Cybercrime and Privacy Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Cybercrime and Privacy - Research Paper Example There has been a dramatic rise in the reach and availability of electronic means of communication in the recent decades. This has led to a simultaneous rise in the internet related crimes whereby electronic resources are exploited by cyber criminals, to commit online frauds. The internet related crimes are fast spreading across the globe and have become transnational in nature, thus making it far more difficult to restrict, prevent, or investigate such occurrences and persecute the perpetrators. Although the law enforcement agencies, have enacted several policies and set up legal departments to track and prohibit malicious use of internet by the cyber criminals, there is still a serious lack of effective resources and infrastructure to dissuade cyber criminals from engaging in such crimes (Wall 5). The growth in technological advancements has resulted in a simultaneous rise in invasion of our privacy. This is apparent from the growing number of spam messages and unsolicitated mails i n our inbox. This sudden influx of data comprising of marketing reports and aggressive advertising, encountered in our daily lives is one of the most predominant nuisances in present times, which indicate the level and extent of this menace. The increasing exchange of personal information between technology and individuals as a form of communication, which is stored in databases is a threat to our privacy since this information is likely to be pawned by marketing professionals in their profit games. The gravity of this threat is aggravated by the fact that nations across the globe today are highly dependent on information technology. Although the information age has contributed immensely towards enhancing the quality of our lives, it has displayed a serious negative side as well - that of completely diminishing the society's right to protection of their privacy (Wall 37). 2. Significance, scope and extent of the problem: â€Å"Undeterred by the prospect of arrest or prosecution, cy ber criminals around the world lurk on the Net as an omnipresent menace to the financial health of businesses, to the trust of their customers, and as an emerging threat to nations’ security† Marc Goodman The study of cybercrime raises several critical questions regarding the protection of privacy and more specifically the increasing loss of privacy. The proliferation of technology and internet based activities ranging from personal banking and social networking activities to shopping online and searching for employment has become common place, and hence increased the vulnerability of individuals to cyber attacks. The personal details shared by individuals online are accessible to everyone thus making it highly susceptible to misuse, and thefts of identity by cybercriminals (Brenner viii). The commercialization of personal information has added a boost to criminal activities online and the anonymity that the web offers almost guarantees impunity to the perpetrators thus making it difficult for law enforcements to prevent the growing trend. The issue of cybercrime, has been growing consistently and is now known to be one of the most serious and globally recognized internet crimes in recent times, causing millions of dollars worth of losses every year in the U.S. According to the Cyber Crime Report (2011) conducted by Symantec in the U.S. it is estimated that cybercrime has amounted to a total of $338 billion over the past year (Symantec.com, 2011). The report further states that 69% of the adults surveyed have admitted to have fallen prey to cybercrimes in their lifetime of which 65% suffered due to online frauds during the past one year. 75% of the victims of cybercrimes were those between the age group of 18 and 31 years. Figure 2: Source: Cyber Crime Report: Symantec

Stop & Frisk Essay Example for Free

Stop Frisk Essay I am aware that here in New York we are surrounded by all types of people and of all cultures and races but why if this is so and we have our Constitution as it is written do we have to deal with this Stop and Frisk situation. I believe this is an invasion of space and privacy and that this violates our rights as citizens of this country. The Stop and frisk program is being done by the New York Police Department. They are stopping thousands of people and are searching for contraband and weapons. This type of searches happens when police see a suspicious person trying to commit a crime, so they stopped them before it happens. The police frisk the person which means they pat them down; they search for weapons and then begin to ask the person questions. Which I believe invades our rights as citizens and makes people feel picked on and the first thing that I can think of as a human being is why me? I understand that they have a description but they should have better guidelines regarding this matter because there are a lot of people who they stop which are innocent. I can understand when it is said that is it is used because the stops and frisks are greatly less invasive than full-blown arrests and searches, and that it is a shorter process instead of being booked and taken to the police precinct rather than just searched and if the person has nothing then they may go free, but if the officer gets further evidence during the frisk, the stop may lead to an arrest. But it should have more specific information because every Hispanic and Black person will always have a resemblance with each other. The NYPD’s while doing this they raise a lot of concerns and especially it is being seen as racial profiling and it is and invasion of privacy.

The First Step to Accept Immigrants in Japan Essay -- Japanese Immigra

"For many decades, Japan was the only advanced industrial country in the world that did not rely on unskilled foreign labor" (Tsuda 687). However, because the shrinking and aging population is an upcoming serious problem for Japan, the demand for foreign workers has increased. The U.S. is a great example of how to take the immigrants’ help to drive an economy. Primarily, the U.S. is a nation of immigrants, and it is known to be the multiracial and multicultural successful country. One of their ideologies is no discrimination against any groups. Neither legal nor illegal immigrants are discriminated against. Their children are given U.S. citizenship, and they can assimilate better in the multicultural society. On the other hand, Japan has a fundamentally different structure of society and has different ideologies from the U.S. Japan is highly known for â€Å"the country’s economic miracle to its â€Å"one ethnic group, one language society† (Solinger 457). This miracle has structured Japan with "a strong, historically-derived ideology emphasized racial homogeneity, which shores up the national bias against outsiders† (Solinger 457). Therefore, Japan is afraid that the foreign workers, "those who work in a foreign country without initially intending to settle there", will become immigrants, "one who comes to another country for the purpose of permanent residence" (Webster dictionary). Japan will be one of the "[m]any countries [that] can’t live without foreign workers—but don’t want to live with them. The message to unskilled migrants is almost always: get the job done and get lost" (Silverman 60). In this paper, with my hope to lessen the discrimination against outsiders in the near future, I will examine why Japanese hesitate to accept imm... ...panese starts seeing that foreign workers will not settle in Japan illegally, not cause educational issues, and will not hold animosity toward to Japanese, I believe their negative perspectives of outsiders will change to positive. On top of this positive foundation between Japanese and outsiders, they should finally be able to build on multiracial and multicultural successful society. With this achievement, it is the time for Japan to loosen the restriction on foreign workers and to live with immigrants peacefully. Therefore, after examining why Japanese hesitate to accept immigrants and also how they can manage numbers of upcoming foreign workers, my conclusion is to make restrictions on acceptance of foreign workers. The restrictions like Hirata's two suggestions is the first step to open their homogeneous society to the multiracial and multicultural success. The First Step to Accept Immigrants in Japan Essay -- Japanese Immigra "For many decades, Japan was the only advanced industrial country in the world that did not rely on unskilled foreign labor" (Tsuda 687). However, because the shrinking and aging population is an upcoming serious problem for Japan, the demand for foreign workers has increased. The U.S. is a great example of how to take the immigrants’ help to drive an economy. Primarily, the U.S. is a nation of immigrants, and it is known to be the multiracial and multicultural successful country. One of their ideologies is no discrimination against any groups. Neither legal nor illegal immigrants are discriminated against. Their children are given U.S. citizenship, and they can assimilate better in the multicultural society. On the other hand, Japan has a fundamentally different structure of society and has different ideologies from the U.S. Japan is highly known for â€Å"the country’s economic miracle to its â€Å"one ethnic group, one language society† (Solinger 457). This miracle has structured Japan with "a strong, historically-derived ideology emphasized racial homogeneity, which shores up the national bias against outsiders† (Solinger 457). Therefore, Japan is afraid that the foreign workers, "those who work in a foreign country without initially intending to settle there", will become immigrants, "one who comes to another country for the purpose of permanent residence" (Webster dictionary). Japan will be one of the "[m]any countries [that] can’t live without foreign workers—but don’t want to live with them. The message to unskilled migrants is almost always: get the job done and get lost" (Silverman 60). In this paper, with my hope to lessen the discrimination against outsiders in the near future, I will examine why Japanese hesitate to accept imm... ...panese starts seeing that foreign workers will not settle in Japan illegally, not cause educational issues, and will not hold animosity toward to Japanese, I believe their negative perspectives of outsiders will change to positive. On top of this positive foundation between Japanese and outsiders, they should finally be able to build on multiracial and multicultural successful society. With this achievement, it is the time for Japan to loosen the restriction on foreign workers and to live with immigrants peacefully. Therefore, after examining why Japanese hesitate to accept immigrants and also how they can manage numbers of upcoming foreign workers, my conclusion is to make restrictions on acceptance of foreign workers. The restrictions like Hirata's two suggestions is the first step to open their homogeneous society to the multiracial and multicultural success.

High School and Handball Essay

There should always be something special to you that will warm your heart when you think of it. As I sit at home everyday, I think of this special thing that will brighten my day and get me off my seat. Ever since I can remember, handball was one of the few things I never got bored of in my life. Handball to me is more than a sport or something to past time. It has been a way for me to meet new people and make new friends. It all began when I was a little kid. I would always play games and never stop even if my parents took them away. But nothing could stop me from waking up at night secretly, and playing my Game Boy until I fell asleep. Then there was that one day when my mom bought me this red bouncy ball. She told me to play with it instead of my stupid games. I listened to her, and I started playing with the ball daily. At that time, I didn’t know what this ball would bring to my life, but soon I realized. After playing countless hours, I stopped staying up late, because I was so exhausted. I didn’t just bounce the ball around my house because I was bored. Sometimes, I threw it at my house walls and smacked it back with my hand so it wouldn’t get past me. This was probably when I first started doing something similar to what we know as â€Å"handball. † As I was a teenager, there was this park across the street from my junior high school. The park was quite big and was called Seth Low Park. I remember one day, during 6th grade, a friend of mine, named Nabeel asked me if I wanted to play handball with him after school at Seth Low Park. Excitedly, I told him that I would love to, but I didn’t know how to play. He didn’t mind, so after school that day, I went to play with him. He told me that all I had to do was hit the ball to the wall with my hands. I was eager to try this sport, so I practiced with him every day. He noticed that I was a quick learner and asked me if I ever played handball before. I told him I used to smack a ball around at home and he commented on how well I could return the ball to the wall. I didn’t know what to say. This was my first time playing, and it seemed like I was a better player than he was. I guess I really was born to be a handball player. As years went by, the only thing that I cared about was school and handball. Whenever I stressed from school or wanted to feel free and away from work, I would put on my shorts and run out to play. Nothing matters to me when I step on the court. I forget everything and just concentrate on my game. My love for handball was so great that when the sun had set and the sky was dark, I was still at the park swinging away my arm. Sometimes my arm began to hurt after playing for several hours but I continued to play, ignoring the pain. Even with these side effects, handball has helped me improve my reflexes and increased my stamina. Even to this day I still play handball. My present reflects my past on how I play. I keep getting better and better and every once in a while I meet new people, who are even better than me or people who play around my level. And as I get better, I helped them realize their mistakes and flaws which made me a better player as well. When I have a hard game, I feel challenged and it’s a wonderful feeling when you step on a court with another good player. When I win, it feels even better but when I lose I know I tried my best. However, as I played more and more handball, I realized I had a gift in this sport. I couldn’t wait to play in real competition in high school. Apparently, I realized I was better then a lot of people, so I tried out for the Madison handball team. I was really surprised when I got in because I had to play against the top players in the school. I was so sure that I would not make the cut, but I did and I was really excited. I couldn’t wait for the 1st practice and see how good the team was. After a few days of practice, I realized there were a lot of good players on the team. This motivated me to practice harder and get better at the sport. In the future, I hope I will have enough time to continue playing handball. It has had a huge impact on my life and I will never forget about it. It is both a great sport, and a friend to me that has helped me through rough times. When I did not know what to do, I turned to handball. It takes my mind off problems and most importantly, when I need it, its there. Meeting new people through handball and becoming friends with them is a wonderful thing. There is always something to share with them and they are always there at the handball courts with you. Handball will always have a special place in my life because without it, I would be another boring person.

Should the U.S. Increase Spending on the Space Program

Should the U. S. Government Increase Spending On The Space Program A group of children lie in the tall grass on a moonless night, staring in wonder up at the hundreds of diamond pinpoints glittering across the heavens. This peaceful scene could have taken place at any point in history, from the cave dwelling Neanderthal, to a family celebrating a warm summer evening together at a local park. The Heavens have always been a source of passionate fascination and wonderment for intelligent beings. Nearly every culture throughout known time has had legends about the heavens or the stars.In fact, to many cultures, Greek and Roman for example, the night skies were so magical that the heavens were the focal point of their creation myths. In more recent times, we have begun to be less superstitious about the star studded expanse above us, astrology aside, and begun to apply scientific fact and mathematical certainties to that very mysterious beyond. We began to have the technological advanceme nts that would make it possible to actually begin decoding the mysteries of, and then amazingly, foraying into that last frontier which culminated in the U. S. eing the only country to have ever put a man on the moon. So why did it essentially end there? Think about this, every time you use your smart phone, you are holding in the palm of your hand more technology than was used to navigate the first moon landing. Yet, despite our marked leaps forward in the applied sciences in the last fifteen years, which have the potential to make frequent, smaller scale, passenger accompanied space travel plausible and much safer, the space program in the United States seems to merit less and less government funding every passing year.So with all of space waiting to be discovered, decoded, and explored, why do we as a country, seem to be turning our backs on the space program? Arguments abound as to why the space program is a waste of our precious time, government resources and technology. Those opposed to the space program argue that the funds used to put equipment into orbit around the earth and used to build space shuttles and design rocket fuel powerful enough to launch hundreds of thousands of pounds of metal tens of thousands of miles, hould instead be used to revitalize a sluggish economy, fix our severely inadequate public education system or be used to fund research geared toward helping to reverse some of the damage mankind has done to the planet we already inhabit. Proponents of shutting down space programs completely and diverting funds elsewhere also make points that if we had these brilliant minds working on projects like the U. S. Infrastructure or clean energy instead of frittering away their talents on useless space projects, that we could quickly solve some very large problems facing our country.Most of these arguments are well thought out and make very valid points however, they seem to miss the fact that our way of life would be very different if NASA ha d never existed. Take for example during the early Apollo missions. NASA scientists realized that they needed better, clearer pictures of the moons surface in order to determine if landing a man on the moon was even a feasible idea. They put their heads together and in the 1960's they came up with digital image processing. A revolutionary step in technology that would allow the scientists to use computers to enhance pictures of the moons surface.Soon after the discovery this technology exploded on the scene in the medical industry as medical researchers discovered that they could modify NASA's technology to better see organs in the human body without surgery. These breakthroughs are still used today. We know them as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Computed Tomography (CT) scans which save millions of lives every single year. Speaking of lives, another lifesaving device came from modified NASA technology, though not in the medical field.An engineer saw the massive rocket launche rs that propel massive spacecrafts into deep space and it gave him an idea. He approached the government with the idea and was granted permission to partner with and research his vision. In a few short years they has modified the rocket propulsion system, minimized it and it is now used across the united states to fight fires. It propels the water at such a high pressure that it has revolutionized putting out fires. It's quicker, safer and it also wastes no precious water.Even our comfort levels have been raised due to NASA's research. They needed something to reduce the bone jarring impact of spacecrafts landing. So they created a polyurethane, silicone, plastic blend to help protect astronauts and cargo. We know this today as memory foam and it is in everything from car seats to protect the most innocent among us to mattresses, motorcycle helmets, recliners and even Fido's bed. There are dozens, if not hundreds of examples of how space exploration technology vastly improved daily life in America.Even if you choose not to look at the way NASA launched the American people into a safer, more comfortable America you would have to be wearing blinders to not recognize how NASA launched the U. S. Into the lead politically. The space race between the United States and the Soviet Union had it's origins in the missile based Arms Race that occurred at the end of World War II. The Space Race marked unprecedented spending on education and pure research which accelerated scientific advancement at a rate previously unheard of.In other words, most of the technology we have today in the United States as well as the comfortable way that we live is due to NASA and to our govenrment investing well in the future of its future generations. Spending on both programs has been cut steeply in the last fifteen years and we have had little new technology advance and also we are generating graduates that are unskilled for the hightech jobs and positions that need to be filled in order t o keep the U. S. Advancing forward.Take a look at the numbers. In 1012 NASA was allocated 18. 7 Billion from the Federal Government. I know that sounds huge but it's actually less then 1% of the entire U. S. Budget. 69. 8 billion went to education and that's obviously a lot more than NASA's funding but if you look at the bigger picture the Defense got 670 billion. To put it another way, science, advancement and technology received less than one percent of the nations budget. Education is doing a bit better at nearly five percent but Defense?That's almost twenty seven percent of our nations budget. I think we as a society need to come together and ask our government to help us launch America forward again by investing in out space programs. After all, as The President of the United States himself said â€Å"For pennies on the dollar, the space program has improved our lives, advanced our society, strengthened our economy, and inspired generations of Americans. † I would ask hi m to ensure that that never stops.

Fringe of leaves essays

Fringe of leaves essays Recently there have been huge concerns over the excessive use of water in Australia and the resulting impact on our environment. We all realize that it is necassary to preserve our water, especially since we live in the dryest inhabited continent. there are many ways that science can help us to do this. Technology can help us to recycle waste water, storm water and rain water. what can happen is that there can be different systems for certain things that require water. this is allready often used in the home when basin water is reused in out toilets, a very clever idea since each flush of the toilet uses about 11 L of water! Much of our water is supplied by the murray river. infact we are incredibly relient on it as it supplied water to.... towns and cities. But abuse and over use have left the murray damaged and the water flow disturbed. To help fix this problem it has been decided to drain a lake to help replenish the murray water flow. This is dirrectly related to science as i can't imagine it would be easy to transfer all that water without the use of very tecnologically advanced machinary. Plus scientists of many kinds to ensure the ecosystem isn't disrupted, especially a hydrologist to moniter the flow and determine safe amounts of water input and so on, as well as marine biologists to study the possible effects on the wildlife. Science has recently been used in the Yarra Valley to help conserve our water. Tiny little sensors (called micro eletrical sensors) have been invented that can be placed at strategic places around a property that pick up all kinds of information such as wind speed and direction and air and soil moisture. this will help farmers to grow wine with less water and chemicals as they will know where irrigation is needed, often in advance. These sensors used to be big and expensive, but this newest model is a huge feat due to its size (4mm square) and lesser cost ...

Future Tenses Essay Example

Future Tenses Essay Example Future Tenses Essay Future Tenses Essay Future tenses There are several different ways in English that you can talk about the future. This page is an introduction to the most important ones: Predictions/statements of fact Intentions Arrangements Scheduled events Predictions/statements of fact The auxiliary verb will is used in making predictions or simple statements of fact about the future. The sun will rise at 6. 30 tomorrow. Lunch break today will be 10 minutes longer than usual. In the year 2050 all students will have their own computers in school. If you help me, I will help you. Do you think she will come soon? You wont pass your exams if you dont start working harder. I know my parents wont let me go to the party. Will it snow for Christmas? I know shes sick, but will she be back in school tomorrow? Intentions The auxiliary verb going to is used in talking about intentions. (An intention is a plan for the future that you have already thought about. ) Were going to buy a new car next month. Im going to work in a bank when I leave school. In the new year Im going to stop eating so much Junk. Hes not going to go to the dance. Hes got too much work. Im not going to watch TV until my science project is finished. : Are you going to play basketball after school? What are you going to have for lunch today? Note: going to is often used in the past tense to talk about an unfulfilled intention. Examples: I was going to study for my grammar test, but I had no time. / He was going to call you, but he couldnt find his mobile phone. / My grandmother was going to visit us, but she fell and broke her arm. Arrangements The present continuous tense is used in talking about arrangements. (An arrangement is is a plan for the future that you have already thought about and issued with someone else. Im meeting my mother at the airport tomorrow. Our grandparents are visiting us this Christmas. Sorry, I cant stay after school today; Im playing tennis with June-Ski. My sisters going to the dentist tomorrow. Im not returning home for the holidays, so I can come to your party after all! Are you doing anything on Sunday morning? Do you know if he is going to the dance with Maims next week? Scheduled events The present simple tense is usually used to refer to future events that are scheduled (and outside of our control). Hurry up! The train departs in 10 minutes. I leave Frankfurt at 5 oclock in the morning and arrive in New York at midnight the She has an appointment with the headmaster after school today. Theres no need to hurry. The train doesnt leave for another 30 minutes. When does the meeting begin? Below is a list of some of the less common tenses, followed in each case by examples. Note that the continuous tenses convey the idea of an event or state going on for a period of time: Present perfect continuous I have been working in the garden all day, and now Im extremely tired. She has been living in a one-room apartment since she left home. How long have you been playing the piano? Hes been learning German for two years, but he still cant speak it very well. Weve been painting our house since last Friday, but were still a long way from finishing. We havent been living in Germany very long. Why are you sweating? Have you been running? Past perfect continuous I had been working in the garden all day, and all I wanted to do was sleep. She had been living in a one-room apartment for a year before getting married. How long had you been playing the piano before the accident with your hand? Hed been earning German for two years, but he stopped when he returned to Japan. Wed been painting our house for two weeks, but we were still a long way from finishing. Future continuous At this time next week I will be sitting in the plane on the way to New York. Dont call me after 10 oclock. Ill be sleeping. If you want to see IMHO tomorrow, you will have to go to the school. She will be taking a test all afternoon. I wont be working on my car this weekend. My mother-in- law will be here. Future perfect I hope my mother will have finished cooking dinner by the time I get home. You can come at 6 oclock. I will have done my homework by then. Theres no point calling her at home. She will have left for work already. On June 25 2020 they will have been married for 60 years. Future perfect continuous By the time I retire I will have been working here for 45 years! If she reaches her 60th birthday, she will have been smoking for half a century! Future Tenses in English Exercise 1 Principia del formulaic 1) The train leaves at 11:45. 2) We are going to have dinner at a nice restaurant on Saturday. 3) It will snow in the mountains tomorrow evening. On Sunday at 8 oclock I am meeting my friend. 5) They are flying to London on Friday evening. 6) Wait! I will drive you to the station. 7) The English lesson starts at 8:45. 8) I am going to see my sister in April. At the door. I will open the door for you. Final del formulaic Simple Present / Simple Future Present Continuous / Future Continuous Correct! Well done. Your score is 69%. 1. Right now, I am watching TV. Tomo rrow at this time, I (watch) will be watching TV as well. 2. Tomorrow after school, I (go) am going to go to the beach. 3. I am going on a dream vacation to Tahiti.

How To Say But in Spanish

How To Say But in Spanish Although pero and sino are the most common words translated from Spanish as but, they are used in different ways and cannot be substituted for each other. Like but often is,  pero and sino are coordinating conjunctions, meaning that they connect two words or phrases of similar grammatical status. And like but, pero and sino are used in forming contrasts. Differences Between Pero and Sino Usually, the Spanish conjunction to be used to indicate a contrast is pero. But sino is used instead when two conditions are true: when the part of the sentence coming before the conjunction is stated in the negative, and when the part after the conjunction directly contradicts what is negated in the first part. In mathematical-like terms, sino is used for but in sentences of type not A but B when A contradicts B. The examples below should make this clear. Heres another way of putting it: Both pero and sino can be translated as but. But in almost all cases, rather, but rather or instead also could be used as an appropriate translation where sino is used, but not for pero. Examples of Pero in Use Me gustarà ­a salir, pero no puedo. (I would like to leave, but I cant. The first part of the sentence isnt stated in the negative, so pero is used.)Marà ­a es alta pero no es fuerte. (Mary is tall, but she isnt strong. The first part of the sentence isnt stated in the negative, so pero is used.)Los huevos son fritos pero no revueltos. (The eggs are fried but not scrambled. Again, the first part of the sentence is stated in the affirmative.)Marà ­a no es alta pero es inteligente. (Mary isnt tall, but shes intelligent. Although the first part of this sentence is in the negative, pero is used because theres no direct contrast - theres no contradiction with being short and smart.)No son muchos pero buenos. (There arent many, but theyre good. Again, theres no direct contrast, so pero is used.)El virus Cà ³digo Rojo no afecta usuarios, pero Sircam no remite. (The Code Red virus doesnt affect users, but Sircam doesnt let up. The two parts of this sentence are used as a comparison rath er than a contrast, so pero is used.) Examples of Sino  in Use Marà ­a no es alta sino baja. (Mary isnt tall, but short, or Mary isnt tall, rather shes short. Theres a direct contrast between tall and short.)No creemos lo que vemos, sino que vemos lo que creemos. (We dont believe what we see, but we see what we believe, or we dont believe what we see, rather we see what we believe. Theres a clear and direct contrast between cause and effect used in this sentence.)El protagonista no era conde sino seà ±or. (The protagonist wasnt a count but a lord, or the protagonist wasnt a count, rather he was a lord. Although conde and seà ±or arent opposites, they are used in this sentence to contrast with each other.)No he venido a ser servido sino a servir. (I havent come to be served but to serve, or I havent come to be served; instead I have come to serve. Again, theres a direct contrast between the two purposes stated in the sentence.)El problema no es tuyo sino mà ­o. (The problem isnt yours but mine. Sino shows a contrast in ownership.) Other Ways of Saying But in Spanish When except can substitute for but, it is often possible to use excepto, menos, or salvo. In these cases, however, but and the Spanish word are arent used to form a contrast but to function as a preposition. Creo en la justicia para todos, excepto mis enemigos. (I believe in justice for everyone but  my enemies.)No conozco a nadie, excepto mi hija. (I dont know anybody but my daughter.)Me gustan todos los comentarios, menos el primero. (I liked all the comments but the first one.)Debemos considerar todas las posibilidades, menos esa. (We should consider all the possibilities but that one.)Todos los formularios,  salvo uno, estn disponibles en inglà ©s. (All the forms but one are available in English.)Nadie, salvo yo, sabe lo que es bueno para mà ­. (Nobody but me knows what is good for me.)

Case Study of Gucci Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Case Study of Gucci - Essay Example Most brands products of Gucci group of companies suffered a drop in sales in the wake of the 2008 economic crisis except the two strong brands whose sales increased even in the most extreme of circumstances. Due to the circumstances involving the general drop in sales volume and the traditional beliefs and sales concepts, it is important that Gucci explores the best marketing model or mix to employ so as to revamp the market. One of the popular marketing strategy/model is the Ansoff Growth marketing mix. This describes the growth of a business in its attempt to market new or regular products in a new market or previously existing market. It therefore brings together growth in the market and growth or increase in brand of an organization. Ansoff can be achieved through various strategies such as market penetration, market development, product development and product diversification (Pickton & Broderick 2005). Market penetration involves the marketing of the products or the specific br and in existing market with an aim of increasing the market proportion for the product which can be achieved through the 7 P’s of marketing. ... wear whose sales have dropped since they are neither producing new brands nor investing in a new market but trying to retain their market share amid a crisis. Under the Ansoff mix, marketing development is also a strategy which involves seeking new markets for an existing product. The methods used can include exploiting new geographical markets through exporting or setting up of outlets where they originally did not exist. The company can also adopt a new distribution channel which will ensure the product penetrates into the markets it did not attract. In this case, other methods such as differential pricing can be used to attract consumers of different economic or social status (Mao and Krishnan 2006). Since Gucci might have limited their market in terms of size, the company should consider increasing the market size for the product whose sales volume is on the decline so as to ensure a balance. Ansoff also includes product development where a company undertakes to introduce a new p roduct into the market and will require new competencies and modified products. Gucci is more concerned about its products which are on the decline but could choose to restructure their brands so as to produce more acceptable brands into the market and therefore avoid declining sales. Apart from all this strategies under Ansoff, the company may also opt for market diversification. This is a marketing strategy of exploiting totally new markets without prior experience or knowledge of the market. It is a risk venture which might result into unprecedented losses if not carefully approached but should be taken if circumstances demand. In the middle of the economic crisis, Gucci should not take this approach since it might result into more losses, especially the costs involved in promotion so as

The Corporate Strategy of Google Inc Case Study

The Corporate Strategy of Google Inc - Case Study Example y they Goggled while searching for it hence achieving its mission of â€Å"to organize the world information and make it universally accessible and useful (Chaffey, 2010). A corporate strategy is plans designed to achieve some specific or particular goal; otherwise it is cooperation scope and direction geared towards various business operation working together to achieve set goals. Google being information sharing company it require strict and laid down strategies which it should follow to ensure that it successfully progresses. This has made it have an experimental culture those empowers employees, but more importantly defending its core. This experimental culture can well be explained using a four part analysis (Rosen, 2008). The first part of the culture strategy is earn, then entice, defend and lastly to expand t Google’s 95% of its money come from advertising. Google has a very clear and distinct vision of what it wants to become. We dwell in the world that information is valued so much due to increase in intelligence, communication technological information, innovations and education, though organization and compiling of this information that need to be shared out Google comes into safe the world (Rosen,2008). The company revenue income in its ads is slowing down despite its continuous innovation and introduction of new services and products. This creates a bad picture for the company forcing it to look at other revenue streams to sustain growth. Advances are made, and others already made to launch chrome cast during the quarter this is mainly to see that Google dominates the market with less or no major competitors (Chaffey, 2010). Google generates higher percentage of its value from advertising where it competes primary with Microsoft, yahoo and facebook according to research and estimates, standard PC search ads accounts for above 30% of it total value and 60% of revenue. This however, recent trend in earnings indicates a decline in the online PC

'the effects job satisfaction has on an organisation in regards to Essay

'the effects job satisfaction has on an organisation in regards to performance & productivity, turnover and absenteeism - Essay Example The satisfaction and dissatisfaction of employees affects the rate of turnover and absenteeism in an organisation. If an employee is not satisfied with the working environment, then he/she can quit the job, which increases the turnover rate. This affects operations of the organisation to a great extent that can even lead to suspension of the work. This study highlights job satisfaction on the turnover rate and absenteeism in an organisation It is observed, from the survey undertaken by CIPD, there is a positive correlation between job satisfaction and pay, promotion and rewards. Thus, it can be portrayed that performance management plays an important role in fulfilling the expectation of the employees. Pay and promotion is identified to be most significant aspects of job satisfaction since it motivates employees to work harder for the organisation. The aim and objective are very important for projects since these direct the whole content. After determination of project aim, objectives are set. The project frames few objectives that are examined in order to justify validity of initial project topic. Psychology plays an important role in various phases of human life. Higher importance is given to mental condition of individuals (employees) in organisations so as to enhance productivity. The human resource management of any organisation takes into consideration the mental well-being of their employees so that their productivity is not harmed. Arnold, et al. (1998 cited in Markos and Sridevi, 2010) has pointed out the two main reasons why job satisfaction has gained importance in the recent years. The first and foremost significant reason is that job satisfaction acts as an indicator of mental condition of a human. Thus, it helps in identifying whether a particular employee is happy or not in his/her workplace. Secondly, it is assumed that if employees are content with their work, then they are motivated to put in their full effort, thereby

Stand up meeting in agile software development Dissertation

Stand up meeting in agile software development - Dissertation Example However, from the development of software methodologies, some classical or pioneering methods evolved. These are now known as the traditional approaches to the development of software. The traditional approach to software development involves the â€Å"definition of requirements which leads to the architecture or design of the development process and implementation† (Dean and Gravel, 2009 p12). This is a basic model that was steeped in convenience and the ability to complete things according to a standard pace. The Committee on Certifiable Dependable Software Systems criticized the traditional approaches to software development for lacking the basis for strong and rigorous analysis (2011). This is because these methods were very basic and depended on the software developer’s testing and validation without the inclusion of other external parties. Another criticism put forward against the traditional approach to software development is that it assumes that this approach i s based on a set of rigidly defined assumptions that will be used as the guideline throughout the process (Kathleen, 2007). This method usually lacks the flexibility that can help in the adjustment of the processes in the course of the software development (Kathleen, 2007). Thus, if the assumption of a given process is not appropriate, the project is prone to failures as it proceeds. A textbook example of the traditional software development approach is the waterfall model which contains rigid steps and levels that the software developer goes through in the completion of a software development process (Segal, 2010). The inherent issues in these systems have led to the creation of more dynamic and flexible approaches to software development like the Agile Software Development methodology. The literature review will critique these approaches and methods and evaluate them in relation to relevant issues and matters that are define each of them. This will set the parameters for the discu ssions on stand meetings and scrum meetings in dynamic approaches to software development. 2.1 Waterfall Approach The Waterfall Approach to the development of software follows a sequential process where activities follow each other downwards, like a waterfall; hence the name. The sequence applied in this methodology involves the analysis of requirements, design, coding, validation (testing), installation, and maintenance (Royce, 1970). Projects that follow the Waterfall Approach are normally segmented according to the different phases, although some of these phases might overlap during the process. The Waterfall Approach maintains tight resource control, and operations remain limited to the provisions as identified in the requirement analysis. The major setback to this method remains the assumption of having all essential problems and requirements identified at the beginning. This is a challenge because at the onset, there are many opportunities and threats that might not be clear t o the software developers. Unpredictable problems encountered during the project lifetime result in project failure. The method contains numerous activities which must be undertaken through a series of activities identified at the beginning of project. Figure 1: The Waterfall Approach (Source: Snyder, 2002) Figure 1 shows the fundamental stages and phases of the Waterfall Approach to software development. It depicts the sequential phases that a software develope

Trust between a child and his caregiver Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Trust between a child and his caregiver - Essay Example This paper aims to highlight that once the trust between a child and his caregiver is broken then it becomes difficult to earn that trust back. Whatever the children see, notice, and hear they adopt it and store it in their minds. Therefore the factor of trust is crucial one between a child and a caregiver. Children are good observers; they carefully notice and observe what is happening around them. They often catch what we say and store them in their mind. The case of Christopher from the text is a good example of this relationship between a child and his caregiver i.e. his father. The case of Christopher is not an ordinary one, he needs more attention and care than other children as he has some issues and his brain does not work properly. He lives with his father who is not happy with his habit of eating everything and pooping on the floor or anywhere. While Christopher is trying to build trust between him and his father, his father tells him something astonishing. He tells him that he had murdered someone and that he lied to him. However, his father wants Christopher to trust him now. Christopher calculates in his mind t hat since he lied to him already and he had murdered someone, therefore, he might murder Christopher as well and he should not trust him. Thinking in this manner led Christopher to plan an escape from the house as he is frightened of being murdered (Haddon). Just like Christopher, we had a neighbor who had two children. The parents used to go to office while caregiver looked after them and used to pick and drop them from their school. One afternoon on their way back from the school the caregiver accidentally hit on a pole. Children were frightened, although no one was injured. Despite of being with him and travelling with him for more than 1.5 years, the children never drove with him again because they did not trust him anymore and were frightened like Christopher. Both the examples from the

Stand up meeting in agile software development Dissertation

Stand up meeting in agile software development - Dissertation Example However, from the development of software methodologies, some classical or pioneering methods evolved. These are now known as the traditional approaches to the development of software. The traditional approach to software development involves the â€Å"definition of requirements which leads to the architecture or design of the development process and implementation† (Dean and Gravel, 2009 p12). This is a basic model that was steeped in convenience and the ability to complete things according to a standard pace. The Committee on Certifiable Dependable Software Systems criticized the traditional approaches to software development for lacking the basis for strong and rigorous analysis (2011). This is because these methods were very basic and depended on the software developer’s testing and validation without the inclusion of other external parties. Another criticism put forward against the traditional approach to software development is that it assumes that this approach i s based on a set of rigidly defined assumptions that will be used as the guideline throughout the process (Kathleen, 2007). This method usually lacks the flexibility that can help in the adjustment of the processes in the course of the software development (Kathleen, 2007). Thus, if the assumption of a given process is not appropriate, the project is prone to failures as it proceeds. A textbook example of the traditional software development approach is the waterfall model which contains rigid steps and levels that the software developer goes through in the completion of a software development process (Segal, 2010). The inherent issues in these systems have led to the creation of more dynamic and flexible approaches to software development like the Agile Software Development methodology. The literature review will critique these approaches and methods and evaluate them in relation to relevant issues and matters that are define each of them. This will set the parameters for the discu ssions on stand meetings and scrum meetings in dynamic approaches to software development. 2.1 Waterfall Approach The Waterfall Approach to the development of software follows a sequential process where activities follow each other downwards, like a waterfall; hence the name. The sequence applied in this methodology involves the analysis of requirements, design, coding, validation (testing), installation, and maintenance (Royce, 1970). Projects that follow the Waterfall Approach are normally segmented according to the different phases, although some of these phases might overlap during the process. The Waterfall Approach maintains tight resource control, and operations remain limited to the provisions as identified in the requirement analysis. The major setback to this method remains the assumption of having all essential problems and requirements identified at the beginning. This is a challenge because at the onset, there are many opportunities and threats that might not be clear t o the software developers. Unpredictable problems encountered during the project lifetime result in project failure. The method contains numerous activities which must be undertaken through a series of activities identified at the beginning of project. Figure 1: The Waterfall Approach (Source: Snyder, 2002) Figure 1 shows the fundamental stages and phases of the Waterfall Approach to software development. It depicts the sequential phases that a software develope

Do cultural differences influence HRM practices Research Paper - 1

Do cultural differences influence HRM practices - Research Paper Example It is worth mentioning the Human Resource Management (HRMs) department is the overall department in most organizations hence the best suited in ensuring that the cultural differences have been utilize and observed as required (Edwards, et al., 2003). Concept Culture Actually, the influence of culture on the Human Resource Management practice must have emanated from concept of culture. Basically, culture denotes the understanding that is mostly held by a specific group of people. Additionally, culture gives more explanation on the assumptions and understanding that are used to give these guidelines in relation to accepting or refuting the perception feelings though and behavior that they have learnt from their fore fathers. Of importance to note is that, culture is passed over through social interactions and is further known to change over time. Similarly, different cultures have existed since time in memorial. In fact, the concept of culture has been documented as having been tested by the ancient employers who were more interested with ensuring that their organizations were running smoothly (Krishnamurthi, 2006). In this regard, the importance of culture cannot be ignored in any practice that relates to Human Resource Management (HRMs). ... According to Evans, 2009 the existence of a created culture particularly by employees ensures that the management of any organization is effective. Moreover, it argues that created culture manipulate how employees perceive, think, act and feel in relation to reality of culture. Created culture plays a significant role in ensuring that there is effective interpretation, selection and communication of information through ways that are meaningful to the employees. Rao, 2004 articulates that the means of understanding organization culture highly depend on the initial assumption of employees in a given organization. These assumptions include national cultural values and beliefs although there are others that still contribute towards this concept. Never the less, sociologist have continually argued that culture does not comprise of individual and their characteristics but it comprises of a group of persons brought together by similar education and life experiences. Consequently, group cult ure defines a collective mental programming that is shared by the entire group. Additionally, it demonstrates the kind of programming that is not found in any other group or nation. For instance, it is argued that most countries use culture that is far much different to other countries. Organization Culture Apparently, organizational culture had no absolute definition. However, organization culture can simply be defined as the culture that is practiced by employees and others stakeholders in any given organization. In essence, any organization must operate with the assistance of employees who ensure that every operation in the organization is working effectively. Scholars reckon that organizations are basically shells which must be filled by a team of

Oxford City Council Research Proposal Essay Example for Free

Oxford City Council Research Proposal Essay Oxford City Council (OCC) provides a range of recycling services, including kerbside collection services and recycling sites where residents can deposit items for recycling. Such schemes enable OCC to recycle approaching 40% of Oxford household waste currently. However, the UK government want to establish a recycling culture and continue to set increasing targets for household recycling, with an aim of reaching 50% by 2020. Following a recent (DEFRA) Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs initiative to allow the use of financial incentives for household waste minimisation and recycling, OCC is considering the introduction of a pilot scheme in selected postcodes areas. This would involve the introduction of bins fitted with microchips to monitor how much recycling and other waste a household produces, leading to refunds from local taxation bills for a good recycling performance or additional charges for a poor recycling performance. OCC is keen to understand likely reactions of residents to such a scheme and the overall impact that this might have on household recycling rates. OCC has invited the marketing research agency, Research Solutions to provide a proposal for marketing research to inform decision making. What is the research objective? A research objective is basically the main objective of the research i. e. the purpose of carrying out the research forms the research objective. The research objective is basically formed on the basis of the background of the research that is being conducted. (Creswell 2008). In this case, the main issue is recycling. This is due to the increasing population in the UK due to which the wastes have been increasing with a higher percentage. However, it is not a wise idea to leave the wastes just like that and it would be a very good option to recycle the waste so that it can be utilized again as the resources we own in the world today are limited but the demands of the people are unlimited. Therefore, it is always a good idea to save as much as possible so that we can save our future generations from suffering. The research objective of this research is that the UK government wants to establish a recycling culture and continue to set increasing targets for household recycling, with an aim of reaching 50% by 2020 in order to improve the previous targets. Previously, Oxford City Council provided a range of recycling services, including kerbside collection services and recycling sites where residents could deposit items for recycling and this enabled Oxford City Council to reduce the household waste by 40%. The idea now is to increase this percentage by 10% and to make it 50%. Problem Statement Before the research team assigned to solve the problem starts their job, a problem statement needs to be defined and to be presented to them and the problem statement should answer three main questions i. e. to define the problem and the reason why the team is required to solve this problem, the client who needs a solution to the problem and the scope as well as the limitations of the problem in terms of various issues such as time, money and other resources. Moreover, it is also important for the problem statement to address all the W’s i. e. to answer what, how, where, when, why, and who. (Denzin Lincoln 2005). Referring to this case, due to the increasing need of recycling, the government of UK plans to increase recycling of the household wastes to 50% by 2020 i. e. an increase by 10% from today. This aim has been defined basically to serve the households and to meet their demand of recycling household wastes; however there are certain limitations that are coming in the way to meet this requirement of the government of UK. In order to solve this problem, we, a research team from a marketing research agency, Research Solutions has been assigned to work out and to know the likely reactions of residents to such a scheme and the overall impact that this might have on household recycling rates. For this purpose, What methods will be used? Following a recent (DEFRA) Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs initiative to allow the use of financial incentives for household waste minimisation and recycling, OCC is considering the introduction of a pilot scheme in selected postcodes areas. This would involve the introduction of bins fitted with microchips to monitor how much recycling and other waste a household produces, however this will involve a certain cost as Oxford City Council will have to make refunds from local taxation bills for a good recycling performance or to pay additional charges for a poor recycling performance. (Patton 2002). We will use both primary as well as secondary data to conduct our research as well as both qualitative and quantitative data. Once we have gathered the secondary data, we will then seek for primary data for which we will prepare a set of 200 questionnaires. The questionnaire, we have planed will consist of around 20 open and close ended questions. We will get these questionnaires filled and will also interview people in Oxford from different age groups especially the women as the issue is basically related to household recycling so the housewives would be the best option to interview. Data analysis The process of gathering, modeling and transforming data aiming to make the important information prominent, to suggest conclusions as well as to support the decision making is called data analysis. There are various approaches and techniques that can be used for this purpose under different domains. (Spatz Kardas 2007). As Oxford City Council has been asked to increase recycling of household wastes by 10%, they now have to plan everything to achieve this goal but for this it is essential for the Oxford City Council to collect all the important information and to transform it. Therefore, to understand the likely reactions of residents to such a scheme and the overall impact that this might have on household recycling rates. A time schedule The government of UK wants the goal of an increase in the recycling of household wastes to be achieved by an increase of 10% by 2020 and this gives Oxford City Council more than a decade to achieve this aim. The Oxford City Council should plan out seriously and work on the aim that is to be met but before finally starting the work, it is always essential to conduct research in order to know whether the plans they have made will be successful of not and also to know the reaction of the people in the UK after the introduction of the pilot scheme in selected postcodes areas and before the plan can be executed, marketing research will be conducted whose timing is mentioned below. (Pan 2004). The time schedule will not just provide a timeframe but it will also help us meet the deadlines. As we have been assigned one month to conduct this research, we have accordingly divided the time to meet our goals in an efficient manner. In the first week, we plan to conduct desk research followed by qualitative fieldwork in the second week as well as to prepare a qualitative desk research report. On the first day of the third week, we aim to prepare questionnaires that will follow the quantitative stage, coding and data preparation. In the fourth week, that is also the last week, we will do the analysis, prepare a presentation and on the last day we will present a final report. Bibliography: Creswell, J. W. (2008). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches. 3rd edn. Sage Publications. Denzin, N. K. , Lincoln, Y. S. (2005). The Sage handbook of qualitative research. 3rd edn. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. Pan, M. L. (2004). Preparing literature reviews: Qualitative and quantitative approaches. 2nd edn. Los Angeles: Pyrezak. Patton, M. Q. (2002). Qualitative research and evaluation methods. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. Spatz,C. Kardas,E. P. (2007). Research Methods in Psychology: Ideas, Techniques, and Reports. McGraw-Hill Humanities/Social Sciences/Languages, Hardcover.

Personal Leadership Skills Analysis

Personal Leadership Skills Analysis For this essay I have audited my leadership skills using theoretical models and referred to specific situations and experiences. This encompasses personal, academic and professional reflections and explores opportunities for my career paths and personal development with an Action Plan for the future. This has required critical evaluation of my own development needs in light of my own aspirations, establishing an understanding of my transferrable skills and how these can be enhanced. For this I have considered situations in which my leadership traits, styles and skills have been utilised to help create successful outcomes. Background My career path has involved working closely with and taking an interest in people, both clients and colleagues alike. In developing my management skills, I am continually pursuing further ways of improving the effectiveness of these interactions which is immensely rewarding for me. On leaving school, my first employment was within the travel industry. From the outset, I sought to improve skills and enjoyed the challenge of meeting the needs of customers, budgetary targets, training of staff, problem solving, through to the opening and management of a travel agency branch several years later. Apart from the GCSE qualifications gained at school, any further academic or professional learning has been gained whilst in employment. The skills and achievements in my personal life are equally transferrable to my work life. For example, as Chairman of a genealogical society for several years and public speaking engagements both serve as reminders that I have organisational, research and presentation abilities which I can and should be utilising and developing along my career path. I am a prison officer and, three years ago, I learnt that my establishment was funding a Foundation Degree in Offender Management. My initial reaction was one of excitement as I had, for several years, considered some form of Higher Education by way of personal and professional development, but had never explored the options. It was a source of immense satisfaction to pass the course and achieve Distinction grade. My learning journey, experiences and personal developments, undertaken in the last three years, would take more than the word count of this essay allows, yet there are key points to reflect on in order to analyse my own leadership skills and continue their development. Theoretical Models and Personal Experience of Reflection in my Professional Development: From my earliest days in retail employment, then Care Work and on to prison officer, I have been fascinated by people and behaviour. Working alongside others, as well as empowering and training gives me great personal and professional satisfaction. Using reflective models such as Gibbs (1998), shown in Appendix III, I came to realise that how I interpret situations influences my interactions with others. As I will illustrate, this relates directly to my personality style and how I manage people and situations. Linked to this is the importance I place on how I am viewed by others and naturally seek collaborative and open relationships. Many of these values are found in Carnegie (1938), listed in Appendix I. The Study Skills Self-Assessment which I completed on 23 October 2007 (Appendix II) highlighted three main employability skills I need to develop as: Improving own learning and performance Application of number (data collection and interpretation) Information and technology proficiency Alongside these, to develop, are my personal attributes of Self confidence Flexibility and adaptability Judgement In this assessment I also reflected on my own specific weaknesses which include being too self-critical and not praising my own achievements enough which can affect my ability to be objective about my performance. I have a strong underpinning need to defend others and leap to their rescue which I have come to see as a hindrance to my own development and of those I seek to help. This is a particularly important area for me to address as future management roles will require me to allow others to take their own personal responsibility and only offer guidance as appropriate. This rescuer style is schema-related and I have considered schema theory and how this applies to me. Beck, (1967:233), described a schema as ..a cognitive structure for screening, coding, and evaluating the stimuli that impinge  on the organism. In short, schemas are the filters or core beliefs we have about ourselves or the world around us which influence how we interpret different situations in our lives. The nature of the work I do in offender rehabilitation requires me to undertake regular de-briefing, supervision, yearly health reviews and bi-monthly counselling. This, together with schema theory and other therapy models I use with prisoners, which I have also applied to myself, means I spend a lot of time being introspective and sharing reflections with colleagues. This helps define practical steps for a successful future but also enables me to gain wider perspectives in understanding, leading and managing others with a range of resources and situational analysis capabilities. Whereas, in the past and even recently, I have questioned the decision making processes of management, this has reshaped into a desire to gain a holistic overview of the work environment. Understanding the way we think and manage ourselves and others has been an important facet of my learning over the last three years. Straker (2008) who expands on the work of Gardner (2006) was helpful in appreciating that how we interact with people, at all levels, and is crucial for self development. Overcoming objections to understanding others, for fear that this might disprove our own theories about ourselves and the world are key hurdles of which I must continually be mindful. Negative experiences in this have resulted in an unhealthy view of the workplace but, as I said earlier, the benefits of a more engaging view have proved beneficial in my work and personal well being. As well as using Gibbs Reflective Cycle (1998), Kolb (1984) also helped me to evaluate experiences and test hypotheses but I did not find it took me to the point of action whereas Gibbs sets out the plan for ongoing development which is crucial for me so as not to remain procrastinating. Moon (2004) has been a useful resource on reflective practice, reminding me that reflection is not just important in itself, but must also lead to positive change, In observing what gets in the way, rather than being stuck in analysis, to move beyond and set goals for positive development has been essential learning for me and has been a surprising benefit which I had not expected several years ago. Leadership Employability Skills I recently completed an Employability Skills self assessment exercise which we first undertook in the first semester of the Foundation Degree. On doing this, I compared the results from the two. It was encouraging that one of my main developments appears to have been in problem solving and I consider my Higher Education studies over the last three years as contributing to my deeper analysing abilities. In light of earlier descriptions of my learning journey and reflective logs, it is gratifying to see that I have come a long way in, not only overcoming my own obstacles to learning, but making measured and significant achievement which then enables me to guide others in their roles. Among the key learning experiences for me, alongside the above, are a recognition of the roles of others, networking and effective communication. My career path has involved working closely with and taking an interest in people, both clients and colleagues alike. This was particularly apparent when I recently updated my Curriculum Vitae (Appendix IV), which was last compiled almost fifteen years ago. In developing my management skills throughout my degree studies, I have discovered further ways of improving the effectiveness of these interactions which is immensely rewarding for me. Through networking with management and departments for resources on researching prison policy, security and management skills, I am now feeling positive and motivated to succeed in career development. Not only is this important from a practical, self-development perspective, but also the fulfilling sense of achievement this will bring. Until recently, I was Supervisor of the Core Sex Offender Treatment Programme which was an important role in developing my leadership skills, promoting staff well-being as well as guiding staffs professional development. Another important aspect of this was to remain flexible yet consistent in balancing these needs whilst focussing on the goals of the establishment Business Plan and Key Performance Target (KPT) priorities. This mirrors Handy (1987) who argues for such flexibility in his Trust Control Theory. I find myself taking the opportunity to develop the skills of others very seriously and is personally rewarding and empowering. The values I attribute to this mirror those of Kandola and Fullerton (1994) in their Mosaic Vision which I have included in Appendix V. In Transactional Analysis Theory (Bern, 1961), every individuals personality is made up of three parts Parent, Adult and Child. An assessment of my own revealed a predominantly Nurturing Parent relationship style which is immensely rewarding personally, but can prove emotionally draining and is not without its practical problems. However, developing assertiveness skills in establishing my own identity and skills base has the benefit of overcoming any negative rumination and keeps lines of communication open. An example of achieving this was in challenging my line manager over my yearly performance review where I was rated Achieved and not Exceeded which I felt was deserved. I could have overlooked this and ruminated unhelpfully, believing him to be responsible for not recognising my achievements, but chose instead to manage my manager and argued my case. I found the www.h2training.com website interesting which had useful strategies for reminding me how to maintain my own degree of self-determination. Quoting from this site: Its unreasonable to expect your manager to be entirely responsible for accelerating your career: ultimately, its your own responsibility. Remember that an expectation is also resentment waiting to happen, and it is very difficult to hide resentment. http://h2training.com/managing_manager_tips.html [accessed November 2010] Suffice to say, my performance record was amended accordingly. I recently had to step down from Sex Offender Treatment work which I found difficult to accept. I, therefore, reappraised my personal development and used reflective skills (Kolb, 1984 and Beck 1967) to help evaluate the experiences and to understand how I was interpreting them. By doing this, I was able to negotiate a role within the drugs support team after originally being offered an office based assessment position which I would have found unfulfilling. Indeed, on reflection, assertiveness and negotiation are two core management attributes which are now part of my skills set. Drawing together the range of experience and interests I have enjoyed over successive years keeps me, first and foremost, actively engaged in working for and alongside others. My role as a drugs support worker requires the key skills I possess with the realisation and expectation that they can be further developed with a particular emphasis on evaluating the management requirements of this work. This is encouraging and, in this period of change, I have come to realise the importance of job satisfaction as a key motivator for me. An important element of my professional life is to uphold personal and corporate values of decency and ethical practice including cultural diversity. I was pleased to be able to highlight these values in my Diversity Foundation Degree project from January 2009 where I made recommendations for valuing the diversity of staff and prisoners and improving ethical practice in Programmes Awareness training at Full Sutton. This was well received by the treatment management team resulting in the training being strengthened in this area. On sharing the findings of my Transactional Analysis with a work colleague, my nurturing parent style was acknowledged and confirmed through my perceived empathic nature. In looking at my management style, it is important that I maintain a balance between this and being careful not to go into White Knight schema-driven mode, where I need to defend others at all costs. Developing a style which cares for others yet enables them to function on their own merits allows me to function better as a genuinely caring person in my work and as a leader. Maslows Hierarchy of Needs theory (1943), reminds me that my own needs count as well as those of other people. In other words, putting other people first all the time is detrimental to my own well-being and valuing myself is, in itself, a key assertiveness skill. I continually remind myself of the announcements on aircraft during safety briefings where, in the event of oxygen masks being deployed, you are instructed to put your own on first before aiding anyone else. If you dont, you might pass out beforehand and then no one is saved. Critically evaluating My Leadership and Management Style Some years ago, a colleague of mine who has since retired, told me his thoughts on a particular Senior Manager. He used a phrase which, though meant in a derogatory sense, I have never forgotten. He said ..as a leader of men, I would only follow him out of curiosity. This colleague had spent many distinguished years in the Armed Services as a Regimental Sergeant Major and had been in the Prison Service for around 15 years. He had, therefore, some considerable experience of different management and leadership styles. Using established theory I continually analyse my own strengths and weaknesses in areas of leadership and management. Fayol (1916) highlighted five commons elements of management which are essential to the role. These include the ability to look to the future, to be organised and co-ordinate the organisational objectives, leading (though he defined it as commanding which is unhelpfully autocratic) and, finally, to control the above elements using all means at his or her disposal. Whilst this was written at the beginning of the last century, the basic tenets of management Fayol lists are still valid though ones own personality also engenders an effective workforce which can achieve results. The latter is personally important as I seek to have followers rather than delegates and makes me, as a manager, more of a leader. I recently completed the Myers Briggs Personality Type Questionnaire. Having done this a couple of years ago, I decided to redo this using an internet-based assessment resource (www.teamtechnology.co.uk) [accessed 15 September 2010], which produced a comprehensive 200 page report. Summary in Appendix VI The results proved very interesting and formed a cohesive assessment which affirmed the beliefs about my personality and leadership attributes gained over the last few years. This was confirmed through the initial questionnaire together with a separate subtest which had similar outcomes and, interestingly, the results were very similar to my previous assessment two years previously. Essentially, I have a strong focus on values, feelings, compassion and important beliefs where current experiences hold great learning importance. Team values are high and my role in ensuring the well-being of those with whom I work is important to me. There are, however, elements of this personality type which I am aware can be problematic if not managed appropriately. I do have a tendency to avoid conflict yet can be stubborn where my own values come into conflict with corporate ideals in which I run the risk of failing in objectivity. These are negative traits which I have been consciously working on over the last few years and serve to remind me that, whilst having a default style, this does not preclude effective working on these to the benefit of all concerned. Interestingly, the top two best matches of jobs for me based on enjoyment are actor and musician; for match came out as counsellor and customer care and a combination of match and enjoyment came out as counsellor and actor. All of these I have both experience and interest in and the traits from these have indeed shaped my leadership style. The Humanist approach described by McGregor (1964) looked at how individual attitudes can affect behaviour. He purported that there are 2 types of leader (using an X and Y continuum ranging from a negative to positive view of subordinates respectively). The latter, he showed, have a greater chance of effective performance from the workforce through a nurturing approach which I can identify with. A reflective log from December 2009 is included in Appendix VII. Again, as with most models, there is a typical style for each individual manager but even the most open and supportive one can revert on occasions to X-typical strategies and responses. This can be somewhat confusing and lacking in continuity for the workforce and, potentially unsettling as I will illustrate later in this essay. The model is similar to Tannenbaum and Schmidt (1958) who use the continuum from Authoritarian Task Orientation to Democratic Relationship Orientation where I operate towards the latter and Goleman (2000) on which I identify with the Affiliative (people come first) stage. Operational leaders, as covered by Maxwell (2002) have great value to an organisation in providing stability, devising systems and solving problems with positive engagement. However, because of their focus on detail they can overlook the bigger picture, sometimes lack motivation and are not effective in dealing with conflict. Very often, paraphrasing Maxwell here, operational leaders are not very good at getting their hands dirty but readily raise the flag at the moment of achievement. Thankfully, whilst viewing myself as an operational leader, I do like to share in tasks as well as delegate. John Adair (2002) in his range of leadership treatises, (which, incidently, build on the previous models of Maslow (1943), Herzberg (1964) and Fayol (1916) highlights three key management responsibilities under his banner of Action Centred leadership. Achieving the task Managing the team or group Managing individuals Whilst advocating a shared responsibility between the individual and external factors, it does not, however, take stock of the individual in the leadership role which I view as crucial. A similar but more complex model I have become interested in, is known as Crew Resource Management (CRM) which was originally devised by NASA to explore the human factors in civil aviation accidents in the 1970s. Several industries have adopted and adapted their own models accordingly and my interest will culminate in a dissertation for my Degree on the benefits of adopting a CRM approach to Prison Service critical incidents. Tasks or people? Workforce or Team ? It is clear that leadership is different to management though a good leader will have good management skills. In considering whether I impose myself as leader to focus on task or allow the team to flourish utilising their own skills, I completed the T-P leadership questionnaire (Appendix VIII). This scored exactly midway between the two, highlighting my awareness and flexibility to respond to both important aspects. How we respond to a leader gives some indication of our own skills and that of the one in the supervisory role. As one who aims to lead by inspiration, I am more inclined to follow Kolbs (1984) model of learning and encourage people to adapt concrete way of doing things to update their skills base and find more effective ways of working (feeling, watching, thinking, doing). An autocratic leader would be less inclined to allow such flexibility and attempt to ensure compliance from those who might be more inclined to kick and scream in and against the process. An effective leader should also take individual learning styles into account as no one method fits all. Honey and Mumfords Learning Style Inventory (1982), highlights the differences that exist, as I have found even within small teams, yet we all work together and effectively, notwithstanding that everyones experience of being under the same leadership will be different. One of the most important sources of reflection in considering my own style of leadership, plus a reinforcement of my own beliefs and values, is represented in the Style Theory of Leadership developed by Blake and Mouton (1964). This, essentially, follows on from McGregors X-Y theory and is more relevant to those predominantly on the Y axis and where a level of trust in management structure exists in the workplace. However, Blake and Mouton explored the benefits of those that put tasks before people and vice versa. Ultimately they considered whether concern for people or concern for production was more important for leaders. As with other models, the day to day style of individuals in leadership roles can vary but everyone has their own default mode. Where productivity appears more important than the maintenance and well-being of the staff, I can find myself at odds with the management and perceived ethos of the establishment at which I work. With the Blake Mouton model, I was relieved to have my default leadership style confirmed as Team Leader. This is indicative of high concern for both people and production where emphasis is placed on a spirit of teamwork and mutual co-operation. This also engenders a safe environment in which commitment from all sides is more readily forthcoming. However, in completing a recent practical assessment for a promotion board I failed to attain the required grade. I knew this as soon as the assessment was over, though I had to wait two months for the official result. In fact, I knew during the assessment, I was reacting totally contrary to my normal sense of priorities when faced with a constant stream of problems to solve. I found myself focussing primarily on the tasks and not enough on the personnel. For example, when faced with a member of staff who was emotionally upset at a domestic issue, I asked if he was okay to continue to get his landing unlocked and would look to help him with his problem later. Afterwards I learnt that the assessors were looking for Utopian responses in all scenarios assuming all needs could be immediately provided so I could have put staff welfare first, getting his role covered immediately so he could then get home to sort his issues. However, I reverted to my current work role where the pressure to meet deadlines sometimes overrides well-being. As this was completely at odds with how I believed I would normally have reacted, I was left feeling ill at ease and questioned why I persisted in this way when I am naturally Y (using McGregors model, 1960) and more team focused than task orientated (Blake Mouton, 1964). Whilst I may not fully understand why, at least it is a recognised trait à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦..theory X managers (or indeed theory Y managers displaying theory X are primarily results oriented Internet source http://www.businessballs.com/mcgregor.htm [October 2010] On reflection, I am convinced that the culture and environment of the higher management structure (which demands and focuses on results and targets) filters down and, no matter how much one tries to resist or even kick against it, it permeates ones own work practice after a while. The climate in which I work consistently places emphasis on the meeting of Key Performance Targets (KPTs) and now, the Service Level Agreement (SLA). In meeting these as well as ever increasing budgetary constraints, every facet of work culture is placed under the microscope and, wherever possible, cut, yet the targets must be met regardless. However, no matter the circumstances in which we find ourselves or expectations laid at our office door, it is how we respond that is important and the acceptance of our personal responsibility to be channelled into effective working. An important element of relationships, at all levels including personal and business, is trust. Where one perceives this to be eroded or not present due to conflict in aims or values, it can have a destructive affect on effective co-working. As can be seen above, this is something I am struggling with in the corporate ethos where I am constantly second-guessing the motives behind management decision-making. However, to be an effective manager, I am mindful of maintaining a healthy approach to embracing the mission of the workplace even though I may not fully understand or have access to the full rationale behind the decision making processes from Higher Management. As a leader, I have to convey to those I wish to work effectively under me, that this mission is achievable and in the common interest despite my own such uncertainties. Maintaining personal integrity and establishing trust are essential in my personal, professional and leadership identity. Straker (2008:208) talks of transaction cost and trust boundaries. Essentially he argues that trust, if allowed to erode or not fostered within an organisation can impact on delivery and there has to be a cost on both sides to re-establish this. As he says .. the overall cost can be minimised with up-front investment in, and subsequent maintenance of, trust. If one does not have that sense of belonging within the trust group then there is something wrong with the work relationship and part of effective management and leadership performance is to be pro-active in fostering trust and encouraging people to enter the trust boundary. It begs the question, therefore, who and under what conditions will we follow? Should we be expected to lead and expect blind faith? What criteria and principles should be presented in order for others to set out on the journey with us ? Handy (1987) suggests that in order for an outcome to remain constant, the Trust-Control balance might need to shift between leader and subordinates and I can see merits in this as relationships, as well as work pressures, are fluid in nature. There are three established styles of leadership: autocratic, paternalistic and democratic. History records successful leaders who have exhibited all of the above. Each style can work and produce results but demands a flexibility on the part of the workforce to fit in with the style and it is that response which can be acknowledged and worked with or not as the case may be, As for my own style, confirmed as a nurturing parental approach, this has immense benefits for myself and for those who work under me as they feel supported and, more importantly in my opinion, affirmed in their roles with their own skills base recognised and developed. As with any style there are costs and, as I am finding, where my own sense of values conflicts with the demands laid upon me, this can have a detrimental effect to my own sense of purpose within the organisation. It is important, therefore, that structures and lines of communication are open which allow for that expression of view. However, this, in itself, is not without the potential cost. As I found when raising my head above the parapet on several occasions, to express concern and personal frustration with the direction expected by senior managers, it can blot ones copybook. Again, it is important for me to consider how much of this is down to my own personal perception and how able I am to see my subordinates perspective and, crucially, the aims and focus of the establishment delivery objectives. Conclusion In terms of future roles, I am best placed to consider managerial positions. The Foundation Degree and BA(Hons) are regarded as valuable qualifications both for their content relevant to the Criminal Justice System and Leadership and Management but also symbolising the desire and commitment I have and have shown for continued self development (Appendix IX). In the final analysis, the human dynamic is the most beneficial resource in the workplace but it is also the most fickle and, at times, fragile. To lead is a privilege and to follow is an opportunity. I can only strive to make myself worthy of the trust placed in me to, not only get the job done, but to enable others to be the very best they can be and, in the process, ensure I am followed out of respect and not coercion or, indeed, curiosity. Appendices: I. Excerpt from Carnegie (1938) II. Study Skills Self Assessment III. Gibbs (1998) Reflective Cycle IV. Curriculum Vitae V. Kandola and Fullerton (1994) Mosaic Vision VI. Myers Briggs Personality Type Questionnaire VII. Reflective Log on McGregor X,Y Theory VIII. T-P Leadership Questionnaire IX. Professional Development Plan Appendix I Excerpts from How To Win Friends and Influence People Carnegie (1938) Fundamental Techniques in Handling People Dont criticize, condemn, or complain. Give honest and sincere appreciation. Arouse in the other person an eager want. Six Ways to Make People Like You Become genuinely interested in other people. Smile. Remember that a mans Name is to him the sweetest and most important sound in any language. Be a good listener. Encourage others to talk about themselves. Talk in the terms of the other mans interest. Make the other person feel important and do it sincerely Twelve Ways to Win People to Your Way of Thinking Avoid arguments. Show respect for the other persons opinions. Never tell someone they are wrong. If youre wrong, admit it quickly and emphatically. Begin in a friendly way. Start with questions the other person will answer yes to. Let the other person do the talking. Let the other person feel the idea is his/hers. Try honestly to see things from the other persons point of view. Sympathize with the other person. Appeal to noble motives. Dramatize your ideas. Throw down a challenge. Be a Leader: How to Change People Without Giving Offense or Arousing Resentment Begin with praise and honest appreciation. Call attention to other peoples mistakes indirectly. Talk about your own mistakes first. Ask questions instead of directly giving orders. Let the other person save face. Praise every improvement. Give them a fine reputation to live up to. Encourage them by making their faults seem easy to correct. Make the other person happy about doing what you suggest. Appendix II. Study Skills Self Assessment Appendix III. Gibbs (1998) Reflective Cycle Appendix IV. Curriculum Vitae Appendix V My Personal and Professional Values Related to The Mosaic Vision (Kandola and Fullerton, 1994) Mission and values (I tend to have a rescuer style in

Chaucers Retraction in The Canterbury Tales Essay -- Canterbury Tales

Chaucer's Retraction in The Canterbury Tales Chaucer's ability to characterize people from all walks of life in explicit detail, as is so wonderfully displayed in The Canterbury Tales, is just one factor that allowed him to be known as one of history's finest literary artists. At the end of a career that would be considered by most artists as an extremely successful one, what could have caused Chaucer to apologize for any of the works which defined literary success? In "Chaucer's Retraction," which appears at the end of The Canterbury Tales (Norton 311), Chaucer not only apologizes for several of his secular works, he also goes so far as to revoke them, and ask for forgiveness for such works which "tended toward sin" (313), as he puts it. Such an extreme action seems to be somewhat irrational. Some believe that Chaucer, nearing the end of his earthly life, was preparing himself for God's judgment in the afterlife. If, by means of his writings, he was guilty of some grave sin, which would keep him from the eternal bliss of heave n, such a retraction might be considered justifiable. Furthermore, the concept of being tormented in the depths of hell for all eternity could easily persuade any person, especially on his deathbed, to renounce all past actions, good or bad. Maybe it is better to be safe than to be sorry, forever. While it is impossible to truly discern Chaucer's reasoning, assuming him to be the actual author of this passage, a closer examination of the "offending" text, as well as a look at some of the social and religious influences of the time period, might give us a clue as to why such a gifted poet would take this position. The dominant theme of the pilgrimage in The Canterbury Tales illustrates one obvious religious... ...xed with molten lead, brass and other kinds of metal; immense worms with poisonous teeth gnawed at some; others were fastened on by one on stakes with fiery thorns. The torturers tore them with their nails, flogged them with dreadful scourges, and lacerated them in dreadful agonies [The Monk of Evesham's Vision, 1197] (qtd. in Speed 4). When facing the end of one's life, the notion of spending all eternity in such a place would surely make even the most avid non-believer think twice. A true believer in Christianity might very well think that it is much better to be safe, than to be sorry forever. Works Cited "Chaucer's Retraction." The Norton Anthology of English Literature. Seventh Edition. Volume1. Ed. M.H. Abrams. New York: W.W.Norton and Company, Inc., 2000. Speed, Peter, ed. Those Who Prayed, An Anthology of Medieval Sources. New York: Italica Press, 1997.

Heart of Darkness Critical Paper Essay

Joseph Conrad’s novel, Heart of Darkness, is a work of complexity. â€Å"His stories often represent and suggest more than they say† (Skinner). Conrad gives the novel a perplex side through his tactfully written words. This unique language that Conrad uses gives a sense of duality to many phrases in the novel. The double meanings of much of the language that Conrad uses contribute to a reoccurring aspect of the novel, which is that often times there is far more substance to something than appears on the surface. This theme is played out in the novel through the setting and through the two main characters, Marlow and Mr. Kurtz. The novel takes place right in the heart of Africa, down the long and windy Congo River. The river in the setting is a crucial component of the novel because it brings a sense of darkness. â€Å"Conrad manages to hint at the darkness beyond the senses and to represent the experience of struggling with the impossibility of existential revelation in various ways, in terms of both content and form,† because not only does he describe the river’s topography, but also describes the river as having a mind of its own (Skinner). When describing the river, Conrad writes, â€Å"the long stretches of the waterway ran on, deserted, into the gloom of overshadowed distances†(Conrad). This description of the river creates an image of a vast and gloomy river. However, Conrad’s use of personification gives the river a personality, as if it is vulnerable to the dark surroundings that it’s engorged within. In the novel, Marlow’s spoken words also possess a sense of duality. On the outside, Marlow seems like a composed gentleman, who takes little regard for emotions. He speaks in a matter of fact manner, describing everything that he sees in its purest form. When conveying his thoughts about Kurtz he says ,â€Å"He was just a word for me. I did not see the man in the name any more than you do†(Conrad). Marlow’s description of Kurtz at first seems merely a factual statement, but it means more than that because â€Å"there is what is not said because it is merely left unstated (Skinner). The understated nature of his words suggests that Marlow is struggling to compress everything that he feels about Kurtz into a sentence. Furthermore, when Marlow says, â€Å"I will be loyal to the nightmare of my choice†, the reader obtains two meanings from his words (Conrad). On the exterior, Marlow simply means that he will not betray Mr. Kurtz, but on the interior, he is trying to express that he will not let go of the desire that he had to meet Mr. Kurtz, even though the experience strayed far away from his original expectations. Conrad also uses Mr. Kurtz to showcase his way of writing phrases that contain different depths of meaning. Mr. Kurtz is an individual who unknowingly lost sight of his own self because of the heart of darkness in which he is enwrapped. He is unable to blatantly express how his greed and feelings of superiority over the natives have tarnished his character. Therefore, Conrad gives depth to the words that Kurtz speaks, to allow the reader a glimpse into Kurtz’s heart, without needing to have Kurtz deliver his personal sentiments. Towards the end of the novel when Kurtz cries, â€Å"save me!† he literally is pleading for the salvation of his ivory, but figuratively, it’s a plea for someone to save his soul. â€Å"The Horror! The Horror!† are Mr. Kurtz’s notorious last spoken words. On the surface, these words may appear to be describing the face of death, but it seems plausible that Kurtz’s is instead horrified with himself for the way he has so cruelly treated the natives, and that abominable images of the native’s oppression are flashing before his eyes. The duality in meaning of Conrad’s words not only contributes to the complexity of the novel, but also helps to develop the setting and the characters. Conrad’s â€Å"unsaid dialogue and narrative hint at layers of meaning beyond what is read, and Conrad’s explicit and implicit insistence on mysteries beyond words emphasize the unsayable†(Skinner). These techniques that Conrad uses allows the novel to transcend past a simple narrative.(Singer)