Tucker the Man and His Dream Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Tucker the Man and His Dream - Essay Example According to the essay "Tucker the Man and His Dream" findings the movie indicates the fact that the several units were made. Mr. Tucker’s idea failed severally on various occasion deterring his dream and opportunity. The fire occasion when the idea was deemed to fail is when the three largest car companies in Detroit wanted to squash Tucker. The biggest failure of this great idea and opportunity is when Tucker realized that he is no longer the owner of the company. Tucker’s naivety had cost him an opportunity of owning a car company that was meant to transform the world. Tucker did not read the terms of the contract when Benington came on board. This failure if avoided could have saved Tucker’s qualms and misfortunes in the future. A holistic team is very crucial for the success of any project. To some extent the team that was involved in the making process of this car is holistic. Tucker was a charismatic leader with the intensive prowess of the corporate arena . Abe Karatz was a key individual that would make sure that Tucker’s idea is achieved by ensuring it gets the right finance needed. Benington was the next person on the team that would manage the company though he had a point it was him that contribute to the abolishment of Tucker’s ownership in the company. The other key individual in the team was Alex, an automotive engineer he was chosen because of his exceptional skills in the automotive sector. Financing is a very fundamental issue that can determine whether a project will fail or succeed.

Stakeholder in a Business Essay Example for Free

Stakeholder in a Business Essay If a customer’s concern was that the product they want to buy is never in stock Tesco’s aim would then be to make sure they always had products in stock and on the shelves. Customer comments make the most impact because they are telling Tesco’s exactly what it is doing wrong and what needs to be done to improve it so Tesco is encouraged to improve their store for the sake of their customers. They have a big influence on the store because if Tesco’s did not listen to their concerns it would lose customers and sales which could go to other competitors. Customers are split into socio economic groups based on he occupation of the head of the household. It is used to see how people in different socio economic groups react to the same stimuli. The first 3 socio economic groups A, B and C1 will shop at Harrods because they have better more professional jobs which in return they will have more money so they like the finer things in life so therefore shop at Harrods. The last 3 socio economic groups C2, D and E will shop at Tescos because they have average jobs and are likely to be on minimum wage and Tesco if affordable so will therefore shop there. The groups are as followed: Socio economic group| Occupation| Tesco or Harrods| A| Higher managerial, administrative, professional example surgeon| Harrods| B| Intermediate managerial, administrative, professional example bank manager and teacher| Harrods| C1| supervisory, clerical, junior managerial example shop floor supervisor, bank clerk, sales person| Harrods| C2| skilled manual workers example electrician or carpenter| Tesco| D| Semi skilled and unskilled manual workers example assembly line worker, refuse collector, messenger| Tesco| E| Casual labourers, pensioners, unemployed example pensioners without private pensions and anyone living on basic benefits| Tesco| Customers of Tesco and Harrods could complain or give feedback in store or online and the business would do their best to fix these problems in order for the business to run at its full potential. (B) Employees Employees are an important stakeholder to Tesco because without them there would be no one to sell the products. Their job affects the growth of the business because if they do their job well and sell the products the business will bring in money. Employees depend on the business to make sure they are working in a clean and safe environment, there is job security and opportunities for promotion and discounts. Employees can also affect the business if they go on strike because then the business would have no workers to help the business run. They also want the business to do well so they can keep their job because if the business wasn’t doing well it might have to lose workers or close completely. Employees can also have an effect on the business if they let their personal life get in the way of their job. Relationships and emotions can cause an employee not to put their full effort into the job which could result in poor sales and losing customers. It is vital Tescos employees put all their effort into their jobs so the business excels. The employees at Tesco’s and Harrods could potentially quit their job if they feel they are not getting treated properly so it is a main priority that the employees are a big priority to the business. For the employees to be treated well at Tesco they want 24 hour security to make sure they are always safe, to know that anything personal is kept confidential and that they get a fair income for the work that they do. Employees at Tesco will be much different to employees at Harrods and they will both want different things. C) Suppliers Suppliers supply the products and services to a business. They can affect the running of a business if the products are not supplied on time. Not having stock on the shelves could lead customers to competitors. The suppliers want to have a long term contract with the businesses so they know they are always in business and will never lose money. The suppliers can affect the time, quantity, quality and cost of a product. Without suppliers the business could not guarantee that it will always have sufficient high quality materials. It is important that the business maintain good quality relationships with the suppliers so that raw materials and components can be ordered and delivered at short notice. The suppliers of Tescos and Harrods need to maintain their standard if they want to keep contracted with the business losing customers would affect the sales of the suppliers and also the running of the business. (D) Owners Owners and shareholders are interested in the business because they will be interest in their dividends and capital growth of their shares. Shareholders also have the power to elect the managing directors who make the decisions for the business. Owners have a big say in the aims and objectives of the business and how they should be decided. The shareholders can receive return in two ways. Firstly by a rise in the share price, so that they can sell their shares at a higher price than the purchase price known as capital gain and secondly based on the level of profits for the year, the company issues a portion of this to each shareholder for every share that they hold called a dividend. Below I have a copy of the major shareholders of Tesco. Harrods is a private limited company therefore is owned fully by quartar holdings. (E) Pressure groups Pressure groups are interested in whether the business is acting appropriately towards their area of interest. They are organisations of people who believe in the same cause. They have strongly held views and wish to influence some aspect of the society. These groups of people have more affect to the business than just one individual. Pressure groups have the right to criticise the government, hold meetings, protest and be able to have their views broadcasted and heard by the media. Pressure groups have to inform the local authorities and police to let them know they are going to protest. Pressure groups can protest in a number of different ways such as Internet, petition, letters and mass media. These can have a big effect9i on the public and if large numbers of people protest this could lead to the business changing. Pressure groups at Tesco’s will campaign for Tesco’s to stock fair trade products because they believe the workers are getting paid a fair price. (F) Trade unions Trade unions represent the interest of workers. Their main priorities are to guide, protect, help and support fellow workers. This creates a group of professionals wanting a say in their profession making individuals power stronger. They aim to achieve common goals such as protecting the integrity of its trade, achieving higher pay and increasing the number of employees. Trade unions originated in Europe and then they became popular in many countries during the industrial revolution because many workers were mistreated and underpaid. Trade unions may enforce strike or resistance to lockouts in furtherance of particular goals. Trade unions can also promote legislations favourable to the interests of their work members. Trade unions can provide benefits such as to insure members of unemployment, old age and funeral expenses. If trade unions put forward they wanted a pay rise of 5% there would be negotiation on both sides, the case would be unlikely but they could reduce the pay rise to 2. 5%. In France, Germany and other European countries, socialist’s parties and democrats played a prominent role in forming and building up trade unions. Trade unions have been said to have ineffective policies on racism and sexism, such that a union is justified in not supporting a member taking action against another member. The 4 main trade unions in the UK are: * General unions – these are for skilled and unskilled workers performing different jobs in different industries such as cleaners and transport workers * Industrial unions – these are for different workers in the same industry example the national union of miners covering workers at all levels in the hierarchy. Craft unions – these are fairly small unions for skilled workers performing the same or similar work in different industries such as musicians. * White-collar unions – these are for professional workers who perform the same or similar tasks in the same industry example teachers or scientists. (G) Local and nationals communities The community have an interest for the business because they get their products and services from them and they l ook for jobs from them. The community can have a big say on where the businesses location will be and expects the business to be environmentally friendly and as less disruptive as possible. The community have a big impact on the business because it is them that are customers to the business. If a new business was placed in a small community such as Tesco’s it could put other small businesses out of business example butchers, corner shops which could then affect the community if there shops that they shop at regularly have been put out of business due to this one store. (H) Governments Governments have an interest in the business because they collect tax from them. The government can affect the business in many ways such as businesses have to pay a variety of taxes to central and local governments including corporation tax on their profits, VAT on their sales and business rated to the local council for provision of local services. Businesses can also benefit from government incentives and initiatives, such as new infrastructure, job creation schemes and business relocation packages, offering cheap rent, rates and low interest loans. Tesco’s and Harrods have to work with certain acts of parliament such as the; 1. The employment relations bill, 1999 which states that employees who have been in employment with the same business for a period of one year have the right not to be unfairly dismissed. 2. The employment rights act 1996, which covers unfair dismissal, redundancy and maternity. 3. The sex discrimination act 1975, which states that it is illegal to discriminate against, an employee based on their gender or marital status. 4. The disability discrimination act, 1995 stating that is illegal for a business with more than 20 employees to discriminate against an employee or applicant or a job who may be disabled. Conflict between stakeholders * The local community can often suffer at the hands of a large business. Things such as pollution, noise, congestion and the building of new factories can lead the community to complain and if the business faces strong protests from residents and pressure groups it could cause the business to relocate o shut down meaning people would be unemployed. * Levels of authority can cause conflict between stakeholders. Example, a manager may not feel it has to respect and follow anything an employee says because they are lower and less important them then. There can be conflict between owners and employees if they feel they are not getting fair pay or bonuses. To keep the employees happy you need to build up trust and offering higher benefits and award programmes will assure this. * Suppliers and owners can have conflict if the products and services are not delivered correctly or on time. If a product was not delivered on time and the shelves were out of stock of that product the customers would have to go to competitors and the business would lose out on sales. Conclusion To sum it up stakeholders are very important for Tescos and Harrods to run efficiently and smoothly. Without the stakeholders the business wouldn’t have the money to run and they would not be as successful as they are today. To conclude stakeholders are one of the key factors to a business’s success or failure. The customers are Tescos and Harrods main stakeholders and these have the power to determine whether the business is a success or failure. The employees must do their job properly to retain customer happiness and ensure they will come back. Suppliers are an important stakeholder to the company and must maintain good relationships which will result in a less amount of problems and faster service. The owners are the heart of Tescos and Harrods and their decisions can affect many things in the business. They have to make sure their decisions will not result in a downfall of customers or cause problems with other stakeholders. Pressure groups must be listened to in order for the businesses to know what to improve on and what other stakeholders want from them. Trade unions are also an important stakeholder because company’s want to know what their workers want in order for them to do their best ability when doing their job. These stakeholders all must work together in order for the business to run smoothly. One problem can complicate relationships between other stakeholders which can put a stop to the business. Recommendations * I recommend that Tescos and Harrods listen to customer concerns and take them on board, acting on them to the extent that customers stop complaining, because they are the main source of income and they are vital to the business. I recommend that Tescos and Harrods treat all employees fairly and listen to what they want so they are treated with respect. If all the employees get what they want it makes sure that they are comfortable when doing their job and there will be no complaints. * I recommend that suppliers keep a good relationship with the business so they maintain a contract with them that will always keep them in business. Doing this will also return in the businesses favour because if Tesco needed something on short notice the suppliers might be able to get the product to them quicker.

Cleopatra :: Essays Papers

Cleopatra II. Summary: After the completion of the book, it had let me to believe the book was written for the general audience. Although the author provided many resources, the information was taken from literature that was written during the time. Therefore, some of the quotes were biased either against or favored Cleopatra. For an example of bias against her, the Jewish historian Flavius Josephus called her a â€Å"wicked creature, who was a slave to her lusts, but she still imagined that she wanted everything she could think of, and did her utmost to gain it†¦. As for Antony, he was so entirely overcome by this woman that†¦ he was some way or other bewitched to do whatever she would have him do.† On the contrary, here is an example of bias in favor of Cleopatra: â€Å"a princess well versed in the sciences, disposed to the study of philosophy and counting scholars among her intimate friends. She was the author of works on medicine, charms, and other divisions of the natural scie nces.† This was taken from a tenth-century Arab historian Al Masudi. The author allowed his readers to conclude their own interpretation of Cleopatra by stating both sides of the story. The book was broken down into eight chapters. These chapters spanned the time from 332 B.C. to 30 B.C. In the beginning of the book, it began the story of Cleopatra with Alexander the Great liberating Egypt from Persian control. However, the bulk of the chapters concentrated at 69 B.C. and ended 30 B.C. with the birth and death of Cleopatra. The story of Cleopatra began with her rein over Egypt as queen. This was when she allied and companioned with Caesar in attempt to strengthen her power. It was not long before Caesar was assassinated and his close friend and a powerful general Mark Antony denounced the conspirators. Not long after Caesar’s death, Antony and Cleopatra fell in love and ruled Rome and Egypt together. Together, they had formed an alliance strong enough to take down the most powerful force in the world at the time, Rome. The fall of Antony and Cleopatra began when they were defeated at Actium in Greece against Octavian’s Roman army. Towards the end of the book, the author went into details on the true love that existed between Antony and Cleopatra.

Gaudi’s Remarkable Sagrada Familia

Barcelona is a beautiful microcosm of Spanish civic culture on the larger scale. Spain is a nation that has seen aggressive modernization in certain aspects of its metropolitan orientation, which are deeply accommodating to the influx of international businesses, the array of luxury living demands and the heavy flow of tourism that reaches many of its more popular destinations. As just such a destination, Barcelona is effectively illustrative of the type of growth that marks parts of Spain with massive high-rise buildings and state of the are technological provisions. Simultaneously though, Barcelona is a window into Europe’s remarkable and artful history, with castle walls, sprawling plazas and roughshod cobblestone offering a clear view of the city’s medieval grounding. The seamless integration of the preserved and the modern is a characteristic which identifies the city and its most celebrated architect, the mercurial and ambitious Antoni Gaudi. His works appealed to the grand and gothic ambitions of those architectural value systems which preceded him, but his vision also held fast to a dedicated experimentalism which ornamented his designs elaborate, complex and often shockingly liberal uses of image and color. This is an appearance which today can be seen virtually everywhere in the city of Barcelona, and most notably, in the wondrous and markedly incomplete masterpiece that is Sagrada Familia. A Roman Catholic Church of the most dramatically unique vision, the building which was begun in 1882 under Gaudi’s direct supervision is still under construction even today. Remarkably, a building that has been in a state of continuing development from its conception to present day, obstructed in the intervening years by the long bloody civil war which gripped Spain from the second World War through to the end of the Cold War, is one of the most magnetic tourist attractions in Spain. This is because there are few structures in the world which are as ambitions in their simultaneous detail and enormity. Sagrada Familia is essentially the ongoing manifestation of an architectural vision so complex and precise as to warrant a process of realization which far outlives its originator. Indeed, when Gaudi passed away in 1926, with the building understandably still quite far from finished, Domenech Suganyes would take over the post. (Wikipedia, 1) To date, Sagrada Familia has been the obsession of no less than six head architects. (Burry, 1) A view of the structure explains rather quickly why this is so. A piece which incorporates some aspects of baroque architectural intent, particularly in the heavy focus on religious symbolism through catholic eyes, the cathedral must be seen as something of a post-modern work. Its uniquely elaborate use of color and its bold towers are unlike anything in the Catholic tradition prior, seeming not just to indulge in the type of gilded excess seen in the Vatican of the preceding centuries, but also to aggressively pursue counter-traditional and disarming appearance and effect. The primary argument for this observation may be in the technology which helped to steer Gaudi. When commission for the cathedral, â€Å"he was aware that the works were complex and difficult and tried to take advantage of all the modern techniques available. And so, among other resources, he had railway tracks laid with small wagons to transport the materials, brought in cranes to lift the weights and had the workshops located on the site to make the work easier. † (Sagrada Familia, 1) This is the precedent, in fact, for the raging controversy presently engaged between a city which intends to run an underground metro route beneath the invaluable structure and a slew of neighbors, architects and historians who fear the impact of such as decision. In a manner, Sagrada Familia does look and feel precarious, and not because of its continuing construction but because of that which has already been accomplished. Namely, the dozen towers of varying heights which have already been completed taper sharply as they reach the heights of the city. Their collective facade is laden with precise sculptures depicting all manner of Catholic ephemera. According to our research, Gaudi originally used live models to capture the detailed visages, divinities and animals represented in dense array on the outside of the building. Perhaps most famously, â€Å"the northeast, or Nativity Facade, is the Sagrade Familia’s artisitic pinnacle, and was mostly done under Guadi’s personal supervision. You can climb high up inside some of the four towers by a combination of lifts and narrow spiral staircases—a vertiginous experience. † (Simonis, 294) This draws tourists from all over the world, with the photographed image of the coil shooting down the center of each tower a common vantage in travel guides on the country. Though construction crews, machinery and scaffolding are constant, the front portal of the building is an incredible sight to be hold. By day, the 20 foot entranceway, gauzed by Gaudi’s odd, spiderwebbing incongruity, gives view to a brilliantly colored stained glasss. By night, the building is lit from tower to foundation, giving off a stunning golden display. A single tower reaches up the center of the structure, providing it with its height. Flanked symmetrically by the other towers, it is said to symbolize Jesus, the evangelicals and the apostles. (Robinson, 24) Any speculation to the contrary might quickly be answered by the incredible variety of ways in which the architecture depicts the Christ, through birth, life, death and rebirth. Indeed, the story of Catholicism may well be told thoroughly by the collection of images literally blanketing the whole structure. We can see that ultimately, the design has emphasized detail. The structure’s hugeness and ambitiousness not to be dismissed, the longevity of the project is more directly related to the incredible, almost insane attention to detail which distinguishes the structure. To understand the extent to which Sagrada Familia defies the likelihood of classical or modern architecture in its ornately unfinished state, one must see it.

Four Key Attributes of Strategic Management

Strategic Management must firstly be directed towards a company’s goals and objectives. Typically the company will be organized with a mission and vision developed, stating a purpose and direction of the overall organization. The goals and objectives set by the manager’s act as stepping stones to maintain that vision. These goals need to be transparent throughout the organization to allow the key players to achieve buy-in as the team moves towards accomplishing these goals.Secondly, the strategic management of an organization must include multiple stakeholders in decision making . Typically stake holders have demands on different areas of the organization. Managers must consider the consequences of how certain decision will affect each stakeholder group. Stakeholders will include the owners, shareholders, employees, customers, suppliers, and the community . Decisions that may benefit the owners such as taking short cuts in safety may have drastic effects on the employee s or a local community’s environment.Decisions to cut costs in quality control and employee training may benefit the bottom line of a company for a short time, but eventually will lead to a poorer product being produced and a lack of consumer confidence or higher warranty claims of the end user. Third, strategic management requires incorporating both short-term and long-term perspectives. Managers must maintain a vision for the future as well as focus on the present needs.Managers can be put in a position to be â€Å"short sited† to reach production numbers or sales goals by making decisions that don’t coincide with those long term goals of growth. Salesmen with quotas may always look for the quick sale without respect for building a long term relationship with the customer. This can cause long term reputation issues and cause a company to develop a culture of poor service and trust. Strategic managers must fourthly recognize the trade-off between effectiveness and efficiency. This is described as â€Å"doing the right thing† or â€Å"doing things right†.Managers must make decisions that guide the organization towards its overarching goals and perform actions which create cost savings, best practice’s, and build a culture of a positive corporation. Sometimes doing the right thing may cost the company more money to stay on focus of the mission. Companies may make organizational decisions that inhibit the success of the organization. In a recent news story, a company in West Virginia made a decision not to report a chemical spill from its holding tanks into the Elk River .This spill has now contaminated the drinking water supply of over 300,000 residents and sent some of them to the hospital. Freedom Industries made the decision not to report the spill until after the state Department of Environmental Protection had already traced it to one of their leaking tanks. Through this act of neglect and failure to report the lea k, the company now creates a reputation of untrustworthiness and may face legal action which will significantly affect the stakeholders (both stockholders and local community).A local company in my business area has been known as a poor company to work for and has a reputation of a sour culture. This company has had safety issues and difficult times finding quality employees. The company deals in supplies to major automakers and has recently seen great growth due to the surge in automotive sales over the last several years. Now the company has a need for expansion of its building and added equipment to produce the needed volume of parts to match the growth.Because they have had a short term perspective of the economy due to the downturn in 2008, the management has made decisions to pay the employees lower wages and fail to train them adequately which eventually have led to a 40% turnover rate. The company has recently spent millions of dollars on the expansion and can’t find employees that are willing to work for them due to the reputation they have. Poor cultures within a company can have long term effect on its continual growth and take many years to turn around even with the best strategic managers.

Space meets knowledge The impact of workplace design On knowledge sharing  The WritePass Journal

Space meets knowledge The impact of workplace design On knowledge sharing ï » ¿ Abstract Space meets knowledge The impact of workplace design On knowledge sharing ï » ¿ ). International companies are recognizing this same value of face to face interaction as the social interaction between management sections, benefits production and development levels world-wide (Noorderhaven and Harzing 2009). In their discussion of social capital, Cohen and Prusak (2001) emphasise the importance of the physical workplace for the exchanging of knowledge, specifically the distribution of ideas amongst individuals in a situation where they could not assume that others knew what they were required to know. Becker (2004) hypothesises that the choices an organisation makes about how space is allocated and designed directly and indirectly shapes the infrastructure of knowledge networks – the dense and richly veined social systems that help people learn faster and engage more deeply in the work of the organisation. This corresponds with the Dakir (2012) argument that technology is no substitute for live interaction among the members of the organization. Davenport et al (2002) undertook a study among 41 firms that were implementing initiatives to advance the performance of high-end knowledge workers who were regarded as critical to the company’s aims. They focused upon determining th e elements that affected the knowledge work performance. Surprisingly, the issue that was most frequently dealt with by these firms involved the physical workplace – â€Å"the other common ones were information technology and management† (Davenport 2005, p. 166). Davenport (2005) emphasises that the recognition of the importance of knowledge work has grown in recent years, but that our understanding of the physical conditions in which knowledge can flourish has failed to keep pace. The inclusion of emerging communication technology has been argued to provide a better opportunity for employee interaction (Rhoads 2010). This same element of improved long distance communication is credited with diminishing the valued impromptu inspiration that many firms rely on during day to day operations (Denstadli, Gripsrud, Hjortahol and Julsrud 2013). According to Davenport et al (2002) workplace design should be seen as a key determinant of knowledge-worker performance, while we largely remain in the dark about how to align ‘space’ to the demands of knowledge work. Davenport (2005) emphasises the point that â€Å"there is a good deal said about the topic, but not much known about it† (p. 165). Most of the decisions concerning the clima te in which work takes place have been created without consideration for performance factors. This fact continues to diminish opportunities for in-house knowledge sharing and effective dissemination of intelligence (Denstadli et al 2013). Becker (2004) points out that the cultivation of knowledge networks underpins the continuing debate about office design, and the relative virtue of open versus closed space. Duffy (2000) confirms these views when he admits that early twenty-first-century architects â€Å"currently know as little about how workplaces shapes business performance as early nineteenth-century physicians knew how diseases were transmitted before the science of epidemiology was established† (p. 371). This makes every emerging decision regarding effective knowledge sharing critical to the development of any organisation. Deprez and Tissen (2009) illustrate the strength of the knowledge sharing process using Google’s approach:   Ã¢â‚¬Å"one company that is fully aware of its ‘spatial’ capabilities†. The spatial arrangements at Google’s offices can serve as a useful example of how design can have a bearing on improving the exchange of knowledge in ways that also add value to the company. The Zurich ‘Google engineering’ office is the company’s newest and largest research and development facility besides Mountain View, California. In this facility, Deprez and Tissen (2009) report: â€Å"Google has created workspaces where people literally ‘slide into space’ (i.e. the restaurant). Its really true: Google Is different. It’s in the design; it’s in the air and in the spirit of the ‘place’. It’s almost organizing without management. A workplace becomes a ‘workspace’, mobilizing the collective Goo gle minds and link them to their fellow ‘Zooglers’ inside the Zurich office and to access all the outside/external knowledge to be captured by the All Mighty Google organisation† (2009, p. 37). What works for one organisation may not work for another and this appears to be the case in particular when it comes to Google (Deprez et al 2009). Yet, some valuable lessons in how the workplace can be used to good effect can be gained from Google’s operations. For this precise reason, research was carried out at Google Zurich to provide both theoretical and managerial insights into the impact of the design and use of the physical workplace on knowledge sharing (Ibid). Studies comparing the performance of virtual and co-located teams found that virtual teams tend to be more task oriented and exchange less social information than co located ones (Walther Burgoon 1992; Chidambaram 1996). The researchers suggest this would slow the development of relationships and strong relational links have been shown to enhance creativity and motivation. Other studies conclude that face-to-face team meetings are usually more effective and satisfying than virtual ones, but nevertheless virtual teams can be as effective if given sufficient time to develop strong group relationships (Chidambaram 1996). This research implies the importance of facilitating social interaction in the workplace, and between team members (virtual and co-located) when the team is initially forming. Hua (2010) proposes that repeated encounters, even without conversation, help to promote the awareness of co-workers and to foster office relationships. McGrath (1990) recommends that in the abse nce of the ability to have an initial face-to-face meeting other avenues for building strong relationships are advised to ensure the cohesiveness and effectiveness of the team’s interaction. So although interaction alone is not a sufficient condition for successful collaboration, it does indirectly support collaboration. Nova (2005) points out that physical proximity allow the use of non verbal communication including: different paralinguistic and non-verbal signs, precise timing of cues, coordination of turn-taking or the repair of misunderstandings. Psychologists note that deictic references are used in face-to-face meetings on a regular basis, which refers to pointing, looking, touching or gesturing to indicate a nearby object mentioned in conversation (Ibid). Newlands et al (2002) analysed interactions of two groups performing a joint task in either face-to-face or a video conference system. They found that deictic hand gesture occurred five times more frequently in the face-to-face condition the virtual interaction. More recent research has found that extroverts gesticulate for longer and more often in meetings than introverts (Jonnson 2006). Barbour and Koneya (1976) famously claimed that 55 per cent of communication is non-verbal communication, 38 per cent is done by tone of voice, and only 7 per cent is related to the words and content. Clearly non-verbal communication is a key component of interaction and virtual interaction systems need to replicate this basic need, especially in the early stages of team forming or when the team consists of a high proportion of extroverts. The physical co-location of teams also facilitates collaboration (Ibid). A seminal piece of research carried out by Allen (1977) demonstrated that the probability of two people communicating in an organisation is inversely proportional to the distance separating them, and it is close to zero after 30 metres of physical separation. Furthermore, proximity helps maintain task and group awareness, because when co-located it is easier to gather and update information about the task performed by team members (Dakir 2012). A recent survey of workers at highly collaborative companies found that most â€Å"collaborative events† are short (with 34% lasting fewer than 15 minutes) and the majority take place at the desk (Green 2012). It is likely that these impromptu interactions relate to sharing information (perhaps on the PC) or answering queries rather than lengthy intense discussion and development of joint ideas. Interactions at desks may facilitate tacit knowledge sharing by overhearing relevant conversations between team members, but such interactions can also be considered a distraction if not relevant (Denstadli et al 2013). Methodology There are two acknowledged methodological approaches: quantitative and qualitative (Creswell 2005). The quantitative method involves identifying variables in a research question which are then utilized in order to collate numerical data (Ibid).   The qualitative research is open to interpretation allowing personal answers to be incorporated into the study (Creswell 2005). The researcher considered both options in order to complete the necessary goals. Types of Data There are two forms of data: primary, or newly generated data, or secondary, previous data generated within existing studies (Creswell 2005). This study required the acquisition of primary data creating the need for relevant instruments. A survey with 5 open-ended questions has been created and subsequently conducted with centred on 548 employees working at Google Zurich.   This was done in order to explore the perceptions of Google employees with regard to the environment in which they work with a focus on factors that affect knowledge sharing in the work environment. Methods of Data Collection The qualitative data analysis employed a Content Analysis technique to reveal participant perceptions of their work environment. The survey questions were designed to explore employee perceptions regarding the following dimensions: 1) Activities that allow for increased exchange of knowledge; 2) Advantages of frequent interaction with colleagues; 3) Individuals or groups dependent on the frequent interaction with co-workers or  Ã‚   group members; 4) Factors that facilitate interaction within the workplace 5) Factors that inhibit interaction with others in the workplace. Survey participants responded to five open-ended questions and rated their answers using a five-point Likert scale where 5 was ‘most important’. Using a Content Analysis approach (Creswell 2005; Leedy and Ormrod 2005; Neuendorf 2002), the interview responses were analysed. Content Analysis is a qualitative data reduction method that generates categories from key words and phrases in the interview text; it is an evidence-based process in which data gathered through an exploratory approach is systematically analysed to produce predictive or inferential intent (Creswell 2005). Content Analysis was used to identify themes or common concepts in participants’ perceptions regarding the culturally and environmentally distinctive factors that affect interaction in the workplace (Neuendorf, 2002). This process permitted the investigator to quantify and analyse data so that inferences could be drawn. The Content Analysis of survey interview text was categorically coded to reflect various levels of analysis, including key components, words, sentences, or themes (Neuendorf 2002). These themes or key components were then examined using relational analysis to determine whether there were any relationships between the responses of the subjects. The analysis was conducted with Nvivo8 ® software which enables sorting, categorising, and frequency counts of invariant constituents (relevant responses). Content Analysis was used to critically evaluate the survey responses of the study participants, providing in-depth information regarding the factors related to workplace interaction. Sample Respondent Characteristics The invited population consisted of 675 individuals and a total of 548 individuals participated in the survey resulting in a response rate of 81 per cent. Of these 548 completed surveys, 35 responses were discarded because the respondents only partially completed the survey. The final sample consisted of 513 respondents. The key characteristics of these respondents are summarized in Table 4-1. Table 4-1 Sample Respondent Characteristics Factor Description Frequency Education High School Bachelor Degree Certificate Degree Master Degree PhD Degree Other: 15 118 19 231 121 9 Tenure 2 years 2-5 years 5 years 153 331 29 Time Building Use 1 year 1 year 2 years 2 years 140 102 271 0 Time Desk Use 3 months 3-6 months 7-12 months 12 months 143 159 126 85 Age 20 years 21-30 years 31-40 years 41-50 years 50 years 0 216 255 35 7 Gender Male Female 428 85 Mobilty Zurich Office Other Google Office Home Office Travelling Other 88.9% 3.9% 3.9% 2.7% 0.5% Position Engineering Sales and Marketing GandA Other: 428 12 14 59 Nationality Germany Switzerland United States France Poland United Kingdom Romania Hungary Netherlands Sweden Spain Australia Russian Federation 10 respondents 73 62 35 33 28 27 24 23 17 16 14 13 12 136    Survey Findings In order to provide an audit trail of participant responses to the thematic categories that emerged from the data analysis, discussion of the findings precedes the tables of data, within a framework consisting of the five survey questions. An overall summary is provided at the conclusion of the discussion of findings. During the analysis of data, common invariant constituents (relevant responses) were categorically coded and associated frequencies were documented. Frequency data included overall frequency of occurrence as well as frequencies based on rating level (5 = most important to 1 = least important). Invariant constituents with a frequency of less than 10 were not included in the tables. Study conclusions were developed through an examination of the high frequency and highly rated invariant constituents in conjunction with the revealed thematic categories. Question 1: Main Activities that Allow Exchange of Knowledge Table 4-2 provides high frequency invariant constituents (relevant responses) by survey participants demonstrating themes within the data for Question 1. Thematically, the analysis revealed the following primary perceptions of participants in terms of main activities that allow knowledge exchange: (a) meetings of all types; (b) whiteboard area discussions; (c) video conferencing; (d) email, and (e) code reviews. These elements demonstrated a high frequency of importance ratings, and a moderate percentage of respondents rated these elements as ‘most important’ (rating 5). Other themes revealed through the analysis included the importance of writing and reading documentation, Instant Messaging (IM) text chat, Internet Relay Chat (IRC), and extracurricular/social activities. All other invariant constituents with a frequency of greater than 10 are shown in Table 4-2. Table 4-2 Data Analysis Results for Question 1: Main Activities Allowing for Exchange of Knowledge Invariant Constituent Overall number (Frequency) By Rating 5=Most important n=513 5 4 3 2 1 Informal discussion/face to face mtgs/stand ups 351 149 77 60 33 32 Formal planned meetings/conference room mtgs 218 40 61 56 38 23 Email 207 74 74 32 21 6 Lunches/Dinners 64 9 10 15 18 12 Whiteboard area discussions/brainstorming 58 22 13 10 9 4 Video Conferencing (VC) 58 4 16 20 14 4 Code Reviews 51 5 16 20 4 6 Writing/Reading Documentation 47 6 8 13 16 4 IM/Text Chat/IRC 46 10 16 10 7 3 â€Å"Extracurricular Activities† (e.g., pool, socializing, Friday office drinks, etc.) 45 2 2 15 10 16 Writing/Reading docs specifically wiki pages/sites 34 2 10 6 9 7 Chat (unspecified in person vs. text) 33 8 7 8 7 3 Techtalks 27 4 5 6 7 5 Training/presentations 23 1 3 3 10 6 Mailing lists 21 10 2 5 2 2 Shared docs/doc collaboration 17 0 3 5 5 4 Read/write design docs specifically 12 0 2 5 0 5 Telephone/phone conversations 12 0 3 2 4 3 Question 2: Main Advantages of Frequent Interaction with Colleagues Table 4-3 provides high frequency invariant constituents (relevant responses) by survey participants demonstrating themes within the data for Question 2. Thematically, the analysis revealed the following elements representing the primary perceptions of participants in terms of the main advantages to frequent interaction with colleagues: (a) knowledge and information exchange and transfer; (b) staying current on projects and processes; (c) social interaction; (d) learning from others; (e) faster problem resolution; (f) efficient collaboration; and (g) continuous and early feedback. The following themes received a high frequency of importance ratings and a large percentage of ‘most important’ and ‘important’ ratings (rating 5 and 4, respectively) included: knowledge sharing, staying in touch and up to date, learning from others, faster resolution/problem solving, better collaboration, and feedback. Although socialising was revealed to be a strong overall theme , it also demonstrated lower importance ratings. Other themes revealed through the analysis are provided in Table 4-3. Table 4-3 Data Analysis Results for Question 2: Main Advantages of Frequent Interaction Invariant Constituent Overall number (Frequency) By Rating 5=Most important n=513 5 4 3 2 1 Knowledge sharing/exchange of information/Knowledge transfer 149 75 39 19 12 4 Staying in touch/up to date/ more info on projects and processes 113 58 28 17 8 2 Socializing/social interaction 74 5 10 35 18 6 Learning/learning from others/learning new things/increased knowledge base 72 17 28 14 8 5 Understand problems/needs – faster resolution and quicker problem solving 70 25 24 11 4 6 Better/more efficient collaboration 67 42 8 9 5 3 Feedback/continuous feedback/early feedback 66 17 29 8 9 3 New and better ideas/flow of ideas/creativity/ brainstorming 65 25 15 14 7 4 Teamwork/being part of a team/teambuilding 51 10 12 18 9 2 Get work done/efficiency/speed 46 26 13 2 4 1 Fun 44 2 11 15 11 5 Better understanding of what others are doing and how/workloads 44 15 17 10 0 2 Everyone on same page/shared vision/focus on goals of team 32 10 9 6 5 2 Better personal contact and easy interaction 27 5 6 11 2 3 Avoid misunderstanding/work duplication 27 8 10 4 4 1 Helping others/getting help (when stuck) 26 3 9 10 3 1 Good/happy atmosphere/work environment 24 1 2 8 5 8 Networking 22 1 9 6 2 4 Motivate each other/inspiration 21 5 1 5 8 2 Other/new perspectives/viewpoints 18 2 10 3 1 2 Improving quality of work/performance 16 1 5 9 1 0 Work synchronization 16 2 8 1 4 1 Productivity 12 3 1 4 3 1 Knowing latest news/innovations 12 0 3 2 1 6 Better communication 10 1 1 5 2 1 Question 3: Individuals or Groups that are Dependent on Frequent Interaction Table 4-4 provides high frequency invariant constituents (relevant responses) given by survey participants demonstrating themes within the data for Question 3. Thematically, the analysis revealed the following elements representing the primary perceptions of participants in terms of individuals or groups that are dependent on frequent interaction of the participant: (a) my team/project teammates/peers; and (b) managers. The first theme demonstrated a high frequency of importance ratings with a moderate percentage of ‘most important’ and ‘important’ ratings (rating 5 and 4, respectively). Although the theme of managers was revealed to be a relatively strong overall theme, it also demonstrated lower importance ratings. Other themes revealed through the analysis are shown in Table 4-4. Table 4-4 Data Analysis Results for Question 3: Individual/groups dependent on frequent interaction of participant Invariant Constituent Overall number (Frequency) By Rating 5=Most important n=513 5 4 3 2 1 My team/project teammates/peers 128 87 19 14 3 5 Managers/PMs 48 4 24 11 6 3 Users/customers/clients 35 7 12 10 4 2 All reports/related teams 34 7 17 4 4 2 Engineering teams (various) 28 18 8 2 0 0 Recruiting team/staffing 17 5 3 6 3 0 Geo Teams 15 7 6 2 0 0 Operations teams 14 2 3 5 2 2 All of them 11 9 1 0 1 0 HQ 11 3 3 1 2 2 Other engineers using my project/peer developers of my tool 10 1 5 3 1 0 Question 4: Factors Facilitating Easy Interaction Table 4-5 provides high frequency invariant constituents (relevant responses) by survey participants demonstrating themes within the data for Question 4. Thematically, the analysis revealed the following elements representing the primary perceptions of participants about factors that facilitate easy interaction: (a) common, proximal, and open workspace areas; (b) common functional areas; (c) sufficient and available meeting facilities; (d) excellent communication tools; and (e) video conference facilities. The theme of open and common workspace areas/shared office space demonstrated a high frequency of importance ratings with a very large percentage of ‘most important’ ratings (rating 5). Other revealed themes, particularly the second listed theme, demonstrated relatively high overall frequency, but these themes did not demonstrate the strength of importance that the first theme did. Other themes and invariant constituents revealed through the analysis are shown in Table 4-5. Table 4-5 Data Analysis Results for Question 4: Factors Facilitating Easy Interaction Invariant Constituent Overall number (Frequency) By Rating 5=Most important n=513 5 4 3 2 1 Open and Common workspace areas/shared office space/desk locations/sitting together 175 103 34 25 9 4 Common shared Areas (e.g., Kitchen, play/game rooms, lounges, library, etc.) 173 40 66 42 17 8 Enough facilities for meetings/availability of meeting and conference areas 90 19 27 30 12 2 Great communication tools (email, VC, chats, dist. Lists, online docs, wireless, VPN, mobile†¦) 80 11 30 14 18 7 Video Conference meeting rooms/facilities 78 19 25 18 12 4 Onsite lunch/dinner/common dining area (free food and eating together) 50 7 15 11 13 4 Whiteboard areas for informal meetings 43 10 18 7 7 1 Corporate culture/open culture/ open communication culture 43 18 11 9 3 2 Email 42 11 13 9 5 4 Casual and social environment/open atmosphere 36 19 5 9 2 1 People: easy going, friendly, smart, knowledgeable, willing to help 35 14 9 3 3 6 Social Events 28 3 6 5 7 7 Company calendar/planned ops for meeting/ scheduled meetings 19 3 7 6 2 1 Geographic co-location/same time zone 13 7 4 2 0 0 Travel/trips to other offices 12 1 2 1 3 5 Chat (non-specific text or in person) 11 2 4 3 0 2 IM/internet chat 10 5 1 1 1 2 MOMA/social networking/wiki pages/company docs 10 1 0 3 4 2 Question 5: Factors Inhibiting Interaction with Others Table 4-6 provides high frequency invariant constituents (relevant responses) by survey participants demonstrating themes within the data for Question 5. Thematically, the analysis revealed a single strong element and several elements with less relevance as inhibiting factors. The physical geographic differences – specifically the time zone differences – were noted by a majority of participants as the most important element that inhibited interaction with others. Study participants perceived their overscheduled and busy work lives, noise levels in their workspaces, and shared work environments to be contributing inhibitory factors with regard to interaction with others. These elements also demonstrated high frequencies of importance ratings with a moderate percentage of ‘most important’ ratings (rating 5). Other themes revealed through the analysis are shown in Table 4-6. Table 4-6 Data Analysis Results for Question 5: Factors Inhibiting Interaction with Others Invariant Constituent Overall number (Frequency) By Rating 5=Most important n=513 5 4 3 2 1 Physical Geographic distance/ timezone differences 164 115 36 9 3 1 Very busy/Overscheduled people/ overbooked calendars/ too many meetings 45 17 16 10 2 0 Crowded/noisy environment/ noise in shared space 33 19 6 4 4 0 Defective VCs/ VC suboptimal/ VC equipment not working 25 9 7 7 2 0 No meeting rooms available 22 8 6 6 2 0 Too few VC rooms in some locations / lack of available VC rooms 19 4 9 5 0 1 Open Space: no privacy, interruptions/ disruptions 19 5 8 3 2 1 Information overload/ too much email 15 6 2 6 1 0 Large office building/building size and layout/ too many people, difficult to find people 15 11 4 0 0 0 Team split between multiple sites or large distance between team members in same bldg 15 4 5 4 2 0 Need more whiteboards/lack of informal areas with whiteboards 11 3 5 2 1 0 Language barrier: lack of correct English/not knowing colloquial lang. or nuances 11 5 1 3 1 1 Lack of time/deadlines 11 5 2 1 2 1 Different working hours within same time zone 10 5 3 2 0 0 Discussion Both the literature and the survey have illuminated interesting facets of the work environment and the need for personal communication. The analysis of the 513 participants’ responses to five open-ended questions from the employee perception survey revealed patterns of facilitating and inhibiting factors in their work environment. Nonaka (2011) clearly illustrates this point with the argument that the communal environment promotes a standard of communication not found in the technological alternatives. Further, the shift away from the organization to the person orientation provides a fundamental benefit to every employee (Becker 2004). With a rising recognition of individual value, the organisation is building employee trust. Participants in this study preferred frequent, informal opportunities for the exchange of knowledge. The opportunity for growth was centred on the capacity to exchange concepts in a free and easy manner (Nonaka 2011). The evidence presented in this study demonstrates that these opportunities were more valued by team members with high knowledge exchange needs. This is line with the increased depth of knowledge and ability to meet technical needs through employee communication (Tallman et al 2010). A combination of professional advice can benefit the entire production and development process. In this study, transactions among participants were often brief, and were perceived to require limited space – often just stand-up space – with noise-regulating options not found in open-office environments. Dakir (2012) demonstrates the environment has the potential to add to or detract from employee communication, making this factor a critical consideration. Spontaneous and opportunistic knowledge-sharing transactions were valued, and technology provided a platform for this type of knowledge exchange to occur. This evidence from the survey corresponds with the literature illustrating that increased communication and sharing in the workplace enhances the entire operation, as well as providing new and fresh opportunities and innovations (Tallman et al 2010). The research at Google provides further support for the view of some leading companies who strongly believe that having workers in the same place is crucial to their success (Noorderhaven et al 2009). Yahoo’s CEO Marissa Mayer communicated via a memo to employees that June 2013, any existing work-from-home arrangements will no longer apply. Initial studies theorized that the work at home system would provide a better platform for workers, even on a local level (Dakir 2012).   Many points of the memo cited in this Yahoo example, parallel the literature presented in this study. Her memo stated (Moyer 2013): â€Å"To become the absolute best place to work, communication and collaboration will be important, so we need to be working side-by-side.† This is clearly in line with the Coehen and Prusak (2001) assertion that the physical workplace is a critical element of the dynamic business.   â€Å"That is why it is critical that we are all present in our offices. Some of the best decisions and insights come from hallway and cafeteria discussions, meeting new people, and impromptu team meetings.† This element of the her reasoning is nearly identical to the argument presented by Dakir (2012), that a successful company do so, in part, by promoting communication and teamwork in the office, the technical alternatives are not enough. â€Å"Speed and quality are often sacrificed when we work from home. We need to be one Yahoo!, and that starts with physically being together†¦.Being a Yahoo isnt just about your day-to-day job, it is about the interactions and experiences that are only possible in our offices† (Moyer 2013). This section is directly in line with emerging studies citing the vital nature of the interaction and face to face employee contact (Heerwagen et al. 2004). This study has clearly demonstrated that Mayer is not alone in her thinking; Steve Jobs operated in a similar fashion as well (Davenport et al 2002). Despite being a denizen of the digital world, or maybe because he knew all too well its isolating potential, Jobs was a strong believer in face-to-face meetings. â€Å"There’s a temptation in our networked age to think that ideas can be developed by email and iChat,† he said. â€Å"That’s crazy. Creativity comes from spontaneous meetings, from random discussions. You run into someone, you ask what they’re doing, you say ‘Wow,’ and soon you’re cooking up all sorts of ideas† (Isaacson, 2011, p. 431). This assertion by Jobs closely resembles the argument presented in the Rhoads (2010) study that found a clear correlation between the communication capacity and opportunity for successful innovation and progress. Following this philosophy led Jobs to have the Pixar building designed to pr omote encounters and unplanned collaborations.   Ã‚  Mayers former colleague at Google agrees (Ibid). Speaking at an event in Sydney February 2013, Google CFO Patrick Pichette said that teleworking is not encouraged at Google. This reflects the consensus that is emerging that time in the office is not only valuable but necessary to sustained competition in the industry (Denstadli et al 2013). Pichette believes that working from home could isolate employees from other staff. Companies like Apple, Yahoo! and Google are holding on to (or have started embracing) the belief that having workers in the same place is crucial to their success (Dakir 2012). This appears to be based on the view that physical proximity can lead to casual exchanges, which in turn can lead to breakthroughs for products. Heerwagen et al (2004) illustrates that it is evident that â€Å"knowledge work is a highly cognitive and social activity†.   Non-verbal communication is complex and involves many unconscious mechanisms e.g. gesture, body language, posture, facial expression, eye contact, pheromones, proxemics, chronemics, haptics, and paralanguage (Denstadli et al 2013). So, although virtual interaction can be valuable it is not a replacement for face-to-face interaction, particularly for initial meetings of individuals or teams. Furthermore, the increase in remote working has indicated that face-to-face interaction is important for motivation, team-building, mentoring, a se nse of belonging and loyalty, arguably more so than in place-centred workgroups (Deprez and Tissen 2009). Conclusion The role of knowledge management in the workplace has become an increasingly valuable segment of a company’s resources.   This study examined the practice of working remotely versus employee interaction in the work place providing many illuminating developments. Despite the early optimism that emerging technology was going to provide the end all to employee work habits have proven less than fully realized. The evidence in this study has continuously illustrated an environment that requires the innovative, face to face interaction in order to maintain a competitive edge in the industry.   Further, the very environment that promotes this free exchange of ideals is not adequately substituted by technology.   In short, the evidence provided in this study has clearly demonstrated the advantage that the in house employee has over the remote worker. The impromptu encounters between employees are very often the elements needed for progress. What is clear is that in order for a business to capitalize on their full range of available resources virtually requires, face to face personal interaction in order to fully realize the firms full potential.   In the end, it will be the combination of leadership, teamwork and innovation that provides business with the best environment, not necessarily how much technology is available. References Dalkir, K. 2005.  Knowledge management in theory and practice. Amsterdam: Elsevier/Butterworth Heinemann. Denstadli, J., Gripsrud, M., Hjorthol, R. and Julsrud, T. 2013. Videoconferencing and business air travel: Do new technologies produce new interaction patterns?.  Transportation Research Part C: Emerging Technologies, 29 pp. 113. Nonaka, I. and Takeuchi, H. 2011. The wise leader.  Harvard Business Review, 89 (5), pp. 5867. Noorderhaven, N. and Harzing, A. 2009. Knowledge-sharing and social interaction within MNEs.Journal of International Business Studies, 40 (5), pp. 719741. Rhoads, M. 2010. Face-to-Face and Computer-Mediated Communication: What Does Theory Tell Us and What Have We Learned so Far?.  Journal of Planning Literature, 25 (2), pp. 111122. Tallman, S. and Chacar, A. 2011. Knowledge Accumulation and Dissemination in MNEs: A Practice-Based Framework.  Journal of Management Studies, 48 (2), pp. 278304.

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Ku Klux Klan essays The Ku Klux Klan (KKK) is one of North Americas oldest and most feared groups. Driven by the dream of a world with only one master race, the KKK often uses violence and moves above the law to promote their cause. Supporting white supremacy and violent were not the original goals of this organization. Sometimes when groups grown too quickly their actually purpose can be forgotten. The KKK was actually started by six teenagers back in 1865. When the original group was made it had nothing to do with hatred towards blacks. They used linens and pillowcases because they could not afford to buy costumes. They would go to peoples house in the night and play practical jokes on them. Even though it was not there intention to strike fear into people they had the ability to do so. After the civil war when the black slaves where freed the group took a turn for the worse. They started riding their horses covered in white linens through black people rallies and scaring them. Word quickly spread across the South about these masked men. Many people loved the idea and wanted to be involved. The Klan quickly grew. A leader was soon needed to control the large group. Their choice was a man named Nathan Bedford Forrest. He was quickly accepted as the "Grand Wizard". He had absolute power over the Klan members. They trusted him and where eager to do what he said. Many of the men were in need of a sense of belonging. The KKK gave them this. The Klan really began to take control in the year of 1868. They vowed to rid the south of blacks and any person who supported them. They stole the oppositions goods, beat them and even killed them. These murders were known as lynching. They would drag the person to the center of the town and hang them in front of everyone. This method was very effective; people feared it would happen to them if they had anything to do with the blacks. In the end, the KKK is a problem that will not go away ...

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Intercultural communication - Essay Example This happens when cultural differences interfere in the interpretation of the message, wherein difficulties may arise, as well as misunderstandings and hatred. Surface-structure cultural transfer comes in either the language form or the speech act. The language form involves understanding of the different lexical culture, such a vacant words, words with strong cultural connotation, idioms, proverbs and polite formulas. Since native speakers acquire them unconsciously, second language learners learn them according to their own cultural background. On the other hand, speech act may only be avoided if the people involved in the communication process should take time in analyzing first the culture of the speaker in which the speech is delivered. The negative transfer of deep-structure culture, on the other hand, occurs in situations where individuals have varying cultural values, thought patterns, religious beliefs and ethics. In Wei’s study of Chinese and the American intercultural communication, culture plays a big factor in the negative transfer of ideas. China, as a country driven by collectivism, puts emphasis on the views, needs and goals of the in-group (relatives, clans, organizations) rather than oneself; social norms and duty defined by the in-group rather than behavior to get pleasure; beliefs shared with the in-group rather than beliefs that distinguish self from in-group; great readiness to cooperate with in-group members. In contrast, American culture is deeply rooted in individualism, thus the interpretation of these two cultures vary. In addition, Chinese associate and depend their decision according to their past experiences. They give emphasis on their past such that they believe that the past guide s them for their actions in the present. However, Americans believe the other way. They give more emphasis on the future such that they give much attention to what would happen next rather than look at the

What is Katniss's greatest character flaw Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

What is Katniss's greatest character flaw - Essay Example The main character of the book is Katniss Everdeen, Living a life of misery under the feet of the capitol Katniss and her family is deprived of every little joy of life by the oppressive rule of the government who then steps forward to change the system as it is now and restore happiness and dignity of the poor in the society. Katniss has been portrayed as a very intelligent, independent, and courageous sixteen year old girl in the book. But there is another side to Katniss which slightly flaws her personality and distorts her image portrayed in the entire book. No doubt the character of Katniss is very interesting and the best part is the connection it sparks with the readers. However, it is slightly flawed as she lacks one of the major characteristic that is morality in her character. It is true that she faced countless troubles and hardships in her life which as a result made her into a stronger person, but still it is not justified for her to be concerned only about her personal goals by putting others life in danger. By examining the book one can extract out that Katniss was a girl who was deeply attached to only 1 or 2 people in her life. She was emotionally closed to others; hence all her emotions were concentrated on those two most important people in her life. She cares only about her motives despite the fact that unlike her not everyone was playing the game with the same motive and had an intention of winning only but there were several other reasons as well. She clearly lacked moral grounds and her actions were not justified. It would be a disgrace to the word hero if someone says that she possessed the elements and qualities of a hero. Although, her early life was tainted with miseries and oppression which caused her to be the person she has become now but her actions are still not justified. She can be called as a person who fought to save her

Teenage Pregnacy Essay Example for Free

Teenage Pregnacy Essay Every single country in the world that the people live in is important and each country has its own nature and significance. The United States of America is known as the most powerful country and many other countries support America. These countries become America’s alliances. The Philippines is one of its alliances. The Philippines have certain factors that make it known. Some of this is the so-called â€Å"wonders of the Philippines.† An example of which is the Banaue Rice Terreces that were created by the Ifugaos The presence of the Chocolate Hills is also a wonder in this country. The beaches are also famous in the Philippines. The Philippines have great beaches wherein foreigners tend to sit often. Even if there are many things that could be praised in the Philippines, it has also issues that are known to the world. Its corruption is one of those issues that is known bout the Philippines. Another issue is its population. The population is an important factor in a certain country or place. Population could give a positive or a negative outcome depending on how it is utilized. Some countries make certain measures to make sure that the population would not be causing a problem On the other hand; others do not give much empha Even if the government is planning to adopt such this kind of law, many people are against it especially the Church. If the population were not provided with the right amount of food, they would be malnourished. There is also a positive effect regarding the increase in the population. Future researchers should focus more on the methods and implementations that will help on lessening the Philippine current population rather that concentrating on other topics. The environment has different aspects. 6 deaths for every 1000 population (http:www. It is much colder here compared to the lower land areas. Around 40 percent of those people who are poor have been able to study in elementary, while only 10 percent of the families were able to send their children to study in high school (www. Overpopulation could also lead to congestion. Some topics in this essay: Census Statistics, Philippines Philippines, According Jose, Commission Population, Filipinos Church, Metro Manila, United America, , increase population, rapid increase, Chocolate Hills, rapid increase population, Rice Terreces, philippine population, death rate, country population, positive negative, people living, continuous increase,negative effects, family planning, negative effects increasing, effects increasing population, increase population lead,increase philippine population, Population Growth Overpopulation has become an enormous crisis facing society today. Overpopulation is distinguished by the numbers of people in an area relative to its resources and the capacity of the environment to sustain human activities; that is, to the areas carrying capacity. When is an area overpopulated? When its population cant be maintained without rapidly depleting nonrenewable resources, or converting renewable resources into nonrenewable ones, and without degrading the capacity of the environment to support the population. In short, if its current human occupants are clearly degrading the long-term carrying capacity of an area, that area is overpopulated. By this standard, the entire planet and virtually every nation is already vastly overpopulated. Africa is overpopulated now because, among other indications, its soils and forests are rapidly being depleted—and that implies that its carrying capacity for human beings will be lower in the future than it is now. The United States is overpopulated because it is depleting its soil and water resources and contributing to the destruction of global environmental systems. Europe, Japan, the Soviet Union, and other rich nations are overpopulated because of their Dolan believes that an increase in population will not lead to an ultimate decline in the standard of living of humans. Also, scientists further this notion by bringing up the fact that humans, in much the same way as cancer, produce toxic metabolites. Simon believes that there is no population crisis and no environmental crisis that is due to the rapid growth of humans. We must learn to take care of the natural resources and be aware of the fact that we, as humans, will continue to reproduce and our population will continue to grow. Such a massive and still increasing population, combined with the environmentally detrimental repercussions of industrialization, as a result of the need to sustain such a large population, namely pollution from fossil fuels, has begun to take a serious toll on our planettms ecosystem. In conclusion, I believe that we must all work together to be able to live in a better environment and have a better quality of life. This meant that at some point human beings would experience a scarcity of land, food and jobs, leading to human misery and catastrophe (Southwick 159). (Dolan, 69) In short, Dolan believes that humans can decrease overall pollution while still growing in overall population. Some scientists have likened the effects that human population growthhas had on the earth to the effects of cancer on human beings (Southwick 161). Similarly, poor living conditions and sanitation, especially the lack of clean water, leads to serious outbreaks of disease. In addition, advances in agricultural and industrial technology have effectively increased the size of the globe over the last two centuries, in terms of the maximum population which it will support. For many families in poverty conditions, children are essential for the overall familys survival; more income is needed that comes with more children working. These effects in turn lead to increases in hunger and malnutrition. Some topics in this essay: Dolan Dolan, Soviet Union, Human Perspective, Paper Overpopulation, Warren Hern, Principle Population, Simon Simon, Agricultural Revolution, Edwin Dolan, population growth, Malthus Anglican, standard living, carrying capacity, reasonable standard living, reasonable standard, health care, human population, disease famine,southwick 161 scientists, poverty disease, food jobs, rich nations overpopulated, growth human, especially third world, human population growth, Population growth rate: 1.903% (2011 est.) Definition: The average annual percent change in the population, resulting from a surplus (or deficit) of births over deaths and the balance of migrants entering and leaving a country. The rate may be positive or negative. The growth rate is a factor in determining how great a burden would be imposed on a country by the changing needs of its people for infrastructure (e.g., schools, hospitals, housing, roads), resources (e.g., food, water, electricity), and jobs. Rapid population growth can be seen as threatening by neighboring countries. Source: CIA World Factbook Unless otherwise noted, information in this page is accurate as of July 12, 2011 http://www.indexmundi.com/philippines/population_growth_rate.html Indeed the population of the Philippines is expected to increase at a rate faster than that even of India. Implications for the Philippines Will The Philippines be one of a handful of countries to achieve â€Å"least-developed† status by the year 2050? There are no doubt some who will argue that the continued unchecked population growth being experienced by the Philippines is actually a blessing. Certainly it is one of the few countries that has failed to sustain any form of population policy – a consequence both of the extreme poverty experienced in much of the countryside as well as the political influence of certain religious groups who remain adamantly opposed to any form of birth control. Indeed with a number of regions – Japan and Europe most notably, facing declining populations and the United States continuing to grow largely through immigration, there are some who may see advantage in the Philippines being the baby factory of the world. But is that really what the country wants? Taking the range of projections provided by the latest data, the population of the Philippines in the year 2050 will (according to the United Nations) probably lie in the range between 154 million (high estimate) to 103 million (low estimate and based on a declining birth rate). The median predicted value is a population of 154 million. But do these figures tell the whole story? Probably not. Certainly with regard to the Philippines, the latest population data from the world body may have under-estimated the problem facing this country. Each of the scenarios modeled in the latest survey data assume that the Philippines will follow the rest of the world in implementing population policies that will lead to a declining rate of birth – the only questions then being when will it occur and how fast will that decline be? According to the data published by the United Nations, at the end of 2000 the population of the Philippine stood at 75.7 million. The population growth rate stood at 1.79 percent (annual), fertility rate (children per woman on average) at 3.18 and the crude birth rate at 2.53 percent In absolute terms, the population number given by the United Nations certainly accords with the official figure published by the (Philippines) National Statistical Coordination Board, which gives the population as of mid 2000 at 76.498 million. However the rate of population growth as determined from the National Census over the past thirty years is at variance with the UN data and in recent years the disparity is quite marked population at 82.7 million. Indeed it would appear that by end 2003, the population had already reached the level predicted by the international survey for 2005. That is not an insignificant margin of error. The population increase expected over a fiveyear period – actually occurred within three years! Against this information, the projections cited above almost certainly underestimated the future growth trend of the Philippines. Without a significant – and long-term – reduction in the birth rate, the Philippines will face a population that by the middle of the century exceeds 210 million people. Unfortunately this is not an item that appears on the national agenda. A population that is increasing more rapidly than expected also impacts on the broader demographic data not least of which is the median age of the population. While under the more modest growth scenarios the Philippines population ages from a median of around 21 years at the present time to around 35 years, under the high growth scenario the median age of the population hardly moves – only to 25 years. This means the Philippines is not only stuck with a rapidly growing population but it will remain a young population. The implications in terms of education and the demand for other social services including water and sanitation are equally alarming. Yet with such a young population, the broader tax base that comes with a rising median age will not be there to finance these demands. The population density currently stands at around 275 persons per square kilometer but could rise to as many as 700 if the worst-case scenario is realized. This possibility has immediate implications for agricultural policy and the need for rational land use and higher value-added cropping. Without such policies the poverty level – and political unrest– will be far worse than it is at present. Already the Philippines is starting late in the day. Other Asian countries, including most of the Philippines’ Asean neighbors have already adopted prudent population and industry policies to control their populations and to implement growth strategies that will make a meaningful difference to the lives of their people. Thailand for one is now reaping the benefit of policies started back in the sixties. The Philippines stands out as the exception to the rule in this regard and it is a policy stance that the country’s present political and economic elite can only ignore at the risk of jeopardizing the future of the country. http://www.philippinesforum.com/resources/research/files/PBLSR040216_population.pdf As shown at the outset of Chapter 1, the population of the Philippines is growing at the very high rate of 2.36% per year. At this rate, more than 5,000 people are born every day in a country where the number of poor people has increased by more than four million since 1985 [M92]. The population is projected to reach 111 million by 2015. Population growth in and of itself is not a problem if resources are available to cope with the additional people requiring public services, employment, housing, and so on. But in a country where the budget is already stretched and where poverty is high to begin with, population growth becomes a major issue. The links between rapid population growth and persistent poverty have been well established. Rapid population growth hinders development for two 96 Poverty in the Philippines: Income, Assets and Access interrelated reasons. First, because it reduces growth in per capita incomes and thus savings, it reduces the funds available for investment in productive capacity. This underinvestment in turn reduces overall economic growth and prospects for poverty reduction. Second, as population growth outpaces the capacity of industry to absorb new labor, urban unemployment and rural underemployment are compounded. In 2003, the Philippine economy generated 566,000 new jobs, of which 60% were in the services sector. Despite this job creation, unemployment levels rose because the job market was inundated with 624,000 new entrants (ADB Asian Development Outlook 2004). The larger the family, the more likely it is to be poor. Table 34 shows poverty incidence by family size for 1997 and 2000, and the two are very strongly correlated. Orbeta (2002) reviews the empirical evidence to show that high fertility is associated with decreasing investments in human capital (health and education). Children in large families perform less well in school, have poorer health, lower survival probabilities, and are less developed physically. The problem is one of resource dilution, where each additional child means a smaller share of family resources including income, time, and maternal nutrition. Orbeta (2002) further shows that larger family sizes in the Philippines are not the result of rational choice among the poor. Surveys including the APIS66 have shown that the poor have more limited access to family planning services, lower contraceptive prevalence rates, higher unwanted fertility, and higher unmet needs for family planning. The author’s conclusion is that subsidized family planning services for the poor must be an integral component of any poverty reduction strategy. Balisacan and Tubianosa (2004) undertook cross-country research to quantify the direct effects of population on economic growth, social services, and labor force participation in the Philippines. The Philippines and Thailand were similar in terms of both population and GDP per capita in 1975, but by 2000, there were 13 million more Filipinos than Thais. Total fertility rate (TFR) in Thailand had dropped to 1.9, while it remained at 3.6 in the Philippines. At the same time, by 2000 GDP per capita in Thailand had grown to 8 times its 1975 rate, while the Philippines’ GDP per capita was only 2.6 times higher. The empirical analysis shows that population is not the only cause of the poor performance of the economy, but it is the most significant one, ahead of corruption, for example. In an interesting exercise, the authors assess what the monetary savings in education and health would have been, had the Philippine population growth pattern followed that of Thailand. The authors find that P128 billion would have been saved in the education sector from 1991 to 2000, while P52 billion could have been saved in the health sector from 1996 to 2000. The Government’s new MTPDP 2004–2010 has been criticized for not articulating a clear population policy. Instead, it presents only a target: that population growth will slow to 1.98% per year by 2010. The NEDA response to this critique states that the population policy of the plan is based on responsible parenthood, respect for life, informed choice, and birth spacing (NEDA, 2004). This is insufficient. The Government, with strong donor support, should scale up family planning education and services. Innovative mechanisms and clear messages promoting contraceptive use are needed, because access does not automatically result in use, as reported in the 1999 APIS. The data shows that nearly 90% of married women aged 15–49 had access but less than 40% were actually practicing family planning. Population policy should not concentrate too narrowly on contraception alone: women’s rights, reproductive health, and education are also critical elements of the population-development equation. Rather than a singular focus on married couples, heightened emphasis should be placed on informing, educating, and providing access to adolescents and youth. The 1998 and 1999 APIS questionnaires included a series of family planning and maternal care questions–but only for married women. These were removed from the 2002 APIS for an unknown reason. http://www.adb.org/documents/books/poverty-in-the-philippines/chap6.pdf

Advantages Of Social Media

Advantages Of Social Media Connections. You are friends with people who have other friends, and so on. By using a social networking site, you can do what you can and get connected with these people to form a web of connections that can give you leverage if you play your cards right. Breadth of Knowledge -connectedness that students can experience through social media use. It is now easier than ever to know (or find out) something about almost anything in the world through connected media. Additionally, students can be connected to a broader base of opinions and world views through instantaneous global connections. Technological Literacy All social media relies on advanced information and communication technologies that seamlessly work to build and support technological literacy.. Worldwide Connectivity, No matter if you are searching for that former college roommate, your first grade teacher, or an international friend, there is no easier or faster way to make a connection than via the social network. Although Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and MySpace are probably the most well known social networking communities, there are new websites popping up regularly that are dedicated to allowing people to connect and to interact via the Internet. These connections can help one with a variety of things such as: Finding romance, Seeking a new job, Locating assistance, Getting and giving product and service referrals, Receiving support from like-minded individuals, Making or receiving advice on career or personal issues. In many ways, social communities are the virtual equivalent of meeting at the general store or at church socials to exchange news and get updated on friends and families.. Commonality of Interest, When you opt to participate in a social network community, you can pick and choose those individuals whose likes and dislikes are similar to yours and build your network around those commonalities.You can meet with your friends anytime you have an Internet connection and whenever you find them online. Real-Time Information Sharing, Many social networking sites incorporate an instant messaging feature, which means you can exchange information in real-time via a chat. This is a great feature for teachers to use to facilitate classroom discussions.In addition, the Internet is the ultimate online textbook. Students no longer need to take out six library books at a time. Much of what they need to know they can find online. Free Advertising, Whether you are non-profit organization who needs to get the word out about your upcoming fundraiser or a business owner marketing a new product or service, theres no better way to get your message in front of millions of people 24/7. The best part is it that you can spread the word through social networking profiles for free. Increased News Cycle Speed, Social networking has revolutionized the speed of the news cycle. Many news organizations now partner with social networking sites like Twitter, YouTube, and Facebook in order to both collect and share information. One can get a sense of what is going on in the world just by watching trending topics from many of these sites. This has led to the development of a near instantaneous news cycle as millions of social networking updates rapidly spread news and information. Social media has the power to drive traffic to your website, blog, articles, etc. Social media is able to bring people together, especially when promoting global products or cause-related campaigns and ideas since it allows people from the different geographical location to meet at a single point and express their views. Social media could be the spark you are looking for to attract attention to your site, product or service. It could also be used to further build loyalty and long-term relations with your audience. Social media marketing could always be a fun and creative method of doing business. Facilitates open communication, leading to enhanced information discovery and delivery. Allows everyone to discuss ideas, post news, ask questions and share links. Targets a wide audience, making it a useful and effective recruitment tool. Disadvantages of Social Media: Distraction -talking not about the momentary distraction of an isolated text message, but rather the way in which social media involvement provides an acceptable diversion from intellectual pursuits. Essentially, he is arguing that it is socially safer to stay connected to peers through always-on social media, than it is to put oneself out there by having a legitimate opinion about a serious topic and disconnecting from the social networks long enough to put it out there. Pressure to Conform examples of students confiding in him that one of the main reasons behind their 24/7 connection is a fear of not keeping up with peers or appearing like a loser in public, as one of his students confided in a class journal. Risk Aversion unclear about whether students aversion to taking risks is a symptom of social media use or is directly caused by it, but the point is no less important either way. Social media engagement supports a culture of avoidance which operates in direct opposition to the idea that students need to take risks and fail in their academic endeavors in order to become successful innovators. Shallowness . Twitter, text messages, and other social media tools focus on brief, quick, shallow interactions that do not encourage either deep social engagement or intellectual exploration. There is, after all, only so much information that can be obtained in 140 characters. when you make a mistake offline, a few will know but when you make a mistake in front of hundreds or thousands of you online audience, most of them will know Face to Face Connections are Endangered, A huge advantage of these social communities has a reverse side effect that is also a big disadvantage of social networking: they reduce or eliminate face-to-face socialization. Because of the autonomy afforded by the virtual world, individuals are free to create a fantasy persona and can pretend to be someone else.It is hard to say no, be rude, or ignore someone when you are looking them in the eye. Its incredibly easy and quick to unfriend or unfollow someone or simply block their efforts to make a connection. Just one click of the mouse and your problems are over. Tweens and teens are at higher risk because those years are when they are learning to interact with others or build and maintain relationships. A report from the National School Boards Association shows that of the children in these age groups that use a social network, 41 percent spend their time posting messages. They are not spending this time in face-to-face interactions with their peers or others nor are they developing the necessary social skills for future success. Cyberbullying and Crimes Against Children, Use of social networks can expose individuals to harassment or inappropriate contact from others. Unless parents are diligent to filter the Internet content to which their families are exposed, children could be exposed to pornography or other inappropriate content.. Risks of Fraud or Identity Theft, Whether you like it or not, the information you post on the Internet is available to almost anyone who is clever enough to access it. Most thieves need just a few vital pieces of personal information to make your life a nightmare and if they successfully steal your identity, it could cost you dearly. Time Waster, A Nielsen report explains that social networking can be a big waste of time that sucks 17 percent of our Internet time down the non-productivity drain. it is also true that it is easy to become distracted and end up spending valuable time on games, chats or other non-related activities. Corporate Invasion of Privacy, Social networking invites major corporations to invade your privacy and sell your personal information. Facebook projects it will earn $3.8 billion in revenue in 2011. Thats not bad for a free site. If Facebook and other social networking sites dont charge their members, however, how do they make so much money? They do it by selling the ability to specifically target advertisements. On social networking sites, the website isnt the product, its users are. These sites run algorithms that search for keywords, web browsing habits, and other data stored on your computer or social networking profile and provide you with advertisements targeted specifically to you. At the same time, you may be giving the site permission to share your information with outside sources unless you specifically generate settings that disallow them to do so. Participating in applications like Farmville may also be allowing outside vendors access to your private information. In order to get social medias full effect, you need to understand how it works, when and how to use it and which channels to focus on depending on your end goal of using social media. Social media can have a negative influence on students and workers productivity. Employees may waste valuable time using social media channels such as Facebook and Twitter. They can also use social media to attack the companys reputation! When social media is used excessively or in the wrong way, it could have serious detrimental outcomes on both mental and even physical health of individuals. Opens up the possibility for hackers to commit fraud and launch spam and virus attacks. Increases the risk of people falling prey to online scams that seem genuine, resulting in data or identity theft. May result in negative comments from others about everything we put in our social media example our video in youtube Potentially results in lost productivity, especially if students are busy updating profiles, etc. Lack of Anonymity,You are putting out information about your name, location, age, gender, and many other types of information that you may not want to let others know. Most people would say be careful. As long as people can know who you exactly are, then some can find ways to do you in. Scams and Harassment, While many sites apply certain measures to keep any of these cases of harassment, cyber-stalking, online scams, and identity theft to an absolute minimum, you still may never know. Time Consuming, that it would just be a waste of time for you. The key to social networking is that it is supposed to be fun, whether you are just doing it for kicks or clicking around for study purposes. That should be reasonable enough for anyone, but there are those people who dont see the point. For them, it can be a disadvantage.