Saturday, August 31, 2019
Aristotle â⬠Essay 6 Essay
Born in the year of 384 B. C. Aristotle was seen as conventional for his time, for he regarded slavery as a natural course of nature and believed that certain people were born to be slaves due to the fact that their soul lacked the rational part that should rule in a human being; However in certain circumstances it is evident that Aristotle did not believe that all men who were slaves were meant to be slaves. In his book Politics, Aristotle begins with the Theory of The Household, and it is here that the majority of his views upon slavery are found. With the beginning of Chapter IV, Aristotleââ¬â¢s idea of slavery is clearly defined. ââ¬Å"The instruments of the household form its stock of property : they are animate and inanimate : the slave is an animate instrument, intended (like all the instruments of the household) for action, and not for productions. â⬠This distinction between action and production, is based upon the understanding that ââ¬Ëproductionââ¬â¢ is a course in which a result is desired beyond the immediate act of doing. Where as, the simple act of completing a task is identified as ââ¬Ëactionââ¬â¢. Aristotle, who believed that life was action and not production theorized that slaves were instruments of life and were therefore needed to form a complete household. In fact Aristotle went as far as to say that a slave was comparable to a tame animal, with their only divergence in the fact that a slave could apprehend reason. For he concluded that a slave and animals only use was to supply their owners with bodily help. At the end of the Theories of the Household, Aristotle explains how slaves are different from andy other types of people, in the sense that they are the only class who are born into their occupation and become property of their masters. In examining this relationship we find that he thought that while masters were the masters of the slaves, they still held a life other than that of being master; However, Aristotle believed that not only was the slave a slave to his master, but the slave had no other life or purpose than belonging. From this consideration we begin to understand Aristotleââ¬â¢s views on the relationship between Master and Slave. At the beginning of Chapter V of the Theory of the Household, the distinct role of master and slave is defined. There is a principle of rule and subordin- action in nature at large : it appears especially in the realm of animate creation. By virtue of that principle, the soul rules the body; and by virtue of it the master, who possesses the rational faculty of the soul, rules the slave, who possesses only bodily powers and the faculty of understanding the directions given by anotherââ¬â¢s reason. It was Aristotleââ¬â¢s views on the human soul that gave grounds to his arguments for slavery. It was his beliefs that the soul was divided into two parts, being the rational faculty and the capacity for obeying. Aristotle postulated that a freeman was innately born with the rational faculty while ââ¬Å"A slave is entirely without the faculty of deliberation. â⬠And with his views he felt as though it was necessary for there to be a natural ruling order, whereas, the body was ruled by the soul, and those with the natural rational faculty within their soul should rule others without. This relationship, Aristotle found to be an essential element in his idea of master and slave being two parts forming one common entity. It was his belief that a manââ¬â¢s body was the representation of his inner self and that it was natureââ¬â¢s intentions to distinguish between those who were born to be freemen and those born to be slaves. However, we see that Aristotle have somewhat reservations upon his beliefs that all slaves corresponded to his mold. With such quotes as ââ¬Å"But with nature , though she intends, does not always succeed in achieving a clear distinction between men born to be masters and men born to be slaves. â⬠we begin to see that Aristotle was not as conservative as believed. In fact, we start to understand the left-wing attitudes that Aristotle held. At the end of Chapter V of the Theories of the Household, Aristotle concludes ââ¬Å"Thecontrary of natureââ¬â¢s intentions, however, often happens: there are some slaves who have the bodies of freemen-as there are others who have a freemanââ¬â¢s soul. ââ¬Å" Aristotle in his Theories of the Household, allocates a full section (section 9 chapter VI), to the explanation of the relationship between a slave and a freeman who are not naturally meant to be as such. It was Aristotleââ¬â¢s view that although there are slaves who were born to be freemen and freemen who were born to be slaves, there could be a relationship in such cases where the two discerning parties would work in a community of interest and in a relationship of friendship. ââ¬Å"The part and the whole, like the body and the soul, have an identical interest; and the slave is a part of the master, in the sense if being a living but separate part. â⬠Aristotle had many slaves himself within his household, and during the course of his death and through the executing of his will we find insight into the character of Aristotle. He died in the year of 322 B. C. and with his death he requested that four of his slaves be emancipated. Also he asked that none of his house slaves be sold and that they all be given the opportunity of being set free at a due age if they so deserved. This act of generosity and goodwill gives light to the attitudes that Aristotle held. It is evident that he believed that these slaves had the capacity to be freemen with the rational faculty within themselves to make conscious, and reasonable decisions. Many scholars such as Professor Jaeger, author of Aristotleles, theorized that many of the views that Aristotle held upon the subject of slavery were developed through the close relationship that Aristotle had formed with an ex-slave. This man was Hermias. A man who had risen from the ranks of slave to a prince of considerable wealth, as well as father in law to Aristotle. On the general analysis of Aristotle we find that he was a man of great curiosity, wisdom and ideas. Although his views on slavery seemed to hold true to the times, he had many variations on the conservative norms and beliefs. He had believed that slavery was a just system where both master and slave were beneficial from this relationship. And with this he thought that by nature, certain people were born to be slaves, yet with these beliefs we find many exceptions, where Aristotle allocates areas to describe those who by chance became slaves but in his opinion were born to be free. And in such incidence where men born free were not fit to be masters Aristotle explained how it would be easier for the master to obtain a steward who was more adept at giving instructions to run the household and leave the master of the house to more prudent issues. We can only guess as to what made Aristotle believe that by the human soul one could delineate whether or not a man was meant to be a slave or a freeman. And with his arguments we find that it was just as difficult for him to make that distinction as well. ââ¬Å"Though it is not as easy to see the beauty of the soul as it is to see that of the body. ââ¬Å"
Friday, August 30, 2019
Target, Positioning, and Marketing Mix at Bmw
Target, Positioning, and Marketing Mix at BMW BMW is one of the worldââ¬â¢s largest luxury car companies and it is easy to understand why. Not only does this premium auto brand have a high resale value, but strong brand loyalty and an even bigger profit margin than mass-produced cars (Holloway, 2002). This in turn enables the premium maker to spend more on research and development into the minds of its target market to make better, more advanced cars with a powerful brand image. BMW is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company, which owns and produces the Mini brand, and is the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. BMW is well known for its sporty, yet sophisticated image which has been built up since the 1970ââ¬â¢s with many motor sports victories, and its BMW Groupââ¬â¢s worldwide mission statement, ââ¬Å"To be the most successful premium manufacturer in the industryâ⬠(http://www. bmwgroup. com). The majority of BMWââ¬â¢s success is attributed to the development of a consistent marketing policy, the ââ¬Ëmarket nicheââ¬â¢ strategy. The company has built is brand on four core values, which are technology, quality, performance, and exclusivity, whereas BMW has traditionally positioned its brand to be perceived as the leader in performance (Arnold, n. d. ). In fact, the BMW group and all BMW models are all about performance on the road and inside the plant in which they are manufactured. The fundamental core benefits for BMW customers are reliability, durability, and style. People who buy BMW are also paying for the engineering and quality, not for breakdowns (Arnold, n. d. . Buyers normally expect certain qualities in their cars when they purchase at BMW. Brand associations of German luxury brands like BMW include powerful, high-quality, fast, pricy, luxurious, classy, and sleek (Holloway, 2002). BMW owners usually purchase because they know they can rely on its solid background of high-quality vehicles, and superior performance, but they also know they are getting a vehicle that looks sporty, classy, and expensi ve at the same time. Technology plays a huge role in the difference between BMW and its competitors. BMW has combined its superior quality product with that of technology to enhance BMW service experience for its customers. In fact, research by Wanke, Bohner, and Jurkowitsch, (1997) suggest that BMWââ¬â¢s Augmented Reality has created the bridge and extends the real world by adding virtual information to assist BMW Service staff in their highly demanding technical work. Using augmented reality, a BMW mechanic receives additional three-dimensional information on the engine he/she is repairing. For example, augmented reality can be used to help in diagnosing and solving the fault in and engine (Horatiu, 2009). Apart from the real environment, technicians can see virtually animated components, the tools to be used and hear instruction on each of the working steps through headphones integrated inside the goggles (Horatiu, 2009). Next stands the exclusivity of BMWââ¬â¢s potential product and the ideasââ¬â¢ genesis come up with. BMW now makes cars using resources that would otherwise be wasted by putting them to good use. For instance, the Landfill Gas-to-Energy Project at BMW used to reduce its reliance on natural gas and better utilizes the previously untapped methane, which is a byproduct of decomposing trash and can have harmful effects on air quality. By turning this methane into energy, the plant has reduced carbon dioxide emissions equivalent to removing 61,000 automobiles from the U. S highways each year (Arnold, n. d. ). Today, 63 percent of the plantââ¬â¢s total energy is derived from landfill gas (Arnold, n. d. ). Not only that, this project has three core benefits, it reduces the amount of harmful greenhouse gases released into the air, allows BMW to use a wasted energy source by transforming the methane gas produced from the nearby Palmetto Landfill into electricity to heat for the plant, and it saves a lot of money for the company as a whole (Arnold, n. . ). BMW is now the first auto company in the world to use green energy to fuel its painting facility. Furthermore, since its inception, the project has been expanded to utilize landfill gas to fuel 23 oven burners in the paint shops at BMW and supply indirect heat to these areas (Arnold, n. d. ). In addition, marketers have classified BMW products as specialty goods be cause they have a unique characteristic or brand identification for which a sufficient number of buyers are willing to make a special purchasing effort (Kotler & Keller, 2009). Consumers who purchase BMWââ¬â¢s are willing to go to great lengths and travel afar to buy one. In fact, BMW is a product that stands above the rest requiring very little if any comparison to other brands as buyers already know exactly what they are looking for when in search of this particular type of vehicle (Holloway, 2002). Thus consumers that purchase BMWââ¬â¢s are investment buyers and often have upscale purchasing habits. And it is this reason that BMW, unlike many other marketers, has stopped emphasizing demographics such as targeting customers based on age and income, and tarted targeting based on mind-set and lifestyle. BMW marketers understand that their customers are concerned about status, and so this is what they focus their attention on. When advertising BMW marketers have focused on the specifics of the BWM and emphasis are often placed on the fact that BMW is continuously managing its cars performance quality through time, and research (Boudette, 2005). It cons istently strives to improve its products and for years has produced high returns and market shares for this very reason. Ideally, BMWââ¬â¢s positioning has been maintained over such a long period of time because the company possesses and develops an incredible competitive advantage. In terms of price, BMWââ¬â¢s mid-range vehicles start around $29,400 up to the most prestigious and luxurious vehicles priced around $130,000 (Boudette, 2005). Additionally, every new BMW is covered by a limited warranty for defects in materials or workmanship for the first four years or 50,000 miles, whichever comes first. BMW also offers a rust protection program for 2006 and newer models, which provides a 12-year limited rust perforation protection without mileage limitations (http://www. bmwgroup. com). Additional accessories and services offered by BMW include iDrive, Real Time Traffic Information, BMW Roadside Assistance, and BMW assist all the more reasons why consumers choose BMW. iDrive links BMW vehiclesââ¬â¢ with communications, navigation and entertainment functions allowing owners to make calls, listen to music, plot routes and find places to stop along the way, with just one controller all at the same time. Real Time Traffic takes owners down shorter and faster routes, preventing them from getting stuck in traffic. It identifies traffic accidents and delays in real time and continuously updates the service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, while smaller markets report only during normal commuting hours (http://www. bmwgroup. com). BMW Roadside Assistance is a feature most BMW owners find comforting because if they are traveling and get a flat, run out of gas, or need a tow BMW will send someone out immediately to assist no matter where the customer is located. BMW owners are covered in all 50 states, in Canada and Puerto Rico, even if someone else is driving the vehicle. These services are offered 24 hours, 365 days a year, at no additional cost, and without any mileage restrictions (http://www. bmwgroup. com). BMW assist, on the other hand, works as a sense of security, and is there for BMW customerââ¬â¢s safety. It is a convenient service that adds peace of mind for BMW owners, and is suitably equipped in 2007 and later models. BMW assist is part of the Ultimate Service at BMW, and is included at no additional cost for up to 4 years. This service connects owners to a response specialist that can help with almost everything, from an emergency situation to directions and traffic information by just a push of a button (http://www. bmwgroup. com). At BMW distribution is about the use of consistent standards of quality, safety, and processes at all locations. They guarantee worldwide premium products made by BMW Group as well as the careful use of resources being the guiding principle behind all production and planning. Its living structure is what enables it to react flexibly to customer demands and market requirements and conditions throughout the world (Ludwig, n. ). This is why they have such flexibility in models, as well as their ability to build additional numbers of certain models in other plants, if necessary. BMW gives its consumers exactly what they want building models with options customized to fit the individual consumer (Ludwig, n. d). As a result, the companyââ¬â¢s dealerships keep very few cars on the lot. Instead, BMW offers intimate showrooms where customers can view cars and place orders with individual custom options that they select (Ludwig, n. d). After the car has been selected and the customer has chosen their individual custom features, BMW directs its manufacturing plant to produce the car and deliver it within a matter of days. Logistically speaking, when it comes to BMW and the channel of information, it means using CRM to strengthen communications with its dealers and make it as easy as possible for potential customers to get all the buyer information they need (Ludwig, n. d). BMW group also uses e-commerce strategies as a means to explore the market for effective business. The group introduced an ordering system in 1998 which gives dealers the option of showing customers their desired car on the screen and confirming the delivery date on the spot. Through the use of this system, the time frame when the vehicle can be built with the desired fitting is configured within a few seconds and is reserved in the production process immediately (Ludwig, n. d). Furthermore, the manufacturing logistics department at BMW has such outstanding internal processes to such a level that when changes accord due to customersââ¬â¢ wishes regarding issues as omplicated as engine capacity to something as small as the color of the upholstery it can be immediately communicated, and in most cases resolved prior to shipment of the vehicle. Moreover, the company has adopted a consistent advertising strategy. In addition to the message of its values being portrayed in advertising campaigns, the company explicitly expresses one or more of these values in all BMW advertisements (J ones, 2010). Its design philosophy also runs through every BMW advertisement communicated through TV and print ads. Its brand imaged has been built up by using over 300 different types of color press advertisements, as well as 64 different types of television commercials (Jones, 2010). BMW ads are always consistent and focus on the substance of the cars themselves. However, it is important to point out that BMW also relies on its sensitivity to the environment, which is clearly seen by how the companyââ¬â¢s advertisements evolved in response to economic, environmental and competitive changes. In addition, since the competition started to imitate BMWââ¬â¢s adverting messages of outstanding quality, BMW decided to come up with a more unique way to reach its target audience. The company did so by hiring Fallon Worldwide, an advertisement agency, to come up with new campaigns. Now BMW uses guerilla public relations campaigning as a means to drive sales. Its diverse promotion tactics include seeding news of the BMW Films at key Internet entertainment rumor sites and radio DJ programs in 20 key metro markets, and BMW manufacturers use web mostly to drive its brand (Jones, 2010). In fact, BMW takes the phrase ââ¬Å"beyond the bannerâ⬠seriously. In its ads for the BMW Compact, the car drives out of the banner ad and around the sides of the browser window, to show how it loves corners. BMWââ¬â¢s online strategy in the UK is highly-brand drive, with clickthrough considered to be a side benefit (Jones, 2010). Not only that, BMW uses traditional banner ads, with pull-down menus, Superstitials, transitional ads which appear between pages, sponsorship and dynamic html ads like the one mentioned previously to promote its brand message and to drive the benefit of ownership in terms of the driving experience (Jones, 2010). Superstitials are highly interactive, non-banner ads that can be any size on the computer screen and up to 100k in file size. They can feature animation, sound graphics capable of effectively conveying integrated advertising messages while protecting its Web siteââ¬â¢s performance (Jones, 2010). BMW utilizes this form of advertisement to achieve multiple goals, including branding, direct marketing, commerce and entertainment. In conclusion, as a worldwide organization, BMW Group has a long and established heritage of manufacturing premium products and holding true to its four core values of technology, quality, performance, and exclusivity. Today, BMW is one of the most respected companies and recognizable brands in the world. This is due to the fact that the BMW Group continues its leading position in the premium segments of the domestic and international automobile markets. The BMW Group has long pursued the objective of continuously and permanently increasing its company value and has done so by playing an active role in both shaping internal economic success factors as well as corporate citizenship in society as a means to gain and retain loyal customers. References Arnold, P. V. (n. d. ). BMW: The ultimate reliability machine. Retrieved March 2, 2011, from http://www. reliableplant. com/Read/5197/bmw-reliability Boudette, N. E. (2005). BMWââ¬â¢s Push to Broaden Line Hits Some Bumps in the Road. The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved March 3, 2011, from http://www. bimmerfest. com/forums/showthread. php? t=83762 Holloway, N. (2002). The best-driven brand. Forbes. com Inc. Retrieved March 01, 2011, from http://www. forbes. com/global/2002/0722/024. html Horatiu, B. (2009). BMW Augmented Reality. BMWBLOG News. Retrieved March 02, 2011, from http://www. bmwblog. com/2009/09/03/bmw-augmented-reality/ Jones, J. (2010). Driving Success Digitally. Response, 19(1) 30-35. Retrieved March 7, 2011, from EBSCOhost Direct database. Kotler, P. , & Keller, K. L. (2009). Marketing Management. Upper Saddle River, NJ:Prentice Hall. Ludwig, C. (n. d). Standing atop the Welt of BMWââ¬â¢s vehicle distribution. Automotive Logistics. Retrieved March 5, 2011, from EBSCOhost Direct database. Wanke, M. , Bohner, G. , & Jurkowitsch, A. (1997). There Are Many Reasons to Drive a BMW: Does Imagined Ease of Argument Generation Influence Attitudes? Journal of Consumer Research, 24(2) 170-177. Retrieved March 6, 2011, from EBSCOhost Direct database.
Thursday, August 29, 2019
Diversity in The Workplace Essay
Diversity has several definitions. According to Schmidle (2010), workplace diversity is a people issue, focusing on the differences and similarities that people bring to an organization. It is usually defined broadly to include dimensions beyond those specified legally in equal opportunity and affirmative action non-discrimination statues. Diversity is often interpreted to include dimensions which influence the identities and perspective that people bring, such as profession, education, parental status and geographic location. If you think of diversity and all of the categories it can be a bit overwhelming. Schmidle did leave out several categories that include age, gender, income level, social status, political views, religion, and marital status. The word ââ¬Å"diversityâ⬠has a kind of conflict ring to it but it doesnââ¬â¢t necessarily mean it is a bad thing. Diversity can in fact be a good thing. Schmidle later goes on to discuss some of this positive outcomes of diversity including one of the most important aspects of diversity which is learning new things from others. If we are around the same people everyday that are the exact same and do things the exact same it is hard for people to think outside the box. This paper will discuss positive and negative aspects of diversity focusing on age. It will also discuss other forms of diversity as well. When discussing age diversity it is important to discuss the different categories. Individuals over 60 are considered to be the Traditionalist generation. Individuals in their mid-40ââ¬â¢s to 60ââ¬â¢s are baby boomers. Those in their late 20ââ¬â¢s to early 40ââ¬â¢s are in the Generation X category and the most recent generation is Generation Y who are early 20ââ¬â¢s or younger (Bell, Narz, 2007). Each one of these groups has been described as having certain characteristics. Traditionalists are defined as having a more traditionalà working environment. They typically work 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 but are said to work late and weekends during busy periods if necessary. Traditionalist are also said to be hard working, loyal employees who respect authority. It is typical for wives of this category to have been home with the children while the male is or was at work bringing in the sole income. Traditionalists are retiring from the work force at a steady rate but still remain influential in todayââ¬â¢s working environment (Bell, Narz 2007). Baby Boomers are the children of Traditionalists and also thought to have a strong work ethic. A difference between Boomers and Traditionalists is that they are dual-career couples with the women working as well as the men. Boomers are said to question authority and have also been labeled the ââ¬Å"me generationâ⬠(Bell, Narz 2007). Generation Xers are the children of Baby Boomers. They have grown up watching their parents working to try and have it all and have been affected by their parents working hard and late hours. They are more family and parent oriented, optimistic and confident. They are said to not have a very strong loyalty to their employer and tend to work for someone that best fits their needs (Bell, Narz 2007). Generation Y are the children of Generation X and are also called the millennials, the internet generation, and also the Echo Boomers. This is due to their computer knowledge and also due to them being one of the largest generations since the Baby Boomers. At a young age they were introduced to different lifestyles and cultures in school. Being that they were exposed so young they tend to have more accustomed to different races, sexual orientation, and ethnic groups. Generation Ys like to be challenged and want flexibility and telecommuting options. They are also family oriented and want to work part time or time off when having children (Bell, Narz 2007). After describing these different groups it is clear there is a difference in attitude, respect, loyalty, goals, and work ethic. Putting all of these individuals in a working environment together would seem like a very bad idea. Schaefer 2010 States: The popular press paints a picture of generational divide at work. Mature workers (Traditionalists and Baby Boomers) are portrayed as loyal and hardworking, but dinosaurs when it comes to innovation and technology. Younger employees (Generation Xers and Millennials) are viewed as innovative, but disrespectful, lazy, and egocentric. Taken at face value, these stereotypes can lead to conflict and turmoil in the workplace. Schafer later describes that this is not the case and actually have more similarities than differences. She also informs the reader that age diversity is a value to our organizations and will be a ââ¬Å"an important component in the divers workforce of the future.â⬠(Schaefer, 2010). What are some benefits and who does it affect? One benefit is respect. By respecting others differences productivity increases which can affect an employee and an organization economically, financially and competitiveness (Green, 2008). By being more productive the company makes more money, which makes it possible for them to be competitive. When a company makes more money it is easier for them to give raises and bonuses. Also when a company has diversity in the workplace it can reduce lawsuits and increase marketing opportunities, recruitment, creativity, and business image (Green, 2008). Diversity is not only positive. It can be if you have the right group of people working but for the most part managers will find obstacles and challenges. When I was managing I always said it only takes one individual to destroy a groupââ¬â¢s character and flow. This type of person looks for problems and gets the rest of the group members worked up. Something simple like a gossiper can ruin a groupââ¬â¢s charisma. If a group member is racist or not accepting of particular memberââ¬â¢s religious views or sex it can also affect the rest of the group (Green, 2008). This can lead to the loss of personnel and effect work production which in turn affects the employees and organization economically, financially, and its competitiveness. Also if an individual is not socially accepting of others it affects the companies view to the customers and shareholders. The chain fast food restaurant Chik-Fil-A has recently announced it does not support same sex marriage. The public exploded with outrage and tens of thousands of people vowed to never eatà there again. If a business employs an individual who voices their discrimination, prejudice, or stereotyping of a particular group the same outcome could happen if left unchecked. I think for the most part we could all agree the older generation was not as accepting to different races, religion, and sexual preference as much as the younger generation is. This certainly does not mean a younger person would not be discriminatory or that all Traditional workers are discriminatory but it is something managers need to understand. Business will typically have a note on discrimination in their by laws or employee hand books that any form whether it be for age, sex, ethnicity, sexual preference will not be tolerated. Colleges employing individuals will have this as well. An example of this is the University of Californiaââ¬â¢s system wide non-discrimination statement: ââ¬Å"It is the policy of the University not to engage in discrimination against or harassment of any person employed or seeking employment with the University of California on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, medical condition (cancer-related or genetic Characteristics), ancestry, marital status, age, sexual orientation citizenship, or status as a covered veteran. This policy applies to all employment practices, including recruitment, selection, promotion, transfer, merit increase, salary, training, and development, demotion, and separation. â⬠(University of California, 2011). Having non-discrimination statements like this allows employees, the public, shareholders, and other colleges or competition see discrimination of any kind will not be tolerated at the school. This can help the business have a positive image to all who read it. It is fairly uncommon to find a current business without some form of discrimination statement. The one from the University of California above is very descriptive and most that I have found do not go into this much detail. The University of California also has their Principles of Community: ââ¬Å"We recognize, value, and affirm that social diversity contributes richness to the University community and enhances the quality of campus life forà individuals and groups. We take pride in our various achievements and we celebrate our differences.â⬠(University of California, 2011). These types of guiding principles allows the community and any other readers know the University welcomes differences in individuals. If someone was having any reservations about attending this University or working for them this further assures the individual the University would welcome them no matter how different they are. Age diversity can also affect the way a person is treated. If you think about front-line management, mid-management, senior management you typically vision an older individual at the senior management level, a slightly younger individual at the mid-management level, and again a slightly younger individual at the front-line management level. Does age have to do with getting promoted? If I simply get older will I be promoted? Apparently it does not but it does have a huge impact on getting dismissed. If an employee is more than twenty percent younger than their superior they are more likely to be let go. If the employee is less than twenty percent younger than their superior they are less likely to be let go (Giuliano, Leonard, Leving, 2006). This study shows a superior is much more likely to dismiss someone who is considerable younger than them compared to if the employee is rather close in age. The workforce demographics are also shifting. It has been reported workers in the age group of 55-64 there will be 36.5 percent more compared to 2006. That is a drastic increase. What about those ages 65-74 and employees 75 and up? There is projected an 80 percent increase in both. This means people are working longer and past the retirement age (Schaefers, 2010). This also lets us know age diversity with the Generation X needs to be paid attention to by employers. Many feel we have a solid understanding of this group already while others feel we have been focusing on the Traditional workers more. Whatever the case it is pretty clear employers will need to be prepared to provide for this generation and others who follow. How do we do that? We need to understand how each generation feels and act. Mature workers value loyalty from and to the company. They often few their younger co-workers as not having enough company allegiance. Generation Xers are considered to be loyal to a team, boss, or project butà not necessarily a company. Baby Boomers and Traditional workers may view this as disrespectful and it could cause conflict (Schaefers, 2010). We need to understand the core values of generations. Many values are shared between generations. The Traditionalists raised the baby Boomers. The Baby Boomers raised the Generation X and the Generation X raised the Generation Y. It is easy to understand some of the traits of the older generations have been passed down especially family. It did take some negative steps at times. The traditionalist taught their children to work hard and be loyal. This had a kind of family second effect and the Generation X was affected by this. They are very family oriented and family always comes first. So an employer would need to know that if they plan on keeping Generation X employees around they need to allow them to have flexible schedules and they need to be able to take time off for family(Schaefers, 2010). We need to expand our communication approaches as well with the other groups coming up. The millennial generation is extremely technology oriented and it is very important in their lives. This generation does most of their business through electronics and technology as well as their personal life (Schaefers, 2010). One of the major characteristic an employer should have and should instill on all employees is to show respect to one another. A younger employee does not want to get disrespected for a possible new and out of the box idea just as an older employee doesnââ¬â¢t want to disrespected for doing something the same way for so long. We have all heard treat others like you would like to be treated and it holds a lot of weight when trying to get different generations to work in a cohesive and productive manner (Schaefers, 2010). Productivity is another topic employer and employees are concerned with. Some feel the older workers do not work as hard or are productive as younger employees. Some decide this is true whether or not it is and respond to it. Making comments or speaking to other employees and management about the lack of work is one form. The truth is studies have shown this is not necessarily true in all cases. A three year study was conducted with a hardware chain. One store was staffed with only employees over the age of fifty, while the other five stores were staffed with younger employees. The over fifty store was considerably more productive in major business aspects than two of the other five stores and was close to the other three in sales generated against labor costs (Robbins, Judge, 2011). This is an impressive study that can refute arguments that the older individuals are not worth employing. Employers carry mixed feelings about older worker. Some feel they are more loyal, have more experience, better judgment, and stronger work ethic. Others feel they lack in flexibility and are not accustomed to todayââ¬â¢s technology. When these employers are looking for new hires it is common for the older applicants to be looked over and if they are hired they are usually the first to go when it comes to layoffs (Robbins, Judge, 2011). The opportunity to quit is also a concern for employers. Given that an older applicant has fewer employment opportunities it is thought some employers hire these individuals based on the idea that they will not leave once hired. The younger applicant is thought to have greater opportunity and a more willingness to change jobs or jump ship if the job is not what they expected. They younger generations are also thought to expect the employer and business to take care of there needs better than the older generations (Robbins, Judge, 2011). Some companies realize the value in older employees and actually make attempts to attract them. Boarders and the Vanguard Group have realized the value and have offered benefits and options that lure them in. Flexible hours and part time work are a couple of the things the older workers are looking for. Since most have at least thought about retirement if not already been retired, these groups of workers enjoy spending time with family and doing the things they enjoy. Most states have agreed that a mandatory retirement is not necessary the pool of aged workers has increased dramatically. No longer is it required for individuals to retire at the age of 70. This has led a lot of workers to reinter or continue to be a part of the labor force. Some have lost loved ones and wish to socialize which they would not be able to do if they simply stayed home. The opportunity givesà them a reason to try and make new friends and also gives them a reason to stay busy. Others may have not prepared or had the opportunity to save up a proper retirement with todayââ¬â¢s increasing prices and declining economy (Robbins, Judge, 2011). The employeeââ¬â¢s job satisfaction needs to be considered when it comes to the diversity of age in a workplace. Employees over the age of 60 who are non professionalââ¬â¢s satisfaction rate decreases during their middle ages and increases as they get older. Professional employees who were over the age of 60 however continually increased as they aged (Robbins, Judge, 2011). One of the ongoing concerns with diversity is if they want it. As discussed there are many advantages of having diversity in the workplace. If a company wants to grow it is important to allow new and different people to bring different things to the office table. This is so true that some literature can be found on how to increase workplace diversity. The most important decision for a company is to decide what kind of diversity they need. It may not be the best idea for a company whose main product is A company that sells womenââ¬â¢s jewelry may n References Robbins, S.P., & Judge, T.A. (2011). Organizational Behavior(14 ed.). Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall. Notter, Jamie (2009). Generational Diversity in The Workplace. Retrieved 30 August 2012 from Convergence Media: http://www.multiculturaladvantage.com/recruit/group/mature/Gen eral-Diversity-in-workplace.asp Schaefers, Kate (2010). Age Diversity in the Workplace. Retrieved 31 August 2012 from Careers Thought Leaders: http://www.careerthoughtleaders.com/blog/age-diversity-in-the- workplace/ Schmidle, Deborah and Woods, Susan (2010). Workplace Diversity. Retrieved 31 August 2012 from Catherwood Library: http://www.ilr.cornell.edu/library/research/subjectguides/work placediversity.html University of California (2011). Managing Diversity in the Workplace. Retrieved 27 August 2012 from University of California: http://ucsfhr.ucsf.edu/index.php/pubs/hrguidearticle/chapter- 12-managing-diversity-in-the-workplace/ Green, Kelli A. and Lopez, Mayra (2008). Diversity in the Workplace: Benefits, Challenges, and the Required Managerial Tools. Retrieved 31 August 2012 from University of Florida: http://www.edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hr022 Greenberg, Josh (2004). Diversity in the Workplace: Benefits, Challenges, and Solutions. Retrieved 31 August 2012 from AlphaMeasure,Inc.: http://multiculturaladvantage.com/recruit/â⬠¦/Diversity-in-th- Workplace-Benefits-Challenges-Solutions.asp Bell, Nancy Sutton and Narz, Marvin (2007). Meeting the Challenges of Age Diversity in the Workplace. Retrieved 31 August 2012 from New York State Society of CPAs: http://www.nysscpa.org/cpajournal/2007/207/essentials/p56.htm United States Department of Labor (2010). Employee Tenure Summary. Retrieved 4 September 2012 from United States Department of Labor: http://www.bls.gov/news.release/tenure.nr0.htm Giuliano, Laura, Leonard, Jonathan and Levine, David I. (2006). Do Race, Age, and Gender Differences Affect Manager-Employee Relations? An analysis of Quits, Dismissals, and Promotions at a Large Retail Firm. Retrieved 4 September 2012 from http://moya.bus.miami.edu/~lgiuliano/Quits.pdf
REGIONAL UNEMPLOYMENT Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words
REGIONAL UNEMPLOYMENT - Essay Example The percentage of unemployed people in Scotland have been reducing due to the massive expansion of businesses in the region such as the oil and gas sector (Herald Scotland, 2015). This growth has brought about job creation thus the improvement of employment rates to a ââ¬Å"record highâ⬠. The unemployment rates in North Ireland also match those in Scotland in being the lowest among the four due to an improving economic situation that as resulted in more job offerings in the public and private sector (Houston, 2014). In Wales, programs implanted by the government such as the Jobs Growth Wales have played a significant role in reducing the unemployment rates (Gov.wales, 2013). The government may use policies that create good economic conditions for businesses to thrive on such as encouraging the creation of new business. These conditions will enable businesses to grow that translates into the need for more workers in the particular. The authorities can also sponsor the youth and educate them on how to create successful enterprises so that they can also use their skills to earn a living and employ themselves such as through web design among others. Therefore, the unemployment rates are reduced in the process. The government can also undertake an analysis of the labor market in various regions to determine places inhabited mostly by unemployed individuals. They can reduce the tax levels for the business in the area so as to increase the level of unemployment. They can also create institutions that enabled the unemployed to learn skills that may help them to get jobs. LondonlovesBusiness.com. [online] Londonlovesbusiness.com. Available at: http://www.londonlovesbusiness.com/business-news/economic/why-are-one-in-10-londoners-unemployed/259.article [Accessed 13 May 2015]. Month - BelfastTelegraph.co.uk. [Online] BelfastTelegraph.co.uk. Available at:
Wednesday, August 28, 2019
Refactoring Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words
Refactoring - Essay Example This is where refactoring will come in handy. Refactoring is a method of altering the code of a software in various ways so it can easily be understood and the cost of modifying the code will be minimal. Refactoring does not change the observable behavior of the program. All changes are done internally just for the purpose of making the code more flexible and reusable. Maintaining the program's observable behavior is crucial to refactoring. Automated testing for each aspect of the software can be done to ensure the consistency of the observable behavior of the program. Refactoring reduces the degradation of an application over time by helping the developers easily maintain it. It is like cleaning up the program's code. It also makes the program easier to understand in the long run. Since one of the principles of refactoring is for it to be done in small steps, it can help the developer find bugs after testing each small step. And since you can easily find bugs, the time spent fixing them would be lesser. Thus, it will allow for more additional features to be added in the program. Refactoring, however, may not be applicable to all program codes. If a code seems to be a total mess, really difficult to understand and has a lot of bugs, then it might be better to rewrite the whole thing than just refactoring it.
Tuesday, August 27, 2019
First 3 pages of a position paper on media globalization and cultural Essay
First 3 pages of a position paper on media globalization and cultural identity - Essay Example plores dimensions of the concept by considering the industry aspects of such glocal programs (programs with mixed global and local aspects) and their scope for the production companies. By providing the series of processes undertaken to Americanize the British sitcom, the paper develops a thorough understanding of various steps and considerations to be kept in mind as television travels from global to local. By discussing the differences between the two versions of the same sitcom in detail, the paper concludes the presence of a strong nexus between Media Globalization and Cultural Identity thereby fading away the misconception about globalization as a solely homogenizing force. According to Held D. in ââ¬ËGlobal Transformationsââ¬â¢, ââ¬Å"globalization is a process fueled by, and resulting in, increasing cross-border flows of goods, services, money, people, information, and culture (Guillen, 2001).â⬠In the contemporary world, all the aspects of life are touched by the ravishing presence of globalization. Once comprehended as a mere economic phenomenon involving the flow of goods and services across borders, the term has transcended to reach the exchange of language, culture and media among nations (Suà ¡rez-Orozco ix). Media Globalization refers to the global reach of media which may take different forms like the internet, television and mass media etc. This process is glocal in nature since with the global elements the television also adapts to certain local elements thereby emerging as a mix of globalization and localization (Straubhaar 130). The aspect of localization in a rather global television program is added when the producers add their subjective interests which ultimately change the whole structure of the particular program. This change is not entirely a work of producers as they are profoundly coalesced with the resource of money used by the audience. Therefore, the audience holds the authority to alter the television program structures according to
Monday, August 26, 2019
The War Against The White American Man Research Paper
The War Against The White American Man - Research Paper Example Racism against white people is one of the critical areas of concern. The country has undergone tremendous changes for many years and there are prospects of continual growth in the coming years in regards to the strong economic backbone. Therefore, all people need to get it through there minds that there will always be people out there that do not have similar looks as they do, and do not have the same reasoning capacity the way they do, won't die the way they do, do not have dietary perspectives a theirs and would not raise there kids the way they do. This characterizes complexities of life. Everything on this planet has to come to terms with its surrounding. Thus people have to either learn to adapt or face the wrath of being rigid to change. Do know how dull life would be if everyone was the same color? If you are a believer in God or any other form of a supreme creator, then the decision to make everyone to look the same would not have been a problem (Strong, 2008). Existence of d ifferent races is just analogous to the difference in Everything that comprise our environment such as birds, plants, and natural features. Therefore, it is inconceivable for any reasonable being to escalate racism among the white American man since they society holds him as the instigator of racism. Just like it is easier for the minority to receive public recognition, the white American man requires similar recognition in order to curb racism propagated against the group (Wise, 2012). White men have been blamed by many nationalities for every ill thing that has been infused into the society (Flemming, 2003). Worse of it all, is that their own women are league with other races in blaming them. In regards to these racism actions, the white man has become an endangered human species because the world is embracing thugs, drug dealers and their form of life, while those things pioneered by the white boys or males is shunned away due to memories of the slavery (The Telegraph, 2011). As a white American husband to a black woman, I experience prejudice from the male black and other ethnic groups but not from my white counterparts. According to my own understanding, white people do not have any advantage against the Indian, Chinese, colored, or black community because we are human beings subject to feelings, need to belong to a family, love, feeling and much greater need to live life. There are several forms of bigotry in the society that has received much support due to the entertainment aspect associated with it. To begin with, my evaluation of the Japanese donning themselves with bushy wigs or beards, large fake nose embellished with speaking in loud, broken, and poor English is a direct demeaning activity to the white population. The white communities that take note of these practices are left in the dilemma whether to perceive it as offensive or as a form of amusement meant for entertainment purposes (Morgan, 2008). Nevertheless, the white person is not allowed to stereotypically dress like the Japanese people in yellowish skin, ââ¬Å"slanted eyes,â⬠geeky glasses, and buck teeth because the world would immediately recognize that as an unpleasant negative typecast. Similarly, the black community has received much recognition through their comedy routines where they openly say almost every thing they wish about the
Sunday, August 25, 2019
1.Critically evaluate if the National Minimum Wage (NMW) have an Essay
1.Critically evaluate if the National Minimum Wage (NMW) have an effect on business performance and increase reward grades - Essay Example They continue to argue that with the introduction of this wage, a great percentage of human labor has been replaced by machinery since the employers attest to the fact that inclusion of the employees in the workplace has become extremely expensive due to the costs that come from reinstatement of wages to the employees. However, other analysts differ with this argument arguing that the wage has increased employee performance in the workplace. In the research carried out by Dickens & Manning (pp.95), the National minimum wage (NMW) has acted as a foundation in which employers can offer proper pay to their employees. This works by virtue of the wage being in a position to manage the increases in wages and controlling all aspects that may lead to cutting down of costs. The National minimum wage (NMW), on the other hand also attempts to be at par with the changes that take place in relation to employees and the wage rates. Nevertheless, other analysts argue that it is extremely tasking for employers to deal with the task of adjusting to the tough economic conditions and dealing with demands of the National Minimum Wage (NMW) as imposed by the government. This essay shall attempt to analyze the National Minimum Wage (NMW) and the effect on business performance and increase reward grades. The major aim of the National Minimum Wage (NMW) is to reduce poverty rates in UK. This is according to research conducted by Dickens & Manning (pp.95), who indicate that with the National Minimum Wage (NMW) the employees have no option but to work in their workplaces or risk being unemployed. In this case, therefore, employees do not want to risk getting into the labor market that does not allow for easy entry into the market; thus, give the best that they can manage whilst in their current jobs. With proper distribution of income in the market, Arrowsmith et al, (pp.435) indicate that there are high chances that individuals will be
Saturday, August 24, 2019
Factchecking Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words
Factchecking - Essay Example He said he would but that law does not exist and that he had been clear that he supports exceptions for abortion in cases of rape, abortion and to save the life of the mother. Romney also employed deception in his attack with Obama with his ad that Obama will raise taxes by $4,000 on American middle class. This was an outright fabrication because Obama is not planning to raise taxes on the middle class to service the debt. The articles in Factcheck.org and politiFact.org also reveal how politicians use false information to make accusations. We can use as an example the most common issue of sequestration which is the spending cuts to arrest the deficit. Republics blamed Obama in FastCheck.org in the article The Obamaquester that it will specifically target certain sectors in society. When it was verified in with PoliticalFact.org, this accusation was in fact false because the sequester does not make distinction quoting Obama saying as it ââ¬Å"wonââ¬â¢t consider whether weââ¬â¢re cutting some bloated program that has outlived its usefulness, or a vital service that Americans depend on every single day. It doesnââ¬â¢t make those
Friday, August 23, 2019
Capstone Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words
Capstone - Essay Example Special academic programs serve the purpose of arming nurses with tailor made skills meant to enhance workplace related competence. Upon acquiring the required theoretical knowledge, nursing students may demonstrate their ability to articulate the acquired skills in duties within actual healthcare facility settings. At this juncture, I will examine my professional and intellectual growth upon completion of the nursing program. A nurse is free to choose any project as long as it addresses practical, real world challenges using the knowledge and skills gained while pursuing their graduate program. A capstone project entails a paper and presentation which uses the nurseââ¬â¢s experience to address a particular challenge identified in a proposal. A capstone program aims to evaluate nurseââ¬â¢s ability to identify a problem, formulate a relevant research question, use correct methods to tackle the research question and identify how their knowledge relates to current scholars and stu dies. The nurse should also be able to demonstrate the ability to organize information, interpret significance, write a good prose and use evidence and example to develop his study. Capstone portfolio is a benchmark assessment for the program and provides an opportunity for assessment by multiple parties. It help an individual assess himself as a nurse and long time learner and professional (Huba and Freed, 2000) because after graduation, the individual is involved in a process of continuous reflecting, self-assessment and self-guided scholarly and professional growth. When information from your capstone portfolio is used, it provides a forum for assessment by employers or other people from whom the individual seeks specific opportunities. Assessment plan for capstone portfolio is comprehensive as there is minimum requirement (average grade point) to qualify for the program and other qualifications an individual is supposed to meet like the need to provide finger prints, check of cr iminal records and computer competency. Then in the course of the program there is constant assessment by instructor on the courses undertaken and grades earned in return. In other cases a nurse is expected to pass a certain specified course before they can be allowed to undertake another course. This could also apply in courses where one needs to pass in the theoretical classes before they can be allowed into the field for practical work or internship. Classroom experience provides a basic framework before you are allowed into the field which is used as a forum to assess how good one has gripped the concepts that were taught. Upon completion of the program, I have acknowledged importance of acquiring informed consent from clients during clinical and social care procedures. Professional conduct of nursing involves explicitly defined guidelines concerning ethical practices. In addition, the program emphasizes the importance of nursing professional conduct towards the cultural require ments in a nurse-client relationship. In my practical encounter with geriatrics patients, I have learned that clients may refuse to undertake certain clinical procedures, even if those procedures are beneficial to their wellbeing. Throughout the course, I appreciate the fact that clients have a right to decline treatment. As a nurse, I will only be able to administer clinical procedures after acquiring voluntary and informed consent from a patient. According to Heartfield and Andre (2011), this relates to
Thursday, August 22, 2019
Decision making and information politics Assignment
Decision making and information politics - Assignment Example This essay focuses on Professor Jeffery Pfefferââ¬â¢s 16 rule explaining why we cannot get anything done yet we are very well educated and trained (Webber, 2000). Jeffery Pfefferââ¬â¢s 16 rule of ââ¬Å"Doing something requires doing somethingâ⬠is one of the fictions of knowledge management. The cult of information administration has developed over the decades. This Jeffery Pfefferââ¬â¢s rule advocates knowledge administration as the next big thing that has led to the proposal what companies require is to increase intellectual assets. This fact is undeniably true, but it is also somewhat true (Webber, 2000). These supporters forget that intellectual capital is only useful when a company does something useful with that information otherwise it will be useless. The purpose of failing to apply the intellectual knowledge into action is doing something. This means confronting the hard work process of making something possible to occur. To have intellectual conversations is very easy and safer by sitting around and gathering volumes of databases to capitalize in procedural infrastructure but never execute any task planned (Webber, 2000) . For instance, Edison Labs was a place occupied with individuals who were interfering and doing unrealistic things. Thomas Edison constructed a place where people tried out their thoughts, seldom blew things up, and did more than discovering unlimited creations. Today, Idealab is the closest thing that can be compared to Edison Labs, which, in spite of its name, it is not just about thoughts and ideologies. Idealab is an association that not only has ideologies, but also assesses those concepts before turning those ideas into action. This is the same essence that was present at Edison Labs. However, most organizations today are way too far drifted from that essence (Webber, 2000). The difficulties experienced by these companies and people working for those companies are
Environmental Engineering Essay Example for Free
Environmental Engineering Essay It involvesà waste water managementà andà air pollutionà control, recycling,à waste disposal, radiation protection, industrial hygiene, environmental sustainability, andà public healthà issues as well as a knowledge ofà environmental engineering law. It is a related study of environmental science. Main task of environmental engineers is to protect public health by protecting (from further degradation), preserving (the present condition of), and enhancing the environment. Some work of Environmental engineers: Conducts hazardous-waste managementà studies to evaluate the significance of such hazards, advise on treatment and containment, and develop regulations to prevent mishaps. Design municipal water supply andà industrial wastewater treatmentà systems. Address environmental issues such as the effects ofà acid rain,à global warming,à ozone depletion, water pollution and air pollution fromà automobile exhaustsà andà industrial sources. Environmental scienceà is an interdisciplinaryà academic fieldà that integrates physical and biological sciences, (including but not limited toà Ecology,à Physics,à Chemistry,à Biology,à Soil Science,à Geology,à Atmospheric Scienceà andà Geography) to the study of the environment, and the solution of environmental problems. Environmental science provides an integrated, quantitative, and interdisciplinaryà approach to the study of environmental systems. Environmental science came alive as a substantive, active field of scientific investigation in the 1960s and 1970s driven by the ff. ssues: (a)à à the need for a multi-disciplinary approach to analyze complex environmental problems. (b)à à the arrival of substantive environmental laws requiring specific environmental protocols of investigation. (c)à à the growing public awareness of a need for action in addressing environmental problems. Related areas of study: environmental studiesà incorporates more of the social sciences for understanding human relationships, perceptions and policies towards the environment. 2. environmental engineering focuses on design and technology for improving environmental quality. Components of Environmental Science: Ecologyà is the study of the interactions between organisms and their environment. Ecologists might investigate the relationship between a population of organisms and some physical characteristic of their environment, such as concentration of a chemical; or they might investigate the interaction between a two populations of different organisms through some symbiotic or competitive relationship. For example, an interdisciplinary analysis of an ecological system which is being impacted by one or more stressors might include several related environmental science fields. In an estuarine setting where a proposed industrial development could impact certain species byà waterà andà air pollution,à biologistsà would describe the flora and fauna,à chemistsà would analyze the transport of water pollutants to the marsh,à physicistsà would calculateà air pollutionà emissions andà geologistsà would assist in understanding the marsh soils and bay muds. . Atmospheric sciencesà focuses on the Earths atmosphere, with an emphasis upon its interrelation to other systems. Atmospheric sciences can include studies ofà meteorology,greenhouse gasà phenomena,à atmospheric dispersion modelingà of airborne contaminants,[3][4]à sound propagation phenomena related toà noise pollution, and evenà light pollution. Taking the example of theà global warmingà phenomena, physicists createà computer modelsà of atmospheric circulation and infra-red radiation transmission, chemists examine the inventory of atmospheric chemicals and their reactions, biologists analyze the plant and animal contributions toà carbon dioxideà fluxes, and specialists such asà meteorologistsà andà oceanographers add additional breadth in understanding the atmospheric dynamics. 3. Environmental chemistryà is the study of chemical alterations in the environment. Principal areas of study includeà soil contaminationà andà water pollution. The topics of analysis include chemical degradation in the environment, multi-phase transport of chemicals (for example, evaporation of aà solventà containing lake to yield solvent as an air pollutant), and chemical effects upon biota. As an example study, consider the case of a leakingà solventà tank which has entered the habitat soil of anà endangered speciesà of amphibian. As a method to resolve or understand the extent ofà soil contaminationà and subsurface transport of solvent, a computer model would be implemented. Chemists would then characterize the molecular bonding of the solvent to the specific soil type, and biologists would study the impacts upon soilà arthropods, plants, and ultimately pond-dwelling organisms that are the food of the endangered amphibian. 4. Geosciencesà includeà environmental geology,à environmental soil science, volcanic phenomena and evolution of the Earths crust. In some classification systems this can also includehydrology, includingà oceanography. As an example study of soilsà erosion, calculations would be made ofà surface runoffà by soil scientists. Fluvial geomorphologists would assist in examiningà sediment transportà in overland flow. Physicists would contribute by assessing the changes in light transmission in the receiving waters. Biologists would analyze subsequent impacts to aquatic flora and fauna from increases in water turbidity. Ecology study of the interactions between organisms and their environment. starts as early as 300 BC with the Greek named Theophastus, his interest with the interrelationship between organism and the living environment, become his as the Father of Botany. Environment refers to the sum of all the external forces and conditions acting on an organism or community of organism. oekologie was coined by the german zoologist, Ernst Haeckel, comes from the greek word oikos, meaning home or a place to live in. defines as the relationship of animals both to the organic as well as the inorganic environment, à à à à à à à à à à à in the mid-1900ââ¬â¢s two group of botanist, one from the Europe and America, become interested in the study of plants communities, the Europeans concentrated on the composition, structure and distribution of plant communities, on the other hand the Americans concentrate to the development of plant, eventually they become interested at the animals as well, and gave a greater emphasis on inter-relationship of animals and plants. This become the birth of ecology as the formal field of study. British economist, Thomas Malthus, gave special attention to population in the early 19th century, his the first one o recognized the conflict between expanding population and earths capability to supply it. scope of ecology, organism (eg. Proto-plasma, cell, tissue, organ, organ system), population, community, ecosystem, and biosphere. Organism: Levels of organization of life (inside the organism): Protoplasma ââ¬â it makes up the living substance of the cell. Cell ââ¬â basic unit of life Tissue-group of cell performing specific functions Organ- group of tissue carrying a particular functions Organ system ââ¬â group of organ doing s specific function. Levels of organization of life (inside the organism): Population ââ¬â group of organism of the same kind or species occupying a particular place at a particular time. Community ââ¬â a group of populations occupying a given area. Ecosystem à basic unit of ecology, refers to the interaction between the organism and environment. It includes population, communities, habitat (the place where the organism lives) and the environment. eg. forest, grassland, river, etc. ) Biosphere ââ¬â world of life. It is the portion of the earth where in life on its any form existed. Components of ecosystem: Biotic ââ¬â they are the living components of ecosystem consisting of plants, animals and bacteria. Abiotic ââ¬â they are the non living component that consist of substratum, ligh t, rainfall, nutrients, soil, temperature, etc. Biotic Components: Green plants à à à à known as the producers. They capture the energy coming from the sun and together with the CO2 in the air and H2O converts this into food energy. They are called autotrophs (self nourishing), they manufacture their own food through the process of photosynthesis. There are also microscopic green plant called phytoplanktons, they give the green color to the bodies of water such as lake and rivers à Animals Known as the consumers. Obtain other food sources to other plants and animals they are called heterotrophs. Three types of consumers: Herbivores ââ¬â that eat plants only Carnivores ââ¬â animals that eat other animals. Omnivores- eat both plants and animals. Bacteria and Fungi They are called decomposers. They eat the dead bodies of plants and animals, where they get their energy and convert it to other nutrients back into the environment. They are popular called the janitor of the nature. Abiotic Components: Soilà the upper layer of the earthââ¬â¢s crust affected by plants and animals serves as the habitat and pool of nutrients for many organism. Humus dark decaying organic substance found in the soil. Physical characteristic of soil: Color The color of the soils is influence by the element present in the soil. Soil color and element presesent: Grey (lacks of iron) Brown red (rich in iron) Textureà the texture of the soil affects the amount of water and nutrients the soil can hold. Texture of the soil: Sandy (composed of coarse particles) Clay (consist of fine particles) Silt (composed of medium size particles. ) Loamy (mixture of clay, sand and silt) Moisture Water content of the soil. It is influence by factors such as: Texture Amount of rainfall Slope of the land Underlying rock type. pH The concentration of hydrogen ions on the soil. The soil which contain a large amount of lime is alkaline and with large amount of granite id acidic. pH value raging from 1-6 is acidic and 8-14 are basic while those with 7 reading is neutral type of soil. Structure Refers to the arrangement of itââ¬â¢s particle which build up larger amount of soil structure is called peds. The peds damage will result to the poor drainage of water to the soil. 2. Water Importance of water in ecosystem: It comprise of a large percentage of the tissues of all living organism. Required by plants to support their non woody tissues. Used by the plants as a vessel of nutrients from the soil. It is absorbed by the plant and release in the environment which produces the cooling effect. Plant adaptation to water: (Based on the tolerance of plant to water. ): à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à *à Hydropytes (Plants that grow in water and waterlogged soils) à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à *à Halophytes (Plants that grow in saline environment. ) à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à *à Xerophytes (Plants that grow in dry or arid condition. 3. Temperature Affects the plant and cooled blooded animals by controlling their metabolism. Affect the water loss of the organism. Most organism function at temperature between 0 degree to 50 degree centigrade.. 4. Wind An agent of pollination and seed dispersal. It also affects transpiration in the plants by causing faster evaporation with in their surroundings. Pathways of energy: Energy It is needed by the organism for growth, maintenance and repair and for life. Organism obtain their energy by two ways: Autotrophy (producing their own food) Heterotrophy (eating other organism) Food Chain Consist of the sequence of organism that eat other organism through which energy is transferred. Every food chain starts a producer and end with decomposers. Trophic levels of food chain: First trophic ( producers) Second trophic (herbivores called primary consumers) Third trophic (carnivore that eat hervobores) 4th trophic (carnivores that eat carnivores) In food chain the energy transferred from one trophic level to another is decreasing. Food web Consist of several interlocking food chain. It is a transfer of energy involving several pathways. Nutrients cycle: Classification of Nutrients: Macronutrients ââ¬â those that are required by organism by large quantities. Ex. Oxygen, carbon, nitrogen and hydrogen Micronutrient ââ¬â are needed by the organism by smaller amounts. Ex. Sulfur, potassium, iron, and phosphorus. Water Cycles: Evaporation (from bodies of water) Respiration ( from animals) Transpiration (from the trees) Condensationà (accumulation of all the vapors, transpiration and respiration) Precipitation (for rain) Runoff (water run from the higher grounds) Carbon and Oxygen cycle: Carbon is mostly present in the environment by cabon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is present at: It could be found at dead organism. Volcano eruption. Respiration of animals. Oxygen is abundant in plants transpiration, it is release in the air as a waste product and absorbed by animals. Nitrogen Cycles: Nitrogen constitutes 78% of air in the atmosphere. Plants used it as a nitrates, and nitrogen converted it by two process: The action of lightning. Process of action by specialized organism such as legumes. Communities Community Group of different kinds of organism or species living together in a particular place. Worlds Major communities: 1. Dessert Biome Bushes and shrubs for vegetation Sandy, dry and loose type of soil. Less than 10 cm of rain fall in a year. Lizards, snakes, eagles, owls, toads, insects and small
Wednesday, August 21, 2019
Data Analysis Interpretation
Data Analysis Interpretation Introduction Based on the literature review in chapter 2 and the primary and secondary data collected as outlined in chapter 3 , the researcher has detailed his analysis and his interpretation of his understanding based on in-depth and clear research keeping the aim and objective of the research in mind. This chapter emphasizes the main issues in connection with the studys aims , previously outlined . The chapter has been accordingly broken down into main sections To study the set of processes used in a world-class organization (Infosys) to effectively and efficiently manage software projects To study the involvement of senior managements and the role of managers in delivering software products To suggest possible future courses of action through which Infosys can maintain an edge over the competition Data Analysis and Interpretation Using the primary and secondary data identified in the literature research , the researcher now explains the main areas in order to answer the objectives of the study AIM : To study the set of processes used in a world-class organization to effectively and efficiently manage software projects . The literature review pointed that in terms of Infosys project management, software project work is split into two components: onsite and offshore, according to where it can be best done, at the lowest cost, and with the lowest level of acceptable risk, thereby de-coupling capability development and delivery. Infosys has established a systematic pattern of succession planning whereby board members remain in the vanguard but are underpinned by a three-tier leadership structure for high-potential managers . Infosys executes hundreds of projects each year. Full responsibility for executing a project rests with the project manager, who must make sure that the project team delivers high-quality software to the customer on time and within cost . At Infosys , in the project planning stage, as revealed by Marsh (1998 p.29) , the project manager reviews contractual commitments and creates a plan to meet them. Creating a project plan involves defining a life-cycle process to be followed, esti mating the effort and schedule, preparing a detailed schedule of tasks, and so on. It also includes planning for quality and configuration management as well as risk management. At Infosys , the second phase, as in the words of Finney ( 1999 p.43) , project execution, involves executing the project plan, tracking the status of the project, and making corrections whenever project performance strays from the path laid down in the project plan. In other words, it involves tracking and controlling the implementation of the project process. This phase is the longest in the project management process, incorporating periodic tasks such as monitoring project status and quality and taking any needed corrective steps. Objective 1 : To analyze the project management process adapted by Infosys in delivering effective software systems Infosys project manager performs startup and administrative tasks and creates the project plan and schedule. He is also responsible for defining the objectives of the project . The suitable standard process for the project execution is identified . Also the standard process to meet project requirements are tailored . Also a process for managing changes in requirements is designed . The estimation of effort involved is undertaken . Also the plan for human resources and team organization is determined . The project milestones are defined and schedules created accordingly. Also the quality of objectives and a quality plan to achieve them are determined . A defect prevention plan in designed. The risks are identified and plans are made to mitigate them. A measurement plan for the project is defined .A training plan for the project is designed . The project-tracking procedures are analyzed for effective execution . Also a review of the project plan and schedule are performed . Authorizati on from senior management is obtained . The configuration management plan and defined and reviewed . Also orientation of the project team to the project management plan is executed Once planned the project manager executes the project as per the project plan. , tracks the project status., reviews the project status with senior management. , monitor compliance with the defined project process. , analyze defects and perform defect prevention activities, monitor performance at the program level and conduct milestone reviews and replan if necessary. Other members of the team also participate in this stage. The entry criterion is that the project plan is complete and approved, and the exit criterion is that all work products delivered are accepted by the customer Post-project data analysis constitutes the main activity; metrics are analyzed, process assets (materials, such as templates and guidelines, used to aid in managing the process itself) are collected for future use, and lessons are recorded. Because learning from the project is the main goal, this is a group activity that involves the project manager, the SEPG, and other members of the team Infosys software project has two main activity dimensions: engineering and project management. Infosys engineering dimension deals with building the system and focuses on issues such as how to design, test, code, and so on. Infosys project management dimension deals with properly planning and controlling the engineering activities to meet project goals for cost, schedule, and quality. If a software project is small (say, a team of one or two working for a few weeks), it can be executed by infosys somewhat informally. The project plan may be an e-mail specifying the delivery date and perhaps a few intermediate milestones. Requirements might be communicated by infosys in a note or even verbally, and intermediate work products, such as design documents, might be scribbles on personal note pads. These informal techniques, however, do not scale up for larger projects of Infosys in which many people may work for many monthsââ¬âthe situation for most commercial software projects. In such projects, each engineering task must be done carefully by Infosys following well-tried methodologies, and the work products are been properly documented so that others can review them. The tasks in the project are been carefully planned by infosys and allocated to project personnel and then tracked as the project executes. In other words, to successfully execute larger projects, formality and rigor along these two dimensions must increase in infosys Formality requires that well-defined processes be used for performing the various tasks so that the outcome becomes more dependent on the capability of the processes. Formality is further enhanced by quantitative approaches that are employed by infosys in the processes through the use of suitable metrics. A process by infosys for a task comprises a sequence of steps that should be followed to execute the task. For Infosys, however, the processes it recommends for use by its engineers and project managers are much more than a sequence of steps; they encapsulate what the engineers and project managers have learned about successfully executing projects. Through the processes, the benefits of experience are conferred to everyone, including newcomers in the organization. These processes help managers and engineers emulate past successes and avoid the pitfalls that lead to failures. For a project, Infosys engineering processes generally specify how to perform engineering activities such as requirement specification, design, testing, and so on. The project management processes, on the other hand, specify how to set milestones, organize personnel, manage risks, monitor progress, and so on. Project managers at Infosys actually want to use processes but only if theyre reasonable and will help the project managers execute their projects better. Project managers do, however, resent processes that seem to be unnecessarily bureaucratic and add little value to their work. The trick, then, is to have lightweight processesââ¬âthose that help project managers plan and control their projects better and that give them the flexibility to handle various situations. Objective 2 : To analyze the CMM framework applied by Infosys in delivering effective software projects To consistently improve process performance on its projects, Infosys enhance the process capability frequently that the process itself must become more mature. In level 1, the initial level, Infosys executes its project in a manner that the team and project manager see its fit. At the repeatable level (level 2) infosys applies established project management practices are employ them , although organization-wide processes may not exist. At the defined level (level 3), organization-wide processes have been defined and are regularly followed by Infosys project team. At the managed level (level 4), quantitative understanding of the process capability makes it possible to quantitatively predict and control the process performance on a project by the Infosys project team. At the optimizing level (level 5), the process capability is improved in a controlled manner and the improvement is evaluated quantitatively. Each maturity level is characterized by key process areas (KPAs), which specify the areas on which the organization should focus to elevate its processes to that maturity level. For Infosys to achieve a maturity level, it must satisfy all the KPAs at that maturity level as well as the KPAs at all lower maturity levels. Maintaining processes at higher levels of maturity is a challenging task requiring commitment from infosys and its proper work culture. Objective 3 : To study the KPAs for Infosys project management performance KPAs at Level 2 : Requirement Management RM : Here the software requirements of Infosys are controlled to establish a baseline for its software engineering and management activities. Also software plans, products, and activities are kept consistent with requirements Software Project Planning SPP : Here Infosys estimation are documented for use in planning and tracking the project .Project activities and commitments are planned and documented. by Infosys .Also affected groups and individuals agree to their commitments related to the project Software Project Tracking and Oversight SPTO : Here the actual results and performances of infosys are tracked against their software plans. Corrective actions are taken by management and they manage to closure when actual results and performance deviate significantly from their software plans. Software Subcontract Management (SSM ) : Infosyss prime contractor and the subcontractor agree to their commitments. The prime contractor tracks the subcontractors actual results against its commitments. The prime contractor and the subcontractor maintain ongoing communication. Similarly the prime contractor tracks the subcontractors actual performance against its commitments Software Quality Assurance SQA : Here Infosys plans its software quality assurance activities . Also adherence of software products and activities to the applicable standards, procedures, and requirements is verified objectively. Similarly affected groups and individuals are informed of software quality assurance activities and results. Noncompliance issues that cannot be resolved within the project are addressed by senior management of Infosys Software Configuration Management SCM : Infosys plans its software configuration management activities Also selection of software work products are identified, controlled, and available. Similarly changes to identified software work products are controlled. Affected groups and individuals are informed of the status and content of software baselines KPAs at Level 3 Integrated Software Management ISM : Here Infosys projects defined software process is a tailored version of the organizations standard software process. The project is planned and managed according to the projects defined software process Intergroup Coordination IC : Infosys affected groups agree to the customers requirements. And all groups agree to the commitments between different groups.The groups identify, track, and resolve intergroup issues. Peer Reviews PR : Infosys plans its peer review activities and any defects in the software work products are identified and removed KPAs at Level 4 : Quantitative Process Management QPM : Infosys plans its quantitative process management activities and its process performance of the projects defined software process is controlled quantitatively. The process capability of Infosys standard software process is known in quantitative terms. Software Quality Management SQM : Infosys projects software quality management activities are planned. Any measurable goals for software product quality and their priorities are defined. The actual progress toward achieving the quality goals for the software products is quantified and managed Objective 4 : To analyze the SEPG support Infosys applies to its projects The quality department at Infosys contains the software engineering process group (SEPG). The SEPG is responsible for coordinating all the process activities, including process definition, process improvement, and process deployment. It also manages all information and data related to the use of processes Although the responsibility for all aspects of delivery, including quality, belongs to the project team, the SEPG facilitates the project team in following the right processes. The SEPG also forms an independent channel for monitoring and reporting to senior management on process and quality issues. Because processes wont stick by themselves,6 the SEPG helps to ensure that the defined processes are implemented and become standard practice. To this end, in addition to offering training on processes, the SEPG provides a member who is associated with a project as a software quality adviser. The quality adviser assists in defining and following processes, ensures that the processes are followed, aids in analyzing the data, and provides any needed process training. Because the adviser is well versed on processes, guidelines, and so on, the advisers main help comes during project planning. The adviser also reviews the project plan to ensure that it contains all the key elements. In addition to providing consulting and help with processes and metrics, the Infosys SEPG schedules and manages regular independent audits to ensure that the defined processes and standards are being followed. Objective 5 : To study the involvement of senior managements and the role of managers in delivering software products ( PRISM and IPM ) Infosys prides itself in providing value to its customers through delivery excellence. Everything at Infosys, including its organizational structure, is driven by the aim of serving customers efficiently and effectively and quickly tapping new business opportunities. For delivery of customer services, Infosys has many business units. Within a business unit, a team, headed by a project manager, executes a project. The project manager is responsible for all aspects of project execution, from determining the requirements to final installation of the software. The project manager reports to a business manager, who in turn generally reports to the business unit head. To handle situations that cannot be resolved by the project manager, senior management involvement in projects is essential. At Infosys, the business manager regularly interacts with the project manager and monitors the project through status reports and milestone reports . In addition to regular monitoring, the business manager also helps to resolve issues and problems that cannot be handled by the project team and are escalated to his level . The business manager also interacts with customers to ensure that they are satisfied and that any issues are promptly raised and addressed. In addition, other senior people also review projects periodically by regularly taking part in internal audits Through two systemsââ¬âcalled PRISM (project review by senior management) and IPM (integrated project management)ââ¬âmilestone reports and project plans are available for senior management to review. All senior managers are expected to review some projects periodically through this system and to give feedback to the project leaders. Overall, senior management maintains involvement in the project primarily by monitoring to ensure that the project objectives are met and that the customer is fully satisfied. Because project managers have the main responsibility for satisfying the customer, they need to master not only executing the technical aspects of a project but also interacting with customers, eliciting requirements, managing the team, and so on. Clearly no one is likely to possess all the skills needed, so its crucial to train people to develop the necessary skills. Infosys has implemented a variety of programs to help people transition from being engineers to being project leaders. All fresh entrants undergo a three- to four-month induction training program. In addition to training in engineering and technology, this program contains one- or two-day programs in business etiquette, written communication, public speaking, body language, and so on. Later, when engineers are ready to become module leaders (those who manage the development of a system module, especially in larger projects) or project managers, they attend a series of technical and soft-skills training programs. Included in the former is a five-day project management course that focuses on all aspects of project management: planning, monitoring, controlling, and so on. A two-week course on requirements specification and management teaches how to elicit requirements, how to document them, how to verify them, and so on. The five-day residential soft-skills training program includes modules on appraisals and team management, customer focus and customer management, leadership, social and business etiquette for different countries, and so on. Other regularly offered programs focus on various aspects of management; project leaders take these courses when their schedules permit. Also, team-building workshops are conducted by professionals. Objective 6 : To suggest possible future courses of action through which Infosys can maintain an edge over the competition For Infosys to continue its success stories in developing world class software projects , it has to concentrate on the following issues IN DEPTH The software projects process plan focusing on customer requirements Analyze the impact of software requirement change request Extended efforts in estimates and the high-level schedule, along with a description of how they were obtained More focus on the quality plan containing quality goals and plans for achieving them, including plans for defect prevention and reviews Extended support on the risk management plan describing the major risks, their risk exposure and impact, their prioritization, and the risk mitigation plans for the high-priority risks Effective measurement and tracking plan Detailed and clear project management plan, including the team management plan and the customer communication and escalation plan The complete configuration management plan Efficient project tracking documents, including the defect log, the issues log, the status report, and the milestone report Details of defect prevention, including defect analysis results and the impact on the project of the defect prevention plan Clearly illustrated complete closure report, which includes the metrics data on quality, productivity, cost of quality, defect removal efficiency, and so on
Tuesday, August 20, 2019
The Authors :: essays research papers
The Authors à à à à à In the world of writing, the writerââ¬â¢s lifestyle, imagination, background, or world views is what will make the piece attractive. The three writersââ¬â¢ T.S. Eliot, Ernest Hemingway, and F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote most of their pieces with the way they viewed the world or things that had occurred in their lives. The following paragraphs will tell you about the writers past to induce them into writing what they did. T.S. Eliot, a very cerebral poet and also wrote essays. Eliot grew up in a fine family, his father was a business man and his mother was very involved in the community and wrote poetry. Eliot went on to going into Harvard where he earned his PhD in philosophy. After attending Harvard, he traveled around Germany on a travel scholarship and later attended Oxford University where he only stayed a year. His early works reflected the disillusionment of the postwar generation and the tragedy of contemporary civilization. In 1928 Eliot considered himself an Anglo-Catholic, which reflected in his poetry a more positive turn. Eliot received the Nobel Prize in 1948. Eliotââ¬â¢s poetic themes concentrate on the condition of the world and only gain an optimistic strain later as a result of his conversion to Christianity. His new-found worldview colors his later works into optimism rather than despair, though he recognizes that the world is still a dark place in which to live. His poems ââ¬Å"The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrockâ⬠and ââ¬Å"Death by Waterâ⬠from the poem ââ¬Å"The Waste Landâ⬠are two manifestations of his early social disillusionment while ââ¬Å"The Hollow Menâ⬠and ââ¬Å"Journey of the Magiâ⬠are written later with the more hopeful backdrop of Christianity. Ernest Miller Hemingway was born in 1899 in Oak Park, Illinois, in an orthodox higher middle class family as the second of six children. His mother, Mrs. Grace Hale Hemingway, an ex-opera singer, was an authoritarian woman who had reduced his father, Mr. Clarence Edmunds Hemingway, a physician, to the level of a hen-pecked husband. Hemingway had a rather unhappy childhood on account of his 'mother's, bullying relations with his father'. He grew up under the influence of his father who encouraged him to develop outdoor interests such as swimming, fishing and hunting. His early boyhood was spent in the northern woods of Michigan among the native Indians, where he learned the primitive aspects of life such as fear, pain, danger and death.
Monday, August 19, 2019
Myth Or Reality, Todays Perception On Monsters :: essays research papers
Myth or Reality, Today's Perception on Monsters Monsters, which are seemingly just myth and fantasy, do have some truths to their legend. In fact, some creatures may have actually existed and still do today, even though they should not be percieved as monsters. What if the stories of a giant "ape-like" creature that have circulated over the globe for centuries were true? There have been numerous sightings and first-hand accounts of this creature everywhere in the world, from the United States to the Himalayas. One of the more famous sightings took place at Bluff Creek in 1967. Roger Patterson and a friend were horse back riding when they saw a huge hair covered creature. It began to run away when it noticed the two men, but not before Roger shot some film of the creature. The creature that was filmed was a female, while you cannot see in this view, breasts are clearly visable in other frames of the film. Scientists who have studied the film have said that the estimated stride of the creature is larger than that of a man. They also say it would have been very difficult for a man to simulate this larger stride. Footprints were the same type as typically found at a Bigfoot sighting. A more recent sighting of Bigfoot took place last year on July 11, in the Wild Creek area in the foothills of Snoqualmie National Forest.The picture was obtained from the photographer bt Cliff Crook, the director of Bigfoot Central. The cameraman was out on a hike when he heard splashing coming from the stream below him. He then found himself face to face with the creature. Usually after most sightings, footprints of the usually large creatures can be found. Footprints have been found everywhere including at these two mentioned sightings. The length of the prints has varied between 1' to 2.5' indicating from scientific study that Bigfoot could be as tall as nine feet. Also the deep inprint that is left indicates that the creature could weigh as much as 600 pounds. Researchers at Ohio State University hope to come within a hair of verifying the existence of Bigfoot. Scientists are using a new DNA matching process to determine whether there may be more to the Sasquatch legend than some blurry film footage and a few giant footprints. The evidence consists of two tufts of hair, each withabout a dozen individual strands, recovered in Washington State after a recent sighting. "This is the first time that I'm aware of that anybody will be able to do any DNA extractions
Sunday, August 18, 2019
Shirley Jacksons The Lottery and Kate Chopins The Story of an Hour Es
Shirley Jackson's The Lottery and Kate Chopin's The Story of an Hour "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson, and "The Story of the Hour" by Kate Chopin, both have similarities and differences when it comes to the elements of literature.Ã Particularly, when the authors use foreshadowing to manipulate the moods of the stories and add irony to cleverly deceive the reader. Both of these stories possess similarities and differences when it comes to their components of the story, specifically the authors' usage of elements of mood and the tone of irony. Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã In Shirley Jackson's 'The Lottery,' irony is a major theme. This story is about a town full of elitist snobs that are stuck on their tradition of a lottery, even though it is a grim ritual and rather detrimental to the people in the town. The characters are honoring a tradition that is handed down to them from former generations. The reader is led through the outwardly normal and charming little village, and is taken on a ride of ironic horror as they slowly grasp the annual fate of one the village?s inhabitants. The title ?The Lottery? implies a contest with a winner of some kind, like a sweepstakes. When in reality the winner is actually the loser or person that will die by stoning. At the beginning of this story, the main character, Mrs. Hutchinson, is in favor of the lottery. The atmosphere of the town is casual yet anxious. Mrs. Hutchinson arrives late because she ?clean forgot? what day it is. This seems quite impossible to any reader that anyone would forge t a day like lottery day. Her procrastination is reasonable but her excuse is lame. Mrs. Hutchinson complains that her husband, Bill, ?didn?t have enough time to choose.? And that the results of the drawing were not fair. In these statements, she is implying that the other villagers had more time to choose, and in fact given an advantage over the Hutchinson family. In reality, time had little to do with the drawing of the ?slips of paper.? As soon as they hold the second drawing, Mrs. Hutchinson is chosen. This is the climax of irony of this story. Mrs. Hutchinson is chosen for the lottery. She is shocked and astounded, having believed that she couldn?t possibly be chosen for the lottery. She begs or mercy, but the townspeople are strict with keeping to their traditions and her pleas of mercy fall on deaf ears and she is stoned to death. Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã ?... ...the mention of her health. However, in ?The Lottery? the reader knows that something bad will eventually happen, but the reader has no idea who the ill-fated winner is going to be. Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã I feel that ?The Story of an Hour? is a better example of the elements of irony and foreshadowing than ?The Lottery.? In ?The Story of an Hour? the author uses a writing style that is easy to follow and simple to understand. The plot is orderly and follows a sequential order of events. The imagery is vivid, but is it easy to understand and doesn?t confuse the reader. ?The Lottery? was not an adequate story. The foreshadowing was presented in an irksome fashion, and the language confused and baffled me. ?The Lottery? was difficult to follow, and I was unable to understand anything about it until I had completed the story. In closing, I feel that Kate Chopin did a superb job with ?The Story of an Hour? in reaching her audience on a level that made it simple to understand her story and to have a sense of perceptive knowledge of how the story would end. Ã Ã Ã Ã Works Cited: Jackson, Shirley. "The Lottery." The Harper Anthology of Fiction. Ed Sylvan Barnet. New York: HarperCollins, 1986. 862-868
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