How to Walk on Water Science Experiment and Recipe

Have you ever tried to walk on water? Chances are, you were unsuccessful (and no, ice skating doesnt really count). Why did you fail? Your density is much higher than that of water, so you sank. Yet, other organisms can walk on water. If you apply a bit of science, you can too. This is a terrific science project for kids of all ages. Materials to Walk on Water 100 boxes cornstarch10 gallons of watersmall plastic kiddie pool (or large plastic tub) What You Do Go outside. Technically, you could perform this project in your bathtub, but theres an excellent chance youd clog your pipes. Plus, this project gets messy fast.Pour the corn starch into the pool.Add the water. Mix it in and experiment with your water. Its a good opportunity to experience what its like to get stuck in quicksand (without the danger).When youre done, you can allow the cornstarch to settle to the bottom of the pool, scoop it out, and throw it away. You can hose everyone off  with water. How It Works If you trudge slowly across the water, youll sink, yet if you walk briskly or run, you stay on top of the water. If you walk across the water and stop, youll sink. If you try to yank your foot out of the water, it will get stuck, yet if you pull it out slowly, youll escape. What is happening? Youve essentially made homemade quicksand or a giant pool of oobleck. Corn starch in water displays interesting properties. Under some conditions, it behaves as a liquid, while under other conditions, it acts as a solid. If you punch the mixture, it will be like hitting a wall, yet you can sink your hand or body into it like water. If you squeeze it, it feels firm, yet when you release the pressure, the fluid flows through your fingers. A Newtonian fluid is one which maintains constant viscosity. Corn starch in water is a non-Newtonian fluid because its viscosity changes according to pressure or agitation.  When you apply pressure to the mixture, you increase the viscosity, making it seem harder. Under lower pressure, the fluid is less viscous and flows more readily. Corn starch in water is a shear thickening fluid or dilatant fluid. The opposite effect is seen with another common non-Newtonian fluid — ketchup. The viscosity of ketchup is reduced when it is disturbed, which is why its easier to pour ketchup out of a bottle after you shake it up.

A Case Plan For Children And Families Essay - 1452 Words

According to the Administration for Children Families (2014) case plans are formed by child protection staff and families who work together to identify goals for the family (Laracuente, 2016). A case plan is a written text that explains why the child is considered to be in need of protection, it provides a lucid statement of the functions and responsibilities of all participants in addressing the child s care and security needs (Laracuente, 2016). Furthermore, a case plan must also include stipulations that address the child’s developmental needs and assist them to gain the skills and sense of well-being that will allow them to realize their ability (McBain, Sedky, Kjerulf, 2010). All activities, discussions, and contact with the child and family will be guided by the case plan while it is in effect (McBain, Sedky, Kjerulf, 2010). Case planning is a method used to provide services that identify needs, sets goals and determines the importance of actions that are to be taken by a client or the social service worker. Case planning can, therefore; be described as the process of assessment, organizing, and advocacy for options and services to meet an individual’s needs through communication and available resources (McBain, Sedky, Kjerulf, 2010).Often the goals of the case planning focus on maximizing children s safety and diminishing their risk of harming the purpose of the ongoing intervention, outcomes, and actions required to achieve the goals (Laracuente, 2016). In myShow MoreRelatedThe Mission Of The Child Protection Services Agency1612 Words   |  7 Pagesservices agency is to assess the safety of children, intervene to protect children from harm, strengthen the ability of families to protect their children, and to provide a reunification or an alternative safe family for child (Home - Child Welfare Information Gateway, n.d.). The purpose of a case plan is an arrangement or ground plan that a child protection services professionals’ uses with a family as a road map for a rewarding mediation. Case plans are used for the summary of the findings andRead MoreHow Family Preservation Is A Service Help Keep Children At Home With Their Families1470 Words   |  6 PagesThe case plan, in a sense, does follow the principles of family preservation. Downs, Moore, and McFadden (2009) describe how family preservation is a service to help keep children at home with their families rather than in foster homes or institutions (p.243). This service was a reaction to the earlier practice of family breakup, which pulled children out of unfit homes (Downs et al., 2009, p. 282). The services are designed to support families by improving parenting and family functioning whileRead MoreThe Ethics Of The Texas Foster Care System1141 Words   |  5 Pagesdangers and environment in a child’s home, advocates such as employees of the Department of Family and Protective Services of the State of Texas, have the moral obligation to take into consideration safety of children shelters and foster homes. Morally, advocates for the children should also take into consideration the psychological trauma that the child may or may not experience through being taken away from family and being placed, possibly multiple times, at new places away from everything they knowRead MoreThe Role Of Employee Worker With The Blake Family1413 Words   |  6 Pagesmasters level intern at the Department of Children and Families, there are opportunities to a ssist clients as a professional social worker. During this time, I have been assigned the role of ongoing worker with the Blake family. We have begun to develop a relationship and I have taken an active role to ensure the children are properly cared for and the family has the necessary services that are available to them. This is the first time working with a family in this role and has been a learning experienceRead MoreRandall Thigpen : A Case Manager Professional Interview Essay976 Words   |  4 PagesRandall Thigpen is a case manager professional interviewed for this assignment. The introduction and purpose of the interview was done through the phone, but the questionnaire was sent via email. Randall’s official title is Placement Desk Coordinator. Randall provides services to foster care children in the Arapahoe county DHS in Colorado. Although the Randall does not have a nursing degree, eight years of experience working with foster care children was valuable when prov iding information aboutRead MoreStrengthening The Foster Care and Adoption System Essays1319 Words   |  6 Pagesthe foster care system agencies under the guidelines of the â€Å"Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997† (ASFA) to locate suitable homes and families for foster children, many remain in foster care. â€Å"Too often, Child Welfare policy and the agencies responsible for it – offices that respond to child abuse and neglect, oversee foster care placements, and seek to reunite children with their parents to find adoptive families- are out of sight and out of mind except for fleeting moments of tragedy, suchRead MoreThe Effects of Depression on a Family Essay1469 Words   |  6 PagesA family of five including a father Tom, mother Fran, two sons Arthur 9 and Collin 2, and daughter Jennifer 4 was court ordered to attend therapy from the result on charges of child neglect. The family charges were based on inappropriate living environment and resulted to tempo rary losing custody on Arthur and Jennifer, however Collin remain in protected custody from the results of illness. After the return of Arthur and Jennifer, the children have displayed defiant behavior including constantlyRead MoreChallenges Faced By The Child Welfare System Essay1307 Words   |  6 Pageschallenges which directly impact the well-being of children and their families and the child welfare system. Many of the challenges faced are the results of major societal problems including the high rates of child poverty, family violence, unemployment, substance abuse and racism. These factors have contributed to expanding caseloads, difficulties in recruiting and keeping staff and foster families and the disproportionate representation of children and families of color. The system must acknowledge theseRead MoreSupport Of Family Reunification As A Primary Outcome For Children1473 Words   |  6 Pagesrecent years, there has been much support for family reunification as a prima ry outcome for children in foster care providing them a better alternative than aging out of the foster care system. Some of the reasons in support of family reunification include that children do best when raised in a stable family setting, preventing multiple placements increases safety, permanency and well-being, there are cost benefits in reduction in the number of children in care, and states can avoid funding sanctionsRead MoreThe Roles Of The Social Worker1746 Words   |  7 Pagesrole of the social worker in context of children in need of safeguarding and protection. This assignment will address theory, law and statutory guidelines of practice when protecting and safeguarding very vulnerable children and young people. According to the working together to safeguard children 2010 ‘child protection is a part of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children’ this refers to the activity that is undertaken to protect specific children who are suffering or likely to suffer from

The Contrast of Virginia Woolf and Alice Walker Essay Example For Students

The Contrast of Virginia Woolf and Alice Walker Essay After reading the four essays assigned to this sequence, it becomes interesting to contrast two authors points of view on the same subject. Reading one professional writers rewriting of a portion of another professional writers essay brings out many of each of their characteristics and views. Also, the difference in writing styles could be drastic, or slight. Nevertheless, the writers display how versatile the English language can be. Alice Walker was born in 1944 as a farm girl in Georgia. Virginia Woolf was born in London in1882. They have both come to be highly recognized writers of their time, and they oth have rather large portfolios of work. The scenes the might have grown up seeing and living through may have greatly influenced their views of subjects which they both seem to write about. In her essay In Search of Our Mothers Gardens, Alice Walker speaks first about the untouchable faith of the black women of the post-Reconstruction South. She speaks highly of the faith and undying hope of these women and their families. She even comes to recognize them as saints as she describes their faith as so intense, deep, unconscious, the they themselves were unaware of the richness they held (Walker 94). In a passage in which she speaks about the treatment and social status of the women of the sixteenth century, Woolf explains that a woman who might have had a truly great gift in this time would have surely gone crazy, shot herself, or ended up in some lonely cottage on the outside of town, half witch, half wizard, feared and mocked (Woolf 749). Her use of some of these powerful nominative shows that she feels strongly about what she is writing. Also for her, life growing up and stories she may have heard may have influenced this passage greatly. In her passage she imagines hat it may have been like had William Shakespeare had a sister. She notices how difficult it would be even given the same talents as Shakespeare himself, to follow throughout and utilize them in her life. It is clear after reading further into Woolfs passage that obviously she lived in a different time period, only about fifty years apart though. The way she relates and tells a very similar story with an entirely different setting shows without the reader even knowing that she was born in London as opposed to Walker who was born in the United States. This is evident in her vocabulary alone. Words such as the verb agog or nouns like stew or stockings are not as culturally accepted and used here in the United States. This plays a key role in the way they use contexts to tell stories and get the morals across. Walker, being born a farm girl in Georgia, uses the context of the racial deep South, and its affects on the lives of black women. Woolf, who was born in London, uses the context of William Shakespeare most likely because he is a native legend all over the United Kingdom. Also, what is interesting is the similarities of their grammatical writing styles. As Walker describes the women of the post-Reconstruction South, she uses many literary devices. One abnormally short paragraph, Our mothers and grandmothers, some of them moving to music not yet written. And they waited (Walker 695), which seems very incorrect as far as grammar is concerned, leaves me as a reader puzzled at why she writes this paragraph so isolated. It has some meaning to it without a doubt. Moving to music not yet written is a powerful way to stress how ahead of their time some of these women were. Although, I do not believe that this is a well-written paragraph, my perspective f grammar is far inferior to the writers so I really cannot judge anything but my opinion. Moreover, at the beginning of her essay, Walker begins with what I would most likely call some sort of a journal entry by a man named Jean Toomer. He describes the attitudes and actions he would witness as he walked through the South in this time. .u62cbc85cd8fc6e37f4d817a956d26360 , .u62cbc85cd8fc6e37f4d817a956d26360 .postImageUrl , .u62cbc85cd8fc6e37f4d817a956d26360 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u62cbc85cd8fc6e37f4d817a956d26360 , .u62cbc85cd8fc6e37f4d817a956d26360:hover , .u62cbc85cd8fc6e37f4d817a956d26360:visited , .u62cbc85cd8fc6e37f4d817a956d26360:active { border:0!important; } .u62cbc85cd8fc6e37f4d817a956d26360 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u62cbc85cd8fc6e37f4d817a956d26360 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u62cbc85cd8fc6e37f4d817a956d26360:active , .u62cbc85cd8fc6e37f4d817a956d26360:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u62cbc85cd8fc6e37f4d817a956d26360 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u62cbc85cd8fc6e37f4d817a956d26360 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u62cbc85cd8fc6e37f4d817a956d26360 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u62cbc85cd8fc6e37f4d817a956d26360 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u62cbc85cd8fc6e37f4d817a956d26360:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u62cbc85cd8fc6e37f4d817a956d26360 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u62cbc85cd8fc6e37f4d817a956d26360 .u62cbc85cd8fc6e37f4d817a956d26360-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u62cbc85cd8fc6e37f4d817a956d26360:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: 300 Movie EssayShe builds much of her argument and ideas of the women from many of the statements Toomer makes. Toomer thinks he is realizing the beginning of such strong black spirituality and all the arts which will spawn from it. Walker uses many metaphoric deas such as statements like these, in which she describes the women and their lifestyles: These crazy Saints stared out at the world, wildly, like lunatics or quietly, like suicides; and the God that was in their gaze was as mute as a great stone (Walker 695). She used powerful similes like mute as a great stone, or stared wildly, like lunatics or quietly, like suicides. These characteristics of Walkers writing can be compared to Woolfs rewriting of the same idea in A Room of Ones Own. In chapter three of her essay, which is not fully entered into he text, Woolf carries the same principles into her own context and setting. The fictional story of Shakespeares sister is interesting, inquisitive, and emotional. The struggles of women of this time are the focus of the story. In Woolfs story, it is said that had William Shakespeare had a sister, she perhaps would have been just as gifted, but far from just as accomplished. The struggles she would have been up against would have easily held her down to a point of a depressing stalemate. Woolfs writing style is similar but also different from that of Walker. She describes the sister as just s imaginative, adventurous, and agog to see the would as her brother was. She has a strong vocabulary and can grip the reader with strong emotions. Woolf lacks this perfected ability of description the Walker possesses. Alice Walker uses these literary devices ingeniously. Woolf also uses some of what would be called improper writing as she will cut off thoughts and continue them without proper grammar. For example, notice the jump of thoughts in this sentence. She picked up a book now and then. But then her parents came in and told her to mind the stew and not moon about ith books and papers. (Woolf 749). This pause of periods cuts the thought off and then picks it up again for no apparent reason I can notice. Another broken sentence such as the following does not hide flaws very well. What is true. , so it seemed to me reviewing the story of Shakespeares sister as I had made it, is that any woman born with a great gift in the sixteenth century would certainly have gone crazed, shot herself, or ended her days in some lonely cottage outside the village. (Woolf 749) This statement also seems to have an unnecessary pause also. Whether this style that Virginia Woolf uses is correct or not, it is powerful and it pauses the reader and , most importantly, helps the reader think in exactly the same manner as she was when she wrote it. The pauses she experienced in her thoughts when she wrote the story about the story about the writers sister are simulated and relived when the reader crosses them. Both writers do a fine job of stressing the morals in their writing. The reader can, in Walkers essay, put himself in the first person and imagine the South very easily because of how descriptive she is in her narration. The reader of Woolfs essay clearly can understand and come to realize the unfairness and downright cruelty of the pure neglect of hidden talent among many women throughout time. She does this through simply telling a good story. This perhaps show that Virginia Woolf may have been fond of Walkers work. Woolf chooses to clearly state and agree with the same points Walker makes and shows the ideas in a different light because indeed she is a different person with different attributes. This shows up dominantly in her rewriting of Walkers In Search of Our Mothers Gardens.

The Warning Effects of Catastrophe Narratives

Introduction Many people wonder whether or not catastrophe narratives are useful in alerting the public to the possibility of environmental destructions. An effective presentation has a number of characteristics.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Warning Effects of Catastrophe Narratives specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Such narratives are usually wrought with grim visualizations in relation to the future of humanity. They depict the consequences of natural calamity on human beings. They are perpetual given the fact that perceptions of various natural hazards as catastrophes are part of humanity. Reports regarding natural disasters are rife in modern society. Such narratives take different forms. For instance, such issues as economic collapse and depression, as well as global warming, are common features in these depictions. Other issues, such as nuclear war, massive tsunamis, and a myriad of natural disasters paint present day and future catastrophes. Textual sources going back as early as the nineteenth century seek to present catastrophic events through extensive utilization of stylistic and other language elements. For instance, religious writings are very effective in the illustration of wars and other disastrous events. Consequently, it appears that catastrophic narratives inform the public about the likelihood of environmental destructions in the future. For instance, some of these presentations highlight environmental destruction through locust invasions. In other instances, floods are used to depict the wrath of God. They are also used to illustrate critical and extensive climatic changes. In this paper, the author analyzes the usefulness of catastrophe narratives as far as alerting the public about the possibilities of environmental destructions is concerned. The various features of a particularly effective narrative are highlighted. Two texts and two movies are used in this ana lysis. The Warning Effects of Disaster Narratives in the Context of Selected Texts Overview Artificial and artistic hyperbolism is common in various disaster texts, especially those found in humanistic literature. One can only approximate the actual level of imagination and composition in these narratives. The situation is especially true if the events described in the presentations are comparable to actual happenings in the contemporary world (Rich 21).Advertising Looking for essay on american literature? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In addition, most of these accounts communicate some form of warning to the target audience. In most cases, a high percentage of these catastrophe narratives paint grim images of possible and impending environmental disasters. The events depicted in the texts take into account the sensitive nature of the environment. Basically, disaster illustrations are either fictional or factual. To this en d, they are similar to other forms of narratives in the literary world. However, unlike in conventional accounts, events in catastrophe narratives leave major mental imprints on readers or film watchers (Rich 21). There are similarities between factual and fictional narratives. One of these parallels entails the function of the text. The peculiar relationship between time and history is usually put under the limelight. The development leaves the target audience wondering about the actual occurrence of these events. â€Å"Odds against Tomorrow† as a Catastrophe Narrative The book is an example of a disaster text. It encourages the reader to imagine about the near future (Rich 45). The story revolves around Mitchell Zuckor. The major character is a Wall Street quantitative analyst (Rich 21). Zuckor is gifted with the unique ability of determining the likelihoods of worst-case-scenarios and catastrophic events befalling the New York City. He achieves this through the use of math ematical calculations. Some of the catastrophic events predicted include nuclear wars, earthquakes, human pandemics, tsunamis, financial meltdowns, and terrorist attacks (Rich 21). An outstanding characteristic that makes catastrophe narratives particularly effective in predicting future occurrences is timeliness. The feature is common in this novel. Although the narrative is a fiction, recent events in the world make the story a chilling account of the future. For example, one of the predictions made by Mitchell Zuckor is fulfilled when the city is brought down by a hurricane (Rich 78). The fictional typhoon has some similarities to the disastrous Hurricane Sandy. As such, in spite of the fact that Zuckor’s calculations are grounded on paranoia, it is obvious that they are enhanced by reality. Consequently, the narrative is effective in relation to the communication of environmental destructions. â€Å"Odds against Tomorrow† emphasizes the narrow line between order an d chaos in the contemporary society.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Warning Effects of Catastrophe Narratives specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More A Catastrophic â€Å"The Day after Tomorrow† Just like â€Å"Odds against Tomorrow†, this movie revolves around the premise of an imminent environmental disaster. The theme, together with the sensitivity and timeliness of the situation, makes the narrative an effective means of alerting members of the public (The Day after Tomorrow). In essence, â€Å"The Day After Tomorrow† is a disaster movie. It depicts a situation where global warming triggers an ice age by altering ocean currents. A maverick Paleoclimatologist professor, Jack Hall, has developed a computer model that can predict the events. The simulation is used to warn the public about the impending catastrophe (The Day after Tomorrow). The film takes the artistic liberty of addressing rel evant and significant present day events that may result in environmental destruction (The Day after Tomorrow). The effectiveness of the catastrophe narrative stems from the fact that the film is based on both factual and fictitious accounts. Some of the illustrations appearing in the background to the film are both accurate and convincing. However, the depictions are likely to mislead viewers who lack a deep understanding of climate changes. According to the film, human beings are increasingly facilitating changes in the global climate. A number of human activities are posing grave danger to the environment. Consequently, the risks of unforeseen and abrupt environmental changes increase. There are disagreements between experts with regards to the prevailing climatic system. Ultimately, the film is an effective reminder of environmental destructions. It elicits interesting discussions on the future of humanity. Viewing Natural Disasters â€Å"Through the Arc of the Rainforest† The novel is a mixture of genres. However, messages about future catastrophes in relation to environmental degradation are discernible in the narrative. The events in the story unfold in Brazil. They revolve around the primary character, Kazumasa Ishimaru (Yamashita 17).Advertising Looking for essay on american literature? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Yamashita adopts a very unique style in writing the novel (19). The approach enhances the ability of the text to warn the public about future catastrophes. Such features include ‘emplotment’ and characterization. Some of the major themes addressed in â€Å"Through the Arc of the Rainforest† include migration, globalization, and economic imperialism. Other subjects entail environmental exploitation, techno-determinism, trans-nationalism, and socio-economic inequity. The characters in the novel are drawn from different communities. They originate from Brazil, Japan, and the United States (Yamashita 40). Discovery of the black substance, Matacao, leads to the convergence of people from various parts of the world. The fortune seekers meet at a place in the Brazilian rainforest (Yamashita 41). Subsequent activities in the forest lead to its destruction. The fate of the characters in the novel is tied to the rainforest. The story highlights the issue of environmental d egradation by developing characters that are common in every day contemporary society. The personalities reflect the existence of individuals in modern communities. Over-exploitation of the natural environment is depicted as having devastating outcomes for humanity. If the surrounding suffers, people are bound to be affected negatively in the long run. The readers can see themselves in the characters used in the story. Disaster in â€Å"Trouble the Water† â€Å"Trouble the Water† is a documentary film reflecting the struggles of a couple trying to survive a troubled past. In addition, the movie highlights, among others, occurrences in an abandoned community and a ‘failed’ levee (Trouble the Water). In the film, viewers are taken through the destructions caused by Hurricane Katrina. The story is told from the perspective of an aspiring rap artiste, Rivers Kimberly Roberts. Like the other catastrophe narratives reviewed in this paper, â€Å"Trouble the Wate r† warns the public about the issue of environmental destruction brought about by hurricanes. The point of view adopted by the characters is especially effective in communicating this message. For instance, Rivers turns to her faith when the waters appear to be destroying the community (Trouble the Water). Eventually, everybody seems to cling on ‘survival’ and hope. Ultimately, viewers are convinced that prevention of such situations is better than trying to deal with them when they occur. Conclusion Catastrophe narratives are efficient means of creating public awareness in relation to environmental destruction. The styles adopted by the various authors in delivering these messages, especially timeliness, enhance their effectiveness. The themes covered also inform the impacts these narratives have on the audience. Works Cited Rich, Nathaniel. Odds against Tomorrow, New York: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 2013. Print. The Day after Tomorrow. Ex. Prod. Roland Emmerich . Toronto and Montreal, Canada: Centropolis Entertainment. 2004. DVD. Trouble the Water. Ex. Prods. Tia Lessin and Carl Deal. Alexandria, Louisiana, USA: Elsewhere Films. 2008. DVD. Yamashita, Karen. Through the Arc of the Rain Forest. 3rd ed. 1990. Los Angeles, California: Coffee House Press. Print. This essay on The Warning Effects of Catastrophe Narratives was written and submitted by user Camren D. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Managing across culture Essays - Cross-cultural Psychology

Managing across culture Essays - Cross-cultural Psychology Managing across culture Final choice of location Group members: Introduction A place to start a new operation has been looking by a multinational Corporation (MNC) from the food & beverages industry. This MNC already has main operations in France, USA, India and New Zealand. To select the location of new operation, national cultural values, optimization of productivity, efficiency, market penetration and cultural value-added should be taking into account. Hofstedes model was used to analyze the cultural differences between the potential new locations (Brazil and South Africa) and the existing locations. 1.Hofstedes model analysis As seen from the bar chart (Appendix1.1) Brazil, South Africa, France, USA, India and New Zealand show many differences on each dimensions of Hofstedes model. 1.1 Power Distance Power distance is defined as the extent to which the less powerful members of institutions and organizations within a country expect and accept that power is distributed unequally. It has to do with the fact that a societys inequality is endorsed by the followers as much as by the leaders. In corporations, power distance can indicate the social distance between employees and employer. India achieved the highest score compared with 5 other countries which is 77. This was followed by Brazil and then France at 69 and 68 respectively. In contrast, New Zealand, USA, and South Africa scored 22, 40, and 49 which are quite low. Consequently, power distance is far in India, Brazil, and France, which reflect that inequalities amongst people are acceptable in these societies. In that countries, the privilege of supervisors to be considered as a problem of course which significantly contribute to the implementation of authority and those features clearly not helpful to build harmonious relations between employees and managers. (Laura M. Milner, Dale Fodness, 1993). 1.2 Individualism- collectivism The fundamental issue addressed by this dimension is the degree of interdependence a society maintains among its members. It has to do with whether peoples self-image is defined in terms of I or We. In Individualist societies people are only supposed to look after themselves and their direct family. In Collectivist societies, people belong to in groups that take care of them in exchange for unquestioning loyalty. Brazil and India gained low points in individualism dimension indicate that these societies are more collectivism, in which countries employee depend more on psychological contracts with the group. However, individual freedom and individual achievement are greatly important in the countries with high score on this dimension such as USA, New Zealand, France, and South Africa. The countries often consider encouragement and awareness of individual competitions. 1.3 Masculinity- femininity The masculinity societies will be driven by competition, achievement and success, with success being defined by the winner or best-in-the-field while in femininity countries, dominant values are caring for others and quality of life that is the sign of success and standing out from the crowd is not admirable. South Africa got highest mark on this dimension at 63, followed closely by USA with one lower, and then New Zealand and India (58, 56 respectively) . In these countries, behavior in work is based on the shared values that people should strive to be the best they can be and that the winner takes all. Also, people live in order to work, managers are expected to be decisive and assertive, the emphasis is on equity, competition and performance and conflicts are resolved by fighting them out. By contract, with a score of 43, France has a somewhat Feminine culture. At face value this may be indicated by its famous welfare system, the 35-hour working week, five weeks of holidays per ye ar and its focus on the quality of life. 1.4 Uncertainty avoidance This dimension is the extent to which the members of a culture feel threatened by ambiguous or unknown situations and have beliefs and institutions to try to avoid these. France and Brazil got high score on this dimension, which is 86 and 76 respectively, in those people are hard- working and supervisors tend to control employees strictly. However, in countries with low uncertainty avoidance, such as New Zealand (49), South Africa (49), USA (46),India (40), uncertainty in life can be accepted easier and people can accept more suggestion and critics. Furthermore, employees in the low uncertainty avoidance countries

Toltec Art, Sculpture and Architecture

Toltec Art, Sculpture and Architecture The Toltec civilization dominated Central Mexico from its capital city of Tula from about 900 to 1150 A.D.. The Toltecs were a warrior culture, who dominated their neighbors militarily and demanded tribute. Their gods included Quetzalcoatl, Tezcatlipoca, and Tlaloc. Toltec artisans were skilled builders, potters, and stonemasons and they left behind an impressive artistic legacy.    Motifs in Toltec Art The Toltecs were a warrior culture with dark, ruthless gods who demanded conquest and sacrifice. Their art reflected this: there are many depictions of gods, warriors, and priests in Toltec art. A partially destroyed relief at Building 4 depicts a procession leading towards a man dressed as a feathered serpent, most likely a priest of Quetzalcoatl. The most iconic piece of surviving Toltec art, the four massive Atalante statues at Tula, depict fully-armored warriors with traditional weapons and armor, including the atltl dart-thrower. The Looting of the Toltec Unfortunately, much Toltec art has been lost. Comparatively, much art from the Maya and Aztec cultures survives to this day, and even the monumental heads and other sculptures of the ancient Olmec can still be appreciated. Any Toltec written records, similar to the Aztec, Mixtec and Maya codices, have been lost to time or burned by zealous Spanish priests. In about 1150 A.D., the mighty Toltec city of Tula was destroyed by invaders of unknown origin, and many murals and finer pieces of art were destroyed. The Aztecs held the Toltecs in high regard, and periodically raided the ruins of Tula to carry off stone carvings and other pieces to be used elsewhere. Finally, looters from the colonial period to the modern day have stolen priceless works for sale on the black market. In spite of this persistent cultural destruction, enough examples of Toltec art remain to attest to their artistic mastery. Toltec Architecture The great culture that immediately preceded the Toltec in Central Mexico was that of the mighty city of Teotihuacn. After the fall of the great city in about 750 A.D., many of the descendants of the Teotihuacanos participated in the founding of Tula and the Toltec civilization. Therefore, it is no surprise that the Toltecs borrowed heavily from Teotihuacan architecturally. The main square is laid out in a similar pattern, and Pyramid C at Tula, the most important one, has the same orientation as the ones at Teotihuacn, which is to say a 17 ° deviation towards the east. Toltec pyramids and palaces were impressive buildings, with colorfully painted relief sculptures adorning the fringes and mighty statues holding up the roofs. Toltec Pottery Thousands of pieces of pottery, some intact but mostly broken, have been found at Tula. Some of these pieces were made in far distant lands and brought there through trade or tribute, but there is evidence that Tula had its own pottery industry. The later Aztecs thought highly of their skills, claiming that Toltec artisans taught the clay to lie. The Toltecs produced Mazapan-type pottery for internal use and export: other types discovered at Tula, including Plumbate and Papagayo Polychrome, were produced elsewhere and arrived at Tula through trade or tribute. The Toltec potters produced a variety of items, including pieces with remarkable faces. Toltec Sculpture Of all of the surviving pieces of Toltec art, the sculptures and stone carvings have best survived the test of time. In spite of repeated looting, Tula is rich in statues and art preserved in stone. Atalantes: perhaps the best-known surviving piece of Toltec art are the four Atalantes, or stone statues, which grace the top of Pyramid B at Tula. These tall human statues represent high-ranking Toltec warriors.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Chac Mool: Seven complete or partial Chac Mool style statues were found at Tula. These sculptures, depicting a reclining man holding a receptacle, were used for sacrifices, including human sacrifices. Chac Mools are associated with the cult of Tlaloc.Relief and Friezes: The Toltec were great artists when it came to reliefs and friezes. One excellent surviving example is the Coatepantli, or Wall of Serpents of Tula. The elaborate wall, which delineated the sacred precinct of the city, is richly decorated with geometric designs and carved images of snakes devouring human skeletons. Other reliefs and friezes include the partial frieze from building 4 at Tula, which once depicted a procession towards a man dressed as a plumed serpent, probably a priest of Quetzalcoat l. Sources Charles River Editors. The History and Culture of the Toltec. Lexington: Charles River Editors, 2014.Cobean, Robert H., Elizabeth Jimà ©nez Garcà ­a and Alba Guadalupe Mastache. Tula. Mexico: Fondo de Cultura Economica, 2012.Coe, Michael D and Rex Koontz. 6th Edition. New York: Thames and Hudson, 2008Davies, Nigel. The Toltecs: Until the Fall of Tula. Norman: the University of Oklahoma Press, 1987.Gamboa Cabezas, Luis Manuel. El Palacio Quemado, Tula: Seis Decadas de Investigaciones. Arqueologia Mexicana XV-85 (May-June 2007). 43-47

Interactive and E-Marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Interactive and E-Marketing - Essay Example The researcher of this essay focuses on the creation of a proposal that is aimed to launch an online company selling high quality headphones delivering all around the world. The company needs to provide the product through the websites that is interactive. E-business, which is discussed in the essay, is a business which allows the customers to sell trade and barter over the Web. The researcher also duggests the company’s policy, operations, technology and ideology that defines it's business model. B2C is a company based in Dubai. The products that are sold by this firm include headphones, woofers and speakers. Despite the fact that the company has been operating well, the researcher suggests that the trends and changes in the market of B2C company has called for changes. The fundamentals to the proposals success is the development of Four issues that the researcher describe and aims to achieve: attracting 200000 customers per month, converting 2000 of the 200000 of monthly vis itors into paying customers, ensure high levels of satisfaction and loyalty and securing financial funding enough to endorse a celebrity advertising as it is aimed at young people. These key proposals mentioned are highly dependent on securing a substantial budget justifying the proposal in commercial terms. The researcher then presents the establishment of the marketing plan of the B2C company, creates models for it's website and provides the detailed analysis of problems that may occure and compares the strengths and weaknesses of the suggested plan. Site design brief The design of the website will be done using the latest technologies that will enable it to advertise the services that are involved. Site architecture The site is organized in a way that there is a common entry point which is the home page. This makes it easy for the clients to identify the location they are in immediately they visit the web site. The three branches thatare the web services, online marketing and complain are the major services that the company offers. From the home page, the client can easily navigate to these sites with ease. In any of the said pages, one can encounter problems or may need to pay for that particular service; the third level therefore allows this ability of the web site (Baker, 1990). KEY COMPETITORS There two companies that sells the same product online and are our key competitors. These are Drebeats and Dennheiser. BUSINESS MODEL (STRATEGY) The company will adopt various strategies/models so that they are competitive in the marke t. This section will look at the various models that can be used. A business model is a method that is adopted by a business in order to sustain its activities. This is a model that will enable a business to get revenue. The Internet commerce is the most complex business that is hard to know the way money/revenue is made. 1 Merchant model / e-tailor model The site will provide visitors with arrange of headphones. Such a model is underpinned by generating a high level of traffic to the site and a high level of conversions. The types of merchant model can be in form of e-tailer which is an independent entity operating online or click and mortar which present a replica of traditional brick and mortar storefront (ler, & Swanson, 2004). 2 advertising model Revenue will be generated by selling space on site pages. Such space will be in demand by advertiser based on the content of the page which will be relevant information and article’s for the target market http://insight.think-tr ain.com/?p=22 Informediary The information concerning customers and their way of consumption are gathered and analysed to formulate market target. The BCB business will enter into an agreement with firms that act as infomediaries so that the buyers of the headphones will be assisted by the firm to know more about the product. Such firms can be offering other services. For example emails or social site gives space where the business premises who want to advertise will put their advert banner. This ad network always gathers information about the customers that can be used by the sellers to maximize market strategy. Another strategy is incentive marketing where a system is put in place to track the customer loyalty and reward them for example giving them gift of point that can be redeemed after some time (Sullivan & Liu 2011). AFFILIATES The model filters the content of the web page and gives the customer information on specific task for example the buying

Inference paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Inference paper - Essay Example ormal intuition is the essential property of our sensibility by means of which alone objects are given to us, and if this sensibility represents not things in themselves but their appearances, then we shall easily comprehend†¦ that all external objects of our world of sense must necessarily coincide in the most rigorous way with the propositions of geometry.† Kant further claims that this epistemological conclusion implies that objects in space are only representations of human sensuous intuition, as well as that â€Å"Pure space is not at all a quality of things in themselves†. This paper will seek to expound on the meaning of Kant’s claim, as well as to offer rejection of this claim. Kant’s arguments are mainly aimed at encouraging an appreciation for the limitations of human knowledge. He argues that it is impossible to have any knowledge beyond the empirical, which means that for human minds, transcendental knowledge is not real but ideal. These constraints to transcendental knowledge, in turn, have two a priori sources, in which the mind possesses sensibility or receptive capacity and understanding or conceptual capacity. Kant notes that sensibility refers to the means through which human understanding accesses objects. He further argues that synthetic a priori judgment in mathematics and geometry is possible because space can be considered as an a priori type of sensibility, which means that the claims of mathematics can be known with a priori certainty only where this experience of objects is our experience’s necessary mode. In addition, Kant also argues that without the ability to represent objects spatially, it is not possible to experience them. In this case, without delineating the space that an object occupies, it is not possible to grasp it. Without spatial representation, human sensations would remain undifferentiated, which would make it impossible to ascribe specific objects with properties. Kant also argues that time is a necessary

Self Managed Teams Essay Example for Free

Self Managed Teams Essay Self Managed Teams Introduction Self-managed teams (SMTs) are relatively small groups of employees given substantial responsibility for planning organizing, scheduling and production of work products or service. SMTs however are more than just another way of directing groups. The concept, according to John Simmons, involves nothing less than, the complete restructuring of the jobs that people does. Thus, Self-managed work teams are groups of employees tasked with monitoring and reviewing a product or process in a firm and coming up with solutions to problems they encounter. Self-organized semi-autonomous small group whose members determine, plan, and manage their day-to-day activities and duties (in addition to providing other supportive functions such as production scheduling, quality assurance, and performance appraisal) under reduced or no supervision. Also called self directed team, self-managed natural work team, or self managed team. Self managed teams are workers who have been organized into teams on the basis of relatively complete task functions. They make decisions on a wide range of issues, often including such traditional management prerogatives as: * Who will work on which machines or work operations * How to address inter-personal difficulties within the group * How to resolve quality problems, and so forth. Also, these teams usually consist of five to fifteen employees, who: * Produce an entire product instead of sub-units * Learn all tasks and rotate from job to job * Take over vacation scheduling, order materials etc. Such groups are self-regulating and work without direct supervision. Normally, a manager acts as the team leader and is responsible for defining the goals, methods, and functioning of the team. However, interdependencies and conflicts between different parts of an organization may not be best addressed by hierarchical models of control. Self-managed teams use clear boundaries to create the freedom and responsibility to accomplish tasks in an efficient manner. The main idea of the self-managed team is that the leader does not operate with positional authority. In a traditional management role, the manager is responsible for providing instruction, onducting communication, developing plans, giving orders, and disciplining and rewarding employees, and making decisions by virtue of his or her position. In this organizational model, the manager delegates specific responsibility and decision-making authority to the team itself, in the hope that the group will make better decisions than any individual. Neither a manager nor the team leaders make independent d ecisions in the delegated responsibility area. Decisions are typically made by consensus in successful self-managed teams, by voting in very large or formal teams, and by hectoring and bullying in unsuccessful teams. The team as a whole is accountable for the outcome of its decisions and actions. Self-managed teams operate in many organizations to manage complex projects involving research, design, process improvement, and even systemic issue resolution, particularly for cross-department projects involving people of similar seniority levels. While the internal leadership style in a self-managed team is distinct from traditional leadership and operates to neutralize the issues often associated with traditional leadership models, a self-managed team still needs support from senior management to operate well. Self-managed teams may be interdependent or independent. Of course, merely calling a group of people a self-managed team does not make them either a team or self-managed. As a self-managed team develops successfully, more and more areas of responsibility can be delegated, and the team members can come to rely on each other in a meaningful way Objective: The objectives of using SMTs are to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of specific tasks. This approach achieves these objectives by having SMT team members look beyond their individual task concerns, to the needs of specific groups and the entire organization. Benefits and uses of SMTs: †¢ Reduced absenteeism †¢ Increased productivity †¢ Increased employee satisfaction, morale cohesiveness †¢ Multi-skilled workforce benefit †¢ Greater level of personal responsibility to the companys targets †¢ Unique flexibility in job functions †¢ 100% of team members all pulling to a common goal †¢ A significant reduction in day-to-day problems †¢ Awards for achievement are shared equally The most beneficial aspects of self-managed teams are that they are management innovations that are based on an accurate understanding of human nature and motivation. They eliminate bureaucratic/pyramidal values and replace them with humanistic/democratic value systems. They provide a work climate in which everyone has a chance to grow and mature as individuals, as members of a team by satisfying their own needs, while working for the success of the organization. â€Å"Self managed teams are closely associated with the concept of employee empowerment which entails the employee to have the requisite authority and resources required by him to carry out his responsibilities. Roadblocks and risks of SMTs Three major SMT roadblocks and risks are listed: 1. The difficulty of rescinding the system, once it is established and experienced by the worker. 2. Varying levels and degrees of resistance by various elements in the organization. 3. Undue peer pressure and its consequences. How Self managed teams differ from Normal Work Team or group A self managed team differs from a normal work team or group in one essential way that the processes or the means to achieve the team goal are designed and decided by the team itself. Given the stiff competition at the global level, all organizations have been forced to focus on developing their human capital. Difference between Self directed team and Self managed teams Work Group A group of people working together Team A group of people working together toward a common goal Self-Managed Team A group of people working together in their own ways toward a common goal which is defined outside the team (Example James River Corporation’s Kendallville Plant ALPHA team. They manufacture cardboard b oxes as defined by executive leadership. Team does their own work scheduling, training, rewards and recognition, etc. Self-Directed Team A group of people working together in their own ways toward a common goal which the team defines (as above, but team also handles compensation, discipline, and acts as a profit center by defining its own future) Before anyone would try to implement something as aggressive as a self-managed (and subsequently self-directed) team, they should know and be able to articulate the expected benefits. A mature self-managed team, when compared to typical hierarchical management, would have measured results showing: How to Manage a Self-Directed Team Self-directed teams are quietly but effectively altering the landscape of corporate business management. Top level managers are finding that self-directed teams are 30 to 50 percent more productive than traditionally structured teams. Step 1 Keep the focus on the whole process. To manage a self-directed team its important to redirect focus on the series of individual steps, as in the Taylor model, to the entirety of the process. By focusing on the entire process, each member of the team is constantly aware of how they and the other members are contributing on a daily basis to accomplish the overall task. Step 2 Gradually transfer management skills and roles. Part of your job as a manager of a self-directed team is to transfer your skills and roles as a manager to the team. The team as a whole needs to receive managerial training. As they do so, the team must decide as a group on how to delegate and divide different roles. You need to manage this process to make sure that it runs smoothly. Step 3 Meet regularly. As a manager of self-directed team you need to reconsider your own role. Its important for you to think of yourself more as a floating member of that team, or as a team consultant, rather than as a supervisor or a manager. If there is anything that you are still supervising it is the implementation of the teams goals in terms of the companys overall mission and vision. Step 4 Give the team an opportunity to correct itself. In cases where a team is under-performing or making errors, you need to manage the situation by bringing the problem to the teams attention and soliciting possible action plans from the team to correct the problem. If the problems persist you should try to re-frame the teams focus or mission. Only as a last resort should you change the membership of the self-directed team. My Learning: Not all groups are teams Some people also use the word team when they mean employees. A sales team is a common example of this loose or perhaps euphemistic usage, though interdependencies exist in organization, and a sales team can be let down by poor performance on other parts of the organization upon which sales depend, like delivery, after-sales service, etc.. However sales staff is a more precise description of the typical arrangement. From Groups to Teams Groups develop into teams in four stages. The four stages are: dependency and inclusion, counter dependency and fighting, trust and structure, and work. In the first stage, group development is characterized by members dependency on the designated leader. In the second stage, the group seeks to free itself from its dependence on the leader and groups have conflicts about goals and procedures. In the third stage, the group manages to work through the conflicts. And in the last stage, groups focus on team productivity Recommendations and Suggestions: 1. To create a team, a demand for performance is more important than team-building exercises. You can get a group together and train them in teamwork for weeks but they won’t be a team until they have a common understanding of the need to perform. First comes the strategic plan, then the tasks needed to carry out the plan, finally, teams are formed to do the tasks. 2. Team basics are often overlooked. Team basics are: size, purpose, goals, skills, approach, and accountability. 3. Teams at the top are the most difficult. Executives have complex, long-term challenges, heavy demands on their time. 4. There’s no need to throw out the hierarchy. Teams are the best way to integrate across structural boundaries. They are the best way to design and energize core processes. 5. Teams permit performance and learning at the same time.

ANALYSE THE WHOLE I T CONFIGURATION OF A BIG COMPANY Essay -- essays r

ANALYSE THE WHOLE I T CONFIGURATION OF A BIG COMPANY 1. Introduction In today’s competitive market the firms are bound to reduce their costs and also maximize their profits. The only solution to achieve this objective is the usage of the Computer Systems, which are far more than computational and text processing tools. With their rapid expansion, and certainly via the Networks people can exchange and also sharing a variety of information, regardless of how far they are each other. The introduction of a new technology into a work environment has effectively increased the firm’s investment and also its productivity. Computers are not truly capable of intelligence and independent problem solving, but they become, as they are programmable from the human workers. Nevertheless, the new technology does not necessarily need to replace the workers in a workplace, but to help them to increase their productivity. Despite of these technological advantages, the Information Technology creates a gap between the rich people and poor, as the habitation of a computer system in our days, requires certain skills and money to spent. The company that it was selected for further analysis, as it concerns the current Information Technology configuration, is the P.P.C of Greece. 2. Description of the current configuration of P.P.C 2.1 The Mainframe In the early 1950s , the mid size and large companies were using the mainframes, which they occupy entire rooms for their existence. They are large and powerful computers and also very expensive. A professional staff is needed for the operation of those systems and also some special environmental conditions must be carefully set, such temperature and humidity in order that such a machine will functioning properly. Since 1990, the P.P.C’s Computer Center has one IBM’s mainframe R42 – 9672, with 512MB Real Memory and it is consisted of four processors with total speed 72,8Mips each. All these processors are connected, via 20 Escon technology parallel channels. There are also three large ranges RAMAC –RAID5, with 152 (DASDY) volumes in total, where each of them has a 1,89GB capacity. So the total capacity is 287.28GB. The current protocol that it is used is the Standard Network Architecture, with local controllers IBM-3174 and its duty is to set up certain rules for formatting and regulating the speed of the data, that they are t... ...an integrated database management system, which can distribute information, via a network and satisfies the needs of the top-level management within a company. The scope of such a system is to deliver to the managers the timely and relevant information, for the needs of the whole organization. The managers have access to the whole database anytime from their usual PC’s and there is also available information, which may be helpful for some important decisions to be taken very fast. The development of this system requires, very good analysis of the specific needs of the company, and also very professed and skilled programmers to develop it. 4. Conclusion By a large it seems that P.P.C is a well organized, as it concerns the Information Technology systems, but there is always some space for changes and ideas. Especially when we have to deal with the modern technologies, where every day something new is happened or new software is developed, or a new hardware is come up in the market. So, every big firm or organization, just like P.P.C in our case, must always beware of the technological improvements and upgrade the sooner its current Information Technology systems with new ones.

Preschool Observation Essay

My observation was October 18, 2011. It was about 8:00 in the morning when I began my observation. I went to Baptist Health Preschool. The observation enjoyable than the last. Just to see how active the children are at this age. The children had great imaginations when they were playing. The preschooler that I observed was three years old, had blonde hair, blue eyes she had on a red shirt, black pants, pink shoes and was female. She had no limitations or physical and made her a ghost for Halloween in the art area. When the caregiver asked about the colors she knew all the colors that the caregiver asked her. The setting was a very warm and welcoming environment. This classroom environment prepared the children for kindergarten with charts of numbers, days of the week, colors and shapes the children’s names were placed in an individual section of on the cubby shelf for their blankets. The room had a variety of bright colors which display a parent information board, daily schedule, labeled learning centers. They had the learning center in the right middle by the wall. The music area on the left on by the wall in the corner. The science area was in the middle of the room. The art area was in the right corner by the wall and supplies and also the walls had many pictures of the children creative art work. The play area was in the other left corner by the wall this area includes a play stove and refrigerator with plastic food. On the wall were different pieces of clothing that represented various professions and cultures. The supplies and also the walls had many pictures of the children creative art work. The floor was half different color carpet and half wooden.

Investment in the Indian Education Sector Essay

Education is the key to unlocking and building lasting value in a robust economy. For any country to grow and prosper, a well-positioned educated young population is the fundamental requirement to meet the demands of an increasingly global economy and productive value creation. India has amongst the largest student population in the world and a low literacy level of 74. 04% (2011)1. According to census 2011 figures, over 35. 3% of the 1. 21 billion people are between the age group 0-14 years. Additionally, there is shortage of employable manpower in various industry segments. In order to meet this existing and emergent demand, there is huge need of investments in the Indian education sector. Currently, education is primarily handled by the government through its infrastructure and budget outlays. But given the small budget outlays and complex regulatory structure, supply is lagging far behind the demand of education. Expenditure on Education as %age of GDP 6000 GDP in thousnad Crores 5000 3. 64 4000 3000 3. 36 2000 1000 0 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2,098 2,261 2,538 2,878 3,282 3,779 3. 51 3. 45 4,321 4,933 3. 81 3. 74 3. 80 3. 70 3. 60 3. 50 3. 40 % expendutire on education 3. 78 3. 78 3. 90 3. 30 3. 20 3. 10 Source: Ministry of Human resource and Development (MHRD), Government of India REGULATION India’s tightly controlled regulatory structure is the primary reason for shortage of quality education institutions. Being in â€Å"Concurrent list†, education is being governed by both Central and State government with huge variations amongst the state regulations. Currently, the government regulates who you can teach, what you can teach them and what you can charge them. Some of the key bodies regulating education in India are:? Schooling o Department of School Education and Literacy – MHRD o Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) o Various State Boards o National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) 1 Census of India, 2011 Page 3 A research report on Investment in Indian Education Sector ? Higher Education o Department of Higher Education – MHRD o University Grants Commission( UGC) o All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) o Statutory Councils ? Medical Council of India (MCI) ? Bar Council of India (BCI) ? National Council of Teacher Education (NCTE) Voluntary Education and Skill Development o National Council for Vocational Training (NCVT) o National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) ? In order to overcome this overlapping nature of various governing bodies especially in higher education, government is planning to come up with National Commission for Higher Education and Research (NCHER). This commission would work as a single regulatory body which would determine, co-ordinate and maintain standards in promotion of higher education and research. It will subsume regulatory bodies such as UGC, NCTE and AICTE, thus making the process more streamlined. KEY POLICY/ACT ? Foreign Educational Institutions(FEIs) o Allows FEIs to setup multi-disciplinary campuses and award degrees o Mandates FEIs to reinvest surplus from Indian operations o Mandates FEIs to invest at least 51% of capital expenditure required o Regulates the admission process, fee structure, period of operation of FEIs Right to Education o Makes access to primary education a fundamental right o Mandates 25% reservation for underprivileged students in schools? BUDGET 2011 HIGHLIGHTS ? ? ? ? ? Allocated an amount of Rs 52,057 Crores for universalizing access to secondary education Allocated an amount of Rs 21,000 Crores for Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan Increased the total allocation by 24% over the previous year Lack in allocation of funds for Teacher improvement and training Lacked emphasis on the K-12 sector in terms of school improvement, quality control etc. EDUCATION IN INDIA Indian education sector has witnessed a series of changes in the last few years, which resulted in a significant increase in market size of the education industry. With economic growth and enhanced technology it has become necessary to develop the Indian education sector. Funds are a major concern in the market to meet this demand. The government has taken many initiatives for the development of education infrastructure which needs to be supplemented led by private players. The government has also opened the doors for foreign universities by passing Foreign Educational Institution (Regulation of Entry and Operation) Bill, 2010, which will help in shaping the education industry structure specially pertaining of higher education in India. A research report on Investment in Indian Education Sector About 185,000 Indians study overseas and spend USD 4 billion annually. This is almost 10% of the private spend on education, coming from a very small 0. 001% segment of the student population. A number of these students are now returning to India after completing their studies, as job markets in India are more attractive, especially in contrast to weak macro scenarios in the western markets. Entry of leading foreign institutions will enable some of this USD 4 billion spend to stay in India, and also provide a much needed boost to quality. STRUCTURE Indian education system can be divided into formal and informal segments which are further divided into sub-segments. Formal education segment broadly comprises schools and higher education institutes. Schools often classified as K-12(Kindergarten to 12th) caters to ‘3-17 years’ age group. While higher education includes graduate, diploma, professional and post-graduation courses caters to ’18-22 years’ and above age group. On the other hand, informal education segment comprises of preschools, multimedia, ICT, vocational training, books and coaching classes. This segment is free from regulation as opposed to highly regulated formal education segment. Schools (K-12) Formal Higher Education Preschools Indian Education System Multimedia ICT Non-formal Vocational training Books Coaching classes Page 5 A research report on Investment in Indian Education Sector INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS India is home to several well acclaimed International Schools and is increasing rapidly. This demand has been fuelled by parents looking for a new system of education which is more interesting and less stressful. Also, large number of NRIs resettling in India is also contributing to this demand. Being in India these schools have to adhere to certain requirements of the Indian national system irrespective of the examination system adopted by them. Most of the international schools opt for the International Baccalaureate (IB) Board. However, there are other examination systems like the General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) and General Certificate of Education (GCE) examination systems which are also present. The IB is a recognized leader in the field of international education. It is a non-profit, mission-driven foundation that offers three programs for students aged 3 to 19. ? ? ? Primary Years Programme (PYP) Middle Years Programme (MYP) Diploma Programme -For students aged 3 to 12 -For students aged 11 to 16 -For students aged 16 to 19 In India, most international schools offer IB Diploma Programme. In this students study six courses at higher level or standard level. Students must choose one subject from each of groups 1 to 5, thus ensuring breadth of experience in languages, social studies, experimental sciences and mathematics. The sixth subject may be an arts subject chosen from group 6, or the student may choose another subject from groups 1 to 5. Additionally, the programme has three core requirements that are included to broaden the educational experience and challenge students to apply their knowledge and understanding. The â€Å"extended essay† is a requirement for students to engage in independent research through an in-depth study of a question relating to one of the subjects they are studying. â€Å"Theory of knowledge† is a course designed to encourage each student to reflect on the nature of knowledge by critically examining different ways of knowing (perception, emotion, language and reason) and different kinds of knowledge (scientific, artistic, mathematical and historical). â€Å"Creativity, action, service† requires that students actively learn from the experience of doing real tasks beyond the classroom. Students can combine all three components or do activities related to each one of them separately. Some of the International Schools in India:? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Aditya Birla World Academy-Mumbai American Embassy School- New Delhi Amity Global School-New Delhi D Y Patil International School-Mumbai and Nagpur Dhirubhai Ambani International SchoolMumbai GD Goenka World School-Gurgoan Indus International School-Bangalore, Hyderabad and Pune KiiT International School-Bhubaneswar Pathways School-Gurgoan, Noida and NewDelhi Stonehill International School-Bangalore Sharad Pawar International School-Pune Doon School -Dehradun Page 6 A research report on Investment in Indian Education Sector ANALYSIS OF VARIOUS SEGMENTS BASED ON KEY PARAMETERS. Growth Prospect Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Regulated No Yes Yes No No No No No Scalable Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No No Possibility to Create Value Yes Yes Yes Yes No No No No Preschool Schools(K-12) Higher Education Multimedia ICT Coaching Classes Vocational Training Books GROWTH DRIVERS ? ? Demographic advantage o As per Census 2011 ,35. 3% of the Indian population is under the age of 14 Increasing awareness o Increase in awareness towards education as a priority and essential tool for career growth o Increase in job opportunities and salaries offered making investment in education prudent Human Resource driven economy o Increase in  the demand for an educated skilled workforce by services sector o Share of service sector in GDP increased from 30% in 1950 to 55% in 2007. Technology aided delivery o Increase in penetration of technology resulting in virtual learning and education delivery New employment avenues o Newer employment avenues such as KPO, LPO, retail, aviation, animation etc. demanding highly skilled manpower ? ? ? INDUSTRY FORECAST SCHOOLING. Segment Pre-School K-12 Tutorial Books Stationery Education CD-ROMs Multimedia in School Total 2008 1,200 21,000 5,000 1,700 1,380 120 25 30,425 CAGR 20%-25% 5%-10% 8%-13% 5%-10% 5%-10% 25%-30% 60%-70% 2013 3,500 30,800 8,000 2,400 2,000 390 320 47,410 CAGR 10%-15% 5%-10% 5%-10% 3%-8% 3%-8% 20%-25% 50%-60% 2018 5,800 43,200 11,800 3,000 2,600 1,100 3,300 70,800 (Figures in USD million) Page 7 A research report on Investment in Indian Education Sector HIGHER EDUCATION. Segment Higher Education Preparatory Total 2008 6,700 1,600 30,425 CAGR 8%-13% 13%-18% 2013 11,200 3,200 47,410 CAGR 7%-12% 10%-15% 2018 18,100 5,900 70,800 (Figures in USD million) VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND SKILL DEVELOPMENT Segment Child skill enhancement IT training E-learning Finishing school Vocational Teacher training Total 2008 740 195 45 25 1,500 15 2,520 CAGR 20%-25% 35%-45% 35%-45% 50%-60% 15%-20% 50%-60% 2013 2,200 1,050 240 235 3,100 140 6,965 CAGR 17%-22% 33%-38% 33%-38% 45%-55% 10%-15% 45%-55% 2018 5,600 4,700 1,100 1,800 6,200 1,100 20,500 (Figures in USD million) Source: Technopak report on India Education Sector INVESTMENT SCENARIO With an education network of more than one million schools and 20,000 higher-education institutes, the market size of the Indian education system is estimated at more than US$40 billion2 (2009). However, inadequate infrastructure has placed pressure on the sector’s overall development. Education sector is unable to cope with growing market demand and global competition due to constrained investments. Increased private investment is imperative to expand infrastructure and provide greater access to quality education. Also, Government is planning to set up an education ? nance corporation with an investment of around US$4–5 billion, which aims to provide the education sector with long-term, low-cost ? nancing. PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP (PPP) PPP can provide the much needed finance to the education sector while serving as an efficient operating model. Establishing strong partnerships between private and public sector can achieve the growth. POSSIBLE PPP STRUCTURE The educational institute (special purpose vehicle) is set up as a Society or Trust, as per applicable guidelines. The UGC, AICTE or some other central regulatory body approves norms and standards of the institute. The state provides applicable administrative and financial support to the institute. Capital outlays are met by an educational services entity which 2 E&Y’s Private Equity Round Up April-June 2010 Page 8 A research report on Investment in Indian Education Sector provides infrastructure. The educational services entity charges a fee for use of facilities by the Society or Trust. Finally, the infrastructure facilities are transferred to the institute after a particular time period. Central Government State Government AICTE, UGC approvals Provision of grants Local approvals Land and utilities Trust/Society Service fees Infrastructure Service Provider Transfer of Infrastructure after prescribed time period Source:-2009 E & Y – EDGE 2009 report on Private Enterprise in Indian Higher Education KEY PLAYERS GLOBAL ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Apollo Group (USA) Mcgraw-Hill (USA) Pearson Plc (England) Benesse Corp (Japan) Devry Inc (USA) ITT Educational (USA) Strayer Education (USA) New Oriental (China) Career Education (USA) Corinthian College (USA) Capella Education (USA) Raffles Education ( Singapore) Mega Study ( South Korea) SkillSoft ( USA) Page 9 A research report on Investment in Indian Education Sector INDIA FORMAL ? ? Preschool o Kidzee o Euro Kids Multimedia in private schools o Educomp o Everonn o NIIT Vocational Training o NIIT o Aptech o Frank Finn Coaching Classes o FIIT-JEE o TIME o Career Launcher Books o Tata Mcgraw Hill o John Wiley o Navneet Publications ? INFORMAL K -12 (School) o Millennium Schools (Part of EduComp) o Kids Zee High o Billabong High (Part of Kangaroo Kids) o GEMS ( Dubai based) Higher Education o Manipal Education o Amity o IIPM o ICFAI ? ? ? ? MAJOR DEALS INVESTMENTS ? ? ? ? Rs10 billion investment plan from educational institutes in Haryana’s Rajiv Gandhi Educational City ( January’11) RS 28. 08 billion investment for setting up 20 IIITs under PPP route ( January’11) Everonn Rs 36 billion investment plan to setup 300 K-12 schools by 2015 (July’10) Educomp Rs 510 million contract to provide computer education in Bihar’s schools (May’10). PRIVATE EQUITY DEALS Education sector has witnessed 29 PE deals (refer Exhibit 1), cumulatively worth US$381 million, between January 2006 and June 2010 (as per Private equity roundup April-June 2010 by Ernst and Young). The majority of these investments have been in for-pro? t corporate entities that are not subjected to any government regulations. In future, with increased government spending and expansion plans of private players, the potential for PE investments in the Indian education sector is significant. Additionally, sector’s less correlation with the broad economic growth makes it more attractive. Page 10 A research report on Investment in Indian Education Sector SEGEMENT WISE BREAKUP OF PE INVESTMENTS IN TERMS OF NUMBER OF DEALS 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 3 3 1 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 2 Vocational Preschool K12 Education technology 4 College/University 3 Coaching 2006 2007 2008 Number of Deals 2009 2010 SEGMENT WISE BREAKUP OF PE INVESTMENTS IN TERMS OF DEAL VALUE 160 140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 2006 2007 83 30 74 1 2008 43 2009 2010 12 13 10 37 5 9 23 Vocational 39 Preschool K12 Education technology College/University Coaching 67. Deal Value ( US$ million) Sources: Asian Venture Capital Journal; Dow Jones Factiva; ISI Emerging Market MAJOR ISSUES ? ? ? ? ? Overregulated and under- governed Not for profit structure and all surplus needs to be reinvested High involvement of politicians in higher education industry with no willingness to change the existing structure High land prices and hoarding of land reserved for educational purposes for resale Fragmentation in the sector due to difficulties in achieving scale Page 11 A research report on Investment in Indian Education Sector.

22 Signs Your Boss Hates You

22 Signs Your Boss Hates You We all think from time to time that our bosses hate us.   Rest assured, 9  times out of 10, the problem is entirely in our heads. But just in case you’re in one of those rare situations, it’s best to know the truth. At least that way you stand a chance of changing his or her view of you. Here are 22 possible signs that your boss  probably hates you, a lot.1. Your gut tells you soYou’ve just got a bad feeling about it. Are you usually spot on with your gut feelings? If you are, you might consider taking this as a preliminary clue, rather than as a sign that you are crazy or overly anxious.2. You’re out of the loopYour boss doesn’t come to you with tasks or questions or involve you in big decisions and discussions. In general, you’re not asked for input on anything of import, which may mean you aren’t valued.3. He doesn’t look you in the eyeThis could be a sign that your boss  is harboring a bit of hostility and would rath er that go undetected. Also eye contact in general signals a certain degree of attention and trust, which you aren’t getting.4. She never smiles at youOr even around you. If this can’t simply be explained by a mood swing or a bad week, then you might start asking yourself questions.5. You’re the only one getting micromanagedMicromanagers are the absolute worst. But if you notice that no one else in your office is being subject to the same treatment, that’s a surefire sign you’re on the naughty list.6.They avoid youIf your boss is always nipping out of the room when you enter, waiting for another elevator, swerving around a cubicle to avoid your eye, and never overlapping during your main work hours†¦something is up.7. You barely existYour boss doesn’t acknowledge your presence or arrival with a simple nod or hello or â€Å"have a good night.† Seriously, how hard is that? There has to be a reason.8. You’re getting monosylla blesAll your questions, even â€Å"How are you?†s are met with one word answers. And emails are perfunctory with no nice greetings or signatures. Basically, if you feel you’re getting the silent treatment from a teenage girl.9. Bad body languageCrossed arms, impatience, not looking up when you enter their office†¦ and generally projecting an air of standoffishness.10. You’re in email jailWhereas your boss routinely has small meetings or conversations with your coworkers, she communicates with you solely over email, as if avoiding face time.11. You’re not on the insideAnytime there is a special project or important meeting, you’re not involved.12. She keeps her door closedThough, that might be a sign that your boss hates everyone, not just you.13. The wall of â€Å"no†You can’t get anything right. Every suggestion you make is put down. Every answer you give is corrected. You ask for something and you get a big fat â€Å"no.† It’s even more telling if your boss is not like this with your other coworkers.14. He  doesn’t ever get personalEven in a particularly all-business office, personal conversations crop up now and again. If your boss is asking your coworkers about their kids and weekends and hobbies, but never you? Bad sign.15. You get all the grunt jobsYou keep getting assigned all the jobs that no one else would touch with a 10-foot pole, well below your pay grade and experience.16. She’s stingy with the feedbackEven when you ask for it. She doesn’t seem to care whether you progress or your work improves. This sort of indifference is not good for your relationship or your career.17. She gives you plenty of feedback (negative, and publicly)You’re voted Most Likely To Get Dressed Down at the Meeting. If your boss is going out of her way to embarrass or humiliate you, you’re in big trouble. That disrespect is highly unprofessional, so it’s probably c oming from somewhere deep.18. You’re not in on the jokesIt’s like middle school all over again and you’re on the outside of all the inside jokes. If there’s a lot of banter in your office and you never have to take a turn getting roasted, that could also be a bad sign.19. He takes the creditEvery good thing you manage to accomplish, and every good idea you have, seems to be presented in the end as his.20. Your good projects get reassignedThe one thing that kept you getting jazzed about coming into work? Gone next Monday. Given to someone else with little explanation. It’s like someone took your toy away.21. You hear the phrase â€Å"personality clash†If your boss says something like this out loud to describe your relationship, then chances are she doesn’t like you very much. This is polite speak for I HATE YOUR GUTS GET OUT OF MY FACE.22. You seem to make her  horribly impatientYour boss has all the time in the world for the office dunce, for other people’s mistakes, but zero for you. She’s always short and curt and jiggling her foot.If any of these 22 warning signs ring true for you, it might be worth a conversation, a strategy on how to change the situation, or even a search for another job. But, like we said, better to know!

Adverse vs. Averse

Adverse vs. Averse Adverse vs. Averse Adverse vs. Averse By Mark Nichol Adverse and averse share the root verse, which stems from the Latin term vertere, meaning â€Å"to turn.† But their meanings are distinct and, taken literally, antonymic: Adverse, from the Latin word adversus (â€Å"turned toward, facing†), means â€Å"antagonistic†; the original term conjures of image of confrontation. Averse, meanwhile, comes from aversus (â€Å"turned away†) and means â€Å"strongly disinclined† or â€Å"strongly unfavorable to.† Other forms of adverse are adversary, meaning â€Å"opponent,† and adversity, referring to the quality of opposition. Adversary is also an adjective, but, perhaps because of confusion with the noun form of that word, adversarial came to prevail in that usage. Avert, meanwhile, is related to averse and means â€Å"to turn away, to avoid.† (Veer, though it has the same meaning, is unrelated; it’s from a Germanic word meaning â€Å"to slacken.†) A whole family of other words with the verse root exist: Converse means â€Å"the exact opposite† and has the noun and verb form convert, meaning â€Å"someone who turns† and â€Å"to turn,† respectively, and the noun form conversion, referring to the act of converting. Converse also means â€Å"to speak with someone† (to â€Å"turn† speech) and leads to the adjective conversant and the noun conversation. (The latter used to also mean â€Å"living together† or â€Å"having sexual relations.†) Diverse, originally divers, means â€Å"distinct† and is the parent of diversity, divergent, divert, and diversion. Extrovert, which means â€Å"turned outward,† is mirrored by the antonym introvert. (These also serve as noun forms.) Inverse means â€Å"turn about† or â€Å"turn over† and has the verb form invert and the noun form inversion. Obverse, meaning â€Å"turned toward,† is the opposite of reverse, â€Å"turned away,† which, unlike the more rarely used obverse, has a noun form, too: reversal. Perverse, which means â€Å"turned away (from what is correct),† has the noun forms pervert, for a person, and perversion, for the quality. Transverse means â€Å"turned across† (the rare noun form is transversal), and traverse means â€Å"to pass across.† Versus also ultimately derives from vertere by way of, well, versus. (The Old English suffix -weard, from which we derive -ward seen in toward, forward, and so on is akin to versus.) Other related words include verse (from the idea of â€Å"turning† from one line of verse to another), versed (â€Å"knowledgeable† literally, â€Å"one who knows verses,† with the connotation of one who â€Å"turns over† a subject of study), and versify, or â€Å"write verse.† Anniversary, meanwhile, literally means â€Å"year turning,† and universe, originally meaning â€Å"all together,† is derived from the words for â€Å"one† and â€Å"turn.† University, referring to a place of learning, stems from the idea of â€Å"whole,† with the connotation of â€Å"community.† (Varsity, an alteration of a shortening of university, denotes the primary group of athletes in any sport who represent a university or other school.) Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Misused Words category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Apply to, Apply for, and Apply with225 Foreign Phrases to Inspire YouAffect vs. Effect

Management- Case study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Management- - Case Study Example In 1983 Benetton had sales of $351 million, from 2600 stores in Europe. The supply chain can be described as the network, covering the various stages in the provision of products or services to customers (Monks, 1996). It includes not only manufacturers and suppliers, but also transporters, warehouses, distributors, retailers, etc. The number of stages in the supply chain depends on the customers' needs, and the role each stage plays in fulfilling their needs. Supply Chain Management (SCM) integrates procurement, operations and logistics to provide value added products or services to customers. Effective management of the supply chain helps organizations meet customer requirements on time, with the desired quality specifications, in a cost-effective manner, through the coordination of different activities which transform raw materials into final products or services ((ICMR), Operations Management, 2003). Supply Chain Management can provide both tangible and intangible benefits to an organization. Tangible benefits include revenue growth, improved facility utilization, optimized inventory management, etc. Intangible benefits include improvement in quality, improvement in customer satisfaction, and enhanced customer and supplier techniques (Dilworth, 1992). Supply Chain Management has become on of the key areas that organizations are focusing on to reduce costs and improve the efficiency of the production process (Chopra, 1992). Four key drivers of supply chain performance are inventory, transportation, facilities and information. They help determine not only the responsiveness and effectiveness, but also the strategic fit of the supply chain. Inventory - Inventory includes raw materials, work-in-progress, and finished goods in the supply chain. Inventory exists in organizations due to a mismatch between demand and supply. Inventory is also maintained to increase the responsiveness of organizations to sudden increases in customer demand. Transportation - Organizations use transportation to move components and products between the different stages of the supply chain. Transportation decisions are made on the mode of transportation and route to use in the transfer of products from one point to another. Facilities - Facilities are the locations in the supply chain where the raw materials and finished goods are stored, and where work-in-progress materials are assembled or fabricated, and from which finished goods are distributed. Facility's capacity and location has significant affect on the performance of the supply chain. Information - Sometimes, the value of information as a supply chain driver is undermined due to its abstract quality. However, in reality, it is one of the key drivers affecting the performance of the supply chain. As the supply chain is made up of various entities, proper coordination is the key to improving the efficiency of the supply chain system. The flow of information also affects the performance of other drivers. With proper information, organizations can predict the quantity to produce, when it is needed and where it is needed. This makes the supply chain more effective and responsive to market demand. In order to service the needs of customers and fulfil their expectations and to meet the organizations'

Emergence of Confucianism Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Emergence of Confucianism - Assignment Example He is well celebrated for coming up with the textual traditions of china. The texts became the foundation and the state ideology of the Chinese dynasties. The texts were mastered by few in the society but penetrated deep in the society and are held sacred by the members of the Chinese community (Xinzhong, 2005). Confucius is locally known as the king qui the founder of the school of thought that is well studied and celebrated. Every country and nation experiences a financial depression at a certain period. It is up to the government to make sure that the situation is well handled and make sure that the financial position is restored as quickly as possible. In Britain, the financial hurricane hit in the year 2008.The financial advisor suggested that they should shrink the government. However, this did not work and led to high taxes and strangled and weakened the economy of Britain. The repercussions were loss of jobs and income to the people, high taxes, high interest and many more effects which that are detrimental to any state. As explained in the documentary, mandate of heaven is a myth and ideology the Asian empires of ancient times grant that they have the right to govern and lead the nation. Heaven is said to bestow the mandate to an individual to be a leader and the ruler of the people in question. Mandate of heaven does not require a leader with the royal blood but rather id concerned with the unique qualities of the person. If a ruler was overthrown, he is considered as have lost the mandate of heaven. This ideology is common in china and was used to support the kings and the rulers of the Shang and Zhou dynasties. The past of the Chinese society is vet strong and influences them greatly. They development is hindered by their retention of tradition practices and philosophies. Culture mix refers to the mixing together of different groups of people with differences in art and

Environment assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Environment assignment - Essay Example Question 1d) According to Harvard University economist Jeffrey Sachs, Africa needs US $10-20 billion a year to help it adequately combat HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases (Beresford, 2001). This is an amount that African states cannot raise on their own especially when one considers their weak economies that are being crippled further by several disease pandemics. The developed countries would therefore be of help if they can support Africa by granting it money to combat HIV/AIDS. And when we say grant, we do not mean concessionary loans, we mean outright grants. Question 2) The precautionary principle has the following four central components: taking preventive action in the face of uncertainty; shifting the burden of proof to the proponents of an activity; exploring a wide range of alternatives to possibly harmful actions; and increasing public participation in decision making (Kriebel et al., 2001). We are of the opinion that anyone who wishes to introduce a new product o r process, be tasked with proving that their new proposition will not harm the environment before proceeding. The first component of the precautionary principle if simply put states that it is better to be safe than sorry. With the world still unable to combat several â€Å"big† problems such as ecosystem degradation, resource depletion and climate change, and with environmental and health problems continuing to grow more rapidly than our ability to find solutions, Kriebel and Tickner (2001) state that it would be foolhardy to go ahead with new propositions that may create more problems in the future. The second and third components of the precautionary principle, shifting the burden of proof to the proponents of an activity and exploring a wide range of alternatives to possibly harmful actions, have the effect of making investors stop and reflect deeply before proceeding with their new propositions. This means that it is up to the investor to research, bear the risk and co me up with convincing data before launching a product or process. This would go a long way in arresting the quick money syndrome that is often the root cause of launching of untested products or processes. Also, increased stakeholder participation as proposed by the precautionary principle makes it even more difficult for investors who may have fudged data to support their new offerings from launching their products or processes without a prior independent audit from the public. Question 3) The proposition that warmer weather translates into longer and better life, less energy consumption, and reduced outlays for clothing is too simplistic. For starters we need to define what is or is not warm. Of course the arguments put forth by â€Å"What Are the Benefits of Global Warming?† (n.d.) such as increase in land for farming and living due to the acreage of ice on earth reducing, less money spent on heating and so on have their merits. However, these merits are only true to the extent that global warming leads to a rise in temperature to a level that can be defined as â€Å"warm†. Any deviation to this would lead to heat waves such as those experienced in Europe in 2003. A comprehensive study done by the World Health Organization (WHO) examined the correlation between climate change and the global burden of disease especially in the underdeveloped nations. The

Publishing Controversial Photographs

Publishing Controversial Photographs Ephron argued that since death is part of life, readers should not be sheltered from it. She asked why photos from fatal car accidents show the wrecked vehicles and not the victims. Mangled steel is worthless; a human life is priceless. Why not capture on film the loss of that which is truly precious? (Ephron, www.haverford.edu/) The so-named Boston Photographs were taken in 1975 by photojournalist Stanley Forman.. I made all kinds of pictures because I thought it would be a good rescue shot over the ladder, (Ephron, 433) Forman said in explaining why he took the pictures. In the first frame, there is a fireman with his arm around a woman he is attempting to rescue from a burning apartment building. The woman clings to her child. The fireman is reaching for the rescue ladder an arm s length away. It appears that everything will be all right, that the woman and her child will be saved. This picture, by itself, does not foreshadow the tragedy to come. It is a dramatic photograph, to be certain, but one that would assure the viewer that confidence in the bravery and skills of firefighters is not misplaced. The second photograph shows the fire escape pulling away from the building. Whereas the first photo makes the reader want to cheer, the second one reminds us that something can go wrong. The rescue is not successful until everyone is on the ground and safely away from the burning building. The photo shows, too, that the firefighter did everything he was supposed to do. His training prepared him for a moment such as this. More than anything else, this photo shows that courage and skill are not always enough. No one could have anticipated that the fire escape would pull away from the building. It is a picture that at once captures the good fortune of the woman in being rescued and the horrific moment when her luck turned. The third photograph is the most dramatic because it shows the woman and her child falling through the air. The child, naturally, looks frightened. Her arms and legs are splayed and we see the speed of her descent with her shirt, which the air has pushed up to expose her round, babyish tummy. Her eyes are open and her mouth is distorted by a grimace. The mother s fall is even more dramatic because she propels through the air headfirst. The viewer cannot see her face but can only imagine the horror reflected in her expression. It is impossible to know what the woman was thinking. Did she know that she was moments from death? Did she think about her child? Did she ask for God s help, or curse His failure to protect them? The woman is barefoot and she is wearing shorts. On a summer s day, it would be expected that someone be so attired at home. Yet the woman seems particularly vulnerable when dressed this way. She seems so exposed although, of course, long pants and shoes would not have made any difference to her survival. Who was this woman? We cannot really know anything about her from the picture. We can see that she is young, with the long, gangling limbs of a teenager. She looks like a child and yet she also has a child of her own. The picture causes us to reflect on death made more tragic by the fact that, for this mother and child, they come too soon. The falling flowerpots add to the poignancy of the photos. The apartment building, obviously older, represents urban life as experienced by someone who is young and poor. The flowers represent an attempt to add a little beauty to the surroundings. What sort of person is it who puts a flowerpot on a window ledge high above the city streets? The flowerpots give us a tiny glimpse into the character of the young woman. We feel we know a little more about her and that makes her death more tragic. To plant a flower is to feel hopeful about the future, and when we see the photograph, we know that the woman s hope in the future, unbeknownst to her, was misplaced. We feel a greater sense of loss. But do we know her? Of course not. The shocking photo arouses emotion within us and, whether we realize it or not, causes us to ascribe thoughts and characteristics to the victim that we can never verify, even when reading the accompanying news story. Perhaps the young woman did not care at all about the plants. It is even possible that they were left there by a previous tenant of the apartment and went unnoticed by the young mother. Perhaps she did not notice beauty and felt no hope at all for the future she and her child would share. There is no way the viewer of the photograph can ever know any of this for certain. The newsworthiness of the tragic fire is the photos themselves. Unfortunately, people die in fires in the United States all the time. The accounts of the fires are tragic, but as news stories they are usually only relevant to families and friends of the victims and the people who live in the community where the tragedy took place. Photographer Forman, who won a Pulitzer Prize for the photos, expected to record an event with a far different outcome. He was taking advantage of a relatively new technology, a motor-driven camera that allowed a photographer to take a series of pictures in rapid succession. He expected to capture, in still photographs, the sequence of events leading up to a dramatic rescue. Instead, he captured the moments before death. The third photograph as the last that he took of the rescue attempt. I realized what was going on, he said afterwards. I completely turned around because I didn t want to see her hit. (Ephron, www.haverford.edu/) The pictures are much more powerful than words in telling this story. It is not that words cannot sufficiently describe a scene or convey emotions. Author Stephen King is famous and wealthy because of his ability to construct tales that frighten us. John Grisham has used the power of words to make us feel outrage on the behalf of the underdogs whose stories he tells. Nicholas Sparks writes romances that bring some of his readers to tears. Forman s pictures tell a story for which each individual viewer provides his own words. More than that, however, the pictures evoke an emotional response that is instantaneous, even quicker than words can form. The pictures certainly drew attention to the event in a way that words alone would not. Newspaper editors know this and it can be argued that it was for the purpose of selling newspapers, not the imperative to show readers that death is part of life, which motivated them to print the pictures. Charges of sensationalism, voyeurism, and exploitation constituted many of the angry responses from readers. The reality is, though, that graphic images do capture people s attention. A news story, without photographs, would have dehumanized the tragedy. When we read that a woman fell to her death, our reaction is not nearly as strong as seeing the picture. We may soon forget that a woman died, particularly in reading the story and learning that the child survived. The picture, on the other hand, makes us confront the notion of death head-on. We may experience, even for a fraction of a second, that shiver of fear of falling. We think about what it must have felt like to fall, and what it must have felt like to watch the horror unfold. The fact that the woman and child were African-American also plays a part in judging the impact of the photo versus a story in words. A written story might not mention race; in a photo, it is there to see. To some viewers, race might matter. People assumed, because the young woman was black, that the burning apartment building was in a ghetto, when in fact it was not. African-Americans might identify more strongly with the photo than they would with just a story; white readers might identify less. For some readers, and it is hoped that it means more of them, not less, race is a non-issue and what they see is not the color of the victims skin but the horror expressed in their faces and body language. It is this horror that writer Ephron believes readers should see, but not because horror itself has value even though it does, in a way, in its ability to sell newspapers. As Ephron pointed out, though, these were great photographs. They captured something real and evoke strong emotion in people who look at them. That they disturb readers, she wrote, is exactly as it should be: that s why photojournalism is often more powerful than written journalism. (Ephron, 438) The Boston Photographs are by no means the only pictures to evoke strong emotions and cause controversy among newspaper editors and their readership. This essay will discuss two other pictures that were considered controversial at the time they were published. Seven years before Stanley Forman won the Pulitzer for his photo, war photographer Eddie Adams earned the prize for his now-iconic photo showing the execution of a man by a military officer on the streets of Saigon. As was the case with Forman, Adams never expected that the situation would take such a dramatic and horrific turn. As Adams told the story in a video entitled An Unlikely Weapon: The Eddie Adams Story, he was in the Chinese section of Saigon on the second day of the Tet Offensive. He saw a man in a plaid shirt being led out of a building and into the street. He followed to see what would happen. He was not surprised or shocked when a man in uniform, a military officer, held a gun to the head of the man in the plaid. Adams interpreted the action as a means of intimidation, a threat used as part of an act of interrogation. ? Retrieved from PulitzerPrize.org [http://pulitzerprize.org/photography/vietnam/] In retrospect, it seems like an incredibly bold and even foolhardy move, to stand with a camera so close to someone with a loaded gun. Adams was an experienced war photographer, however, and danger was part of the job. He did not anticipate what happened next. Adams snapped a photograph; he moved his finger on the camera s shutter in the same instant that the officer pulled the trigger of his gun. The shocking photograph that resulted captured the moment in time when the bullet entered the man s head. The photograph is shocking for several reasons. The most obvious is the expression on the face of the man in the plaid shirt. It reflects both pain and terror. The lines around the right side of the mouth suggest the rapid and violent movement of the head as an involuntary response to the impact of the bullet. The man doing the shooting has a matter-of-fact expression. He does not take any pleasure in killing the man, but he does what he feels he must without flinching. He is very certain about what he is doing. Over the left shoulder of the shooter, we see a helmeted soldier wincing at the horrible spectacle before him. There is a military vehicle at the end of the street. There are other people in the street, but there response to the shooting cannot be discerned from the photo. The photograph is shocking because the shooting appeared to take place in broad daylight, in the middle of a city street. The shooter does not appear to be concerned about concealing his identity or his action. The photo is shocking in its close-up look at violence, and it is violence that is made very personal because we see it from a unique perspective. As with Forman s photo, we do not see death in its aftermath but in the moments before it occurs. Both photos are shocking and frightening. Both photos appear to show people who were in the wrong place at the wrong time and suffer fatal consequences as a result. Unlike Forman s photo, though, a news story accompanying Adams photo has the power to change one s perception of the brutal act caught on film. Looking at the picture, one might assume that it showed a military man killing a civilian execution-style. There was more to the story. The man in plaid was a Viet Cong Army officer; he was the prime suspect in the murder of an entire family that day. The family belonged to the aide of Brig. General Nguyen Ngoc Loan, South Vietnamese National Police Chief and the shooter in the photograph. Did it make a difference that the man being shot was on the side of the United States enemy? Perhaps it did to some who looked at the picture and read about it. It may be easier to explain the violence if one can justify it as necessary to bring about justice. The woman in Forman s picture was a random victim of a very unfortunate accident; the man in Adams photo was a suspected criminal, thought to be responsible for the killing of innocent civilians. Some people, reading about the circumstances under which he was shot, may believe that he deserved to die. Some might believe he deserved to die by virtue of the fact that he was a Viet Cong officer. Killing is part of war. We are not at all surprised that there is death on the streets of Saigon, but we are shocked when an image of it is captured so vividly. There was no justice to be served to the woman who plunged to her death in Forman s photo. We are shocked by her death and surprised by it. Forman s final photo is prefaced by one in which it looks as though the woman and her child will be rescued. There is no doubt, in looking at Adams photo, the man in plaid will die. It is the more shocking photo of the two because it makes us look right into the face of death. We can hold out hope for a miracle when we look at Forman s photo, and it is only upon reading the accompanying story that one learns the woman died and her child survived. At least there is some good news in that story. There is no miracle in Adams photo and no good news waiting for the reader of the story behind it. Adams photo, much to his dismay, became an iconic antiwar image. That was never his intent. Forty years later, the image endures. The story behind the photograph matters little. The photo has come to symbolize the horror and brutality of a war to which many Americans were, and still remained, opposed. Even more evocative in its antiwar sentiment is the 1972 photograph by Nick Ut, showing a young Vietnamese girl, naked, screaming, and horribly burned by napalm. ? Retrieved from BBC News [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/4517597.stm] The photo needs no accompanying words to explain it or make it any more powerful. It is a heart-breaking photograph of a child in abject terror. There are other children in the picture but it is the nakedness and total vulnerability of the little girl that shocks and saddens us. There is nothing one can write about the horrors of war that exemplify it more than the perils of this child. As with Forman s photo of the mother and child, we can look at the little girl and hope that somehow she will survive this terrible event. Forman s photo showed the terrible circumstances of two people. Ut s photo, on the other hand, showed the terrible circumstances in which millions of people found themselves as a result of the war. The photo is a painful reminder that there are many victims of war, not just the soldiers who fight. It is difficult to look at the photo and not feel outrage, at the same time wishing there were a way to gather up the children and transport them to safety. We know now t hat the little girl survived; even knowing that, however, does not make the photograph any less shocking. The final photo to be discussed in this essay was taken September 11, 2001, by photographer Richard Drew. Often referred to as The Falling Man, it depicts one of the many people who leaped from the inferno of the Twin Towers, making the horrible choice to die by suicide than in the smoke and flames. ? Retrieved from Esquire Magazine online [http://www.esquire.com/features/ESQ0903-SEP_FALLINGMAN] The photo is shocking because, as one first looks at it, it seems to be some sort of optical trick. The vertical lines of the tower do not look like a building. The man does not look as though he is falling. In Forman s photograph, the woman and child fall from the building with arms and legs distended, desperate to seek purchase on anything that would break their fall. By contrast, the falling man appears to be holding a pose and is elegant in the way he does so. He is falling straight downward, his arms at his sides, one leg bent at the knee in a manner that resembles a casual stance. It is difficult to look at the picture and not be immediately transported back to the horrible events of the day. Much has been written about 9/11 and there were many pictures taken. The falling man was only one of many people who jumped that day, yet it is his picture which touches us the most. Words could not adequately describe the falling man s descent and the emotions the picture evokes. After an initial look at the picture, one realizes exactly what it depicts: a man hurtling towards his death. Junod (2009) wrote that the body fell at an estimated speed of one hundred fifty miles per hour. The fall would have taken approximately ten seconds. One cannot even imagine the crushing agony the jumpers experienced in the final moments of their lives. What must it feel like to know you have only seconds left to live? Looking at Forman s photo, one can hope that there was a good outcome. Looking at Adams photo, we see death. The bullet has entered the man s head but, because the camera can capture a fraction of a second, the man has not yet dropped. Looking at Drew s photo, we wee impending death and a man literally falling toward it with grace. It is incredibly sad, both the circumstances of his death and the calm dignity with which he goes to meet it. Newspapers and television news programs showed photographs of jumpers until there were too many complaints from the public about their indecency. Drew was able to identify, almost with certainty, the Falling Man, yet the family would not provide confirmation, becoming angry when asked to do so. They felt, as did many of the people viewing pictures of jumpers, that showing anyone in the last moments of life robbed those people of their dignity. Photojournalism can be much more powerful than written journalism. In describing the four photos discussed in this essay, writers would bring their biases to the work. The use of the word bias is not pejorative; it simply means that a writer s knowledge and experience contribute to the interpretation of the photograph. The four pictures shown are shocking and evoke strong emotion. The depth and range of emotion, however, depends on the person who is looking at the pictures. Each of us notices different elements; each of us is touched in a different way. When reading a newspaper account of a tragedy, we think about the story as we make our way through the printed words. Reaction to a picture is instantaneous and much more powerful. A picture puts us at the scene in a way that words do not. Ephron illustrated this by including the Boston Photographs in her essay. She discussed the impact of the photos and the controversy they caused. Without seeing the photos, it might be too easy to ask what all the fuss was about. By seeing the photos, one can understand why the inspired strong feelings. Ephron does not argue that newspapers should print photographs of death. She argues that they should print great pictures that tell a story and evoke strong emotional response from readers. Work Cited: BBC News. (2005). Picture power: Vietnam napalm attack. http://news.bbc.co .uk/2/hi/4517597.stm. Ephron, N. (2005). The Boston Photographs, reprinted in Chris Anderson and Lex Runciman, eds., Open Questions; Readings for Critical Thinking and Writing (Boston: Bedford/St. Martin s, 2005). Print via Retrieved from http://www.haverford.edu/writingprogram /development/Ephron.pdf Junod, T. The falling man. Esquire 9/8/09. Retrieved from http://www.esquire.com/features /ESQ0903-SEP_FALLINGMAN PulitzerPrize.org. (2010). Photography: Pulitzer Eddie Adams Vietnam. http://pulitzerprize.org /photography/vietnam/