Why Did the Use of Temporary Staff by a Pharmaceutical Company Aggravate Permanent Teams Tension Free Essay Example, 2250 words

Like other industries dependent upon science, pharmaceutical companies need to constantly retrain and innovate in order to achieve and continue to enjoy market competitiveness. This distinguishes such businesses from other more traditional companies and creates intriguing dilemmas for human resource management. Retention of employees is key as confidentiality is a premium for the field. Temporary workers require human resource analysts to design specific policy and compensation procedure that may differ from that of permanent workers. This inherently creates uncertainty which may be compounded by ineffective implementation or the perception of favorable treatment of one group over another. The first issue to be examined is why these individuals choose to become temporary workers so that their attitudes and effectiveness may be gauged. As David Cenzo and Stephen Robbins note: If temporaries are employed solely as a cost-cutting measure, the pay and benefits offered to contingent workers might differ from those offered to other workers hired part-time as a result of restructuring HRM, then, must discover specifically what these employees want. Is it flexibility in scheduling, autonomy, or the control over one s career destiny that such situations afford that attracts them? Or is it just bad luck, and they are forced into this situation? The conflict between temporary and permanent workers must be anticipated by human resource management. If the new workers are given more pay or significant schedule flexibility this can cause concern and anger, resulting in a loss of productivity or even employees choosing to quit. A lesson can be learned from studying the massive restructuring of businesses that took place across the board in 1990 s Japan. As one analyst commented: It is said that the result of corporate restructuring in Japan was massive job losses and redundancies in the 1990s. We will write a custom essay sample on Why Did the Use of Temporary Staff by a Pharmaceutical Company Aggravate Permanent Team's Tension or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/pageorder now Indeed, looking at the specific reasons for leaving one's job out of all of those unemployed, the number of people who left work involuntarily - for reasons attributable to the workplace or business - rose by almost five times from 320,000 in 1992 to 1.51 million in 2002.

Rhetorical Analysis Of Juvenile Justice Summary - 1582 Words

In Medina’s text, â€Å"Why the U.S. juvenile justice system needs serious reform,† she presents three main claims. The main claim is that the juvenile justice system is inhumane. The secondary claim is that the system is ineffective. Lastly, the third claim is that the system is expensive. In her first claim, in which she states that the system is inhumane. That stands for â€Å"Without compassion for misery and suffering; cruel.† She carries reasons why the juvenile justice system is cruel. The first example shows what occurs in the situations youth offenders end up in a detention facility. Maria Medina states â€Å"They spend more than 22 hours in solitary with nothing but a book or a Bible, and if lucky study materials.† Medina uses the rhetorical†¦show more content†¦Every child deserves individual attention, and facilities that work with troubled children should have the necessary elements and tools to help them make a favorable change. Acco rding to webpage mtsservices â€Å"It has been proven to work and produce positive results with the toughest kids. It blends the best clinical treatments—cognitive behavioral therapy, behavior management training, family therapies and community psychology to reach this population.† It is based on evidence that the Multisystemic therapy helps children to stay out of trouble and build better relations with themselves and their families. Also, mtsservices states â€Å"Intervention effectiveness is evaluated continuously from multiple perspectives with MST team members being held accountable for overcoming barriers to successful outcomes.† This means that they really pay close attention to their patients by evaluating their continuous effort and developmental accountability. The juvenile justice system should take in consideration of adding the Multisystemic therapy system into their facilities to start making appropriate adjustments. Medina’s secondary claim is about the current juvenile justice system being ineffective. Medina believes that the current system is causing more negative repercussions than positive ones. For example, she references Holman and Ziedenberg, â€Å"Detained youth are more likely than non detained youth to end up going ‘deeper’ into the system.† This clearlyShow MoreRelatedMetz Film Language a Semiotics of the Cinema PDF100902 Words   |  316 PagesPhenomenology of the Narrative, 16 II Problems of Film Semiotics Chapter 3. Chapter 4. Chapter 5. The Cinema: Language or Language System? 31 Some Points in the Semiotics of the Cinema, 92 Problems of Denotation in the Fiction Film, 108 III Syntagmatic Analysis of the Image Track Chapter 6. Outline of the Autonomous Segments in Jacques Rozier s film Adieu Philippine, 149 Chapter 7. Syntagmatic Study of Jacques Rozier s Film Adieu Philippine, 177 vii viii CONTENTS IV The Modern Cinema: Some TheoreticalRead MoreDeveloping Management Skills404131 Words   |  1617 PagesWhat Are Management Skills? 9 Improving Management Skills 12 An Approach to Skill Development 13 Leadership and Management 16 Contents of the Book 18 Organization of the Book 19 Practice and Application 21 Diversity and Individual Differences 21 Summary 23 SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL 24 Diagnostic Survey and Exercises 24 Personal Assessment of Management Skills (PAMS) 24 What Does It Take to Be an Effective Manager? 28 SSS Software In-Basket Exercise 30 SCORING KEY AND COMPARISON DATA 42 Personal AssessmentRead MoreLogical Reasoning189930 Words   |  760 PagesReasons ................................................................................................ 236 Deceiving with Loaded Language ................................................................................................... 238 Using Rhetorical Devices .................................................................................................................. 240 Review of Major Points .............................................................................................Read MoreOne Significant Change That Has Occurred in the World Between 1900 and 2005. Explain the Impact This Change Has Made on Our Lives and Why It Is an Important Change.163893 Words   |  656 Pagesneglect. The fact that the most recent phase of the human experience is usually covered only at the end of a multiterm sequence of world history units has meant that it often ends up becoming a rushed add-on of rather random, abbreviated capsule summaries and general overviews. In view of the fact that no phase of history can begin to match the twentieth century in terms of the extent to which it has shaped the contemporary world, this marginalization is particularly pernicious and has been at times

Strategic Control Free Essays

STRATEGIC CONTROL- ERIK TREFFTZ Strategic Control refers to the activity of analysis and surveillance of the Strategic Planning. Its main objective is to monitor and implement corrective measures when facing any kind of deviation in the original Strategy, after comparing it with the Strategic Standards, and thus granting the good-riddance of the company? s targets. It works through the establishment of reference points, rules, methods and devices that allow to measure the development efficiency and effectiveness of the Strategy in whatever concerns seizing its goals, and also allows a better comprehension of the periods of crisis In other words, Strategic Control seeks to provide an answer to the following issues: 1. We will write a custom essay sample on Strategic Control or any similar topic only for you Order Now Whether the Strategy is being implemented as planned. Any possible failure in a company achieving its goals might be due to wrong performance from Operational and/or managerial personnel. The responsibility of regulating and correcting possible deviations in the course of the strategy. 2. If targets continue being valid. It is, Strategic Control is in charge of spotting any alteration in the behavior of external forces, and uncontrollable environment that require a change in the Corporative targets. Since environment is submitted to constant change, Opportunities and risks may arise that weren’t acknowledged when the original Corporative Strategy was conceived, and thus, the pertinent measures weren? t taken. For instance, a certain company provides a country with its products, but, all of a sudden, inner armed conflicts spark in that country, rendering it instable and dangerous. Under that conditions, the company might reconsider if it is still worth trading with this country, or perhaps it may regard abandoning transactions with it, thus, modifying its original targets. . Whether Outcomes of the Strategy are the expected or not. It means that Strategic Control also needs to verify whether the Strategy has been properly raised. Managerial and Operational personnel may have properly fulfilled their tasks to whatever concerns to the Strategy, but it may not have produced the desired outcomes. This might be due to the fact that the Strategy is not properly formulated. Strat egic Control is in charge of re-formulating it so as to eventually achieve desired goals. Unlike conventional ways of Organizational Control, Strategic Control operates â€Å"a Posteriori†, which means that it is focused on the events that have already taken place, identifying past mistakes, and distributing responsibilities. Under no circumstances this kind of Control seeks to recover losses, but rather to acknowledge them, note them down, and develop the pertinent mechanisms to avoid them in future operations. This way of operating, nevertheless, may render negative repercussions on the very own internal engine of the enterprise. The tight surveillance exerted by those in charge of applying this Strategic Control, strictly girded to stiff itineraries generates a feeling of insecurity and fear within the staff. Another negative â€Å"side-effect† of Strategic Control is that the exhaustive scrutiny to which the company? s operations are subjected leads to a slower pace. The process of Strategic Control is subdivided into 3 steps: 1st: Measuring the performance of the Organization: Before Business managers can take any action concerning the future of the Enterprise, they need to dispose of any measure of its current performance. They perform so via the so-called Strategic Audit. This Audit consists in a series of exams that intend to evaluate the whole range of operations within any organizations which undergo a process of Strategic Planning. Its main target is to promote the development and integration of interrelated functions. It is, to ultimately enhance the enterprise? productivity. Its function is clearly represented in the following graphic, in which â€Å"t† stands for the variable â€Å"Time†. Strategic Audit provides managers with the tools necessary to perform their tasks as Strategic Controller, known as â€Å"Strategic Audit Measurement Methods†: Strategic audit is divided into three stages: 1st stage – Diagnosis: It implies reviewing key documents such as the strategic plan, organizational structure, operative plans, re source allocation plans, etc. Afterwards operational, financial and commercial results during a given period are analyzed and compared with the company? s standards so as to identify possible deviations and unnoticed newborn constants. The Diagnosis also provides the manager with vital knowledge about the division of labor, different positions of responsibility, and processes of decision-making, as well as psychic perceptions of the organizations from its members, and their attitudes towards it, (via Interviews, sets of fixed questions, etc. and also from relevant customers, so as to get an accurate picture of the brand image of the organization within the environment in which it operates. Posed in other terms, Diagnosis allows decision-makers to become fully aware of the intrinsic functioning processes of their companies, and the perception the rest of the world has of it, thus allowing them to perform an optimum control, and identify the functioning aspects of the strategy, eventually being able to formulate se veral hypothesis about problems and opportunities, and how to implement changes in their strategy. nd stage – Focus of the Analysis: This stage consists in applying the different hypothesis to the strategic problems and opportunities of improvement that shall arise and challenge the organization, via the analysis of specific issues, and identify interrelations and interdependence among components of the strategic system, and afterwards, reaching conclusions concerning weaknesses and deficiencies in the execution and / or the formulation of the Strategy. rd stage – Recommendations: 3. 1. Develop alternative ways of solving eventual problems and also of making profit out the opportunities that might arise, always taking into account potential costs, risks and compensations these measures may bring. 3. 2. Finally, the last step consists on developing concrete recommendations that will help to develop the right plan of action that will improve strategic results. 2nd: Compa ring Organizational performance with pre-set standards Once pertinent measurement of the organizational performance has been done, top-managers shall compare them with current objectives and standards. Objectives are established in previous stages of the Strategic Planning, whereas standards may differ from one organization to another. Standards imply the desirable position concerning a certain aspect of the organizational strategy that the enterprise seeks to achieve. The most common standards, first adopted by the well-known General Electrics, and then implemented by almost each and every business during the 90? range from standards of profitability, of market-seizure, of productivity, standards of innovation and leadership, of staff development, of optimum staff attitudes, of public responsibility (of increasing importance nowadays), and finally standards of equilibrium between long-term and short-term objectives. 3rd: Implementing the proper corrective measures This implies a major change in the organizational operation that makes su re it will be able to seize its targets as efficiently and profitably as possible. Its complexity may vary from changing a product? s price, to renew the productive chain System, re-locating resources, improving the efficiency of the labor force, etc. The whole process of strategic control can be summed up as follows: Still, Strategic Control needs to take into account the following variables so as to perform its activity correctly: Organization? s structure: Strategic Control needs to take into a high account the composition of the enterprise, to be able to implement an accurate overview and regulation over the Organization? strategy. If this structure is unknown, it is not possible to manage to comprehend its inner functioning, and therefore no control will be implemented properly. System of Values /Culture: The main values of the organization and its members, its culture may be a defining factor of the activities it may carry out, and therefore, it is necessary to come to a closer understanding of these cultural nuances, so as to be able to apply control properl y. Information system: To perform right control over the company? becoming, it is necessary to dispose of an effective information system that allows managers to gather the sufficient amount of information that enables them to exert their task. Compensation system: As mentioned before, Strategic Control implies a tighter control upon organizational operations, and this directly results in an increase of the pressure to which staff is undergone. Therefore, a system of compensation shall be established that makes it up to the personnel for the increased pressure. For instance, economic compensation, translated into higher wages. How to cite Strategic Control, Essay examples

Social Complexity Essay Example For Students

Social Complexity Essay Without delving into deep sociological theories of the nature of society, we can consider human societies as any community of individuals who are united together by a common bond of nearness or intercourse and are those who recognize each other as associates, friends and acquaintances. Individuals who play certain roles and the relationships between each role form the society itself. The complexity of society makes it difficult for us to identify our relationships. Generally, societies form different norms and cultures and these norms and cultures will change. Despite the changes in ones society and culture, members of any society like happiness in their own ways. In complex societies, it is valid to question about our contributions to happiness of its members. While material contributions to societies meet the physical needs, mental problems and needs are more difficult to satisfy. This is the point where society and culture become intertwined. To understand how culture and society coexist, you need to know the basic definition of culture: a system of socially acquired values, beliefs, and rules of conduct which limit the range of accepted behaviors in any given society. It is the human capacity to classify experiences, encode such classifications symbolically, and teach such abstractions to others. This enculturation was brought to light by Emile Durkheim who said, †We live in a society we did not make (Noble 86). Our very ideas of ourselves are shaped by the society we were born into†. Basically stating that culture is embedded into ones life at an unconscious level. For example, if a child is born into a white supremacist family, that child will grow up believing that whites are the superior race and everyone else is below them. It is the same for every culture no matter how big the value or belief. A central challenge for any culture is trying to secure an acceptable if not virtuous mode of collective life ( Gergen 185). This is called the moral project. This project, if completed, would create the ideal utopian society. Our western culture has sought to construct an intelligibility that can be shared by all, an image of moral life and how it is to be achieved. The problem here lies in the emergence of new technologies such as cell phones, the Internet, and faxes that have expanded and intensified the domain of social connection. This is bringing about a whole new type of society and cross culturalization among people. The new question from this is, Can the traditional conceptions of self and community remain a viable basis for moral order? Humans also use symbols to distinguish between different societies and cultures. The uses of requests, commands, commendations, corrections, greetings, symbols, and so on have practical consequences in cultural life. To theorists, language is seen as an unremarkable tool that people use to coordinate activities. On the other hand, symbols can be rega rded as one of the most basic systems of human expression. Symbols convey a deep and almost instinctive meaning to people. Whether it is seen as embodying violence and oppression or as a rallying point, symbols make up the very fabric of identity. A symbol’s very existence and meaning depends on whom it is representing. A given symbol represents a certain tradition and culture, therefore is there a fixed relationship between the symbol and those it is supposed to represent and to those it is supposed to oppose? Essentially, symbols offer an identity to a particular group which wishes to identify with whichever culture that symbol represents. However, symbols also can cause controversy and misunderstanding between two cultures, which locks themselves into a struggle with one another, and this misunderstanding develops into entrenched views of the others cultural symbols. This simple form of representation has led to many historic battles. This brings to mind the most noticeabl e symbols of a society and culture: the national flag and national anthem. Evidently these symbols are seen as militant by nature and therefore provoke very strong emotions for those who identify with it and those who are against it. The widespread use of a flag might be seen by some as distasteful and might represent oppression and genocide, this is the case for the European nations who were torn apart in two world wars. Even in the United States, there is a very strong attachment, by the local culture, to the national flag with the very national anthem. They are our most basic emblems but seem to be the final rallying point when the future looks grim and morale is low. It may seem outdated and futile to some cultures, but it can be the exact illusion required to offer comfort. This was most recently evident on Sept. 11 last year. When our country was attacked, our society joined together around our national symbol and it brought us together and gave us strength in a time of turmoi l. Thereby a culture’s flag is a living thing who’s ageless existence speaks a thousand words, offers guidance and comfort, and serves as a reminder of the fears and hopes of ones ancestors (Nash 2). .u0b32b5588f38723774d32b9d75196e76 , .u0b32b5588f38723774d32b9d75196e76 .postImageUrl , .u0b32b5588f38723774d32b9d75196e76 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u0b32b5588f38723774d32b9d75196e76 , .u0b32b5588f38723774d32b9d75196e76:hover , .u0b32b5588f38723774d32b9d75196e76:visited , .u0b32b5588f38723774d32b9d75196e76:active { border:0!important; } .u0b32b5588f38723774d32b9d75196e76 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u0b32b5588f38723774d32b9d75196e76 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u0b32b5588f38723774d32b9d75196e76:active , .u0b32b5588f38723774d32b9d75196e76:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u0b32b5588f38723774d32b9d75196e76 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u0b32b5588f38723774d32b9d75196e76 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u0b32b5588f38723774d32b9d75196e76 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u0b32b5588f38723774d32b9d75196e76 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u0b32b5588f38723774d32b9d75196e76:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u0b32b5588f38723774d32b9d75196e76 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u0b32b5588f38723774d32b9d75196e76 .u0b32b5588f38723774d32b9d75196e76-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u0b32b5588f38723774d32b9d75196e76:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: In December 1995 the Drug Advisory Council was set EssayAnother part of society and culture is the idea a general social structure. This is defined as the way in which society is organized into predictable relationships and patterns of social interaction (the way people respond to each other). A couple of elements that make up the structure are the roles people take in society and the presentation of self that the roles leave behind. Social structure can mean external and objective features of social order that are taught to have controlling power over culture and action. The presentation of ones self is dependent on the various surface roles being played and nothing more. Structural Individualism is when individuals tend to pursue their own self-interest without much sense of a larger plan. Many of the roles present in our culture directly relate to economic status. The economically privileged have the ability to experiment with alternative images and styles of self-presentation. But this is just not limited to the privileged; we will all experience the flux and fragmentation of life in a consumer society and will have difficulty sustaining qualities we think are necessary. The roles we endure create our reality. Our roles can change leading to a change in interaction. An example is asking your girlfriend to become your wife. We all experience a role set in some way. That is the behavioral expectations and obligations that accompany a particular status. Roles are usually defined through an interaction, or an inherited status. â€Å"Throughout history, cultural struggles have been in fact the clear expression of struggles of social classes. No matte r if they were political, religious, philosophical, or some other ideological domain, Marx states it’s the law of motion of history† (Noble 44). If our present day society and culture can learn from history, our goal of a perfect utopian society might come true.Bibliography:

ECONOMYHttp//suriname.org Essays - , Term Papers

ECONOMYhttp://suriname.org Millions of plants. All kinds of valuable deposits. Suriname covers more than 63,064 square miles, making it roughly the same size as Uruguay, slightly larger that Florida and Georgia combined, and about half as big as Poland. Natural resources include bauxite, gold, iron ore, nickel, copper, platinum, timber, hydro-power potential, fish, shrimp, and a vast, largely unexplored rain forest filled with ecotourism attractions. Wildlife includes tapir, deer, jaguar and puma preserved in several nature reserves. One of the smallest countries in South America, Suriname has many rivers and some mountains, with its largely uncultivated rain forest, rich in tropical trees and exotic plants, covering more than 80% of its land mass. The nation's topography is part of the geographical formation known as the Guyana Shield, a mineral-dense layer of the earth's crust estimated to be two billion years old, and a contributing factor to gold being discovered in Suriname in the 1880's. Bauxite is big. And getting bigger. Suriname is one of the world's largest producers of bauxite, all of which is processed locally into alumina andaluminum, but most is exported to the United States and The Netherlands. Bauxite accounts for more than half of the total value of all exports. From US $1300/ton in October, 1996, aluminum prices had risen to US $1600/ton by the end of April 97, and the trend is upwards. Other industries with the potential to shine in Suriname. Other mineral deposits include iron ore, manganese, nickel, platinum anduranium. Diamonds are collected from the riverbeds by private operators.Offshore deposits of petroleum and petroleum bearing sands were discovered in 1900, and crude oil production is promising. Staatsolie, the state oil company reported that output increased 6.7% in 1996, and is expected to increase almost 18% in 1997. Equipment used in mining operations is primarily U.S. And it is expected that Suriname's proposed new mineral law will lower royalties, corporate taxes and guarantee stability during exploration and development of mineral resources. The coastal region in the north of Western Suriname is the region where the country chief agricultural products are cultivated. These include rice, bananas, sugarcane, coconuts, oranges, pineapples and palm oil. Long Term Development Financing State of the Art Domestic and Offshore Banking Laws Free Trade Zones Modern Labor Code Aggressive Fiscal Incentives GOVERNMENT http://www.polisci.com/world.htm http://www.surinam.net/links.html#pg http://members.xoom.com/TheSites/ President Jules WIJDENBOSCH PRETAAPNARIAN RADHAKISHUN 1996- The red band symbolizes progress and the fight for a better life. The white band stands for freedom and justice. The green band symbolizes the fertility of the Surinamese soil and the yellow star the promising future of Suriname. The coat of arms of Suriname consists of two Indians holding a shield. Below the Indians and the shield you find the motto `Justitia Pietas Fides' which means `Justice Faith Loyalty'. The sailing boat at the left part of the shield symbolizes the history of Suriname when slaves were taken to Suriname from Africa. The palm at the right part of the shield stands for the present as well for justice. The diamond in the middle symbolises a hart. The five-point star within the diamond stands for the five continents the inhabitants from Suriname came from. Historyhttp://clef.lcs.mit.edu/~qyz/history.html Suriname was originally part of the coastal area called Guiana. It changed ownership between Holland and Britain many times, but eventually ended up in the hands of the Dutch in 1667 after they signed the treaty of Breda with the British. As a consequence of the treaty, Holland lost possession of their North-American colony (Nieuw Amsterdam), which is now New York City! Like most countries in the region, Suriname was primarily a plantation colony. Many Africans

Anthropology Lab, a scientific project about White Handed Gibbions, (Apes) and explores their grooming habbits.

Anthropology Lab, a scientific project about White Handed Gibbions, (Apes) and explores their grooming habbits. Anthropology LabMay 14, 2000IntroductionWhite Handed Gibbons are in the Primate Order of the Hylobatidae Family of the lesser apes, in the Genus Hylobates (which includes all 11 species of gibbons) from the H. lar Species. (Rumbaugh, 1973) H. lar is found in the middle and upper stories of deciduous monsoon and evergreen rain forests of southern Burma, Thailand, the Malay Peninsula, Sunderland, and North Sumatra. (Rumbaugh, 1974) Gibbons are though to be magnamous although recent studies have documented individuals in the wild who mate with multiple partners. (Fuentes, 2000) This species has a co dominance where both the male and the female are dominant. (Gittins and Raemaekers, 1980) there is little to no sexual dimorphism and males and females are both socially and physically equal. Their family structure in made up of the "pair bonded" couple and their immature offspring. When the offspring reach sexual maturity they are driven out of the group by the parent of the same sex.A moth er white-handed gibbon and her young.Zoo d'A...Although Gibbons are very territorial aggression and violence is very rare among H. lar. Their diets consist mainly of fruit (75%) and also include leaves, flowers, birds, and insects. (Richard, 1985) Although Gibbons have been documented to live in captivity p to 45 years wild population have a greatly reduced lifespan. (Rumbaugh, 1973) In this study I will attempt to show that captive White Handed Gibbons are more often groomed by other individuals rather than by themselves. This study will support the widely accepted notion that social grooming is used to reinforce the bonds between individuals (Ellefson, 1974) and is not for practiced for hygiene purposes. I observed two captive H. lar for this study: one male, one female. Both Gibbons where similar in body size: weighing about 15 pounds and roughly 3 feet tall. They each...

Applying Standardized terminologies Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Applying Standardized terminologies - Coursework Example This essay describes a scenario of bedside patient care of a man with malaria to help evaluate the essentials of standardized terminologies and the related NANDA, NIC and NOC (Nolan 2004). Johnson, Maas & Moorhead (2000) outlines that; Nanda classifies Malaria as an infectious disease with intermittent fever, instigated by the parasite Plasmodium and spread by mosquito kind Anopheles in many subtropical and tropical regions. Because of its common nature, there are a plethora of records, data and information about its diagnosis and care. Subsequently, American Nurses Association (2006a) argues that there are certain terminologies standardized to malaria, according to the North American Nursing Diagnosis Association (NANDA) that nurses must master. In addition, there are also Nursing Intervention Classification (NIC) records and in Nursing Outcomes Classification (NOC) with certain standardized language (Cavendish 2001) for malaria. According to Johnson et al. (2000), NANDA identifies malaria as infectious with symptoms of high fever, chills, muscle aches, tiredness and headaches. According to NANDA, malaria infections are common in tropical and sub-tropical areas and severe with children and pregnant women but also very severe with all other individual children and adults alike (Nolan 2004). NANDA outlines that the diagnosis for malaria includes nausea due to imbalance in food intake, risk for infection due to weak immune system for attacked patients and hyperthermia related to increased dehydration and metabolism. Related Factors include threat of death; threat to self-concept; threat to or alteration in health status, environment, contact patterns; interpersonal transmission of contagion and unmet needs The suggested NOC outcome-labels to these malarial situations include anxiety, stress, nausea, impulse control and aggression control. Client outcome according to NOC includes identifies and verbalizes symptoms of distress, Identifies, communicates in verbal

3600 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

3600 - Essay Example Therefore, the evolution of the word clearly indicates that this branch of anthropological study actually deals with procedure pertaining to qualitative research methodology, precisely in anthropological studies or in social sciences and implies to the gathering of empirical data pertaining to human culture and science. The ethnography therefore focuses on the myriad aspects pertaining to socio-cultural milieu of a particular tribe or people residing in some of the particular geographical terrains. The ethnography by Daniel Neuman is about the music in the northern part of India known as â€Å"Hindustani Music† in the local language by the canon of musicians related with it. Music is a primitive language for communication in human civilisation. Various socio-cultural and historical perspectives of the people residing in a particular geographical area evolve through music or folklore and folk culture of that area. Likewise, â€Å"Hindustani Music† bears the typical cultural essence of North India and is an incarnation of the rich heritage and culture of the area with its myriad blend and influences. The ethnography, â€Å"The Life of Music in North India† is a journey through the history witnessing the origin and the development of ‘Hindustani Music’ and the way it nurtured in the hands of the magician musicians through ages. The ethnography is very strong as it bears the testimony and experience of these musicians who dedicated their life and passed on their legacy to the future generations even for the cause of the particular music and its development. The research content of the ethnography is based primarily on the field work which can be treated as the primary research too. The first-hand survey done by Neuman during the year 1969 to 1971 in Delhi forms the base of the ethnography. Neuman interviewed musicians during this time and he made a trip to the northern part of India, precisely the cities those are situated

Medieval Philosophy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Medieval Philosophy - Essay Example Aquinas further says that â€Å"for what which can one day cease to exist must at some time have not existed† (Bowie, 59). For all creatures that do exist, there must have been some time when they were not in life, a time when the first butterfly, for instance, came into existence. Aquinas proposes that butterflies weren’t always fluttering about, but rather that a first butterfly was created from which all following butterflies were procreated. Consequently, the bigger question turning to be what caused the creation of the first butterfly? Aquinas said: â€Å"If everything could cease to exist, then at one time there could have been nothing in existence† (Bowie, 59). This indicates that since all things in nature can cease to exist, or to never begin to exist, then at one time there would have been nothing in existence, since that the first thing came into life and procreated all successors. To this, Aquinas states that â€Å"if this were true, even now there would be nothing in existence, because that which does not exist only begins to exist by something already existing† (Bowie, 59). Thus, this indicates that if there was nothing in being, then there would be nothing in existence now, but we know this is not correct due to the immense amount of unique animals and plants on Earth, not to mention the immensity of space and surrounding galaxies. (Gilson, 1956) Anything in motion, according to Aquinas, is moved by something else. He then describes one type of motion as the diminution of something from potentiality to realism, and states that nothing can make this movement apart from a thing that is already in realism in the same esteem as the first object is in potentiality. For instance, something which is in fact hot, like flames, makes something which is potentially hot, like wood, to be really hot. (Weisheipl, 1974) Clearly stated, it is obvious to realize that those beings that can’t owe their existence

Designing A Creep Testing Machine Engineering Essay

Designing A Creep Testing Machine Engineering Essay A Creep Testing Machine is one that accurately measures the creep of a material under constant load and at elevated temperatures until final rupture. Basically, it demonstrates the effect of Temperature on Creep. Creep is defined as the time dependant deformation of a material under constant load at constant elevated temperature. The resulting strain is a function of applied stress, temperature and time. Creep is increasingly important in industry in many different applications ranging from turbine rotors, high pressure steam tubes, suspended cables, tightened bolts where materials are subjected to extremely high temperatures and stresses which may cause them to change size, shape and lead to rupture. So the main objective of a creep test is to measure how a given material will perform under constant loads and elevated temperatures to make sure they are ready for use in industry under such conditions. In a creep test, a tensile specimen is subjected to a constant load inside a furnace set to a specified temperature maintained at a constant high temperature. The material will go through 3 phases of creep; primary, secondary (steady state, lengthiest stage) and tertiary until it ruptures. The test may run on for days until eventually the specimen fails and the creep properties are recorded. http://spaceflight.esa.int/impress/text/education/Images/MechanicalProperties/image075.png Applications in industry Creep testing is increasingly important in large areas of industry. There are three types of high temperature industry applications. Displacement limited applications: where precise dimensions must be maintained, examples of which are in turbine rotors/aircraft turbine blades. Rupture limited applications: where fracture must be avoided, such as in steam tubes. Stress-relaxation limited applications: where initial tension relaxes with time such as in suspended cables and tightened bolts. Aims and Objectives: To fully design a Creep Testing Machine within a hard budget in the given time frame by the end of the semester in week 13. The reason behind the project is to provide AUT Engineering School with its first working Creep Machine. It will provide an opportunity for materials to be tested for Creep under extremely high temperatures for research or educational purposes after the project is completed. The very high temperatures will allow for testing stronger more complex materials such as alloys with higher melting points. A fully detailed, clear and FEA tested 3D CAD drawing will be produced, effectively demonstrating the complete final design of the Creep Testing Machine in all of its dimensions and absolute properties. Deliverables: The machine will be designed to be cheap, practical, robust, reliable, easy to use, relatively lightweight, safe (to the touch), long lasting and professional looking. The project meets the academic requirements of my qualification as it will require a great deal of knowledge I have obtained from papers such as: material science, manufacturing technology, CAD/solidworks engineering design, quantitative techniques, thermodynamics, solid mechanics and heat transfer papers. Potential Industry organisations involved: Steel suppliers high temperature material suppliers high temperature measuring/control device distributers electronic and electrical control distributers insulation material suppliers Resources (likely required): Solidworks/CAD design programs, matlab/computer programming programs, Microsoft excel, electrical/electronic equipment. Workshop machines: milling, lathe, drilling, soldering, welding machines and more. Project Plan Plan/chart will be subject to refinement throughout the duration of the project. Project Information This project is supposed to be carried on through until the end of the 4th year industrial project. From now until the end of the semester we will be designing the Creep Testing Machine completely, putting the designs through numerous tests and immense scrutiny until it is certain that the design will be achievable and the project a total success. Our supervisor, Tim, informed us with the estimated budget for this project of around $5,000NZ. This is a hard budget and we are not to exceed it under any circumstances. Therefore an important goal of this project is to stay under budget (by a decent sized margin if possible) and design a relatively cheap Creep Testing Machine that can be delivered realistically for the 4th year industrial project (where the machine should be produced). The Creep machine consists of several main components that fit into three categories; Heat, mechanics and control. The components are as follows: Frame, Furnace, Control, Electronics + Data acquisition, Strain measurement device (extra), Emergency shut off, Temperature measurement device, Grip system, Timer, On/Off switch and Loading mechanism. The furnace should be designed to reach exceedingly high temperatures of up to 800C so that it may be suitable for creep testing on a wide range of specimen materials (high T alloys etc) for research and educational purposes at the AUT Engineering department. During our first group meeting after the first formal meeting with our supervisor, we (the project team) assigned several components to each of us to carry out detailed research and gather our findings before the next meeting with Tim. The larger, more complex components namely the furnace and loading mechanism were both shared between me and Ramez, Steven and John-Paul respectively. The full details are illustrated in my logbook. Literature review So the components assigned to me for research were the Furnace, strain measuring device and the frame. I began dissecting the furnace into its individual components and features. A standard muffle furnace consists of insulation, the body, heating element, temperature measurement/controller and door with locking mechanism, compartments for other components (load train, measuring apparatus), mounting kit and air vents. After I completed some general research I developed a good and original idea of what our Creep testing machine will consist of: Furnace insulation will either consist of two different materials namely refractory firebrick and refractory ceramic fibre blanket or solely just ceramic fibre blanket/wool. These are highly heat resistance materials (one that has especially low thermal conductivity value k). Fire brick; would be the first line of insulation and the main barrier to heat loss from the furnace chamber with a k value of ~ 0.21 (@800C). Ceramic fibre; would be the surrounding/main layer of insulation and will be put around the fire brick and on the inner door surface. It has a k value of ~ 0.22 (@800C). There are several types of suitable fibre and one will be chosen based on its cost and thermal properties. The reason that firebrick is being considered as a layer of insulation is because of the ease of fitting it with heating elements. However they are more bulky and considerably heavier than ceramic blankets. The insulation choices will be theoretically tested for suitability using standard thermal resistance equations: Qtransfer = à ¢Ã‹â€ Ã¢â‚¬  T/Rth Rth = (1/hiA)+(L/kA)+ (1/hoA) Where; L is the minimum thickness of insulation, k is its thermal conductivity, h is the convection heat transfer coefficient and Rth is the total heat resistance. Choice and list of possible heating elements + why chosen. Take into accnt start up hting time The minimum insulation thickness required is found as follows; Properties: Power in: 1.6kW heating element à ¢Ã‹â€ Ã¢â‚¬  T = TMAX TAMB Insulation, Ceramic fibre: k = 0.22W/m2K hi = 10W/mK, ho = 40W/mK Rth = (1/hiA)+(L/kA)+ (1/hoA) Rth = (1/10*0.35*0.15)+(L/0.22*0.35*0.15)+ (1/40*0.35*0.15) L = 21.87mm L Specimen HC H WC WW Body Chamber Initial Dimensions: Specimen ASTM: Round dog bone: Length, L = 127mm Flat dog bone: Length, L = 101mm Gripping mechanism: Length, L ~ 40mm Only round dog bone specimens will tested ASTM creep/fatigue specimens. Full dimensions below: ((+ gripping mechanism size)) The bottom pull rod will be fixed in place but the top pull rod will be adjustable such that the specimen can be placed into the gripping mechanisms. Therefore this will be considered when estimating the height of the furnace and its chamber. Preferably, the chamber should be small in size such that it can be heated up quicker and use up less energy thereby increasing the efficiency of the furnace. Therefore, Chamber width, WC = 150mm Chamber Length, LC = 150mm Chamber Height, HC = 350mm As the minimum insulation thickness ranges from 21 to27mm (depending on the heating elements power rating) therefore, it will be necessary to have two layers of 25mm thick insulation around the chamber. So the outer body dimensions will be about: Width, W = 250mm Length, L = 200mm Height, H = 450mm The main body will almost certainly be made from mild steel due to its relatively low cost and robust, tough nature. The heating element will have to be either kanthal A1 or Nichrome most probably in wire form so that it may be easily routed into specially made grooves in the firebrick. With temperature ranges up to 1800C and relatively low cost kanthal A1 may be more suitable in this case. The time for the furnace to reach its required temperature will also be taken into account and the choice of heating element (power rating, shape and material) will be based on the time it takes to heat the chamber to a stable working temperature and the thickness of insulation required to work at such energy inputs. Also whether or not the heating element can be fitted into the insulation material will be a factor. Temperature measurement and control device will most probably be a standard high temperature thermocouple. There are many different types, shapes and sizes but most are relatively cheap and affordable regarding the project budget. The thermocouple will give the give the reading and control the temperature in the chamber (keeping it at a constant working temperature) by clicking the relay on and off when necessary. The furnace body will have to be made from a hard, tough and relatively thick material. This is why I think that mild steel sheets should be purchased and formed to the desired shape. Processes such as bending and cutting can be undertaken at the mechanical engineering workshop at AUT. Mild steel plates/sheets prices per quantity + list of possible materials, choose most suitable. An idea that I have deemed suitable for the furnace is that a simple solid, robust steel filing cabinet could be converted into a furnace body. Simple tools and workshop resources available at AUT can be used to machine the necessary features to make it work as a muffle furnace. This could potentially save a great deal of investment that could be used in other areas where it is needed more (concerning the project). The strain measuring device will have to be one that works efficiently under the high temperatures experienced with muffle furnaces. I have narrowed it down to either a high temperature extensometer or an LVDT. The most suitable device is the high temperature extensometer as they are specifically suited to such elevated temperatures and give an extremely accurate strain/displacement measurement beyond ASTM standards. They can also be attached easily to standard creep testing furnaces. However, a strain measuring device is an optional extra as the specimen displacement can be accurately measured after the specimen ruptures and simple calculations can be used to determine the strain experienced. A strain measuring device would be for convenience purposes only. List of strain measuring devices, filter to high temp use devices, then the only suitable model + prices and deem if actually suitable. Speak with Wassim. Extensometer or LVDT. Resources Introduction to Engineering Design, Andrew Samuel and John Weir Manufacturing Engineering and Technology, Serope Kalpakjian Heat and Mass Transfer a practical approach, Yunus A Cengel Thermodynamics an Engineering approach, Cengel and Boles Materials Science and Engineering an Introduction, William D Callister Jr http://www.atspa.com/3110_r2.pdf http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttextpid=S1516-14392005000400008 http://www.mts.com/ucm/groups/public/documents/library/dev_003704.pdf http://www.zwick.de/en/products/static-materials-testing-machines/creep-test-machines.html http://www.epsilontech.com/3448.htm http://www.ariindustries.com/thermocouples/high_temperature_thermocouples.php3

Monroe doctrine Essay -- essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Monroe Doctrine was presented by President James Monroe in his annual address to Congress in 1823. Essentially its author, John Quincy Adams, who served as Monroe’s Secretary of State, wrote the Doctrine as a proclamation to the United States’ opposition of European colonialism. As of today the Doctrine has been re-interpreted and extended in a variety of ways to conform to the situation at hand, such as President Theodore Roosevelt’s Corollary.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The end of the Napoleonic Wars in 1815 began the break up of the Spanish empires in the New World. From this point, many leaders guided their countries out of colonialism and led them into independence. These newly formed republics requested and expected diplomatic recognition from the United States and many Americans were in favor of the recognitions. Although, as previously identified, the United States had been warned that if it acknowledged the independence of these nations it would be seen as hostile actions towards Europe and both Monroe and Adams were unsure of going to war over countries that could not guarantee survival. Monroe and Adams were prepared to stay neutral as long as the other European powers did not interfere and let Spain and its colonies fight out their differences. The United States was in the process of obtaining East Florida from Spain after gaining West Florida in the Louisiana Purchase which the Spanish Minister Onis agreed to as long a s the United States promised not to assist the revolutionaries nor recognize their independence. Once the Transcontinental Treaty was ratified, Monroe began to extend recognition to the new Latin American republics stretched out over a few years so not to gain a European response.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In 1823, there was talk of Spain and France joining together for attacks on the new republics with the backing of Russia, Prussia, and Austria; fear of France becoming a power once again in the Americas encouraged the British to propose that the United States and Britain join together to warn off the two. Although Jefferson and Madison were in support of the offer, Adams was suspicious. In a cabinet meeting, Adams argued that it would be undignified to address Russia and France explicitly and fight in the shadows of the British, which won over the cabinet and Monroe delivered the Adams ... ...of the new Dominican Republic regime which owed over twenty million. When Roosevelt initially intervened, he took control over the country’s customs and receivership. Through this seizure, he distributed 45% of their revenues to their foreign creditors, although this occupation lasted for more than three decades. After this intervention the U.S. extended its power throughout the Caribbean when an opportunity arose. In 1930, a memorandum was issued stating that the United States did not have the power to intervene in the less able countries, unless European powers were threatening, which reversed the Corollary.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When the Monroe Doctrine was first introduced it seemed just as a warning to Europe not to interfere with the revolutions of Latin America, almost a gesture of solidarity and sympathy to the newly independent nations, but it was evident of American selfishness. Monroe and Adams carefully exempted the United States through careful wording when addressing the influence in the Western Hemisphere. The Doctrine was a valid basis for U.S. policy towards Latin America and became a fence to block out European expansion.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  

Education and obesity Essay

Although many have studied the association between educational attainment and obesity, studies to date have not fully examined prior common causes and possible interactions by race/ethnicity or gender. It is also not clear if the relationship between actual educational attainment and obesity is independent of the role of aspired educational attainment or expected educational attainment. The authors use generalized linear log link models to examine the association between educational attainment at age 25 and obesity (BMI ≠¥ 30) at age 40 in the USA’s National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 cohort, adjusting for demographics, confounders, and mediators. Race/ethnicity but not gender interacted with educational attainment. In a complete case analysis, after adjusting for socioeconomic covariates from childhood, adolescence, and adulthood, among whites only, college graduates were less likely than high school graduates to be obese (RR = 0.69, 95%CI: 0.57, 0.83). The risk ratio remained similar in two sensitivity analyses when the authors adjusted for educational aspirations and educational expectations and analyzed a multiply imputed dataset to address missingness. This more nuanced understanding of the role of education after controlling for a thorough set of confounders and mediators helps advance the study of social determinants of health and risk factors for obesity. Nutrition in pregnancy and early childhood and associations with obesity in developing countries. Concerns about the increasing rates of obesity in developing countries have led many policy makers to question the impacts of maternal and early child nutrition on risk of later obesity. The purposes of the review are to summarise the studies on the associations between nutrition during pregnancy and infant feeding practices with later obesity from childhood through adulthood and to identify potential ways for preventing obesity in developing countries. As few studies were ident ified in developing countries, key studies in developed countries were included in the review. Poor prenatal dietary intakes of energy, protein and micronutrients were shown to be associated with increased risk of adult obesity in offspring. Female offspring seem to be more vulnerable than male offspring when their mothers receive insufficient energy during pregnancy. By influencing birthweight, optimal prenatal nutrition might reduce the risk of obesity in adults. While normal birthweights (2500-3999 g) were associated with higher body mass index (BMI) as adults, they generally were associated with higher fat-free mass and lower fat mass compared with low birthweights (

Free Essays on Emile Durkheim

EMILE DURKHEIM Functionalism as a Sociological Perspective Functionalism is often referred to as ‘consensus’ theory because it doesn’t address the issue of conflict in society, rather it projects and ideal picture of harmonious social relationships. Historical Background It emerged in Europe in the 19th century as a response to what was perceived as a crisis of social order. This crisis seemed to be the result of two developments: - 1. The emergence of a new industrial society with it’s subsequent loss of community – poor working conditions, increase in crime, growth of housing slums, poverty etc. 2. The French revolution which suggested ideals of equality, happiness and freedom of the individual. 3. These historical conditions which were seen to approximate a crisis of economic and political order thus gave rise to a very conservative type of sociology which reflects a concern with the need for social order and integration. This is necessary if the social and economic crisis was to be overcome and controlled. Main ideas in Functionalism The starting point of all Functionalism is that all societies have certain basic needs - Functional requirements which must be met if a society is to survive. Functionalists are therefore concerned with the contribution the various parts of a society make towards those needs. All Functionalism is concerned with the basic need and desirability for social order and stability to prevail in society. Explaining Social Order In explaining the basis of social order in societies the starting point for Functionalists is to look at whole societies and not the individual; they explore the ways in which the various parts which make up a society function to maintain social order. Emile Durkheim Emile Durkheim draws an analogy between the way a biological organism works and society. The various organs of a living thing work together in order to maintain a healthy whole in much the same way that... Free Essays on Emile Durkheim Free Essays on Emile Durkheim EMILE DURKHEIM Functionalism as a Sociological Perspective Functionalism is often referred to as ‘consensus’ theory because it doesn’t address the issue of conflict in society, rather it projects and ideal picture of harmonious social relationships. Historical Background It emerged in Europe in the 19th century as a response to what was perceived as a crisis of social order. This crisis seemed to be the result of two developments: - 1. The emergence of a new industrial society with it’s subsequent loss of community – poor working conditions, increase in crime, growth of housing slums, poverty etc. 2. The French revolution which suggested ideals of equality, happiness and freedom of the individual. 3. These historical conditions which were seen to approximate a crisis of economic and political order thus gave rise to a very conservative type of sociology which reflects a concern with the need for social order and integration. This is necessary if the social and economic crisis was to be overcome and controlled. Main ideas in Functionalism The starting point of all Functionalism is that all societies have certain basic needs - Functional requirements which must be met if a society is to survive. Functionalists are therefore concerned with the contribution the various parts of a society make towards those needs. All Functionalism is concerned with the basic need and desirability for social order and stability to prevail in society. Explaining Social Order In explaining the basis of social order in societies the starting point for Functionalists is to look at whole societies and not the individual; they explore the ways in which the various parts which make up a society function to maintain social order. Emile Durkheim Emile Durkheim draws an analogy between the way a biological organism works and society. The various organs of a living thing work together in order to maintain a healthy whole in much the same way that... Free Essays on Emile Durkheim Emile Durkheim was born in the eastern French province of Lorraine on April 15, 1858. He was the s on of a rabbi and descending from a long line of rabbis, he decided early that he would follow the family tradition and become a rabbi himself. He studied Hebrew, the Old Testament, and the Talmud, while following the regular course of in secular schools. He soon turned away from all religious involvement, though purposely not from interest in religious phenomena, and became a freethinker, or non-believer. At about the time of his graduation he decided that he would dedicate himself to the scientific study of society. Since sociology was not a subject either at the secondary schools or at the university, Durkheim launched a career as a teacher in philosophy. Emile Durkheim made many contributions to the study of society, suicide, the division of labor, solidarity and religion. Raised in a time of troubles in France, Durkheim spent much of his talent justifying order and commitment to or der. Durkheim was a pioneer French sociologist, taught at Bordeaux (1887-1902) and the University of Paris (1902-17). He introduced the system and hypothetical framework of accurate social science. Durkheim was author of The Division of Labour (1893), Rules of Sociological Method (1895), Suicide (1897), Elementary Forms of Religious Life (1915). Emile Durkheim has often been characterized as the founder of professional sociology. He has a great closeness with the two introductory sociologists, Comte and Saint-Simon. Durkheim willingly noticed the ideas of the Division of Labor and the Biological Analogy. Both ideas which had been differently well developed by Comte and Saint-Simon. Durkheim’s holism approach said that sociology should focus on and study large social operations and cultures. He used functionalism, an approach of studying social and cultural phenomena as a set of interdependent parts, to find out the roles these institutions and processes pl...

Remembering Childhood in the Middle East

Remembering Childhood in the Middle East Free Online Research Papers This is a collection of narratives written by men and women remembering personal experiences growing up in the Middle East. There are 36 contributors from 11 Arab countries (Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, Jordan, Palestine, Syria, and Lebanon) in addition to Iran, Turkey, and Israel. The book includes a concise historical summary for each period, and a brief biographical sketch of each contributor. Some of the narratives were originally written in Arabic or French and translated into English. The accounts are presented along four overlapping historical periods: The end of the Ottoman Empire (1923), European Colonial Rule and the Rise of Arab Nationalism (1830-1971), New Nations (1951- 1979), and the Post Colonial Middle East (1971- ). The collection was put together and edited by Elizabeth Fernea, a professor of English and Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Texas at Austin. Fernea allowed her contributorsmen and women; Muslims, Christians and Jews; Arabs and non- Arabsto speak for themselves. One should keep in mind however, that the stories they remember are all reinterpreted through their adult perspectives. The first part of the book, the end of the Ottoman Empire, includes six narrators, three men and three women from different ethnic and religious backgrounds. They are all, however, from families belonging to ruling elites in their societies. All attended school, encouraged by parents who valued education and all ended up receiving graduate degrees from Western universities like Columbia or the American University of Beirut. With these backgrounds, they are part of the minority in their societies. In An Arab Faces the Modern World, Mohamed Fadhel Jamali describes how he was raised in Kadhimain, Iraq. He remembers his youth as growing up in an old traditional society, with its rigid religious practices and superstitious practices on the one hand and its good-hearted, cooperative, and patriarchal kinship on the other (p. 12). Jamalis family belonged to a pious Shiite community where his father held a leading role and his mother, a saintly lady conducted special rituals for the ladies inspiring hope of gaining recovery (12). He also remembers a childhood where most of his actions were directed by fearfear of his father, his uncle who took care of him when his father moved away, or fear of being hit by the Quranic schoolteacher, the Sheikh. The image that emerges from this narrative is one of a sectarian Iraqi society where religious upbringing was paramount and where a strong patriarchal extended family and its members were directly responsible for supporting the children o f the clan. We also get a glimpse of a social organization based in neighborhoods where family houses were linked by passageways to facilitate visits. In the second part of the volume, the Rise of European Colonial Rule and the Rise of Arab Nationalism, Fernea presents eleven narratives written by six women and five men. With the exception of Zbida Shetlan who grew up poor and illiterate in a rural area of Tunisia, all the contributors in this section are distinguished poets and authors who have also been exposed to Western cultural influence. Most come from family backgrounds that must have been the exception rather than the rule, in that they encouraged education and supported the schooling of their sons and daughters during the middle of the twentieth century when literacy was still reserved for the lucky few. All contributors shared the experience of growing up in a period of high instability in the Middle East. The political events and social upheavals in the 1940s and 1950s had a direct impact on their lives. Some recall the exile of Egypt’s King Farouk because of the Free Officers take-over in Egypt, while others remember food rationing during WWII, or having their classes disrupted by student demonstrations in Cairo. Some witnessed protests against the British in Baghdad or the political unrest of the Mossadeq era in Iran. Some recount being stopped by foreign soldiers at checkpoints in Beirut or having to immigrate to Israel for being an Iraqi Jew. While the narrators remember the events, they also note that they were far from realizing their significance for the region. Hoda Naamani in Damascus the Golden states that as a child [she] lived behind a mask (p.74). She felt that in her protected childhood, she was unable to see the beginning of a conflagration that would destroy all the old principles and traditions and establish a new Damascus.† In â€Å"My Education in Half the World, what impressed itself on Mohammed Ghanoonparvars memory was his fathers scheme to provide him with an education alongside the formal school system, that taught him valuable lessons, more so than the education he received in school. His father put him through a series of diverse apprenticeships that taught him the value of work and respect for all trades. Growing up in a historic city in Iran also â€Å"created in [him] a sense of belonging to a city, a country, and a culture, which is the main ingredient of collective and individual id entity (p. 118). The experiences of Zbida Shetlan, recounted in My Story, are unique in the volume, but ironically may be the most representative of what young Arab girls growing up in the twentieth century have experienced. Zbida never went to school and spent her childhood working for her family including uncles and grandparents. She does not say why but does make mention of the fact that she was raised by her grandfather and step-grandmother. She grew up in a callous world filled with burnooses, never ending chores and beatings. Unlike the other memoirs, she does not come from a wealthy family and education is not favorably looked upon. Her only hope is to get married and hope for a better life. The third part of the volume includes nine narratives written by two women and seven men and arranged under the headings: New Nations (19521962); Oil wealth and OPEC (1973- ); Israeli-Palestinian Wars (1967, 1973); Camp David Treaty (1979); Iranian Revolution (1979). The children growing up during this period had a common experience as witnesses to the rise of nationalism, conflicting ideologies, and social transformations in their communities. However, although living through these turbulent times as teenagers, the narrators were not fully aware of the significance of the events happening around thema coup d’à ©tat in Turkey, the war of liberation in Morocco, the discovery of oil in Kuwait, the fall of Mossadeq in Iran, the defeat of 1967 or rural migration in Egypt. Only later as adults reflecting on their childhoods do they discover that those events shaped their world and their own attitudes towards it. Also common are the narrators educational experiences as they mov e from traditional Quranic schools to Western style schools. In addition to these shared themes, the narrators reflect on more personal experiences, such as the tradition in Morocco of the neighbors stealing the boys for circumcision to avoid the parental anxiety that accompanied it; seeing ones friends being grabbed by a crocodile on the banks of the Nile; living as a Palestinian refugee in a UN refugee camp in Lebanon; or being exiled and living under house arrest. The contributors to this section come from various socioeconomic backgrounds, but are not fully representative, since those who contributed had the chance to go beyond basic education. The last part of the book, The Post-Colonial Middle East (1971- ) gives voice to ten narrators, three men and seven women. All but one, Abdelaziz Jadir, received higher degrees from Western universities and many live in the United States. Their present lives have no doubt colored their childhood memories. Shafeeq Ghabra, who wrote My Childhood: Innocence, Politics, and Rebellion is one of the lucky Palestinians from this period because he comes from a well-connected family that was able to obtain Kuwaiti citizenship. Yet, he looks back at his childhood in the 1950s as being burdened with the sad past of personal and national loss (257). Because of the loosely defined setting, a geographic region that encompasses a wide variety of cultures and a time span characterized by profound changes in every aspect of society, it is difficult to identify a unifying theme of the volume beyond the basic account of childhood reminiscences. Moreover, the narrators freedom to choose which memories and experiences from their childhoods to describe contributes to the kaleidoscopic nature of the narratives. For some, childhood experiences extended all the way to their college years; while for others, the period of childhood was much shorter. The editor gave free rein to the contributors to select from their personal histories. The fact that there were no guidelines to direct the experiences on which to reflect is both strength and a weakness of the book. Furthermore, they are adults, looking back with the eyes of grown-ups at their childhoods and the children they think they used to be. The mosaic of images is, nonetheless, tied together by universal concerns that transcend both the time and space to which the book is dedicated: the Middle East in the twentieth century. As readers everywhere we can relate to those feelings associated with a whole range of experiences described by the narrators, such as authoritarian parents, school, social pressures, moving to another town or country, dealing with gender differences; fears of losing or, in some cases, the loss of a parent or the hardships of living in poverty. Some common themes in the volume are education and discipline, paternal dominance, womens importance in the family, the role of the extended family in the upbringing of children and arranged marriages. For many Middle Eastern readers, the identity dilemma of the post-colonial era resulting from the prevailing multicultural educational systemsan issue raised by several of the contributorsis still very relevant today. The book succeeds in presenting us with intimate and in some cases candid reflections on family and social life over a turbulent century in a tumultuous region. In the end, the major contribution of this volume is to make us aware that no matter where we are, we are all moved by similar aspirations. It celebrates the universality of human nature and the shared core values of human cultures. Along with the universality of childhood experiences, the narrators reflections on their past introduce us to very particular stories, particular to the individuals telling them as well as particular to the time and place to which they belonged. Research Papers on Remembering Childhood in the Middle EastCanaanite Influence on the Early Israelite ReligionAssess the importance of Nationalism 1815-1850 EuropeInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married MalesComparison: Letter from Birmingham and CritoRelationship between Media Coverage and Social andBook Review on The Autobiography of Malcolm XTrailblazing by Eric AndersonPersonal Experience with Teen PregnancyPETSTEL analysis of IndiaHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Essay

Literature review on Consumer Choice Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Literature review on Consumer Choice - Essay Example The aim is to explore additional alternatives or wait. Whether mundane or not, these choices describe and shape lives. The author asks hard questions on how to choose. The author researches on whether the desire is inborn or developed. According to this literature review, the decisions we make have enormous consequences. According to B. Schwartz, too many choices end up confusing consumers. This also makes them feel have no satisfaction. Consumers have the ability to make little to choose when they have too many choices. Many choices are likely to add the quality of decisions Professor R. Iyengars research investigates how consumers respond to non-linear pricing programs. He looks at how quality of services affects the ability of a consumer to make decisions. He found that both quality and quantity matter when it comes to decision making. Most first service encounters look for quality. They are, therefore, critical. Too many choices become a problem to the consumer. Currently, people think many choices lead to quality choices. Many choices give a satisfaction to consumers and how the marginal utility affects consumer choices. Human desires are infinite and hard to manage according to this source. Confusing and overwhelming amounts of information could have a negative impact on the ability of consumers to purchase. Limited choices cause consumers to feel dissatisfied with the choices they make. Choice overload has the potential of causing consumers to choose choices they cannot handle. Manufacturers are considering streamlining the number of options they present to consumers The degree of difficulty of picking the best option from many options influences consumer purchase deferral. It is clear that consumer purchases are the outcome of two decisions i.e. to buy or not to buy. This is coupled with a selection decision. Consumer equilibrium is achieved when consumer purchases the combination that the highest

Neologisms in film and Televison Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Neologisms in film and Televison - Essay Example It is considered normal in children but a symptom of altered thought content and indicative of a mental illness (likely in the psychotic spectrum such as schizophrenia) in adults. [2] Usage of neologisms may also be related to aphasia acquired after brain damage such as from a cerebral vascular accident or traumatic injury. In theology, a neologism is a relatively new doctrine (for example, rationalism). In this sense, a neologist is an innovator in the area of a doctrine or belief system, and is often considered heretical or subversive by the mainstream church. Every country has got different cultural profile and sometimes there are many cultures prevailing at the same time in one country. [3] Neologism is more seen in countries where the culture is constantly being changed.They are often created by combining existing words or by giving words new and unique suffixes or prefixes. Neologisms often become accepted and can become the part of the language. Other times, however, they disappear instantly. There are certain factors involved in order to become a part of a certain language. The most important factor is of public acceptace. Acceptance by linguistic experts and incorporation into dictionaries also plays a part, as does whether the phenomenon described by a neologism remains current, thus continuing to need a descriptor. This is quite unusual for a word to enter in common use if it does not resemble another word or words in an identifiable way. When a word or phrase is no longer "new," it is no longer a neologism. Neologisms may take decades to become "old," though. There are different opinions regarding how long a word can be considered under neologism? Different experts have their different opinion in regard but one thing is definate which is neologism after being a part of certain language cannot be considered as neologism any more. Acceptance of neologism in a

Free topic Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Free topic - Essay Example Following the riotous exploits of Brain and Gretchen, Joe’s work of fiction on this book courageously pursues the truth in discovering what it means to develop each person’s own identity. Both are trying as much as they could to find their way through the numerous complex threats that characterize the high school experience for many kids. On this book, Joe Meno does make some interesting argument. He conveys his knowledge and love of punk-rock music. This is vital for any individual writing within the indie rock novel type which is widely revealed in the book. And between this and the narrator, Brian Oswald, a total freak who is a school dropout who cusses the way too much and litters every 3rd sentence with ‘I guess’ or ‘maybe’, you will discover the true nature of a misguided American adolescent. A misguided American adolescent is characterized with music, getting high, avoiding depressed parents and trying to get laid, who at age fifty find themselves just as desperately misguided about life as these adolescent? As quoted by Joe Meno. He explores Brian’s emotional ambiguity and his heartrending youthful search for meaning, both in his on-again and music, off-again situation with Gretchen; his gabby, genuine and completely realistic take on adolescence strikes a winning chord. In the book, the issue of teenage violence is dealt with- brain’s occasional bouts of anger and destruction seem very real as compared to Gretchen’s fights which are characterized by certain slapstick quality (Meno, 46). Brain’s character in the book is revealed as sympathetic narrator and a prime example of awkward adolescence, even if he does not have much of a plot built around him. This paper tries to analyze the concept of the book and try to explain how an educator can utilize the book in trying to help a needy (in terms of character) adolescent student. The book captures the meaning of adolescence and that all go es along with conceptions such as finding the identity, awkwardness, puberty, first crushes and the constant power struggle that ever exist between teens and parents. Music is a common theme throughout the novel that ties Brian’s identity all together. Brain’s choice for music is changed throughout the story. He starts by liking punk music, then proceeds to Rod’s Baker Albums and finally fall in love with Mike’s Pink Floyd tapes. Brian’s identity changes depending on the type of music he is listening to. His main worry if about fitting as opposed to having his own voice and accepting who he is. However, Brian grow and develop as the novel progress, his identity develop as well as his perception about life. By the end of the novel, he realizes that there is nothing good than being yourself. There are numerous lessons learned in high school that exceed the common knowledge about grammar, memorizing constitutional amendments, and how to standout withi n one’s clique. Meno reminds us of this honest brutal fact. The novel is fun, memorable, witty and at times delicately philosophical. It appeals to the younger crowd and especially high school teenagers. The book is a hodgepodge of so many different elements; it’s truly a hives and peripatetic as the mind of a teenager. Brian’s character in the book is a representation of a complacent aimlessness teenager (Meno, 89). The drastic change in

Emerging Economy Of Russia Essay Example for Free

Emerging Economy Of Russia Essay Since Russia suffered the economic crisis in 1998, its economy has grown steadily. The growth has been attributed to investments, consumer demand, the prices of oil and cheap ruble. Since the financial crisis, Russia’s financial position has improved, with the poverty level declining and the middle class improving. The country has the third largest oil reserves in the world, thanks to the earnings from the oil exports, which have enabled it to increase the oil reserves. It also enjoys a bilateral market access agreement in partnership with the United States, with its companies involved in acquisitions and mergers at a global level in the oil, metals, telecom and the gas industries. (The economy of Russia, 2008) The aim of this essay is to describe what it has taken Russia for its economy to emerge to what it is today. Its also purposed to find out how its economy has benefited from globalization. The start of Russia’s economic growth Economics is one part of globalization, and it has been argued that it carries with it major changes in all walk of life. Anthony Gibbons said that, â€Å"globalization is an irresistible force, transforming all aspects of contemporary society, politics and the economy. † Howard says that many writers have expressed the hope that it eventually leads to the introduction of world wide western-style, democratic institutions and human rights. Concerning globalization in Russia, he says that it has had long ambient feelings about its place in the world. Russia focuses its attention towards Europe, Asia, and the Islamic world and at the same time is able to concentrate on its economy. It has been called a civilization of its own, as at times, it wants to be a civilization on its own and at others; wanting to be associated with the Western world. However, it’s clear that Russia has always wanted to be accepted in the civilized world. (Wiarda Howard J. , 2008) Howard continues to say that Russia was far behind the race for globalization. He gives these reasons as; first, that Russia did not possess the technical wherewithal to compete with countries like India, much less those in the EU of the United States. The second reason he gives is that since the collapse of communism in December1991, the country has been so destabilized and so chaotic that the idea of its being able to join the process of globalization was wishful thinking. He says that for the past twenty odd years, Moscow has had more important priorities. Its focus was on transition, from the old communist to a new, different, and for many years undefined political and economic system. The centre of a globalized economy took second, if not the fourth or fifth, or even a lower place in its priorities. (Wiarda Howard J. , 2008) Later on, the importance of globalization was realized in Russia. It was important, in that there was the hope of it bringing modern technology to the country. Bringing globalization to Russia was however a hard task, facing one problem after another, such as corruption, which made it expensive and hard to operate there. There was also no system of commercial laws and capitalist style work habits, both of which are necessary if a country expects to create modern, capitalist, multinational organizations and be competitive in a capitalist market. Not only did Russia have a little impact on globalization, but until recently, one could argue that the impact of globalization itself on Russia was minimal. The country was too weak and isolated, and besides that, cultural factors played a role. (Wiarda Howard J. , 2008) The role of the government in Russia’s economic growth When he came to power, Mikhail Gorbachev was convinced that he could revitalize the communist system-that it was not so much as the system, but bureaucratization and Stalinization that had put the country in a period of stagnation. However, Gorbachev’s efforts to invigorate the communist system ended in failure in December 1991, when the soviet’s union flag was lowered over the Kremlin to be replaced by the Russian tricolor. There was a short lived effort to create the â€Å"Commonwealth of Independent States. † (CIS) an organization that Moscow hoped would help keep the USSR together. Later on, it was realized that the CIS existed in name only, as the USSR evolved into fifteen different countries. This forced the Russian federation to go it alone. Vladmir Putin succeeded Gorbachev. He hoped to rebuild the country to the point where the rest of the world would take it seriously. He also wanted the country to have the kind of economic that other countries like India had with the United States. He made it clear that the change would be evolutionary and not revolutionary or cataclysmic as it had been before. He advocated for globalization, but only if it was in accordance to the Russian political culture. He also outlined a number of areas that he believed were important in the management of the countries economy and in the incorporation of globalization such as integrating the Russian economy into world economic structures and engaging in a battle against the economic crimes. Putin’s efforts to influence relations with other countries One of the major goals of Putin was to bring globalization to Russia. He was especially concerned in improving the relations of the country with the U. S. He made it clear that while there might be differences of opinion between the United States and Russia, he was prepared to talk. An example of efforts by the government leaders to improve relations with the U. S was the June, 2001 Foreign minister Igor Ivanov talks with the Bush administration. There were a series of exchanges between Kremlin and Washington, and the two men agreed to meet in Slovenia. The Ljubljana summit had a major, positive impact o the U. S-Russian relations, thanks largely to the personal ‘chemistry’ between the two men. Despite substantive differences, it was clear that the atmosphere between the two countries had improved. The best news however was on the issue of globalization, where President Bush announced that he would support Russia’s application to join the World Trade Organization (WTO), an action that would significantly increase Russia’s interdependence with the rest of the world. Putin put efforts to gain the trust of President Bush, as he would also lay an important role in marching Russia towards globalization. (Wiarda Howard J. , 2008) Trade in Russia After sixty years as an instrument of the state plan, trade in Russia has irrupted as one of the most volatile elements in the present economy and society. Caroline, in her book, â€Å"The unmaking of a soviet life† suggests that the post-soviet Russian economy is dominated by ‘merchant capital’ meaning that the enterprises seek profit from commerce rather than through the transformation of production. In the sphere of production, a lot of the old Soviet structure remains. What more is that the merchant capital does not evolve spontaneously into modern capitalism; rather, like the past alliance of merchant capital with feudal dominant classes, the present cliental links between Russian managers and organs of political power prevent the growth of autonomous bourgeoisie. (Humphrey Caroline, 2002) In Russia, many provinces cannot still balance their budgets. They rely on financial budgets from Moscow, meaning that very generally, money circulates through regional governmental budgets, only to certain parts of the population: key industries (power, transport), state employees (administrators, doctors, teachers), and state dependants (pensioners, invalids, war veterans). Successful traders reap this cash, giving rise to a number of support industries for the rich New Russians, as they are called, such as car-repair firms, security teams, and builders of their new houses. (Humphrey Caroline, 2002) In the historical long duration, Russian state policy towards trade has been characterized by autocratic, centralized control with a few temporary windows of quasi-free trade. Russia’s economic SWOT analysis Opportunities The World Trade Organization is an opportunity for Russia. As a member of the WTO, Russia would be in a better position to diversify and to expand its production and foreign trade. The bulk of international trade is determined by comparative advantage and trade in differentiated products, by economies of scale and by advantages in imperfect competition. Accessions to the membership in the WTO would require comprehensive commitments by the Russian government to reduce its tariffs and to provide greater market access to all of its regions. The implementation of the commitment in the medium term, prescribed by the WTO rules and regulations, would increase long-term economic flexibility within and among the international sectors. In general, the entry of Russia to the WTO would build a body of commercial law in Russia conforming to WTO standards and would foster interdependence between external and internal codes. Strengths Some of its strengths are that it is well endowed with scientists, engineers and mathematicians, as well as with a low cost and a highly motivated young labor force. The availability of such resources has been of importance in the development of Russia’s economy. Another strength of the Russian economy is the diversification of it economy, which has led to the growth of its international trade, and has made it possible to mitigate the impact of external cyclical and oil shocks. (Letiche John M. , 2007) Its massive and exploitable hydrocarbon reserves, precious metal deposits and potentially vibrant industrial base are of great importance in the growth of the Russian economy. Threats On the other hand, one of the threats to the Russian economy is the enlargement of the European Union. Although it seems to be an opportunity to the economy, Russia should not be too sure about it. There is evidence that the EU might be a threat without intending to be one. The problems have become obvious, by looking at the dependency, national identity, regional split and generally cost approaches. The EU has often been looked at by its members as a safe harbor important to reach, and this view proves to be problematic. Greece has been a victim of this, when its economic growth stagnated after joining the EU. Russia should realize that dependency, instead of cooperation is dangerous. Also, the enormous costs of the EU membership for the countries would probably endanger the economic growth of the countries. (Ledderhos Manja, 2007) Weaknesses The economy of Russia has been growing, although the growth rate has been slow. It is said that a growing economy is the best way to show the government’s effectiveness in leading the country. However, there is the danger of an obsession with the economic growth, leading to a neglect of the structural shifts and the quality of growth. An overdependence of Russia to its massive resources like oil and gas could create structural weaknesses within the economy as energy prices fluctuate like it happened in 1998. (Strengths and weaknesses, 2007) Conclusion There is no doubt that the Russian economy has undergone a big change, from the fall of communism in 1991 to the economic crisis in 1998 and the growing economy it is today. However, the government needs to watch the trends of the economic growth. The country has also welcomed globalization, hence the availability a bigger market for it products and more investment opportunities for the foreigners. This means that if the government would expose the economy more to globalization, then there would far greater markets for its oil, gas, metals and other resources. Other countries that have not had the opportunity to invest in the country would also do so. Finally, Russia should put more effort in pushing for their entry to the World Trade Organization as this will be of importance in boosting its trade opportunities with other countries. It would also result to a more or a faster growth of its economy. References 1) Humphrey Caroline, The unmaking of Soviet life: everyday economies after socialism, Cornell University Press, 20022) Ledderhos Manja, SWOT Analysis of Transition Countries in the Baltic Sea Region, GRIN Verlag, 2007, pg 17-18 3) Letiche John M. , Russia moves into the global economy, Routledge, 2007, pg 34 4) Strengths and weaknesses of the Russian economy, 3/1/2007, Russia in global affairs, retrieved on 4/1/2009 from http://eng. globalaffairs. ru/numbers/18/1090. html 5) The economy of Russia (Russia), Spain Exchange, retrieved on 4/1/2008 from http://www. spainexchange. com/guide/RU-economy. htm 6) Wiarda Howard J. , Globalization: universal trends, regional implications, UPNE, 2008

Theories in group work

Theories in group work Reflection on group task This essay is going to reflect on learning gained from a group task carried out in the unit lectures. I will explore the theories which inform group work, inter-disciplinary and collaborative working and the application of these theories in relation to the group work. I will also identify how I will develop my practice in relation to my current skills and areas for development. Finally, I will also reflect on how I have developed my self-awareness, professional values and professional development, in relation to group work task and how this will inform my future professional practice. Toseland and Rivas (2008) define group work as a goal directed activity aimed at accomplishing tasks. Members of the group have the opportunity to share ideas, feelings, thoughts, beliefs, engage in interactions and also share experiences. The group members develop feelings of mutual interdependence and a sense of belonging. Martin and Rogers (2004) define inter-disciplinary working as a team of individuals with different professionals working collaboratively with a shared understanding of goals, tasks and responsibilities. This collaborative working is needed when the problems are complex, a consensus decision is required and also when different competencies are needed. According to Cheminais (2009), the approach to the collaborative working requires clarity on roles, power, accountability and strategic planning. Salas et al. (2012) states that, group work was developed from a philosophy of people working together for mutual gain and theories later emerged to provide clarity regarding the dynamics of groups and to provide an understanding of human behaviour. A group or team can be understood by looking at Tuckman and Jensen’s (1977) model of group formation which comprise of forming, storming, norming, performing and later adjourning. According to Tuchman and Jensen (1977), the forming stage of a group involves clarifying common interests and roles to be played. Martin and Rogers (2004) states that, in an inter-disciplinary team this is the stage where membership is established, team purpose is clarified, roles and boundaries are decided and interpersonal relationships begin. According to Tuchman and Jensen (1977), the storming stage may involve the problem-solving processes and this is usually where conflict emerges. If the conflict is unresolved, it can inhibit the team’s prog ress. The norming stage usually involves the clarification of the task and establishing the agenda. This stage involves belonging, growth and control. The performing stage involves the allocation, implementation, and evaluation of the task. Finally, the adjourning stage can include the celebration of task completion. Reflecting on the unit group task, I think my group went through Tuckman and Jensen’s (1977) model group formation which included the â€Å"forming†stage in which the group purpose was clarified. The group went through the â€Å"stormimg† stage and at that point, there were disagreements on what should be included and how the task will be presented. One of the group members suggested that a role play was ideal for the presentation and I was not comfortable with the idea, as I thought that all of the information was not going to be included in the role play. I was anxious, as I had not get the general picture of exactly what the role play was about. I alsofeltanxious as other members elected me to take the lead role as I had experience in working with psychiatrists. At that time I felt that the team wanted me to do most of the task and I rejected their ideas they were putting forward. I think I did this unconsciously because I realised my actions later on when my group members gave feedback. The group also decided that we give ourselves time to research on the topic given (norming stage) and then meet the following week. I was very frustrated to find the following week that some of the group members did not bring the material they had researched. As I have worked with psychiatrist before and had researched I took on the lead role and shared the information I had. Belbin’s (2010) work identified roles in teams which each offer positive contributions to team working. The roles include innovator, implementer, completer, evaluator, investigator, shaper, team maintainer, co-ordinator and expert. Reflecting on Belbin’s (2010) group roles, each team member brought strength and perspectives grounded in their discipline and experience. During the group work task, I had the experience and knowledge in relation to the task and I found myself leading the group on sourcing information. I got positive feedback from my group colleagues such as, â€Å"goal oriented, researched well on the topic, contributed well and very good ideas on the role play†, however I was criticised for being inflexible with ideas of others. I think I took the role of an implementer who turns ideas and decisions into tasks and actions but inflexible and reluctant to change plans. However from my previous placement I think I took the role of an investigator in a proposed group project of working with young mothers to enable them to gain independent skills. The project failed because I lost interest as a result of constraint in obtaining the resources. In Belbin’s (2010) model, an investigator explores opportunities and resources from many sources however can jump from one task to another and lose interest. Looking back at it, I think this was because I tend to do things in a structured way and task oriented. The resources in the organisations did not allow me to do the task in time and I end up losing interest. I later understood the situation of working in an organisation team by looking at the group system theory. According to Connors and Caple (2005), group systems theory provides an understanding and working with teams or groups in an organisation as it goes beyond a focus on the individual or interpersonal exchanges. They suggested that, a group systems theory is influenced by the interactions within the group and by the external environment. All the group members influence group dynamics however, the organisation in which the group work may impacts the group work with its boundaries, power structures that make decisions and the resources it allocates for group work. The environment impacts the group and the group can impact the larger social environment. I abandoned a project which was going to benefit the young mothers and in a way the community as well. In group systems theory, a change in any part of a system creates change in that system and in the other systems in which it is embedded. Another form of group theory emerged from Bion (1989) who viewed the group working as a collective entity and was concerned with overt and covert aspects. Bion (1989) suggested that overt aspects are the task and purpose of the group. The covert aspects are the unconscious emotions and the basic assumptions of group functioning. Bion (1989) also proposed three basic assumptions in group working. He suggested that there is the dependency group, which assumes that security and protection can be obtained from the group leader. Members expect the leader to have all the answers. As a result, individuals may act helpless and incompetent in the hopes that the group leader will carry the responsibilities. This was evident in my group as they assumed that as I am a mental health nurse and had worked with psychiatrist before, I will have all the information at hand. When this did not occur, group members become angry or expressed their disappointment by acting incompetent and not doing enough research. Bion’s (1989) other basic assumption is the fight-flight group. Examples of flight include absences and fight is demonstrated by resisting reflection and self-examination. In inter-disciplinary working, flight is demonstrated by blaming management for the failure of team work. The final basic assumption identified by Bion (1989) is the pairing group where two group members form a bond. The rest of the group may become inactive as the pair rely on each other and exclude other group members. Salas et a.l (2012) state that, it is necessary to develop a theoretical framework to guide group practice and to support my techniques and interventions. I am responsible for formulating my own theoretical framework that is derived from the synthesis of theories and that is aligned with my natural views and inclinations. To achieve this it is imperative that I be self-aware and grounded in theories of small group work, including the strengths and limitations of the theories. Only then I can select theories and interventions that are advantageous and appropriate fit for the client. The Health and Care Professions Council (HPCP) (2012) also states that, I should understand the key concepts of the knowledge base relevant to social work so as to achieve change and development. Gilley et al. (2010) suggested that the purpose of a group is to accomplish the task and for the practitioner to develop problem-solving skills. As a social work student, in order to work collaboratively, I need to develop skills, knowledge, and attitudes in conflict resolution, problem solving, communication, organisational understanding, decision making, and task coordination. This is imperative as I will be working in teams with other professionals or agencies. From the unit group work, I have learnt that co-operation is vital for effective teamwork. Acknowledging and respecting other opinions and viewpoints while maintaining the willingness to examine and change personal beliefs and perspectives are some of the skills I have learnt. I also now have an understanding of the importance of accepting and sharing responsibilities, participating in group decision-making and effective communication. I have also developed skills in exchanging of ideas and discussion and also how to relay and support my own viewpoint with confidence. As a future social worker, specific leadership skills are required to manage an inter-disciplinary team, so I need to develop skills in the ability to recognise the challenges inherent not only in group dynamics, but in trying to blend the different professional cultures represented in the team. According to Crawford (2012), to work effectively and confidently with other professionals, I need to understand my own professional identity as a social worker. The HCPC (2012) states that, I need to be able to engage in inter-professional and inter-agency communication and work in partnership with other agencies as part of a multi-disciplinary team. It is also vital that I develop self awareness of my behaviour and values. According to Hall (2005), values are internalised, therefore they can create obstacles that may actually be invisible to different team members. Therefore the professional values must be made apparent to all professionals involved. Through experiences in group work feedback received from other group members and self observation, I have learnt about my maladaptive style of interacting with others and perceptual distortions. I have also learnt that I need to acknowledge and appreciate the differences and adjust, adapt, and mirror interpersonal interactions when interacting with others. If faced with the same situation again I would try to take into consideration other people’s ideas and also take into consideration that, as people we are different and we have different approaches to tasks. References Belbin, R. M. (2010) Management teams. 3rd edn. Oxford: Elsevier Limited Bion, W. R. (1989) Experiences in groups and other papers. New edition. London: Routledge Cheminais, R. (2009) Effective multi-agency partnerships : putting every child matters into practice. Dawsonera [Online]. Available at: https://www.dawsonera.com/readonline/9781446203514/startPage/38 (Accessed: 13 January 2014) Connors, J. and Caple, R. (2005) â€Å"Review of group systems theory†,Journal for Specialists in Group Work, 30(2), pp. 93-110, SocINDEX [Online]. Available at: http://0-ehis.ebscohost.com.brum.beds.ac.uk/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=5sid=a5e06866-f590-4862-bcbb-3dea9991c6f0%40sessionmgr4005hid=4108 (Accessed: 30 December 2013) Crawford, K. (2012) Interprofessional Collaboration in Social Work Practice. London: sage Publications Limited Gilley, J.W., Waite, A.M., Coates, T., Veliquette, A. and Morris, M.L. (2010) Integrated theoretical model for building effective teams,Advances In Developing Human Resources12(1) pp. 7-28.SCOPUS [Online]. Available at: http://0-ehis.ebscohost.com.brum.beds.ac.uk/eds/detail?sid=a5e06866-f590-4862-bcbb-3dea9991c6f0%40sessionmgr4005vid=10hid=4108 (Accessed: 30 December 2013) Hall, P. (2005) â€Å"Interprofessional teamwork: professional cultures as barriers†,Journal of Interprofessional Care19 pp. 188-196. CINAHL [Online]. Available at: http://0-ehis.ebscohost.com.brum.beds.ac.uk/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=13sid=a5e06866-f590-4862-bcbb-3dea9991c6f0%40sessionmgr4005hid=4108 (Accessed: 12 January 2014) Health and Care Professions Council (2012) Standards of proficiency. Available at: http://www.hpc-uk.org/assets/documents/10003B08Standardsofproficiency-SocialworkersinEngland.pdf (Accessed: 20 January 2014) Martin, V. and Rogers, A. M. ( 2004) Leading interprofessional teams in health and social care. Dawsonera [Online]. Available at: https://www.dawsonera.com/readonline/9780203505359/startPage/139 (Accessed: 10 January 2014) Salas, L. M., Roe-Sepowitz, D. and Le Croy, C. W. (2012) â€Å"Small group theory†, in Thyer, B. A., Dulmus, C. N. and Sowers, K. M. (eds) Human behavior in the social environment: theories for social work practice. Dawsonera [Online]. Available at: https://www.dawsonera.com/readonline/9781118227251/startPage/363 (Accessed: 15 January 2014) Toseland, R. W. and Rivas, R. F. (2008) An introduction to groupwork practice. 6th edn. Harlow: Pearson Education Limited. Tuckman, B. W. and Jensen, M. A. (1977). â€Å"Stages of small group development revisited†, Group and Organizational Studies, 2(4) pp. 419- 427. Available at: http://www.freewebs.com/group-management/BruceTuckman(1).pdf (Accessed: 30 December 2013)