Lateral and Vertical Thinking Essay Example

Lateral and Vertical Thinking Paper Lateral and Vertical Thinking De Bono (2010) in ‘Lateral and Vertical Thinking’ explains the positive and negative features of the two ways of people’s thinking, and he tries to clarify it by giving examples. The core advantage of the lateral thinking is the overcoming styptic assumptions and understanding the problem in an completely different way (De Bono,2010). On the other part, vertical thinking is the way of thinking by exact and logical reasoning of the situation. So, the vertical thinkers do not try to see at the problem from different viewpoints, it is easier for them to see straight to the problem; otherwise, the lateral thinkers prefer to study the problem from all possible angles and usually very quickly. Therefore, the lateral thinking gives more probable solutions; it means more advantages for thinker. Once I heard the interesting for me theory that first group of dancers focuses on definitions and rules, categorizing then standardizing the categorization. And they always ask themselves questions:  Ã¢â‚¬ËœDoes it belong in this box or that box? Which style is correct? So, there is understandably an emphasis on technique, more specifically on defining and enforcing one  correct  technique. Therefore, the second group focuses more on the way dance feels — the subjective experience of dancing. And accordingly ask themselves other questions: ’How does it impact us? How can we enhance the experience for our partners? â₠¬â„¢Ã‚   This group’s thinking therefore embraces more creativity and flexibility, to adapt to partners who are different from our own style. Does it really true? Does it really two types of dancing? As it turned out, no; there is no types of dancing divided by these criteria. We will write a custom essay sample on Lateral and Vertical Thinking specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Lateral and Vertical Thinking specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Lateral and Vertical Thinking specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer So it is a difference between  vertical thinking  versus  lateral thinking, which can happen anywhere. According to the dictionary, lateral thinking is idea generation  and  problem solving  technique  in which new concepts  are created by looking at things in  novel  ways. Whereas the vertical thinking carries a chosen idea forward, the lateral thinking provokes fresh ideas or  changes  the  frame of reference. And, while vertical thinking tries to overcome  problems  by  meeting  them head-on, lateral thinking tries to  bypass  them through a radically different approach  (http://www. usinessdictionary. com/definition/lateral-thinking. html). I want to conclude that vertical thinking is selective, lateral thinking is generative; and importance for vertical thinking is a correctness, whereas for lateral is a richness. According to original Whiteys Lindy Hoppers superstar Leon James, ‘Want to dance Lindy Hop correctly? Then dont be real c oncerned about correctness! ’(Judy Pritchett Frank Manning,2003). But lateral thinking is not better for  all  kinds of dancing. As I wrote, I believe that both vertical and lateral thinking are valid where appropriate. Rule-based vertical thinking makes perfect sense for ballet and competition ballroom dance for example. You cannot hold a competition unless everyone agrees on the rules. But one of the strangest mismatches you will find in the dance world is when someone applies a rigidly vertical thinking attitude to a lateral thinking dance form, like Lindy hop, Argentine tango, West Coast Swing, salsa or blues. Those dances were born and bred in cultures which valued spontaneity, flexibility and personal variations. The original spirit of those dances is lost if their freedom is replaced by an emphasis on rules and restrictions. So, the types of thinking have a place to be even in the dancing. The exact, logical vertical thinking is for dances with very strong techniques, but the lateral thinking gives more emotions to the dance. And always the most fascinating part of dancing is the individuality of the dancers. Keep the spirit alive. List of References Business Dictionary, nd, viewed 19 October 2011, http://www. businessdictionary. com/definition/lateral-thinking. html Marlys Mayfield, 2010, Thinking for yourself, Wadsworth, Cengage Learning, USA Judy

Ways of Seeing Similarities in Point of View in Cathedral and A Conversation with My Father

Ways of Seeing Similarities in Point of View in Cathedral and A Conversation with My Father The short stories Cathedral by Raymond Carver and A Conversation with My Father by Grace Paley, while they differ in characterization, both employ a detached narrative point of view to create an emotional experience of profound isolation in the reader.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Ways of Seeing: Similarities in Point of View in Cathedral and A Conversation with My Father specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In Carver’s (2006) story, we learn the emotional isolation experienced by the narrator almost immediately, through his description of his own wife’s attempted suicide, and his description of the death of Robert’s wife. Carver’s narrator maintains a cold distance from the emotional impact of having very nearly lost his wife before he met her. Carver’s narrator seems more engaged by the competition between himself and his wife’s first husband, as evidenced herein: â€Å"one night she got to feeling lonely and cut off from people she kept losing in that moving-around life. She got to feeling she couldnt go it another step. She went in and swallowed all the pills and capsules in the medicine chest†¦But instead of dying, she got sick. She threw up. Her officerwhy should he have a name? he was the childhood sweetheart, and what more does he want?† (Carver, 2006). As Bullock (1994) details, in the narrator’s account of his wifes attempted suicide, â€Å"the figures in the story- the wife, the officer, the blind man- seem a long distance away, tiny separated figures, observed by a detached, all-seeing eye. They might as well be figures on the screen of the television.† Similarly, when the narrator describes the loss of Beulah, Robert’s wife, he betrays an almost savage disregard for Robert’s emotions when he says, â€Å"Beulah’s health went into rapid decline. She died in a Seattle hospital room, the blind man sitting beside the bed and holding on to her hand. Theyd married, lived and worked together, slept togetherhad sex, sureand then the blind man had to bury her. All this without his having ever seen what the goddamned woman looked like. It was beyond my understanding† (Carver, 2006). Significantly, the narrator never names his wife. He identifies her only by role. This omission creates a distinct absence of personality in the woman. The narrator feels no real connection with her as a human being, aside from a mildly competitive instinct to assert his ownership over her body when she falls asleep and her robe opens in front of Robert. The point of view on display from Carver’s narrator reveals the vast emotional distance that exists between himself and other people, and he transmits and transfers this distance to us, the reader. The narrator feels nothing when describing intensely emotional events; he recounts them as though they were news.Advertising Looking for essay on comparative literature? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More As a result, the reader’s own emotional experience comes to resemble his: muted, and disengaged. Carver’s use of point of view allows us to perceive the world from the same standoffish, sharply critical distance that the narrator does, and ironically, this brings us closer to him. The narrator in Grace Paley’s (2006) A Conversation with My Father follows a different characterization than Carver’s, however, the point of view contains the same chilled â€Å"distance between observer and observed† (Bullock, 1994). Paley’s narrator initially appears more animated, more engaged, than Carver’s. An example occurs in the story’s opening when she expresses â€Å"I want to please him, though I dont remember writing that way. I would like to try to tell such a story, if he means the kind that begins: There was a wom an followed by plot, the absolute line between two points which Ive always despised. Not for literary reasons, but because it takes all hope away. Everyone, real or invented, deserves the open destiny of life† (Paley, 2006). Such passages suggest that Paley’s narrator might be more sympathetic to the plight of other humans than Carver’s narrator, and therefore, more capable of true human emotional empathy, however, when we look closer, we see that Paley’s narrator, like Carver’s, identifies her father exclusively by role. He is never named in the story. Also, Paley’s narrator betrays the same disparaging judgmental point of view as Carver’s when she says, â€Å"people start out fantastic, you think theyre extraordinary, but it turns out as the work goes along, theyre just average with a good education† (Paley, 2006). Critics such as Wilde delineate this story’s meaning via gender roles, and link gender to ways of seeing. Wilde (1987) explains that in A Conversation with My Father, â€Å"the paternal world – encoded in the fathers request that his daughter compose a simple story Just recognizable people and then write down what happened to them next –- bases itself on unexamined and peremptory powers of discernment and identification. Defensively but still smugly, it prescribes an impossibly simple, stable, and objective mirror to reflect what it takes to be the inevitable, sequential trajectory of lifes beginnings, middles, and ends.† However, the narrator herself displays the same critical, arm’s length point of view as Carver’s, which results in a similar isolating emotional experience in the reader. The way that the narrator tells the story of the neighbor across the street barely conceals her disapproval of the woman’s choices, as we see here: â€Å"Although she was often high herself, certain good mothering reflexes remained, and she saw to it that th ere was lots of orange juice around and honey and milk and vitamin pills.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Ways of Seeing: Similarities in Point of View in Cathedral and A Conversation with My Father specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More However, she never cooked anything but chili, and that no more than once a week. She explained, when we talked to her, seriously, with neighborly concern, that it was her part in the youth culture and she would rather be with the young, it was an honor, than with her own generation† (Paley, 2006). In this passage we see real similarities between the dismissal of emotion portrayed by the Carver narrator when describing the death of Robert’s wife and the near death of his own. Similarly, Paley’s narrator passes judgment on the neighbor woman’s motivations, as we see in this section: â€Å"In order to keep him from feeling guilty (because guilt is the stony heart of nine tenths of all clinically diagnosed cancers in America today, she said), and because she had always believed in giving bad habits room at home where one could keep an eye on them, she too became a junkie. Her kitchen was famous for a while a center for intellectual addicts who knew what they were doing† (Paley, 2006). There is a sarcastic and dismissive undertone to Paley’s narrator’s description, which echo’s Carver’s narrator description, as seen here: â€Å"She could, if she wanted, wear green eye-shadow around one eye, a straight pin in her nostril, yellow slacks, and purple shoes, no matter. And then to slip off into death, the blind mans hand on her hand, his blind eyes streaming tearsIm imagining nowher last thought maybe this: that he never even knew what she looked like, and she on an express to the grave. Robert was left with a small insurance policy and a half of a twenty-peso Mexican coin. The other half of the coin went into th e box with her. Pathetic† (Carver, 2006). Within Paley’s narrator’s description of her neighbor lies the same biting judgment and fault finding as Carver’s, and the same dismissal of emotional context as it pertains to action. The short stories Cathedral and A Conversation with My Father, at first glance, appear very different, not only because the narrators differ in gender, but also as the writing styles feel opposite. Carver’s voice remains minimalist and monotonous throughout, while Paley’s contains more tonal shifts and humor. However, upon closer inspection the reader sees that both narrators employ the same superior, cold, remote approach to human interaction, both pass harsh judgment on others, and both refer to those closest to them – Carver’s narrator’s wife, and Paley’s narrator’s father – exclusively by role and function, as opposed to by name. Both stories thus create an isolating emotion al experience on the page and in the reader.Advertising Looking for essay on comparative literature? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More References Bullock, C. J. (1994). From Castle to Cathedral: The Architecture of Masculinity in Raymond Carvers Cathedral. The Journal of Mens Studies, 4, 343-351. Carver, R. (2006). Cathedral. The Norton Introduction to Literature. A. Booth, J. P. Hunter, K. J. Mays (Eds.). New York: W. W. Norton Company. Paley, G. (2006). A Conversation with My Father. The Norton Introduction to Literature. A. Booth, J. P. Hunter, K. J. Mays (Eds.). New York: W. W. Norton Company. Wilde, A. (1987). Grace Paleys World-Inventing Words. Middle Grounds: Studies in Contemporary American Fiction. E. Elliot, (Ed.). Philadelphia, PA: University of Pennsylvania Press.

How to Find the PHP Document Root

How to Find the PHP Document Root The PHP document root is the folder where a PHP script is running. When installing a script, web developers often need to know the document root. Although many pages scripted with PHP run on an Apache server, some run under Microsoft IIS on Windows. Apache includes an environment variable called DOCUMENT_ROOT, but IIS doesnt. As a result, there are two methods for locating the PHP document root. Finding the PHP Document Root Under Apache Instead of emailing tech support for the document root and waiting for someone to respond, you can use a simple PHP script with getenv (), which provides a shortcut on Apache servers to the document root. These few lines of code return the document root. Finding the PHP Document Root Under IIS Microsofts Internet Information Services was introduced with Windows NT 3.5.1 and has been included in most Windows releases since then- including Windows Server 2016 and Windows 10. It does not supply a shortcut to the document root. To find the name of the currently executing script in IIS, begin with this code: print getenv  (SCRIPT_NAME); which returns a result similar to: /product/description/index.php which is the full path of the script. You dont want the full path, just the name of the file for SCRIPT_NAME. To get it, use: print realpath(basename(getenv(SCRIPT_NAME))); which returns a result in this format: /usr/local/apache/share/htdocs/product/description/index.php To remove the code referring to the site-relative file and arrive at the document root, use the following code at the beginning of any script that needs to know the document root. $localpathgetenv(SCRIPT_NAME);$absolutepathrealpath($localPath);// fix the Windows slashes$absolutepathstr_replace(\\,/,$absolutepath);$docrootsubstr($absolutepath,0,strpos($absolutepath,$localpath));// an example of useinclude($docroot./includes/config.php); This method, although more complex, runs on both IIS and Apache servers.

HIV Screening for potential immigrants to Canada Essay

HIV Screening for potential immigrants to Canada - Essay Example forts in moving beyond the medical aspects of the disease trying to address the social and economic challenges and inequities that leave people vulnerable to HIV. Over the last few years, Canada has responded to the HIV/AIDS pandemic with strong strategic leadership, a generous financial commitment and, a coordinated approach to HIV programming, but are we statistically better off than previous years? And what measures did the government implement to cease its spread? After a brief discussion of the prevalence of HIV/AIDS in Canada over the years, the following article will study the input of the Canadian healthcare system with regards to testing and screenings procedures, while showing the burdens of the disease on the economy and society. The developed stage of the disease AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome), will be used interchangeably with the word HIV. There has generally been a continuous increase in the patients of HIV/AIDS in Canada over the years. Since the year 1985 when the reporting commenced, the number of HIV positive test reports that have been notified to PHAC till 31 December 2010 were 72,226. â€Å"At the end of 2002, an estimated 56 000 people in Canada were living with HIV infection - 12 per cent more than at the end of 1999† (Public Health Agency of Canada, 2006). In the year 2005, there were nearly 57,000 patients of HIV/AIDS in Canada and just over a period of four years, a 14 per cent increase in the population of patients of HIV/AIDS was noticed in Canada with the total population in the year 2009 being 65,000. â€Å"Although estimates of the number of new HIV infections are quite uncertain, it appears that the number of new infections in 2009 (estimated range between 2,300 and 4,300) was about the same as or slightly greater than the estimated range in 2005 (2,200 to 4,200)† (actoronto.org, 2010) . In the year 2009, the number of cases of HIV positive reported were 2416 and with the total number of HIV positive cases being 2358 in

Protection of vulnerable people (ADULT WITH DEMENTIA) Essay

Protection of vulnerable people (ADULT WITH DEMENTIA) - Essay Example Being a serious mental disability, adults suffering from dementia face many challenge in their routine life particularly learning disabilities. These adults are often abused at different intervals of life. This paper aims to highlight the abuses and challenges faced by adults with Dementia. Moreover, the will provide methods through which the vulnerability of these adults can be reduced. The paper will also discuss laws and policies that safeguards adults with dementia. Background One of the serious health problems faced by adults across the world, particularly the UK is Dementia. This is because of certain factors. One chief reason is that the aging of people in the UK is increasing. For this reason, adults that are diagnosed with Dementia in UK are increasing every year. The term ‘Dementia’ is originally a Latin word which means irrationality; ‘De’ means without and ‘mens’ means mind, thus it illustrates that without mind (Adams & Manthorpe, 2 003). Previously unimpaired people can also undergo dementia. It is a progressive brain dysfunction in which the person faces long term decline in his mental capabilities. The chief cognitive regions of the brain affected by Dementia include memory, attention, language and problem solving which makes it difficult for the person to perform various tasks. If these dysfunctions stays or are present for more than 6 months, then it is in positive support for the diagnosis of dementia (Hughes, et al., 2006). Dementia is a growing disease in the UK. Many adults are facing challenges to continue their routine life normally and are abused at different points because of this mental disorder. Moreover, adults diagnosed with dementia also face some financial challenges that do not allow them to treat their sickness, thus increasing the problems. The government of United Kingdom has set some laws and policies for patients with mental sickness. This is to ensure that those diagnosed with mental d ysfunctions are getting proper treatment and are able to continue their life. Moreover, adults who are diagnosed with dementia also face learning disability issues (Keady & Harris, 2013). Body Abuses / Challenges Faced by Adults with Dementia To name there are a number of abuses and challenges that are faced by adults with Dementia. These challenges vary from person to person. According to a report conducted by Kings’ College London and Alzheimer’s society stated that it is estimated that by 2025 as many as one million people will have dementia in UK. This is a serious issue which raises many other problems for the adults making them vulnerable towards life (Alzheimer's Society, 2013). People have not understood dementia completely, thus they are not able to offer this disease a comprehensive reaction. For this reason, dementia adds to the miseries of adults. Where on one hand these adults find it hard to cope-up with their daily tasks, the disease and other factors in a variety of ways often abuse them. It is already discussed above that adults with dementia face issues with memory; this illustrates that they have problems remembering their name, the day, week, and month; in short they are not able to recall anything properly. This can be explained with the help of few examples. Imagine, you wake up one morning and you are not able to recognize the person or his name that is lying next to you. This gets even worse when you look at your siblings and other family members and asks

Media and Terrorism Essay Example for Free

Media and Terrorism Essay Media and Terrorism which play the vital role all over the world, are the top-most headlines to be discussed at present. So first of all, I have defined both terms and then I have tried to explain their relationship and the role of Media towards Terrorism. What is Media? Communication is one of the most important features of life. A baby cries to communicate its hunger. But it is not just a one-way process. When the mother hears her baby crying she tries to make out whether it is because of its hunger or because it is suffering from some other discomfort. She administers to the baby in accordance with her interpretation of the cry that it is communicating. So communication is a two-way process where the response is part of the process. That we define as Medium. When the medium carries messages to a large number of people through technology like Newspapers, Radio, Television, Internet etc. then it becomes a mass medium and so we call it Media. What is Terrorism? The FBI defines as, Terrorism is the unlawful use of force and violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives. Within this definition three elements are focused such as violence, fear and intimidation and each element produces terror in its victims. It is also to be noted that there are three perspectives of terrorism and they are terrorists, the victims, and the general public. So terrorism is a criminal act that influences an audience beyond the immediate victim. Media and Terrorism The Media plays an important role in the lives of the people. Some people believe that Media precedes the spread of ideas. The Media can spin and color stories to suit their agenda. They can rile up the public over certain issues or hide vital information. The Media is used also for the selfish-profit motive which never serves the purpose of the society. In order to attract the people, money, creativity, the service of the people are misused and bargained. Most of the films concentrate on the idea of terrorism. But we must reflect whether it is used to bring unity or anythingelse. Because the film directors use their criminal mind more than what the police require of detective mind. Because, before the police identify the terrorist, the terrorist repents and changes his mind and escapes from the place without attacking the people (Rf. Black or White). Through films, the directors give lot of techniques which even the terrorist would not have thought of. The directors justify also the violent act of taking revenge in some of the films. Today, the main target of the Media is children. That’s why the video games are introduced to the children and reached the children rapidly. But if we analyse that what game children choose to play, then we can identify that they prefer to play only violent type of games like boxing, wrestling, etc. Even there are boys who play this type of games by absenting themselves for regular classes. Why the children play this type of games? Because, the anger which they are not able to reveal in front of their parents, teachers, etc., is compensated in the video games. Then we must reflect how the Media is focused to the children? and how the future(children) is going to be and to fulfill the responsibilities? The Media is misused by the politicians too for their survival. In order to hold and preserve their Chair, they invent the new issue to the public and provoke the sentiments of the public. Even if it consumes the life of many people, they never bother and continue to stimulate the emotions of the public through Media (e.g. Karnataka and Tamilnadu states – Okenakal water-falls issue).

Problems Caused by Mercantilism for the American Colonists :: American America History

Problems Caused by Mercantilism for the American Colonists According to the theory of mercantilism, the colonies only existed to serve the interests of Britain. But it seemed as if Britain was abusing their right over the colonies. They enforced many policies such as the Stamp Act, the Townshed Duties, and the Tea Act which caused many problems for the colonists. One problem that the colonists faced was the Stamp Act of 1765. This act imposed a new tax on legal documents, newspapers, playing cards and dice. The Americans did not agree with it. It was not the cost of the stamp that angered them, it was the principle. They had no say in what the British Parliament did. The tax provoked a fire storm of protests, and the boycotting of British goods began. Some colonists did not limit their protests to words. In several cities, groups of people attacked officials who defended British policy. The Stamp Act was not a good idea, and one year later it was repealed. But that wasn't the end. The Townshed Duties posed as another difficulty. These duties required the colonists to pay minor import duties on tea, lead, oil, papers and painter's colors. Since Britain had imposed unnecessary taxes on the colonies before, this was not new. John Dickinson encouraged protesters to join in the battle by writing the first twelve "Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania". Protests began once again and cut British trade in half. Britain sent troops to be stationed in Boston to enforce the Townshed Duties, and the colonists refused to quarter the troops. The Townshed Duties were repealed in 1770, three years after it began. And three years after that, a new act arose. Parliament passed the Tea Act in an attempt to save the East India Company from bankruptcy and reassert its right to tax. A group of Boston patriots destroyed a shipment of tea in a protest known as the

Why Does Conflict Arise in Organizations

Why does conflict arise in organizations, and how it can be managed ABSTRACT This essay seeks to illustrate how organizational conflict cannot be avoided. It will demonstrate the various ways in which conflict may arise within organizations and classify them into a range of groups. There will be a thorough analysis to show if conflict is positive or negative towards the growth of an organization. Findings of the previous will then lead to different mechanisms that can be used when managing conflict to ensure positive outcomes in an organization. The aforementioned will be supported by relevant theories, which will assist in reinforcing the validity of this essay. INTRODUCTION In this era of rapid development organizations are formed as a social entity to foster an environment of financial, economic and social growth. Organizations can range from large governmental bodies to small business. Organizations have evolved through different stages, from its birth to maturity. During these stages organizations tend to be adversely affected by crisis of leadership, autonomy, control and bureaucracy. Consequently these crises make conflict unavoidable. Additionally, an organization may be exemplified where two or more individual establish a relationship in order to accomplish and acquire a desired goal. There are various schools of thought as it pertains to conflict including the Traditional View, Human Relations View and the Interactionist View. More so conflict exists at different levels namely Intrapersonal, Interpersonal and Intergroup. However there may be some techniques available to manage conflict like Negotiation, Mediation, Arbitration, Conciliation and Consultancy. The following paragraphs will further explain the scopes of conflict and how it can be managed. CONFLICT It is a process that begins when one part perceives that another party has negatively affected, or is about to negatively affect, something that the first part cares about. [1] An organization is a social arrangement which pursues collective goals, which controls its own performance, and which has a boundary separating it from its environment. [2] Schools of thoughts with regards to conflict: The Traditional View: This view was prevalent in the the 1930’s and 40’s where it was conceived that the existence of conflict can only be harmful to the growth of an organization. Therefore in that era conflict should have been avoided, this resulted in less focus to research on the causes of conflict. The Human Relations View: The human relations position pioneered that conflict was inevitable in all groups and organizations. It could never be eliminated and it also sometimes proves to be beneficial to a group’s performance. This was dominant in the late 40’s and mid 70’s. The Interactionist View: This view encourages the existence of conflict at an ongoing minimum level, enough to keep the group viable, critical and creative. After looking at the above views it will not be feasible to say that conflict is good or bad. It can only be analyzed as bad or good based on the type of conflict. (The schools of thoughts were taken from â€Å"Stephen Robbins, Organizational Behaviour, 10th ed. 2003†) Functional: Interactionist view does not see all conflict as good but those conflicts that supports the goals and improves performance is called functional conflict or constructive conflict. Dysfunctional: On the other hand conflict that is dysfunctional relates to the conflict that promotes alienation, inefficiency and generally has adverse effects on productivity. To know if a conflict is either functional or dysfunctional, the types must be known. Types of Conflict Task Conflict- this relates to the content and goals of the task that is to be performed, Relationship Conflict- this focus on interpersonal relationships, and Process Conflict- this relates to how the task gets done. Studies show that Relationship conflict most of the times turns out to be dysfunctional. Task, relationship or process can perpetrated in the following ways Intrapersonal Conflict occurs within us: when we are at odds with ourselves, when we are torn between choices we need to make, when we are frustrated with our goals or accomplishments. Conflict within us very often leads to conflict with others. Interpersonal Conflict occurs between two or more individuals. We might get into a heated debate in a meeting, get in an argument with a coworker, or have a bad encounter with our boss. This is the type of conflict we are most concerned with in this workshop, although our discussion has bearing on the other types. Intergroup Conflict occurs between groups: nations, gangs, work areas, etc. For example, your department at work might have an ‘us vs. them’ attitude about some other department. Intra/ Interpersonal and Intergroup was taken from a Business Management skills article from Dave Neal found on http://www. scarecrowworkshops. com/b-conflict-management. html The Process of Conflict diagram will help illustrate why conflict arise in organizations, this was taken from Stephen Robbins, Organizational Behaviour, 10th ed. 2003 [pic] Stage 1 shows some of the conditions that has the capacity to develop conflict A break down in communication is significant in contributing to conflict . The true sense of communication is for the receiving party to understand what the sender is communicating in order to attain the right feedback. The bereaucratic nature of an organization facilitate the process of unsuccessful communication. This is so as information passed on to subordinates may be prone to deterioration. This may be so as the subordinate or receiver may not attach the urgency of the message that the sender intended. As such, this reluctance may cause the final message or information to be significantly ambiguous, which would result in conflict. Additionally, another source of conflict is structural factors as it pertains to size, Staff Heterogeneity, Participation, Line-Staff distinction, Reward Systems, Resource Interdependence and Power. In terms of size an organzation tend to operate more effciently and with less conflict when it is small. The manger has more direct influence in the company in terms of supervision and the overseeing of delegated tasks. However where the company grows in size the reins of controll are strained. There may now be increased specialization and bereaucracy. Consequently there may be increased opportunity to for misconception of information and hence conflict. For example, an interview was done at a renowned company, WASA in Trinidad and Tobago. The manager of the Construction Services Department North is responsible for various pipe laying projects therefore it is mandatory for him to retrieve materials for the various projects. The retrieval of these materials does not lie in his hands, thoroughly, but this function is mainly dependent on the Manager of Corporate Services-Supplies to source the right provider of the materials. This process of sourcing these materials may be long at times therefore putting the pipe laying projects sometimes on long delays. Consequently there is the possibility of having conflict between these two managers but note carefully that the structure of certain procedures within the organization is the main cause for the conflict. The issue of staff heterogeneity appears to have an adverse effect as it pertains to conflict. There are many issues which may arise due to differences in staff. For instance the junior staff in a company may feel that the senior staff may be too inflexible. They generally wield more power in organizations and junior staff may be subjected to their redundancy and myopic work approach. Thus conflict may tend to arise. Moreso, Partcipation, in terms of decision making, is a source for conflict. A subordinate may need to be able to express their opinions. Where employees re given a forum to express their decision making opinons it may be noted that conflict is more likely to occur. According to Robbins, an atmosphere of conflict may be created as the employee is unable to prevail with his point of view due to his lack of authority. Futhermore According to Allen 1955, line and staff distinctions may be another cause for conflict. It may be noted that Line units perform tasks that are dir ectly related to the core activities of the organization. However, staff units perform tasks that support the line function. This definition was taken from the book Organizational Behavior by K. W. Thomas. This may be exemplified in the aforementioned WASA scenario where a line unit member involved in the installation of pipe was hampered in carrying out his task. This may result in conflict as the staff unit may be removed and not place as much emphasis on the centralized operations of the company as a line member. It may be also noted that conflict may arise in terms of reward systems. This refers to the fact that one party may receive a reward at the expense of the other. As such conflict would tend to arise. and that i Personal Variables, this is basically personality differences. An important factor is found in stage 2 due to the fact that the antecedents of conflict must be perceived or felt. This is so because all the possibilities in stage 1 could occur but the feelings associated with stage 2 may not necessarily transpire. Further observation of the above diagram with regards to stage 3, which are techniques to handle conflict can also encourage conflict, for instance competing (this speaks for itself) and also avoiding due to the fact that the matter is never resolved leaving the parties unsatisfied and also no growth was made towards achieving the organizations’ goals. In Addition stage 4 can also promote conflict depending on what happened in the previous stage. If the conflict handling techniques (stage3) was destructive then behaviours (stage 4) may be verbal attacks, threats and ultimatums, aggressive physical attacks or overt efforts to terminate the other party. Therefore it can be analyzed that stage 3 can also initiate more conflict. There are other major fields of study within organizational behaviour that can be a recipe for conflict. Some of these are as follows. Job Satisfaction- Job satisfaction is an integral aspect in organizational conflict. The employee needs to feel truly a part of the company and that his contribution is instrumental to the company’s progress. He must also feel challenged by his work load and not bogged down by mundane and alienating tasks. Personalities and emotions- (express on this factor and mention the following in the right context) there is the Myers- Briggs Type Indicator (a test of 100 questions that asks people how they react to a certain situation and then this break down into sixteen personality types. 3] Leadership skills- this is where studies were done analyzing the type of employees to see what type of leadership skill will be best suited in order to facilitate an ambiance of little conflict/ functional conflict thus enhancing the organization’s performance. Hersey and Blanchard’s situational theory reiterate this. In other terms if a manager does not have the right type of leaders hip skills to suit his staff conflict can occur. Organizational Change- if change is not accepted this can cause conflict especially if this change affects the culture of an organization. For example, a technology change may cause conflict if workers perceive they are not ready to handle it. (use other examples) Techniques to Manage Conflict Conflict may be managed If conflicts results in destructive outcomes then it must be managed. The various ways of managing conflict are Negotiation- this is a process in which two or more parties exchange goods or services and attempt to agree on the exchange rate for them. [4] Mediator- A neutral third party who facilitates a negotiated solution by using reasoning, persuasion, and suggestions for alternatives. Arbitrator- this involves a third party to a negotiation who has the authority to dictate an agreement. Conciliator- A trusted third party who provides an informal communication link between the negotiator and the opponent. Consultant- an impartial third party, skilled in conflict management, who attempts to facilitate creative problem solving through communication and analysis. The definition s of the former four was taken from Organizational Behaviour, Stephen Robbins, 2003. Also the positive ways of handling conflict (stage3 of the diagram) Collaborate, Compromise and Accommodate (expand on these points) Other ways are Superordinate goals; this is creating a shared goal that cannot be attained without the working together of the conflicting groups. Smoothing- de-emphasizing on differences while looking at the common interest. Behavioural Change techniques can be used to alter personality. Structural Change Techniques can be used to avoid interactions between the conflicting groups Conclusion In conclusion conflict in an organization is inevitable. In essence, in the 1930’s and 40’s the Traditional View enveloped that all conflict as destructive and hence should be avoided at all cost. Additionally conflict is unavoidable in all organizations and it can never be eliminated. It has been proposed that conflict may also be advantageous to a group’s performance. The aforementioned denoted the Human Relations View which was prevalent among the late 1940’s and mid 1970’s. Moreover, the interactionist view states that a minimal level of conflict is necessary for the stimulation of creativity. Furthermore conflict can operate on various levels namely Interpersonal, Intrapersonal and Intergroup. It is caused mainly through communication, structural and personal behaviour factors. Communication factors pertain to the distortion of information along the communication line. Structural factors that lead to conflict may include size, staff heterogeneity, participation, line staff distinctions, Reward systems, Resource Interdependence and Power. Bibliography The following was taken from http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Conflict and can be redone from an organizational perspective Conflict is a state of opposition, disagreement or incompatibility between two or more people or groups of people, which is sometimes characterized by physical violence. Military conflict between states may constitute war. [edit] Definitions In political terms, â€Å"conflict† refers to an ongoing state of hostility between two or more groups of people. Conflict as taught for graduate and professional work in conflict resolution commonly has the definition: â€Å"when two or more parties, with perceived incompatible goals, seek to undermine each other's goal-seeking capability†. One should not confuse the distinction between the presence and absence of conflict with the difference between competition and co-operation. In competitive situations, the two or more parties each have mutually inconsistent goals, so that when either party tries to reach their goal it will undermine the attempts of the other to reach theirs. Therefore, competitive situations will by their nature cause conflict. However, conflict can also occur in cooperative situations, in which two or more parties have consistent goals, because the manner in which one party tries to reach their goal can still undermine the other. A clash of interests, values, actions or directions often sparks a conflict. Conflicts refer to the existence of that clash. Psychologically, a conflict exists when the reduction of one motivating stimulus involves an increase in another, so that a new adjustment is demanded. The word is applicable from the instant that the clash occurs. Even when we say that there is a potential conflict we are implying that there is already a conflict of direction even though a clash may not yet have occurred. [edit] Types and Modes of Conflict A conceptual conflict can escalate into a verbal exchange and/or result in fighting. Conflict can exist at a variety of levels of analysis: †¢ intrapersonal conflict (though this usually just gets delegated out to psychology) †¢ interpersonal conflict †¢ emotional conflict †¢ group conflict †¢ organizational conflict †¢ community conflict †¢ intra-state conflict (for example: civil wars, election campaigns) †¢ international conflict †¢ environmental resources conflict †¢ intersocietal conflict †¢ intra-societal conflict †¢ ideological conflict †¢ diplomatic conflict †¢ economic conflict †¢ military conflict religious-based conflict (for example: Center For Reduction of Religious-Based Conflict) Conflicts in these levels may appear â€Å"nested† in conflicts residing at larger levels of analysis. For example, conflict within a work team may play out the dynamics of a broader conflict in the organization as a whole. (See Marie Dugan's article on Nested Conflict. John Paul Lederach has also written on this. ) Theorists have claimed that parties can conceptualise responses to conflict according to a two-dimensional scheme; concern for one's own outcomes and concern for the outcomes of the other party. This scheme leads to the following hypotheses: †¢ High concern for both one's own and the other party's outcomes leads to attempts to find mutually beneficial solutions. †¢ High concern for one's own outcomes only leads to attempts to â€Å"win† the conflict. †¢ High concern for the other party's outcomes only leads to allowing the other to â€Å"win† the conflict. †¢ No concern for either side's outcomes leads to attempts to avoid the conflict. In Western society, practitioners usually suggest that attempts to find mutually beneficial solutions lead to the most satisfactory outcomes, but this may not hold true for many Asian societies. Several theorists detect successive phases in the development of conflicts. Often a group finds itself in conflict over facts, goals, methods or values. It is critical that it properly identify the type of conflict it is experiencing if it hopes to manage the conflict through to resolution. For example, a group will often treat an assumption as a fact. The more difficult type of conflict is when values are the root cause. It is more likely that a conflict over facts, or assumptions, will be resolved than one over values. It is extremely difficult to â€Å"prove† that a value is â€Å"right† or â€Å"correct†. In some instances, a group will benefit from the use of a facilitator or process consultant to help identify the specific type of conflict. Practitioners of nonviolence have developed many practices to solve social and political conflicts without resorting to violence or coercion. [edit] Examples †¢ Approach-avoidance conflict is an example of intrapersonal conflict. †¢ The Vietnam Conflict is commonly regarded as a war. †¢ The Arab-Israeli conflict forms a historic and ongoing conflict between Israel and Arab interests. See also Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The Catholic-Protestant conflict in Northern Ireland furnishes an example of another notable historic conflict. For information on the conflict, see the Troubles, Bloody Sunday (Northern Ireland 1972), the 1974 Dublin and Monaghan Bombings and the 1998 Omagh bombing. †¢ Many conflicts have a supposedly racial or ethnic basis. This would include such conflicts as the Bosnian-Croatian conflict (see Kosovo), the conflict in Rwanda. †¢ Class conflict forms an important topic in much Marxist thought. †¢ Another type of conflict exists between governments and guerrilla groups or groups engaged in asymmetric warfare. = [edit] Causes of Conflict Structural Factors (How the company is set up) †¢ Specialization (The experts in fields) †¢ Interdependance (A company as a whole can't operate w/o other departments) †¢ Common Resources (Sharing the same secretary) †¢ Goal Differences (One person wants production to rise and others want communication to rise) †¢ Authority Relationships (The boss and employees beneath him/her) †¢ Status Inconsistencies †¢ Jurisdicational Ambiguities (Who can discipline who) Personal Factors †¢ Skills and Abilities †¢ Personalities †¢ Perception Values and Ethics †¢ Emotions †¢ Communication barriers †¢ Cultural Differences â€Å"Conflict is an emotionally defined and driven,† and â€Å"do es not exist in the absence of emotion. † There are many components to the emotions that are intertwined with conflict. There is a behavioral, physiological, cognitive component. †¢ Behavioral- The way emotional experience gets expressed which can be verbal or non-verbal and intentional or un-intentional. †¢ Physiological- The bodily experience of emotion. The way emotions make us feel in comparison to our identity. Cognitive- The idea that we â€Å"assess or appraise† an event to reveal its relevancy to ourselves. These three components collectively advise that â€Å"the meanings of emotional experience and expression are determined by cultural values, beliefs, and practices. † †¢ Cultural values- culture tells people who are a part of it, â€Å"Which emotions ought to be expressed in particular situations† and â€Å"what emotions are to be felt. † †¢ Physical- This escalation results from â€Å"anger or frustration. † â € ¢ Verbal- This escalation results from â€Å"negative perceptions of the annoyer’s character. There are several principles of conflict and emotion. †¢ 1. Conflict is emotionally Defined-conflict involves emotion because something â€Å"triggers† it. The conflict is with the parties involved and how they decide to resolve it â€Å"Events that trigger conflict are events that elicit emotion. † †¢ 2. Conflict is emotionally Valenced- Emotion levels during conflict can be intense or less intense. The â€Å"intensity† levels â€Å"may be indicative of the importance and meaning of the conflict issues for each† party. †¢ 3. Conflict Invokes a Moral Stance- When an event occurs it can be interpreted as moral or immoral. The judging of this morality â€Å"Influences one’s orientation to the conflict, relationship to the parties involved, and the conflict issues†. †¢ 4. Conflict is Identity based- Emotions and Identity are a part of conflict. When a person knows there values, beliefs, and morals they are able to determine whether the conflict is personal, relevant, and moral. â€Å"Identity related conflicts are potentially more destructive. † †¢ 5. Conflict is Relational- â€Å"conflict is relational in the sense that emotional communication conveys relational definitions that impact conflict. † â€Å"Key relational elements are power and social status. Emotions are acceptable in the workplace as long as they can be controlled and utilized for productive organizational outcomes. – Bibliography ———————– [1] K. W. Thomas, â€Å"Conflict and Negotiation Process in Organizations,† in Dunnette and Hough (eds. ), Handbook of Industrial and Organizational Psychology, 2ne ed. , vol. 3, 1992 [2] http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Organization [3] R. R Mc Crae and T. Costa, Reinterpreting the Myers- Briggs Type indicator from the perspective of the five factor model of personality, Journal of Personality, March 1989 [4] J. A. Wall, Jr. , Negotiation: Theory and Practice, 1985 ———————– Antecedent Conditions Communication Structure Personal Variables Perceived Conflict Felt Conflict Conflict Handling Intentions Competing Collaborating Compromising Avoiding Accommodating Overt Conflict Party’s Behaviour Other’s Reaction Increased Group Performance Decreased Group Performance Stage 1 Potential Opposition or Incompatibility Stage 2 Cognition and Personalization Stage 3 Intentions Stage 4 Behaviour Stage 5 Outcomes

First-Time Buyers Essay

Housing is a common asset that most people regard as their biggest financial asset and the largest make-up of their wealth; the purchase of a house is usually one of the largest investments an individual will make, and therefore lower house prices may encourage more people to consider purchasing housing, serving as a more affordable investment. On the obvious side a fall in house prices will only encourage further demand for housing. A demand & supply analysis will show that the falling prices should theoretically allow individuals who are considering buying a house but holding back due to fluctuations in prices finally take the jump onto the property ladder – falling prices provides an incentive for individuals to make this large investment, particularly as in the long term the value of housing may also increase depending on the state of the economy. While falling prices may indicate a slump in an economy, it provides an excellent chance for people who previously may have not been able to afford a purchase to do so. It is also important to take into account that housing is also a necessity in any part of the personal life cycle, and therefore any fall in prices will create an opportunity and incentive. It also does not necessarily mean that first-time buyers must look to make a large investment immediately; extract two suggests that lower prices may allow considerers to think of renting property as an early ‘alternative’, helping save up for a single cash deposit which would then in turn allow first-timers to climb onto the property ladder. However, as stated in extract two falling house prices does not necessarily indicate a good environment for contemplating investors to finally make the choice of investing; there are numerous other costs to consider such as the availability of mortgages, described as ‘dropping to its lowest level for more than a decade’. The lack of mortgages may in fact serve as a deterrent to first-time buyers, preventing them from climbing onto the property ladder as there are numerous other costs to consider. Extract two also states that lenders have refused to drop their interest rates in line with the governmental cuts, and once again this will only provide a disincentive to first-time buyers no matter how low the price of housing falls. Rising unemployment and cuts in the subsidies budget towards building affordable homes will also serve to undermine confidence in the housing market. While the governmental cut in subsidies towards funding new affordable homes may not have a direct impact on a first-time buyers decision, it is important to note that this policy will contribute to the level of confidence in the housing market, an example being lenders no longer willing to cut their interest rates following suit of the government doing so; the government is offering little support in the housing market and many are therefore not willing to take the risks. The people that will lose out from this ultimately are the first-time buyers who will be deterred from making such a large investment particularly if lenders and the government provide little confidence in this market. Therefore, while the fall in housing prices may incentivise first-time buyers to some degree overall it is likely to only have a limited effect, as many buyers will still be put off by the inability to receive mortgages as well as the other numerous financial costs involved.

Interconnecting the Network of Networks

Interconnecting the Network of Networks Introduction The global telecommunications trend has witnessed a gradual shift from the traditional practice where national telecommunications service providers formed a monopoly both on the international and national markets. This traditional system is referred to as â€Å"network of networks†. The modern practice, however, has witnessed change whereby system integrators have been formed to offer services to the end users.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Interconnecting the Network of Networks specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More These integrators interconnect between each other’s services and customize their services for individual end users’ good. The system has been referred to as â€Å"system of systems†. This paper explores in detail the new trend being witnessed in the market and analyzes its general impact as well as carries out a future analysis of the systems integration industry. Im pact of systems integrators on responsibility issues Systems integrators will basically play an integral role of influencing relative price reductions to the end users. As the practise is today, consumers incur a lot of expenses in trying to obtain all round service through integrating numerous service providers. In order to acquire the right mix and integration, such integration would be too costly for individual or corporate users as it would also mean they hire expertise to help them out in achieving this goal. However, with the availability of systems integrators, users will no longer need to bother about choosing a portfolio of individual providers and determining each of their prices before integrating right choice of mix. There would equally be no reason for end users to incur extra costs and time hiring IT experts to execute their local integration (Noam para 5). The integration of systems, to a larger extent, would also result in improved service provision and therefore enh ance quality on the part of users. The service integrators will particularly come up with tailor made services which will exactly suit users’ needs and therefore enhance their service provision or general satisfaction. The array of services will also be varied, including e-mail, data sources, transaction programs, bulletin boards, as well as audio and video publishers. Others will also include personal information screening, users groups, data storage services and, for residential users, customers’ telecommunications node within their premises’ vicinity. The provision of all these services and many others in one stop will enable consumers obtain their right choice of quality and mix without harboring doubts on quality because they will have a choice of demanding for what they think they rightfully require (McCauley 19). Heightened competition is also likely to be witnessed across the telecommunications industry as a result of these service integrators. The liber ation of the industry has limited government regulations which mainly existed to advance monopolistic policies and rules that aimed at protecting the national telecommunications service providers against any form of competition.Advertising Looking for essay on it? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More However, with the new trend where markets are defined more along customization and tailor made services rather than the traditional generalized delivery of service, entry into the market of other small scale service providers has brought about competition. Every service integrator is seeking to improve on delivery and service provision as a whole so as to win more customers. As a result, the system integrators have assumed the role of agents for end users against carriers. Where particular carriers are providing poor services, the service integrators intercept in order to protect their end users against such below par service s. In other words, traditional problems that were associated with price, quality, market power and privacy have all been eliminated as a result of the competition witnessed in the market today. The level of government control has also reduced considerably with the shift from traditional national telecommunications service reliance to systems integration. The market and indeed the industry have generally been liberalized and therefore many players have been encouraged to enter. The relaxation of strict barriers that discouraged investors from venturing into the industry have also seen national governments do away with archaic laws that prohibited others from competing with the national telecommunications service providers. On the negative side though, the competitive pressure being exerted by systems of systems will definitely affect costs and prices in general. Although to the end user things are becoming more and more affordable, there is a huge challenge faced by systems owners on their capability to maintain the redistributive system that has traditionally existed. Generating subsidies as well as trying to transfer them internally from one user category to the other within the same service carrier is becoming impossible. Among the reasons identified to be affecting the existence of such an arrangement is the inability to sustain an internal redistribution given that there could be other carriers lacking redistributive burdens, and which could be targeting the subsidizing users. Residential users may equally pay a much higher share compared to large users like corporate organizations because cost shares amounting from the substantial joint expenses and costs may inversely be allocated to demand elasticity. Additionally, the corporate organizations which are generally categorized as large users have more than one option thus making them have greater elasticity. The inelastic customer will be more disadvantaged because the current trend of price rebalancing wi th reference to total costs incurred will exceed its objective (Harrigan 638).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Interconnecting the Network of Networks specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The confronting of these issues There have been witnessed several attempts and efforts which aim at confronting all the issues that were raised by Naom 9 years since he wrote his article on the emerging telecommunications trends. Firstly, public telecommunications operators are trying to protect their local markets by barring entry of systems integrators while at the same time they are attempting to venture into the international market. In essence, public telecommunications carriers from different countries are together forming a global systems integration forming dominant alliances. This trend has particularly been shaped up by the realization that private systems integrators, particularly from the United States of America and Japan, offer competitive services which can easily jeopardize the public telecommunications operator’s position. Authorities from different countries are also trying to come with new regulations that effectively address developments that come with the emerging telecommunications trend. There are difficulties, however, in addressing this whole issue because there is also need for allowing freedom and liberation to thrive in an industry that has for long been governed through monopoly. Some regulations imposed by authorities with the intention of opening up the market for free and fair play for all have, to the contrary, ended up curtailing on competition. The dynamism of the information technology has further compounded efforts to derive long time rules for the common good of all users. The highly innovative industry has seen inventions come up within short intervals that incidentally render the immediate former innovations and advancements obsolete. The future of systems integratio n Systems integration has a very enormous potential which remains largely underexploited. Restrictions still being witnessed in the name of providing barriers to market entry by large state-owned telecommunications carriers undermine its capabilities. However, as the information technology industry in general continues to expand with fast innovations, systems integration will most likely be the choice of many in the years to come. Globalization has brought about the need for people to rely more on information than has ever been the case. Many people continuously search for information sources that can satisfy their own unique quest without necessarily having to deal with a service that is too general and time consuming. The customized services for end users are more appealing to the consumers and offer them with the flexible choice of selecting packages that appropriately serve their needs. The high service quality that comes with systems integration is also likely to play an import ant role in establishing it as the future system of choice. As the competition amongst players intensifies, the ultimate consumer becomes the beneficiary because systems integrators are improving on their general service delivery to ensure they attract a large market. Prices are also relatively cheap as compared to the network to network system which apart from being costly is too rigid to suit customer demands (Sarkar, Cavusgil and Aulakh, 361).Advertising Looking for essay on it? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Technology and the future of university education Naom’s predictions through his article titled â€Å"Electronics and the dim future of the university† have actually come to pass. The classic university set up has gradually been altered by the information technology through its immense capabilities (Piccoli, Ahmad and Ives 401). Through innovations experienced in the information technology sector, the need to have physical universities as centers of knowledge has been phased out and instead new trends, as predicted by Naom, are emerging (Fletcher, Sigmund and Wisher 96). The changes so far have witnessed long distance or virtual classes take precedent in the modern days where video and internet equipment are used together to relay recorded lectures to students. Often, the students go about their normal studies but from remote locations that could even mean different countries or continents. The physical distance that existed in the traditional days has been eliminated and modern universities now have wider coverage than ever before. Further changes are expected to effect Naom’s observations back in 1995 even as the highly dynamic IT industry develops fast, improved, and reliable services (Noam para 4).. Conclusion The telecommunications sector has undergone a lot transformation in the recent past following the gradual improvement of the information capability. The internet in particular has made it possible for traditional telecommunications services to pave way for a new trend of systems integrations which basically improves on service delivery and quality of telecommunications services. A majority of public telecommunications operators have been exposed to competition from the systems integrators following the removal of monopolistic laws that shielded the mostly state-owned operators. The trend has seen the national and public telecommunications carriers concentrate on international operations as they interconnect their services with ot her international operators to form a global integrated system. The extent of IT effects has also affected the manner in which institutions of higher learning like universities operated traditionally, causing new trends and practices where learners no longer need to converge at a central location for purposes of taking their studies. Fletcher, James Douglas, Sigmund Tobias and Wisher Robert A. Learning anytime, anywhere: Advanced distributed learning and the changing face of education. Educational Researcher. 36.2 (2007): 96-102. Web. Harrigan, Kathryn Rudie. Formulating vertical integration strategies. The Academy of Management Review. 9.4 (1984): 638-652. Web. McCauley, Herbert N. Deceloping a corporate private network. MIS Quarterly. 7.4 (1983): 19-33. Web. Noam, Eli M. Beyond liberalization: From the network of networks to the system of systems. Columbia Institute for Tele-Information, n.d. Web. Noam, Eli M. Electronics and the dim future of the university. Columbia Institute f or Tele-Information, August 18, 1995. Web. Piccoli, Gabriele, Ahmad Rami and Ives Blake. Web-based virtual learning environments: A research framework and a preliminary assessment of effectiveness in basic IT skills training. MIS Quarterly. 25.4 (2001): 401-426. Web. Sarkar, M. Baenitz., Cavusgil S. Tamer and Aulakh Preet S. International expansion of telecommunication carriers: The influence of market structure, network characteristics, and entry imperfections. Journal of International Business Studies. 30.2 (1999): 361-381. Web.

Making a video in ESL class

Making a video in ESL class Making a video in English class is a fun way to get everyone involved while using English. Its project based learning at its best. Once you finish, your class will have a video to show off to friends and family, theyll have practiced a wide range of conversational skills from planning and negotiating to acting, and theyll have put their technological skills to work. However, making a video can be a big project with lots of moving pieces. Here are some tips on how to manage the process while involving the whole class. Ideation Youll need to come up with an idea for your video as a class. Its important to match class abilities to your video goals. Dont choose functional skills that students dont possess and always keep it fun. Students should enjoy and learn from their experience filming, but not be too stressed out about language requirements as theyll already be nervous about how they look. Here are some suggestions for video topics: Study Skills - Students can break into groups and produce a scene about a specific study skill, or a tip on how to study.Functional Skills - Have students create scenes focusing on functional skills such as ordering at a restaurant, job interviewing, leading a meeting, etc.Grammar Skills - Students can include slides asking the viewer to pay attention to specific structures and then act out short scenes focusing on tense usage or other grammar points. Finding Inspiration Once youve decided on your video as a class, go to YouTube and look for similar videos. Watch a few and see what others have done. If youre filming something more dramatic, watch scenes from TV or a movie and analyze to gain inspiration on how to film your videos. Delegating Delegating responsibilities is the name of the game when producing a video as a class. Assign individual scenes to a pair or small group. They can then take ownership of this part of the video from storyboarding to filming and even special effects. Its very important that everyone has something to do. Teamwork leads to a great experience. When making a video, students who dont want to be in the video can take on other roles such as editing the scenes with a computer, doing make-up, making voice overs for charts, designing instructional slides to be included in the video, etc. Storyboarding Storyboarding is one of the most important tasks in creating your video. Ask groups to sketch out each section of their video with instructions on what should happen. This provides the roadmap for the video production. Believe me, youll be glad youve done it when editing and putting together your video. Scripting Scripting can be as simple as a general direction such as Talk about your hobbies to specific lines for a soap opera scene. Each group should script a scene as they see fit. Scripting should also include any voiceovers, instructional slides, etc. Its also a good idea to match the script to the storyboard with snippets of text to help with production. Filming Once youve got your storyboards and scripts ready, its on to filming. Students who are shy and dont want to act can be responsible for filming, directing, holding cue cards, and more. Theres always a role for everyone - even if its not on screen! Creating Resources If youre filming something instructional, you may want to include other resources such as instructional slides, charts, etc. I find it helpful to use presentation software to create the slides and then export as .jpg or other image format. Voiceovers can be recorded and saved as .mp3 files to add to the film. Students who arent filming, can work on creating resources needed or each group can create their own. Its important to decide as a class which template youd like to use, as well as image sizes, font choices, etc. This will save a lot of time when putting together the final video. Putting the Video Together At this point, youll have to put it all together. There are numerous software packages that you can use such as Camtasia, iMovie, and Movie Maker. This can be quite time consuming and aggravating. However, youll probably find a student or two who excel in using storyboarding software to create complex videos. Its their chance to shine!

REDUCING HIV RISK AMONG YOUNG MINORITY WOMEN & A HEALTH CARE TEAM Research Paper

REDUCING HIV RISK AMONG YOUNG MINORITY WOMEN & A HEALTH CARE TEAM HELPS REDUCE HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE AMONG INNER-CITY BLACK MEN - Research Paper Example Dr. Martha developed a program that provided free health facilities to black men diagnosed with High Blood Pressure in the inner-city. In his analysis, a group of 300 black men recruited for the experiment indicated that one out of five had accomplished adequate blood pressure control. Human immune deficiency virus is another deadly disease that can be controlled through a change in attitude. The virus is spread through heterosexual activity. The theory to the control of a spread in the virus is, ‘The key to defeating HIV lies with protection’ (Jemmott 1998). The black youth women are the most targeted group as they are prone to the contraction of HIV activities due to their activities and interaction among each other. Education has been identified as a method to prove this theory. This is because it fosters awareness by implicating the dangers of negligence towards the use of protection as the key to defeating HIV spread and its resultant effects (Kendall 2012). Dr. Loretta Sweet Jemmott has carried out an experiment on the theory by developing an educational intervention that delivers eight modules on safe sex practices and abstinence to inner-city black middle school student (Jemmott 1998). The program was successful as it helped in the reduction o f risky sexual behaviour. As a result sexual education was introduced in the education curriculum of the United States of America as well as internationally. The conceptual basis of the two cases of study is to present the logical argument that prevention is better than cure thus there is need to control the spread and effect of various dangerous diseases in order to enhance health practices and population growth of Africa Americans in the United States. Jemmott L, S. (1998). Journal of the American Media Association: Abstinence and safe sex HIV risk-reduction intervention for African American Adolescents: A random controlled trial. New York. National Institution of Public