Key Elements of Communication Essay

By Barbara Bulleit, Global Knowledge Instructor Communication We communicate all the time, every day. Sometimes we’re even aware of it! We communicate through gesture, body language, facial expressions, and tone of voice as well as through the words we speak. These variables can be joined in a variety of ways in our communication. Add to this mix: language; cultural and social differences; educational background; physical proximity; and individual fears, insecurities, strengths, and weaknesses. No wonder communication is complex! There is a huge amount of information on communication and different methodologies for improvement. The following offers one perspective on communication. First of all, being successful in business requires effective communication. This paper focuses on effective business communication, although the information can be applied generally. To untangle the mix described above and to improve communication, we can focus on several key elements: Purpose Style Listening Purpose In business, when we communicate we usually have a purpose. Sometimes we have not considered that purpose sufficiently before beginning the dialogue, which can lead to confusion and mixed messages. So, first we must clarify our purpose. What do I want as a result of this communication? What would be a successful outcome? As an example, let’s consider dialogue with an employee regarding a new assignment. Initially, we may look at the assignment and consider that its successful completion is the purpose. But let’s break this process further down into smaller steps, with handing off the assignment being the first step. Our desired outcome FOR THE MEETING to hand off the assignment might be: Employee fully understands the assignment Responds to questions to ensure understanding Is able to paraphrase assignment requirements Is aware of consequences of completing or not completing assignment Employee has an idea of how to proceed Articulates next steps Identifies problems, etc Or we and employee discuss together Employee knows resources available Employee knows where to go for help We and employee agree on a follow-up status check meeting If we have been successful in this first communication regarding the assignment, we have already established a paradigm for communication during the assignment work, including follow-ups to check status, make corrections, and to compliment upon completion. Clarity in the initial communication makes a huge difference. And to back up one step, clarifying our purpose before starting the communication can separate effective communication from that which is unclear, does not have sufficient detail, leaves no room for questions or advice, or does not ensure the employee can gain access to sufficient resources. A clearly identified purpose can mean the difference between success or failure, and while thinking through a purpose may take time initially, we will eventually form a consistent habit of clarifying desired outcome – which usually leads to better results. Style Style has to do with who we are and how who we are affects our communication. We may engage in dialogue with little knowledge of the impact of individual differences. Some of us may have a higher awareness of style differences and still not use this awareness when communicating. Others of us become aware of stylistic differences only when having a problem communicating. Let’s stop for a moment and further define â€Å"style.† Style is influenced by many factors, some of which were defined at the beginning of this article. A longer list might include culture, upbringing, religion, gender, age, education, language, race, politics – and this is not a total list. Some of the influences of our early years are mitigated or enhanced during our growth and experience. In all, we become who we are, and who we are influences our communication. Let’s stay at this level of detail and agree that generally at work we do not sit down and tick off this list every time we communicate with someone! Then how do we overcome some of our differences in order to communicate effectively? We consider style: mine and theirs. Some of us tend to be more direct and/or assertive, or even aggressive. Some of us tend toward being indirect and/or passive. Here are some characteristics of each type. Direct and Assertive/Aggressive â€Å"Take charge† attitude; may have aggressive tendencies May interrupt or tend to dominate the dialogue Passive and Indirect More laid back tendency May hesitate, wait to speak up, or have to be drawn out Lack of response does not necessarily Does not always seek dialogue; instead indicate agreement or approval; has to â€Å"tells† a lot be probed Does not always see the other person’s Sometimes prefers for others to make side; may be perceived as closedecisions minded May assume that passivity indicates agreement Passive style may not indicate true feelings and attitudes Non-verbal clues follow passive Non-verbal clues easier to detect since characteristics and require more careful they are more openly expressed attention Tends to decide or answer quickly May need time rather than having to respond immediately This simple table provides a general understanding of two basic styles. It’s easy to see how communication may break down between these two types. Most of us do not easily fall into these simple categories but may have characteristics of each, which may change or vary on different days. All of this adds to the complexity of communications. Having some knowledge of a person’s style can help us. To try to break down the complexity we can use the elements in the table to formulate helpful questions, such as the following. Generally, what is his attitude: take charge or laid back? Does she comfortably engage in dialogue with others? Does he add comments and ask questions? Is it necessary to draw her out, to solicit her opinions? Does she listen to others or have a tendency to interrupt? We can see how to use this style information to gain a better understanding of the person with whom we want to communicate. For example, if Sally’s style is to be assertive or aggressive, she might have to work hard to hold back some of that take charge mentality and her tendency to speak up, dominate, and not read non-verbal clues. If Sally’s style is passive and indirect she might have to make more effort to participate in a discussion, to voice her opinions or misgivings, and to ask questions. It’s easy to see how we can use this same information to gain more insight about our own style. After all, it takes at least two people to communicate and we are part of that formula. So we have to apply these questions to ourselves as well. Am I more aggressive or laid back? Do I ask questions of others? Is my tendency to accept in the moment then voice my opinions later? Do I consider other people’s opinions, do I ignore their input, or do I just withdraw? Once we’ve determined our style and the style of the other person, we have to consider the dynamic of the two. Two aggressive people may have to each work harder at allowing the other to talk and voice opinions. Two passive people may tend to come to conclusions too quickly, or may not uncover issues or differences. One of each will have to be very aware of the other’s differences and make the effort required to accommodate those differences. Taking the time to think about our own style, then to consider the style of the other person, generates huge returns in communication. These returns include: Increased ability of the passive/indirect person to express Increased ability of the aggressive/direct person to listen Ability to allow and work out differences Realization that we each offer strengths as well as weaknesses Achieving more together than possible as individuals Recognizing style or personal characteristics is key to successful business communications. Listening Active listening takes energy; it’s work. To actively listen to someone means the following: Focus eyes and mind on the person speaking Indicate listening through eye contact, note taking, and body language Respond appropriately with comments, questions, or paraphrasing The first step is the most difficult: focusing solely on the person speaking versus thinking of what we want to say next, beginning to analyze, or even coming up with a solution! We can minimize these tendencies by making good eye contact with the person speaking so that our focus is only on that person. Quelling the desire to analyze, problem solve, etc. means we have to WORK hard. It takes a strong effort to halt or slow down these urges. If we don’t stop them, then our focus is not on the person but is on our own words and thoughts, and we are not getting all of the information they are telling us. Short circuiting active listening means we short circuit them and ourselves. When this does happen and we’re aware of it, we can stop the person and ask him or her to repeat what they said. We might say, â€Å"Would you please repeat that so I will have a full understanding,† to cover our embarrassment for not listening! Making eye contact with a person may depend upon style or culture. Some cultures prefer not to have direct eye contact. Our style assessment will help us to determine whether or not that is true for the person with whom we are dealing. Our assessment will also help us to establish which other mechanisms to use to indicate we are truly focused on what the person is saying. Responding appropriately is a real indication of active listening. When we talk with teenagers we might ask them to repeat what we just said. If they repeat verbatim we know they heard us and can â€Å"parrot.† If they paraphrase or explain what we said in their own words, we know they really listened and understood. The ability to paraphrase is a powerful tool to use with our fellow employees. If we have any doubt of their understanding, having them paraphrase is a good way to check it out. Another appropriate response is to ask questions. If we are listening to the person, asking appropriate questions helps that person to know we are really listening. It works the other way as well. If an employee or colleague does not ask us questions or does not respond appropriately, we know we need to review again, repeat using different words, draw a diagram, or whatever else we need to do to help that person understand. Active listening is not something we need to do all the time; in fact, we could not. What’s important is to determine when to use active listening. A good measurement is to say that we should actively listen anytime not listening could result in damaging or hurtful consequences. Summary Behind our communication is a purpose. That purpose may be assigning a new task, asking an employee to solve a problem, or providing feedback on performance. Our next step is to understand style: that of the employee and our own, which helps us to modify our own style and better understand how to work with the employee’s style. As we talk with the employee we can use active listening to ensure that we are getting complete information and to ensure the employee is listening to us.

Relationship of Othello and Desdemona Essay

Write a critical analysis of the relationship of Othello and Desdemona in Shakespeare`s tragedy Othello. Pay special attention to the interracial character of this relationship and the use of racist stereotypes in the play. The contrast between The Moor Othello and the gentle Desdemona in Shakespeare`s tragedy Othello is noteworthy. Yet initially it looks like one complements the other: â€Å"She loved me for the dangers that I had passed. And I loved her for that she did pity them.†( Act. 1 Scene 3). But is not this precisely the weak link in their relationship? So in love, so fascinated by the pure nature of Desdemona, does Othello has these feelings over her true self, or because of her tribute to him? Even though he is widely respected general, he’s a man and the need for him to be honored by a woman is in men’s inwardness. It can be claimed that he might even needs her worship more, because, although he is considered as a noble man in times when minorities are almost trampled, his race and the perception that he is lower than his wife are still his biggest insecurities. Attitude towards Othello constantly changes. At one time honored, then considered worst, later far more fair than black. In a moment more than just a Moor, but then again a devil black. These varieties are born not only by his race, but also his devotion to Desdemona, so beautiful and just as devastating. Their relationship is unstable from the start. It became possible because she betrays her father. And that very same act of betrayal, made in the name of love, later feeds Othello`s fears and the conceived doubts in his mind about the purity of Desdemona. Unlike her husband, Brabantio`s daughter has a very calm temper. Her character is not that deep, as others, but she is still the object of the affections of the men in the play. She is intelligible, kind hearted and faithful to the end. Racism in the play shows up early when Othello is compared with a black ram: â€Å"an old black ram is topping your white ewe† (Act. 1 Scene 1). It is unacceptable for a young white woman to be with an older black man. Barbantio claims that only witchcraft can make his daughter, a spirit so still and quiet, to fall in love of what she fear to look on. This refers to Othello, who, is now not seen as the man who was loved by Brabantio. He is  now The Moor, who abused Desdemona and has stolen her from her father and her possible future with a wealthy white man. His love is not approved immediately, because he is not what is expected from Desdemona to be married to. Her father rejects him, with prejudice on his race, and with fear about losing his good name in society. But others seem to look beyond the obvious and see the love of the married couple and the goodness in Othello`s heart. On the one hand discriminated, on the other well accepted, The Moor is now not just a moor, not just a general; he is husband, respected by his wife and the majority. He supports this impression, until his jealousy obsesses him and leads him to the most tragic display of it. And that is when his African origin turns against him one more time and he`s compared to a black devil, black fool, dull moor. Othello`s dark skin match his dark deed, and reflects on other`s opinion of him. Two people in love, each completes the other. That is how Desdemona and Othello, together, look at first sight. He has unruly temper, and she is calm; she is compassionate, he needs this; she adores him, and so does he adore her. Both with such passion for each other. But The Moor`s insecurity outgrows everything. His lack of trust and his dubiety crush his common sense and Iago sows the seed of jealousy and suspicion so easily. By telling Othello that it is women`s nature to fornicate and deceive, Iago reminds him about Desdemona`s choice to elope with him, despite her father`s resentment and against his will. She marries The Moor secretly without her father`s knowledge, and instead of seeing her decision as a sign of her loyalty for him, her husband sees Desdemona`s willingness to elope as a prelude to her infidelity. Brabantio`s words â€Å"she has deceived her father, and so may thee† ( Act.1 Scene 3) pursue Othello`s mind, not letting him to shake off the feeling of doubt when he reminds to himself his own words â€Å"My life upon her faith†(Act. 1 Scene 3). Nevertheless Othello never stops loving Desdemona, nor she stops loving and supporting him, even when he is far more different than a trusting, gentle husband. Yet the destruction of their initial idyll is inevitable. Because Iago only affects Othello`s jealousy, not creating it. The Moor`s doubts, sooner or later would have come to light, with or without Iago`s evil plan. And then the fate of this marriage, this love would still be uneasy. The young beauty Desdemona is adored by several men in the play. So calm person she is, but is the one that causes such rage, resentment and jealousy among those men. Ironically, the man with whom she is suspected of adultery does not fell like that for her. Although she appears as the unit of friction and suspicions in the tragedy, she is one of the most moderate characters. No one else has thoughts that pure and intentioned. But that does not appear as something good for her, because even her good intentions to help, enrage Othello more and he gets even more suspicious. But this does not change her feeling to her beloved. She constantly tries to convince him he`s the one. Even before her death she does not blame him for what he is about to do. Instead she tries to find where she went wrong. Desdemona stays faithful and true to love till she dies. Her blind faith in the honesty and goodness in people, turns out to be one of the reasons for her disastrous destiny. With her righteous heart and her tragic fate, Desdemona is a good example of the proverb: â€Å"Bad things happen to good people.† It seems like the relationship of Othello and Desdemona was never meant to last, but even for a short term of time it was embraced with searing love, that filled their hearts with sweetness, bliss and fervor. Sad, indeed, but beautiful, how the only thing that could devastate their bond was their burning love and the consequences of it.

Discrimination Problems

A problem facing human kind that I will start out with is discrimination and racism. For as long as humans have interacted on our planet, there has been discrimination. To me, discrimination is the act of treating individuals unequally because of a group or culture that one lives by. Everyone has been discriminatory at some point in his or her life, sometimes while not even knowing it, but it still needs to be thrown out of our society. In the late 1950†³s, discrimination acts ended against minority groups in a court of law; but did they? Today, some will still say that discrimination against any different type of ethnic group or organization will never just go away. How can a group/organization, educated or non-educated believe that a certain group that they abide by is superior to that of another? And is this still looked at as an acceptable way of living to some, or in some places? An example of an openly racist configuration is the Ku-Klux-Klan. Although most of our country is not supporting such a group, they are still given the right to voice their hatred. How is our nation ever supposed to improve and sustain peace when people are blaming others for something that we have all brought upon ourselves? Another problem I think our humankind is facing is lack of freedom and excess of social control. At this point in my life I am going through a very confusing stage of questioning. Questioning my values, my boundaries, my potential, basically my life in general. Often, I ask myself, â€Å"What the hell were we put on this planet for†? Was it to do what our society is showing us to do? -Or have we all gone completely mad? Who said that we need to succeed and compete, and sometimes make ourselves unhappy to achieve something that we are told is right? Who came up with having our whole world centered at education and goal oriented scholars? Where has the freedom really gone, and what will it lead to-certainly nothing more than what we have now. If freedom is being able to study what one wants and being able to work where one wants, as whatever one wants, these definitions of freedom are still centered around only one way of life-An organized society. True- our world would be beyond chaotic if one should pull the plug on rules, regulations and organization, but has anyone ever brought forth any kind of â€Å"what if†¦ â€Å"?. What would our world be if success and education were not looked at as the â€Å"appropriate and better† way of life? People would be able to live as they choose without the worries of fitting into any kind of society in which they did not want to fit into? What I am asking or yet proposing in a sense is what are we aiming for, and how excessive is our social control going to get? Does anybody have a certainty that what we are doing is in fact correct- if so, I†d like to meet him or her, and have Materialism is another one that I am going to take a shot at. This subject I can†t say I†m exactly fit to write about but it†s something of interest to me, which makes it somewhat of a â€Å"problematic subject† in my book. Materialism to me is our world looking at and making assumptions and opinions about the wrong thing, either the subject being money/success, man-made objects, social upbringing, education or whatever. I have never had a direct problem with materialism only because I have never been confronted or even in discussion with that subject. I grew up in a very materialistic environment and only now am realizing that it is a problem for our society. Where I grew up, in a suburban, upper-class township, everyone forms opinions on everyone by the external view of someone. As I have said above, how much money? Are they attractive? Who are their parents? And so forth. I had never been exposed to anything but that until now, and I am learning that not everyone is like that, so it†s not as much of a problem in some places than in others, although the places with heavy materialistic views and ways of life are not educated enough about this subject to know that materialism is wrong. These are just three of the many things that I think are problems facing human kind in the future and even right now.

Community week three Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Community week three - Essay Example Cleveland clinics give health talks to inform communities and individuals on prevention, management, and treatment of various health conditions. Secondly, the clinic offers management services for both acute and chronic diseases. To improve accessibility, Global Patient Services awareness should be done, as people are not aware of the seamless referral resource, which help to access care providers. Since the clinic is a nonprofit institution that is publicly financed, it should then consider the entire community’s needs in order to promote affordability. Its availability can be promoted through coming up with more centers to serve the growing population. The clinic is gaining more acceptability with the ranking it acquires in the health field because of competency in health care provision. However this can further be improved through reconsidering their charges which is a big barrier to accessing their services The growing demand for children and adolescent health care has necessitated improved technical expertise among the school nurses. Likewise, the nurses’ professional roles have increased. Today’s school nursing is not only about bandaging alone. A challenge comes in when this nurse is expected to handle a student who is managed by different health care providers for a certain condition. The nurse will therefore require the knowledge, skills, and equipments to provide quality care to this student while in school. There is quite a wide range of schoolchildren and teenage health problems that has called for the school nurse to be conversant with numerous technologies and protocols and Familiarize himself with variety of new drugs available for specific condition. (Cote et al 2013) There are different determinants to which health problem is prevalent to children and adolescents. (Nies & McEwen 2011). Some of them may include financial stability and locality. In inner city areas, conditions such as obesity are prevalent.

Analysis of Quinceanera is one Hispanic tradition Essay

Analysis of Quinceanera is one Hispanic tradition - Essay Example So, she promised me that she would buy me such a dress that would make me feel like Cinderella. I was so happy when finally she bought me a soft pink dress with shining white flowers lining its border. I had not seen such a glamorous dress for a girl my age. And then the special day arrived. I wore the beautiful dress and joined my parents and relatives to start the religious ceremony. The most special thing that happened that day was that my father, who had separated from us some years ago, was with me to celebrate my day. We went to the church and prayed to God for my health and prosperity, and thanked Him for bringing this day to my life.   When the ceremony was over, we went to the park on a limousine to take pictures. We took all sorts of single and group pictures so that I could make an album of them to be able to recollect this day’s memories later.     My mother gave a presentation to thank all friends and family who had come to celebrate my birthday party. She a lso wished me a very happy birthday. Then, the ball dance began. I danced with my eldest brother, William. I was worrying that something would get wrong and everybody would laugh at me but it all went very smoothly.   Then, it was time for my father to wish me a happy birthday. I became so emotional at that moment that my eyes filled with tears and a friend of mine offered me a tissue paper so that I could wipe my tears away. His speech made me cry because I really never realized how much my father loved me.  Ã‚  ... Then, the ball dance began. I danced with my eldest brother, William. I was worrying that something would get wrong and everybody would laugh at me but it all went very smoothly. Then, it was time for my father to wish me a happy birthday. I became so emotional at that moment that my eyes filled with tears and a friend of mine offered me a tissue paper so that I could wipe my tears away. His speech made me cry because I really never realized how much my father loved me. He said, â€Å"Now it’s time to make my little girl a young lady†, and then he got on his knee, changed my slippers and had me put on a soft pink high heeled pair of shoes, and kissed me. My aunt took me to a nicely decorated room where she applied makeup on me. I was really looking like a young lady. After that, it was time for lunch. The menu had some of the most delightful and well-known Spanish dishes such as salad, lasagna, platanos (plantains), sopa de pollo (homemade chicken soup), pernil (smoked pork), empanadas, rice with beans, corn, and meat. Everybody praised the menu and enjoyed the lunch to the fullest. Then, it was time for goodbye and I bade farewell to everybody. I end my narrative with some very warm, cozy, soothing and pleasant memories in my heart that my pen is not being able to convey to the paper very efficiently. What I felt that day is being impossible for me to describe in words. Whenever I see those pictures that we took in the park, I miss my friends and most of all, my father. He was there with me that day and became the biggest reason why that day was the most special day of my life. Last but not the least, I thank my mother to arrange such a wonderful celebration for me on my fifteenth birthday and making me feel like a

Critique of any qualitative Nursing Reserch Paper Research

Critique of any qualitative Nursing Reserch - Research Paper Example One of the major motivations behind the research conducted by Walker and colleagues (2010) was the absence of predialysis guidelines and educational components that would facilitate and regulate the work and professional development of predialysis nursing in New Zealand. Walker et al (2010) opted in for qualitative method of gathering information and based their study on descriptive exploratory methodology. The sample for the study was comprised of fourteen nurses located in New Zealand, and the main criterion for the sample selection was â€Å"any nurse providing pre-dialysis education and care in New Zealand† (Walker et al, 2010, p.5). According to Walker et al (2010), the data for analysis was gathered via semi-structured interviews, which allowed interviewers to obtain in-depth description and discussion of the problem of nurse’s role in effective predialysis care. According to Marshall & Rossman (2011), the purpose of qualitative research is to gather an in-depth understanding of a problem, and its method aims to investigate the why and how of decision making, thus, the study by Walker et al (2010) corresponds to the criteria of qualitative study. During their semi-structured interviews, authors (Walker et al, 2010) opted in for c ollecting demographic data of the participants. Walker et al (2010) applied inductive approach to retrieve thematic content for the study discussion. Study’s preliminary findings were retrieved from the analysis of transcripts and were later discussed by participants’ group formed of predialysis nurses, which facilitated the formulation of themes and further analysis. As indicated by Marshall & Rossman (2011), in order to build a sold proposal the researchers has to argue that the study has the potential to contribute to theorizing and research, to policy issues and policy making. From the critical perspective, Walker et al (2010) did not

Investment Strategy and Portfolio Management Assignment - 2

Investment Strategy and Portfolio Management - Assignment Example When choices increases, shaping and monitoring investment portfolios becomes more complicated and it is more exposed to excessive risks. To succeed in portfolio market, it requires one to make more research in order to learn how to evaluate fundamental issue and manage related risk. This increases effectiveness to clients and organization leading to more productivity. In order to succeed in investment environment, Nelly company they should have proper management of cash. They should always have knowledge of cash they receive from regular contribution of their members made and how much the fund grows. This will enable them to know the amount of money they will use to finance education (Kendrick, 2009).Later the company management should discus and make decisions on how to finance the education and how much they should have for the company to profit which will be available for contributor to make the withdraw. They should also come up with rules which should be favourable for the company and the contributor to minimize the amount they should withdraw than the amount they contribute (Elton & Gruber, 1995). The success of Nelly Company can be brought by setting complicated and favourable rules for members who would like to withdraw their funds and which can bring the member core benefits in future. The members who have more than four years and would like to withdraw their funds can be given a portion, say, 20 percent of their net contributions. The remainder should be used for funds creation at an interest which then and be allocated to these members on a residual basis. This ensures that the company remains a going concern and may not necessarily liquidate (Aiken, 2008). The company can also borrow quickly from other financing institution under a line of credit agreement, which permits company to have up to a specified maximum amount. The company will be able to buy marketable

Elementary education Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Elementary education - Essay Example Mathematics is a vital subject and is a fundamental part of scientific disciplines. Mathematics is also applicable in daily lives; hence, it is essential for students to learn mathematics. For a mathematics teacher, it is vital to research on the most practical way to teach students, in order to make learning accommodative, to the different, comprehensive speeds of students. Students in this bracket are still experiencing progress in their cognitive development. It is important to use a teaching method that is not too complex, but at the same time, it encourages growth. In elementary school, the concepts covered will prepare the student to face the intricate problems that will be experienced in the other levels of learning. Summary of the concepts Education concept covered in the book† A Problem Solving Approach to Mathematics for Elementary School Teachers.† There are thirteen mathematical concepts covered. These concepts range from numerical systems to algebra thinking. Here, is a summary on the topics covered in this book. The first concept is numerical systems. In this concept, the teacher is expected to talk about numerical systems and describe number sets. The second concept is on whole numbers and the different mathematical operations that can be performed. They include basic operations of like subtraction and addition, division and multiplication. The third concept is on algebra. Some of the lessons learned in this are what are variables, different equations and algebra functions. This topic is viewed as challenging by most elementary students. There is also the theory of ratios and fractions. Also, discussed is how to perform mathematical functions on rational numbers. Decimal and real numbers make up the next concept. The students will be introduced to decimals and how to carry out operations on decimal numbers. Also, included in this concept are real numbers and how they are used in equations. The eighth concept is on proportions and perc entages. In the concept ratios are revisited, proportion and percentages will be introduced to the students. Probability also features as one of the concepts covered in this syllabus. Learning aides like tree diagrams are introduced to help students to comprehend better this concept. Data analysis as a concept is also introduced. The students learn about data and how different data forms are displayed and their applications in statistics. The tenth concept in the course book is on geometry. Different notions about basic geometry are explored, and angles and three-dimension geometry is covered. Measurement concepts make a part of the curriculum, in this concept; linear measurement, areas, volume and mass are discussed. Surface area is also coved and distance theories and the Pythagoras theory feature in this concept. In the last concept, motion geometry is discussed. In this concept, translation, rotation, reflection and size transformations are also covered. All this concepts are ta ilored to suit the cognitive need of the age bracket that is common in elementary schools (Billstein, Lott, 2012). Relevance of the course to teachers Teachers have an extremely crucial part to play in the cognitive development of children. It is, therefore, important for teachers to be aware of the best way to ensure that children are learning and are expanding their mental capabilities. This cannot be realized blindly research is constantly carried on how improve teaching methods. This Studies come up with improvements on the current system, hence; teachers have to be up to speed in order to adapt the positive changes being brought forward through this studies. It is imperative for teachers to study on how to be effective in their work. This course is significant for elementary math’

Business 5000 5day Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5000 words

Business 5000 5day - Essay Example It is not only the business world that is increasingly engaging in scrutiny of CSR, but the literary community as well. This is a trend evident from the increased CSR studies and the wide array of theoretical concepts that attempt to elucidate this crucial aspect of business. For instance, early studies like those conducted by Drayton (2002, pp. 124) do not evaluate CSR as an entire company’s responsibility, but rather as a social duty of individual entrepreneurs. However, with progression in time, the literature diversifies to and most published works show CSR in a wider scope. There appears to be a consensus amongst scholars on the wide scope nature of CSR, as many literary sources show that the concept embraces ethical, environmental, and social challenges. Author Morsing and Schultz (2006, pp.123-134) makes the assertion that corporate social responsibility is largely propelled by increased public demands for improved corporate citizenship and companies’ transparenc y. ... , international diversification of companies is making many multinational companies (MNCs) come into contact with global customers and suppliers that have varying business and cultural backgrounds. As a result, these companies have to adopt norms and practices of the recipient country, in order to blend in and operate profitably in the new environment. This idea is supported by Mair and Marti (2006, pp. 23-35), who emphasizes that CSR agendas closely relate with global development. Apparently, CSR strategies are perceived as vehicles through which large MNCs can actively foster the welfare of developing nations, by conducting their operations in a responsible manner, especially in regard to environmental and social issues. However, as Crane and Matten (2003, p. 84) notes, the reality of the situation is that, majority of the large international companies usually undermine CSR provisions. This is shown by the corporations’ unethical and irresponsible behavior; characterized by problematic issues like provision of insecure workplace environment, gender discrimination, unfair payment, sexual harassment, as well as, pollution of the environment with toxic effluents or emissions. Even though CSR strategies are utilized in virtually every business environment, it is imperative to not that they may vary from one economy to another. The CSR approach in developing nations largely differs from that in developed regions. For instance, developing nations are characterized by continuing economic growth, making them suitable targets for majority of foreign corporations. These nations are considered to be lucrative, since they have abundant low wage labour, a wide variety of resources, and limited government restrictions. These are all crucial elements for MNCs profitable

Right, Wrong and the Truth Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Right, Wrong and the Truth - Essay Example It is easy to find a person who might even kill someone else just to be able to get his hands on some wealth. Bertrand Russell writes, â€Å"Philosophy, if it cannot answer so many questions as we could wish, has at least the power of asking questions which increase the interest of the world, and show the strangeness and wonder lying just below the surface even in the commonest things of daily life.† Ethics play a very important role in the life of any kind of a citizen; may he be a layman or a business man. In every part of life, every man has the choice of being where he is, choosing the decisions that he must take in order to make his own life better, and having the choice of stepping on other people’s dreams to do the same or not. In business for example, ethics play an important role when people decide to cheat or not to cheat by selling bad quality products to consumers. Again, the question of what is right and what is wrong arises over here because morally speaki ng, it is wrong to cheat people and have them pay a higher price for something that is not worthy of the same. According to historical norms, various customs that have been taking place since times immemorial still find their way within our modern lives. However, some of these customs are banned according to the legal system within countries because they are simply very immoral in nature. For example, in earlier times, discrimination and slavery played a very important role in the lives of the upper class; however today, it is against the law to be discriminating against any person on any basis including gender, caste, creed, race etc. Thus, this is a question of both ethics and morality because it helps to understand what may be closer to being right and what may be morally accepted by society at large without harming the maximum number of people involved in the process. In many cases, the truth is far from what may be right or wrong and not many people can do something to change t hat. For example, it might be wrong to practice female infanticide in parts of the world, however, the truth is that many tribes and families have been practising it for a long time in remote areas and will not stop because it has almost become custom like. In villages in India, it is tough for people to stop practising this heinous act because they are not aware of its implications and carry it out because it is a tradition for them to be able to give birth to a boy. Coming back to socio cultural dimensions around the world, again, the idea of understanding what may be right or wrong is almost funny. It is like explaining the theory of brightness and darkness to a blind person. For the blind man, the darkness in his world holds a different kind of colour altogether that a normal person will never be able to understand. At the same time, someone who is colour-blind sees the world in a different manner than a person who is able to differentiate between colours easily. Thus, it all bo ils down to a matter of perspective; today what may seem right to one group of people may be extremely wrong in the eyes of the other. The world is made up of different kinds of people who hold different thoughts and notion within their minds. It is very difficult to be able to change people’s minds and get them to believe in what a single person might be thinking.

Strategic Management and Strategic Competitiveness Assignment

Strategic Management and Strategic Competitiveness - Assignment Example Thus, strategic competitiveness can be regarded as a consequence or outcome of effective strategic management from a critical viewpoint. Undoubtedly, strategic management and strategic competitiveness are two fundamental attributes which are essentially required by modern day organizations to achieve as well as sustain in the leadership position. From a broader perspective, these two concepts can be identified as based various factors or managerial elements such as organizational vision, mission and its business administration strategies to name a few (Hitt, Ireland & Hoskisson, 2010). Based on this particular notion, the aim of the discussion henceforth will be to analyze the strategic competitiveness and the efficiency of strategic management process as practiced by Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (Wal-Mart) in its regular business operations taking into account the effects of globalization and technological alterations in its international industrial context. Effects of Globalization and Te chnology on Wal-Mart One of the positive effects led by globalization which is identifiable in relation to Wal-Mart has been the exposure to worldwide consumer market. It can be stated in this regard that globalization has provided a noteworthy scope to Wal-Mart in terms of cost leadership advantages. It is worth mentioning in this regard that owing to the cost efficient market structure of Wal-Mart in its home country, the company had been able to market its products at a competitive price in the global consumer market. In other words, this globalization effect regulated a balance for permitting the expansion of quality products at a much lower rate in the global markets context which proved to be of great benefit to Wal-Mart (Kutztown University of Pennsylvania, 2005). However, globalization also imposes certain negative implications which are commonly identified in terms of increased competition and significant influence of governmental interventions. It is worth mentioning that owing to such influences, Wal-Mart also had to face certain disruptions in its strategic management processes in performing the responsibilities of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Wal-Mart also had to witness significant challenges in relation to the diversity of cultures and market structures prevailing in different economic contexts all around the world. This can also be regarded as a vital challenge imposed by globalization effects upon organizations (Geref? & Christian, 2009). The effects of technology, in the similar context, can be considered as an important determinant which tends to impose significant impacts on the productivity of the retail outlets of Wal-Mart. Concerning today’s ever changing scenario, it can further be stated that the global retail market has been significantly influenced by the technology advancements. In relation to Wal-Mart’s strategic management initiatives in the global marketplace, can be observed as highly influenced by the te chnology effects. For instance, the company has been able to confirm efficient customer supply and almost accurate identification of the consumer demands. Technology has also played a vital role in increasing the efficiency of the overall business operations practiced in Wal-Mart

Aristotle Paper- Distinguishing the Definition Essay Example for Free

Aristotle Paper- Distinguishing the Definition Essay â€Å"A definition is an account, and every account has parts, and part of the account stands to part of the thing in just the same way that the whole account stands to the whole thing† (Aristotle 1034b20-22). This quote is how Aristotle defines a definition. So a definition is the statement of the essence of something. Defining something consists of starting with a genus and then breaking it down into species. A genus is a kind of a thing. A species is a more specific kind of something that is within a genus. Aristotle notices that something cannot be defined by its material components because each component can infinitely be broken down into more and more components(Aristotle 1035b9). Aristotle states the example- a circle can not be defined in terms of semicircles because semicircles would then have to be defined by quarter circles and so on, but a semicircle can be defined in terms of a circle because a circle is the simplest(Aristotle 1035b9). A genus is differentiated into species by dividing the genus into categories or certain types of the genus. Each of these categories or types within the genus are known as species. A species can also be a genus in that it too can be divided into specific categories or types. Those categories or types are also known as species, but can also be genus because they can further be divided into species. This pattern can go on infinitely. A ball is a substance that can be categorized into each setting of play that a ball is used on. So a ball can be categorized into something that is used to score on a soccer field, football field, baseball field, tennis court, basketball court, pool, and golf course. Each of these fields uses a specific type of ball. A golf course uses a golf ball. The definition of a golf ball is the ball that is used on a golf course. The essence of a golf ball is a ball. Work Cited Metaphysics. Trans. Hugh Tredennick. 2 vols. Loeb Classical Library 271, 287. Harvard U. -Press, 1933-35

Budget And Budgetary Control

Budget And Budgetary Control Budget and Budgetary Control are the key components of any business and its decision making process. A business is an organization usually set up with an aim to attain success and bring some change in the society. However, in case of any business the success is determined by the profit or the value it added to the organization at the end of an year. Therefore, the calculations of the sales and expenditures are the basic concepts of any business. As mentioned, a business is set up with a goal to attain success and thus, as a prerequisite of attaining success one organization needs to be properly aware of all its operations and should also be capable of foresee its future operations. Farsightedness has often been described as a primary means to attain success. Thus, the success of any business is quite dependent on its predictions about future course of actions. In this case, predictions relate to the organizational turnover, business trends during a time period, expenditure patterns etc. All these needs to be put together to determine an organizational strategy which will help the business sustain is growth or attain further growth. Further, in todays world business relates to funds and capitals raised through different sources, examples: bank loans, venture capitalists, investors etc. All these people are interested in looking at the facts and figures that depicts the organizational success and a successful future course of actions. The facts and figures, mentioned herewith, needs to be properly computed and presented in a form of statement. This document depicting the future of any business is known as budget. Budgetary control can be described as complimentary concept defined by the budget. Budgetary control depicts different types and aspects of business expenses and ways of controlling the same. It concentrates on the expenditures and makes sure that all the departments and its activities acts accordingly and follow the budget properly. The budget stream-lined the expenditure pattern and helps an organization to carry on its activities smoothly. BUDGET GLIMPSE ON THE DIFFERENET ASPECTS A budget can be described as a financial plan for a business that has been prepared well in advance to demonstrate and dictate the future course of work of a business. A budget may be set in money terms, for eg. a sales budget of an organization for the month of May, 2011 is  £500,000 or it can be expressed in terms of units, for say, a purchases budget determining the number of units to be bought during the month of April, 2011 is to be 5,000 units. Budgets can also be put across in the form of income budgets for money received i.e. sales budget, or expenditure budgets for money spent, i.e. a purchases budget. However, a major emphasis has always been on the cash budget which combines both income and expenditure in estimating the business working capital, cash in hand and bank balance during a course of work or a time period. The budgets are usually prepared for the following financial years (budget period), and are usually broken down into shorter time periods in order to emphasize on the figures and their attainment/fulfillment. The periods are usually monthly or quarterly, determined based on the level of activities and its operations. This ensures budgetary control to be exercised over the budget; the actual results can be monitored against the budgeted figures. Incase, of better performance the organizations announce bonus, give increments to its employees however, incase of unfavorable figures, the discrepancies between the two can be investigated and corrective action can be taken accordingly. BENEFITS OF BUDGET AND BUDGETARY CONTROL Budgets provide benefits both for the business, and also for its managers and other staffs: The budget assists planning-Oncethe business objectives are set and formalised through a budget, it can b ensured that the other business plans are also achievable. It also helps in taking the output decisions of various goods and services and to make sure that everything is available at the right time. The budget communicates and co-ordinates -A budget is agreed by the business, and helps the different department and sections within work towards a same end. It helps in maintaining a discipline throughout and in assuring that all departments play in their own part in achieving the goal. The budget once set also helps in resolving any anticipated problems and other areas of potential confusion get clarified. The budget helps in decision-making process -as already own a budget helps in planning ahead and thus allowing the business to think an foresee ahead of time, they cannot only decide the form of goods and services to be served but also the purchase decisions which can help it in manipulating its prices. The budget can be used to monitor and control The most important benefit of a budget preparation is helping a management to have budgetary control to monitor and compare the actual results. This further helps in adapting various actions in modifying the operations of the business as time passes, or possibly to change the budget if it becomes unachievable. The budget can be used to motivate and control A budget often acts as a motivating factor since provides the managers and other staffs a predetermined goals. This not only helps the business but also helps its employees since on fulfilment of the predetermined targets most of the organizations declare various types of bonuses and increments for its staff. LIMITATIONS OF BUDGET BUDGETARY CONTROL Though there are various benefits to the fact of budget and budgetary control, however, there are few limitations also and these are described below: i) Benefits of producing a budget should exceed its cost Budgeting is fairly a complex process and for some businesses especially the small ones it may pose too much of a burden in terms of time and other resources, with only limited benefits. Nevertheless, most of the lending organizations such as banks etc. in todays era often require the budgets as part of the business plan in order to further proceed with their lending or investment decisions. In these cases, as a general rule, the benefit of producing the budget must exceed its cost. ii) Budgets are often not accurate Budget deals with estimations and predictions relating to future based on the figures of the past and the present. Therefore, a great risk is involved with it tending the figures to be wrong. A business highly dependent on budgets may found it difficult to succeed with wrong details put across. Therefore, great care needs to be taken with estimation of various facts and figures. Budgetary control is used to compare the budget against what actually happened the budget may need to be changed if it becomes unachievable. iii) The budget might demotivate Employees at the ground level who do not possess any managerial rights or does not take part in agreeing and setting on to a budget might felt to be imposed upon them and thus might act as a demotivating factor. Instead of encouragements it might pose a threat to employees since a non-attainment of the target might bring in some sort of difficulty for the employee. iv) Budgets might lead to dysfunctional management The targets might pose in a threat with employees in one department of the business achieving more than their budgeted targets and create problems elsewhere. For example, a production department might achieve extra output that the sales department finds difficult to sell. The might create a chaotic situation and to avoid such dysfunctional management, budgets need to be set at realistic levels and linked and co-ordinated across all departments with proper informations. v) Budgets might be set at too low levels Budgets being prepared by individuals can be prepared at low achievable rates since, the budget where too easy to achieve, will be of no benefit to the business and may, in fact, lead to lower levels of output and higher costs than before the budget was established. Budgets should make it sure, the best use of the resources available. BUDGETRAY PLANNING Budget being an integral part of any business is often prepared well ahead of time and usually a concerned department works on preparing an accurate budget and has got planning regarding its successful preparation: Budget Manual provides a set of guidelines as to who is involved with the budgetary planning and control process, and how the process is to be conducted a budget committee, which organises the process of budgetary planning and control; in order to be the most effective, brings together representatives from the main functions of the business eg production, sales, administration and is headed by a budget co-ordinator whose job is to administer and oversee the activities of the committee CONCLUSION In this report, an attempt has been made to put across a detailed analysis of budget and budgetary control. The objectives of its preparation, benefits and limitations mentioned above should be capable enough to put across a picture whereby, all the informations about budget and budgetary control are easily available. Though, I tried my best to put across a brief overview on the whole concept, however, its not absolute, and is limited to the fact of knowledge, time and resources. However, after the brief analysis it is evident that besides having its various limitations also budget and budgetary control is an integral part of any business.

Managerial Roles As Identified By Mintzberg

Managerial Roles As Identified By Mintzberg In this role the managers regularly seek out information related to the organisation and industry. They monitor relevant changes in the environment and also monitor their teams productivity and well-being. Examples of workplace experience include maintaining personal contact, attending seminars and training; and reading reports. Spokesperson Managers represent and speak on their organisations behalf. In this role they are responsible for transmitting information about their organisation and its goals to the people outside of the organisation. Examples are conferences and reports. Figurehead The manager performs social, ceremonial and legal responsibilities. The manager is expected to be a source of inspiration. Someone people can look up to, someone with authority. In this role the manager acts as a symbolic leader. An example is the signing of legal documents. Leader In this role, managers provide leadership for their team, department or organization as a whole; and manage subordinates performances and responsibilities. Examples of workplace experience include the training and interactions with employees. Liaison Managers establish and maintain communication with internal and external contacts. This entails the effective networking on behalf of the organisation. An example is the participation in meetings with representatives from other divisions inside the organisation or other businesses. Entrepreneur The manager must create and control changes within the organisation. This entails the solving of problems, generation of new ideas and the implementation thereof. An example is the housing shortlist and the provision of thereof. QUESTION 1 Continued†¦ Resource Allocator In this role the manager needs to determine where the organisational resources are best applied. This involves the allocation of funding, the assignment of staff and other organisational resources. This also involves the drafting and approval of plans, schedules, budgets and setting of priorities. Disturbance Handler Deals with the mediation of disputes and problems; and takes corrective actions. The manager settles conflicts between subordinates; choose strategic alternatives and overcome crisis situations. QUESTION 2 2.1 The role and importance of a mission statement is to describe the organisation in terms of the customers needs it aims to satisfy, the goods or services it aims to supply and the markets it intends to pursue. The mission statement describes the organisations purpose for existence and it details facts such as what the organisation is all about, who the organisation is and the type of business it is in. The role and importance of a vision statement is to describe where the organisation wants to be in the future. An example would be, a natural water bottling company who wants to expand into flavoured water bottling, and the marketing and selling thereof. 2.2 The mission and vision of an organisation must be enforced through tactical planning. This is the process of making detailed decisions about what has to be done; who will be doing it and how it will be done. The statements are best developed if input by all the members of the organisation is acquired and the people working in the organisation need to believe it, in order for the customers to believe in it. QUESTION 3 EXPLAINING THE BENEFITS THAT CAN BE ACHIEVED BY THE SOUND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FOUR MANAGERIAL FUNCTIONS FOR THE DIRECTOR OF PRODUCTIVITY MANAGERIAL FUNCTION 1: PLANNING The benefit that can be achieved by implementing planning is that you will know exactly how you will accomplish your goals for improving productivity. You will know exactly what has to be done, how it is to be done, when it needs to be done and by whom it is to be done. An overall direction will be established, you will identify and commit the correct resources and you will know which tasks have to be done. Planning provides structure and guidelines and the development of strategies will take place. MANAGERIAL FUNCTION 2: ORGANISING Through organising, the hierarchy of the production team will take shape. You will determine who is most qualified to perform the work and help you improve productivity. The benefit of organising is thus the establishment of a strong team who can be developed even further through training. MANAGERIAL FUNCTION 3: LEADING The benefit of leading is that you can influence and motivate your subordinates towards the improvement of productivity. MANAGERIAL FUNCTION 4: CONTROL By implementing control, you will guide the production team towards improving productivity. You will monitor and compare the teams actual activities against the production goals. The benefit of control is; if the actual doesnt compare with the plans, you can make the changes needed to match the productivity with the goals as set out. EVENTUAL BENEFITS The eventual benefits of improvement of productivity will mean employee satisfaction. Subordinates will take pride in their jobs, which in turn will mean that the quality of the products produced will be improved. The improvement of productivity will mean higher volumes of products will be produced, which will create customer satisfaction. This will increase turnovers, which will create profit generation for the organisation. Document Prepared By: Loriaan Isaacs QUESTION 4 4.1 A skill is the ability to accomplish specific tasks by demonstrating specific behaviours, while a competency is the aptitude to participate in non-routine intellectual activities. Skills and competencies can be strengthened through further studies, through hands-on experience and on the job training and also by taking on new responsibilities. 4.2 The six competencies that managers should possess are: Communication competency Planning and administration competency Teamwork competency Strategic action competency Global awareness competency Self-management competency Communication competency is the effective transfer and exchange of information that leads to the understanding between yourself and others. It includes informal communication, formal communication and negotiating. Informal communication is the building of strong interpersonal relationships via two-way communication, with a wide range of people, formal communication includes clear, concise and effective writing, and negotiating is the skill of exercising upward influence with superiors, laterally with peers, downward with subordinates as well as externally with customers, suppliers and other stakeholders. Planning and administration competency involves deciding what tasks need to be done, determining how they can be done, allocating resources to enable them to be done and then monitoring progress to ensure that they are done. It includes information gathering, analysis and problem solving; planning and organizing projects; time management; and budgeting and financial management. This competency includes the taking of calculating risks and the anticipation of the consequences, the prioritizing of tasks, monitoring of schedules and the understanding of budgets, cash flows, financial reports, annual reports and the uses of such information. 4.3 Evaluation of Loriaan Isaacs by Duane Spandiel, LLB graduate Loriaans informal communication competency is very good, she communicates well with a wide range of people. Her formal communication competency is excellent, but I found that her negotiating competency requires further training and developing. QUESTION 4 Continued†¦ 4.3 Evaluation of Loriaan Isaacs by Duane Spandiel, LLB graduate continued†¦ I found her planning and administration competency lacking. She needs to grow in this department and I am sure that she will be capable to be excellent in risk taking and prioritizing tasks, after she had undergone further development and training. QUESTION 5 5.1 Delegation of authority is the downward transfer of formal authority from superior to subordinate. The employee is empowered to act for the manager, but the manager remains accountable for the outcome. 5.2 The six principles for improving delegation of authority are: Establish goals and standards Every manager before delegating the powers to the subordinates should be able to clearly define the goals as well as the results expected from them. The standards of performance should also be notified clearly. Define authority and responsibility The manager should maintain a balance between authority and responsibility. If a subordinate is given a responsibility to perform a task, he should be given enough authority to carry out the task effectively. Involve subordinates The manager should allow subordinates to participate in brainstorming ideas, the manager must be prepared to consider the ideas of their subordinates. Require completed work The manager must be clear with the results expected. The manager must determine the acceptable level of performance. Provide training The manager must provide employees with training to prepare them for greater responsibilities. Establish adequate controls The manager should measure the employees success against the goals set. The manager should stay on top of things and hold the employee accountable. The manager should establish feedback controls. QUESTION 6 6.1 The three levels of management in an organization are First-Line Managers, Middle Managers and Top Managers. 6.2 Three primary tasks of First-line managers include responsibility for the production of goods or delivery of services, supervision of employees in their everyday tasks and leading employees who do the actual work. Middle managers are responsible for directing and coordinating the activities of first-line managers, they transform top managements strategies into specific goals and plans for line management to implement, and they carry out top managers directives by delegating authority to their subordinates. Top management tasks include the provision of executive leadership and strategic vision, they are responsible for the overall direction of an organization and they manage the strategic planning process. QUESTION 7 Departmentalisation is the grouping of jobs that belong together in order to reach the organisations goals, example: National, Provincial and Local Government. The four basic types of departmentalization are: Functional departmentalization Place departmentalization Product departmentalization Customer departmentalization

Transfer Pricing at Southern :: Business and Management Studies

Transfer Pricing at Southern Alternatives 1. Cost Based Transfer Price Maintain the status quo within the company. All cost methods require that standard costs be used; therefore each division is encouraged to meet standard cost levels, instead of working around actual costs. This will increase goal congruence. Currently, the price Southern is charging is based on the market but they are running under capacity and had excess inventory. Therefore, Thompson is charging market price even though he is running under capacity. If Southern’s VC = 60% then the 40% represents OH and profit. To prevent conflicts in the future it must be clear that variable costs of one division are not actually fixed costs for the whole company. Thompson’s VC = $400 some of that could be FC for the whole company. (Align this alternative with Rob’s Analysis). Advantages: increases goal congruence, requires that the vice president perform a routine cost analysis, therefore requires little resources. Southern mostly supplies Northern therefore, a market based system would be difficult due to the intermediate nature of the materials being transferred, adding attractiveness to a cost based system. Disadvantages: will be very difficult to determine what profit markup will be. Northern supplies mostly to outside companies and therefore will require additional resources in his division to price internal sales. The resources needed to work through the complexity of this system might not be justified by such a low volume. Two Step Pricing The standard VC is charged per unit sold then a periodic charge is made equal to the fixed costs associated with the facilities reserved for the buying unit. Since Thompson rarely sells to other divisions this might work because the facilities needed could easily be identified. Advantages: the buying unit would have proper information needed for marketing and long-term decisions Disadvantages: requires that FC be negotiated regularly, since Thompson rarely sells to Northern the resources needed for this negotiation might not be justified. 2. Negotiation Increase communication between divisions. Currently, Northern may not know that Thompson is paying a higher then expected price for the intermediate materials they need from Southern. If Northern was aware of the amount of upstream costs and profit involved internally, it might be encouraged to forgo its own profits for the sake of the company as a whole. Profit sharing could be introduced to motivate Northern to do this. A specified set of rules would be set up when each manager is negotiating a price. Such as if there is a match in price internally and externally, the business must be kept internally. Also if the managers cannot come to an agreement on price the outside market price will be used. If true negotiation occurred at Birch, each division manager would Transfer Pricing at Southern :: Business and Management Studies Transfer Pricing at Southern Alternatives 1. Cost Based Transfer Price Maintain the status quo within the company. All cost methods require that standard costs be used; therefore each division is encouraged to meet standard cost levels, instead of working around actual costs. This will increase goal congruence. Currently, the price Southern is charging is based on the market but they are running under capacity and had excess inventory. Therefore, Thompson is charging market price even though he is running under capacity. If Southern’s VC = 60% then the 40% represents OH and profit. To prevent conflicts in the future it must be clear that variable costs of one division are not actually fixed costs for the whole company. Thompson’s VC = $400 some of that could be FC for the whole company. (Align this alternative with Rob’s Analysis). Advantages: increases goal congruence, requires that the vice president perform a routine cost analysis, therefore requires little resources. Southern mostly supplies Northern therefore, a market based system would be difficult due to the intermediate nature of the materials being transferred, adding attractiveness to a cost based system. Disadvantages: will be very difficult to determine what profit markup will be. Northern supplies mostly to outside companies and therefore will require additional resources in his division to price internal sales. The resources needed to work through the complexity of this system might not be justified by such a low volume. Two Step Pricing The standard VC is charged per unit sold then a periodic charge is made equal to the fixed costs associated with the facilities reserved for the buying unit. Since Thompson rarely sells to other divisions this might work because the facilities needed could easily be identified. Advantages: the buying unit would have proper information needed for marketing and long-term decisions Disadvantages: requires that FC be negotiated regularly, since Thompson rarely sells to Northern the resources needed for this negotiation might not be justified. 2. Negotiation Increase communication between divisions. Currently, Northern may not know that Thompson is paying a higher then expected price for the intermediate materials they need from Southern. If Northern was aware of the amount of upstream costs and profit involved internally, it might be encouraged to forgo its own profits for the sake of the company as a whole. Profit sharing could be introduced to motivate Northern to do this. A specified set of rules would be set up when each manager is negotiating a price. Such as if there is a match in price internally and externally, the business must be kept internally. Also if the managers cannot come to an agreement on price the outside market price will be used. If true negotiation occurred at Birch, each division manager would

Big Brother Is Watching You Essay -- essays research papers

Big Brother Is Watching You   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  My name is Winston Smith, a man of 39 living in Oceania, and I am the last sane man on earth. I believe the date to be 1984, even though I have no real proof of it. London, as I know it, is a place devastated by hunger and disrepair. A place where every action and thought are closely monitored. For as long as I can remember, the Party has been in control. The principles of Ingsoc1 and Big Brother have been dictating public interest here since the 40s. Even though I have never known any other life, it feels like there is something inherently wrong with this one. Big Brother imposes a way of life that is intolerable to me. I have committed acts of subversion, violence, perversion, demoralization and more for the good of the Brotherhood2. I am a traitor, and the rest of the people of Oceania are empty headed automatons.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I seem to be the only person in possession of a memory. When I used to work for Minitrue3 in the records department, my job was to remove or rewrite incongruent bits of history from the Times and other periodicals. On occasion I would rewrite entire articles to favor of the Party and it’s predictions. There was one week when it was announced that the chocolate ration would be reduced to 20%. The next week there was an announcement that the ration would be raised to 20%! And no one noticed the lie that was told! Everyone believed that only a week from when their rations had b...

Internal combustion engine Essay

There is a big debate about the future of the auto industry. The new big topic is electric cars. Ads emphasize how much less pollution these cars put out, but the truth is that many people do not realize the downside of these cars. For instance, did you know that average battery cost for electric cars is between $18,000 and $20,000? Also, these cars produce significant more amounts of sulfur dioxide compared to traditional internal combustion engines, and what about the factories that burn billions of tons of coal everyday to produce electricity to charge these cars? Yes, these cars do produce little carbon dioxide directly, but the main source of pollution comes indirectly from the power plants that power these cars. Electric cars are not the best environmental solution in the long run because they still cause pollution while charging and producing them, there is no safe place to dispose of the batteries, and they are extremely expensive (Hogan). The first major issue with electric cars is that the process of manufacturing and charging these cars produces billions of tons of carbon dioxide emissions. The EPA’s research shows that for an average size car, electricity’s emissions are about three times higher than the emissions of gasoline (Inside Climate Staff). Electric cars do not produce much pollution directly. Instead the pollution is rather created at the source of the energy, power plants. Pollution is caused when manufacturing and producing these cars too. In addition, large amounts of pollution are produced while mining for the metals found in the new types of batteries. All of the mining machines and vehicles are powered from fossil fuels such as coal, gasoline, and diesel fuels. A great amount of energy is lost in the process of transmitting the electricity from the power source to your car. Also, electric cars emit significantly higher amounts of sulfur dioxide into the air compared to internal-combustion engines. Sulfur dioxide is the main component that causes acid rain. Acid rain can cause damage to lakes, streams, forests, car paints, copper, stone, and other building materials. Acid rain soaks into the soil and roots of plants, and causes slowed growth, and loss of leaves or needles. In the Great Smoky Mountains, acid rain has actually killed one-hundred or more of the Frazier Fir and Red Spruce trees (U. S. Environmental Protection Agency). Furthermore, in the Northeastern United States. , such as in the Kesterson Reservoir in the San Joaquin Valley, acid rain caused hundreds of fish populations to vanish from lakes (Davis). Acid rain can contaminate our own drinking water without us even knowing it; it tastes, and looks like regular water! When sulfur dioxide is inhaled, it can cause damage to your heart and lungs, causing disorders such as bronchitis and asthma (National Parks Service). Additionally, battery disposal is a key issue. The average life of this new type of batteries is twenty-five to thirty thousand miles before they will have to be replaced. If electric cars are going to be a thing of the future, there will become an excess of batteries in landfills and other disposal sites. Presently, landfills are not designed to handle the millions of batteries that would need to be disposed of if millions of people were driving electric cars. If these batteries are not properly disposed of, toxic chemicals could leak into the environment. Also, recycling these lithium-ion batteries doesn’t appear to be in the future anywhere soon. The cost of collecting, organizing, and shipping these metals to a recycler far outweighs the value of the scrapped material, so for the time being, most of these metals will be thrown away in landfills and junkyards (Mitchell). Another obstacle with these materials being tossed in landfills is the possibility of corrosive chemicals leaking into streams, rivers, and lakes. The process of refining metals for these batteries also releases pollutants into the environment. Once the refiner gets what metal they need from the ore, they discard the other materials into the nearby ecosystems. When this happens, our drinking water could be contaminated, and it could also damage, or kill the wildlife in that area (Bacher). Lastly, these cars are extremely expensive. Because the batteries only last for about a hundred miles, this means you would have to charge them about three times for every full tank of gas that you would normally buy. Also, with this low charge capacity, it would be virtually impossible to take long trips. You would have to stop frequently to charge the battery, which takes about nine hours to completely charge. This would turn a normal two-hundred mile, four hour drive into at least a thirteen hour trip, assuming that you could find an open charging station! Another reason that these cars are so expensive is that you have to replace the battery in your car about every twenty-five to thirty thousand miles. This is a very costly expense, especially since each new battery is about eighteen to twenty thousand dollars! This is $80,000 for batteries alone if you drive 100,000 miles in your car! The price of charging an electric car is less than what a full tank of gas would cost you, but you end up paying for it in the long run when you have to replace the battery. Electric cars are expensive from the start. The average retail price of most electric cars is in the thirty to forty thousand dollar range. Most middle class individuals cannot afford to pay this price for this new technology, which is why this will not be the best economical solution in the long run. These cost projections assume that both the car and the battery work correctly for the duration of their lives, but what if the battery breaks, or stops working, forcing you to replace it? The technology is new and underdeveloped, which means that there might still be some problems or â€Å"bugs† that the designers haven’t had a chance to fix. That’s $20,000 right there that you would have to pay in addition to the purchase price. That’s close to half of what you originally paid for the car! Since these cars are less, there are fewer mechanics that are qualified to work or operate on them, so the price of operation will be very high. Electric cars were released around 2010, which means there hasn’t even been enough time for a mechanic to get a four-year degree in operating on electric cars (Hogan). The problem with automobile pollution definitely needs to be addressed and solved, but fully-electric cars are not the best solution. They are made out to be better than they actually are, and they definitely have major disadvantages. First of all, they will have to become a lot cheaper for people to be able to afford them. The general public cannot afford to pay $20,000 for a new battery every 30,000 miles. Designers also need to find a way to lengthen the range of these cars. With only a 100 mile range, it is just not practical for most people. In addition, these cars still produce pollution, just not directly. All of the pollution is created indirectly, at coal-burning electricity power plants. Another unaddressed issue is that these cars emit large amounts of sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere, which is what combines with water to become acid rain. Lastly, there is no good place to dispose of batteries. If millions of people are going to be driving these cars, there will be tons of toxic batteries in landfills and disposal sites, which can cause harm to the wildlife, and the surrounding environment. If you accidentally miscalculate the charge left in your car, you will be stuck. Unlike a gas-powered vehicle, you cannot simply fill up your car with a gas can. With electric cars, there is no way to replenish the energy in your car on the side of the road. The fully-electric car was a good idea, but in the long run, it is not the best answer. The automobile companies need to continue to improve internal combustion engines to decrease their carbon dioxide emissions. Works Cited Cultrona, R. L. Pros and Cons of Electric Cars. 1999-2012. 18 March 2012. . Davis, Jay. Marine Bio. 1998-2012. 18 March 2012. . Hogan, Micheal C. The Encyclopedia of Earth. 21 February 2012. 18 March 2012. . Mitchell, Robert L. Computer World. 22 August 2006. 18 March 2012. . National Parks Service. 28 October 2010. 18 March 2012 . Staff, Solve Climate. Inside Climate News. 1 April 2010. 18 March 2012. . U. S. Environmental Protection Agency. 8 June 2007. 18 March 2012. .

Sir Richard Branson, Chairman, Virgin Group, Ltd. Case Study

Sir Richard Branson, Chairman, Virgin Group, Ltd. Case Study Sir Richard Branson, Chairman, Virgin Group, Ltd. Case Study By: Katrina Robinson Bus520 Leadership and Organizational Dr. Leonardo Serrano Sir Richard Branson, Chairman, Virgin Group, Ltd. Case Study Outline the Leadership Style of Branson and its effectiveness to the U. S today Richard Branson and Effective Leadership Incorporation of Branson’s Leadership at School or Work. The Leadership Style of Branson and its effectiveness to the U.S today Richard Branson, the chairman and CEO of the Virgin Group has come up with a type of leadership centered on employees. He has embraced transformational leadership model as a style of leadership. Transformational leadership is a leadership style that focused on effecting revolutionary change in organizations through a commitment to the organization’s vision. Transformational leadership includes engendering trust, admiration, loyalty, and respect amongst followers throug h application of charismatic vision and behavior.Transformational leadership encourages change through intellectual stimulation aimed at self-reflective change of values and beliefs. Vision is critical for transformational leadership because employees are more comfortable when they understand the vision and direction of the company going forward. Transformational leadership impacts individuals' self-growth. Transformational leadership develops followers who can perform beyond their own and others' expectations.Transformational Leadership starts with the development of a vision, a view of the future that will excite and convert potential followers. This vision may be developed by the leader, by the senior team or may emerge from a broad series of discussions. Transformational leadership focuses on social values and appears in times of distress and change. Sir Richard Branson has empowered his employees to attain a given vision of the company. This has led to the rise in productivity and the morale of the worker.It has also increased utility and the wide professional and individual growth of the company. Sir Richard Branson is an iconic and legendary figure within business circles. His Virgin companies span the globe, while his thirst for brand domination and sense of adventure tell a story of an intriguing and thought provoking life sprinkled with danger, high risk tactics, pushing the boundaries of the possible and an encompassing purpose that is built upon fairness and change. In terms of leadership model addressed in Chapter 10 and 11, Branson exemplifies a transformational leader.Transformational leadership involves anticipating future trends, inspiring followers to understand and embrace a new vision of possibilities, developing others to be leaders or better leaders, and building the organization or group into a community of challenged and rewarded learners. Visionary, inspiring, daring, and ethical are words that describe transformational leaders. They a re risk takers who seize or create new opportunities. They are also thoughtful thinkers who understand the interactions of technology, culture, stakeholders, and external environmental forces (Hellriegel & Slocum, 2011, page 329).He is not as much concerned about industry-specific expertise as he is with recruiting employees with strong communication and teamwork competencies that mesh with the Virgin culture. He truly feels that getting other peoples input and listening to what people have to say are a core value to him. He carries a notebook in his pocket all the time just in case he hears something interesting from people that he interacts with on any level. He loves to take high-risk decisions if in the end he feels it's worthwhile. According to the authors, passion is essential for task accomplishment.Passion is often more present in entrepreneurial leaders and Sir Richard Branson should be regarded as a passionate leader. On the Virgin group website (5) the company mentions â €Å"giving birth† to companies and â€Å"holding their hand† through the organizational development. This is by all means a supportive standpoint, far away from the quarterly run businesses of many. An example of his courage might be when he under heavy competition in the US decided to sell out Virgin Records to save the financials of Virgin Atlantic.In that deal he also decided to switch bank due to poor support and advice for Virginia Records. An example of Branson’s willingness to take risk is his venture into space tourism with Virgin Galactic. That business is by no doubt regarded as extremely courageous and risky but at the same time driven by the same reasons as any other business, profit. Branson has worked closely with Scaled Composites to develop a tourism spacecraft (9). As he puts it, it was a very risky act that could have gone totally wrong (10), (13).However Branson is not a stranger to risk management, according to an article in Time (6). He comm only starts out small and shares the risk with other investors. His companies are also loosely connected according to the article, to minimize risk for each party. Richard Branson’s ventures portray creativity, venturing into airliners using new creative measures such as touch-screen ordering of food and comfortable planes. This comes in an era where most other airliners are figuring out how to remove the last remaining frills to cut costs.Another developed skill is the possibility of delegating work to his colleagues and management staff and taking a step back. He spends a lot of time in the early days of a new business, drawing the big picture and helping the management setting the business plan and the way forward. When this is done he takes a step back and lets the management get a stake in the business and drive it forward. †The company must be set up so that it can continue without me†. Sir Richard is very thorough in hiring the right people. He is known for bringing in good managers and getting them to stay.If they don’t perform at an existing assignment he brings them into another venture where the person is more likely to perform according to his capabilities. †Look for the best and you’ll get the best†, is his words. Firing people is seldom an option to Sir Richard. This situational leadership model would combine both directive and supportive behaviors. Directive behavior would influence the culture by explaining what needed to be done; helping to organize the how, where, and when of getting it done, and ensuring a more hands on approach to the tactical nature of the plan.Supportive leadership, in combination, would provide both encouragement and coaching, and would act to facilitate problem solving and the large amount of issues that require change management. Both approaches could be used by Virgin, some more often than others, but would be a variable model of directive (high and low) depending on the pa rticular situation at hand. Essentially, this style chooses the right leadership style for the right person – and varies depending upon that individual’s ifts, views, background, and personality (The Hersey-Blanchard Situational Leadership Theory, 2012) If this model were adopted by Branson, he would have both the responsibility and ethical requirement to continually assess situations at hand, find the most appropriate placement on the above grid for that issue, and then act accordingly. Of course, at his level the â€Å"issues† would likely remain strategic and rather broad, and it would not always be possible to â€Å"never† direct change, or â€Å"always† direct change.Instead, it would be the appropriateness of individual situations and people that would place this model into Virgin’s strategic and tactical locus of operation (Farrington, 2012). Let us imagine for a moment that the technology has improved enough in aeronautics and space travel that it is possible to develop regular trips to a Space Station, or, at the very least, a launch and trip on a shuttle that would orbit the earth and allow passengers to experience space, a view of the planet, and an educational experience. It is quite natural to assume that the Virgin group might be seminal in the development of this type of new tourist activity.The easiest way to integrate some of Branson’s leadership qualities into the daily job would be to first and foremost examine the job and find the most exciting possibilities and potential for it and then to communicate that to colleagues, staff, and management. If in a managerial position, allow employees to come up with creative solutions to problems meet as a group and indicate a goal or challenge, ask for ideas, and then take some time to consider them, allowing employees to participate in this effort and help them feel empowered and part of the team.Part of being a good leader, according to Branson, is al so the ability to know when to back away from a task. â€Å"As much as you need a strong personality to build a business from scratch, you also must understand the art of delegation,† he says. â€Å"I have to be good at helping people run the individual businesses, and I have to be willing to step back. The company must be set up so it can continue without me. † In my opinion, the most important factor of good leadership is relating to other people. If you’re good with people†¦and you really care, genuinely care about people†. Leadership teams are generally composed of management brought together to span the boundaries between different functions in the organization. In order for a product to be delivered to market, the heads of finance, production, and marketing must interact and come up with a common strategy for the product. At top management levels, teams are used in developing goals and a strategic direction for the firm as a whole. Technology is impacting how teams meet and function.Collaborative software and conferencing systems have improved the ability for employees to meet, conduct business, share documents, and make decisions without ever being in the same location. While the basic dynamics of other types of teams may still be relevant, the dynamics and management of virtual teams can be very different. Most theories view leadership as grounded in one or more of the following three perspectives: leadership as a process or relationship, leadership as a combination of traits or personality characteristics, or leadership as certain behaviors or, as they are more commonly referred to, leadership skills.In virtually all of the more dominant theories there exist the notions that, at least to some degree, leadership is a process that involves influence with a group of people toward the realization of goals. I will say on the front end that, in my opinion, leadership is a dynamic and complex process, and that much of what is written these days tends to over-simplify this process. Trait theory postulates that people are either born or not born with the qualities that predispose them to success in leadership roles.Skills theory states that learned knowledge and acquired skills/abilities are significant factors in the practice of effective leadership. Situational theory states that is, to be effective in leadership requires the ability to adapt or adjust one’s style to the circumstances of the situation. Contingency theory states that a leader’s effectiveness is contingent on how well the leader’s style matches a specific setting or situation.The underlying beliefs of path-goal theory (grounded in expectancy theory) are that people will be more focused and motivated if they believe they are capable of high performance, believe their effort will result. The key in transformational leadership is for the leader to be attentive to the needs and motives of followers in an attempt to help th em reach their maximum. Transactional theory is a theory that focuses on the exchanges that take place between leaders and followers.It is based in the notion that a leader’s job is to create structures that make it abundantly clear what is expected of his/her followers and also the consequences (i. e. rewards and punishments) for meeting or not meeting these expectations. References Hellriegel, D. , ; Slocum, J. (2007). Organizational Behavior. Mason, OH: Thompson Higher People and Planet. (2012, January). Retrieved from Virgin. com: http://www. virgin. com/people-and-planet/our-vision The Hersey-Blanchard Situational Leadership Theory. (2012, January). Retrieved from Mind Tools: http://www. mindtools. com/pages/article/newLDR_44. htm

Descriptive Essay: “My Professor” Essay

On a Monday afternoon, after discussing my computer science project with my professor, I find myself seated in a visitor’s chair in his office on the second floor of the Glatfelter Hall. The professor is about to leave the room to grab some books and a cup of coffee, but he allows me to stay. (Seeing myself as a professor in the future, I enjoy hanging out in my professor’s office.) I am facing the door. Nothing is blocking my view. Twenty feet in front of me, the hallway intersects my vantage point, so I’m able to see students and professors moving left and right like pedestrians on a New York City street corner. Quickly, I put my computer science notebook in my backpack, get my ASUS pro-book, and create a blank document in Microsoft Word. My viewpoint is set and I now begin looking for subjects. My computer clock reads 4:13PM. To my left I can see wooden shelves of well-thumbed books on java, c++, unix, linux, a stack of Wired magazines, a coffee maker and a coffee mug, an out of box macbook air and an amazon box. In the hallway, coming from right, two short and skinny Asian looking males (subjects# 20130128/1 and 20130128/2) appear in view. As they head in my direction, I can hear their excited chatter in Chinese. With little smiles on their tan faces, they greet me. Straight black hair frames their flat faces with a narrow nose and wide cheekbones. They do not find the professor at his desk, so I tell them that the professor is expected to be back shortly. With the excited look in the faces, the subjects introduce themselves to me as Chang and Lionel. Wearing boat shoes, worn and tattered jeans and t-shirts with intricate logos, the subjects mention recently returning to campus from the study abroad program in Florence, Italy. In a few seconds, they leave and I do not see them again. Read Also:  Ideas for Descriptive Essay At 4:25 pm, suddenly, a pigeon-chested male, age 35-40,( subject# 20130128/3, â€Å"the Professor†) with a height of about five feet and eleven inches, a rectangular body shape and a flat stomach smiles, walks toward me and settles to my right into a height-adjustable, blue swivel chair with armrests. In front of him, I notice a chestnut brown, cluttered desk that could easily accommodate four people, but is accommodating around forty four thousand pages of books, exams, and magazines. I see no personal touches on his desk. There are no pictures or little knickknacks. Instead, a seventeen-inch black Lenovo monitor, with two slim speakers on each side, sits in the middle of the desk top. He mentions that he would like to use my help as a assistant in one of his introductory courses this semester. Politely, I nod. Sitting in his chair, the subject is lifting his coffee to his lips, taking baby sips. With his thick-framed glasses, his close-set, brown eyes carefully examine the computer screen directly in front of him. Intently focused, he barely blinks. Bushy dark black hair frames a square face, with a cleanly-shaven rounded chin, a pointed nose, lopsided lips, and large ears. The face is not handsome, but rather engaging in its varied features. Casually attired in a dark blue polo shirt, navy blue jeans, and black sketchers with a lace-up closure, he is dressed for comfort, function, and minimal maintenance rather than for appearance. His chair has a tilt-function, but he is sitting straight as if he is in the economy seat of a Boeing airliner. His long fingers are slowly moving on the keyboard, suggesting no errors. Hanging around the back of his chair is a black, weathered rain jacket and a hook of an umbrella indicating his awareness of today’s rain forecast. Suddenly he stands up. Intelligent, scruffy, intense, and abstracted, he stares on the blackboard to his right. With a small piece of chalk in his hand, he writes feverishly the points that would like to explain in the colloquium this week. His handwriting is terrible: he is block-printing each letter like a junior draftsman. Intensely occupied with his work, he seems oblivious to my presence. A few seconds later, he sinks back into his seat and stares back into the screen. An attractive blond female student (subject # 20130128/2) appears at the door. We make an eye contact and smile at each other. She is wearing an orange and blue Gettysburg track and field sweatshirt, crinkle blue tight jeans, a snug and agile pair of pink, Nike running shoes. She makes an eye contact with the professor, greets him, and the two begin chatting. I pick up pieces of the conversation. Seeming to ignore my presence, the student is explaining that last night’s electronic homework was delayed because her computer crashed. Professor, with a mildly flippant attitude but underlying seriousness, squeezes a genuine smile: he seems to be giving the benefit of doubt to the student, although his look tells me that he has a well-honed bullshit detector. Unlike the hurried words from student, he speaks slowly using a careful word choice and without contradictions, is sensitive to the nuances and precision of language, but not devoid of empathy. Interestingly, both appear intent on avoiding eye contact, and after a few minutes, sensing the conversation is coming to a close, she looks up at him again as a sign to leave, and, seeming to receive assent, turns around to exit. I eye my computer clock. It reads 4: 47 PM. I sit for three more minutes. Nobody is around now, the professor back at his computer. I conclude my mission, shut down my laptop, say goodbye to my professor and head out of the room.