Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Among Adults - 2737 Words

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder among Adults UIN: XXXXXXXXX Psychology 270, Fall/2013 – Instructor Professor K. Reyes University of Illinois at Chicago Introduction In everyday life, it is inevitable that an individual will experience some form of stress. This stress may come in the form of daily hassles, inconveniences and major life events such as divorce or the loss of a loved one. When stress becomes traumatic, the individual is at a great risk of developing a stress disorder. According to the DSM-IV-TR (APA, 2000), traumatic stress occurs when the individual is presented with a traumatic situation in which the person experiences or witnesses an event that incorporated threats of death or significant harm and the person’s reaction to the event consisted of profound terror, helplessness or revulsion. A traumatic event can be a large-scale event with multiple victims such as natural/human caused disasters, war, mass violence or explicit experience in the death of others. Examples of these large-scale events include 9/11, the Holocaust, Hurricane Katrina etc. Other classification of traumatic events involve unintended acts involving fewer people such as motor vehicle collisions or life threatening illnesses and acts of intended personal violence such as sexual/physical assault, torture or child abuse. These traumatic stressors cause a significant more amount of distress than the everyday stressors mentioned earlier as they cause the individual to challengeShow MoreRelatedPost Traumatic Stress Disorder980 Words   |  4 PagesToday we are here to figure out why is it that past events are the triggers that cause Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is an anxiety disorder that some people get after seeing or undergoing a dangerous event. There are various symptoms that begin to show or actions that can give a clear answer whether one may be diagnosed with this disorder. One of the many problems is that no age range is safe from suffering PTSD. One must ask themselves what set of events happenedRead More Sexual Assault Among Women In the United States Essay1239 Words   |  5 PagesSexu al Assault Among Women In the United States Sexual Assault described in technical terms is defined as any sort of sexual activity between two or more people in which one of the people involved is involved against his or her will. (3) The description of against his or her will extends to varying degrees of aggression, ranging from indirect pressure to a direct physical attack. According to the Crime Victim Research and Treatment Center 1.3 adult women are sexually assaulted in theRead MorePost Traumatic Stress Disorder ( Ptsd ) Essay1453 Words   |  6 PagesAmong those who served in the Vietnam War, 84.8% of those diagnosed Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder still show moderate impairment of symptoms, even 30 plus years after the war (Glover 2014). As of today, the Unites States has 2.8 million veterans who served in the Afghanistan and Iraq wars, of those it is estimated that 11 to 20% currently suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. As of 2013, a total of 12,632 veterans of the Afghanistan and Iraq wars are currently diagnosed with Post-TraumaticRead MorePost Traumatic Stress Disorder is on the Raise Essay1155 Words   |  5 PagesPost-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is defined as mental health disorder triggered by a terrifying event (Mayo Clinic). This ordeal could be the result of some sort of physical harm or threat to the individual, family members, friends or even strangers (NIMH). While PTSD is typically associated with someone who has served in the military, it can affect more than just that genre of individuals. It could affect rape victims, victims in a terrorist or natural disaster incident, nurses, doctors, andRead MorePost Traumatic Stress Disorder884 Words   |  4 Pagesof traumatic incidents, such as mugging, rape, torture, being kidnapped or held captive, child abuse, car accidents, train wrecks, plane crashes, bombings, or natural disasters such as floods or earthquakes.† (NIMH) Families of veterans struggle to help their loved ones. â€Å"Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder caused by a person’s exposure to life-threatening or otherwise traumatic circumstances.† (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder affectsRead More Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Essay1266 Words   |  6 Pages Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can be a very serious and debilitating condition that occurs after a person has been exposed to a terrifying event or ordeal in which grave physical danger happened or was threatened. The kinds of traumatic events triggering PTSD in people include violent personal assaults (rape, mugging), natural disasters (hurricanes, tornadoes), man-made disasters (bombings), accidents or military combat. People who suffer from PTSD often reliveRead MoreMethods of Treating Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Essay924 Words   |  4 PagesWhen humans undergo traumatic events that threaten their safety and wellbeing, they may become vulnerable to nightmares, fear, excessive anxiety, depression, and trembling. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a psychological illness that results from the occurrence of a â€Å"terribly frightening, life-threatening, or otherwise unsafe experience† (Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), 2012). This condition often leads t o unbearable stress and anxiety. PTSD is significantly prevalent as indicatedRead MoreEssay on terrorism1348 Words   |  6 Pagesorderly and controllable. Studies have shown that deliberate violence creates longer lasting mental health effects than natural disasters or accidents.1 1 Scott, R., Brooks, N. amp; McKinlay, W. (1995). Post-traumatic morbidity in a civilian community: A follow-up at 3 years. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 8, p. 412. Consequences both for individuals and the community are prolonged, and survivors often feel that injustice has been done to them. This can lead to prejudice, anger, frustration, helplessnessRead MoreThe Negative Effects Of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder1539 Words   |  7 Pagesisn’t the cause in many men and women returning home from today’s wars. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder can result from a number of different traumatic events, but the intensity and duration of some people’s reactions can be quite different but that also has many factors. The negative effects of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is affecting families and the effects it has on families of patients. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder isn’t something new that has just appeared it’s something people have beenRead MoreNatural Disasters3617 Words   |  15 PagesZyy06mku SWK Psychological Consequences of Earthquakes Natural disasters, such as earthquakes, hurricanes and cyclones, floods, and tornadoes are some of the traumatic experiences that may cause posttraumatic stress disorders. This type of disorders and other disaster related psychological problems are prevalent after natural disasters. As a result it is important to analyse those individuals that develop psychological problems especially to prepare and plan

The Salem Witch Trials Essay - 902 Words

The events that transpired in Salem, Massachusetts occurred between the years of 1688 and 1693 constituted the most significant witchcraft outbreak in the history of the New England colonies. The entire event was quickly labeled as â€Å"colossal mistake† by the government after they had passed.(Ray, 2010) With this in mind the question remains; how did it get started and how did it get out of hand so quickly? Salem is a town in Massachusetts that has unfortunately earned its reputation from these trials. It was founded in 1626 when settlers led by Roger Conant settled in Naumkeag after a failed attempt in 1623 to create a fishing settlement at Cape Ann. (Salem, a brief history, n.d.) Its name was Christianized to Salem in 1629. The land†¦show more content†¦The residents of the village of Salem have what they believe is definitive and irrefutable proof that someone is bewitching these children and perhaps even the town itself. For them the question is not if it is happening but who is doing it. This was on the tail end of the Witchcraft craze that was sweeping through Europe where thousands of women accused of witchcraft were put to death because they were believed to be agents of the Devil causing harm to others through supernatural means. The craze started in the 1300’s and ended in the late 1600’s.(Blumberg, 2007) Even though overseas this was winding down, lo cal events caused it to flourish. In 1689, William and Mary, the rulers of England, began a war with France that was fought on the soil of the colonies. The battles were being fought In New York, Nova Scotia and Quebec. The refugees from the fighting into areas such as Essex county, including the village of Salem which already had trouble obtaining resources. This introduced more strain in the area, along with newcomers who could be under greater suspicion of these bewitchments. The girls who were diagnosed with bewitchment were encouraged or even coerced into implicating three women of afflicting them. Their names were Tituba, a Caribean slave, Sarah Good, a homeless beggar, and Sarah Osborne, an elderly impoverished woman. These three women on March 1,Show MoreRelatedSalem Witch Trials And The Witch Trial1494 Words   |  6 PagesFirst of all, I wanted to talk about what Salem Witch Trial is and who are the persons involve in this event. Salem Witch Trials, according to Encyclopedia Britannica is â€Å"A series of investigations and persecutions that caused 19 convicted â€Å"witches† to be hanged and many other many suspects to be imprisoned in Salem Village in the Massachusetts Bay Colony.† There are many people involve in Salem Witch Trials and I’ll be going to describe their role in this event, followed by the different case studiesRead MoreSalem Witch Trials And The Witch Trial Essay2225 Words   |  9 Pagesaccused of witchcra ft in Salem Village, Massachusetts, many more died in jail, and around 200 people total were accused of witchcraft during the Salem Witch Trials. Records from the event indicate that the Salem Witch Trials started when a group of young girls began acting strange, claiming they had been possessed by the Devil and bewitched by local villagers. The Salem Witch Trials is a much debated event; historians argue over the motivation and causes behind the trials and executions, not overRead MoreThe Trial Of The Salem Witch Trials905 Words   |  4 PagesI. Introduction In January 1692, when a group of juvenile girls began to display bizarre behavior, the tight-knit Puritan community of Salem, Massachusetts couldn’t explain the unusual afflictions and came to a conclusion. Witches had invaded Salem. This was the beginning of a period of mass hysteria known as The Salem Witch Trials. Hundreds of people were falsely accused of witchcraft and many paid the ultimate price of death. Nineteen people were hung, one was pressed to death, and as many asRead MoreThe Salem Witch Trials691 Words   |  3 Pageswere the Salem Witch Trials? The Trials happened in 1692 in Puritan Massachusetts, in a town called Salem. Nineteen men and women were hanged on grounds of practicing dark magic and making a pact with Satan (in other words, for being witches). Hundreds of people were imprisoned; several died there. Additionally, one man (of over seventy years!) was crushed to death with heavy stones and the lives of many were irrevocably changed. (Salem Witch Museum) IQ #2- How and why did the Salem WitchRead MoreThe Salem Witch Trials1202 Words   |  5 PagesThe Salem Witch Trials were a prime part of American history during the early 17th century. During this time, religion was the prime focus and way of life within colonies. This was especially true for the Puritan way of life. Puritans first came to America in hopes of practicing Christianity their own way, to the purest form. The Puritans were fundamentalists who believed every word transcribed in the Bible by God was to be followed exactly for what it was. The idea of the devil controlling a womanRead MoreThe Trials Of The Salem Witch Trials1866 Words   |  8 Pagessurrounding the cause of the Salem Witch Trials 1692 makes the topic captivating as many historian perspectives offer explanations for the causation of the trials, yet the personal context of each historian has determined its historic reliability. This questions the level of objectivity each historian has in their responses to the Trials. The aims and purposes of a historian, as well as their differing methodologies may alter the approach the have towards the investigation of the Trials. Many interpretationsRead MoreThe Trials Of Salem Witch Trials Essay1267 Words   |  6 PagesThe notorious witch trials in Salem began in Spring of 1692. This started after a young group of girls in Salem Village, Massachusetts, professed they were possessed by the devil. These young girls even went as far as accusing some local women of practicing witchcraft. As a frenzy spreaded throughout colonial Massachusetts, a specific court was summoned to hear cases. Bridget Bishop was the first convicted witch and she was hung in that June following her trial. Eighteen other people followed BishopRead MoreThe Trials Of The Salem Witch Trials1635 Words   |  7 Pagesovercome was the Salem Witch Trials. The Salem Witch Trials occurred in 1692 and 1693 in colonial Massachusetts. â€Å"More than 200 people were accused of practicing witchcraft – the Devil’s magic – and 20 were executed† as detailed by Jess Blumberg on the web article A Brief History of the Salem Witch Trials (Blumberg 2007). The trials had a major impact on the American society and the effects could be seen in colonial America as well as today. Why did the injustice of the Salam Witch Trials occur and whyRead MoreThe Trials Of Salem Witch Trials1069 Words   |  5 PagesEven though the Salem witch trials were made to seem formal, they were actually subjective and not based on fact. Since there were multiple people being accused of witchcraft, the trials were short and quick to sentence. The witch trials lasted less than a year. The first arrests were made on March 1, 1692, and the final hanging day was September 22, 1692. The Court of Oyer and Terminer was dissolved in October of 1692. The Salem Witch Trials occurred in the spring of 1692, when a groupRead MoreSalem Witch Trials And Trials1320 Words   |  6 PagesSalem Witch Trials was a series of hearings and prosecutions of people accused of witchcraft in the Salem Village of the 17th century New England. The trials caused executions of many people but mostly women. Salem Witch Trials exposed the different roles men and women were supposed to play during the seventeenth century. Women were supposed to take on â€Å"wifely duties† such as, be mothers and housewives. Women were thought to follow the men. The trials also revealed that there were strict religious

Thorn Queen Chapter Five Free Essays

string(115) " hire me to go find her in the Otherworld, long before I’d known anything about Storm King and the prophecy\." I fully intended to make good on my promises, and in Tucson the next day, I began acquiring an odd assortment of goods that I hoped might improve the Thorn Land’s situation. Admittedly, they were kind of lame, but I figured I had to start somewhere and was rather proud of my attempts when I finished. I was sitting down in front of the TV with an early dinner that night when Kiyo walked in, clad in his white vet’s coat. We will write a custom essay sample on Thorn Queen Chapter Five or any similar topic only for you Order Now Naturally, all the animals lifted their heads or actually walked over to him in greeting. If I hadn’t been balancing a plate of ravioli on my lap, I would have leapt up and run into his arms. Instead, I gave him a dazzling smile, one that grew larger when I saw he carried a bouquet of flowers. â€Å"I would have been here sooner,† he said, tossing the coat onto a chair. â€Å"But I had an afternoon shift.† â€Å"Hey, I’m just happy to see you at all. I figured you’d still be busy with baby stuff.† â€Å"Nope.† He sat down in a chair opposite me and laid the bouquet down on the coffee table. â€Å"You were amazing there, you know.† â€Å"If by amazing, you mean shoddily dressed and leading on gentry princes-then, yes. Yes, I was. What are those for?† I gestured with my fork to the flowers-an arrangement of brightly colored gerbera daisies. â€Å"Do I need a reason? Aside from you being awesome?† I swallowed the piece of ravioli I’d just chewed. â€Å"Of course there’s a reason. There’s always a reason. We’ve talked about this before.† He gave me a lazy, dangerous smile, propping his head up on his elbow as his dark eyes assessed me. â€Å"Right. Standard practices in courtship and mating. Gifts given as subtle suggestions. ‘Here, take these plant sex organs.’ Hint, hint.† It was an old joke between us. â€Å"Fortunately, in your case, you don’t need to be that subtle. I already know you want sex.† â€Å"True, but I wanted to clear up any doubts. Besides, you’ve been so great lately†¦I don’t know. I just wanted to do something nice. Figured we could have a fun night-although, you’re dashing my dreams of taking you out to dinner with the way you’re inhaling that ravioli.† â€Å"Sorry,† I said through a mouthful of food. â€Å"I’ve got a job tonight, so I had to eat early.† His eyebrows rose. â€Å"What kind of raw deal is this? I get off work so I can take you out on the town, and you’ve got to go into work now? Why can’t you have Lara schedule you day jobs?† â€Å"Because I was busy today with Thorn Land business.† Kiyo gave me a wary look. â€Å"Hey, don’t judge me,† I warned. â€Å"I wasn’t actually over there. But I kind of found out recently that people are starving and going without water.† â€Å"Yeah. I’ve heard that.† Now I was the one with the incredulous look. â€Å"You knew and didn’t tell me?† â€Å"Don’t jump all over me! I figured you had people to deal with it. And probably those people had people.† â€Å"Yeah, well, all of those people are having a little trouble. In fact, I’ve got to go back tomorrow to help round up some brigands.† â€Å"Did you just say ‘brigands’? That’s very†¦I don’t know. Very 1683.† â€Å"Well, whatever they are, they’re a pain in the ass and possibly abducting girls.† I gave him a quick recap. â€Å"You want to go with me and help?† He shook his head ruefully. â€Å"You know, I came here hoping to spend time with you. Instead, I find out you’ve got a job tonight and are playing sheriff tomorrow.† â€Å"Would it help if I wore a cowgirl outfit?† â€Å"It might.† He came over to sit beside me and kissed my cheek. â€Å"And yes, I’ll go tomorrow. I’ll even go tonight, if you want the company.† â€Å"You see? We are spending quality time together.† â€Å"I just hope there’s some quality time in bed later to help make up for it all.† â€Å"Well,† I said haughtily, setting my plate on the table, â€Å"that depends on you, huh? I have no doubts about my quality.† He put a hand on my thigh and brushed his lips against my neck. â€Å"Oh, Eugenie. Don’t push your luck here,† he growled, â€Å"or you might be late for work.† I grinned and answered by way of a long, deep kiss that probably would have turned into more if my appointment hadn’t been so close. That, and we also heard Tim coming in the back door. He never took it very well when he found Kiyo and me in a compromising position. The two of us drove over near the university, to a quiet residential neighborhood that was split evenly between single-family residences and crowded houses shared by students. As we pulled up in front of a narrow two-story home in need of a new paint job, Kiyo frowned. â€Å"That microbus looks really familiar,† he said, eyeing the driveway. â€Å"Really?† I asked innocently. We got out of the car and approached the house. When we’d cleared the microbus, Kiyo paused to look at its slew of bumper stickers. Question Authority and Roswell or Bust! were only a few. He gave me a sharp, accusing look. â€Å"Eugenie, did Wil Delaney move?† â€Å"Nooo,† I said slowly. â€Å"But this is a friend of his.† Kiyo groaned. â€Å"If I’d known this, I would have stayed home. That guy is insane. And wait-did you just say he actually has a friend?† â€Å"A friend with a legitimate problem. And you can always go wait in the car.† Kiyo said nothing, merely steeling himself as we approached the door. Wil Delaney was a former client of mine. He was a conspiracy theorist who almost never left his home and whose sole income depended on a blog he ran that furthered his ideas on the government, aliens, mind control, genetic manipulation, and a whole host of other wacky premises. He was quite possibly the most paranoid person I’d ever met. He was also Jasmine’s half-brother. It was how we’d met. He’d been the one to hire me to go find her in the Otherworld, long before I’d known anything about Storm King and the prophecy. You read "Thorn Queen Chapter Five" in category "Essay examples" Apparently, Wil and Jasmine’s mother hadn’t been so virtuous and had cheated on Mr. Delaney a lot-even with gentry warlords. About a dozen locks unclicked before we were allowed into the house, which was almost as many as Wil had at his own home. The person who greeted us was a woman, a very young one. She was short with plump cheeks, cropped brown hair, and pink cat-eye glasses. â€Å"Is this her?† she asked. A moment later, Wil’s head peered around the doorway’s side. He looked the same as last time: pale blond hair in need of cutting, glasses, and skin that never saw the sun. â€Å"Yup.† â€Å"Who’s the guy?† asked the woman suspiciously. â€Å"Her boyfriend. He’s cool. Cairo.† â€Å"Kiyo,† I corrected. I held out my hand to her. â€Å"You must be Trisha.† â€Å"I prefer to be called Ladyxmara72,† she said. â€Å"Because really, we’re all just anonymous faces in this society, as far as the government is concerned. Plus, Ladyxmara72 is one of my World of Warcraft character names. Ironic that a virtual society like that can be more honest and egalitarian than our own. Or maybe†¦Ã¢â‚¬  She paused dramatically. â€Å"It’s not so ironic.† Wil stared at her adoringly. Beside me, Kiyo made some sort of strangled noise. They led us inside a home nearly as dark as Wil kept his. I guessed Trisha-I refused to call her Lady-whatever-worried about the same issues with radiation that he did. Her home was neater, however, and bore slightly more feminine touches, like furniture that matched and a few scented candles. The candles appeared to be homemade, undoubtedly so they wouldn’t poison the air with artificial scents or be laced with trackers that the government could use to listen in on Trisha’s conversation. â€Å"So,† said Trisha as we entered the living room. An episode of The X-Files was paused on the TV. â€Å"You’re here to take care of the alien problem.† â€Å"I’m here to-what did you say?† I looked back and forth between Wil and her. â€Å"Aliens,† she said. â€Å"My house is infested with them.† I peered around, half-expecting to see E.T. hanging out on the loveseat. All was empty and still. â€Å"I don’t really understand. Didn’t Wil tell you what I do?† â€Å"We don’t know for sure that they’re aliens,† he said hastily. â€Å"But there is something here.† â€Å"Of course they are!† she exclaimed. He cowered a little under her glare. â€Å"I’ve seen them looking in the windows-just like on that documentary.† Immediately, his chagrin turned to outrage. â€Å"Oh, come on! You know that’s a hoax. The evidence is overwhelming.† â€Å"The hell it is! There’s no way anyone could fake that kind of-â€Å" â€Å"Um, hey, you guys?† I said. â€Å"Can we just get this taken care of? Tell me more about the ali-whatever. Have you both seen them?† They nodded. â€Å"They’re short with big eyes,† Trisha said triumphantly. â€Å"But they wear paisley suit coats,† added Wil. â€Å"And they do chores at night.† â€Å"Doesn’t sound so bad to me,† murmured Kiyo. â€Å"Why get rid of them?† â€Å"Kobolds,† I said after a moment’s thought. â€Å"You’ve got kobolds.† â€Å"There is no known planet by that name,† argued Trisha. I sighed. â€Å"Just take me to your basement.† Trisha led us through the house, and Wil drifted over beside me. â€Å"Isn’t she amazing?† I swear he was on the verge of swooning. â€Å"Your first girlfriend?† I asked. â€Å"How’d you know?† â€Å"Instinct.† Engaging Wil in conversation was always dangerous, but seeing as he never left the house or had much social interaction, I just had to ask the next question. â€Å"How’d you guys meet?† â€Å"On a forum. We were both in this thread and kept arguing about whether there was a government connection between the overdoses of Marilyn Monroe and Heath Ledger, and then we-â€Å" â€Å"Okay,† I said, grimacing. â€Å"That’s enough. Really.† We reached the basement door, and Trisha started to go down. â€Å"Don’t,† I warned. â€Å"You guys need to stay up here.† I gave Wil a stern look. â€Å"Don’t let her down there until we’re done. You of all people know I’m not fucking around.† Wil blanched further-if that was possible-and gave a hasty nod. Wil had traveled with me to the Otherworld and fully understood the perils of my job. I could hear Trisha arguing with him as Kiyo and I descended the stairs, yet somehow, Wil managed to do his job and keep her away. â€Å"I never thought it was possible,† said Kiyo, once we were out of earshot. â€Å"He’s found and fallen in love with someone exactly like him. I guess there really is someone for everyone.† â€Å"She’s a little more assertive than he is, I think.† â€Å"Good. He needs it.† â€Å"On the bright side, this’ll be cake. Kobolds aren’t an issue.† Kiyo nodded his agreement but wrinkled his nose when we reached the bottom of the steps. â€Å"They’re bad-smelling ones, though.† The basement wasn’t finished and bore the usual clutter one found in such places. Lots of hiding spots for kobolds. I pulled on a hanging chain, and a bare bulb offered meager illumination. Taking out my wand, I extended my arm and swept the whole basement. â€Å"By the earth and fire you serve, I command you to reveal yourselves.† Shamanic magic tingled from me, through the wand and its gems, and into the room. A moment later, three forms materialized. They were about three-feet high, male, and hardly resembled the big-eyed aliens popular in modern culture. These guys were wizened, with patchy yellow hair. Wil’s comment about the paisley coats wasn’t entirely accurate either. One wore plaid. â€Å"Why did you call us out?† the one in plaid demanded in a high-pitched voice. â€Å"We haven’t done anything to you. We haven’t done anything to anyone.† â€Å"You guys, you can’t stay here,† I said. â€Å"Not in this house. It’s not yours. This world isn’t yours.† I was a stickler for world ownership. â€Å"We’re helping,† argued one of the paisley ones. â€Å"Do you know how messy these people are? Books and paper everywhere.† If Trisha’s house had resembled Wil’s before the kobolds arrived, I could well imagine it. Kobolds were kind of like benign goblins, originating in northern Europe and rarely given to maliciousness unless provoked. My hope was that they could simply be talked into leaving. â€Å"That’s really nice and all, but I mean it: you can’t stay here. I’ve got to send you back to the Otherworld. Give me a hard time about it, and I’ll make it the Underworld.† The plaid one scowled. â€Å"You’re as cruel as they say, Eugenie Thorn Queen. We’ve done nothing to deserve this.† I tried not to scowl right back. Before learning about my gentry blood, I’d often conducted shamanic business under the pseudonym Odile Dark Swan. It was what Otherworld denizens had known and feared me as. I wasn’t thrilled to know that no part of my identity was a secret anymore. â€Å"You guys, I am not screwing around. You know who I am. You know what I can do, so stop wasting time.† Wand still in hand, I began to channel an opening to the Otherworld. â€Å"You can’t take on both of us, let alone one.† â€Å"No,† agreed the other paisley one. â€Å"But he can.† â€Å"He-ahh!† Furry hands reached around from behind me just seconds after Kiyo exclaimed, â€Å"Eugenie!† Kiyo was normally on high alert but had been as cocky as me about dealing with the kobolds. His attention had been on them, and he hadn’t sensed the other threat lurking in the basement. Well, that wasn’t entirely true. Kiyo had scented this creature, if the odor emanating from its hands and arms was any indication. He just hadn’t made the connection. I still didn’t have a good look at my furry-armed captor, seeing as I was still struggling to break free of its grasp. Kiyo was on it in a flash, needing no weapons save his own brute strength. His hands closed around the creature’s arms, and he managed to pull them loose enough for me to slip out of its grip. Once free, I was able to get a good look. It was a†¦ Huh. I wasn’t really sure. It was furry, brown, and tall, with rounded ears like a mouse or bear and hooves like a deer and a whole other assortment of random animal parts. It gave a strangled roar of displeasure, and I braced for it to turn back on me. Usually, that was how it worked. Creatures who came after me usually had one of two goals: either rape me on the spot or kill me to prevent me from fulfilling the prophecy. But Smokey the Bear, or whatever it was, was going after Kiyo, ignoring me while the kobolds watched gleefully. Kiyo socked the creature hard in the chest, and I noticed a faint ripple of light spread through it that faded quickly. Smokey then returned with a punch that took Kiyo hard in the face and sent him toward the wall. It was hard, too-that punch had been meant to kill. Kiyo’s reflexes were too fast, though, and he caught himself before his skull could smash against the solid concrete. I leapt into the fight then, pulling out my Glock. I’d loaded it with silver bullets earlier and was glad I’d done so. I got off a couple of shots into the monster. Each time, I saw its form ripple, but it still didn’t come after me. It was too intent on killing Kiyo. The two grappled further, and I continued firing, knowing I had to be weakening it. Nonetheless, one lucky blow knocked Kiyo off his feet and onto his back. The kobolds cheered when he remained still. Me, I screamed in rage, taking my wand in my other hand and facing the furry monstrosity head-on. It attempted no killing blows on me and merely kept trying to get a hold of me as I fired and began the banishing words. Suddenly, Kiyo was on his feet again, thrusting himself between us. â€Å"Stay the hell away from her!† he snarled. I saw all the muscles in his body tense and had a feeling he was on the verge of shape-shifting. Smokey looked angry and turned into full assault mode again. â€Å"Get out of the way,† I said. â€Å"I’ve got him.† â€Å"I’m not letting him lay a hand on you,† retorted Kiyo, eyes fixed on his foe. A flash of gold glimmered in Kiyo’s eyes. Gold like a fox’s. â€Å"He’s not trying to kill or rape me,† I argued, as Kiyo dodged another crushing blow. â€Å"He wants to subdue me-you he wants to kill.† But Kiyo was dead set on protecting me, and I finally decided he’d be safest if I hurried up and just finished the banishing rather than attempt to protect him. Firmly channeling my power into the wand, I again began opening a gate to the Otherworld. As I did, though, I kept thinking about those ripples I saw when I’d attacked the beast, like it couldn’t quite stay together. An idea struck me, and rather than direct the banishing magic into ripping open the fabric of this world, I directed it toward Smokey-or, rather, toward the Otherworldly magic holding Smokey together. Kiyo sprang away from the fight, realizing what I was going to do. Sure enough. A spiderweb of light suddenly covered the monster, fragmenting his form. With the wand, I destroyed the magical bonds, and suddenly-he exploded. But not like Aeson had exploded. It was more like he fell apart. Gone was the large, hulking, furry form. Instead, scuttling on the ground was a swarm of woodland creatures: mice, rabbits, a deer, and a couple of ducks. The mice and rabbits immediately scurried into whatever nooks and crannies they could find. The ducks looked confused. The deer ran up the stairs. With the banishing magic already started, it was easy to complete the actual opening to the Otherworld and send the kobolds through. Just before they vanished, Kiyo leaned toward them-keeping out of the magic’s way-and fixed them with a dark, angry expression. The blood on his face from the fight only added to his fearsome appearance. â€Å"Tell whoever sent you here to leave her the hell alone, or I will come after him myself and rip him apart limb by limb. And I’ll do the same to you guys while I’m at it. None of you are ever going to lay a hand on her again,† he growled. The kobolds’ faces reflected true fear as they disappeared from this world. Silence fell, aside from the quiet and confused quacking of the ducks who still didn’t know what to do with themselves. â€Å"Well,† I gasped. â€Å"That was one of the more convoluted schemes I’ve seen yet.† Would-be rapists often did attempt to distract me with a seemingly ordinary banishing and then would swoop in unexpectedly. This person had sent the kobolds to lure me out and then that woodland conglomeration to actually subdue me and bring me back as a war prize. Kiyo, as an obstacle to that plan, had had to be eliminated first. I took in his ripped shirt and blood. â€Å"Are you okay?† â€Å"Fine, fine,† he said, wiping his face. â€Å"It’s superficial. What the hell was that?† â€Å"Some monster that a gentry put together with magic. Bound all those animals into one stronger form and ordered it after me.† â€Å"Will it come back together?† â€Å"No. I broke the bonds, and they’re all spreading apart anyway.† â€Å"Um, Eugenie?† Wil’s voice suddenly rang down the stairs. â€Å"Is everything okay down there? A deer just ran through the living room†¦.† Kiyo and I both decided later that it was a good thing Smokey had disbanded like he had. Otherwise, if they’d seen his full form, Trisha and Wil would have had enough Bigfoot material for their forums to last until the next century. Goodness only knew what kind of threads and rumors this event alone would start. Trisha paid me in cash once we frisked the deer out of the house, and I told her she was on her own for the other animals in the basement. As we were leaving, Wil briefly caught me alone, his goofy, paranoid expression replaced by a much grimmer one. â€Å"Have you found Jasmine yet?† he asked in a very soft voice. I bit my lip. No matter how absurd I thought Wil was, whenever I saw how much Jasmine’s disappearance grieved him, it broke my heart. I’d never told him the truth of her heritage. The only information I’d given him was that she was on the run and hadn’t been kidnapped. I thought he’d take comfort in knowing she wasn’t being held against her will, but it hurt him to think she didn’t want to be with him. He truly loved his sister, no matter how much she despised the human world. It was really quite sad. â€Å"No, I’m sorry. I really am.† His face fell further, and he gave a weak nod. â€Å"Yeah. I figured. I know you’ll keep looking, though. And you’ll let me know if you find her?† I tried to give him a reassuring smile. â€Å"Sure.† The truth was, I didn’t know if I would tell him. It all depended on what state I found her in. If I found her pregnant and bent on conquering the worlds†¦well, I wasn’t entirely sure what I’d do then, but one thing I felt certain of was that there was no way I was ever going to let her return to this world. How to cite Thorn Queen Chapter Five, Essay examples

Information Technology Risk Management Operations of Business

Question: Describe about the Report for Information Technology Risk Management and Operations of Business. Answer: Introduction Twenty-first is the era of Information Technology, commonly known as IT technology, as almost every business is using this technology for various operations of the business. The use of IT services has been increasing day by day. One of the main purposes of IT is the security. IT services have been use for the purpose of security[1]. The IT engineers develop various security services for companies as per the requirement. This development process is called the Secretly System Development Life Cycle or SSDLC[2]. However, there are various risks and threat involves with the security system development process. Thus, there is a need of a contingency plan for those risks and threats. SSDLC There are various needs for information technology in an organization. Security System Development Life Cycle or SSDLC is the process of design and implementing a particular information system in an organization[3]. There are various stages involved in the process of implementation of an information system in an organization. They are investigation, analysis, logical design, physical design, implementation and the last step is maintenance and change[4]. Every step has its own importance in the implementation process. The first step includes the investigation of the organizational need of the IT software. In the next step, the needs of the organizations are analyzed and decision has been taken. The next two steps involve the logical and physical design of the software. Then the software has been implemented for the organizational need. Lastly, it is the time for maintenance and changes if required. Threats and Risks There are various kinds of risks involved in the security system development process. The risks come in form of theft, attack, vulnerability, threat agent, exploit and others. Some of the threats are discussed below: There are threats of software piracy. There are various duplicate software in the market. They are a big threat for the IT services. The program can corrupt due to the installations of pirated software. Another risk is the human error. There can be mistakes from the employees end that can affect the IT services. One of the greatest threats is the attack of viruses, malwares, worms, macros and others. They can affect the IT system in the possible worst way. The system can be totally crashed if there is not any effective security program to protect the system. The use of outdated technology is another threat. The companies must install updated software to cope up with the technological changes. The damage or destruction of the IT system is another important risk. The damage can be happened either by intentionally or by unintentionally like natural calamities and others. These are the risks and threats of information technology[5]. Contingency Plan As discussed earlier, there are a lot risks involved in the security software development process in various forms. Thus, it is very important to have a contingency plan to encounter these kinds of threats. For this purpose, the strategy of risk assessment and risk management is taken by the strategic managers. In the first part, the potential risks are analyzed along with the effect of those risks on the bossiness. This process helps to obtain a clear picture of the risks of the information technology. After that, the risk management approach is adopted. In this approach there are three aspects. They are managerial control, operational control and technical control. In the first process, the managers control the overall process of the security development system. In the second process, the operational mangers take care of the operational risks involves with the system. Lastly, in the third process, the technical managers control the technical risks of the IT system[6]. Over the years, the scenario of information technology has been changed drastically. One can say that the growing use of information technology is responsible for this change. Now-a-days almost every sector of business is using information system for their business operations. However, with the growing progress of information technology, the risks have also been increased. There are various kinds of risks which are discussed above. These risks are very much harmful for the business operations as they have the ability to damage the total IT operations of a business. Thus, it is necessary to have contingency plans as precautions against those risks. These plans will work as a shield to protect the company. A business with a proper contingency plan will be less exposed to the risks involves in information technology. Bibliography Ahimbisibwe, Arthur, Robert Y. Cavana and Urs Daellenbach, 'A Contingency Fit Model of Critical Success Factors for Software Development Projects: A Comparison of Agile and Traditional Plan-Based Methodologies' (2015) 28Journal of Enterprise Information Management7. Dong, Jun et al, 'Energyenvironmenteconomy Assessment of Waste Management Systems from a Life Cycle Perspective: Model Development and Case Study' (2014) 114Applied Energy400. Hassine, Jameleddine, 'Describing and Assessing Availability Requirements in the Early Stages of System Development' (2015) 14Software Systems Modeling1455. Klesch, Rachel,Information Technology Guide(, 2016) Liu, Jin Hang, Hong Xia Xia and Heng Bo Zhang, 'A Research into the UML Legend in the Waterfall Model Development' (2014) 519-520Applied Mechanics and Materials322. Nehari Talet, Amine and The Society of Digital Information and Wireless Communication, 'risk Management and Information Technology Projects' (2014) 4International Journal of Digital Information and Wireless Communications1.

Factors Critical to the Implementation of Second Order Change

Graduation Party Ideas Make It Legendary!

Graduation Party Ideas Make It Legendary! You did it! All those 24-hour Red-Bull-and-Calculus benders did the trick. Now, as you consider the final weeks of your college experience, you think, â€Å"Hey, I should totally celebrate by throwing THE MOTHER OF ALL PARTIES.† You should do that. Here are the five best types of parties for graduating college. Pick your poison and get ready to forget everything you’ve learned over the past four years. The Kegger Not innovative, but still fun. Get together some of your friends from the College of Education or Mechanical Engineering program and get crazy. When you’re throwing one of these, remember to go simple. Cheap food, lots of inexpensive alcohol, and a few bottles of whiskey. Now you’re talking fun! Drinks: PBR, Jack Daniels, and Jello Shots. Food: Taquitos, Oreos, Chips, and Queso. Activities: Quarters, Beer Pong, and Strip Poker The Club Party For you and your buddies from the School of Marketing, Broadcast Journalism, Education, or Nursing, maybe a club party is the right speed. Here, you can drink, dance, and still manage to give your outgoing selves a chance to meet some new people. Dress up, drink some Appletini’s and bask in your success at the same time you scope out the hotties. Drinks: Cosmopolitans, Whiskey Sour, Bloody Mary, Boilermaker Food: Macaroni Bites, Fried Oysters, Mini Cheesecake Activities: Dancing, Wet T-Shirt Contests, Retreating to a Private Bottle Service Table The Cheese and Wine Party If you are graduating with a degree in Philosophy, Literature, Journalism, or History you may want a party that is quiet enough so that you can discuss your favorite topics. You can throw this in your home or apartment, as long as it is in good taste and excellently furnished. Having a good amount of medium-quality wine and unique appetizers is all you need to get this party set up. Once there, though, you may need to do some official activities to get people to feel comfortable. Drinks: Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Franc (Check out Good Wine Under $20 for more ideas) Food: Teleme Cheese, Stuffed Mushrooms, Salmon Bites Activities: Charades, Apples to Apples, Icebreaker Games The Theme Party Nothing says fun like a graduation party that’s also a costume party. You can make it easy so that guests must come in their cap and gown, or turn it into a toga party. Either way, it makes for a night full of unique activities and foods that your guests will never forget. The only thing to keep in mind, however, is that many grads have family and friends who will be joining them. Make sure your theme is inclusive enough so that everyone feels like they’re welcome to join in. Drinks: Choose drinks that go with your party. If you have a Renaissance party, mead might be a good choice. For a toga party, you’d want to have lots of dark red wine. Just keep drinks consistent with your theme. Food: Food should also be consistent with your party. If you have a 80’s themed party, you might be able to just get away with traditional party snacks. If you decide to have a Meditteranean-themed party however, you might have olives, falafel, or gyros. Do some research to see what foods will be delicious, cheap, and fun. Activities: Again, research will be your key friend for developing the right activities. You might choose some specific dances and games that relate to your chosen theme. You might also decide to have a contest for the best costume. Grad Party Tips No matter which party style you pick, here are some of the key things to remember when you throw your party: Have extra. Make sure you have extra food, drinks, toilet papers, and game boards. Create something to save memories. Give out â€Å"yearbooks† or other party favors that guests can share and sign. You don’t have to have your party on graduation day. Pick a day that is less stressful. Your guests won’t have to worry about their company as much. Send out invitations at least a week in advance. As graduation gets closer, everyone’s schedule fills up, so make sure your party gets on the list. Choose low maintenance, if possible. The goal is for all of you to have fun. That’s kind of hard if you’re running around cleaning up spills and creating culinary masterpieces. What do you plan for your grad party? Do you have some more ideas to share? Hurry up!

Workplace Stress Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Workplace Stress Management - Essay Example The work is bound to eventually start suffering since employees become overworked. The agencies can become highly productive by setting up guidelines that underpin reasonable hours of work. It is imperative to allow employees to take requisite breaks and some time off. As such, they are bound to develop a tendency to deliver a higher work output (Girdano, Dusek & Everly 2005). Â  It is important to listen to employee feedback. In most law enforcement agencies, the employees are given a descriptive course of action to pursue by the high command, and as such act in strict confidence of their instruction without necessarily imparting their opinion. Most employees have the feeling that their supervisors have little value for their opinion. Taking the time to listen to employees and outrightly implementing changes that are bound to benefit them is an approach that will see a tremendous decrease in employees’ workplace stress levels since employees ascribe a sense of value attached to them. The employees can contribute to the prodigious success of the agencies which benefit in the long term by gaining a long-lasting workforce that is not bound to easily resign and result in high turnover.

Gender roles and Marriage Thesis Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Gender roles and Marriage - Thesis Example While sex refers to the biological classification into male and female categories, gender indicates social classification of the masculine and feminine attributes. On the other hand identity depends on ones self realization about his or her sexual category. In the paper two stories have been taken up for study – ‘The Secret Life of Walter Mitty’ by James Thurber and ‘The Story of an Hour’ by Kate Chopin. In the former work, Mr. Mitty tries to build his masculine identity through his regular daydreams and in the second work, Mrs. Mallard tries to gain freedom from the repressive bond of marriage and a kind of sexual freedom is experienced after she hears the news of her husband’s death. In fact both these characters of opposite gender tries to gain freedom in their own ways. Mr. Walter Mitty attempts to gain freedom from the influence of his dominating wife who apparently always has the last word. The institution of marriage can be repressive ow ing to the influence of gender roles. ‘The Story of An Hour’ by the American writer Kate Chopin talks about the central character Mrs. Mallard’s reaction and mental transformation on hearing the news of her husband’s death and the mix of emotions experienced by the frail woman. Widowhood does cause some sorrow but within minutes it brings forth a new opportunity and light to the journey of life. The transformation in thoughts and a feeling of some kind of freedom gradually replaces the initial feeling of loss. In this case the freedom enjoyed within shows how repressive the marriage could be. This is not really written to criticize the character of Mr. Mallard as a repressive husband but through the reactions of his wife, it mocks this supposedly happy union. The open window, the comfortable chair, ‘delicious breath of rain’ and the tops of the trees that were ‘all aquiver with the new spring life’, all indicate an underlying feeling of regeneration or rebirth and a m ind which is open to the change and the new life that will belong solely to her. The open window through which she stares at the sky represents a glance at life through the eye of freedom. Mrs. Mallard was ‘young, with a fair, calm face, whose lines bespoke repression and even a certain strength’; this description has been used as a tool to highlight the change that was taking place within. She was gaining her strength from the expectation of a new life approaching her. These new oncoming years have been portrayed like â€Å"creeping out of the sky, reaching toward her through the sounds, the scents, the color that filled the air†. (Chopin, 1894) Chopin’s story bears significance to The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Gilman where the wife finally protests against her husband who does not want her to write and always asks her to rest and sleep like a sick woman. Again, there are sexual overtones in the story that cannot be overlooked. The initial ‘stor m of grief’ is almost indicative of a sexual urge or release, which goes hand in hand with the term ‘wild abandonment’. The quivering of the trees is analogous with the thighs that aquiver with sexual anticipation. The term ‘haunted’ signifies that she was craving for it from within and therefore this freedom meant physical or sexual freedom as well (Eggins, 2004, p.39) She also prays that her life may be long. This shows the immense joy experienced. The expression in her eye has also changed from a dull glare to a look of ‘feverish triumph’. As she came down the stairs into the living room, being supported by her sister, Mr.

Analyzing Written and Visual Texts Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Analyzing Written and Visual Texts - Essay Example On a Wednesday evening, 11th August 1965, 21 year old Marquette Frye, an African American was pulled over by a white California Highway Patrol Motorcycle officer Lee Minikus on suspicion of driving while intoxicated. A situation occurred and quickly escalated when Ronald, Marquette’s brother ran and called Rena Price their mother to the scene, attracting the attention of people. The incident turned violent when someone pushed Price Frye got struck Price jumped an officer and another officer pulled a shotgun. All these made the situation intense as growing crowds of local residents watching the argument began yelling and throwing objects at the police officers; leading to the six day riot in Watts. The rioters started fighting physically with the police, blocked fire fighters and beat white motorists. Arson and looting was done but was majorly confined to white-owned stores and enterprises that were said to have caused resentment in the neighborhood due to perceived unfairness, (Oberschall, 322-341). In his response to the Watts riot, Martin Luther King wrote an essay by the name â€Å"where do we go from here† where he took a firm stand of commitment to nonviolence. However, he expressed his understanding of the riots that happened not just in Watts but in other areas as well when he says â€Å"one sees screaming children and angry adults fighting hopelessly and meaninglessly against impossible odds†. By this King means that he knows the desperate frustration of the Black people who riot from the unchanging unfairness of living conditions in their own country. He acknowledges the need for action against the unfairness against the Black community as he goes on to say, â€Å"what is needed are a plan for change, a tactical program that will bring the Black people into the mainstream of American life as quickly as possible† (King, 17). This would allow for the Black community to be recognized as an equal citizen of the United States of America with equal rights. King also acknowledges the fault of the white people; who have gone to great heights to ensure that the Black man is classified as less important to the white man. He says that he sees the hatred on the faces of sheriffs, Klansmen and white citizens in the South who have allowed the hate to change their personality as they are burdened by the hatred they feel for the Black man. King interprets the riot as such because he sees fault on both the black man and the white man’s actions. He does not advocate for a sympathetic truce but an affirmative action that will bring the black man from his misery of oppression from under the feet of the white man. So that there can be respect and equality among the two. A newsreel report by the name â€Å"Troops patrol L.A† gave a report of the incident after it happened. The report said that six days of rioting in a Black section of L.A left the city looking like a scene from war torn cities, with most build ings on fire leaving few intact. It also said that the firemen were harassed by brick throwing looters and snipers; to a point of having to wear flack suits with mesh to protect themselves from the snipers who continued to shoot from roof tops. The estimated damage by fire alone was 200 million; while estimates were yet to be done for losses acquired from looters who stole everything

The motivation theories used by management

The motivation theories used by management This chapter provides a brief outline of motivation, types of motivation, major motivation theories and leadership theories on increasing employee motivation. Lastly this chapter identifies the impact of employee motivation on the productivity of the company. 2.2 Motivation The level of performance of employees relies not only on their actual skills but also on the level of motivation each person exhibits (Burney et al., 2007). Motivation is an inner drive or an external inducement to behave in some particular way, typically a way that will lead to rewards (Dessler,1978). Over-achieving, talented employees are the driving force of all firms so it is essential that organizations strive to motivate and hold on to the best employees (Harrington, 2003). The success of any business depends largely on the motivation of the employees.  Every person has their own set of motivations and personal incentives to work hard or not as the case may be. Some are motivated by recognition while others are motivated by cash incentives. Motivation can be internal or external. Deadlines are an example of external motivation. The fear of losing a contract or of not finishing a job you started is an example of internal motivation. Both internal and external motivation can be equally powerful. Financial Motivation is money, incentives, bonus, commission, fame and recognition which are External and Monetary benefits or Non-Financial Motivators like pride, sense of achievement, responsibility, belief, challenge and interesting job, Respect which are Internal. Perhaps the most significant impact of increased employee motivation is that of increased productivity. This is a central aim when adopting an incentive program. If you can increase employee motivation, productivity will follow and with that the inevitable increased bottom line. Table 1 Four most powerful types of motivation Type of Motivation Description Intrinsic motivation Satisfaction in the work itself (pleasure, stimulation, learning etc) Extrinsic motivation Rewards for doing the work (money, promotion, perks etc) Personal motivation Individual values (a love of knowledge, power, security, self-expression etc) Interpersonal motivation The influence of other people (competition, collaboration, commitments etc) Human beings are multifaceted creatures, and we are typically motivated by a mixture of all four elements. This diagram can help make sense of this complexity The types of motivation combine to produce four key areas to focus on when trying to motivate people. For example, prior to taking a work, employee will most likely to have a minimum anticipation in terms of pay and opportunities for career progress (personal rewards). You will also want to be certain that it offers you an opportunity to use your skills, learn and stretch yourself in pursuit of a meaningful challenge (personal satisfaction). Probability are you will also want to be given due recognition for your involvement (public recognition). And given how long you are going to spend in the group of your co-workers, you will probably want them to be interesting and enjoyable company (social interaction). Combining different forms of motivation will have the biggest impact on performance. Taking a more balanced approach to motivation will also help you develop better relationships with everyone on your team. How to Motivate People During a Recession Deci and Ryan (2000) conducted and replicated an experiment that showed the negative impact of monetary rewards on intrinsic motivation and performance. A group of college students were asked to work on an interesting puzzle. Some were paid and some were not paid for the work. The students that were not being paid worked longer on the puzzle and found it more interesting than the students being paid. When the study was brought into a workplace setting, employees felt that their behavior was being controlled in a dehumanizing and alienating manner by the rewards. It was discovered that rewards would seriously decrease an employees motivation to ever perform the task being rewarded, or one similar to it, any time in the future. Another observation of the study was that employees would expect a reward every time the task was to be completed if the reward was offered at one time. Employees would require the reward in order to perform the job and would probably expect the reward to increase in amount. If the rewards were not increased or if they were taken away they actually served as negative reinforcement. 2.2 Major Theories of Motivation Motivation is not only in a single direction i.e. downwards. In the present scenario, where the workforce is more informed, more aware, more educated and goal oriented, the role of motivation has left the boundaries of the hierarchy of management. The Fig below shows the major theories of motivation that can be applied in the working environment as well on the employees to see the impact of motivation on the organization as a whole. Fig shows Major theories of Motivation 2.2.1 Need Approaches Maslows Hierarchy of Needs Fig Shows Maslows Hierarchy of Needs If motivation is driven by the existence of unsatisfied needs, then it is worthwhile for a manager to understand which needs are the more important for individual employees. http://www.netmba.com/mgmt/ob/motivation/maslow/ By applying Maslows theory of motivation, modern leaders and managers find way of employee motivation for the purpose of employee and workforce management. The basis of Maslows theory of motivation is that human beings are motivated by unsatisfied needs, and that certain lower needs need to be satisfied before higher needs can be addressed. As per the teachings of Abraham Maslow, there are general needs (physiological, safety, love, and esteem) which have to be fulfilled before a person is able to act unselfishly. These needs were dubbed deficiency needs. While a person is motivated to fulfill these basal desires, they continue to move toward growth, and eventually self-actualization. http://www.abraham-maslow.com/m_motivation/Hierarchy_of_Needs.asp As a result, for adequate workplace  motivation, it is important that  leadership understands which needs are active for individual employee motivation. In this regard, Abraham Maslows model indicates that basic, low-level needs such as physiological requirements and safety must be satisfied before higher-level needs such as self-fulfillment are pursued. As depicted in this hierarchical diagram, sometimes called Maslows Needs Pyramid or Maslows Needs Triangle, when a need is satisfied it no longer motivates and the next higher need takes its place. http://www.abraham-maslow.com/m_motivation/Hierarchy_of_Needs.asp Table 2 shows Maslows Hierarchy of Needs Needs Example Biological and Physiological needs Air, food, drink, shelter, warmth, sex, sleep, etc Safety needs Protection from elements, security, order, law, limits, stability, etc. Belongingness and Love needs Work group, family, affection, relationships, etc. Esteem needs Self-esteem, achievement, mastery, independence, status, dominance, prestige, managerial responsibility, etc Self-Actualization needs Realizing personal potential, self-fulfillment, seeking personal growth and peak experiences. Source: http://www.businessballs.com/maslow.htm Alderfers ERG Theory Fig: Clayton Alderfers ERG Theory Needs Source:http://www.envisionsoftware.com/es_img/Alderfer_ERG_Theory.gif If the ERG theory holds, then unlike with Maslows theory, managers must recognize that an employee has multiple needs to satisfy simultaneously. Furthermore, if growth opportunities are not provided to employees, they may regress to relatedness needs. If the manager is able to recognize this situation, then steps can be taken to concentrate on relatedness needs until the subordinate is able to pursue growth again. http://www.netmba.com/mgmt/ob/motivation/erg/ Herzbergs Two Factor Theory Fig: Hygiene and Motivation Factors Source:http://www.biomedcentral.com/content/figures/1472-6920-9-49-1.jpg The psychologist Fredrick Herzberg asked the questions from employees in the year 1950s and 60s for understanding employee satisfaction. He set out to determine the effect of attitude on motivation, by asking people to describe the circumstances where they felt really good, and really bad, about their jobs. What he found was that people who felt good about their jobs gave very different responses from the people who felt bad. Herzbergs findings revealed that certain characteristics of a job are consistently related to job satisfaction, while different factors are associated with job dissatisfaction shown in Fig? The conclusion he drew is that job satisfaction and job dissatisfaction are not opposites. The opposite of Satisfaction is No Satisfaction. The opposite of Dissatisfaction is No Dissatisfaction To apply Herzbergs theory, managers need to adopt a two stage process to motivate people. Firstly, managers need eliminate the dissatisfactions the employees are experiencing and, secondly, managers need to help them find satisfaction. http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newTMM_74.htm McClellands Learned Needs Theory One of McClellands most well known theories is that human motivation is dominated by three needs. McClellands theory, sometimes referred to as the three need theory or as the learned needs theory, categorizes the needs as follows; The need for achievement The need for power The need for affiliation The importance of each of these needs will vary from one person to another. If the manager can determine the importance of each of these needs to an individual, it will help the managers to decide how to influence that individual. McClelland asserted that a persons needs are influenced by their cultural background and life experiences. He also asserted that the majority of these needs can be classified as the needs for affiliation, achievement or power. A persons motivation and effectiveness can be increased through an environment, which provides them with their ideal mix of each of the three needs. http://www.learnmanagement2.com/DavidMcClelland.htm 2.2.2 Cognitive Approach Expectancy Theory The expectancy theory says that individuals have different sets of goals and can be motivated if they have certain expectation. Individuals choose behaviors based on the outcomes they expect and the values they ascribe to those expected outcomes (Borders 2004). Vrooms Expectancy theory is based upon the following three variables which he calls Valence, Expectancy and Instrumentality valances (Bartol, Tein, Matthews, Riston Scott-Ladd 2006). Valence refers to the value an individual personally places on the reward or upon the expected outcome of a situation. The Valence is high if the reward available is of interest to us. When you have a higher valence you tend to have higher motivation (Bartol, Tein, Matthews, Riston Scott-Ladd 2006). Expectancy is the belief that your efforts will result in attainment of the desired performance. This belief is generally based on an individuals past experience, self confidence. Expectancy would be zero if an individual felt it were impossible to achieve a given performance level (Bartol, Tein, Matthews, Riston Scott-Ladd 2006). Instrumentality is the belief that the success of the situation is linked to the expected outcome of the situation, e.g. its gone really well, so Id expect praise. It is also the belief that if one meets the performance expectations, he or she will receive a greater reward. This reward may come in the form of a pay increase, promotion, recognition or sense of accomplishment. (Bartol, Tein, Matthews, Riston Scott-Ladd 2006) Equity Theory/ Social Comparison Theory Source: http://www.businessballs.com/adamsequitytheory.htm According to Equity theory the employees perceive what they get from a job situation (outcomes) in relation to what they put into it (inputs) and then compare their inputs-outcomes ratio with the inputs-outcomes ratios of relevant others (Shown in Fig). If an employee perceives her ratio to be equal to those of relevant others, a state of equity exists. In other words, she perceives that her situation is fair-that justice prevails. However, if the ratio is unequal, inequity exists and she views herself as under rewarded or over rewarded. Source: http://www.businessballs.com/adamsequitytheory.htm Goal Setting Theory of Motivation Goal-setting theory focuses on identifying the types of goals that are most effective in producing high levels of motivation and performance and explaining why goals have these effects. Goal-setting theory is found within the field of organizational behavior; however, it can be applied to any general area where goals may be achieved. http://www.ehow.com/about_5382265_goalsetting-theory-motivation.html Source: http://faculty.washington.edu/janegf/goalsetting.html In order to direct ourselves we set ourselves goals that are: Clear (not vague) and understandable, so we know what to do and what not to do. Challenging, so we will be stimulated and not be bored. Achievable, so we are unlikely to fail. If other people set us goals without our involvement, then we are much less likely to be motivated to work hard at it than if we feel we have set or directed the goal ourselves.http://changingminds.org/explanations/theories/goals.htm 2.2.3 REINFORCEMENT THEORY Reinforcement theory of motivation overlooks the internal state of individual, i.e., the inner feelings and drives of individuals are ignored by Skinner. This theory focuses totally on what happens to an individual when he takes some action. External environment of the organization must be designed effectively and positively so as to motivate the employee. This theory is a strong tool for analyzing controlling mechanism for individuals behaviour. http://www.managementstudyguide.com/reinforcement-theory-motivation.htm Table 3: Reinforcement schedule Apply Withhold Reward positive reinforcement (raise above baseline) negative reinforcement (raise up to baseline) Stressor punishment (bring down below baseline) extinction (stay at baseline) Source: http://motivationcentre.blogspot.com/2006/03/reinforcement-theory.html Table 4 Types of Reinforcement Types of Reinforcement Description Positive reinforcement This implies giving a positive response when an individual shows positive and required behavior. Ex. You make a sale, you get a commission. You do a good job; you get a bonus a promotion. Negative reinforcement This implies rewarding an employee by removing negative / undesirable consequences. Both positive and negative reinforcement can be used for increasing desirable / required behaviour. Extinction It implies absence of reinforcements. In other words, extinction implies lowering the probability of undesired behaviour by removing reward for that kind of behaviour. For instance if an employee no longer receives praise and admiration for his good work, he may feel that his behaviour is generating no fruitful consequence. Extinction may unintentionally lower desirable behaviour Punishment It implies removing positive consequences so as to lower the probability of repeating undesirable behaviour in future. In other words, punishment means applying undesirable consequence for showing undesirable behaviour. For instance Suspending an employee for breaking the organizational rules. Source: http://www.managementstudyguide.com/reinforcement-theory-motivation.htm 2.3 Leadership Style Influencing Motivation Leadership style is the manner and approach of providing direction, implementing plans, and motivating people (Kurt Lewin,1939). Leadership Style influences the level of motivation of employees. Different Leaders have different style for managing the employees working under them. Fig explains the style of leadership influencing the motivation of employees. Fig: Leadership Style Vs motivation Source: http://www.motivation-tools.com/workplace/leadership_styles.htm

Redux: A new Weight loss Medication :: Dieting Health Essays

Redux: A new Weight loss Medication History of Redux Dexfenfluramine is the first new anti-obesity drug to be approved by the FDA in 23 years. Although the drug was just recently recommended by an advisory panel for sale in the U.S. by a narrow 6 to 5 margin, it has been available in Europe for the past decade and it is sold in 65 countries (http://wsfl.usatoday.com/life/health/lhs484.htm). It is being marketed under the name "Redux" and its purpose is to help people lose weight by suppressing appetite. Who can use Redux? Redux is appropriate for people with a BMI (body mass index) of at least 30, or someone who is 30 percent over his ideal body weight. For example, if a 170 pound woman has an ideal body weight of 130, then she is a candidate for Redux. It may also be prescribed to someone with a BMI of 20 or greater in the presence of other risk factors (hypertension, diabetes, or hyperlipidema). Denfexfluramine should not be prescribed for or taken by anyone who casually wants to lose 10 or 15 pounds (http://www.pharminfo.com/pubs/msb/dexfen2.html). How does Redux work? Redux, which from this point on will be referred to as denfexfluramine, is taken in the form of two 15 milligram capsules daily at the cost of approximately $2.40. The drug works by convincing the brain that the stomach is full. Denfexfluramine triggers the release of serotonin in the brain which depresses appetite and calms anxieties. Patients will eat smaller than normal size meals without feeling hungry, thus aiding them in their quest to lose weight. The drug is designed to be taken in conjunction with a reduced calorie diet to maximize its benefits. Deborah Wesley, a Redux user, attests to its effectiveness. "Once you take the pill and you sit down to the table all those cravings and those urges for out the window. You start to eat and you feel full really quickly" (http://www.wraltv.com:80/features/healthteam/1996/1106-weight-partl/html). How effective is Redux? Weight loss with denfexfluramine appears to be relatively modest for most patients. In addition, the majority of weight loss occurs within four to six months of initiating use, with weight loss declining after this period. If no weight loss occurs after one month of use, the patient and doctor must re-evaluate this drug therapy.. There have been several studies which attempt illustrate the potential weight loss for denfexfluramine users. Interneuron Pharmaceuticals of Lexington, Massachussettes reported that denfexfluramine helped 40 percent of people studied lose up to 10 percent of body weight -- double the amount of weight lost through diet alone (Seachrist 358).

Religious Allusions and Metaphorsâ€Martin Luther King Jr Essay

Martin Luther King, Jr., in his famous Letter from the Birmingham Jail, responds forcefully yet politely to a public statement made by eight Alabama clergymen in 1963. He defends his position as an African American and strongly defends racial equality, referencing countless sources and utilizing several literary devices. Most significantly, King uses frequent Biblical allusions and metaphors, not only to relate to the Clergymen and the people of Alabama, but also to display his passion for equality. For instance, when he speaks of just and unjust laws, he references the reasoning of Saint Thomas Aquinas, â€Å"To put in the words of Saint Thomas Aquinas, an unjust law is a human law that is not rooted in eternal and natural law. Any law that uplifts human personality is just. Any laws that degrades human personality is unjust†(King 180). King cites the book of Daniel when he discusses Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and the disobedience of a law for higher moral principle. King also relates himself to the Apostle Paul and his thriving effort to assist the men and women who call for his aid. After much further research I have gained new insight in why King used these metaphors as he did. Outside sources have helped me analyze the deeper meaning behind the allusions and understand the changes King was hoping to impose on the public and the Clergymen. King’s ideals are supported with his immense knowledge of the Bible, which make his connections extremely credible. King opens his letter by connecting himself with the Apostle Paul in an attempt to better associate with the Clergymen. â€Å"Just as the prophets of the eighth century B.C. left their villages and carried their â€Å"thus saith the Lord† far beyond the boundaries of their home towns, and just as the Apostle Paul left his village of Tarsus and carried the gospel of Jesus Christ to the far corners of the Greco-Roman world, so am I† (King 174). Upon first read of the â€Å"Letter† I clearly thought that King was using Biblical references simply to relate to the Clergymen on a level they could understand. Though King is, in a sense, trying to establish his credibility by using this allusion, there is a much more clandestine meaning. â€Å"Like The prophets of the eighth century and like St. Paul, King must leave home and respond to the call for aid† (Tiefenbrun 265). After researching Paul, I found why King used him in his letter. Paul was persecuted for spreading  Christianity. So much so that he was put in prison. While in prison he, like King, wrote many letters responding to the criticism he was receiving. Some of these letters were encouragement to the Christians of Corinth and later became the book of Corinthians in the Bible. Paul died as a martyr, fighting for his beliefs just as King did. Paul’s mention was an early warning to the Clergymen of what they were doing to King. If they continued their criticism and persecution, King will end up facing a grim future. At first read I thought King was only addressing the Clergymen as a response to their letter, but with further research I have uncovered an indirect public statement. In the Letter from Birmingham Jail, King discusses the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, praising their act of civil disobedience. He states, â€Å"It was evidenced sublimely in the refusal of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego to obey the laws of Nebuchadnezzar, on the ground that a higher moral law was at stake. It was practiced superbly by the early Christians, who were willing to face hungry lions and the excruciating pain of chopping blocks rather than submit to certain unjust laws of the Roman Empire† (King 180). In this statement King is reaching out the general public, encouraging them not to conform to a â€Å"false idol† of society. † Kings Biblical reference to Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego creates an identity between the Alabama demonstrators’ form of civil disobedience and â€Å"the refusal of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to obey the laws of Nebuchadnezzar, on the ground that a higher moral law was at sake† (Tiefenbrun 263). King uses Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to correlate his ideas of what a society could be not only to the ignorant people of Alabama but also to everyone willing to listen. Martin Luther King Jr. handpicked these events in Biblical history to more clearly represent what he is writing about and why he is so avidly defending his cause. He argues against repression and urges the public to defend their rights and resist the rut of conformity. Just reading Letter from Birmingham Jail won’t do it justice. Further researching the components of this letter have opened my eyes to what King was really portraying. King is pleading with the Clergymen to reconsider their prejudice against him and his beliefs. He is driving the public to become like him, and to become like  Paul stating that it is ok to be persecuted for your beliefs. He makes clear in hismessage that it will not be an easy task but it must be done in order to create an influential change in society. This change must be done now so that it can display its longstanding effects on the generations to come. Works Cited King, Martin Luther Jr. â€Å"Letter from Birmingham Jail.† A World of Ideas. Comp. Bissegger. Writers House LLC, 1963. Mott. Wesley T. â€Å"The Rhetoric of Martin Luther King, Jr.: Letter from Birmingham Jail.† Phylon (1960-), Vol 36, No. 4. (4th Qtr., 1975), pp. 411-421. Stable URL: http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0031-8906%28197536%3A4%3C411%3ATROMLK%3E2.0.CO%3B2-ITiefenbrun, Susan. â€Å"Semiotics and Martin Luther King Junior’s â€Å"Letter from Birmingham Jail†.† Cardozo Studies in Law and Literature, Vol. 4, No. 2. (Autumn, 1992), pp. 255-287. Stable URL: http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=10431500%28199223%294%3A2%3C255%3ASAMLK%22%3E2.0.CO%3B2-I

$25 Gift Certificate Expires Today - Resumes, Cover Letters, LinkedIn Profiles, Professional Writing Help

$25 Gift Certificate Expires Today - Resumes, Cover Letters, LinkedIn Profiles, Professional Writing Help Thank you to all who took advantage of The Essay Experts $25 holiday gift certificate. Just yesterday one of my past clients, who obtained his dream job, gave his sister a resume as a belated Christmas present. Theres still time to give yourself or a loved one the gift of a resume, LinkedIn profile update, or other writing help with a $25 gift certificate from The Essay Expert.   This offer officially expires today, January 8, 2011.   For my blog subscribers ONLY, I am extending the offer to January 11, 2011 (1/11/11 an auspicious date!) Now is the time to contact The Essay Expert! May your New Year be fulfilling and prosperous.   I look forward to hearing from you.

A Plan to write an evaluation of the ways in which the European Enlightenment has influenced modern schooling The WritePass Journal

A Plan to write an evaluation of the ways in which the European Enlightenment has influenced modern schooling Introduction A Plan to write an evaluation of the ways in which the European Enlightenment has influenced modern schooling ) Themes in Modern European History 1780-1830. New York: Routledge. Romano, M. J. (2010) AP European History. Second Edition. NJ: Wiley Sons. Selwyn, N. (2011) Schools and Schooling in the Digital Age: A Critical Analysis. First Edition. Oxon: Routledge. Saenz. M. (1999) The Identity of Liberation in Latin American Thought. Maryland: Lexington Books. Â   Zafirovski, M. (2011) The Enlightenment and its Effects on Modern Society. NY: Springer.

International business envioronment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

International business envioronment - Essay Example However what is required at the present is an understanding that things need to be properly aligned so that the problems which center the economic grounds cease to exist and thus provide all and sundry with a sigh of relief – one that is free of any form of anguish, economic disparity and woe, as one might put it. The chances of Germany coming back on the rails of success as far as the economic activities are concerned are manifold and one needs to understand as to what exactly are the undertakings on the part of the German authorities when the talk goes out loud of the German economy and the related measures that are being taken under the same auspices. The reasons as to why Germany is actually experiencing economic crisis lies in comprehending that the Germans are indeed the main reasons behind the very same. Only if the thinking mindset of the Germans as concerns to their economy and the future growth of the country in the long term perspective can change, there surely coul d be light at the end of the tunnel and thus positives could be drawn from the current quagmire in which Germany is in reality caught up. Unemployment has also been a bane for Germany in the recent past which has contributed in a negative manner towards the economic basis of the country. Add to that, the lack of different resources and more so the shortfall of skilled employees and specialists meant that Germany was in for a tough time at the hands of the economic parties. It had to take care of its financial basis in the light of the changing economic climate and for that Germany had to seek measures outside of its chosen boundaries. In other words, Germany had to look elsewhere in order to find out the exact problem with its undertakings that it had carried out over a period of time. The help sought from the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) is some of the options that are listed under the German

Circuit Protection and Polyphase Motors Assignment

Circuit Protection and Polyphase Motors - Assignment Example These techniques result in a high arc voltage to control over current and voltage during a fault in operation. Types of Air Blast Circuit Breakers: The Air blast circuit breakers can be divided into the following three types: (a). Axial Blast ABCB (b). Axial Blast ABCB with Side Moving Contact (c). Cross Blast ABCB Construction: (a). Axial Blast ABCB The axial blast air ABCB consists of two contacts; one is fixed and the other is movable. The fixed contact has an arcing chamber with a spring loading mechanism, and a nozzle orifice over which the movable contact rests under the normal closed condition. In case a fault arises, a high Figure 1.Axial Blast ABCB (Courtesy:www.electrical4u.com) air pressure in the arcing chamber causes the spring to deform. This produces an effect of lengthening and cooling of the air column in the chamber which pushes out the movable contact. As a result of these changes an arc voltage is produced which is much higher than the system voltage. The disparit y in voltage levels results in the quenching of the arc produced. (b). Axial Blast ABCB with side moving contact: Figure 2. ... As a result, an arc is drawn between the fixed and movable contact, which is passed over to the arcing electrode. This causes the surge to be quenched. (c). Cross Blast ABCB Figure 3. Cross Blast ABCB (Courtesy:www.electrical4u.com) The cross blast ABCB has a fixed blast pipe. The moving contact’s movement is perpendicular to the direction of the air blast from the blast pipe. An exhaust chamber having arc splitters is fitted on the same alignment as the blast pipe. When the movable contact is detached from the fixed contact an arc is established. High pressure air coming from the blast pipe enters the exhaust chamber after passing through the contact breaker, forcefully taking the arc into the exhaust chamber. This results in the quenching of the arc. 1. b. OIL-FILLED CIRCUIT BREAKER Working Principle: The oil-filled circuit breaker is one of the oldest types of circuit breakers. It employs mineral oil as the insulating medium to quench the surging arc. The fixed as well as t he movable contacts are immersed in oil; as a result the arc forms a bubble in the oil. The energy of the arc is utilized to decompose the oil into hydrogen gas. As a result arc quenching is obtained. Types of Oil Circuit Breakers: Oil circuit breakers can be broadly classified into two categories: (a). Bulk Oil Circuit Breaker (b). Minimum Oil Circuit Breaker (a). Bulk Oil Circuit Breaker Construction: Figure 4. Conceptual view of the Bulk Oil Circuit Breaker. (Courtesy:www.electrical4u.com) The bulk oil circuit breakers employ transformer insulating oil as the insulating and arc quenching medium. The current carrying contacts (fixed and movable) and the earthed parts of the circuit breaker are placed in a large quantity of oil in a closed tank or vessel. The oil

Electronic Portfolio Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Electronic Portfolio - Assignment Example Generally, my education was more closely aligned to the Jeffersonian model of education as compared to others. I joined Virginia University at the age 15 years, obtaining a post-graduate four years later. Naturally, I am an analysts and bibliophile, all to which I give credit to my teachers and parents. I am strong opponent of division within the society and as such, an advocate of an equitable society. Nonetheless, I disdain ethno-racial abhorrence. My thoughts are largely influenced by Marx’s ideas. Additionally, my perceptions are inspired by a distinguished educationist, Horace Mann. I have risen across various professional levels to reach my current position. I started out as an army recruiter in 1997 after completing my degree in General Studies from Central Texas College, Grantham University. Consequently, I have risen across ranks to reach the current position, JROTC Instructor. In general, I am an accomplished professional possessing experience directing logistics, an d transportation of freight for the US Army and Federal Express. Where I stand today: I believe life has given me immense opportunities to reach where I am today. I have nothing to regret about my past. Today, I am lucky to be amongst the few Indians to attend IB schools. This is a great opportunity for me. Educational/learning philosophy I believe education offers every individual a unique opportunity to explore and make use of their potential. Each person is uniquely endowed with some intrinsic potential which if well nurtured within an educational setting, can offer immense benefits to the society. An educational setting must therefore offer a secure and stimulating environment which allows emotional, physical, social and intellectual growth to the individuals. It is my belief that a good educational environment should have a guide (teacher), a curious learner (student), and more importantly, respect from both parties. Other than the aforementioned, it is my sincere belief that e ducation is only useful if learners have the opportunity to build knowledge through a self-discovery opportunity and access to practical skills in realistic environments. Offering learners a hands-on approach and sufficient time and space to make use of their potential and knowledge gained. In essence, I hold a strong opinion that self-discovery is just as important as is the opportunity to study and implement new ideas. Such should revolve around meaningful and relevant educational experiences. In general, school act as a pillar, social institution in human life, which provides individuals with a comprehensive learning program, and trains them on the ways necessary to lead a cultured and disciplined life. Given that the educators takes learners through disciplines in formal ways and fulfills their educational necessities, it assists them get qualified and ready to participate in economy building. Professional training accumulated during my career I must say my work experience has b een unique and one of its kind. Through this uniqueness, I have been able to accumulate immense professional training. I started out as an army recruiter and I must say dealing with different people from different backgrounds taught me a lot. Not only did I learn the importance of being able to accommodate and tolerate different cultures but also ways through which you can delve into these cultures and find that potential your organization really needs. Coming from the army recruiter position, I

Social Networking on Facebook Essay Example for Free

Social Networking on Facebook Essay Social Networking on Facebook Arlene Pascual MIS Facebook (FB) is one of the latest trends in social networking (Facebook. com). Facebook (FB) is one of the most popular social networking sites among college students. FB started out as a site designed for and available to students at Harvard University to help them get acquainted with other students living in the dorms. But, it is now a public site. FB has become the number one choice of communication with college students, ranking higher than phone and email. FB attracts many students because it provides a place where students can have space of their own to express themselves and communicate freely with peers. This site provides an easy way for students to build their social networks, show the world who they are, make new friends and keep up with old friends. Facebook is not just a tool for only college students anymore. In September 2006, FB went public. Before then, only people with an . edu email address could access the site. Now anyone with a valid email can become a registered user of the popular social networking site. In addition, Computer Mediated Communication is communication that occurs via computer technology. CMC includes participating in chat room discussions, instant messaging, email, virtual teams, virtual communities, and voice activated messaging. CMC is also an excellent way to participate in social networking. Social networking is an important part of everyday life that assists people in planning and cultivating business, social contacts, and personal relationships. CMC is often preferred over face to face communication because it is convenient, easy, fast and highly effective in many situations. Newspapers, news magazines, and television news have highlighted the dangers of Facebook and other social networking sites such as MySpace, such as online predators, dangers of revealing personal information on profiles, and the posting of obscene or illegal activities. Yet the positive aspects of social networking on the internet make these sites so appealing to millions of users. Given the widespread of FB use among college students, the main goal of this study is to explore how students are social networking on Facebook. The following research questions are as follows: 1: How are students setting up their Facebook accounts? 2: How much time are students spending on Facebook? 3: How are students using Facebook? and 4: What kinds of negative experiences have students encountered on Facebook? Despite the negative press surrounding social networking sites, this study revealed that students are using Facebook for positive and appropriate networking. Everyone at their university can view their profiles, which allows more connections and interactions. Students also reported that their profiles were accurate representations of themselves. Since students tend to allow everyone to see their profile information, telling lies about themselves can be obvious. However, some students reported that their profiles only â€Å"somewhat accurately† represent them. Students may think that they are able to stretch the truth about certain areas of their lives. Although data were not gathered about what parts of students’ profiles are less accurate than others, this paper guessed that misrepresentations are most likely to occur in the â€Å"About Me† section. In this section, students write about anything they like, from their favorite things to how they view themselves. In many ways, the â€Å"about me† section is similar to a personal ad whereby students attempt to portray themselves in the most positive light possible. In addition, most students are not much concerned about privacy and they accept new friends request who they don’t know because that is the reason they join FB: to meet new friends. Majority of the respondents spent about 10 minutes a day. The most common uses of FB were sending messages to friends and viewing photos. Students want to keep in touch and get to know others better. On the other hand, one clear finding of this study is that students do not use FB for overt romantic relationship development. Students do not want their dating attempts to be public. Students also did not use FB to advertise academic or social events or to recruit for their organizations. Overall, negative experiences on FB were relatively few and far between given the frequency and variety of student use. In case of â€Å"stalker issue†, although FB is now open to the public, the default (and loosest) privacy setting enables student profiles to be viewed only by people at their own universities. Therefore, students must â€Å"confirm† that others outside their universities are their â€Å"friends† before people can view their profiles. These kinds of privacy safeguards might aid in keeping away stalkers. Concepts from two theoretical frameworks appear to be useful applications for explaining social networking on Facebook. First, Uncertainty Reduction Theory (URT) posits that people do not like uncertainty in initial encounters and therefore attempt to reduce that uncertainty through verbal and nonverbal communication in these initial face-to-face meetings. Students on FB definitely attempted to reduce uncertainty with strangers (e. g. other students in their classes, residence halls, sororities, and clubs) through direct messaging on FB and through indirect means such as observing others’ profiles on FB (networks, pictures, and wall posts). Relational Maintenance (RM) provides insight into the strategies that established relational partners use to maintain their relationships. RM can help enhance an existing relationship, repair a conflictual one, or maintain a relationship at its current level of engagement and satisfaction. Relational maintenance was prevalent on Facebook. Sending messages, updating profiles, and uploading pictures helped students feel connected with friends from high school and college. The RM strategies of positivity, self-disclosure, and assurances were all easily accomplished through FB and students perceived FB to be maintaining their relationships in important ways. FB can also foster closeness among users by sharing pictures that make events more personal and immediate.

External Influences on Lenovo

External Influences on Lenovo The main purpose of this report is to show the way of Lenovo from just project to international corporation and to analyze their way using such methods as PEST and SWOT analysis as well as Porters Five Competitive Forces. Using PEST makes possible to determine the impact of external environment (politics, economics, society and technology) and indirect factors on company. SWOT reveals the strengths and weaknesses of given organization. Combining these two methods makes analysis even more precise. In its turn, Porters Five Competitive Forces helps to understand the competition within the industry. Lenovo is a great example of a company which used innovation and creativity, obstinacy and communication with customer as a tool to make their way to the top. Today Lenovo is one of leading PC vendors. They manufacture tablets, laptops, ultrabooks, All-in-One PCs, desktops, nettops and own accessories. Lenovo creates unique and durable products at really aggressive price point. And they are here to stay. Introduction Lenovo. The company was established in Beijing, China in 1984 by eleven members of the Computer Technology Research Institute, they called it the Legend Holdings. But in 2003, decision to expand outside Chinese market led to another one change the name of the company. Legend changed their name to Lenovo. Name of Lenovo is combination of Le- (as part of Legend) and novo Latin ablative for new. In Chinese it can also be understood as connected thinking or creativity. Despite the fact that current name of the company was introduced just in 2003, Lenovo already gained trust and loyalty of millions of customers. The company has started from budget of 200ÂÂ  000 yuan commissioned Liu Chuanzhi (founder of Lenovo) by Chinese government in order to distribute computers which are made in other countries. Lenovos first office was about 17 square meters. Mr. Chuanzhi once said: It wasnt easy. The lowest thing you could do in the early 80s, as a scientist, was to go into business. China had a strict planned economy and there was barely room for a freewheeling company like ours (Liu Chuanzhi for Asiaweek, June 13, 1997). First major win was a circuit board which enabled IBM computers to process Chinese characters Han-card. Later on Lenovo started to create and distribute computers using its own brand. In May 1988, Lenovo looked for employees for the first time. They have placed ads on the cover of the China Youth News. Out of all respondents, 280 were selected to sit for a written exam. About 120 of the candidates were interviewed in person. Despite interviewers had authority to hire only 16 people, 58 were given offers. 18 people of these had graduate degrees, 37 had undergraduate degrees, and three students did not have university-level education at all. Their average age was 26. Future CEO of Lenovo Yang Yuanqing was among this group who introduced new name and expanded company on Europe and USA. In 1994 Lenovo became a publicly traded company after listing in Hong Kong. Later in 2002 Lenovo Group made partnership with Xiahua Electronics Stock Company, giving the start of Lenovo mobile phone business. In 2008 Lenovo has sold its mobile department but then would pay $200 million to buy it back in November of 2009. Now Lenovo Mobile ranks third in terms of market share of mobile phones market in China. On May of 2005 Lenovo Group announced the completion of the $1.75 billion deal of acquisition of IBMs PC unit. That made companys annual revenue almost quadruple. Company which used to have $3 billion in annual revenue now had nearly $13 billion. They became the worlds third-largest PC vendor, behind Dell and Hewlett-Packard. But revenues are not the only benefit Lenovo got from this deal. They have acquired the ThinkPad brand. ThinkPad is ultra-resistant due to special casing, special keyboard structure that let water drain through the laptop. Moreover it was one of first laptops with hard disk block system, which could turn on emergency brakes thereby save data from being just lost because of physical damage of the disk when laptop is dropped. Later Lenovo would face the closest rival on their way to the top Dell. It was a hard competition, it was a complex competition. The main problem of Lenovo back in the days was a bit more conservative way of making business. Dell used new and innovative methods to produce, distribute and promote products. They spent on ads twice as more than Lenovo, their prices were lower and market share grew more and more. Dell even captured segments which used to be favorite ones of Lenovo. To overcome the enemy Lenovo started to increase value of brand. That means they started to raise name awareness among the customers, they delivered maximum possible customer satisfaction. They are still using those principles as core philosophy of the company. Nowadays, Lenovo has three main categories of laptops. ThinkPads are powered for productive work experience, uncompromised secured and ultra-reliable, solid and durable. IdeaPads are optimized for entertainment and multimedia. They have some enchantments in audio, video performance and possess both functional internal and beautiful external designs. The third lineup is Essential. These products have nothing unnecessary; they are always up-to-date, portable enough and reliable. The tablets are also divided on Idea and Think lineups as well as All-in-Ones and desktops. The principal stays the same. Idea for creativity and entertainment, Think for business and work. In 2012 Lenovo became the fastest growing company in the USA for 8 quarters in a row. Actually, they are the only one who has a growth. In the third financial quarter of 2012, shipments of the company expected to reach 15.7 per cent of world-wide PC shipments. Lenovo would surpass Dell and HP. The Mission and Vision of Lenovo Mission is the main goal, beliefs which push company to develop into new something more than just business. Mission is the reason why company does actually exist. Lenovos origins are in China; their name has meaning so their mission is strong and inspiring as well. Lenovo has a desire to become the leading company of new world that is respected for break-through innovation and award-winning designs, quality, to be loved for an ecosystem of devices, services. Become recognized as one of the best, most trusted and most well-respected companies to work for and do business with. And they are on the right way to reach the goal. Company strives to be one that creates extraordinary, innovative and exceptionally great PCs for its customers. They do not have formal restrictions and bonds which could distract or interfere from manufacturing best possible machines. Lenovo claims that they design exciting and innovative products, services to meet customers needs. And sometimes they even manage to exceed level of the expectations. Lenovo wants to do business from their own global point of view, own perspective and own commitment to building great technology for people who view technology as a tool to accomplish fascinating things. By having few categories of products, Lenovo does not put any effort on useless departments therefore does not waste resources and time. David Schmoock, President of North American Lenovo department said: What I want to do is get to number one and be sustainable as number one. At the very basic level of the company there is one core principle that is extremely important: We do what we say and own what we do. So far the main goals company wants to reach are serving customers, trust and integrity, innovation and entrepreneurial spirit. Lenovo. New World, New Thinking PEST Analysis PEST analysis in general measures a market, its potential, indicates growth or decline, thereby market attractiveness. Actually, PEST analysis helps to determine SWOT factors. PEST analysis is a model that can be used for describing the framework of macro environmental factors that a company should have in mind forming its long-term strategic plans. Of course, the external factors may vary in significance to a given company based on the products and services that it produces and also on the industry it is in. For any company which wants to win in the competitive marketing, such methods of analysis of the external factors and environment are the way to succeed. In this report PEST will be used in order to focus on analyzing external environment of the Lenovo Corporation and try to foresee major influence of those external factors in their business environment. The letter P stands for political factors influencing companys market. Those are level of bureaucracy, laws and regulations, legalization and policies, rule of law, freedom of press, tariff controls and trade. Nowadays, computers are tightly linked with peoples life. From the last century computers were used in business and other areas and help factories, hospitals and other structures to increase production and interest. At the same time, new technology caused some new problems such as pollution of the environment, health and energy consumption. Considering these problems European Union, China and other countries encourage the Green IT. That means computer must not produce noise pollution more than specified, energy consumption must be no more than required. In Lenovo groups, the isopsophic index is lower than 30dB. Therefore, Lenovo has achieved in noise pollution section. Since China has a population of one and a half billion, there is more than enough labor and payment would not be too high. That is the reason why many of assembly lines are Chinese, so Lenovo placed factory in China as well. When China joined WTO in 2005, the export tariff for IT products has decreased to 9.1%. So thes e policies are encouraging business organization developing to global. Next one is E. It stands for economic factors such as interest rates and inflation, disposable income, labor cost and supply, impact of globalization. Letter S is for social culture. It is social studies and education, lifestyle attitudes and choice, population growth rate and age profiles, etc. And the last letter is T. That is for technological factors such as impact of energy technologies, increase in remote working, and current level of technological development, impact of technology on the work process and productivity. For economic, influence by the 2008 economic crisis, the world economic tends to going down. But in the worst time, Chinese government published the new economic policy which was positive financial policy and loose and comfortable monetary policy. The government also offered four-hundred million RMB stimulates economic development (The Marketing Surveillance Center of China, 2008). For Chinas IT industry, this is a great opportunity to develop them. Then change the focus to the economic development. In 1950, the total trades of China include import and export was 11.3 hundred million dollars, but in 2008, it enhanced 25616 hundred million dollars. Also at home, the GDP increased with a high speed: So according to this chart, it very clear that Chinas GDP has achieved satisfactory level and the disposable personal income has increased also (stats, 2009). So the demand of products will increase with the economic enhancing. In the other words, the IT market becomes bigger and Lenovo also has strength to competitive the market share because Lenovo not only produce computers, mobile phone also produced by them. For society culture, the population growth, lifestyle choice and attitudes, population health, education, social mobility and attitudes are influence the demand of high technology products. 60 years ago, 80% people in China were illiteracy, but under the new government value, in 2008, the Einschulungsrate f. of different education level has achieved a satisfactory level: It is clearly that the education level has increased and the demand of high technology products also enhancing (Communist Party Learning, 2009). This situation also offered a huge market for Lenovo. On the other hand, because the globalization and influenced by the developed countries lifestyle, the Chinese people also become more international which live with a high level life and influenced by the education level, the lifestyle of Chinese people become more out-going and open enough (Human Geography Research Center, 2003). So the consumption custom of modern Chinese people also offers a good developing environment to Lenovo. Also in the next five to ten years, this situation will be increase. At the same time, the social culture of China has changed from traditional feudalism to modern lifestyle which is more science and high technology in life. For technological, Lenovo was set by 11 scientists who worked in Chinese Academy of Science which is a governmental organization. So this situation offered a good technology support. In 2005, Lenovo has finished the purchase IBM, so the technology transfer from IBM also helps Lenovo make the Research Development activities and produce high quality products with high technology (Lenovo, 2005). At the same time, with the technology development, the communications costs and increased remote work can help the different corporations share their techniques and also good for Research Development activities. So all of these technological factors can help Lenovo increase their competitive ability in the next five to ten years and the marketing share of IBM also belongs to Lenovo. For the legal section, here just mention two articles which can support Lenovo. Firstly, in light of article 6, Peoples Republic of China Consumer Protection, the government encourages and supports every person and organization supervises the illegal action which damages the consumers legal power (National Peoples Congress, 1993). So this law can reduce other organizations use illegal method to competitive in the marketing and its also a protection for Lenovo. On the other hand, in light of article 6, Peoples Republic of China Law on Product Quality, the government encourages apply scientific management method, advanced science and technology, support the products achieved or beyond the industry standard or international standard. And give the award to the organizations whose products achieved or beyond the international standard (National Peoples Congress, 1993). So as an international corporation, Lenovo links the technology of IBM, they will produce the high quality products and r eceived the government supports from the legal. Finally, for the ethical, because the increased of education level, the peoples diathesis also enhanced. So protect the legal power has become normal in the modern society. Then if the organization make illegal actions, it will be ejected from the market by customers, such as never buy their products. Also for an organization, the ethical problems are faith, fair and good service. As Lenovo, their value are serve consumers, innovation, faith and fair (Lenovo, 2005). So this entire ethical development tendency is good for Lenovos business environment in the next five to ten years. In summary, the policies which about green IT from European Union and the export tariff which from Chinese government are good for Lenovos improvement; at the same time, the economic development of China and the increased disposable personal income also offering a big market to Lenovos development in the future; as the modern society, the population of the world was achieved 67-hundred million in 2007 (Unctad Report, 2008). It offers a huge number of customers; also because the education increase, the lifestyle of modern customers is tend to high technology and high quality. On the other hand, the purchase of IBM also offers the technology transfer and the development mechanics of communication saved the communications costs and its good for international Research Development activities and international cooperation. At the same time, the law of Chinese government also supports and the ethical factors in the modern society are good for Lenovos improvement. So based on the analysis, in the next five to ten years, the likely major influences in Lenovos business environment are environment protection, international cooperation, the economic development, technology communication and Research Development, legal protection and ethical problems. But all of these tend to good for Lenovo in the future. So if the strategy department managers based on the external environment to make the strategic planning, Lenovo will take a great leap for their business in the next five to ten years. The PEST analysis is a model for reviewing and surveying a companys strategy or its position in the market. It measures the market, along with its competitors from the viewpoint of a particular business. It is also used to describe the framework of macro environmental factors that a company should regard and take into consideration. Of course, the external factors may vary in significance to a given company based on the products and services that it produces and also on the industry it is in. Political factors Economic factors Economic factor relates to the economy of the country itself, as well as market and trade cycles. Over the past years Walmart has had a stable economic condition and had 11% growth totalling in $6.5 billion. Why Walmarts figure has been doing so well so far is because it takes into account not only the economy of the company, but also of the countrys economy in which they are setting up their business. Another reason for its success is that Walmart prefers to first check the economical factors of the county before actually doing any business there. The main economical factors that are worth considering are economic stability and peoples purchasing power. Its crucial to acknowledge these factors for doing business in the third world countries because any change in economy can increase the actual price of the goods and services, which the company offers to its customers and of course the demand for these products will go down. Social Factors Social factors are made up of lifestyle trends, major events and various influences, religious and ethnic factors. Walmart has a tendency of evaluating and measuring social factors, just like economic factors, of a country they have chosen to do business in. Social values and frugality are also quite important factors. Walmart appeals to consumers with a rather low income, nevertheless, it ensures that the goods, products and services that they provide are apprised and accepted by their customers. It is a known fact that Walmart doesnt supply its stores with goods that are likely to cause various complaints from the clients and customers. The company makes good relationships with its customers in engaging and taking part in various public activities. Technological Factors Technological factors generally include various factors like maturity of technology, global communications and innovations, as well as technology legislation. Nowadays technology plays an immense part in the whole society. As a matter of fact, technology hugely improves quality of the products, however it tends to decrease the amount of time to promote and advertise the goods and services. Walmart was quick to accept new technology and to make effective and best use of it. It operates most of its logistics with the usage of a modern system called hub-and-spoke of its distribution centres. Customers that shop at Walmart stores get the most benefits out of it. Walmart believes that by introducing natural products on the market, it can have a big and positive impact on the atmosphere around us and the worlds natural resources. Walmart exploits the newest technology such as brad new cash register and security system. In short, Walmart keeps up with technology innovations and adjusts very well to the changes in the world. Porters Five Competitive Forces Porters Five Forces model is generally used in order to understand better the context of the industry in which the company is operating in and to see the attractiveness of an industry structure. By using this model we can see that Walmart is a strong independent company that has a stable growth, professional management and reasonably competitive prices. This model helps to look into the company more closely by assessing the potential threat of new entrants, the competitive rivalry within already existing companies, the threat of substitute products and goods, the bargaining power of suppliers and finally, the bargaining power of customers. Threat of new entrants Theres always a possibility of new companies coming into existence, however in order to compete with such strong company as Walmart they will need a relatively large capital. Walmart is expanding rather fast and it practically leaves neither chance nor room for other new companies to enter the competitive market. Above anything else, Walmart has excellent distribution systems, for example hub-and-spoke system that I mentioned before, as well as good locations and an enormous capital to be actually able to compete with new entrants. Competitive rivalry Walmart is a much larger and more profitable company than its competitors, so the competition inside the retail industry poses no threat whatsoever to it. However, there are a few other strong competitors such as Target, which can bring out some fair competition to Walmart. To sum up, Walmart is generally ahead of its competitors; it is a global leader in the retail industry and has a firm position in the competitive market. Threat of substitute products There arent a lot of direct substitutes to Walmart, because stores in the retail industry sell products for everyday use mostly. However, there are some substitute products that can be a threat to the sales of branded products. Another threat can be put from specialized retail stores like electronics and various garments. There are stores such as Carrefour and Target, which can offer same goods at a similar price or even lower. Still, when it comes to Walmart, there arent many other stores that can actually replace its convenience and attractively low prices. Bargaining power of suppliers Walmart is a huge customer to its suppliers and, thus, it has a lot of power, because in case it decides to switch to a different supplier, this would create a very scary tactic for its suppliers. It also has an option to purchase goods from many various suppliers so if they decide to drop out some, this wont make a significant difference. Walmart definitely takes advantage of being one of the largest customers to such international companies as Kraft Foods and Gillette. Because of its strong position in the market, suppliers are more than willing to satisfy Walmarts requirements, as well as provide them with favourable terms of payment and various discounts. We can see this good relationship between Walmart and its suppliers through its enhancing success. Bargaining power of buyers The customers will surely always be a threat to Walmart mainly because there are so many competitors. The buyers decision tends to be based on the price and quality of the product, and also on the convenience. Usually consumers are price sensitive and their decisions are based mainly on the price itself. And if products are similar this will increase the rivalry in the industry, which will lead to lower prices and thus, lower profit. Also, Walmart is not in a monopolistic market, but a competitive one, so the goods it offers can be replaced or substituted by its rivals. However, the company strives to please its clients by making the prices of their products and services similar to those of their competitors. Its profitability has proved that consumers are pleased with the chains reasonably low prices and its very convenient locations. Conclusion The purpose of this report was to analyze the external factors that have a certain impact and influence on Walmart. There are some significant factors that became clear after the PEST analysis and Porters Five Competitive Forces analysis have been made. I found out that Walmart is one of the global leaders in the retail industry, which has a great influence on various sectors. Walmart is still expanding to new locations and it is a growing strong company that has a firm position in the domestic market in the US and abroad as well. Unfortunately, Walmart, just like any other organization, isnt protected against the negative influence from various environmental factors, which may decrease the companys total revenues or even weaken the popularity of the whole company. However, despite all of the negative factors mentioned above, the positive impact of the external factors is much greater. Walmarts intention to help people save money so they can live better moves the company on the top position in the retail industry and makes it more attractive and appealing to existing and future consumers. Recommendations In my personal opinion the future success and survival of Walmart will depend on changing its attitude and becoming even more customer focused, as well as building even closer relationships that would broaden the product range and competitive prices. The company should take into consideration that the market is still rather new to foreign companies and that other retail stores are also expected to appear in the nearest future, which will probably result in reduction of clients Walmart is considered as one of the international leaders in the retail industry and I think it will keep its position for a certain period of time. However, I have to make a point that the company should also consider its promotion and shouldnt rely in the fact that they are one of the best in the market. Whats more Walmart should take into consideration that the market is still rather new to foreign companies and that other retail stores are also expected to appear in the near future, which will probably result in reduction of clients.