Tuesday, August 25, 2020

Biltrite case Module I through X Essay

Module III: Control Testing †Sales Processing 1.The examining plan in the structure of controls doesn't give tests about incomes and records receivables. The shortcoming that I could see is the way that merchandise that were conveyed to clients were not charged which bring about bill of replenishing not being pre-numbered. Along these lines, bills of filling don't consider a viable inspecting unit. For an effective review, examiners need to assess arranges arbitrarily and verify whether the merchandise were transported and the clients got solicitations before the receipt of the item, Therefore for this situation, presence/event is the strategy for the evaluators. 2 and 3 are appended under â€Å"2009 attribu† 4. The examining plan shows that there is a successful control of the organization by the individuals in control since the cost of the items, the amount of the balance and as far as possible offered to clients are not over the impediment. Anyway the bills of ladings that were missing keep the inspectors wary and make them search further for material data. Likewise, the other thing that looks dubious is the swelled income appeared. The logical methods and characteristic testing performed will the reviewers to glance further in respects of the deals recorded during the year, the client adjusted and the records receivable. Consequently, I accept that total materiality limit shouldn’t be brought down since the two records receivable and deals tests show earning’s expansion. Module IV: MUS Sampling-Factory Equipment Additions 1. The target of playing out this test is to test if the manufacturing plant hardware accounts are tangibly exaggerated from the blunders found in the capitalization of conventional fixes. The inspecting unit is the charge presenting on the manufacturing plant hardware account and the populace is $12,600,000 which is the distinction between the absolute charges of $89,860,000 and the gear increases of $77,260,000 2. Find exceed expectations archive â€Å"2009 MUS† for answers 3. In setting these boundaries, Derick concentrated on his evaluation of intrinsic hazard and control in respects of the securing cycle and the degree of theâ overall review chance. To clarify the boundaries further, on the grounds that the danger of off base acknowledgment is 5% percent, this implies Derick is 95% secure with the outcomes that he will get just 5% percent of blunders in the populace. Foreseen blunders of $100,000 is generally founded on past year’s review and the $640,000 of middle of the road misquote are mistakes Derick think exists in the populace in respects of the plant hardware account. 4. Find exceed expectations archive â€Å"2009 MUS† for the estimation of the Projected error count 11.3B a.â€Å"Tainting percentage† show up on a section when the book estimation of a unit is not exactly the inspecting time period. What's more, its motivation is to build up an anticipated blunder for all the examining stretch. 5. What's more, 6 can be found in the exceed expectations report â€Å"2009 MUS† for WP 11.3 C 7. a. Fundamental accuracy is the measure of vulnerability related with testing just a piece of the populace and it is determined by increasing the inspecting stretch by the certainty factor to quantify examining mistakes. b. Steady remittance for examining mistake increments when there is an expansion in the inspecting blunder. c. Stipend for testing hazard is a consider utilized arranging factual examples to continue inspecting hazard at the ideal level. d. Upper misquote limit is dictated by including the misquote (essential exactness) and steady stipend for testing blunder. It quantifies the most extreme exaggeration at the 95% certainty level set. 8. The inspecting results don't bolster Derick’s concerns with respect to conceivable material misquote since the consequence of the upper error limit is $3,720,833 which is more than the passable error of $640,000. Additionally the extent of the anticipated mistake is 85% which is determined by separating $2,503,060 by $2,936,338. These mistakes ought to bring the populace inside the limits of acknowledgment. As I would like to think this blunder speak to the modification essential that speak to the $12,600,000 populace of processing plant gear. Module V: Accounts Receivable Aging Analysis 1. a.The extent of the absolute dollar sum receivable I remembered for the affirmation demand is in â€Å"Account Receivable Aging Analysis† by plunging the aggregate sum that is collectible â€Å"C† by the aggregate sum of deals. The outcome is 82% ($9,803,430/$11,920,028) of the all out dollar balance in money due. b.In the occasion of no answer to a solicitation for positiveâ confirmation, as a reviewer I have to request further asks for, contact the administrator and solicit him to take a few to get back some composure from the client. If there should arise an occurrence of no reaction from the client, I ought to inspect the report I have close by, for example, deals orders, deals solicitations, transporting requests, and bills of replenishing. c.The reason for examining resulting assortments since it an approach to check and ensure that the presence of the activity occurred. Additionally checking ensuing assortments permits the evaluators to check the sufficiency of the remittance for uncollectible records. This encourages the inspector to all the more likely ascertain the sum that is uncollectible from clients 2.I am not fulfilled that I have adequate proof to assess the presence and valuation affirmation since I wasn’t ready to take a few to get back some composure of certain clients. Because of this burden as examiners we ought to be dubious about if those deals do in actuality exist. Likewise, in wording valuation, extra review should be performed in light of the fact that from the affirmed sum owed, it isn't sure in the event that it will be gathered. 3.Reclassification passage can be found in exceed expectations report â€Å"2009 ar†. 4.A. So as to fulfill the record receivable benefits, I would need to look at correspondence to and from clients, lawful guidance and assortment organizations including the demeanor of sum that were expected previously. b. The review change is $340,000 which offer the leniency parity to be $560,000 which I believe is satisfactory as modification. c. See connected exceed expectations archive â€Å"2009† ar. 5. The full archive â€Å"2009 ar† is connected with the case. Module VI: Sales and Purchases Cutoff Tests 1. Stock cut off blunders: a. Vouchers 12458 and 12459 was gotten in 2009 as stock yet not recorded in the books until one year from now, 2010. Which brought about exaggeration of $854,154 as impact on net gain b. Crude material stock that was in travel. This activity doesn't influence overall gain since it was exluded c. Deals 33003, 33004, 33006, 33007, and 33009 were acted in 2010 however they were accounted for in 2009 which brought about exaggeration of $3,760,330 in net gain. I believe that the misquote recorded above have all the earmarks of being deliberate so as to exaggerate net gain and make it look higher that its worth. This training is one of the procuring swelling gadgets that can be utilized to exaggerate net gain. 2.See exceed expectations archive â€Å"2009 cutoff† for auditâ adjustments. Module VII: Search for unrecorded Liabilities 1.Comment on the sufficiency for the methods performed: Lucas had the option to check if there was extra solicitations that were gotten and recorded. He additionally checked if the organization he is reviewing remembered these charges for year-end modifications for liabilities that are not recorded. Then again she didn't check if solicitations got in 2010 ought to be recorded in 2009 and in this manner pertinent to the 2009 review and on the off chance that they were a piece of year-end alteration for that year. The exact opposite thing that Lucas need to check is the liabilities from the past, 2008 and to check whether they apply to check whether they should be considered for 2009. 2.Audit Adjustment 6 can be found in exceed expectations report â€Å"2009 Liab†. 3.Audit Adjustment 6 can be found in exceed expectations archive â€Å"2009 Liab†. Module VIII: Dallas Dollar bank Reconciliation 1. The â€Å"Bank Reconciliation-Dallas Dolalr Bank† doesn't accommodate for December fundamentally on the grounds that the general record balance is not exactly the balanced equalization (Audit change number 7). The sum that vary between the two adjusts is $9,000. A portion of the causes if there should arise an occurrence of non-compromise are: †There may have been a mistake performed by the bank at the hour of recording the store or check. †There may have been a mistake when the bank recorded the money receipt of the activity. 2. After I have made the amendment, the record accommodates. The change is made in WP.1 in exceed expectations report â€Å"2009 Bank†. 3 and 4 : See exceed expectations report â€Å"2009 Bank part WP.1.B 5. The cutoff explanation got straightforwardly from the bank bolster the presence, fulfillment and valuation goals. This announcement gives an evaluator fulfillment with respect to the measure of money receipt toward the year's end and on the off chance that they were recorded at the ideal time. On the off chance that the cutoff articulation secured the period 1/1/10 through 1/21/10 and the store in travel was credit in 1/12/10, as a reviewer I ought to be worried that a customer was keeping money receipts records open after the year's end time frame and could have recorded 2010 money receipts in 2009. To ease my interests, I ought to apply settlement advices, money postings so as to have the option to checkâ the money receipt toward the year's end that compensate for the store in travel. Module IX: Analysis of Interbank Transfers 1. A. The motivation behind investigating between bank moves for a brief period when the accounting report due in to check if there are any money cutoff blunders. B and C. the check 127332 demonstrating $3,000,000 got from Lawton was in certainty an interbank move from Bank Two to Dollar Bank. The Biltrite Company is infringing upon one of the prohibitive pledges in the Bank Two understanding provided that the exchange was recorded effectively, it would show that the parity was underneath $10,000,000 remunerating balance. 2

Saturday, August 22, 2020

Article on Energy Policy of Australia-Free-Samples-Myassignment

Questions: Pick a subject from Microeconomics that issues to you and locate an ongoing news story. Answers: Quintessence of The story The article tends to vitality based issues, for example, dependability and effectiveness, environmental change and inexhaustible types of vitality. Additionally, innovative progression in the field of the Australian vitality division has been addressed .Specifically, the article quickly perceives the significance of inexhaustible wellsprings of vitality ,primarily, sun oriented and wind wellsprings of energy(Parkinson 2017)Through the article, it is recommended that sustainable types of vitality be embraced because of their modest nature and prepared accessibility. Important, the article depends on the discourse of a vitality serve for New South Wales .Majorly, the article specifies what Australia s vitality arrangement should grasp .Theres need to make vitality progressively solid ,reasonable and fully informed regarding the mechanical headways to assist the Australian individuals. Likewise, the article investigates the significance of putting away vitality grasped through utilization of sustainable wellsprings of vitality, for example, sunlight based and wind Monetary Concepts Based on the Article. Vitality proficiency can be accomplished through fuse of solid, inexhaustible and natural cordial sources and age of vitality .Energy productivity. What's more, the reasonableness of vitality sources is fundamental for all economies and its customers. Vital, the Australian government is yet to convey moderate vitality to its citizens(Wood 2016)Notably, South Australia s vitality costs is viewed as the most elevated globally(Dayman,2017)Specifically, Consumers will encounter value ascends between 19.9 - 16.1percent addition of costs from Energy Australia and Origin Energy in this manner the requirement for administrative vitality arrangement. Significant expenses of vitality will be oppressive and exploitative to buyers. Further, destitution will follow from high force costs (Dayman 2017) Without a doubt, innovative headways have made life a lot simpler and effective therefore the need to grasp present day methods of power age. Further, the Australian government is yet to bear the cost of solid power for its residents (Wood 2016) .Ideally, wellsprings of vitality should be dependable and maintainable. Normally, inexhaustible wellsprings of vitality, for example, wind and sun powered are viewed as perfect for vitality age because of their maintainability and modest expense. In any case, the Australian economy is yet to completely and solely grasp inexhaustible wellsprings of vitality consequently the exorbitant costs. Coal isnt a dependable wellspring of vitality (Parkinson 2017).Theres need to gadget methods of putting away vitality through present day innovation to guarantee consecutive flexibly of vitality year in ,year out. Ecological benevolence is a worry for most vitality age players as in nonrenewable vitality sources, for example, coal are contaminations to nature .Essentially ,theres need to decrease carbon discharges corresponding to atmosphere strategy targets and natural arrangements. Right now, the Australian vitality strategy has lacking climatic arrangements accordingly the need to orchestrate vitality approaches with climatic objectives for a situation benevolent vitality proficient types of vitality (Wood 2016)According to the article ,theres need to authorize present day vitality strategy in amicability with climatic strategies so as to shield nature from carbon emanations which are destructive to the earth. Through the article, it is suggested that the Australian government receive cleaner vitality wellsprings of vitality creation rather than sole dependence on non sustainable power sources. Ostensibly, there exists dire requirement for government intercession in guideline of vitality area costs and plan of current vitality based strategies. To diminish natural contamination and advance reasonableness of power, theres dire need to produce vitality utilizing inexhaustible wellsprings of vitality, Notably wind and sunlight based vitality. Normally, sun oriented and wind vitality are promptly accessible and modest as well .Renewable vitality sources require less expense in age of intensity which converts into lower vitality costs for power and other vitality sources. Also, theres requirement for definition and fuse of condition well disposed approaches on vitality age and dissemination .Predominantly, age of vitality through no inexhaustible sources moves the generally significant expenses to shoppers as duties. Additionally ,theres need to receive innovatively propelled wellsprings of vitality, for example, atomic vitality to substitute the utilization of non-renewable energy sources, for example, coal. Essentially in light of the fact that, petroleum derivatives are costly and non-sustainable in this manner raising worries of contamination and lack of quality thus the need to receive more secure, promptly accessible and less expensive vitality age sources. Petroleum products are non-sustainable and toxins of the earth because of the huge amounts of carbon emanations created during vitality creation. As I would see it ,cleaner and sustainable power source ought to be embraced in light of the fact that they are created through condition neighborly innovatively propelled procedures and hardware which lessen and take out carbon outflows from the environment .Further ,sustainable power source levies are less expensive along these lines moderate for the Australian populace. Proposals. All things considered, it's imperative to consolidate inexhaustible wellsprings of vitality into vitality area age to diminish contamination and make the costs moderate (Pears,2017)Further, theres need to make vitality gracefully solid to the Australian populace through fused different wellsprings of vitality creation instead of dependence on rnon sustainable power sources .furthermore theres need to actualize solid and attainable vitality division arrangements and guideline. Additionally, the vitality segment approaches and measures should adjust to by and large climatic arrangements. As to cost of power, there is have to have available vitality administrative bodies in every one of the Australian states to screen the power levies (Frydenberg 2016)Also, appropriation of less expensive innovative age alternatives will make the costs of power less exorbitant for the Australian populace. To guarantee unwavering quality of vitality, sustainable and non-inexhaustible wellsprings of vitality should be accessible consistently (Mcleish 2017)Theres requirement for cleaner and sustainable power source and practices for an effective vitality part in Australia. Additionally ,in controlling cost of power, compulsory paces of correlation and straightforwardness in vitality costs will hold costs within proper limits and purchasers enlightened(Clure 2017)Typically, every area of the economy requires consistent changes because of the changing idea of innovation and natural elements (Zappa 2014) and vitality division is no special case. Theres need to define present day arrangements and measures to control the current vitality challenges for a proficient vitality area in Australia. Further, theres need to utilize sustainable power source for natural invitingness purposes and moderate expense of created vitality through this effectively accessible sources . References Parkinson, G. (2017) How the Far Right Have Hijacked Australias Energy policy.RE New Economy. Accessible at https://reneweconomy.com.au/far-right-commandeered australias-vitality strategy 11836/[Accessed 23 Aug 2017] Dayman, I. (2017) South Australia power Prices to Rise to most elevated on the planet on Saturday, Energy Experts caution .ABC News. Accessible at https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-06-28/sa-has-most-costly force costs on the planet/8658434[Accessed 23 Aug 2017] Wood, T. (2016) Australia s vitality Sector is in basic need of Reform. The Conversation. Accessible at https://theconversation.com/australias-vitality part is-in-basic need-of-change 61802[Accessed 23 Aug 2017] Clure, E. (2017) Power Prices: 13 different ways government could Bring down Electricity costs .ABC .Net. Accessible at https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-08-11/what-could-the-legislature do-to-lessen power-costs/8790952[Accessed 23 Aug 2017] Pears , A.(2017)2017 Will be a Big Year for Australia s Energy System: Heres What to LOOK Out For .The Conversation .Available at https://theconversation.com/2017-will-be-a-major year-for-australias-vitality framework heres-what-to-pay special mind to 71703[Accessed 23 Aug 2017] Frydenberg, F. (2016) The eventual fate of Australia Energy sector.[Opinion]Australian Mining. Accessible at https://www.australianmining.com.au/highlights/the-fate of-australias-vitality part supposition/[Accessed 23 Aug 2017] McLeish, R. (2017) Elon Musk Resumes Twitter Campaign for Australian Energy Reform with Mike Cannon-Brookes. The Sydney Morning Herald. Accessible at https://www.smh.com.au/innovation/innovation news/elon-musk-resumes-twitter-battle for-australian-vitality change with-Mike-cannonbrookes-20170313-guwr8g.html[Accessed 23 Aug 2017] Zappa, M.(2014)17 Emerging Energy Technologies that will change the world .Business Insider .Available at https://www.businessinsider.com/17-rising vitality advances 2014-4?IR=T[Accessed 23 Aug 201 essed 23 Aug 2017]

Friday, August 7, 2020

Why People Believe in Conspiracy Theories

Why People Believe in Conspiracy Theories Basics Print Why People Believe in Conspiracy Theories By Kendra Cherry facebook twitter Kendra Cherry, MS, is an author, educational consultant, and speaker focused on helping students learn about psychology. Learn about our editorial policy Kendra Cherry Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on June 24, 2019 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Steven Gans, MD Updated on July 17, 2019 Verywell / Andrea Hickey More in Psychology Basics Psychotherapy Student Resources History and Biographies Theories Phobias Emotions Sleep and Dreaming In This Article Table of Contents Expand Explanations Effects Risks Reducing Conspiracy Beliefs View All Back To Top There has been a growing interest in recent years in why people believe in conspiracy theories. Recent controversial examples of such theories include the belief that terrorist attacks and mass shootings were staged events orchestrated by the U.S. government. Other examples include the belief that the pharmaceutical industry intentionally spreads diseases or that vaccines cause illness rather than prevent them. While it might seem like these beliefs are rare or even pathological, research has shown that they are surprisingly common. Polls suggest that over one-third of U.S. adults believe that global warming is a hoax. Another study found that half of all Americans believe in at least one conspiracy theory. What Is a Conspiracy Theory? A conspiracy theory can be defined as the belief that there are groups that meet in secret to plan and carry out malevolent goals. What explains this common and often deep-rooted belief that powerful, sinister, and secretive groups are conspiring to deceive others â€" particularly in a day and age where we have more access to information and facts that might debunk many of these ideas? Researchers suspect that there are a number of psychological mechanisms that contribute to these beliefs, many of which may be the result of evolutionary processes. In a world where you might feel powerless and alienated, it can be appealing to believe that there are forces plotting against your interests. Once these beliefs take root, cognitive biases and mental shortcuts reinforce and strengthen them. Many of the same factors that fuel other types of problematic thinking, such as a belief in the paranormal, also contribute to conspiracy theories. And while such paranoid ideas are not new, the internet has helped transform the way and the speed in which they are spread. In order to understand why people believe in these conspiracies, it is important to explore some of the psychological explanations and the potential effects these beliefs have. 10 Cognitive Biases That Distort Your Thinking Explanations Researchers suggest that there are a number of different reasons why people believe in conspiracy theories. Many of these explanations boil down to three key driving factors: A need for understanding and consistency (epistemic)A need for control (existential)A need to belong or feel special (social) Epistemic Reasons Epistemic explanations refer to the desire to derive certainty and understanding. The world can be a confusing place filled with events that may seem dangerous and chaotic. People are driven to explain the things that happen in the world around them. Doing so helps them build up a consistent, stable, and clear understanding of how the world works. Factors That Increase Conspiracy Belief: In situations involving large-scale events, where more mundane or small-scale explanations seem inadequateIn situations where people experience distress over uncertainty When people encounter disparate information, it is only natural to look for explanations that connect the dots. Conspiracy theories offer explanations that provide this connection. They also suggest that the underlying causes are hidden from public view. When confusing things happen, believers can then assume that it is because they are being intentionally deceived by outside forces. There is also a connection between conspiracy beliefs and educational levels. Lower educational status tends to be associated with higher levels of conspiracy belief. Having lower analytical abilities and less tolerance for uncertainty also play a role. As a result, people turn to conspiracy theories to provide explanations for events that seem confusing or frightening. The confirmation bias can also play a role in the development of conspiracy belief. People are naturally inclined to seek out information that confirms their existing beliefs. So when they run across a theory that supports something that they already think is true, they are more likely to believe the information is also true. How Your Brain Plays Tricks on You Existential Reasons There is also evidence that people turn to conspiracy theories as a way of feeling safer and more in control. When people feel threatened in some way, detecting sources of danger can be a way of coping with anxiety. What The Research Suggests: One study found that people who feel psychologically and sociopolitically disempowered are more likely to believe in conspiracy theories.Another study found that people are also more likely to believe in conspiracies when they are experiencing anxiety. While researchers understand these existential motivations, there is little evidence that believing in these theories actually helps people satisfy their need to feel control and autonomy. In fact, by believing in these theories, people may actually be less likely to engage in actions that would potentially boost their sense of control (such as voting or participating in political activity). So while people may be drawn to conspiracy theories as a way of making sense of the world and feeling more in control of their own destiny, the long-term effects may actually leave people feeling more disempowered than ever before. Social Reasons People can also be motivated to believe in conspiracy due to social reasons. Some researchers have hypothesized that by believing in conspiracies that cast out-groups as the opposition, people are able to feel better about themselves and their own social group. Those who believe in the conspiracy feel that they are the “heroes” of the story, while those who are conspiring against them are “the enemy.” People Believe In Conspiracies When: They are on the “losing” side of a political issueThey have a lower social status due to income or ethnicityThey have experienced social ostracismThey are prejudiced against “enemy” groups they perceive as powerful Such findings suggest that conspiracy belief might arise as a sort of defense mechanism. When people feel disadvantaged, they are motivated to find ways to boost their own self-perceptions. Blaming others by linking them to malevolent plots provides a scapegoat on which to lay blame, thus improving how conspiracy believers view themselves. The belief in conspiracies is also rooted in what is referred to as collective narcissism. This is the belief that your own social group is better, yet less appreciated, by other people. People who feel that they or their social group have been victimized are also less likely to believe in government institutions and more likely to believe in conspiracies. The way in which people encounter and share these ideas should also be noted. It’s easy to dismiss a story shared by a random source that you don’t trust. But when multiple people in your social circle who you do know and trust all seem to believe the same story, it starts to seem less like a silly conspiracy and more like a trusted fact. Sharing these kinds of stories within our networks gives social credence to such conspiratorial thinking. How Your Decisions Are Biased by the First Thing You Hear Effects While researchers have some good theories about why people believe in conspiracies, it is less clear what the ultimate effects of these beliefs are. What researchers have found is that while these beliefs are motivated by a desire to understand, exert control, and feel socially connected, these aren’t the effects people are deriving from their beliefs. Rather than fulfilling these needs, believing in conspiracies seems to reinforce feelings of confusion, isolation, disenfranchisement, and loneliness. It is a destructive cycle - negative feelings contribute to the belief in conspiracies, yet the belief in conspiracies results in negative feelings. Believing in conspiracy theories erodes people’s trust in their government, their leaders, and their institutions. It also diminishes trust in science and research itself. This distrust may discourage people from participating in their social worlds. It might also cause people to stop seeing themselves as valuable contributors to society. Rather than helping people cope with their feelings of social alienation and political disenfranchisement, conspiracy beliefs seem to create a cycle of distrust that leads to even greater disempowerment. Risks Believing in things that are not true poses a number of dangers, which can have real effects that impact individual behavior and ultimately have a ripple impact on society as a whole. A resurgence in Measles outbreaks in the U.S. has been largely attributed to a refusal by some individuals to vaccinate â€" a refusal that stems largely from the conspiratorial belief that vaccines cause autism and other health ailments. Failing to address dangerous misbeliefs presents a potential danger to public health and even the political process itself. Faulty beliefs lead can lead people to not vaccinate, not vote, or, in some rare cases, even engage in dangerous or violent behavior. 4 Sneaky Mental Biases That Can Affect Your Health Choices Overcoming Conspiracy Theory Beliefs In the age of disinformation, finding ways to refute conspiracy beliefs seems more important than ever. Social platforms claim to be buckling down on those who peddle and profit off of conspiracies, but is it really possible to change such views once they’ve taken root? One problem faced when trying to disprove conspiracy theories is that people who hold these beliefs also tend to suspect that there are factions engaged in covering up these activities. Those trying to debunk the mistaken beliefs are then viewed as simply being actors in the conspiracy itself. While it might be tempting to simply mock conspiracy theories, especially the more ridiculous ones, this usually causes believers to dig in their heels and deepen their commitment to their belief. Many factors that contribute to conspiratorial beliefs, such as educational background and personality, are not easily or quickly changed. Researchers have found one tactic, however, that is effective â€" encouraging believers to pursue their goals. People tend to take one of two approaches in the pursuit of goals. Those who are promotion-focused believe that they have the power and control to shape their future.People who are prevention-focused, on the other hand, are more focused on protecting what they already have rather than on achieving their goals. Feeling In Control Reduces Conspiratorial Thinking So what does this have to do with conspiracy beliefs? Researchers found that promotion-focused people were more skeptical and less likely to buy into conspiracies. Why? People who believe that the future hinges on their own actions have a great deal of personal agency and control. It is this sense of autonomy and agency that makes people less likely to believe in secret plots and nefarious plans. What the researchers also discovered was that giving people a nudge in the direction of a more promotion-focused mindset could actually reduce belief in conspiracies. In practical terms, promoting messages that help people feel more in control can minimize conspiratorial thinking. Write It Down Researchers had study participants write down their aspirations, which helped them focus on their goals and what they could do to achieve them. This simple activity encourages people to take a more promotion-focused mindset and reduces conspiracy belief. While researchers have been able to reduce conspiratorial thinking in the lab, how applicable is this in the real world? In workplace settings, managers might employ this strategy to help minimize water-cooler worries, office gossip, and interpersonal friction. Regular discussions that center on employee goals and strategies to achieve those goals can help keep workers feeling more in control and less subject to corporate whims. In terms of public health, organizations might start by promoting messages focused on realistic things people can do to take control of their own health. Building this sort of action-oriented mindset may help discourage belief in health-related conspiracies and build greater trust between medical organizations and health consumers. A Word From Verywell Conspiratorial thinking can be problematic and dangerous (Pizzagate, anyone?), but this does not mean that skepticism of institutions, marketing, and media messaging is not warranted. After all, not all conspiracies are false (the Tuskegee experiments and Iran-Contra are just a couple of examples). As you encounter information from various sources, it is important to be able to distinguish between false conspiracy theories and real threats to personal security. While it may be tempting to ridicule conspiracy believers, remember that these sort of beliefs are actually pretty common â€" you probably even believe in some of them. In a world where people feel the very real effects of power imbalances and distrust in leadership, conspiracy theories will naturally flourish, which means discouraging this type of thinking is not always easy. Dunning-Kruger Effect: Why Incompetent People Think They Are Superior

Saturday, May 23, 2020

Women in the Odyssey - 1646 Words

Women form an important part of each society, however their role and importance to its function are often times overlooked. Society is/was organized and directed by men. All of the most important positions and purposes within it`s routine were filled by males. This societal organization is often times reflected in many pieces of literature of various time periods, however there are texts in which contrary to the patriarchal society models, women are given substantial importance within the plot. Homer`s The Odyssey, Heart of Darnkness by Joseph Conrad and Aeschylus`s Oresteia each demonstrate or conceal female importance in a given society. The Odyssey was written in a time when men played the dominant role. In ancient Greece, women†¦show more content†¦Athena, once again, is shown as having power over men and mortals, the citizens feel sheltered under Athene`s wings (3.1000-02) she brings justice and leads the tragic trilogy to a conclusion , just as she helps conclude Odys seus` nostos to Ithaca. Clytaemestra, whose infidelity and Agamemnon`s murder create a domino effect, which in turn brings a reign of chaos and killing begins as conspiracies and family secrets are reveled. Clytaemestra can be viewed as the unethical, evil character, nevertheless, her independed will and ability to murder, translate into strength and intellect. Clytaemestra drives the plot into the complicated which forms the majority of the tragedy itself. In contrast with The Odyssey and Oresteia, a much more recent work, Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad, women serve as supplements to men`s actions and they are passive characters at mercy of the leading males. Females in Heart of Darkness can be similarly divided into three categories parallel to The Odyssey, yet with major differences. Marlow`s aunt a dear enthusiastic soul...ready to do anything, anything for [Marlow] (pg.72) could be identified as the goddess who is willing to help in any way possible, she is the higher cl ass white civilized woman who lives in a surreal world, nonertheless she does not possess any power of Marlow like Athena does over men of The Odyssey. Kurtz`s native mistress is the seductress/whore. Instead of seducing Kurtz however, she is seduced byShow MoreRelatedThe Odyssey : The Role Of Women In Homers Odyssey966 Words   |  4 Pagesinteractions. The Odyssey portrays what is right or wrong in relationships between god and mortal, father and son, and man and woman. In the epic poem, the role of women is a vital demonstration of Ancient Greece. The women in the epic are unique in their personality, motives, and relationships towards men. In Homers, The Odyssey, all women are different, but all of them help to represent the role of the ideal woman. Homers epic describes the world of women in Ancient Greece, a time where women were seenRead MoreThe Odyssey And Trojan Women1684 Words   |  7 Pagesbetween them Greek poet Homer and tragedian playwright Euripides explore many of the same themes in their works the Odyssey and Trojan Women (written by each respectively). Both works are inspired by the events of 12th Century BCE Trojan War that Homer previously explored in the Iliad. The two examine the worth of cunning over brute strength, the dangers of temptation and the role of women in their respective time periods. Despite having extremely similar central ideas, the techniques employed by eachRead MoreThe Force of Women in The Odyssey632 Words   |  3 PagesThe Force of Women in The Odyssey To the average person, The Odyssey is a Greek tale about a man, Odysseus, just trying to find his way home. However, it is much more than an entertaining tale of a man, gods, and monsters. It serves as a cultural exemplar of different kinds of people, roles, and relationships of ancient Greece, including the role of women. In The Odyssey, women are often portrayed as suasive and strong people, prime examples being Athena, Arete, and Penelope. Athena, the goddessRead MoreEssay on Women in The Odyssey702 Words   |  3 PagesWomen in The Odyssey In The Odyssey the main character, Odysseus, meets and entertains an impressive array of women. All of the women that he meets are very different and have different personalities and Homer clearly states his attitude towards each of the women. Some of the women are seen as essentially good or essentially bad. It is also clear that Homer adopts a sexist attitude towards the women in his novel. In The Odyssey women are generally portrayed as manipulative and deceitfulRead MoreWomen Of The Odyssey And Lysistrata Essay1328 Words   |  6 Pagesthe beginning of time, women have always been looked down upon mentally. During the time period of The Odyssey and Lysistrata, women were known as less powerful gender. They have never had much say about what goes on around them. Some women were recognized as a sex symbol. In The Odyssey, some women were goddesses that just wanted sex and other women had to stay at home to help raise their kids and do all of the feminine work. Compared to The Odyssey, in Lysistrata, women denied sex against theirRead More Women of the Odyssey Essays1488 Words   |  6 Pages The Women of the Odyssey   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Many people regard Homer’s epics as war stories—stories about men; those people often overlook the important roles that women play in the Odyssey. While there are not many female characters in the Odyssey, the few that there are, play pivotal roles in the story and one can gain a lot of insight by analyzing how those women are portrayed. Homer portrays the females in contradictory ways: the characters of Athena and Eurykleia are given strong, admirable roles whileRead MoreRole of Women in the Odyssey1201 Words   |  5 PagesThe Role of Women in The Odyssey The Odyssey, by Homer, is an epic poem based on the story of an ancient Greek hero, Odysseus, and his twenty year journey—ten years spent fighting in the Trojan War and the other ten spent traveling home. In the poem, Homer presents the theme of the role and nature of women. Men were the dominant gender in ancient Greece, and women, who were inferior, were only valued for their beauty and their ability to reproduce. However, in this poem, Homer both exemplifiesRead MoreThe Women in The Odyssey Essay975 Words   |  4 PagesWhen reading the epic poem The Odyssey by Homer, modern readers are confronted by a world quite different to their own. The society of the Homeric Greeks was a strong one, with well-defined roles for all members of it. The differences that existed between men and women are quite extreme when first observed at face value: the men went off to war to face the world; the women stayed at home to remain cloistered and protected. While Men and Womens lives take v ery different paths through the story, thereRead MoreWomen in the Illiad and the Odyssey1331 Words   |  6 PagesENG 2423 8A March 21, 2013 Roles of Women in The Iliad and The Odyssey Homer wrote two epic poems, The Iliad and The Odyssey. The Iliad is a tragedy that tells about the battles of the Trojan War. The Odyssey is somewhat of a sequel, the story of Odysseus s travels home after the Trojan War. An article found in â€Å"The American Scholar† states, â€Å" One might begin by asking what both epics, The Iliad and The Odyssey, would be like if there were no women in them. The Trojan war would not haveRead MoreThe Archetype Of Women In The Odyssey775 Words   |  4 Pages In the epic poem The Odyssey, Homer gives women a secondary role to men in a patriarchal society and characterizes women by a double standard. For Instance, Calypso is the archetype for the cunning seductress. Another example is Circe who is also an archetype for a seductress. The last woman is Penelope, the archetype for the loyal wife. These three women are defined by their roles to men. Calypso is portrayed as the archetype for the cunning seductress. When Hermes is sent to tell Calypso to let

Tuesday, May 12, 2020

The Problem Of Prison Facilities Essay - 1362 Words

It is a well know issue in America that our prisons are overcrowding. In 2010 it was estimated that our country s prison facilities were 25% over capacity. This included 19 states with prisons that were found overpopulated. The dilemma has numerous negative impacts. Some results in overpopulating consists of unhealthy living situations that do not meet the basic living needs of inmates, an increase in recidivism rates and an increase in taxes. At Touro University, Michael Ruderman, a doctoral student in medicine and public health, conducted a study that proved overcrowding can expose prison inmates to additional psychosocial stress and poor addiction treatment. These can are some of the leading causes in making people more prone to impulsive behavior, aggression, and drug use. It can take months for an inmate to receive medical attention once imprisoned, which can cause lack of needs to medication. Michael Ruderman, the Touro University doctoral student in medicine and public health who conducted the study, explained the findings by saying that overcrowding might expose prison inmates to added â€Å"psychosocial stress† and poor addiction treatment, both of which are known to make people more prone to impulsive behavior, aggression, and drug use. His study proved that, statistically, inmates released from overcrowded prisons failed to follow the restrictions and demands of probation and parole. With more and more inmates imprisoned each year, American citizens have to put moreShow MoreRelatedPrivate Prisons1166 Words   |  5 PagesRunning head: PRISON PRIVATIZATION 1 An Assessment of Prison Privatization Sharon Baumann-Heller ORG 8575 Michael Mills August 12, 2012 PRISON PRIVATIZATION 2 Abstract Over-crowding in our federal, state, and local prisons, along with a depressed economy, has resulted in a trend toward privatization of these facilities. This paper examines the core issues surrounding private prisons in the areas of cost-effectiveness, recidivismRead MoreEssay about Correctional System1469 Words   |  6 PagesThe U.S. correctional system has come under critical public scrutiny which has corrections administrators scrambling to find ways to run effective correctional facilities. The reality of corrections administration today is that it is changing. Major issues of this changing environment include ongoing budget concerns, privatization, technology, overcrowding, program issues, personnel management, security issues, and legal issues. This paper examines these current issues facing correctional administratorsRead MoreCorrections Trend Evaluation Essay1338 Words   |  6 PagesThroughout the United States, there are many correctional facilities that house thousands of inmates. Individuals who work within these facilities have a tough job in maintaining the prison facility and the inmates. Correctional officers are called the front line workers and are responsible for looking after the inmates. The officers who work for the correctional facility deal with issues that may arise inside and outside of the facility. The subject to discuss is to evaluate the past, present, andRead MorePrivate Prisons Vs. Federal Prisons1175 Words   |  5 PagesPrivate prisons are supposedly more cost effective than state or federal prisons. Or that is what their representatives say. But regardless of whether they save money or not, are they truly beneficial for our communities? This article hopes to break down some of the myths these private prison corporations have used to push their agenda and discuss how that is far from the case. By doing so, the reader can form his/her own conclusions on how pervasive and detrimental private prisons have become withinRead Mo reAmerican Prison System Essay945 Words   |  4 PagesAmerican Prison Systems Introduction In many countries national prisons are operated and supplemented by provinces and state counterparts. Prisoners are held in prisons and jails throughout the country and globally convicted of various crimes and offenses. The nature of the offense determines where the prisoner is held and the lengths of times. There are institutions that vary in level of security in both the state and federal prison system. However, the majority of prisoners areRead MoreMental Depression And Mental Illness1350 Words   |  6 Pageswas estimated to be 705,600 mentally ill inmates in state prisons, 78,000 in federal prisons and 47,900 in local jails (NIC). Most inmates suffer from social anxiety disorders or depression. There are three times more people in prisons with mental health problems than in actual hospitals (News). However, this is a problem for various reasons, two being that prisons cannot afford the proper medications and treatment as well as that prisons are not well enough equipp ed to handle these issues. ConvictsRead MoreThe Growing Inmate Population And Its Effects On The Prison System1099 Words   |  5 PagesIts Effects on the Prison System Frankie Lorino Jr. University of Troy â€Æ' Abstract The purpose of this paper is to look at the prevalence of overcrowding in the United States prison system, what led to its current conditions, and how it effects the its fundamental function. The explanation of growth is suggested by Davey 1998 and Anderson 2000. Jacobson, 2005 outlines some of the affairs leading to the change in prison functions. The dire state of conditions in prison facilities is exemplified by McConvilleRead MorePrivate Prisons : Are They The Criminal Justice Systems? Savior Or Destroyer?1615 Words   |  7 PagesPrivate Prisons: Are They the Criminal Justice Systems’ Savior or Destroyer? As of 2005, there are over 107 privately operated secure facilities contracting to hold adult criminal offenders in the United States (Seiter, p. 164) According to Richard P. Seiter (2011), â€Å"A private correctional facility is any correctional facility operated by a nongovernmental agency and usually in a for-profit manner that contracts with a governmental entity to provide security, housing, and programs for offenders†Read MorePrivatization of American Prisons1661 Words   |  7 Pagesrunning prisons out of the hands of state and federal authorities and contracting it out to private organizations. Along with the drift to privatization is a plethora of research pertaining to the subject taking many different approaches to analyzing the effectiveness. The majority of research focuses on one of three areas. The first questioning whether or not it is cost effective to make the switch. The second being the ethical problems that can and have risen from the privatization of p risons. TheRead MoreFederal Prisons Systems1009 Words   |  4 PagesIntroduction Traditionally, state-controlled prisons have been taken to be more dangerous as compared to federal prison system because they always house more dangerous criminals. Some of the states like New York tend to have their inmates spend most of their time during their sentence in maximum security prisons; however, federal prisons apply lower level security prisons for longer duration of incarceration (recently). While state prison systems is meant to house criminal like rapists, murder

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Technology and Organizational Structure Free Essays

Technology and Organizational Structure Wanda Armour University of Phoenix Technology and Organizational Structure This paper represents the research on how technology interacts with organizational structure. Two companies will be identified to compare and contrast their organizational structures. A matrix will be included to summarize the findings. We will write a custom essay sample on Technology and Organizational Structure or any similar topic only for you Order Now Introduction Organizational structure in today’s complex multi-dimensional organizations is the connection that holds the infrastructure together to achieve the organizations goals. It is the patterns or arrangement of groups of jobs within an organization. It is also a process that requires organizational re-structuring as the company grows. Historically industry has shifted from the job-shop manufacturing to mass production, with innovative pioneers such as Frederick Taylor, Henri Fayol, and Max Weber ((Dristelzweig Droege, n. d. ). These early pioneers were very different thinkers in terms of their principles to determine how to structure organizations for maximum productivity. However, they all had a common view that it was like a machine and that power was in the position, not in the individual holding the position; clearly a vertical bureaucratic structural hierarchy ((Dristelzweig Droege, n. d. ). This ‘one best way’ mindset gradually disappeared as concerns that the traditional organizational structure may hinder, rather than help promote creativity and innovation (Dristelzweig Droege, n. d. ). Today, pressures in U. S. business structures to compete globally calls for a variety of organization structures. There is no ‘one fit all’ organizational structure that has proven effective in contributing to business success. Organizations operate in different environments with different opportunities, products, tasks, risks, strategies, constraints, strengths and weakness, and different organizational structures to meet those challenges (Reference for Business, n. d. ). There are two types of organizational structures found in business environments; centralized and decentralized. Centralized organizational structures rely on one individual to make decisions and provide direction or the company; decentralized organizations rely on a team environment at different levels of the business (Vitez, n. d. ). Organizational Structure Overview of Two Company’s Two very successful companies have been identified with different organizational structures; Toyota Motor Corporation and The Watson’s Creative Company. These two companies are on the opposite end of the spectrum in ter ms of organizational structure. Toyota, a Japanese, multinational corporation, has a centralized matrix organizational structure (the combination of two or more different structures-organic/mechanistic) with a bureaucratic infrastructure. The Watson’s Creative Company, a New York based adverting agency, has a small-decentralized organic organizational structure (organizations that are flexible and effectively adapt to change) (Dorf Byers, 2008). Toyota is considered by some as the world’s largest maker of automobiles, trucks, buses, and robots. Toyota has factories all around the world, that manufacture and assemble vehicles for local markets (Taneja, Pryer, Sewell, 2012). Toyota has an interesting blend of mechanistic, organic and bureaucracy in a centralized organizational structure, which allows them to accommodate their versatile product line. This structure develops a workforce who believes in the company’s products, image, and vision; along with placing a high value on the welfare of its employees (Taneja et al. , 2012). A recent SWOT analysis shows that intense competition could pose a threat resulting in lower price pressures. A recent massive product recall (10 million worldwide) which could hurt the company’s brand image and sales ((Toyota, 2012). Toyota is a company that has a reputation for reliability; the challenge now is rebuilding the emotional ties of customers. A bureaucratic organizational structure could be the flaw as hindered information sharing, miscommunication; along with delayed response time to quality and safety issues have been sighted as the root cause of the recall (Taneja et al. , 2012). One of the disadvantages to a matrix organizational structure is keeping communication channels clear so that potential conflicts do not arise and hinder organizational functioning (Reference for Business, n. d. ). As corporations become worldwide the process of restructuring is inevitable, as they must respond to challenges on a global level. The foundation of Toyota is respect of its people and continuous improvement through the ‘Toyota Way’ which is summarized by five keywords; â€Å"Challenge,† â€Å"Kaizen,† â€Å"Genchi Genbutsu,† â€Å"Respect† and â€Å"Teamwork† (â€Å"The Toyota Way,† n. d). The Watson’s a Creative Company, is an ad agency. They have a decentralized organic organizational structure that is simple and low in formalization. All parts of the organization need each other as an interdependence relationship improves functioning. As an organic organization they need to stay flexible in dealing with customers and in creating concepts for television commercials and print advertisement (Field, n. d. ). I recently visited the Watson’s ad agency and I found a confortable informal environment with a small staff and their dogs. It seemed quite remarkable that a company with such clients as ‘Whole Foods’, ‘Metropolitan Home Magazine’ and many others could work as a community. However it is in line with their mission statement of building lasting relationships between great companies and the audiences they benefit (â€Å"The Watson’s,† n. . ). Their core competency is in their knowledge management and creativity. An organic organization such as The Watson’s is a knowledge-based organization. Tacit knowledge is exchanged through interaction with other knowledge workers. This interaction facilitates the development of a knowledge culture within the organization, supp orting decision making of various knowledge workers through collaboration (Hosnavi Ramezan, 2011). How Structure Affects the use of Technology and Technology Decisions Technology plays a crucial role in today’s organizational structure. Toyota understood that the traditional understanding of centralization in organizational structure would fail to capture its vision of technological development, and value in the employee in the face of new challenges and demands. Toyota adopted a matrix organizational structure to facilitate technology decisions ((Hosnavi Ramezan, 2011). The Watson’s on the other hand believe that technology decisions are based the decentralization of power and control and a higher level of informality and a organic organizational structure was the best fit for their company. Toyota’s superior technology was not enough in light of the recent recalls. As a result they had to reduce their organizational structure, which is no easy task. My observation is that Toyota could have closed a blind eye but instead decided to restructure and fix the problem without deviating from their core competency and mission. The Watson’s interaction with technology is equally exciting as visual displays of artistic genius are created and displayed through a variety of avenues. Technology gives expression to the endless possibilities of the mind and allows them to make decisions based on whatever idea they can dream of. Working on something they believe in helps them to focus on the effectiveness of their products and services. TECHNOLOGY AND ORGANIZATION STRUCTURE| Inquiry| Toyota Motor Corporation| The Watson’s a Creative Company| Organizational Structure| Centralized Matrix Organizational Structure| Decentralized Organic Organizational Structure| Environment| Stable, highly efficient and orderly. | Constant change, simple, low formalization. | Control| Hierarchic| Network community. | Internal Communication| Vertical, between superior and subordinates. Lateral between people. | Core Competency| Lean Manufacturing Tools, Supply Chain Management, Product Development Technology, Branding| Creative Advertising /Knowledge worker| Core Technology| Conventional and Hybrid Vehicles, Hybrid Systems, Safety and Environmental Technologies. | Web based advertising systems, HTML, XML, SVG and Flash, Communications protocols, Video and audio technology. | Enabling Technologies| Toyota Technology Institu te, Toyota InfoTechnology Center, Home Living Assistant Robotics, Personal Mobility. RD product portfolio. iAd mobile app, Ad tracking, Banner Ads, Rich Media Ads, Tradeshows, Commercial Emails, Poster Ads, Social Media| Organizational Members| Task Oriented| People Oriented| Control-Stability and predictability. | High| Low| Flexibility-Quick response to changing conditions| High| High| Knowledge Management| Reinforcement of hierarchy| Anywhere in the company| Technology Interaction with Organizational Structure Based on these comparisons I believe that the interaction of technology must be accompanied with the right fit of the organizations structure to achieve sustainability. Toyota works on a technological scale far beyond that of the Watson’s. It uses manufacturing technology that is the cutting edge of science (Taneja et al. , 2012). It is doing an amazing work with its robotic technology that will help the handicapped, as well as the individual. Taneia et al. , (2012 believes that Toyota’s research and development accomplishments are making groundbreaking strides in the area of defense against energy starvation. The Watson’s Creative Company is using the Internet to extend their market reach far beyond what was once thought possible through conventional channels. According to Behboudi, Hanzaee, Koshksaray, Khirkhani Tabar, Taheri (2012), â€Å"Creative advertising can provide a competitive edge for a brand, add to its value, and give it an advantage over its rivals in terms of more positive market response†(p. 140). The Watson’s advertising agency has achieved sustainability with their creative and innovative ads through the technology of the Internet. In comparison mechanistic and organic organizational structures are like two musicians, one who plays’ by ear and the other who has to read music; both however deliver a beautiful arrangement of music. Toyota is continuously focused on increasing its technological capabilities, while The Watson’s are continuously looking for more ways to use technology to create ads that are an experience for the consumer. Both are making contributions that will add value to organizational learning, and technological capabilities. References Behboudi, M. , Hanzaee, K. , Koshksaray, A. , Khirkhani Tabar, M. , Taheri, Z. (2012). A Review of the Activities of Advertsing Agencies in Online World []. International Journal of Marketing Studies, 4(1), 138-149. Retrieved from Ebscohost Dorf, R. C. , Byers, T. H. (2008). Technology Ventures (2nd ed. ). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill. Dristelzweig, H. , Droege, S. B. (n. d. ). Organizational Structure. Retrieved from http://law-journals-books. vlex. com/vid/organizational-structure-51758780 Field, R. (n. d. ). Organizational Effectiveness, Structure and Technology. Retrieved from http://apps. business. ualberta. ca/rfield/Organizational%20Effectiveness,%20Structure,%20and%20Technology. h Hosnavi, R. , Ramezan, M. (2011). Intellectual Capital and Organizational Organic Structure How are these How to cite Technology and Organizational Structure, Essay examples

Friday, May 1, 2020

Role of Philosophy in Project Management Free Samples to Students

Question: Discuss about the Role of Philosophy in Project Management. Answer: Introduction: Construction projects require technical experts and experienced project managers who can handle unique challenges in the project. They have to adopt a proactive approach to enhance the value of the project and activities associated with it (Konstantinou and Mller, 2016). Similarly, they have to take into account the risks and constraints in construction. There are three measures of success of a construction project. It includes time, budget and quality standards. But it has been found that many projects extend their budgets and time schedules. This can be due to poor communication, change in scope and difficulties with controls. Apart from this, there are many external factors which have to be considered during the process such as regulations, weather, geology, environment and interest of stakeholders. This essay has been based on PRINCE2 methodology of project management. This method allows project managers to integrate different systems and they can adapt to the changing demands of the project. Apart from this, they get series of actions which influences the success of the project in a positive way. PRINCE2 methodology has been applied for the construction of Quota Park pathway in Queensland, Australia. The phases and justification of the PRINCE2 method in Quota Park pathway construction has been included in the report. Projects In controlled Environment (PRINCE2) provide an organized and logical based method to complete the task (Martens and Carvalho, 2016). It is a process driven method which helps in effective construction project management. Contraction projects include many people such as suppliers, contractors, customers, clients, employees and stakeholders. PRINCE2 can be very useful for projects manager and sponsors because it uses a common language which can be communicated easily. It helps in stakeholder management and collaboration. Apart from this, this methodology can be applied to any contractual framework. It clear defines the responsibilities and roles of different people associated with the project (Alotaibi and Mafimisebi, 2016). Quality management and planning is done in advance so as to avoid any hurdles during the process. Team members make sure that quality standard is maintained and this is done by testing and reviewing at regular intervals. PRINCE2 can be beneficial for the c onstruction project of Quota shared pathways. It will make sure that the project delivers quality results in the given time and budget (Verzuh, 2015). The project manager can use this systematic approach to gather information during the project which will allow him to accomplish all the objectives. The series of process in PRINCE2 includes organizing, planning, controlling and reviewing. In the present case study, a pathway has to be constructed in Quota Shared Park which is located in Mackay, Queensland. There will be separate pathways for bikers and other visitors. This project has been authenticated by the Mackay Regional Council who wants to connect the pathway to the facilities, centers for recreation and offices. The pathway will link the facilities with each other which will be beneficial for the visitors (Banihashemi, Hosseini and Sankaran, 2017). This project will require different equipments, materiel, laborers and support system. Apart from this, the management has certain requirements which have to be taken care of before formulation of plans and outlines. Project manager has to ensure high quality and should complete all the activities as per the schedule and cost. Construction projects involve complexities which can affect the performances of the project. Team members have to make sure that they follow their plans so as to avoid any difficulties. But many project managers fail to take into consideration all the essentials details for the project. PRINCE2 methodology allows them to effective manage the operations and processes (Richard, Sorooshian and Shariman, 2016). It helps in the development of an implementation and execution plan which contributes to the success of the construction project. The main benefit of this method is that it can be modified according to the requirements of the organisation. It is based on principles which include justification of business, learning with experience, defining the roles, stages and process management process, exception management, product delivery and altering the project environment (Chari and Agrawal, 2017). On the other hand, the main themes of PRINCE2 methodology consists of business, organisation , planning, quality control, risk assessment, change management and progress monitoring. It helps in reducing the impact of decision making, unpredictability, staff movement, employees and stakeholder management. It allows the project manager to create a layout along with a model for the pathway construction project (Sears, Sears and Segner, 2015). There are seven processes of PRINCE2 methodology of management which have been given below: Project briefing and starting: In this stage, project manager appoints team members and produces a project brief. Similarly, this stage can allow the manager to decide the approach for the development of Quota Shares Park pathway and bikeways. He can decide about the initiation stage with the help of team members (Drouin, Sankaran and Muller, 2016). The main activities which are included are Creation of board, appointment of project manager and team members, formation of project briefs, deciding the approach and understanding the project from previous experiences. It will allow project manager and sponsors to take care of the requirements and nerds of Mackay Regional Council in the construction of the Quota Shares Park pathway. Initiation stage: This stage helps in the development of startup procedures and it consists of many important activities (Papke-Shields and Boyer-Wright, 2017). It includes planning, creation of quality standards, analysis risks and cases, devolvement of project controls and documentation. Project manager can create documents which will be required during the project. It will include controls, quality methods and overall plan. It has to be approved by the senior managers and other stakeholders. Quota Shares Park pathway requires certain deliverables which can be documented so that the workers and team members can work on it (Rahmanian, 2014). These documents can be very useful in understanding the progress of the construction project. Directing: The board of the project has to approve the documentation and plan created in the initiation stage. The stage involves project sponsors and executives who suggest changes and creates exception plans (Glaiel, Moulton and Madnick, 2014). These plans can be useful in any unforeseen events occurring during the project. It is important for the project manager to take care of the outcome of the project rather than following the plan blindly. The Board also gives direction to the entire project including ad hoc and project closure. This stage of PRINCE2 will allow Quota Shares Park pathway to use a systematic approach and it will increase the chances of project success. This stage defines all the risks and hurdles that may arise during the project. The plans are created to handle such issues without delaying the project (Nelson and Morris, 2014). Controlling: PRINCE2 methodology believes in breaking down activities into smaller tasks. The project manager of Quota Shares Park pathway has to create small tasks and decision has to be taken to control each one of them (Gollenia, 2016). The monitoring process as well as reporting procedures is decided at this stage. Monitoring and reporting is essential because it allows the managers to compare the actual progress with the plans and outlines created in the initiation stage. Corrective measures are taken by the project measures to avoid any deviation from the plan. PRINCE2 is suitable for the pathway construction because Mackay Regional Council has many requirements which have to deliver by the project. Product delivery: The main activities involved in this ate of PRINCE2 methodology is accepting the work packages, executing and delivering them effectively (Guth and Marsh, 2016). The management of deliverables is taken care of in this stage of the model. It ensures that the work is allocated to tem members who understand it. There should be proper communication between project managers, team, suppliers and workers. They have to understand their roles and work according to the plans (Martens and Carvalho, 2016). Apart from this, they should have details about Quota Shares Park pathway and its deliverables, time frame, schedules and budget. Management of stage boundaries: This stage of PRINCE2 decides the decision which has to be taken at the end of the stage. This stage pays an important role in deciding the processes which has surpassed the tolerance level of the project (Heagney, 2016). The key activities which are included in this stage are preparation of risk register, change management, updating the plans and business case, creation of exception plan and setting reporting authorities. PRINCE2 model reduces risks and allows the project to change its scope so as to focus on the outcome of the project. The performance of Quota Shares Park pathway construction will improve with the help of this process of the methodology. Closure: The closure stage covers all the activities such as decommissioning, preparation of follow up actions, review plans and project evaluation. It analyzes the benefits of the project including the resources and materials (Banihashemi, Hosseini and Sankaran, 2017). PRINCE2 method allows project managers to integrate different systems and activities together. They can adapt to the changing demands of the project which ensures the timely completion of all the activities as per the schedule. It will help in effective management and collaboration of tasks and systems in Quota Shares Park pathway construction project. Justification of PRINCE2 methodology PRINCE2 method is suitable for Quota Shares Park pathway construction project. It allows the project manager to adapt to the changing demands of the environment. There are many unpredictable events which can occur during the process. It not only affects the quality of the project but it causes unwanted delays (Richard, Sorooshian and Shariman, 2016). PRINCE2 methodology allows the manager to take into consideration all the risks and hurdles which may occur. He can change the scope and updates the plan so as to complete the project in the desired time. This method provides flexibility which is essential in construction projects because they are large and complex in nature. Many projects extend their budgets and time schedules. This can be due to poor communication, change in scope or controls issues (Konstantinou and Mller, 2016). PRINCE2 method will eliminate all these issues from the Quota Shares Park pathway construction project. They will be able to complete all the in the stipula te time and cost. Furthermore, it will guide the team and they will be able to track their performance. The tasks are divided into smaller groups which makes it possible for the manager to establish effective control. The review and measurement plans allow him to track any deviation and establish corrective controls to remove the defects. PRINCE2 methodology contributes in effective management of operations and different processes. It helps in the development of an implementation and development plan which improves the success of the construction project (Drouin, Sankaran and Muller, 2016). Quota Shares Park pathway construction project has to adopt the processes of the PRINCE2 model which includes project briefing, initiating the project, directing plan, controlling, managing all the deliverables, stage boundary and execution of the project. PRINCE2 is beneficial for the construction project because it uses systematic approach. It will make sure that the project commencing ensuring quality results in the stipulated time and budget (Glaiel, Moulton and Madnick, 2014). The project manager can use this method to ensure effective management. Conclusion Project management methodologies provide a systematic sequential process for achieving the objectives of the construction project. It helps the team and project manager to gain understanding of all the related activities in the process. It not only improves the performance but it also ensures high quality during the project. Quota park construction of pathways and bikeways involves different activities, laborers, devices and equipments. PRINCE 2 methodologies can help the manager to coordinate all these activities to accomplish the objectives. The deliverables can be produced in the given time schedule and without any delays. Construction projects involve huge funds and investment. A slight delay in the schedule can cause losses to the client. Hence, the project manager should adopt PRINCE2 method in the contractions of pathway in Mackay region. References Alotaibi, A.B. and Mafimisebi, O.P., 2016. Project Management Practice: Redefining Theoretical Challenges in the 21st Century. Project Management, 7(1). Banihashemi, S., Hosseini, M.R., Golizadeh, H. and Sankaran, S., 2017. Critical success factors (CSFs) for integration of sustainability into construction project management practices in developing countries. International Journal of Project Management. Chari, K. and Agrawal, M., 2017. Impact of incorrect and new requirements on waterfall software project outcomes. Empirical Software Engineering, pp.1-21. Drouin, N., Sankaran, S. and Muller, R., 2016. The nature of organizational project management and its role as an organizational capability. Manageable Cooperation?. Glaiel, F.S., Moulton, A. and Madnick, S.E., 2014. Agile project dynamics: A system dynamics investigation of agile software development methods. Gollenia, L.A., 2016. Business Transformation Management Methodology. Routledge. Guth, D.W. and Marsh, C., 2016. Public relations: A values-driven approach. Pearson Heagney, J., 2016. Fundamentals of project management. AMACOM Div American Mgmt Assn. Konstantinou, E. and Mller, R., 2016. The role of philosophy in project management. Project Management Journal, 47(3), pp.3-11 Martens, M.L. and Carvalho, M.M., 2016. The challenge of introducing sustainability into project management function: multiple-case studies. Journal of Cleaner Production, 117, pp.29-40. Nelson, R.R. and Morris, M.G., 2014. IT Project Estimation: Contemporary Practices and Management Guidelines. MIS Quarterly Executive, 13(1). Papke-Shields, K.E. and Boyer-Wright, K.M., 2017. Strategic planning characteristics applied to project management. International Journal of Project Management, 35(2), pp.169-179. Rahmanian, M., 2014. A comparative study on hybrid IT project management. International Journal of Computer and Information Technology, 3(05), pp.1096-1099. Richard, H.A., Sorooshian, S. and Shariman, M., 2016. Lean Construction: An Effective Approach for Project Management. ARPN Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences, 11(3), pp.1607-1612. Sears, S.K., Sears, G.A., Clough, R.H., Rounds, J.L. and Segner, R.O., 2015. Construction project management. John Wiley Sons. Verzuh, E., 2015. The fast forward MBA in project management. John Wiley Sons.

Sunday, March 22, 2020

Stereotyping in the Film the Birdcage (1996) free essay sample

With the exception of academics and serious students in film or cultural studies, most movie-goers regard the viewing of films (with the exception – sometimes – of documentaries) as simply an entertainment activity when, very often, central to the experience is the swallowing of messages that the creators of the film wish to advance. Since films are often very expensive to produce, the films that find financial backing must also meet with the approval of a society’s elite, moneyed class. It is most often the case, then, that subtle messages and affirmations about the political, social and personal norms the dominant class wishes to endorse and inculcate are embedded in films that reach a wide segment of the population. Richard Dyer, Professor of Film Studies at Kings College London, in his essay Stereotyping (1), argues that one of the most common methods by which the dominant economic class attempts to reinforce the worldview it wishes to have embraced by the people, is the employment of stereotypes, which are often one-dimensional, static characterizations of people in various social roles or members of classes of people. We will write a custom essay sample on Stereotyping in the Film the Birdcage (1996) or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page These stereotypes range from the flattering depiction of Hero or Faithful Servant, for example, to the cartoonish, demonic or depraved portraits of a â€Å"typical† member of a group of people whose behavior or values the dominant class finds antithetical to their interests. Dyer argues that learning to recognize the use of stereotypes in films is provides some self-defense against being oblivious to the attempt to influence one’s thinking and opinions. One such group which has long been the target of such propaganda via stereotyping in films is the homosexual community. It was with the rise of capitalism that homosexuality began to be seen as leading to lifestyles that were not conducive to the provision of good, stable, obedient workers. One of the most influential frameworks for analysis of human relations and the evolution of social norms and political structures from the late 19th century through the present has been Marxist analysis, based on the works of Karl Marx (1818-1883). Dyer employs Marxist analysis, with a nod to sociological terminology (role, individual, type, member) to illustrate that stereotyping in film can occur through the use of iconography â€Å"Iconography is a kind of short-hand—it places a character quickly and economically. P. 32), structurally (â€Å"†¦. by the function of the character in the film’s structure {whether these be static structures, such as the way the film’s world is shown to be organized, materially and ideologically, or dynamic ones, such as plot. P. 33}, and through typing – the opposite of individuation of characters, instead ascribing of attributes to a person based on the idea they are a certain â€Å"type,† and we can understand all we need to know about them by being familiar with that type. While we, generally, think of stereotyping in a negative light, one consideration clearly of great importance to Dyer is the idea that some aspect of typing –insofar as the typing reflects the positive attributes of gay people – should not be discarded entirely, since the recognition for the audience, of some level of commonality in the experience of being gay will serve to illuminate for viewers the struggles faced and the oppression experienced, hopefully leading to more support in the larger society for improved status and equal civil rights for gay people. In analyzing the use of stereotypes in The Birdcage (Mike Nichols, 1996), I will argue that, while the use of stereotypes by the filmmakers was clearly done with the intention of exposing the stupidity of so many of society’s prejudices, the film does not entirely succeed in leaving the audience with anything close to real motivation for re-thinking approval for the established social idea that gays are somehow â€Å"other† and, at best, sympathetic clowns. The audience simply gets its laughs and goes home. A remake of the French film La Cage aux Folles (Jean Poiret and Francis Veber, 1978), Birdcage is set in drag club called The Birdcage in South Beach, Florida. We learn very early in the movie that Armand Goldman, played by Robin Williams, owns the club and his partner, Albert, played by Nathan Lane, appears regularly as Starina, the shows star drag queen. The plot of the movie develops when Armand’s son Val becomes engaged to Barbara Keeley, the daughter of the hypocritical, ultraconservative Republican Ohio Senator Kevin Keeley, who is seeking re-election as the co-founder of the Coalition for Moral Order. In light of the engagement, the young couple decides that it is finally time for the two families to meet. However, Val requests that Armand and Albert must conceal their homosexuality for this meeting. Stereotyping is not just employed in presenting the characters in Birdcage; the sets also are highly stereotyped and function almost as additional characters. The film open s with the camera panning around from the outside the club, and the viewer gets a quick look at the outside environment. They see bright lights in the night, palm trees, and pedestrians milling about the streets or waiting in line, all in scantily clad outfits and bathing suits. Sequences similar to this occur numerous times throughout the movie when showing the outside environment. Whether they’re at the beach or in the streets, day or night, the surrounding people are dressed in skimpy clothing, small bikinis, or Speedos. This aspect of the environment is emphasized when the senator and his family are stuck in traffic right outside of the club, approximately seventy-five minutes into the film. While all the cars are stuck in traffic, people are chaotically climbing in and out of open-roofed cars or roller-skating by. Women and men in skimpy and brightly colored bikinis, thongs, and Speedos continuously pass the senator’s idled car while the family stares, aghast, and Mrs. Keely states, â€Å"This is less like Palm Beach than I imagined. † Despite the fact that no indication is given that there is any special occasion being celebrated in South Beach, the carnival-like atmosphere and setting depicts the gay generated environment in a one-dimensional, stereotyped manner. While the sexual orientations of the pedestrians is not defined, these sequences are stereotypical cues that the sultry, brightly colored, free-wheeling Florida locale surrounding the drag club, an environment where all the citizens present themselves flamboyantly and provocatively through their dress is to be seen as the typical environment for such a club, a â€Å"gay paradise. † The home of Armand and Albert, located above The Birdcage, is abundantly decorated with stereotypically gay ornamentation. Every available surface is purposefully adorned with lit candles, decadent glass sculptures, flouncy lamps, poufed pillows and homoerotic artwork. The walls are either bright yellow or covered in obnoxious, loud, jungle-themed wallpaper. The significance of the iconographically gay character of the setting is emphasized when Val makes clear that the decor poses as big a pitfall for the senator’s visit, as does the presence of drag queen, Albert. Approximately thirty-six minutes into the film, Val insists that they redecorate prior to the Keeley’s arrival. Armand does not understand what is wrong with the decor, and Val points out to a nude sculpture of Neptune, a portrait of a man in drag without his wig, numerous primitive sculptures depicting exaggerated male erections. At first, an offended Armand replies â€Å"But this is art! † and casually turns the erect sculptures around to face the wall, but eventually, out of love for his son, he gives in and clears his home of the many â€Å"gay signaling† items he possesses, completely redesigning it into a setting similar to a Catholic monastery (Armand is Jewish. ). The most ridiculously, screamingly stereotyped character in Birdcage of Armand’s spouse, the drag queen star, Albert. It is no accident that the character, Albert, is the embodiment, not only of the drag queen type, but also of the worst stereotyped version of a woman: shrill, melodramatic, self-absorbed, vain, overly emotional, and prone to hysterics, suspicion and jealousy. The viewer is introduced to him five minutes into the film while he is in a fit of hysterics. Albert, suddenly devastated by the recognition that he is no longer young and beautiful, and convinced Armand is losing interest in him, is extremely upset and refuses to prepare for his nightly stage performance. The audience immediately sees that Albert is overreacting by the melodramatic way he behaves in this scene. As Armand attempts to enter the dressing room, Albert, who was previously hiding under some sheets, wailing and lamenting his sorrows to the couple’s housekeeper Agador, squeals and barricades the door because he doesn’t want Armand to see him in his â€Å"hideous, hideous, fat and hideous† state. Even in the chaos of Armand trying to break into the room, Albert’s shrieks are completely audible over the ruckus. Once Armand enters the room, Albert begins to make melodramatic claim after melodramatic claim: â€Å"I’m in such pain! It’ll never pass! I hate my life. † â€Å"Never mind about me feelings. † â€Å"Don’t use that tone to me†¦that sarcastic, contemptuous tone that means you know everything because you are a man, and I know nothing because I was a woman†, â€Å"I was adorable once, young and full of hope and now look at me! I’m this short, fat, insecure middle-aged little thing! † Such behavior and sentiments are typically attributed to the stereotypical, emotionally unstable and utterly dependent woman, Albert’s character embodies the classically drawn stereotype of a melodramatic, overly emotional, ridiculous gay man who might as well be considered a woman. While Albert’s raging hysterics, melodramatic behavior and â€Å"prissiness† was on full display in this particular scene, his diva-like self-absorption and hysterical reactions are carried throughout the entire film, with the exceptional surprise when he rises to the occasion and â€Å"saves the day,† later in the film Fifty minutes into the film, in an attempt to win the favor of Barbara’s parents, Armand tries to teach Albert how to portray himself as a straight man. This attempt, however, is completely unsuccessful. No matter how hard he tries, Albert cannot walk without swishing his hips while holding out the palms of his hands, his posture is too upright, and the register of his voice is too high. The fact that Albert is incapable of pretending not to be a flamboyant, over-the-top, and extremely feminine person tells the viewer that his â€Å"gay-ness† is what completely defines his entire personality and every aspect of his behavior, and further sets the stereotype in stone. Structurally, the characterization of the relationship between Armand and Albert is reduced by its definition as reflecting a cartoonish parody of the stereotypical traditionally defined roles played by â€Å"husband and wife. † While it is clear that the Albert has a more feminine personality than Armand, the film also depicts Albert as the â€Å"mother† and caretaker of the household. For example, twenty minutes into the film, Armand is silently reading the newspaper and drinking coffee in the kitchen, Albert is feverishly folding the laundry, babbling about matters such as how ratty Val’s shirt is and how he got a pork roast for dinner instead of fillet minion. This scene and many others show how this movie depicts the roles of a gay relationship as being identical to the stereotypical gender roles of a heterosexual couple. There is no question that the creators of this film intentionally employed thoroughly stereotyped characters. There is little to no individual character development whatsoever. However, since these stereotypes are so over-the-top and blatant, there must have been a conscious effort on the part of the filmmakers to feed into such stereotypes. This film is merely a lighthearted nod towards the ridiculous stereotypes that much of society today believes to be completely realistic depictions of homosexuals. Therefore, such obvious stereotyping does not outweigh the comedy or the quality of the film, but rather define it.

Thursday, March 5, 2020

buy custom Statement of Purpose essay

buy custom Statement of Purpose essay Having grown in grown up in Kazakhstan, I consider myself lucky to have come from a humble family that embraces technology. My interest in electrical technology and begun at an exceptionally tender age. My interest in the electrical devices was taken to a new high when my father gave me a broken transistor from his car. Out curiosity and the obsession to fix it, I tried explaining its details to other kids in my physics class on how the device works. From then on, I knew that my line of career had been set. Soon after my high school, I enrolled in Euaresian National University where I undertook my undergraduate degree course in Automation and control. This was a highly competitive course, and I was among the few that were admitted. During my course, I covered many engineering related courses that molded me in all aspects to fit in the industry. It was during the course of my study here that I developed a range of programs. Besides the main university courses, I took a course in basic java programming where I learnt to create the basic JSP (Java, HTML) documents among others. I feel that my course work as a student of Automation and control has largely prepare me for my further studies. After the first year of my study, I went for industrial attachment in Ekoton where I spent one month practicing. This exposed me to the inner workings of the industry like working with an automatic system which produces concrete for construction. The experience here helped me visualize what I had learned by studying automatic devices and components and understand different types of automatic systems. After my third year, I went for my second industrial attachment, in a private company called Dana and KO, where I learned to handle network problems in a system and learned to use AutoCAD. This further assisted me in drawing the functional and structural schemes of an automatic system for my final research project. I came out of this a well-rounded person and felt ready for the industry. My final research project was designing the automation system of an oil heating station. Kazakhstan is still an emerging economy and is still going through a lot of structuring in an effort to be relevant to the dynamic nature of the industry. My desire to pursue further knowledge in a technical course led me to join a competition to win a schholarship. I believe that Purdue University will pave the way towards realizing a dream that started during my childhood. Purdue Universitys competitive higher-education program would be ideal for me to advance my studies. In addition, the facilities, scholarship and strong research traditions of Purdue University make me confident that I will not only be challenged, but also be highly stimulated throughout the program. I would be delighted to contribute to the academic excellence of the school of engineering and the University as a whole especially pertaining to Kazakhstan. It is hard to imagine our world without communication, especially communication through network systems. Today numerous projects are developing in Kazakhstan. They range from new manufacturing to electronic government projects, which is a massive project that provides citizens with services via the Internet. I intend to be part in one of these projects. I am also interested in the control systems in communication I want to be a professional specialist in my field and use the theories in practice to make a real application of my thoughts and interests. Buy custom Statement of Purpose essay

Tuesday, February 18, 2020

Gay Marriage Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Gay Marriage - Essay Example Same sex couples consider marriage to be their right owing to the fact that every being deserves liberty. It has also been identified that a person is born with the characteristics of a homosexual. Same sex couples wish to lead normal lives without any societal bias and discrimination. On the other hand, same sex marriages are opposed by religious and moral groups who consider it to be unnatural. It is also argued that it is not a normal way of leading life and they present that same sex marriages should not be permitted. The opponents of gay marriages have important points to make. They argue that same sex marriages should not be promoted and the reasons that they explain are the researches which uphold the fact that gay marriages have very high failure rates and similar drawbacks. A normal heterosexual marriage lasts for a period of approximately 20 years on an average. On the other hand, same sex marriages have a very low comparative average with the lasting period being only one and a half years. It is argued that this low success rate has nothing to do with the discrimination that gays face in the society and this fact is upheld by a research conducted in Netherlands. In this country, same sex marriages have been legalized and the research concludes that despite of this, the same sex marriages only last for one half years there on an average.

Monday, February 3, 2020

What gendered relationship(s) does your cultural role or practice Essay

What gendered relationship(s) does your cultural role or practice encourage - Essay Example Basically, gender is developed under the influence of culture. Male or female gender roles have been shaped in certain social and national contexts. Therefore, culture depends on gender roles and gender roles depend on culture. If we try to speak figuratively, a dilemma of culture-gender relationship interdependence may be compared with a chicken and egg riddle. Gender role and culture relationship In the context of a given situation on the example taken from Bangladesh and Cambodian cultures, we would further claim that gender role and culture interdependence has been currently interpreted from a different perspective: i.e. with the cultural changes in these countries, gender roles have been also gradually changed. Situation 1 In Bangladesh, like in many other countries, there have always existed differences between â€Å"women’s/men’s work†. With the growth of garment trade policies in this country, many women became a part of a labor force. The norms of purdah (female seclusion) have been changed and women became employees in this field of activity. Moreover, earlier women were not greatly visible in the city of Dhaka, but there is much more women in the streets than earlier. Consequently, we can suppose that there is a consequent shift in women’s roles in their families and at work. We can explain this change of gender role as the result of socio-economical situation in the country. Further on, these changes were borrowed by culture and finally, they were reflected on women’s gender roles. Situation 2 The following changes of gender roles shown on the example of Cambodian culture had different triggers. It is possible to illustrate gender role change in Cambodia by the following saying: â€Å"men are a piece of gold, and women are a piece of cloth. The piece of gold, when it is dropped in mud, is still a piece of gold. But a piece of cloth, once it’s stained, it’s stained forever† (Questions about Culture). Currently, modern Cambodian women do not want to live their lives in accordance with this saying. They consider it to be unfair and irrelevant. There is a need for social justice and equal attitude to men and women. For example, male criminals cannot be considered â€Å"a piece of gold† and widows should have a chance to put a virginal piece of cloth on them. As far as we can see, political, social and economical triggers have launched gender role-cultural accents shift in Cambodia. Therefore, from a modern westerner’s point of view, it is relevant to claim that gender role principles explained by Virginia Woolf are not relevant to the greatest extent. Bangladesh or Cambodia does not have enough money, but their women are on their road to fight for their renovated and reinterpreted gender roles. The ideas of Brady, Pollitt and Tannen may be foun d more relevant in the modern context. Social stereotypes, political, social and economical changes have reached the minds of contemporaries and have triggered changes in gender roles. Therefore, in order to encourage equal and fair opportunities for further development of self-identities, personal professionalism directed on favorable social interactions between men and women, it is relevant to introduce political, social and economical changes internationally. Moreover, a western position concerning equal relationships between men and women is on the way of implementation in the countries of the Third World. Thus, it should be noted that gender role perception in the

Sunday, January 26, 2020

Group Formation And Group Roles

Group Formation And Group Roles Which work is better, a group work or an individual work. There is no answer to this question as it has many facets. Our main focus during the group assignment was to analyze the organizational structure; culture and management and leadership style. In this essay, I have analyzed and evaluated the one aspect during the group work, its approaches and its relevant theories. I have highlighted my aim and justification of the performance by illustrating the group formation: identifying both the aspect positive as well as negative. I have interrelated my experience with the theories and also focused on how group roles played an important role during the group assignment. This essay is divided into four parts but interlinked parts. The first part includes Group Formation and Group Roles: development and its related issues. The second part focuses on the approaches to the group roles. The third part focuses on the identifying the effects when a similar situation happens in the organization. The final part focuses on diagnosing or suggesting the various group role models. Conclusion is also included in the end. 2.0 GROUP FORMATION AND GROUP ROLES An individuals performance enlighten into an optimum group. It is a reflection of what I have written in my personal diary and also, from the recording of the meeting. The group passes through five clearly defined stages of development, which they labeled as forming, storming, norming, performing and adjourning (Tuckman, 1965; Tuckman and Jensen, 1977) 2.1 FORMING In my viewpoint, forming a group before doing a task is an important issue. Our Group can be called FORMAL group, which was deliberately created to complete the project. Initially, I was feeling uncomfortable with the group because our ideas and way of thinking were not alike. It was formed because we were sitting next to each other. I thought to form a group with people who have opinions about the subject and had been always outspoken. In our group, four members were from same nationality and one from other nationality. All the members from the same nationality were from different corners of the country. I believe point of doing an assignment is not only going along with group but also to work on something, which is unknown to you. This is the reason we decided to have diversification in the group. Diversification is important because we get to know about the working environment of the other nationalities. It was also a test of adaptability. In the group, I think important role is of a Leader but no one emerged as a leader within the group because everyone wants to work on of its own in their comfortable space. 2.2 STORMING On our first group meeting, we had a conversation about the selection of organization. We had storming two-hour session and were discussing to either select the organization that has a worldwide reach or to select a national organization. I was favoring to have a national organization because it will be gives us an advantage since we dont have much experience person in the group. At the end of the session, we decided to take a national organization for various reasons. Group meeting left us with various questions: 1) Which kind of organization should be taken? 2) How can we benefit our project? 3) From where and how can we collect data? 4) Evaluation of the organization? After the meeting, it was decided that everyone has to come up with one organization and have to work on the questions above within a week. I think two members didnt like the way the process was going on. While coming from the meeting, they told me to focus on Something Concrete and they were feeling shy to give out the opinions. I asked them to write everything in an email and send it to everyone in the group. 2.3 NORMING Norming is a period where we should trust each other and try to develop an atmosphere where everyone can work. Initially, I was unhappy with group but after our first meeting, I felt little relaxed that some members were responding and giving out the opinions. The member whom I suggested to give out the mails didnt send any e-mail neither they came with any organization and its working in the second meeting. So, the other three members gave out their suggestion and their respective organization. The member from the other nationality gave out the best suggestion and was decided to choose it as a topic. When we were dividing out the sections of the outline, members including myself showed some anger and irritation. Due to domination by one member, no one was able to choose theirs respective topics and roles. My role to become the leader of the group was not accepted by the other member. The other member wanted no one to become the leader in the group. I believe everybody has an intention to become the leader. Since, there was no leader. Everybody chose their role in a way that even they were not even aware of the responsibilities with the role. The main motive of the group is to able to present the best work you can do as group and also not letting the other group members down. This thing actually calmed me down and then, decided to work on some other aspect of the organization. Altercation happened between other members as well for the same reason. Nobody was willing to get out of his comfortable zone. We also decided to communicate with each other regularly, because it has been seen that group who are not performing well is a lack of communication and knowledge but it doesnt come off. 2.4 PERFORMING This is the crucial point of the group, which test the ability and consensus within the group. After working for more than 2 weeks and giving out suggestion through meetings and emails, no one including myself had completed the work. From the initial period of the group formation till the time of performing, we had lot of contradiction within the group and were not getting along but motivation to give the best project always had given us to move forward and also to perform. During our group performance, I think sections in the outline were not properly drawn as the data that was collected was colliding with each others work. My part was to work on the organization structure. It was very lengthy but with help of other members I was able to finish it in time. Sometimes, when I had any problem with the structure, my other members were willing to help me. Even at end of the project, I believe delegation of work was not done properly. If it had been, then we could have made a better proje ct. 2.5 ADJOURNING Anxiety and excitement didnt allow me to sleep for two nights before submission. I feel that I have given out my best in this project. After the completion of the project and reading the project again gave me a sense that anyhow work can be done. After submitting the assignment, everybody in the group shook hands with each other and also celebrated for the submission. During the project, I made new relationship with members and also, decided to take one of the members for the next group assignment (International Banking). Our group had achieved the goals what we decided in the initial stage and thus, was the time to adjourn the group. We regularly faced the problem at several times. As a member of the group, we regularly faced the problem at different times. There was a cycle of storming, norming and performing at every stage. 3.0 APPROACHES TO GROUP ROLES This part of the essay, firstly I would like to write about the problems that I have faced while working with group. Secondly, how I could have made it better or will be acting on the similar situations in the future. The experience I had and the problem I faced will be an advantage in my future assignments, as it will give me a better understanding of the roles. We have followed the model of Benne and Sheats (1948) to achieve our goals. The role that we have mutually delegated to every member was different. Firstly, Information-Giver is a person who finds out all the relevant information before moving forward. Also, clarifies the problem if there is something missing or unclear. In our second meeting, we decided to assign one member to gather all the information. He provided us with the primary data but he did not make clarifications on some issues. He gave us the overview of the organization but was never able to provide with the insights of the organization. So, everyone in the group has to their relative research about their work, which gave us conflict between our works. Secondly, we decided to communicate and work at all times. Whenever I was asked to give out Opinions on any subject, I was willing to do that. Sometimes, even I cannot suggest something on some issues until and unless I have the proper evidence to support it. I asked for the help if I am in a problem or not able to understand, members willingly helped me. I would say everyone in a group was an opinion giver. Sometimes, opinions and suggestion are followed by the egos and domination. Since, our group was a leaderless group. Everybody in the group wanted to dominate the group. At some point, I felt the same but I have realized that giving out opinions doesnt mean that the person can lead the group until and unless has the characteristics of the leaders. Thirdly, for the conclusion of the topic, we assigned one of the members as an Evaluate-critic. As he was given the authority to look after the each part of the topic and critically analyze and write down the conclusion accordingly. He started criticizing the points that we have written also belittling us. After the submission of the assignment, he was boasting himself and was trying to take credit from other members. If I had been in the same position, I would never try to take the credit of the people and would also appreciate the work of others. Fourthly, the main problem we faced during our group was that one of member possesses the traits of the Dominator. From the beginning till adjourning of the group, the member was trying to show him as a leader but a leader is different from dominator. He was forcing everyone in the group to do the work accordingly and roles that he has assigned but a leader gives liberty to the other members to work according to their characteristics. Conflict mounted due to this issue in the group. This instance gave me an experience that there is a little difference between a leader and a dominator. There is always an advantage to have a leader over dominator in the group. 4.0 EFFECTS OF GROUP ROLES IN AN ORGANISATION In this section, I would like to evaluate the Benne and Sheats (1948) Group roles theory into an organization taking my personal experience into consideration. I will consider the similar situation in an organization in terms of Group Formation and Group Roles. Benne and Sheats(1948) encouraged Social role and Beblin (1996) encouraged Team Role, t he two most common frames of reference on group roles which have been suggested below:- In my perspective, Team role should be considered within an organization. Individual work is different from teamwork but from my perception and perspective of an organization, Team role can lead to a better understanding between the members of the group. As I have experienced, Belbin (1981,1993,1996) argues the Benne and Sheats (1948) Functional Role Theory by stating that firstly, people in organization are selected on the basis of experience or ability, not on the basis of personal characteristics. Secondly, it also limits the likelihood that they will be successful in other roles. The performance of any organization can be impeded by various problems. Firstly, I would like talk about Maslows (1954) hierarchy of needs. Self-esteem in Hierarchy has been described as achievement and respect for each other that can be obtained by providing appropriate Group role to the person. Once the person is satisfied with what he is doing and it is going with his personality, he will perform better. I can relate the self-esteem with the problem we had in our group .If everyone was given their part according to their characteristic, and then we could have worked produced better result. Secondly, the flow of opinion should be made clearly without any egos and attitude. Knowledge Sharing can lead to the better work. Knowledge sharing always gives a better working environment and also, a competitive work. (Nonaka and Takeuchi, 1995; Nonaka and Kanno, 1998; Grant, 2005). This similar situation happened in our group, opinions were given to help each other but egos and attitude always followed and power to dominate. Knowledge sharing should be made without any hesitation and greed. Thirdly, I would like to Benne and Sheats (1948) model as the most of the positive aspect such as evaluator-critic can be transformed into Recognition Seeker (Dysfunctional) if evaluator-critic is given importance. As I mentioned above, Evaluator-critic was trying to get recognition as an individual. If the similar situations happens in the organization, this might result into a havoc because every individual is working for the organization ,not for the individual recognition. This will create disharmony in the group, which will reflect for the organization. I would like to suggest on the basis of the group role that in organization Belbin(1996) nine team role should be followed to achieve the goal and every member should be chosen in terms of their characteristics. This will increase the productivity as well as the level of healthy competition within the organization. This is how an organization can be benefited from the Group roles. 5.0 DIAGNOSIS OF GROUP ROLES APPROACH I have already argued and suggested that organization needs a proper set of roles, which can be provided to the employee and employer for the betterment of the organization. I have argued that sometimes, Task role and Maintenance role theory of Benne and Sheats (1948) transform into the Individual roles, which are self-centered and personal motives, arises. There are many concepts of Group such as Benne and Sheats(1948), Bales(1950) but most popular in modern days is Beblin(1996). The table below shows the group roles suggest by Beblin(1996). The theory above shows coherent relationship with the organization group roles. This will not only increase the performance of the organization, also the interaction between and within the groups. This can work for the big organization but with smaller group of 9-10 people. However, there are no theories without criticism. Beblins theory has been criticized by the Aitor Aritzeta et. Al (2007). Firstly, he argued that team success cannot be measured with this theory and hard to recognize that all the nine roles have been opted. Secondly, the theory takes excessive psychological perspective on role. Thirdly, the theory is unable to differentiate between different types of tasks. David Butcher and Catherine Bailey (2000) argued that Dream Team, where all member are committed to one work, and all the members are present at decision -taking time. They felt this is impractical and undesirable. 6.0 CONCLUSION I have considered many issues and explained it in terms of approaches, effects in organization and also, suggested the better way to assign the group roles. However, during my group work, I have taken the Benne and Sheats(1948) Theory which resulted in a average performance but If I would have used Beblin(1996) theory for the group roles in my group, then we could have performed better. Although, every theory has a criticism and flaws but this can be suggested that organization of today world uses Beblin Theory for group roles. I would also like to conclude that problems would never be reflected on any other assignments. The key lesson learned from this assignment that people should be judged by their characteristics and assigning the roles accordingly. It is necessary to move forward as described by Tuckman and Jensen(1965) to achieve the goals.