Silk Road Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Silk Road - Essay Example â€Å"Both terms for this network of roads†, as Joshua J Mark notes, â€Å"were coined by the German geographer and traveler, Ferdinand von Richthofen, in 1877 CE, who designated them `Seidenstrasse’ (silk road) or `Seidenstrassen’ (silk routes)† (Pars. 1). After its establishment during the Han Dynasty in 130 BCE, the commercial routes have been regularly used by different peoples until the Ottomans imposed blockade on the routes in 1453 CE in order to cut off the Europeans’ commercial relation with the East. Along the passage of time, the routes have played significant roles in the international military as well as cultural relationships among the ancient and medieval nations. At any given point of history, the â€Å"Silk Routes† also have â€Å"played the role of a determiner of international relationship† (Elisseeff 45). Therefore, the routes have undergone various transformations, additions and often contractions according to the natures of the existing socio-political, geographical and cultural milieus of the world. Early History of the Silk Routes Historians popularly believe that the â€Å"Silk Routes† had been established in 130 BCE during the Han Dynasty. But in reality, its history dates back in the 5th century BCE to the 3rd century BCE, when the commercial relationships among the nations were being determined by the imperial influences and control over countries and nations. Before Alexander’s military enterprise began to expand eastward, the commercial relationship of Europe with Eastern nations was not that deep and intense. Instead, the Greeks and the Romans would maintain their commercial and trade relationship with few of the Middle Eastern nations such the Syrians and the Persians who were then in control of the Achaemenid Empire, and sometimes, with the Indian nations through the â€Å"Persian Royal Road† which would â€Å"come to serve as one of the main arteries of the Silk Road, was established during the Achaemenid Empire (500-330 BCE)† (Mark pars. 2). In fact, the commercial route between the Greeks-Romans and the Middle-Eastern had been facilitated by the Mare Internum maritime route, in the Mediterranean Sea, which easily connected the Greeks and the Roman City states with the Middle East, and by the Syrian-Persian Terrain which was much friendly to the merchants. This western commercial route, which stretched to the Indian Subcontinent, achieved individuality because of its contribution to the growth of regional commerce among those countries (Elisseeff 56-62). Though the Persian Achaemenids maintained intermittent trade relationship with the Chinese, it was not as frequent as it was with the Greeks and the Romans. After Alexander the Great conquered the Persians in 339 BCE, the root of the ‘Persian Royal Road’ (the predecessor of the Silk Routes) further became solidified. Yet the west’s commercial relationship wit h China did not open up. By the time, the Greco Bactrian was ruling in Fergana Valley of Neb of Tajikistan, Central Asia, the Han Dynasty was struggling against the nomadic Mongolian invaders of the Xiongu on the north-western border of China. The harassments

Organizational Behavior-No Fair Pay In This Place Essay Example for Free

Organizational Behavior-No Fair Pay In This Place Essay The purpose of this paper is to examine the motivational effects of pay level on worker performance. It is discusses some of the elements that contributed to the employees in Western Satellite office to express feelings of inequality. Some of these elements include academic qualifications, educational background, just to mention but a few. The paper also tackles some of the reasons why the New York worker is considered a ‘comparison other’ as opposed to the worker in Seattle. Moreover, the paper explores how the issue of inequality in the case- no fair pay in this place was either resolved or not. For instance, we find in this case that this issue was not resolved. Last but not least, the paper also examines some of the other factors that may have contributed to the dissatisfaction that was experience by the two workers. Some of these factors include; lack of communication, culture, lack of adaptability, lack of empathy, just to mention but a few. Introduction  The purpose of this paper is to examine the case study that revolves around no fair pay in the workplace and the fact that employees working from different cities receive different numerations irrespective of how much responsibility one has within the organization, their academic qualifications and the years of experience within the industry in which they are operating. (Armstrong, 2006, p. 62) Question One What are some of the elements which contributed to the employees feelings of inequality? These include educational background, years of experience, responsibilities that one has and last but not least academic qualifications. The employees were stressed with the kind of work they had to perform such as having heavy load of unhappy clients and their urgent demands, complaining customers, just to mention but a few. (Meredith, 2004, p. 2) Susan was hired based on her degree in Business Administration. She was responsible in planning, problem solving and supervising a number of employees and this included Dan Donaldson, a public relations spokesperson of the company. However, despite all these responsibilities, she received a remuneration of $30,000 per annum. This was very disappointing since she had 20 years of customer relations and supervisory know-how, not to mention the current degree that she had received in business. (Meredith, 2004, p. 3) On the contrary, Helen who was based at the headquarters in New York received $40,000 in only ten months as opposed to 12. This made Susan furious since she had no customer contact, no university education, no one to supervise and no seniority. In a nutshell, Helen had an annual salary of $48,000. (Meredith, 2004, p. 3) Pay determination may possibly have one or more objectives, which may frequently be in conflict with each other. The primary is equity, and this may take numerous forms. They comprise income distribution through reduction of inequalities, defending real earnings (purchasing power), and the notion of equal pay for work of equivalent value. Moreover, pay differentials based on differences in skills are all associated to the idea of fairness. (Deckop, 2006, p. 65) Performance pay systems in organizations are based on assessment of the personality worker, often by their line administrator who may or may not be experienced in process. Performance pay is extensively renowned as contributing to pay inequalities, predominantly in this case (New York and Seattle). (Culbert, 1996, p. 68) Question Two Why the New York worker was considered a ‘comparison other’ but not the worker in Seattle? The New York worker was considered a ‘comparison other’ because the front lines of the job were in Seattle where the client based was centered and the services were rendered. Moreover, employees at Seattle received heavy load of unhappy clients and their urgent demands while she contentedly remained in her comfort zone that was stress free. Research has recommended that some individuals are more flourishing in their careers than others even when they have had equivalent learning and experimental opportunities. One clarification for these disparities may possibly relate to differences between intellectual intelligence (IQ) and emotional intelligence (EQ). IQ measures academic competencies or one’s aptitude to use acquaintance in making decisions and adapting to innovative situations. This can best be illustrated with Helen who works in at the headquarters in New York. However, as much as she is based in New York, all the tasks are carried out in Seattle, and this means that she is not using the little experience and experimental opportunities that she acquired to perform her duties. (Lamal, 1991, p. 72) On the other hand, EQ is a measure of expressive and societal competencies or one’s aptitude to recognize expressive expressions in someone and others. Even though both can be enhanced through training and altered over time, EQ is separate from IQ in that it is one’s aptitude to standardize emotions in reaction to ecological stimulus. EQ has been popularized as an educated skill that is a superior interpreter of life success than intellectual achievement or technological aptitude. This can best be illustrated with Susan and Dan Donaldson who had superior performance, academic achievements, work experience and interpersonal skills. They had to deal with resolving customers issues on a daily basis while Helen and her fellow workers who were based in New York sat and waited for the final produce that came from Seattle. (Harris, 2001, p. 78) The workplace surroundings idea also sees entity firm level performance such as efficiency, productivity, efficiency and competitiveness; as a result of not only the sufficiency supply of human resources with suitable skills, but also a workplace surroundings that incessantly optimizes the use of these skills throughout the way work is intended and prearranged, the suitability, access and association of supports and tools to do the work, the association of decision making, rewards and appreciation for performance. The New York worker is considered a ‘comparison worker’ as opposed to the worker in Seattle since she lacks interpersonal skills, academic achievements, superior performance, just to mention but a few. Despite all these, she is considered the best just because she is based at the head office located in New York. (Bate, 1994, p. 81) On the other hand, the Seattle worker who has all the necessary qualities such as work experience, interpersonal skills and academic qualifications; is looked down upon just because she is operating in Seattle. (Meredith, 2004, p. 2) Question Three  How was the inequality resolved? The inequality was not resolved at all. As a matter of fact, once Mr. James commented that nobody said that it was fair and rather, that was how the staff in New York are remunerated, that was the end of the discussion. Mr. James did not validate his statement, neither did he explain why that was the case. Instead, he was interested in how Susan found out about Helen’s salary. (Meredith, 2004, p. 3) Participation in the labor force is usually regarded as an important measurement of equality. Having a job is significant to individuals. Jobs are a numerically important starting point for livelihoods. They are also significant proportions of social respect, acknowledgment, individuality and self esteem. Even though the sources and solutions for increasing inequality are multifaceted and open to dispute, the corporeal and psychosomatic penalties are real and straightforward. (Mathis, 2006, p. 99) It is understandable that we require more than legislation, bylaw and exacting programs to generate a diverse workforce usual in association. We also need customs of understanding the challenges. This mean examination of ‘what goes wrong’. Both the need for continuous coercive dealings and the phenomena of the turning door or equity tell us regarding the pervasive and systemic character of the status quo in workforce composition and in the organization and conduct of business and government. (Max, 204, p. 104) When individuals talk concerning inequality, they tend to center completely on the proceeds part of the equation. According to the case- no fair pay in this place, there is the gap between the employees in New York and Seattle and this is based on remuneration amongst the employees. (Armstrong, 2006, p. 8) The verification of increasing disparity in the United States and around the globe is both obvious and disturbing. As power, capital, and probability are increasingly concerted in the hands of the extremely few, this age of â€Å"haves† and â€Å"have not† is connected with a wide range of unenthusiastic outcomes for faraway too countless. A good illustration is seen in the case-no fair pay in this place, where Western Satellite Office workers are experiencing inequality problems based on remuneration since they are not based in New York where the head office is situated. They are the ones who experience customer service problems since each and every customer wants to be served and at the end of the day, they feel so stressed and worn out, yet when it comes to remuneration they receive less than what the worker in New York receive. This is not fair since the worker in New York doesn’t experience the pressure that the Seattle worker receives. (Lamal, 1991, p. 106 Question Four What are the other factors which may have contributed to the dissatisfaction experienced by these two workers? Culture A managerial culture affects how the company performs. Culture is the behavior of a group of individuals. This consists of; the beliefs, civilization, acquaintance and practices. Individuals depend on it for security, evenness and the ability to act in response in a given circumstance. (Harris, 2001, p. 92) According to this case, the reason why Helen and Susan received different remuneration was because Helen was situated at the head office in New York. This was the culture of that organization that was based on the location of the city. Therefore, Susan having been situated at Seattle was bound on her $30,000 per annum, and this was regardless of her qualifications. (Meredith, 2004, p. 3) Lack of Communication Generally, lack of communication on the part of the boss contributes to the displeasure among the workers in the association. Communication problems are a purpose of message and organizational procedure, and managerial factors. Effectual communication of performance requirements to all workers will reduce the number of complaints and grievances. Nonattendance of this communication domino effect in workers not performing. For instance in our case, when Susan was about to present her case, Mr. James had already predicted and he simply brushed the matter off by making a comment concerning the issue. He didn’t give room for discussion concerning that matter; neither did he give an explanation nor a satisfactory solution. This resulted to laxity among the workers in the western satellite office. (Bate, 1994, p. 98) By not communicating well enough, Mr.  James avoided to get into dialogue concerning important issues such as, the reason why employees in New York receiving a higher pay as opposed to employees in Seattle. This made him appear unavailable and uncaring to Susan and the employees of Western Satellite Office; this resulted in hurting teamwork spirit and cooperation within the organization. (Deckop, 2006, p. 110) Lack of Self awareness and accurate self-assessment Without self awareness and self-assessment, Mr. James was too quick to brush off the matter that Susan had presented to him. He was unable to accept useful feedback, and he didn’t have a realistic awareness of his strengths or limitations. As a result, it created problems in their work relationships and in their personal relationships. (Culbert, 1996, p. 115) Lack of Empathy When leaders fail to demonstrate sufficient empathy in times of hesitation or crisis, they will probable be seen as unresponsive, hardhearted and in-authentic- all of which will make workers be less supportive and less communicative. The boss may be left feeling misunderstood, and will have complexity â€Å"reading† their workers. This is exactly what Mr. James did and as a result, Susan’s ability to work drastically diminished and she became less concerned with her duties and responsibilities in the workplace. (Mathis, 2006, p. 120) Lack of Adaptability Without elasticity and adaptableness, Mr. James responded negatively to the core issue that was troubling his employee Susan. This revealed emotional strain to Susan since she had to shift priorities; expressed frustration with change; had difficulties adapting Mr.  James responses and tactics to fit the emerging circumstance; and ultimately she was hesitant in taking on new challenges. (Max, 2004, p. 126) Lack of self-management Without good self management, Mr. James reacted precipitately when he predicted that there was bound to be conflict at work. This made him respond to problems in a non-constructive manner that resulted to unwanted consequences such as laxity amongst the employees (Susan). (Harris, 2001, p. 118) Conclusion  In a civilized workplace, individuals who work well ought to be rewarded through decent pay, endorsement and new opportunities, the possibility to build up new skills, admiration from coworker and management, and the individual gratification and satisfaction that comes from doing a job well. Culture determines the type of management, communication, and cluster dynamics within the association. The employees usually recognize this as the excellence of work life which directs their measure of motivation. The concluding outcome is generally performance, human being satisfaction, individual growth and expansion. All these rudiments unite to build the model or structure that the association operates from. However, all these elements are not revealed in our case since Mr. James chose not to allow room for discussion. He lacked communication skills and empathy and as a result, there was poor turnover in Susan’s output. Generally, in an organization, employers should be open with their employees and allow a forum for discussion and participation. For instance in this case, Mr.  James would have allowed Susan to present her queries and later on try to explain to her why the workers in New York had to receive a better pay than workers in Seattle. Moreover, there should be restructuring of some of the rules in Western Satellite Office and promote job enrichment. This will facilitate enlargement of the individuals within the association, better worker performance for the association, there will be maximum use of human resources for the general public at large (both in New York and Seattle), enlargement of the individual, and self-actualization of the individual.

Scarlet Letter Essay -- essays research papers

A common theme throughout literature is religion and how the author feels about his or her faith. Nathaniel Hawthorne uses rhetorical devices to draw comparisons between characters and events in The Scarlet Letter and Biblical figures and accounts. A few of the devices found in this novel that connect it to the Bible are symbolism, paradox, allusions, and characterization. It is important to first look at the characters and how they are described through characterization. The first rhetorical device is characterization. The way the main characters are described by Hawthorne sets up how they will be perceived. It is through this that we see the first inklings of biblical figures. Biblical characters are seen in Pearl, Hester, Dimmesdale, Chillingworth, and the Puritan people. The first is that Hester has many traits in common with the Virgin Mary. Both are originally shunned by society, but later accepted. Although Hester has sinned, within her the reader sees a character who is very loving and with the birth of Pearl, motherly. The fact that Pearl is the child of Hester, or the Virgin Mary as we have now identified her, it is only natural that we examine her as Jesus. The origins of Pearl and Jesus are similar in that both their mothers do not expect to have the child. But as they grow up, it becomes clear that the are not ordinary children. Both characters posses an innate ability to "read" people and who their emotions, as is seen in Pearl’s ability to visualize an â€Å"A† on Dimmesdale even though he does not wear a physical one. Jesus can also be seen in Dimmesdale during his last days of life. Dimmesdale’s death is caused by his sin and Jesus died for the sins of all people, both men dying without objection. Another Biblical character is seen in Chillingworth. Throughout the novel he is described as a man whose life is based on revenge and hatred. This â€Å"was a striking evidence of man’s faculty of transforming himself into the devil.† (155) The final part of characterization is in the similarities between the societies of the two times, Biblical and Puritan. Both the Jews/Romans and the Puritans accused and persecuted those who the saw as unholy, while in fact they were the least holy of all. Their pride in being religiously strict caused them to lash out at those who in hindsight are the holy ones. With this basic ... ...r being Biblical stories in disguise. The first is the connection between Hester and the Virgin Mary. The paradox is found in Hester’s representation of Mary. Hester was definitely not a virgin; however, her counterpart, Mary, and her life are most miraculous because she was a virgin. Another paradox is seen through the similarities of Pearl in Jesus. Pearl comes from sin, but goes on to live a beautiful life. Jesus on the other hand was born without sin, only to be condemned by and subsequently killed by the establishment. Another paradox is in that the Puritans prided themselves on being good Christians and condemned those who they found unholy. Ironically it is they who are the bad people and the people they have condemned whom are the best Christian, (barring Hester and that whole adultery thing.) Nathaniel Hawthorne’s use of rhetorical devices allows for a vivid connection to be drawn between his novel and the Bible. The use of symbolism, paradox, allusions, and characterization create a story that has in it the underlying of Bible stories. The use of the most widely read book as a pillar for his novel strengthens Hawthorne’s criticism and commentary on the Puritan society.

Anomie: Sociology and People

Anomie describes a lack of social norms; â€Å"normlessness†. It describes the breakdown of social bonds between an individual and their community, if under unruly scenarios possibly resulting in fragmentation of social identity and rejection of self-regulatory values. It was popularized by French sociologist Emile Durkheim in his influential book Suicide (1897). Durkheim borrowed the word from French philosopher Jean-Marie Guyau. Durkheim never uses the term normlessness; rather, he describes anomie as â€Å"a rule that is a lack of rule†, â€Å"derangement†, and â€Å"an insatiable will†.For Durkheim, anomie arises more generally from a mismatch between personal or group standards and wider social standards, or from the lack of a social ethic, which produces moral deregulation and an absence of legitimate aspirations. This is a nurtured condition: Anomie in common parlance is thought to mean something like â€Å"at loose ends†. The Oxford English Dictionary lists a range of definitions, beginning with a disregard of divine law, through the 19th and 20th century sociological terms meaning an absence of accepted social standards or values.Most sociologists associate the term with Durkheim, who used the concept to speak of the ways in which an individual's actions are matched, or integrated, with a system of social norms and practices †¦ Durkheim also formally posited anomie as a mismatch, not simply as the absence of norms. Thus, a society with too much rigidity and little individual discretion could also produce a kind of anomie, a mismatch between individual circumstances and larger social mores. Thus, fatalistic suicide arises when a person is too rule-governed, when there is †¦ no free horizon of expectation. Durkheim attempts to explain the function of the division of labor, and makes the observation that it creates social cohesion. The industrial revolution, of course, produced great tension and turmoil, and Du rkheim recognized this. He resolved the contradiction by developing the notion of anomie. Anomie is usually translated as normlessness, but it best understood as insufficient normative regulation. During periods of rapid social change, individuals sometimes experience alienation from group goals and values. They lose sight of their shared interests based on mutual dependence. In this condition, they are less constrained by group norms.Normative values become generalized, rather than personally embraced. The Sociological Imagination (1959), which is considered Mills' most influential book on the sociology profession, describes a mindset for studying sociology — the sociological imagination — that stresses being able to connect individual experiences and societal relationships. Mills asserts that a critical task for social scientists is to â€Å"translate private troubles into public issues,† which is something that it is very difficult for ordinary citizens to do . Sociologists, then, rightly connect their autobiographical, personal challenges to social institutions.Social scientists should then connect those institutions to social structure(s) and locate them within a historical narrative. The three components that form the sociological imagination are: History: how a society came to be and how it is changing and how history is being made in it Biography: the nature of â€Å"human nature† in a society; what kinds of people inhabit a particular society Social Structure: how the various institutional orders in a society operate, which ones are dominant, how they are held together, how they might be changing, etc. The Promise Of Sociology C.Wright Mills  · Men now days often feel that their lives are a series of traps. They feel in their worlds they can’t overcome their troubles. According to Mills this is correct.  · You cannot understand the life of an individual or the history of society without understanding both.  · Pe ople do not see how the changes in history affect them. The do not see how the ups and downs they experience in their lives are affected by their society.  · People do not see the connection that exists between the patterns in their lives and the course of history. People need a quality of mind to use information to develop reason to make connections between what is going on in the world and what is happening to themselves. He calls this the Sociological Imagination.  · Sociological Imagination allows us to grasp history and biography and the relations between the two within society. That is both its task and its promise. This is the purpose of classical social analysts.  · The most important distinction is between the issues and the troubles. Issues- have to do with matters that transcend these local environments of the individual and the range of his inner life.  · Troubles- occur within the character of the individual and within his range of his immediate relations with o thers. It has to do with his self and with those areas of social life in which he is directly and personally aware.  · The sociological imagination is supposed to help man to understand that what is happening to themselves is a result of intersections of history and biography within their society.Class consciousness is a term used in social sciences and political theory, particularly Marxism, to refer to the beliefs that a person holds regarding one's social class or economic rank in society, the structure of their class, and their class interests. Defining a person's social class can be a determinant for his awareness of it. Marxists define classes on the basis of their relation to the means of production – especially on whether they own capital. Non-Marxist social scientists distinguish various social strata on the basis of income, occupation, or status.Early in the nineteenth century, the labels â€Å"working classes† and â€Å"middle classes† were already coming into common usage. â€Å"The old hereditary aristocracy, reinforced by the new gentry who owed their success to commerce, industry, and the professions, evolved into an â€Å"upper class†. Its consciousness was formed in part by public schools (in the British sense) and Universities. The upper class tenaciously maintained control over the political system, depriving not only the working classes but the middle classes of a voice in the political process. Solidarity is the integration, and degree and type of integration, shown by a society or group with people and their neighbors. It refers to the ties in a society that bind people to one another. The term is generally employed in sociology and the other social sciences. What forms the basis of solidarity varies between societies. In simple societies it may be mainly based around kinship and shared values. In more complex societies there are various theories as to what contributes to a sense of social solidarity.Accordi ng to Emile Durkheim, the types of social solidarity correlate with types of society. Durkheim introduced the terms â€Å"mechanical† and â€Å"organic solidarity† as part of his theory of the development of societies in The Division of Labor in Society (1893). In a society exhibiting mechanical solidarity, its cohesion and integration comes from the homogeneity of individuals—people feel connected through similar work, educational and religious training, and lifestyle. Mechanical solidarity normally operates in â€Å"traditional† and small scale societies. In simpler societies (e. g. tribal), solidarity is usually based on kinship ties of familial networks. Organic solidarity comes from the interdependence that arises from specialization of work and the complementarities between people—a development which occurs in â€Å"modern† and â€Å"industrial† societies. Definition: it is social cohesion based upon the dependence individuals h ave on each other in more advanced societies. Although individuals perform different tasks and often have different values and interest, the order and very solidarity of society depends on their reliance on each other to perform their specified tasks.Organic here is referring to the interdependence of the component parts. Thus, social solidarity is maintained in more complex societies through the interdependence of its component parts (e. g. , farmers produce the food to feed the factory workers who produce the tractors that allow the farmer to produce the food) mechanical and organic solidarity, in the theory of the French social scientist Emile Durkheim (1858–1917), the social cohesiveness of small, undifferentiated societies (mechanical) and of societies differentiated by a relatively complex division of labour (organic).Mechanical solidarity is the social integration of members of a society who have common values and beliefs. These common values and beliefs constitute a à ¢â‚¬Å"collective conscience† that works internally in individual members to cause them to cooperate. Because, in Durkheim’s view, the forces causing members of society to cooperate were much like the internal energies causing the molecules to cohere in a solid, he drew upon the terminology of physical science in coining the term mechanical solidarity.In contrast to mechanical solidarity, organic solidarity is social integration that arises out of the need of individuals for one another’s services. In a society characterized by organic solidarity, there is relatively greater division of labour, with individuals functioning much like the interdependent but differentiated organs of a living body. Society relies less on imposing uniform rules on everyone and more on regulating the relations between different groups and persons, often through the greater use of contracts and laws. Durkheim dentified two major types of social integration, mechanical and organic. The fo rmer refers to integration that is based on shared beliefs and sentiments, while the latter refers to integration that results from specialization and interdependence. These types reflect different ways that societies organized themselves. Where there is little differentiation in the kinds of labor that individuals engage in, integration based on common beliefs is to be found; in societies where work is highly differentiated, solidarity is the consequence of mutual dependence.The distinction reveals Durkheim's thinking about how modern societies differ from earlier ones, and consequently, how solidarity changes as a society becomes more complex. Societies of mechanical solidarity tend to be relatively small and organized around kinship affiliations. Social relations are regulated by the shared system of beliefs, what Durkheim called the common conscience. Violations of social norms were taken as a direct threat to the shared identity, and so, reactions to deviance tended to emphasiz e punishment. As a society becomes larger, division of labor increases.A complex organization of labor is necessary, in larger societies, for the production of material life (as Marx suggested). Because people begin to specialize, the basis for the collective conscience is diminished. Solidarity based on the common belief system is no longer possible. Complexity does not lead to disintegration, Durkheim argued, but rather, to social solidarity based on interdependence. Since people are no longer producing all the things that they need, they must interact. Integration results from a recognition that each needs the other. Societies of organic solidarity are arranged around economic and political organizations.Their legal systems regulate behavior based on principles of exchange and restitution, rather than punishment. Manifest and latent functions are social scientific concepts of sociology by Robert K. Merton. Merton appeared interested in sharpening the conceptual tools to be employ ed in a functional analysis. Manifest functions and dysfunctions are conscious and deliberate, the latent ones the unconscious and unintended. While functions are intended (manifest) or unintended (latent), and have a positive effect on society, dysfunctions are unintended or unrecognized (latent) and have a negative effect on society.Manifest functions are the consequences that people observe or expect. It is explicitly stated and understood by the participants in the relevant action. The manifest function of a rain dance, used as an example by Merton in his 1967 Social Theory and Social Structure, is to produce rain, and this outcome is intended and desired by people participating in the ritual. Latent functions are those that are neither recognized nor intended. A latent function of a behavior is not explicitly stated, recognized, or intended by the people involved. Thus, they are identified observers.In the example of rain ceremony, the latent function reinforces the group ident ity by providing a regular opportunity for the members of a group to meet and engage in a common activity. Ideal type (German: Idealtypus), also known as pure type, is a typological term most closely associated with antipositivist sociologist Max Weber (1864–1920). For Weber, the conduct of social science depends upon the construction of hypothetical concepts in the abstract. The â€Å"ideal type† is therefore a subjective element in social theory and research; one of many subjective elements which necessarily distinguish sociology from natural science.An ideal type is formed from characteristics and elements of the given phenomena, but it is not meant to correspond to all of the characteristics of any one particular case. It is not meant to refer to perfect things, moral ideals nor to statistical averages but rather to stress certain elements common to most cases of the given phenomena. It is also important to pay attention that in using the word â€Å"ideal† M ax Weber refers to the world of ideas (German: Gedankenbilder â€Å"thoughtful pictures†) and not to perfection; these â€Å"ideal types† are idea-constructs that help put the chaos of social reality in order.Weber himself wrote: â€Å"An ideal type is formed by the one-sided accentuation of one or more points of view and by the synthesis of a great many diffuse, discrete, more or less present and occasionally absent concrete individual phenomena, which are arranged according to those onesidedly emphasized viewpoints into a unified analytical construct†¦ † It is a useful tool for comparative sociology in analyzing social or economic phenomena, having advantages over a very general, abstract idea and a specific historical example.It can be used to analyze both a general, suprahistorical phenomenon (like capitalism) or historically unique occurrences (like Weber's own Protestant Ethics analysis). Weber's three kinds of ideal types are distinguished by their l evels of abstraction. First are the ideal types rooted in historical particularities, such as the â€Å"western city,† â€Å"the Protestant Ethic,† or â€Å"modern capitalism,† which refer to phenomena that appear only in specific historical periods and in particular cultural areas.A second kind involves abstract elements of social reality–such concepts as â€Å"bureaucracy† or â€Å"feudalism†Ã¢â‚¬â€œthat may be found in a variety of historical and cultural contexts. Finally, there is a third kind of ideal type, which Raymond Aron calls â€Å"rationalizing reconstructions of a particular kind of behavior. † According to Weber, all propositions in economic theory, for example, fall into this category. They all refer to the ways in which men would behave were they actuated by purely economic motives, were they purely economic men. Verstehen (German pronunciation: [f te ]), in the context of German philosophy and social sciences in gene ral, has been used since the late 19th century – in English as in German – with the particular sense of the â€Å"interpretive or participatory† examination of social phenomena. The term is closely associated with the work of the German sociologist, Max Weber, whose antipositivism established an alternative to prior sociological positivism and economic determinism, rooted in the analysis of social action. In anthropology, Verstehen has come to mean a systematic interpretive process in which an outside observer of a culture attempts to relate to it and understand others.Verstehen is now seen as a concept and a method central to a rejection of positivistic social science (although Weber appeared to think that the two could be united). Verstehen refers to understanding the meaning of action from the actor's point of view. It is entering into the shoes of the other, and adopting this research stance requires treating the actor as a subject, rather than an object of your observations. It also implies that unlike objects in the natural world human actors are not simply the product of the pulls and pushes of external forces.Individuals are seen to create the world by organizing their own understanding of it and giving it meaning. To do research on actors without taking into account the meanings they attribute to their actions or environment is to treat them like objects. Interpretative Sociology (verstehende Soziologie) is the study of society that concentrates on the meanings people associate to their social world. Interpretative society strives to show that reality is constructed by people themselves in their daily lives. There is also a tendency in modern English not to follow the German-language practice of capitalizing nouns.Verstehen roughly translates to â€Å"meaningful understanding† or putting yourself in the shoes of others to see things from their perspective. Interpretive sociology differs from scientific (or positivist) socio logy in three ways: Interpretive sociology deals with the meaning attached to behavior, unlike scientific sociology which focuses on action. Interpretive sociology sees reality as being constructed by people, unlike scientific sociology which sees an objective reality â€Å"out there†. Interpretive sociology relies on qualitative data, unlike scientific sociology which tends to make use of quantitative data.Functional Integration This refers to the interdependence among parts of a social system. Just as the human body is made up of interrelated parts each of which plays a role in maintaining the whole, so social systems are composed of interconnected parts that both support and depend on one another. Each part has contributions to make if the sum is to work well. These contributions are its functions – that is, functions are the effects that some social groups, event, or institution has within a system of relationships to other phenomena.Functionally integrated systems can also produce dysfunctions, or side-effects that are not good for the system. Pollution is a dysfunctional consequence of our industrial system. Social Systems can also disintegrate. Like the old Soviet Union. Functional integration refers to the integration of values with systems of action and it therefore involves priorities and allocations of diverse value component among proper occasion and relationshipsAs an institution changes, the others react to that change and compensate for it, thereby changing themselves in the process. But all the parts remain integrated into the single unit.Rational choice theory argues that social systems are organized in ways that structure the alternatives and consequences facing individuals so that they behave rationally. This allows them to best serve their self-interest within the constraints and resources that go with social systems and their status in them. Rational choice theory is the view that people behave as they do because they believe that performing their chosen actions has more benefits than costs. That is, people make rational choices based on their goals, and those choices govern their behavior. Some sociologists use rational choice theory to explain social change.According to them, social change occurs because individuals have made rational choices. For example, suppose many people begin to conserve more energy, lowering thermostats and driving less. An explanation for this social change is that individual people have decided that conserving energy will help them achieve their goals (for example, save money and live more healthfully) and cause little inconvenience. Critics argue people do not always act on the basis of cost-benefit analyses. Culture This is the language, norms, values, beliefs, knowledge, and symbols that make up a way of life.It is the understanding of how to act that people share with one another in any stable, self-reproducing group. Participation in a culture makes possible a meaningful understanding of one's own actions and those of others. Without culture it would be hard to communicate. When one culture is particularly distinct and set apart from the rest it is called a subculture. Individuals may participate in more than one subculture. No one is ever cultureless, however, for sharing in some culture or combination of cultures is an essential part of what we think of as humans.Norms are the agreed-upon expectations and rules by which a culture guides the behavior of its members in any given situation. Of course, norms vary widely across cultural groups. Folkways, sometimes known as â€Å"conventions† or â€Å"customs,† are standards of behavior that are socially approved but not morally significant. Mores are norms of morality. Breaking mores will offend most people of a culture. Finally, laws are a formal body of rules enacted by the state and backed by the power of the state. Social norms  are group-held beliefs about how members should behav e in a given context.Sociologists  describe norms as laws that govern society’s behaviors. Folkways are often referred to as â€Å"customs. † They are standards of behavior that are socially approved but not morally significant. They are norms for everyday behavior that people follow for the sake of tradition or convenience. Breaking a folkway does not usually have serious consequences. Mores are strict norms that control moral and ethical behavior. Mores are norms based on definitions of right and wrong. Unlike folkways, mores are morally significant. People feel strongly about them and violating them typically results in disapproval.A law is a norm that is written down and enforced by an official law enforcement agency. A culture's values are its ideas about what is good, right, fair, and just. Sociologists disagree, however, on how to conceptualize values. Conflict theory focuses on how values differ between groups within a culture, while functionalism focuses on the shared values within a culture. For example, American sociologist Robert K. Merton suggested that the most important values in American society are wealth, success, power, and prestige, but that everyone does not have an equal opportunity to attain these values.Functional sociologist Talcott Parsons noted that Americans share the common value of the â€Å"American work ethic,† which encourages hard work. Other sociologists have proposed a common core of American values, including accomplishment, material success, problem-solving, reliance on science and technology, democracy, patriotism, charity, freedom, equality and justice, individualism, responsibility, and accountability. A culture, though, may harbor conflicting values. For instance, the value of material success may conflict with the value of charity. Or the value of equality may conflict with the value of individualism.Such contradictions may exist due to an inconsistency between people's actions and their profess ed values, which explains why sociologists must carefully distinguish between what people do and what they say. Joan Jacobs Brumberg is a social historian and academic. She lectures and writes about the experiences of adolescents through history until the present day. In the subject area of Gender Studies, she has written about boys and violence, and girls and body image. Brumberg says that adolescence and childhood have been made more difficult for women due to the much earlier age of menarche than in the past.The average age at menstruation has dropped from 16 in 1890, to 12 while psychological development, she believes, has not accelerated. Also, consumer culture has added to people's insecurities about their bodies. It is now normal and fashionable for girls to dress in a sexualized way. Jean Kilbourne, Ed. D. (born January 4, 1943) is a feminist author, speaker, and filmmaker who is internationally recognized for her work on the image of women in advertising and her critical st udies of alcohol and tobacco advertising.She is also credited with introducing the idea of educating about media literacy as a way to prevent problems she viewed as originating from mass media advertising campaigns. These include the concepts of the tyranny of the beauty ideal, the connection between the objectification of women and violence, the themes of liberation and weight control exploited in tobacco advertising aimed at women, the targeting of alcoholics by the alcohol industry, addiction as a love affair, and many others.Hyperreality is generally defined as a condition in which what is real and what is fiction are blended together so that there is no clear distinction between where one ends and the other begins. It is a postmodern philosophy that deals in part with semiotics, or the study of the signs that surround people in everyday life and what they actually mean. Hyperreality is a way of characterizing what our consciousness defines as â€Å"real† in a world where a multitude of media can radically shape and filter an original event or experience.Hyperreality is exploited in advertising for almost everything, using a pseudo-world to enable people to be the characters they wish to be. Advertising sells the public through strong, desirable images, and many consumers buy into the brand's point of view and products. If the consumer wants to be seen as a sex icon, he or she should buy the most expensive jeans as worn or designed by his or her favorite celebrity. Although the clothing itself has limited actual value, they symbolize a state of being that some consumers want.Every time a person enters a large shopping area with a certain theme, he or she may be entering a hyperreal world. Theme parks such as Disneyworld or the casinos in Las Vegas are hyperrealities in which a person can get lost for as long as his or her money lasts. There is no reality in these places, only a construct that is designed to represent reality, allowing the person to exist temporarily in a world outside of what is real. Sociobiology is a field of scientific study which is based on the assumption that social behavior has resulted from evolution and attempts to explain and examine social behavior within that context.Often considered a branch of biology and sociology, it also draws from ethology, anthropology, evolution, zoology, archaeology, population genetics, and other disciplines. Within the study of human societies, sociobiology is very closely allied to the fields of Darwinian anthropology, human behavioral ecology and evolutionary psychology. Sociobiology investigates social behaviors, such as mating patterns, territorial fights, pack hunting, and the hive society of social insects.It argues that just as selection pressure led to animals evolving useful ways of interacting with the natural environment, it led to the genetic evolution of advantageous social behavior. The Human Animal: A Personal View of the Human Species is a BBC nature docu mentary series written and presented by Desmond Morris. Morris describes it as â€Å"A study of human behavior from a zoological perspective. † He travels the world, filming the diverse customs and habits of various regions while suggesting common roots. Stephanie Coontz studies the history of American families, marriage, and changes in gender roles.Her book The Way We Never Were argues against several common myths about families of the past, including the idea that the 1950s family was traditional or the notion that families used to rely solely on their own resources. Granville Stanley Hall was a pioneering American psychologist and educator. His interests focused on childhood development and evolutionary theory. Hall's major books were Adolescence: Its Psychology and Its Relations to Physiology, Anthropology, Sociology, Sex, Crime and Religion (1904) and Aspects of Child Life and Education (1921).His book Adolescence, was based on the results of the Child Study Movement. Ha ll described his system of psychology, which he called â€Å"genetic psychology. † His ideas were influenced by Charles Darwin. In the book, Hall described the evolutionary benefits of development from the womb to adolescence. The book itself is divided into six sections: biological and anthropological standpoint, medical standpoint, health and its tests, nubility of educated women, fecundity of educated women and education. Hall hoped that this book would become a guide for teachers and social workers in the education system.He was instrumental in the development of educational psychology, and attempted to determine the effect adolescence has on education. Hall believed that the pre-adolescent child develops to its best when it is not forced to follow constraints, but rather to go through the stages of evolution freely. He believed that before a child turned six or seven, the child should be able to experience how one lived in the simian stage. In this stage, the child would be able to express his animal spirits. The child is growing rapidly at this stage and the energy levels are high.The child is unable to use reasoning, show sensitiveness towards religion, or social discernment. By age eight, the child should be at stage two. This, Hall believed, is the stage where formal learning should begin. This is when the brain is at full size and weight. It is considered normal to be cruel and rude to others at this stage for the reasoning skills are still not developed. The child should not have to deal with moralizing conflicts or ideas, his is not yet ready at this stage. The child's physical health is most important now. In the stage of the dolescent, the child now has a rebirth into a sexed life. Hall argued that at this point, there should no longer be coeducation. Both sexes can't optimally learn and get everything out of the lessons in the presence the opposite sex. And, this is when true education can begin. The child is ready to deal with moral issu es, kindness, love, and service for others. Reasoning powers are beginning, but are still not strong. Hall argued that the high school should be a place similar to a â€Å"people's college† so that it could be more of an ending for those who would not be continuing their education to the next level.Coming of Age in Samoa is a book by American anthropologist Margaret Mead based upon her research and study of youth on the island of Ta'u in the Samoa Islands which primarily focused on adolescent girls. Mead was 23 years old when she carried out her field work in Samoa. First published in 1928, the book launched Mead as a pioneering researcher and the most famous anthropologist in the world. Since its first publication, Coming of Age in Samoa was the most widely read book in the field of anthropology, until Napoleon Chagnon's â€Å"Yanomamo: The Fierce People† took the lead in sales.The book has sparked years of ongoing and intense debate and controversy on questions perta ining to society, culture and science. It is a key text in the nature vs. nurture debate as well as issues relating to family, adolescence, gender, social norms and attitudes. Courtesy, modesty, good manners, conformity to definite ethical standards are universal, but what constitutes courtesy, modesty, very good manners, and definite ethical standards is not universal. It is instructive to know that standards differ in the most unexpected ways.Mead's findings suggested that the community ignores both boys and girls until they are about 15 or 16. Before then, children have no social standing within the community. Mead also found that marriage is regarded as a social and economic arrangement where wealth, rank, and job skills of the husband and wife are taken into consideration. Erik Erikson was a German-born American developmental psychologist and psychoanalyst known for his theory on psychosocial development of human beings. Erikson was a Neo-Freudian. He has been described as an à ¢â‚¬Å"ego psychologist† studying the stages of development, spanning the entire ifespan. Each of Erikson's stages of psychosocial development is marked by a conflict for which successful resolution will result in a favourable outcome, and by an important event that this conflict resolves itself around. The Erikson life-stage virtues, in order of the eight stages in which they may be acquired, are: Basic trust vs. basic mistrust – This stage covers the period of infancy. 0-1 year of age. – Whether or not the baby develops basic trust or basic mistrust is not merely a matter of nurture. It is multi-faceted and has strong social components.It depends on the quality of the maternal relationship. The mother carries out and reflects their inner perceptions of trustworthiness, a sense of personal meaning, etc. on the child. If successful in this, the baby develops a sense of trust, which â€Å"forms the basis in the child for a sense of identityâ€Å". Autonomy vs. Sh ame – Covers early childhood – Introduces the concept of autonomy vs. shame and doubt. During this stage the child is trying to master toilet training. Purpose – Initiative vs. Guilt – Preschool / 3–6 years – Does the child have the ability to or do things on their own, such as dress him or herself?If â€Å"guilty† about making his or her own choices, the child will not function well. Erikson has a positive outlook on this stage, saying that most guilt is quickly compensated by a sense of accomplishment. Competence – Industry vs. Inferiority – School-age / 6-11. Child comparing self-worth to others (such as in a classroom environment). Child can recognize major disparities in personal abilities relative to other children. Erikson places some emphasis on the teacher, who should ensure that children do not feel inferior. Fidelity – Identity vs.Role Confusion – Adolescent / 12 years till 20. Questioning of sel f. Who am I, how do I fit in? Where am I going in life? Erikson believes, that if the parents allow the child to explore, they will conclude their own identity. However, if the parents continually push him/her to conform to their views, the teen will face identity confusion. Intimacy vs. isolation – This is the first stage of adult development. This development usually happens during young adulthood, which is between the ages of 20 to 24. Dating, marriage, family and friendships are important during the stage in their life.By successfully forming loving relationships with other people, individuals are able to experience love and intimacy. Those who fail to form lasting relationships may feel isolated and alone. Generativity vs. stagnation is the second stage of adulthood and happens between the ages of 25-64. During this time people are normally settled in their life and know what is important to them. A person is either making progress in their career or treading lightly in their career and unsure if this is what they want to do for the rest of their working lives.Also during this time, a person is enjoying raising their children and participating in activities, that gives them a sense of purpose. If a person is not comfortable with the way their life is progressing, they're usually regretful about the decisions and feel a sense of uselessness. Ego integrity vs. despair. This stage affects the age group of 65 and on. During this time you have reached the last chapter in your life and retirement is approaching or has already taken place. Many people, who have achieved what was important to them, look back on their lives and feel great accomplishment and a sense of integrity.Conversely, those who had a difficult time during middle adulthood may look back and feel a sense of despair. Thomas Hine- The Rise and Fall of the American Teenager. A history of the American adolescent experience, and why it must change. Persistence of vision is the phenomenon of t he eye by which an afterimage is thought to persist for approximately one twenty-fifth of a second on the retina. The Kinetoscope is an early motion picture exhibition device. The Kinetoscope was designed for films to be viewed by one individual at a time through a peephole viewer window at the top of the device.The Kinetoscope was not a movie projector but introduced the basic approach that would become the standard for all cinematic projection before the advent of video, by creating the illusion of movement by conveying a strip of perforated film bearing sequential images over a light source with a high-speed shutter. The Lumieres held their first private screening of projected motion pictures in 1895. Their first public screening of films at which admission was charged was held on December 28, 1895, at Salon Indien du Grand Cafe in Paris.This history-making presentation featured ten short films, including their first film, Sortie des Usines Lumiere a Lyon (Workers Leaving the Lum iere Factory). Each film is 17 meters long, which, when hand cranked through a projector, runs approximately 50 seconds. The Nickelodeon was the first type of indoor exhibition space dedicated to showing projected motion pictures. Usually set up in converted storefronts, these small, simple theaters charged five cents for admission and flourished from about 1905 to 1915. A movie palace is a erm used to refer to the large, elaborately decorated movie theaters built between the 1910s and the 1940s. The late 1920s saw the peak of the movie palace, with hundreds opened every year between 1925 and 1930. There are three building types in particular which can be subsumed under the label movie palace. First, the classical style movie palace, with its eclectic and luxurious period-revival architecture; second, the atmospheric theatre which has an auditorium ceiling that resembles an open sky as its defining feature and finally, the Art Deco theaters that became popular in the 1930s.

Buisness opportunity

This document can prove to be a major milestone with regards to the development of a marketing plan for the Electrolux Tumble dryers, a product of an American firm to be launched in the German market. This marketing plan intends to capture the German market with a full laid down disruptive marketing strategy. This marketing plan looks at the present market with all the existing market players in this field, and seeks to identify trends which will influence the market potential in the coming years.It looks at the position of the Electrolux brand in the German market, the strengths and weaknesses of the product under study – Tumble dryer. Moreover, these characteristics will be studied to know their influence on the customer and threats in the marketplace. The analysis of this plan identifies a number of probable target markets whose requirements very closely match by the advantages provided by the Electrolux tumble dryers. Finally the marketing plan will set penetration targets for the product and list down the main strategies that are needed to do so.This report lists down some major points that are needed to make a complete analysis of the American product for the German market. INTRODUCTION The Electrolux group was founded in the year 1910 as Elektromekaniska AB, and changed its name to Electrolux in 1919. The company was a holding company in 1928 and now is an independent company. The company has been highly successful in attracting the international customers, worldwide and has successfully gained a prominent market in the white goods industry.The concerned product – Electrolux is a mature product and reviewers acknowledge that it provides a decent amount of functionality that is needed by consumers. A PROPOSED MARKETING PLAN TEMPLATE A properly developed and executed marketing plan will outline the costs, sales, advertisements and promotional figures of the process of introducing Electrolux tumble dryers in the German market. These types of m arketing plans where disruptive marketing potential is being aimed at, it is better to help customers with less expensive and culturally adaptive products.The marketing plan starts with the thought process about the central business activities that will be involved in the marketing of the product. 1. Who are the potential customers and the targeted customers? 2. How will the company price the product after evaluating the buying potential of the buyer? 3. What are the possible channels, sales and methods that can be employed for the effective marketing of the Electrolux tumble dryers? 4. What is the time frame and plan to spend the marketing plans? A typical structure of a proposed marketing plan for the launch of the product in the German markets is represented below:A. Condition Analysis – In this part, the analysis of the targeted German market is done with references to the following issues. These issues may be related to the geographical image, present German market situa tion, competitive analysis of the different brands present in the German market, German customer or end user analysis, Electrolux tumble dryer product review and its distribution. Environment Analysis 1. German Demographic trends (age, gender, family size, family life cycle, income, occupation, education, religion, race, nationality) 2.German Economy and Financial trends 3. Technical Backdrops and Trends 4. Political Issues and Laws 5. German Communal Trends 6. Civilizing Trends within the societies 7. Material Supply Trends/Issues 8. Predictable impact of the Internet on the product marketing plan and Industry, both today and in the future Market Situation 1. German Market Situation 2. Size of total German market 3. Growth trend of total German market 4. Key elements that affect the German market scenario Competitive Situation 1. SWOT Analysis (strengths/weaknesses/opportunities/threats) 2.Listing down of key competitors and their market position with context to the German scenario 3. Evaluation of the size of the competitors and their revenue analysis 4. The German Market share of each of the key competitors 5. Sales trends of key competitors 6. Strong point of key competitors compared to the product or services. 7. Promotion strategies of key player and their likely impact on your product 8. Unique Selling Proposition of the product that can attract the customer 9. Competitors' likely response to your Advertising/Promotion program and your planned counter- measuresDistribution and Supply Situation 1. To organize an efficient distribution channel 2. significance of each distribution channel in terms of: – Percent of business sales – Development potential – Competitive status B. Goals and Objectives – The marketing plan also aims to define the goals of the company and devising the correct strategy. These include the following: 1. Financial objectives – under this, the following are to be considered: Gross sales, Cost of prod ucts, Gross margins, Net profit and ROI. 2.Marketing objectives – under this, the following are to be considered, sales revenue, total ales, and market share and distribution levels. This will also include a marketing timetable which lists all the marketing, advertising and promotional activities. CONCLUSION By choosing to invest in Germany, the investor would be able to be a pioneer in the international market that US is trying to establish. The investor would enjoy the benefits of low taxes, and easy penetration. The track record of the economic growth of Germany only shows that the company is worth investing in.There is a small risk of rental yields going down for the White goods market, this is because the country is improving on its international market and chances are, more and more people would come in the country. Comparing the risks and the benefits of investing in the German market, it is better to choose to invest than choosing not to. Reference List 1. Economist I ntelligence Unit. 2005. â€Å"Country Profile 2005: Germany †. The Economist Intelligence Unit Limited 2. Export Development United States 2006. â€Å"Exporting Globally : A Guide for White Goods Businesses †.

Youth + Kicks= Awareness Professor Ramos Blog

Youth + Kicks= Awareness School shootings are at an all-time high in the United States with a steady increase annually. Two songs tell a story of this tragic event that we witness far too often, hitting close to home. Youth of a Nation by P.O.D and Pumped Up Kicks by Foster the People use their fame as a platform to shed light on this issue. It is a sensitive topic, among many others, in the 21st century. It is televised and debated but we have yet to try and find a solution as everyone is quick to take offense instead of focusing on finding a solution. Our children’s lives are at risk and a plan on preventing these massacres needs to be reached. These songs give perspective on this issue and were inspired by a tragedy that we all feel effected by, directly or indirectly. The lyrics are moving and encourages rage, sadness and the reality that these occurrences happen way to often to our children in schools across the country. It is bold in the approach and gives a point of view that may differ from ou r own. If it does not make you feel sympathetic at the very least it creates awareness that this is a problem that is only growing by the year. Youth of a Nation† by P.O.D., abbreviated for Payable on Death referring to Jesus Christ dying on the cross for the sins of the world. The song came out in 2001 on the album Satellite. The very diverse group, P.O.D is a Christian metal band from San Diego but also air their music on secular radio stations. The song was nominated for a Grammy in 2003, many of their songs have a message for someone to relate to with a subtle hint of religious reference. This song gives three stories of adolescent tragedy in American culture. A line from the song that is powerful is â€Å"instead of taking the test I took two to the chest (Sonny Sandoval).† As they were recording for their album â€Å"Satellite,† two blocks away the Santana High School shooting was unfolding. Shocked of the horrific news they created this song to being awareness to these tragedies. Toward the end there is a group of young people singing the chorus, â€Å"We are, we are, the youth of a nation†¦Ã ¢â‚¬  a literal visual of young people in our communities that can be victims. The music video shows four young people taking a road trip in an old car. There are yearbook pictures of all of the victims of the school shootings displayed where the band is playing for effect. Foster the People’s song â€Å"Pumped Up Kicks† was released in 2010 on the album Torches. They are an indie pop group and received a Grammy nomination for this song. Mark Foster, who wrote the song, wanted to bring awareness to the growing teenage mental illness issue. It is from the perspective of a troubled youth with homicidal thoughts. The bassist Cubbie Fink had a cousin who was a survivor of the Columbine High School massacre. It hit close to home and this was the platform to speak about this growing epidemic. The song was considered controversial and banned from being played on some radio stations. In the beginning of the music video it shows a kid talking to his friend and looking out from the cafeteria into the quad. There is a person in a bulletproof vest approaching and he notices he is shooting a gun. He gets down on the floor and pulls his friend down with him. When the gunshots are heard the other kids hit the floor, scream and run in panic and terror. Ki ds are being shot and the students in the cafeteria run for cover some try to escape out of an exit. The fear in these teenagers’ eyes as they hide under the tables is heart wrenching. Chaos ensures and everyone scrambles as the chorus line from the song plays, â€Å"better run, better run, faster than my bullet (Mark Foster).† With these tragedies happening so often in society it makes the listener think about those effected in the schools. There was Columbine 4/20/99, Santana High School 3/5/2001, and Granite Hills High School 3/22/2001 (Thompson 214). According to CNN, in 2018 there have been at least 80 incidents of gunfire on school grounds. The numbers have increased every year starting from 1997. The US has had 57 times as many school shootings as the other major industrialized nations combined: 288 since 2009 in US vs. Canada-2 as of May 21, 2018 France-2 Germany-1 Japan, Italy and UK-0 The parameters we followed in this count are Shooting must involve at least one person being shot (not including the shooter) Shooting must occur on school grounds We included gang violence, fights and domestic violence (but our count is NOT limited to those categories) We included grades Kindergarten through college/university level as well as vocational schools We included accidental discharge of a firearm as long as the first two parameters are met (Mirtha Dorastorg, et al). Trying to find a solution to this tragedy may begin with new and stricter gun laws. Republicans feel stricter gun laws are not the answer. The survivors of these tragedies rally and are now getting involved in politics enforce new laws to possibly reduce the amount of school shootings. Active shooter drills are being created at schools so students know what to do in the event that their school is under fire. Are these acts a result of bullying or possibly a factor that is racially motivated? Are people evil or a victim of propaganda against any protected group which results in their act? Since these answers vary in case by case and we cannot change the mentality of every citizen, we need to create laws for everyone to abide by or suffer the consequences. Bullet proof gear, clothes, backpacks, hammers supplied for escape through a window and door jams, to prevent entry by a shooter, have been made by different companies as a fail safe or precaution to prevent further massacre if any occurrence arises. Bullet proof blankets on classroom doors and flashlights that shoot pepper spray have been suggested. Any and all of these could be useful but the cost ranges from hundreds of dollars to thousands per unit. With school budgets barely covering mandatory expenses, there is no room in the budget to purchase these items for every classroom. Training and arming teachers with guns has also been discussed as a possible solution and being offered in some places (Rajan 861). After effects for any child who is witness to these crimes are more likely to abuse drugs or alcohol, suffer from depression, anxiety and PTSD and do poorly in school. Firearms are the second leading cause of death for American children and teens. Awareness is first priority so people can stand up and show our state and government that we want action and new laws created. That is why I can appreciate both songs and the artists who performed them. They are both powerful in their own way and disturbing at the same time. To open our eyes to the real issue at hand and who is at risk is the goal in which both bands succeed. People don’t always want to see the ugly truth but at some point, it will affect us all in some way. We need to find a solution before we are personally faced with the tragic ending of a loved one. If you have never heard either of these songs look them up and listen to the lyrics. P.O.D. has a basic idea being portrayed in the video that doesn’t speak to the tragedy being referenced. They may have been going for an interpretive video but it still seems undeveloped and uninteresting. Foster the People had an awesome beg inning that grabs your attention but falls short toward the middle of the video. Of course, they cannot reenact an entire tragedy without traumatizing the audience. The message is clear even if you aren’t a fan of the instrumentals. I would highly recommend both song and I give them both a four out of five-star rating for the delivery of the music and three out of five-stars for the music videos and the lackluster execution. P.O.D. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDKwCvD56kw Foster the People https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MFt08wEUOQ Music video, YouTube.com Foster the People Pumped Up Kicks www.payableondeath.com CNNs Donastorg, Mirtha, Caldwell, Travis, Walker, Christina, Samira, Jafari and Grise, Kate collaborated on this research. May 2018. https://www.cnn.com/2018/05/21/us/school-shooting-us-versus-world-trnd/index.html Duplechain, Rosalind, and Robert Morris. â€Å"School Violence: Reported School Shootings and Making Schools Safer.† Education, vol. 135, no. 2, Winter 2014, pp. 145-150. â€Å"Gun Violence in America.† Aug. 2018. https://everytownresearch.org/gunfire-in-school/ Rajan, Sonali, and Charles C. Branas. â€Å"Aiming Schoolteachers: What Do We Know? Where Do We Go From Here?† American Journal of Public Health, vol. 108, no. 7, July 2018 pp. 860-862. Thompson, C. â€Å"Our Killing Schools.† Society, vol. 51, no. 3, June 2014, pp. 210-220. Vuori, Miika, et al. â€Å"Fear of Crime in Local Communities after School Shootings.† Journal of Scandanavian Studies in Criminology Crime Prevention, vol. 14, no. 2, Dec. 2013, pp. 154-171.

Contemporary approaches to leadership theory Essay Example

Contemporary approaches to leadership theory Essay Example Contemporary approaches to leadership theory Paper Contemporary approaches to leadership theory Paper Trait theory based on the qualities of the leaders where it means that ‘leaders are born, not made. ’ Leaders consist of different qualities where for an effective leader some qualities like judgment, drive, fairness, energy, initiative, human relation skill and foresight. This theory is discredited more or less. Behavioral theories The styles of leadership are the collections of leadership behavior that are used in different conditions in different ways. Among many classifications of styles, leadership styles are extent to the focus to the leaders whether this is task/performance based or relationship/people based. Two models describes the key terms: Asridge model: Tells: Here all the decisions are made and issues are instructed by the leader that must be followed. Sells: though still all the decisions are made by the leader but subordinates are motivated here to accept those rather than being emphasized. Consults: here ideas are conferred by the leaders with subordinates by taking their view though the final saying is retained by the leaders. Joins: leaders and subordinates both take part in decision making based on the consensus. Blake and Mounton’s managerial grid: Two basic dimensions of leadership have been observed by Robert Blake and Jane Mouton through their research one of which is concern for production and the other is concern for people. Mangers could be located from very low to very high concern at any point on a continuum along any of these two dimensions. Various permutations are observed in these two concerns that are not correlated. These permutations are modeled as a grid by Blake and Mouton. Concerns for people are represented by one axis and concern for production is represented by another. Nine points from 1(low) to 9 (high) are allotted to each axis. 1. Transformational theories are based on the reaction of a leader in any transactional situation in contrast with the transformational situation. Where transactional theory is based on the rewards and punishment system, transformational leadership focuses on the other hand to a bigger picture heading to the achievement of a common goal. Again the types of leadership style are also focused by the transformational theory. MS Leadership case: MS is the leading UK retail giant especially in the clothing sector. The company was founded in 1884 in Leeds by Michael Marks and Thomas Spenser in Leeds. Now the company has 700 outlets United Kingdom and another 300 stores are flagged in 40 countries throughout the world. Company’s headquarter is based in London. Different attributes of MS leaders are as follows: Greenbury acted like a task manager (9,1) in respect to some aspects like unilateral, push people for only profit, eavesdropping and good reward in finance based on the team morale. The action of Bostock and Rose were like a team manager (9,9). They insisted on the unity of the team, motivation and confidence of people for the effective results. They used both directive/task focused and supportive/ people-focused attitude. Again, Greenbury and Salesbury are considered as autocratic where Rose played a role of a consultive leader. Bostock was democratic in his leadership approach. The history of MS is based on the autocracy culture. Though Greenbury tried to alter it to the consults/join approach by encouraging of board meeting and involving people but due to the strong base of autocratic style, he stepped behind. Rose followed tells style especially during solving problems. Both of them used sells and consult approach in some contexts. Determine leadership approaches relevant for the 21st century, drawing on theories and tools as practiced by leading international organizations. In the 21st century, a new leadership approach has emerged based on the bottom-up transformation that is inspired by building community and also by shared power. Three themes are implicated in this framework: Shared leadership: According to this leadership, everybody has the qualities of leadership inside and can pool and drawn upon this during necessity specially while working in a group on any vital common issue. Leadership as relationship This theme is based on the idea of relationship network and on the concepts of partnership, empowerment and service. Leadership in community This leadership assumes the community as the conceptual setting where the relationship of leadership occurs. According to Farkas and De Becker, leaders can lead in five ways: Strategic Approach The top strategist is the Chief Executive of any company who envisions the future systematically and map out specifically the way to get there. Human Asset Approach Success is managed by the Chief Executive with the help of policies of people, principles and programs. Expertise Approach A particular propriety expertise is championed by the Chief Executive what is then utilized for focusing the organization. Box Approach A set of rules, procedures, systems and values are developed by the Chief Executive in order to control behavior and results within the well defined constrains. Change Approach The Chief Executive behaves as a radical change agent with the transformation of bureaucracies within the organization embracing the new and different approach. With the entrance of 21st century, the predictions of the concept of leadership development are seemed as follows: 1. Leadership is for all – every individual in the present organization is a team member and a manager as well. For this reason, leadership is needed to be learnt and exhibited by everyone. 2. Learning is involved in leadership – leaders always discover new knowledge and know the way of sharing it with others. With the spread of learning culture, leadership can be shown more than ever before. 3. Leadership is based on team – Though every organization maintains the hierarchy and it will be exist, but the best organizations always empower their members to become a leader. 4. Leadership is not authoritarian – in this 21st century, the authority of an individual is counted by his/her saying but not with his/her status. Here, leaders communicate with people but to people. New way of leadership is the outcome of new way of communication. 5. Followership is included in Leadership– leadership responsibility may be more or less person to person but every individual will learn from others. The experience of becoming a contributor will be possessed by everybody. Explore and examine your own personal and managerial effectiveness within an organisation through a process of personal reflection. Leadership Development Through Experience 1. The people I personally work with I am stimulated to the development by the people I always work with. They play a vital role both in my personal and professional life. According to Kouzes and Posner, ‘‘other people have always been important guidance sources. Our parents always provide us with advice and supports, our curiosity for any favourite subject was developed by any particular teacher, we tinkered in the garage with the help of our neighbour, we were motivated and promised to give our best to our coaches, we were given important feedback by our counsellor on our attribute and its affect, the master of art instructs us in the basic of craft, our first boss taught us to skip the ropes and hoops to jump. ’ I am learning about the leadership whether it is effective or not by being attentive to my surrounding models who may be my immediate boss. I am taught what to do or not to do with help of watching the leadership roles of others. Again, through the close alliance with any experienced individual who is referred as mentor and by taking me under his/her wing, valuable perspectives and insights can be achieved by me. Executive coaching is extensively becoming a common responsibility of all the executives to the managers who report them and it is also relevant to monitoring. Again it is regarded as an investment to change counterproductive attribute, always interpersonal which is the threat of derailing a valued manger. Development of Leadership Through Task 1. The task itself The task of development is always vague and more complex. The development of leadership can be increased with changing of work environment. New and creative solutions may be needed for the nature of task. The strategic planning project can be intellectually challenging and can contribute to the development of the leaders. Those development opportunities are the best where individuals are stretched and allowed to test themselves against any new and hard task. Some factors impacts on any task whether it is developmentally challenging or not or high level of pressure is generated. These factors include deadlines, requirements of travel, more hours and an unpredictable task where both there is a possibility of both success and failure. All the employees may not be provided with the same development opportunities by the organization what is the aspect of the task of leadership development. There is an outstanding difference between large and small organizations in particular in what opportunities they offer. Leadership Development Through Education 1. Courses of University in leadership The training program of leadership is now a day included in many universities particularly in the extracurricular activities. Personality traits, behaviours of leadership, motivation, values and different leadership theories are included in those courses for describing the process of leadership. Method of standard lecture is used in several courses. Again students are provided with individualised feedback in some courses in the form of intelligence, values, personality and ratings of leadership behaviour. Several situations of leadership are described in the case studies that are used as the conveyer of the leadership discussions. Another method is role playing where participants are assigned to play a role in a job related scenario. Trainees are thus helped to practice relevant skills. 1. Training programmes of leadership The contents of such programs are more focused and the programs are normally very short. They include lectures, case studies and role playing exercise for the improvement of leadership. Four different teaching methods provide effective training. These include personal growth, building of skill, feedback and conceptual awareness. Develop an in-depth understanding of the principles of change and the organisational change process. Change management is termed as a structured way for the transition of individuals, teams and organizations from the present to expected desired future state. There are 10 principles of change management according to John Jones, DeAnne Aguirre and Mathew Calderone : Systematically addressing the human side: 1. The approach of change management should be fully integrated into the design of program and making decision that leads to make strategic decision. Any people issues should be dealt step by step for putting speed, morale and outcome at any risk. Start at the top 1. Change should be embraced first by the top leader of any organization like CEO for taking challenge and for motivating others. They should be model to the expected behaviors and should speak in one voice. Involving each layer 1. Leaders should be identified and trained in each layer of change efforts and they must be aligned to the vision of the company. they also should be equipped for executing particular mission and should be motivated for making change happened. Making the formal case 1. As the individuals are rational inherently, formal case can be articulated and written version statement can be created that will ensure the alignment between team and leadership. Creating ownership 1. Ownership can be best created with the involvement of people to identify problems and to craft solutions. It can be tangible or psychological and is is reinforced by incentives and rewards. Communicating the message 1. Change programs can be best where core messages are reinforced through regular and timely advice which is both practical and inspirational. The flow of communication moves out from the top to bottom and employees are provided with the right information at the right time that helps soliciting their input and feedback. This communications require multiple and redundant channels. Evaluating the cultural landscape 1. Leaders are accounted for culture at each organizational level through the successful change program where speed and intensity are picked up when they flow down. Cultural diagnostics helps to assess the readiness of organization to the change, bring key issues, identify conflicts and define factors of recognizing the leadership and resistance sources. Addressing culture clearly 1. The culture and underlying behaviors should be cleared by the leaders that support the new business method. Opportunities for rewarding those behaviors are also found by the leaders. A cultural change can be kicked start effectively with the understanding that all companies posses a cultural centre. Preparation for the unexpected 1. Effective change management continuously reassesses the impact of the unexpected reaction of people, willingness of organization and ability of adopting the next transformation. Momentum can be maintained with the real data from the field and solid decision making. Speaking to the people 1. People want to know about the change, the expectation towards them and their performance assessment process. Leaders need to be cleared and honest about this all. Rewards should be promoted as dramatic reinforcement to embrace change.

St. Johns College Annapolis Admission Data

St. Johns College Annapolis Admission Data St. Johns College in Annapolis, with test-optional admissions, does not require students to submit scores from the SAT or the ACT. The school has holistic admissions, meaning that it looks at various aspects of an applicants application, not just grades and scores, but essays, academic history, extracurricular activities, etc. Students will need to submit high school transcripts, letters of recommendation, and a personal essay. With an acceptance rate of 53  percent, St. Johns admits the majority of those who apply. For more information about applying, including full requirements and important deadlines, be sure to visit the schools website, or contact the admissions office. Calculate your chances of getting in with this free tool from Cappex. Admissions Data (2016) St. Johns College Annapolis Acceptance Rate: 53  percentSt. Johns College is Test-OptionalTest Scores 25th / 75th PercentileSAT Critical Reading: 610 / 730SAT Math: 570 / 710What these SAT numbers meanACT Composite: 27 / 33ACT English: 30 / 34ACT Math: 25  / 31What these ACT numbers meanTop Maryland colleges SAT comparisonTop Maryland colleges ACT comparison St. Johns College Annapolis Description Founded in 1696 and chartered in 1784, St. Johns College in Annapolis has a rich and distinct history. Despite what the colleges name might suggest, St. Johns has no religious affiliation. The colleges 36-acre campus sits along the water in the center of historic Annapolis, Maryland. The  United States Naval Academy  abuts the campus. St. Johns College is not for everyone. All students have the same curriculum  and all graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in the liberal arts and sciences. The heart of a St. Johns education is reading and discussion focused on mathematics, languages, science and music. All students will graduate with an in-depth understanding of important works of Western civilization. The college has an impressive 8 to 1 student/faculty ratio. Seminars average about 20 students and are taught by two faculty members, and tutorials and labs have 12 to 16 students. Grades are not emphasized at St. Johns, and while students will read many books, they will never use a textbook. The great majority of St. Johns graduates go on to law school, medical school, or graduate school. Students at the Annapolis campus have the opportunity to study at a second campus in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Enrollment (2016) Total Enrollment: 484  (434 undergraduates)Gender Breakdown: 55 percent male / 45 percent female100 percent full-time Costs (2016-17) Tuition and Fees: $50,353Books: $750Room and Board: $11,888Other Expenses: $750Total Cost: $63,621 St. Johns College Annapolis Financial Aid (2015 -16) Percentage of New Students Receiving Aid: 100  percentPercentage of New Students Receiving Types of AidGrants: 99 percentLoans: 64  percentAverage Amount of AidGrants: $29,502Loans: $6,052 Academic Programs Most Popular Majors:  Liberal Arts and Sciences (all students at St. Johns College have the same curriculum) What major is right for you?  Sign up to take the free My Careers and Majors Quiz at Cappex. Graduation and Retention Rates First Year Student Retention (full-time students): 82  percent4-Year Graduation Rate: 70  percent6-Year Graduation Rate: 76  percent Intercollegiate Athletics Programs Mens Sports:  RowingWomens Sports:  Rowing If You Like St. Johns College, You May Also Like These Schools: Reed College: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphBrown University: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphNew York University: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphGoucher College: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphPrinceton University: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphYale University: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphSwarthmore College: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphWells College: Profile  Amherst College: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphJohns Hopkins University: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphVanderbilt University: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT Graph Data Source: National Center for Educational Statistics

Madison Man Indicted for Possessing Guns despite Prior Mental Article

Madison Man Indicted for Possessing Guns despite Prior Mental Commitment - Article Example It was noted that Vaughan made a false statement regarding nondisclosure of the accurate information pertaining to his previous confinement in a mental institution.  For the offenses, if found guilty, Vaughan could be subjected to 10 years in prison with a fine of $250,000 for the offense of purchasing firearms after being found mentally unstable; and be penalized for five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for allegedly providing false statements to the firearms dealer (Madison Man Indicted for Possessing Guns Despite Prior Mental Commitment, 2013). The person being discussed in the article was James Wann Vaughan, who was reported to be 69 years of age, born in 1943 and lives in Madison (Madison Man Indicted for Possessing Guns Despite Prior Mental Commitment, 2013, par. 5). Likewise, when he filled in the ATF form, as required of people purchasing firearms, it was disclosed that he provided false statements after alleging that he was born in 1942 and that he lives in Scottsboro. The confounding predicament was that he was found to have been previously confined in a mental institution, therefore making him unfit to possess and purchase firearms, since he is a grave hazard to the society. 3. What impact will the information/event in the article affect the healthcare organization, healthcare profession or community improve its operation, services, the standard of care, compliance, or code of ethics and/or sense of awareness? 4. Does the article show or suggest a need for new standards that will help/enhance the medical environment or healthcare professional? Is there any current legislation already in practice or in a debate surrounding this issue? If so what is it?   

Organisations and Behaviour Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words - 4

Organisations and Behaviour - Essay Example It was found that the enterprises have to design their business outline in such a way that every activity is synchronised and integrated (Hetland et al., 2011). Each and every activity has to be collaborated so that their combined effect is evident in the organisation’s performance (Chen & Huang, 2007; Nyabadza, 2010). The crucial requirements are changes in the corporation’s culture, procedures, policies, infrastructure, Information Technology (IT) and management styles so that they can meet the demands of the current market requirements (Kouzes & Posner, 2012). In order to assess the organisational structure and culture at British Telecom (BT) and Ryanair, the websites of the two corporations have been reviewed in detail. From the analysis of BT’s strategy and management philosophy, it is evident that it has flat organisational structure so that there are less formal levels and hierarchy is simple. The major elements of the flat form of organisation are that all the functions are transparent and every business activity is clear (Mullins, 2010). In order to support the creation of innovative and creative culture, BT has made sure that it provides its employees with sufficient autonomy to make decisions, promotes team working atmosphere so that everyone is willing to make meaningful contribution, encourages risk taking behaviour so that there are new ideas and innovative solutions are implemented and the employees are involved in every vital business decision so that they feel valued and appreciated. However, on the other hand, Ryanair which is a low-cost European airline has a matrix form of organisational structure so that every department works in coordination with the other. The matrix form of corporations provides the departmental heads an opportunity of networking with key employees of other departments and develop strategic

Usability study of software lifecycle Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Usability study of software lifecycle - Essay Example The main emphasis of the book is on practical methods rather than a theoretical one. The author highlights relevant information; skills and techniques needed in the process of designing of an attractive and efficient interface. Several factors affecting the design, efficiency and usability of User interfaces including common errors made are highlighted throughout the book. By dividing the book into five (5) chapters, the author is able to clearly examine Graphic User Interface’s (GUIs). All the chapters of the book are coherent and not isolated or independent in topic content. He proposes incorporating fundamental principles for industrial and domestic designs and their concept to the Graphic user interface design. These principles are broadened through levels increasing from the most theoretical to practical using examples of various graphic user interface implementation on a windowing platform such as in Windows; the Apple Mackintosh (Mac), Motif and other X-Windows based systems. A GUI designer team should possess relevant skills such as Graphics design, System Analysis, Cognitive and Task Engineering skills. I. Fundamental principles of design: the first principle states ‘simple tasks deserve simple interfaces’ while the second principles similarly states that ‘complex tasks demand guidance and elucidation’. The ability to differentiate between complex and simple task is easily acquired by learning from feedbacks or experiences of users. Using the Microsoft Word version 6.0 which has undergone considerable revision as a case study, the author concludes that the certain factors such as Visibility, Feedback, and Mapping & Affordances as not totally disjoint components of design but highlights them as the elements of design. He states that the absence of these factors leads to many errors in design. A good User Interface supports cognitive processes such as memory and learning while avoiding overloading shift memory. A combination of