Arab-Israeli War of 1973 Essay

The Arab-Israeli War was an armed conflict initiated by the Arab nations of Egypt and Syria against Israel on October 6, 1973 in an effort to reclaim territories that Israel had controlled since the Six Day War of 1967. The date holds special significance to the Jewish calendar, being Yom Kippur, hence this war is also known as the Yom Kippur War. Though Israel was caught by surprise and experienced severe losses during the war, assistance from the United States military led to a cease-fire less than three weeks later. In the aftermath, Israel retained its territories and its aftermath had far ranging effects on the geopolitics of the Middle East. First, the victory of Israel had an uplifting effect on its population. Its military had been seen to have grown largely complacent following the Six Day War. However, despite initial defeats, they managed a successful turnaround of the Yom Kippur War’s outcome. As such, despite the surprise advantage of Egypt and Syria they had regained the upper hand in less than two weeks, though at a high cost in casualties. In effect, Israel woke up to the reality that their military supremacy in the region was not absolute. (Rabinovich 498) Second, by granting support to Israel, the United States invited the ire of oil-producing Arab states. This manifested itself in the actions of Saudi Arabia, which not only reduced its oil production but declared an embargo against the United States. Saudi Arabia was later joined by other oil-producing Arab states and together they extended their embargo against other import dependent nations in Western Europe as well as Japan. The result was the 1973 energy crisis that sent oil prices spiraling past $60 per barrel and close to $100 per barrel in 1979. (Smith 329) Third, on the geopolitical front, enemy states of Israel concluded in the aftermath that they could not defeat it by force, and thus turned towards diplomatic tactics in antagonizing it. The effect was that many African and Third World nations, under pressure from the Arab states, broke their diplomatic ties to Israel. Works Cited No author. â€Å"The 1973 Yom Kippur War. † Anti-Defamation League, 1999. Retrieved September 24, 2008 from: http://www. adl. org/ISRAEL/record/yomkippur. asp Smith, Charles. Palestine and the Arab-Israeli Conflict. New York, NY: Bedford, 2006. Rabinovich, Abraham. The Yom Kippur War: The Epic Encounter That Transformed the Middle eAst. New York, NY: Shocken Books, 2005. Rabinovich, Abraham [2005]. The Yom Kippur War: The Epic Encounter That Transformed the Middle East. New York, NY: Schocken Books. ISBN 0 8052 4176 0. Charles D. Smith, Palestine and the Arab-Israeli Conflict, New York: Bedford, 2006, p. 329.

How Prisons Can Save Money

How Prisons Can Save Money On July 10th, 2003, a fire was started just east of Farmington Utah. The fire consumed over 2000 acres of land, threatened dozens of homes, and cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to fight. The following day a thirty three year old man named Josef Heinz Bruhl confessed to starting the blaze, when asked for his motives he said it was to because he wanted to be sent to prison. Now I’m not trying to suggest that anybody with normal mental capacity would ever do something like this, obviously this guy has problems. But the fact that anybody would ever want to go to jail to better there situation says volumes on what is wrong with our prison system. Part of the problem is that each year the government spends about 25,000 dollars per inmate per year (in 2007), someone with a life sentence costs about 1. 5 million dollars, and it ends up costing over 30 billion dollars each year most of which falls onto us, the tax payers. This is because people that are put into prison aren’t doing enough and they can basically just sit around all day if they want to. They get a bed to sleep in, three square meals a day, television (usually with cable), a recreation room, and many other things that they can waste their time doing as they wait out their sentence. I’m not trying to say that prison is all peaches and cream, but we could do a lot to make prison a much less inviting place. By doing so we could save the government millions, if not billions of dollars. Prison needs to be a deterrent not just a consequence for breaking the law. It should be the last place anybody would ever want to go. And rather than just â€Å"doing your time† you should literally be â€Å"paying your debt to society†. First off the prisons need to start making cuts. Prison needs to become less of a waiting area where people pass the time watching T. V. waiting for their return to the real world. We could start be cutting the cable cord, prisoners shouldn’t be allowed to enjoy a luxury that many in the country don’t have. A few states have decided that cable is fine as long as the prisoner or their family pay for it. States could generate a lot of profit by charging more for these services than what the cable company is already charging. Also prisons are employing people that they don’t really need. Right now the state of Washington is offering three jobs for a Recreation and Athletics Specialist. This position pays around 3,500 dollars every month. If we could eliminate just two jobs like these from every prison the federal system alone would save over ten million dollars annually. The last thing these people need is some P. E. eacher setting up some basketball game between two rival gangs, I’m sure they’ll manage on there own. The Department of Corrections needs to continue using the prisons to save money in other branches of the government. Right now prisoners do a number of things to keep the inmates productive and occupied while providing them a small source of income. They do things such as make license plates, T. V. stands, chairs, and dressers. They cannot sell these items because it would compete with local business, but they give it to government buildings and the military. Prisoners also do a lot of community service especially with tasks like road clean-up that saves the community thousands of dollars. Another thing they could do is create gardens right next to the prison where inmates could grow their own food. Think of how much money a prison could save if they only had to buy half the fruits and vegetables that they are buying now. I’ve actually heard of one prison having a prison gift shop where people could buy things made at the prison. Another problem is that it’s hard to force inmates to work. We need to find a way to motivate these people to work for there one to two dollar an hour salary. I read that one prison is going to start charging for basic items such as toilet paper and toothpaste. Unfortunately members of the inmate’s family usually pay for these items, but if we were to not allow outside support we could almost guarantee that almost everyone would work. Just think of the dilemma that prisoners would have to face, they would have to decide if they don’t go to work they won’t get toilet paper, toothpaste, or deodorant. If it were me I would work, and it would probably deter people from crime by turning prison into more of a work camp than a waiting area. I’m sure there are plenty of other things we could do to start generating a profit in the prison system, we just need to start thinking of new more profitable ways we could use this work force. I had an accounting professor who once said that if you can’t generate a profit with free labor, you have a serious problem. We have a huge amount of people who work for next to nothing, let’s use this to our advantage. Now with all this money that the government could potentially save, besides going to lower the national deficit, they need to a lot of this money back into the public educational system. Right now the government spends about 1,600 dollars per student in the U. S. Only 47 percent of inmates have high school diplomas (in 2003). If we were to put more money into the schools we could better the situations of many people who would drop out and get out into the streets where they get involved in crime. So by better educating the people we have less crime because they can go out into the world and get better jobs and contribute to society. By doing this less people would go to jail and we would end up spending less money. Our prison system is out of control. We actually are letting people go so that we can fit others inside. Prison has to be the ultimate deterrent from crime, if it’s not then our prison system is literally failing. We need to decrease the amount of people coming back into jail, and we need to focus on keeping people off the streets in the first place. If people go to jail they need to learn there lesson and never want to come back again. I have a good friend who when she was little she had a serious biting problem. It became so bad that her dad went out to IFA one day and bought a cattle prod. After trying it on himself, to make sure it didn’t hurt to bad, he told his daughter that if she bit again she would get a taste of the cattle prod. Needless to say, she did it again and was cattle prodded, after one time she learned her lesson and she never bit again. Prison should be like that, after one stay in prison there should be no reason why you would want to go back to a life of crime, because prison should be the worst possible place in the world. If we could do these things we could keep people out of jail and we could you use the money to keep people out of jail rather than using it to keep people in. I know that this isn’t just about the money; we need to focus on the people, and making this country better for them and us. But I believe that if we do these things to save our money we can achieve the goal of helping our communities and society by keeping people out of prison.

Brooklyn (Colm Toibin) Essay

Cultural context reveals the world of the text. It shows us how the world impinges upon the lives of the characters. The novel I have studied is Brooklyn by Colm Toibin. Throughout the text we see many examples of the values of society. The position of women, men and family intrinsically establish the central characters in a specific position. The text has a dual setting between the 1950’s Catholic Ireland and the post world war two world of Brooklyn, America. The two locations help to expose the contrasting values and attitudes of the characters in their world. The role of women in society is vital for my understanding of the cultural context. It is predominantly stereotypical for the time. In both locations, women are subservient, with frequent families being patriarchal. In both locations, a woman’s main desire was ultimately to be married to a wealthy man. This is seen when Nancy and George are in a relationship. Many people respect Nancy at this time because George is from a high class of people, and this is considered to be an achievement for Nancy. At a later date, Nancy marries George and she becomes a well-valued and admired person in society. This is a contrast to Brooklyn, where, often women become educated before starting a family. Eilis’ career opportunities increase while she is in Brooklyn, as she aspires to be an accountant, rather then just a bookkeeper. A main value of women in society was their appearance. We see this in the lengthy preparation for the dances. It plays an important social role in meeting potential husbands. The behavior and values of women at the time is extremely important for the cultural context. Women were expected to adhere to certain moral values. This can be seen in both Ireland and Brooklyn at the dances. In Brooklyn, Eilis dances with Tony and knows she cannot dance with another boy after this. This shows us the attitudes towards women at this time. However, this attitude is felt much stronger in Ireland than Brooklyn. We can see this with Ms. Fortini. She reflects a contrasting attitude, being more independent and modern then the rest of the characters. A key moment in the text, which shows the values women have in society, would be when Ms. Kehoe locks the basement gate of her house. She  does this because she does not approve of the way Eilis acts with Tony. This is a prime example of how women are expected to behave in society. This example is intrinsically linked with the encroaching power of the Catholic Church and the way it shapes the values and attitudes of the characters in the novel. The power of the Catholic Church is clearly evident in the novel. It helps shape the attitudes most of the characters have. The power and influence of Father Flood is distinct throughout the novel. His values of the Church are thou rally respected and admired by everyone in the community. He holds substantial power in both Ireland and Brooklyn, convincing Eilis’ mam to allow her to go to Brooklyn, and getting Eilis a job and a place to stay once she arrived there. In Brooklyn, we see many people know Father Flood, as he was able to get Eilis a place in college, to help further her career. The church also has a controlling aspect on the characters moral values. This is seen with Eilis and Ms. Kehoe’s view on relationships and sex. Their attitude towards relationships are shaped around the beliefs of the Church, an example of this is when Eilis asks Tony to go to confession with her, as she sees sex before marriage as a sin. Ms. Kehoe realizes Tony has been in Eilis’ room soon after this, so she locks the gate to stop this from happening again. In my opinion, the Catholic Church has a substantial influence on Ms. Kehoe compared to Eilis because Eilis marries Tony, but cheats on him in Ireland with Jim. This is against Catholic Church’s teachings but that does not seem to influence Eilis in any way. In the end, she decides to go back to Tony. This might be because she realizes she has sinned, and because of the influence of the Church on her values, she cannot divorce Tony, she has to accept her life in Brooklyn instead. Power is an extremely important factor in the cultural context of 1950’s Ireland and Brooklyn. The power structure in society is the Catholic Church. It helps shape the values of the characters, as many of them live their lives by the Church’s beliefs. Eilis’ mother is an example of this, as she hardly knows Father Flood but immediately trusts him because he is a member of the Catholic Church. He has the power in society and the characters look up to him for guidance. Another position of power seems to be held by those with money. Throughout the book it seems to be an important factor, more so in Ireland then Brooklyn. People with money were treated superior to others, and a woman’s goal was to sustain a wealthy man. Those with money occupy certain positions of class. This can be seen in both societies. It was a very class structured society, with the Church and people with money at the top. Our first example of this is when Eilis and Nancy are at the dance, and Eilis realizes Jim does not want anything to do with her as she and Nancy were from a lower class. He refuses to dance with Eilis and ignores her for the rest of the night. Power was a major influence on marriage, as women were respected a considerable amount more if they married someone with power. Their view was that if they married someone with power, they had achieved a large goal in their life. The influence of power in 1950’s Ireland and Brooklyn shaped the values and attitudes of the characters. Undoubtedly the personal freedom of Eilis and many other characters is affected by the world in which she resides. In Ireland, Eilis’ freedom is largely restricted because she is a woman. She is expected to marry and start a family, and there is no emphasis on her education. She has very little freedom as a teenager; an example of this is when she goes to the dance. Because of the society she lives in, she is expected to dance with only one boy for the whole night; this does not give her any freedom to do otherwise. Many of her decisions in Ireland are forced ones, such as when she went to work with Ms. Kelly. Ms. Kelly assumed Eilis would want to work for her, and did not give Eilis the chance to say no. She did not treat Eilis with respect but Eilis still had to keep working for her. This is greatly contrasted with her life in Brooklyn. Eilis had a large amount of personal freedom in Brooklyn, allowing her to explore the town she lives in. Her decisions were taken solely by herself, unlike in Ireland. She was able to decide if she wanted to further her career in college, whereas in Ireland she would have been expected to become a bookkeeper, but never an accountant. She also had freedom where she worked, with the employees and her boss treating her with respect, this contrasts with Ms. Kelly’s shop in Ireland. She was given opportunities to advance in her role as a sale assistant in the shop in Brooklyn, unlike Ireland where she would always be selling things in Ms. Kelly’s shop. Ultimately, Eilis is affected by the cultural context. It impinges upon her world. This is greatly seen in her last decision in the book, to accept her life in America with Tony. In modern day Ireland and Brooklyn, she would have been free to get a divorce and stay with Jim, but because at the time she was greatly influenced by the Catholic Church and her role in society, this option was not available for her. We discover at the end of the novel Eilis is a conformist, as she allows her values and attitudes to be shaped by 1950’s Ireland and Brooklyn. Overall, my understanding of cultural context is that it is the world of the text. In my opinion, the characters in Brooklyn accept the world in which they live in, and allow their values to be shaped by the time and place. Throughout the book we see the characters being influenced by the role of women, the Catholic Church and the people with power in their society.a

Final case Assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Final case Assignment - Essay Example THINK should not tie-up with an established player, and maintain its own identity. It should enter into partnership with some Chinese firm as a short-term strategy. However, focus should be to enhance relations with Ener1 to overcome their internal weaknesses. Table of Contents 1. Introduction 3 2. Core proposition and long-term customers 3 3. Success strategy for the US and Europe 4 4. Strategic partners 5 5. Industry analysis 5.1 Auto industry within US 6 5.2 Risks 7 5.3 Future trends 8 6. Company analysis 6.1 Strengths 9 6.2 Weakness 10 6.3 Opportunity 10 6.4 Threats 11 7. Competitor analysis 12 8. Recommendations or the way forward for THINK 13 References 15 Table & Charts Chart I: Global Oil prices & US gasoline prices in 2030 8 Chart II: Per-Mile Fueling cost 10 Table I: US supply of electric vehicles from 2011 through 2015 11 1. Introduction THINK, the electric car company, has faced three bankruptcies but has now been able to draw investments from companies from different cou ntries such as the US, Finland, and Norwegian government-backed investment fund. The company is now faced with the challenge of introducing and achieving success in the US market. The potential in the US is very high due to government support for electric vehicles (EVs) and hence THINK wants to be in the US from the beginning to take advantage of early-mover benefits. THINK has been positioned as a modern, efficient and responsive brand. Initially the core customers comprised of the fleet buyers including the government buyers and companies that valued association with green transport. Moreover, electrical vehicles (EVs) have low operating costs apart from the fact they are exempt from congestion charges. They are allowed to operate in otherwise vehicle-restricted parts of the city. The government-bodies are also able to comply with the urban emission regulations. Using and leasing environment-friendly vehicles enhances the corporate image of the government and private organizations which also plays upon the image of the potential employees who value eco-conscious employers. 2. Core proposition and long-term customers The core proposition of the vehicle is to provide cars with zero-emission while making it affordable and user-friendly. These cars may not be able to drive long distances per day but then the customer segment that THINK proposes to tap, would not require daily long distance driving. The car-sharing and rental agencies can be long-term customers of EVs as these can be rented out in congested urban areas as EVs have strong political and economic support. The clients of the car rental agencies become the potential owners of the EVs as they try out the cars first. Another long-term customer segment for the EVs includes the baby boomers who are environmentally conscious and for whom two-wheeler cars are sufficient. Then there are the women shoppers who use the car for day-time shopping and just need a child-fit arrangement in the car. The urban profes sionals also need a â€Å"cool car† that provides them a distinct identity and demonstrates their desire to change the world by being the trend setters. Apart from the green concept, since THINK uses the latest technology, it allows the driver to remain connected with the world outside. In fact the car can be used as a high-powered mobile computing, and communications platform,

Business report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 1

Business report - Essay Example In order to get a clearer picture, the SWOT analysis is carried out on the Guardian Newspaper, which is a perfect example for the newspaper industry in the developed world. Lewin’s force filed analysis was then carried out on the impact of the internet on the industry; especially sine is the most significant factor affecting the newspaper industry today. Finally, drawing from the force field analysis, the report discusses the reasons for the continued growth of the industry in India, which is largely due to the low penetration of internet services in the country. Table of Contents Contents Page 1. Executive Summary†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.2 2. Introduction†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..4 3. PEST Analysis of the Newspaper Industry†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.4 4. SWOT Analysis of the Guardian Newspaper†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..7 5. Lewin’s Force Field An alysis†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..9 6. Newspaper Industry Success in India†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.11 7. Conclusion†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..12 8. ... here has been falling circulation in New Zealand, Australia, Latin America, Western Europe, and the US for the last few decades, although there are rising sales, for example, in India. This decline has been hastened by the advent of the web, particularly since most young people now prefer to get their news from the web (The Economist, 2006: p1). This business report seeks to carry out a PEST analysis of the newspaper industry in developed nations, a SWOT analysis for the Guardian Newspaper, which has one of the highest readerships in the UK, and carry out a Lewin’s field force analysis for the impact of the internet on the industry in developing markets. Finally, it will also discuss the reason for continued success of the Industry in India. PEST Analysis of the Newspaper Industry PEST is an acronym that stands for political, economic, social, and technological factors affect the operations of a business. After assessing these factors, business managers, can then identify the factors that pose risks or opportunities to inform their decision-making. It provides the context for the role of the organization in relation to its external environment. It also underpins various other analytical techniques such as scenario planning at micro-level, for example, individual or institutional, or macro-level like UK-wide, EU-wide, or worldwide (Meyer, 2012: p58). Depending on the scale and scope of the analysis, business managers consider the factors that influence changes, factors that will be important in the future, and those important at present. Its benefits to the business include spotting of business opportunities and revealing what direction change is taking in the environment to shape what is happening. Moreover, it helps the business to avoid projects that could end up

Treatment of disorders Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Treatment of disorders - Essay Example The obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) has numerous psychopharmacological and psychological treatments, this include medications, such as antidepressants which have direct effect on the patients mind and this can also have few side effects, which however are bearable. The cognitive behavioral theory has proved to be the most useful source of treating such disorders, this include actions like identifying the main factors causing disorder and than trying to separate them from the patients thinking using various techniques, "support groups" is another technique used to eliminate the disorder, here the patient shares his/her experiences with the other of the same category or with people who have already experienced OCD, this brings in a lot of knowledge about the undergoing conditions in the patient's mind. The autistic disorders that are found right from the childhood, people having such disorders have relatively less chances of being cured from the disorders. The treatment include special educational program, designed to improve the patient's speaking, interacting and reacting skills, else social skills training and individual therapies are also encouraged. One interesting fact about autistic disorders is that it requires treatment on the basis patient's age, the symptoms, the extent of disorder, patient's tolerance for the medications etc. The intensive behavior therapy in the early age of patient or child and actions of parents are in great relation to better improvement in the conditions of the patient or child. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder Generally found in children, ADHD has certain steps that are necessary for ensuring the treatment's success, it consist of an overall analysis on child's strengths and weaknesses, behavior therapy is again very much encouraged to treat children with ADHD, a health guide from Webmd says the following: Your child's health professional may recommend that your child take a stimulant medication, such as amphetamine (examples include Dexedrine or Adderall) or methylphenidate (examples include Ritalin, Concerta, or Metadate CD). These medications improve symptoms in about 70% of children who have the condition. However parents are a lot more concerned about their children, and it often makes them worried about the loss of appetite of their children, sleeping problems in children and related issues, research has shown that nothing such teribles happens if the medication is properly taken. post traumatic stress post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is having a common background, it appears in chidren due to sudden shocks, it can be treated but it has no different treatments than most of the other disorders, it includes psychodynamic psychotherapy in which more concern is on the past accidents and how they are linked with present experiences, Exposure theapy is another treatment which is related to the reactions of the pateint and his/her

Telecommunication Regulatory Authority Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Telecommunication Regulatory Authority - Essay Example This method would be used to define the tasks and responsibilities that can be implemented in order to convert the firm’s inputs into outputs. Research has shown that TRA has exceeded its expectations by achieving its projected goals in time but this should not be an end in itself but a beginning to an end. Thus, the purpose of benchmarking is to describe the steps that are necessary in carrying out this process whenever the need arises. The management has the responsibility of identifying the metrics of benchmarking as well as implementing it in the operations of TRA. This organization is mandated with the responsibility of carrying out a variety of duties related to the Telecommunications and Information Technology sector in and outside the UAE. To that effect, benchmarking is essential in order to measure the company’s performances against its expected best practices. Basically, benchmarking refers to the process of comparing the processes in business or performance metrics to best practices. Essentially, every business is primarily concerned with achieving the desired goals and objectives and these should be matched with the organization’s set best practices. As such, this paper seeks to critically analyse how the Telecommunication Regulatory Authority in UAE can effectively utilize the strategy of benchmarking in order to ensure that its operations are in compliance with its expected best practices. The main objectives of TR mainly derive from the UAE Telecommunications law. According to TRA (2015), its objectives include the following: ensuring adequacy of telecommunications services throughout the UAE; achieving enhancement of services, encouraging telecommunications and IT services within the UAE; promoting and enhancing the telecommunications sector within the UAE as well as resolving disputes between the licensed operators among oth ers. TRA also

International Students Problems Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

International Students Problems - Assignment Example Schlossberg Theory of Transition is a model of psychosocial advancement that analyzes life occasions which influence different parts of a singulars life and their societal parts. The individuals' observation of the move is as critical to see how an individual is influenced by his/her changing life occasions to the extent that the sort, setting, and effect of the move itself. Schlossberg delineated the moving process with the terms of "moving in", "traveling through" and "moving out". Methods for adapting to move, whether constructive or pessimistic, hail from surveying an individual's advantages and liabilities in the four zones which Schlossberg termed as the 4 Ss – the circumstance, self, backing, and procedure. The principle utilization of Schlossberg's theory is with grown-up learners and they've come back to higher instruction. Compared to conventional scholars, non-custom understudies are for the most part at numerous distinctive focuses throughout their life because of the different sorts of moves they have experienced. Programming created on the 4 Ss can help grown-up learners to distinguish and draw upon their advantages in adapting to the discernment of moving into the test of coming back to class rather than just seeing what their restriction could be. Schlossberg Transition Theory is generally dependent upon the singular and what they think about to be a move in their life. Here is a snappy survey of the steps and thoughts behind Schlossberg's Theory: Indeed, inside Europe societies might be distinctive. It may be troublesome to get used to another society. You may wish to discuss this with other universal understudies in a help supportive network run by the advising administration You may think that it troublesome to comprehend your teacher or different learners. You should not be humiliated. It is paramount to tell somebody of your troubles, with the goal that you can accept help.

Human Organ Supply and Its Relation to the Social Stratification Research Paper

Human Organ Supply and Its Relation to the Social Stratification Theory - Research Paper Example Those who benefit are the rich who can afford to pay for the surgery and the cost of human organs. On the other hand, although some transplants were out of the donation coming from willing donors or were as a result of accidents which allow for the recovery of human organs from an accident victim to be transferred, there have been reports wherein the poor became the victims of this â€Å"transaction†. This is linked to the Social Stratification Theory. Those who have little in life become the victims, while those who are in the upper class or society look towards the poor for their source of human organs. How Sociologists Have Recognized Social Stratification People are identified, classified, perceived, and understood in a way that society has given corresponding positions for individuals, races, organizations or communities. The moment a person’s status in society is known, he or she is treated with actions or reactions that are known to be fit for the person. Accordi ng to Davis and Moore; Novick and Cullen Social stratification is a set of verifiable, interrelated thoughts, understanding, and behaviour among people whereby members of society consider positions or status and identify themselves in one of those categories. Davis and Moore were described by Novick, S. and Cullen, J. (1979, p. 1424) to have considered the differences as necessary for critical reasons. They proposed that inequality characterizes the groups or class wherein each person belongs or identifies him to be a part of. Furthermore, they believe that the maintenance of functions and positions is necessary in order to have stability. From the point of view of Davis, Kingsley and Moore, Wilbert (1970) difficult jobs must necessarily receive higher incentives in terms of higher compensation. The inequality is based on the fact that every individual has a different set of talents. Some talents are more valuable other talents, just as some functions have greater value in society t han the other functions. Because of scarcity and difference in value of some talents, rewards or compensation to acquire the people with valuable talents are greater while other talents are offered smaller rewards. According to Joseph Turek The book edited by Joseph Turek was entitled â€Å"Income Inequality and Social Stratification†. It gathered insights from various sectors (socio-economic, political, sociology, and philosophy) to clarify the variety of human differences which result in social stratification. As a result of differences in a person’s status in society, there is also a disparity in the income or compensation which leads to the formation of rich and poor. According to Wendy Bottero The book entitled â€Å"Stratification: Social Division & Inequality† is about â€Å"Who gets what.† It also describes the fact that the present time inequality gives some people better choices in life. â€Å"Money, power, or influence give those who possess t hem greater control over the external forces which affect us all, and open doors which might otherwise be closed.† (Bottero 2005, p. 3). The Demand & Critical Importance of Human Organ Donation A. Gap Between Supply and Demand The Economist (2008) reported that 7,000 Americans died due to absence of organs needed by patients. Out of 10 people who needed a kidney transplant, only one found a replacement kidney. There was a projected growth in the number of people who have to undergo dialysis and replacement of kidneys. 500,000 Americans in 2010 needed the transplant. In the UK, Nadey Hakim, an Ex-President of the International College of Surgeons, believed there was no other option for organ transplants because without it, the patient will die early although they can live longer if a replacement is made available for transplant. Kidneys are the most in

BUS Unit 3 Individual Project Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

BUS Unit 3 Individual Project - Essay Example Since then the firm has contributed in production of a large number of commercial cars (PRLOG, 2013). Several automotive components are also manufactured by the company. Apart from America, Ford Motors operates across all the continents in the globe. It offers a substantial amount of employment opportunities in all the economies in which it operates (Webster, 1995). Perhaps, that is the reason for which the Australian government fears for job losses, when Ford decided to cease its manufacturing outlet in Geelong by 2013 due to high manufacturing costs (News Geelong, 2013). Despite of being an American company, Ford cars were visible in the streets of London since 1903. At present its European branch serves 42 countries in the continent with excellent cars, buses and trucks (Banham, 2002). Answer 2: Ford Motors Company has many comparative advantages in the highly competitive market of automobile industry. It has an establish business and enjoys the benefits of a big learning curve. I ts expertise has introduced varied cars in terms of designs and prices, so it targets consumers of all income groups. It comprises of a big pool of resources, like 160000 employees across the world. Its visibility and marketing strategies are excellent. It participates in sponsorship programs in sports events like Formula 1 and taps the young potential consumers. As the company enjoys a wide customer base, it experiences lower cost of production due to economies of scale. The unique design and quality of the Ford cars have substantially helped its brand worth in the market (Moffett, n.d.). Answer 3: The current recession and the economic crisis in the European nations have reduced the overall circulation of money in the economy (Rogers, 2001). Low purchasing powers have created detrimental effect in the aggregate demand for cars in the automobile industry. Ford can always use its experienced technical expertise to feature new models of cars that are less in price and are affordable in the current crisis situations. The company has large pool of financial resources, these resources of the company should be utilized to open more branches and tap the potential customers of the emerging economies in the world like China and India. This would help the company augment its sales in this scarce epoch (Volti, 2004). Answer 4: The governments of most of the nations impose lot of rules and regulations in the automobile industry, primarily due to issues relating to environment. The automobile companies are now forced to pay higher taxes of manufacturing traditional petrol cars. This is a pivotal reason for which giant firms like Ford are engaging in the manufacture of hybrid or electric cars. The gross manufacturing costs of such cars are very high and require high investments in its required car technologies. The total number of consumers for such expensive cars is also less. ‘Focus Electric’ is the electric car manufactured by Ford (Ford, 2013). The company desires to successfully launch the pricy car in 2014 worldwide. The taxes imposed by the governments on companies like Ford are high as Ford cars are considered as luxury items. This reduces the economic reserves of the company, which could be otherwise used in the innovation and development purposes. Since the company operates across many nations in the world, it faces the exchange rate or currency fluctuations risks. Like the high value of Australian

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Essay Example for Free

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Essay Border security continues to become a core policy development priority for the United States because this cuts across various issues faced by the country including illegal immigration, drug trafficking, human trafficking, smuggling, and terrorism. Congressional debates center on two issues, the focus of border security efforts in relation to budget allocation and means of improving border security (Sullivan, 2009) as a preventive measure instead of a reactive process as in the aftermath of September 11, 2001. Border security involves the patrol of the 6,000 miles of land border with Mexico and Canada and 2,000 miles of coastal waters of Florida and Puerto Rico. The task of border patrol is to identify and assess potential threats and respond effectively. However, even with a large workforce of 30,000, border security has jurisdiction over a large and widespread area encompassing land, sea and air space. (Customs Border Protection, 2009) Patrolling a large area and simultaneously handling the issues of illegal immigration, drug trafficking, smuggling, and terrorist threats makes border security a daunting task because of the limitations in the vantage point of land and sea mobile personnel. This led to efforts to adopt unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) as an integral technology for border patrol. Unmanned aerial vehicles refer to aircrafts without a pilot on board and controlled from the ground. These are fitted with sensors that transmit data to orbiting satellites that in turn bounce data to receivers on the ground. The transmission of data takes seconds to happen so that the receipt of data is almost instantaneous. UAVs can fly long distances at high altitudes or short distances at lower altitudes depending on the purpose of use. High altitude flights can provide information on large targets such as trucks while low altitude flights provide better information on smaller targets such as humans. (Valavanis, 2007, p. 533) As a border patrol technology, UAVs fill the limitations of the land and sea vantage points. History and Uses of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Unmanned aerial vehicles have existed for more than a century and continued to evolve with the development of technologies to improve flight control and dynamics as well as imaging and data acquisition and transmission. UAVs developed as a military initiative and it was only in the past few decades that UAV found non-military or civil use. With its roots in the military, the Department of National Defense defined UAVs as â€Å"a powered aerial vehicle that does not carry a human operator, uses aerodynamic forces to provide vehicle lift, can fly autonomously or be piloted remotely, can be expendable or recoverable, and can carry a lethal or non-lethal payload† (Valavanis, 2007, p. 533). The definition clarifies the capabilities of UAVs, its possible purposes, and the innovative developments that accumulated over the decades. The idea of unmanned aerial vehicles existed as early as the First World War. The idea targeted improvements in the discharge or delivery of guided missiles. However, existing technology was unable to facilitate the development of the flight control system needed to have a functioning unmanned aircraft delivering missiles to the enemy’s territory. The gyroscopic devices developed by Elmer Sperry in 1909 became the predecessor of inertia navigation system applied in modern UAVs. At the same time, the Western Electric Company also developed radio control technology for the remote piloting of aircraft. Radio control together with inertia navigation system paved the way for the development of UAVs. These technologies were adopted by the military in developing a cruising missile but efforts met problems. UAVs were used instead as target drones for anti-aircraft practice and actual warfare countermeasures. This was the first use of UAVs. However, the navy continued research into flight control and navigation initiatives that included the fitting of RCA cameras and radar guidance system to improve control and make drones capable of delivering missiles. Developments led to the use of UAVs as target drones in World War II. (Zaloga Palmer, 2008, pp. 4-9) After the Second World War, the UAVs further evolved into tools in espionage during the Cold War. While control and guidance of the drones continued as an area of innovation, greater focus was given to the image capture capability of UAVs for surveillance. During the 1950s, surveillance UAVs were fitted with daylight and infrared cameras, rocket-assisted takeoff, radar tracking, and radio control. The shooting down of a manned aircraft resulting to the capture of pilots renewed development efforts in the 1970s. Drones became decoys until the Russian radar technology developed to make decoys ineffective. Efforts focused on developing drones with reduced radar signature, increased range, and improved flight control. The new drones were christened as lighting bugs and used in the Vietnam War. (Zaloga Palmer, 2008, pp. 10-12) After the Cold War, technology innovation on UAVs continued in support for combat operations. The 1980s witnessed key developments including improved satellite communications, compact or miniature technology, and state of the art sensors. Improved data and imagery and better navigation control led to the use of UAVs for â€Å"intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) and for time critical targeting† (p. 1). The development in UAVs split into technology for small and large UAVs. The size was a consideration because of differences in navigation control and capabilities. In large UAVs, the flight and retrieval control is separable from its data and imaging functions so that it can transmit information via satellite links while on flight while in small UAVs retrieval of the aircraft is necessary before obtaining information. (Drew et al. , 2005, p. 1) Now, the uses of UAVs are increasing. Traffic control is one use of UAVs because its aerial view provides accurate information on traffic conditions over a particular area. Search and rescue operations also benefit from UAVs providing an initial view of the situation in conditions unsafe for manned aircraft. (Borchardt, 2004, p. 28) Recently, small UAVs were used to gather data and assess the damage caused by Hurricane Wilma in areas inaccessible due to flooding and blocked roads (Murphy et al. , 2008, p. 164). NASA also developed sensor technology for the monitoring of pollution and measurement of ozone levels using UAVs. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology integrated global positioning technology and video camera control in UAVs for sensing toxic substances and contaminated areas. The Department of Energy also announced the development of radiation sensor for UAVs for use in detecting nuclear accidents. (Bolkcom Nunez-Neto, 2008, p. 2) Different data processing, imaging and other features evolve depending on the purpose intended for UAVs.

The Rise of Private High Schools Essay Example for Free

The Rise of Private High Schools Essay Intro For hundreds of years high school education has been the responsibility of the state.   Yet, in no time in history did government become so fully involved in adolescent education as after the Second World War.   The era of big government would mean big spending in various social programs, one of the most important of which would be education.   Groundbreaking advances would be seen in the instruction of various areas of education previously ignored, such as music, art and sports. Along with this involvement in the lives of their children came parents faith that in countries such as Canada and the United States, public education, most specifically high school education, would lay the ground work for a secure and prosperous future for the future adults of the nation.    It was only towards the end of the Cold War that globalization accompanied by neo-liberal economics would force Canadians to re-examine their public high schools.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The increasing importance of changing technology coupled with the general decline of public schools has caused us to look with greater skepticism upon governments ability to manage the school system in the present day.   It is for these very reasons that parents have become more open to the advantages of private education.   Despite the fact that public high schools are still largely in the hands of government in the last twenty years, we have seen a significant growth in private institution attendance.   The purpose of this work is to discuss the rise of private high school education and discuss its possible future. Literature Review Current literature supports the decline of the public high school and the rise in importance of the private school.   Aurini and Davies (2004, 2007) have done indepth investigation on areas of private schooling in Ontario such as private tutoring and home schooling and throughout their readings have upheld that private education is on the rise.   Aurini (2004) in her experience as a private tutor and in her subsequent investigation into private education has seen a notable rise in important of private education, most specifically with attitudes towards parents.   In fact Aurini (2006) goes to far as to say that appearance of private education has resulted in the re-molding of public education.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Although it is clear that studies are showing the rising importance of private education they are also outlining why this is occurring.   Geiger (1994) clearly holds the belief that the globalized world and the resultant increase of demands on students and schools to keep up with technological advances is overwhelming for public schools and shrinking education budgets.   Davies (1999) adds to this argument in his analysis of religious groups and the growing acceptance by governments of their demands.   Whereas twenty years ago their was a much more melting-pot mentality surrounding different demands for schooling, with the growth of individualism world wide so comes the growth of individual education. There are numerous liberal minded authors such as Finn who believe that the answers to these problems can be given by the market.   The constant push by some scholars to consistently patch up public school problems are rejected by Finn.   He believes a more radical change is necessary to clean up public schools.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Yet, many authors continue to believe in the public school system and contend that it is an essential part of democracy and equality in a nation.   Fotopoulos (2004) claims that while individuals live in society, they are in fact social individuals and that one of the most proven methods of making them part of society is through a public school system.   Yet, other than increase school budgets it becomes more and more difficult to find solutions to the public school systems problems.   Cowley (2001), in exasperation states, â€Å"while there is agreement about the need for better schools, there is no agreement about how to improve our schools.†    Growth of Private Education Various forms of private education have expanded in impressive numbers in the Western world over the past two centuries.   What was once thought of as a luxury or an innecessity by many parents is now being reconsidered as a viable and safe option.   Canada is not the exception, although it is a notable example of how private education entities are making headway. Davies and Aurini (2004) claim that enrollment in private schools in Canada has gone from 5% to 6% during the past decade (p. 420).   Although the number in appearance may seem small it translates to a 20% growth for private schools.   In Ontario the growth is even more staggering and reached 40% with a total of 750 schools in the province (Davies and Aurini, p. 420).   Private education is gaining importance with parents of both younger and older students.   This is clearly seen in the expansion of Montessori schools as well as proprietary vocational colleges (Aurini and Davies, 2004).   In addition we should not forget about the growth of private tutoring and home schooling. Apart from the growth of private institutions it is important to take into consideration perceptions of private versus public education.   A survey taken last year found that â€Å"46% of parents would prefer to send their school age children to private schools, while 60% of Ontarians agreed with the phrase ‘private school students receive a much better education than public school students’† (Aurini, 2006, p. 108)    Trouble in Public Education As previously mentioned private education, until recently, has taken the back seat the overwhelming importance of government lead education.   An understanding of public education today and all its faults requires that we understand its history.   At the turn of the century we saw a significant rise in big government, specifically in Canada.   The culture and society that revolved around the welfare state of the post-WWII period clearly supported governments incursion into the fields of education and health, to name a few. Parents placing their children in the hands of the state held the general belief that the schools would do their best to provide equal opportunity and social mobility.   Private schools were seen to fall in the realm of those who could afford their astronomical prices. Most often private schools were identified with religion and the upper classes.   Gabbard (2004) states that public schools in American society have held such responsibilities as â€Å"equalizing gender and racial inequalities, providing the knowledge and skills that give everyone an equal opportunity to experience the ‘American Dream,’ producing a workforce with skills that enable U.S. corporations to compete effectively in the global marketplace, and preparing citizens to be effective participants in a democratic society† (p. 3).  Ã‚   There was a common desire to believe that â€Å"schools strengthen our democracy, [and] our ability to meaningfully participate in the decision-making processes that impact our communities and our lives† (Gabbard, 2004, p. 3). Whether or not public schools are still up to this task is one of the terrible questions we must ask ourselves.   Indeed, what has always been a monumental task has been further been burdened by the nature of our increasingly global, increasingly technology based and increasingly competitive society.   Geiger (1994) claims, â€Å"To succeed in the 21st century, today’s students must graduate with more than knowledge of the past.   They must have the ability to synthesize and analyze new information, think for themselves, and adapt quickly to a world where change in the constant† (p. 63).   The technological tools that are present in almost all forms of work are often not found in public schools (Geiger, 1994). Trouble in High Schools Clearly high schools are facing challenges they have not had to face in the past fifty years or that maybe they never have had to face.   Run-down buildings, over-crowded classes, school violence, and poor rural support are only some of the problems on the long list any teacher, parent or school administrator could give you.   There seems to be less schools than ever.   One report shows that,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   A complete restructuring of high school facilities is needed, as the current design pushes teenagers into an environment contrary to the way they learn. The first and most important change should be a reduction in the size of high schools. Research has shown that students have better attendance, are less likely to drop out, exhibit fewer discipline problems, and perform better when attending a smaller high school† (Hall and Handly, 2004, p. 21). An even more preoccupying problem is that of violence at school.   The last few centuries has witnessed an increase in attacks of rage and a significantly more violent atmosphere.   One administrator claims that, â€Å"It was only after many years of experience and investigation that we began to understand the degree of rage todays teenagers feel and how the school system is failing them, not only academically but in just about every imaginable way† (Hall and Handly, 2004, p. 21).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   While urban schools are plagued by violence and over-crowded classrooms many rural Ontario schools are lacking in basic material resources.   Low school funding seems to be a problem best known to northern boards and rural Ontario boards (Trouble in, 2004).   A study done by The People for Education shows that â€Å"Ontario’s smaller schools are less likely to have librarians or guidance counsellors, music teachers or physical education teachers. And they are much more likely to be threatened with closing† (Trouble in, 2004) . Neo-liberal education There is no doubt that current international focus on liberal economics and globalization has a significant say in where public high schools stand and where they are headed to go.   Neo-liberal and conservative ideology clearly hold the idea that most government run enterprises are bound to get caught up in inefficiency and become labeled as inadequate.   Davies and Aurini (2004) claim that â€Å"The profit motive and need to compete for student-clients is said to provide powerful incentives to improve educational services. Since such incentives do not exist in large public bureaucracies, educational businesses are more likely to deliver real results, according to advocates.† This has resulted in a rising importance of educational entrepreneurialism, mostly brought on by the changing nature of schooling and pressures in the global market place.   According to Aurini (2004) the market, as in so many areas of society, including healthcare, is attempting to weed out insufficient agents.   She states that, â€Å"The belief that competition and de-bureaucratization encourages accountability, efficiency and consumer responsiveness† (p. 476).   In addition she claims that, â€Å"For market advocates, public schools’ monopoly status and bureaucratized form and the presence of teacher’s professional associations foster apathy and mediocrity to the detriment of education consumers† (p. 476). In the presence of competition public education entities may have to admit that they no longer enjoy a monopoly.   Finn states that, â€Å"If schools want students and the dollars that accompany them, they must attract those students, and in order to attract them they have to provide quality education.†Ã‚   In addition, some research suggests that business in education is resulting in the adoption of these same practices by public institutions (Davies and Aurini, 2004).   At the core of the argument is the belief that the market and forces of the market provide better education because the private businesses have to compete with each other. Tutoring: A Growing Industry The significant growth of one sector of private education in particular provides us with significant insight on how private education has progressed over the last years.   While in the past private tutoring enterprises consisted of test-prep centers and moonlighting teachers they have now evolved into private tutoring services that may   include preschool programs, math and reading classes, and writing and public peaking programs (Aurini, 2004, p. 478).   Aurini (2004) claims these entities are a highly evolved form of tutoring, these businesses are often developed as franchises or morph into comprehensive private schools. Aurini (2004) in her two year study of private tutoring institutions in Ontario Canada shows that the significant rise in private tutoring shows a clear shift from public to private education.   According to studies the percentage of Ontario parents requesting private tutoring for their school age children has gone up from 17% in 1997 to 24% in 2003 (Aurini 2004).   In addition, the number of formal businesses that offer fuller tutoring services has grown between 200%-500% in major Canadian cities over the past 30 years, a growth that is independent of public school enrolments or economic trends (Davies and Aurini, 2004, p. 422).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In a further study done on tutoring franchises tutoring businesses are shown to be standardizing and broadening their services through franchises. In the form of what are being called learning centers, â€Å"franchises are increasingly transcending old-style test prep and homework support, and are bundling together a variety of offerings that sometimes encroach upon public school practices. A result is that learning centres are becoming increasingly school-like by providing an alternative to public education, rather than a mere supplement† (Aurini and Davies, 204, p. 419).  Ã‚   They attribute this expansion to the fact that franchising is the next obvious step in a successful business and they add that, â€Å"Service industries with many franchises such as coffee and fast food have likely grown much faster than industries marked mainly by a series of small independents†Ã‚   (Davies and Aurini, 204, p. 423).   As high school students are one of the largest groups using tutoring services, this subtle shift from public to private education is bound to have long-term consequences. Ethnicity and Individualism It has clearly been shown through data and example that private education has made great inroads in the education market, largely due to the failures of High schools and other educational entities to keep up to the demands of our fast paced, technology driven society.   It is important to note that while technology is clearly a part of globalism’s demands on high schools, individualism and multiculturalism also play an important role in the weakening of the public high schools.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   While in the past it was common for religious groups to make demands on public government on term of their religion, it is now common for ethnic groups to make these same demands.   Davies (1999) states that, â€Å"Rather than presenting their cause as religious revivalism and morality in public education terms with little efficacy in todays political culture-the coalitions are evoking the idioms of multiculturalism, minority rights, and school choice† (p. 3).   Some religious groups have requested that Quebec, â€Å"embrace the reality of group based diversity in its schools, and they couch this tenet in the language of multiculturalism. The coalitions are united in an understanding of multiculturalism in which religious minority communities require separate education† (Davies 1999, p. 15).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Although Canada had never been the melting pot that the United States has been education has been fairly homogeneous.   This is important because it shows the growing importance on individuality in Canada’s education system.   In Canada this is particularly important as one of the country’s core tenets has been unity in diversity.   Canada’s long standing respect for cultures has been a core element of its foundation from the beginning.   Having Quebec as an outspoken and integral culture within Canada may have even sensitized us to an even greater extent than other western countries.   That these demands may not be met by public high schools is of course essential to the legitimization of private schools. Intensive Parenting and Individual Children Canadians are having less and less children.   Whereas in the past families consisted of an average of three children many couples are opting to have one or two children.   This most likely is as a result of global factors and heightened individualism in parents living in an extremely materialist society.   The result of global parents and less children is an intensive style of parenting that requires them to be present in every aspect of their child’s life.   The psychology, health and education of Canadian children is under a microscopic lens. Private institutions cater to this new breed of parent using such slogans as calls â€Å"to ‘develop you child’s gifts and talents’† (Aurini and Davies, 2004, p. 420).   Customized education is guaranteed to secure your child with a future in a global economy that seems to becoming increasingly competitive and fast paced.    As Aurini and Davies have observed â€Å"education has become the medium to advance upon or maintain a socioeconomic position as economic prospects for those without credentials deteriorate. Higher education is increasingly sought after throughout Canada† (Davies and Aurini, 2004, p. 420).   They add that this is â€Å"creating a generalized culture of educational competition. From younger ages, more youth are being encouraged to view school as a competitive arena in which they must strive to get ahead† (Aurini and Davies, 2004, p. 420). The most obvious result of this is the re-entry of schooling into many homes.   The number of home schooled children has increased in significant amounts over the last years. Aurini and Davies (2007) claim that while years ago home schooling was â€Å"dominated by a coalition of religious fundamentalists and experimental ‘unschoolers’ a variety of subgroups are now emerging, with very different goals that range from nurturing minority identities, to meeting special educational needs, to simply seeking a superior form of education† (p. 462).   While home schooling only affects 2% of students in Ontario it is â€Å"‘shedding its image as a social or educational aberration’† (Aurini and Davies, 2007, p. 462). In addition, while home schooling was badly seen for many years, most specifically with regard to its legal standing, recent legislature have given it a new level of legitimacy.   These new policies allow boards of education to â€Å"deem that children are receiving satisfactory instruction at home simply by accepting notification from parents†Ã‚   (Aurini and Davies, 2007, p. 4).  Ã‚   In addition the provincial government no longer asks home schoolers to strictly adhere to traditional schooling methodes, and now recognize home schooling as an adequate alternative to that taught at public schools. While many scholars argue that home schooling is a result of government intervention and badly run schools Aurini and Davies take a different stand point.   Clearly the neo-liberal outlook on home schooling is that a badly funded and organized public schools are not providing children with the education that parents would like them to have.   A second explanation is that a fast paced economy is requiring a different type of education for its future workers.  Ã‚   According to this argument, â€Å"the ‘new economy’ is raising credential requirements and intensifying labor market competition† (Aurini and Davies, 2007, p. 4). Aurini and Davies (2007) argue that the distinctive trait of home-schooling has to do with the ability of children to better express themselves in a home environment.   They claim that, â€Å"rather than seek instrumental advantages, many of its practitioners aim to remove children from market (and bureaucratic) settings, reasoning that they are too precious to be entrusted to the care of others† (p. 4) What Can be Done? Canadian public high schools are no doubt moving into an era where shrinking budgets and mounting outside pressures are causing numerous problems within.   Schools are in disrepair, teachers are underpaid, and classes are overflowing.   Cowley (2001) states in frustration that, â€Å"Parents want better schools. Students want better schools. Teachers, counsellors, principals, superintendents, members of local school boards, and officials in the Ministry of Education want better schools. Taxpayers and employers want better schools.†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   And we may well be going in a vicious circle.   It is clear that high schools and other public schools need more money to keep up.   Finn states that the call is the same every year.   It is for â€Å"smaller classes, more teachers, more teacher training, more technology, more special programs, more hours in the day, more days in the year, et cetera.† He further claims that â€Å"In both Canada and the United States, this has long been our chief approach to making schools better. It is like our chief approach to making lots of things better: install a larger engine, replace the tires, and add more chrome.†Ã‚  Ã‚   Yet, how is this possible when in the example of the United States per pupil spending has tripled since the 1950s (Finn).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Public schools have had no choice and will have no choice but to change to meet ever increasing demands placed upon them.   And as they change the private schools will become more and more necessary to parents seeking the education that their children need to survive in the future.   Some believe that the very creation of private schools will force and overall change in education on both ends.   Autini (2006) believes that the advent of private education has resulted in the re-molding of public education.   The interjection of private schools onto the field of education has resulted in the altering of old public school tenets. While private education entities adopt public school models such as credentialed teachers, age-defined grades and courses such as math and science they, â€Å"are also seen to ‘loosely couple’ by avoiding stark performance indicators such as standardized tests and y embracing broad, often vague goals such as socialization and inclusion† (Aurini, 2006, p. 83).   In addition, â€Å"these strategies permit schools to integrate a variety of objectives and ward off inspection that would otherwise expose inefficiencies and inconsistencies† (p. 84). Private educators legitimize these alterations by relying on arguments of increased individualism and technical advances (Aurini, 2006, p. 83).   They claim to be satisfying consumer demand for more individual education programs.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   It is also important to note that many private high schools have not been successful when competing with public schools (Aurini and Davies, 2004, p. 423).   In fact the history of performance contractors is sometimes one of â€Å"rapid ascent quickly followed by failure† (Aurini and Davies, 2004, p. 423).   It appears as though business are more successful when they don’t have to come up against public, free educational options such as preschools, colleges and private tutoring enterprises.   As tutoring is a form of supplementary education that does not compete directly with public schools it is exempt from this type of market competition from public schools (Aurini and Davies, 2004).   This of course is important to take into consideration when discussing high schools in Ontario, which remain over 90% public.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Conclusion Whether private high schools are successful or not it is clear that they are not only affecting the market but the whole of the education system in Canada.   Their rise in the previous years from institutions created with skepticism to viable alternatives to public education is significant.   Clearly the degradation of public high schools is closely linked to the neo-liberal economic model calling for less government and more markets.   It is a model that claims to know the answers to our future and to the future of our children.   Market competition will make for a better school system with more individual choices.   Private high schools mix well with the current individualistic tendencies shown in parents and students and which so clearly fit in with the core tenets espoused by private institutions. As we have seen in this work private high schools are not always the best high schools, neither socially nor economically.   The best schools may be the ones that allow for the greatest insertion into our ever-changing society by it’s students.   Fotopoulos, in an (2004) claims that, culture in general and education in particular play a crucial role in the determination of individual and collective values. This is because as long as individuals live in a society, they are not just individuals but social individuals, subject to a process that socializes them and induces them to internalize the existing institutional framework and the dominant social paradigm. (p.15) Social apt students are often the most successful students.   It might be relevant to discuss just how much individualism is good for us, our society and our schools. References Aurini, J.   (2006).   Crafting Legitimation Projects: An Institutional Analysis of Private   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Education Businesses.   Sociological Forum   21, 83-111 Aurini, J.   (2004).   Educational Entrepreneurialism in the Private Tutoring Industry:   Ã‚  Ã‚   Balancing Profitablity with the Humanistic Face of Schooling.  Ã‚   The Canadian Review of   Ã‚  Ã‚   Sociology and Anthropology   41, 475-492. Aurini, J Davies, S.   (2007)   Choice without markets: homeschooling in the context of   Ã‚  Ã‚   private education   British Journal of Sociology of Education 26, 461 474 Aurini, J Davies, S.   (2004).   The transformation of private tutoring: education in a   Ã‚  Ã‚   franchise form.   Canadian Journal of Sociology 29,   419- Cowley, P.   (2001).  Ã‚   Report Card on Ontarios Secondary Schools: 2001 Edition.   The   Ã‚  Ã‚   Fraser Institute   http://www.fraserinstitute.ca/shared/readmore.asp?sNav=pbid=239 Davies, S.   (1999).   From Moral Duty to Cultural Rights: A Case Study of Political   Ã‚  Ã‚   Framing in Education   Sociology of Education 72, 1-21. Finn, C.   (2001)   â€Å"Reinventing Public Education Via the Marketplace.† The Fraser Institute   Ã‚  Ã‚   http://www.fraserinstitute.ca/shared/readmore.asp?sNav=pbid=270 Fotopoulos, T.   (2004).   Democracy, Paideia and Education: Culture, the Dominant Social   Ã‚  Ã‚   Paradigm, and the Role of Education   In Ross, W. E.   Defending Public Schools. (15-29).   Ã‚  Ã‚   Westport, CT.:Praeger. Gabbard, D. A.   (2004). Welcome to the Desert of the Real: A Brief History of What   Ã‚  Ã‚   Makes Schooling Compulsory   In Ross, W.E.  Ã‚   Defending Public Schools.   (3-14).   Ã‚  Ã‚   Westport, CT.: Praeger. Geiger, K.   (1994).   Rethinking American Schools in the Psot-Cold War Era: Introductory   Ã‚  Ã‚   Remarks from the NEA President.   Financing Education   33, 63-66 Hall, E. and Handley, R.   (2004).   High Schools in Crisis: What Every Parent Should   Ã‚  Ã‚   Know   Westport, CT.: Praeger Ross, W. E.   (2004).   General Editors Introduction: Defending Public Schools, Defending   Ã‚  Ã‚   Democracy   In Ross, W.E.   Defending Public Schools.   Westport, CT.: Praeger.   4 Trouble in Ontario’s small schools   (2004). People for Education   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   http://www.peopleforeducation.com/releases/2005/sept21_04.html

Communication and its Barriers

Communication and its Barriers Any act by which one person gives to or receives from another person information about that persons needs, desires, perceptions, knowledge, or affective states. Communication may be intentional or unintentional; it may involve conventional or unconventional signals, may take linguistic or non-linguistic forms, and may occur through spoken or other modes. Organisations cannot operate without communication. Communication can take various forms but all forms involve the transfer of information from one party to the other. In order for the transfer of information to qualify as communication, the recipient must understand the meaning of the information transferred to them. If the recipient does not understand the meaning of the information conveyed to them, communication has not taken place. Communication is the life source of organisations because organisations involve people. People cannot interact with each other without communication. In the absence of communication, everything would grind to a halt. For example; the workers in an organisation would not know the organisations objectives so they would not strive to achieve the organisations objectives. The workers in an organisation would not know what their roles and responsibilities were, so they would not be able to carry out their daily tasks and duties. The managers would not be able to train their workers reports so the workers would not possess the skills they needed to carry out their jobs. The managers would not be able to inform workers of changes The organisation would not be aware of their competitors activities On the whole people are able to communicate with each other as this is a basic human function. However successful organisations strive not only for communication but effective communication. Interpersonal Communication This is defined as communication between two or more people and involves the transfer of information (or message) from one person to the other(s). The person transferring the information is called the sender or transmitter. The people receiving the message are known as receivers. The transmitter will need to send the information in a format that the receiver(s) will understand. Converting the information into a format that the receivers will understand is known as Encoding. Messages can be encoded into a variety of formats oral, written or visual. After encoding the message is transferred via a medium called a channel, for example a letter, fax, phone call, or e-mail. After transference the information will need to be interpreted by the receiver. This process of interpretation is known as decoding. Finally the receiver will send a message back to the transmitter confirming whether the information sent has been understood. This back check is known as feedback. The communication process involves seven key elements as illustrated in the diagram below. Why you need to get your message across Effective communication is all about conveying your messages to other people clearly and unambiguously. Its also about receiving information that others are sending to you, with as little distortion as possible. Doing this involves effort from both the sender of the message and the receiver. And its a process that can be fraught with error, with messages muddled by the sender, or misinterpreted by the recipient. When this isnt detected, it can cause tremendous confusion, wasted effort and missed opportunity. In fact, communication is only successful when both the sender and the receiver understand the same information as a result of the communication. By successfully getting your message across, you convey your thoughts and ideas effectively. When not successful, the thoughts and ideas that you actually send do not necessarily reflect what you think, causing a communications breakdown and creating roadblocks that stand in the way of your goals both personally and professionally. In a recent survey of recruiters from companies with more than 50,000 employees, communication skills were cited as the single more important decisive factor in choosing managers. The survey, conducted by the University of Pittsburghs Katz Business School, points out that communication skills, including written and oral presentations, as well as an ability to work with others, are the main factor contributing to job success. In spite of the increasing importance placed on communication skills, many individuals continue to struggle, unable to communicate their thoughts and ideas effectively whether in verbal or written format. This inability makes it nearly impossible for them to compete effectively in the workplace, and stands in the way of career progression. Being able to communicate effectively is therefore essential if you want to build a successful career. To do this, you must understand what your message is, what audience you are sending it to, and how it will be perceived. You must also weigh-in the circumstances surrounding your communications, such as situational and cultural context. The Communications Process To be an effective communicator and to get your point across without misunderstanding and confusion, your goal should be to lessen the frequency of problems at each stage of this process, with clear, concise, accurate, well-planned communications. We follow the process through below: Source As the source of the message, you need to be clear about why youre communicating, and what you want to communicate. You also need to be confident that the information youre communicating is useful and accurate. Message The message is the information that you want to communicate. Encoding This is the process of transferring the information you want to communicate into a form that can be sent and correctly decoded at the other end. Your success in encoding depends partly on your ability to convey information clearly and simply, but also on your ability to anticipate and eliminate sources of confusion (for example, cultural issues, mistaken assumptions, and missing information.) A key part of this knows your audience: Failure to understand who you are communicating with will result in delivering messages that are misunderstood. Channel Messages are conveyed through channels, with verbal channels including face-to-face meetings, telephone and videoconferencing; and written channels including letters, emails, memos and reports. Different channels have different strengths and weaknesses. For example, its not particularly effective to give a long list of directions verbally, while youll quickly cause problems if you give someone negative feedback using email. Decoding Just as successful encoding is a skill, so is successful decoding (involving, for example, taking the time to read a message carefully, or listen actively to it.) Just as confusion can arise from errors in encoding, it can also arise from decoding errors. This is particularly the case if the decoder doesnt have enough knowledge to understand the message. Receiver Your message is delivered to individual members of your audience. No doubt, you have in mind the actions or reactions you hope your message will get from this audience. Keep in mind, though, that each of these individuals enters into the communication process with ideas and feelings that will undoubtedly influence their understanding of your message, and their response. To be a successful communicator, you should consider these before delivering your message, and act appropriately. Feedback Your audience will provide you with feedback, as verbal and nonverbal reactions to your communicated message. Pay close attention to this feedback, as it is the only thing that can give you confidence that your audience has understood your message. If you find that there has been a misunderstanding, at least you have the opportunity to send the message a second time. Context The situation in which your message is delivered is the context. This may include the surrounding environment or broader culture (corporate culture, international cultures, and so on). QUESTION 2 Barriers of Communication 1. Physical barriers Physical barriers in the workplace include: Marked out territories, empires and fiefdoms into which strangers are not allowed Closed office doors, barrier screens, separate areas for people of different status Large working areas or working in one unit that is physically separate from others. Research shows that one of the most important factors in building cohesive teams is proximity. As long as people still have a personal space that they can call their own, nearness to others aids communication because it helps us get to know one another. 2. Perceptual barriers The problem with communicating with others is that we all see the world differently. If we didnt, we would have no need to communicate: something like extrasensory perception would take its place. The following anecdote is a reminder of how our thoughts, assumptions and perceptions shape our own realities: A traveller was walking down a road when he met a man from the next town. Excuse me, he said. I am hoping to stay in the next town tonight. Can you tell me what the townspeople are like? Well, said the townsman, how did you find the people in the last town you visited? Oh, they were an irascible bunch. Kept to themselves. Took me for a fool. Over-charged me for what I got. Gave me very poor service. Well, then, said the townsman, youll find them pretty much the same here. 3. Emotional barriers One of the chief barriers to open and free communications is the emotional barrier. It is comprised mainly of fear, mistrust and suspicion. The roots of our emotional mistrust of others lie in our childhood and infancy when we were taught to be careful what we said to others. Mind your Ps and Qs; Dont speak until youre spoken to; Children should be seen and not heard. As a result many people hold back from communicating their thoughts and feelings to others. They feel vulnerable. While some caution may be wise in certain relationships, excessive fear of what others might think of us can stunt our development as effective communicators and our ability to form meaningful relationships. 4. Cultural barriers When we join a group and wish to remain in it, sooner or later we need to adopt the behaviour patterns of the group. These are the behaviours that the group accept as signs of belonging. The group rewards such behaviour through acts of recognition, approval and inclusion. In groups which are happy to accept you, and where you are happy to conform, there is a mutuality of interest and a high level of win-win contact. Where, however, there are barriers to your membership of a group, a high level of game-playing replaces good communication. 5. Language barriers Language that describes what we want to say in our terms may present barriers to others who are not familiar with our expressions, buzz-words and jargon. When we couch our communication in such language, it is a way of excluding others. In a global market place the greatest compliment we can pay another person is to talk in their language. One of the more chilling memories of the Cold War was the threat by the Soviet leader Nikita Khruschev saying to the Americans at the United Nations: We will bury you! This was taken to mean a threat of nuclear annihilation. However, a more accurate reading of Khruschevs words would have been: We will overtake you! meaning economic superiority. It was not just the language, but the fear and suspicion that the West had of the Soviet Union that led to the more alarmist and sinister interpretation. 6. Gender barriers There are distinct differences between the speech patterns in a man and those in a woman. A woman speaks between 22,000 and 25,000 words a day whereas a man speaks between 7,000 and 10,000. In childhood, girls speak earlier than boys and at the age of three, have a vocabulary twice that of boys. The reason for this lies in the wiring of a mans and womans brains. When a man talks, his speech is located in the left side of the brain but in no specific area. When a woman talks, the speech is located in both hemispheres and in two specific locations. This means that a man talks in a linear, logical and compartmentalised way, features of left-brain thinking; whereas a woman talks more freely mixing logic and emotion, features of both sides of the brain. It also explains why women talk for much longer than men each day. Removing Barriers at All These Stages To deliver your messages effectively, you must commit to breaking down the barriers that exist within each of these stages of the communication process. Lets begin with the message itself. If your message is too lengthy, disorganized, or contains errors, you can expect the message to be misunderstood and misinterpreted. Use of poor verbal and body language can also confuse the message. Barriers in context tend to stem from senders offering too much information too fast. When in doubt here, less is oftentimes more. It is best to be mindful of the demands on other peoples time, especially in todays ultra-busy society. Once you understand this, you need to work to understand your audiences culture, making sure you can converse and deliver your message to people of different backgrounds and cultures within your own organization, in your country and even abroad. Barrier refers to something non physical that keeps apart or prevents activity, movement so on. Types of Barriers Physical mechanical barriers Language or Semantic barriers Socio-psychological barriers Organisational barriers Personal barriers 1- Physical Mechanical Barriers Noise It is the disruption or interference in communication process anywhere along the way. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¡ Noise though of varying degree, disturbs or interferes with communication. Whatever that distracts the receivers attention causes communication breakdown. Noise can be physical psychological. Physical distractions or disturbances such as loud speakers, gossip etc., draw the attention of the receiver. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¡ Psychological noise is related to mental disturbances like ego clash, pre occupied thoughts, hang over, anxiety. DISTANCE Long distances between the sender the receivers can also obstruct effective communication TIME Time refers to the reaching of message. If an important message reaches late it is sure to affect communication. INFORMATION OVERLOAD It refers to excessive transmission of information. Much more information than what the receiver can process is transmitted to him/her. The receiver can ·t understand , digest, analyze act upon information overload that is beyond mental capacity. MECHANICAL BARRIERS Outdated machines equipment may produce excessive noise leading to physical barriers in communication. Distraction like background noise, poor lighting., affect the morale of the employees also obstruct effective communication. 2- SEMANTIC OR LANGUAGE BARRIER UNCLEAR MESSAGE Lack of clarity in message makes it badly expressed. poorly chosen empty word , phrases, inadequate vocabulary, failure to clarify implications etc., are some common faults found. FAULTY TRANSLATION The message that every manager receives from his superiors, peers, subordinates must be translated into language suitable for the respective person( for whom the information is destined). SPECIALISTS LANGUAGE It is often found that technical personnel special groups tend to develop a special, peculiar technical language of their own. It hinders their communication with persons not in their specialty, because of the receivers ignorance of that type of language. 3- SOCIO-PSYCHOLOGICAL BARRIERS DIFFERENCES IN PERCEPTION Perceptual barriers may arise due to differences between individuals in the way they perceive, organize understand their environment. DIFFERENCES IN ATTITUDE People differ with regard to attitudes opinions which often interfere with communication. If the message is consistent with our attitudes opinions we receive it favorably. INATTENTION Communication has no impact on those who are unable or unwilling to listen. If people do not pay the required degree of attention to listening understanding the messages they are supposed to receive. PREMATURE EVALUATION Some people form a judgment before receiving the complete message. Such premature evaluation prevents effective communication. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¡ RESISTANCE TO CHANGE when new ideas are being communicated, the listening apparatus may act as a filter in rejecting new ideas. Thus resistance to change is an important obstacle to effective communication. CULTURAL DIFFERENCE Cultural refers to values, beliefs, norms, attitudes perceptions of people of different nations or regions. Symbols, words, colors, gestures, language must be carefully selected when senders of information are dealing with people of different nations regions. 4- ORGANISATIONAL BARRIERS STATUS RELATIONSHIP ONE WAY FLOW ORGANISATION STRUCTURE RULES REGULATIONS 5- PERSONAL BARRIERS ATTITUDE OF SUPERIOR- the attitude of superiors towards communication affects the flow of messages in different directions. LACK OF CONFIDENCE IN SUBORDINATES LACK OF TIME MESSAGE OVERLOAD Barriers to effective Communication (leaky bucket) At each stage in the process encoding, transference, and decoding there is the possibility of interference which may hinder the communication process. This interference is known as noise. Often a comparison is made between communication and a leaky bucket. If you use a leaky bucket to carry water, water will be lost at various points in your journey from the water tap to your destination. It is not possible to stop losing water because the bucket contains holes. The amount of water you will lose will be determined by the number of holes in the bucket, the size of the holes, the route you take to your final destination and length of time it takes you to get to your destination. There may also be other events that occur during your journey which increase the amount of water lost. Similarly when information is transferred from the transmitter to the receiver not all of the information may be received by the receiver because of holes called noise. Each of the noise may be affect the amou nt of information transferred. Just as in a leaky bucket, more holes decrease the amount of water, more noise decreases the amount of correct information received. Language issues and Cultural Differences The receiver(s) may not (fully) understand the language used by the transmitter. This may occur if the transmitters language is foreign to the receiver. There may also be language problems (that the communication process) if the message contains technical information and the receivers is not familiar with the technical terms used. Cultural differences created by an individuals background and experience affect their perception of the world. Such cultural differences may affect the interpretation (decoding) of the message sent. Environmental issues If the environment that the transmitter or receiver are in, is noisy and full of sound, the sounds may prevent the message being fully understood. Background noise is often created by colleagues or machinery. Channel issues If the channel used to transfer the information is poor it may prevent all or some of the information being transferred. Examples include a faulty fax machine, a crackling phone, handwriting that cannot be read or in the case of oral messages incorrect facial gestures. Receivers Attitude and behavior If the receiver(s) is not interested in the message (or unable to give their full attention to decoding) this may reduce the amount of information received or the accuracy of the information transmitted to them. Similarly the receiver(s) may misinterpret the message by jumping to conclusions or reading the message in a manner that suits their own interests/objectives and distort the true meaning of the message. Transmission journey i.e. steps in the message, If the message is complicated or there are lots of steps taken to transfer the message it may affect the accuracy or interpretation. Comparing with the leaky bucket if the leaky bucket has to carry water over a longer distance more water will probably lost than if the journey was shorter. Internal / Organisational Communication This is communication that takes place within (or across) an organisation. In addition to the usual face to face, telephone, fax or mail; modern organisations may use technology to communicate internally. Technology may be used for e-mails or a linked internal communication system such as the intranet which is an internet system designed solely for use by those working for the organisation. External Communications Conversely external communication is communication between the organisation and those outside the organisation. Modern organisations may design technological systems so that they can communicate with customers and undertake e-Commerce. Alternatively they communicate with other businesses through the internet or similar systems and undertake e-Business. Functions of Internal and External Communications Technology has rapidly expanded the types of internal and external communication available to organisations. The diagram illustrates the vast array of internal and external communication available. Combined together internal and external types of communications allow various sectors of the local, national and international community to interact, liaise and conduct business. Formal and Informal Communications Formal communication is defined as communication which occurs through the official organisational channels or is undertaken by an employee to do their job. For example official meetings, letters and a manager asking an employee to carry out a particular task. Conversely informal communication is that which occurs outside the recognised communication networks such as talking in the lunchroom or hallways between employees. Informal communication can be productive or negative. It has the potential to build teams, improve working relationships and generate ideas as employees are in a relaxed environment. Upward and Downward Communications Downward communication is communication created by directors and managers and passed down the hierarchy of workers in the organisation. In traditional organisations this is the preferred method of communication ie Managers decide what the systems, rules and procedures will be and then they pass these down to employees they manage and supervise. Downward Communication can increase efficiency by synchronising organisational procedures and can ensure that everybody is working towards the same overall aims and objectives. Types of downward communication include job descriptions, appraisals/evaluations, organisational policy, and organisational systems. Although there are advantages to downward communication organisations have began to encourage upward communication. This is communication which originates at the lower level of the employment hierarchy and is then communicated up through the line. Organisations encouraging upward communication believe that everybody is capable of generating thoughts and ideas which may help the organisation to progress, particularly when they are working closely in the area that the idea applies to. Upward communication may increase motivation and make employees feel valued and respected whilst enabling managers to understand how employees are feeling. Furthermore if problems occur at they are more likely to be identified earlier by those working closely in the area that they occur. Types of upward communications include suggestion schemes, feedback forums/surveys, grievance procedures and employee-manager discussions. Lateral Communication This is communication that occurs between employees on the same level in the organisation. As this can involve decision making it can create efficiency as employees do not have to wait for managerial approval. On the other hand if the manager is not kept informed or if the manager fails to set boundaries there is potential for conflict. Diagonal Communication This occurs when communication occurs between workers in a different section of the organisation and where one of the workers involved is on a higher level in the organisation. For example in a bank diagonal communication will occur when a department manager in head office converses with a cashier in a branch of the bank based on the high street. TELECOMMUNICATIONS GLOSSARY Term Definition Telecommunication Communication between parties based in different locations by using a cable, telephone, broadcast or a telegraph. Networking Linking to or more computers together so that information and facilities can be shared. Computers in the same room may be linked together or the organisation may decide to link, computers in different parts of the world together. Local Area Network (LAN) Computers linked by a network without the use of telecommunications. Often the computers linked are based in the same location, group of buildings or site. Wide Area Network (WAN) Computers linked by a network using telecommunications. Often the computers linked are based in different locations. Teleconferencing Through the use of telecommunication devices such as video link participants based in different locations communicating is known as teleconferencing. Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) Computer networks used to exchange standard business transaction documents between organisations. QUESTION 3 How might a manager use the GRAPEVINE to his or her advantage? First of all the definition of grapevine is that it is the unofficial way that communication takes place within the organization. It is neither supported nor authorized by the organization. It can also be called gossip. As we know many gossips have no factual bases at all; most of them however do. A manager can use grapevine to his or her advantage if it is an organization where people are used to get their information from these sources. And of course it would be a lie to say that most of us dont gossip, or listen to them at least occasionally, especially if it involves us. Bad information spreads a lot faster than good news, so the information gets to employees real fast. It can happen by a word of mouth, or recently more frequently by electronic means. If an organization is based on honesty, these grapevine information can be a lot more accurate than in an organization that is based on an authoritative culture. Usually there is always some truth to it however. Rumours about major lay-offs, plant closings, and the like may be filled with accurate information regarding who will be affected and when it may occur. This truth component is what a manager can use to his or her benefit. Most employees know that if there is any kind of grapevine information circling in the company, whatever its about can be true. If a manager for example wants to influence employees to work harder, or put more effort into it, he or she can simply start a new gossip, or encourage an existing one about lay-offs that might involve their department. Im not saying this is a nice way to do this, but if nothing else works, why not. This is however not the sign of the good manager, because he or she should be able to use other methods of motivation. A good leader needs to be able to exert high level of effort from his or her employees by motivating them in different ways. Another way of looking grapevine information is its usefulness in supplementing formal information channels. It provides a way for employees to communicate their imaginations and inputs to a certain issue. If management is not really doing a good job with communicating with employees about what is going on in an organization, then grapevine can satisfy these natural needs for information. Grapevine is a healthy human desire to communicate. It is the informal communication channel within the organization. Managers have to acknowledge this fact, and try to use it to their own advantage. Managers interested in creating good communication within the organization will use grapevine as a mean to improve it. The real value of grapevine should be to management is that it reveals issues that generate from those whom interested in or effected by it. Managers can also participate in grapevine. They can be filters, who monitor the information and forward to upper management only the valuable and important components. Grapevine usually pops up during times of uncertain times; therefore management has to make sure that it is providing enough information about important issues. The longer the rumour goes around, the hardest it is to control, so management had to intervene quickly if it wants to avoid its damaging effects. The fact is that grapevine is exists within organizations, and they always have a truth component to them. Management therefore can use them to their own benefits, as a compliment to the official and formal channels of information. How to use the Grapevine effectively in business organizations? Grapevine is an informal channel of business communication. It is called so because it stretches throughout the organization in all directions irrespective of the authority levels. The management can use grapevine to supplement the formal channels of communication. Though it carries some degree of error and distortion, efforts can be made to correct it. Ignoring the grapevine is nothing but to ignore a valuable source of communication. The management can eliminate its negative consequences and, at the same time, it can nourish its positive benefits. The managers have to learn to manage and control it. 1. The management can open up all the channels of organizational communication to present the facts positively before the employees and thereby can fight the negative messages with the positive weapons of facts and figures. 2. Better job design and better quality of work life can easily bring the grapevine under the control of the management. 3. It also prevents the boredom, idleness and suspicions among the employees. 4. The negative consequences of the grapevine can be easily eliminated if the management is successful in creating trust-relatio