Michael Horton Case Study

Michael Horton Case Study Executive summary Michael Horton is a high-ranking management professional in the Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC). He is responsible for a company with huge revenue and over 2,000 people. Through his managerial capacity, he is adequately placed for the provision of insights regarding his company, collaborators and management.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Michael Horton: Case Study specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In his interview, he highlights the assumptions people make regarding management without any clear understanding of how to conduct activities in a real managerial situation. In his input, managers require training for the spearheading of management needs and execution of projects through their life cycles. Training is an aspect highly emphasized for the avoidance of problems and helping of staffs and the organization to reach success limits. Michael Horton provides some managerial ideas relevant to hi s company and industry making the role of project management a success amidst market challenges. He also focused on the treatment of customers as a means of maintaining a cut above competitors. On his focus about struggling with competitors, he gives an interesting insight of venturing into unique markets so that a company does not have to struggle for the same customers. Employees should be prepared to operate within strict safety conditions to avoid unnecessary legal challenges. This should act for internal staffs and even to offshore staffs so that the positive relationship with staffs can remain to the advantage of the company. It has a great relationship with its collaborators though faces growing competition from new entrants into the market. It is necessary for an I.T company to have its staffs well trained on people skills, time management and always maintain a focus on the changing needs of the market. Decision Criteria It is also important that a company use the profession alism of its staff in fields of their experiences such as the use of Michael Horton’s I.T expertise in natural resources1. Having a market share of 56 percent gives adequate recognition in the market and its maintenance is a challenge a company must deal with. Dependency on references is not adequate within the growing competition and that leaves the company with the need of identifying new market areas with less competition. Having to push competitors into the niche market segment can come with legal implications for the company if not carefully executed2.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More It is the call of a manager to ensure a smooth flow of activities within a company. As Michael Horton says, the business of selling people is a challenging one and requires constant meetings and updating of staffs and clients. The manager also has the role of creating of a vision and mission of a company. This needs constant review and enforcement to the staff so the provision of services to customers remains within the legal limits prescribed in the company. Managing economies of scale through effective serving of large organizations can be a complex venture3. For this reason, leadership plays a major role for ensuring success. Since this is an I.T company, it is important for the company staffs need the necessary skills for licensing of software for large organizations and data protection in the data centre. There is a considerable amount of competition from competitors presenting new alternatives in the market4. The company cannot rely solely on the trust and relationship with its customers. The I.T service area keeps changing and maintaining an old form of operations inadequate for satisfying the changing needs in the market. Alternatives Achieving the vision of a company is never easy and with the changes in the market, it is necessary to have a regular review of the company mission and vision. The needs of government entities and corporate keep changing and there may be need for an evaluation of the current mission and vision to meet their new needs. It is inadequate focusing on markets and industries while leaving big and consistent customers because of the entry of competitors into the market. Training of staffs is essential in equipping of staffs with relevant knowledge for carrying out their activities in a legal manner without any sort of breaches5. This company managed to set its edge amidst little competition. Its global capability builds from the trust it built with customers. It has the capability of opting for liability capping within its contracts should it face compromising legal implications on areas of security and safety. The challenge in this company is in its lack of contentious contractual linkage for IT outsourcing deals. It is the responsibility of an outsourcing customer to secure data. However, servic e outsourcers insert liability caps into the contracts giving them responsibility over confidential information accessible by a service provider. Outsourcers also want to have limited linkage to any instances of contractual breaches.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Michael Horton: Case Study specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This is a tricky situation in the company as customers are becoming tough on issues of data breaches. Therefore, the service provider stays on the hook of data breaches because of the limitations of liability. In addition, there exists very minimal requirements and special terms for ensuring the process of data security. However, the new federal regulations protect customers from data breach forcing service providers into honoring compulsory data notifications. The price tag for such regulations is high making it mandatory for service providers to ensure no instances of data breaches. This can be very expensive for a company having a large customer base like CSC. Solutions Because of the need to protect company revenues, service providers pushed for the creation of liability caps for particular data protection and confidentiality breaches. It was the major concern of those with customer base and huge retailers such as the client base handled by Michael Horton on a daily basis. Outsourcing providers have the tendency of capping liability at duration of two to three months. This acts unfairly on offshore venders who have to accept the responsibility of data security and liability for them to get new business6. Staying firm on not accepting the stake on limited liability leaves some negotiators unable to handle the limits of breach on data liability ob basis of their being financially unfeasible. It is necessary for the company to collaborate with companies such as S.A.P. for the creation of a solution for provision of deliverables to customers. Such expertise can help the org anization in enhancing appropriate dealings with corporate within Australia and globally. For the benefits of pushing competitors into niche markets, it is necessary for the company to act from an informed angle to enjoy value proposition sales. Implications The implementation of these solutions in the market is easy for this company, which already boasts of a reasonable market share. It is important for the company to maintain its trust with clients and ensure that its staffs have adequate training for effective operation within the industry7. Being a large firm and an incumbent in the industry, there is a possibility of enjoying a small competitive landscape from entrants into the market for I.T service provision. Since there is considerable amount of discipline in the industry, it is within the mandates of the law to maintain a legal stance by ensuring that the company works within given codes of conduct.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More It will not have to change its pricing because of its relationship with its customers and the skepticism, which surrounds the I.T outsourcing industry. However, it is required to improve on service differentiation so it can target a different target market than that it competes for with the entrants into the market. Michael Horton has a vertical positioning for influencing of the performance of the company and this gives the company a chance to continue scaling the global market. There is a considerable need for effective people skills management to keep a company on the right path. Since an I.T company deal with numerous people ambiguities, it is just necessary that staffs knowhow to handle issues in the most polite manner. This gives the opportunity for maintaining clients who remain in need of company services and that translates to success8. Blackstone, John H., James F. Cox, and John G. Schleier. 2009. A tutorial on project management from a theory of constraints perspective. International Journal Of Production Research 47, no. 24: 7029-7046. Business Source Complete, EBSCOhost. Camacho, Alejandro E. 2010. Assisted Migration: Redefining Nature and Natural Resource Law Under Climate Change. Yale Journal On Regulation 27, no. 2: 171-255. Business Source Complete, EBSCOhost. Krause, Mark. Impacts of Product Differentiation on the Crop Input Supply Industry. Choices 26, no. 1 (1st Quarter 2011): EconLit with Full Text, EBSCOhost. Morley, Kristi M. 2008. Limitation-of-Liability Provisions. Reeves Journal: Plumbing, Heating, Cooling 88, no. 12: 8. MasterFILE Premier, EBSCOhost. Pringle, James, and Jeroen, Huisman. 2011. Understanding Universities in Ontario, Canada: An Industry Analysis Using Porters Five Forces Framework. Canadian Journal Of Higher Education 41, no. 3: 36-58. Education Research Complete, EBSCOhost. Spell, Stephanie M. 2010. Capping Auditor Liability: Unsuitable Fiscal Policy In Our Current Financial Crisis. Brooklyn Journal Of Corporate, Fina ncial Commercial Law 4, no. 2: 323-351. Business Source Complete, EBSCOhost. ZdanytÄâ€", Kristina, and Bronius Neverauskas. 2011. The Theoretical Substation Of Project Management Challenges. Economics Management 16, 1013-1018. Business Source Complete, EBSCOhost. Zekić, Zdravko, and Luka, SamarÃ… ¾ija. 2012. Project Management of Dynamic Optimization of Business Performance. International Business Research 5, no. 12: 99-111. Business Source Complete, EBSCOhost. Footnotes 1 Blackstone, John H., James F. Cox, and John G. Schleier. 2009. A tutorial on project management from a theory of constraints perspective. International Journal Of Production Research 47, no. 24: 7029-7046. Business Source Complete, EBSCOhost. 2 Camacho, Alejandro E. 2010. Assisted Migration: Redefining Nature and Natural Resource Law Under Climate Change. Yale Journal On Regulation 27, no. 2: 171-255. Business Source Complete, EBSCOhost. 3 Krause, Mark. Impacts of Product Differentiation on the Crop Input S upply Industry. Choices 26, no. 1 (1st Quarter 2011): EconLit with Full Text, EBSCOhost . 4 ZdanytÄâ€", Kristina, and Bronius Neverauskas. 2011. The Theoretical Substation Of Project Management Challenges. Economics Management 16, 1013-1018. Business Source Complete, EBSCOhost. 5 Morley, Kristi M. 2008. Limitation-of-Liability Provisions. Reeves Journal: Plumbing, Heating, Cooling 88, no. 12: 8. MasterFILE Premier, EBSCOhost. 6 Spell, Stephanie M. 2010. Capping Auditor Liability: Unsuitable Fiscal Policy In Our Current Financial Crisis. Brooklyn Journal Of Corporate, Financial Commercial Law 4, no. 2: 323-351. Business Source Complete, EBSCOhost. 7 Pringle, James, and Jeroen Huisman. 2011. Understanding Universities in Ontario, Canada: An Industry Analysis Using Porters Five Forces Framework. Canadian Journal Of Higher Education 41, no. 3: 36-58. Education Research Complete, EBSCOhost. 8 Zekić, Zdravko, and Luka SamarÃ… ¾ija. 2012. Project Management of Dynamic Optimization o f Business Performance. International Business Research 5, no. 12: 99-111. Business Source Complete, EBSCOhost.

Exams Are Over Time to Recover

Exams Are Over Time to Recover Now that finals  are over, you’re probably distressing in whatever way you can. Unfortunately, a long night of drinking and debauchery may not be what your body and mind need to let go of the chemicals that your stressful exams have left in your brain. Instead of getting drunk and getting into trouble, it might be wise to understand exactly how stress affects you and learn some healthy (and fun) ways of relaxing from your exams. Stress Effect According to Nicky Hays, editor of Foundations of Psychology, exam stress effects can be intense, leading to worry, poor sleep habits, and decreased memory function. In fact, the more stressful the exam is, the more your body will produce adrenaline-related hormones to help you â€Å"fight† your fear. Extended periods of stress can have an effect on your body, too. The adrenaline hormones released during these times can cause your immune system to weaken, making you more susceptible to illness. It has even been shown to change the color of your hair. Post-Exam Stress: The Unsung Killer Unfortunately, just because your exams are over doesn’t mean that the stress is. In fact, recent research from the Journal of Behavioral Medicine shows that your cells may be less able to repair DNA after your exams are completed. In addition, there is a correlation between fear about the future and depression after a stressful exam week is completed. Wrong Way to Distress What’s the point of all this? The truth is, after you have completed stressful exams, your body is in a precarious position. Your immune system is lowered, your cells can’t respond as quickly or as well as you expected, and you are at a higher risk of becoming sick. This is the worst time to weaken your system even further with alcohol, drugs, or other risky behaviors. In fact, finals are a particularly bad time for both alcohol and drug-related â€Å"celebrations† and are statistically more likely times for college students to be victims of alcohol poisoning, violence, and rape. Not only that but recovering from exams with these kinds of behaviors can lead to suspension or expulsion from your school. Make Stress Go Away Here are some great alternatives to relieving finals’ stress that won’t hurt your pocketbook or your liver. Go on a short road trip with a few friends. You can get away from the campus, focus on doing something you love, and let your brain unwind.   You might be interested to check the list of  the cheapest summer destinations for students. Start an exercise program. This relieves the excess adrenaline that is trapped in your muscles and releases positive endorphins that won’t leave you hung over. Join a city sports club. Being involved in a sports team has all the benefits of exercising, but you also get to meet people who are interested in things you like to do, too. Go to a funny movie. Research from the University of Maryland has shown that laughter decreases stress levels and lowers blood pressure – especially if you’re watching it on the big screen. Listen to classical music. Soothing music has found to relieve stress on both the body and mind. Several studies have shown how it can lower blood pressure, improve mood, and even facilitate creativity! Make something crafty. Recent research from the Journal of Academic Medicine touts the de-stressing benefits of repetitive creation in activities such as knitting. These actions can release muscle tension, lower heart rate, and let the mind focus on something that is entirely stress-free. Perhaps, youll find these weird hobbies more exciting than regular knitting. Eat a banana. Researchers have found that eating these Vitamin B-infused fruits can alleviate the stresses on your nervous system. In addition, the natural sugars in bananas give your brain a small dose of endorphins, which staves off depression. See an old friend. A study published in Developmental Psychology stated that people who go through stressful situations with a good friend aren’t as damaged by it. That means, seeing a friend after exams might help alleviate your stress and make you feel better about yourself. Summary No matter how bad your final exams felt, remember that they are not the end of the world. Take care of your mind and body by relaxing in ways that will keep you healthy and safe. Not only will your body and mind feel better, but you won’t have any regrets to feel stressed about the morning after your last day of exams. How do you recover from stress and recuperate after exams? Share your tips in the comments below!

Teacher and Student Mindsets Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Teacher and Student Mindsets - Essay Example since I had more knowledge about the African people and their culture since my parents and I had made several trips to Africa thus I was more phased about this topic and found it more interesting to share my knowledge with the rest of the students. However, I also encountered my negative experience a certain time when we were learning some mathematical concepts. It was quite disheartening since the rest of the class had some prior knowledge concerning the topic, and I was the only one who was struggling to comprehend but in vain. It was a discouraging moment since I felt inferior before my classmates for having little knowledge of the concepts that we were being taught since I would not comprehend them with ease (Cash, 2011). Given the experiences that I have undergone in life in pursuit of education I will be keen to create an enabling environment that will encourage students to learn freely without fear or ridicule. This will be implemented through the establishment of a free system of learning whereby no students is discouraged or made to feel inferior to the rest. All students will be motivated to participate in the learning process freely irrespective of the weaknesses that some will possess. This will encourage a spirit where everyone is appreciated and the input of every student counts whether it is relevant or not just to encourage the weak students to feel path of the group and to prevent them from feeling inferior. Some students may tend to feel more intellectually superior that the rest and develop a tendency of bullying the rest knowledge wise. I will initiate a system that enhances equality among the students which will be aimed at levelling the ground for each and every student to ensure no one feels intimidated by the rest in terms of the level of knowledge or the skills they possess (Ricci,

Social Interaction and Relationships Research Paper

Social Interaction and Relationships - Research Paper Example A Closer Analysis on Child Abuse The welfare of children has been the primary concern of social scientists through time. The penultimate objectives of parents, teachers, social workers through local communities and state agencies globally acknowledge the need to promote and safeguard the well-being of each and every child. Sad to say, there are some relationships between parents and children that result in maltreatment and abuse due to various factors. Children have been found to be highly susceptible to abusive relationship and behavior by adults due to their tender age, naivety, immaturity, and incompetence to fully decide for themselves without realizing the effects and repercussions of actions imposed upon them. In this regard, the essay aims to proffer issues pertinent to social interaction focusing on child abuse, as one type of relationship between a child and his or her parents, as studied through the eyes of a social psychologist. ... ience, direct or indirect, coincide with the conclusions made through social science research; and finally, (4) if one could study the same behavior, how could it be done differently and how would one’s method ensure a higher level of accuracy. The Study of Child Abuse The Commission on Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education (CBSSE) published a report entitled Understanding Child Abuse and Neglect in 1993 delving into the critical issues pervading child abuse including its identification and definitions, the scope of the problem, etiology of maltreatment, prevention, consequences, and treatment, among others. As indicated, it was only in 1976 that the first relevant statistics on child maltreatment was revealed and covered by the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (CBSSE, 1993, 78). The incidence and prevalence of child abuse and maltreatment were revealed to be sourced from â€Å"congressionally mandated maltreatment reports, population-based surveys of speci fic types of maltreatment, surveys of maltreatment in special population subgroups (e.g., disabled children), and cross-national data† (CBSSE, 1993, 79). Current statistics from the National Child Abuse agency show a continually increasing trend of abuse and maltreatment from 1995 until 2007 (Child Help, 2011). The figures reveal an alarming number of approximately â€Å"5.8 million children were involved in an estimated 3.2 million child abuse reports and allegations†¦ (of which) 90% of child sexual abuse victims know the perpetrator in some way; 68% are abused by family members† (Child Help, 2011, 1). The mandatory reporting of child abuse and neglect has been expounded by Smith (2009) to indicate that â€Å"all states require certain professionals and institutions to report suspected child abuse,

Comparative Between Confucius and Daoism Essay Example for Free

Comparative Between Confucius and Daoism Essay Conflict Resolution Negotiation (Volume 2011 Issue 4)111 Please cite as Low K. C. P. (2011) ‘Confucianism Versus Taoism’, Conflict Resolution Negotiation Journal, Volume 2011, Issue 4, p. 111 127 Confucianism Versus Taoism Prof. Dr. Patrick Low Kim Cheng Ph. D. Chartered Marketer, Certified MBTI Administrator, Certified Behavioral Consultant/ Universiti Brunei Darussalam; Associate, University of South Australia About the Author Prof. Dr. Patrick Low Kim Cheng, Ph. D. (South Australia), Chartered Marketer, Certified MBTI Administrator, Certified Behavioral Consultant (IML, USA), brings with him more than 20 years of combined experience from sectors as diverse as the electronics, civil service, academia, banking, human resource development and consulting. His MNC and local corporate clients from ASEAN, Sri Lanka, Hong Kong, Bangladesh and Kazakhstan are in manufacturing, electronics, IT, retail, engineering services, hospitals, hotels, banks financial institutions as well as the public sector. The once Visiting Professor, Graduate School of Business, Universiti of Malaya (Jan to Feb 2007), Prof. Dr. Low was the Deputy Dean, Postgraduate Studies Research, teaching in Universiti Brunei Darussalam (2009). He teaches the graduate students/ MBA in Organisational Behavior, Managing Negotiations, Leadership and Change Management, and the undergraduates in Leadership Basics, Challenging Leadership, Business and Society, Issues in Organizational Leadership, Organization Analysis Design; and Organization Development Change. The former Associate Dean, Director of Career Services and Chair of the Management and Marketing Department of a University in Kazakhstan (2004 to 2006) focuses on human resource management and behavioral skills training covering areas like negotiation/ influencing, leadership and behavioral modification. An academician-practitioner, a prolific author (author of twelve books including bestsellers (Strategic Customer Management, 2006, 2002, 2000 – one of Borders’ top ten in 2001/2, Sales Success, 2006, 2003; Team Success, 2003 and The Power of Relationships, 2001). His most recent books include Successfully Negotiating In Asia (Springer, 2010) and Electronic copy available at: http://ssrn. com/abstract=1982271 Conflict Resolution Negotiation (Volume 2011 Issue 4)112 Corporate Culture and Values – Perceptions of Corporate Leaders of Cooperatives in Singapore (VDM-Verlag, 2009). A business coach, Prof. Dr. Low is the founder of BusinesscrAFTâ„ ¢ Consultancy and he previously served as an Examiner for University of South Australia’s DBA and Ph. D. candidates (2003 to October 2006); presently, he has been appointed as the supervisor for its DBA candidates. Besides his experience in academia, training and consulting, Prof. Dr. Patrick Low has held positions in regional human resource development (HRD). He has been the Senior Training Manager (Asia Pacific Region) in Standard Chartered Bank where he was responsible for regional management training and development, marketing of HRD services and management succession. He can be contacted at [emailprotected] com Confucianism Versus Taoism Abstract: In this paper, the practitioner-academician makes comparisons and contrasts between the two great philosophical bodies (or oldest religious traditions) of China, that is, Confucianism and Taoism. Among other things, the key commonalities of Confucianism and Taoism include being in pursuit of the Tao, close to nature and harmony, and taking the right actions are critical than just the belief(s). The key differences are also examined here, and these, among other things, include human living and spirituality, and filial piety and nature as well as rites and beyond rites. 1 Introduction Confucianism and Taoism do not have a specific founder or date of founding, even though one of them (Confucianism) appears to be named after an individual, K’ung Fu Tzu or Confucius in English. Confucius was born in 551 BC in China in what is presently Shantung Province. He lived during the Zhou dynasty, known for its ethical laxity. For Taoism, its texts include the Tao de ching (The Way of Power) which is believed to have been written by Lao Tzu. The text describes the nature of life, the way to peace and how a ruler should lead his life. The Chuang Tzu contains additional teachings of Taoism. Franklin Publishing Company www. franklinpublishing. net Electronic copy available at: http://ssrn. com/abstract=1982271 Conflict Resolution Negotiation (Volume 2011 Issue 4)113 1. 1 Paper’s Aim And Objectives The aim and objectives of the paper are to make comparisons and examine the contrasts between the two great philosophical bodies (or oldest religious traditions) in China, that is, Confucianism and Taoism, and with that, it is hoped to logically get a better understanding of the two philosophical bodies. 2 2. 1 Commonalities Of Confucianism And Taoism In Pursuit of the Tao Both show that the non-religious state of existence is unsatisfying and non-harmonious. Instead, both Confucianism and Taoism stress on the pursuit of the Tao, and that the Tao is the ultimate. Similar to Shakespeare’s â€Å"have more than thou showest, speak less than thou knowest†, in Taoism, it is said that those who know do not speak and those who speak do not know. Tao, the first cause, can be roughly translated into English as â€Å"path†, or â€Å"the way†, referring to a power which envelops, surrounds and flows through all things, living and non-living. Tao is the Oneness of everything; â€Å"Tao is always without a name and that it is the origin of heaven and earth. Tao can also be said to be the â€Å"Absolute† that it can be said to be the movement and a stillness without a beginning, Yin and Yang (also known as Tai Chi) are things that can be said to be without a beginning† (Cleary 2003, cited in Low and Ang, 2010: 85; Wu, 1990: 1). 2. 2 Close to Nature And Harmony Both Confucianism and Taoism are close to nature, very much reflected in Chinese culture. Most Chinese gates or traditional Chinese gardens display a pair of lions, one male and one female. The female mother lion, usually with its young, represents Mother Nature. From Confucius – The Analects, Chapter VII verse 17, we learn that â€Å"The Master used a fishing line but not a cable; attached to a net, he used a corded arrow but not to shoot at roosting birds. † Both Taoism and Confucianism believe that the two opposing and complementary forces Franklin Publishing Company www. franklinpublishing. net Conflict Resolution Negotiation (Volume 2011 Issue 4)114 (chi) of yin and yang should be maintained in a harmonious condition no matter what level they are operating on, such as universe, nature, society, or an individual (Li, 1996). â€Å"Everything will be accomplished smoothly in a harmonious family,† Confucius encouraged that internal harmony should also be treasured as the highest value within a family, just as it is essential to the smooth functioning of a system at any other level. Both schools preach that humans live in harmony with nature, and such a way is compatible with humankind’s taking care of nature and the surrounding environment of the communities they live and work (Low and Ang, forthcoming; Low, forthcoming). In Lao Tzu’s mind, the people should be encouraged to embrace simplicity, diminishing self interest and curbing one’s desires (Tao Te Ching, Verse 49); in this way, one can then create a peaceful and harmonious environmental attitude towards people and nature, and there is overall happiness between and among all. Detaching ourselves and not getting caught with the great number of things in our mind, we also slow down, pay attention to our breathing, move slowly and deeply, and we reach new understandings about ourselves and the world around us. In Taoism, peace is  treasured (â€Å"The best way of conquering an enemy is to win him over by not antagonizing him†¦Ã¢â‚¬  – Tao Te Ching, verse 68; Wu, 1990: 101). War is no good and only results in sufferings of the people; rulers need to find and seek peace for his or her people. With harmony, trade, business and profits can be made, and the countries make progress – as the Chinese saying goes, â€Å"Harmony grows profits† (Hanyu Pinyin: he chi sen chai). It can thus be said that the Chinese prize harmony above all things. A large part of Chinese literature is based on the idea of harmony (Tao Te Ching – McDonald, 2009; Mitchell, 1995; Towler, 2002). For both Confucianism and Taoism, a sage is a person who is in total harmony with their world – the world around them as well as the world within them. 2. 3 Wanting to Be Happy And Being Positive Franklin Publishing Company www. franklinpublishing. net Conflict Resolution Negotiation (Volume 2011 Issue 4)115 One of the basic facts of life is that all of us want to be happy. Each of us does not wish to suffer; and yet, suffering is a part of life, just as happiness is. It can be taken that both Confucianism and Taoism, being positive, appear to urge people to pursue happiness. If we are negative, then we spend too much time searching for ways to avoid suffering; indeed so, we will also miss out much of the happiness that is possible in our lives. In Confucianism, with the Rectification of Names and roles fulfilled, a father does the father’s role, a mother the mother’s role, the son the son’s role and so on; then there will be harmonious relationships and happiness. If there were peace, harmony and happiness in the family and since a nation is essentially made of families, then the nation would also enjoy peace, harmony and happiness. Confucius also highlighted that having an independent, truly calm, steady, down-to-earth mind and heart that one can avoid being swayed by the rises and falls, gains and loses of life. Free from worries and fears (Confucius – The Analects, Chapter XII, verse 4), a person of high integrity and morality (a gentleperson, junzi) would be happy; (s)he would sleep well. In these ways, one can thus be more or less, contented or happy. In Taoism, as in Yin-Yang, it is taken that the seed of suffering is inherent in each moment of happiness. In this way we should remain centered during moments of great happiness. In life, if we build our happiness on simple things like love, friendship, good health, and spirit, we can build a sense of happiness that will endure the challenges and changes that life gives us (Towler, 2002a; http://ancienthistory. mrdonn. org/Taoism. html). Thus, in both Confucianism and Taoism call for people to live happily. 2. 4 Right Actions Are Critical Both generally see religious beliefs as having less importance than religious practices. In fact, both Confucianism and Taoism stress on orthopraxy (right actions) over orthodoxy (right beliefs). Franklin Publishing Company www. franklinpublishing. net Conflict Resolution Negotiation (Volume 2011 Issue 4)116 In The Analects, Book II verse 13, it is said that Tzu-kung asked about the gentleman. The Master said, ‘He puts his words into action before allowing his words to follow his action. ’† Low (2008: 33) speaks of the â€Å"message Confucius impresses on us is that: As leaders, we need to act and behave as gentlemen. † And what more, he has added that â€Å"when virtue is practised, one enjoys a clear conscience† (Low, 2008: 33). Confucianism also stresses on humanism, and more importantly on the value of love and compassion (Low, 2010). In a person’s personal conduct, (s)he is respectful. In his or her dealings with his or her staff, (s)he is considerate; in caring for the common people’s welfare, (s)he is generously kind; and in dealing with all, (s)he is just (Low, 2008). Like Confucianism, Taoism also stresses on compassion (a typical right action), underscoring the fact that â€Å"weapons of war augur evil. Even things seem to hate them†; besides, â€Å"to achieve more for others, enlarge your heart† (Low, 2009: 33). 2. 5 Open And Continuing Canons Each does not have a closed canon, each continues to be interpreted, written and included in their respective canons. However, unlike Taoism, familiarity with the Confucian canon was one of the main requirements of the civil service examinations in traditional China. 2. 6 No Fixed Religious Services But Anywhere At Anytime, It Can Be Practiced Interestingly too or in fact, very convenient, both have no fixed religious services and can be practiced anywhere, from shrines and temples to private studies and mountain peaks. Seen from this angle, there is much freedom and it is life and in living, praying and living in oneness (life itself is a prayer! ). The good thing is that they are without rituals or strict conformity of attending masses or prayer sessions in fixed days as evident in some of the other major religions. Franklin Publishing Company www. franklinpublishing. net Conflict Resolution Negotiation (Volume 2011 Issue 4)117 2. 7 Benevolence And Compassion Interestingly, Low (2008a: 67) has highlighted that one of the classic leadership sins or mistakes is that of â€Å"being callous to the needs of the others† or lacking in empathy or worse, compassion. For both Confucius and Lao Tzu, leaders need to be benevolent. Low (2008b) has highlighted that the Confucian business owner/leadership, with its high task and high relationship, is seen as caring and the leader builds the bond with the employees. In the Confucian sense, being benevolent or kind, a characteristic element of humanity, is an part of an individual’s talents. Like Confucianism, Taoism also considers a worthy person as a benevolent person, and in the former, a benevolent person enjoys longevity (ren cher shou). Leaders need to be compassionate and empathetic. Both Confucianism and Taoism preach and stress on compassion. Compassion is, in fact, one of Lao Tzu’s three treasures (Low, 2009; Wu, 1990). Such a belief and action is particularly vital. And it is, in fact, excellent when it comes to leading people since the compassionate leaders practice servant leadership, desiring overall little or nothing for themselves, but empathetically showing and acting with care and concern more for the people and their needs (Low, 2010, 2009; 2008). Figure 1: A List of Commonalities Of Confucianism And Taoism In Pursuit of the Tao Close to Nature And Harmony Wanting to Be Happy And Being Positive Right Actions Are Critical Open And Continuing Canons No Fixed Religious Services But Anywhere At Anytime, It Can Be Practiced Benevolence And Compassion Franklin Publishing Company www. franklinpublishing. net Conflict Resolution Negotiation (Volume 2011 Issue 4)118 3 3. 1 The Key Differences Human Living and Spirituality Confucianism, on one hand, stresses on attaining Tao in human living. The writings of Confucius deal primarily with individual morality and ethics. (also see Low, 2008c – Confucian ethics and business responsibility to the various stakeholders), and the proper exercise of political power by the rulers. Confucianism is not, properly speaking, a religion but it is more of a way of behaving so that one does the right things (http://ancienthistory. mrdonn. org/Confucius. html). Confucianism stresses on the Rectification of Names, and each needs to fulfill each person’s respective roles and responsibilities. For Confucius, â€Å"therefore, the superior man examines his heart that there may be nothing wrong there, and that he may have no cause for dissatisfaction with himself. † (Doctrine of the Mean, Chapter XXXIII. , Verse 2, cited in Confucius, 1915). A Confucian thus believes that an ordered society is what people should strive for. In that sense, it is more this-worldly, and is a way of life rather than a religion. Nonetheless, the wisdom of the Old Master can (still) help us to obtain spiritual happiness in the modern world, to get used to the daily routine of our lives, and to find the personal bearings that tell us where we are (Yu Dan, 2009: 11). Taoism, on the other hand, focuses on achieving the Tao, basically on the spiritual aspects of life; and it is other-worldly and can be considered as a religion. [Some have, however, argued that Taoism is not a religion. Taoism is a philosophy, a way of looking at life and a way of thinking about things. Taoists believe if one looks at life and think about things in the right way, one will be much happier -http://ancienthistory. mrdonn. org/Taoism. html. ] This author however feels that Taoism stresses on the spiritual aspects of life and it is mystical too – â€Å"Tao can be talked about, but not the Eternal Tao, Names can be named, but not the Eternal Name. As the origin of heaven-and-earth, it is nameless. As ‘the Mother’ of all things, it is nameable. † (Tao te ching, verse 1, Wu, 1990: 1). It is also said that one of the head-twisty things about the Tao de ching is that it never specifically defines The Way. The book itself is a series of verses, poems, Franklin Publishing Company www. franklinpublishing. net Conflict Resolution Negotiation (Volume 2011 Issue 4)119 and riddles, stressing on control but not dominance, fluidity but not ambivalence, and mystery but not confusion. Nonetheless, it is full of wise, helpful nuggets to assist human beings in living and attaining spiritual contentment; examples include â€Å"embrace simplicity, put others first. Desire little†, and â€Å"weapons are the bearers of bad news; all people should detest them† (Lao Tzu, Verses 19 and 31, Tao de ching; McDonald; 2009). To elaborate, one should live simply while being healthily aware and refusing greed and lust. After all, as in the Chinese proverb, one should not â€Å"add legs to the snake after one has finished drawing it†. And not to complicate things, simplicity indeed makes one’s life easier, more convenient and pleasant. And next, all of us should value or treasure peace and harmony. Confucius’ The Analects, depending heavily on analogy and metaphor, is, on the other hand, very clear and concrete on attaining the way in terms of human living, and for the overall good of humankind. For Confucius, there is to be good family living; and peace and harmony as well as the attainment of good community living. For Lao Tzu, there is to be oneness with nature and the Universe or Heaven. 3. 2 Practicality And Esotericism. Confucianism is very practical, suited for pragmatic human living. In The Analects, Book XI, verse 12: â€Å"Chi-lu asked how the spirits of the dead and the gods should be served. The Master said, ‘You are not able even to serve man. How can you serve the spirits? ’ ‘May I ask about death? ’ ‘You do not understand even life. How can you understand death? ’ For Confucianism, in business, corporate social responsibility (CSR) should always be there: what is taken from the community is returned through donations, charity and other assistances rendered to the poor and needy. In his study, Low (2008c) has indicated that the Confucian Golden Rule and Confucian ethics in the context of the stakeholder theory, showing how businesses can be ethical while being caring and compassionate for its stakeholders. Franklin Publishing Company www. franklinpublishing. net Conflict Resolution Negotiation (Volume 2011 Issue 4)120 In Taoism, the goal of each believer is to become one with the Tao, a force that flows through all life. The concept of a personified deity is foreign to them; perhaps there is the concept of an impersonal god. The practitioners do not pray because there is no god to hear the prayers or to act upon them; believers seek answers to life’s problems through inner meditation and outer observation. [In that sense, Taoism can be seen as esoteric, abstract or not easy to be understood. ] Taoists believe in the duality of the universe, symbolized by yin-yang, but oneness is to be attained through inner meditation, balance and harmony. Taoist practitioners believe in nourishing life and the spirit by energizing or getting chi (energy), meditating and being in oneness with the Tao. 3. 3. Groupings, Categorization and Non-Categorization/ Dualities And Oneness Because of Confucius’ Rectifications of Names (Fung, 1948), the role each person needs to play appears to have a lot of categorization (groupings); and love starts from loving one’s parents and family members first; and then extend out to love one’s neighbors and further extend to one’s community and society. In Taoism, there is this seeking or search for Oneness and no dualities or differentiation between animals and humans or humans and nature. Let me explain. First of all, humans need to widen their mind and horizons. Humans often live and experience reality conceptually. We do not see things afresh and anew every time we look at them; instead, we create categories and let things fall into them, which is an easy and more convenient way of dealing with the world. Apart from the smaller things, such as defining a flower as a rose, a vase as a Chinese Ming vase, an antique, or a person as a teacher, there are wider categories (groupings or types) under which everyone lives, including religions, beliefs, ideologies, and systems of government. Each category or type supplies us a level of psychological certainty and saves us  from the effort of constantly challenging our own beliefs. Take for example, humans often divide animals into ‘favorites’ or ‘pets’ and ‘domestic/ farm animals’ so that we can feel alright loving one and eating or consuming the other. Franklin Publishing Company www. franklinpublishing. net Conflict Resolution Negotiation (Volume 2011 Issue 4)121 Mindlessness, on one hand, is when there is no focus and occurs when humans are conditioned or at least not know that the categories to which they subscribe are categories and have accepted them as their own without really thinking, understanding and/or experiencing it. Breaking away from, reassessing old groupings and being able to see outside one’s (individual/ in-box) subjective context (seeing the wider, collective/ out-of-the-box/ objective context) is mindfulness. We should indeed be perceiving things in un-habitual ways, and thus we’ll grow. On the other hand, when we are mindful, we will not be stereotyping and boxing things up, we’ll be in line with nature as things are transient and they also change. When we are mindful, we are breaking away from our egos and categories and in fact get closer to nature or Tao, the Universe. Then again, one can also argue that both Confucianism and Taoism are, in a way, common in terms of the pursuits of the Tao (as said under the Commonalities of Confucianism and Taoism section), and the differences lies in their starting points, from subjectivity to universality for Confucianism and from mindlessness to mindfulness for Taoism. 3. 4 Filial Piety And Nature Confucianism urges the people to respect their parents and the old. They are to take care of their parents, maintaining good links with them while upholding the value of filial piety (xiao). In the Confucian language, filial piety (xiao) means serving one’s living parents, and thus, resulting in the five (5) vital relationships in the Confucian Teaching, that is, the relationships between: i. ii. iii. iv. v. the royalty/prince and subject. father and son. older and younger brother. husband and wife. friend and friend. Filial piety embraces those attitudes of respect for one’s seniors and a reciprocal attitude of love and affection on the seniors part to the junior. After the death of one’s parents, it involves religious obligations in ceremonial worship. Franklin Publishing Company www. franklinpublishing. net Conflict Resolution Negotiation (Volume 2011 Issue 4)122 Taoism, on the other hand, emphasizes ‘going with the flow’, maintaining good links and in oneness with the Nature, Heaven or the Universe. In Taoism, we learn from nature – a flower falls even though we love it, and weed grows even though we do not love it. We love the animals and creatures around us. And we do not interfere yet we are contented; after all, there is a season and reason for everything; and everything has its place; just let it be. By accepting things as they are, we become impartial or unaffected. It is good to follow the natural order (Low, 2010b). In following nature, we are in harmony with nature. There is no or little stress. We sit quietly†¦ do nothing. Spring comes and grass grows by itself. Besides, a known yet significant point to note is that nature does not hurry yet everything is achieved. 3. 5 Rites And Beyond Rites Or Rigidity Versus Flexibility Confucius introduced rites/terms of reference to ensure people comply with the system. This is somewhat rigid; however, on many occasions, he would allow people to modify, change and improve the rites accordingly. For example, on one occasion, Confucius highlighted that according to the traditional rites, ceremonial hats were made out of hemp; these days people make them out of silk, he approved of the common practice since this, after all, is more economical † (Confucius – The Analects, Chapter IX, verse 3). Lao Tzu was flexible in his teachings, and he did not introduce or follow any system such as the rites proposed by Confucius. He instead encouraged people to lead a simple life, following the natural ways of living and remain detached to the world like a newly born infant who has not yet learnt to smile. (Tao Te Ching, Verse 20). To analyze further, we can say that people in the world consists of different personalities, and some people are so used to or prefer a structure, a sort of checklist or a religious (structured) approach to doing things (In Myers-Briggs Type Indicator: MBTI terms: Thinking; Judging Franklin Publishing Company www. franklinpublishing. net Conflict Resolution Negotiation (Volume 2011 Issue 4)123 Types) while others may prefer a less structured approach to doing things (In Myers-Briggs Type Indicator: MBTI terms: Feeling; Intuitive/ Perceiving Types). They like to move, adjusting along the way, rather than an immediate structured, ordered way, all the way through till the end or completion. In Confucianism, rites give structure, stability and continuity. Rites are necessary since they provide the basis of practices as well as more importantly, standards. Confucius also stressed the need for rituals and music. For Confucius, ‘sacrifice as if present’ is taken to mean ‘sacrifice to the gods as if the gods were present. ’ The Master, however, said, ‘Unless I take part in a sacrifice, it is as if I did not sacrifice. ’ (Confucius –The Analects, Chapter III verse 12). Taoism goes beyond rites, ‘going with the flow’; and like the quality of water, flexibility is also applied. Chairman Mao Zedong once quoted Lao Tzu, â€Å"Fortune lies in misfortune and vice versa. † In other words, the Taoist practitioner is often mindful of the fact that in every misfortune lies the seed of fortune, and in every fortune lies the seed of misfortune; and given a situation, (s)he is to flexibly apply the ‘right’ approach. 3. 6 Learning And Unlearning. In Confucianism, learning and education is indeed critical (Low, 2010; 2010a). Confucius stressed very much on learning and he himself set an example of continuous learning throughout his life. â€Å"The Master said, ‘At fifteen, I set my heart on learning; at thirty I took my stand; at forty I came to be free from doubts; at fifty I understood the Decree of Heaven; at sixty my ear was attuned; at seventy I followed my heart’s desire without overstepping the line. ’† (Confucius – The Analects, Chapter II, verse 4). Confucius stressed on learning; learning prevents one from being narrow-minded. For Confucius, it is important for individuals to learn. He used learning to correct his mistakes and improve himself, and he in fact considered Junzi (a gentleman/lady) as a person eager to study. Confucius said, â€Å"The gentleman seeks neither a full belly nor a comfortable home. He is quick in Franklin Publishing Company www. franklinpublishing. net Conflict Resolution Negotiation (Volume 2011 Issue 4)124 action but cautious in speech. He goes to men possessed of the Way to be put right. Such a man can be described as eager to learn. † Overall then, the Confucians see it as bad to eat one’s fill all day long, and do nothing to nourish the mind. † (Low, 2010, 2008). On the other hand, Taoism stresses on unlearning (perhaps even undoing bureaucracy or procedures), and here it can be seen as being simple is both wise and good. Lao Tzu encouraged people to unlearn their learning for then they would not have any anxiety (Tao Te Ching, Verse 20). Simplicity is indeed embraced and it is wise not to overemphasize or complicate things (Low, 2009). To the Taoists, the Confucian’s pursuit of knowledge has divided people and things (creating distinctions and differences between men and animals/ other creatures) as well as having complicated life; they also argue that it can also cause contention for profits and fame. Life is indeed simple, and it is good not to over do things; when eating just eat and when sleeping, just sleep; and in living, just live. More so, one cannot learn with an occupied mind, one cannot fill a full cup unless it’s emptied; one should not overanalyze too. Lao Tzu speaks of â€Å"stop thinking and end your problems† (Verse 20, Tao de ching). Figure 2: shows a summary of key differences between Confucianism and Taoism Human Living and Spirituality Practicality And Esotericism Groupings, Categorization and Non-Categorization/ Dualities And Oneness Filial Piety And Nature Rites And Beyond Rites Or Rigidity Versus Flexibility Learning And Unlearning 4 Conclusion Both Confucianism and Taoism, having been home-grown in China and developed in almost total isolation from the rest of the world, have played a major role in the country’s three thousand Franklin Publishing Company www. franklinpublishing. net. Conflict Resolution Negotiation (Volume 2011 Issue 4)125 years of history. And perhaps the world and the people can learn, apply and adapt the finer points and wisdom of Confucianism and Taoism into their lives. And to paraphrase Yu Dan (2009: 187), wherever we are, we can let the spiritual power of Confucianism and/or Taoism combine with our present laws and rules, fusing seamlessly together to become an essential part of our lives, to let each of us build for ourselves a truly worthwhile life. This is surely the ultimate significance of Confucius and/or Taoism in our lives today. References Confucius (1915) (Contributors: Dawson, Miles Menander) The ethics of Confucius: The sayings of the Master and his disciples upon the conduct of â€Å"The Superior Man†. G. P. Putnam’s Sons: New York. Fung, Y. L. (1948) A short history of Chinese philosophy, The Free Press: New York. Lau, D. C. (1979) Confucius The Analects (Lun Yu), The Penguin Books: England. Li, Y. Y. (1996) Chinese traditional values and characteristics of Chinese health behavior. (in Chinese) Chinese psychology and therapy, Laureate Book Co. : Taipei. Low, K. C. P. (forthcoming) ‘Confucian ethics’ in Idowu, S. O. (ed. ), (2011) Encyclopedia of corporate social responsibility, Heidelberg: Springer-Verlag Low, K. C. P. (2010) ‘Values make a leader, the Confucian perspective’, Insights to a changing world journal, Volume 2010 Issue 2, p. 13 – 28. Low, K. C. P. (2010a) ‘Teaching and Education: the ways of Confucius’, Educational research, December 2010 Special issues, p. 681- 686. Franklin Publishing Company www. franklinpublishing. net Conflict Resolution Negotiation (Volume 2011 Issue 4)126 Low, K. C. P. (2010b) â€Å"Zen and leadership – Growing one’s leadership excellence†, Insights to a changing world, Volume 2010 Issue 1, p. 1 10. Low, K. C. P. (2009) ‘Lao Tzu’s three treasures, leadership organizational growth’, Leadership organizational management journal, Volume 2009, Issue 3, p 27 – 36. Low, K. C. P. (2008) ‘Value-based leadership: Leading, the Confucian way’, Leadership organizational management journal, Volume 2008 Issue 3, p. 32 – 41. Low, K. C. P. (2008a) ‘Leadership thoughts to ponder – Some classic sins of leadership’, Leadership organizational management journal, Volume 2008 Issue 4, p. 65 75. Low, K. C. P. (2008b) ‘Father leadership and small businesses in Singapore – Case revisited’, Leadership and organization management journal (LOM), Vol. 2008 Issue 3, p. 68 82. Low, K. C. P. (2008c) ‘Confucian ethics social responsibility – The golden rule responsibility to the stakeholders’, Ethics critical thinking journal, Volume 2008 Issue 4, p. 46 54. Low, K. C. P. and Ang, S. L. (2010), ‘Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)’, Chinese Medicine, Vol. 1 No. 3 (Dec 2010) p. 84 90, (Published Online http://www. SciRP. org/journal/cm). Low, K.

Using Technology to Improve Education Essay -- technology and Educatio

Purchasing a new technological gadget can be an exciting experience. After tearing through stubborn security labels, discarding excessive wasteful inner packaging, and tolerating the scent of new plastic wafting through the air, the consumer finally reaches their electronic goodie. Without power, the device is useless. It is simply a plastic brick with some fancy buttons attached. However, when this device is given a source of energy, it comes to life, and brings to its user access to entertainment, information, or communication. Many people treasure their high end technologies, and use them on a day to day basis. What some people fail to see is the full potential of their device. Their electronic gadget, when in their own hands, improves their happiness and quality of life. That same gadget in the hands of a student can promote knowledge gain, personal growth, and allows them to receive an overall better education. The educational experience in America can be enhanced great ly by utilizing various new technologies available today. One of the fastest growing technological trends in the classroom is the integration of computers. The appeal in using computers is seen in its wide capabilities; the possibilities are virtually endless. A computer in today's world can do almost anything for its user, so of course it can be used to enhance a student's learning experience. Use of computers and their complementing technologies in the classroom present a teacher with many options. When the teachers have options, the students can greatly benefit from experiencing a wide variety of teaching methods. â€Å"Research shows that children who use computers in an academic setting experience better development than children who do not use compu... ...oir Fitz Gibbon. â€Å"Is IT worth it?.† Teaching With Technology, Rethinking Tradition. Les Lloyd. Medford, NJ: Information Today. 2010. Pg. 23-37. Hernandez, Marjorie. â€Å"Governer launches digital textbook initiative in Calabasas.† Ventura County Star. N.p. 8 JUN 2009. Web. 16 FEB 2012. â€Å"Interactive Whiteboards in the Classroom.† Florida School for the Deaf and Blind. US Department of Education. 6 NOV 2009. Web. 17 FEB 2012. â€Å"Internet.† Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. Merriam-Webster Online. 2010. Web. 8 MAR 2012. Perry, Bruce D. Interview. â€Å"Using Technology in the Early Childhood Classroom.† By Kimberly Moore Kneas. Scholastic. n.d. Web. 8 FEB 2012. Shen, Lynda. â€Å"Ebooks are especially suitable for educational purposes. Why is that so?.† ebook88. N.p. n.d. Web. 15 FEB 2012. â€Å"Software for the tablet PC.† Tabletpc2. Blue Thunder. n.d. Web. 8 MAR 2012.

Chick Lit Genre Analysis

A protagonist in a chick lit book is typically a self-critical female with unreasonably high expectations. In â€Å"24-Karat Kids†, a novel by Dr. Judy Goldstein and Sebastian Stuart, Shelley is hired as a pediatrician at a ritzy Upper East Side office. She quickly realizes that she doesn’t look like the other women that work, or visit the office everyday. She’s very critical of her own appearance, â€Å"Staring back at me was a plain, tubby young woman with an absurdly garish scarf around her neck† (Goldstein 12). Shelly isn’t built like the other females and wasn’t raised wealthy. She is unreasonable to expect herself to look exactly like the others and fit in instantly. She critiques her body in every mirror she passes and quickly adopts a strict diet: â€Å"I’d been on the only diet that worked for me: starvation† (Goldstein 30). In order to fit her unreasonably high expectation of achieving the â€Å"perfect† body, she goes to extreme lengths. Shelley has been in a serious relationship for over two years with a man named Arthur. He has a secure job, is kind and compassionate and has recently proposed. The two begin apartment hunting and stumble upon a nice unit in Brooklyn. Shelly used to love Brooklyn before she started her new job. When Arthur pressures her to share her opinion on the apartment she wonders, â€Å"Why did my mind keep racing back to the Upper East Side, to Dr. Marge and Amanda Walker and Christina Allen, to a world filled with wealth, excitement and glamour† (Goldstein 53). Her current lifestyle just isn’t good enough for her anymore. She wants the luxury her clients and coworkers experience. Although she has a fiance many dream of having and the chance to move in to a comfortable apartment, she can’t settle for anything less than the best. Chick lit books are typically written in first person to allow the protagonist to analyze and share her opinions on all matters. Shelley and her fiance Arthur go apartment hunting a week after Arthur’s proposal. They have never lived together before and Shelley is hesitant to oblige. Arthur is pressuring her to sign a lease and she thinks, â€Å"In many ways I was just beginning my life and the idea of giving up my independence seemed, I don’t know, rushed. Couldn’t it wait until we were married† (Goldstein 30). Since the book is written in first person, Shelley is able to let the reader in on exactly what is going through her head. She doesn’t really want to move in, but can’t tell Arthur that. If she wasn’t able to share her though process with the reader then people would think Shelley was actually okay with this relationship milestone. Later in the week Shelley meets her new boss. She has an image in her head of what she expects the woman will look like but over analyzes her when they meet for the first time anyways: â€Å"she looked as if she should have been out shopping on Madison Avenue. Somewhere in her fifties, she had frosted blonde hair and expert, subtle makeup, and was wearing high heels and a belted magenta jumpsuit that accentuate her tiny waist. Definitely the most glamorous doctor I had ever seen† (Goldstein 14). Shelley describes what people are wearing in excessive detail all the time. She often make a judgment about their personality based on their outward appearance and always shares these with the reader. Her thorough analysis of the other characters allows readers to gain a better understanding of how everyone in the novel interacts.

Fast-Food Industry: Friend or Foe? Essay

The 2004 American documentary known as Super-Size Me left a remarkable impact on America’s fast-food industries, as well as fellow fast-food consumers. Not to mention, six weeks after Super-Size Me was released, McDonalds took the â€Å"Super-Size† option off their menu as well as their stress on healthier menu choices; such as salads, fruit, and the new adult happy meal. The director, writer, and producer of Super-Size Me is also starring in the film himself, he is Morgan Spurlock. This documentary is anything but flashy or cinematically amazing; it purely presents the real story of Morgan’s journey to a healthier America. Americans know how addicting fast-food really is, but what they don’t know is what fast-food does to their bodies over time. Super-Size Me did influence McDonalds and our society as a whole, however have we still been a healthier America since then. The main point for Spurlock’s experiment was simply, the growing spread of obesit y in our society. There was even a lawsuit that was brought against McDonald’s by two overweight girls, who later became obese because of eating McDonald’s food. But as you would guess, the lawsuit failed. As Super-Size Me starts, Morgan Spurlock is at an above average shape condition in respect of his personal trainer. He is then seen by three doctors: a cardiologist, a gastroenterologist, a general practitioner, as well as a nutritionist and a personal trainer. Morgan Spurlock is documented for thirty days from February 1st to March 2, 2003, in which he eats only McDonald’s food. Yes that means for breakfast, lunch, and dinner; not to mention every time he is asked to â€Å"super-size† his meal Spurlock must super-size it. Eating McDonald’s all day made his calorie intake for each day approximately 5,000 calories, which is equal to nine Big Macs! This movie is pretty straight-forward going along with the title, however along the way Spurlock visits elementary schools to see how healthy their food options are. He also does some speeches at schools for the kids, warning them the dangers of unhealthy food choices as well as getting active every day. As well as inter viewing random people he meets on the street and at McDonald’s restaurants. Spurlock asks them about their eating habits and why they chose to eat at fast-food instead of cooking at home. Majority of the people interviewed chose fast-food because it was easy, fast, and of course just darn delicious. Also many of them didn’t seem too concerned for their  health, or how much McDonalds they ate in a week. Some even refused to answer Spurlock’s questions they had negative actions towards his experiment. This is not surprising, many people especially children have no worries about what fast-food does to their body; they just know it tastes good and is a quick fix. As you can tell, this movie is not all about a crazy guy eating McDonald’s for weeks; it also has great nutritional facts and a look at how unhealthy America is compared to other countries. Towards the end of the movie, Spurlock finds out the results of his thirty-day challenge. He gained twenty-four and a half pounds, a thirteen percent body mass increase, a cholesterol level of 230, experienced mood swings, sexual dysfunction, and fat accumulation in his liver. Not only that, it took him fourteen months to lose the weight he gained during this Super-Size Me experiment. The documentary closes with an interesting question, asking â€Å"Who do you want to see go first, you or them?† Super-Size Me can be a love-hate relationship for most people who get the chance to watch it. If you love McDonald’s and don’t have much care for eating right this movie wouldn’t be for you; on the other hand, if you are displeased with the fast-food industry in America and interested in seeing how it affects people, this would be a great movie for you. For me, I really enjoyed this movie; it opened my eyes about how overweight and unhealthy we Americans are. You would not believe what fast-food does to your body over time, and how it changes your body steadily without you knowing a thing! I still love and consume fast-food to this day, but I definitely try my very best to not take part as much as I did before. Granted, not every person that watches Super-Size Me will get the same inspirational, mind-blowing feeling to change their eating habits . However, I strongly feel in my gut that this documentary changed a lot of people, whether they were a part of the movie or just a viewer. I just really hope that we Americans have stayed true to the facts of Super-Size Me and have not forgotten the effects of constant fast-food eating.

Resarch and Statistics Paper Psy 315 Essays

Resarch and Statistics Paper Psy 315 Essays Resarch and Statistics Paper Psy 315 Essay Resarch and Statistics Paper Psy 315 Essay Research and Statistics Paper Psy 315 Define and explain research and define and explain the scientific method (include an explanation of all five steps). Proper Research is primarily an investigation. Researchers and scientists gather data, facts, and knowledge to help better understand phenomenon, events and people. Through research, analysis, investigations, and experimentation, we gain a better understanding of our world. As I skimmed the text to find a definition, I found the word research several times on several of the pages in the first chapter. Research is fundamental to any scientific enterprise and statistics is no exception. The scientific method is the set of procedures that enable scientists and researchers to conduct investigations and experiments. Scientists observe an event and then form a hypothesis. A hypothesis is an educated guess about how something works. These researchers then perform experiments that support the hypothesis or these experiments prove it wrong. A conclusions can be made from the investigations and experiments with the data collected and analyzed. The conclusion helps to prove or disprove validity of the hypothesis. There are several steps that are followed in the scientific method. The steps to this method can be followed by answering questions before and along the way of the investigation. The scientific method can have five steps. The researcher asks themselves these questions and tries o find the answers: 1. What event or phenomenon are we investigating? 2. How does this event occur? A guess as to how the event happens is formed. This is our hypothesis. 3. How can we test this hypothesis? The experimenter then tests the hypothesis through experiments. 4. Are the results looking valid? The researcher records the observations. Does the experiment need to be changed? Possibly, the researcher adjusts the experiment as the data helps to fine tune the investigation. 5. Does the data support the hypothesis? The researcher analyzes the data. The analysis will have statistical information that is crucial to the investigator. Without statistics, there can be no real scientific analysis of the investigation or experiment. The analysis will tell the researcher if the hypothesis is supported or if they are in essence incorrect. Authors: Cowens, John Source: Teaching Pre K-8, Aug/Sep2006, Vol. 7 Issue 1, p42-46, 3p, 6 Color Photographs, 1 Graph Informastion from: Cowens, J. (2006, August/September). The scientific method. Teaching PreK-8, 37(1), 42. Define and substantively compare and contrast the characteristics of primary and secondary data (not sources). There are two ways that researchers obtain data, primary and secondary. Primary data is collected by the person conductin g the investigation. Secondary data is collected from other sources. Primary data is information collected that is specifically geared toward the investigation. This specificity is a plus for primary data. Primary data can be expensive to collect due to the expense of experimentation and surveys. The man hours can be high and the cost can be high. The time it takes to collect original data can be long and grueling. Secondary data can be a good resource due to the ease of availability. Secondary data can be less expensive and less time consuming. However, secondary data may be information that is not as specific to the investigation or collected for a different specific purpose. Rabianski J. Primary and Secondary Data: Concepts, Concerns, Errors, and Issues. Appraisal Journal [serial online]. January 2003;71(1):43. Available from: Business Source Complete, Ipswich, MA. Accessed March 11, 2013 Explain the role of statistics in research. (Keep the focus within the field of psychology). - Statistics plays a very large role in the field of psychology. Statistics is vital to research in any field of science. Before statistics and even now, people want to know if there is a real cause and effect when they experience an event. Early man (let’s call him Grog) would step out of his drab cave in the early morning. Grog would perhaps spot an eagle soaring across a beautiful clear blue sky. Our early man, Grog may then have a great day of hunting. Later, Grog would reflect and think about his good day and remember the early morning eagle. Grog would tell and possibly re-tell the tale to his fellow cave people. The appearance of the early morning eagle would become a â€Å"clear† and significant sign or omen that the day’s hunt would be good. This would be especially true if the omen appeared and the hunt was good more than once. Is this statistically significant? Grog did not have the proper tools ( not paper or stone or computer) nor the brain power to do the statistical procedures on his observations. This appearance and the resulting good hunt could be a real significant event with true cause and effect or it could be pure chance and be nothing more than flimsy anecdotal evidence. Unfortunately for Grog, he did not have statistics or the expertise to perform the required investigations of proper research. Often, psychologists want to know what a person will do when confronted with a certain situation or stimulus or event. With inferential statistics researchers/psychologists use the information/data to infer or to make a conclusion based on the data from the research. â€Å"Probability† is derived from inferential statistics. How probable is it that a person will act a certain way can be answered through inferential/probability studies. - The Cult of Statistical Significance By Stephen T. Ziliak and Deirdre N. McCloskey1 - Roosevelt University and University of Illinois-Chicago - â€Å"The Cult of Statistical Significance† was presented at the Joint Statistical Meetings, Washington, DC, August 3rd, 2009, in a contributed session of the Section on Statistical Education. For comments Ziliak thanks many individuals, but especially Sharon Begley, Ronald Gauch, Rebecca Goldin, Danny Kaplan, Jacques Kibambe Ngoie, Sid Schwartz, Tom Siegfried, Arnold Zellner and above all Milo Schield for organizing an eyebrow-raising and standing-room only session. - - Psychological Research Methods and Statis tics Edited by Andrew M. Colman 1995, London and New York: Longman. Pp. xvi + 123. ISBN 0-582-27801-5 Research in psychology or in any other scientific field invariably begins with a question in search of an answer. The question may be purely factual for example, is sleep-walking more likely to occur during the stage of sleep in which dreams occur, namely rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, than in dreamless (slow-wave) sleep? Alternatively, it may be a practical question for example, can the use of hypnosis to recover long-forgottenexperiences increase the likelihood of false memories? According to current research findings, incidentally, the answers to these questions are no and yes respectively. ) A research question may arise from mere curiosity, from a theory that yields a prediction, or from previous research findings that raise a new question. Whatever its origin, provided that it concerns behaviour or mental experience and that it can be expressed in a suitable form for investigatio n by empirical methods that is, by the collection of objective evidence it is a legitimate question for psychological research. Psychological research relies on a wide range of methods. This is partly because it is such a diverse discipline, ranging from biological aspects of behaviour to social psychology and from basic research questions to problems that arise in such applied fields as clinical, educational, and industrial or occupational psychology. Most psychological research methods have the ultimate goal of answering empirical questions about behaviour or mental experience through controlled observation. But different questions call for different research methods, because the nature of a question often constrains the methods that can be used to answer it. This volume discusses a wide range of commonly used methods of research and statistical analysis. The most powerful research method is undoubtedly controlled experimentation. The reason for the unique importance of controlled experiments in psychology is not that they are necessarily any more objective or precise than other methods, but that they are capable of providing firm evidence regarding cause-and-effect relationships, which no other research method can provide. The defining features of the experimental method are manipulation and control. The experimenter manipulates the conjectured causal factor (called the independent variable because it is manipulated independently of other variables) and examines its effects on a suitable measure of the behaviour of interest, called the dependent variable. In multivariate research designs, the interactive effects of several independent variables on two or more dependent variables may be studied simultaneously. In addition to manipulating the independent variable(s) and observing the effects on the dependent variable(s), the experimenter controls all other extraneous variables that might influence the results. Controlled experimentation thus combines the twin features of manipulation (of independent variables) and control (of independent and extraneous variables). In psychological experiments, extraneous variables can seldom be controlled directly. One reason for this is that people differ from one another in ways that affect their behaviour. Even if these individual differences were all known and understood, they could not be suppressed or held constant while the effects of the independent variable was being examined. This seems to rule out the possibility of experimental control in most areas of psychology, but in the 1920s the British statistician Ronald Aylmer Fisher discovered a remarkable solution to this problem, called randomization. To understand the idea behind randomization, imagine that the experimenter wishes to test the hypothesis that the anti-depressive drug Prozac (fluoxetine hydrochloride) causes an increase in aggressiveness. The independent variable is ingestion of Prozac and the dependent variable is a score on some suitable test of aggressiveness. The experimenter could assign subjects to two treatment conditions strictly at random, by drawing their names out of a hat, for example, and could then treat the two groups identically apart from the manipulation of the independent variable. Before being tested for aggressiveness, the experimental group could be given a pill containing Prozac and the control group a placebo (an inactive dummy pill). The effect of the randomization would be to control, at a single stroke, for allextraneous variables, including ones of that the researcher had not even considered. For example, if two-thirds of the subjects were women, then each group would end up roughly two-thirds female, and if some of the subjects had criminal records for offences involving violence, then these people would probably be more or less even divided between the experimental and control groups, especially if the groups were large. Randomization would not guarantee that the two groups would be identical but merely that they would tend to be roughly similar on all extraneous variables. More precisely, randomization would ensure that any differences between the groups were distributed strictly according to the laws of chance. Therefore, if the two groups turned out to differ on the test of aggressiveness, this difference would have to be due either to the independent variable (the effect of Prozac) or to chance. This explains the purpose and function of inferential statistics in psychology. For any specified difference, a statistical test enables a researcher to calculate the probability or odds of a difference as large as that arising by chance alone. In other words, a statistical test tells us the probability of such a large difference arising under the null hypothesisthat the independent variable has no effect. If a difference is observed in an experiment, and if the probability under the null hypothesis of such a large difference arising by chance alone is sufficiently small (by convention, usually less than 5 per cent, often written p . 05), then the researcher is entitled to conclude with confidence that the observed difference is due to the independent variable. This conclusion can be drawn with confidence, because if the difference is not due to chance, then it must be due to the independent variable, provided that the experiment was properly controlled. The logical connection between randomized experimentation and inferential statistics is explained in greater depth in Colman (1988, chap. 4). A grasp of the elements of statistics is necessary for psychologists, because research findings are generally reported in numerical form and analysed statistically. In some areas of psychology, including naturalistic observations and case-studies (see below), qualitative research methods are occasionally used, and research of this kind requires quite different methods of data collection and analysis. For a survey of the relatively uncommon but none the less important qualitative research methods, including ethnography, personal construct approaches, discourse analysis, and action research, see the book by Banister, Burman, Parker, Taylor, and Tindall (1994). In chapter 1 of this volume, David D. Stretch introduces the fundamental ideas behind experimental design in psychology. He begins by explaining the appropriate form of a psychological research question and how incorrectly formulated questions can sometimes be transformed into questions suitable for experimental investigation. He then discusses experimental control, problems of sampling and randomization, issues of interpretability, plausibility, generalizability, and communicability, and proper planning of research. Stretch concludes his chapter with a discussion of the subtle and complex problems of measurement in psychology. He uses an extremely instructive example to show how two different though equally plausible measures of a dependent variable can lead to completely different in fact, mutually contradictory conclusions. Chapter 2, by Brian S. Everitt, is devoted entirely to analysis of variance designs. These are by far the most common research designs in psychology. Everitts discussion covers one-way designs, which involve the manipulation of only one independent variable; factorial designs, in which two or more independent variables are manipulated simultaneously; and within-subject repeated-measure designs, in which instead of being randomly assigned to treatment conditions, the same subjects are used in all conditions. Chapter 2 concludes with a discussion of analysis of covariance, a technique designed to increase the sensitivity of analysis of variance by controlling statistically for one or more extraneous variables called covariates. Analysis of covariance is sometimes used in the hope of compensating for the failure to control extraneous variables by randomization, but Everitt discusses certain problems caused by such use. In chapter 3, A. W. MacRae provides a detailed discussion of the ideas behind statistics, both descriptive and inferential. Descriptive statistics include a variety of methods of summarizing numerical data in ways that make them more easily interpretable, including diagrams, graphs, and numerical summaries such as means (averages), standard deviations (measures of variability), correlations (measures of the degree to which two variables are related to each other), and so forth. Inferential statistical methods are devoted to interpreting data and enabling researchers to decide whether the results of their experiments are statistically significant or may be explained by mere chance. MacRae includes a brief discussion of Bayesian methods, which in contrast to classical statistical methods are designed to answer the more natural question: How likely is it that such-and-such a conclusion is correct? For more information on Bayesian methods, the book by Lee (1989) is strongly recommended: it explains the main ideas lucidly without sidestepping difficulties Inferential Statistics For descriptive statistics such as correlation, the â€Å"mean,† or average, and some others that will be considered in context later in the book, the purpose is to describe or summarize aspects of behavior to understand them better. Inferential statistics start with descriptive ones and go further in allowing researchers to draw meaningful conclusions - especially in experiments. These procedures are beyond the scope of this book, but the basic logic is helpful in understanding how psychologists know what they know. Again recalling Banduras experiment of observational learning of aggression, consider just the model-punished and model-rewarded groups. It was stated that the former children imitated few behaviors and the latter significantly more. What this really means is that, based on statistical analysis, the difference between the two groups was large enough and consistent enough to be unlikely to have occurred simply by â€Å"chance. † That is, it would have been a long shot to obtain the observed difference if what happened to the model wasnt a factor. Thus, Bandura and colleagues discounted the possibility of chance alone and concluded that what the children saw happen to the model was the cause of the difference in their behavior. Psychologists study what people tend to do in a given situation, recognizing that not all people will behave as predicted - just as the children in the model-rewarded group did not all imitate all the behaviors. In a nutshell, the question is simply whether a tendency is strong enough - as assessed by statistics - to warrant a conclusion about cause and effect. This logic may seem puzzling to you, and it isnt important that you grasp it to understand the many experiments that are noted throughout this book. Indeed, it isnt mentioned again. The point of mentioning it at all is to underscore that people are far less predictable than chemical reactions and the like, and therefore have to be studied somewhat differently - usually without formulas. 1. 1 Determine appropriate measures based on an operational definition for research tools. Researchers utilize the method of operational definition to better tailor their research. They must know what all of the variables are, how to measure these variables and how they fit into the study. They must make sure that they are actually studying what they say they are studying. The definitions/parameters of the variables must be strictly defined. 1. 2 Select appropriate data collection methods to investigate psychological research problems. The research methods and the way all experimentations are collected must be done in a scientific, logical and ethical manner. Most research methods are either non-experimental, experimental, or quasi-experimental. These are separated by the number and extent of the of controls used. The controls help to account for the effect of variable use on the non-control or experiment group. 1. Examine the differences between descriptive and inferential statistics and their use in the social sciences. When a chart or graph (the shape of a distribution) is described in words, then one is using â€Å"descriptive statistics†. These descriptions can help to summarize and analyze a large amount of data. With inferential statistics researchers/psychologists use the information/data to infer or to make a conclusion based on the dat a from the research. â€Å"Probability† is derived from inferential statistics. How probable is it that a person will act a certain way can be answered through inferential/probability studies. REFERENCES: Aron, A. , Aron, E. , ; Coups, E. (2006). Statistics for psychology (4th ed. ). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/Allyn Bacon. Cowens, J. (2006). The scientific method. Teaching PreK-8, 37(1), 42. Hawthorne, G. (2003). The effect of different methods of collecting data: Mail, telephone and filter data collection issues in utility measurement. Quality of Life Research, 12(8), 1081. McPherson, G. R. (2001). Teaching ; learning the scientific method. The American Biology Teacher, 63(4), 242. .

Five Tips for Landing Business Clients as a Writer

Five Tips for Landing Business Clients as a Writer The definition of writer can be a narrow view (â€Å"I write only women’s fiction†) to a broad view (â€Å"I use words any way people need me to†). I quickly learned to embrace the latter when I took the freelance plunge two and a half years ago, because, frankly, only pitching editors wasn’t adding up to my monthly income goals. This approach has led to a wide variety of contracts: website copy, blogs, social media posts, newsletters, emails, press releases, descriptions for online directories and more. With this approach, I was able to triple my income from 2012 in 2013. Here are five ways you, too, can land writing gigs for businesses that need content now more than ever in this fast-paced, online-heavy life. 1. Create a list of every business you’ve ever written about.Have you interviewed business owners for any of your articles? Then these folks are great people to pitch your other writing services to. Start your email 2. Make a list of businesses you’d like to write for, and pitch them.  Pitching a business owner is not that different from pitching an editor. You introduce yourself and share a couple of ideas, then follow up in a week or two. Start with flattery just like you would an editor, but instead of writing, â€Å"I loved this recent article,† say, â€Å"I love your wine† or whatever product/service they provide. Flattery works. 3. Seek businesses that do not have a blog or newsletter.Content is needed now more than ever, and if a business isn’t blogging or writing a newsletter to their fans, they are missing out on some major benefits. Offer to write one blog or newsletter for free to get your foot in the door, and share some stats about the power of blogging like this article, â€Å"Top Blogging Statistics: 45 Reasons to Blog.† 4. (Gently) point out a flaw in their online presence.Are they posting to Facebook three times a day? Do they still not have a Twitter, Pinterest, or Instagram account? Do they have a dismal online listing score on getlisted.org? Be friendly and flattering at first, but then point out the hole in their online marketing that you’ve found and offer to fill it. I’ve landed several clients this way. 5. Don’t be scared to try something new. Business owners need all kinds of support, so don’t shy away from opportunities that might involve tasks that aren’t necessarily writing related. I once ran a usability testing session for a new tech startup and had absolutely no idea what that even was up until two weeks before I led the group through the developing website. I’ve also taken more photos than I care to remember for social media even though I don’t consider myself a stellar photographer. But you learn as you go and take on each new challenge with professionalism, which will help you establish a great reputation and eventually get businesses seeking you out instead of you constantly hustling for more work. Good luck and tweet me with any questions at @ShawndraRussell.

Management environment and leadership Assignment

Management environment and leadership - Assignment Example ty in capital-intensive industries, an unstable oil cartel, raiders with junk bonds, and the changing demographics of the work-force are among the many factors that have contributed to this shift.   The net result is that doing what was done yesterday, or doing it 5% better, is no longer a formula for success. Major changes are more and more necessary to survive and compete effectively in this new environment. More change always demands more leadership. Motivational and inspirational quotes, poems, posters, motivational speakers and stories, team building and activities, all develop employee motivation for sales and business staff in all kinds of organizations. Motivational and inspirational experiences improve employees attitudes, confidence and performance. Good leadership demands good people-motivation skills and the use of inspirational techniques. Motivational methods are wide-ranging, from inspirational quotes and poems, to team building games and activities, as ice-breakers, warm-ups and exercises for conferences, workshops, meetings and events, which in themselves can often be helpful for staff motivation too. People playing games or competing in teams learn about each other, they communicate better and see each other in a new light. Mutual respect grows. People often enjoy events which include new non-work activities, especially when bosses and superiors take part in the same teams as their junior staff, which also helps cohesiveness and can-do culture. Inspirational quotes, stories and poems all help motivation too. Powerful positive imagery stimulates visualization in the conscious and sub-conscious brain, which encourages self-motivation, developmental behavior, confidence and belief. Playing games enables people to experienc e winning and achieving in a way that their normal work might not. People become motivated to achieve and do better when they have experienced the feelings of success and achievement, regardless of context. This is why