Impression Management as a Goal Directed Activity

Impression ManagementAssignment question: â€Å"Impression Management as a goal directed activity not only sets the boundaries of what is considered appropriate behaviour but also aids in defining what behaviour will be met with disapproval. †(Goffman 1989) Discuss this statement in the context of a practical professional setting. According to Andersen, M. L. , & Taylor, H. L. (2006)impression management is defined as â€Å"good oriented conscious or unconsciousprocess in which people attempt to influence the perceptions of other people about a person, object or event, they do so by regulating and controlling information in social interaction. According to Sinha (2009), â€Å"Impression management is an active self-presentation of a person aiming to enhance his image in the eyes of others† (p. 104). A symbolic interaction noting that impression management is â€Å"the process of authentic self-presentation used when an individual wants to present himself to other peop le the same way he perceives himself†¦a tactical brand used by individuals. † A variation of this view by Brym and Lie, (2006, p. 44) depicts impression management as a situation whereby â€Å"people deliberately change or modify their behaviour to fit a given situation†¦the process whereby people seek to control the image that others have of them. † The above scholarly views seek to consolidate Goffman’s (1989) view that â€Å"Impression Management as a goal directed activity not only sets the boundaries of what is considered appropriate behaviour but also aids in defining what behaviour will be met with disapproval. † In assessing the concept of impression management it is pivotal to isolate the impetus behindthisconcept.All the above definitions provide a direct inference that this concept involves creating an impressionable illusion which is highly fragile and requires constant attention in order to ensure its sustainability. Keeping in mind that it is a goal oriented model, impression management is a fundamental and universal process that involves a number of influential factors. These factors are social, cultural and spiritual. Considering that this model is set in a professionalenvironment, it is essential to administer an appropriate outlook into impression management in professional localities.Newman, (2009, p. 173) states that â€Å"Impression management allows the production of manufactured personas, which aid in the socialization process. The use of impression management provides people with the necessary skills to create a custom and often falsified perception. †, this may be well suited to the professional environment and its various facets such as job interviews, officerelations between employees and management, firms and both clients and potential clients, firms and other firms as well with the ultimate goal being to create a virtuous professional atmosphere.It is paramount to note that the microcosm represents the macrocosm, in relation to impression management it is hence necessary to carry out a thorough analysis of individualistic measures of impression management before relating this to an entire professional setting. According to Andersen and Taylor (2006), â€Å"Impression management can be seen as a type of con game† (p. 04), relating to the basic scenario of a job interview when a person engages in impression management, they are attempting to manipulate the impression they project onto others, with the goal being to ultimately acquire a job and will do so through the following means of impression management: †¢Good eye contact in order to establish an aura of confidence and honesty critical to the business sector †¢An appropriate physical appearance, aclean, professional persona †¢Chronematic management, being prompt is tantamount to a gesture of a focused individual †¢Kinesis should be reflective of confidence and a potentially aggressive st ature appropriately suited to the aggressive nature of the business world In essence, the above seeks to highlight the paramount idea that the person being perceived manages the perception of the perceiver hoping to have a positive impact which in this case is delivering a sublime job interview with prospects of acquiring a particular job position. This approach helps a person carefully craft relationships and by extension they have the ability to alter their position in the socialization process through impression management, especially if now expanding the concept impression management into the actual working environment in an analysis of relationships between an individual whether as a subordinate or a manager.When in the position of relative power such as management, active impression management is supreme, an individual is under the constant debilitating gaze of oftentimes opportunistic employees or subordinates on the prowl for error. Hence individuals in management should lea ve no room for error in their impression management â€Å"A person’s relative position in society can also influence impression management† (Newman, 2009, p. 172). A person’s posit ion in society and the prestige of impression management are congruent. Managers should exercise extreme decorum, bepunctual, have astute command of a professional ethic of honesty and transparency and above all a professional outlook on their physical presentation. Illustration of how people attempt to control how others perceive them is portrayed through the clothing they wear.A person who is in a leadership position strives to be respected and in order to control and maintain the impression; the person wears a nice suit, carries a briefcase, and acts in a professional manner. The professional clothing and the dignified manner in which the person carries him or herself, plays a large role in the impression management process. The goal behind such a constrictive and extremely rule bo und outlook of impression management is so as to create an impression to the subordinates, however not one of fear but of a respectable individual employees are willing to be loyal and ultimately submissive to without any urge of dissent hence having a positive influence on a firm’s productivity and profits due to Herzberg’s motivational factors being fulfilled by management.Another relationship worth analysis is that of impression management between work colleagues, an individual should establish a solid impression amongst colleagues and management, Newman (2009) expands on this notion, â€Å"Impression management is a tool most of us use to present ourselves as likable people† (p. 183). with the impetus being that of creating a virtuous working environment free of tension which makes work more enjoyable for an individual. Ultimately the central lynchpin being that of managing an approachable, responsible, amicable, ‘gossip- free’ impression of one self. This is advantageous in climbing the corporate ladder for situations whereby an individual is considered for a job promotion from being a lower grade employee to a higher grade, on basis of a character evaluation and impressions regarding that particular individual.If a general view is that of a rude, irresponsible, tension enabling individual, then this view would be to the detriment of an individual as such a negative inclination is almost impossible to remove. Most vital towards maintaining the survival of a business is a solid relationship established between the client and the business through its management and entire workforce, this also affects the resultant impression cast upon potential clients who may be considering working with a particular business, Ferrante (2008) expands on this concept in her book, Sociology: a Global Perspective, â€Å"Even if people are aware that they are manipulating reality, impression management can be a constructive feature of social in teraction† (p. 131). People across the globe implement this concept in order to obtain a favourable social outcome.Standardising this opinion in relation to a professional setting, a business needs to portray an impression heavy consolidated with a strong sense of reliability, transparency and good customer relations. A prime example would be that of Econet Wireless Company, already with a well-established impression as the leading, most reliable telecommunications service provider, it is vital to be consistent with such an impression. This is most evident in their customer relations which are friendly and extremely efficient; a dedication to fulfilling a corporate social responsibility through their Econet Scholarship Programme is reflective of an approachable and selfless impression which they constantly subscribe to.Hence an analysis of Econet’s impression management leaves us to conclude that although not completely a perfect impression due to unavoidable disruption s in network, Econet has a dominantly impeccable impression which invokes consumer loyalty and an exponential growth in terms on both customers and sales revenue and hence makes it easier to compare against other firms regarded as having a somewhat weaker, deficient impression such as Net One. There are a variety of social implications within impression management, but not all of the social implications are positive. Some of the repercussions are negative and can even be damaging to the person responsible for the implementation of impression management tactics. According to Newman (2009), â€Å"Impression management can lead to the creation of damaged identities, which must be repaired in order to sustain social interactions† (p. 183). Damaged identities and suffering social interactions can take a toll on a person, which enviably forces that person to retreat to impression management once again.Forexample, if a Muslim woman, who is dictated by religion to wear the traditiona l full body gear exposing only the eyes(termed the ‘Burka’) is placed in a banking professional environment such as that of Standard Chartered Bank,due to severe stereotyping it would serve uncomfortable for not only the individual, but the colleagues as well the customers and potential customers to conduct banking or business related transactions without invoking a degree of suspicion towards such a woman or a feeling of pity towards an inferred and assumed segregation of Muslim women. It may seem increasingly ironic that the tactic that aided in the damaging and exiling of a person can be the very approach that puts that person back in the social standings. Impression management is a concept to be taken very seriously. It has the power and influence to create a favourable public opinion of a particular person, it can break a person in regards to social standings, and it can repair a damaged persona.Additionally, impression management has the ability to dictate a perso n’s position in society, as commonly prescribed that a good impression management becomes tantamount to solid business relationships which serve to the advantage of an individual or a firm alike. Conclusion Impression management is a self-presentation technique that focuses on improving a person’s image in the eyes of others. Ever since Erving Goffman implemented the term impression management in 1959, sociologists and theorists have been studying additional aspects of the concept. Impression management presents constructive and favourable images to the public, encouraging a positive outcome. Impression management is a common underlying process that involves social and cultural implications.In regard to the social implications, impression management allows people to carefully craft and construct their public perception. In some cases, in order to obtain a favourable public or social appearance, a person must alter and falsify their persona. The social implications of i mpression management are not always negative, but there is a fine line between the positive and negative aspects. Impression management in relation to culture has a far more positive outcome. The cultural implications of impression management define the significance of cultural traditions, norms, and ways of life. The clothing people choose to wear, the words they choose to utilise are all apart of the impression management process.It would be highly advantageous to implement means by which to improve on or further establish impression management through following the appropriate rules of etiquette in relation to the professional environment such as desisting from the use of cell phones during board meetings as it is disrespectful and conceited and above all a consistentupgrade and maintenance of one’s impression or otherwise social facade. References Andersen, M. L. , & Taylor, H. L. (2006). Sociology: The essentials. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publishing Brym, R. S. , & Lie, J. (2006). Sociology: Your compass for a new world. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publishing. Ferrante, J. (2008). Sociology: A global perspective. Belmont, CA: Thomas Higher Education. Giddens, A. (2005). Sociology. Cambridge, UR, UK: Polity Press. Newman, D. M. (2009). Sociology: Exploring the architecture of everyday life. Thousand Oaks, CA: Pine Forge Press. Sinha, J. B. (2009). Culture and organization national behaviour. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

Development Of Appraisal And Reward System

Reward system is an instilled component of the personality of every man; he is a tripartite being with a spirit living in a body, and a soul. He thinks, feels, decides and acts. These are the elements of human interaction either at home or in any other organization. This system has long been proven by brain biologist and psychologists to be of paramount use in the development of a responsible and effective. This is further confirmed by the nature of outputs produced by organizations that have harnessed this for industrial use [Wilson, 2003].The recognition of intuitive input to the productivity of an organization, and the subsequent reward of such has indeed advanced the course of man at all levels of human administration. Really, its importance can not be overemphasized in this age of competitive business market. There are specific and pragmatic ways of establishing this amiable system into the company’s mainstream activity; this is the main focus of this article. IMPORTANCE OF APPRAISAL AND AWARD SYSTEM This is a ‘global age’; an age where the large world is shirked into a small global village.Innovations are emerging daily. Alls spheres of human endeavor are advancing at millennial speed. In this age, there is intense search for talents and skills that can maintain such developments or excellence, and also even work on them to produce better. This has created keen competition in the labor market, and every company knows the value of its high-output workers, and would never want to loose them. It is this that has made performance and character based appraisal and reward system more important to the survival of any enterprise than ever before in the history of man.Every one wants the best. The search for the best leaves no space for inefficiency, as the best must be delivered by employees. Companies have also inculcated diversity into their mission statement to accommodate enough space for this search for the best, and retaining those who h ave also proven to be of optimum impact to the activities of the organization. The concept of diversity has thrown appraisal and reward into a bigger landscape for employees ready to give their best to their chosen area of influence at work.In this case, the impact of encouraging an effort geared in this direction is of utmost importance and can not be overlooked. Leading organization in any known industry, and even new inclusions understand the place of recognizing and awarding ingenuity by company employees targeted at improving customer patronage or better service delivery. Great managers and leaders do acknowledge that humans can deliver beyond their present status if only they are encouraged by a credible means. A child who receives encouragement at home from his parents usually performs better that one that does not enjoy such privilege.It is an inherent need of man, that his potential can be better harnessed with tangibly significant appreciation. In the presence of a credibl e and fair reward system, employees have a basic encouragement to deliver their best to the Company, in their capacity. They can afford to stretch themselves with their elastic limit to meet deadlines, increase effectiveness and productivity, deliver more efficient and customer-friendly service because there would be a reward for their labor. This leads to increased productivity for the Company.This productivity is relative to the Company product. Even religious organizations understand this as they promise more blessings for obedient servants. This system, if properly put in place, heightens sense of responsibility of the employee and creates a ‘working bond’ that may not be easy to break. With a fair plan, there is increased interest in Company acts, mission, plans and goals. This created a better working environment for them, and there is increased trust and more fruitful human relationships in the Company. DEVELOPMENT OF THE SYSTEMA system that recognizes human inpu ts and quality ideas directed at optimal productivity, improved working environment and human relations, confidence and profitability of a company, and significantly rewards such via credible and fair techniques is referred to as an appraisal and reward system; its effectiveness is enhanced as all participants, employees and managers, understand its purpose and are poised to make useful contribution towards achieving the set goals. A good plan is based on a combination of performance and character [John Bill].Its development involves steps outlined below: DEFINITION OF PURPOSE It is important to start with a well-defined purpose. Purpose of the system is clearly outlined from the outset. This is seen to be consistent with the Mission statement of the Company in writing and principle; it is communicated to employees and is also broken into smaller units called Goals. It is in bringing such purpose down into those achievable units that they show pragmatism and spur workers to work[ Ga llup]. COMPANY INTERACTIONS/COMMUNICATIONThis involves a forum through which such system is communicated to participants in clear and understandable terms. Suggestions and quality ideas are welcomed on the plan and execution of the plan. This also affords an opportunity to for skill acquisition and training geared at achieving the Purpose. Really, this is inevitable to the survival of the program Communication should not be a once-and-for-all thing; it need be continuous. In this way and at any point in the course of organization’s work, there is a location, personality or unit constantly refreshing people’s mind about the program.This keeps the spirit alive. GOALS This should be SMART: Stipulated and Stimulating, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time-bound. With effective communication, employees understand and can work toward them. With those criteria, goals are closer to the heart and easier to handle at work. It is important to combine an insightful technique in drawing such goals; this is easier when everybody- all participants are part of the decision making. IMPLEMENTATION STRUCTURE This is the most important of all.If purpose is then and goals are made with effective communication and there is no CREDIBLE AND FAIR structure to implement the plans, then the result can be easily guessed: there would be result at all. Therefore, it is important for the structure to be credible and fair in such a way that the criteria for adjudging performance is well-stipulated and combine quantitative and qualitative means. No element of subjectivity should be seen because this is the major worry of employees. If there is no open and transparent objectivity in the implementation, the program would fail.This structure is vital to the success of the program; it could be created as another committee entirely or a unit per session [ups] that would oversee the activities of workers at different levels. It would also be interested in accurately informing uni t members about the nature, category and content of reward. This would remove the excuse of inaccurate information and promote trust in the system. CATEGORISATION It is important for a categorization of the Purpose and goals into specific ‘committee’ or section where people of different work experience and exposure status can accurately fit in.This is to ensure that there is space for everyone, and a chance to be recognized as diligent. No one should be left out. Company products can also be categorized, with respectively competent employee. This is to ensure equal distribution of work based on talent, skills, and company’s expectation. REWARDS There should be a stated method of rewards and it should be both significant and tangible. Announcement is not enough reward. Such tools that can be employed include by compensation, awards or increase in base line salary.The latter is widely appraised, and is best effective when the incentive is about 25% of the baseline pay. Such should also be done with a short period of time. REVIEW It is important to review the activities of program, it impact on the organization and its vivid dividends at regular intervals. This would sustain and strength awareness of and confidence in the program. CONCLUSION All companies need a n appraisal and reward system, as ways of maximizing their workers input. This system affects all aspects of an organization.It is inevitable in this global and highly competitive age. Such can be established with defined purpose broken into goals, communicated to all participants under a credible and fair structure which is regularly reviewed for productivity. Gold companies retain best workers, and attract others by such means. It is no loss to any business at all. BIBILIOGRAPHY Wilson, Thomas. Innovative Reward systems for the changing workplace John, Bill: Reward and Appraisal. http://www. accaglobal. com/students/study_exams/qualifications/acca_choose/acca/fundamentals/ab/technica l_articles/2944835Performance Based Reward system Accessed from www. performance-appraisal. com/rewards. htm Performance Reward and Compensation. Accessed from http://www. gallupconsulting. com/content/? ci=58 Performance and Reward Accessed from Peter Scott www. peterscottconsult. co. uk/briefings/yourpartnerrewardsystem. doc Effective performance appraisal system. Accessed from www. allacademic. com/meta/p154789_index. html Effective Employee development Program http://www. maritz. com/employee_recognition_awards. html

Criminal Justice Research Methodology Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Criminal Justice Methodology - Research Paper Example The academic literature in the field of criminology is devoting increasing attention to the factors that cause women to engage in criminal behavior. Some researchers have discovered that the behavioral patterns appear to differ between female and male offenders (Block et al, 2010). Others have observed that alternative research and assessment strategies need to be applied to female offenders to gain a better understanding of deviant behavior in women and to obtain more reliable data on crimes committed by women (Traqina and Sorensen, 2009). In order to assess the proportion of non-violent crimes reported in Minneapolis, Minnesota the following hypotheses will be tested: This study will utilize both quantitative and qualitative methodologies in an effort to gain a better understanding of the relationship between age and gender and the reporting of non-violent crimes. The case study approach is a useful qualitative tool and helps to limit the scope of the project to a size that is manageable. A content analysis of the local news section of Minneapolis Star-Tribune newspaper for the years 2005-2009 will assist in identifying non-violent crimes reported by the major print media. This will help determine if there appears to be a bias related to gender or age in the crimes that actually make it into print. Quantitative data from the University of Minnesota for 2005-2009 will show all reported incidences of non-violent crime in Minneapolis categorized by gender and age. The mean and standard deviation for the number of non-violent crimes by gender and age will be calculated and compared. A cross tabulation will be constructed and the Pearson Chi Square will be used to determine statistical significance. The findings from the Minneapolis case study will be compared to other studies reported in the academic literature. This is useful in helping to

Persuasive Memo Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Persuasive Memo - Research Paper Example After a lot of reflection and consultation, I feel the company should preserve the surroundings by ensuring that water released into the environment prior to manufacturing is fully treated, which is a low cost program for Boston Beers and will reduce on water pollution. The following is a discussion on how it will benefit the community and the company. Concerns in the Community Resources such as clean water and air are getting more elusive daily, both in the community we operate within and in the world over. In Boston, Massachusetts, one of the major problems faced is water pollution (USEPA, 2013). Some members of the public continue to raise concerns over the frequent pollution of their primary water sources, water that they use for drinking, domestic consumption and industrial uses, among other things (USEPA, 2013). Often, members of the public have articulated that unclean water infiltrates their water lines, causing the water supplied to be unusable, especially domestically. In a study conducted, it was discovered that on the pollution index, water pollution in the Boston area went as high as 35.71% (MassDep, 2012). The study was based on water collected from beaches, rivers and residential areas. The beach waters were voted most polluted owing to the quantity of chemical effluent discovered on testing the samples collected from them (NRDC, n.d.). Apart from chemicals, the waters generally consisted of other wastes such as plastics and sewage. This has raised major concerns over the measures taken by the relevant parties in ensuring access to clean and usable water in the community. Where Boston Beers Comes in Boston Beers Company has a role to play in ensuring reduction in the level of water pollution in the environs of the company. The company is not solely to blame for water pollution. Even so, there are several reasons as to why the Boston Beers ought to be at the front line in making efforts to reduce water pollution. They are as listed. The samples of water that underwent testing, especially water from rivers, was high in brewery effluents. Brewery effluents are rich in nitrogen, carbohydrates, and cleaning reagents (Massachusetts Ports Authority, 2013). These are some of the wildest and most common water pollutants and are notorious for reducing oxygen in the water and consequently a rapid depletion in plant and animal life. It also leads to many avoidable ailments in the community that stem from consuming contaminated water. Secondly, Boston Beers Company performed poorly on the rating scales for measures against water pollution (USEPA, 2012). The company’s performance reflects in community’s opinions. As far as the community is concerned, Boston Beers is not doing enough to protect the environment against water pollution. This fault needs to be dealt with promptly and in the best means available. Finally, Kim Morotta of the MillerCoors once stated, â€Å"Without water, there is no beer†. Polluted water is rendered unusable for consumption and production (Massachusetts Ports Authority, 2013). As a company that is highly dependent on a steady flow of water, which is one of the primary ingredients, there is need for Boston Beers to participate actively in guaranteeing a steady flow of water. The Program and Implementation As earlier stated, the aim of the program is to protect the en

Researching in Business management 2 Literature review

Researching in Business management 2 - Literature review Example As per my research topic I chose that how efficiently UEL undergraduates are planning their future lives and choosing their career. This is a small scale research project where I have chose two different data collection methods they are questionnaire and interview among from three different data collection methods the last one is observation approach. This research is very important for the undergraduate students of UEL as well as the organization which ready to come to the campus to recruit these students and for faculties also. For students that they can evaluate themselves and start thinking straight for their future, teachers can have a clear prospective and view about their students thought process and it will be easy for them to help students accordingly. For industry recruiters that they can evaluate and find right mind for the right kind of profession in their respective organisation. 2. Research Methodology: 2.1 Methods Used: For this research I used both the pillars of mark eting research they are primary and secondary research approach. For primary research best way to complete that is survey method. For data collection approach as I said earlier that among the three different approaches (Questionnaire, Observation and interview), I choose two of them like Questionnaire and Interview methods. For students I chose questionnaire data collection method as they have enough time and patience to do that. But for industry experts and human resource management of various industries as they do not have that much time to evaluate each question and they are professionals so I chose to take interview data collection approach. One to one personal interview is a costly and time consuming one but this interview is best suitable for the qualitative answers from the professionals. As it is a small research so while on data analysis I have to take the help of secondary research as well. Quantitative questions are close ended type in nature here the response from the re spondents will be premeditative and there will be no chance of uncertainty. So compiling of these data will easier as the results are predetermined in nature. But for qualitative responses, response will be explorative and descriptive in nature. Primary research can be descriptive, explorative, causal or very casual in nature. Descriptive research will be at that time when the researcher is doing a research on a broader topic which base is situated among several topics but for explorative research the topic need to be out of the box kind of and very few or no previous research is done on that topic. Here researchers need to look forward to innovative responses and need to explore various approaches. For causal research, researcher will research on cause and effect of a given problem or research project. 2.2 Sample: The most appropriate sampling method is simple random sampling technique. For the students of UEL close ended, quantitative, questionnaire method is the best suitable sam ple technique and for industry experts and human resource department of various organisations qualitative, open ended, interview method is best suitable. As two type of research methods are taken for two different target groups, so questionnaire also will be split up into two different modules. For questionnaire research method the close ended

Error logging sentence corrections Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Error logging sentence corrections - Essay Example Woman defends the product of her tenderness and devotion for her children and others, and the sacrifices of women in life’s events, in which we all participate. The participation of women in performing their role as mothers in society always appears predominantly as related to their children. Working tirelessly for them to have the best and she is always concerned about what happens to them. The primary factor in creating a family bond is the mother, because she contributes to the formation of her child’s emotional and social development. Her children are gaining most of the behavioral patterns from their mother. My days go by more quickly with the help of my family and with my role of being a sty-at-home mother. These responsibilities are things that I adore, but also a demanding job. As a mother, I must provide care for my children, take responsibility for my family and love them all at the same time. I put my family together through affection, love patience, gentle l istening, consoling and encouragement. I also have to try to extinguish interpersonal conflicts in the family by watching over each member with true tenderness. The home should be well cared for and the education of children is essential for the proper functioning of the family and society. This is all a part of a mother‘s devotion to her children.

Civil engineering Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 2

Civil engineering - Essay Example The main goal of site assessment is to conduct preliminary a evaluation of the potential development and provide screening analysis. Here the construction company develops a site feasibility checklist in order to provide basic information required to determine if a site meets basic requirements and to provide basic economic analysis. This process also identifies strength and weakness of the retail project and to determine whether or not to pass to the next stage of retail development. (Plummer, F. 2007) There are stages followed in site assessment in the construction of a retail project and they include planning for site assessment, Data collection, data analysis and finally plan development and project layout. Planning for Site Assessment is important stage before designing and laying out the retail project. This will be vital for the Plan Engineer in making informative decisions about the project. Data collection about the site is the next important stage in site assessment. This stage involves a collection of resourceful information pertaining to the site. This information can be obtained from maps, existing publications and other resources. Going to the site to have a visual appreciation of the site and site features is valuable. Important information collected includes vegetative cover, soil information, topographical information, hydrological information and evaluation of adjacent properties and their land use. Analysis of the collected information on the parameters listed above to identify various needs and modification the site may require .Evaluation of the impact of that parameter may help to reduce the negative economic burden and environmental impact of the project. As data analysis takes place the Civil Engineer should be to determine the permits required for the retail project. (Plummer, F.

O.J. Simpson Crime Scene Evidence Research Paper

O.J. Simpson Crime Scene Evidence - Research Paper Example . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 A. Accusations of Evidence Tampering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 - 6 B. Police Inexperience . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 C. Cross-contamination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 D. Bloody Fingerprint on the Door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 IV. Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 V. Bibliography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Abstract A celebrity case like that of the O. J. Simpson twin murders case draws a lot of media attention. The issue of race had also been injected into the case trial because of claims of racist behavior from some police officers of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) and one of them was Mark Fuhrman who happened to be also the first among the police offic ers to arrive on the crime scene. When racism becomes an issue, there is the motivation and the suspicion that an investigator like Fuhrman could not be above planting or tampering with evidence especially if it concerns on his behavior towards blacks and inter-racial unions. If the prosecution lost the case, then they have only themselves to blame for it. There were a lot of mistakes made when they did the initial investigation and even during the trial proper; some officers were found to be perjured. In addition to accusations of racial biases and evidence tampering, inexperienced police officers were assigned to the case; from the collection of samples up to the examination of blood samples which kept turning up as evidence even days and weeks into the investigation. There were many instances of cross-contamination also between the crime scene and the residence of Simpson that was initially not considered as possible crime scene. The failure to get the proper search warrant also invalidated much of the evidence that was gathered. A very crucial piece of evidence like a bloody fingerprint, containing the fingerprint of the probable killer and the DNA itself, were not utilized by the prosecution to the fullest extent as a strong corroborative and direct evidence. Keywords: blood, DNA, Fuhrman, fingerprint, glove, samples, Simpson LAW: O. J. Simpson Crime Scene Evidence Introduction Today's societies are often engulfed in a wave of crimes, both property and index crimes that people are rightly afraid for their safety and security. There comes sometimes a crime that is quite unique because of the circumstances and personalities involved. This specially if the crime involves famous personalities such that the public is enthralled and mesmerized by sort of media circus and details of the crime are often obscured. The media can turn crime reporting into a kind of entertainment in the pursuit of a good story. The story then becomes a good fodder for society gossip and diverts the true objective of a crime scene investigation which is to catch the criminal. There is also a long-accepted principle in jurisprudence that flight is indicative of guilt. This is certainly true in most cases where the suspected criminal becomes a fugitive in trying to stay ahead of the arm of law. However, it is also not entirely impossible that a person who can be initially considered innocent takes to flight out of confusion, fear or simply panic on not knowing what proper courses of action to take. A good crime investigation takes not only the

Discuss Steps The U.S Government can take to reduce oil consumption in Research Paper

Discuss Steps The U.S Government can take to reduce oil consumption in the United States - Research Paper Example The United States is a highly developed country and also a high consumer of petroleum and allied products to meet its energy requirements. The major sectors that use these products are transportation on land, air and sea, heating of buildings, various manufacturing industries, domestic appliances such as lawn movers, generators, etc. Traditionally since colonization of the continent, the US has been dependent on Natural non-renewable resources such wood, coal, natural gas, petroleum, etc. The volume of consumption as varied over time, being high in the earlier decades due to various reasons such as perceived abundance, comparatively less efficient machines, automobiles, etc., affordability and a lifestyle that did not lay the required emphasis on judicial use of these resources with the idea of conservation, impact on environment, etc. largely due to ignorance and poor awareness of such issues. Before we look at the methods for energy conservation, let us briefly understand the various sectors that are consumers of energy. (Overview, U.S. EIA, 2012) The different sectors that are essential consumers of power and fuel are Industrial, Transport, Business & Commercial and Domestic sectors. In the light of the above, we will now explore and discuss the various alternatives especially in the Natural and Renewable energy sources and also enumerate the various ways in which energy consumption itself (irrespective of the source) can be reduced in the larger interest of minimizing the global impact on the environment, its harmful effects and resultant climate change. (Cleetus, R. et.al., 2009; Greene, D.L., 2011) The United States is by far the largest consumer of oil in the world at 20.6 million barrels per day (EIA, 2007), 60 per cent of which is imported. Of this, two-thirds is consumed by the Transport sector and ~44% by other

Critical thinking and ethics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Critical thinking and ethics - Essay Example The Ethical Lens Inventory provides a tool for personal evaluation; the ELI helps students understand values that influence their choices (Fink, 2008). My preferred ethical lens from the ELI is the results lens. I usually listen to my intuition (sensibility) when determining the greatest good for each person (autonomy). My core values are autonomy and sensibility. My primary aim is to protect individual right; I believe that protecting individual rights is the best way of ensuring that every person in the community is treated fairly. These core values are based on the universal rights and duties of human beings. My blind spot is that I strongly believe that my definition of the greatest good is similar to all people; I could be causing pain to other people who believe on different ways of achieving goodness. Personal ethics are the basic principles and values that govern interactions between people. Personal ethics are critical in decision-making process since they positively impact the experiences of other people when used to govern behaviors of individuals in business or social contexts. Decision-making process is required to be founded on moral principles (Fink, 2008); while making decisions, I always ensure that the decisions do not cause harm to others, but cause good to people. As an ethical person, I consider several choices and strive to minimize the consequences to humanity caused to each individual due to adoption of a particular decision. As a branch of philosophy, ethics concentrates on systematizing, defending, and recommending concepts of right and wrong conduct. Ethics is widely applied to both personal and professional responsibilities (Head & Mann, 2005). As an ethical person, I am aware of my responsibilities and I am always striving to achieve the best based on ethical guidelines. Responsibility is one of the values of morality that every ethical

Philosophy of Music Education in the Indian Context Essay Example for Free

Philosophy of Music Education in the Indian Context Essay These goals must be the first and foremost reason why we teach music. To instill an even greater understanding and love of the domain thus enabling our students develop a genuine interest and continue a life long journey that’s undertaken in varying degrees and through diverse roles. Phenix (1986) stress on the fact that knowledge of methods makes it possible for a person to continue learning and undertake inquiries on his own (p. 11). Estelle Jorgenson in her book â€Å"Transforming Music Education† eloquently describes the need for music education to be transformed for the very reason that children be able to continue developing their knowledge beyond the classroom. Effective music education is built of a foundation that encompasses discussions, goals, materials and strategies, based on a teacher’s knowledge and experience of music and child development, educational guidelines and â€Å"overarching, and developing philosophy of music education† (Fiske, 2012). Before I elucidate my philosophy about music, I recognize the need to clarify my stand as a music educator who is passionate and determined to elevate the status of music education within classrooms around India. My Musical Experiences Music has always been a part of me for as long as I can remember. My earliest memories of music, especially the performance aspect, goes back to when I was three years old and sang a solo for a Christmas Concert that was organized by the radio station that my father worked at. I have memories of him kneeling on one knee and playing the guitar for me while I sang after which I was delighted to receive a big present from Santa. Ever since, I have enjoyed performing, and have so felt so comfortable on stage. All along I grew up listening to Christian gospel music and many contemporary arrangements of hymns. Supplementary to that my father offered me a rich experience of Indian hindustani devotional music. I learned songs by ear and didn’t realize what I was missing at this point, imagining what I learned in music to be the only way to absorb and internalize it. Performing was something that I enjoyed doing and it came naturally to me, partly because of my early initiation into leading worship at church. My true test of endurance came about when I was introduced to Western Classical Music at the age of 14, through the study of two years of piano. My teacher, like many others around, displayed an extremely formalistic approach and didn’t do much to expand my understanding of music beyond what was on the page and how I was supposed to read it. In response to this method I didn’t enjoy learning from the pages of notated music books, as much as I did learning by ear, and I continued to develop as a musician who played by ear and improvised at will. Studying opera during undergrad was a trying phase for me because of my inability to â€Å"connect the dots† as easily as I should have been able to. My aural skills remained excellent and I sometimes relied on that to carry me through certain phases. Hard work and determination became my motto, and I spent hours to understand and perfect music that was assigned to me, as I wanted to do my very best. Although I had composed songs earlier, without notating them, the study of music theory opened up a whole new world for me. I could now add variety and richness to my music through the concepts I was learning. Music became a new language for me; I was captivated by the way it lent itself to diverse experiences through different musical roles (something that I wasn’t aware of or didn’t pay attention to earlier). As a Music Teacher Although I initially joined a conservatory to study vocal performance, I found myself deeply drawn towards music education, and during my second semester decided to learn more about devising meaningful and persuasive trategies to improve the standard of music education in India. This thought emerged from an understanding that I had felt almost cheated for having lost out on so many years of studying music formally, yet effectively. I didn’t have a choice because structured music instruction simply wasn’t available at all the schools that I studied in, or the quality of instruction didn’t serve the purpose of educating or informing students like me. What gave the impression of a music class/lesson at school was in reality an enthusiastic way of keeping students occupied for forty minutes in simple singing, with a concert for parents every once a year. We learned songs by rote to perform them, year after year. During those years though, I didn’t realize the limitations that this system came with and continued to enjoy the fact that I was in choir and able to sing. This vacuum remains largely visible and unattended to in schools today, although some music educators in the recent past have taken huge steps towards improving the quality and effectiveness of their instruction in classrooms around India. Their efforts however remain predominantly an enthusiastic endeavor. What is urgently required is certainly something much more than sincere teaching. It calls for a transformation of the present system, giving room for every child to receive superior music education that fits into the whole. The need of every student being met in a transformed educational framework that constantly reshapes itself to accommodate new ideas and strategies. After all, as Regelski (2003) rightly points out that music (music education) is for everyone and not just for an elite few. The turning point in my decision to finally teach music myself came about when I enrolled my four-year-old daughter, Tiara, for after-school piano lessons. I hoped to give her a head start, with the understanding that she needn’t have to face the same challenges in learning music, like I had to. However, after a few classes, I realized to my complete dissatisfaction that there was no structure, no thought and imagination, and no clarity in what was being thought to her. Her fingering on the piano was all over the place for the two songs that her teacher worked on â€Å"Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star. † And â€Å"Baa Baa Black Sheep† Her teacher (I later learned wasn’t introduced to classical notation), taught her these songs by writing letters in a book and instructing her to commit it to heart. Lesson after lesson they would follow the same outline with no emphasis on any other musical aspects whatsoever. I decided I wasn’t going to take this lying down! I had to do all within my capacity to change the face of music education, as the vast majority of people understand it. I began studying about music education as well, to inform and equip myself for the task at hand. Around this period, my voice teacher encouraged me to coach students in voice, and I began shying away from it believing I was under qualified and needed many years of study to begin teaching. However, with a newfound passion and vigor, I accepted to coaching some of his voice students and also began to teach small groups of students on the history of music (because I loved learning about it). Meanwhile, I started training both my young daughters at home constantly developing new ideas and strategies to introduce musical concepts to them. A friend noticed my teaching style and asked if I would teach her daughter too, and thus began my professional journey as a music educator. Four years since then, I find myself accountable for the music instruction I offer to over 250 children across various age groups, who are part of my school. The need is so great within schools, and only a few educators are willing to take the extra effort of educating themselves and being channels of superior music instruction-catalysts of sorts. I am blessed to have a team of ten teachers who share in my vision and work alongside me in imparting music to the children who are part of our music school, â€Å"Harmony†. My long-term vision is to enhance the music programs in India for the betterment of as many children as possible. Individuals don’t realize what they’re missing until they’ve been given a taste of it, a glimpse of the bigger picture (much like my case). Through our school performances I aim on providing a window for the change to take place. A transformation that not only affects my students, but others around them as well through their personal interactions with each other and the community as a whole. My Personal Philosophy â€Å"A field or discipline without philosophical guidance, without critically examined ideals and commitment to their revision in light of the diverse and changing needs of those it seeks to serve, is more akin to an occupation han a profession† (Bowman Frega, 2012, p. 23). For my vision to bear fruit and show evidence of becoming something concrete, I realize the need to develop my philosophy of music to an extent that equips me with the requisite tools to be able to initiate the change that I seek after. In the words of Jorgenson (2008), â€Å"I want to excavate beneath the superficial and demonstrable skills to think about the ideas and principles of music teaching, the things that drive and shapeà ¢â‚¬ . According to Kivy (2002), â€Å"A practice or discipline or body of knowledge, then, seems to become ‘eligible’ (If that is the right word) for philosophy, properly so–called, when it becomes for us a way of life: when it cuts so deeply into our natures as human beings that we are impelled to explore and reveal its innermost workings† (p. 7). It is necessary for me to â€Å"clarify the major dimensions of musical experience† so I can â€Å"effectively offer them to, and nurture them within, â€Å" my students (Reimer, 2003, p. 9), this despite the passion and conviction with which I teach and advocate the need for arts in schools. I have begun to develop a synergistic mindset in my philosophy of music education after my reading and researching the literature, coupled with practical experiences over the last few years. Reimer (2003) points out â€Å" A synergistic mind-set is one open to cooperation as an alternative to contention, to searching for points of agreement or confluence as an alternative to fixating on discord, to recognizing nuances in which seemingly opposed views are capable of some level of contention† (p. 30). I agree with Reimer’s democratic view that musical meaning is meaning that â€Å"individuals choose to give to and take from music, based on their life experiences and their musical orientations. † He further adds that there is to be no â€Å"one right way†, and calls for an adaptation of a synergistic blend in music teaching. Music must involve decision making through discernment and connections within a particular role (Reimer, 2003, p. 213). Eisner (1987) illuminates the need for a curriculum that â€Å"exploits the various forms of representation and that utilizes all of the senses to help students learn what a period of history feels like†(p. 7). Similarly, offering students a basis for understanding music in all contexts involves a thorough exploration of musical meaning within its definitive parameters, along with contemplation or reflection. Introducing students to the music and other art forms of various cultures is a wonderful way to broaden their understanding of the meaning of music. A student does not need to lose his own musical identity in order to study other music. On the contrary, in learning about other music, a student’s life is enriched. Reimer states, â€Å"In the spirit of adding to the self rather than substituting other selves for one’s self, the study of the music of foreign cultures enriches the souls of all who are engaged in it† (p. 191). Music and Meaning As advocates of music, music educators are often expected to express the meaning of music through words, yet words are incapable of truly describing the beauty and emotion felt through experience. â€Å"The concern is not to arrive at a definition and to close the book, but to arrive at an experience† (Ciardi, 1975, p. ). Ciardi states that there â€Å"still lingers belief that a dictionary definition is a satisfactory description of an idea or of an experience† (p. 1). Words may attempt to describe music, yet true meaning must be derived from the actual music experience Reimer (2003) discusses the difference between meanings drawn from words or language and the meanings found through music. He writes, â€Å"Language is created and shared through the processes of conceptualization and communication. Music is created and shared through the process of artistic/aesthetic perceptual structuring, yielding meanings language cannot represent† (p. 133). â€Å"The real power of music lies in the fact that it can be â€Å"true† to the life of feeling in a way that language cannot† (Langer, 1942, p. 197). Phenix (1986) highlights the need to look for aesthetic meaning in music concluding that there has to be a delicate balance between descriptive proposition that serves the purpose of laying out a historical background and allowing for freedom to gain perceptual features. Though music may evoke emotions in my students as they compose or serve as an outlet for their feelings when they perform, the ultimate significance of music lies in its ability to symbolize/portray deeply felt emotions. In the pages of his article, How Does a Poem Mean, John Ciardi (1975) shares with the reader his view that language is not capable of completely conveying the meaning that is discovered through experience. Living through the poetry is more powerful than attempting to interpret it. I believe that language does, however, serve a purpose of enhancing and is required when teaching for musical meaning. Words such as diction, metaphor, rhythm, and counter rhythm describe elements that lead to the understanding of form. Once a student can identify changes in the form through performance, â€Å"he will have identified the poem in action† (p. 95). He will no longer ask what the poem means but will see â€Å"how it means† (p. 95). Ciardi suggests questions such as, â€Å"Why does it build itself into a form out of images, ideas, rhythms? How do these elements become the meaning? † and â€Å"How are they inseparable from the meaning? † (p. 100). These questions are helpful in leading a student to the ultimate meaningful experience. Likewise, music students may use their knowledge of musical elements, such as rhythm and dynamics, to see â€Å"how† a piece of music means. Reimer (2003) says language has the essential function of disclosing and explaining the music. Music elements are inseparable from the performance of the music as they help to explain the musical experience. On their own, however, words and definitions remain dull and lifeless. I believe students should be immersed in the experience, while in a chorus, performing their instruments and listening to those around them. Meaning can be discovered through active participation in music and through the emotion and beauty the music portrays, for â€Å"Music means whatever a person experiences when involved with music† (Reimer, 2003, p. 133). Ciardi’s (1975) statement: â€Å"It is the experience, not the final examination, that counts† (p. 3) is particularly striking. The Indian society places high emphasis on examinations in music as with other subjects, very often overlooking the need for students to value their experience through the process of learning. I sometimes feel pressured by the community to meet high concert performance expectations and good examination results. Although I recognize that performance and the International music exams is a wonderful opportunity in which students can share their music with the community, or understand their level of competency, the true reflection of meaning in the music should be experienced in day-to-day music making within my classroom. I do my best not to focus on the examination repertoire alone but to include other music as well giving them a chance to draw out meanings and experience the music. Ciardi (1975) describes a poem as a â€Å"dynamic and living thing† (p. 10). He continues stating, â€Å"One experiences it as one experiences life. One is never done with it: every time he looks he sees something new, and it changes even as he watches† (p. 10). Similarly, music is capable of revealing something new each time it is experienced. The meanings my students derive from an initial listening of a piece of music may be vastly different than the meanings understood months or years later. The meaning of music constantly changes with personal life experiences and new perspectives. Reimer claims, â€Å"Music education exists to nurture people’s potential to gain deeper, broader, more significant musical meanings† (p. 133). I believe my students should derive their own meanings from the musical experience and without my influence. By explaining meanings to them, I face the fear of casting into oblivion the celebration of their own unique experience with the music, much the same way a language teacher might, in more ways than one, take away from the experience of a students â€Å"feelingful† experience of poetry as she explains the meaning in the verses of the poem. Instead of teaching â€Å"what† music means, I will instruct students on â€Å"how† music means, enabling them to derive meaning from experiences that occur beyond the classroom, and within their own roles. Feeling through Music â€Å"Music does for feeling what language does for thought† (Bowman, 1998, p. 200). As a musician, I understand the power of music to evoke feelings. Listening to or performing a great work of music in a concert hall may bring tears or chills to the musician in a way that only music is capable. Similarly, students’ emotional lives may be heightened by experiences in the classroom. According to Reimer (2003), the â€Å"emotional dimension of music-its power to make us feel, and to â€Å"know† through feeling-is probably its most important defining characteristic† (p. 72). In Western history, emotion has often been regarded less valuable than intellect (Reimer, 2003). Some people do not consider the arts to be as important as other core subjects such as math and reading in education due to the belief that arts are based on emotions and not reasoning or intellect. Recently, however, scientific scholars have begun to recognize that human intelligence, or cognition, is exhibited in a variety of forms, directly related to functions of the body, and tied to feeling. Dimensions of the mind, once thought to be separate and unrelated, are now known to work together, contributing to the things we know and experience. Anthony Damasio, a research neurologist, believes â€Å"feeling is likely to be the key factor in human consciousness itself and an essential ingredient in human cognition† (Reimer, 2003, p. 76). The capacity to feel â€Å"pervades and directs all we undergo as living, aware creatures† (p. 8). â€Å"Direct experiences of feeling are embodied in music and made available to the bodied experience of those engaged with it† (p. 80). The use of descriptive and symbolic language in the classroom, in the teaching of a varied repertoire of expressive music, aids in drawing out these responses of feeling from students. Including music that is heavy and loud or delicate and light will bring out an array of feelings. I believe students should be given an opportunity to articulate these feelings through journaling and in-class discussion.

Kingdoms of Egypt and Nubia Essay Example for Free

Kingdoms of Egypt and Nubia Essay Historians once thought that the human race began with the white Greek and Romans. Present day archaeologists are telling us that the cradle of civilization is in the Nile Valley of Africa. Two rival kingdoms called Egypt and Nubia have much in common but they also have their unique differences. In my essay I will explore some of these similarities and differences. Egypt and Nubia were both ruled by monarchy, which shows that they had an advanced form of political organization. Archeologists findings show that the symbols of Nubian royalty are the same as those of Egyptian Kings. They believed that they were god-Kings and built large pyramids to spend eternity surrounded by there riches to keep them comfortable after death. The difference between the Egyptian and the Nubian monarchy is that the Egyptian monarchies were all male rulers but Nubians monarchies were both male and female and held power jointly. Egypt and Nubia both traded with other countries to acquire the goods they desired. Egypt had few natural resources but was involved in manufacturing glass, paper, perfume, cosmetics and fine linen fabric. Egypt wanted to trade these for the different products from Central Africa. Nubia had many natural resources such as gold, ivory, copper, frankincense, iron ore, hardwood timber, ostrich feathers, leopard skins and elephants. Nubia traded these along with their pottery and manufactured goods. The powerful, wealthy black Nubians Kings controlled the trade routes between central Africa and Egypt, which is one reason why Egypt eventually attacked and conquered Nubia. Egyptians and Nunians both believed in the god-Amun (the ram-head god). The Egyptians thought the silhouette of the mountain at Gebel Barkel looked like a cobras head which is a sign of royal power. They believed that the god-Amun lived there so they built a temple to him. Thus, its considered to be a sacred mountain, perhaps the holiest place in the Nile valley. It is where the pharaohs held their crowning ceremonies. The Nubians also believed the god-Amun lived in the mountain. When they conquered Egypt they called on the authority of the god-Amun. This was confirmed when archaeologists found a curving of a man making an offering to the god-Amun in the remains of a  large temple in Nubia. Both the Egyptians and the Nubians had a system of writing to record important events in their history. The Egyptians used picture writings called hieroglyphs that they curved on the temple walls and on tablets describing events in their lives. The Nubians used an alphabet called meroitic. Historians are hoping to understand this alphabet so that they will be able to read the Nubians writings and discover more about their culture. It is clear that the early African people were a politically organized, intelligent industrious, creative and civilized people worthy of our respect. Probably, due to racial prejudice, it was once thought that black Africans were not capable of producing high civilization. Nubia, the homeland of the earliest black culture may have been the home of the first human race on earth. Bibliography Edward Reynolds (1994) Focus on Africa: D.C. Health and company. CanadaWho are the Nubians? (Date N/A). Homestead. October 23, 2006. http://www.homestead.com/wysinger/nubians.htmlJamila, White. (1999). Black Kingdoms of the Nile episode 2. PBS. October 23, 2006http://www.pbs.org/wonders/Episodes/Epi1/1_wondr4.htmJimmy Dunn (Copyright 1999-2003). The Yam of Egypts Old Kingdom. Tour Egypt. October 23, 2006. http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/yam.htm

Emergence Of The Digital Firm

Emergence Of The Digital Firm Introduction: The first rule of any technology used in a business is that automation applied to an efficient operation will magnify the efficiency. The second is that automation applied to an inefficient operation will magnify the inefficiency. -Bill Gates (http://www.saidwhat.co.uk/topicquote/technology) Over the past two decades Technology has come to become an inseparable part of business activities. The modern era of dynamic and discontinuous change requires continual reassessment of organizational routines to ensure that decision-making processes, keep pace with the dynamically changing business environment. The adoption of advanced technology, to maintain a digitally enhanced firm, is necessary, especially for small and medium sized companies, to ensure their viability in the future. With the onset of globalization, the wide presence of digitally equipped firms has intensified international competition, and digital capabilities also provide small and medium sized enterprises with new potential for participation in the international market. Inevitably, a structural change is brought about by all the technological equipment in the companies as the need for new skills are created, which are accompanied by the constant need for training and information sharing, and assessment of tec hnological issues by the management. Emergence of the Digital Firm: The first use of information systems in enterprises was in the form of card processing machines which were used in the accounting departments and focused on historical information reporting. The early 1960s, marked the onset of mainframe computers, which when compared to todays desk top computers and PDAs, were miniscule, in processing power. In the coming decades, the advancements in technology gained speed with management reporting, transaction processing, decision support and forecasting enabled by information technology. The presence of Information technology is now widely significant in every business activity of the modern enterprise. Most recently, information systems transcended departmental, divisional and organizational boundaries in order to link the firm electronically, often instantaneously, to its customers, suppliers, and distribution partners .(Ives, 2002) With the development of technology and internet, modern enterprises have embraced Information and communication technology (ICT) and several e-business applications that have provided many benefits across many intra- and inter-firm business processes and transactions. With the use of ICT applications, information and knowledge management inside the firm has considerably improved reducing transaction costs and increasing the speed and reliability of transactions for both B2B (business-to-business) and B2C (business-to-consumer) transactions. They have also proved to be effective tools for improving external communications and quality of services for established and new customers. (http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/6/9/31919255.pdf)Most small and medium sized enterprises use information and communication technologies. Research has shown that the use mainly of computers serves administrative and functional uses, such as the rendering of accounts, payroll, the drawing up of a budget, inventor y, and other similar functions (Bridge and Peel 1999). The basic condition that arises for the use of computers, but also for all technologies, old or new, electronic or not, is not only their acquisition by the SMEs, but also their correct and functional use (El Louadi, 1998). There are a large number of different ICTs, which makes identifying them and their functions difficult. Below is a classification of Information and communication technologies which includes the ICTs used by enterprises and comprises of five main categories, within which the technologies-systems comprising the category are distributed individually. Classification of ICTS: (Source: Papastathopoulos, Beneki (2009)) Intranet: Intranets are inexpensive, scalable to expand or contract as needs change, and accessible from most computing platforms. Whereas most large companies must support a number of computer platforms that cannot communicate with each other, intranets help to provide instant connectivity, uniting all computers into a single, seamless, network system. Electronic Commerce: Although most commercial transactions still takes place through conventional channels, rising number of consumers and businesses are using the Internet for electronic commerce Buyer Retailer Information Orders Service and support Manufacturers, Suppliers and Distributors Purchases Bids Banks -Credit checks -Payment authorization -Electronic payment transfer Illustration: Electronic Commerce Information Flows Business environment: The modern business environment is characterized by a dynamic continuous change. For the firms to thrive and benefit from ICTs, a healthy business environment is necessary. This includes a transparent, open and competitive business framework, clear independent rule of law for all firms, easy set up and dissolution of businesses, transparent, simple and accessible corporate regulation, and equal and stable legal treatment for national and cross-border transactions. (http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/6/9/31919255.pdf) Organizational Forms: The concept of organizational forms was quickly accepted and vouched for by management scholars who have already accepted concepts such as the `knowledge economy or the new information economy ( Halal 1998) and who had believed that the emergence of the Internet would change the way business transactions business functions are performed (Tapscott , 1999). shift to new forms: According to Drucker (1997), businesses of the new age have not only led to advancements in technology and provided an atmosphere of stiff competition, but have also contributed to the promotion of change in the organizational forms. This is why, New Organizational Forms that respond to the need to align strategy-structure- direction processes are influenced by the dynamic changes in the environment. New transaction management modes from new organizational forms. The following illustration gives a clear picture of the increase in the use of new organizational forms, where internet and e-commerce plays a significant role. (Illustration sourced from: http://www.labs-associados.org/docs/OCDE_TIC.PDF) Increase in the use of new organizational forms: With every passing year, more and more firms are adopting new organizational forms in an attempt to stay competitive in the market. The benefits of incorporating ICTs and other e-business activities are now widely recognized. In the research conducted by Christina Beneki on Organizational forms based on information and communication technology adoption (http://www.aabri.com/manuscripts/09362.pdf), an empirical study was carried out among 54 Greek SMEs to identify the emerging forms of organizations based on ICTs. Personal interviews were conducted with people recognized as being the most knowledgeable about the developments of ICTs within the firm. Hence, the interviewees ranged from director or owner-manager and IT personnel to general managers. The results of this study reveal that the SMEs journey towards ICT adoption-use can be classified into three levels: Level 1: Basic Use of ICT or ICT-beginners SMEs. On this level the ICTs used by SMEs support the monitoring of basic-elementary activities, transactions and communications of the enterprise Level 2: Advanced Use of ICT or ICT-based SMEs. On the second level the ICTs used by the SMEs serve specialized activities of the modern enterprise, such as programming operations, transaction monitoring, and decision making and auditing. Furthermore, they combine data and advanced analytical models or data analysis tools so as to support the making of semi structured decisions or unstructured decisions. Finally, they allow business and commercial digital transactions as well as the transmission of information with electronic means even to geographically remote places. Level 3: Superior use of ICT or ICT-Driven SMEs. The ICTs used by the SMEs on the third level contribute to the integration of the informational and business processes of the enterprise, and they support the long-term planning activities as well as the digital exchange of information, the carrying out of commercial transactions and collaborations with the external environment of the enterprise Figure: The Three Levels of ICT-Adoption Process The figure shows that a very small percentage of SMEs use basic ICTs (7%), about 22% percentage use ICTs serving specialized business activities, while for most of the SMEs (70%), technology does not constitute the basis but rather as a guide to their business activities. This clearly demonstrates the steep rise in the use of Internet communication technologies. Opportunities for the management in a digitally enabled firm: New organizational forms comprising of Information and communication technology (ICT) and e-business applications provide many benefits across a wide range of business processes and transactions. (http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/6/9/31919255.pdf) With the use of computer terminals, e-mail, internet and its applications, several types of businesses can improve information and knowledge management within the firm, leading to more efficient business processes and better firm performance. Transfer of information through shared electronic files and networked computers significantly improves the efficiency of business process like documentation, data processing and other functions like organizing incoming orders and preparing invoices. Business-to-Business and Business-to-Consumer transactions are now conducted with increased speed and reliability, using ICT applications. Sophisticated ICT applications like Decision Support System (DSS) helps firms to analyse large amounts of data in quick time, enabling swift decision making. Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) helps to integrate various departments of a firm effectively. Internet and e-commerce have drastically reduced the cost of business transactions. Internet-based B2B interaction and real-time communication help to reduce information asymmetries between buyers and suppliers and build close relationships among trading partners. (Moodley, 2002) ICT applications also increase labour productivity and have a positive impact on firm performance. The following illustration helps to identify the positive effect of ICT applications in Canada. Sourced from : (http://www.labs-associados.org/docs/OCDE_TIC.PDF) Challenges faced by the management and organization in a digital firm: Requirement of internal ICT and managerial knowledge: Since SMEs focus on day to day operations, they are less aware of the benefits of new technologies and would tend to lack the human technological resources needed for a digital firm, when they decide to investment in advanced technologies. Even when they are aware of the potential benefits of adopting e-commerce, they would need qualified personnel to carry out the operations. The firms that adopt Internet and e-commerce are likely to have personnel within the firm who have a reasonable knowledge of the incorporated technology. A study of small ICT companies with 3-80 employees suggests that the Internet was adopted by firms with personnel who understand the technology used (Mehrtens, 2001). The study found that these were not necessarily ICT professionals, but simply people interested in technology. If firms have the resources to access or outsource skills, then scarcity of technologically skilled personnel would not be a hindrance. However, presence of internal technological capabi lities is still vital because adoption of internet communication technologies cannot succeed without an understanding of the e-business model. Without internal technological capabilities, dependence on outside support services for system maintenance can be dangerous because firms that conduct e-business activities have to bear the risk of occasional system failures and computer viruses. If ICT support services, especially in an emergency, are needed to minimise the loss from a system malfunction, the e-business system of the firm may be vulnerable if they are not immediately available. The existence of local ICT services is thus an important consideration for the management, especially for small offices in remote areas or emerging economies, where ICT services are scarce and expensive. Skills and understanding of e-business models is also vital for the managers. Successful integration of e-business requires many firms to restructure their business processes, to change organisational structures and to redefine their core competence and positions in the value chains. So, e-business tools cannot be successfully introduced and implemented without the visionary power and strategic decisions about how to apply ICT technologies for business processes. (http://www.aabri.com/manuscripts/09362.pdf) Cost of developing and maintaining e-business systems : For small and medium sized firms, sometimes, the cost of adopting e-business systems and their maintenance outweighs the benefits received from them. Budget constraints and uncertainty of return on investment may sway the managements decision to adopt e-business systems. Thus, gathering the capital for investing in sophisticated and expensive internet communication technologies is an issue that the management needs to counter. The management needs to decide, depending upon its size and capacity to bear the cost, how far they can extend their arms over the latest technologically advanced business systems. Some small businesses, especially micro-enterprises with 1-9 employees or the self-employed, may adopt a simple Web site without any e-commerce function if the cost of basic Internet use is well within their marketing budget. (http://www.aabri.com/manuscripts/09362.pdf) Viability of Business Models: The advancements in internet have changed the business models in a number of key industries including media, financial services, travel and automobile retailing. But although internet technology provides great prospects, not all Internet business models have been successful. Conducting business over the internet is not always cost effective and efficient. For some companies, resorting to traditional methods is more viable. Of course, retailers on the internet may not need to pay for attractive outlets and employees, but they would need to use a large proportion of their budget for web site maintenance, customer service call centres, supply chain management and customer acquisition. There are also challenges to be faced for firms that try to use the web for supplementing or enhancing traditional business models. Businesses that are unclear about their e-business strategy may end up wasting a lot of money in building and maintaining websites that fail to deliver results. Successful web sites may also incur high costs. For instance, Equipment Inc., popular seller of indoor gear, has large payroll expenditures to pay for skilled technical staff supporting the website and additional shipping expenses to ensure web orders are delivered on time. Thus, the management needs to consider the viability of e-business models for its firm before deciding to invest. Business Process Change Requirements: Even if a firm does have a viable business model, it can still fail due to bad management or poor execution of the business model. Many dot-com firms like Garden.com, Productopia.com, Pets.com, Chinese Books Cyberstore etc. have closed down. The implementation and working of an electronic business model requires successful management of a firms divisions, production sites, sales offices and also maintaining close relationships with customers, suppliers and business partners. All important business processes need to be restructured and closely integrated. Firms will need to have well designed policies and procedures for sharing data. There are also traditional boundaries existing between a firms divisions and departments, customers and suppliers which can be barriers to collaboration and relationship building. Thus, the management needs to ensure a complete transformation of the firm and the ways in which it conducts business. Channel Conflicts: A channel conflict is a competition between two or more different distribution chains used to sell products or services of the same company. ( Laudon Laudon, 2006)When a company uses the web for selling its products, it creates a channel conflict with the firms traditional methods of selling. This is especially true for products that are less information sensitive and require a physical intermediary. In such a case, a companys revenues may drop as customer make purchases directly from the web. Channel conflict is a major issue for business-to-business business models, where the consumer purchases directly from the manufacturer through the Web. Milacron Inc., a machine tools company with extensive websites, minimizes the negative impact of channel conflict by paying full commissions to reps making online sales in their territories, even if they do not work on the sale or meet the buyer. Other companies have devised solutions, such as offering only a portion of thei r product line on the web. Legal Uncertainities: Conflicting regulatory environments and legal uncertainties for cross-border transactions, especially B2C, may affect small and medium scale firms. There is no harmonised legal framework with rules pertaining to the determination of jurisdiction and applicable law nor are there mechanisms that ensure the cross-border enforcement of legal rulings. The internet is global and is used by numerous organizations in different countries. Suppose a product were offered on sale in China, but the purchaser lived in the United States, whose law would apply? (Laudon Laudon, 2006)Small businesses can risk being due to inconsistent laws. Trust, Security and Privacy: For e-commerce to flourish there needs to be an atmosphere of trust among buyers, sellers and other partners involved in the transactions. Consumers will be wary of the security and confidentiality of credit card details and other personal information supplied over the internet. Internet based systems are at a risk of being penetrated by outsiders, as the internet is open to everyone. Any information, including e-mail passes through many different systems before it reaches its destination. It can be monitored and hacked into at any of these points resulting in loss of confidential data. Valuable data such as sales contracts, marketing plans, product development and pricing strategies, etc. can be intercepted causing significant risk to the company. Thus, the management needs to be extremely cautious and maintain stringent security systems to safeguard their business models. (Laudon Laudon) Opportunities and Challenges for Employees in a digital firm The rapid shift in trends in the market is seeing more and more companies undertaking a full scale adoption of technology that has in turn created an array of opportunities for the employees. Some of them are: Better job prospects. The emergence of digital firms has opened up attractive avenues for IT employees all over the world. With advancements in every area springing up, those equipped with specific technological expertise are also gaining demand with attractive bonuses rewarded. According to the research methodology used by Ricardo Parez Garrido on New Organizational Forms for knowledge transfer (http://latienda.ie.edu/working_papers_economia/WP05-03.pdf), the company Alpha was founded with the idea of uniting the best programmers in Spain interested in the internet and e-business and create for them an environment where they could work freely. Alpha experienced a tremendous growth of 400% from 1998-1999. But the success had attracted another telecommunication giant in the country which offered better incentives for employees. As a result a majority of the Alpha taskforce moved to the competing firm. Employees empowered in decision- making. With the onset of the digital era, many firms are now approaching a change in work attitudes. The system of bureaucratic is now being replaced by independence for different roles in an organization. With more space for employees to work, an atmosphere of ownership of the company results, providing better results and incentive for staff to work. The case study on the Royal Bank of Scotland (Currie Willcocks, 1996) provides an insight into the new philosophies of work practice being adopted by the bank. Senior managers were aware that customers were intimidated by the bureaucratic image of the bank and felt a change was necessary. The traditional emphasis on geographical splits was done away with and a different structure was established with three inter-related businesses- Retail, Commercial and Corporate. This way, individual departments are given complete responsibility and independence to run their functions. Employees play a greater part in the company The information systems sector is now recognized as a chief part of any firm. The days of technological expertise playing an underdog are over. It is now realized that those equipped with the technology side of the firm are better positioned to understand their part and hence are now increasingly given more ownership and responsibilities. Despite the fact that modern advancements in e-business have created opportunities for employees, they have also had a negative impact on them. Some of the drawbacks are: Outsourcing of technological expertise. With the wide availability of IT skills and restructuring of organizations, most companies now prefer to outsource technical expertise which may be better suited in terms of cost and quality of technical skills. As a result the existing employees are difficult to accommodate because of the drastic changes brought about by adoption of advanced technology that renders their skills incompetent. This is especially true for companies do not primarily rely on technology for their core business functions. The case study of the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) and their Business Process Re-engineering project (Currie Willcocks, 1996) shows how a complete restructuring of the banks activities resulted in many job losses. Also the technology unit was perceived by the business units as a support function, not therefore core to the business. Some senior managers were keen to outsource a major portion of the technical sector altogether. This also reflects a growing trend among organization seeking IT outsourcing as an alternative to in-house operating. Obsolescence of work. Because most companies are undergoing changes in their functioning process by incorporating advanced information systems that help to better integrate various departments within the organization, traditional forms of work are now losing a place. More and more employees are now faced with job losses because their work has been rendered useless with current business systems. The case study documenting the Columbus project undertaken by RBS (Currie Willcocks, 1996) gives evidence that due to the complete restructuring of the banks activities and how banking services were offered to customers, many manager were worried about a large staff redundancy. Communication problems Inevitably, communication problems between business units and technological units will tend to occur. Since technology department supplies the applications for various business functions, sometimes friction might arise over what is supplied and what is actually needed. Due to the complexities involved in business functions, the tactics and strategies used might change from time to time, causing the technological department to swiftly adapt to the changing conditions, which is not always simple. The case study documenting restructuring of RBS (Currie Willcocks, 1996) indicates the prevalence of communication problems. Business units complain that computers have been imposed on them with little relevance to the business context. However, the technology unit argued that business users change their mind regularly as to what is required from them. This miscommunication may lead to high costs, failure to meet delivery dates, loss of management control, low morale, etc. Conclusion: The emergence of new organizational forms according to the level of use of information communication technologies gives rise to new research opportunities in the sensitive sector of SMEs. In addition, the need for the emergence of new organizational forms stems also from the fact that technology no longer constitutes a mere link in the chain of businesses processes but rather the driving force behind this chain both in the internal and in the external business environment.

Knowledge and Peace :: essays research papers

Knowledge is one of the most important factors in maintaining a peaceful and free society. Knowledge allows a society to plan for the future, while learning from past mistakes. Many great nations have fallen into war and chaos because they did not utilize the wisdom gained from the past. Many societies’ problems were preventable, if people had used the lessons at their disposal and placed emphasis on solving their problems through the use of their intellects, rather than their weapons. A great example of this is the Roman Empire, which allowed many of its problems to grow and fester, before attempting to check them. The Roman Empire was a powerful, seemingly invincible, civilization. Rome thrived in glory for many years, a model civilization admired by all, until it started to fall apart. Many historians argue the factual reasons for Rome’s downfall. Some say it was crime; others say crooked government was the cause. Still others say it was the focus on entertainment and luxuries. All of these problems could have been avoided and peace would have been maintained. Yet, the Romans did not believe that their empire could fall and chose to ignore their problems, believing they would go away on their own. Obviously, that did not happen and, as a result, the Roman Empire fell. In America today we have all of these problems. Are we going to be next to fall? Or, have we gained knowledge and wisdom enough by studying the errors of other nations’ past history to maintain peace in our own time? In Rome, crime made it unsafe to travel, to sell goods, or to go to the market. The Romans ran the risk of being robbed, traveling from place to place. Today, in America, we run the risk of being mugged just going to the store. In some cities it's not safe to go out at night. Stores are always being robbed, vandalized, or destroyed. There is even a murder committed approximately every twenty seconds. Crime is just as much, if not more, of a problem now in America then back during the fall of Rome. We have the knowledge of Rome’s past failures, yet we continue on the same path. If the United States of America does not use Rome’s failure as a guide of what to avoid, the results could be disastrous. Toward the end of Rome, the government was, for the most part, in chaos. Every time the current Emperor died, there was a civil war to decide who would be the next ruler of Rome. The politicians no longer cared about Rome. They became self-centered, and used all their power to better their own lives. Luckily, things in America are not yet that bad.

Simon Bolivar Essay -- essays research papers

THE BEGINNING   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Simon Jose Antonio de la Santisima Trinidad Bolivar was born in Caracas on July 24, 1783 to don Juan Vicente Bolivar y Ponte y dona Maria de la Concepcion Palacios y Blanco. Simon received an excellent education from his tutors, Simon Rodriquez and Andres Bello. By the age of nine Bolivar lost both his parents, and was being taken care of by his uncle don Carlos Palacios. At the age of fifteen in 1799 he traveled to Spain to receive a better education. In Spain, Bolivar met Maria Teresa Rodriquez del Toro y Alaysa, they married in 1802. Right after Bolivar and his new wife returned to Venezuela, she died of malaria or yellow fever. Her death greatly effected Bolivar, he vowed not to marry again, and became a political and military figure. In Europe   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Napoleon Bonaparte was the Emperor of France, and was crowned as King of Italy. In 1808 Napoleon conquered Spain and chose his brother Joseph as the King of Spain. This created a large revolt in Spain known as the Peninsular Wars. In Spain many small groups were formed to fight against the new king. On the other hand in S. America the groups were formed to fight against the Spanish King and Joseph Bonaparte. That year Caracas, Bolivar hometown, declared independence from Spain. BACK IN S. AMERICA In 1808 Bolivar, Bello and Mendez were sent to England on a diplomatic mission. It was a failed attempt to gain an alliance. He returned to Venezuela in 1811...

Becoming A Soldier :: essays research papers

Becoming a soldier The clock was ringing so loudly, it was like he was actually screaming at me. I reached my hand and slapped it. I did not want the night to be over already. I knew that this morning would be very long and grueling, the morning that I have been waiting for in a great fear for several months. It was the morning I was drafted to the army. In Israel, every boy and girl who reaches eighteen have to join the army. It is mandatory and it is for a minimum of three years for boys and a year and eight months for girls. During the eleventh and twelfth grade you go through several classification processes, in which the army determines where will everyone serve. The process of classification includes several tests, some of them are physical and others are in math and Hebrew. So on the day you are drafted you suppose to know where you are going to serve and what you are going to do, at least for the first few months of your service. For me the experience of joining the army at the age of eighteen was very difficult. I felt that these are my best years but instead of taking advantage of them I am going to the army. In other countries, when a person reaches eighteen he is usually going to college and "start his life". I on the other hand, was about to do one of the most demanding mission a man can do. I postponed my recruiting day as long as I could in order to travel and enjoy as much as I could in that time. I knew that I was going to be a fighter and give up the convenience of being home everyday, eat home made food, go out with friends, sleep in my bed. Instead I would sleep in a tent or lie on the ground on a stake out, eat bad food, and get to know new people. All that was hard for me to accept at the age of 18. To my parents I was the third child to go into the army. My older brother, who was also a fighter, was released two years before I got drafted. And my sister, who served in the intelligence corps, was released only four months before. We all woke up that morning like we did the past two times. Becoming A Soldier :: essays research papers Becoming a soldier The clock was ringing so loudly, it was like he was actually screaming at me. I reached my hand and slapped it. I did not want the night to be over already. I knew that this morning would be very long and grueling, the morning that I have been waiting for in a great fear for several months. It was the morning I was drafted to the army. In Israel, every boy and girl who reaches eighteen have to join the army. It is mandatory and it is for a minimum of three years for boys and a year and eight months for girls. During the eleventh and twelfth grade you go through several classification processes, in which the army determines where will everyone serve. The process of classification includes several tests, some of them are physical and others are in math and Hebrew. So on the day you are drafted you suppose to know where you are going to serve and what you are going to do, at least for the first few months of your service. For me the experience of joining the army at the age of eighteen was very difficult. I felt that these are my best years but instead of taking advantage of them I am going to the army. In other countries, when a person reaches eighteen he is usually going to college and "start his life". I on the other hand, was about to do one of the most demanding mission a man can do. I postponed my recruiting day as long as I could in order to travel and enjoy as much as I could in that time. I knew that I was going to be a fighter and give up the convenience of being home everyday, eat home made food, go out with friends, sleep in my bed. Instead I would sleep in a tent or lie on the ground on a stake out, eat bad food, and get to know new people. All that was hard for me to accept at the age of 18. To my parents I was the third child to go into the army. My older brother, who was also a fighter, was released two years before I got drafted. And my sister, who served in the intelligence corps, was released only four months before. We all woke up that morning like we did the past two times.

What Can We Do to Stop Abuse Animals.

Recently animal abuse is increasing around the world. People are treating animal as non – feeling creatures. They use them for food, clothing, entertainment, and so on. These are some of the biggest crimes humans are doing against speechless creatures. There are many ways to prevent animal abuse but the most importantly everybody should treat animals with respect. First of all, we have to make authorities aware of the fact that animals are being ill-treated by people when you witness them. Laws will make these people realize their mistake. For example, there was a Singaporean who broke his dog’s legs, just because his dog has eaten his food. One of his neighbors who saw this reported to police. After that this man had to pay $500 for his action. Other examples in Vietnam people hunt elephant for stuck or cows for food. Secondly, recently on some websites appear more videos of animal abuse on the part of young people. This has proven they do not respect and love animals. We should teach them how to treat animals. Especially with a children, you have to teach children how to treat animal with kindness and respect and considers them as friend. Thirdly, always comply with the laws about animals in your local area. And tell everyone to do it. For example, The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) in Singapore always takes care of animals, which are neglect and abuse. In conclusion, people should learn more about animal. They are like humans and they need love and care. We have to respect animal.