Media Academic Theory

Introduction Media has been present in societies for decades due to its importance in entertainment, enlightenment and provision of information. Consequently, its presence has attracted studies on how it affects the society. Research has proven that media has fundamental effects on its’ audiences behaviors and thoughts.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Media Academic Theory specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Theories in various fields such as psychology, media studies, sociology and communication are called media effects. Some critics suggest that the media delimits an individual’s ability to be autonomous by linking the world to an individual, and reproducing a society’s self-image. Media content that are meant for newsworthy events usually have enormous control on the society. Media content are initially written in scripts before being relayed as finished contents to the audience. There are di fferent theories that people use to interpret and write scripts. This paper examines the strong points as well as the limitations of analyzing media theories through academic concepts (Kirsh, 2009, p. 56). Writing a script for the media refers to the act of conveying ideas in a reader’s mind through the use of words. A scriptwriter writes the words on a page so that the words create sounds and images, which the reader can understand (Dyer, 1993, p. 99). Theories of understanding media focus on approaches, concepts, debates and research, which helps readers understand why media content is the way it is. To understand scriptwriting, it is essential to focus on the theoretical and practical aspects of scriptwriting. Theories of scriptwriting provide more depth to the scripts as it gives the writer an opportunity to think deeply about what they are writing. It also makes them aware of their intended audience. Therefore, they can be confident that they will effectively communicate their ideas. Theory also helps writers think through their scripts, emphasizing on the important parts of the story. This makes writers grasp their own themes and ideas. Discussion Despite the importance of the media, there are conflicts on its analysis, especially, the effects of has on individuals. Through technological advancements and cultural improvements, media has gradually changed in content and complexity. This has encouraged the advancement of diverse theories to help analyze its scripts. To understand the effects of media, it is important to understand the approaches to different theories. Interpreting film and media scripts cannot depend on one theory, as people perceive concepts differently. However, in order to form a uniform understanding of scripts, academic concepts become useful.Advertising Looking for essay on communications media? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More One major benefit of using academic concept is that they offer background information into the history of scripts. This background information provides knowledge to scripts writers and audience, which makes it easier for them to understand the present trends. Theoretical approaches to media are greatly related to the social and political economies, as well as various studies. The second advantage of using such academic approaches is that they emphasize media reception and consumption. An example of this approach is ethnography, which provides a universal understanding of how language and people operate. Language and people refer to semiotics and psychoanalysis respectively. Most media theories are centered on Marxism ideas. Karl Marx came up with a theory that explained how the society’s economic base and conditions determine its beliefs, ideas and thoughts (Marx, 2001, p. 81). Different media approaches emerge from this theory, especially those that focus on the society’s super structure, on the societyâ€℠¢s base, and those that focus on the relationship between the two. Marx focuses on economies because he believed that people with ownership of the production of the means of production controlled all of the society’s ideas. Another advantage of using academic concepts in understanding film script is that they help in connecting different arms of the society, providing a better understanding of the functionality of our society. They also help us understand the relationship between various societal institutions such as the social and economic institutions. This importance is emphasized by the political economy approach. This approach seeks to understand ways in which economic issues affect media production and consumptions. This makes people aware of the relationship between consumption and media production, thus, they are able prevent the effects of media consumption. They also make audiences understand that meaning to any concept is relative; the way people use and understand words differ in different social and cultural context. For example, Ricky Gervais use of the word â€Å"Mong†. In those days, the word described people suffering from Down ’s syndrome or was used to describe a retard. However, many teenagers used the word to mean a â€Å"stupid† or a â€Å"foolish† person.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Media Academic Theory specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The media picked this word and used it to stir protest from people over its use. These approaches concentrate in studying social relations, especially those that include the production, consumption and distribution of media resources. In other words, the approach looks at meanings, and how audiences interpret texts. It is advisable to choose words and texts carefully because peoples’ interpretations of words differ. In order to relay information to an audience, a scriptwriter must convey t heir intended meaning and close any possibility of misinterpretations. The limitation associated with linking different societies comes when there is moral decadence due to the integration. By connecting people, the media helps them share copy cultures, which may be dangerous. People may imitate harmful behaviors from other cultures, or harmful lifestyles (Moores, 1993, p. 88). This concept also connects how technologies, structures, government policies, and commercial support shape the content, communication systems and media. Because of these, political theories approach usually considers the contexts of media institutions such owners of media houses and their locations. To achieve maximum benefit from media and films, one must take advantage of the available opportunities such as through government policies, technologies, structures and commercial support. Media house owners also benefit by understanding how to build their communication systems as well as prevent government sanct ions. To capture the problems associated with the modern capitalist societies, The Frankfurt School came up with new mass media conceptualizations. Mostly, their approach dealt with the technological advancements and its affects on cultures. It placed more emphasis on media consumption rather than its production. Technology was allowing people to copy original art pieces, therefore, making them more accessible than before. This reproduction influenced multiple interpretations, which in turn affected media production (Bell, 2001, p.111). Gradually, there has been an exponential increase in accessibility and media outlets. Another approach to media theories is the ethnographic approach, which explores lived cultures. Media ethnographers investigate the multiple manners that audiences receive texts. The ethnographers base their investigations on empirical approaches by gaining evident statistics and data about people’s behavior. The approach also investigates the complexities of audience responses, focusing more on cultural consumption, rather than the reception of media content.Advertising Looking for essay on communications media? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The gratification theory on the other hand, directly deals with consumption of media content. The theory is interested in how media audiences satisfy their needs through the media. To answer the question, the theory defines what possible needs people would have, which the media would satisfy. Psychologists define a â€Å"need† as a basic requirement that an individual may need to survive. Needs are also classified into â€Å"higher† and â€Å"lower† needs. Safety and biological needs are the lower needs, upon which human life depends on. Higher needs, on the other hand, are socially and culturally constructed. An example of a need is the need to â€Å"belong†. Gratification theory investigates the most appropriate way to fulfill this need, such as through social interactions. However, it emphasizes on media’s contribution to the fulfillment of this need. Studies suggest that people need the media for a number of reasons especially in terms of perso nal identity, personal relationships, diversion and surveillance (Deacon et al., 1991, p. 155). The same studies argue that the media usually fulfill these needs through escapism, providing the audiences with opportunities to have opinions, and identification with characters. It is important to understand that people’s needs vary; therefore, media cannot fulfill the needs the same way. For example, people whose need is to experience beauty, pleasure, curiosity or emotive needs differ from those who seek identification and belonging. Finally, psychoanalysis approach to media seeks to understand human behavior. This approach is widely applicable regardless of economic environments or social contexts. This approach is based on Sigmund Freud’s theories, which scrutinizes the conscious and the unconscious part of human minds. The knowledge that a human mind is divided into â€Å"id†, â€Å"ego† and the â€Å"super ego†, which are each responsible for ce rtain responses and behaviors (Weinstein, 2001, p. 63). Using this concept, media critics investigates how human beings respond to the media, how it satisfies their needs, how they relate to the content and the possible impacts media has on people. Psychoanalysis also explains the process of identity formation. During the formation of healthy relationships between the id, ego and super ego, and individual forms an identity. However, when the media interferes with this development, an individual may form a dysfunctional identity. Additionally, whatever appeals to an individual’s ego, or id, may affect their relationship. Psychoanalysis also explains an individual’s memory, and how people recall issues. While it is healthy to let go of hidden and harmful feelings, most people use the media to hide their feelings. This becomes dangerous in the end, as they are unable to handle certain issues (Nà ¶th, 1997, p. 71). Media practice is largely comprised of different types of languages. The media language includes written, spoken and a system of complex codes that rely on their contexts. Semiotic approaches examine the functionality of these languages. Semiotic refers to a common science of systems of signs together with the role of these signs in constructing and reconstructing meaning. In media studies, semiotic concentrated on the connotation of a given text. However, semiotics refers to a broad meaning of texts. Language consists of signs, which audiences can interpret as they occur. Additionally, audiences can interpret these signs using Saussure’s theories, which aid in interpreting visual signs that are present in the media. This theory argues that signs consist of â€Å"signified† and â€Å"signifier†. The signifier refers to the spoken sound, image or page writing. Whenever audiences hear or see the signifier, it influences them to have a mental idea or image of what it may represent (the signified). On the other hand, a sy mbol or a photograph may act as a signifier in a visual cognition (Balnaves, Donald, Shoesmith, 2009, p. 67). Semiotic approaches center their arguments on the interaction between various signs in creating meaning. Relationships between signifiers are important as they influence the audience’s understanding of text meaning. For example, people understand the word â€Å"young† due to its relation to â€Å"old†, â€Å"peace† to â€Å"war, and â€Å"black† to â€Å"white†. To understand this concept clearly, one must distinguish between â€Å"denotative† and â€Å"connotative† meanings. Denotative meaning is the literal definition of a concept, while a connotative meaning is the description that is culturally defined. By this, it is easy for media critic to examine a cultural text by looking at it in the denotative and connotative perspective. For a long time, semiotics has been the most common method of qualitative textual anal ysis. In the contemporary analysis, â€Å"sound† is a major consideration. Many films use sound to derive emotions from audiences. For example, watching a horror movie like â€Å"Halloween† directed by John Carpenter, an audience realizes that the director uses different soundtracks to derive different reactions from them. Audiences can hear the sound of a chain saw. While some may interpret this literally, others would find it scary and relate it horrifying images even before seeing the images (Perse, 2001, p. 65). Conclusion Finally, the benefit of using academic concepts while interpreting media scripts is that it helps in understanding social conflict and concerns such as feminism. Media has become a dominant way of approaching such issues, and seeking their solutions. Feminism directly deals with power relations among men and women, which structures all societal life such as politics, family, leisure, welfare, culture and education. A general assumption among femi nists is that there is a social construction and maintenance of unequal relations amongst the sexes in societies. This has influenced the emergence of feminist theories, which seek equality between the two sexes. The media’s weakness in the feminist issue is how negatively it portrays women. The media has also influenced discussions concerning cyber cultures, masculinity and globalization, as contemporary issues. In response to this, feminists investigate gender identity and related issues such sex roles. The semiotics used in media to refer to females also matters under this discussion. Language and choice of words is a concern among media critics, who argue that in most cases, films portray females negatively by giving them questionable roles in films. As described above, there are several benefits of the media, especially when understood under the academic concepts. The approaches discussed include gratification, psychoanalysis, political, and ethnographic. The media provi des entertainment, enlightenment and information to its audiences. It also connects people through sharing of events and information. In respect to academic concepts, media helps people understand the wider society in relation to its institutions such as the political systems, economy, families, and education. However, the media has certain negative impacts especially on the culture and psychological makeup of the audience. Through the media, audiences learn certain things that may be harmful in their lives. Media highlights the negative things while audiences imitate. This is especially harmful for young people, who form harmful habits such as poor dietary sequence. It also influences an individual’s outlook towards life as well as their self concept. By believing what the media portrays to be right, people slowly start identifying with these things, hence changing their own identities. To examine the contemporary media landscape, it is paramount to combine several approache s because one approach would be inadequate in covering all issues. Despite this, globalization of the media encourages studies of new technologies, which help in understanding the relationships between issues. The combination of the above approaches becomes useful in explaining these issues. References Balnaves, M., Donald, S., Shoesmith, B., 2009, Media theories and approaches: a  global perspective. New York: Palgrave Macmillan. Bell, D., 2001, An introduction to Cyberculture, London: Routledge. Deacon, D., et al., 1991, Researching communications: A practical Guide to methods in  media and cultural analysis. London: Arnold. Dyer, R., 1993, The matters of images: essays on representations. London: Routledge. Kirsh, J. S., 2009, Media and youth: a developmental perspective, New York: John Wiley and Sons. Marx, K., 2001, A contribution to the critique of political economy, Chicago: C.H Kerr. Moores, S., 1993, Interpreting audiences: the ethnography of media consumption, New Yor k: Sage. Nà ¶th, W., 1997, Semiotics of the media: state of the art, projects, and perspectives, Boston: Walter de Gruyter. Perse, M. E., 2001, Media effects and society, London: L. Erlbaum Associates. Weinstein, F., 2001, Freud, psychoanalysis, social theory: the unfulfilled promise. New York: SUNY Press. This essay on Media Academic Theory was written and submitted by user Miranda K. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

buy custom Civil Rights Period essay

buy custom Civil Rights Period essay The civil rights period mostly came up following the discrimination and slavery of the African Americans which started in the 18th century. During this period slavery was abolished and the fight to end segregation and prohibit discrimination increased. Civil rights are the non political rights that a citizen should enjoy freely for example right to life, liberty or education. The US Supreme court is the highest court with the overall jurisdiction mandate over all the state and federal courts in the United States. The period between 1955 and 1965 was when a lot of African Americans fought for their civil rights. It was also characterized by events carried out by both the judiciary and the legislative putting emphasis on the fair treatment of the black Americans In the history of civil rights movement, there were two most crucial landmark rulings by the United States Supreme Court that played a great role in bringing justice to the minorities ( in this case the black Americans) and also protecting their civil rights. Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) In this ruling, the U.S Supreme Court agreed that all state laws that allowed the promotion of the doctrine of separate but equal were constitutional. Under this doctrine, there was racial segregation in private businesses and accommodations for both the blacks and whites particularly on the use of separate railroads. This segregation law was mostly applied in the state of Louisiana and even though it applied in the railroad cars, other facilities like the public schools toilets or cafes were also never equal. Those for white people were much better while those of the blacks were poorly maintained. The Plessy v. Ferguson doctrine remained in place until 1954 when it was overturned by yet another landmark ruling by the US Supreme Court. Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka (1954) This is one of the most important rulings of all time made by the US Supreme Court. In this case, the Court overturned the 1896 Plessy v. Ferguson ruling on the separate and equal doctrine and declared that any state laws establishing separate public educational facilities for both the blacks and the whites as unequal and unconstitutional. Congress of Racial Equality (2011) notes that the Brown v. Board of Educationbrought to an end the federal racial segregation in the public schools and also provided the legal foudation of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. In addition, any case of racial segregation in all the states was ruled as a violation of the law for example in public transportation and government facilities. Other major changes that occurred during the civil rights period included: Establishment of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights This commission was established in 1957 by the first ever civil right law and it was to enforce voting rights for the minority groups. In order to strengthen this move, the Congress passed a bill that gave the blacks full registration and voting rights in 1965. This bill banned the use of all kind of tests that were previously used to prevent the blacks from voting lists for example, they considered the literacy levels. The Supreme Court also banned the poll taxes that were used to discriminate the blacks. 1968 affirmative action In 1968 the Supreme Court passed that the all minority groups should be compensated for any past discrimination in the work place and upheld that all employers were required to have a balanced work force composed of both the minorities and even women. In addition, the minorities were discriminated during hiring and promotion a move that left them economically vulnerable a move that continued to weaken the national economy. Therefore, through the affirmative action, the non whites would have equal chances for hire and promotion at their workplace. Law enforcement in a Due Process system The due process system of justice can be defined by the title itself; due process - to mean that people ought to get what is fair in other words there is need to maintain the vital and basic fairness rights of the citizens. According to Brandon (n.d) the due process model carefully puts into consideration all the facts of each single case and in addition requires that all the law enforcement agents to acknowledge the rights of the suspects during their arrest, questioning, and handling. Law enforcement under the due process model is not likely to be effective keeping in mind that the primary objective of this process is to protect the innocent citizens from being accused wrongly at the expense of the victims. In other words, people are viewed as innocent until proven guilty. While most judicial systems want to protect the victims from the any future harm by the offenders the due process model is slow and will follow the process till the end only to protect those that are said to be innocent so that they are not wrongly accused. Due Process System versus Crime Control System Under the crime control system the person is viewed as guilty until proven innocent and also its main aim is to suppress the criminal conduct in the society. Under this model, all means necessary should be used to eliminate criminal elements in the society. Most of these strategies used by law enforcement agents include video surveillance, undercover sting operations, frequent patrols and raids targeting all high crime areas in the society and wiretapping. In line with this model is the fact that it directly targets all criminals and criminal activities in a given society with less emphasizes on individual liberties. According to Cliffnotes.com (n.d), the police should be given more powers in order to make it easier for them to carry out investigations, arrest the suspect, carry out a search, seize, and convict them. On the other hand, the due process model puts more emphasis on the protection of individual rights and liberties. Anytime a person is charged with any kind of crime, it is required that their rights be protected by the justice system and should not be deprived their rights for example property or life. Under the due process, the role of police is to help maintain justice process within a society and their powers should primarily be limited to preventing any oppression of the individual or violation of their rights. Apart from their differences both the models propagate that if a person is found guilty of their crimes they should be punished according to the law. In addition, they both believe that any person has a right to a defense counsel who should act as an advocate within the justice system. The Crime control system is more essential in law enforcement in comparison to the due process. I am in the favor of the crime control system because it is fast and cases are easily dealt with unlike in due process that sometimes takes a long process. In addition, the crime control model works toward the repression of crime with an aim of maintaining law and order. It aims to create a crime free society and is thus the better choice, for law abiding citizens. The Due process model concentrates on protecting defendants' rights and is a very expensive process whereas crime control model concentrates on justifying the victims rights and is a bit cheaper. Buy custom Civil Rights Period essay

Scene of Lamentation for Jesus Christ in Northern and Southern Assignment

Scene of Lamentation for Jesus Christ in Northern and Southern Renaissance - Assignment Example The essay "Scene of Lamentation for Jesus Christ in Northern and Southern Renaissance" concerns Lamentation's Scene for Jesus in the context of Renaissance. Several particular features give hint on the fact that this picture can be attributed to Northern Renaissance. The material and the type of canvas are among the most obvious. Oil on panel was commonly used by Northern artists as it permitted to preserve brightness of colors for a long time. The painting is very detailed and vivid with elaborated landscape. Apparently, the author underlines human`s side of Jesus Christ showing his tortured body and concentrating on the minor details of it. Ribs that got visible through skin because of starving, injuries that bleed, closed eyes of a dead man- there is no presence of God on this picture as the author tells us that Christ was suffering as much as we did. Despair, sympathy and sorrow can be read on the faces of Christ`s followers who came to him. Nothing on the picture suggests that C hrist will resurrect as he is portrayed as an ordinary human being who was suffering enormously. Massys does not concentrate nature in his painting, for him it is still the man and his suffering which matters the most but still the city o the background and the crosses thought-out ad realistic. Northern and Southern painting styles were different due to numerous reasons: they appeared in different geographical regions and were formed under the influence of different sources. Northern style was originated on the territory.

A letter to local representative Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

A letter to local representative - Assignment Example Many residents are opting to go and work in other neighboring towns instead. This therefore means that there is a growing concern that the town needs to regain its lost glory and that is why I am in support for the creation of a National Park in the area. Establishing a national park in the area comes with its benefits especially that the town is on a mission to re-establish itself. Conservation of biodiversity remains the central or rather the starting point of the entire building process in the town. Generally, high biodiversity levels will ensure that the ecosystems in the town remain resilient and healthy. This therefore means that with the conservation in the area, the ecosystems in the area will continue to generate nutrient cycling, water and air in the town and climate regulation within Millinocket town. With this in place, the town officials will be giving the town an effective platform for establishing a national park in the area. Establishing a national park in the town will be vital in safeguarding the town’s economy, spiritual, cultural and aesthetic values. Alternatively, it will provide intrinsic value of ecosystems and species in the area. The creation of a national park in the area will help in protecting a wide range of art facts and Aboriginal heritage places. Alternatively, it will provide both cultural and spiritual places especially for the residents in the town. In doing this, the national park in the area will give the public an opportunity to access and even enjoy the spectacular and diverse natural areas while at the same time protect some of the future generations to enjoy. Currently, the town is facing various challenges in terms of its economic and social values. The only option that remains in saving Millinocket town from further downfall is by establishing a national park in the area. Intact natural areas

The Delicate Relationship Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Delicate Relationship - Essay Example The country would benefit from the employment opportunities within their companies while the company would benefit from the European market.   The firms and the government could, therefore, agree based on the clear motives. Intentions of both parties. From time to time, the diplomatic ties are not sufficient to keep companies operating in the same country. The risk of companies exiting the country in which they work is very high. Diplomatic measures only work when the collateral damage to be caused too much to handle (Pigman, 77). The relationship between a firm and its parent country’s Government is slightly different. It is important to note that for the government, the firms offer an invaluable addition to the physical or cyber critical infrastructure. Google Inc., for example, is one of the most powerful companies in the world. The advancements that the company has made advancements in information technology. The US government, therefore, considers the company an asset a s opposed to a liability (The Monitor 1). There have been reports that indicate, the government, has been making requests for personal information from Google. The purpose of these inquiries is unknown. Diplomacy is not a common practice between the government and the firms that are in the parent country. The need for constant communication between the firm and the country is very important as it ensures their agreement remains safe. In the event a firm and the government of a host country have similar interests, they are able to come to an agreement.

Reflection on Care Interventions and Decision Making

Reflection on Care Interventions and Decision Making Reflective evaluation of care interventions and clinical decision making. Introduction This essay is a reflective examination of a care episode in the domain of mental health nursing, in relation to the processes of nursing decision making, clinical reasoning, and processes associated with patient care planning and management. The reflection on elements or aspects of care, or on specific clinical experiences, is an important part of nurse development and ongoing professional practice (Rolfe, 2005). Reflection is more than simply looking back at experiences and incidents, it is a process of making sense of them, understanding all the dimensions of an experience, and using information, evaluation and analysis to improve future practice (Hargreaves, 2004). It is, therefore, about learning from experiences, as much as learning about experiences (Gibbs, 1988; Kolb, 1984). Although reflection is known to be, at times, an imperfect means of reviewing practice, because there is always the possibility of biased reflection, or poor memory (Jones, 1995), it is a means of allowing student nurses and qualified nurses to ask questions about their practice and look at it in the light of knowledge and evidence. Using reflection, this essay will attempt to examine the care of an older adult with dementia, in order to examine the elements of clinical decision making and clinical reasoning in relation to their care and the management of care for them in the longer term. As such, it will also look at elements of care planning for this patient, and the processes which surrounded a key clinical decision, which is about place of care for the designated patient, who will be described below. The essay will be based within the framework of Gibbs (1988) cycle of reflection, which provides a structure and guideline for constructive reflection and allows practitioners to develop action plans for future practice improvement (see Appendix). The essay will present the case history and summary of the client’s clinical/health status, and then will follow the structure of the Gibbs (1988) reflective cycle. It will conclude with the action plan and a brief conclusion of the arguments developed throughou t the essay. Case History/Summary The patient, whose name has been changed to protect confidentiality, is Arthur, a 69 year old man who was admitted to a general medical ward three weeks ago with pneumonia. Arthur is married to Anne, who is also 69, and both are retired teachers. Arthur was diagnosed with vascular dementia three years ago, and his health, and in particular, his symptoms of dementia, have been steadily worsening since that time. Anne is his chief carer, and gets regular support and help from their two children, a daughter, who is a full time clerical worker, and a son, who is married and lives an hour’s drive away from his parents. Anne and Arthur live in their own home, where they have lived since they were married 47 years ago. Arthur’s symptoms are memory loss and dysfunction, apathy, fatigue, withdrawal, fixation on routines, communication difficulties, and ‘wandering’. Arthur is accustomed to regular social activities at the local Home Guard club, some of which Anne attends with him, and also to going into the local shopping area most days to buy a paper. Anne has to help him with the majority of his activities of daily living. His appetite has decreased, and he needs assistance with dressing, hygiene and other self-care activities. Anne helps him manage his medication. He has a history of essential hypertension, which is managed with anti-hypertensive medication. Arthur developed pneumonia following a viral infection, and was admitted with dyspnoea, pyrexia and increased confusion, alongside dehydration. He was treated on a medical ward, and during this time was reviewed by an occupational therapist, social work liaison, and by the mental health team, as well as his medical team. His pneumonia responded well to antibiotic therapy, and he received nutritional supplements and assistance with some of his activities of daily living. Reflection Description: What Happened Arthur’s physical health improved sufficiently for the medical team to determine that he was ready for discharge from the medical ward. Initially, the discharge plan was straightforward, and had been commenced on admission, and finalised by the nursing team looking after Arthur, under the leadership of his named nurse. Arthur was to be discharged home to his own home, with community nursing involvement. However, because of his degenerative condition, and his current state of health and wellbeing, one of the nurses on the team objected to this plan, and decided that it might be time to consider the best place of care for Arthur in the longer term. In the light of her referral to the medical consultant, and to the primary care nurse consultant, a full case conference and multidisciplinary review was called to review the discharge plan. A number of professionals were present: occupational therapy, a social worker, his named nurse, the nurse who had instigated the case conference, the Nurse Practitioner, a representative of the mental health team, and the author, along with Arthur’s Registrar and SHO. Each professional presented their case, and discussed Arthur’s current state of health, and the support, care and input he needed. Because of his increasing debilitation, reports of his wandering behaviours on the ward, and his increasing dependence on carers, it was decided that Arthur should not be discharged home, but instead a place should be found in an EMI nursing home, where he could receive the level of support believed to be necessary for him. It was agreed that a nursing home close to his own home would be chosen, so that his wife would be able to visit him, but the home found for him was seven miles away from their home, and when his wife was informed of his place of care after discharge, she was upset. She wanted Arthur at home with her, and insisted that she could cope with his care. She also explained that the care facility they proposed was not on an easily accessible bus route, and it would take two buses and a considerable amount of time to travel from her hom e to visit him. Despite this, she was informed that the best place for him now was a nursing home, because his safety was at risk, and eventually, it was agreed that he be discharged to this nursing home as soon as a room became available. Feelings: What Were You Thinking and Feeling. My feelings were very much around empathy with Arthur’s wife, who wanted Arthur discharged to his familiar home environment, but also a sense of concern for Arthur, for his safety and wellbeing, and for the burden that his care was placing on his wife. However, I also felt quite strongly that she should have been included in the case conference. I also felt that Arthur should have been consulted about where he preferred to be discharged to. Although he had poor communication, there were times when he was able to appear at least aware of his surroundings and circumstances, and I felt that someone should have tried to get his thoughts and feelings on where he would go after discharge. I felt that the multidisciplinary team was working effectively, that they were communicating openly and professionally about the care, but that they still did not quite seem to see Arthur as a person, a whole person, with a life, a family, and his own preferences. Instead, I felt that they saw him predominantly in terms of the problems he posed for care services. And I felt that this was not necessarily the best ethos to underpin such a significant, life-changing decision. Evaluation: What Was Good and Bad about the Experience. Positive aspects of the experience included the insight I gained into a multidisciplinary team case conference, in which all the professionals concerned were not only well prepared and well meaning, but eager to listen to each other, to listen to people’s experiences of caring for Arthur, and to debate the whys and wherefores of his case and the discharge decision. Attitudes towards Arthur were positive, in terms of focusing on his wellbeing, safety, and prognosis, as well as focusing on the wellbeing of his wife and main carer. However, negative aspects of this were chiefly the exclusion of Anne and Arthur from the case conference, and the lack of the presence of a member of the community nursing team, or Arthur’s GP, or anyone who actually understood his home circumstances properly. It seemed to me that no one was able to really state with certainty what his home circumstances were like. I also felt that the team should have considered the effects on Anne of ‘losing’ her husband’s presence in her home, because this could have consequences for her emotional, social and even financial wellbeing. While Arthur is their primary concern, if they had seen him and his wife in terms of the realities of their lives together, this might have affected their decision. Analysis: What Sense Can You Make of the Situation? Providing care for the older adult who has a diagnosis of dementia, whatever kind, is difficult and challenging, because the disorder affects so many aspects of their lives, not just their ability to take care of themselves. The NSF for Older People (DoH, 2001) clearly states that all care for the older adult should be based on person-centred care principles, looking at the individual needs, and looking at the person in context of their social life and home life. However, because the older adult is more likely to have a number of concurrent health problems (Grabbe et al, 1997), providing care to meet all the needs of the patent can be very challenging. The literature suggests that despite the Governmental guidance, and the ongoing drive to improve care for the older population, standards of care for this sector are still not as good as they should be (Helme, 2007). This suggests that there are still considerable improvements to be made in the ways that such people are cared for, and the kinds of decisions made and treatment choices offered for them (Redfern and Ross, 2001). Dementia is a difficult disease to plan care around, because it has so many manifestations, and for different reasons. It is a very prevalent disorder in the older population (DoH, 2001). According to Helme (2007) more than 50% of elderly people in nursing homes, and an equivalent number of elderly patients who are admitted to hospitals, have dementia. This poses a considerable burden on health and social care. But the NSF also argues that it is vital that older people’s dignity is preserved and prioritised within these healthcare services (DoH, 2001), and if this is the case, then the kinds of decisions made about their place of care, as in the case of Arthur, should be decisions that are about their dignity, and their autonomy. It could be, in this case, that the balance between preserving Arthur’s autonomy at home, and between protecting his dignity (he has been known to wander out of the house in his underwear, or get lost in town), has brought the team to their dec ision. If the team are practising patient centred care, or person-centred care, then Arthur’s wellbeing would be the reason for the decision. However, this is not always the case, and it could be that the decision has been made based on what is likely to cause the least amount of strain on the community health and social care services (Dellasega and Fisher, 2001). There is some evidence in the healthcare literature that many healthcare professionals continue to have innate prejudices or stereotypes of elderly patients (Gunderson et al, 2005). If this is the case, then Arthur may be being judged based on his diagnosis, and on preconceptions about his current clinical/mental state, rather than on a holistic picture of his whole life and his social context. There are those who would argue that making this decision for Arthur is the wrong course of action, because he has been functioning well at home prior to hospital admission for a medical problem, and there is no reason why he could not carry on with the same level of support for the time being (Hoare, 2004). However, it might be that this admission to hospital has been the first time that such a large team of healthcare professionals from different disciplines has had the opportunity to assess Arthur’s current health status and healthcare needs, and this is what has led to this decision (Fielo, 1998). It might be, for example, the first time the true impact of Arthur’s condition on the activities of daily living has been observed (Farley et al, 2006). However, it is also important to remember that as a patient with Dementia, Arthur is likely to behave very differently in a hospital setting than he would in a familiar home environment, and so this assessment may not be based on how he usually manages his daily life (Zarit and Zarit, 2007). However, if the professionals involved believe that the complexity of Arthur’s needs are such that the easiest place for Arthur to be cared for is within a nursing home environment (Miller et al, 1996), this might be the reason for the decision, perhaps in relation to an awareness of local resou rces and availability of certain support services for Arthur (Eloniemi-Sulkava et al, 2001). The process of discharge planning is one which still seems something of a mystery, despite the clear communication between the multidisciplinary team. It is apparent from the literature on the subject that discharge planning conferences can be difficult, and for many health professionals and patients, it can be hard to get your opinion across and make sure that this opinion, or observation, is taken seriously (Efraimsson et al, 2006). Certainly, I felt that I could not voice my opinion during this conference, and yet in hindsight I feel that I should have done so, because I really feel that the most important people were missing from the case conference. The voice of Arthur was not there, perhaps because the team believed he would not be able to communicate effectively (Efraimsson et al, 2004), but Anne should definitely have been involved, as his wife and primary carer (DoH, 2001). The literature shows that lack of involvement in discharge planning, particularly when significant decisions are being made such as this, disempowers patients and their families and can have detrimental effects on health and wellbeing (Efraimsson et al, 2003). Leaving Anne out of this decision may have an impact on her health and wellbeing, including her mental and emotional health, and if she had been involved, she might have come to the same conclusions that the team had, rather than just having them make a rather paternalistic decision without consulting her (Redfern and Ross, 2001). Conclusion: What Else Could you Have Done? One conclusion that I have reached through examining this case, is that it is important to question care decisions and clinical decision making processes, even if you are in the minority (Daly, 1998). In this situation, I felt disempowered, and I am sure that it might have been the case that Anne would have felt quite challenged to be part of the conference, but it should have been opened up to include her and to give her a chance to voice her own thoughts and feelings, and provide the insight into Arthur’s health, wellbeing and home life that was lacking from the conference. Another conclusion I have reached is that while multidisciplinary conferences are important, there can still be underlying personal agendas, or prejudices, and so focusing on a person-centred model of care and discharge planning is important. Also, it might be that the label of dementia has been colouring everyone’s reactions and making them lean towards nursing home care because of what they know about dementia, rather than because of what they know about Arthur. I should have raised the questions that I had, and been more proactive. I also felt that they could have referred more explicitly to the available guidelines, such as the NSF (DoH, 2001), and the local policies and guidelines on discharge planning, and on social care planning. There should have been community nurses or Arthur’s GP involved in the discharge conference. I should have raised these points, and perhaps referred to the appropriate guidance, or asked for it. Action Plan: If it arose again, what would you do? I would ensure that the patient and their primary carers were included in the discharge planning conference, that their preferences, experiences and opinions were sought, and that these were incorporated into the clinical decision making process. I would gather together all available policies, guidance and governance documents relating to the case. I would also seek out and gather together as much of the evidence base as possible relating to the patient’s care, in order to make a more reasoned decision. I would make sure that the community health professionals who had been involved in Arthur’s care up to the point of his admission to hospital were also involved in the discharge conference. This would mean that a more realistic picture of his needs was presented. I would include detailed information about an alternative plan of care and social support for Arthur, one which included realistic assessments of available resources and impact on current care provision. I would make sure that the impact of this admission on Anne and her home situation was also considered in making the final decision. I would also attempt to ensure that the discharge plan included identification and mobilisation of resources and support services for Anne as well as for Arthur. Conclusion It would appear from this reflection that a significant decision making process such as this, even when many good principles are adhered to, is complex and difficult, and it is important to make sure that all aspects of the client’s needs are being met, not just their safety and medical/social care needs. Decisions such as this cannot be made without the full picture and without considering alternatives to what might appear to be the easiest solution. References 213569 Daly, W..M. (1998) Critical thinking as an outcome of nursing education. What is it? Why is it important to nursing practice? Journal of Advanced Nursing 28 (2) 323-331. Department of Health (2001) The National Service Framework for Older People Available from www.dh.gov.uk. Accessed 10-11-08. Dellasega CA. Fisher KM (2001) Posthospital home care for frail older adults in rural locations. Journal of Community Health Nursing. 18(4): 247-60. Draper, B. Low, L. (2005). What is the effectiveness of acute hospital treatment of older people with mental disorders? International Psychogeriatrics, 17, 539-555 Efraimsson, E., Sandman, P. Hyden, L-C., and Rasmussen, B.H. (2006). How to get one’s voice heard: the problems of the discharge planning conference. Journal of Advanced Nursing 53 (6) 646-655. Efraimsson, E., Rasmussen, B.H., Gilje, F. and Sandman, P. (2003) Expressions of power and powerlessness in discharge planning: a case study of an older woman on her way home. Journal of Clinical Nursing 12 707-716. Efraimsson, E., Sandman, P. Hyden, L-C., and Rasmussen, B.H. (2004). Discharge planning: ‘fooling ourselves?’ – patient participation in conferences. Journal of Clinical Nursing 13 562-570. Eloniemi-Sulkava, U., Notkola I.L., Hentinen, M. et al (2001) Effects of supporting community-living demented patients and their caregivers: a randomized trial. Journal of the American Geriatric Society 49(10):1282-7. Farley, A., McLafferty, E. and Hendry, C. (2006) The physiological effects of ageing on the activities of living. Nursing Standard 20(45) 46-52. Fielo, S. B. (1998) Discharge Planning for the Elderly: A Guide for Nurses. Nursing and Health Care Perspectives Volume 19(2) 94-95. Gibbs, G. (1988) Learning by Doing. A Guide to Teaching and Learning Methods Further Education Unit, Oxford Polytechnic, Oxford Gould, D., Berridge, E-J. And Kelly, D. (2007) The National Health Service Knoweldge and Skills Framework and its implications for continuing professional development within nursing. Nurse Education Today 27 26-34. Grabbe, L., Demi, A., Camann, M.A. and Potter, L. (1997) The health status of elderly persons in the last year of life: a comparison of deaths by suicide, injury an natural causes. American Journal of Public Health 87 (3) 434-437. Gunderson, A., Tomkowiak, J., Menachemi, N. and Brooks, M.D. (2005) Rural physicians’ attitudes toward the elderly: evidence of ageism? Quality Management in Health Care 14 (3) 167-176. Hargreaves, J. (2004) â€Å"So how do you feel about that? Assessing reflective practice.† Nurse Education Today 24 (3) 196-201. Hoare K. (2004) Care home placement: can admission direct from acute hospital be justified? Nursing Older People. 16(6): 14-17. Jones, P.R. (1995) Hindsight bias in reflective practice: an empirical investigation. Journal of Advanced Nursing 21 (4) 783–788. Kolb, D. A. (1984). Experiential Learning London: Prentice Hall. Miller, J., Neelon, V., Dalton. J. et al (1996) The assessment of discomfort in elderly confused patients: a preliminary study. Journal of Neuroscience Nursing 28 (3) 175-182. Redfern, S.J. and Ross, F.M. (2001) Nursing Older People. Third edition. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone. Rolfe, G. (2005) The deconstructing angel: nursing, reflection and evidence-based practice Nursing Inquiry 12 (2), 78–86. Zarit, S.H. and Zarit, J. M. (2007) Mental disorders in older adultsfundamentals of assessment and treatment. New York: The Guildford Press. Gibbs (1988) Cycle of Reflection http://www.nursesnetwork.co.uk/images/reflectivecycle.gif

Organisation culture Essay -- Business and Management Studies

Organisation culture Organisation culture can be defined as the collection of relatively uniform and enduring beliefs, values, customs, traditions and practices which are shared by an organisation’s members and which are transmitted from one generation of employees to the next. One view in the field of organisation culture is the culture metaphor. A metaphor is a word or phrase applied to an object or action which it does not literally denote.1 Metaphor can be powerful means of communicating ideas and are in common use in many organisations. It asserts that culture is a mental state that has to be tolerated since it is incapable of being changed by management. It adopted a phenomenological standpoint and conceptualised culture as a ‘process of enactment’ – not as something that exists ‘out there’ separate from people, but which was actually manufactured by company employees as they interacted with one another on a daily basis within the workplace.2 In highlighting the symbolic significance of virtually every aspect of organisation life, the culture metaphor thus focuses attention on a human side of organisation that other metaphors ignore or gloss over. The culture metaphor opens the way to a reinterpretation of many traditional managerial concepts and processes. It also helps to reinterpret the nature and significance of organisation environment relations. Culture of the organisation plays a key role in determining a structure that would suit. The organisation stance towards participation and risk-taking will have an impact on the decision pertaining to number of levels and delegation of authority. Congruence between culture and structure is important. Lack of congruence can result in mixed signals across the organisation. Organisational culture is based on differences in norms and shared practices which are learned in the workplace and are considered as valid within the boundaries of a particular organisation. Therefore the efficiency of an organization structure is determined by how well it fits into the culture in which it is set. The environments affect the structures chosen by organizational decision-makers through their society’s cultural expectations. Organisational structures are designed to insure survival through social legitimacy by reflecting the surrounding culture’s values and beliefs (Birnbaum-More a... ...se of authority here. For the most part individuals are encouraged to perform their tasks with few questions asked though important decisions are likely to be made as a result of political manoeuvring. The greatest strength of power cultures is their ability to react quickly but their success largely depends on the abilities of the person or people at the centre. In conclusion, organisational culture exercises a potent form of control over the interaction of organisational members with each other and outsiders. By supplying people with a toolbox of values, norms, and rules that tell them how to behave, organisation culture is instrumental in determining how they interpret and react to a situation. Thus, an organisation’s culture can be a source of competitive advantage. References 1. Andrew Brown.1995, ‘Organisational Culture’ Chap1, p13 2. David Buchanan & Andrzej Huczynski. 1997, ‘Organizational Behaviour’ Chap 18, p514 3. David Buchanan & Andrzej Huczynski. 1997, ‘Organizational Behaviour’ Chap 22, p681 Additional References l Gaeth Morgan. 1986 ‘Images of Organization’ 2 Laurie J Mullins. 2005 ‘Management and Organisational Behaviour’

Importance of Cross Cultural Communications Essay

Effective cross-cultural communication is one of the most important issues dealt with in business, particularly when a firm operates at an international level. Communication is a process with three key elements, which includes a source, an audience, and a channel. Communication derived from businesses will have listeners that include, but are not limited to customers, employees, suppliers, and the community (Caddy et al.). These listeners contribute to the success of a firm, which is why there is so much emphasis put into creating appropriate channels of communication. This effect is further amplified when dealing at an international level, where the effect of culture and time has more bearing. What makes effective communication important is the fact that it affects all aspects of the business function. Therefore, failing in just one of these areas can create repercussions that reverberate throughout the whole company. This essay will examine the importance of cross-cultural communication, and how it is intertwined with a firm’s HR management, strategic planning, operations, ethical decisions, and marketing campaign. Human resource management deals with people within the organisation first and foremost. For a Human Resource manager, managing the cultural aspect of communication becomes is vital because of the effect it can have on each individual employee. In an international work environment, there will likely be a number of employees from different parts of the globe sharing the same space (Parzhiger 2002). This can be a source of friction within a work environment, particularly when you consider that ethnocentric attitudes can exist within a workplace (Han et al 2007). Such friction within the communication process can manifest itself through racism, bias, prejudice, and discrimination (Parzhigar 2002). Not only are such actions considered illegal, but it can also contribute to low morale within the workforce. This eventually leads to unmotivated and therefore unproductive staff. In order to resolve such cross-cultural issues, a Human Resources manager must first come to realize that both individuals and groups differ in terms of the way they communicate (Parzhigar 2002). That way, policies or extra training programs can be established to act as a guide the actions of  employees. Many managers, though, are fail to realise such differences, or unqualified to handle them. This is why much consideration must be given when deciding who is qualified to lead an international assignment (Hodges 2003, p. 450.) By acknowledging people’s differences, the manager can create policies that will limit friction in the workplace, thereby ensuring that it runs peacefully. An effective communication system will help a firm gain a distinct competitive advantage because the constraints of time will be limited. Time distances can often be a hindrance to a company looking to collect information from overseas branches or partners. Firms have combated this problem by utilizing contemporary technology such as phones and videoconferences (Bovee 2008). This will help firms operating at an international level, collect information from overseas subsidiaries or clients more effectively. Additionally, by keeping these relationships close, manager’s gain the ability to access new technologies developed overseas (Han et al. 2007). The ability to forecast overseas trends and harness new technologies is another competitive advantage gained by having effective cross-cultural communication channels established. Proper market research, where communication aspects such as culture are taken into account, will help the firm in this regard. By establishing these effective channels, a firm can more readily anticipate particular changes in tastes and technologies of other countries (Han et al. 2007). This will allow thereby the firm to strike a balance with regards to price and availability, which, in turn, will give them a competitive advantage (Hodgets 2003). Managing operations will be much more efficient once cross-cultural communication issues have been dealt with. Many cultures employ a hierarchical approach to communication, but often this method of results in important issues being dodged. This problem is highlighted in an (Nakamoto 2008) article on Japanese companies. In the article it is reported that many of the Japanese companies employ a very rigid communication structure, and overseas managers were hired to create a more efficient method of  communication. An open exchange or direct method of communication is much more effective as ideas can be garnered from different levels of the organisation. Overcoming various linguistic issues is another operational benefit experienced when an effective communication channel is established. Due to the legal issues of each country, language differences do not only affect face o face interaction, but written communications as well (Bovee 2008). Through proper planning and research, however, a business is able to preempt such a problem from occurring, possibly by arranging for an interpreter to translate. Failing to establish an effective means for communication when an ethical issue arises can be detrimental to the stability of a workplace. This problem is particularly pertinent, when you consider the fact that globalization has diversified workplace cultures. This can lead to what Huntington (cited in Eunson 2005) described as a ‘clash of civilizations’, due to the different perspectives on morality in the western and eastern countries. Neglecting this issue can create permanent dissention or dissatisfaction between co-worker, which, as highlighted earlier, leads to low productivity levels and high staff turnover rates. Only by establishing a means of communication where ethical issues are taken into account, can prevent such an implosion from taking effect. Effective communication channels can only be effective when the moral views of other cultures are taken into account. Contemporary management in western society, for example, attempts to find practical solutions while more conservative nations seek more ‘foundational’ ones (Parzhiger 2002). Cross-cultural communication is also valuable to firm looking to establish good marketing systems. The aim of marketing is to try and link business with customers and the ability to understand the unique traits of a particular culture can help give a firm an edge over its competitors. This point was illustrated in a communication video (Balnave 2006), where a lack of an ineffective channel of communication with a particular culture was a  cause for their advertising campaign to be viewed as inappropriate. Establishing effective communications, however, will allow a firm to capitalize on local markets through support of their local culture (Han et al. 2007). As the evidence compiled in this essay has shown the importance of effective cross-cultural communication should never be diminished. It is one of the most important aspects to consider when trying developing an international brand. Through the establishment of communication training and relevant policies, employees will be better equipped to interact with their foreign counterparts. It will also assist the firm in understanding foreign cultures, and markets, which ultimately improves their strategic planning. However the biggest benefit experienced by communicating effectively is internal. It creates a more harmonious work environment, a more efficient way of relaying information, and more productive staff. Bibliography Caddy, I Cull, M Tibbits, G 2008, Business Academic Skills, 1st edn, Pearson Education Australia, Sydney’Communicating Effectively in the Global Workplace’, 2008, in Bovee, C(ed), Communication Today ,9th edn, Pearson Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle Rivee, New Jersey. Eunson, B 2005, Communicating in the 21st century, John Wiley and Sons Australia ltd., QLDHan, J, Wild, J, Wild, L 2007, International business: the challenges of globalization, Pearson Prentice Hall, New JerseyHodgets, RM Luthans, F 2003, International management: culture, strategy, and behaviour, 5th edition, McGraw-Hill/Irwin, New YorkNakamoto, M 2008, ‘Modernisers span a cultural divide’, Financial Times, 22 May, Parhizgar, KD 2002, Multicultural behaviour and global business environments, International Business Press, New York

Pulley system Lab report Essay Example

Pulley system Lab report Essay Example Pulley system Lab report Paper Pulley system Lab report Paper The objective of this lab was to study the change in force using pulley systems. Hypothesis: I think with the weight and the different number of pulley systems being added each time the weight will be easier to lift every time we add a weight. Procedure: To do this lab you must first search different pulley system diagrams. Then you must find a way to make those pulley systems you have chosen work using four items. Pulleys, ring pole, a weight of your choice, Newton spring scale, and string. The point of using a pulley system is to try and get the weight off the surface. So you must put the strings around each wheel and pull until the weight is off the surface. Once the weight is off the surface you write down using the Newton scale what the force was. You continue this for each pulley done. Apparatus: Pulleys, Newton spring scale, Ring pole, MGM weight Materials: string and scissors Data: Conclusion: Elevators use pulleys in order to function. A cargo lift that allows items to be hoisted to higher floors is a pulley system. Wells use the pulley system to bring the bucket up and down the well out. Construction pulleys are used in order to lift and place heavy materials. Curtains at a theatre are moved using pulley systems. Blinds on windows operate using a pulley system to move the blinds up and down. Flagpoles use pulleys in order to lift the flag up or to bring it down. Pulleys can be used to place bird feeders high in trees or on poles A crane is a type of pulley that is used in construction. Sails on sailboats are raised and lowered using pulleys. Garage doors raise and lower use a pulley system. Rock climbers use pulleys to help them to climb. Escalators use pulley systems to function. The examples above, a cable system works in order to make lifting easier or to make moving items easier. Pulleys are important to being able to move and lift very heavy or large items. The pulley system uses Newtons third law of motion. Newtons Third law is a force is a push or a pull upon an object that results from its interaction with another object.

Life of Toussaint LOuverture essays

Life of Toussaint L'Ouverture essays The country we know today as Haiti ('mountainous land?) was at one time the French colony of Saint-Domingue. Located on the island of Hispaniola, it was the place where Christopher Columbus established his first settlement in the New World. In 1967, it was formally recognized as Saint-Domingue. Many things have happened in Saint-Domingue. Slavery, fires, and rebellion have gone on in Saint-Domingue. Many people took control and lost control of Saint-Domingue. Saint-Domingue had many slaves and plantations. One group of slaves where called the mulattoes orpeople of color.? Men and women were beaten, branded, maimed, and killed, often in ways that only the most depraved mind could imagine. Many slaves ran away to the mountains where they lived as maroons in isolated spots beyond the reach of a special colonial slave patrol, staffed only by mulattoes. By 1791, there were at least 500,000 slaves, most of who worked on plantations where sugarcane, cotton, coffee, and indigo were grown. There was a slave named Toussaint L?Ouverture, who had lived all his life at Breda plantation, about fifteen miles from the capital. He was forty-seven years old and in comparison to the other slaves on the island, he had enjoyeda good and comfortable life?. The owner treated the slaves with a degree of compassion and kindness that was known throughout the colony. Ouverture was born on May 2, 1743, which was then the Feast of All Saints. He was named Francois Dominique Toussaint. As a boy, Toussaint Breda, as he was called then, was sickly and thin as a stick. People around him gave him a nickname that meantfragile stick.? His father was brought as a slave from Africa. Ouverture also rode and looked after the horses. When they became ill, he used his knowledge of medicinal herbs and his skill as ahorse doctor? to heal their aches and pains. He also enjoyed the story of Spartacus, a slave who led a large rebellion of sla ...

Review of Business Case and Environment of Tesco in Regards to Essay

Review of Business Case and Environment of Tesco in Regards to Training and Development - Essay Example The net profit before tax of Tesco is approximately three billion British Pounds (The Times 100 Business Case Studies, 2012). Business Environment of Tesco In the opinion of Henry 2008, p.6, business organizations face â€Å"a constantly changing external environment and need to ensure that their own internal resources and capabilities are more than sufficient to meet the needs of the external environment†. The SWOT analysis is a suitable framework for identifying strategies to exploit changes in the external environment based on internal strengths of a business organization (Hill & Jones, 2008, p.19). Leigh 2010, p.115, defines the SWOT analysis â€Å"as a process by which a group of stake holders (a) identify internal and external inhibitors and enhancers of performance, (b) analyse those factors based on estimates of their contributions to net value and approximations of their controllability, and (c) decide what future action to take with regard to those factors. SWOT Ana lysis of Tesco Strengths Opportunities Proactive remuneration policy Competitive markets Employee stake in organization Resilient Asian markets Training and development focus Improving American markets Weaknesses Threats Non-standardized application of Recession in European markets HR policies Rising consumer pricing demands Wide range of training needs High employee wage bill (Adapted from Haerifar, 2011, p.12-13). The PESTLE (political, economic, social/cultural, technological, legal and environmental) analysis is suitable way to look at the macro-environment or the â€Å"the set of factors that are not specific to an organization or the industry in which it operates, but that nonetheless affect them† (Haberberg & Rieple, 2008, p.105). The main PESTLE element impinging on employees at Tesco is the economic recession and the slow-if-any recovery. Consequently, Tesco is reducing employee resources outside its headquarters in UK and shifting that work to its Headquarters. Thus , employee staff will need to be trained to take in these new responsibilities likely to be shifted back from overseas operations (Mulligan, 2010). Porter’s Five Forces Model helps to identify competitive forces and their activities in the external environment. According to Hill and Jones, 2008, p.42, Porter’s Five Force Model is made up of â€Å"the risk of entry by potential competitors, the intensity of rivalry among established companies within the industry, the bargaining power of suppliers, the bargaining power of suppliers and the closeness of substitutes to an Industry’s products†. From the perception of human resource management, it is quite likely that competitor’s may choose to use more economical labour from the Eastern European countries to reduce their wage bill in this period of poor economic growth. Tesco will have to factor this possibility in its HR practices (House of Commons Trade and Industry Committee, 2007, p.53). Training an d Development at Tesco The ‘one stop’ shopping experience that Tesco offers its customers means that in addition to a wide range of products, it also offers a wide range of servicers from its outlets to its customers. Hence to cater to this need the work force of Tesco at its outlets needs to be knowledgeable, skilled and flexible (Vance & Paik, 2011, p.219). At Tesco training is provided to its employees that allow them to choose their training towards getting specific retail qualifications to

Comparison of a Poem to a Song Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Comparison of a Poem to a Song - Coursework Example The poem â€Å"theme for English B† is a poem written at the peak of racial discrimination in the year 1951.  In the poem,  Ã¢â‚¬Å"theme for English B† Hughes talks about the differences between him and his class instructor (Bloom, pg 21). The poet talks about being the only colored person in his  class  and shows the  feeling  of his  likeness  to other races, solely â€Å" white† and yet different throughout the poem. Using his  community  (Harlem) as an  inspiration  Hughes manages to write a poem that depicts his  ethnic  affiliation. The class  instructor  gave a  precise  brief description of the  assignment  that is, go home, write a page tonight, and let the  page  be the  original  thoughts of students (Fetzer, pg 23). The persona in the  poem  remains  uncertain  on whether the task is that  easy  as portrayed by the class instructor.  Afterwards,  the student outlines the reasons substantia ting his  thought  that such an  assignment  could not be  easy. The speaker in the poem â€Å"theme for English B† is older compared to most white students in the English class. Secondly, the student gives the  route  he takes from  school  to his  residence  where the narrator sits  to do  his  assignment (Bloom, pg 46). The student perceives the  difficulty in writing true ideals or something that is only purported to be true. This judgment was at the discretion of the  white  class  instructor. The student plunges into listing what he likes, subsequently supposing that being colored does not make him different from the things he likes as other races.  The speaker in the  poem  is bothered  if his black identity  will make a difference in what he writes (Fetzer, pg 44). Secondly,  he wonders whether he will be able  to talk  with a white tutor  given that  he  is black. Despite these ill feelings, the speaker in the   poem  finally admits that both of them are part of each other. The speaker then delves into an  extremely  significant  conclusion  that as the black students learn  from the  white tutor, the  instructor  equally  learns from the  black student.  The tone of Langston Hughes in his poem befits the  description  of  mildly  ironical’ as he shows his difficulty in  earnestly  communicating  his own feelings at the  specifications  of his  white  tutor of English.  Irony is  manifest  in the  poem  where he commences by saying â€Å"I wonder if it is that simple,† but at the end of the poem, he succeeds in doing just that in a  remarkably  correct  manner. His actual inner being comprises of two distinguishing aspects; he is black and very different from the instructor of his class. Secondly, he is an American just like every other American inclusive of his tutor. The author of the poem embraces a conciliat ory tone that acknowledges the fact that the two races are part of each other. Nevertheless, the poem ends on a tone full of  regret  somewhat more  free. Besides poems, songs are also excellent mediums of creating awareness or sensitizing the  society. An example is the  song  we shall be  free  by Garth Brooks. The  song  Ã¢â‚¬Å"We Shall Be Free† is a song produced by American country music artist during the year 1992. The artist was born on February 7, 1962 in America. The artist in the release of this song collaborated with Stephanie Davis. In this song, an ordinary  man  conceives of a world in which human beings are free from earthly subjugations. Topics addressed in this