have seen in the scholarly articles, for one to improve business productivity, it is essential to have relevant compensation strategies to provide guidelines on personnel compensation. Many small businesses are characterized by inadequate and insufficient management of human resources which tend to affect employee’s perception of equity, resulting to dissatisfaction, inadequate motivation and lower productivity, hence, proper human resource management strategies are essential in building a well organized, formal, personnel department to ensure high productivity levels.            Compensation can also be achieved through proper recognition of personnel by considering different aspects as highlighted in the articles above. Recognition is essential as it fosters work environment and also encourages high performance through appraisal of morale among the staff.            In order to come up to a proper compensation plan, the human resource department needs to formulate clear policies and procedures to follow. These policies aid in decision making regarding various compensation incentives to personnel or employees. These decisions involve financial compensation which is in form of wages, salaries, bonuses and commissions, leaves, retirement plans and other employee services; non financial compensation decision on job positions and working environment related factors.            In short, it is essential for a good human resource management to have relevant policies which are essential in identifying when and how to compensate personnel properly. References Amba-Rao, S. C. &Pendse, D. (1985).Human Resource Compensation and Maintenance Practices. American Journal of Small Business, 10(2), 19-29. Belcher, D., &Atchinson, T. 1987.Compensation administration.Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall. Caroll S. (1987). Business strategies and Compensation Systems.In D.B Balkin&L.R. Gomez Mgia, New Perspectives in Compensation, Pp 343- 355, Prentice Hall. Dyer, L. (1985). Strategic human resource management and planning. InK. Rowland and G. Ferris (eds.), Research in Personnel and HumanResources Management, 3, pp. 1-30, Greenwich, CT: JAI Press. Freedman, S. (1978).Some Determinants of Compensation Decisions.Academy of ManagementJournal, 397-409. Heneman, H. G. (1985), Pay Satisfaction in K. M. Rowland & G. R. Ferns (eds), Research inPersonnel and Human Resource Management, vol 3, p 115-139. Lawler, E. E., III. 1981. Pay and organizational development. Reading, Mass.: Addison- Wesley. Tate, C. E., Jr., Megginson, L. C , Scott, C. R., Jr., &Tnieblood, L. R. (1985). Successful small business management. Piano, TX: Business Publications, Inc. Thompson, K. (2014). Honoring Employees is Good Business. Phi Kappa Phi Forum, 94(2), 26. Source document

All About the Rise and Fall of the Berlin Wall

All About the Rise and Fall of the Berlin Wall Erected in the dead of night on August 13, 1961, the Berlin Wall (known as Berliner Mauer in German) was a physical division between West Berlin and East Germany. Its purpose was to keep disaffected East Germans from fleeing to the West. When the Berlin Wall fell on November 9, 1989, its destruction was nearly as instantaneous as its creation. For 28 years, the Berlin Wall had been a symbol of the Cold War and the Iron Curtain between Soviet-led Communism and the democracies of the West. When it fell, it was celebrated around the world. A Divided Germany and Berlin At the end of World War II, the Allied powers divided conquered Germany into four zones. As agreed at the  Potsdam Conference, each was occupied by either the United States, Great Britain, France, or the Soviet Union. The same was done in Germanys capital city, Berlin.   The relationship between the Soviet Union and the other three Allied powers quickly disintegrated. As a result, the cooperative atmosphere of the occupation of Germany turned competitive and aggressive. One of the best-known incidents was the Berlin Blockade in June of 1948  during which the Soviet Union stopped all supplies from reaching West Berlin. Although an eventual reunification of Germany had been intended, the new relationship between the Allied powers turned Germany into West versus East and democracy versus Communism. In 1949, this new organization of Germany became official when the three zones occupied by the United States, Great Britain, and France combined to form West Germany (the Federal Republic of Germany, or FRG). The zone occupied by the Soviet Union quickly followed by forming East Germany (the German Democratic Republic, or GDR). This same division into West and East occurred in Berlin.  Since the city of Berlin had been situated entirely within the Soviet Zone of Occupation, West Berlin became an island of democracy within Communist East Germany. The Economic Differences Within a short period of time after the war, living conditions in West Germany and East Germany became distinctly different. With the help and support of its occupying powers, West Germany set up a capitalist society. The economy experienced such a rapid growth that it became known as the economic miracle. With hard work, individuals living in West Germany were able to live well, buy gadgets and appliances, and travel as they wished. Nearly the opposite was true in East Germany. The Soviet Union had viewed their zone as a spoil of war. They had pilfered factory equipment and other valuable assets from their zone and shipped them back to the Soviet Union. When East Germany became its own country in 1949, it was under the direct influence of the Soviet Union and a Communist society was established. The economy of East Germany dragged and individual freedoms were severely restricted. Mass EmigrationFrom the East Outside of Berlin, East Germany had been fortified in 1952. By the late 1950s, many people living in East Germany wanted out. No longer able to stand the repressive living conditions, they would head to West Berlin. Although some of them would be stopped on their way, hundreds of thousands made it across the border. Once across, these refugees were housed in warehouses and then flown to West Germany. Many of those who escaped were young, trained professionals. By the early 1960s, East Germany was rapidly losing both its labor force and its population. Between 1949 and 1961, its estimated that nearly 2.7 million people fled East Germany. The government was desperate to stop this mass exodus. The obvious leak was the easy access East Germans had to West Berlin. With the support of the Soviet Union, there had been several attempts to simply take over West Berlin. Although the Soviet Union even threatened the United States with the use of nuclear weapons over this issue, the United States and other Western countries were committed to defending West Berlin. Desperate to keep its citizens, East Germany knew that something needed to be done. Famously, two months before the Berlin Wall appeared, Walter Ulbricht, Head of the State Council of the GDR (1960–1973) said, Niemand hat die Absicht, eine Mauer zu errichten. These iconic words mean, No one intended to build a wall. After this statement, the exodus of East Germans only increased. Over those next two months of 1961, nearly 20,000 people fled to the West. The Berlin Wall Goes Up Rumors had spread that something might happen to tighten the border of East and West Berlin. No one was expecting the speed nor the absoluteness of the Berlin Wall. Just past midnight on the night of August 12-13, 1961, trucks with soldiers and construction workers rumbled through East Berlin. While most Berliners were sleeping, these crews began tearing up streets that entered into West Berlin. They dug holes to put up concrete posts and strung barbed wire all across the border between East and West Berlin. Telephone wires between East and West Berlin were also cut and railroad lines were blocked. Soldiers closing off East Berlin with barbed wire fences. Keystone / Getty Images Berliners were shocked when they woke up that morning. What had once been a very fluid border was now rigid. No longer could East Berliners cross the border for operas, plays, soccer games, or any other activity. No longer could the approximately 60,000 commuters head to West Berlin for well-paying jobs. No longer could families, friends, and lovers cross the border to meet their loved ones.   Whichever side of the border one went to sleep on during the night of August 12, they were stuck on that side for decades. The Size and Scope of the Berlin Wall The total length of the Berlin Wall was 91 miles (155 kilometers). It can not only through the center of Berlin, but also wrapped around West Berlin, entirely cutting it off from the rest of East Germany. The wall itself went through four major transformations during its 28-year history. It started out as a barbed-wire fence with concrete posts. Just days later, on August 15, it was quickly replaced with a sturdier, more permanent structure. This one was made out of concrete blocks and topped with barbed wire. The first two versions of the wall were replaced by the third version in 1965. This consisted of a concrete wall supported by steel girders. The fourth version of the Berlin Wall, constructed from 1975 to 1980, was the most complicated and thorough. It consisted of concrete slabs reaching nearly 12-feet high (3.6 meters) and 4-feet wide (1.2 meters). It also had a smooth pipe running across the top to hinder people from scaling it. Bettmann Archive / Getty Images By the time the Berlin Wall fell in 1989, there was a 300-foot No Mans Land and  an additional inner wall. Soldiers patrolled with dogs and a raked ground showed footprints. The East Germans also installed anti-vehicle trenches, electric fences, massive light systems, 302 watchtowers, 20 bunkers, and even minefields. Over the years, propaganda from the East German government would say that the people of East Germany welcomed the Wall. In reality, the oppression they suffered and the potential consequences they faced kept many from speaking out to the contrary. The Checkpoints of the Wall Although most of the border between East and West consisted of layers of preventative measures, there were little more than a handful of official openings along the Berlin Wall. These checkpoints were for the infrequent use of officials and others with special permission to cross the border. Checkpoint Charlie. Express / Getty Images The most famous of these was Checkpoint Charlie, located on the border between East and West Berlin at Friedrichstrasse. Checkpoint Charlie was the main access point for Allied personnel and Westerners to cross the border. Soon after the Berlin Wall was built, Checkpoint Charlie became an icon of the Cold War. It has frequently been featured in movies and books set during this time period. Escape Attempts and the Death Line The Berlin Wall did prevent the majority of East Germans from emigrating to the West, but it did not deter everyone. During the history of the Berlin Wall, it is estimated that about 5,000 people made it safely across. Soldiers investigating a tunnel dug beneath the Berlin wall. Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images Some early successful attempts were simple, like throwing a rope over the Berlin Wall and climbing up. Others were brash, like ramming a truck or bus into the Berlin Wall and making a run for it. Still, others were suicidal as some people jumped from the upper-story windows of apartment buildings that bordered the Berlin Wall.   Soldiers patrolling the Death Strip. KEENPRESS / Getty Images In September 1961, the windows of these buildings were boarded up and the sewers connecting East and West were shut off. Other buildings were torn down to clear space for what would become known as the Todeslinie, the Death Line or Death Strip. This open area allowed a direct line of fire so East German soldiers could carry out  Shiessbefehl, a 1960 order that they were to shoot anyone trying escape. Twenty-nine people were killed within the first year. As the Berlin Wall became stronger and larger, the escape attempts became more elaborately planned. Some people dug tunnels from the basements of buildings in East Berlin, under the Berlin Wall, and into West Berlin. Another group saved scraps of cloth and built a hot air balloon and flew over the Wall. Unfortunately, not all escape attempts were successful. Since the East German guards were allowed to shoot anyone nearing the eastern side without warning, there was always a chance of death in any and all escape plots. It is estimated that somewhere between 192 and 239 people died at the Berlin Wall. The 50th Victim of the Berlin Wall One of the most infamous cases of a failed attempt occurred on August 17, 1962. In the early afternoon, two 18-year-old men ran toward the Wall with the intention of scaling it. The first of the young men to reach it was successful. The second one, Peter Fechter, was not. West Berliners Protesting at Berlin Wall with pictures of Peter Fechters body. Corbis / Getty Images As he was about to scale the Wall, a border guard opened fire. Fechter continued to climb but ran out of energy just as he reached the top. He then tumbled back onto the East German side. To the shock of the world, Fechter was just left there. The East German guards did not shoot him again nor did they go to his aid. Fechter shouted in agony for nearly an hour. Once he had bled to death, East German guards carried off his body. He became the 50th person to die at the Berlin Wall and a permanent symbol of the struggle for freedom. Communism Is Dismantled The fall of the Berlin Wall happened nearly as suddenly as its rise. There had been signs that the Communist bloc was weakening, but the East German Communist leaders insisted that East Germany just needed a moderate change rather than a drastic revolution. East German citizens did not agree. Russian leader Mikhail Gorbachev (1985–1991) was attempting to save his country and decided to break off from many of its satellites. As Communism began to falter in Poland, Hungary, and Czechoslovakia in 1988 and 1989, new exodus points were opened to East Germans who wanted to flee to the West.   In East Germany, protests against the government were countered by threats of violence from its leader, Erich Honecker. In October 1989, Honecker was forced to resign after losing support from Gorbachev. He was replaced by Egon Krenz who decided that violence was not going to solve the countrys problems. Krenz also loosened travel restrictions from East Germany. The Fall of the Berlin Wall Suddenly, on the evening of November 9, 1989, East German government official Gà ¼nter Schabowski blundered by stating in an announcement, Permanent relocations can be done through all border checkpoints between the GDR [East Germany] into the FRG [West Germany] or West Berlin. People were in shock. Were the borders really open? East Germans tentatively approached the border and indeed found that the border guards were letting people cross. Corbis  / Getty Images Very quickly, the Berlin Wall was inundated with people from both sides. Some began chipping at the Berlin Wall with hammers and chisels. There was an impromptu and massive celebration along the Berlin Wall, with people hugging, kissing, singing, cheering, and crying. Corbis  / Getty Images The Berlin Wall was eventually chipped away into smaller pieces (some the size of a coin and others in big slabs). The pieces have become collectibles and are stored in both homes and museums. There is also now a Berlin Wall Memorial at the site on Bernauer Strasse. Luis Davilla / Getty Images After the Berlin Wall came down, East and West Germany reunified into a single German state on October 3, 1990.

The Historical Importance of Orville Wright

The Historical Importance of Orville Wright Why Is Orville Wright Important?: Orville Wright was one-half of the aviation pioneers known as the Wright Brothers. Together with his brother Wilbur Wright, Orville Wright made history with the first-ever heavier than air, manned, powered flight in 1903. Orville Wright: Childhood Orville Wright was born on August 19, 1871, in Dayton, Ohio. He was the fourth child of Bishop Milton Wright and Susan Wright. Bishop Wright was in the habit of bringing small toys home to his children after traveling on church business and it was one of these toys that Orville Wright attributed for his early interest in flight. It was the miniature Penaud helicopter that Milton Wright brought home in 1878, a popular mechanical toy. In 1881, the Wright family moved to Richmond, Indiana, where Orville Wright took up kite building. In 1887, Orville Wright started at Dayton Central High School, however, he never graduated. Interest in Printing Orville Wright loved the newspaper business. He published his first newspaper together with his friend Ed Sines, for their eighth-grade class. By sixteen, Orville worked summers in a print shop, where he designed and built his own press. On March 1, 1889, Orville Wright began publishing the short-lived West Side News, a weekly newspaper for West Dayton. Wilbur Wright was the editor and Orville was the printer and publisher. The Bicycle Shop In 1892, the bicycle had become very popular in America. The Wright Brothers were both excellent bicyclists and bicycle mechanics and they decided to start a bicycle business. They sold, repaired, designed, and manufacture of their own line of hand-built, made-to-order bicycles, first the Van Cleve and the Wright Special, and later the less expensive St Clair. The Wright Brothers kept their bicycle shop until 1907, and it was successful enough to fund their flight research. The Study of Flight In 1896, German flight pioneer, Otto Lilienthal died while testing his latest single-surface glider. After reading extensively and studying bird flight and Lilienthals work, the Wright brothers were convinced that human flight was possible and decided to conduct some experiments of their own. Orville Wright and his brother began experimenting with wing designs for an airplane, a biplane that could be guided by warping the wings. This experiment encourages the Wright brothers to proceed with constructing a flying machine with a pilot. Airbourne: December 17, 1903 On this day Wilbur and Orville Wright made the first free, controlled, and sustained flights in a power-driven, heavier-than-air machine. The first flight was piloted by Orville Wright at 10:35 A.M., the plane stayed twelve seconds in the air and flew 120 feet. Wilbur Wright piloted the longest flight that day in the fourth test, fifty-nine seconds in the air and 852 feet. After Wilbur Wrights Death in 1912 Following Wilburs death in 1912, Orville carried their legacy alone towards an exciting future. However, the hot new arena of aviation business proved volatile, and Orville sold the Wright company in 1916. He built himself an aeronautics laboratory and returned to what had made he and his brother so famous: inventing. He also stayed active in the public eye, promoting aeronautics, inventing, and the historic first flight that he made. On April 8, 1930, Orville Wright received the first Daniel Guggenheim Medal, awarded for his great achievements in aeronautics. The Birth of NASA Orville Wright was one of the founding members of NACA aka National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics. Orville Wright served on NACA for 28 years. NASA aka National Aeronautics and Space Agency was created from the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics in 1958. Orville Wrights Death On January 30, 1948, Orville Wright died in Dayton, Ohio, at the age of 76. The home Orville Wright lived in from 1914 until his death, he and Wilbur planned the design of the house together, but Wilbur passed away before its completion.

Building Community as a Leadership Discipline Dissertation

Building Community as a Leadership Discipline - Dissertation Example Such leaders avoid acting in a dictatorial manner. They are usually motivated while working in settings characterized by facts, whereby they can apply theories and their expertise as well as analytical skills. They set achievable goals that are understandable by everyone. These are achieved through the allocation of roles to the employees, and supervising to ensure that the process follows the right track while adhering to organizational policies. They respect the management hierarchy, whereby each level of management is significant in the process.  Due to the fact that an organization has to be faced with dilemmas, the structural leader is usually faced with situations whereby a balance has to be established between the external environment and the organizational practices. Such a leader usually focuses on plain and consistent thinking in order to deal with organizational problems as well as utilization of the available opportunities (Bolman and Deal 2008). This is dependent to a large extent on the environment that the leader works in. A favorable working environment is usually a derivative of the predecessors in the organization’s management. The structural leader ensures that he leaves an enabling environment once he leaves an organization. This facilitates learning in the leaders who come thereafter. On the other hand, he ensures that the present leaders within the organization, especially those working under him have such leadership qualities as him/her. The organizational strategy is usually developed through structural Leaders, who are keen on the working framework, environment, the realization of organizational goals, testing as well the necessary reforms within the organization.

Finance and Accounting Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Finance and Accounting - Essay Example After assessing things like stock market capitalization, employment, profits, contribution to Gross Domestic Product and the likes, it is clear that the financial system expanded by a big margin since 1990. For instance, by 1989 the global financial assets were about 50 trillion but increased to about 200 trillion by the end of 2007 (Anderloni, 2009:23). Generally, analysts describe financial system innovation as the key to ending the financial crisis and woes that are facing the world’s economy. This is because; assessments carried out to establish how the system has been working reveal that it is through innovation of new financial tools that can put to an end the world’s common complex financial crisis. As illustrated by progress of financial innovations, the way people handled financial matters twenty years ago is different today. Advancements and innovations regarding financial technology transformed apparently due to need for better financial management brought ab out by time and technology. Globally, people are able to face and overcome challenges regarding finances as a result of financial innovative systems. However, before regulators start making decisions on how to regulate, if they should, activities of financial institutions, it is vital that they consider the consequences of their actions. Since it was through financial system innovation that global financial assets rose from about 50 trillion to about 200 trillion globally within a period of only eight years, these benefits should deter regulators from imposing restrictions on activities carried out by financial institutions. Furthermore, it is within the same period when financial depth increased from 200 percent of world Gross Domestic Product to 400 percent (Zeng, 2011:133). These remarkable financial systems of innovation played an important in transforming the financial sector globally. While on the verge of prominently addressing challenges and risks that the financial system i nnovation may pose to the general financial sector, there is also the need to view the immense economic gains and benefits that flows from a healthy financial instrument or institution. With the increasing jiggle or sophistication and size, depth wise, of financial markets, that promotes economic development or growth it is crucial to allocate capital in places where it can be highly productive. At the same time, dispersion of perils or risks more widely and broadly all over the financial system has up to this far raised the system’s resilience and the economies shocks (Welfens, 2011:67). Therefore, it is advisable for regulators to be cautious when seeking to implement regulations of financial innovations as they also seek to address risks accompanying the innovation. Financial system innovations have come with lots of potential benefits that financial regulators find them in need of monitoring. Nevertheless, while developing a framework for regulating these benefits brought about by the financial system innovation it is essential to have a clear thinking. The regulators should be explicit on how to regulate public policies, if any, and how fresh innovations or developments threaten or undermine those objectives. In addition, regulator should also consider the roles played by the market in controlling risks that pertain to public objectives since market discipline can be prove to be a key element in a well-functioning regulatory project. Therefore, as a test of consistency, all regulations should

Turkey's membership of EU Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Turkey's membership of EU - Essay Example This of course leaves the very prominent case of the nation of Turkey. Although not technically a part of â€Å"Europe† proper, Turkey has been highly desirous of EU membership for quite some time now and has been a valuable trading partner as well as maintaining a definitively close political and economic connection with both France and Germany; arguably the two most prominent members of the European Union. Within this context and considering this particular reality, this analysis will seek to discuss some of the major issues that currently serve as an impediment to this taking place as well as analyzing some of the key factors that serve to encourage the inclusion of Turkey as a future member of the European Union. Firstly, from the geographic standpoint, those that argue against Turkish inclusion in the European Union would be quick to point out that 97% of the entire nation of Turkey is not within the continent of Europe (Simpson, 2013). However, as history has noted time and again, Turkey serves as a valuable bridge between Europe and Asia/Mid-East and the inclusion of such a partner would definitively strengthen the ties that these regions could express in terms of trade and economic resilience. Secondly, from the perspective of economics, those that are against Turkish inclusion in the European Union might point to the fact that the GDP of the average Turkish citizen is nearly ? of what the GDP of the average EU citizen enjoys (Jameson, 2013). However, the fact of the matter is that Turkey’s economy has experienced stellar and rapid growth over the past few decades and stands in a very good position to overtake some of the EU’s weaker members in terms of GDP output per citizen within the next several years. Thirdly, from the political standpoint, naysayers would argue that the politics of Turkey are not advanced enough as compared to the mature European style democracies that are invariably evidenced within the other member states of the EU (Hancock, 2012). Although it is true that the nation of Turkey does not have a long history of democratic process as compared to the nations of Europe, it has managed to strike a pluralistic balance between elements of Islamic forces, the military, and a league of social democrats; exhibiting the very epitome of what a democracy should promote – understandings and cooperation between disparate groups of people. Ultimately, if given the chance to decide whether or not Turkey should be admitted into the European Union, it would be the decision of this author that this should indeed take place. The rational for this is nuanced. Firstly, it is clear that Europe has lost a great deal of skilled and unskilled manufacturing jobs over the past several decades to the developing nations in Asia and elsewhere. As a result of this, inclusion of a nation that is currently rapidly industrializing will bolster the overall economic strength that Europe can bring to bear on the intern ational level. Secondly, whereas the population of â€Å"old Europe† has continued to decline, and is on course for even further decline in the future, Turkey’s influx of 140 million people could help remedy the coming collapse of European productivity with regards to gaps in the labor market that are certain to take place. Finally, with regards to the political ramifications of