My Life

Machiel de Groot Mrs. Carne AVID 9 March 28 2013 My Mandala DRAFT 2222222 Everybody has things that are important to them and their lives. In this essay, I will be explaining what is important to me and why they are big aspects of my life.. The things that are most important in my life are as follows: Sports, Music, Family, Education, and most of all: my best friend. In my Avid class, we were asked to make a â€Å"Mandala†, a circular piece of paper split into four slices with one space left in the middle; leaving a circle in the middle surrounded by 4 other slices.In the center of the Mandala, you were supposed to write what was most important to you; and on the outside you were to write four other, less important aspects of my life. After a prolonged period of introspection, I was surprised by what I discovered about myself and what was most important to me. Creating that Mandala and thinking about my life and who I am changed the way I thought about myself; and maybe it wil l change how you think too. The first thing I drew on the outside of my mandala was a picture of my 2 brothers and parents: my family.Family is a huge part of my life because they represent safety, security, and support in a young person’s life. Because I am close to my family at home, it means that I’ll always have a place to go to in times of need. My family is always there to support me and for that, I am extremely thankful. I always feel like I have a place to go and a home to live in and that is all because I have a loving family there for me. All of these reasons led me to draw that sketch of my family on my Mandala. The next important part of my life is my education.To represent this, I drew a pencil and books. School and academics are hugely important and they will help me later on in life. Although school is absolutely not something that I enjoy, this assignment is about importance, not feelings. Having a good education, especially in a competitive world like today’s, is key to success later in life. Going to GECA is a great example of this. An early college academy like ours can give you a competitive edge against other applicants for colleges and jobs. Having a good education means having a successful life.I am also blessed to have such a wonderful life where I can get an education and it makes sense to get the best out of what you are offered rather than leave it when so many others don’t even get the chance at it. Education, a blessing that we are very fortunate to have, is the second thing that I drew on my mandala The third thing that I drew on my Mandala was sports. Mainly soccer, for which I drew a soccer ball. I play a lot of them and I enjoy them immensely; especially soccer. I’ve played soccer for almost 11 years and it’s what I look forward to doing throughout the week.I feel a sense of achievement when I learn something new and playing the sport gives me an incentive to improve in it and excel. Th is determination can translate over into other aspects of my life as well. That motivation spills over into school and I feel more motivated to try my best. Also, because I play the sport well, it benefits my self-esteem and I feel more confident. For me, sports are a vent for emotions, a place to excel in, and a point of my life that I’m good at that helps me to feel more confident.This is where things got interesting for me: when I first received this assignment, I immediately jumped to the conclusion that music would be the most important thing to me. Music has helped me through a lot of personal issues in my life and I’ve always felt it to be my rock or something to distract me from the world around me. I am not a religious person, although I was for a very long time; therefore I don’t believe that any supernatural being is rooting for me up in the sky.That makes me feel like my issues are my own and they feel much more personal and real than if I’d t hought that there was a god helping me through it. To me, music is that place that I can go to close my eyes and drown in the music and the chords and sounds and be distracted from my problems. There were times when I felt worthless and times when life was meaningless to me (another side effect of being Atheist- you tend to think about life in a much deeper way). Music always helped me through those things and kept me going until better times came along.Because of this, I assumed that music would be the most important to me for always being my escape. However, when I completed my mandala, it didn’t sit with me. I didn’t feel like it represented me well enough. That’s when I realized what was really the most valued thing in my life. Friends. I realized how important they really are to me. I only have one very good friend and she doesn’t even go to my school or live in my city! She lives in Hollister. We met almost a year ago and we’ve gotten to know each other extremely well.It sounds cliche to say that friends are always there for you and that they love you but it really is true. A friend is somebody who you can trust with anything and they will help you out with it. My friend really knows me and we get along perfectly. We have our bad moments just like all friends do, but in the end, things smooth out again. The reason that my friend is the most important thing in the whole world to me is because she really makes me feel loved. Of course your family loves you but that’s always a given.Knowing that someone else out there loves you like a brother and having that companion through life is touching and I’m thankful beyond words for such a strong friendship at such a young stage in my life. And whenever I’m stressed or worried or upset, her voice and smiling face help me through it. That’s not something that should be put on the outside of my Mandala. These are thoughts that, until writing this essay, I hadn’t realized before. This essay made me realize how much she means to me and how much I value true friendship.The reason that my best friend is in the middle of my circle is because I love her like I would a sister and I don’t know where I would be without her in my life. These are the things that I put on my Mandala: Family, because they’re there to support me; Education, because it’s a necessary thing to have in order to lead a successful life; sports, because they give me self-esteem and help me to be more motivated; music, because it’s an escape from worry and trouble; and most of all, my best friend, for listening and talking and making me laugh and feel loved.Life is a complicated thing but sometimes, all you need is family, some sports, and one, single, wonderful friend to make you happy. I sat back and took a look at my life; and now I realize how much I treasure my friend and family; and I’ll keep that in mind now. Now why donà ¢â‚¬â„¢t you sit back and look at your life and decide what is most important to you. Maybe it will open your eyes to what is really important.

Film & Ideology – Milk

Assignment 2 – Film and Ideology The definition of the word ideology can be represented in many ways. Today’s basic understanding of the word can be defined as â€Å"the body of ideas reflecting the social needs and aspirations of an individual, group, class, or culture† (Farlex, 2009). Gus Van Sant’s exceptional biopic Milk (Gus Van Sant, 2008) depicts the story of Harvey Milk, the slain gay-rights activist who became the first openly gay man elected to any substantial political office in the history of the planet. Harvey Milk’s life changed history – his courage still motivates people today, his ideals still teach people today and his hope still inspire people today. The release of Milk in 2008 has helped to bring back a new sense of appreciation for the hope and passion that Harvey Milk died for. Milk beautifully shows the fights and struggles Harvey Milk had to go through to gain the trust of the people and in order for his ideologies of a brighter tomorrow for all queer people to be fully appreciated by everyone. Harvey Milk was an individual who did not die in vain; his efforts in fighting for gay rights left a lasting impact on the people of this planet and his hope still lives on to this day. Simply put Harvey Milk’s ideology of fighting on and instilling hope in the fight for gay rights when no one else would, immortalized him – â€Å"Without hope, life's not worth living† (Milk, 2008) It is now June 7th 1977, the sun has set on the Castro district of San Francisco, and the crowd that has gathered in the street outside Harvey Milk’s camera shop is becoming more and more, impatient and angry. We know watching that the reason that everyone is angry is due to the reports about voters in Dade County, Florida, having voted to overturn a local gay-rights ordinance, giving momentum to a backlash whose most visible public face belongs to Anita Bryant. We know we have reached the climax of the movie. So much is happening all at once in the life of Harvey Milk that you wonder how he has not yet lost his head. His impish upbeat attitude and overly positive optimism in the face of multiplying frustrations makes you look up in awe at the wonderment that is Harvey Milk. The gay residents of the Castro are angry and looking to Harvey for leadership. Though not yet elected to office and having lost 3 years consecutively, Harvey rises to the occasion and leads the angry crowd to city hall where he picks up a bullhorn and address the crowd in a way only Harvey Milk can – turning an angry mob on the verge of a violent riot to a enthusiastic mass willing to fight for their rights the proper way. In the space of a few minutes Harvey goes from a whisper to a shout, from an intimate message of consolation and support to a defiant public speech. Milk shows us that it is these moments, these distinct modes of address, are connected, and that the link between them is what defines Harvey Milk’s aspirations and ideals. According to Dr. Harry M. Benshoff, an associate professor of Radio, Television, and Film at the University of North Texas, queer theorist focus on how sexuality was and is a product of culture, not some sort of biological given. In Milk it is clearly stressed that Harvey too did not believe that homosexuality was a genetic disease. In the scene of the 1977 June 7th march, just before he leaves the store to lead the mob to city hall, Harvey answers the telephone only to be greeted by a scared and confused teenager whose parents believe him to be ill because he is gay. Harvey’s disregard of homosexuality as a genetic disorder is abundantly clear in this scene when he reassures the teenage boy that he isn’t ill and that being gay is perfectly normal. Dr. Benshoff goes on to day that following the work of Alfred Kinsey and Sigmund Freud, queer theorists argue that human sexuality—or indeed, race, gender, class, etc. are not either/or propositions, but are rather fluid and dynamic socially-defined positions. To suggest that there is one norm (straight white man on top sex for procreation and nothing else) is grossly misleading and only serves to foster rule by the same and persecution of everything else. Throughout Milk we can see that Harvey, though a very passionate gay-rights activist, is not only looking out for the queer folk. He holds dear to the ideal that everyone is equal. In a way he embodies what Kinsey and Freud say. He did not believe in just one norm. In his fight for gay-rights he isn’t trying to one-up the vast heterosexual majority by over throwing them and getting homosexuals to run the world, he is merely trying to get them to see that homosexuals are no different from any other person. Harvey Milk was trying to break down the social barriers that led to narrow minded thinking of just one social norm. In Milk during one of the public rally’s he had, Harvey said that â€Å"all men are created equal. No matter how hard you try, you can never erase those words† – he believed these words with all his heart. To Harvey Milk, he wasn’t just fighting for gay-rights; he was fighting for a way of life that did not constrict its citizens to conform to just one social norm. Milk, Gus Van Sant’s film project that was close to two decades in the making, was released on the 26th of November 2008 and marks the 30th anniversary of Harvey Milk’s death and the brief but brilliant political career he led. Harvey Milk was unfortunately gunned down on November 27th 1978, three weeks after his biggest political victory. The San Francisco city supervisor had been in office less than a year when he spearheaded a statewide campaign to defeat Proposition 6, a ballot initiative that called for the mandatory firing of gay teachers in California. Milk however arrived in theaters three weeks after the biggest political setback the American gay rights movement has suffered in years: the passage of Proposition 8, which reversed the California Supreme Court ruling that legalized same-sex marriage. As untimely as the events that unfolded prior to the theatrical release of Milk, it begs the question on how did Proposition 8 change the meaning—the symbolic and ideological significance as well as the real-world function—of Gus Van Sant’s Milk. The passing of proposition 8 transformed Milk from a delicate, serious-minded period biopic that was directed by the brilliant Gus Van Sant into something much more urgent. Milk was suddenly this shinning beacon of hope that reinstated the hope and passion that was Harvey Milk into today’s gay-rights activist. There are some moments in the film that in retrospect seem as though it is speaking directly to the audience of the present. As the Proposition 6 results start to roll in, Harvey tells his followers: â€Å"If this thing passes, fight the hell back. † Those eight words speak volumes to the people who are fighting against the proposition 6 of today, proposition 8. â€Å"Somehow, when 8 passed, something else happened that was even more intense than the campaign, which is good. It was an inspiring reaction that showed strength to the people who were against Prop 8. So yeah, it seems to have an effect on something that's similar to it: Prop. 6, that appears in our movie†, Milk director Gus Van Sant was quoted during an interview with IFC. com. The activist understood the message Harvey Milk stood for in the day, and opted not to let his valiant efforts go to waste. To judge from the numerous rallies that have sprung up across the country since Prop 8 passed, many gays and lesbians are doing just that, refusing to go down without a fight. Gay rights advocates have been quoted saying that they hope to capitalize on Milk's fortuitous topicality. The film's Oscar winning screenwriter, Dustin Lance Black, and veteran activist Cleve Jones published a manifesto for equality in the San Francisco Chronicle on November 14th 2008 and launched a nationwide campaign of mass protests and civil disobedience. The endnote of their manifesto read, â€Å"Remember always, and reflect in all your actions, that we are not fighting against anyone, or anything. We are struggling for equality†. Harvey Milk was the one that picked up the flag when no one else would. He was the one that led the suppressed minority on to recognition and acceptance. All who wear his badge, or speak his words, or hold strong to his ideals, keep him alive. Milk managed to revitalize Harvey and in a strange twilight zone sort of way enlisted today’s newly radicalized generation to find their figurehead in the movie-hero version of a long-dead hero. In Milk we see that Harvey’s main arsenal in his fight for equality was that he rejected secrecy and shame in favor of openness and visibility. He insisted that the fight against homophobia begins with the act of coming out – â€Å"If they know us, they don’t vote against us†. Harvey Milk realized this earlier than many of his contemporaries. He understood that in order to gain true equality gays and lesbians should serve as their own civil advocated instead of merely relying on pacts and promises made with their straight allies in high and powerful places. Though he was seen as a radical at the time, in retrospect Harvey Milk is an optimist, an idealist, a true believer in the possibilities of American democracy. Gus Van Sant understood where Harvey was coming from with his ‘come out of the closet ideology’. In the interview with IFC. om Gus Van Sant sheds some light on the ideology and how it affected him. â€Å"It was Harvey's one idea that would have worked and probably did help the â€Å"No on Proposition 6† campaign†¦ultimately, it's an interesting concept, and that was the way he thought had a huge effect on Proposition 6. If it's not an unknown, it's not scary. If it's a known, it's friendly and you understand, ‘Oh t hat person that I know is gay, and this other person I know is gay’. That's partly how it works†. The openly gay Hollywood director went on to say, â€Å"But people did come out. It was his drive to just come out of the closet, lock the closet, and stay out, which was followed by many people. And really, it was his death request. If a bullet should enter his brain, may it knock down every closet door — that was his last request, his will, which probably extended to many people, including me, because I came out after he was killed†. This is just one of the millions of example on how Harvey Milk’s ideals and aspiration for equality for homosexuals touched and affected the lives of many closeted ones. Milk’s screenwriter Dustin Lance Black was quick to praise Harvey Milk’s ‘come out of the closet’ ideal a really good solution to a problem that tons of people had diagnosed but had yet to offer any answers to in an interview with ABC Radio. In the same interview he said, â€Å"In the years that Harvey put that into place, that sort of philosophy into the campaign, he won an election and a month later he was able to defeat one of the biggest, most popular anti-gay pieces of legislation in our country. He was able to defeat it, very unexpectedly, with that philosophy†. The recent anti-Prop 8 movement however seemed to embrace the opposite tactic. It was a closeted campaign, devoid of a public face, largely dependent on straight spokespeople, and run with a wary defensiveness that would have driven Harvey Milk mad. The story and context of Milk, and of the times in which Harvey Milk lived and led, make clear the continuation of this struggle we still find ourselves in. As soon as you lose a battle, another one looms before, giving you another opportunity to try to win. You win a battle, and before you can catch your breath, another struggle is on the horizon. We fall down only to pick ourselves back up again. Nothing about progress allows for much in the way of rest, but nor does it allow for much to remain stagnant. Harvey Milk’s thoughts were ones that changed the world. His thoughts turned into full out ideologies and his ideologies in turn morphed into a revolution. The ever brilliant Gus Van Sant who has a certain knack for merging the lines between now and then delivers to us a biopic that brings back to life its subject. In the post-proposition 8 viewing of this film, we can now see the rise of a new generation of activist – ones that have been instilled with a new sense of hope. Just as Harvey Milk’s assassination, which he repeatedly foretold, has meant that he remains frozen in time as a martyr, the Proposition 8 result has, for now, has redefined Milk as a cause. Gus Van Sant’s 20 year long journey of bringing to life this culturally epic subject has cemented Harvey Milk’s position as an ideological leader. â€Å"Lives of great men all remind us; we can make our lives sublime, and, departing, leave behind us, footprints on the sands of time† (Longfellow, 1838). Harvey Milk’s footprints would have never been forgotten, but Milk has in a way reaffirmed this stand. Gus Van Sant brought about a hero that was long gone and risen him from six feet under to be celebrated again as if he was never gone. Harvey Milk believed in one thing above all else and that was hope, Gus Van Sant brought back that hope. â€Å"I ask this†¦ If there should be an assassination, I would hope that five, ten, one hundred, a thousand would rise. I would like to see every gay lawyer, every gay architect ‘come out’ – If a bullet should enter my brain, let that bullet destroy every closet door†¦ And that's all. I ask for the movement to continue. Because it's not about personal gain, not about ego, not about power†¦ it's about the â€Å"us's† out there. Not only gays, but the Blacks, the Asians, the disabled, the seniors, the us's. Without hope, the us's give up – I know you cannot live on hope alone, but without it, life is not worth living. So you, and you, and you†¦ You gotta give em' hope†¦ you gotta give em' hope. †, were the last lines of Milk. (2435 words) References: 1. Black, D. L. (2008) Interview with Dustin Lance Black, writer, ‘Milk’, viewed May 2009, 2. Doty, A. 1998) The Oxford Guide To Film Studies: Queer Theory, Oxford University Press Inc, New York 3. Dr. Benshoff, H. M. (2006) Notes on Gay History/Queer Theory/Queer Film, viewed May 2009, < http://www. unt. edu/ally/queerfilm. html> 4. Milk, 2008. Film. Directed by Gus Van SANT. USA: Focus Features 5. Sant, G. V. (2008) Interview: Gus Van Sant on â€Å"Milk†, viewed May 2009, < http://www. ifc. com/news /2008/11/gus-van-sant-on-milk. php> 6. TheFreeOnlineDictionary. Com By Farlex (2000) The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston

Aspirations

For as long as I can recall I had always been afraid of aspiring for more than I had the ability to attain. This summer I met my future wife, I Just didnt know it yet. Although that Is another story that was written on its own, but once we were in love and both accepted each other, we came to find that others did not agree with our decision. We thought our bond could overcome anything Including their reproach, but, sooner than later, it began to come between us. Soon my life became a struggle to keep our love a secret from society.We didnt want different treatment, because we were both till the same people we met and the same girls everyone else knew. I was afraid of losing her to the world. I began to consider my options. Let my love go and let society separate us or follow my Intuition and Just live my life the best way I knew how, I chose to live and love even though It was hard from the start. I began to love my girlfriend fearlessly. I began to fight for us and overcame my fear of the unknown and the contempt others may harbor towards us. Even though we had challenges to overcome and people to confront we both held fast to the opportunities that lay ahead.The glares and sly whispers from others only provided a reason to prove them wrong thus I grew more determined to be happy no matter what the circumstance. She gave me the confidence to not only pursue my goals but actually fulfill my potential academically and set ideals for my life. She allowed me to be whoever I wanted to be, without letting go of how I got there. She was the kind that let me embrace those internal contradictions that made up an entire oxymoron, complex and complete human being.

Accounting Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 2

Accounting - Essay Example Cash flow statement is prepared separately to account for all the cash transactions and determine the hard cash position of the business apart from its profitability and sales figures, etc. If accounting was only based on cash, no credit transactions could have been made; in fact we would have been violating the principle of â€Å"Going Concern†. When we say businesses are a going concern, we usually pass entries to close accounts for an accounting period by transferring the balances to the next accounting cycle. This is done because business transaction keep on taking place as business activities and operations are executed. The key accounting concept for using the accruals versus cash is that the profits & losses are not actually documented by a business at the same time when the cash transaction is made. In fact the two transactions are totally separate from each other and have different accounting treatments. Profits and losses of any business are the outcome of its operations and revenue generating activities which circulate around the ‘income’ and ‘expense’ heads of accounting for that business. This involves expectation of cash inflows and outflows at a later date as well as deferred cash transaction or prepayments, etc. that needs settlement in a later period. Income and expense determine the cash that you might have eared or lost at the end of the day, when all the corresponding cash transaction have been made but they strictly do not mean that cash has changed hands. We record the income and expenses in the period they are incurred in order to complying with accounting standards (Weygandt, Kieso, & Kimmel,

Directors remuneration Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Directors remuneration - Assignment Example But, before that director’s role must be defined. Section 741 of the companies Act (CA) 1985 defines the term director: any person occupying the position of director, by whatever name that position occupying person is called (Corporate and business law (UK), exam kit, 2007/08). Primarily, this definition does not much focus on the definition of the director rather it emphasizes on the function the person performs; this stipulates that whether he is a director or not. Remuneration may include the following benefits received by directors: gains on the exercise of share options; benefits either received or receivable under long-term incentive schemes; payments received for the loss of office (as defined in the section 215); benefits and contributions receivable for the purpose of providing benefits , with respect to the past services of person as director or in any other capacity while director; (legislation.gov.uk, web); consideration paid to or consideration receivable by third parties for making available the services of a person as director or in any other capacity while director. The above given elements amounts to remuneration and benefits received by a director. ... e auditable part of the directors’ remuneration report, How much of information relating to the directors’ remuneration is to be included in the report. Additionally, it is the duty of any director of a company and any other person who is or has at any time in the preceding five years been a director of the company, to bring into the notice of the company of such matters either relating to himself as may be significant for the purposes of regulations under this section. If a person in the above mentioned capacity makes default in complying with these regulatory requirements commits an offence; as a result, he is liable and accountable on summary conviction; as a result, he would be fined for that offence according to the level 3 on the standard scale. Approval and signing of directors’ remuneration report The board of directors is authorised to approve the directors’ remuneration report and this report must be signed on behalf of the board by a director or the secretary of the company (under section 422 (1), chapter 4, Annual accounts, Companies Act 2006(c.46)). In most of the quoted companies, it is the responsibility of the company secretary to sign the directors’ remuneration report. In case, the secretary of the company is not available, any director may be authorised to sign on behalf of the board. If a directors’ remuneration report is approved but it is unable to satisfy the requirements of the Act, every directors of the company commits an offence who knew that the report did not qualify the requirements, or who failed to take appropriate steps to ensure the compliance with the Act requirements. Any person found guilty of an offence under this section will be responsible and may face a legal action provided in the company’s law. Quoted companies:

Cultural Nursing Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Cultural Nursing - Research Paper Example Since 1960s, leaders in nursing have continuously recognized the need for nursing schools to educate students on how to provide cultural care to the people. Educating graduates on transcultural care has enabled them sharpen their nursing skill which are needed in the society. The provision of care is not only limited to hospitals and health centers but requires nurses to be equipped with the knowhow to go to the villages to provide cultural care. The recruitment of graduates well trained with transcultural nursing skills significantly improved the services offered by the nurses to people with diverse cultural backgrounds. Many nurses worldwide have been trained to provide effective culturally harmonious care. The need for cultural care in the twenty-first century has increased the offering of courses in transcultural nursing both at the undergraduate and graduate level. Transcultural nursing has also been recognized and incorporated as a fundamental program element and accrediting ag encies are expected to be competent. A faculty has also been prepared under transcultural nursing with an aim of addressing cultural care issues. The application of the transcultural nursing research based knowledge is available today. ... Research in the entire world has demonstrated the appeal and applicability of the theory across various cultural backgrounds. Transcultural nursing has grown internationally and this is a clear indicator that the nurses are committed to including cultural care in their profession. They had embraced diversity unlike in the past when the concept of transcultural care was being introduced. (Luckmann, 1999, p. 57). Principles of transcultural nursing have been recognized in the entire world nowadays. The volatility and dynamism experienced in the past while addressing nursing care as citizens, educators, clinicians and researchers has changed. Transcultural nursing has opened an opportunity for people to engage, speak, debate, develop, grow, deliberate and contemplate on cultural issues and their diversities. The awareness on cultural care as a reasonable area of study has opened avenues for nurses to conduct research on cultural issues. Cultural aspects such as nursing, health, sickness and health care are being researched in different cultures. Transcultural nursing is made up of four main sections currently: Culture and health, mental health, globalization and cardiovascular health. When dealing with transcultural nursing, the impacts of migration, globalization, social inequity, colonization and health technology and management play a crucial role. Cultures keep on changing and thus there is a need for the nurses to invent knew ideas and methodologies on how to cope up with the cultural changes. Cultural care has forced the education sector to change its curriculum to cater for the new cultural beliefs and practices. It is only through this that

MK 491 Seminar in Marketing-Report Research Paper

MK 491 Seminar in Marketing-Report - Research Paper Example Since then it has literally transformed to a giant firm employing over 10,000 people. Google Inc. is a household name for their search engine service. Google has become so big now that it has almost become a new word in English language. Research Question The Research question posed here is discussion of the product, pricing, promotion and distribution strategies adopted by Google Inc. Literature Review Google Inc. is one of the top technology companies in the world. It offers a range of products and services which caters to the needs of the users. This company is present across different domain in the Internet and most of the consumers use their products and services in everyday life. Google hence uses different strategies to market their diverse products and services. Since they offer such diverse set of products and services, they use different market segmentation strategy to reach out to their consumer base. Their positioning strategy has to be prefect so that they live up to con sumers demands. Similarly their pricing and distribution strategy has to be developed to make them be on profit terms with other competitors. Analysis and Findings Overall business and marketing strategy of Google For Google their biggest success factor is the search engine which they have created. Google alone earns millions of rupees through advertisements. For Google information gathering is the key to their success. It makes all the products and services in such a way that it caters to all the segments in the market. This makes non-profit and private use by users absolutely free of cost. The founders of Google have a strong liking to education and libraries. The atmosphere of the company is like a university where continuous research and analysis of their product and services are done. They strive continuously for better search methods so that more useful information is available to the consumers through as many means as possible. Hence all the employees are encouraged to create something new and are rewarded for their effort through means like freedom with work hours, free meals, competitive pay etc. It organizes Annual Code Jam international competition which aims at solving the mind racing problems, and the winner is given large amounts of money. This helps them to find bright new employees. Hence Google primary business strategy is the innovation which the innovation in their products and services which they brings in front of the consumers. They have been largely successful at their overall business strategy. Segmentation strategy The segmentation strategy of Google is very diverse. Google has a diverse product line and hence it is present everywhere to cater to a number of users worldwide. For instance Google Search and other products are available to users at over 110 languages and it is still expanding (Anderson, Lazarus, Loftsgaarden and Weiss, 2003). According to a survey conducted in United States it was seen that their Search Engine was popular among users less than 34 years of age. Among them 55% of the users are male. Their users are predominantly technologically adept. Most of the users are business professionals. Again the products like Google plus, Google hangout, Picasa indicate that they are targeting the young peoples who are in their colleges and like to engage in social networking. One of the best Google products is the YouTube

Most Effect Strategies in Resolving Organizational Conflicts Essay

Most Effect Strategies in Resolving Organizational Conflicts - Essay Example To make cross-border alliances, merger and acquisition (M&A) successful, Mintzberg et al. (2003, p. 258) explained that managers should be able to establish the organizational culture that strongly promotes team collaboration in order to increase the efficiency of a company’s production output. The main purpose of this study is to determine the best and most effective strategies that managers can use in resolving organizational conflicts. In order to address the main purpose of this study, a qualitative research study will be conducted in order to determine how managers can effectively resolve organizational conflicts. Research Question What strategies should managers consider in order to implement effective conflict resolution in a newly merged company? Literature Review Employee involvement is â€Å"the voluntary employer-led initiatives that are designed to encourage a more active employee to participate in the business organization† (Caldwell, 1993). Guest, Peccei, and Thomas (1993) explained that implementing employee involvement could increase the level of employee commitment towards the business organization. As a result, managers can easily add the extra role to each employee without creating too much organizational conflict (Langan-Fox, Code, and Gray, 2002).   Aside from building a stronger relationship between the top management and employees, establishing a two-way communication between the two groups could strengthen the flow of business processes and minimize operational errors (Eisenberg and Witten, 1987). Through open communication, managers can avoid the occurrence of unnecessary organizational conflicts since managers can freely communicate their ideas with the rest of the team members. Transformational leaders are committed to training the subordinates to become a leader in their own way rather than practicing positional authority (Barbuto, 2005). Therefore, managers should use effective leadership style in controlling and persuading employees to work together towards achieving the organizational goals. In case the organizational conflict arises, managers should negotiate with the customers, employees or business suppliers in order to maintain the stability of the business operations (Ertel, 1999). Research Methodology According t o Bryman and Bell (2003), qualitative research methods emphasize on text rather than statistical data they argue that qualitative research method is the best way to gather and analyze data that will make the researcher determine strategies that managers consider when designing strategies that could effectively resolve organizational conflict within a newly merged company. In most cases, qualitative data generates a more detailed approach yet it does not imply evaluation methods or set analysis. This study aims to determine the best and most effective strategies that managers can use in resolving organizational conflicts. Target readers for this study include the CEOs, production managers, team leaders, sales managers etc.

Iser-The Reading Process Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Iser-The Reading Process - Essay Example However, expectations are seldom fulfilled, instead building upon each other, modifying each other. â€Å"Thus, the reader, in establishing these interrelations between past, present and future, actually causes the text to reveal its potential multiplicity of connections. These connections are the product of the reader’s mind working on the raw material of the text, though they are not the text itself† (Isler). Timing plays a critical element in the interpretation of a work such that a second reading can not repeat the same experiences of the first. Finally, in interpreting the text, the work becomes something of a mirror, revealing the way in which the reader thinks while forcing them to think about things from a different perspective than their natural surroundings. Envisioning is another part of the interactive process as something different from observing that encourages the active use of the imagination. When something is observed, the imagination is no longer call ed into play, diminishing the reading experience. The concept of grouping also plays a large role, as the reader continuously strives to group information together in configurations that make sense according to their interpretation of the text. Grouping provides the author with the tool of illusion. Although illusion can be overused, some illusion is necessary. â€Å"Without the formation of illusions, the unfamiliar world of the text would remain unfamiliar.† It is through the process of building and experiencing illusions that the reader opens himself to the unfamiliar world of the text without becoming imprisoned in it. It is only through reading that we are able to uncover this unformulated portion of the text and helps us develop a formulated meaning, but still allows us the freedom to develop this meaning on our own. It is as our interpretation shifts with the emergence of other

Donald Lipski Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Donald Lipski - Essay Example The reason he gained fame very rapidly and got recognized by the critics and people was that he brought in unique and different pieces of art and sculpture which attracted a lot of people because of its distinctive and exceptional quality. One of his first installations was the â€Å"Gathering Dust† through which he gained great recognition and applause. After which he continued his work and gained many different awards for his outstanding performance and contribution to art. His beautiful works have been placed in various museums. Recently he has started to focus on large scale 3-dimensional figures which have been placed at different public places to increase and enhance the beauty of different public places, one such example is â€Å"The Yearling† which has been placed outside the Denver Public Library (Turner, 107). Another very famous and a beautiful structure is the Psyche- the Butterfly. It is a beauty in its own self. This beautiful structure has been placed in The Auraria Science Building. This large butterfly is made from glass, metal and resin. This structure has been placed at the junction of the old and the new building. The structure makes use of approximately a total of 10,000 test tubes filled with acrylic. The wings are made to slowly swap by the air conditioning system of the building. The test tubes are filled with different colored material and when they swap they cast beautiful colored shadows on the people moving below the structure. The beauty of this amazing butterfly cannot be mentioned and cannot be explained by words. It is just an awe-strucking piece of art. People who view this beauty cannot resist themselves from looking at it again and again and pondering over its magnificence and beauty (Turner, 105). Donald has made other beautiful structures but this great piece of art has not been replaced by any other piece of art yet. This beautiful butterfly is an

Cyberspace and War Essay Example for Free

Cyberspace and War Essay Reading the highly interesting essay entitled â€Å"Navigating the Cyberspaces of Virtual War† presents to us the reasons why movies like The Terminator movie series are no longer works of fiction as written by an over active imagination. The reality is that science and computer technology have reached that point in the evolution of the systems that both the real and imagined reality of everyday lives, problems, and in this case, world wars, can now seamlessly interact and allow human beings to become active participants in the situations without really posing any physical dangers to the themselves. We have to admit that violence is an inborn characteristic of humans regardless of age, gender, and capability. But, man is afraid of the real repercussions stemming from any act of violence. Nobody in his right mind would put his own life on the line if he can find a way around it. This is the problem that presented itself to the public the day that man found a way to involve themselves in virtual war games. It is true that soldiers must be well trained and versed in handling their weapons and be so familiar with their combat zone that they can patrol the area blindfolded. For the military, the applications of virtual war is endless and a fantastic training tool that limit’s the number of casualties in the field. The problem is that the virtual war games were commercialized and sold to the public for home entertainment. The end result of the virtual gaming world was the desensitizing of mankind. Virtual Reality turned into an actual reality for some wherein nobody ever actually got hurt or died. It redefined violence for the participants and made it seem alright to blow each other up because â€Å"It’s just a game†. However, the developers of such games neglected to consider the psychological effect of the game on an ordinary person. A soldier would eventually have to deal with the reality of his virtual training and deal with actual loss of lives from both friendly and enemy fire. For the common man who merely plays the game and does not need to experience the actual loss, it instead gives him a thrill that sometimes pushes him to emulate the game in a real life setting. Early on, I mentioned that the Terminator movie series has now turned into a reality. This is a truth that can be seen because of the way cyberspace and war have turned battles into situations fought by remote control from the comfort of the soldier’s home base using highly intelligent computer systems that are capable of deciding upon what kind of weapons to use depending upon what their sensors data transmits to the onboard computer. But, what if the onboard computer develops a problem that causes the machine to turn upon its remote operators? What if Artificial Intelligence turns into Real Computer Intelligence? Are we prepared for such repercussions? Our computer developers and scientists have turned computers into almost fully independent machines that can function and decide its own actions in times of war. Good for the soldier because he won’t have to risk his life on the battlefront. Bad news for the rest of us because cyberspace is filled with computer hackers who would love to be able to gain the bragging rights to being that one person who took down a whole satellite system or took virtual / cyberspace enabled control of a real online defense system thereby gaining control of the military fighting machines for his own whims. Cyborgs are not that far off in development either. A perfect fighting machine, no feelings or logic, just a follower designed to eliminate the enemy as per preloaded mission objectives. The question is, how prepared are we to unleash such forces into reality? What safeguards are in place within cyberspace to protect us from the potential disasters cyber wars and technological advancements in cyberspace could bring upon mankind? The internet, online war gaming, television, and newspapers all present us with the realities of war while we are still far removed from the actual situation. I believe that if the world is to know any sort of peace, such virtual technologies should be limited to only military applications and not be allowed for commercial purposes. There is no need to feed the violent tendencies of man. Instead, a separate virtual reality should be developed for the common folk where we can practice solving political tensions through discussion and treaties instead. Leave the virtual fighting to those who are trained to really handle such situations. Cyberspace and war do not have to become any sort of reality for mankind simply because all it will bring about is our own self destruction in both virtual and actual reality.

Heald College Dress Code Essay Example for Free

Heald College Dress Code Essay Heald College in Fresno, California has rules that change and get stricter every quarter. Dress code is one of those rules that are constantly changing at the Fresno’s campuses. Students are required to dress professional Monday through Thursday, and Friday through Saturday is allowed to wear a Heald t-shirt, jeans, and sneakers. Before the rules were changed, students were allowed to wear a Heald t-shirt on Thursday’s also. It would be nice to get that Thursday back, instead of it changing due to the rates of dress code being higher on that day than any other days. Students should be allowed to wear a Heald t-shirt on Thursday again because we need a day where we could dress comfortable, it’s not fair to students who go to school form Mondays through Thursdays can’t have a Heald spirit day, and it’s not fair to keep changing rules and punishing those who follow the dress code. Heald College requires us to wear professional attire because it is to make us more prepared for our career we are trying to pursue. I know at a job were not required to wear sweats or unnecessary clothing but we’re at school and it is one place we want to dress comfortably at. I always used to look forward to Thursdays because I knew it was t-shirt day. Students need at least one little break from dressing in tight slacks, shirts that are tight around our neck, and shoes that hurt our feet! One comfortable day at Heald is what students need especially if we have a long week of learning. Most students at Heald are attending school only from Mondays through Thursdays. The rules for dress code states students are allowed to wear Heald Spirit only on Fridays and Saturdays. It is not fair that students who go to school from Monday to Thursday for 10 weeks don’t get a day to wear a Heald t-shirt to school. Before the rules changed many students liked the idea that Thursday was a day that they can relax and just wear casual clothes and shoes that they feel more comfortable in. To students who have been here before the rules have changed were very unhappy that Thursday’s spirit day was taken away from them. I asked a Student named Jessica, who’s in her fourth Quarter, â€Å"If you could change the dress code what would you change? † She responded â€Å"The Heald Spirit Day on Thursdays should be allowed again. I just like the fact that it was not so hard to pick out an outfit for school on Thursdays. † It’s just not fair to students. Not all students are at campus Friday and Saturday. They should at least make Heald Spirit day on a Thursday where most of the students go to school and not days where most class rooms are empty. There are students at Heald who obey the rules well and there are students who don’t. The dress code at Heald changed at the end of January 2013 quarter. Students were sent emails stating the dress code violations were higher on Thursdays than any other days and there will be no more Heald spirit day on Thursdays. All the students were punished because other students who are supposed to be adults couldn’t follow a simple dress code for Thursdays. It is not fair to other students who obey the dress code to get punished for other student’s mistakes. Taking the Heald Spirit day on Thursdays is not all the students fault. Violations should be given to students who are out of dress code on Heald Spirit day, so they’re the ones who get in trouble not the whole campus. Were adults and those who obey the dress code for Heald Spirit should be treated like an adult and be allowed to wear the t-shirt spirit day attire on Thursdays again. All students shouldn’t be punished for simple rules adults can’t follow. Students want to get treated like adults not high school or elementary school kids. Heald College in Fresno has a strict dress code that Students are supposed to follow. Heald Spirit on Thursdays should be given back to the students as a reward for coming to school and having to get an expensive school loan to learn. Students should be allowed to wear a Heald T-shirt on Thursdays because students want to go to school comfortable at least once throughout their week, Friday and Saturday are days Heald is less busy, and It’s not other students fault who obey the dress code to be punished for other students faults.

The Role Of Theory And Practice Facilitated By Reflection Nursing Essay

The Role Of Theory And Practice Facilitated By Reflection Nursing Essay Question Dewey (1938) stated that all genuine education comes through experience. Certainly, in practice-based professions such as the health care professions, clinical experience should be the basis for learning. To extract learning from experience, we need to create meaning from our experiences as we interact with and react to, them. We cannot allow any experience to be taken for granted; once we do so, actions become routine and habitual, we stop noticing and enter into a rut (Stuart 2007). Critically discuss this quotation by focusing on the complexity of learning in practice, the complexity of supervisory process and the end goal of creating a competent practitioner. Table of Contents Introduction It is in the interest of both the university and the clinical areas to ensure that newly qualified nurses are perfectly competent to take on the responsibilities of their new jobs. The big question is; which area should play the best part in ensuring that this feat is accomplished? Conversely, could it be a perfect balance between the two domains? Considering the changing face of nursing education to keep up with modern times, it is also useful to contemplate the challenges that students and educators, both academic and clinical are faced with. In order to establish if the goal of producing a competent practitioner is reached, it is important to determine what exactly constitutes a competent practitioner. As a final thought the concept of competency shall be pondered to see if it is sufficient to produce competent professionals when todays employers demand high standards and excellency of care. The changing nature of nursing Countless times nursing has been referred to as both an art and a science. Clearly, this is to delineate that it is a combination of both academical knowledge and practice skill. Through the years nursing education has shifted from hospital training (skills) to higher education (academic) namely university baccalaureates, masters and also doctorates (Wilson, 2008). Jarvis (2005) explains that this change is occurring because nursing is undergoing a process of professionalization (professionalism). Another important change is that, whereas the student nurses before were all young recruits nowadays the classroom is a mixture of ages either due to mature students entering nursing or due to continuing education (Jarvis, 2005). These adult learners may thus have different learning needs. The fact that nursing has distanced itself from the medical model, in favour of a holistic, patient centered approach, it has also inevitably changed the way nurse education is planned and delivered nowad ays. Alongside the study of anatomy and physiology, nurse educators had to include the nursing process and humanistic subjects like the concept of care, psychology, sociology and ethics. Meurier, Vincent Parmar (1997) maintain that this process was necessary for nursing to become an autonomous profession that has research underpinning its practice. Evidence based practice became a means of gaining credibility with both clients and other professions. Greater autonomy has been given to nurses locally by the issuing of the nursing warrant. However, autonomy also translates into increased accountability. Patients abroad are now personally suing individual nurses when they are thought to be personally responsible for errors. Never before has it been more important to produce competent, efficient and effective nurses in order to avoid costly litigations and avoidable patient suffering and harm. The emphasis is now on which type of learning is best at producing competent nurses, theoretical, academic or possibly a mixture of both. The great debate One of the main objectives of this assignment is to critically discuss the quote provided. In this quote Dewey is said to put great emphasis on the role that experiences plays in providing a genuine education. Experience is defined in the Longman (2010) dictionary as knowledge or skill that you gain from doing a job or activity. Experience is an important component of practice development (Lyneham, Parkinson Denholm, 2009). However, nursing is not only about doing but also about thinking. In the quote provided, Deweys seems to be subjective when he omits to recognize the role that theory plays in the learning process. However Dewey, in his own book states that the belief that all genuine education comes about through experience does not mean that all experiences are genuinely or equally educative (Dewey, 1998, p. 13). Knowles, Holton III, Swanson, (2005) believed that many Deweys ideas were misinterpreted through the years and emphasised the importance of direct quoting. Hence, to evaluate properly Deweys quote, one must assess it in the whole context not just a short quote. Peplau (1988, p. 13) asserts that the art and science aspects of nursing should always be kept interconnected if not inseparable. This statement suggests that experience and academical knowledge, should complement each other in order to achieve optimal learning. The clinical environment is a rich learning ground full of learning opportunities. On the other hand, this knowledge can be in a tacit f orm and hard to translate into words. Eraut (2004) maintains that when these situations arise, the practitioner needs to find alternate ways of unlocking and sharing this knowledge. Reflection, which is widely taught in nursing curriculae nowadays may be a means of articulating knowledge that is embedded in practice (McBrien, 2006). Thus, this is an example of theory complimenting experiential learning. Furthermore, without nursing developing its own theoretical body of knowledge the quest for professionalization would have been unreachable. In order to advance the nursing profession and provide the tools to increase the body of knowledge, critical thinking and research modules have been added to the nursing curriculae. This enabled nursing to move away from the dominancy of other professions and empowered nurses to be able to make their own competent decisions based on well researched evidence. Clinical experience includes also the practicing of skills, which are primarily learnt through role modelling strategies and perfected through repetition thus increasing competence. Consequently, habitualisation runs the danger of becoming a ritualistic practice when it is taken for granted and done without thought (Stuart, 2007). Heath and Freshwater (2000) regard proficiency in skill, achieved through repetitive practice as positive. They explain that nurses will require less thought whilst performing procedures and their attention may be dedicated to answering the patients questions or observing his behaviour. However, practice without reflection truly risks becoming a rigid, habitualised and ritualistic vicious circle. Experience is not just about performing skills well and in good timing. It is also an opportunity to be faced with different clinical situations and challenges that equip the nurse with the necessary knowledge to deal with similar situations in the future. A report compiled by the Department of Health (1999) entitled Making a difference outlined that many newly qualified nurses lacked the necessary skills to function as confident and competent practitioners in their new professional roles. Therefore, although nurses might possess the academical knowledge to pass their final exams, they lacked the experience to operate confidently on the wards. Another shortfall was that newly qualified nurses were observed to lack the critical thinking skills necessary to function in the increasingly complex clinical environment (Aronson, Rosa, Anfinson Light, 1997). Many argue that this is the result of the shift from hospital based training to university centered education, creating the theory pra ctice gap phenomenon (Evans, 2009). In the following paragraphs, the theory practice gap and means of reducing it shall be discussed. Theory- Practice Gap In the past, nurses had more clinical hours than study hours as part of their nurse education. Furthermore, the students of the past were counted as part of the nursing compliment. This may explain why they found the transition from a student to qualified nurse less problematic. However, this kind of training sucked the students into a circle of ritualistic practice concentrating on efficiency rather than effectiveness. In contrast todays student is provided with all the theoretical knowledge to ensure that practice is guided by evidence thus shifting the balance onto effectiveness. Wilson (2008) explains that teaching should not just be the imparting of facts but that students must learn how to adapt this information to each unique clinical setting. Therefore, it is empirical to bridge the gap between what is known and what is practiced. The gap between theory and practice is not something of the present and will persist through the ages. Haigh (2009) considers this gap to be important as it portrays nursing as a vibrant and dynamic profession (p. 1). Notwithstanding this, the theory practice gap has inspired theorists to introduce learning models in the clinical environment and mostly included the participation of a clinical supervisor (Beinart, 2004 and Lynch, Hancox, Happell, Parker, 2008). Furthermore, no model has managed to eradicate the theory practice gap (Baxter, 2007). Whichever model may be used, the importance of having a clinical supervisor with exceptional qualities must not be overlooked. An advantage of the local nursing scene is that although the Institute of Nursing has now become a faculty, its basis is still within the general hospital. The significance of this is not only that the two domains are not physically separated, but that also academical staff and other resources such as the library are easily accessible. However other measures are also necessary in order to amalgamate theory and practice. The areas of reflection and clinical supervision as a means of reducing the gap shall be discussed in the following paragraphs. Reflection and learning Schà ¶n (1983) in his book regarding the reflective practitioner states that reflective practice enables a person to learn from both his actions and experiences. Jarvis (2005) maintains that the role of a teacher may include facilitating reflective practice for practitioners in order to crystallize the ideas generated in practice. Moreover, Schà ¶n established that nurses reflect upon their actions and through this, knowledge about practice is generated as opposed to just the application of knowledge to practice. Rolfe (1997) supports this statement by asserting that reflective practice is a systematic and thoughtful process that allows nurses going about their daily work to make sense of their practices. Reflection is a means of identifying areas that need improvement. However, reflection should also take place in instances that went well to identify the key principles that contributed to success. Surgerman, Doherty, Garvey and Gass (2000) point out that if reflection is taken awa y from practice, the practitioner might not be able to learn from these experiences. Unfortunately staff shortages and the overcrowding of wards often leave little time for nurses to think (Weaver, Warren Delaney, 2005). However, this should not be an excuse not to engage reflective practice. Reflection on action may be more suitable and should be greatly encouraged amongst supervisees as a means of making sense of practices being undertaken. This form of reflection was also used by Florence Nightingale as a means of generating knowledge from practice and the start of evidence based practice (McDonald, 2001). Another way would be to organise group reflections. The group may include a mixture of supervisors and supervisees in order to facilitate discussion and the sharing of knowledge (Lee, 2009). The process of reflection is also very useful in helping students and qualified staff alike to develop critical thinking skills. Further on, a problem solving attitude may be instilled, which is a valuable tool for the nurses in their career (Jarvis, 2005) thus leading to t he development of a competent practitioner. The generation of ideas from reflection is not sufficient. The greatest challenge is to put these ideas into practice. Clinical supervisors can be an asset in helping students to engage reflective practice whilst helping them articulating and implementing the ideas generated. Clinical supervision Wong and Lee (2000) define the roles of clinical supervision as to help students develop their clinical skills, help to bridge theory and practice and assist students with their socialisation into nursing. McBrien (2006) states that clinical supervision acts as an extension of classroom teaching. In other words, the clinical supervisor works alongside the university to maximize the educational activity gained from the ward experience. In the wards, the supervisor, helps to safely monitor students, whilst they practice what they have learned in the classroom thus bridging the afore mentioned gap. Supervisors may teach supervisees by being good role models, and help novice students acquire knowledge through emulating their behaviour. As supervisees progress the supervisor must then give greater freedom to the student whilst challenging their practices in order to develop their reflective and critical thinking skills. Supervisors must be well prepared and supported (Lynch, Hancox, Happe ll, Parker, 2008). Furthermore, their practices have to be grounded in evidence as supervisees at this stage will healthily challenge what the supervisor is imparting. Supervision takes up different forms in different hands depending on the intent and emphasis of the supervisor (Johns 1996, p.1142). Staff shortages, overcrowding and high patient turnover may result in ward nurses looking at students in an inappropriate manner, especially if supervision was forced on them. Consequently, they may look at students as a burden, an extra duty or a waste of their free time. Moreover, they may view them as an extra pair of hands which can be easily manipulated to do their every bidding. McBrien (2006) warns that faced with such negative attitude student nurses may be inclined to abandon their learning objectives in order to fit in. Furthermore, nurses may be hostile and uncooperative towards their colleagues who are trained clinical supervisors who take on students for supervision in their wards. The clinical supervisor thus has an important role in creating an environment conducive to learning on the wards. This should include measures to make students feel welcome and accepted by the rest of the ward staff in order to safeguard the students self esteem and potential for learning (Franke, Garssen, Huijer Abu-Saad, 1995). Moreover, good relationship is of utmost importance in obtaining the desired goals in the supervisory process. The relationship between the supervisor and the supervisee is the key for successful clinical supervision (Lynch, Hancox, Happell, Parker, 2008 and Sloan, 1999). The above points strongly indicate that clinical supervisors have to be willing and dedicated to undertake the teaching role in the ward. Supervisors must undergo specialised training. However, in order to move a further step, full collaboration with the academic body has to be in place. Sloan (1999) stated that on-going training for supervisors helps them to construct their own supervision models, to develop interpersonal skills and facilitate supervisory support besides others. One training module is not enough to last a life-time, hence update courses and meetings should be held yearly. By this means not only knowledge is updated but also an opportunity for the sharing of ideas is provided. Introducing regular meetings with the academic supervisor ensures not only a bridging of the theory practice gap but also that the desired student goals are made clear and achievable. Unfortunately, the number of nursing students by far outnumbers the amount of clinical supervisors who have been formally trained. This lack of supervisors may be the result of the absence of a good reward system such as monetary or professional. Alternatively, the quality of supervision might deteriorate with its introduction. This can be due to applicants applying for the rewards, rather than a keen interest in supervision. In this event, a rigid vetting process and performance appraisal should be introduced. The concept of collaborative learning has been explored by Jeffries (2005) as a means of compensating for the lack of supervisors. The main advantages were an increased sense of teamwork, student bonding and richer discussions. However, Evans (2009) points out those students who are less eager to participate may hide within these groups thus limiting the development of their potential. Moreover, large groups may contribute to certain students getting away with not performing d uties that they might consider not to their liking (Evans, 2009). An important role that the clinical supervisor must play, which is sometimes overlooked is the development of self awareness. Heath and Freshwater (2000) maintain that the supervisor must help the student to develop an awareness of self, and an acceptance of responsibility for ones own actions. Thus the supervisor must instil the concept of accountability, which greatly contributes to the development of a competent practitioner. Todd Freshwater (1999) assert that through this process the supervisee becomes less dependent on the clinical practitioner because an internal supervisor is developed. Hence, the supervisee develops a professional conscience whilst becoming more capable to assume more responsibility for ones own learning. When this is achieved, the seed of life-long learning is planted ensuring that the supervisee will continue to self direct learning even after graduation. Jarvis (2005) states that if this had to be universal for all students, continuing education programme s could be drastically reduced. Competent practitioners Weaver, Warren and Delaney (2005) explain that nursing care affects a range of health care outcomes namely; mortality, morbidity and costs. For this reason, an emphasis is now being placed on high quality care, avoidance of errors, cost effectiveness and elimination of wastages. A competent practitioner is someone who is able to conduct tasks safely on their own. Moreover, competency is defined by the Nursing Council of New Zealand, (2008, p.12) as, the combination of skills, knowledge, attitudes, values and abilities that underpin effective performance as a nurse. Conversely, Lofmark, Smide, Wikblad, (2006) state that competency must be achieved in all areas and not just in clinical and technical skills. Furthermore, it is difficult to find a person who is competent in all areas. Having stated all this, a doubt arises, whether being a competent practitioner is enough to meet these growing healthcare demands. Nurses are faced daily with items that are out of stock, staff shortages and unexpected and unplanned occurrences. In these situations, knowledge and standard practice are not sufficient to meet healthcare demands. Heath and Freshwater (2000) explain that a nurse that goes beyond the competent phase not only can demonstrate greater technical proficiency but is also able to correct and adapt her actions according to the unfolding situations. Benner (1984) asserts that for competent practice to become proficient, a qualitative change must occur. Benner, Tanner, Chesla, (2009) believe that some nurses may never develop beyond the competent stage. Given the complex clinical situations that every single nurse is faced daily on the wards, this transition should be avidly cultivated. Improvisations and solutions must be effected in order to ensure that patients still receive good quality care. Drawing up on past experiences, knowledge new or old and utilizing reflection and problem solving skills are a means of coming up with new solutions. The clinical supervisor is an invaluable asset in helping the supervisee to make this transition. This can be done by being a role model, providing meaningful experiences that can be utilized in future practice as well as supporting the supervisees in developing their own problem solving skills. A universal responsibility Although an emphasis has been made that the clinical supervisors should be formally trained, every single nurse in the clinical setting should take an interest in the education of student nurses. These same students will in the future become nursing colleagues and further on nursing administrators and lecturers. Making sure that they receive the best possible education is a means of safeguarding the future of nursing. On a more egoistical note, these same students will be the nurses in the wards taking care of us and our loved ones. Therefore, ensuring that they develop their full potential is a guarantee of receiving excellent quality care to the highest standards. Conclusion It has been established that experience and theoretical knowledge both play a pivotal role in the formation of competent practitioners. The phenomenon of the theory practice divide occurs, when academical knowledge is not successfully adapted into the working environment to achieve meaningful practice. In order to bridge these gaps important assets were identified namely clinical supervision, experience and the use of reflection. Clinical supervision is a challenging area of nursing that should involve specific training and utmost dedication. Collaboration with the academical supervisors ensures that the goal of achieving competent practitioners is achieved. However, exceptional practice should be the ultimate goal that should be shared by all clinical practitioners in order to safeguard the future of nursing.

Single Parents on Television Essay -- Televison Media TV Essays

Single Parents on Television When we think about television families, it is usually the happy nuclear families with a Mom, Dad, and a couple children. What if that family is not a full family and there is a parental figure missing? Would missing a parent really affect the way a child is raised? The realization of single parent families in everyday households is becoming more and more a reality in the United States, and television shows are relating to this fact. The new trend in television is to have a single Mom or Dad facing the odds of single parenthood, while raising two-to-three kids, working at a full-time job, and still taking care of the household. The Parents Television Council reviewed every original series airing during prime time (8:00-11:00 p.m.) on the broadcast networks during the 2001-2002 television season. The analysis encompassed 119 shows depicting 150 children. Key findings include: 47% live in a traditional family with their married biological parents, 14% are raised by single fathers, and 90% of TV single fathers are widowers. Of the 97 televis...

Becoming A Better Nation :: social issues

Becoming A Better Nation As an American citizen, it would be easy to say we should encourage both unity and diversity, but, in truth, it is almost impossible to implement such a great idea. Our nation would be a utopian society if we could implement both global or nation-wide unity while keeping our citizen’s diverse. Unfortunately, it’s an oxymoron – like saying we’re all alone together. Part II: The Dream Answer A. Utopia We could always take each individual aside from all they knew and brainwash them into believing that everyone was created equal, allow 10 year olds to vote just the same as 90 year olds and 45 year olds, and create family units of â€Å"brothers† and â€Å"sisters† who are of all different ethnicities. Then our nation would have both unity and diversity!! We could erase all those years of slavery, deception, and racism by never thinking of it again! Wow. Wouldn’t that be lovely? Unfortunately, we don’t live in dreams. You see, even if we were able to rob citizens of their United States’ freedoms and brainwash them, still our nation would have our racists, and we’d lack both unity and diversity coexisting as one. Racism is the reason we cannot have diversity and unity. Now this is because of the meaning of this word â€Å"racism.† Part III: Racism A. Opinions Now, let’s think of this logically: What is racism? Now when we want to find this out, duh, we go to the dictionary – and what more famous than our trusty (and dusty, in my case) â€Å"Webster’s Dictionary†? â€Å"Rac  · ism (rà ¢  ´ siz  ´ em) n. †¦ 2 Any program or practice of racial discrimination, segregation, etc. based on such beliefs – rac  ´ ist n., adj.† The main word in this definition is the word â€Å"beliefs.† A belief is not based on a fact; it’s based on a personal opinion. How can you make everyone not have personal opinions? By brainwashing them? Racism never ends. Therein lies our problem with full unity. Part III: Racism B. Expression(s) We all look different, but how do we feel different? By expressing ourselves. Some people are racist; some people are creative. Everyone has their own way of being themselves – and this is what makes the world diverse. No one is exactly like his or her best friend, neighbor, spouse, or even one of his or her parental units.

Native Son Essay: Analysis of Setting, Major, and Minor Themes

Analysis of Setting, Major, and Minor Themes  of Native Son  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚           The major themes of Native Son are environment, racism,   black rage, religion, Communism, determinism and freedom.   A minor theme is the relationship between men and women.   Ã‚     One of the major themes of Native Son is the effect of environment on behavior and personality. Thus, setting is  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   especially important in the novel. The story takes place in Chicago in  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   the late 1930s, when the United States had still not recovered from  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   the Great Depression. Jobs are scarce, and Bigger and his pool-hall  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   friends are among the many unemployed. Richard Wright was influenced  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   by the literary school of naturalism, whose adherents tried to observe  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   and record their world, and especially its more unpleasant parts, with  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   scientific accuracy. Wright knew Depression-era Chicago well and  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   drew heavily on his first-hand knowledge. In many respects, the  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Chicago of Native Son is an accurate representation even in its  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   details. For example, Ernie's Kitchen Shack at Forty-seventh Street  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   and Indiana Avenue was modeled on a real restaurant called The Chicken  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Shack, located at 4647 Indiana Avenue and owned by a man named Ernie.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Two aspects of Bigger's environment influence him especially  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   strongly- his confinement to Chicago's black South Side ghetto and his  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   glimpses of the dazzling white world, of which he feels he can never  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   be part. Bigger's family shares a rat-infested room, but, when he sees  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   an airplane flying overhead or views the glamorous life portrayed in a... ...eds. Conversations with Richard Wright. Jackson: University Press of Mississippi, 1993. Kinnamon, Keneth. The Emergence of Richard Wright: A Study Literature and Society. Urbana: U of Illinois P, 1973. Kinnamon, Keneth, ed. New Essays on Native Son. New York: Cambridge UP, 1990. Macksey, Richard and Frank E. Moorer, eds. Richard Wright: A Collection of Critical Essays. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1984. Margolies, Edward. The Art of Richard Wright. Carbondale: Southern Illinois UP, 1969. Miller, Eugene E. Voice of a Native Son: The Poetics of Richard Wright. Jackson: University Press of Mississippi, 1990. Rampersad, Arnold, ed. Richard Wright: A Collection of Critical Essays. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1995.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     

Evaluating the effects that the alternative approaches may have on the structure and functions of WHSmith, and how they achieve their objectives Essay

Evaluating the effects that the alternative approaches may have on the structure and functions of WHSmith, and how they achieve their objectives When looking at effects that will arise due to alternative approaches WHSmith could change to help the company meet its objectives, I must look how these changes will affect the structure, how the functions will be affected and how it will help them to meet their objectives. When looking at the first alternative approach suggested to WHSmith the first problem that would arise would be that new members of staff would be needed. These could either be recruited by the training. Obviously, this training will need to be very intense as they will have to be able solve any problems that may occur in every situation so that customers will be kept happy and will feel that the store are trying their best to please them in the Internet cafe. Also the communications supervisor or current employees would need to be re-trained so that they will be able to either help run the cafà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½, or to become a technician – so that if there are any problems in which computers encounter any problems or fail to work then either these new or current employees should be able to fix the problem. The managers may need external training as WHSmith, Milton Keynes will probably not have the correct resources to train up these managers efficiently, meaning they may need off-the-job training either at a branch that may have the correct training staff, or at a college where they can learn this management role. This will mean there will be an added cost to the business, as staff are being trained away from the store, but this should pay off as it will be affective and will allow the Internet cafà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ to be very well run. Also this will mean external communications will improve, as the store will need to have better links with the off-the-job training centre – which may be a college so that both can communicate and ensure that the training given is correct to the line of work. This alternative approach of better meeting the objectives will mean that the organisational structure of WHSmith will change. This is because new levels will be created within the structure, which could either be adding new people to the â€Å"sales staff† part, which would not really make a big impact on the structure as it will still look the same, just there will be a few more people added to the bottom, which should be ok as communication is good in store and should not change due to a few extra employees. They could also consult with the manager about any thing that may need to be changed in this â€Å"Internet cafà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½Ã¢â‚¬  to help profits to be increased, and increase the amount of customers using the computer. However with a new manager or managers that may be needed within the store to help the cafà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ to be run effectively, it will have bigger effect on the organisation structure. This is because they will need to be added to the sales and service supervisor management levels as they will be providing service to customers and also sales, as any food that may be on sale will count as sales towards the business, as it will increase the companies profit. This will mean the structure will become bigger, and will have a wider level where the sales and service supervisors, which will benefit sales staff as they will have more shop floor supervisors to consult if they cannot deal with customers for one reason or another. This will also benefit customers, as sales staff will spend less time looking for supervisors if they are needed – due to their being more there. However with this widening of the structure taking place it will mean more wages will need to be paid out and the managers will have to supervise more line managers, which could prove difficult if there are lots of different problems, which may then mean more senior managers may need to be brought in to help keep the store running effectively and smoothly – again increasing staff wages payments per month. But this may benefit the store in the long run as customers will be happier and this should bring in more income. This alternative approach will also affect the external communications. This is because if new computers are being bought in they will be very powerful, and will probably all have up-to-date equipment on. This would mean that the office could network up to the main computer, which would mean it would be much newer then the one that is currently in place at the moment. This could mean that if other stores are up-to-date with the same technology as WHSmith, Milton Keynes they could do video-conferencing with each other, and possibly with head office as well. Thus, the manager would not need to be called away from the branch for a meeting that is in, e.g. Aylesbury, as happens quite frequently. This would save a lot of time for him, which would also mean travelling costs and the time wasted driving there would be saved, as a result of this video-conferencing. Therefore, Ian wouldn’t have to leave his office for these meetings to take place – which would be a massive advantage. This would happen as a result of the computers being bought for the Internet cafà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½, which would not be any extra cost to the store, as it would already be in place. Therefore the external communications would improve with other branches and head office as they could link up very quickly with each, and also see each other, which could not happen with any other form of communication. Also the external communications would improve because with this new computer in the managers office CD’s could be produced which would have all pictures, details, prices and information of all products in store. These could then be sent to all regular customers who will have the technology to view this CD, meaning they could view products and order them at home, meaning they wouldn’t have to go into the store. This would be very advantageous to disabled people. The internal communications will also be affected, as more levels of employees and managers on the shop floor will mean that more internal phones will be needed – to enable good communication to still be present in store. This will not cost that much and will be very advantageous as customers will be kept happy, due to the inexpensive internal phones. Also new daily-briefings may be needed so that separate briefings can be held for sales employees who work in the main part of the store selling products, and one held for those who are going to be working in the Internet cafà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½. This is so that sales staff do not have to listen to the briefing to the Internet cafà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ staff, as they will not need to know this information, as they don’t work there. This will take longer for the manager to carry out, but will be effective as the manager will not have to waste time only talking to a few members of staff in a big group, who do not understand what they are talking about, which will mean they are sitting in the staff room getting paid to listen to irrelevant information. The separate briefings will mean either sales staff or Internet cafà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ employees can be working and using the time more effectively whilst the other group are being talked to, which will save company time and money. The objectives that will be met from producing this Internet cafà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ is that most of them are to do with â€Å"customer satisfaction† – which would not be a problem with this new change that could take place in store. Another objective could then be created from this new â€Å"Internet cafà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½Ã¢â‚¬  within WHSmith, which could be something like, â€Å"Try to help customers satisfy their every need in store† which could then aim to be achieved along with the other eight objectives, of which five are currently being met. Specific objectives that will be met due to this Internet cafà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ being produced are that WHSmith will be â€Å"delivering the best in service†, as they will have bought in lots of new staff and management to help ensure high standards of service are still being met. This will mean that customers will be kept happy, as there will be lots of staff at hand for their every need. Also the objective of â€Å"providing value for money† will be met because the prices for the goods in store will be low and satisfying for customers – to ensure they will be happy in store and spend lots of money there. Another objective that will be met from the new Internet cafà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ is that they are â€Å"continually raising standards of service in all areas of the business.† This objective also interlinks with â€Å"leading the industry in the innovative use of technology.† This is because the Internet cafà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ will have brought in very hi-tech equipment, which will be available for customers in store. This kind of technology is not likely to be available in other rival stores which will suggest to customers, why bother going to these stores when WHSmith is providing new technology and low prices? This is what WHSmith wants customers to think so that these objectives are being met due to the cafà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½. The store is raising standards of service due to the new staff that are going to be employed in store – so that service will be quickened up. Also the service will be improved due to their being more varieties of things to do in store, which will make customers have more choice whether they shop or go on the Internet which shows they are being considered throughout the changes in store, meaning service levels are being improved too. This shows that the opening of the Internet cafà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ would be good for meeting objectives, as a new objective can be produced and aimed to be met, as well as at least three current objectives being met even more then they are already, which would be a great achievement for the store as a whole. The effects that the Internet cafà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ will have on the functions of the business is that a new department may need to be created in store to enable the computer side of the Internet cafà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ to be run smoothly. This department may be run by only a few people but will need to be in permanent contact with the shop floor to enable any problems that have arisen to be put right quickly. These problems could range from the computers freezing to any other list of problems that can occur from computers. This department will need to have highly skilled employees, who have had off-the-job training, so that any problems can be dealt with. This department could be called the ICT department as it is dealing with communications between employees and staff, and also technology from the hi-tech computers. This department will need to be in close contact with the finance department. This is because vast amounts of money should be taken from either the cafà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ side of the creation, or from customers who are paying to use the computers. This will mean change will need to be kept at the tills as customers who spend small amounts of cash with a à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½20 will not expect 50p’s in change! Also money will need to be counted by the cash office either once or twice a day from the tills and receipts checked to ensure enough business is being bought in, and if it is not then why not. Another department that may need to be created within the store is a health and hygiene department. This is because the food that will either be created or bought in to the store will need to be of a high standard so that customers are kept happy and satisfied. It also needs to meet health levels so that customers do not get food poisoning from any food consumed in store. This department will also need to be in close contact with the head office of WHSmith to ensure that standards are being met and that they are happy with what is being done in store. This department will also need to be in close contact with the trading department. This is so that they can buy in extra goods that can then be dispatched to the Milton Keynes branch so that they can be sold. This will also mean that the external communications will need to be good so that the trading department will buy in the correct good to be sold. When looking at the idea of having a clocking-in system, this alternative approach to better help the store in all aspects, will obviously have a positive effect on WHSmith. One problem of bringing in this clocking-in system will be that the system will need to be installed in store. This will not be too expensive to do, but lots of cards (built in with chips) will be needed so that all employees can have them when they go into work. This will mean a meeting will need to be held so that staff can receive their cards and they will also need to be informed about what to do upon entering work with their cards. The first positive aspect this system will mean that staff will not have â€Å"tick† their name off a list by the managers office when they start and finish work – stating the amount of hours they have worked. This is because the system will take down the name of the employee, the time they clocked in, the time they clocked out and the dates they have worked. This can then, if it is hi-tech enough, be linked up to a computer so that the hours worked of all employees can be sent to head office where pay slips are produced so the hours sheets will not need to be checked by the member of staff employed in that area will not have to check hours have been entered correctly be employees (and that someone hasn’t put they have worked 8 hours when they have only worked 4!) This will mean that this member of staff will have more time in the other areas of worked they are employed in. However as this member of staff only works Sundays at this store, and works at other stores during the week checking the time sheets there, as they don’t have clocking in systems, she may not be needed at the Milton Keynes branch. This will be an advantage to the store as it will save outgoings, (wages), on employing her. Also another positive aspect this will have on the store is that it will mean it will save lots of different time sheets being printed off, as 5 sheets are needed each week for employees to tick their names and hours off, which can add up over time. Also if there was a fire it wouldn’t be too bad because before the paper would have been burnt, but now the clocking in system will be strong and will probably not be destroyed by a fire. This would have meant all staff members; hours would have been lost, which may have meant they didn’t get paid for hours worked due to this fire. This will not happen now due to the clocking-in system. The organisational structure of the store will only be slightly affected by this clocking-in system. This is because one of the sales and service supervisors who used to check all the hours worked and that all the time sheets were correct on each Sunday will no longer be required. This is because the clocking-in system will automatically calculate the hours as it is linked up to a computer – meaning there will be no chance of human error. This will make the structure of the store slightly narrower, but due to the organisational structure included in this coursework it cannot be seen as only two sales and service supervisors have been included, as I couldn’t fit on the correct amount to the chart. This will mean slightly less wages will need to be paid out – which again is another advantage of the system. This alternative approach will also affect the external communications. This is because the clocking-in system will mean that not as many communications will need to take place. This is due to the ability of the clocking-in system to calculate the hours worked by employees, and the days that they have worked. This can then be put into a database (like Excel) and this can be sent via E-mail or Electronic Data Interchange to Head Office. This will mean that less communication will be needed between the Milton Keynes branch and Head Office. This is because before the clocking-in system was introduced, one of the sales and service supervisors had to calculate all the hours worked by employees over the week, add these up and send a letter to Head Office confirming these hours worked. This meant that it took time for Head Office to receive the time sheets – and there was also a chance that these hours could get lost in the post. This is why the clocking-in system can help affect thi s external communication with Head Office, because it is up to date and links to computers, meaning e-mails can be sent rather than post. Also the internal communications will be affected because the clocking-in system will help staff in store to know that they are going to be finishing when they are supposed to be. Also staff will know where other staff members are at a specified time as the rota’s will be correct and will not be running 10 minutes late due to the unpunctuality of some staff. This will mean communications in store will be good and will help staff to feel happy, as they will not be working when someone else should be – as they are late. The amount of internal communications can also be reduced due to the clocking-in system. This is because before when staff were late other staff members and the manager had to discuss people being late, and then this meant the manager had to speak to the employee. With the new clocking-in system in space it will mean the communications between the employees who were not late but wanted to tell the manager about those who were not on time will not be needed as the clocking-I system will be able to tell the manager exactly who was late and when. This can mean that, say, at the end of the month the manager can talk to all unpunctual employees as a whole about this problem, and what they are going to do about it in order for them to keep their job. This will mean that the manager will not have to talk to individuals, which would be very time consuming, and a waste of company time so the internal communications will help to be kept to only the most important matters about the store and customers – not about staff being late. The objectives that will be met from introducing this clocking-in system are that staff can be kept â€Å"inspired and motivated.† The way this can be achieved is by using the system to see which employees turn up for work each day. This can mean that staff who turn up for work early on a regular or continuous basis can be rewarded. This could be in the form of giving them a choice of what work they want to do, or give them a higher discount on the goods in store. This will mean that everyone who is employed in the store will want to turn up for work early to enable them to get one of these rewards. These are only examples of rewards and could be changed by the store depending on different aspects, e.g. costs of supplying the rewards etc. This will mean that staff are turning up earlier for work each day, which will mean they will start earlier and will get more done throughout the day. This will mean that staff are being kept motivated as they will want to gain the rewards on offer by turning up earlier, and they will also be kept motivated as they can do things in store which will be picked up by the manager – which may also help them to gain a reward of some description. Another objective that can be met from the clocking-in system is that the store will be â€Å"delivering the best in service.† The way this will be met is because everything in the store will be running to the correct time – which will help to keep staff happy. This will mean they will be in a good mood when they come to communicate or serve customers. Therefore, the members of staff will provide a high level or even the â€Å"very best† in service to customers as they have no excuse not to. This will mean customers will be kept happy with the high service being provided, due to the clocking-in system keeping things running smoothly and to time in store. A final objective, which can be helped to be met due to the new system in store, is â€Å"raising standards of service within the business.† This ties in with the previous objective. The way this can be met is because with staff in store continually being punctual for work then this is the first step of raising service levels in store. This is because with staff all present in store customers will be able to be served easily – meaning service is high. The way the clocking-in system will help raise standards of service will work in the same way, as punctuality is a key to helping service remain high. Also staff will be kept happy – as mentioned in the previous objective, which will mean staff presence and pleasantness will help raise standards of service across the store. The effects that the clocking-in system will have on the functions of the business are that not much will really change due to this clocking-in system. This is because at the moment the only things that are present are times sheets, which are on the wall by the manager’s office. The store is too small to have a new department created and would be a waste of time and money creating it as it is not needed. This is because all the work takes place at Head Office as they create all the payslips relating to hours worked. The Milton Keynes store does not do this. If anything were to change in the area of the functions in the MK store it would be that the managers office may need to be increased in size. This is because the manager may need to employ someone (or keep the sales and service supervisor) to deal with the time sheets that have been sent to the computer in there using the clocking-in system. This is so that they can be sent to Head Office. Obviously, this change will not be very big so the effects the clocking-in system will have on the store is minimal, meaning no extra money will need to be spent to enable the system to be more effective, which is a good thing. When looking at whether the installation of more tills in WHSmith, Milton Keynes, it is obvious this will have a positive effect on the store. This was explained in A1 but will basically help to keep queuing times shortened which will please customers. This will not cost too much to do, but should be done after Christmas when the new tills are installed. This will ultimately help to increase the profits of the store. The effect that the tills will have on the organisational structure is that it will mean the Milton Keynes structure will need to become bigger. This is because if more tills are to become open it will mean new staff will need to be recruited and trained so that they can operate on either the â€Å"old† tills, or they could work on the â€Å"new† tills. This will mean that they will also need to be trained in other aspects of work around the store, as they would only need to go on the tills when it becomes busy. This will mean that the structure of the branch will become wider at the bottom – which is where all the sales floor staff are. Therefore, it will mean the sales and service supervisors will have more employees to look after and support when they need help or are unsure what to do. This may mean that a new supervisor may be needed to help cope with the demand from the sales staff as the run up to Christmas can be very busy and demanding – which cou ld become very stressful on them. Because there are more staff it will mean that the internal communication will be affected in a negative way. The way this will happen is because there will be more sales staff than there has ever been working on the shop floor. As there will be an increased amount working it will mean that the senior people in the stores (manager, assistant manager, operations supervisor etc) will have more people to deal with. This can make it difficult to deal with individual members of staff or to talk to them, as they will not have enough time to talk to individuals. This may make some employees feel neglected and that they are not being recognised due to the fact that they have a lack of communication with these senior workers in store. This will not be because they do not want to talk with employees, it will be because they will not be able to as they are very busy people and have a lot of work to do. This may mean that more staff meetings may need to be held more frequently to help bring managers and employees together so that they can communicate with each other – as this may be the only way to help everyone keep in contact. However, this cannot happen during work time as customers will need to be served and they cannot just leave the store unattended! This/These meeting/s may therefore have to take place after work one day when the store is closed. But will any employees want to stay behind work to have meetings? Very few may want to do this, meaning there will be a breakdown in communication in store, which will not have a very good impact on the working environment. This may mean employees may have to be paid money to stay for the meetings as overtime, which will cost the company money, which should not need to happen. This is why more tills will have a negative effect on the internal communication in store. The external communications will also be affected. The way this will happen is because there will be a better communication between customers and employees. This will be due to the increase in the amount of tills in store because new employees will be needed in order for the tills to be run successfully. This will therefore mean there will be additional members of staff to help accommodate customers’ needs, in any way that they need them to be sorted. This will mean that there will be more communication between employees and customers as there will be more of them, and it will also mean there will be stronger links between the two. This will therefore mean that communications between the two will be affected in a positive way as customers will be able to find help easier in store when they need it, which will also help them to remain pleased and will make them want to carry on shopping in Smith’s for these reasons. The objectives that will be met from installing new tills are that it will show that the store is â€Å"continually raising standards of service in the business.† This is because the increased amount of tills in store will mean that it is proving to the customers that they are trying to help to increase service levels and reduce queuing times. This is a good thing because if they are showing they can improve one thing in store (amount of tills), it will show that numerous other things can be improved as well and will not take masses amounts of time to do, as the tills have not. The increased amount of tills will also show that more employees have been taken on and have been trained to high standards, meaning no matter which till the customer purchases their goods from they will still be served at a high level, which is a good thing and helps to prove that the objective is being met. Another objective, which is being met from introducing new tills, is that employees will be â⠂¬Å"kept motivated. † The reason for this is that with new tills it will mean that new employees will be needed. This will mean that the new employees will only need to go on the tills when it becomes busy. However, speaking from experience, working on the tills in store can become very tedious after periods of time. This is because of the same actions made possibly hundreds of times in a short period of time on busy days. This can make staff feel de-motivated as they become bored doing the same thing over and over. But due to these tills only being needed to be opened when it is busy, they will only need to be open for certain periods of time meaning the employees who work on these tills will be doing different work when the tills are shut. This can mean that when they are working around the shop floor they may enjoy it more and feel more motivated. But when they get bored of working around the shop they may be needed on the tills again. This will make them feel more motivated when they go back on the tills – and if this process continues to carry on (working on tills and then on the shop floor) they may feel less bored and will enjoy their work more, which will in turn mean customers will be treated better, which means the introduction of more tills will help this objective to be met better. The effects that the increased amount of tills will have on the functions of the business are that it will mean that the cash office that is in store may need to either be increased in size or it may need to have more employees (of authority) working in there. The reason for this is because busy days (weekends) will mean the new tills will most probably be open for a majority of the day, if not all. This will mean there will be a bigger demand from employees to be kept up-to-date on their tills. The most important things that are needed on the tills are that change needs to be kept topped up in the tills, gift vouchers run out regularly and need replacing often – especially at Christmas as they are given as presents a lot, phone vouchers also sell fast as well as stamps. Activation codes for magazine subscriptions are also kept in the till in few amounts and because there is an offer of 3 for 2 it encourages customers to buy 3, which means 3 activation codes are needed. This will mean there will be a bigger demand from the tills as there will be more that need to be kept toped up. The reason why vast amounts of cash, gift vouchers, stamps and phone vouchers are not kept in the tills is because if there was a robbery to occur in store it is very easy for the till to be removed from its case. This is made easier as notes, which are put in the counter cache by employees, are on the other side of the till when it is open. This makes the till an easy target for robbers to take – which is why WHSmith, Milton Keynes does not run the risk of keeping masses of notes, coins or anything else in the till. This is why someone else may need to be employed in the cash office – so that it can be run efficiently and so that tills can be refreshed when necessary, without any difficulty. The other function of the store, which may be affected by more tills, is the small function of the recruiting of new staff – run by the training and communications supervisor. This is because she will need to employ some new staff so that the new tills can be run when they need to be, and are, opened in store. This will just be like any other recruiting done by Louise but will need to be done simply for the new tills. This will therefore only be a small effect and will not last very long – but it will still affect the business, as increased wages will need to be paid out. This will mean that the time sheets will need to be updated by the sales and service supervisor in charge of them, unless they install the new clocking-in system. This will mean the new employees’ hours worked will need to be calculated and dealt with – which is the other small effect these new tills will have on a function of the store. In saying this I feel that I have evaluated the effects that these new, or alternate approaches, will have on various aspects explained above in the store.