Annie Hall Sixteen candles Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Annie Hall Sixteen candles - Essay Example The mise-en-scene of a scene remains related to the theme of the movie and sets the mood of the film. An efficiently done mise-en-scene creates the â€Å"illusion of naturalness† for the viewers (Barsam and Mohanam 194). In this paper mise-en-scenes of three scenes from each of the movies Annie Hall and Sixteen Candles are analysed. Annie Hall Annie Hall directed by Woody Allen was released in 1977. The opening scene of the film has a stark element to it. In this scene Woody Allen talks directly to the audience. The background is solid and opening monologue has many lines and they have been captured by the pop culture consciousness. In less than two minutes he talks about himself and his mid-life crisis. The monologue is written by Allen himself. He talks about how he feels about life being â€Å"full of loneliness, and misery and suffering and unhappiness, and it’s all over much too quickly.† The camera was still throughout the scene with a close shot of Allen. He talks about his estranged relationship with Annie Hall and says, â€Å"I keep sifting the pieces of the relationship through my mind, and, and examining my life and trying to figure out where did the screw-up come.† He also claims himself as someone who does not worry about aging but simultaneously points out that he is balding slightly. He also tells to the audience that he is not a depressed or morose character. This scene depicts Alvy Singer as an inept, angst-ridden, pessimistic, Brooklyn-born and stand-up comedian. In one scene of the movie the characters Alvy Singer (Woody Allen) and Annie Hall (Diane Keaton) are shown to boil live lobsters for meal. They bring home a bag of lobsters but they escape and create havoc. They are in a beach house and seem to have uproarious fun while trying to catch the crawling lobsters on the floor of their kitchen. The entire sequence which lasts for almost 75 seconds is done in a single shot. The camera is made to follow the characte rs around the room and this gives the scene a sense of urgency. The way the characters run and move the chair adds to the fun sequence. The dialogues were funny and enhanced the fun element. It was clear that Alvy was scared of lobsters and Annie was having fun by picking them up and scaring him. At one time Alvy squeezes beside a refrigerator and finds a lobster behind it and he jokes, â€Å"It'll turn up in our bed at night. Talk to him. You speak shellfish.† Annie attempts to capture the experience with her camera although Alvy feels scared to hold the lobsters in his hand in order to pose for her. Allen’s mise-en-scene reflects the camera movement to follow the movements of the character rather than anticipating them. At the beginning of the scene viewers can hear the conversation between Alvy and Annie although they cannot be seen. As the camera stands still, they walk towards it and end up in the foreground of the frame. The scene is known for its unscripted dial ogues and laughter which makes the viewers to relate with the scene more easily. This movie concentrates on the nuances of the relation between Alvy and Annie. The scene in which the viewers see Alvy and Annie together for the first time is set in a movie theater. The scene is not a romantic moment; it is a thrilling chivalrous gesture. Although the characters seem to be comfortable in the presence of each other, there is the element of annoyance. Alvy is shown as irritated because she has been late and this made her miss the first couple of minutes of the

Two-Factor Theory of Emotion Essay Example for Free

Two-Factor Theory of Emotion Essay One day my sister was running for her class she was late for and had a quiz in. She bumped into one of her colleagues. Her heart started pumping very fast, her body trembling and she was stuttering while talking to him.She thought she felt that way because she liked him as no one has ever made her adrenaline rush to that extent. This behavior is related to the two-factor theory of emotion, which is the idea that a person first experiences physiological arousal and then seeks an appropriate explanation for it, this two-step self-perception process results in an emotional experience. Sometimes, the most reasonable explanation is not the right one, and people end up making mistaken conclusions about what caused them to feel the way they did and this is called misattribution of arousal. Schachter’s theory states that because our physical states are difficult to label on their own,we use information in the situation to help us make an attribution about why we feel aroused. My sister thought that she had a big crush on the guy as an explanation for the physiological arousal she experienced. According to the theory, her interpretation to the emotional experience she went through was wrong; she was actually running to a class she’s late for and afraid of missing the quiz. She was already nervous due to these reasons and therefore she experienced this physiological arousal. However, when she felt that way, she mistakenly related it to the guy she met, which is considered a misattribution of arousal situation. Maybe if she met him in a normal situation, she can judge clearly whether her conclusion was right or not.

The Republican Party: Overall Issues, 1860-1868 :: essays research papers

The Republican Party: Overall Issues, 1860-1868 The Republican party during the 1860's was known as the party more concerned with "civil rights" and the common American. This came about through a series of sweeping changes in the party that occurred during two major time periods: the 1860-1864 and 1864-1868. The changes in the party reflected the attitude in the North as opposed to the confederate, democratic South. The main issue that divided the two was slavery and its implications for control of the nation. The best illustration of the party's anti-slavery sentiment (as contrasted to abolitionism) in 1860, is the fact that although the party was against slavery , it refused to attempt to stamp it out of the regions it was already present. For example, in the Republican Party Platform for 1860, the party states its abhorrence for slavery and declares that slavery should not be instituted into new territories, but it never tries to outlaw it from Southern states. "That the normal conditions of all the territory of the United States is that of freedom...and we deny the authority of Congress, of a territorial legislature or of any individuals, to give existence to Slavery in any Territory of the United States." In the first four years of the 1860's, the North and South waged war over these issues, with the Republican North emerging victorious. The Republicans took charge of the national political power. Although he worked with an anti-slavery platform, President Lincoln attempted to make a generous peace with the South, with hopes of expanding the power of the Republican party with support from the South. Examples of this can be found in the fact that Confederate officials were not barred from public office, compensation for lost slaves was not ruled out and Lincoln hinted that he would be generous with pardons to rebel leaders. With the Emancipation Proclamation, the Republicans gained freedom for slaves, but not social or political equality. During the years of 1864-1868, the Republican platform again changed with the public opinion in the North to one of abolition. In the platform for the National Union Convention, the party affirmed its support for an Amendment to "terminate and forever prohibit the existence of slavery within the limits or jurisdiction of the United States." The 13th Amendment confirmed the death of slavery. However, the so-called "Black Codes" that Southern governments implemented forced abolitionist Republicans in Congress to clash with President Andrew Johnson over the passage of a new Freedmen's Bureau bill and a Civil Rights Act. This clash signified a division between the old Republican values of tolerance and the new platform of slave rights. The Republican Party: Overall Issues, 1860-1868 :: essays research papers The Republican Party: Overall Issues, 1860-1868 The Republican party during the 1860's was known as the party more concerned with "civil rights" and the common American. This came about through a series of sweeping changes in the party that occurred during two major time periods: the 1860-1864 and 1864-1868. The changes in the party reflected the attitude in the North as opposed to the confederate, democratic South. The main issue that divided the two was slavery and its implications for control of the nation. The best illustration of the party's anti-slavery sentiment (as contrasted to abolitionism) in 1860, is the fact that although the party was against slavery , it refused to attempt to stamp it out of the regions it was already present. For example, in the Republican Party Platform for 1860, the party states its abhorrence for slavery and declares that slavery should not be instituted into new territories, but it never tries to outlaw it from Southern states. "That the normal conditions of all the territory of the United States is that of freedom...and we deny the authority of Congress, of a territorial legislature or of any individuals, to give existence to Slavery in any Territory of the United States." In the first four years of the 1860's, the North and South waged war over these issues, with the Republican North emerging victorious. The Republicans took charge of the national political power. Although he worked with an anti-slavery platform, President Lincoln attempted to make a generous peace with the South, with hopes of expanding the power of the Republican party with support from the South. Examples of this can be found in the fact that Confederate officials were not barred from public office, compensation for lost slaves was not ruled out and Lincoln hinted that he would be generous with pardons to rebel leaders. With the Emancipation Proclamation, the Republicans gained freedom for slaves, but not social or political equality. During the years of 1864-1868, the Republican platform again changed with the public opinion in the North to one of abolition. In the platform for the National Union Convention, the party affirmed its support for an Amendment to "terminate and forever prohibit the existence of slavery within the limits or jurisdiction of the United States." The 13th Amendment confirmed the death of slavery. However, the so-called "Black Codes" that Southern governments implemented forced abolitionist Republicans in Congress to clash with President Andrew Johnson over the passage of a new Freedmen's Bureau bill and a Civil Rights Act. This clash signified a division between the old Republican values of tolerance and the new platform of slave rights.

Mc Donald’s Operation Management Essay

Because we live in a muslim country, McDonald had to remove all the meals composed of porc, and use â€Å"Halal† meat. To convince the public opinion, they organize a trip for the press and the opinion leaders to their suppliers. There is an external independent audit who is responsible for the halal labeling. McD’s products are supplied by 50 % from local companies, the meat and the fries are imported from Egypt. When food arrive to the McD restaurant they are already labeled by a best-before date and are double labeled by the manager and then they are stored in the freezer in a temperature between – 18 ° and -23 °. The rule for the frozen food is that the first to come in is the first to come out. Health, safety and hygiene issues are taken seriously; the manager is responsible of the good following of the operations. In the kitchen, every employee is assigned a specific task, meat is bake between two heating plate that are cleaned every 30 minutes, after it’s done they use a special thermometer to make sure that the meat is at least 69  °, employees that are in contact with meat must wear gloves and change them regularly. There is also fried chicken and fish in the McDonald’s menu, so they use a deep fryer that is checked to make sure the oil is clean, fried food can’t stay out more than 20 minutes. Every hour there is a beep in the kitchen that indicate that employees have to wash their hands for 30 seconds and every 4 hours all the materials used in the kitchen are sterilize with a special spray. Finally when the meal is assembled, it is ready to be served to the consumer. Output : Meals Transformation process : *Baking *Assembling Input resources : *Materials *Staff *Food LowVolumeHigh. HighVarietyLow HighVariation Low HighVisibilityLow â€Å"â€Å" To understand the different types of operation we differentiate between them by using four dimensions – it calls these the four V’s of operations. They are, * Volume – how many products or services are made by the operation? * Variety – how many different types of products or services are made by the operation? * Variation – how much does the level of demand change over time? * Visibility – how much of the operation’s internal working are ‘exposed’ to its customers? †Ã¢â‚¬  From www. answer. com , search four Vs. The black curve in the diagram shows the McDonald’s operation tendencies. The volume of operations is mid-low which is high for a restaurant but McD is Fast-food restaurant, consumers during all days, however there are some peak hours, so the machinery are always working. An average McD stay open for 14 hours but they are some like the one in the corniche that stays open until 5 o’clock in the morning. The variety in McD product is mid-low, meal are standard, some stay always on the menu like the Cheeseburger or the Big Mac, but other are occasional like the Mac fondue or the Giabatta Grande. The meal are not really customizable like a real restaurant you can only ask them to remove an item from the meal like the salad or the tomato. Food is necessary, we need to consume it every day, we can’t base variation upon season but more upon hours. The peak hours for McDonald’s are between 12h and 15h and 19h to 21h30, during these moments we can’t really talk about fast-food anymore, you have to wait at least half an hour to place your order. However in the rest of the day you get served quickly but you will never find it empty. Visibility in McD is mid-low, we can partially see the employee cooking, it’s better than most restaurant however there are some sushi restaurant when the chef cook the food in front of you. In the western countries standard the price of McD is relatively low and is seen as a casual purchase however in morocco the price for the menu is high, an entire family can eat with the same price elsewhere. Some sees McD as an outing and eat there occasionally. Compared to other fast-food in the same segment like Burger King or KFC, the price is a little bit lower and the Cheeseburger is affordable to anyone. Dependability is important in McD, consumers want to be served at anytime, and McD reacted by making some of their restaurant open until 2 o’clock in the morning during the week-end and the McD in la Corniche is open every day until 5 o’clock in the morning because it is close to the night clubs and people leaving them are often starving. Flexibility in McD is a bit narrow, their menu isn’t as full and diversified as a real restaurant, they only offers burgers and they are not customizable, u can only remove items from it like the cheese or the tomato and it take them extra time. However in big cities like Casablanca or Marrakesh, they can be found everywhere, the only thing missing is the home delivery but they will have difficulties implementing it since a McD burger don’t last more than 10 minutes. They also propose flexibility in payment; consumers can pay with cash, credit card, cheque or restaurant ticket. Quality is a force that McD focus on in their marketing campaign; they try to associate healthy and fresh food with their brand. The taste of their burger is good however if you eat them too often you wouldn’t stand the taste anymore, that’s why they introduce new burgers once in a while. Speed is a core competency for McD since it’s a fast-food restaurant, once you place your order it doesn’t take long before you get served. But in peak hours or in McDrive, you have to wait a lot before arriving to the cashier sometimes more than 30 minutes. They tried to fix it by opening all the cashier and adding an extra employee that moves through the crowd and makes you a bill, however you still have to wait a lot. All operations managers manage processes, in fact almost all managers manage processes of some type. That is why process design is so important. It affects the day-to-day activities of everyone who is involved in a process. â€Å"â€Å"Process mapping simply involves describing processes in terms of how the activities within the process relate to each other. There are many techniques which can be used for process mapping (or process blueprinting, or process analysis, as it is sometimes called). However, all the techniques have two main features: 1. They identify the different types of activity that take place during the process; 2. They show the flow of materials or people or information through the process. †Ã¢â‚¬  Nigel, S. , Stuart, C. , Robert, J. , 2004. Operations Management. 4thed. Prentice Hall: Financial Times. P. 102. Cooking Storage Serving the consumer Frozen food The first symbol represents the transport of raw materials which is in this casa frozen food from the McDonald’s factory, when they arrive to the restaurant they are store in a freezer. Then there is the circle that represents the operations related to the cooking and finally there is the trapezium which represents the output of the processes that is the client being served. The layout is the configuration of work centers, departments and equipment, with particular emphasis on movement of work through the system. â€Å"â€Å"A cell layout is one where the transformed resources entering the operation are preselected( or preselect themselves) to move to one part of the operation (or cell) in which all the transforming resources, to meet their immediate processing needs, are located. After being processed in the cell, the transformed resources may go on to another cell. †Ã¢â‚¬  Nigel, S. , Stuart, C. , Robert, J. , 2004. Operations Management. 4thed. Prentice Hall: Financial Times. P. 210 – 211. The layout in McD’s restaurants are well studied to maximize the place in the kitchen, there is little place between machinery. Since they offer different kind of meals and needs different equipment to prepare them, the cell layout was the best alternative for them. We can take for example and order of a Big Mac and a pack of Nuggets, after the frozen meat and the chicken are token out of freezer, the meat is baked between two heating plate and the chicken is fried. When they are ready, the meat is given to another employee who is responsible of assembling the burgers and then they are both transferred to an employee who packs them up. Finally, the French fries are fried ( they are often near the cashier) and everything is ready to be served to the consumer. Let’s start by comparing the cost, the price of a menu in McD is in between 47 dhs to 61 dhs and 12 dhs for a Cheeseburger whereas in Burger king the price of a menu is in between 55 and 66 dhs and 13 dhs. The gap in prices in morocco is certainly due to the fact that McD is operating on a broader scale ( 29 restaurants) than Burger King who only have one franchise in the Morocco Mall and has started less than a year ago, so the economy of scale allow McD to a lower cost per unit produced then his rival. McD have opened restaurant all over Morocco and they extend the time of closure until 5 o’clock in the morning for some of its restaurants, whereas Burger King have only one restaurant that is a bit far from the city and is located in a mall which brings a lot of people in it, and they don’t have a similar service as McDrive. Their performance in flexibility is a bit similar, consumers can’t customize their meals however Burger King offer a wider variety of meals than McD. Maybe my judgment might be biased since I’ve been eat in McD for years but the quality of the bread and meat in Burger King is way better, even their fries are more crispy. One of the order-winner for Burger King is the speed, there is a place where you command and a place where you get served which is a real gain in time for consumers, because in McD you have to wait until the client in front of you get served to place your order. McDonald’s have several order-winner factors which are: * Trust: Since it’s a big company they can’t afford to lose their reputation by manipulating food and bad hygiene, so whenever you travel you first option to eat is McD. * Quality: They select the best ingredients and create different sauces to meet customers’ needs best, they offer different meal according to the country they operate in. We can take for example the Big Tasty, at first it was just a seasonal meal they offer but it fits Moroccan taste better than other meals because of its mechwi taste, and now it became a permanent meal on the menu. * Location: with 29 restaurants over 15 cities in Morocco, they can be found everywhere Order qualifying factors are: * Speed: Most of the time, it doesn’t take more than 4 minutes between placing the order and receiving the products. However in peak hours, you can wait more than 30 minutes to get served * Disponibility of Staff: They use shift to make sure there is enough employees to make the business work, however customers don’t pay attention to this detail. â€Å"â€Å"Mass services have many customer transactions, involving limited contact time and little customization. Such services are often predominantly equipment-based and ‘product’ oriented, with most value added in the back office and relatively little judgment applied by front-office staff. † Nigel, S. , Stuart, C. , Robert, J. , 2004. Operations Management. 4thed. Prentice Hall: Financial Times. P. 117. This type of process design defines best McD operations, using a product oriented menu that allow little customization, they produce a high volume of meals with a restrict variety. The contact time with clients is low because it’s a fast-food and the entire added value comes from the kitchen and the marketing department. McDonald’s is using standardization for their operations because most of its employees are not going to stay for long period, most of them are student taking part time jobs. When they first enroll, employees start by watching a video about food safety, then they go to the kitchen where steps for each process are indicated in front of every machine. They never start alone, there is always a coworker helping him assimilate all the safety rules to manipulate the machines. In the McD factory they use modularity to create new meals and sauces by combining different food to meet customer’s needs. According to Wikipedia, in 2004 Morgan Spurlock filmed a documentary called Super Size Me where he ate only in McDonalds for a 30-day. The film documents this lifestyle’s drastic effect on Spurlock’s physical and psychological well-being, and explores the fast food industry’s corporate influence, including how it encourages poor nutrition for its own profit. As a result, he gained 11. 1 kg, a 13 % body mass increase, a cholesterol level of 230, and experienced mood swings, sexual dysfunction, and fat accumulation in his liver. Six weeks after the film premiered, McDonald’s announced that it was eliminating the super size option, and was creating the adult happy meal. In my opinion McD should advertise more about biologic vegetables and indicate how much calories our body can handle per day. They should also influence customers to exercise more.

Buddhist Zen

Buddhism is one of the major religions of the ancient civilization which had been retained and even strengthened through the course of the human development. It has different schools of thought. Included in these subdivisions is the Zen Buddhism which can be directly described as the school of thought that deals mainly with the different principles of the inner self related to meditation. Along with the Zen Buddhism, which is also referred to as Ch’an or Son, are the other schools such as the Mahayana, Theravada, and Vajrayana (Yool, 1992). Zen can be defined through different aspects and meanings.One of the main definitions of Zen is related to meditation. On the other hand, certain groups perceive Zen as independent from Zen Buddhism. The main objective of the study that was conducted is to be able to present a view on the main principles of Zen Buddhism and related practices. Also, due to the development of these principles, there are different approaches to the practice of Zen Buddhism. The varying approaches and kinds of Zen Buddhism on the basis of location and principles are included in the main issue discussed and studied in research that was conducted.Specifically the objectives of the research revolve around the view on Zen Buddhism. One is to be able to discuss the origin and the history of Zen Buddhism to be able to determine the possible basis of the principles and beliefs of the religion. Another objective is to be able to present the different principles and beliefs of Zen Buddhism. Based on the beliefs and practices, there are different forms of Zen Buddhism. Included in the types are the schools of thought that fall under Zen.In addition, the development of Zen in the different countries is also included in the topics that will be discussed. Another objective is to be able to present a comparative analysis of the Zen and the Pureland Buddhism. Upon the determination of the development of Zen Buddhism through the course of history and the different localities, it is important to determine the importance of the school of thought in the modern era, a view against the concepts of the modern world. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEMBeing one of the major religions in the ancient and modern society, the study focused on the related issue can be considered as essential especially to the determination of the culture and development of the society wherein the religion and the belief originated and flourished. This is due to the fact that Zen Buddhism, being one of the schools of thought of Buddhism, can be considered to have a significant influence to the views and beliefs of the present society. The study can contribute in the increase of consciousness of the public on the belief of one of the most important schools of thought.The aim of the study is to present a particular view on Zen Buddhism and its present role in the modern society. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE The study that was conducted is mainly based on the research that w as undertaken prior to the study. These include the documents that express the written account of the Zen Buddhism, with its principles, teachings and roles in the culture. One extensive account and study was conducted by D. T. Suzuki which includes a compilation of the practices incorporated in Zen Buddhism.The author presented an in depth organization of knowledge on Zen Buddhism that can be considered as one of the contributing factors in the increase of interest in the subject. Being one of the forerunners in the study of Zen Buddhism, the works of Suzuki can be considered as an importance reference in the study related to Zen. Based on the study, Zen can be defined as a way of life that focuses on the being itself. The factors that revolve around the person and his environment are the main concern of the principles of Zen.It describes the different process mainly targeting the spirit to be able to achieve freedom specifically on the spiritual aspect, the beliefs equating to a p ositive outlook in life (Suzuki, 1960). The main concentration is the body where in development of the view and outlook of the person can be improved. Once the freedom of the spirit is achieved, the state of happiness can ultimately be viewed and experienced on the basis of the freedom of the spirit. On the basis of different writings, the principles of Zen can be interpreted on different approaches and forms.The Doctrine of Enlightenment can be considered as one of the basic teachings related to Zen in China. On the study that was conducted, the analysis was based on the concept of happiness as presented by Zen Buddhism. One of the issues that were discussed is in relation to the position of Zen Buddhism in the principles of Buddhism as a school of thought. This can be attributed to the fact that there are questions on the relationship of Zen Buddhism in the main teachings of Buddhism. These queries are related to the differences on the principles of Zen with the main body of Buddh ism.Certain groups even consider Zen Buddhism as an aversion from the teachings of Buddhism. But it is important to consider two scenarios in the judgment of whether the teachings divert from the true sense of Buddhism or not. One focus can be of the methods or techniques to be able to achieve the ends of the beliefs. For example, to be able to achieve happiness or the state of enlightenment there are certain differences for Zen Buddhism and the original Buddhism in India (Suzuki, 1961). Another view in terms of the historical focus on the definition and application of Zen Buddhism, H., Dumoulin is one of the most important authors. The focus of the works presented is Zen enlightenment and the historical origins of Zen Buddhism specifically in the most important places, India and China where Zen Buddhism flourished (Dumoulin, 1979; Dumoulin, 2005). Zen Buddhism, even against the beliefs of other groups is one of the major divisions of Buddhism that originated in India but developed in the China. Presented in the said work are queries that can be related to the diverting values and even origins of Zen and Buddhism (Dumoulin, 2005). These cases can be viewed as the different sides of a complex concept.But it is important to consider, though, that the application of principles of religion and even traditions adapt to the needs of the particular locality and group of people. Thus, such queries can be considered significant only on the perspective that it can lead to more exploration of the issue. The superficial judgment and analysis of the religion and culture can be considered futile specifically when the standards are set by the factions that are not intrinsic of the group. Another important query to consider is the areas to consider in the study of Zen Buddhism. There are different outlooks and views regarding Zen Buddhism.These views include the psychological, the ontological and the epistemological views. It is important to consider that the role and the pri nciples of Zen Buddhism transcend the different inclusions that are tend to be set by the different fields of disciplines (Suzuki, 1961; Suzuki, 1962). It is then important to consider the fact that in issues such as conceptual definitions, the limitations to the definitions that are often set hinders the probability of understanding. Although this is the case, it is important to set standards and classification yardstick to be able to capture the essence of the term.In a study of concepts and views of any area, it is important to consider that the presentation of data is needed to focus on a district aspect. This is due to the fact that these concepts, e. g. religion cannot be delineated by standards because the effects extend through different aspects and facets. Understanding then requires presentation of a certain aspect and the background of the concept. Zen Buddhism can be considered as an important area of Buddhism, an important area of study due to the effects on the culture of the particular areas that practice the belief.One of the ways to be able to present and achieve an understanding is to target a particular area. In the study conducted, the different approaches and types of Zen Buddhism developed in different locality is the main concentration. Although this is the case, to be able to present a view means to create the environment and the factors and relationships related to the issue. In the study of Zen Buddhism, the determination of the relationship of the principles of Zen to the issues of the modern society is another important focus.One example that can be given is the relationship of Zen Buddhism on psychology and psychotherapy. The relationship can be attributed to the fact that the principles of the religion target the achievement of a state of being which usually affects both the psychological state. It can clearly be related to the goal to achieve a certain level of consciousness. One scenario that was studies was related to the inter action of the eastern and the western methods, namely psychotherapy and Buddhism. These methods are both aimed to be able to improve the behavioral state of an individual.The eastern method as the traditional method is represented by Buddhism and the western method is represented by psychotherapy as the modern method. But this is only one of the situations that describe the extent of coverage of Zen and Zen Buddhism on the society (Muramoto & Young-Eisendrath, 2002). METHODOLOGY To be able to determine and present an overview on the philosophies and beliefs of Zen Buddhism mainly the different approaches and types, the use of a descriptive type of research was conducted.The objective in this type of research is mainly to present a particular perspective on the topic of interest. It also presents the possible factors and issues that can be related to the subject that is under study. It was undertaken through the study of the information that is made available through prior work of co ntemporary authors. The research was conducted through the integration of the different published references and other available sources. The issue that deals with the view of the population can be presented through the gathering of information related to the issue.The method that was utilized in the process is qualitative research. The said method can be utilized for historical and conceptual issues that are given an in depth view. In relation to the results of the study that was conducted, an investigation on the documents and published works that were conducted prior to the research is one of the primary phases undertaken to be able to achieve the set goals. The areas that can be considered of priority include the subjects and issues related to Zen Buddhism such as its origin and history.The principles and beliefs related to Zen Buddhism are the basic knowledge also included in the research. From these principles variations and forms are then studied on the basis of the locality and place of origin. Also included in the search for references are the sources that can be utilized for the discussion and comparative analysis of Zen and the Pureland Buddhism. Mainly, the achievement of the needed data was undertaken through data gathering on the printed and published works on the topic.Description, data gathering of pertinent information and analysis are included in the process undertaken to be able to achieve the goals of the research. The analysis of the data gathered that are essential to the topic is done mainly through the process of induction (Baum, 1984; Hoepfl, 1997). In the research undertaken, the presentation of the overview and the different approaches to Zen Buddhism along with the present role of the school of thought in the present generation is the mainly based on the accumulated facts and organized data from reputable and historical published records and studies.The concepts that were gathered were recorded, measured, organized and analyzed to b e able to come up with the output from published references. The works done by different authors are the main basis of the generalization and conclusion that are established. This phase is important primarily on the basis that the conclusion can be considered as the main end of the process of research. In any sociological process that is under study, there are always varying sides and approaches, which are included in the important part of the research conducted. RESULTSThe issues related to Zen Buddhism revolve on different concepts which mainly include Zen, Buddhism and the different forms of Zen Buddhism. These terms are the primary phase to be able to achieve an understanding of Zen Buddhism, the different forms and the present role in the modern society. I. An Introduction to Zen Buddhism Zen Buddhism Defined There are different attributes within which Zen can be defined and described. This can be attributed to the fact that the concept can affect different facets and aspects n amely including religion, arts, culture and even the different facets of an individual.Zen can be considered as the art improving oneself on the basis of freeing the spiritual well being. The state of freedom and the achievement of enlightenment can be considered as the major goal. From the point of view of the Zen Buddhism, improving the inner person can strengthen other aspects of a person. The body is considered as the most important instrument in the principles of the group (Suzuki, 1961). The main teachings revolve around the fact that the enlightenment and freedom should be achieved by the soul and the spiritual segment of an individual.Etymological Perspective Based on etymological meaning Zen can be attributed as a short term for zenna, which can be traced as related to the Mandarin term channa. Literally, the term is related to the Sanskrit term (dhyana) or meditation. In Chinese writing it is chan, Seon in Korea and Thi? n in Vietnam. Due to the differences in equivalent t erms in different locality, it can be considered important to present the principles on the basis of the development in different localities (Dumoulin, 2005). Zen is one of the sects of Buddhism.It is one of the important schools of thought that mainly focus on meditation, also referred to as zazen. The main focus is the stage of enlightenment through wisdom of the spirit. The main proponent and founder of Buddhism is Buddha Siddhartha Gautama. Being one of the important subdivisions of Buddhism, it is considered to have an important religious and experiential effect on the believers and practitioners. Due to the fact that the teachings are based on theoretical established thought, Zen Buddhism is considered to be a school of religious thought.This can be translated as a basis for decision making for different cultures in Asia, e. g. India and China (Dumoulin, 2005; Suzuki, 1960). Variety of Meanings of Zen Zen can be of different meanings on different people on the basis of their o rientation and affective factors. Although the principles of Zen are meant to be basic, the interpretation often varies, creating different perspective and subjective meaning to the term. The term Zen has different related meanings. One is meditation which can be related to its etymological interpretation and basic meaning in Buddhism (Dumoulin, 2005; Suzuki, 1960).Aside form the said interpretation the other possible meanings of Zen are cosmic reality and the meaning in Zen Buddhism (Kit, 2002). It is important though to consider the fact that to be able to achieve a clear grasp of the meaning of Zen Buddhism, the primary issue to consider is the understanding of Buddhism as a religion. This is due to the fact that Zen Buddhism and its techniques are rooted to the religion that originated in India although many people may contradict due to differences of superficial representations of the two subject matters (Dumoulin, 2005).The discussion on the true meaning of Zen, even at the si mplest perspective can be considered as a complex process. One view is Zen Buddhism being a religion. This is the basis perspective since Buddhism is one of the most important and most established religions. It is important to consider the fact that Zen cannot be captured in just a single definition due to the complexity of its role. In that case, Zen can be considered as a synergy of different definitions and roles which vary on the basis of the perspective needed.Zen Buddhism can be a way of life, a culture and a religious principle. Subjectivity can also play an influential role in the definition of Zen Buddhism. Thus, it is important to consider the different approaches to the study of Zen. One important perspective is the historical basis of classification, mainly based on the development over a timeline. Origin and History of Zen Buddhism In the study of the history of Buddhism, it is important to consider the development and the spread of Buddhism in different countries in As ia.This can be considered important to be able to determine the development of the varying approaches in the practice of Zen Buddhism. The Buddhism Timeline To be able to determine the root of the principles of Zen Buddhism, it is important to study the timeline in the development of the said school of thought. Due to the fact t hat Buddhism can be considered as one of the oldest and most established religions in Asia, the origins of Buddhism can be traced back to the 500 BC. This is the time wherein Buddhism was established (Dumoulin, 2005; McCowan, n. d. ; Suzuki, 1960).Although this is the case, the influences in the practices incorporated in Buddhism can be traced back even through the prehistoric period, wherein the Indus Valley civilization can already be observed to practice meditation. This practice can be considered as one of the most important activity and the basis for the activity of the Zen Buddhism. On the other hand, the said practice was brought to India due to movem ents of different groups of people. Included in the cultures and traditions that was given to India is the Vedas, Brahma, priesthood, the caste and rituals.Also the strengthening of the Dharmic religions which occurred through the 1800 to 470 BCE is followed by the birth of the founder of Buddhism between 624 to 560 BCE (Watterson, 2004). The period of enlightenment of the great teacher of Buddhism in 589 to 525 BCE, can be considered as the revelation of the basic teachings and principles of Buddhism. The commencement of the Four Noble Truths occurred in the Dhamma-vinaya, the religion he established. But after his death between 544-480 BCE, the Buddhists Council became active in the establishment of the religion.The 1st – 3rd Buddhist Councils expanded the coverage of the religion and even included leaders of the country such as King Asoka who converted in 297 BCE. In the said councils the different issues related to Buddhism are discussed and resolved (Watterson, 2004). Du ring this period, the influence of Buddhism reached other parts of Asia, causing the rise of the different forms of Buddhism in different countries which can be attributed to the local and domestic cultures and traditions of the particular area. Buddhism can be considered to adapt and blend to the culture of the people.

Fight club - analysis of a sequence essays

Fight club - analysis of a sequence essays Analyse a sequence of a film using film language and narrative concepts. The film I have decided to analyse in this essay is Fight Club (1999) directed by David Fincher (Se7en) and based on the novel by Chuck Palahunk. The film points fingers at numerous issues in society, namely the effect of consumerism on peoples lives, and how it is gradually taking over those lives. The story is told trough the eyes of a narcoleptic named Jack, played by Edward Norton (American History X,). Jacks only joys in life are the possessions he owns, until he meets Tyler Durden played Brad Pitt ( Se7en). Tyler believes that it is self-destruction that makes life worth living, not self-improvement. The very same night they meet, an explosion blows up Jacks apartment and possessions. Tyler offers Jack a place to stay but on one condition Tyler I want you to hit me as hard as you can. Despite Jacks doubts about hitting Tyler he does and discovers that fighting for recreation can give the ultimate high. This leads to them setting up Fight club which gradually sweeps across America taking with it Tylers influence and philosophy. The big shock of the story comes when Jack realises he is Tyler, and he came to life as a means of escaping his agonizingly boring life. When he realises this he must deal with the dramatic consequences of Tylers actions. The narration is restricted as its told by Jack, and therefore has a voice over. The films structure is un-conventional as its cause and effect is told in a non-linear narrative, looking at the decisions Jack has made and how they has effected the plot. The sequence I am analysing made up of four sections. The first is in the parking lot when Tyler asks Jack to hit him, the second is in a movie projection booth where Tyler splices sex organs into films, the third is in the Pressman hotel dinner area and kitchens where Tyler urina...

Earning an Online Business Degree Without the Chaos Essays

Earning an Online Business Degree Without the Chaos Essays Earning an Online Business Degree Without the Chaos Essay Earning an Online Business Degree Without the Chaos Essay Two years ago I decided to go back to school to earn my business degree. This was a huge decision for me as I had been gone from the classroom for twenty years. I had just reached a point in my career that I had hit a ceiling and really needed a degree to continue my professional pursuits. I had also reached a point in my life where I was ready to feel better about myself. I had a habit of starting projects and not finishing them. I needed to do this for myself. Unfortunately, however, my journey back to school didn’t work out as expected. With two small children and a full-time job I had difficulty balancing all of my responsibilities. I had to drop my kids at daycare after school and then race to campus to get to class on time. By the time I got home my husband had picked up the children, they had had dinner without me, and the kids were in bed. The schedule was chaotic and I was exhausted. In the end, I lost my drive because I was simply too tired to commit myself to this crazy schedule even to get the degree for which I longed. The journey was far from over, however. This year I discovered online learning which, from what I could tell, could solve all my problems. I could earn an online business degree online and still manage my work schedule and family’s crazy schedule as well. The online business degree was the perfect solution. I could go to work during the day, have the evening with the kids and hit my schoolwork when they went to bed or on the weekends when I had more time. The online business degree program was the best thing that could have happened to me. And it’s worked out so well thus far that my husband is even considering going after an online IT degree!

Google N-gram Viewer

Google N-gram Viewer Google N-gram Viewer Google N-gram Viewer By Maeve Maddox I’ve just discovered an online time suck that is not only addictive to the language lover, but a source of writerly ideas. It’s the Google N-gram Viewer. N-grams are drawn from a text or speech corpus that shows how the frequency of a word or phrase changes over time. The corpus for the Google N-gram Viewer is a database of more than five million digitized books published between 1500 and 2008. The GNV holds an intrinsic interest for me because I write about language, but it is also of value to me as a writer of historical fiction. It’s a means of catching anachronistic vocabulary in a story set in the past. Another use of the GNV databasealso of value to writers- is to get a notion of changes in cultural values as reflected in published materials. In her article about the negative consequence of the modern worship of individualism, Emily Esfahani Smith uses the GNV to plot the decline of words and phrases associated with community, religious attitudes and responsibility to others. She observes that in the 1920s, words like give and benevolence began to decline, while words like get and acquisition began to climb. I did a search of my own on some words and phrases. The dreary vulgarities that appear so much on Facebook began to soar from the 1960s to the present. The phrase â€Å"do your duty† began a precipitous plunge in 1920. Think, The Great Gatsby. The Smith article refers to the theories of sociologist Emile Durkheim. He found a link between the cult of individualism and the social alienation that leads to unhappiness and suicide. According to Durkheim, cutting oneself off from traditional restraints and norms of behavior in quest of individual freedom results in depression and social decay. Ironically, the quest for self-empowerment leads to a sense of powerlessness. Are these ideas reflected in the GNV? They seem to be. The word empowerment flies straight up on the chart from 1980 to the present. The word powerlessness shows a pretty straight climb from 1960. The phrase, â€Å"I do not like anyone† climbs steeply from 1980. The phrase â€Å"not worth living† gathers speed in 1960. In addition to words and phrases, you can enter proper names and book titles, but entries containing more than five words will not work. Contractions won’t work either. Note: The word engram is a term used in neuropsychology. Engram: a memory-trace; a permanent and heritable physical change in the nerve tissue of the brain, posited to account for the existence of memory. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the General category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:30 Religious Terms You Should Know50 Types of PropagandaMankind vs. Humankind

Demand and Supply in Organization Success Research Paper - 14

Demand and Supply in Organization Success - Research Paper Example Thus by understanding the consumer demands, the organization can identify their desires and will only stock the commodities that provide utility to the users. Hence, the organization will have a wider knowledge of what the demands are relative to what the supplier can offer at a particular market rate (Bustinza, Parry, & Vendrell-Herrero, 2013). Thus, prices and availability of goods and services are predetermined to the consumer. This ensures that customers do not miss out on their wants whenever they come to purchase a particular commodity. Thus, trust and loyalty are built between the two parties that will result in more sales hence increased profits to the firm. Rain checks are forms of compensations that are usually offered to consumers when the goods and services they had ordered are unavailable majorly due to the organization being out of stock or late deliveries. Customers are thus promised the assistance to acquire the products at prices indicated earlier and did not have to spend more regardless of any economic crisis like inflation. Customers are thus assured to get their services or be compensated and will not encounter any losses that create a mutual trust for both parties. However, to say this is a fair treatment of consumers is understatement due to economic injustice it creates to the consumers. Individuals usually derive their satisfaction at a particular time and have more tastes to it is provided during that period rather than a later date. Thus, postponement of the consummation of a particular good or service may lower the satisfaction of products to customers and reducing their utility.

Country Risk Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Country Risk - Assignment Example ous risks examined include the political risks such as tax legislation, risk due to foreign exchange rate variations, inflation rate, interest’s rates, etc. When business extends its operations to foreign countries it has to comply with regulations of the host country as well as those of the mother country. The report examines general business environment in UK and Malaysia in order to decide the best source of business funding and understand the prevailing challenges that Zeus PLC is likely to face during its operations. The company will contribute to growth of UK and Malaysia economies through creation of employment opportunities, generating revenue, etc. Its operations will be influenced by the labour laws of the two countries. In order to minimize the cost of operations the company should set its operation as branch in foreign country and use the local currency to pay its workers in order to reduce effects of currency exchange on cost of labour. Malaysia is a mixed economy in which both private and public sectors are actively involved in business, and the country provides an enabling business environment for both domestic and foreign companies. â€Å"The services industry including business services (wholesale and retail), financial transport, communication and real estate subsectors contributes 58.6% of the economic Gross Domestic Products (GDP) as of 2011† (Ibp Inc. 2014. P. 124). Manufacturing sector is the second (contributing 27.5%) while agriculture and mining industry takes third and fourth positions with 7.3% and 6.3% respectively (Export.gov. 2014). However, existence of "tight fiscal policies, nonaggressive consumers, and restrained global growth" services is likely to limit the economic growth in UK (PwC. 2014). The government aims to "promote foreign investments through by deregulating Foreign Investment Committee’s investment procedures† (Dana, Mahdi, Zin, Ramli, Nor, & Mohd, 2013. P. 11). T he report examines general business environment in

Set out the main ways in which continental European employees' working Essay

Set out the main ways in which continental European employees' working conditions are said to be better than for those working - Essay Example This model came into existence after the World War II. These countries opened their economies by abandoning protectionist policies. This social model was also possible because of the availability of cheap energy to drive their industries. European states usually do not have a single social model that applies to all of them. However, welfare states have some similar broad characteristics. These characteristics include the commitment to a social protection scheme, democracy, social inclusion, and full employment (Vanhuysse, 2012). The European community treaty establishes several objectives that these states have to meet. These objectives includes promoting employment opportunities, improving the working and living conditions, establishment of trade unions, better management and labor policies, encouraging investments, developing human resources, and tackling the problem of unemployment. The focus of this model varies amongst the various European states. This is because each state puts some focus on a different aspect of this social model, and the European treaty. Due to the differences in the implementation of this social model, it has been argued that there are four main social models in Europe (Munck, 2012). They are the Anglo-American model, the Nordic, the Continental and the Mediterranean model. This paper concerns itself mainly with the Anglo-American and the Continental European economic models, and how these models treat employees working in their industries. These social models encouraged industrialization; hence there was the need of workers to drive the growth of these industries. Up to date, business organizations, irrespective of their sizes are responsible for employing a large percentage of workers in Continental Europe, and the Anglo-American economy. These firms account for wealth creation in Europe, and they determine the political organizations which are responsible for regulating the society and the economy. The areas of regulation are on the status of European employees, and their welfares or interest (Burroni, 2012). It is important to denote that the continental European social model is different from the Anglo-American social model. The manners in which these two models treat their employees are very different. This paper seeks to analyze the Anglo American social model, and how it treats its employees. This paper also analyzes the Continental European social model, and how it treats their employees. After these analyses, this paper identifies their differences and similarities. This paper takes a stand that the working condition of the Continental European employees is far much better, than the working conditions of the Anglo-American employees. This paper explains how Continental Europe managed to improve the working conditions of its employees. In explaining these points, this paper focuses on Denmark, Germany, and Netherlands. The countries that ascribe to the Anglo America model are Ireland and the United Kingd om. According to this model, the state plays a minimal role in regulating the performance of its market. That means the elimination of various barriers to trade such as taxes. It also means that the state does not interfere with the pricing system of companies. This is because the level of competition within an economy will most definitely determine the prices of products sold in the economy. This model is also characterized by very high competition amongst companies. This is

Air Jet Best Parts Inc Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Air Jet Best Parts Inc - Coursework Example The reason for it is the lower effective annual rate which Regions Best as offered the company. Their EAR is fifty basis point lower than National First which is a substantial ground to make this decision. When the coupon rate increases, the yield to maturity will rise. The bond will be attractive for the investors which will push the demand for bond upwards and the price of the bond will rise. This will result in decreasing yield to maturity to the point that it matches your required rate of return. When the YTM decreases, the investors will not find it lucrative to hold the bond as their required rate of return would be higher than the YTM. This will lead to increased supply of the bond which will eventually result in decreasing prices. When the date to maturity increases then the maturity risk is subsequently increased. This will increase an investor’s required rate of return for an investor. Therefore, it will result in a decrease in the price of the bond to push YTM up and match the increased required rate of return. Bond prices are depended on the interest rate prevalent during the period. An investor’s required rate of return is dependent on the interest rate level during the period. Bond prices are inversely proportional to the interest rates. As interest rate rises, the bond prices will fall and vice versa. For Greece, the interest rate is high in that region which has pushed the required rate of return higher and subsequently decreased the yield to maturity. In order to match the required rate of return, the bond prices should be low. On the other hand, Germany has kept their interest rates lower in comparison to Greece. This has reserved the investor’s to demand a lower return for their investment. The lower required rate of return pushes the yield to maturity upwards and hence, the bond prices will surge in that

Organisational Behaviour and Human Resource Management BEM2004 Essay

Organisational Behaviour and Human Resource Management BEM2004 - Essay Example It makes every effort to ensure that its products are preferred by consumers and that its public relations are accomplished without difficulties. Ethical business practice prolongs the life of an organization and promotes consumer satisfaction among other stakeholders. This paper evaluates whether business ethics is an oxymoron justifying the arguments through ethical theories that include; virtue ethics, deontology, utilitarianism and Marxism. Business Ethics Businesses are compelled to remain flexible due to the inconsistency of the contemporary operating environments. Each competitor strives to acquire a greater market share than other players, which sometimes leads to negligence in regard to corporate ethics. Various situations require to be dealt with differently and sometimes managers are perplexed regarding what business ethics necessitates in certain circumstances. In some instances, acting morally may be costly or may be hindered by obstacles. For these reasons, Velasquez (2 002) observes that referring to ‘business ethics’ as an oxymoron precisely identifies ethics as a challenge. On the other hand, as presented in the definition of ethics, if an organization is to remain ethical in its operations, it has to observe the laid out values and principles. In other words, no matter how pressing the situation is, ethical values have to be adhered to for business ethics to be accomplished. In essence, many organizations avoid being perfectionists in business ethics even though they insist on ethical standards when dealing with stakeholders. This makes them escape the unintentional negative consequences of fanatical business ethics (DesJardins, 2008). Various ethical theories portray business ethics as an oxymoron. For example, virtue ethics is a theory that sheds light on the boundary between balanced decision making and unethical behavior in business (West, 2003). Sometimes financial managers are faced with the dilemma of determining the appropr iate step to take when the business is faced with challenges, yet the set business values have to be adhered to. The right decision that may save a company from collapsing may be regarded as unethical in a different perspective if the common values are not observed. Rather than being restricted to a set of conceptual rules, a manager maintains his/her professional role and appraises an ethically thought-provoking decision within that role. In other words, he/she is not bound by what is believed to be ethical while acting for the good of the organization (Maximiano, 2003). For instance, the finance director in a company X realizes that the organization will incur losses owing to an abrupt change in exchange rates. The company maintains corporate social responsibility and runs a philanthropic community program which is among its core values that costs 10% of its proceeds. The manager is faced with the dilemma of suspending the program to minimize the company’s expenditure or to retain the program. The first alternative will lead him to disregard the company’s ethical values. However, as a professional, his work is to ensure that the company does not incur a loss. The manager has to make an ethically charged decision and suspend the program until the operating environment regains normalcy. According to virtue ethics, he will be regarded as a good manager due to his intelligence that helps in maintaining efficiency and profitability, while on the other hand he is

Air Jet Best Parts Inc Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Air Jet Best Parts Inc - Coursework Example The reason for it is the lower effective annual rate which Regions Best as offered the company. Their EAR is fifty basis point lower than National First which is a substantial ground to make this decision. When the coupon rate increases, the yield to maturity will rise. The bond will be attractive for the investors which will push the demand for bond upwards and the price of the bond will rise. This will result in decreasing yield to maturity to the point that it matches your required rate of return. When the YTM decreases, the investors will not find it lucrative to hold the bond as their required rate of return would be higher than the YTM. This will lead to increased supply of the bond which will eventually result in decreasing prices. When the date to maturity increases then the maturity risk is subsequently increased. This will increase an investor’s required rate of return for an investor. Therefore, it will result in a decrease in the price of the bond to push YTM up and match the increased required rate of return. Bond prices are depended on the interest rate prevalent during the period. An investor’s required rate of return is dependent on the interest rate level during the period. Bond prices are inversely proportional to the interest rates. As interest rate rises, the bond prices will fall and vice versa. For Greece, the interest rate is high in that region which has pushed the required rate of return higher and subsequently decreased the yield to maturity. In order to match the required rate of return, the bond prices should be low. On the other hand, Germany has kept their interest rates lower in comparison to Greece. This has reserved the investor’s to demand a lower return for their investment. The lower required rate of return pushes the yield to maturity upwards and hence, the bond prices will surge in that

Team, Groups and Diversity In the Workplace Essay

Team, Groups and Diversity In the Workplace - Essay Example Back in the old days, the big players were top management; however, business structures have changed placing emphasis on the crucial role of business units known as â€Å"teams† or groups†. Although we often hear these two words used interchangeably, it would be best for any leader to know the significant difference between the two. Group or Team: Why It Matters The most common definition of a group given by social scientists is that it is composed of two or more people that have social interaction which seems quite simple. So two or three people stranded in an elevator is already considered a group. However, Katzenbach and Smith (1993) defined group as â€Å" two or more people who interact primarily to share information, best practices, or perspectives and to make decisions to help each individual perform within his or her area of responsibility† ( qtd. from Kane,1998). There is no need to meet a performance need nor to share accountability, according to the aut hors. They simply have to share experiences and help one another. On the other hand, aâ€Å"  team is a group of people coming together interdependently and cooperatively by accomplishing a purpose and goal. We know that working in a team, they will be conflicts, but assisting each other, we can build a firm team. ( De Janasz-Dowd-Schneider, 2005,Pg.187)  . The description can be plainly seen in the workings of any athletic team who need to train together for one purpose: win a championship. A small group can become a valuable team to any business unit. Once the team members are collective in their purpose and action, the leader would just steer them in the right direction for success to follow. However, one of the challenges in the work place today is diversity because globalization makes people from different cultures to work together. It is expected that conflicts would arise because people have different opinions on a certain issue. Challenges To A Team Hofstede’s st atement is clear â€Å"Culture is more often a source of conflict than of synergy. Cultural differences are a nuisance at best and often a disaster†. A diverse workplace presents different cultures which cannot be avoided. Culture is inherent in a society, and that culture affects and influences the way that particular society conducts its business (Henry, 1999). Nonetheless, even teams composed of one nationality would always have conflicts because humans have different beliefs. Katzenbach and Smith (1993), write in an article titled, The discipline of teams, note â€Å"When individuals approach a team situation, especially in a business setting, each has preexisting job assignments as well as strengths and weaknesses reflecting a variety of talents, backgrounds, personalities, and prejudices† (p. 168). Hence, team leaders need to face the challenge of bringing talented people together who may often disagree on a issue. Team leaders can be effective un dealing with co nflicts by helping members cultivate trust and respect to other members of team. A team leader can place guidelines that can help the team achieve its objectives. Instead of criticizing a team member who is not performing well, assistance must be given first to enable that team member cope with the group. The Importance of Diversity While diversity may bring challenges to an organization, particularly to a team, it can also contribute to the success of an organization. First of all, diversity encourages creativity so people in a diverse team can come up with new products and services. Second, having a diverse set of team members would ensure you that your organization is attuned to global customers. Consumers are not only concentrated

Doctorate degree Essay Example for Free

Doctorate degree Essay Completing a doctorate degree in any college or university always presents many challenges and difficulties for every student. Statistics from studies have shown that roughly half of all incoming doctoral students will drop out, two-thirds of whom will do so during their second and third years (Smallwood, 2004). Graduate school demands a lot of focus and determination because it is a focused occupation (Jerrard, 1998). Graduate Studies also require a lot of time and commitment. There are no scheduled breaks for graduate school unlike in undergraduate studies where there are winter, spring, summer, and fall breaks off. Pursuing graduate studies entails that a student must be able to keep up with the academic load that is required while at the same time be able to deal with the other demands off campus (Smallwood, 2004). That being said, it is time to examine the challenges that students face in graduate studies. There are numerous challenges for students who are pursuing graduate studies. One of the major challenges involves the transition from undergraduate school to graduate school and the academic mentality that is required. The academic mentality problem that most students and individuals who enter graduate studies without any real work experience have is that they fail to make the necessary transition from rote memorization in undergraduate education to creative research in doctoral training (Smallwood, 2004). Often times in graduate study, a student is required to provide not merely a recitation of the facts and details but an in-depth analysis of the issue and to provide solutions or strategies that can be employed in dealing with the scenario. This is what causes a lot of students to drop out because they are unable to adjust to the demands to graduate school. The main challenges therefore for any individual pursuing graduate studies are academic mentality or mind set, stress and financial burdens. These challenges however, as shown in this short discourse, do not necessarily have to act as a hindrance to completing a graduate study degree or program as there are certain strategies that can be employed to ensure one’s success. These strategies can be summed up into three key points; learning how to think, time management and saving for a rainy day. If these three strategies can be implemented properly, the success of an individual in Graduate Study is virtually secured.

The perspective of family systems theory

The perspective of family systems theory Family systems theory views the family from a system perspective. Therefore, the family is seen as a complex organisation where the components of the system interact with each other to form a whole. The focus is on the connectedness, interrelations and interdependence of all the parts (Family-Systems-Theory, n.d., para. 3). In other words, the focus of theories and the resultant therapeutic approaches is the relationships between sub units that make up the family. These sub units are always examined in relation to the whole and the context within which they exist. Many family system theories exist but for the purpose of our discussion, I will be focusing on the Structural Family Theory and Bowen Family System Theory. General systems theory from which family systems theory originates will also be examined within an organisational context. The structural theory posits that the emphasis should be on contextual problems and solutions rather than an individual. It focuses on family interactions to understand the structure or organization of the family. The theory consists of three major concepts namely family structure, family subsystems and boundaries. The family structure represents the operational rules that govern the way family members interact with each other (Goldenberg Goldenberg, 2000, p.198). It provides an understanding of the patterns that develop over time within a family to allow it to maintain stable while existing in a changing environment (Goldenberg Goldenberg, 2000). Family structure is governed by two sets of constraints; generic rule and idiosyncratic rules. Generic rules dictate the hierarchical structure of the family, which structuralists believes is a part of all well functioning families. This hierarchy is reflected in the power and authority differential between parent and children and older siblings and younger siblings. Generic rules are also seen in the different roles played by family members within the hierarchy. The roles are usually complementarity, such as the role of the husband and wife, which, results in the members working as a team to carry out the required functions of the family (Goldenberg Goldenberg, 2000). Idiosyncratic or individualized constraints are specific to the family and involves the mutual presumptions of particular family members regarding their behaviour towards each other (Goldenberg Goldenberg, 2000, p.199). The family sub systems are hierarchically arranged and exist to support tasks necessary for family functioning (Goldenberg Goldenberg, 2000). The primary sub systems of the family are spousal, parental and sibling. The sub systems are defined by interpersonal boundaries and rules of membership which regulate the amount of contract with other subsystems (Goldenberg Goldenberg, 2000, p.170). The spousal sub system is considered the most important subsystem, due to the integral role it plays in the stability and flexibility of the family. Formation of the sub system occurs when two people marry and start a new family. The stability and survival of the new unit is dependent on the ability of the couple to negotiate difference, accommodate each other and develop complementary roles, which will meet the need of each person (Becvar Becvar, 2003). The additional of a child changes the spousal subsystem into the parental sub system, with both systems coexisting simultaneously. The skills and roles necessary for the maintenance and functioning to the spousal subsystem are still used but the focus is on parenting of the child throughout the different developmental stages (Becvar Becvar, 2003). The sibling subsystem is comprised of the child or children within the family. It provides the medium within which children first experience peer relationship that helps them to work out difference and support each other. They also learn to deal with the parental subsystem as they navigate relationship changes between the subsystems throughout their development cycles (Goldenberg Goldenberg, 2000). The final component of the structuralist basic tenets is boundaries. Boundaries provide invisible demarcation between individual and sub systems, they determine the amount and kind of contract between family members (Becvar Becvar, 2003, p. 177). Boundaries can be, clearly defined, diffused or rigid. These classifications are dependent on the flexibility of the boundaries. Clearly defined boundaries are considered ideal as they promote independence and freedom for the individuals while providing support by the family. Diffused boundaries are too flexible and result in blurred lines of demarcation between subsystems. This leads to what Minuchin describes as enmeshment, conversely rigid and inflexible boundaries lead to isolation or disengagement (Goldenberg Goldenberg, 2000). Another systematic family theorist was Bowen who posits his Family System theory. His theory is based on eight interlocking relationship concepts of differentiation of self, triangles, nuclear family emotional system, family project process, emotional cut off, multigenerational transmission process, sibling position and societal emotional process. Differentiation of self involves the ability to be emotionally separate from other family members and the ability to distinguish feeling processes from intellectual processes. The separation of feeling and intellectual process allows the individual to avoid displaying behaviour driven automatically by emotions (Goldenberg Goldenberg, 2000.p. 172). Triangles are three person emotional units formed to diffuse or reduce emotional tension in an individual or their relationships. Dyads naturally exist within the family and function well in times of low stress and anxiety. A dyad is inherently unstable especially in times of anxiety and tension and so either party will seek to bring some one else in, which will change the dynamics of the interactions between the persons involved. The triangle is more stable and tolerant of stress than the dyad (Goldenberg Goldenberg, 2000). The triangle is the smallest stable relationship unit in the family, which allows members to balance closeness and distances while experiencing the least amount of anxiety (Goldenberg Goldenberg, 2000, p.174). The nuclear family emotional system is multigenerational as individual repeat the martial choices and other significant relationship patterns learnt from their family of origin (Goldenberg Goldenberg, 2000, p.176) Family projection process occurs mainly in the father- mother- child triangle where parents transmit their low levels of differentiation on the most susceptible child (Goldenberg Goldenberg, 2000). The level of projection is directly correlated to the levels of differentiation of the parents and the stress or anxiety the family experiences (Goldenberg Goldenberg, 2000, p.178). This family projection process often results in Bowens fifth concept of emotional cut off. Emotional Cut off is the attempt by child or children who are the focus of the family projection process to create emotional distance between themselves and their family of origin (Goldenberg Goldenberg, 2000). The multigenerational transmission process involves the transmission of specific levels of differentiation over several generations (Goldenberg Goldenberg, 2000, p. 180). This transmission takes place largely through the nuclear family emotional system and the family projection process. The Sibling position concept resulted from Bowens expansion of Tomans research on sibling position. Toman (as cited in Goldenberg and Goldenberg, 2000) posit, some fixed personality characteristics are developed by children based on their birth order (Goldenberg Goldenberg, 2000, p. 182). Bowen saw interactions patterns between spouses as a directly relation to their birth order in the family of origin as well their functional position. Societal Emotional Process looks at how emotional systems govern behaviour on a societal level, promoting both progressive and regressive periods in a society (Bowen Theory, n.d., para.1). Similar to the family in times of chronic stress (e.g. depletion of natural resources) society tends to react on an emotional level instead of on intellectual determined principles (Becvar Becvar, 1999). There are elements of both theories that I agree with based on my beliefs system. Bowens mutigenerational transmission process I believe helps to explain some of the interactions and patterns that are repeated across generations such as absentee fathers and teenage pregnancy. His concept of differential of self could hold some of answers to breaking some of these cycles. In that, if individuals within a family were to become more differentiated they would have a more developed sense of self, which should be reflected in a greater display of restraint, and better life choices based on intellectual reasoning. However, Bowen theory seems to be focused on the operations of the nuclear family while the structuralist theory can be more contextual applied to Jamaican society where the interaction of subsystems and boundaries within the family has resulted in family structures such as the single parent, blended, large and three generational. The importance placed on the family interactions and its resultant effect on the behaviour of its members purported by both theories is a belief that I also share. I believe that many of the problematic behaviour displayed by individuals are connected to the family of origin. I also support the emphasis placed by Minuchin on the spousal subsystem within the family structure. The failure of couples to properly maintain this subsystem while effectively negotiating and developing the parental subsystem leads to dysfunction, which sometimes results in the break down of the family. My family of origin was not nuclear therefore; I believe that the structuralist theory is more applicable. In accordance with the structuralist approach, my family consisted of the parent and sibling subsystem with diffused boundaries within the sub systems. The diffused boundaries resulted in enmeshment as the boundaries between the sibling and parental subsystems become blurred. The enmeshment was probably supported by the fact that our mother was a teenager mother. The children crossed from the sibling subsystem into the parental subsystem to assume some of the responsibilities to help our mother who was a single parent cope with the economic hardships of raring two children by herself. The boundaries became very diffused and authority and decision-making became shared more and more as we (the children) reached adolescence. The result was that by the time we got to early adulthood the roles were reversed and the parental role was largely assumed by the younger child in the family. The enmeshment resulted in the family being very emotional fused which resulted in emotional overdependence within the family. The level of enmeshment was particularly high between my mother and her younger child such that when the younger child married, mom saw it as betrayal. She felt abandoned and had a hard time adjusting to the change. The structuralist theory sees the therapist role as very active with the results of therapy been largely dependent on therapist who is the major instrument of change. The therapist joins and accommodates the family while assessing the structure to understand how they deal with problems and each other. The interactions of the therapist with the family are aimed at helping the individuals to focus on the behaviour of all the members and not just the identified patient. It also allows the members to see that change can be achieved through their interactions. The therapist uses techniques such as enactment (family members act out a scenario within the family) and then uses it for boundary marking (realigning boundaries), unbalancing (supporting one member in order to unbalance the family equilibrium) and reframing the problems as a function of the structure (Goldenberg Goldenberg, 2000, p.216). The main aim is to understand the existing organization of the family and to reorganize the structure to bring about change in the interactions, roles and functioning of the family. Similarly, the family system theory sees the therapist role as being very important but for them the therapist needs to be more detached. According to Bowen, the therapist has to ensure that they were not triangulated with the family and are to see themselves more as coaches in the therapeutic process. The therapeutic process involves an assessment of the family history as well as a history of the presenting problem. Genograms are used to record family history over at least three generations to help the family understand the emotional processes in an intergenerational context. The therapist also uses process questions to assess the patterns of emotional functioning within the family. The aim of therapy is to help family members manage their anxiety, help to detriangulate where necessary and to increase differentiation of self. Techniques used in therapy such as process questions and I statements are aimed at helping members reduce their level of reactivity to teach others actions (Goldenberg Goldenberg, 2000). System theory is also applicable to organizations and organization consultancy. Fuqua and Newman (as cited in Lowman 2002, p. 98) In system thinking organizations are thought of as dynamic whole systems which are comprised of subsystems that interact in complex, multidirectional and reciprocal inter-relationships. They identified four major organizational subsystems namely purposive, operational, methodological and psychosocial. The dynamics of an organization system is such that there is a constant inter play of influences between the organization structure, human behaviour and the extra organisational environment (Lowman, 2002). Consultant psychologist use system theory to understand, assess and develop interventions of organizational system with a view to maximize the quality of human life, which includes productivity (Lowman, 2002). In trying to accomplish these objectives the consultant helps people see the wholistic view of the organization through gaining an appreciation of the patterns of inter relationship within the organization. The consultant using the theory in assessing an organization and planning interventions will not focus on individual behaviour but will instead focus on the psychosocial subsystem, which represents the human or behavioral aspects of the organization (Lowman, 2002, p. 99). A systematic view of organization utilizes the principle of wholeness and mutli-causality. Wholeness focuses in the fact that the individual interactions product a whole that is greater than the individual components. Multi-causality implies that several actions can result in one outcome and one solution can cause multiple effects (Moe Perera-Diltz, 2009, p.29). These principles emphasize the fact that the consultant has use non-linear thinking while focusing on the organisational processes at work (Moe Perera-Diltz, 2009). Along with considering the interdependence of the system parts and the effects of actions on the system, the consultant has to determine the type of system. Systems can be either open or close, however most systems are considered inherently open. Open system are characterized by constant reciprocal interactions between extra-organisation factors and the organization system (Lowman, 2002, p. 89). An open system is therefore more receptive to change compared to a closed system where the focus is on maintenance of the status quo. The consultant understanding of the type of system helps to determine the planned approach to implementing change in the organizations (Moe Perera-Diltz, 2009). Additionally the consultant has to consider the level of participation in the change process that is achievable. Inclusion broadens ownership of the issues and the proposed changes while exclusion can motivate persons to resist change and create a sense of isolation (Lowman, 2002,). The use of systems theory by the counseling and consulting psychologist within the family and organization to bring about change in the quality of life of the affected individuals and the resultant social systems that they are a part of is very important. It emphasizes the importance of the whole and not the individual parts and how the dynamics and inter dependence of the parts affect the system.

Sherlock Holmes :: Sherlock Holmes Essays Detective

Sherlock Holmes †¦ . I propose to devote my declining years to the composition of a textbook which shal focus the whole art of detection into one volume. Sherlock Holmes: The Adventure of the Abbey Grange Sherlock Holmes is sometimes compared to a bloodhound. He smels out clues, folows them, and catches criminals. He is very good at this, and although he sometimes fails (as in The Yelow Face) his success rate is very high. Now there is an art in doing this, which Sherlock Holmes cals the art of detection, and he is an expert in this art. In fact he was planning on writing a textbook on the subject when he retired. But as far as we know he never got around to it. Sherlock Holmes is not the only one who folows clues, scientists do as wel, , and probably al of us. For it is by folowing clues that we find out things on our own, doing so without being told by those in the know. Sherlock Holmes catches criminals, and then they confess, not the other way 'round. Scientists find things out by themselves, not by asking God. Now finding out things on our own is not easy, but in ways big or smal most of us would have had this kind of experience whether we are aware of it or not. This is to say in practice we al know something about this art which here, folowing Sherlock Holmes, we are caling the art of detection. Indeed when reading Sherlock Holmes or other detectives few of us would hesitate to put in our two cents worth: we are competent to criticise their techniques since we too know something about this art. Most people think of the art of detection as a form of reasoning. It is not deductive reasoning, obviously, but something similar. Sometimes they point out the diference by saying deductive reasoning is reasoning forwards whereas in the art of detection we are reasoning backwards. They are both forms of reasoning; it is just that they move in opposite directions. What evidence is there to support the view that the art of detection is a form of reasoning? It would seem there is a great deal. Watson cals Sherlock Holmes the world's greatest reasoning machine. Would he do this if the art of detection were not a form of reasoning? Look at al the dificult cases Sherlock Holmes has solved.

First Date

A first date can tell you a lot about a person. Even though i was just in seventh grade my first date was pretty great. Now I know in seventh grade and dating really back then was oh I will see you at school and that is about it. For me my first date was with Ray Hoover. I felt like the coolest girl in school, I had a â€Å"boyfriend†, we wrote notes everyday, got in trouble for hugging in the hallway. It was great I was a cheerleader he was one of the best football players. I thought we were going to be together for ever.When boys and girls traveled together we where always around each other and it is great. He asked me if I wanted to go to the movies with a bunch of people on friday night. Of course I said yes but then I had to ask my mom. After I asked my mom and she had said yes I could go, but first I had to tell her everyone who is going and bring my best friend at the time Mallorie Mclaughin with me. I asked my mom if she would do my hair and I wanted to get a new outfi t and everything. I was so ready for friday to get her I couldn't wait.Ray and I would talk about it everyday till then. The big day was finally her and school couldn't go by any slower. I was going on my first date and that is all I could think about. As soon as I got back from school mom curled my hair and I put on my outfit and was ready to go. I felt like it was ready for forever. Then mom told me it was time to go and I was so nervous I felt like i was going to be sick. We went and picked up Mallorie and then we were off. We arrive at the movies and mom gives me money, I tell her I love her, then got out of the car.I show up and Ray isn't there yet but is on his way. Holly Bradley, Kyle Orick, John Caswell. Kyle told me that Ray was on his way. While we were waiting all us girls went to the bathroom. When we came out of the bathroom Ray was there. He had on khakis, and a polo. Holly wispers in my hear and says he looks really nice. I just smiled. Us girl all decided we wanted t o watch Spanglish and the boys wanted to watch some other movie. Ray was a good guy and besides to go with me to the other movie.Mallorie sat my me and Ray on the other side. It was the dumbest movie I ever saw in my life. To this day It is still the dumbest movie. We held hands during the whole movie and It it was the best first date. The movie was over and lights went on and then Ray lend in and gave me a kiss on the ceeck. I was so happy I couldn't stop from smiling. We walk out of the theater and my moms car is outside. Mallorie says goodbye to everyone, while me and Ray hug goodbye and say we will see each other monday at school and I will call you tomorrow.After that Mallorie and I left to take her home and then head home ourself. As soon as I got home Mallorie called and we talked for an hour about the date. Even though I thought that my first date with Ray would be my last first date. As everyone know you will usually break up with your 7th grade boyfriend and we did break u p. I still think that it was the best first date the any girl could have went on. The only thing that I would change about that date is the movie. Other than that I wouldn't change a thing. It was just perfect.

Management Planning and Ethics

First American Guard Services Company provides unique security services to all our clients. To maximize on our services, the company operates round the clock to ensure all the customers’ requirements are met.   Our core values are innovations, competence and reliability.   The company strives to offer quality services, professional development and high ethical standards.   Our team is highly committed to understand customers’ expectations and solve all safety problems.   The services offered not only will they accommodate all the clients’ needs but also exceed their expectations. (Francesco, 2006) Organizational Structure First American Guard Services is made up of qualified and professional team.   The company is under the Chief executive officer, the Vice president of company operations and Vice president of marketing and Finance.   The Chief Executive Officer manages the whole company and holds the final word.   The VP is in charge of departmental operations and the second VP is in charge of marketing and finance. The planning Function of the Management To ensure the smooth flow of all the activities within the company, the company has decided to embark on management planning and ethics plans to harmonize all the plans laid out.   The management will streamline legal issues, ethics and corporate social responsibility and how it impacts the management and business planning.   All the issues will enhance proper communication, accountability and clarify the vision of all the plans.   The corporate social responsibility will broaden the perspectives of communications at the corporate level within the management so that sound policies can be made. The management consists of the CEO, and the two VPs (Francesco, 2006) Legal issues are vital if any organization must perform well.   The legal issues affect the management since they are responsible for laying out rules and regulations that staff members are expected to adhere to.   First American Guard Company’s management will evaluate all the processes to improve the performance of the management.   The Chief executive will lead the team by initiating workshops and seminars whereby they will be exposed to management courses.   The courses will enhance ethical standards and adhere to the law. (Francesco, 2006) Legal issues, ethical factors as well as corporate social responsible are interrelated since they affect performance of the management and ultimately output of the organization. (Francesco, 2006) Legally, there are rules stipulated by the law that businesses must follow.   The rules determine the types of decisions and plans made at the management level.   Some of the legal issues will determine the quality of services offered by First American, to ensure they meet the standards set by the law.   Despite all the innovations, that the management hopes to come up with, they must be within the law.   On the other hand, ethics are designed by the company, that is, code of ethics indicating the conduct and organizations expectations of all the employees.   The ethical infrastructure will support the effective implementation of ethical responsibility and corporate strategies.   (Francesco, 2006) The ethical training will be directed to the first American Guard service team, so that the members can make use of moral reasoning tools so that questions related to ethics and corporate activities are properly addressed.   The image of the management relies on the code of ethics.   Ethical standards set by the company are usually the crucial tools which enable the management carry out corporate, social and ethical responsibilities.   The function in essence is beyond legal requirements. (Francesco, 2006) The corporate social responsibility will however consider the international standard as well as the best practices. (Francesco, 2006) Conclusion According to many writers, the social responsibility of any business must have ethical responsibilities.   First American Guard Services Company has social responsibilities which will further be subdivided into ethical, legal and economic.   In addition, the ethical responsibilities of the company are parallel to the legal issues. (Francesco, 2006) The management function will therefore revolve around harmonizing all the issues concerned, to ensure all the business plans, implementation adhere to the management function.   This is because, all legal, social and ethical guidelines, determine the policies that the management will formulate and who the implementers will be. (Francesco, 2006) It is important to note that, most social responsibilities are not clear and are more or less an assortment of legal and moral responsibilities, vested interests and some moral ideals.   This package however, inhibits the managements to consider other ethical responsibilities of the company.   This means that if the company trades on ideals, corporate social responsibility myth diverts the attention from the duties of the management. (Francesco, 2006) References Francesco, P. (2006) Developing Corporate Social Responsibility, Edward Elgar   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Publishing.            

Eight C’s of Effective Communication Essay

Almost every text on writing or speaking skills lists a set of criteria that can be used to judge the effectiveness of a document or presentation. If this list of words, all beginning with the letter C, helps you remember some of the criteria for good writing, the technique of alliteration has worked. If, however, this list leaves you cold, create your own list, but remember to retain the concept of each C-word in your newly created list. |Clear |This is the most important C-word. If your reader cannot understand what you are trying to say | | |or if he/she has to reread a section of your document, you have failed to communicate. | | |Choose simple words/sentences—this is especially critical when describing complex ideas. | | |Make only one point at a time. | | |Offer frequent examples or provide illustrations to support your main points. | | |Interpret critical results for your reader. | | |Restate your ideas when appropriate | |Complete |Have a definite topic sentence or introductory paragraph | | |Answer all of the reporter-type questions (who, what, when, where, and why) in the middle | | |section of your document. | | |Have a definite concluding sentence or closing paragraph. | |Concise |Check for repetitious or unnecessary words that can be deleted. | | |Choose shorter words where appropriate | | |Shorten sentences where appropriate. | |Convincing |Emphasize the benefits of your point of view/position statement. | | |Provide your rationale for reaching a conclusion. | | |Recognize any objections your readers may have to your position. | | |Allow your passion about your topic to come through your writing. | |Compelling |Create a document that is a â€Å"page-turner. † | | |Engage your reader by describing critical data as if you were verbally telling him/her a story. | |Courteous |Think of any document as a tool for building good will. In general, create a tone of | | |friendliness and helpfulness. | | |Respond to the reader’s WIIFM’s. | |Creative |Allow your personality to come through your writing. | | |Draw colorful word pictures for your readers. | | |Challenge yourself to find new ways to talk about old ideas. | |Correct |Proofread for careless spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors. | | |Use transitions to ensure the reader understands the logical sequence of your ideas. | | |Make sure you have a defined beginning, middle, and end. |