Extended School Day Essay

Imagine you are a seven-year-old whose’s parents work until five each night. When you come home after school there is no one home with you. What could you get into? You might know right from wrong but you still might get yourself into some trouble. Just out of plain curiosity you might get into something or an accident could happen without you even being involved in it. But I say there is a way to stop this from ever happening. I think we should either keep schools open longer or introduce more after school programs. Many advantages would come from either of these ideas. For one the parents would not have to be in a state of worry about whether their child is safe at home or in trouble. Plus you always have that added guilt about not being able to help your kids with their homework. Now with either longer days or more after school programs a lot of stress could be taken away from your family. No more having to pay for sitters which could stress out a families finances. Also th e dangers of the kids being home and getting into trouble would be cut down severely. And also with the longer days or more after school programs parents would be able to get home, at least one parent would be home, to pick their kids off the bus. I wanted to suggest some programs I feel would help out with the problem at hand. These programs would be a reading and math after school program. One program I would suggest is a reading after school program. It is said that today, too many children fail to read at a level we would expect for the grade they are in. In a study done in 1998, the National Assessment of Educational Progress found that, thirty eight percent of our nation’s fourth graders failed to read at the basic level. That fact alone says we must enforce more after school programs. Now they also found that sixty-four percent of African American and sixty percent of Hispanic American fourth graders read below the basic level. This shows we need to not only put these programs in suburban schools but also city schools. Research has shown that students who are behind in reading can catch up to grade level with additional reading instruction and tutoring after school and in the summer. And that is what I am trying to put in effect. We all know that to succeed in school all students need good reading skills, and that’s just a fact. Another program that I think is good is a mathematics after school Program. I has been found that students who take rigorous mathematics courses are much more likely to go on to college and into promising careers than those who do not. And with technology becoming more prevalent in the workplace, the need for employees with mathematics backgrounds has greatly increased. In my research I have found that far too many students finish middle and junior high school without developing a solid foundation in algebra and geometry. Research done by the international comparative assessments said that U.S. student achievement in mathematics falls below the average in the middle grades. We need to help improve this. I think some other important facts help support my case for the longer school day and the after school programs in this little cha rt. Some reasons why the public supports after school programs: *Over 28 million school-age children have both parents or their only parent in the workforce. *At least 5 million children — and possibly as many as 15 million — are left alone at home each week. *Many children, especially low-income children, lose ground in reading if they are not engaged in organized learning over the summer. *Experts agree that school-age children who are unsupervised during the hours after school are more likely to receive poor grades and drop out of school than those who are involved in supervised, constructive activities. *Statistics show that most juvenile crime takes place between the hours of 2:00 and 8:00 pm, and that children are also at much greater risk of being the victims of crime during the hours after school. Here is another chart showing that after school programs enhance a child’s academic achievement. *Participants in after-school programs:* *Show increased interest and ability in reading *Develop new skills and interests *Show improved school attendance, increased engagement in school, and reduced dropout rate *Turn in more and better quality homework and can spend more time on task *Are held back or placed in special education classes less frequently *Show higher aspirations for the future, including intention to complete high school and go to college. These facts are real. This is why I picked trying to make a longer day and more after school programs. And with these two programs the numbers will go up. I plan on adding more programs to what I have wrote in here. But I think implementing a longer school day and these after school programs should help not only the parents of these children but the children themselves.

Brainstorming & Applied Imagination

Brainstorming has a long history that stretches back to almost 3000 years, although it owes its current popularity to efforts of Alex Osborn in 1950s through his seminal work Applied Imagination (Proctor, 1999, 114; Sutton and Hargaddon, 1996). Osborn used brainstorming with an objective to increase creativity within organizations. In his surmises, creativity in organizations was impeded by hostile environment to new ideas that discouraged people from coming forth with their views and opinions.Further development of brainstorming has been result of Osborn’s commitment to encourage employees to come out freely with their ideas (Paulus and Brown, 2003, 110). Brainstorming gained rapid popularity due to its simplicity, its fun elements, its therapeutic abilities and its proven effectiveness in stimulating creativity and emergence of new ideas (Davis, 1973, 90). In brainstorming participants are encouraged to come openly with their ideas of wildest sort, without being interfered, and criticized, that leads to combination and improvement of ideas (Sutton and Hargaddon, 1996).Techniques of Brainstorming Generally brainstorming techniques are divided into two main categories that are a) Unstructured; b) Structured (Proctor, 1999, 114). While the unstructured brainstorming doesn’t involve any established procedure, resulting in unproductive efforts, the structured brainstorming proceeds through some set rules that make it a very effective technique. These rules and principles, suggested by Osborn in the early 1950s are (ibid) 1. No criticism: Criticism is not permitted during brainstorming session to help in uninhibited flow of ideas2. Quantity is encouraged: Large number of ideas increases likelihood of effectiveness of session 3. Unrestrained ideas: Brainstorming sessions encourages participants to come out with any idea, no matter how wild it appears. This helps people in coming out of their fears and express their views openly 4. Improvement of ideas: Brainstorming also encourages people to suggest in improving ideas of other people and suggest ways by which various ideas can be combined in unison, for greater efficiency. Benefits of BrainstormingThese techniques of brainstorming have helped in reaching solutions to various kinds of problems within organizations. As reported by Proctor (1999, 116) brainstorming has proved very effective in coming out with solutions of problems that pertain to Issues of reducing time in production line, 1. finding ways to handle shop lifting 2. In marketing and sales segment where within a short time a large number of concepts, punch lines and creative names are required. However the same techniques of brainstorming do not yield desired result if problem is too technical or require special expertise that cannot be suggested by other people.Today brainstorming has become synonymous with creative thinking and infusion of imaginative solution to problems that come in organizational setups. The basic concept of brainstorming is to achieve a synergy of ideas that helps to break situation of deadlocks. It helps in generating ideas and then narrows down attention to their detail whereby from a number of available options the optimum course is selected. Thus it creates a sequence where participants themselves become proponents of ideas and their judge to weed out the ineffectual concepts and retain only those that carry sufficient potential with them (Proctor, 1999).The distinct advantage of brainstorming is that it helps in bringing forth a number of ideas through creating a light and interactive atmosphere where one idea is instigator of many other ideas, and even an absurd suggestion acting as a stimulant for relevant ideas. The other advantage of brainstorming is that it is a therapeutic procedure in overstressed atmospheres where people are given opportunities to speak up, present their views, receive feedback and share their ideas with others (Davis, 1973).There are numerous instances where brainstorming has successfully delivered the solution to problems that had flummoxed organizations. Effectiveness of Brainstorming Although the effectiveness of brainstorming is demonstrated through various experiments and test groups, there is a controversy whether group brainstorming is more effective than solitary brainstorming (Paulus and Brown, 2003). As mentioned by Sutton and Hargaddon (1996), a majority of experiments conducted on techniques of brainstorming have come out with different observation on the thesis of Osborn.Their findings revealed that although group brainstorming is a widely accepted method for inspiring creativity, revamping business operations and bringing improvement in industrial and manufacturing processes, controlled tests have shown that compared to individuals thinking alone, the productivity output of group brainstorming is lower. Further findings by Mullen, Johnson and Salas (1991) suggest that in some cases groups consisting of more than two members have shown comparatively lower productivity than that of individual thought process.However, on exploring the reasons of lower productivity, its found some of them result from improper application of Osborn’s fundamental rules. The three main reasons suggested for lower productivity in group brainstorming are 1. Fear among group members in freely expressing their ideas, anticipating negative feedback by their group partners 2. Lower level of accountability, where member tend to go reckless and literally get focused on coming out with only wild and impractical ideas 3. Sometimes over generation of ideas by some individuals block idea generation process of other individuals who loose the coherence of their thought process.Electronic Brainstorming Application of information technology and computer analysis methods to brainstorming has provided new tools in hands of researchers to measure the effectiveness of brainstorming and improve its outcome by balancing te chnological capabilities with the situational requirements. Meeting styles within groups, in the words of Dennis (1994) have largely resorted to electronic communication styles that offers benefits of â€Å"parallelism, direct access to meeting memories and anonymity offered by pure electronic communication†.Group brainstorming has seen emergence of new techniques such as Group Decision Support System, Electronic Meeting System, Groupware, and Group Support System. Some of these methods help the group members to interact with each other by help of networked computers that facilitate instant communication, messaging, sharing of ideas and joint coordination. In addition members can highlight key issues on discussion on common large electronic blackboard that is visible to every group member (Dennis, 1994).Apart from the benefits of parallelism, access to meeting memories and anonymity of individual, the electronic brainstorming session also provides the facility of media richne ss, i. e transmission of complex information. Studies have shown that a combination of electronic communication and verbal communication produces better media richness than what either of them are capable of achieving alone (Dennis, 1994). Electronic brainstorming has received great boos by application of EBT or Electronic Brainstorming Tool that has been designed to assist researchers who are interested in method of electronic brainstorming (Clapper, 1995).The tool provides users with a simple interface to help in sharing and developing ideas for effective communication, leading to greater media richness. Reeference Clapper DL, 1995, EBT: a Tool for Electronic Brainstorming Researchers. Journal of Organizational Computing. Volume: 5. Issue: 1, Page Number: 22 Davis, GA, 1973, Psychology of Problem Solving: Theory and Practice, Basic Books, New York Dennis AR, 1994, Electronic Support for Large Groups, Journal of Organizational Computing, Volume: 4. Issue: 2, Page Number: 177Hargado n A, Sutton RI, 1996, Brainstorming Groups in Context: Effectiveness in a Product Design Firm, Administrative Science Quarterly. Volume: 41. Issue: 4, 685 Mullen, Brian, Craig Johnson, and Eduardo Salas, 1991, Productivity loss in brainstorming groups: A meta-analytic integration, Basic and Applied Psychology, 12: 2-23 Paulus PB, Brown VR, 2003, Group Creativity: Innovation through Collaboration (edit),Bernard A. Nijstad, Paul B. Paulus, Oxford University Press. New York Proctor, T, 1999, Creative Problem Solving for Managers, Routledge London

Intrapreneuship-Global

Slide: Many big companies had benefitted from the ideas of their employees that not just bringing innovation but adding to its revenue stream. Several global cases have been renowned especially to big companies’ history on how their respective intrapreneurs made the business to be the pioneer of a certain business idea. 1. Most renowned â€Å"Skunk Works† 2. Spencer Silver and Art Fry’s development of post-it notes at 3 M company Modern Day 1. Steve Jobs and a group of 20 Apple Computer engineers created the Macintosh computer 2. Intel's core chip-making business. . Google 4. Microsoft 5. Sony playstation I. Global Case Intrapreneurs take existing businesses and transform them. Whereas an entrepreneur would take an idea and build a business around it, an intrapreneur takes an existing business and branches it out into uncharted waters. In a September 1985 Newsweek article, Steve Jobs was quoted as saying, â€Å"The Macintosh team was what is commonly known as in trapreneurship; only a few years before the term was coined—a group of people going, in essence, back to the garage, but in a large company. (http://infospace. ischool. syr. edu/2012/06/25/intrapreneurship-what-who-and-why-its-important/) Intrapreneurship is being practiced in a corporate management style that integrates risk-taking and innovation approaches, as well as the reward and motivational techniques that are more traditionally thought of as being the province of entrepreneurship. Many big companies had benefitted from the ideas of their employees that not just bringing innovation but adding to its revenue stream.Several global cases have been renowned especially to big companies’ history on how their respective intrapreneurs made the business to be the pioneer of a certain business idea. I. Global Case * Skunk Works is an official alias for Lockheed Martin’s Advanced Development Programs (ADP), formerly called Lockheed Advanced Development Projects. Thi s working group within the well-known defense manufacturer has been responsible for the development of numerous cutting edge aircraft and other innovations since 1943, when it was established to work on secret projects for the United States Air Force.In some companies, a working group of intrapreneurs may be referred to as a â€Å"skunkworks project† in reference to Lockheed's famous subdivision. (http://www. wisegeek. com/what-is-an-intrapreneur. htm#did-you-know) Skunk Works is responsible for a number of famous aircraft designs, including the U-2, the SR-71 Blackbird, the F-117 Nighthawk, and the F-22 Raptor. Currently its largest officially known project is the F-35 Lightning II, which will be used in the air forces of several countries.Skunk works devoted their work revolutionary projects outside of the company’s * Spencer Silver and Art Fry’s development of post-it notes at 3m is also an impressive example of intrapreneurship. Way back in when a 3m employe e couldn't keep his hymns marked properly in his church choir book. After attempting various methods, he decided he'd try using some non-permanent adhesive that was available at his workplace. By placing this adhesive on the back of his markers, he found he could keep them secured in place and then easily peel them off when he was done.Modern day * Intel also has a tradition of implementing intrapreneurship. Intel established an in-house â€Å"new business initiative† in 1998 to bootstrap new businesses that employees propose, regardless of whether the concepts had anything to do with Intel's core chip-making business. In contrast to a venture capital program that Intel has had in place for a decade, the new business initiative provides financing for businesses that the company's own employees start. The idea for the whole thing came from our employees, who kept telling us they wanted to do entrepreneurial things,† said Craig Barrett, president and chief executive offic er of Intel. â€Å"They saw that we were putting a lot of investments into external companies and said that we should be investing in our own ideas. † (http://www. utdallas. edu/~chasteen/Reinventing%20the%20intrapreneur. htm) * Steve Jobs and a group of 20  Apple Computer  engineers created the Macintosh computer without â€Å"adult supervision,† mainly to compete with Apple's mainstay, the Apple II — not to mention Mr.Jobs's nemesis, Apple CEO John Scully * Microsoft Microsoft , one of the companies that poached great Xerox technology, has suffered from a brain drain that may pose a bigger threat than any U. S. Supreme Court decision, as veteran executives use their own millions to start their own firms. That's why both of these companies are now emphasizing internal entrepreneurial efforts. They are among the following ten corporations that have made intrapreneurship a keystone of their business. Seamus Blackley, a game designer, joined Microsoft in early 1999.His last big project, â€Å"Trespasser,† a dinosaur-shooting game based on Michael Crichton's The Lost World (Knopf, 1997), bombed in the market. He figured he'd keep a low profile as a graphics programmer, but then he dreamed up a new idea on an airplane flight and quickly banded with three other engineers to create a video game console using personal computer technology. (http://www. utdallas. edu/~chasteen/Reinventing%20the%20intrapreneur. htm) * Google is also known to be intrapreneur friendly, allowing their employees to spend up to 20% of their time to pursue projects of their choice.

Theatre Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Theatre - Essay Example The result was the final idea of building the â€Å"Thrust Stage†. The structure of the thrust stage contained three sides for audience to sit and the stage at the center of the whole stage. The purpose of the thrust stage trusted on the reaction and the reception of the audience. The thrust stage configuration was in such a manner that the audience could see and identify one another. All of them could witness the play in full angle. The actors had a close interaction with the audience in a thrust stage performance. Though plays of various playwrights were performed in those times Shakespeare’s plays were the most wanted among the audience and specially the Queen. There were advantages as well as disadvantages in a thrust stage. The advantages were that of a close confidence with the audience. Each side had longer rows of seats and the thrust stage was very helpful in performing plays with a intimate theme in order to gain the Support of the audience. The plays were produces at a lower cost as there was very less chance to provide changes in scenery. Only common scenery was painted on the upper stage so that all the audience could watch it. With out such special scenery background some plays were not been able to perform with the expected effect. The disadvantages were that the provision for special effects was completely little. And as mentioned above the frequent change of scenic background was not possible within a small place. Limitations on set designs were also there and this thrust stage will never suit for a large scale production. Since the stage configuration is straight the performance in a vertical angle was not possible. The intimacy as mentioned in the advantages may lead to immediate interaction of the audience with the actors, in such a situation it might have become very difficult to control the audience. The thrust stage was a stage for actor centered not for

CHICANO 310 - Summary In Your Own Words Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

CHICANO 310 - Summary In Your Own Words - Essay Example At some points, one may be singing in a lower voice that uses chest breathing and one of the other performers is singing using falsetto. It is somewhat difficult to determine the breathing pattern since there is a trio performing the song. However, they breathe together in between the bridges. They annunciate the vowels very distinguishably at the end of each phrase. The tone was very upbeat and seemed happy. Though the tempo sounded happy, the falsetto in their voices almost resonated a sadness. The lyrics are very sad and painful as if the performer is leaving his love partner. There is imagery used in the lyricism such as â€Å"Now I feel in my soul to tell you my love dies as a cinder and little by little you run out of light.† This is a use of word play to express how his love for his partner is fading. The singer apologizes to keep his loved one suffering and desperately loving and wishes that the lover will not cry and

Reflection paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 11

Reflection paper - Essay Example However, the concept internalization is dependent on the preceding class lessons and exposure to interaction with the lessons learnt (Bradshaw, 2001). Teachers too need a grasp of this learning cycle that students go through in order to structure their lessons in such a manner to boost interaction and merging the theoretical information and the practical or the real aspects. Understanding by a first grade is different from being a fifth grade based on the perception of simple key facts. Kindergarten and first grade students know content mostly by experiencing and making a comparison with their life. On the other hand, second grade students are better informed than their successors because they know the content by still fumble with a solid understanding. Fourth and fifth grade students can be thought of to have come off the confusion stage owing to their ability to just know and understand what they are dealing with. The article proposes a research on students to be able to understand how they know. It is true that teachers who put their students through assessment ought to understand them better are better prepared to structure their curricula into one that meets their needs effectively (Bradshaw, 2001). After the research teachers come to the realization that experience to students is a crucial affair. It guides in understanding the students level of articulating issues and the approach

Marketing coursework 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Marketing coursework 2 - Essay Example This has been accredited to expanded development and complexed advances that associations are utilizing nowadays to triumph over markets (Christensen, Michael and Jonas 2005). Due to transformation and improvement in expertise, most enterprises are starting to discover worldwide markets for better earnings and opportunities. Advancement in expertise encompassing relation efficacy and better worldwide connections has assisted to the advancement of the worldwide trade. To accomplish larger investments and better market possibilities in the worldwide market, it is essential that prime and smaller market study be finished to double-check that data considering the homeland is attained (Chesbrough 2003). This paper will thus gaze into the obligations and designs required for Panasonic Company to go in a overseas market productively. The major matters that will be tackled by the paper will be; homeland study utilizing PESTEL, business study utilizing SWOT, functioning plans, trade blend and last assessment. Onida was founded by Mirchandani and Mansukhani in 1981 in Mumbai, India. In 1982, Onida began to assemble televisions at a factory they had. Since then, Onida has turned out to be a company with multiple products in the consumer markets. (Solberg 2000). Since its inception in 1982, ONIDA as a constructing business has supported its objective to conceive goods and services that will assist to the sound expansion of humankind and assist to humanity through its business. PESTEL investigation is utilized to enquire the crucial components, which sways a trade and the leverage they have on a specific business or businesses functioning in that specific industry. Political components entail government principles, which are associated to the industry. The financial components encompass the broader financial performance. Social components on the other hand concerns to

Defining Hot Spots As a Crime Analyst Coursework

Defining Hot Spots As a Crime Analyst - Coursework Example Chainey and Ratcliffe (2006, p. 10) explains that are identified areas on a map that are characterized by a high intensity of crime. These areas are developed so that analysts and researchers can examine the identified geographic areas, in relation to crime. The crime hotspot is a geographical analysis. It is developed basing on the crime pin maps of a reported criminal events, over a given period of time. Chainey and Ratcliffe (2006, p. 13) maintains that crime hotspots can vary. It can either be a small building, within a certain location, or even a certain locality within a community. However, the occurrence of crime must be persistent, for at least one year. Theorists and researchers normally examine the development of crime hotspots, and the reasons as to why crime is prevalent in these hotspots. Chainey and Ratcliffe (2006, p. 9) explains that coming up with a map that identifies certain hotspot is an influential and critical tool of policing. This is because they provide an understanding and knowledge of different areas within a town, and on how best to secure these areas. Chainey and Ratcliffe (2006, p. 22) believes that by identifying small areas where crime is prone, their would be a reduction of crime rates within the country. This is because the police would concentrate in these tiny areas leading to a reduction in the overall rates of crime. There exist three major types of crime hot spots, namely, crime generators, crime attractors, and crime enablers. Crime generators are physical places whereby large numbers of people gather for purposes that are not related to crime (Chainey and Ratcliffe, 2006, p.10). These areas provide an opportunity for criminals and offenders to engage in a crime or a disorder. Examples of crime generators include transportation hubs, shopping malls, sporting events, and festivals. Examples of criminal activities that these places are

Brand Analysis of the Body Shop Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Brand Analysis of the Body Shop - Assignment Example Due to such activities the company has been able to position its brand in a better way in comparison to its competitors. The brand characteristics with regard to the products were found to have greatly influenced the customers purchasing decisions for the products which have enabled the company to demand premium price for its products. Table of Contents Executive Summary 2 Table of Contents 3 Brand Positioning and Values 6 Against Animal Testing 8 Support Community Fair Trade 8 Activate Self Esteem 8 Defend Human Rights 9 Protect the Planet 9 Brand Characteristics 10 Customers Benefits 11 Brand Community 12 Brand Equity 13 Conclusion 15 Reflection 16 References 17 Bibliography 19 Introduction The report would attempt to deal with â€Å"The Body Shop† values and its impacts on brand development. The Body Shop was first established by Antia Roddick in the year 1976 as one small shop in Brighton, England for selling beauty products. The company started its business with 25 produc ts that were created with natural ingredients. It was able to attain rapid growth and expand itself in the European market as well as internationally inspite of pursuing the strategy of â€Å"no money spent on advertising†. ... The company mainly produces toiletries and cosmetic products internationally. It offers a wide assortment of beauty products such as body gels and oils, make up products, moisturizers baby care products, hair care products, massage products, skincare products, bath and body products and even fragrances (Carlson, 2011). The products are made from natural ingredients which are supposed to be ethical and environmental friendly such as banana shampoo and coconut milk body lotions. The company primarily aims at combining activism with marketing and encourages women to concentrate on self-esteem along with environmental and social causes. The company strongly criticizes the idea of testing products on animals and ensures that the ingredients used in its prod ucts have not been tested on animals in any possible way. In addition to this, the company also restricts the use of harmful chemicals in the form of ingredients for its products. Furthermore, it believes in the principle of producing eco-friendly products and wishes to establish its identity as an eco-conscious company. The company sells its products both through online and established shopping houses. The company strives to ensure greater degree of cooperation from its suppliers in order to boost its innovations for the development of new and ethical products. The company has been able to retain its customers even after it was taken over by the L’Oreal Company in 2006 (Carlson, 2011). The company’s aim always has been to expand its business by satisfying its customers’ needs with natural and ethical products. It further emphasizes to deliver superior quality beauty products at affordable prices to its loyal customers in contrast to its existing competitors (Fi tness Health, 2012).

Educational Reform in the Antebellum Period Essay

Educational Reform in the Antebellum Period - Essay Example This movement also fought for the expansion of schools. They compelled the government to allocate public funds towards public schooling systems so as to meet expansion needs. They also advocated the need of public schools to be accountable to state governments and school boards. As a result, the government was forced to finance public schools (Simpson, 2004). The government also came up with laws that made elementary school attendance compulsory. In subsequent years, education became universal. The impact it has had on me as a twenty-first-century learner is the fact that through the government, I have the ability to access various learning resources. Consequent results of the movement’s fight also included government’s establishment of a practical educational curriculum system. Quality of education had become a major concern for most people. Most philosophers at the time insisted on a system that would not only enable people to read and write, but also one that would h elp eradicate poverty through innovation and creativity (Simpson, 2004). Similarly, people developed the perception that, the more educated they were, the more productive they became. Over the years, these ideas have contributed to the general development and improvement of educational curriculums. As a learner in the 21st century, the impact these ideas have had on me is that I can access quality education that has expanded my thinking and reasoning capacity to a great extent. Moreover, I have developed a value system.

Tourism and Indigenous People Essay Example for Free

Tourism and Indigenous People Essay 1. 0 AN INTRODUCTION According to the United Nations definition of indigenous people, they are â€Å"descendants of those who inhabited a country or a geographical region at the time when people of different cultures or ethnic origins arrived† (United Nations, 2011a). It is estimated that there are about 370 million indigenous people around the globe in over 70 different countries. They keep their own political, social, economic and cultural qualities and also their unique traditions which separate them from other major societies in which they live (United Nations, 2011a). Nowadays, when tourists interact with indigenous cultures it is seen to be restricted to a master/servant encounter and sometimes is seen as an unoriginal representation of these people? s long-established and cultural lifestyles (Hinch Butler, 1996). Hinch Butler (1996) go on to say that â€Å"factors within the external environment may have particularly strong influences upon the outcome of indigenous tourism†. These influences which they mentioned included the economy, culture, physical environment, socialdemographics and politics (Hinch Butler, 1996, page 12). The economic considerations to take into account are very important for tourism – the development of the economy through the tourism industry has actually been implemented as an approach to promoting economic independence for indigenous people (Hinch Butler, 1996). It is known that for over the past two decades tourism impacts have been defined under three main headings – economic, environmental and socio-cultural. Within the context of tourism, this report will deal with indigenous people through issues they come to deal with during their everyday lives. From positive impacts which can come in the form of monetary benefits for them through tourism activities and an increased sense of pride for their culture, to more pressing issues, which include exploitation of their traditional knowledge and detrimental effects on their homelands by tourism. Most importantly and of utmost significance in our world today is the manipulation of indigenous people? Rights as inhabitants and I felt a strong need to discuss particular topics which are very relevant today in society and which pose great problems for the future of indigenous people. I separated the topics under 3 classic terms – economic, environmental and socio-cultural. Firstly, I will talk about tourisms economic impact on indigenous people, where I based my research on three short case study examples of tourism and indigenous communities from Mexico, Southern Belize and Namibia. 1 6/12/2011 BA (Hons) Tourism Marketing Year 3 2. 0 ECONOMIC ISSUES â€Å"In many developing, or so-called third world countries, the tourism industry has become an economic activity – one that impinges upon social, economic, cultural and environmental structures† (Amador-Greathouse, 2005, p709). The tourism industry, in some form or another, brings about both positive and negative economic impacts for a multitude of people. Particularly in rural areas, the diversification which is created by tourism helps communities that are perhaps dependent on only one industry and in turn, they can create additional income through working in tourism (Kreag, 2001). 2. 1 Importance of the Economy for Indigenous People The main strength that impels the tourism industry is income and literally all of the written matter which deals with these economic impacts looks at foreign income and also the generation of jobs (Bauer, 2008). An example by Hundt, A. (1996) in Jamaica showed that tourism development in the area actually did reap some rewards in the form of increased wealth and an improvement in the position of people? s health, but it also recognized that the money which was generated from tourism was not utilised in the appropriate way and did not improve the health of the people who needed it more than others. On the other hand, Manley (1974) says, when speaking of tourism in Jamaica, that: â€Å"Jamaica cannot afford to go without tourism. No industry grows as quickly in today’s world, nor is as capable of rapid local expansion† (page 101). He went on to say that tourism is one of the most â€Å"labour intensive industries† left to the modern world and that it has a very agreeable multiplier effect when planned successfully (Manley, 1974). According to the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody: National Report (1991) the potential for tourism development is strong in certain parts of Australia. In rural areas it is one of a few growth sections for the economy. However, tourism also brings its quandaries regarding indigenous people, in this case, of aboriginal descent. There are two sides to the coin as at one side we have one of the very few ways that aboriginal people have in taking positive action in creating income for themselves through tourism, but tourism can also bring unwanted invasion of people?s community spirit and lifestyle and bringing with that little benefit to the people (Commonwealth of Australia, 1991). 2 6/12/2011 BA (Hons) Tourism Marketing Year 3 Altman Finlayson (2003) examined how employment as a form of economic income in the tourism industry (and tourism-related industries) needs people with good communicational attributes and people who can read and write, as well as embracing different cultures. This idea can be discouraging for some people of indigenous ethnic groups. They went on to say how these issues aforementioned result in a boundary being set around employment opportunity for (in this case) Aboriginal employees and can restrict their involvement within the other service industries to un-skilled or semi-skilled work (Altman Finlayson, 2003). Also mentioned was the fact that â€Å"they (aborigines) prefer indirect economic participation† and â€Å"participation in hospitality and other tourism-related services also demands direct and intensive social interaction with tourists which many aboriginal people are unwilling or unable to undertake† (Altman Finlayson, 2003, p79). 2. 2 Cuetzalan, Mexico: a positive outcome In the case of Cuetzalan, a county in Mexico and country full of various indigenous ethnic groups, tourism has had a positive economic impact – by generating a fresh and busy economic place it has brought forth a totally new understanding in people and has shown the way for a transformation in the likes of shared relations between different societies native to the area (Amador-Greathouse, 2005, pp709-10). One of the top reasons why tourists go to Mexico is to gain insight into the so-called undamaged and unspoiled way of life that Mexicans have in their native setting. The tourists almost expect the indigenous people to put on a show for them in their own style of living. This is what the natives believe the tourist wants to experience in this way and the tourist then seeks out a new awareness of what this indigenous way of life really is (AmadorGreathouse, 2005, pp709-10). 3 6/12/2011 BA (Hons) Tourism Marketing Year 3 2. 3 Tourism in a Mayan Village, Southern Belize: Do it at Local Level One case study which sheds lights on the economic impact of tourism is the â€Å"Maya Village Indigenous Experience† in 1990. This programme was a way in which the local Mayan villagers in Southern Belize could take part in a plan which would see them benefit economically from tourism to their area by doing it all at local level, but without compromising their way of life and culture (Steinberg, 1994). In the past the Mayan people had been seen as only useful for strenuous labour and agricultural work, without any economic hopes for them. Their view on tourism was that it would benefit them by concentrating on natural assets that they held. The aim was to invite tourists to stay in the local people? s homes, with a fee and with the profits shared fairly between all (Steinberg, 1994). The main outcome was that now the Mayans believe that tourism was an intricate part in the wheel of economic development for their country and has given them hope that the economic benefits from tourism can help in moving their line of work solely from income through agriculture to other forms of income. Of course, there are negative impacts to be seen also. The idea that tourism would bring immediate money to the people was quickly shattered; the native craftspeople left their jobs because craftwork was not being sold to tourists (due to small numbers arriving) and arguments started between members of different neighbouring villages as they all vied to be in the lead as regards the creation of new plans for tourism development (Steinberg, 1994). These impacts were perhaps inevitable, but the Mayans had a strong community spirit in the start-up phase and this did benefit them. Next we move on to Caprivi in Namibia, where both positive and negatives impacts were experienced. 4 6/12/2011 BA (Hons) Tourism Marketing Year 3 2. 4 Caprivi, Namibia: Complement vs. Conflict Another economic impact of tourism is seen in the livelihoods of rural people around the world. It is a matter of sustaining their livelihoods through proper management of tourism in their area. One such case study details positive and negative economic impacts on a Namibian Community (Ashley, 2000). Tourism in the native community of Caprivi is seen as a rural activity, one which is seen as an addition and not as a substitute. A key theme in the study showed that not only did tourism complement other activities, but it also conflicted with them. It strengthened individual household production and increased skills. Sometimes if people get jobs in tourism, they believe it will increase their income over a short space of time, but in fact this is not the reality of it and this is also to the detriment of their traditional way of life. In Caprivi, Namibia, the natives believe that tourism is much easier to link in with their current livelihoods, e. g. agriculture, craft-making, etc These particular tourism jobs are nearer to home, essentially meaning, that if they are farmers working on the land, they can remain farmers working on the land, as well as being involved in tourism (Ashley, 2000). As we have seen the complementative side of tourism for the Caprivians, we will now look to the other side. The conflicting side of these economic tourism impacts come in several ways. 1. Staple activities for income generation are through livestock husbandry and crop production. Tourists have now had the blame put on them for disturbing the wildlife, especially elephants and lions, which in turn, damage water points and kill livestock when the animals aggressively move closer to farms. 2. Grazing lands are lost for farmers whose main income is through livestock-keeping. All of the natural resources are reduced as so much land is set aside for wildlife and for the benefit of tourists. Poorer people dependent on harvesting a variety of natural resources, such as plant medicines, food, weaving materials and items made for selling find that they have little access to these resources, therefore, directly affecting their income (Ashley and LaFranchi, 1997). 3. Time-conflicting: Agriculture and the income generated from this have been affected as community leaders or people who want to set up a tourism enterprise spend a great deal of time working on this. For example, community leaders in Caprivi would need to spend on 5 6/12/2011 BA (Hons) Tourism Marketing Year 3 average about 360-720 days between themselves, park authorities and the public sector to establish a lodge in Mudumo National Park (Ashley and LaFranchi, 1997). What we see from the case studies above, and from the general outcome of economic activity from tourism in these areas, there have been both positives and negatives. Perhaps, for the most part, they might always remain hand in hand to some extent, but hopefully in the future with better resources and tourism management in indigenous cultures, we will see a steady distance made between the two. From the economic section we will now move on to issues of environmental importance for indigenous people. 6 6/12/2011 BA (Hons) Tourism Marketing Year 3 3. 0 ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES According to Ceballos-Lascurain (1996) the term „environment? refers to all the â€Å"conditions, circumstances and influences surrounding, and affecting the development of an organism or group of organisms†. He speaks of ecotourism, coining it as â€Å"environmentally-responsible travel to relatively un-disturbed natural areas, in order to enjoy and appreciate nature that promotes conservation, has low visitor impact and provides for beneficially active socioeconomic involvement of local populations† (Ceballos-Lascurain, 1996). Tourists may class themselves as „ecotourists? , but this term does not represent who they are. A lot of the time, thinking we are „doing good? for the environment, actual amounts to us being the producers of negative impacts for native people and the ecosystem. This arises due to the problem of littering, the locals producing vast amounts of their resources, i. e. firewood for the creation of log cabins, as well as the de-population of some species of animal native to a particular area due to the visitor? s impacts (Ceballos-Lascurain, 1996). 3. 1 Ecotourism and Indigenous Lands Indigenous people, for some time now, have been present in the context of „ecotourism? and its marketing campaigns. Even still, the native people have stayed ignorant to the real fact of what it? s all about. This is happening without them understanding the full extent of what they are dealing with. Indigenous people are taking their own initiative on the matter and are contesting against the so-called industry „experts? to make their own views and opinions heard on ecotourism (Johnston, 2006, pp. 3-4). At the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues which took place on the 15th May, 2003, many issues were brought to the fore– among the issues were tourism and the severity of damage it had done to the land of indigenous people (United Nations, 2003b). Ayitegau Kouevi, a member of the forum and also an indigenous expert stated that: â€Å"all indigenous people shared a social and ecological relationship with their land† (United Nations, 2003b). People worried regarding the way in which the land was used and the controlling of their resources (United Nations, 2003b). Tourism helps families in indigenous communities is true to some extent, but when it takes these people away from their traditional working of the land for food and crops to work in tourism jobs, then the outcomes become significant. Tourism increases the amount that these people will have to hand over to buy staple foods. A cycle of these people being held in the poverty trap is seen, even when/if they decide to work in tourism (Johnston, 2006, page 8). 7 6/12/2011 BA (Hons) Tourism Marketing Year 3 3. 2 Ifugao Rice Terraces, Philippines: Under Threat A publication by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) (2008a) was completed on a specific example of one such indigenous community bearing the brunt of these environmental impacts. The Ifugao are an indigenous people who hail from the Cordillera Mountains in Northern Luzon, Philippines. Through their own way of life, they have been able to preserve and carry on their own traditions which are alive within their rituals, land and native craftworks. They are a people who have depended solely upon themselves to maintain their cultural heritage (Bulilan, 2007). As with other cases on environmental impacts of tourism, much the same is seen to be happening to the native people and their land. As tourism became more pronounced in this area of the Philippines in the early 1920? s, tourism development started to take place. From then until now, a lot of this development has severely impacted on the local land. This area of Ifugao is well-known for its beautiful undulating rice terraces, for which it has become a world heritage site (UNESCO, 2008a). Even still, the dire planning of infrastructure in the area (due to the lack of or non-zoning policies) has led to many problems. Water resources are not up to liveable standards and the land is left with little strength as it is drained of all its natural reserves for infrastructure. A direct result of this is that staple diet foods, i. e. the sustainable rice crop is destroyed and this directly impacts upon the people of the area and their natural food source. Rivers which held innumerable amounts of fish are now used as dumping grounds and the clean air is filled with harmful gases from transport vehicles which frequent the area (UNESCO, 2008a). The first tourist destination to arise in Ifugao was in Banaue (UNESCO, 2008a). With this development, tourism was said to have been the core cause of the deprivation that the environment was experiencing. More problems came in the form of water supply to the rice fields being exhausted as the influx of tourism increased the want for locally carved souvenirs made from wood. In turn, this has increased the level of deforestation in Banaue, as well as in other towns. In what should have been an attractive and aesthetically inviting area, Banaue now has a stark contrast between garish concrete buildings and the native Ifugao homesteads (UNESCO, 2008a). 8 6/12/2011 BA (Hons) Tourism Marketing Year 3 3. 3 Sanitation Systems, Littering and Waste Disposal Another extremely important, but still very prominent environmental impact of tourism which can affect local communities is the area of sanitation systems, littering and waste disposal. According to Ceballos-Lascurain (1996) waste can affect soil, vegetation, cultivation and even our air which we breathe. There is no „safe? way of disposing of waste, but the only thing to inevitably stop it is to prevent its production in the first place. Of course, this would prove an immediate problem. In some national parks around the world visitors are given small plastic litter bags to dispose of waste in, but even still, a fundamental mistake was made in the bags being made of plastic, when they should be made of paper. Human waste and littering is leading to the contamination of local people? s water systems, which in itself brings a whole host of health problems. In many areas of the world, indigenous people still fight for their right to the land they were raised upon. They want to be recognised as the owners of the land, the people who cultivate, nurture and maintain it. There needs to be more community involvement with local and indigenous people and the development of tourism. If the locals are recognised as having a part to play in protecting their land and having it „used?in the right way, without it being exploited by tourism development, then perhaps a happier, more sustainable ending might be seen. 9 6/12/2011 BA (Hons) Tourism Marketing Year 3 3. 4 Nepal: Tourism Effects on the Environment and the Indigenous Sherpa Environment: Nepal is a well-known tourist destination these days. Many people go there for the purpose of trekking and hiking for days with the help of Sherpa? s, an ethnic group of devout Buddhists living in north-eastern Nepal (Reid, 2003, p54). Due to the large number of tourists who visit this area every year, tourism has taken its toll on the environment. Pollution is visible on most routes, working on its own or as a combination with other underlying issues, such as: lack of hygiene, lack of proper sanitation systems (for locals, guides and Sherpa porters) and the lack of awareness people actually have about the environment (Pandey et al, 1995). Deforestation and pollution issues are still major causes for the environments deprivation, especially in the mountainous areas, but tourism has still become an opportunity for people here to make a decent living (Pandey et al, 1995). Indigenous Sherpas: Out of the 30 or so indigenous groups in Nepal, Sherpas are the most well-known. In fact, Sherpas have a role within the tourism industry rivalled by few indigenous people around the world (Reid, 2003, p54). While less can be said for the environmental impacts of tourism, the tourism industry has been, as a whole, decent enough to the Sherpa people regarding income, better lifestyles and opportunities. When most Sherpa families relied on herding their yaks and harvesting their potatoes, they turned away from the advances of modernization, but now the Sherpa? s are tied to tourism and its development through a very strong hold (Reid, 2003, p55). Ang Rita Sherpa, a graduate of the Khumjung school who now leads the Edmund Hillary foundation in Kathmandu defined three advancements in history which helped the lives of the Sherpa to become what it is today the incoming British tourists of the 19th century brought with them potato plants which was recognised as a new staple crop, the introduction of iodine in the 20th century meant that public health was improved considerably and finally, the westerners who came and saw the mountains and longed to climb them paved the way for the foundation of a tourism economy. This economy has given more stability than the Sherpa? s agricultural or trading activities ever gave (Reid, 2003, p57). The Sherpas are still a strong people, rooted in their history and culture. Through tourism, some of their culture has given way to modernisation and their land has been negatively impacted upon by tourism, but for the most part, they remain true to their way of life. So much so, that the whole idea of building roads through these tourist mountain passes seems 10 6/12/2011. BA (Hons) Tourism Marketing Year 3 senseless and environmentally wrong to them. They believe having no roads is an â€Å"essential element of the Sherpa condition†. The rimpoche, an important Buddhist lama who lives on Mt. Tempoche in Nepal, said that â€Å"there will never be a road – not in my life-time, not in our children’s lifetime. We are Sherpas. We walk† (Reid, 2003, p71). As we can see, the Sherpas of Nepal are advancing slowly with tourism, but still have a grasp on their traditional ways. Tourism has most definitely brought new opportunities to them so far, but it is the way in which they manage the incoming tourists to their destination which will help in protecting their indigenous culture. 3. 5 Traditional Knowledge: Medicinal Plant Misuse through Bio-Piracy Bio-piracy, according to the ETC Group (Action Group on Erosion, Technological and Conservation, 2005) is â€Å"the appropriation of the knowledge and genetic resources of farming and indigenous communities by individuals or institutions who seek exclusive monopoly control (patents or intellectual property) over these resources and knowledge†. According to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC, 2004) â€Å"the market for herbal remedies in North America and Europe has risen by 10% every year for the past decade, research indicates. It is now thought to be worth at least ? 11bn†. There is no doubt that this trade is so huge because companies want to market these remedies in a consumer marketplace. They are not taking into consideration the environmental effects it has on the land and the effect it has on the local people. According to Malani (2003) the importance of traditional knowledge to indigenous people is enormous. Local people around the world rely on this knowledge, handed down for generations, to advance through their daily lives and through their healing in times of sickness. Worryingly, due to the increase of value in this traditional knowledge, many organisations have essentially thrown themselves on the bandwagon to profit from this knowledge (Malani, 2003). The awful truth is that whereas indigenous people see these medicinal plants as having an important therapeutic value, the only „value? companies? associate with using this sacred knowledge is commercial-based (Malani, 2003). Some communities are still somewhat oblivious to bio-piracy. In a remote village in Kenya, the Maasai have introduced an interactive exhibit of plants which shows tourists what particular plants/shrubs they use for curing illnesses and how they use them. The plants are 11 6/12/2011 BA (Hons) Tourism Marketing Year 3 labelled by name and are each presented on a coloured stone tablet (Johnston, 2006, p103). Visitors are not allowed pick the shrubs, but are shown their uses which might satisfy them enough and deter them from taking a sprig of one home with them. A different approach was taken by the Nlaka? pamux people of Canada who have set in stone their own rules and regulations when it comes to disclosure of their traditional knowledge. They have created their own line of herbal soaps for tourists under the name „Siska Traditions?. These soaps come with an information pamphlet with describes the basic medicinal properties which they hold, and nothing more. A simple introduction is all that is needed to ensure, for now, protection of their indigenous knowledge (Johnston, 2006, p103). The practice of bio-piracy is still widespread around the globe and is drying out the land of its natural herbal remedies. The utilization of indigenous people? s knowledge of medicinal plants and the exploitation of their lands for this purpose is still a major issue. 12 6/12/2011 BA (Hons) Tourism Marketing Year 3 4. 0 SOCIO-CULTURAL ISSUES Sofield (1991) (cited in Ramchander, 2004, p4) described socio-cultural impacts of tourism as â€Å"the sum total of all the social and cultural influences that come to bear upon the host society as a result of tourism contact†. Many studies have been done which deal with the local people? s feelings and attitudes towards tourism and impacts of tourism to their area. According to Swarbrooke (1999) the socio-cultural impacts of tourism are sometimes invisible and intangible and the most worrying as aspect of these impacts are that they are largely irreversible when they have been done. Normally, the effects of these impacts lie on the host community. The answer lies in the relationships which the tourist and the host community create with one another (Swarbrooke, 1999). Increasingly in the last number of years, tourists have been travelling to destinations with have an inclination towards travel for a varied product offering – they now travel for historical, archaeological and traditional purposes, as well as for the atmosphere they get from being in a particular place (Besculides et al, 2002). Cultural tourism, in general, sees a want in the tourist to establish communication with the host culture and with their environment. Tourists now have a curiosity to understand the native? s behaviours, traditions and cultural identity (Besculides et al, 2002). Kreag (2001) identified several positive and negative socio-cultural impacts of tourism which can have profound effects on indigenous people. They ranged from improving the quality of life of the host community and promoting cultural exchange, to drinking, alcoholism and gambling, displacement of residents and an unwanted lifestyle change. As we can see, impacts of tourism to a community can either be an asset to that community or can be to their detriment. Relevant and ongoing socio-cultural issues will now be discussed further. 13 6/12/2011 BA (Hons) Tourism Marketing Year 3 4. 1 Aiming to Please and Relative Deprivation Acculturation: Sometimes host communities want to please the tourist and sometimes they can adopt tourist behaviour. This is known as acculturation. According to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM, 2004) acculturation can be defined as â€Å"the progressive adoption of elements of a foreign culture (ideas, words, values, norms, behaviour, institutions) by persons, groups or classes of a given culture and this partial or total adaptation is caused by contacts and interactions between different cultures through migration and trade relations†. This can be detrimental to the host community – they slowly lose their own way of life by being influenced by the tourist. Relative Deprivation: It seems that the impact tourists have on a particular area may actually affect the native people? s feelings about themselves and this, in turn, can cause bitterness toward the visiting influx of tourists to their homeland. (Runciman, 1966), cited in (Walker and Smith, 2002) explained that relative deprivation deals with the idea of people comparing their own lives with that of the other individuals or other social groups. Depending on what type of person they compare themselves with; this will determine the level of resentment which they will inevitably feel. An interaction which takes place between both cultures (tourist and host) can provide new opportunities, but could also suppress independence, as well as forcing a community to adopt a different ethical behaviour, one which they are not used to. This could come in a positive way, e. g. improved understanding between males and females (as many countries think differently about this aspect of social life) or by an increased use of drugs, perhaps (Kreag, 2001). This can create a whole host of other problems, such as an increase in violence in the area. 14 6/12/2011 BA (Hons) Tourism Marketing Year 3 4. 2 Traditional Ceremonies and the Tourist Gaze Traditional ceremonies native to specific tribes or groups of indigenous people may be rejuvenated by incoming tourist interests in culture, but these traditional ceremonies may also be lost (Kreag, 2001). Many see culture as a product or service when they travel. It? s as if it? s part of the whole experience and they demand to have it. According to Johnston (2006), whether a tour which tourists partake in whilst on holidays is nature-oriented or ethnicallyoriented, the local indigenous culture will be included in this whole „package? , a lot of the time without the native? s say-so or contribution. This is an unacceptable use of people? s culture for marketing tourism and is one of the negative impacts on indigenous people – it is an ethical issue which has been brought up by indigenous people constantly. The Toraja people of Sulawesi, Indonesia, took the idea of a traditional ceremony shown to the outside world to the extreme, one might say. Following the death of a high-status Toraja figure in December, 1991, a camera crew came, with consent from this man? s family, to film the funeral ceremony in full. The idea behind it was to capture an â€Å"exotic† Toraja funeral, complete with animal sacrifices and rituals being performed in front of the camera lens (Yamashita, 1994). The son of the deceased, a wealthy businessman who had made it big in his early life in the city of Ujung Padang, paid $10,000 as a „co-operation fee? to the production company. We are still taking into account here that even though Sampe (son of the deceased) was well-off, the majority of the Toraja are peasants. Two things were happening in this situation – 1. Sampe, the deceased? s son, was conscious that showcasing his father? s funeral would promote Toraja for tourism purposes. The Indonesian government was also getting on the bandwagon and had endorsed this behaviour by influencing ethnic culture so that it could then market the area to tourists from elsewhere. The second was that the tourists could photograph and record the ceremony, under the spell of the „tourist gaze?. The „tourist gaze? , described by John Urry, is when â€Å"Places are chosen to be gazed upon because there is anticipation, especially through daydreaming and fantasy, of intense pleasures, either on a different scale or involving different senses from those customarily encountered† (Urry, 2002, p3). Other re-enforcers of this „tourist gaze? are seen through watching T. V. , reading magazines, etc The local tradition of the Toraja became removed from the culture of these people and was turned into a commodity for the tourist to consume (Yamashita, 1994). The Toraja of Sulawesi was one such case study whereby not only the tourists were taking full advantage of 15 6/12/2011 BA (Hons) Tourism Marketing Year 3 a traditional ceremony, but the local people too, to some extent, for the beneficial outcome it would give them regarding tourism to the area. Needless to say, these cultural impacts are having a profound effect on indigenous people worldwide and some have come to reject tourism altogether. The American Indian Movement (1984) stated its warning many times – â€Å"We condemn those who seek to profit from Indian Spirituality

Jude the Obscure Essay Example for Free

Jude the Obscure Essay According to philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, religion is a â€Å"falsehood. † The implications of the â€Å"death of God† addressed by Nietzsche are portrayed through the characters and the plot itself of the novel Jude the Obscure written by Thomas Hardy. Nietzsche believes that religion has influenced and distorted the value of truth, the influence of morality, and the need for worship, leading people down a path of wandering. The main character in the novel, Jude, experiences many troubles throughout his life, which stem from uncertainty of his beliefs and desires. Religion seems to be the light Jude should follow, but it is actually an illusion, which leads to a falsehood of truth and meaning, morality, and the church. Friedrich Nietzsche believes that everything that made sense with God no longer exists and religion has led to the death of truth and meaning. This is a common theme in Jude the Obscure. Throughout the book, Hardy displays the feeling that religion is something that people use to satisfy themselves by giving their lives meaning. This is apparent in the main character Jude, who is an orphan constantly searching to give himself an identity. Jude gravitates towards people or places hoping to give his life meaning. His relationship with Mr. Phillotson led him to follow a religious path, believing it will help him add meaning to his life. Jude is illustrated as a wanderer, similar to those who are on the path of religion, wandering from place to place to find work and searching for his own identity. Hardy uses this allusion to convey that a religious path does not provide one true destination, but rather it leaves people wandering. The concept of morality and distinguishing between what is good and evil often causes angst and anxiety among people. Religion creates a battle of guilt and uncertainty. Throughout the novel, Jude is battling with his religious views and his deepest desires, wanting to be religious like his mentor but also fulfill his desire to stay with Sue. The guilt Jude felt about his longing to be with Sue led him to leave the church. These feelings of guilt caused Jude to move away from the Church and â€Å"betray† God, as he states, â€Å"The Church is no more to me (Hardy 237). † Religion produced a falsehood of emotions that only left Jude dissatisfied with his thoughts and actions. Religion forms an image of an attainable ideal world, but this ideal vision rejects reality. Within the novel, Jude sees in Christminster an attainable, ideal world, similar to the one people see in the Church, heaven. Hardy uses biblical references that lead readers to make a connection between the Church and Christminster. Jude sees Christminster as â€Å"the city of the light† and â€Å"a place he had likened to the new Jerusalem (Hardy 22). † Jude sees Christminster as a place where he desires to fulfill his hopes and dreams, but this wonderful world exists only in Jude’s imagination. Jude runs to religion to escape his problems and what he had hoped to achieve in Christminster was unfulfilled. His love, Sue, left him for the one who brought him to religion, and he was not accepted to any of the colleges he had desired to attend. Like Hardy, Nietzsche explains that religion and the church create a false illusion of the world, which is actually filled with many letdowns. When religion is gone and God is dead, all that is left is the love we have for one another and ourselves. Jude’s tribulations throughout the novel are linked to his internal battle of emotions towards religion and his desires. Religion is a falsehood that leads to wandering down a path towards an unattainable ideal world. Religion creates one value of truth, but according to Nietzsche and Hardy, there isn’t one single truth and it is impossible to judge the values and correctness of one group. The judgment and hypocrisy Jude felt in the novel led him down a path of unhappiness and emptiness. Jude’s realization at the end of the novel correlates with Nietzsche view on religion; one must choose his own path because when God is dead, all that is left is the individual perspective on reality.

The Exley Chemical Company Analysis

The Exley Chemical Company Analysis Muhao Zhou Abstract The Exley chemical company is a major chemical manufacturer making primarily industrial chemicals, plastics, and consumer products. Company sales and profits have grown, and its ratio of net profits to sales I about average for the industry. However, in the last year, both sales and profits have been disappointing. [G1]The company thinks it is the problem of new products constantly being introduced into the line and methods are changing constantly. This is not the major reason about company lost competition. [G2][G3]The major problem is internal conflict between team members and departments. Another problem is poor leadership and management of each department. Managers must find and implement ways that allow Exley Chemical Company operate efficiently. Conflict resolution and large group intervention may help the company [G4]achieve the goal.[G5][G6] Exley Chemical Company Case analysis Internal conflict problems are inevitable within an organization no matter the structure. The problems will exist unless companys managers recognize the situation and fix the problems. The cause of these problems is a result of [G7]departments conflict, unclear goals, disobedience, and lack of communications between each department.[G8][G9][G10] Conflicts were created with almost all the departments. The product development division using a small force of specialty sales people to conduct pilot marketing programs an initiative which was not well received by marketing people. The product division was given responsibility for market research. However, these still remained in the market division. After these things, the company set up a product manager for each group of products. This made company has more problems. [G11]First, the Product manager quarrels with the marketing department. The product manager often visits customers to get feedback while marketing executives are doing the same thing at same time. At this period of time, customers often get confused by this. The marketing vice president thinks that the product development intervenes their work. This should be marketing developments work. [G12][G13]Second, the calculating sales estimates are causing misinformation to be produced since the norm[G14]al within the compa ny[G15] is to use the total market as opposed to their share of the market.[G16] The product development group did not follow companys guidelines. They were doing this in their own way. [G17]Third, the company ignored the [G18]customers ideas and competitors in industry. When most customers give advice for the company, they did not give feedback on this. The competitors have a lower price of the similar products compare with Exley.   Each division head works on the project that makes the most for their division. They want to [G19][G20][G21]maximize the potential of their department. This is not the companys goal after examining the environment of Exleys business. [G22]Organizational environments are everything beyond the boundaries of organizations that can directly or indirectly affect performance and outcomes. It includes external agents that directly affect the organization, such as suppliers, customers, regulators, and competitors, as well as indirect influences in the wider c ultural, political, and economic context. There are two classes of environments called general environment and industry structure or task environment. In this case, Exley companys general environment is certain and simple. Technologically, the company is dependent on new products innovation. At industry structure or task environment, as defined by Michael Porter, an organizations task environment consists of fine forces: supplier power, buyer power, threats of substitutes, threats of entry and rivalry among competitions. [G23][G24]At this point, Exley Company is moderated competitive and high pressure on profits. The threats of entry are low. It is difficult and costly to enter this market. Chemical industry needs high knowledge research people to keep innovation and equipment is expensive to obtain. The threats of substitute products are high. The competitors always have methods to get more market share with a lower price or new products. The force of suppliers power is low because the resources are available anywhere. The customers forces are high. The buyers are willing to pay a low price for similar products. Finally, rivalry among firms is severe. The Exley chemical company current is the average of the total industry which indicates that they have a lot of competitors. [G25][G26][G27][G28][G29][G30]The company is facing the threats from buyer power and rivalry among competitions but none of them get noticed by the company.[G31][G32][G33][G34][G35][G36][G37][G38][G39][G40][G41][G42][G43] Exley chemical company establish the product development division to manage the increasing number of new products. The product development division was charged with coordinating in developing new products, including recommending manufacturing capacity, sales programs, and so on. The company has found the problems and conflict in several departments. The role of this division is like OD practitioner.   [G44]Based on the book, OD is vitally dependent on effective diagnosis to access how the organization in functioning and to choose an appropriate change intervention. New product development division has taken on a life of its own, opting to market its new developments instead of passing the new products to the other divisions to handle their usual responsibilities. It is difficult to coordinate the companies operations under this division. The director of product development division who should have the expertise and experience to work with members on the issues like an OD practition er but the self-proclaimed independence of this new division is causing conflicts among the other divisions that previously collaborated effectively. New division could not solve the problems of lack communication between each division. [G45][G46] Exley chemical companys organization structure is also a big problem. The company is a matrix organization. Matrix organizational designs originally evolved in the aerospace industry, where changing customer demands and technological conditions caused managers to focus on lateral relationships between functions to develop a flexible and adaptable system of resources and procedures, and to achieve a series of project objectives. On the positive side, it allows multiple orientations. New products or projects can be implemented quickly by using people flexible and moving between product and functional orientations as circumstances demand. It can maintain consistency among departments and projects by requiring communication among managers. Unfortunately, Exley chemical company did not get any advantage on that organization structure. [G47][G48][G49]There are miscommunicate with each divisions managers and unable to shift emphasis by environment changes. Matrix structures are motivating a nd exciting for many people. On the negative side, the company without balancing between product and functional forms which lower the overall performance. The crisis management and conflicts under inconsistent demands by this structure. Matrix structures are appropriate under three important conditions. First, there must be [G50]outside pressures for a dual focus. Exley chemical company has a unique research department which focuses on innovation new products[G51]. They also have different products in several markets. Second, the organization must process a large amount of information. When external environmental demands change, the company should have to make a proper decision. Exley Company cannot process a large amount of information. [G52][G53][G54]Most important information from competitors and customers were ignored by the company because of the lack of communications and team collaboration inefficiently in the organization. [G55][G56][G57]Third, there must be pressures for sh ared resources. When customer demands vary greatly and technological requirements are strict, valuable human and physical resources are likely to be scarce. Exley chemical company might fail under this structure if any of these conditions are not met. [G58][G59] Recommendations for Exley chemical company Based on the analysis above, I would recommend an intergroup conflict intervention and select an OD professional from outside to training and helping organization managers. Intergroup conflict intervention is designed specifically to help two or more groups or departments within an organization resolve dysfunctional conflicts. In this case, there are conflicts between the different divisions as to who is responsible for what and when. Whether it between the product division and the marketing division, or the sales department and the marketing division, each of them must be able to overcome these problems. According to Blake and his associates, the basic strategy for improving intergroup relationships consists of a ten-step procedure. For Exley chemical company to apply this intergroup conflict intervention, the external OD practitioner should obtain all these department managers agreement to work together. OD practitioner set a time for managers to meet. The next thing is OD practitioner with managers describe the purpose and objectives of the meeting: to develop better mutual relationships, explore the perceptions the groups have of each other and form ulate plans for improving the relationship. The OD practitioner lets each group managers answer the questions and describes other managers. In this case, I would question the managers: what is your department goal and what is your job? and what do you think other departments goal and what is their job? After they completing their questions, each group managers should present their answers. By this point, the misperceptions and discrepancies have been brought to light. The managers of the company could thoroughly understand each other job and goals. At last, [G60][G61][G62]managers are asked to set a specific plan of action for solving problems and for improving their relationships. There will be a follow-up meeting about how these problems implemented and identify any further problems that have emerged. [G63][G64] Intergroup conflict intervention will keep the companies goals in mind and everyone working in the same direction.[G65][G66][G67][G68][G69] Another recommendation is Exley chemical company should find an external consultant or OD practitioner to find and solve companys problems.   The current product development division seems like a role of OD but they are not experienced and professional to solve the conflicts among the departments in an organization.[G70][G71] Conclusion Matrix structure organization like Exley chemical company has its own advantages and disadvantages. I would not recommend that Exley chemical company restructures the organization. [G72]The major problems of Exley chemical company are conflicts among each department. Lack of communication of departments causes each department just work on their own project. [G73]Intergroup Conflict intervention and OD practitioner will help managers achieve their task and solve organizations problems.[G74][G75][G76][G77]

Improving Memory Essay -- essays research papers

how to improve memory Mr. Douglas Enclosed in the following are five techniques that you may want to consider using to help you improve your memory.  Finding a reason to remember  Be selective in about what you learn  Organize your information  Mnemonics  Rehearse information through recitation First, finding a reason to remember is very important. If you have a reason to remember information you just learned, then you have a better chance of holding on to it. For example, let’s say a person has trouble with his/her multiplication tables. And the person loves to lift weights. The teacher would use the information form math and apply it to the weight lifting. Such as 5 x 5=25, and lifting five pounds five time is a total of twenty-five pounds. You see this comparison makes the student learn it better because he/she can use it in more ways than one. This technique has helped me the most when I was learning about percentages in math. I could not quiet get the ha ng of it, so the teacher applied it to how much money would one save if a $50.00 shirt was 20% off. This gave me the motivation to learn it. Second, you should be selective in what you learn. You only want to learn the main ideas and leave the supporting material alone. Doing this should make you memorize the information in a shorter amount of time. For example, if you were trying to study Biology, and there is a lot of it just remember the bold face type ...

Amazon.com :: GCSE Business Marketing Coursework

Amazon.com In 1994, Jeffery Bezos noticed an important statistic about the Internet -- the fact that its usage was growing at 2300 percent a year. He was quick to become a part of such rapid growth; he began selling books on-line. He chose books over the vast number of products that could be sold on-line because of their volume. There were 1.5 million English-language books in print and 3 million books in all languages worldwide, while the largest physical bookstore in the world only carried 175,000 of the 1.5 million titles. Bezos made several decisions while starting his company; all of them seeming to be wise ones. For example, although it would seem unimportant for a virtual business, he was very selective in choosing a good location to start his business. He decided on Seattle: a place with lots of technical talent, near a large number of books; a nice place to live, and most importantly, it was in a small state -- to avoid customers having to pay sales tax due to the business’s presence in that state. Amazon.com was launched in July 1995. Sales picked up rapidly. By the end of 1996, its revenues reached $15.6 million, which was three times larger than the revenues of a large Barnes & Nobles superstore. The firm continued to expand and revenues continued to increase to a whopping $147 million in 1997. Despite the growth and huge revenues that Amazon.com made, the company still had net losses for 1996 and 1997. Bezos seems to have a good feel of the market. He has several services and functions that â€Å"cater† to the needs of the customers. His number one focus is customer service. Every decision, change, or acquisition that he makes is based, he claims, on making things better for the customer. After learning about Bezos technological and operational advances and efficiency, as well as his number one concern to satisfy the customer, one would wonder why his company is still experiencing loss year after year.

Free Essay on Nathaniel Hawthornes The Scarlet Letter - Lasting Effect of Sin :: Scarlet Letter essays

Lasting Effect of Sin The Scarlet Letter Puritan society placed great importance upon a person's reputation. Without an honorable reputation a person is not worthy of respect from others in their society. Characters in this novel go through their lives struggling with themselves trying to cope with the guilt and shame associated with their actions. In Nathaniel Hawthorne's novel, The Scarlet Letter, he shows the lasting effect that sin has on Hester and Dimmesdale. Hester Prynne's guilt is the result of her committing adultery, which has a profound effect on her life. Hester is publicly seen with the scarlet letter when she first emerges out of the cold dark prison. "It had the effect of a spell, taking her out of the ordinary relations with humanity and enclosing her in a sphere by herself " (Hawthorne 49). The spell that is mentioned is the scarlet letter, "so fantastically embroidered and illuminated upon her bosom" (Hawthorne 49). The scarlet letter is what isolates her from everyone else because it symbolizes sin. Hester is in her very own sphere, a world of her own where her sin effects her livelihood and has completely isolated her from the world. Her entrance into the sphere marks the beginning of her guilt, it occurs when she is "in the prison after her first exposure to the crowd-her "moral agony" reflected in the convolutions that have seized the child; her pride, her daring" (Bloom 34). The prison marks the beginning of a new life f or Hester, a life full of guilt and isolation. Her "moral agony" (Bloom 34), is her guilt that is slowly surfacing while she faces the crowd realizing that she has been stripped of her pride and everything that was important to her in the past. The lasting effect of Hester's sin is the guilt that she now embodies due to her commiting adultery. The guilt that is associated with Hester's sin remains with her as an everlasting reminder of her sinful actions (Bloom 34). Guilt is a consequence of sin that Hester has to endure throughout her life. Hester's guilt begins starts to have a profound effect on her life and thinking. Hester's guilt has become very influential in her life making her unable to express herself freely. "Hester Prynne might have repaid them all with a bitter and disdainful smile. But under the leaden infliction which it was her doom to endure, she felt at moments as if she must needs (to) shriek" (Hawthorne 52-53).

Oscar Flores: A.P US History Essay

The relationship between Indians and English was very controversial. They both had plans to assert their interests but led the English to be victorious. Initially, there was a good relationship between English and Indians but it would be changed drastically. The English brought different thing with them to the new world. They brought with them diseases like plague and smallpox which Indians were not immune to. The English also brought weapons Indians wouldn’t have ever thought about of. They came very well prepared with guns and mechanical weapons while Indians had poor resources, able to only flight with arrows and bows. Being peaceful the Indians wanted no violence to erupt with the English. When the English came to the new world they wanted to dominate as much as they could. The English were trying to take over land from the Indians. They wanted to have more land so they could have more plantations for their tobacco. As time flew by, the English fully established their pres ence in the new world. It was clear that they were here to stay and their impact was still to come. Over time they were creating a new society, and they were pushing away the Indians form their lands. Although Indians may have wanted to do something there wasn’t so much they could actually do. They were being outnumbered they were dying because of diseases and the lack of resources, it would be impossible to stop the English. By the 1600’s, as Indians had moved deeper into the west, laws were being created in the new English society that helped to get better. The Virginia house of burgesses, in 1619, enacted ways to stabilize the foundation of the new world by trying to convert the Indians into Christianity. The English hoped to accomplish this by acquiring native children and hoping to educate them in Christianity. They did this more with young boys to try and brainwashing them in the religion and educate them. This may have worked to gain the English ore support from Indians. Furthermore, as much as Indians were trying to be peaceful many English would turn their back on them. Document b an Englishmen recalls a day in 1622 were Indians were trying to trade with the m in a peaceful way. This shows a technique Indians were trying use to have peace with the English. Thing always turn out bad for the Indians there was brutal wars between the Indians and English. Like the Pequot war of, 1637 which was alliances within in the colonies against alliances within Indian tribes but of course Indians lost because of the English’s military tactics. There were many other wars between these two like the Powhatan war which was three battles but the war ended in peace. As years went by, with all the Indians dying, the English were becoming a bit fond of the Indians. In 1677 a governor that wanted to protect the Indians was the center of riots and infuriated citizens (doc. E). Then the governor sought to trade with the Indians secretly which treated him much better than his own people. In conclusion, although Indians were peaceful people that did not deserve to get what they got from the English, they were taking advantage of and sabotaged. In the 1600’s continuing into the 1700’s, the English- Indian relation may have enhanced slightly, b ut majorities of the time English were cruel to the Indians. The Indians when trying to make peace they were murdered , their home would get destroyed , they would die of diseases, and they were outnumbered in power because of English’s better technology and techniques that took over Indian land. More so, the English were victorious because of technology, they were more organized, and the need they have to take over land. Also they were facing a group of people that didn’t want violence.

Four Little Girls

Documentary Film Analysis Worksheet For History 221 and History 222 Professor Tondeur Instructions: †¢ You will find the list of films you can choose from in the Lesson section of the course. †¢ Go to the list and pick your film. You must view the entire film. If you can’t access films because of deployment, geographic location, or other reasons, please let your instructor know so they can give you an alternate assignment. †¢ You must answer in complete sentences, using a short answer/paragraph format. Cut and paste your answers into the Student Submission box for Assignment #2 and submit it as a Word document. 1. What is the title of the film you picked? 2. Why did you pick this film over the others offered? 3. What is/are the central message(s) of this documentary/fictional film? Be specific. Use examples from the film to support your choice. 4. Consider the effectiveness of the film for this history class. What are its strengths and weaknesses of this film in documenting history? . How do you think the filmmakers want the audience to respond? Is there a social justice message? If so, what is it? 6. Did the documentary leave you with any unanswered questions? If so, what were they? 7. How did this film change any misconceptions or stereotypes you had about the subject matter? If so, what were they? 8. What is the most important thing you learned from watching the film? 9. Why is this film important to understanding contemporary African American History?

Talent Acquisition Strategies for the 21st Century.

In the past five years, we have gotten a taste of what is going to feel like in a market where there are simply not enough qualified people to fill jobs needed to be filled. The recent downturn has caused organizations to stop many of the programs that were starting to show promise in the field of Human Capital Management, particularly on the recruitment side of the house. In these testing times, one needs to have proper strategy in place to be successful in any venture.In business you cannot do everything by yourself. You need capable and highly accomplished people to assist you in achieving the goals that you have set for your organization. Today, we are in the era of ‘War of Talent'. Wherein it is becoming more and more hard to get right kind of talent and keep hold of them. Many organizations are trailing to competitors because they are not able to hire â€Å"right type of people† and retain them. â€Å"What is the difference between ‘Recruiting' and ‘St rategy Talent Acquisition'? Recruitment is nothing more than filling the vacant positions, whereas Strategic Talent Acquisition is a long term process. It is not only concerned with filling the vacant positions today, but also using the prospective candidate data for filling similar positions in future. Strategic Talent Acquisition allows an organization have a pool of competitive talent that could be used for filling the positions in future. Executive leadership cites the procurement of human capital among their top concerns.The first step to address this reality is the recognition that successful talent acquisition is no longer an annual process, but instead is the process of building long-term strategies. Whether it is board room pr factory floor, a combat is swiftly taking shape. It will unquestionably redefine how organizations do business in the 21st- century market. A prophesy of the warfare came two decades ago, when Mckinsey consulting predicted a progress in the business s etting that could later on become the most serious issue facing HR managers.This ‘Talent war' or skill shortage is threatening the very existence of many corporations. It is believed that around 1/3 of business failures are due to inappropriate hiring decisions and their inability to draw and keep hold of right kind of talent. ‘Star Performers' who don't get enough opportunities for growth and advancement in their current job often change jobs, and the shortage of talent becomes apparent. In this ‘War of Talent', there's a need for long-term, and strategic talent acquisition. Organizations can no longer erely fill the positions as and when any vacancy arises. They must think ahead to deal with the sudden exodus of talent and adapt their strategies to allay the high turnover risk. Traditionally organizations do not consider the recruitment process as one of tactical importance, but in recent years many organizations are facing this harsh reality that they no longer have a wide pool of candidates to choose from. Several changes in the past few years have tipped the balance in support of the highly talented individuals. Internet is one such change.It has brought the whole world into your living room. Candidates can now look for jobs online and send and receive enquiries about prospective positions within hours. Things are Further complicated by ‘Generation Shift'. It is the change in outlook amongst the generations of workforce who'll stay put in the next few decades. Today's young generation of workforce has the outlook and pattern of behaviour that differ noticeably from preceding generations. No longer pleased to waste their whole career with one company, generation Y prefers work-life balance over loyalty.They are very much mobile and do not waver to look for a different position somewhere else if work-life balance is hurt or if they are treated badly. Furthermore, they may merely look to alter the landscape every couple of years, movi ng to different part of the country to experience diverse cities or industries. Disparate to their parents or grandparents, they are ready to change jobs and switch to different company and might even regard as staying with the same company to be an indication of lethargy or lack of objective. Acquiring ‘Star Performers' is a both art and science.The key to success is to be able to attract the ‘Top Performers'. Encouraging ‘Top Performers' to identify other top performers outside your organization is an extremely useful tool. Corporations offer reward to their employees in order to get these names. Money can be an important factor in attracting ‘Top Performers', but it's not the only element. Being able to shape an opportunity and make it look exciting will always attract top talent. Today more and more organizations are using benefits and perks as incentives to retain the talent.The main idea behind the talent acquisition is to move away from a reactive thin king i. e. to recruit when an individual is either promoted or leave the organization to a more pro-active one involving building of the desired skill sets. An all-inclusive, competency-based procedure will assist in identifying, developing and retaining top performers, and ensuring sufficient knowledge transfer for the subsequent generation of workforce. A focus on retention will not only aid in implementing a succession plan, but will also work to tackle generational differences when recruiting these new generation employees.Supporting employees in maintaining a positive work-life balance will aid in retaining younger employees, and also young mothers who are raising children, or employees who are pursing educational opportunities. An assortment of scheduling options – and eagerness to work with your workforce on those options – makes an organization attractive to work in, and boosts the morale of existing workforce. It is also important that you make your employees clearly aware of their performance. This will not only build confidence of your employees but will also help them to grow.Provide feedback to your employees, and encourage them to improve their performance. Engagement is everything for new generation workforce. Habituated to receiving feedback via a multitude of technologies and social media. The members of this generation wish to see that their contributions and efforts are appreciated and recognized. Companies which demonstrate appreciation for hard work of its employees and which recognize the value of their workers contribution will be the ‘Employer of Choice' and find it easier to retain top talent.Keeping existing workforce happy can be one of the company’s most efficient promotion strategies, as workers praise their employers and extend positive buzz both inside and outside the organization. In the similar fashion, the talk of discontented employees can negatively influence the company’s hiring and retenti on efforts. Poaching is one of the quickest way to get talented people onboard and it is not unethical as well. If I identify a talented person who fits my requirement and is working in another company and if I can lure that talent in to my organization then there's nothing wrong in doing that.In the end, I like to conclude that there is no â€Å"silver bullet† that will guarantee that a company succeeds in its efforts to construct a prolific, and adaptable workforce which is competent enough to meet and exceed the companies goals. Understanding a candidate’s motivational fit is extremely crucial in all recruitment and retention efforts. Studies have proved that motivational fit is the sole major predictor of malingering, turnover and overall employee satisfaction. If people are pleased with their position and pleased with their compensation and other benefits, they will be more prolific and in turn your company will be more productive.