Rationale †how women are treated in soap operas Essay

I am going to be investigating into how women are treated in soap operas. The reason I have chosen to carry out this study is due to the fact that I think that women are given very stereotypical roles within soap operas and it is very hard for them to break out of those boundaries and those specific labels they have been given. The method I will take to reach my objective is to use the content analysis approach. This is a method I will adopt using Meehan’s research. My aim is to compare how much or how less has changed within that period of time. I hypothesise that in comparison to Meehan’s analysis of soap operas women are still labelled in the same categories. From this method I should be able to reach to a conclusion as to whether my hypothesis is correct. The method of research I am going to use is content analysis of magazines, TV and newspaper. Content analysis involves the very careful quantification of the content of the media messages. It is able to give a general impression about media content, which can be the basis of theoretical work or policy and programme development. Therefore the way I will carry out my research is by using Meehan’s study that was carried out in 1960s and 1970s on soap operas and how he categorised the women within the soaps into specific groups. I will carry out my research using a lot of primary resources. To investigate this concept I am going to look at the model, which is similar to the hypodermic syringe model. I am also going to use the feminist approach to try to explain some of the reasons as to why there are so many stereotypical views within soap operas towards women. I am going to be looking at Ferguson’s feminist cult theory. This highlights how there are many stereotypical views within the soap operas. Context She is seen in Meehan’s content analysis study of the presentation of women in soap operas shows that in American drama serials there are only 10 female character types that are presented, they are; The Imp, a rebellious tomboy character. She is adventurous, not really sexual, often finds herself in trouble, she is the opposite of what society expects a women to be and the trouble she gets into is often a result of this. The Goodwife, she is domestic, attractive, home-centred and content. She does not wish to become involved with the world outside the home, leaving this to her lovely husband. The Harpy, is an aggressive single woman. She is powerful, even overpowering and not afraid to take on or chase after men. The Bitch, is a sneak and a cheat. She is manipulative, dangerous and deceitful. She lacks the power to be a real villain (invariably male) but she causes real trouble for the forces of good. The Victim, is the passive female who suffers accident, disease or violence, depending in the type of show or it could be to domestic violence. The Decoy, she is a heroine disguised as a victim. Apparently helpless and dependent, she’s actually strong and resourceful. She is quite likely to be mistreated, hurt or captured, but she is capable of overcoming her difficulties. The Siren, is a woman who uses her sexuality to lure her victim to a sticky end. The Courtesan, is close to being a prostitute and perhaps has been one. The Witch, has extraordinary power despite this she is invariably dominated by a man and is persuaded often reluctantly to suppress her powers or use it for his aims. The Matriarch, prestige and authority. a positive light despite the fact that she is too old to be sexually attractive. Her status is almost of that of a hero. This study shows that women are portrayed as neater good or evil, never a combination. It also shows that â€Å"good† women are portrayed as submissive, sensitive and domesticated. â€Å"Bad† women are portrayed as rebellious, independent and selfish. Male evil characters are always counterbalanced by good ones, this is not so with female evil characters. The number of occupations which women are portrayed as holding is limited to a few, primarily housewife, receptionist and whore, male roles are also few in number compared to reality, but are more exciting, such as doctor, spies, detective and astronaut. While studies such as Meehan’s, could be criticised for being dated and referring to the series of the 1960’s and 70’s. The content recycling of such series on satellite and cable channels means that they are still relevant. Moreover, many of the point she makes are relevant even in more recent television. The number of women portrayed in the media depends very much on the medium concerned and the genre type. Soap operas have relatively high proportion of women, though they are still outnumbered by as much of 7 men to 3 women in some types of soap opera. In advertisements, there are three all male ads to every one all female ads. A study conducted by Beuf (1974) was based on 63 interviews with boys and girls between the ages of three and six. Some girls had abandoned their ambitions even by this early age. Several girls mentioned that their ambitions could not be realised because of their sex. The implication is that because of the small number of high-status female models in the media available for girls to model themselves on, the ambitions of real women are limited. The power of the media in this respect is thought to be very strong. This is not surprising as the Average American girl will have spent more time in front of the TV by the time she is 15 than she will have spent in the classroom. Beuf also argues that women suffer anxiety and stress due to this and because advertising and soap operas create concerns in women particularly about; their body image, the constant need to spend money on products to make them more attractive and desirable for males and also the competition with other women to fight and keep their man. Liberal feminists argue that individuals are trained by the mass media and other social institutions into patterns of behaviour which are performed unconsciously. Sex-roles in particular, have been built up over a long period of time and have become embedded in our culture. Radical feminists identify men as the enemy. They believe that men consciously and unconsciously manipulate social institutions for their own benefit and to the detriment of women. Men hold the dominant positions throughout the media and are able to use them to reflect the images of women which they desire. According to socialist feminists the role of the media is to sustain and perpetuate the capitalist system and the supporting role of women in it. Davies says that those who control the media are almost all rich men, there is every incentive for them to present the capitalist, patriarchal scheme of things as the most attractive system available and to convince the less privileged that the oppression and limitations of their lives are inevitable. According to Skirrow, for example video games are particularly unattractive to women, as they are part of a technology which is identified as male power, and they are about mastering a specifically male anxiety in a specific male way.

Digital Fortress Chapter 10

â€Å"Ensei Tankado is dead?† Susan felt a wave of nausea. â€Å"You killed him? I thought you said-â€Å" â€Å"We didn't touch him,† Strathmore assured her. â€Å"He died of a heart attack. COMINT phoned early this morning. Their computer flagged Tankado's name in a Seville police log through Interpol.† â€Å"Heart attack?† Susan looked doubtful. â€Å"He was thirty years old.† â€Å"Thirty-two,† Strathmore corrected. â€Å"He had a congenital heart defect.† â€Å"I'd never heard that.† â€Å"Turned up in his NSA physical. Not something he bragged about.† Susan was having trouble accepting the serendipity of the timing. â€Å"A defective heart could kill him-just like that?† It seemed too convenient. Strathmore shrugged. â€Å"Weak heart†¦ combine it with the heat of Spain. Throw in the stress of blackmailing the NSA†¦.† Susan was silent a moment. Even considering the conditions, she felt a pang of loss at the passing of such a brilliant fellow cryptographer. Strathmore's gravelly voice interrupted her thoughts. â€Å"The only silver lining on this whole fiasco is that Tankado was traveling alone. Chances are good his partner doesn't know yet he's dead. The Spanish authorities said they'd contain the information for as long as possible. We only got the call because COMINT was on the ball.† Strathmore eyed Susan closely. â€Å"I've got to find the partner before he finds out Tankado's dead. That's why I called you in. I need your help.† Susan was confused. It seemed to her that Ensei Tankado's timely demise had solved their entire problem. â€Å"Commander,† she argued, â€Å"if the authorities are saying he died of a heart attack, we're off the hook; his partner will know the NSA is not responsible.† â€Å"Not responsible?† Strathmore's eyes widened in disbelief. â€Å"Somebody blackmails the NSA and turns up dead a few days later-and we're not responsible? I'd bet big money Tankado's mystery friend won't see it that way. Whatever happened, we look guilty as hell. It could easily have been poison, a rigged autopsy, any number of things.† Strathmore paused. â€Å"What was your first reaction when I told you Tankado was dead?† She frowned. â€Å"I thought the NSA had killed him.† â€Å"Exactly. If the NSA can put five Rhyolite satellites in geosynchronous orbit over the Mideast, I think it's safe to assume we have the resources to pay off a few Spanish policemen.† The commander had made his point. Susan exhaled. Ensei Tankado is dead. The NSA will be blamed. â€Å"Can we find his partner in time?† â€Å"I think so. We've got a good lead. Tankado made numerous public announcements that he was working with a partner. I think he hoped it would discourage software firms from doing him any harm or trying to steal his key. He threatened that if there was any foul play, his partner would publish the key, and all firms would suddenly find themselves in competition with free software.† â€Å"Clever.† Susan nodded. Strathmore went on. â€Å"A few times, in public, Tankado referred to his partner by name. He called him North Dakota.† â€Å"North Dakota? Obviously an alias of some sort.† â€Å"Yes, but as a precaution I ran an Internet inquiry using North Dakota as a search string. I didn't think I'd find anything, but I turned up an E-mail account.† Strathmore paused. â€Å"Of course I assumed it wasn't the North Dakota we were looking for, but I searched the account just to be sure. Imagine my shock when I found the account was full of E-mail from Ensei Tankado.† Strathmore raised his eyebrows. â€Å"And the messages were full of references to Digital Fortress and Tankado's plans to blackmail the NSA.† Susan gave Strathmore a skeptical look. She was amazed the commander was letting himself be played with so easily. â€Å"Commander,† she argued, â€Å"Tankado knows full well the NSA can snoop E-mail from the Internet; he would never use E-mail to send secret information. It's a trap. Ensei Tankado gave you North Dakota. He knew you'd run a search. Whatever information he's sending, he wanted you to find-it's a false trail.† â€Å"Good instinct,† Strathmore fired back, â€Å"except for a couple of things. I couldn't find anything under North Dakota, so I tweaked the search string. The account I found was under a variation-NDAKOTA.† Susan shook her head. â€Å"Running permutations is standard procedure. Tankado knew you'd try variations until you hit something. NDAKOTA's far too easy an alteration.† â€Å"Perhaps,† Strathmore said, scribbling words on apiece of paper and handing it to Susan. â€Å"But look at this.† Susan read the paper. She suddenly understood the Commander's thinking. On the paper was North Dakota's E-mail address. [email protected] It was the letters ARA in the address that had caught Susan's eye. ARA stood for American Remailers Anonymous, a well-known anonymous server. Anonymous servers were popular among Internet users who wanted to keep their identities secret. For a fee, these companies protected an E-mailer's privacy by acting as a middleman for electronic mail. It was like having a numbered post office box-a user could send and receive mail without ever revealing his true address or name. The company received E-mail addressed to aliases and then forwarded it to the client's real account. The remailing company was bound by contract never to reveal the identity or location of its real users. â€Å"It's not proof,† Strathmore said. â€Å"But it's pretty suspicious.† Susan nodded, suddenly more convinced. â€Å"So you're saying Tankado didn't care if anybody searched for North Dakota because his identity and location are protected by ARA.† â€Å"Exactly.† Susan schemed for a moment. â€Å"ARA services mainly U.S. accounts. You think North Dakota might be over here somewhere?† Strathmore shrugged. â€Å"Could be. With an American partner, Tankado could keep the two pass-keys separated geographically. Might be a smart move.† Susan considered it. She doubted Tankado would have shared his pass-key with anyone except a very close friend, and as she recalled, Ensei Tankado didn't have many friends in the States. â€Å"North Dakota,† she mused, her cryptological mind mulling over the possible meanings of the alias. â€Å"What does his E-mail to Tankado sound like?† â€Å"No idea. COMINT only caught Tankado's outbound. At this point all we have on North Dakota is an anonymous address.† Susan thought a minute. â€Å"Any chance it's a decoy?† Strathmore raised an eyebrow. â€Å"How so?† â€Å"Tankado could be sending bogus E-mail to a dead account in hopes we'd snoop it. We'd think he's protected, and he'd never have to risk sharing his pass-key. He could be working alone.† Strathmore chuckled, impressed. â€Å"Tricky idea, except for one thing. He's not using any of his usual home or business Internet accounts. He's been dropping by Doshisha University and logging on to their mainframe. Apparently he's got an account there that he's managed to keep secret. It's a very well-hidden account, and I found it only by chance.† Strathmore paused. â€Å"So†¦ if Tankado wanted us to snoop his mail, why would he use a secret account?† Susan contemplated the question. â€Å"Maybe he used a secret account so you wouldn't suspect a ploy? Maybe Tankado hid the account just deep enough that you'd stumble on to it and think you got lucky. It gives his E-mail credibility.† Strathmore chuckled. â€Å"You should have been a field agent. The idea's a good one. Unfortunately, every letter Tankado sends gets a response. Tankado writes, his partner responds.† Susan frowned. â€Å"Fair enough. So, you're saying North Dakota's for real.† â€Å"Afraid so. And we've got to find him. And quietly. If he catches wind that we're onto him, it's all over.† Susan now knew exactly why Strathmore had called her in. â€Å"Let me guess,† she said. â€Å"You want me to snoop ARA's secure database and find North Dakota's real identity?† Strathmore gave her a tight smile. â€Å"Ms. Fletcher, you read my mind.† When it came to discreet Internet searches, Susan Fletcher was the woman for the job. A year ago, a senior White House official had been receiving E-mail threats from someone with an anonymous E-mail address. The NSA had been asked to locate the individual. Although the NSA had the clout to demand the remailing company reveal the user's identity, it opted for a more subtle method-a â€Å"tracer.† Susan had created, in effect, a directional beacon disguised as a piece of E-mail. She could send it to the user's phony address, and the remailing company, performing the duty for which it had been contracted, would forward it to the user's real address. Once there, the program would record its Internet location and send word back to the NSA. Then the program would disintegrate without a trace. From that day on, as far as the NSA was concerned, anonymous remailers were nothing more than a minor annoyance. â€Å"Can you find him?† Strathmore asked. â€Å"Sure. Why did you wait so long to call me?† â€Å"Actually†-he frowned-â€Å"I hadn't planned on calling you at all. I didn't want anyone else in the loop. I tried to send a copy of your tracer myself, but you wrote the damn thing in one of those new hybrid languages; I couldn't get it to work. It kept returning nonsensical data. I finally had to bite the bullet and bring you in.† Susan chuckled. Strathmore was a brilliant cryptographic programmer, but his repertoire was limited primarily to algorithmic work; the nuts and bolts of less lofty â€Å"secular† programming often escaped him. What was more, Susan had written her tracer in a new, crossbreed programming language called LIMBO; it was understandable that Strathmore had encountered problems. â€Å"I'll take care of it.† She smiled, turning to leave. â€Å"I'll be at my terminal.† â€Å"Any idea on a time frame?† Susan paused. â€Å"Well†¦ it depends on how efficiently ARA forwards their mail. If he's here in the States and uses something like AOL or CompuServe, I'll snoop his credit card and get a billing address within the hour. If he's with a university or corporation, it'll take a little longer.† She smiled uneasily. â€Å"After that, the rest is up to you.† Susan knew that â€Å"the rest† would be an NSA strike team, cutting power to the guy's house and crashing through his windows with stun guns. The team would probably think it was on a drug bust. Strathmore would undoubtedly stride through the rubble himself and locate the sixty-four-character pass-key. Then he would destroy it. Digital Fortress would languish forever on the Internet, locked for all eternity. â€Å"Send the tracer carefully,† Strathmore urged. â€Å"If North Dakota sees we're onto him, he'll panic, and I'll never get a team there before he disappears with the key.† â€Å"Hit and run,† she assured. â€Å"The moment this thing finds his account, it'll dissolve. He'll never know we were there.† The commander nodded tiredly. â€Å"Thanks.† Susan gave him a soft smile. She was always amazed how even in the face of disaster Strathmore could muster a quiet calm. She was convinced it was this ability that had defined his career and lifted him to the upper echelons of power. As Susan headed for the door, she took a long look down at TRANSLTR. The existence of an unbreakable algorithm was a concept she was still struggling to grasp. She prayed they'd find North Dakota in time. â€Å"Make it quick,† Strathmore called, â€Å"and you'll be in the Smoky Mountains by nightfall.† Susan froze in her tracks. She knew she had never mentioned her trip to Strathmore. She wheeled. Is the NSA tapping my phone? Strathmore smiled guiltily. â€Å"David told me about your trip this morning. He said you'd be pretty ticked about postponing it.† Susan was lost. â€Å"You talked to David this morning?† â€Å"Of course.† Strathmore seemed puzzled by Susan's reaction. â€Å"I had to brief him.† â€Å"Brief him?† she demanded. â€Å"For what?† â€Å"For his trip. I sent David to Spain.†

A micro assembler for a processor

A micro assembler for a processor INTRODUCTION A micro assembler (sometimes called a meta-assembler) is acomputer programthat helps prepare amicroprogramto control the low level operation of a computer in much the same way anassemblerhelps prepare higher level code for aprocessor. The difference is that the microprogram is usually only developed by the processor manufacturer and works intimately with the hardware. The microprogram defines theinstruction setany normal program (including bothapplication programsandoperating systems) is written in. The use of a microprogram allows the manufacturer to fix certain mistakes, including working aroundhardwaredesign errors, without modifying the hardware. Another means of employing micro assembler-generated micro programs is in allowing the same hardware to run differentinstruction sets. After it is assembled, the microprogram is then loaded to astore to become part of the logic of aCPU’scontrol unit. Some micro assemblers are more generalized and are not targeted at single computer architecture. For example, through the use of macro-assembler-like capabilities,Digital Equipment Corporationused theirMICRO2micro assembler for a very wide range of computer architectures and implementations. If a given computer implementation supports awriteable control store, the micro assembler is usually provided to customers as a means of writing customized microcode. à ¨ Computer programs(softwareprograms) areinstructionsfor acomputer.A computer requires programs to function, typicallyexecutingthe program’s instructions in acentral processor.The program has anexecutableform that the computer can use directly to execute the instructions. The same program in its human-readable sourceform, from whichexecutableprograms are derived (e.g.,compiled), enables aprogrammerto study and develop itsalgorithms. Computer source code is often written by professionalcomputer programmers. Source code is written in aprogramming languagethat usually follows one of two mai nparadigms:imperativeordeclarativeprogramming. Source code may be converted into anexecutable file(sometimes called an executable program or a binary) by acompiler. Alternatively, computer programs may be executed by acentral processing unitwith the aid of aninterpreter, or may beembeddeddirectly intohardware. ASSEMBLY LANGUAGE: A program written in assembly language it basically contain of a series ofinstructions- mnemonics that correspond to a stream of executable instructions, when translated by anassembler that can be loaded into memory and executed. For example, anx86/IA-32processor execute the below instruction as given inmachine language. Binary: 10110000 01100001 (Hexadecimal: B0 61) The mnemonic â€Å"move† it tells the opcode1011tomovesthe value in the 2nd operand into the register. Transforming the assembly language into the machine code is done by anassembler, and the vice versa by this assembler. In High-level language, there is usually aone to one relationbetwe en simple assembly logics and machine language instructions. But, in few cases, an assembler provides instructionswhich will expand into several machine code instructions to provide its functionality. Eachcomputer structureandprocessor designhas its own machine understanding language. Each instruction is simple enough to be executed using a relatively small number of electronic circuits. System may differ by the type of operations they support. For example, a new 64-bit (AMD processor) machine will have different structure from a 32-bit (Intel processor) machine. They also have different size structure and the different storage structure. Multiple collection ofmnemonics codesor assembly-language code may exist for a single instruction set, typically instantiated in different assembler programs. In these cases, the most popular one is usually that supplied by the manufacturer and used in its documentation.

The Handmaid's Tale Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

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Inventory Management Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

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Postcolonial Literature Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Postcolonial Literature - Essay Example /inferior postcolonial literature dominates most literary study and it is clear that the establishment of Afrocentric criteria poses an important challenge to the traditional patterns. Not all of the hierarchies are so clearly drawn, nor are they so firmly entrenched as one might believe. Postcolonial critics such as Said, Loomba, Bhabha and Fanon address and describe the principal features of postcolonialisms intellectual inheritance. Edward Said Orientalism (1991) unveils an uneasy relationship with Marxism, a specifically poststructuralist and anti-humanist understanding of two opposite worlds: Western and colonial ones. In his works, Said states that while all texts are worldly, great texts reflect the greatest pressures and preoccupations of the postcolonial world. In contrast to Said, Fanon depicts resistance and anti-colonial ideas typical for the society of this period of time. In his works, Fanon pays a special attention to French colonialism and collective violence. Fanon claims that the most important thing for citizens is total liberation and freedom, liberal ideas and self-understanding. He writes: â€Å"Colonialism wants everything to come from it. But the dominant psychological feature of the colonized is to withdraw before any invitation of the conqu erors† (Fanon 63). In contrast to said, Fanon pays a special attention to grievances and problems of black population, slave and master relationships. B. Achebe Things Fall Apart focuses on the debilitating consequences of colonialism in the traditional African society with the sacrosanct male protagonists at the center of that society. Since the womans voice is, as it were, muted and the mans accented, many a feminist reader, nettled by such gross marginalization of the female gender, has relent- lessly flayed Achebes masculinist bigotry. Indeed, things fall apart because women have not been recognized as a potential dynamic force. Achebe makes no bones about delineating a woman as a slave rather than

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Business Plan - Essay Example It will be registered on the Business Bureau as a partnership business. I and my partner will be both managing partners. We will hire few employees that will be assigned to deliver forecasted volume of orders. Our express dry cleaning service will cater customers on various services related to dry cleaning such as laundry and garment alteration that will be delivered door-to-door using a business van. Door-to-door delivery can attract more clients to use our service because it is more convenient to them. In the long run, we can attract more customers and get higher volume of orders. Competitors on the business location are currently providing one-stop services, so we have seen a great potential. Employees are our number one targeted customers for this express dry cleaning service. As per observation, employees are always in a hurry – unfinished paper works or urgent meetings. Next to our list are employers and self-employed individuals like working Mom and Dad on the comfort o f their living room. This people might have too much on their plates that they cannot able to dry clean their clothes and garments all by themselves – hence, they need us who can deliver a quality service in an express way. In addition, our customers have two options for payments – cash on delivery or monthly billing. ... Instead of just using our services once, they most likely will consider making us their regular express dry cleaning service provider because of the payment convenience. Quality is king. We believe on that, and we will never compromise quality with quantity. As an express dry cleaning service provider, we will ensure that our delivery will be always on the time frame. We also plan to provide extra services for our customers who exceed a certain amount of kilos per dry cleaning. We will also offer discounts to customers who can refer their family, friends, office mates or neighbors to our dry cleaning establishment. Providing a quality services together with exciting freebies like the referral program can attract more customers to use our service. Our top rated service will yield repeat orders in higher volume, more referral, and customer patronage in the long run! We will stand strong with our goal to over deliver and give a guarantee to customer satisfaction. More so, our sales fore cast over the first year is ? 40,680 and we believe that it will increase in the next business years. Our projection of the net profit for the first year is good enough to continue operation, and we expect the same and much better projection in the coming years to come. The Reason to Open the Business in London As stated above, working individuals are in a hurry every single business day. Urban dwellers are working to thrive. People come and go from their homes to their respective offices or work places to perform various job assignments and 24/7 has become too short for them to do household chores like dry cleaning. There is a huge market potential for our express dry cleaning service, and our feasibility

Tran Poem essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Tran Poem - Essay Example The research took me to places I haven’t even imagined, and opened a whole new sphere of unexplored miseries of life I wasn’t even aware of. Writing this poem proved to be an enlightening and a life changing experience for me, and as I progressed through the development of the poem new doors kept opening for me giving a new perspective to my life each time I entered another phase of the poem. The poem is thus more than just expressive art for me, rather it`s a smaller part of a bigger evolution that I had gone through ever since. â€Å"Now when I look back†, was the perfect beginning for my poem as I`ve associated a versatile range of feelings and emotions with the bitter experiences, which compel me on looking back towards the hardest time of my life. There are two kinds of encounters that you can never get off your mind, the one which rejoices you to the fullest to the extent that it replenishes your energies and the second which are so hard to take that every second seem to pass like a lifetime. From the stare in people`s eyes to the glare in the children`s sight, everything seemed to rip off a part of my heart. I was the center of attention for every passerby, not in a good way though. There were mixed kinds of expressions that people were exhibiting towards me, which were very hard to explain. I had never in my life experiences the nature of expressive reactions that people were giving which made it even harder to interpret the messages. As I set my steps in the street to start off my day, I was mindful of the fact that I was indeed taking a very bold step which is completely unacceptable to the society. I thought I was ready, though I later realized I wasn’t. When everyone was staring at me, people turning back to have a second look at me and cars literally stopping by with the intent of publically abusing me, I tried to adjust to the changes by explaining myself that this process is necessary to understand the essence of the i ssue. Taking the reaction positively, I tried to continue the activity shifting the focus on my aim for the research instead of the harsh comments being thrown at me. All my efforts for trying to get comfortable were literally going to waste, as every moment was becoming even more difficult for me. While I was caught up in the adjustment phase, a very strange yet disturbing incident occurred to me. A boy almost my age came up to me and told me how I`m a disgrace to the society and how I should rather kill myself for the betterment of the society. I couldn’t take his comments anymore thus I retaliated though it wasn’t something that I was supposed to do during the course of the activity. I cross questioned the boy asking him how my identity was a disgrace to anyone, and how my individuality can be affecting anyone else. His answer was as disturbing as the harshest cut in my heart that only the sharpest knife could leave. He quoted some verse from a theological narration and told me how I had committed a sin in my former life, due to which God had punished me for my sin and I will skink the entire society with the disgust that I carry. I said nothing but walked away silently, and it was the first time in my life that I couldn’t stop my tears. The strength in me was fading away. This experience took my thoughts to many other perspectives of life. I`ve always understood the significance that one`s identity carries but I`ve never thought about those who are

Is global climate change man-made Research Paper

Is global climate change man-made - Research Paper Example As such the human activities on the environment have direct and indirect impact on climate change. The aerosols and greenhouse gases lead to change due to the alteration of the solar radiation and the infrared radiation, which form a significant component of the energy balance of the earth (IPCC 34). Climate change, from its very roots, is a human driven trend. It began back in the 1750 when the industrial era began. Industrial revolution was an age that saw factories emit substantial amount of gases to the atmosphere thereby resulting to the change (Sondergard 23). The revolution came with a warming influence that substantially changed the climate. The impact of the human activities during this exceeded the known natural changes such as volcanic eruptions and solar changes. Climate scientists agree that the trends in the global climate change are mainly caused by the activity of man on the land (IPCC 56). The human beings constantly expand the green house effect and the trend has been so for a very long time in history. The warming happens when the atmosphere traps heat that radiates from the atmosphere. Climate change happens when some gases in the atmosphere block heat from the earth from escaping. These gases are emitted mainly as a result of the human activity on the surface of the earth. One of these major gases is the carbon (IV) oxide. According to NAS (34), the human activities that emit such gases are potential producers of climate change. When gases remain in the atmosphere for a long time, they fail to respond to the changes in temperature whether physical or chemical and force the climate change to occur. There are those gases that are the potential producers of global warming. One of those gases is water vapor. This is the most abundant greenhouse gas, but it also plays the significant role of being feedback to the changes in climate. As explains Sondergard (102), as the atmosphere warms, the

Software Design and Development Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Software Design and Development - Assignment Example According to Seffah and Metzker (2008, p.54), likeability of a product user interface is critically important particularly if the developed software is intended to be used for commercial related activities. Generally, the design of software products takes place in a multi-step process entailing phases from initiation, analysis, design and implementation, maintenance, and disposal. It is the wish of the stakeholders in every software project that the final product leaves all members of the involved team satisfied. For example, when people like a particular product, they are more likely to continue using it and even recommend it to others. One of the graphical control elements that have been widely used in the design is drop-down lists which will enable the user to select one value from a given list of options. The inclusion of drop-down lists will not only simplify the contents of the user program but is also likely to provide a great way of reducing clutter as well as a dynamic navigation structure. In addition, the use of drop-down lists in the graphical user interface (GUI) of the program will make it easier to display options in such a manner that customers will have easy time tracing the exact options that they could be interested in. For example, an arrow is displayed in the drop-down list box and users only need to click the arrow to make the list of items active and select their chosen values/items as shown below: A number of hyperlink buttons, as well as hypertexts, have been used in the design of the programs user interface to enhance the navigation of the system and allow users to automatically jump to another place within the system. For example, the hyperlink integrated with the â€Å"HELP† button found in the lower section of the input screen provides a reference mechanism whereby the users will be able to access additional information or guides by simply clicking the button.

Trends and Issues in Beer Industry Essay Example for Free

Trends and Issues in Beer Industry Essay 1. News Article Title: Modern trends and issues in the world beer industry (2 Points) Name of media presenting article: TATA CONSULTANCY SERVICES (2 Points) URL to news article: http://www. tcs. com/SiteCollectionDocuments/White%20Papers/CPG-Whitepaper-Brewery-Industry-Transition-0313-1. pdf (2 Points) 1) Question 1: Are demographic changes included in main trends of the beer industry? Answer 1: True 2) Question 2 : Do retailers have impact in the beer industry? Answer 2:. True 3) Question 3: Does Retail industry have a deep understanding of consumer behaviour? Answer 3:True 4) Question 4: Are consumers from emerging markets for alcoholic drinks in the 15 to 34 age group? Answer 4: False 5) Question 5: Do retailers demand long-term delivery? Answer 5: False. ATTACHMENT OF COMPLETE ARTICLE MUST ACCOMPANY THIS! (3 Points) Correct format used (Times New Roman, Font Size 12): (1 Point) Paste here. Everybody knows that competition in the brewery industry is always high, especially between private labels, which have a big impact on the environment. So they need a balance between strong presence on developed markets with high profit as well as developing markets with huge perspective and volume growth in the future. As every field, beer industry has its own trends and issues. Let’s start from trends. 1. Impact of retail industry Retail industry has a deep understanding of consumer behaviour due to their everyday close relations. It is a big advantage for manufacturers, who provide maximum sales volume, in terms of price settings. In the same time, retailers demand shorter delivery-terms and better service. 2. Demographic changes. Consumers for alcoholic drinks in the 15 to 34 age group in developed countries have witnessed a decline in consumption of beer; a trend that contrasts with the observations in emerging nations. Additionally, due to changes in taste and growth of income, consumers chose quality rather than quantity and it is a challenge for breweries. 3. Consolidation Beer manufacturers use mergers and acquisitions to increase their growth. The major players have been looking for the scale to: A)Gain competitive advantage in terms of offsetting retailer power, B) Establish a strong position within the distribution chain, C) Gain shelf space. Issues The conflicting interests of manufacturers, distributors and retailers coupled with government regulations force manufacturers to reevaluate their supply chain systems to address some of the following challenges: A)Price volatility for goods B)Manage expanding range of different products and eliminate non-profitable variants C)Provide higher service levels demanded by distributors and retailers D)Comply with government regulations in batch management and traceability requirements E) Accurately understand the complexities of work in emerging markets and the high cost to serve a variation between urban and rural markets. It is time for the industry to take a fresh look at its operations. Subsequent integration processes, in addition to compliance to multiple regulatory norms, has indeed created a significant shift in the way the industry operates. Beer companies would need to re-evaluate their supply chain practices such that they keep pace with quickening product innovations and launch processes. The retailer influence is also increasingly adding pressure to their already tight margins, making optimization efforts the most necessary.

Genetic Causes of Choroideremia (CHM)

Genetic Causes of Choroideremia (CHM) Choroideremia (CHM) is a rare genetic impairment of the CHM gene, located on the X sex chromosome, that affects vision, as the retina, a crucial part of the eye involved in sight, loses functionality. This condition affects 1 out of 50,000 to 100,000 and is 4% of all causes of blindness in humans (GHR, 2017). Choroideremia is a sex-linked recessive trait, which means that females who do not express the trait are called carriers because only one of their X-chromosomes has the recessive trait, which is masked by the dominant trait of not having the condition. For males, it only takes the mothers affected X-chromosome to become affected by CHM for life (GHR, 2017). With the assistance from adeno-associated virus gene therapy, conditions like Choroideremia can be treated and cured. The CHM gene on the X-chromosome is responsible for producing the Rab escort protein-1 (REP-1), however if the CHM gene is mutated or absent, the lack of REP-1 CHM is supposed to produce causes cell death in the retina, causing Choroideremia (Mura, 2007). Escort proteins are the cells traffic facilitator, regulating intracellular proteins, organelles, and matter. Rab proteins are characterized by their geranylgeranyl functional group, a fundamental structure involved in prenylation, which is important in binding proteins (Preising, 2005). REP-1 allows for other essential proteins to enter cells, allowing for cellular processes to occur. Choroideremia occurs when the CHM gene fails to produce the REP-1. If there happens to be a lack of REP-1, the body has a backup, REP-2, that can perform nearly all of the same processes as REP-1, except there is little to no REP-2 present in the retina, which is why Choroideremia exists. With the absence of REP-1, the cells lack the facilitator requi red for them to do their work, resulting with premature cell death, or dystrophy (NCBI, 2016). Choroideremia can be treated, and possibly cured, with the use of adeno-associated viruses (AAV) because of its ability to target locations on chromosomes. The adeno-associated virus was discovered in the 1960s as a contaminant of adenovirus (Weitzman and Linden, 2011), and was seen as a useless virus because it required the assistance of another virus in order to replicate (Gonà §alves, 2005). However, the adeno-associated virus is admired for its useful abilities. The adeno-associated virus is admired for its simple structure, consisting of single-stranded DNA with genomes that are controlled by hairpin shaped telomere structures (Cotmore and Tattersall, 2014). Another characteristic of the AAV is the precise targeting of Chromosome 19; in fact, the AAV is known as one of the only viruses with such capacity to specifically act upon on one chromosome nearly 96% of the time (Daya and Berns, 2008). A crucial aspect about the adeno-associated virus is that it lacks pathogenicity, whic h means it does not cause disease in its host nor does it cause cell death. It is the lack of pathogenicity that has allowed medical professionals to pursue new treatments for genetically caused diseases. Because AAVs can act on a specific location on a chromosome without killing the host cell, treating sex-linked traits has become a reality. A clinical study used stem cells from patients with CHM and experimented the virus abilities with an in vitro model using CHO cells, which transferred the hCHM, human CHM DNA, into mice eyeballs to view the precision of genetic transfer. The results revealed that the CHO cells had elevated levels of the REP-1 protein levels, indicating that the introduction of AAV was able to specifically target the X-chromosome and alter the CHM gene. For the hCHM, it responded well to the application of AAV, as REP-1 proteins increased with regular dosage of AAV and compared to control cells, there was a 50-fold amount of REP-1 protein levels with the treated hCHM cells, indicating that AAV is a very promising option for gene therapy (Vasireddy, 2013). A 2014 clinical trial decided to directly administer an AAV encoding REP-1 to six mature males with Choroidere mia (all with little ability to see), waiting for six months after the trial to evaluate the effects of raw AAV administration. The results reveal all of the test subjects gained eyesight from the treatment, as their lines of vision increased as well as increased levels of retinal sensitivity (MacLaren, 2014). With a single mutation in a genetic sequence, life-changing conditions, like Choroideremia, leave people impaired for the remainder of their lives. However, with the assistance of adeno-associated viruses, researchers are able to treat and cure such conditions permanently. Citations/References: Matthew D. Weitzman and R. Michael Linden (2011). Adeno-Associated Virus Biology. Retrieved December 30, 2016, from http://www.hixonparvo.info/Matt%20AAV%20book%20chaptor.pdf Manuel Gonà §alves (2005). Adeno-associated virus: from defective virus to effective vector. Retrieved December 30, 2016, from https://virologyj.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1743-422X-2-43 Susan F. Cotmore and Peter Tattersall (2014). Parvoviruses: Small does not mean simple. Retrieved January 6, 2017, from http://www.annualreviews.org/doi/abs/10.1146/annurev-virology-031413-085444 Choroideremia Genetics Home Reference (GHR). (2017, January 10). Retrieved January 11, 2017, from https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/choroideremia#genes CHM CHM, Rab escort protein 1 [Homo sapiens (human)] Gene NCBI. (2016, December 21). Retrieved January 11, 2017, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/1121 Vasireddy V, Mills JA, Gaddameedi R, Basner-Tschakarjan E, Kohnke M, Black AD, et al. (2013) AAV-Mediated Gene Therapy for Choroideremia: Preclinical Studies in Personalized Models. PLoS ONE 8(5): e61396. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0061396. Retrieved January 11, 2017, from http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/authors?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0061396 Preising, M., and C. Ayuso. Rab Escort Protein 1 (REP1) in Intracellular Traffic: A Functional and Pathophysiological Overview. Retrieved Retrieved January 11, 2017, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15370541 Mura M, Sereda C, Jablonski MM, MacDonald IM, Iannaccone A. Clinical and functional findings in choroideremia due to complete deletion of the CHM gene. Retrieved Retrieved January 11, 2017, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=17698759 MacLaren RE, Groppe M, Barnard AR, Cottriall CL, Tolmachova T, Seymour L, Clark KR, During MJ, Cremers FP, Black GC, Lotery AJ, Downes SM, Webster AR, Seabra MC. Retinal gene therapy in patients with choroideremia: initial findings from a phase 1/2 clinical trial.Retrieved January 11, 2017, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=24439297

The effectiveness of interview process for an employee

The effectiveness of interview process for an employee This paper attempted to find out the Effectiveness of Interview process for an Employee Selection Method. This manuscript reviews the literature in order to summarize, integrate, and evaluate the many ways interviews can be structured. The use of valid selection methods is an important prerequisite for good selection decision making .This review is focused on interviews effectiveness as one of the selection method. From the point of view of organisation interview decides the future employee where a lots of responsibilities lies for the organisation to select the right candidate. However interview is one way of several ways to recruit human resources and its validity and reliability needs to be accurate. Chapter gives a description of introduction of the topic, literature review and methodology to carry out the research. It set up two objectives that are to identify the strengths and weaknesses of interview technique and to find out the recommendation and suggestion to remove the flaws of interview. Most selection devices including interview are made on the basis of predictions about how well an applicant will perform, the usefulness of these predictions is determined by two main factors their reliability and validity (Sparrow, 1994 ). These are the fundamental requirements for any selection method. Suggested by Travor (1999) The structure, validity, reliability and predictive power of structure and unstructured interview have been analysed, investigated through the researchers` comments, suggestions and theory of personality. Finally step-by-step details on how both of the interview methods differ in predicting accurate job performance is presented by personality theory, job analysis etc. A key findings of this analysis in the chapter 4 is that unstructured interview is less valid and reliable as it does not focus on the behavioural based analysis to predict the job performance where structured interview is more valid and accurate as it is based on scientific and theoretical analysis using job analysis, scoring guide, and predictive questions. Through the analysis in this report, suggestion and recommendation has been made to make the interview more effective and eliminate the interview errors. A Harvard University study reports that 80% of turnover can be blamed on mistakes made during the employee selection and hiring process. Employee selection process is very important for every Organisation. If an organisation makes the wrong selection decision it will employ an individual who is not going to meet the organisations expectations of an entrant at the level. Selection and assessment is fundamentally concerned with the prediction of job performance and prediction necessarily implies the existence of predictors. There are several types of selection methods or predictors. There are more combinations and ways for selection system. Interview is a two way process -with the candidate assessing the organisation as well as the other way around. For years occupational psychologists have argued that interviews are among the worst methods of selection that organisations can use to choose its employees. Dipboye (1994) has suggested that the interview has no unique content: it is simply a method of collecting information .Nevertheless , in order to research to proceed there is a generic definition for interview as : The employment interview is defined as an interviewer-applicant exchange of information in which the interviewer(s) into the applicants (a) work-related knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs); ( motivations; (c) values; and (d) reliability, with the overall staffing goals of attracting, selecting and retaining a highly competent and productive workforce. (Eder, 1999) According to Sparrow (1994) the rationale of the interview to be a selection process are as follows: To collect information in order to predict how well the applicants would Perform in the job for which they have applied, by measuring them against predetermined criteria. To provide the candidate with full details of the job and organisation to Facilitate their decision-making Sparrow (1994). The use of valid selection methods is an important prerequisite for good selection decision making .This research is focused on interview `s effectiveness as one of the selection method. From the point of view of organisation interview decides the future employee where a lots of responsibilities lies for the Organisation to select the right candidate. However interview is one way of several ways to recruit human resources and its validity and reliability needs to be accurate. We believe that most applicants are more interested in being hired, to examine this belief it is wise to consider the two kinds of errors take place in the interview and their impact on the applicants and organisation. The errors are false rejection by which applicants should have been hired but overlooked due to weaknesses in selection method and the other errors is false hire by which organisation lose their valuable time and money in hiring wrong applicant. The line manager interest in selection process thus starts with the consequences of bad hires .If the Organisation chose the wrong person through the wrong selection method .it brings a loos for the whole organisation. There is a number of diversified pressures for the organisation to devote more attention to the efficiency and validity of the selection system. Hence organisation and applicants both share the interest in selection accuracy. Thats why satisfying selection process is very prerequisite for the decisions of interviewee and the Organisation. Therefore it is very important to justify the validity and accuracy of interview technique as a selection process. As a student of business studies and employee of various organisations I have this study challenging to explore how this method is valid. As organisation sometimes compensate the cost of hiring wrong person it is very important to research on this topic. There are several different types of selection interview for the employer to consider. The structured or patterned interview Unstructured or traditional face to face interview The semi structured interview The situational interview As interview devices are made on the basis of predictions about how well an applicant will perform the usefulness of these predictions is determined by two main factors their reliability and validity (Sparrow, 1994). Reliability is a measurement concept widely used in the psychology of assessment .It refers to consistency of a method, its capability of delivering the same or similar scores for the same individual at different times and with the different assessors (ONeil, 1990) 1.1 Aim Its very much difficult to find a skilled and talented worker without an effective interview. But how could we say that the interview was effective enough to choose the right candidate? An interview is will be successful and effective by selecting the right candidate for the right job. On the basis of two theoretical aspects as reliability and validity the aim of this research is to identify the values of the interviewing method and view of interview practices and phenomena to aid the organisation, employers and personnel practitioners. The reason to carry out the research is to find out why interview is used for most of the selection where there are several ways of selection method. , to determine the effectiveness of interview as a whole .and to identify flaws of the interview method and find out how interview could be made more effective so that organisation can choose the right future employee. In this research it has been argued that if the interview technique is an effective method for selection process, how much it is valid and reliable. Hence the title of the research is The Effectiveness of Interview process for an Employee Selection Method. 1.2 Objective Up to the time of 1989 the general consensus in the literature was that the interview was a poor selection device, tolerated primarily because it was the only personal opportunity for applicants and interviewers to exchange information with one another. . In this research the objectives are to find out the effectiveness of interview like their advantages, disadvantages, how valid and reliable they are , their strengths and weaknesses. Before all of them it is a general objective to find out why traditional interview is still used widely .which has been produced at the beginning of objective 1 In the second objective to eliminate the flaws of interview of both unstructured and structured interview and to make interview more effective recommendations and certain changes have been suggested. Therefore the objectives of this research are: 1. To determine the advantages and disadvantages of unstructured interview. 2. To evaluate schemes on how to ascertain perceived changes to make interview method more effective. Chapter 2 Research Methodology 2.1 Purpose In this chapter research methodology is described to find out the way of the analysis of the topic The Effectiveness of Interview process for an Employee Selection Method. First of all, literature review of several concepts relating to Recruitment process and the in depth description of the total process. 2.2 Positivist Research As described by Orlikowski Baroudi (1991) Positivists generally assume that reality is objectively given and can be described by measurable properties which are independent of the observer (researcher) and his or her instruments. Positivist studies generally attempt to test theory, in an attempt to increase the predictive understanding of phenomena (Orlikowski Baroudi, 1991). 2.2.1 The Positivist Paradigm: Theories, Propositions, Hypotheses and Hypothesis Testing A paradigm is a set of beliefs about the nature of social reality, that is, the nature of the world and the individuals place in it (Guba and Lincoln 1994). Guba and Lincoln note that a paradigm has three dimensions:  · What is the form and nature of reality (the ontological question)?  · What is the relationship between the researcher and what can be known (the epistemological question)?  · How does the researcher find out whatever they believe can be known (the methodological question)? It is critical to remember that paradigms are assumptions that are not subject to proof. They are human constructions that are neither right nor wrong: proponents must argue for their utility (Guba and Lincoln 1994). The positivist paradigm has the following positions with regard to the three dimensions: 1. An objective reality is assumed which can be systematically and rationally investigated through empirical investigation, and is driven by general causal laws that apply to social behaviour. This is sometimes called naÃÆ' ¯ve realism (the ontological position) (Guba and Lincoln 1994). 2. The researcher and the phenomena being investigated are assumed to be independent, and the researcher remains detached, neutral and objective. Any reduction in independence is a threat to the validity of the study, and should be reduced by following prescribed procedures (the epistemological position) (Shanks Parr, n.d). 3. General theories are used to generate propositions that are operationalised as hypotheses and subjected to empirical testing that is replicable. Hypotheses should be testable and provide the opportunity for confirmation and falsification. This is the essence of the scientific method (the methodological position) (Shanks Parr, n.d). In the following discussion about theory, proposition, hypothesis and hypothesis testing we assume a positivist position. 2.2.1Theories A theory is a system of ideas that abstracts and organises knowledge about the social world (Neuman 2000). There are many types of theory including implicit (preconceptions, biases and values etc.) and explicit theory (sets of organised concepts and their interrelationships) (Miles and Huberman 1994). There are highly abstract theoretical frameworks, and focused mid-range theories more suited to empirical work (Neuman 2000). For empirical studies conducted using a positivist, deductive case approach mid-range, explicit theories are relevant. Dubin (1978) notes that this type of theory has three main elements:  · A set of well-defined concepts (or units);  · Laws of interaction (or interrelationships between the units);  · A boundary within which the theory holds. 2.2.2 Propositions Predictions about the world are made using propositions, that is, conclusions that may be deduced logically from the theory. Propositions link the values of units. Propositions in the viewpoint development theoretical framework will therefore link specific values of viewpoint representation with specific values of viewpoint development role. Dubin (1978) notes that the most usual form of propositions is the if à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ then à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ format. Darke (1997) identifies two propositions in her study:  · If representation techniques are informal or semi-formal then they are used during the requirements acquisition viewpoint development role.  · If representation techniques are semi-formal or formal then they are used during the requirements modelling viewpoint development role (Darke, 1997). 2.2.3 Hypotheses A hypothesis is an empirically testable statement that is generated from a proposition. Terms in propositions belong to the abstract world of theory. Each of the terms must be assigned an empirical indicator. These empirical indicators are then substituted into the proposition to form a corresponding hypothesis. Once hypotheses have been generated they may be used in empirical studies (Ullah, 2010a). 2.2.4 Hypothesis Testing Hypotheses are tested by comparing their predictions with observed data. Observations that confirm a prediction do not establish the truth of a hypothesis. The deductive testing of hypotheses involves looking for disconfirming evidence to falsify hypotheses (Lee 1989). Falsified hypotheses are then refined based on the reasons for falsification and subjected to further empirical testing. 2.3 Quantitative or Qualitative method Qualitative methods approach has been used in this current research. Qualitative research involves the use of qualitative data, such Qualitative data such as open- ended responses, interviews, participant observations, field notes, reflections (Johnson Christensen, 2008). On the other hand Quantitative data based on precise measurements using structured validated data-collection instruments (Johnson Christensen, 2008). 2.4 Data collection method In order to analyse and gather the information of the research mainly primary and secondary data both were used. 2.4.1 Primary data According to Collis and Hussey (2003) in phenomenological approach the interview questions are unstructured or semi- structured in pattern not closed questions like positivistic approach. The plan is that the researcher will prepare semi-structured questions that are helpful to take maximum information from interviewees because in closed questions it is possible that some important information will be ignored. In semi-structured interviews the researcher has an opportunity to probe various areas and to raise specific queries during the semi-structured interviews (iiu.edu.my). (Ahmad, 2008) In this research, interviews were used as the source of primary data to find how the Effectiveness of Interview process for an Employee Selection Method. The reporter conducted several meeting with some renowned Recruitment agencies and different organisations to gain the practical view of the total recruitment emphasizing the Interview process. 2.4.2 Secondary data Secondary data are those that have been generated by others and are included in data-sets, case materials, computer or manual databases or published by various private recruitment organisations, Universities and public organisations or government departments (e.g. National Skills Task Force, Employers Skill Survey, Statistical Report) (Ullah, 2010a). Chapter 3 Literature Review According to Ullah (2010) the growing importance of good employees poses a challenge to the HR managers. The selection process of todays HR managers is becoming multifarious and exigent. Unquestionably the overall aim of the selection process is to spot the candidates who are appropriate for the vacancy or wider requirements of the HR plan. Interview has been used as a significant selection method by HR managers. The interview is the most applicable method in determining an applicants organisational fit, level of motivation, and inter-personal skills (Stevens, 1997 cited Ullah, 2010). An interview is a specialised form of adaptation conducted for a specific task-related purpose (Whetton Cameron, 2002). The primary objective of interview is to predict whether a candidate will meet the performance expectation on the job (Camp et al, 2001). The increasing competition for skilled and talented workers calls for effective interview. But what actually makes an interview effective? An interview is regarded as effective when it can provide its purpose, i.e. selecting the right candidate for the right job (Ullah, 2010). Human resources should be considered as a significant organizational asset. In this context, the application of the appropriate strategies for its development, can lead to the improvement of the corporate performance both in the short and the long term. Recruitment and selection are core areas of human resource management but are frequently discussed in a prescriptive manner. They are not simply techniques for filling jobs they are also levers for organizational change, sustaining employee commitment and achieving high performance. The recruitment process is both costly and lengthy, and when a mistake is made it can be catastrophic for the organization and the individual involved (Dale, 2006). Few line managers are given formal training at recruitment processes and poor interviewing skills can cost a company both cash and customers. This book enables managers and HR professionals to master essential recruitment skills and develop an effective interviewing technique. Shsckleton ( 1991) found that interviews ( traditional or unstructured method ) were used widely . In Britain 93% and 94 % in France although there was a striking contrast in the number of interviews used in the selection process. In 1980 the economic change and pressure renewed interest to focus on interview productivity and growing evidence suggested more reliable and validated interview technique , Orpen (1985) and weekly Gier (1987). There are two reasons why this study concentrates here only on unstructured / traditional interview compared to structured interview because -After1989 the quest for a more reliable, standarasied interview form was reaching fruition .The growing evidence of structured interviewing techniques like situational interview yielded more reliable and valid ratings of applicant suitability than did unstructured interview ( Janz, 1982 ; Hellervik Gilmore, 1986 ; Orpen, 1985) Structured interview appears to have greater validity than do unstructured interviews, further understanding of structured interviews would seems to have a greater payoff in terms of practice and unstructured interviews may differed greatly from study to study in terms of the questions asked . (Eder Harris, 1999 ). Since it is the interviewers responsibility to find the right candidate for the job, it is crucial that the interview is well designed. To be fit for the purpose the interview must be sufficiently demanding but, at the same time, respectful of the candidate. This book not only provides interviewers with tried and tested readymade interview questions, but also enables them to conduct fair and searching interviews. This book gives clear idea about Interview techniques and questions to ensure that the best person is recruited for the job and also includes numerous interview questions and recruitment advice (Hackett, 1998). This book gives idea to ensure any individuals for choosing better people for the organization more efficiently. It provides step-by-step guidance on techniques and procedures from the initial decision to recruit through to the critical final choice. Helpful advice is included on: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ drawing up job descriptions, employee specifications and assessment plans à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ setting up the interview à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ using different interview strategies and styles à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ improving your questioning and listening skills à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ evaluating the evidence to reach the best decision (Arvey Campion, 1982). Interviews are now so widespread that it is difficult to think of a single profession where they are not used. As such, the ability to conduct interviews effectively is considered essential in any professionals repertoire of skills. This new edition of Effective Interviewing provides detailed coverage of the methods and techniques currently in practice and speculates on the future of interviewing (Dale, 2003). Chapter 4 Analysis and Findings In the previous Chapter, the research methodology, described how the information, theories and concepts were collected in order to analyse the findings with the comparison between unstructured and structured interview. 4.1 Criteria to choose Interview: Bolton (1999) described three main criteria as the tools to choose a selection method. They are; Cost Time Social interaction 4.1.1 Cost 1990 potential benefits of the selection stages must be weighed against their cost. Like travel cost, materials cost , staff costs , and time cost . It is useful to focus on contextual information that is worth being guided by cost benefit considerations in order that the effort involves gathering the information can be balanced against its usefulness within the organisation .Traditional interview cost less than structured interview as it does not necessitate straining , specialists , can take place anywhere etc . 4.1.2 Time The more stages the more time it takes to carry them out. Correspondence with and repeated visits by candidates are time consuming. Eder (1999) asserted that, structured interviewing techniques are likely to take more time than the unstructured interview. The need for a carefully documented job analysis may seem superfluous to a hiring manager who has supervised employees in the positing for many years. Saving time may become the justified fact to busy manager when they find to ask all applicants a standard set of questions wasteful and unjustified. 4.1.3 Social process Even if the interview were thoroughly repudiated, it probably would not be abandoned; there seems to be certain human curiosity, which can be satisfied in no other way than seeing each other. Stewart (1996) explained that, the past few years the managers complained on HR staff that structured interview is an unwanted control over their independence to use a core set of questions. In todays more informal business atmosphere a structured interview seems out of place. Managers may resist using structured interview . Indeed another reason for popularity of the conventional interview is that it does give the interviewee the occasion to ask questions (Eder 1999). From the above comparison the following advantages are stated: Through the interview face to face conversation is possible. It is more cost effective The Interviewer and the Interviewee need not to get training, easy to adapt. Interview can be used for almost all types of vacancies. The Interviewer can assess the interpersonal communication skill of the Interviewee. It can be used to meet wide range of information to recruit a candidate outside the job associated requirements. It can be arranged many different substantial locations. Through this process the managers can test for personal attitudes, abilities and potentiality of the candidates. 4.2 The factors that affect the interview outcomes: Motowidlo (1992) proceeds to offer various factors such as degree of control over ones behaviour that may affect the relationship between intentions and behaviour. Applicant may answer, as the interviewer will be happy to hear. Motowidlo (1992) believes that when behaviour is completely controlled by the employee, intensions will be less predictive of future than the past which also suggests that situational interviews are less predictive than the behavioural. Apart from the trait limitation according to Schermerhorn Jr et al. (1996) the prediction could be inaccurate if there is any type of factor takes place affecting or influencing the applicants reply.Through a common theoretical framework an integration of the findings may be reached. Applying this theory, this assumption can be matched with other biases leads both parties to make dispositional attributes when they are not appropriate. Thus in the case of interview from a candidates perspective the candidate may attribute interviewers behaviour wholly to personal characteristics which could original or may generalise the recruiters behaviour and behave accordingly. Interviewers signalling hypothesis can be seen as an impact to affect the outcome of interview and interfere interviewees` behaviour. Thus interviewers behaviour can control the interviewee and have a bad impact on the outcome of the selection process, which means it could cause wrong prediction and lower validity and reliability. Some evidence suggests that racial biases may be introduced in the traditional interview process because of the stereotypical views interviewers have of personalities on the basis of interviewees attitude analysis without scientific evidence and conducting the interview without objectivity that decreases the employers ability to discharge its burden of coming forward with admissible evidence that clearly sets forth a non-discriminatory reason for its rejection of the plaintiff (Eder , 1999) 4.3 Comparison between the traditional and Modern Recruitment method: According to Michigan State University Study (1995) 4.3.1 Traditional Recruitment Methods Are Too Subjective, cause Most employers use a combination of application, interviews, resumes and employment reference checks. These methods are best described as subjective. Traditional recruitment methods are highly vulnerable to data distortion or falsification. Resumes are often exaggerated or falsified. Interviews are greatly influenced by first impressions, appearance halo effects or chemistry. References are usually groomed or coached. Subjective recruitment and hiring methods provide useful, but limited information. 4.3.2 Modern Recruitment Methods Offer a More Objective Approach Modern recruitment methods use on-line applications and interviews, integrity screenings and executive profile assessments, job matching and background verifications. The information collected is highly accurate and reliable. Objective recruitment and hiring methods make your hiring process more defendable to any EEOC and ADA challenges. Screenings and profiles are not as vulnerable to faking or distortion and halo effects. Validity indicators on assessments help to verify the authenticity or candor of the candidates responses. 4.3.3 Research Shows the Relative Value of Different Hiring Methods Interviews alone 14% accuracy Reference Checks + Interviews 26% accuracy Behavior-based Personality Assessment + Reference Checks + Interviews 38% accuracy Abilities + Personality Assessment + Reference Checks + Interviewing 54% accuracy Values Interests + Abilities + Personality Assessment + Reference Checks + Interviews 66% accuracy Personal Attributes Job Matching (job benchmark) + all of the above 75% accuracy (Michigan State University Study, 1995) 4.4 How to improve Interview technique Most of the typical interviews are comparatively unstructured. Structure approach are used where every candidates face the absolutely the same questions and situations to solve such a situation where the job position required. To make interview reliable and more valid the combination of two method like -using recommended structure, assessment test, references check, panel of interview, interviewer training may increase the reliability and validity of interview, it may appear to be useful but properly controlled comparisons of scores with measures of work performance may show that an apparently less relevant test has higher predictive validity (Hossain, 2010). 4.5 Summery tips for Interviewing Regan and Dean (2010) summarised the key tips for the Interviewing technique by the following: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Structure the interview, have an agenda and inform the candidate so they can manage the employers expectations. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Be clear about what the organisation is looking for in terms of experience, personality and skills and prepare questions to assess the candidates suitability. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Prepare questions based on areas on the CV which the interviewer would like to investigate. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Select a comfortable professional location, free from interruptions. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Review the CV and the job specification again prior to the interview. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Set all the objectives on which to asses all candidates. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Start with the brief history of the company. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ place the interviewee at easy and comfortable situation where the applicant is out of nervousness. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Allow sufficient time for interviews if any changes happened let the candidate know the duration is shortened, as it was informed before. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ If the company is looking for any specific skills or attributes devise relevant questions to cover the job position, let the candidates be asked specifiaclly. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Ensure candidates leave with a good impression of the Interviewer and the company, even if they are not right for this role there may be others in the future. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Summarise at the end check to see all candidates questions are answered, and let them know the next steps. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Record the answers and the responses (Regan and Dean, 2010). 3.2.1 Structure There are several ways to structure the interview .The recommendation of the form of structure set out in table given below: Chapter 5 Conclusion and Recommendation The hiring decisions you make are some the most important investments into your organizations future. Dont leave it to chance! The task of HR managers does not complete just after the interview session. The post-interview activities are vital for them. At least they should verify the background investigation of the potential employee before finally offering the job. Background investigations, or reference checks, are inte

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart :: essays research papers

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was a remarkable musician and composer. Mozart was born in Salzburg Austria in 1756. By the age of four it was evident that he possessed tremendous musical talent and music memory. His father Leopold who was a master violinist and composer decided to enroll young Wolfgang in harpsichord lessons. At age five Mozart was composing music and by age six he had mastered the keyboard. By his early teens, he had mastered the piano, violin, and harpsichord and was writing symphonies and operas. Amadeus is a drama of the 18th century in Vienna Austria, starring Tom Hulce as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Murray Abraham as Salieri, Elizabeth Berridge as Constanze Mozart, and Jeffery Jones as Emperor Joseph II. It is a biographical film that is as much about Salieri as it is about Mozart. Amadeus is a portrait of Salieri and the overwhelming jealousy he had for Mozart. From the time Salieri was a little boy he was consumed by music. He wanted nothing more but to be a legend in the music world, but Mozart is portrayed as a college preppy who is rude, arrogant and extremely talented. Although he is extremely talented it is also obvious he wants to be a common man in society. After attempting to commit suicide Antonio Salieri finds himself in a mental institution. He once was a court composer for Emperor Joseph II. He had written forty operas of his own and Mozart was his living idol. Unlike Mozart’s’ father, Salieri’s father did not like music and did not support his efforts. While a patient in the institution the story of Amadeus is related by Salieri to a priest. He tells him of his jealousy for Mozart and his distrust of God, because God gave Mozart all the talent and did not pass that talent to him. Salieri’s downfall occurred when Mozart was invited to the royal manner of Emperor Joseph II and simply astounded everyone. Salieri is immediately overwhelmed with jealousy. Mozart seems to lead a rebellious life but his operatic works simply overwhelmed the royalty and higher ups. At age twenty-six Mozart married Constanze against his fathers will. After his marriage, finances were extremely tight, due to the fact he was a poor businessman he eventually led a life of poverty. Due to the fact his wife Constanze was subjected to a plot of sabotage by selling Mozart’s music to Salieri. When she became pregnant the lady that stayed with them and cared for the family was also involved in an attempt to pass his music on to Salieri. Both attempts were quite risky since Mozart never made additional copies of his works. Prior to the birth of their first child Mozart’s father moved in

Understanding Of Scottish Society :: essays research papers fc

Abstract The concept of a nation state has only emerged over the last couple of centuries, before this point less advanced and coherent states managed the affairs of the populous. The nation state is the overlapping of two separate features. The nation is the identity that individuals relate to within the society. This can exist on its own, as all that is needed is a person to feel that they have a connection with others on no more than shared belonging. The state is used to take national feelings of loyalty and use them to effectively govern peoples lives. The state almost like a governmental overlay for a national identity to operate within. Scotland can be seen in this light because it is a fine example of what nationhood looks like, without the apparatus of the state to cloud the picture. Scotland has this dual identity of Scottish nation within the confines of a British state. In answering this question it is necessary to investigate the origins of modern nation states. Firstly examining what the term 'Nation State' means by breaking it down into its two parts. Lastly I will examine how accurate a term the 'Nation State' is when applied to Scottish Society. The 'Nation State' is a recent phenomena, with most of human history being founded on stateless societies. These stateless societies refer to the tribal and clan systems that existed across the globe, before the emergence of larger societies such as Empires and Kingdoms. These societies were able to function as they were relatively small. The whole or at least a large part of the community could be involved in any decision that need to be made, although because of their size complex decision making processes were needed. With the increase of population and the subsequent competition for limited resources, systems started to emerge that could handle the new demands. Economies started to produce more than what was required by the community, so the surplus was trade with neighbouring communities. This process also created the need for higher authority to govern the transactions between the communities. These embryonic communities developed into what can be described as traditional states, with a sovereign leader such as a King or Emperor who ruled absolutely. They could do this because they held the reins of the states military forces. In Max Weber's view this was the critical component of any state. For a state to be legitimate it must have a monopoly of the use of violence within the confines of its own territory. However usually this was only a last resort and the ordinary people were quite unaware of the state developing around them. A limited form of government would emerge to ensure that the Head of the State could rule effectively.

Hundreds Years War Essay -- essays research papers fc

Hundred Years War The definition of the Golden Rule is that those with the gold make the rules. In other words, those with the gold have the power as well as those with the power have the gold. History books will discuss the general reasons for war such as freedom from adversity or freedom from religion. But the real issue for any war is the thirst for power and control; and the means to finance them are the economic issues. Nations will endure years of fighting for power and control. France and England fought each other for more than a hundred years to have control of the Channel trade routes. 1 This century of warring was known as The Hundred Years' War and is the longest war in record history. It began in 1337 when King Edward III invaded Normandy and ended in 1453 when France won the Battle of Bordeaux. However, it was not a hundred years of constant battle; there were periods of truces in between. 2 One cause for the Hundred Years' War was the claim to the French throne. The conflict began when t he direct line of succession died without a male heir and the nobles decided to pass the crown to a cousin, Philip of Valois. But this left two other male cousins equally deserving of the crown; Charles, King of Navarre and Edward III, King of England. 3 Edward III claimed that he himself was deserving of the throne because his mother was the sister of the late French king, while Philip VI was only a cousin. But according to French law, no women could inherit the throne, nor could the crown be inherited through a woman. 4 "Philip of Valois chances of becoming King of France had been remote and he had not been brought up as the future lieutenant of God on Earth. Philip VI spent much of his resources on entertainment and finery with gay abandon." 5 This caused conflict with the king's subjects. Since the king was considered to be sacred and inviolable, neither cousin would challenge Philip VI. However, they would exploit the situation and King Edward III lost no time and inv aded Normandy with an army of 10,000 men. 6 This leads to another cause for The Hundred Years' War. The land along the Channel and Atlantic coasts was England's first line of defense against an invasion. England held claim to this territory from the twelth century through the marriage of King Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine. King Edward III was determined to gain control of the Fr... ...ot;Hundred Years' War." Compton's Online Encyclopedia. 1995. Hutchinson, Harold F. King Henry V. New York: John Day Company, 1967. Palmer, J.J.N. England, France and Christendom. London: University of North Carolina Press, 1972. Vale, M.G.A. English Gascony 1399-1453. London: Oxford University Press, 1970. --- Notes 1. Palmer, J.J.N., England, France and Christendom. London: University of North Carolina Press, 23. 2. "Hundred Years' War." Compton's Online Encyclopedia. 1995. 3. Palmer, 47. 4. "Hundred Years' War" 5. Duby, Georges. France in the Middle Ages 987-1460. Paris: Blackwell, 1987, 274. 6. "Hundred Years' War" 7. Barnie, John. War in Medieval English Society. Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1974, 181. 8. Palmer, 120. 9. "Hundred Years' War" 10. Barnie, 219. 11. Duby, 233. 12. "Hundred Years' War" 13. Palmer, 161. 14. "Hundred Years' War" 15. Barnie, 25. 16. Hutchinson, Harold F. King Henry V. New York: John Day Company, 1967, 214. 17. Hutchinson, 214. 18. Barnie, 245. 19. "Hundred Years' War" 20. Vale, M.G.A. English Gascony 1399-1453. London: Oxford University Press, 1970, 165. 21. Vale, 215.

Breeder’s Own Pet Foods, INC Essay

Central issue: Breeder’s Mix is a new kind of dog food and it is totally differ from traditional types dog foods, people are not familiar with this product at all. In addition, it is very difficult to predict the trend of this product. Dog food industry is considered highly potential in a mounting trend. Firstly, the dog food industry has benefited from increasing dog ownership. Secondly, pet owners continue to invest their animal companions with human qualities. Thirdly, the premium and superpremium dog food is increasing. Supermarket distribution is focused on the single largest retail channel for dog food and Boston market is ideal for launching a new dog food. There are about 50 dog food manufacturers and 350 dog food brands in the US. 5 of them accounted for 75 percent of the market share. The company is supposed to face a series of problems introducing the Breeder’s Mix to the general market, mostly due to its new form of the packaging. In addition, the price is also a big issue to be considered. Solutions: When entering the retail market, the market segment that Breeder’s Mix should be high and dog raisers who would spend more on their dogs than those dog owners who buy dry/canned/treats. The description on potential buyer scope is too large, and it can be narrowed down to niche group among those purchase expensive dog food buyers. According to the case, we can find that Boston market has a large potential. We suggest the entire campaign should be designed to accommodate product introduction inside the Boston market area. So the campaign can affect not only Boston but also the area near Boston. It’s a good preparation for our next step for geographic market extension. Recommandation: We think that target market is the most important. We segmented where  Breeder’s should be. And When it entering the retail market, we can find our position. And in this position, we can use good strategies to get more market share in Boston Market.

Brick Support Tower

The team thought that to be able to have a strong structure, the tower must have support on its edges (or corners). Aside from providing support, the pillars would give the tower the necessary height to lift the bricks several inches from the ground. The team came up with only one design, and was not able to conceptualize any other design because of the time constraints. The team built a brick support tower using only five (5) pieces of note cards and some of the tape. Four of the five note cards had their short end sides cut to put slits into them.The slits were made to have a way of interlocking the cards. The note cards were then rolled in their long side to form cylinders. The fifth card was placed in the middle covering the four standing cylinders, with one cylinder standing in each corner of the fifth note card. The team didn’t have any idea as to how many bricks will it be able to support. Because of the short time allotted, the team was not able to utilize the remainin g note cards to build what could have been the next layer of the tower. Conceptual DevelopmentThe design that the team utilized provided sturdy columns, supporting the weight of the fifth note card, and also, the weight of the loading. However, the design proved to be weak in the middle part because no support was provided. Again, due to the time constraints, the group was not able to come up with other designs. The team only used the first thing that came to their mind, and immediately, set out to prepare the note cards for that design. Results and Discussion The team was only able to come up with a one-level structure of a tower.After construction, the team immediately proceeded with testing the strength and stability of their structure. The tower was only able to hold the weight of one brick. The structure turned out to be weak in the middle portion because of no added support. Another cylinder could have supported the middle part, where the center of gravity is located and thus, putting more stress and leading to eventual sagging of the middle note card. Achieving the highest performance index for a tower supporting one or more bricks was the goal of this activity.The performance index can be computed by multiplying the distance from the floor to the bottom of the lowest brick (height in inches) with the number of bricks that was supported. The team’s design’s performance index is __, which was calculated using the height measured multiplied by 1 (only one brick was supported). Given that the tower was only single-layered. The index is relatively high. Recommendations and Closure The structure could have supported more bricks if only more of the note cards were rolled into cylinders and used as base.Though the structure is single-layered, the performance index could still be higher because more bricks will be supported. Another approach would have been building a higher structure from the note cards (about two layers) but the number of bricks it may be able to hold will remain one. The team should have come up with several designs and thought over carefully which among their designs should they use. Of course, the design must be something that is sturdy and yet, easy to do, given the limited time allotment.

Pay It Forward

Pay it Forward Jennifer Trager University of Phoenix PSY/490 Instructor: Vicki Koenig November 25, 2011 Pay it forward is becoming a more popular phrase it seems. When you drive through towns and different communities, one can see signs for soup kitchens, volunteer services, etc. There is something about the idea of giving back to others that is not only for the one receiving, but also beneficial to the one doing the work behind it. This idea is considered altruism and is driven by a want to contribute to someone else’s life instead of focusing on what one can get from others.There once was a movie called â€Å"Pay it forward† about the whole idea of doing something for someone with the only stipulation being to do something for someone else. Once, Oprah did a show on random acts of kindness and the reactions of those receiving these acts. Currently, it is the holiday season and it might be safe to assume that these acts of kindness might be more in the making. Some of these acts could include carrying someone’s groceries to their car, buying someone a cup of coffee at the local convenience store, or even paying someone’s check at a restaurant.Personally, one of my favorite things to do is pay the toll for multiple cars on one of our major highways. I enjoy this most because I am unable to see their reactions and I hope that they would â€Å"pay it forward† also essay writers online. Although I am not there to see their reactions, there have been moments when people have sped up to wave to me or mouth a thank you, which is nice even though these are not things I look for in doing this. Some might suggest that the idea of altruism can be based on Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs model. This idea suggests that there are fundamental drives behind people’s actions.While the first two stages might suggest a more selfish need due to the idea of meeting one’s physical needs such as food, shelter, etc. and the second stage is security and the idea that one’s needs will be met in the future. The third stage is belong or a need for unconditional love and leads to the fourth and fifth stage. The fourth is purpose/esteem which is seen in one’s activities and the fifth is human potential that is suggested as meaning â€Å"self-actualisation† or the development of self, personal creative potential.In an article titled â€Å"Re-Establishing Altruism As a Viable Social Norm† (2011), it is stated that â€Å"people are generally keen to promote well-being of others, and a new generation is working as volunteers far more than their parents ever did†. This might be attributed to the idea that today needs are met with less struggle than in years past or that this â€Å"new generation is discovering the tremendous value of making a real contribution to the lives of others†.Another article in Psychology Today suggests that â€Å"acting with an unselfish regard for others doesn’t always come naturally, even though many psychologists believe we’re hard-wired for empathy†. And the final thought from this same article states that â€Å"most of us realize that when we make an effort to give without expectations of reciprocity, we feel fulfilled and energized†. So if this is the new idea behind our everyday, the world might not be doomed! I often feel that we are becoming more of a society that is all about themselves and what can be gained at anyone’s expense.This small assignment and project has shed some hope on my sometimes cynical attitude. And brings me to a place of realization in that there is always more that can be done on my part alone. References Psychology Today. (2011). Altruism Basics. Retrieved November 23, 2011 from http://www. psychologytoday. com/basics/altruism. Re-Establishing Altruism As A Viable Social Norm. (2011). Retrieved November 21, 2011 from http://www. altruists. org/ideas/psychol ogy.