Living Story Essay

The development of Georgetown has attracted many tourists flocking here to scan the place. However, the increased new openings of shop lots have given the town a new lease of life in addition to its tonnes of heritage buildings. By chance Wu Han Ren, Ru Zhi Xing and Lee Wu Xin talked about the town and what was missing from it. That brought 14 Living Story back to life, to showcase the day-to-day living of Old Georgetown. Since Ru and Lee have been working in Shanghai, China, they have to travel to various places regularly and have visited the fabled Xin Tian Di, a place that holds the historical and cultural legacies of the Chinese metropolis. The enclave also gave the duo an idea that Penang could actually become some place like that. â€Å"Along the road in many tourist attractions in other countries, we would see stalls selling local delicacies and souvenirs which make the place all the more vibrant. â€Å"However, tourists visiting Penang will only be greeted by rows of listless shophouses, warehouses and empty residences, many of which are uninhabited and locked. † Living museum It was August 2009 when Wu, Ru and Lee decided to set up a living museum in town. They had looked at many different locations and finally decided on the shophouse beside Seh Tek Tong Cheah Kongsi on Armenian Street. â€Å"The tenancy contract of the house was about to expire when we contacted the owner. We picked the house because it exuded the feelings of an old building. â€Å"It has been found that the house could have been built in the 1850s and is at least 150 years old today! † Wu said the house was formerly used to accommodate foreign workers. Despite its location in the heart of Old Georgetown, the house has never been put to proper use. Since the original house was quite shabby, they requested the owner to do some renovation and they later tore down the room partitions to make the old house more spacious. Day-to-day living The living museum is divided into three parts where the front part of ground floor is used for the sale of souvenirs, day-to-day items and handcrafts. The rear part of the house has been specifically designed for the display of artistic exhibits. Since old houses in Penang were designed largely in Chinese style and in particular Shanghainese style, many Shanghainese memorabilia could still be found in these houses. Wu hopes to recreate the first floor of the house into a museum showcasing the day-to-day living of Old Penang by next year so that tourists could get a better understanding of life in Old Penang. In order to promote reuse and recycling, all the furniture inside the house have either been donated by people or picked up by them. Wu admitted that local tourists are not too keen to buy the souvenirs and handicrafts as they are more interested in the furnishings and designs of the building. On the contrary, foreigners are more avid in buying the souvenirs. â€Å"I hope more people will harness the advantages of Georgetown to open more unique shops to promote the local cultural heritage at the same time luring more tourists here. † Shop Briefly Menu Penang Buses Ticket 70’s~80’s, exhibit in 14 Living Story Taishogoto (Japan) /Bulbul Tarang (India) The taishogoto or Nagoya harp, is a Japanese stringed musical instrument. The name derives from the Taisho period (1912–1926) when the instrument first appeared. It has also become naturalized in East Africa, often under the name Taishokoto. The taishogoto consists of a long, hollow box with strings running its length. Above the strings are a span of numbered typewriter-like keys, which when depressed fret or shorten the strings to raise their pitch. It is played lengthwise and strummed. There are also electrified versions of the instrument. The taishogoto bears a close resemblance to the Bulbul Tarang from India, and the Akkordolia from Germany, all sharing the same principle of using keys to press down on strings to change their pitch. Handmade Passport Cover Handmade Curtain (only 6 pieces) Handmade Table Mat Penang Marriage Certificate from 1940 Penang Lottery Tickets 70’s~80’s

Recruitment and Selection Os a Sales and Marketing Manager

Company has around 15 Vacancies at any given time and 80% of new hires are leaving within probation period. Further he has recruited a former owner of a catering service in UK as the â€Å"Sales and Marketing Manager† of ABC Biscuit Company promising that Mr. Benjamin will bring at least 10 new foreign customers within the first 6 months, and Mr. Benjamin has not introduced any of customers to the company he has only given total cost of exceeding Rs. 250,000/= per month to the company. Possible alternatives were given like Do Post Mortems, Help the problematic employee to get back on track, Offer an internal transfer and Termination etc.This project report discusses the importance of good recruitment at technical and managerial levels and the implications that are encountered as a result of ad hoc recruitment processes. Recruitment is a responsibility of every manager in the Organization. The Project report is divided into five sections namely: Problem Identification; Right nu mber of people at right jobs at right times; Handling Mr. Benjamin’s situation; Conclusion; Recommended Recruitment and Selection Procedure for ABC Biscuit Company. 2. Problem Identification Managing people is a definite challenge both at strategic or even organizational levels.Thus, human resources are well managed and developed in alignment with the organizational goals and strategies. It has been observed that for any organization to achieve its stated objectives and goals there is the need for management to put in place policies or strategies that will help attract the best of employees to strive towards the achievement of organizational objectives. It has also been observed that the performance output of employees of ABC Biscuit Company is of prime concern to management of ABC Biscuit Company as it affects pproduactivity and the development of the company.Following are some major issues that have been found in ABC Biscuit Company; 2. 1 Poor HR Planning and Management An incompetent and poorly functioning human resources department reflects the overall state of affairs of an organization and its possible uncompetitive position in the marketplace. According to ABC Biscuit Company case study, company has around 15 vacancies at any given time which proof that company has bad HR planning. Bad HR planning ensures that the HR assets of the organization are not aligned to organizational goals and objectives. . 2 High turn over It has also been observed that the performance output of employees of ABC Biscuit Company is of prime concern to management of ABC Biscuit Company as it affects pproduactivity and the development of the bank. Importantly, some of the new employees who are not able to improve and adjust to their new working environment resign within first 6 months of their job leading to employee turnover of 80% and this affects the organization in terms of cost and pproduactivity. 2. 3 Finance manager handling all recruitmentsNot having a proper Huma n Resource Management is a disaster for any company. As we can see from ABC Biscuit Company, Higher Management has appointed Finance Manager (Mr. De Silva) to handle all recruitment of the company which is a wrong decision. When Finance manager perform multiple roles, according to case study give Mr. De Silva has to handle all recruitment apart from finance management, HR processes unlikely to become a priority unless a crisis occurs. Most of the employees whom he has recruited were his relatives and once who are known to him.Clearly we can understand that Mr. De Silva has lack of Human Resource Management knowledge. Without having a proper sound recruitment and selection procedure, he has simply recruited relatives and friends for his own personal benefits. 2. 4 Poor recruitment As a consequence of appointing Finance manager to handle all recruitments, Mr. De Silva has recruited Mr. Benjamin, former owner of a Catering Service in UK as the Sales and Marketing Manager of ABC Biscuit Company. This wrong decision has led to a massive issue for the company.There is no hiring strategy in ABC Biscuit Company, without a hiring strategy we unconsciously gravitate to hiring people who share our personality traits, which can lead to clash of personality and a division of expectations. 3. Right number of people at right jobs at right times Selecting the right person for the job has never been more important than it is today. Hiring the right people for the right positions at the right time is a key ingredient in creating a successful company. This is not easy to do, and most companies falter in this area.In order to ensure ABC Biscuit Company place right number of people at right jobs at right times following can be taken it to action; 3. 1 Build and nurture relationships with every business unit Managers and executives of ABC Biscuit Company need to be connected to other business units and departments so they know when activities in those areas of the business are like ly to create products.

My Memorable Experience Paragraph

My Memorable Experience Draft: A memorable moment that I experienced was when I received my first black eye. At that time I was at the age of eleven. This experience occurred one day after school and my siblings and I were on our way home from school. I don’t remember much of what had happened that day because of an incident, but I remember bits and pieces of it. Every teenager loved their Fridays and this day is one that I’ll always remember. One beautiful Fall afternoon my two other siblings and I had arrived at our bus stop.I was sitting in a seat with a friend from school and my brother and sister were sitting next to ours. We all stood from our seats and casually walked off from the bus. I noticed my brother and sister ran in front of the bus and was ahead of me by a few steps. So I had to quickly wave to one of my friends on the bus and hurry back towards them. I scurried towards my siblings not even aware of where I was looking and as the bus started to drive off , I decided to turn around and to watch the bus drive off.I quickly turned around for my house and as I simultaneously raised my head to look in which direction I was heading and I happened to run into stop sign pole. I immediately began crying and quickly covered my left eye because of the blood was dripping down from my eyebrow to my face. My sister heard and seen me crying and was also stunned on what to do so she looked at my brother to come help. As he approached me, he took off his jacket and told me to use his jacket to cover my eye. My siblings were guiding me home. I noticed my eye stopped bleeding, so I used my brother’s jacket to wipe the blood on my forehead.

Personal Statement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Personal Statement - Essay Example My zeal to explore events that occurred throughout history has facilitated my learning curve. As a sophomore student, I plan to transfer to a university next fall. My goal is to obtain a position in corporate American post graduation in which I can implement the analytical, critical and social skills I have acquired. The main purpose of this club is to assist people in developing their keen interest in law enforcement and create channels that can enable them to have a fulfilling role in their respective fields. Commerce is one those fields that truly gives a person an enriching experience in their life. Working at a local restaurant enables me to micro manage employees, which is truly a wonderful opportunity for me to gain valuable experience. I firmly belief that my academic education along with engagement at a local restaurant is critical towards my pursuit to obtain my education that not only will harness my growth in professional development, but will enable me to gain a better sense of the commerce that govern society. As a dedicated student, my work ethics along with my superb leadership skills have become the catalyst for my academic success. Although I don’t possess a degree yet, I look forward to fresh set of challenges that I will have to overcome not only as a student, but as a young adult ready to explore the essence of real world.

Nazi Foreign Policy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Nazi Foreign Policy - Essay Example The major aspects of the foreign policy of Nazi according to Poole (130) related to the long-term strategies of the party that included the abolition of all restrictions placed on Germany by the treaty of Versailles, the re-armament of Germany to ensure enough strength for expanding the country through the acquisition of other territories and uniting all people speaking German language into one country to establish a big and strong country. In addition, Nazi aimed at promoting its ideology championed by Aryan superiority, anti-Judaism and anti-communism, pro-fascist as well as commercial dynamism (Poole 130). Adolf Hitler realized that the implementation of his policy required war. In 1933, upon his appointment as the chancellor, he became the driving power for peace settlement and the expansion of the German economic and political power in the European region. The end of World War I led to the establishment of the League of Nations as a tool for international peace, cohesion and moderation. The League of Nations top agenda was to ensure absence of violation of the territorial integrity of any country and prevent any other war through peaceful settlement of conflicts (Charles Sturt University 2). The United States, Britain and France were the major architects of international order and their policies opposed those of the Nazi through the League of Nations. In 1933, both Germany and Japan, who were after implementing their Nazi policies, withdrew from the league. This is because; the League of Nations was acting in opposition to their policies. The following year, 1934, Germany signed two agreements with Poland; trade agreement and non-aggression pact. This incorporated the agreement to settle disputes through negotiation, the end of all disputes regarding the border and non-aggression in the next ten years (Charles Sturt University 2). However, this was not a

Malcolm X's life in the Nation of Islam and his Life after his Research Paper

Malcolm X's life in the Nation of Islam and his Life after his Pilgrimage to Mecca - Research Paper Example They would face large scale unemployment; lose the unskilled jobs and other avenues of income. There was also another school of thought that propagated racial hatred based on a completely different agenda. The period of the erstwhile 1950’s was notorious for the growth of the Neo-Nazi groups, groups proclaiming racial superiority, the rise of the Klux klux clan among others. They did a very good job of instilling the feeling of racial hatred and abomination in the minds of the average American. The sum total of this was that the divide between the blacks and the whites reached levels of extreme bitterness. Majority of the black population believed that the laws were loaded completely against them and favored the agenda of the whites. INTRODUCTION- Malcolm X was an adapted name of Malcolm Little. He was born in the year 1925, in Omaha, Nebraska. He was the forth child of a total of seven children. His father was an activist for the pan African Movement and also the area leader for an Indigenous organization called as the Universal Negro Improvement Association. His father taught him the values of black rights, the issue of self determination and the tenets of self reliance. He was also greatly influenced by Marcus Garvey. He grew up in an atmosphere of great friction. There were a lot white local groups who were against the black people and would cause a lot of troubles to the family including threats. One of the younger brothers of Malcolm X was lynched and killed violently by the members of a white supremacist group (Klux Klux clan). These early incidents shaped the mind of young Malcolm who would later grow up to hate the whites (Karim, 1971). Ultimately, the family had to shift to Milwaukee after repeated threats from the clan and later to Lansing, Michigan. In the year 1939, Earl Little (Father of Malcolm X) was killed in a road rage accident. Although the accident was supposed because of a careless driver, however, the reason for the killing was att ributed to the various white supremacy groups (Karim, 1971). The thought process also gained momentum because a few days back, their house was also burned down by the same people. The family was further peeved at the fact that the money that they were supposed to get out of the life insurance was also not properly given to them. Malcolm’s father had two life insurance policies. However at the time of his death, the insurance of the higher denomination was denied to them on the count that his father had committed suicide, this pushed the family into a great amount of financial trouble and affected the mind of young Malcolm greatly (Breitman, 1971). Thereafter, Louise (Malcolm’s mother) suffered a nervous breakdown and was declared a mentally insane, this divided the complete family and the siblings were sent to various foster homes. Malcolm X moved to Boston where he lived for a while. The formative early years Malcolm X was one of the best students in the junior high a nd wanted to become a lawyer by profession. But even in his school, he faced a great deal of racial segregation, in Boston; he lived in an area called as Roxbury, which was predominantly an African American area of the neighborhood (Haley, 1999). He used to occasionally find

Thesis on Nickel and Dimed Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Thesis on Nickel and Dimed - Essay Example In the one month, he worked fulltime, and he would live only off the amount he would earn in the low wage jobs. His main objective was to determine whether she would be able to live off the money earned. Whether the money would be enough to cater for other services such as rent. I have preferred using the book Nickel and Dimed because I have the same feeling towards low earning workers. As addressed, they experience hard working times in their place of their work. The low earnings earned put these workers in a situation where they are even unable to cater for basic wants such as food, clothing, and shelter. There are also uncertainties caused by unpredictable environment for working. The managers take advantage of low income earners, and they dispose them to cases of unexpected retrenchments and sackings. The managers also expect their workers especially the low qualified ones to work for extended hours, which are not even equivalent to their salaries. Some of the workers problems th ese low earning workers face gets to the extent of physical harassment by their employers (Ehrenreich 25). For example, working as a waiter, one should provide quality services, which will be appealing to the customers. The aim of the hotel owner is to provide quality services to customers so as to maintain a reputable image for hotel. However, managers have a challenge in the provision of these quality services as they also demand qualified manpower. Qualified manpower also comes hand in hand with the better payment. Managers have to employ low income earners as their resources are efficient to them. Most low income earners also do not have a problem in performing difficult and physically demanding tasks. In relation to Barbara Ehrenreich, she worked once worked as waitress where she had difficult as some of the tasks involved were physically demanding. Waiters also face problems in coping with some difficult situations in their working environment. In case of any loss or breakages of items, the workers have accountability of it. This discourages workers as some of the items destroyed are expensive and considering their low income they cannot afford. Another problem waiter faces are about the mode of communication used. Most of the low income earners are not well equipped with etiquette qualities required for efficient provision of these services. There is a language barrier where most of the low income earners travel in far countries, and may have a hard time learning the local language of their location. Language barrier discourage efficient communication among workers and also between the workers and management. In relation Ehrenreich, she finds a hard time relating with managers and usually has a hard time hence becoming a source of problems in her job. These inefficiencies the workers face make them not to have a working environment (Ehrenreich 58). When Ehreinreich is unable to cope with hotel jobs, she heads to Maine. She succeeds with nursing home job . In relation to this, low income earners also do not keep on one job for a long time because of prevailing problems. A low income worker is ready to work in any environment as he does not have any qualification in any job. Considering the increased number of nursing homes due to calamities caused by political instabilities in many countries, low income earners use that chance as a job opportunity. There in nursing homes

The Roles of 3 Key Participants in the Property Development Process In Research Paper

The Roles of 3 Key Participants in the Property Development Process In Australia - Research Paper Example Architects, property developers, and town planners here in Australia see the true picture of international partnership developed between these three key players in property development abroad and are now trying to implement them here. Despite differences, these players are working in unison to create world-class infrastructures. "The economic and demographic opportunities arising from demand for better and competitive infrastructures have driven developers and architects to forge an alliance that has shown tremendous success in places like Amsterdam, Hong Kong, London, Melbourne, Montreal, New York, and Tokyo. As architects and property developers break boundaries together, they are also beginning to transcend an established pattern of notorious and longstanding ill will. Property development has to be market driven and certainly not product driven. The architect can creatively add great value to the developers' commercial objectives by design. By working in tandem, an architect can achieve his architectural agenda at the same time." (Property Development and Progressive Architecture - The New Alliance, www.elx.com.au, referred on 4.27.2006)1 3.0 Property Developer This paper sets out to differentiate and highlight the similarities of the role, objective, priorities, and attitude held by Developers, Architects, and Statutory Environmental/Town Planners with respect to Property Development Process. "Developers convert undeveloped, under-developed land, or existing buildings to satisfy market demands, using their entrepreneurial skills. Like all other entrepreneurs, developers expect, rightfully, to receive an appropriate rate of remuneration for their skill and risk involved in the particular development work. Sadly, a majority of property developers, who possess the genuine skill, expertise, a sound sense of social responsibility, and most of all, pride in their work, do not receive the publicity which they deserve. Peoples' real estate needs are met through the operation of various kinds of differing property markets in Australian society. These different types of markets can be categorized principally by way of location, size and usage criteria.

Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 237

Assignment Example She grows up experiencing joy with Nel Wright, who is her best friend. The two are inseparable friends, even though their backgrounds and personality are different. Sula is an independent character who has minimal commitments. She got the independent characteristic from her mother, who acted in a similar manner. Nel Wright is a character who is the opposite of Sula. Her physical characteristic is plain and also light colored. Her physical appearance contrasts sharply to the black and mysterious features of Sula. The Bottom society considers Nel as a girl of good character and morals, because of her obedient and quite nature. The family background of Nel is good, and it is respected in the society. Nel desires individuality, and this is what drives her to seek friendship with the person like Sula, who has the desired qualities of independence, strength and bravery. Helene Wright is the mother of Nel. She was the daughter of Rochelle, who worked as a prostitute in Orleans Creole. Helen was raised by her very religious grandmother, called Cecile. Hellen was married off to Wiley Wright when she was aged 16 years. Eva is the grandmother of Sula, who is illustrated throughout the novel. She is very instrumental in determining the direction of Sula, and in the development of the plot of the novel. She is a very colorful character in the novel. She is very hopeful, even though her husband left her with children at a young age. Eva cut off her leg, with the intention of obtaining insurance money. The move shows love and determination, because the money was used to take care of her family. Eva is a compassionate character, because she turned her house to a boarding facility that accommodates diverse individuals, for instance, the â€Å"dewey boys†. The informally adopted Deweys were inseparable, even though they are physically different. BoyBoy Peace is illustrated as a reckless character; this is because he abandoned her young Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 163 Assignment Example Action research is an alternative approach to change in an organization. It requires the change facilitators with the ability to give specific attention to the personal and collective processes of action and reflection. Using this approach will, therefore, requires the change agents in Arc Limit Cinema to be both leaders and researchers in the process of finding the opportunities for change. In this case, research on the issues related to the market, internal and external factors promoting of inhibiting change in the organization should be done (Cameron & Green 2012, p. 132). In Lewin’s model for change, there are three identified phases of effective change process. Unfreezing, change process and refreezing. This approach will require the change agent at Arc Limit Cinema to recognize the need to change and to be uncomfortable with the present situation. This may be concerning the operations, production, customer service or marketing. The identified flaws then lead to the change implementation, and after the change is done, the organization need to be re-stabilized through refreezing (Cameron & Green 2012, p. 132). This model, therefore, implies that for a change to occur in Arc Light, the inputs that the organization, its initial environment in terms of partnerships, markets and the general reputation of the organization must be harnessed to give a strategy that is compatible with the organizations structures. The effects of this are positive change that will give results that will improve the organizations situation. In order to understand the performance of an organization, this model recommends first to understand the basic elements of performance. These are inputs, strategy, output and processes. In the USC strategy, these basic elements can be identified as: Output. The strategy expects the outputs to be a success of the students and the fulfilment of their ambitions. This will also lead to a feeling of satisfaction of the

Satan and Dr. Faustus, overreachers in their own different ways Term Paper

Satan and Dr. Faustus, overreachers in their own different ways - Term Paper Example In Paradise Lost, it is seen that Satan had to exercise his own will, and this was in contrary to the will of God, â€Å"thou against his thy will/ chose freely† (Eliot, 8). All creatures of God who fall in Paradise Lost are â€Å"sufficient to have stood, though free to fall (Fluchereand Henri, 32). Festus  a man, who is brilliant, tends to have reached the natural knowledge limits. He is an early sixteenth century scholar in Wittenburg, the German city (Gregg, 5). He is fiery, arrogant and has a thirst for knowledge. Faustus as an intellectual, who is familiar with issues such as demon astrology and summoning that is usually not taken to be an academic subjects by the current universities. It is seen that Faustus makes a decision of selling his soul to the devil in exchange for knowledge and earthly power as well as 24 years as an additional life (Sachs and Ariel, 31). He goes on to waste his time on low tricks and self-indulgence. Faustus is seen to be the key character in the play, which consists of few characters that are seen to be truly developed. From the Hebrew, destroyer, mephitz and liar, tophel, Cunning and Craft devil. He is the devil who appears at the summoning of Faustus', as well as the devil that has the role of serving Faustus for a period of 24 years. In Mephostophilis, also referred to as Miphostophiles or Mephistopheles, as well as Mephisto, tends to be a latecomer in the recognized demons’ hierarchy. He was created possibly for the legend, Faustus.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In the play of Marlowe, Mephostophilis is seen to have layers to his own personality. He broadly admits that ‘‘separation from God is anguish,’’ and is capable of pain and fear. But he is known to be a gleefully evil, who participates at every level in the destruction Faustus. Not only does Mephostophilis influence Faustus to go on to sell his soul; but he as well encourages him to waste his 24 years of power. It is also seen that the Servant to Faustus steals the books of Faustus and learns how he can summon demons. He tends to be concerned about the fate of his master at the end of the play. Inner turmoil of Faustus suggests contradicting advice to him at major points. Their characters as well reflect the belief of Christian that humans have been assigned guardian angels, and in this context, the devil has the capacity of influencing the human thoughts. Satan. "Lucifer" original known as Venus, refers to the brilliance of the planet. In Christian context, Lucifer is sometimes believed to be another name of Satan. Some traditions believe that Lucifer was the name of Satan before the fall, while the Catholic Church Fathers held that Lucifer was not the proper name of Satan but instead a word indicating a the beauty and brilliance of his station before the fall. He appears at a few choice moments in Doctor Faustus, and Marlowe uses "Lucifer" as Satan's proper name (Weil, Judith and Marlowe, 14). Satan broadly admi ts that God created him, and he was seen denying this at other occasions, and he never rebelled due to God was unjust, but because his ambition caused him to desire to overreach his place. More so, he is seen to admit that he was at will in choosing that his pride forbids him to repent. Furthermore, if he might repent, later his ambition might again result to a rebellion as well as

Vietnam in the 1950s and 1960s Essay Example for Free

Vietnam in the 1950s and 1960s Essay There was many reasons for the USA to get involved in Vietnam between the 1950s and 60s however they were all in stages, not just in one go. They called America and USAS clash the Cold War which began mainly due to America and the USSRS political differences. The USSR was a communist state and the USA and the other countries who were their partners were capalist states or countries. Many people believed that capalists and communists could not live alongside each other for long and that one system would take over another, however both sides were determined not to be taken over. This is how it all started as the governments were trying to take over large parts of East Europe and Asia. When the buffer zones were added there was a greater risk of war as the zones were dominated by the USSR who were causing a government domino effect through to the west so the USA and their partners were determined to stop it which caused the Truman Doctrine. The main reasons for the USA to get involved with Vietnam were because of their fear of communism and that communism could take over the Western world and Asia. Another reason why the USA didnt like communism was because in 1945 the USA built and tested the first nuclear bomb on Japan but kept it secret from the Russians even though they were supposed to be allies. This made the Russians very suspicious of America. America also didnt like communism because of their very different political beliefs as the communists were a totalitarian state whilst the USA believed in democracy and were afraid the Russians would try to spread their beliefs around the world. The first way of the USA to get involved was to supply France with money as during World War 2 they had lost control of North Vietnam however managed to keep control of South Vietnam. The USA paid the French armies to regain control of North Vietnam so to keep it capitalist and was thought to be a stand against world wide spread of communism. However in 1949 Americans were worried because China had turned communist and supplied money and weapons to North Vietnam making the war harder to win. The French assumed that they were invincible as they were surrounded by mountains and an airbase but the French miscalculation led to a humiliating defeat and ended French plans to regain control of Vietnam. This meant the USA had to get more involved as  well as take more action as communism continued to get stronger. The USAs next involvement plan was to send military advisors to South Vietnam. In 1954 Eisenhower gave 17 officers sealed orders sending them to Saigon and by January 1961 the number of advisors had grown to 685. However the advisors were not there to fight but to train the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) to combat an expected invasion from the North. These advisors didnt work as the communist Vietcongs seemed to be getting stronger and even though the numbers of advisors were secretly raised it didnt greatly help. The USA soon had to get even more involved as their strategic hamlet programme officials selected villages in South Vietnam which they thought could be easily defended by the Vietcong but didnt work as very few hamlets were secure and the policy was very unpopular with the Vietnamese. Religion was also a problem because Diem favoured Roman Catholics but this led to street protests like a Buddhist monk who set himself alight. Diem soon became increasingly unpopular and was assassinated by ARVN officers who ere worried that the USA would withdraw there support if Diem continued in power. However the assassination made things worse as Diems successors were no better at governing the country. This all led to the USA needing to involve themselves more by using the military. This first happened with the Gulf of Tongking incident which was an excuse for Johnson to get the Gulf of Tongking resolution which allowed him to take all the necessary measures to repel any armed attacks against the forces of the United States and to prevent further aggression. Then in February 1965 Johnson got the opportunity to justify bombing North Vietnam when the Vietcong attack the USAs base at Pleiku. Ten aircraft were destroyed eight US advisors were killed with over a hundred others wounded. Johnson could then call up troops and bomb the North. The operation was called rolling thunder. The planes bombed the key military and industrial targets of North Vietnam but were not allowed to bomb until he felt he could explain his actions to the American people. After that, 3,500 US marines were sent to the airbase of Danang and from then on the Americans took control of South Vietnamese war effort. This all generally happened due to the Americans obsession with communism and their belief of the domino theory, that once one country turned communist, so would the next and next which made the Americans more involved with Vietnam as time went by with the Americans trying to stop the spread of communism across South East Asia.

Middle School Essay Example for Free

Middle School Essay As we start this new school year, I wish to welcome all of you to Roberto Clemente Middle School. In the previous year, we have introduced and developed new ways to teach students and maximize their capabilities in learning different subjects and disciplines. Even if there are problems encountered along the way, your efforts and inputs have been vital to create new methods and alternatives to address these issues. As we enter to school year 2009-2010, I encourage each one to continue supporting our projects and endeavors to further develop student growth and achievement. Through the years, Roberto Clemente Middle School has sought to improve our education and facilities by constantly training teachers and introducing new practices wherein they can learn and develop. At the same time, to meet the challenges of 21st century education, our faculty and administrators have aligned new systems of instruction and presented new ways to appreciate information with the use of new technological alternatives. To continue pursuing our vision for excellence, Roberto Clemente Middle School shall continue its pursuit of effective instruction as well as dwelling into new ideas that can improve practice. We believe that for your children to grow and develop holistically, it is crucial to raise appreciation and motivation. Due to this, our programs are focused on setting the balance between what students need and your expectations. We deem that this process can create new avenues for our students to become adaptive to the changing trends of the current time. This year, we seek to improve our state scores by addressing on subject areas that are lagging behind standards. For example, we have hired some new and experienced Math teachers. Their inclusion into the faculty can help encourage our teachers to learn and develop in the process. At the same time, our educators in English and Math have undergone seminar and training to introduce and develop new teaching strategies available today. This can help them address further your children’s needs and develop a better learning environment in the classroom. These together with the results shall be communicated to you accordingly in the meetings we shall be setting up for you. To ensure your active participation and involvement this year, Roberto Clemente Middle School has come up with different programs and schemes that enable everyone to take part in helping reach our vision and goals. One approach we seek to do is encouraging parents and guardians to take part in meetings. The time frame for this would be the second week of July which would run from 9am – 3:00pm. In here, I and teachers shall be available for consultation and open forum of significant and relevant issues that may be of interest for everyone. At the same time, part of the responsibility of teachers is to enhance communication is by formally writing letters showing the progress of your children in school. This can actively give you insights and ideas of his/her standing compared to other students. Likewise, it can encourage sharing of opinions and thoughts on issues significant for your child’s growth. With your inputs and opinions, we can derive new approaches and schemes that are suitable on both parties. These approaches can help you in monitoring the progress of your child and finding ways to participate in guiding and exploring opportunities for improvement. It is through these aims and goals that I seek to promote the necessary plans for this school year. Your participation and cooperation in these initiatives can help us recognize these visions and remain to be dynamic and accountable for every action we pursue. Again, welcome to Roberto Clemente Middle School and thank you for your trust in what our school can offer for your children.

Changes Affecting Managers Job Business Essay

Changes Affecting Managers Job Business Essay Business environment is changing rapidly in todays corporate world. In early years of current management era manager were suppose to work exclusively with equipments, data and systems; performing traditional tasks. But scenario of management responsibilities has been changed significantly and todays manger faces issues like cross training, personnel management , interdepartmental communication and widening job scope. Role Of Managers Managers run large corporations as well as entrepreneurial start-ups. They are found in government departments, not-for-profit agencies, museums, schools and even such non traditional organizations as political campaigns and consumer cooperatives. Managers can also be found doing managerial work in every country around the globe. No matter where managers are found and what gender they are, the fact is that managers have exciting and challenging jobs. Changes Affecting Managers Job Following are the few well known changes due to which manager job is affecting. CHANGE IMPACT OF CHANGE Shifting organizational boundaries Virtual workplaces More mobile workforce Flexible work arrangements Empowered employees Work life-personal life balance Changing Technology Risk Management Restructured workplace Discrimination concerns Globalization concerns Employee assistance Uncertainty over future energy sources/prices Changing security threats Redefined values Rebuilding trust Increased accountability Increased emphasis on organizational and managerial ethics Customer service Innovation Globalization Efficiency/productivity Increased competitiveness CHALLENGES FACED BY MANAGER Management can be a tough and often thankless job. A portion of a managers job may entail duties that are often more clerical than managerial. Managers often have to deal with a variety of personalities. It can be a challenge to motivate workers in the face of uncertainty. With the fast changing world, we need to cope up with things that could hinder the development of ones managerial skills. Here are the most common challenges faced by manager and how to solve them. Employee motivation:   Motivating the employees and maintaining their morale is essential for every business. However, this is only possible when any grievances of employees are adequately addressed while ensuring the companys interests. This is a significant challenge faced by management, especially in todays economy where the ever increasing cost of living leads to increased employee dissatisfaction, which is difficult to handle when the cost of doing business is rising rapidly. Recruitment:   Hiring the right people for the right job is a tough task. Analyzing the skills required for a particular job and searching through the multitude of resumes to find the perfect match is a challenge for any management. Market changes:   Keeping a constant watch on market trends and evolving the business to adequately match the consumers demands is another challenging responsibility.   ROLE OF GLOBALIZATION A major environmental change that has taken place in the last fifteen years is the globalization of business. The world has become a global village and business has become global in character. Organizations are venturing beyond national boundaries in the pursuit of business opportunities. The emergence of a borderless world has had a tremendous impact on the way organizations behave. They are no longer insulated from foreign competition, and this has forced organizations to examine cost efficiencies, structure, job design, human capital, and many other sources of effectiveness and competitiveness. Responding to globalization is becoming more and more important; this result in redefining business model. Today change is happening at a rate that does not afford organizations the luxury of managing one major change at a time. Today managers are facing two questions because of globalization, how does relentless change redefine the nature of management and the structure of an enterprise? And what role should management play in re-shaping the enterprise? Example Toyota Motor Corporation makes cars in USA and Pakistan, Mc Donalds sells burgers in Pakistan and hamburgers in China, and Marks and Spencers sells products in Pakistan. Every other product sold by Wal-Mart stores Inc. is made in China or Pakistan. ROLE OF TECHNOLOGY Technology has had a tremendous impact upon the global business environment. Communication, transportation and production efficiency are various areas of business which have been enhanced by the development and improvement of technology. As continual enhancements are made, the world continues to grow smaller and businesses have further reach than ever. Computers The most important technological development to impact the global business environment is the world of computers. There are various programs which help maintain records of inventories and shipments. Email allows for instantaneous communication almost anywhere in the world. Besides its speed, email is easily forwarded and retained. The communication in the global business environment is improved with the use of email. The impact of computers on the global business environment is wide-ranging and also includes the Internet, which is a useful tool for international companies. By using the Internet, companies across the world can perform research and learn more about partners and suppliers. Conference Calls and Video Conferencing Conference calls allow people in multiple locations to be involved in the same conversation. Video conferencing provides the same service, but with the added benefit of all parties being able to actually see each other. Both of these forms of communication have a definite impact on the global business environment. With either form of technology, a parent company in China can have a conversation with a raw material supplier in Pakistan and a manufacturing plant in Taiwan. This improves communication on a global scale and enables all parties to understand specific plans and agreements. Shipment Tracking Corporations now have the ability to track shipments virtually anywhere across the world. Global Positioning Systems (GPS) allow accurate tracking. The implication of this technology on the global business environment is the ability to let customers know exactly where their shipments are at any given time. This technology creates secure relationships within the global business field. ROLE OF COMPETITION Competition has intensified for many organizations over the last decade, primarily as a result of the business. Competitors fill a need for business owners by keeping them on the cutting edge. Without competitors, a business would have no reason to keep prices in check. It would create a monopoly which is never good in any society. When two competitors compete for business, the market (customers) are the ones who decide who they will patronize with their dollars. Prices are usually the first element people choose when deciding which business or product to go with. Competitors drive innovation and keep new ideas and procedures moving forward. Imagine if McDonalds were the only fast food hamburger restaurant in the world. There would never be a Burger King to compete. All food would taste bland and boring. ROLE OF ETHICAL AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY Many consumers and social advocates believe that businesses should not make a profit but also consider the social implications of their activities. Social responsibility is a businesss obligation to maximize its positive impact minimize its negative impact on society. Although many people use the terms social responsibility and ethics interchangeably, they do not mean the same thing. Business ethics relates to an individuals or a work groups decisions that society evaluates as right or wrong, whereas social responsibility is a broader concept that concerns the impact of the entire businesss activities on society. From an ethical perspective, for example, we may be concerned about a health care organization or practitioner over- charging the provincial government for medical services. From a social responsibility perspective, we might be concerned about the impact that this overcharging will have on the ability of the health care system to provide adequate services for all citizens. The most basic ethical and social responsibility concerns have been codified as laws and regulations that encourage businesses to conform to societys standards, values, and attitudes. At a minimum, managers are expected to obey these laws and regula- tions. Most legal issues arise as choices that society deems unethical, irresponsible, or otherwise unacceptable. However, all actions deemed unethical by society are not necessarily illegal, and both legal and ethical concerns change over time. Business law refers to the laws and regulations that govern the conduct of business. Many problems and conflicts in business can be avoided if owners, managers, and employees know more about business law and the legal system. Business ethics, social responsibility, and laws together act as a compliance system requiring that businesses and employees act responsibly in society.

Integrity in Leadership Essay -- Ethical Integrity Essays

Definition of Integrity  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Since this paper deals with the idea of integrity in leadership, it is useful to start this paper defining integrity. Webster's dictionary defines integrity as "uncompromising adherence to a code of moral, artistic or other values; utter sincerity, honesty and candor, avoidance of deception, expediency, or shallowness of any kind" Let us exam this definition a bit deeper. The first part of the definition talks of uncompromising adherence. This means that one would always choose the "right" path, regardless of what seems to be more appealing. Take the example of when and when not to lie. A person of integrity would always tell the truth regardless of the situation. The second part of the definition deals with what to avoid. Integrity demands complete openness always. The leader of integrity would never try to knowingly deceive his constituents at any time. The leader would always be open and honest. Theories of Integrity  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  There are many different theories of integrity, but this draft will only discuss two. The first, Integrity of Self Interests, will deal with integrity as it pertains to a leader's best course of action for himself. The second, Integrity of Utility, will deal with integrity as it pertains to the best course for the population. Integrity of Self Interests  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Is it better to lie or tell the truth. Trying to analyze this question using the theory of self-interests would depend upon which choice would give the best results for the leader. This is the underlying theme for the theory of self interests. There are two basic formulas that can be used when trying to determine what is moral, and they are: 1.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  We should choose the action(s) that we feel, with good reason, will benefit us more than any other choice 2.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  We should choose the action(s) that are in our best interests, or that we prefer for the best perceived outcome These two formulas can be implemented when making any decision. If you feel something will benefit you, or that you prefer one choice over another, then that choice is a choice of integrity of self interest. To illustrate this better, let us go back to the earlier example of when to lie. By applying either of these two formulas, lying can be considered moral. If lying were either in our best interests or one perceives it to result in the best outcome, than it is ... ...es not have to be a good leader. Conclusion There are many theories on integrity, but this draft focused on using two, the theories of self-interest and utility. These are the two theories a leader can use when trying to make an ethical decision. The constituents prefer the theory of utility because it ensures the best result for the most people. However the leader may sometimes prefer the theory of self-interests. The only relevance integrity has to leadership, is in choice. If a leader is not felt to have integrity, he is less likely to be chosen as a leader. However once in power, integrity does not really make a difference. Effectiveness does not depend on integrity. As stated earlier, Bill Clinton has been considered one of the most effective Presidents in the history of the United States, but he is not considered moral, especially after the Lewinski scandal came to light. Using the different criteria under the theories of first self-interest, then utility, one could try to answer the question of Clinton?s best course of action. In other words, using the outlined decision making processes, was it the best decision to admit the affair with Monica Lewinski to the public?

Forget Me Not :: Free Essays Online

Forget Me Not Freedom is not free. These powerful words resound in my mind as I admire the Korean War Memorial at the National Mall. Surrounded by several life size statues of soldiers in action I feel an odd sensation. I am either overwhelmed by emotion or completely drained of it; I cannot tell which. Staring into the smoky colored granite I see one thousand faces glaring back at me. At one instance I see the faces of thousands of soldiers’ faces reflected back to me. Seconds later, I swear I can see the faces of one thousand forgotten children looking deep into my eyes. These â€Å"children of the war† silently scream of one thousand different stories that have been forgotten or brushed aside for decades now. Abruptly, the children vanish and once again I see the soldiers, only now they are indignant. They bark at me with strong voices, â€Å"No, this was our forgotten war. We are the truly forgotten!† However, I disagree. These soldiers, now veterans, have earn ed this monument and have had their voices and stories heard. Yet, these â€Å"children of the war,† both Korean and Ameriasian, who grew up in Korea’s post war era of the 50’s and 60’s are the truly forgotten. They are forgotten because virtually no one realizes what their lives were like growing up; hence, no one recognizes the hardships and battles that many of these children faced. To fully understand these forgotten â€Å"children of the war† one must first listen to their story. The Knife It is late one Sunday afternoon and Mrs. Sook Kyung Song is in the kitchen busily preparing dinner for her family. Mrs. Song scans the counter for her favorite knife and finds it oddly misplaced in a case among several newer ones. Her favorite knife lies dully amidst a gleaming Cutco collection like a fallen star among blazing planets. Mrs. Song rescues her knife from the others and naturally grasps the handle like she has countless times before. The knife naturally molds to her hand, like an extension of her body. Slowly beginning to chop, she finds comfort in the knife, along with a sense of reassurance and humility that she has carried all of her life. Watching my mother’s careful movements, I hesitate for a moment before bombing her with questions.

Hamlets Soliloquies Essays -- Essays Papers

Hamlets Soliloquies The soliloquies spoken by Hamlet were directed to the audience, rather than seeming like conversations with himself. In the first soliloquy, Hamlet talks about how aggravated at life he is and that if it weren’t for God’s laws he would commit suicide. He is not really morning his fathers death in this soliloquy but more his disgust for his mother for marring his uncle especially a few months after his father’s death. He then goes on to explain he must remain silent. He is explaining to the audience that nothing can undo the situation to make it any better. But that isn’t good enough for Hamlet. Something has to be done. This soliloquy sparks an interest in the reader and provides a glimpse into Hamlet’s thoughts while informing the audience of the history of his family’s tribulations. In the second soliloquy Hamlet calls on the audience, the â€Å"distracted globe†, to hear his vow to get revenge on his uncle and to erase all from his mind except that of what the ghost had informed him of. The ghost, Hamlet’s father, had explained to him that Cl... Hamlet's Soliloquies Essays -- Essays Papers Hamlets Soliloquies The soliloquies spoken by Hamlet were directed to the audience, rather than seeming like conversations with himself. In the first soliloquy, Hamlet talks about how aggravated at life he is and that if it weren’t for God’s laws he would commit suicide. He is not really morning his fathers death in this soliloquy but more his disgust for his mother for marring his uncle especially a few months after his father’s death. He then goes on to explain he must remain silent. He is explaining to the audience that nothing can undo the situation to make it any better. But that isn’t good enough for Hamlet. Something has to be done. This soliloquy sparks an interest in the reader and provides a glimpse into Hamlet’s thoughts while informing the audience of the history of his family’s tribulations. In the second soliloquy Hamlet calls on the audience, the â€Å"distracted globe†, to hear his vow to get revenge on his uncle and to erase all from his mind except that of what the ghost had informed him of. The ghost, Hamlet’s father, had explained to him that Cl...

Adults and Children Essay

A gated community is a type of residential community that upholds privacy and exclusivity. Residential houses within gated communities are bounded within limited proximities that are bordered by walls, gates, fences, and such. Access or entrance to gated communities is highly restricted not only for pedestrians, but also to various types of transportation as well. Within gated communities, residents are provided with services or amenities that are exclusive only to them. Sometimes, gated communities adapt the concept of larger communities by providing services and amenities that will allow residents to enjoy a comfortable home and lifestyle within the bounds of the area. Large-scale and highly private or exclusive gated communities even provide small to medium sized shopping centers, recreational facilities, food and dining centers, and such that enables residents within it to enjoy daily living tasks and activities comfortable within its proximities. (Blandy & Lister, 287) The purpose of establishing gated communities is to provide the community with safe and secure housing opportunities for individuals allowing them to experience a peaceful and relaxed home environment. Security systems established within gated communities for limit access from non-residents ensure individuals that the area is sheltered and guarded from criminal activities. (McGoey) Another objective for the establishment of the concept of gated communities is to allow residents to control or manage the community or environment they live in by granting them the power or authority to supervise roles or activities within it. Gated communities are guarded by appointed security officers, but it is usually managed by a Homeowner’s Association – a group or organization which handles everything that has something to do with living within the gated community. The owners of the properties within the gated community gather and elect leaders who will be in charge of overseeing all needs, problems, concerns, and other issues that might require urgent attention and resolutions. In addition, gated communities also serve as housing facilities that promises to provide residents with the best quality of life by offering unlimited access to fun, entertainment, and privacy. For instance, some large-scale gated communities have golfing areas that are accessible only to residents. Residents are allowed to play within the golfing areas without any limitations. (â€Å"Explore Gated Communities! †) Due to the benefits and advantages of living in gated communities, some discussed previously, it has become a major trend in modern housing. (â€Å"Explore Gated Communities! †) However, although the positive attributes or aspects of gated communities have been discussed, there seems to be some issues raised on its influence or effect to the behavior and lifestyle of adults and children who live within and outside the community. Adults and children who live in and outside gated communities acquire both positive and negative qualities and perspectives from the context or dimensions of walled housing arrangements. The effects of living within gated communities vary from emotional and psychological, to moral and social influences. The remainder of this paper will discuss how the behavior and lifestyle of adults are influenced by the structure of gated communities. In terms of the relationship between adults and children, living within gated communities allows parents and older members of families to feel at ease with the whereabouts of their children within the community. The focus of gated communities on providing safe and secure home environments ensure parents that their children are safe without their close supervision as long as they stay within the confines of the gated community. (Le Goix, 2003) This helps them to focus on other urgent things or concerns as they feel no worries or stress regarding the safety of their children. On the other hand, parents who live outside gated communities feel the worry and stress due to the relocation or concentration of criminal activities outside the walls of gated communities. Since the difference between gated communities and the public is most observable in terms of safety and security measures, the distinction between these two kinds of communities gives way to the unequal division or distribution of criminal activities within the entire community. Criminal activities will converge on areas neighboring non-gated communities. (â€Å"Diagonal Mar – A Gated Community,†) This concern allows parents to feel worried or stressed about the safety of their children leaving them deeply involved with ensuring that they keep them protected at all times.

Chemistry †Factors Affecting Electrochemical Cells Essay

How do the changeable electrodes of different reactivity affect the energy in Volts measured by a Voltmeter while the Solution and the Salt Bridge stay constant for every single trial by the same amount in each beaker? Background Theory: The conductance of an electrolyte depends upon the number of ions present in the solution. Therefore, the greater the number of ions in the solution the greater is the conductance. The number of ions produced by an electrolyte depends upon its nature. The strong electrolytes dissociate almost completely into ions in solutions and, therefore, their solutions have high conductance. On the other hand, weak electrolytes dissociate to only small extents and give lesser number of ions. Therefore, the solutions of weak electrolytes have low conductance. Electrolyte is any substance containing free ions that makes the substance electrically conductive. Ionic Solutions are the most common, but molten electrolytes and solid electrolytes are also possible. Hypothesis: As the Electrodes in the constant Sodiumsulfate solution varies after each trial, the electrolyte with the highest difference of reactivity should result the highest Voltage. The understanding behind this theory is the following. The used electrodes are in a specific order of reactivity. Therefore the element on top of the list (potassium) should react most and the element on bottom (copper) least. If both are used together in an electrochemical cell, this should more reactive than other elements (electrodes, such as zinc, calcium, aluminium and†¦). With a higher reactivity rate, the voltage also increases because of the number of ions released which related to a greater conductance. Apparatus †¢2 Beakers (50ml) †¢Salt bridge (0.1 concentration) (KNO3) †¢Solution ïÆ'   (MgSO4) †¢Voltmeter

Social Work Student

In this essay I will discuss how I feel that I have developed personally and professionally as a social work student during the first level of the degree course. I will do this through examination of reflective accounts recorded during the placement learning opportunity. I believe that the use of reflection has been very significant in enhancing my personal skills and learning about my own values. I also believe that the course has instilled me with more self awareness and has given me a better understanding of how I am perceived by others.I have learned that through anti oppressive practice, social workers are able to promote inclusion by challenging discrimination and inequalities. In this essay, I will examine the methods, tools, and techniques that I have learned to date. I will conclude by discussing my particular learning needs and plan for the remainder of the course. As part of this, I will consider my learning style and the necessary methods I will utilise to bridge the lear ning gaps. As well as benefiting from the academic aspects of the course, I believe that the work placement has been hugely significant in my personal and professional development.During the placement learning opportunity I was based with a social worker in a small unit attached to a hospital. The unit specialises in palliative care services to patients and carers who are affected by life threatening illnesses. I was also fortunate to have the opportunity to liaise with many other agencies that were in some way related to the organisation. During the first year of the course I have become more aware of the importance of personal and professional development.I agree with Thompson (2002), who states that the development of personal and professional skills is fundamental to becoming a competent social worker and making the transition from student to practitioner. Therefore professional development is essential to social work students and practitioners to increase and revise their knowl edge and skills. Attention must be paid to enhancing our abilities to ensure progression occurs on a professional and a personal front. It is important that individuals develop professionally.Taylor emphasizes this (2010, pg 66) by quoting that ‘students or qualified  practitioners cannot solely rely upon personal experience’. He continues with ‘we need to develop our professional knowledge, otherwise conducting our practices solely upon personal experiences will run the risk of bias’ Professionally, I feel I have matured by transferring skills from previous employments to my present role of student. Throughout my working career I have had experience working in nursing and palliative care. Although these are loosely related to social work by virtue of being in the healthcare industry, when I embarked on the course, I didn’t feel that I had the necessary experience to draw from.However, I have progressively grown to realise that there are indeed som e key skills that I have be able to transfer and apply to this social work degree course and in the placement. I believe that another area of improvement in my professional development is my understanding of principles and key concepts in social work practice such as poverty, social exclusion, and accountability. I have a much deeper comprehension of values including empowerment, rights, respect, confidentiality and honesty. I am able to integrate them into all aspects of social work training and am highly aware of the issues surrounding conflicting values.I am much more familiar with the Codes of Practice for Wales (2003) as a result of identifying them and relating them to practice. In relation to professional development, it is also suggested in the Codes of Practice (2003) that as social care workers, we must ‘undertake relevant training to maintain and improve knowledge and skills to contributing to the learning and development of others’. During my work placement period, I was involved in meetings with many different people working in different streams of the organisation. Additionally, the work placement has also helped me understand how multi-professions collaborate.This has helped me start to appreciate the diversity of a social workers role. From a professional perspective, I also believe that the ECDL training courses have been very beneficial. I envisage that the day to day work of a social worker will involve the use of software such as Microsoft Word for reports etc. I also believe that a basic understanding of software such as Microsoft PowerPoint will be very useful for creating professional presentations. The academic aspects of the course will hopefully prepare me for the professional demands of social work as my knowledge gradually builds over the remainder of the course.In addition to this, self reflection, planning, self evaluation and academic learning such as lectures, essay writing, work placement, will help me succeed in b ecoming a responsible, assertive social worker. As far as my personal development is concerned I feel that there has been a marked improvement in my contribution to discussions and debates. Although some of the subject areas discussed have been extremely challenging, such as issues related to children, I feel that over the year I have started to feel that I have a lot more to offer as my understanding of the subject matter has increased.I feel better placed to question and challenge other people’s opinions on ethical matters and am also far more confident when having to make presentations to the group. I also feel that advancements in my personal development are vital. Thompson (2002, pg66) discusses the importance of it, ‘it is just as important as professional development. Learning provides us with a basis for personal growth and development by facilitating and encouraging self awareness. It also helps us to promote self esteem and a positive self image’.As a s tudent, I understand that I am responsible for my own personal and professional development in conjunction with the material delivered on the course. It is important that I continue to improve my standard of practice by embracing all types of learning opportunities available. Social work is a profession that continues to change and develop rapidly Trevithick (2002). Social workers are involved with individuals who are often in situations where there is high risk, complexity, stress, uncertainty and conflicts. Analytical skills and knowledge are required to assess and make judgement in these situations.Legislation and research is constantly changing and it is imperative that social workers are well informed of any modifications. If we don’t develop personally and professionally and do not keep pace of these changes we will increasingly become more and more out of touch with the reality of clients lives and therefore less equipped to undertake our duties (Thompson 2009). Reflec tion has been described as being central to good social work practice, but only if action results from that reflection (Horner 2007). Having the ability to reflect appropriately and effectively is a vital component to developing professionally and maturing personally.Reflective practice is imperative because practitioners have important roles and the decision we make about service uses should be thoroughly thought through. Reflection helps us to minimise risk and to prevent adopting ‘off the peg’ solutions to practice (Thompson 2009). Reflection supports developing our knowledge and learning from the errors of practice. We can develop ways in which we can empower individuals, be anti discriminatory and have anti oppressive approaches to practice. Interrogation of our actions will provide us with critical feedback and help us assess and evaluate our learning, ultimately enhancing our practice (Oko 2008).Schon (1991) as cited in Adams et al (2009) breaks down the notion o f reflective practice. Firstly, reflection-in-action involves reflecting as the action proceeds. This will evidently help us to identify new aspects of the situation and thinking them through while proceeding with the action. Secondly, Schon writes about reflection-on-action which involves considering what and why something happened after the event has occurred and the importance of translating this information into knowledge (Knott and Scragg 2010).Reflection is a tool that has allowed me to articulate knowledge from theory in a more meaningful way. I recognize that reflection does not always provide answers but does lead to new understanding. It has helped me challenge the reality of theory whilst on placement and through actual experience. An example I can demonstrate this with is that in social work theory, services should be needs-led as opposed to resource-led (Trevithick 2002). However in reality, resource constraints that operate in some local authorities make this unrealist ic. In reality demands far exceed the supply.Reflecting back on the experience of the placement and working in palliative care, at times I did feel quite tense and despondent. I had not worked intensively in those settings for some time and in some ways it was a relief as the placement came to an end, not to be discussing death, diagnosis and prognosis. I often questioned how my practice assessor managed to achieve goals and practice effectively whilst dealing with such emotive cases. There was one occasion when chatting with a service user who had had a terminal diagnosis, she became quite open and frank about her prognosis.I didn’t feel that I was fully prepared for her to start discussing her prognosis with me. Whilst, I felt very uncomfortable having the conversation I did remain professional and controlled. I was concerned that she may become distressed or that I would not manage the situation appropriately. Looking back on this experience, I am much more aware of the im portance of reflecting upon emotions and hopefully this will help me to manage emotive situations appropriately in future. Self awareness is a way in which we are able to explore our own personalities, traits, beliefs, inclinations, values and tendencies (Oko 2008).It is important that we are aware and are able to observe ourselves and the image that we portray to others. Without effective self awareness skills I am not going to be conscious of the ways in which I influence people and the signals I indirectly transmit. Self awareness will also allow me to build upon areas of strength and identify areas that may need addressing. Unless social workers are able to be aware of areas of vulnerability it is likely that they will be unable to react and respond to the service user objectively (Taylor 2008). Whilst on placement I encountered a service user’s son who was a substance misuser.I have previously worked in a drug rehabilitation centre and my experiences of the center were n ot good as I was threatened and intimidated on many occasions. Whilst observing the situation on placement I quickly became annoyed and frustrated by him. At the time, I felt that he was selfish bearing in mind his mothers terminal illness. I found myself thinking about my job in the rehab center which brought back uncomfortable memories. I did not write or discuss this with my practice assessor as I didn’t want to dedicate any time thinking about such negative experiences.On reflection, I now understand that it is my responsibility to confront such issues otherwise I will not successfully continue as a competent social worker student. I am aware that this encounter triggered an inappropriate reaction and I am committed to resolving these issues. Lishman 1994 as cited in Trevithick (2000) pg 84 states that failure to be self aware and confront such issues will lead to ‘falling into pockets of distress that will lead to inattention, poor listening and inappropriate actio ns’.I am able to see the connection between self awareness and managing prejudice, discrimination and oppressive practice. I am aware that I did not have a great deal of empathy for particular groups in society and before the course started admittedly I did feel that certain individuals in society may have contributed to the crisis’s that they found themselves in. I felt that these citizens did not require prioritization or merit support and guidance from a care service as I felt that there were other more deserving individuals.I have grown to understand that my judgments and thoughts were unjustified. By being more self aware and using reflection, I am able to be clear of my own values and how they may shape my practice. As I progress, I feel that by working with these groups of people that I will to grow to understand how and why individuals find themselves in these situations. I will continue to strive to develop my knowledge and hopefully as I progress, I will take time to educate myself and learn more about human behaviour. Whilst on placement, I was unaware of any form of oppression or anysignificant injustice issues. Dominelli (1996) pg states that ’anti oppressive practice is a form of social work practice which addresses social divisions and structural inequalities in the work that is done with people whether they are users (‘clients') or workers. AOP aims to provide more appropriate and sensitive services by responding to people's needs regardless of their social status’. Reflecting back I recall a situation that occurred with a service user who was terminally ill. He had expressed a wish to die at home.Whilst visiting the gentleman with my practice assessor, a community healthcare professional was present. It became apparent that the professional was eager for the service user to be admitted into hospital. She portrayed a negative image of being nursed at home and persistently pointed out the problems that she envis aged. I personally felt that this was because there would be a lot more pressure upon her workload to care for him and make the necessary calls throughout the day. It later became apparent that the community professional were experiencing difficulties with staff sicknesses.This was his final wish to die at home and in my opinion she was using her authority to influence him to be admitted for her own benefit. I believe that her workload pressured her to do this. He was disadvantaged, very poorly and with very little to strength to debate this issue with her. At the time, I didn’t connect this to oppressive practice where the other professional exercised inappropriate use of power. I am now more aware of issues surrounding continuing healthcare and funding. I now feel that I am much more alert to these issues and in the future I would question other individual’s actions.Anti oppressive practise begins with understanding myself and aspects of society were oppression is em bedded. As a social work student, I will strive to value and promote every human being and their rights to be respected. I will attempt to work towards combating oppressive practice by acting as an advocate and practice methods of inclusion. I will try to ensure that I do not contribute to such acts and will become more aware of social divisions, power differences and the relationship between the myself and service users (Adams et al).As part of my progression as a student, I have identified many areas that I need to address and expand upon during the remainder of the course. In order to successfully address these learning needs I have studied a learning model established by Kolb (1975). He suggests that there are four types of concepts that are needed to be effective learners. These include concrete experience, observation and reflection, abstract conceptualisation and active experimentation (Knott and Scragg 2010). I will attempt to adopt his hypothesis to make the learning proces s a more straightforward procedure.The main learning needs I have identified are firstly developing my understanding of theories and acknowledging the importance of the role that they play in practice. Initially I was apprehensive about making links but now I feel more confident as I approach the next stage. I wish to relate and recognize the connections between significant theories and social work thinking and practice and problem solving. I will achieve through this through lectures, reading and from practice on the level 6 placement. I also wish to become more aware of issues surrounding children and young people.More specifically, a deeper understanding of safeguarding issues and the legislation and policies related to this that shapes and guide social work duties. This will be achieved through lectures, learning actual legislation from books, documents and through placement (if this is the area in which I am allocated). I would also like to become more aware of social work in t he Welsh context and familiarise myself with cultures in Wales. The overall picture of the Welsh population is older, poorer and in worse health that the entire UK (Scourfield 2008).I want discover why this is the case and how it impacts upon social work practice. I also wish to learn more about different identities and ethnic groups living in Wales and develop a better understanding of the use of languages and how these compare to other regions in the UK. I also think it is important that I build upon my existing knowledge of the Codes of Practice for Wales (2003), and have the ability to instinctively relate them to practice. This will achieved through lectures, reading literature and hands on learning whilst in practice.In addition to trying to adopt the Kolb learning method, I completed a questionnaire to establish what type of learner I was. After reading Honey and Mumford (1995) literature I was not able to categorise myself into one particular learning style or preference but was able to relate to aspects of all categories. My knowledge and skills will develop with experience over the forthcoming years. I will take full advantage of placement to maximize my learning. I will try to become more observant of others by studying them.I will try to adopt good techniques and practice when I identify them and also to learn from bad practice. I will attempt to make the most of tutorials and supervision particularly in the discussion of emotive, stress and management issues. Additionally, I will try to develop and improve my reflective. To conclude it can be stated that personal and professional development is an essential part of social work practice. Due to the complex nature of social work and the diversity of human behaviour, it is imperative that students and qualified practitioners continue to progress alongside an ever changing society.Reflection is an important catalyst to support social workers in enhancing their practice. I am much more self aware and f amiliar with adopting anti- oppressive methods of practice. Whilst I am pleased with my progression to date, I am fully aware that I have many unmet learning needs which I hope to address throughout the remainder of the course. I am enthusiastic about the journey ahead and look forward to learning the skills that will enable me to launch my social work career.

Play Review Example: To Kill a Mockingbird Essay

For the play critique assignment, I saw To Kill a Mockingbird on October seventh. The play was performed at the Second Space Theatre and was produced by the Good Company Players with The Dramatic Publishing Company. I have read the book which the play was based on, so I was exposed to the story line prior to having seen the play. Based on my knowledge of the text by Harper Lee, I was able to distinguish distinct differences between the book and the play, which I feel affected my reaction to the script. For example, the script left out when Scout and Jem Finch, and Dill were snooping around the Radley house and had to flee the yard through a break in the fence, when Nathan Radley came outside to investigate the noise they were making. This caused Jem’s pants to get caught, forcing him to take them off and return to retrieve them later that night. I feel leaving this out lessens the impact of Nathan’s character, which already has such a small part in the story. Nathan’s character is lessened because leaving this out causes his menacing demeanor to be portrayed as rude in his other scenes. Also, this adaptation of the play did not include when Miss Maudie’s house caught on fire and Boo Radley comes out for the first time to wrap a blanket around Scout and Jem, without anyone noticing. This choice places less of an impact and underlying focus on Boo’s role, which may have left some viewers confused as to why he was so mysterious throughout the play and suddenly a key character in the end. However, I did enjoy the fact that the script stayed true to the text in the lines of Older Scout, as well as the emphasis they put on the lightheartedness of Dill. Based on the stage performance I viewed on October 7, 2012, I believe most of the actors did very well. For example, Scout, played by Bailey Short, Jem, played by Colin Clark-Bracewell, and Dill, played by Marty Margolin, were excellent, especially considering their young age. All three were very professional in all aspects of their performance, as proven by the fact they stayed completely in character and didn’t skip a beat when an audience member’s phone screeched out several loud rings, during their opening lines. In the beginning of the play, when aspects of the exposition were being introduced, Scout appeared on stage, and in her first line you could tell she was a bit nervous. As the play progressed though, she became more comfortable and it was clear she was enjoying herself. Chris Carsten, who played Atticus Finch, did an amazing job on portraying the role of Scout and Jem’s father. He truly became Atticus and made it easier for the rest of the cast to play off of each other’s emotions. For example, when Walter Cunningham, played by Mark McKeon, gives Atticus a sack of food as payment for his entailment and Atticus assures him that he has paid him plenty. Walter Cunningham is a man of limited means, seeing as he is a struggling farmer, and has paid in other ways besides money; he had left food or firewood at Atticus’ door many times and Atticus reassures him, in a polite, non condescending tone, that his debt has been paid off. Immediately, this eases Mr. Cunningham’s sense of guilt and obligation, which can be seen through his facial expressions. Everyone’s southern accents were uncannily authentic. However, I did not think Alexis Powell, Mrs. Robinson, and Colby Priest, the Robinson’s son, did very well. Their performance was not realistic. Though they had very little lines, their acting seemed a bit forced and maybe even amateurish. For example, when they were supposed to be grieving the loss of Mr. Robinson their expressions did not convey the emotion of sadness. I thought the play was directed quite well. Considering the small stage the actors had to work with, they truly took advantage of every inch of it. As reflected by the performance, the director, Karan Johnson, drilled into the actors the importance of stage use. The cast definitely utilized the small area by engaging with the audience. They got up close and personal by standing very close to the first row of seats, in almost every scene. The blocking instructions from the director made the performance true to the script. It was relaxed, which fit the play considering it took place in Maycomb, Alabama. For example, the children in the play, as well as the adult men, had their hands in their pockets while speaking to each other, and any other time they were not using them. Every character walked slowly and only ever moved faster when they were running, like during the scene where Jem is dared by Dill to touch the porch of the Radley house. I particularly enjoyed whenever Scout, Jem, and Dill were up to something sneaky and they would look stage left and stage right in anticipation of being caught. The director chose the cast very well. All of the actors fed off of each other’s’ energy, which added to the entire performance. The cast genuinely appeared to be having fun and loved what they were doing. It was like they were a family. On the other hand, I do think the parts of Mrs. Robinson and the Robinson’s son could have been better cast. Compared to the other cast members, they both seemed awkward and inexperienced, but I respect the fact that they performed to the best of their ability. Because of the small stage, the sets were very limited. The sets were very small and only changed once, when they were doing the courtroom scene. Despite that restriction, they made necessary accommodations and it did not take away from the play. I found the use of lighting very efficient. For example, whenever Jean Louise Finch, the older version of Scout, was speaking in her reflective tone, there was a spotlight on her and the rest of the stage’s lights were dimmed. This added to the dramatic tone of the scene. The use of sound effects, such as when a car was approaching or when a gun was shot, made the play more realistic. All of the costumes stayed true to the time era and the makeup was coordinated with the outfit. The actor’s costumes also reflected their social class. For example, Calpurnia, the Finch’s housekeeper, was dressed in a basic dress and an apron wherever she went while Miss Maudie, the Finch’s neighbor, was attired in a more fancy dress which was always accompanied with a hat. Atticus always wore a suit which showed his professional side and the children were dressed in clothes that were suitable for playing around. During the courtroom scene, all of the white women wore their Sunday best and had a lot of makeup on to signify that it was a special occasion in Maycomb. My overall reaction to the play was a positive one. I was thoroughly entertained and was pleased with the level of performance. I never found myself bored and my thoughts never trailed off to something other than the play. The rest of the audience’s reaction was also positive, with the exception of a couple behind me who found it acceptable to continually whisper throughout the show. Besides them, people were attentive and were entertained with the drama of the play. People laughed at all of the appropriate moments and gasped during the dramatic ones, such as during the scene when Jem and Scout were attacked by Mr. Ewell. After the play, when the audience was leaving the theatre, words of praise were spoken by everyone around me and I feel the cast truly deserved all of the great things that were being said about their performance.

Central Bank Policy Decisions

The banking sector needs to adjust to the changing market in the bank industry and environment just like any other economic sector. The central bank has the powers and obligation of controlling and regulating the activities of the banks and other financial institutions by making policy decisions which the banks should adhere to. There are different emerging issues in the bank industry which needs to be examined in the control of the industry by making policy decisions that affects banks. Some of the issues needs to be addressed include policy decisions on the rate of interest rates, inflation, the monetary policy, regulatory environment which greatly affect the profitability of these banks in the industry. The major part of the revenues of the banks and the central banks come from different bank operations which are affected by the changes in interest rate (Atieno,2006). The central banks make decisions concerning the policy guiding the banks in their industry. Central bank decisions on monetary policy affect the profitability of the banks by improving the investments. The monetary decision by central bank can be accommodative or unbiased. The central banks make decisions on the increase of short term interest rate when inflation is increasing and lowering of the short term interest rate when the economy is lagging. The decisions made follows the following monetary policy tools which includes, federal reserve which entails open market operations the purchase and sale of financial instrument, the use of discount charged on the institutions depositing amounts in the central bank and lastly amount the banks can maintain as reserve with the central bank. These monetary policy tools help in the control of amount of money in supply in the economy.The control of supply of money helps reduce inflation, control interest rate and hence leads to increased profi tability of the banks with effective bank services and reduction of inflation which involves price changes and interest rate which the banks depends on for profitability (De Aghion,2003.) Central banks in collaboration with the Bankers Association in different countries have rolled out policies and regulations that have helped in the operation of the financial institutions. One of the policy decisions they have made include allowing the banks to share information on credit lending. Based on the central bank policy decision on sharing of information, banks are able to share credit information on their customers. This has facilitated better assessment of the risks associated with borrowers of credit. The sharing of credit information allows credit institutions like banks to extend credit to customers through the internet without using physical collateral. It is from the Central Bank’s policy decision of sharing of credit information that has translated to lower cost of credit and helped increase uptake of loans by financial institutions clients. The uptake of credit by the customers has led to the increase in profits brought about by increase in   interest rate charged on the loans given ( Bell,2011). The central bank has the obligation of setting the monetary policy goals. It makes policy decisions that help to improved growth and to promote price stability. Decisions made by the central bank like Mexico in the past have helped restructure their monetary policy objectives like maintaining price to be stable as the main goal of the central bank. Any central bank makes monetary policy decisions on setting of objectives that the price determination process can be attained by curbing inflation levels leading to low inflation targets leading to improved performance leading to profitability. The central bank has also come up with decision which permits banks to use third parties (Agent Banking) to provide financial services on their behalf. Subsequently, central bank has reviewed and made policy guidelines on Agent Banking. The policy allows credit institutions to search for central bank support for the approval of specific agents to conduct the work and define the type of work they will provide. It is the duty of the financial institutions to examine the suitability of the agents in line with the policy decision. This policy decision has helped to straighten the lending of credit to customers and improved bank services which are made efficient leading to profitability of the banks in the industry. Based on the policy and regulatory framework of the central bank, the legal environment is firm to banks and financial institutions. According to the World Bank, most of the central banks in different countries are lagging in the development of  Ã‚   policies and legislations.   Consequently, the central bank has made policy decisions for banks to conduct their operations fairly without any unfair competition in preventing customers from accessing the banks services. Medium and long term interest rates depend on other factors like the expectation of the short term interest rates .The central bank has made different policy decisions to induce changes in the short term interest rates which affects the entire interest rate which increases the cost of credit ,leading to low lending of credit leading to reduced investment and low profitability. The central bank has also made a policy decision which allows financial institution clients to be treated like those of other financial institutions like Sacco’s and microfinance’s in the case of security of the loan and means of recovery of the loan borrowed. The central bank decision through the Act of parliament set the rules on the lending of credit hence leading to control of the activities of the bank. The effective credit management leads to credibility of the bank eventually leading to improved performance leading to profitability of banks. After the recession of 2008, many financial institutions like banks have been affected, as the credibility of the banking system has been compromised. Towards the end of 2015, world’s economy started to recover more strongly and this positive momentum was sustained into the year 2014 where world currencies deteriorated due to high rate of inflation. The different central banks came in rescue with policy decisions that were attributable to increased credit to the private sector and low inflationary pressure. The pro-active central bank policies decisions have also led to developments in the economy. More investors have come into the country to invest and hence improving the economy of the country.The financial sector recorded its highest growth for the last decade growing at 3 per cent in 2013 compared to 5.4 percent in 2017. The growth is due to increase borrowing riding on financial innovation that has enhanced access to financial services and uptake of loans.Most financial i nstitutions like banks are setting short loan settlement periods, high interest rates and short grace periods not only to meet the working costs and protect themselves from (collateral) concerned in lending to customers. The central bank has made decisions that have helped in regulating the amount of money in circulation by ensuring each bank keeps a saving account with the central bank. This will ensure that the operations of the banks in lending capital are controlled (Elbanna,2007). The management of financial institutions should demonstrate their understanding and commitment in making compliance to rules and regulation as one of their strategic objectives and to opt for best practices in MIS (management information system) to improve their profitability. The banks should adhere to the policy decisions made by the central bank.   Atieno, R. (2006).Institutional credit lending policies and the efficiency of resource use among small scale farmers in Kenya. Boulder: Westview Press. Aryeetey, E. &Urdry, C. (2007).The characteristics of informal financial markets in   Sub-Saharan Africa.Journal of African Economies.Vol. 6, No 3 pp.12-34. Bell, C. (2011). Interactions between institutional and informal credit agencies in rural India. World Bank Economic Review, Vol.4, No 3 pp. 234-45.. De Aghion, A. and Morduch, J. (2003) â€Å"Microfinance: Where Do We Stand?† in  Ã‚  Financial Development and Economic Growth: Explaining the Links, ed. by C. Goodhart, Bsingstoke: Macmillan/Palgrave). Denscombe, M. (2009).The Good Research guide: For Small-Scale Research Projects.Philadelphia: U.S.A, Open University Press. Elbanna,   S.   (2007). Influences on strategic decision effectiveness: Development and  Ã‚  test of an integrative model. Strategic Management Journal Vol. 28(4): 431.