Improving Employee Productivity

As you may already know, improving the employee productivity is one of the most important goals In any business. But, In spite of this, a lot of human resources professionals do not consider this field very relevant. Even though most of the human resources professionals do admit that their job Is all about establlshlng schedules and rules concerning people management, only a few of them succeeds in bonding all these connections, in order to be able to increase productivity.John Sullivan (2011) refers in his article to several factors divided in a few categories, which are onsiderably influencing not only the individual productivity, but also the team productivity. Employee productivity is the main leading power behind a company's profitability and Its growth. Momentarily, the demand for employee productivity Is Increasing more and more, making this a feature that Is actually missing In todays workforce and also leaving most of the managers wondering what they should do next and what the causes are.This is the result of all the distractions and all the separate activities happing in the work environment. Nowadays, it seems that mployees are too busy tweeting, updating their statuses or chatting on Facebook, or simply texting. Because of that, most employees are not taking their tasks to an end, they are not finishing their work and they miss their deadlines. Another key aspect of this problem concerns the employee training tools. unfortunately, this aspect receives too little attention.Most of the time, the provider with the lowest costs is often chosen, even though the most effective provider is recommended. As a result, the recruitment is also poor, because of having as a main goal to minimize costs as uch as possible, but without enough consideration of the quality and the capability of each employer. No matter how you think it, the drawn conclusion here Is that the human resources department, Instead of being more Interested In finding solutions for Increasi ng the productlvlty, they are actually less Interested In doing transactions and more interested in cutting off the expenses.In order to increase the employee productivity and the performance of the workforce, considering the help you can expect from the human resource department, you must know and understand the factors that are influencing this rocess. Overall, taking In consideration John Sullivan's article, I have selected the most Important 16 factors from four main categories, which are going to be discussed next. As for the categories, the first one taken In consideration Is â€Å"Foundations of Productivity. According to John Sullivan (2011), a first factor mentioned here is â€Å"High- performing and Innovative employees are the foundation of productivity.By working together, managers and human resources professionals can find, hire, grow and keep high performing employees. It was proved that the most important factor in orkforce and productivity is hiring and keeping emp loyees with the best capabilities. Unfortunately, even the best people may sometimes need help. Without the head managers, much-needed resources and proper guidance, It's very hard to achieve your goal. Another factor measured in this category, according to John pawns are the second most important productivity factor because they play a very important role in defining the roles and the goals of the workforce.More is the pity that many managers are the weak ring in the productivity chain, therefore most of the time not only the employees needs guidance and education, but also their eaders. The second category taken in sight is â€Å"Direction and Guidance†. According to John Sullivan (201 1), a first mentioned factor here is â€Å"A corporate strategy and plan that builds commitment†. Most of the time, a very good business strategy and planning will increase the chances of having a successful and committed organization.Moreover, if the strategy is very clear and very we ll communicated, your employees will be more focused and their motivation will considerably increase. Another factor measured in this category, according to John Sullivan (201 1), is â€Å"A defined purpose for teams makes roles clear†. The managers need to develop a clear communicated purpose that has to be persuasive and also has the role to make their employees from their department to feel important. Employees sometimes can contribute even more to their work and tasks if they had a role in creating and understanding the main purpose.Still according to John Sullivan (201 1), next factor mentioned here is â€Å"Team and individual goals†. Defining some clear goals will let everyone know what is expected and what really has to be done. Also, giving some heads up on some perfect clear goals will also contribute for their employees to nderstand exactly what is and what is not important. Another factor measured by John Sullivan (2011) in this category is â€Å"Prioritiz ation for impactful resource allocation†. Establishing some clear priorities will help to better assign resources and funds, in order to achieve more important objectives.Next factor mentioned by John Sullivan (2011) here is â€Å"Performance metrics for continuous improvement†. Measuring performance in a successful way strengthens both individual and group goals. This will provide more attention, better feedback and better results for an ongoing improvement. Last factor measured in this category, according to John Sullivan (201 1), is â€Å"Effective rewards drive performance†. When the rewards are more connected to one goal, you double the strength of the message related to the importance of the Job that needs to be done.The third category taken in consideration is â€Å"Support Factors†. According to John Sullivan (201 1), a first factor mentioned here is â€Å"Team member support increases individual performance†. Only a few tasks can exclusivel y be done by an employee. If the employees are not working together with other people in a group as a team and if they are also not receiving all he necessary support from their managers, productivity will be lost. Next factor measured in this category by John Sullivan (2011) is â€Å"Best-practice sharing and collaboration improve productivity'.Productivity will considerably improve when the other people outside the team collaborate and brainstorm together. When the employees are using the â€Å"trial and error† method, all the growth of your business will slow down. Another factor mentioned here, according to John Sullivan (201 1), is â€Å"Support for innovation can dramatically increase productivity'. Having in mind as a oal to be on top of their business environment, companies struggle to achieve a double digit percentage improvement in their productivity (at least 10%, sometimes even goes to 25%) for every year.In order to reach this, a sustained level of sometimes no t enough in order to provide a double digit rise. Because of this, the human resources department must develop training measures, good processes, and stimulants that help the innovation. Still according to John Sullivan (201 1), next factor measured in this category is â€Å"Control and authority can result in a better decision aking process†. When there is a certain balance between freedom and control, so that employees have the authority to take most of the operational decisions, at that point we can talk about maximum productivity.Another factor mentioned here by John Sullivan (2011) is â€Å"Non-monetary factors that can also excite employees†. In addition to the usual rewards (as money), the managers can also provide a few non- monetary rewards, such as: feedback on their Job, appreciation for their work and so on. This is one of human resources department's most important responsibilities to e sure that the managers are using all of these methods in a right way, in order to increase the productivity process. The fourth category taken in sight is â€Å"Skills, Communication and Information Factors†.According to John Sullivan (201 1), a first factor mentioned here is â€Å"Employee skills and knowledge must be continually updated to maintain productivity'. Because of the changes brought by the high level global competition, the expectations of the employee's skills are much higher. The main role of the human resources department is to develop a plan that helps in an ngoing increasing employee's knowledge and training. Next factor measured by John Sullivan (2011) in this category is â€Å"Effective communications and feedback reduce errors and frustration†.As feedback is one of the most important strategies in the process of motivation, the failure of providing good feedback will lead to a poor work quality and maybe errors. You can best avoid this kind of situation if a company comes up with a well-organized internal communicat ion channel (like an intranet). The last overall factor mentioned here, according to John Sullivan (201 1), is â€Å"Providing he right information improves decision-making†. In order to take the best decisions and to increase the productivity, the managers and the employees will have to use the right information and to process the data.

Employee Performance Evaluation Essay

Do you have any questions about what is expected of you on the job? Are there any areas that are unclear for you? Being in the practice for more than 13 years, I believe I am performing well as a Clinical Coordinator at _________________. I know well my primary duties not only to the doctors but to the patients as well. Patient flow is one of my main tasks. Therefore, doing it for more than a decade has really helped me learn by heart the task that I am supposed and not supposed to do. Extended duties, in addition, provide me with more skills development. Nonetheless, I still believe that committing to my work as a clinician, to the doctors, and to the patients is my key to being able to perform what is expected of me for this particular job. And I know I have worked hard for that. For me, the most unclear, and also lacking, is the salary increase. I have been in this job for more than 13 years and my salary has been pretty much the same. I love my job, that is why I always work hard for it, but taking into consideration practicality, the standard of living has been constantly increasing and I know I have to keep up with that.   It is quite disappointing that my co-employees and I are not getting fairly regular higher compensation grants. What do you consider to be your most important accomplishment in this review period? Being on the job itself and being able to practice what I love doing is one of the accomplishments that I have gained working here. Being able to be trained by professionals and get me going to my long-term goal of getting into Dental Hygiene program at this community college is a privileged appreciated for me. In addition, higher salary, maybe inasmuch as what I have received last year 2005, provides recognition for me as an employee for the decade or more that I have worked as a Clinical Coordinator. What areas would you like to improve on your performance and how do you plan to do it? What can the doctors or other team members do to help you improve? I have realized the joy and hardship of working as a clinician. At the same time, I get firsthand impressions of the satisfaction of the patients when they know that they are cured or will get better soon. This is one of the pleasures I get working here. That is why I want to be even more productive. However, of course, I, as well as my co-employees, want to be recognized and get rightfully compensative for the dedication we tender as clinical workers. It has always been known that additional compensation always boosts employee morale and encourages them to work better and become more productive and useful. Please tell us about any special accomplishments or projects that you have involved into to improve any aspect of the practice. As mentioned, I have been in the practice for over 13 years. More so I believe I have performed well enough indicated by being able to serve the same industry for more than a decade. As far as I know, I have accomplished what is expected of my performance. Otherwise, I would not have lasted long. In addition, to be able to improve my skills, I practice well at work and really put my heart into what I am doing.   The doctors are continuously training me. And eventually, if given more recognition to pay costs for my schooling, I am planning to delve into a Dental Hygiene program sponsored by this community college to be able to enhance more my skills and become a more productive clinician. Other comments? When an employee violates the rules in the practice repetitively in every category, what action do you take to make sure that the doctors get the respect they want out of the employees? I believe one of my strengths is that I know well what I am doing and that I am confident of what I do as a clinical coordinator. As I have said, being on this job for a lot of years has put me in a position where I am assured of my capabilities, and my potentials. With regards to respect, I believe in the clichà © â€Å"give respect to earn it†. Doctors and employees alike, no matter who is the boss of whom, deserves to be respected and properly treated. This involves complying with the proper and professional orders of the doctors, for the sake of their professional work. And the doctors in turn, give to the employees also high regard for the dedication they put on their works and give them rightful recognition. What are the areas that need improvement? I think, training the new employees, especially the new ones must be given proper attention. It has always been good to start working with much needed meaningful experience. This will definitely improve the clinical employees’ skills and practice them even more making them knowledgeable and more experience when it comes to first hand practice and on the job training. Where do you see yourself in the next year and what steps would you like to take to get there? Probably a year from now, I would be taking one or two classes a quarter, hopefully halfway done with pre-requisites. I will still be working fulltime and hopefully be a super treatment coordinator and become more trained and knowledgeable in diagnosing treatments. Two to three years from now, I hope to finish my pre-requisites and be able to prepare for dental hygiene examinations. But of course, I would not want to leave my work so I will still be working fulltime, probably 38 to 40 hours per week. And about five years from now, I may have completed by dental hygiene program having passed the examination. All these plans will help me not just boost my knowledge and skills, but also gain a higher degree of expertise about my chosen profession or career.

Narrative Essays

1 †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ Generic application software Software Software refers to computer programs. A program is a sequence of instructions that tells the computer’s processor what to do. There are two types of software: †¢ system software †¢ application software. System software: manages the computer hardware provides a uniform environment for application programs to run performs housekeeping and monitoring tasks.Application software: allows the user to do useful tasks with the computer such as playing games, writing a letter or monitoring hospital patients †¢ is often supplied as a package †¢ can be generic (off-the-shelf) and is general purpose †¢ can be bespoke, where it is custom-written for a specific task. Application programsApplication programs commonly have facilities for: †¢ working in a graphical user interface (GUI) †¢ managing data files and working on multiple files †¢ navigating through the work and changing the ‘zoom level’ †¢ importing files and inserting embedded objects †¢ creating and editing drawings †¢ formatting text and graphics and editing content using insertion, deletion, cut-and-paste, copyand-paste and find-and-replace and Undo and Redo commands †¢ language checking †¢ saving and using templates †¢ viewing a file as it will be printed (WYSIWYG) †¢ creating macros and assigning them to buttons and images †¢ hyperlinking †¢ exporting files in other formats †¢ printing files. Generic application programs You may be asked to justify your choice of a type of generic application software (no brand names) for a particular purpose. For the particular features of each type of software, refer to the  coursebook, especially if you do not have practical experience of it. Cambridge IGCSE Computer Studies  © Cambridge University Press 2011 Revision notes: 1 Generic application software 1 Generic Application software desktop publishing (DTP) word processing spreadsheet General use of software ublications with complex layout, e. g. posters, newsletters and magazines text-intensive material, e. g. letters, business/legal documents, and mail merges repeatable financial, scientific and engineering calculations, mathematical modelling and simple databases input, storage and retrieval of records to provide useful information on screen and in printed reports fax, telephony, video-conferencing, email and instant messaging web authoring, for producing HTML and scripting code for interactive web pages database management system (DBMS) communication web browser search engine graphics computer-aided design (CAD) computer-aided manufacture (CAM) multimedia authoring or interactively accessing information in the form of text and other media from remote web servers a web application for finding information available on Internet servers drawing and editing images, both bitmap and vector for drawing product designs for manufacturing products from CAD designs producing multimedia ‘movie files’ for animated advertisements and games within web pages or presentations, whole websites, or cinema films for creating slideshows (successions of multimedia pages), or multimedia or printed posters for recording data automatically for scientific, engineering and statistical purposes writing, compiling and debugging computer programs presentation data-logging programming Customising generic application programs Off-the-shelf generic application programs are readily available, relatively cheap and well tested. They can be customised to the purchaser’s requirements by: †¢ hiding the standard menus and toolbars †¢ creating new menus or toolbars with just the essential requirements †¢ making cosmetic changes to the colour scheme and logo †¢ creating macros run by toolbar buttons or keyboard shortcuts.A macro is program code recorded automatically or written in a scripting la nguage to improve access to existing commands or to create new ones. Bespoke software Bespoke software (custom-written) is software specially written to suit the needs of a particular customer. It is often very efficient because it does exactly what is required, is easy to learn and has good customer support and maintenance. Cambridge IGCSE Computer Studies  © Cambridge University Press 2011 Revision notes: 1 Generic application software 2 Comparing off-the-shelf with bespoke software Off-the-shelf software has a number of advantages and disadvantages relative to bespoke software. Off-the-shelf software’s advantages t is immediately available it is usually much cheaper to buy it may have many powerful features developed  over many years if it belongs to a suite, it is likely to be able to exchange data and files easily with other programs in the suite it is well tested by previous users there is support available from experienced trainers and user groups Off-the-shelf sof tware’s disadvantages it may be overly complex and difficult to learn it may be a compromise between the requirements of different types of users an organisation may be forced to adapt its business procedures to the software errors may not be fixed rapidly Cambridge IGCSE Computer Studies  © Cambridge University Press 2011 Revision notes: 1 Generic application software 3

Six Feet of the Country Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Six Feet of the Country - Essay Example apartheid system was implemented in South Africa which segregated the people into major racial groups - white; Bantu, or black Africans; Colored, or people of mixed descent; and Asians - and determined the living and employment standards of each group. Public facilities were segregated and nonwhites were not represented in the national government. The policy ended in 1990 when then-President F. W. de Klerk released the anti-apartheid activist and African National Congress leader Nelson Mandela from prison and legalized black African political organizations (â€Å"Apartheid†). Clearly, the story was set at a time when apartheid was at its peak as the narrator tells us about the â€Å"tensions the Johannesburg people speak of† not being the hubbub of the city but of the â€Å"guns under the white men’s pillows and the burglar bars on the white men’s windows..† and the awkward moments when â€Å"a black man won’t stand aside for a white man† (Gordimer 9). The couple chose to live in the farm to change something in them and find peace in their marriage. Although it is clear that they were not able to fulfill the latter goal, at least they were able to change. The histrionic Lerice became engrossed with running the farm and became attached to the servants. The narrator, who was a complainant brat who did not care about his servants as long as they did their work, sees the injustice of the system in the middle of the business of illegal immigrant’s body. Upon knowing of the death, the narrator notified the health authorities and the police to be able to know the cause of death. Apparently, the young man died of pneumonia and was disposed of by the authorities. However, Petrus insisted on burying his brother’s body and repeatedly begged the narrator, his baas or boss, thinking that because the baas is a white man, he can do anything. Petrus, together with the other servants, scraped up twenty pounds just to be able to get the dead body back which annoyed the

Patient engagement programs Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Patient engagement programs - Assignment Example The strategy design also focuses on forming a health information technology that will support the provision of quality health care for all the parties involved in the health care system including laboratory services. The strategy will also ensure that there is easy access to complete HIT that incorporates the long-term record of a patient electronically to EHR. The strategy designed will also be friendly with easy access to online materials. The need to engage patients is due to the existence of regulatory mandates that demand the need of engaging patients when designing strategies. The growing demand for the use of digital technology development and its innovation has also encouraged the need for patient engagement in the healthcare system. The existence of personal information technology has enabled people to be more responsible for their health and get support on healthy lifestyles. PHIT entails communications that are all about secure communication with the relevant health provid ers. Convenient self-service is another category of PHIT that entails being able to locate a facility and make appointments. PHIT also involves personal health information that ensures access to personal data. Financial and education support are also part of PHIT that enables the ability to pay bills and get support from the community respectively. There is also the general capabilities in PHIT that enable management of insurance and coverage and being able to manage profile and analyze data on health.

Health care Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 3

Health care - Assignment Example The reasons for this gendered violence range from many factors, from psychological to economical reasons, and I will attempt to elaborate more on these triggers of violence and also offer solutions marital partners can take to put an end to domestic partner violence. Firestone claims that there are two very important psychological factors that influence why domestic partner violence occurs; a "destructive thought process," and what is called a "fantasy bond," (Firestone, n.p). The destructive thought process that Firestone mentions refers to the case where the abuser has this thought in his head that he/she must abuse their partner; the abuser keeps imagining negative things that he/she assumes that their partner is thinking of them, for instance, "She/he is controlling you. Dont let her/him act like you are weak," (Firestone, n.p). In my opinion, men are more likely to act upon this inner voice than are women, because there are external pressures from society on men to act a certain way; men today are still expected to be strong and dominant and powerful, and when imagine that their wives are acting in a way that makes them look unmanly, they lash out at their wives on the whims of this "inner voice," (Firestone, n.p). Also, the "fantasy bond" that Firestone mentions, refers to the belief a person has that he/she is only complete with their partner; this belief also supports the idea that one person in the relationship has power over the other (Firestone, n.p). For me, I believe men like to imagine that they are in control in this "fantasy bond," since patriarchal values extol them to be more powerful than women; this entitles men to physically abuse their partners. Panda and Agarwal offer an economic reason for why men are more likely to physically abuse their female partners; for him, womens economic dependence on men sets the scene for them being physically abused, (Panda & Agarwal, page 824). He claims for example that when a woman has her own house, the

Dissertation,Cross Culture Communication at Restaurant Literature review

Dissertation,Cross Culture Communication at Restaurant - Literature review Example Perhaps it is imperative to understand culture because it is the backbone of solving intercultural communication in every organizational set-up including restaurants. Merkin (2011) defines it; culture refers to customs, beliefs and formalities that define a society. Society in this context may be tribe, nation, region or business entities. The technological advancements and emergencies of multinational companies operating across borders consider the study of cross-cultural communication an inevitable move. For instance, if a U.S companies considers establishing a Greenfield investment in Nigeria, the company needs to understand how to communicate with Nigerians because aspects such as marketing largely depend on communication. Additionally, the company will have to employee Nigerians to work hence knowing how to talk enables the company handle their workforce appropriately. The scenario primarily applies to the hospitality industry that absorbs a large number of workers. Merkin (2011) emphasizes that migration across borders has been on the increase due to the quick transportation means, hence understanding cross-cultural communication helps peop le when they seek opportunities in various industries. Organizations too, benefit as they get to comprehend how to manage a diverse workforce. First, the demographic shifts illustrate that international migration is on the rise due to factors such as education, business activities, and work and government diplomacy. Evidently, people from different nations, tribes and regions are likely to find themselves existing in a single social setting. Understanding cross-cultural communication is necessary to promote harmonious living where people do not feel their culture is despised. Secondly, intercultural communication is strategically important to companies that have the diversified workforce and operate as multinational (Pekerti and Thomas, 2015). For instance, the

The Problem of University Student Debt in the UK Essay

The Problem of University Student Debt in the UK - Essay Example Although student debt cuts across all levels of education, the main issue in this report will be dealing with university student debt. The research paper discusses about the problem of university student debt in UK. It specifically provides an analysis of the current debate on whether the government should or should not pay for all students especially in Higher education. It shows the current implications of the problem especially effects on the UK's education system. It will also concentrate on the specific programs and initiatives that the government is undertaking in order to ensure that there is equity among the diverse student population both domestically and international students. The report has been produced for my lecturer for this module. The actual period taken to produce this is report is two weeks and is approximately (5,139) words long. It has also been presented within the specific formats and styles required by the lecturer and in conformity with the university's academic writing specifications. The report examines the current situation of student debt in UK and if the government driven initiatives will in future solve the problem of university student debt. The report is suitable for all th... t is suitable for all the stakeholders in the education sector, students themselves and the government education officials reviewing the matter at the moment. It will help them understand the implications of the high student debt in their performance, attitudes, future careers etc. 4.0 Methodology/Procedures Owing to the need to have more facts concerning the current situation of student debt and the debate that has been going on for sometime on whether government should pay for all students or not, an extensive research work was done to gain knowledge and gather information/facts of the problem of university student debt. The effect and the impact on both students and quality of education are the main issues that will be looked into. To enable the researcher obtain the required information a variety of resources were used for this purpose; Books- this was one of the important resources that provided information on the history of university student debt in UK and the concerns others have raised on the issue. It also provides government information on their plans for future mitigations. The books were sourced from online book libraries which include; UT electronic libraries, Safari Online Book Centres, EMU, CG1, IPL among others. Journals- journals provided a good source of information for the statistics on the university student debt and previous studies conducted by other people on the subject. The Journals were obtained online from the following; Washington Journal library available online, Hein, Questia, High-wire journals and School library journals among others Websites-this provided information on public opinion and relevant need for the studies and the subject. Most of the websites were related to the education financing in UK and the websites of student

Financing the Short Term Obligations of The Business Assignment - 1

Financing the Short Term Obligations of The Business - Assignment Example b. Retained earnings Retained earnings are profits that have been retained within the business for use in the operation of the business instead of being paid out as dividends to its shareholders. One of the operational uses of profits retained in the business is meeting the business short-term obligations. c. Capital Market Sourcing funds through the capital market simply meant getting additional funds through the issuance of new shares of stocks. If a company is unquoted, it simply has to obtain a Stock Exchange quotation to be able to issue shares of stocks to raise funds for the operation of the business (Macdonald and Cheng 1997). d. Financial leases Finance leases are lease agreements between the user of the leased asset (the lessee) and a provider of finance (the lessor) during the leased asset’s useful life (Macdonald and Cheng 1997). This arrangement is usually resorted to in obtaining fixed assets whereby a creditor agrees to act as the lessor by purchasing the asset and lease it to a company. The company will then use the asset and make regular payments to the creditor under the team of the lease (Macdonald and Cheng 1997). II. ... In fiscal year 2009, it experienced a slowdown due to the adverse macroeconomic conditions that includes high unemployment rate caused by the financial crisis in addition to H1N1 pandemic. It still managed to increase its net earnings during the year of comparison (2009). Liquidity Ratio Current Ratio (Current assets/current liability) Current assets (in million) 370.6 Current liabilities 482.3 Current ratio .76 Acid test (Cash + Accounts Receivable + Short-term investment/current liability) Cash 121.7 Accounts Receivable 130 + Total cash and equivalents 251.7 Current liability 482.3 / Acid ratio .52 Efficiency Creditor days 16.78 (see appendix) Debtor days (debt/salesx365 days) 67.5 million/2,537.4 million x 365 days =9.7 days Inventory turnover = 0 (see appendix) McDonalds McDonald's is the leading global foodservice retailer with more than 33,000 local restaurants serving nearly 68 million people in 119 countries each day (McDonalds 2012). It is headquartered in the US and derives its revenue mainly from rent, royalties and fees paid by its franchises in addition to the company sales. McDonalds is also one of the most recognizable brands in the world. Financial Analysis Liquidity Ratios Current Ratio (Current assets/current liability) Current assets(in millions) 3,416 Current liabilities 2,988.70 / Current ratio 1.14 Acid test (Cash + Accounts Receivable + Short-term investment/current liability) Cash 1,796.0 Accounts receivable 1,060.4 + Total 2,856.4 Current liabilities 2,988.70 / Acid test ratio .96 Efficiency Creditor days 18.44 (see appendix) Debtor days (debt/salesx365 days) 181 million/22,744.70 million x 365 days =9.7 days Inventory turnover = 117 Summary 2009 Burger King McDonalds Current Ratio .76 1.14

Surrealism. Annotated bibliography Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Surrealism. Annotated bibliography - Essay Example By considering the artist’s experience, one can discover the depth of the joint meaning of dreams through interpreting surrealistic arts along with Skyrsky’s dreams. This journal article is relevant to my essay because even though it does not examine a specific art work that I am going to address, it demonstrates a profound way of examining dreams in art. Freud, Sigmund. The Interpretation of Dreams. New York: Oxford University Press, 1999. Print. In his book, Freud Sigmund argues that dreams express one’s desires. According to Freud, when one is conscious, unfulfilled desires are controlled by Spereo. Spereo is the censor that activates awareness of desires and enforces morality. Spereo lowers our guard to those desires in dreams so that we are able to see and act them out while we are dreaming. This book is useful to my study because Freud’s theory has influenced many artists and his idea overlaps Michael Gondry’s approach to dreams in the movie, The Science of Sleep. I believe that this work will help me to interpret the movie for my essay. Bohn, Willard. "Surrealism." New Dictionary of the History of Ideas. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 15 Jan. 2011

Exposure - creative personal writing Essay Example for Free

Exposure creative personal writing Essay A quick, stealthy character moves across the office, photocopying top secret files. The information was very damaging stuff. He leaves as quickly as he enters. Who is this person? Why does he want this information? Will the press get hold of it? The Rayman walked down an alley, on the way to his hide-out. He was a short man, who had brown hair with flecks of grey. In places he was going bald, he had shaven his hair very short. He had a well shaven beard. His face was an average face with brown eyes. He wore brown trousers, with black shoes. On the top he wore a brown, well-ironed polo shirt. Over it he wore a leather jacket. When he was around people he walked with a limp. This hid his true identity. He got to his house, flicked on the televison to the news. He now heard about a break in at 10 Downing Street. Also he heard about the top secret documents that have been stolen. The next day he decided he wants these secret documents. He needed a team of mastermind criminals to work with. He got one of his closest colleagues, Rumbo. His plan was to get arrested with all these other mastermind criminals. He and his colleagues have been informed about a truck transporting guns around for the army. The Rayman and Rumbo were on the trail of the truck. The truck took a left down a empty road. The Rayman put his foot on the accelerator and zoomed past the truck then did a handbrake turn straight in front of the truck. The two of them jumped out of the car with their balaclavas on. They were both holding automatic shotguns, with the barrels sawn off. The Rayman opened the door on the drivers side and blew the drivers head off. Rumbo did the same to the passenger. The Rayman put the bodies in the back and started the truck up while Rumbo drove the other car off. The two of them met up again on the edge of the of the river. Here they moved all the guns from the truck into the car. Quickly they set light to the truck and pushed it into the river. Next, they drove back to the Raymans warehouse and offloaded the guns and hid them under the floor boards. Now they blew their car up. There was now no hard evidence on them. One of the biggest police investigations took place to find the murders. The police arrested the Rayman, along with Peat, The Accountant and Amen. The four were put in a cell together. It was here the Rayman put the proposal to them of getting the document. Peat and The Accountant thought it was a great idea. The problem was that Amen was going straight. Over the next two hours they tried to explain that it was good idea to get the documents. Amens girlfriend was a very good lawyer and got the four of them out quicker than the Rayman expected. Once out the Rayman cornered down Amen. At first Amen was reluctant to join the group. After a few slaps and a good two hours Amen was persuaded to join the group. Amen went home told his girlfriend that he was going to London to get these files. She decided to leave him. This filled Amen with rage against the Rayman. The next day the four of them went on a road trip to London. In London the four of them met up with some of their contacts. They met up at Ventura Hill at 8pm. Jack and Jill had followed them here from Liverpool and were watching them. The contacts told them of this up and coming gangster, the Shadow. He was one of the best thieves in England. The group were informed by Rumbo about a drug shipment, to a rival gang leader Jack the Hat. They contacted the Shadow and ask him to help them steal the drugs. The shadow was extremely keen to work with the hardcore gangsters. Jack and Jill found out about their plans and had the police lined up to arrest everyone, at the ship. Meanwhile Rumbo had come down to help and supply the guns. They were ready to attack the ship and infiltrated the ship through the cargo hole. The Rayman told Amen to stay out of the action and hide in the boxes. The Shadow shot the first person. Soon after that the gunfight opened up and it was a dangerous place. The Rayman followed the Shadow. When they where alone he attacked the shadow and got him to tell him where the secret documents were. Tell me where the documents are before I blast you to the pearly gates says the Rayman. Theyre in a sailing boat says the Shadow. WHICH ONE? says the Rayman. Enterprise K40421, at the mariner says the Shadow. Bang! the Rayman shoots the Shadow in the head. Then the police turn up and arrest everyone who is alive. The only person left is the Rayman, who got out and hide near the ship. When the Rayman was arrested he used his real name David Edwards. The good thing was that David Edwards had no criminal record to give the police a harder time. The only witness left was a dying captain and all he could say was Rayman, Rayman. The polices first question was, What happened. The story David Edwards told goes something like this. Have you heard of the Shadow? Well he was the one who stole the secret documents. The Rayman had the idea of getting them off him. He told us the idea when we all were arrested. says David Edwards. So who was the Rayman? says Jack. Amen, he said he was going straight so it would be less likely it was him. Anyway, I went along because I had no choice in the matter. The plan was to attack this ship bringing in drugs. While doing this the Rayman will get the secret documents and a lot of drugs. While doing this I hid behind some boxes so as not to get involved says David Edwards So you just got mixed up with the group because we arrested you? Well, I only have one choice, to let you go, says Jack. David Edwards walks out the police station. Then straight away stops walking with a limp. He gets into a cab and goes to the mariner. Here he finds Enterprise K40421. Under the front he finds a brief case. There is no code to put in. He presses the two buttons, Click, Click. On the top of the brief case in big writing is a sign, which says Have a nice day. Kaboom.

Cancun Highlights Essay Example for Free

Cancun Highlights Essay Beaches Naturally, the beaches are the biggest draw in Cancun with their soft, white sand and brilliant turquoise-blue water. Cancuns Hotel Zone is really just one long beach separated from the mainland by a system of lagoons. The dazzling white sand of Cancuns beaches is light in weight and cool underfoot even in the blazing sun. Thats because it is composed not of silica but rather of microscopic plankton fossils called disco-aster. Cenotes It is estimated that there are more than 6000, although only 2400 are registered. All the fresh water rivers are underground. Being porous, caverns and caves formed where the fresh water collects the cenotes or water sinkholes. The water that gathers in these subterranean cenotes is a crystal clear turquoise color with a very pleasant temperature of 78 ° F (25.5 º C). The stalactites and stalagmites that form inside the cenotes are true natural works of art. In many, holes in the ceiling allow the sunlight to filter into the cenotes, giving the scene a magical feeling. The cenotes of Yucatà ¡n are a natural treasure that should be seen by all, keeping in mind that they should be protected so that man does not destroy in a few days what nature took millions of years to create. Adventure Parks Xplor is a unique underground world, with 7 amazing circuits that invite you to rediscover your emotions and senses within nature. Dare to ride our 13 zip lines among the Caribbean’s lively nature and enjoy refreshing water landings and amazing suspension bridges; take a trip through the jungle on unstoppable amphibious vehicles, explore an underground paradise where you can swim surrounded by amazing stalactites and stalagmites, discover a matchless raft route across stunning subterranean caverns while paddling with your own hands, and to complete your feat, a nutritious and light buffet, that will recharge your energy. Hidden worlds Hidden Worlds is the Yucatan Peninsulas best known location for exploring the fascinating world of cenotes. Its system of underground caverns and waterways lay hidden within dense tropical foliage over many centuries. Experience the Jungle! This is not a Disneyland tour, it is truly in the Mayan Jungle. Tours take off at Hidden Worlds Every hour. You will Skycycle, Jungle Zipline, Rappel into a cenote, Splash down Zipline, Ride the Avatar (a roller coaster Zipline) and Snorkel through the most famous underground cave system in the world. Nature Parks Xcaret It was opened in December 1990 as eco-archeological parkwhere visitors from all over the world can enjoy the splendor of Mexico’s biodiversity and cultural heritage. Due to its great success the park has been preserved with an environmental management system. Xcaret park * Under ground Rivers * Beach, Lagoon and pools * Tropic Jungle Trail * Main plaza * House of whispers * Rotating Scenic Tower Attractions * Butterfly Pavilion Butterfly Pavillion * Regional Wildlife * Breeding Farm * Coral Reeff Aquarium * Living Museum of Ochirds and Mushroom Farm. Most Important Accommodations Resorts and hotels The world class all-inclusive resorts in Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Cozumel and the Riviera Maya offer a variety of activities, entertainment, and cuisine, all for one price. No hidden costs. You pay for your all-inclusive accommodations, airfare, and transfers, and you dont have to worry about carrying your wallet around with you everywhere you go, and you dont have to budget once you get there. Its economical, and makes for a worry free vacation. Even taxes and tips are included in the rates. Cancun Tower A unique architectural concept where each condominium has absolute privacy and large facades, having a spectacular and incomparable view of Cancun city, the hotel zone, the spectacular golf course and the beautiful Caribbean Sea. One of Cancun Towersapos; most exclusive characteristics is that all the 3 bedroom units have direct elevator service to each condominium, one of few developments that offers the privacy you need. Restaurants and Night-Clubs Mexican Food. La Parrilla Is the most traditional restaurant in Cancun, recognized for its fine Mexican food. Since 1975, La Parrilla has rescued the dishes and traditional recipes, which combines with art, tequila and mariachi music, bringing the guest a unique Mexican experience. This Mexican Restaurant is a typical family restaurant, full of color and folklore. Party atmosphere and decor with arches, fountains and balconies are reminiscent of the old Mexican haciendas. The casual ambient, friendly and cheerful harmony with the very Mexican mariachi. 35 years of exquisite taste, tradition and Mexican music. Non-Mexican Food. Chocolate City Chocolate City is a family restaurant with a capacity of 210; it operates as a FAMILY RESTAURANT FUN BAR and offers its customers delicious delights, as well as exciting entertainment. Upon entering, guests can enjoy a spectacular chocolate fountain that holds up to 1000 kilograms of liquid chocolate that falls from one plate to another. Night-Clubs Coco Bongo With it ´s 1,800 people capacity is located in the heart of the bustling hotel zone, the mutli-level seating and nightly Rock and Roll and Salsa bands make coco bongo the most exciting and unique club. Combine all this with Coco Bongo’s extraordinary musical mix. Get ready for flying acrobats, bar top conga lines, movie clips projected on to high tech video screens, live bands; and more shows that you can imagine. History and Culture Coba The archaeological site of Coba has increasingly become more visited by national and international tourism. One of the main attraction to visitors of Coba is the Ancient Pyramid which unlike Chichen Itzas Kukulkan Pyramid, is still open for the public to climb its 120 steps up to the top of the site. Additional to this, Coba has several Tour operators with excursions available to this site from almost any point within the closest and top Touristic destinations of Cancun and its Riviera Maya. Tulum Tulum is a beautiful village on the south end of the Rivera Maya that enjoys a deep rooted history in the important culture of the ancient Mayan people. In recent years,Tulum has flourished in trades that stem directly from the skills utilized by the ancestors of the area. To appreciate the history and making of Tulum, one must understand the history of the Mayan people. Chichen-Itza it is one of the more impressive pyramids in the world With the popularity of Cancun and vicinity for both tourists, and cruise ships, well, there are only so many places to go, and Chichen Itza is on the top of the list. This place is known for the vast history of the Maya, their advanced mathematical knowledge, their incredible understanding of the solar system.

Illegal Immigration in the US

Illegal Immigration in the US Illegal immigration has always been a controversial topic in the United States. Recently, the number of illegal immigrants in the United States exceeded 12 million. More than that, illegal immigrants are part of our society that includes colleagues, students, friends or even relatives. In most cases, illegal immigrants are portrayed as violent criminals, when in reality; Most of them are very poor and mainly from South America and Mexico, seeking only to meet their relatives in their country of origin families. Now the debate to give the right to obtain a drivers license for undocumented aliens was all over the news -Titles, especially with upcoming presidential elections. According to Fox News Online, â€Å"New Mexico, Utah and Washington are the only states that allow undocumented drivers to possess a drivers license. By giving a driver’s license to an undocumented worker will significantly reduce accidents hit and run, better monitoring of illegal immigrants and make our c ities. Regardless of their legal status, all permanent residents of the United States should be able to get a drivers license The idea of an undocumented alien to get a drivers license may seem unreasonable to some people. They believe that the issuance of a license will result in identity theft and other criminal activities. According to a recent article, a former officer of Immigration believes that â€Å"criminals often have multiple identities, hiding their true identities to escape detection when they are taken. This is a serious offense and can be not helpful. But the truth is that most undocumented workers who cross the border are not dangerous criminals , in fact , the same article states that It is only a relatively small amount of illegal immigrants who become involved in a serious business . In addition, the National Immigration Law Center says that â€Å"immigrants do not come to this country to get a license lead, and they will not leave because they are not eligible for one.† Finally, security is of great concern to many police officers who believe that the reason there are so many ac cidents of life is because undocumented workers are not having driving licenses and insurance of their vehicles, they hunt or flee the scene of the accident, which makes our roads dangerous. Obtaining a drivers license is not as easy in the United States than in other countries. Currently in Mexico, to obtain a drivers license, no written or road tests are required. As the money is paid right then the license will be issued the same day. Most of immigrants come from Mexico. Some of them will become legal permanent residents and eventually get a US drivers license. On the other hand, many others will drive without a license and will illegally stay in the country. That has a major security concern for many legitimate drivers and pedestrians in the United States. In addition, if an undocumented immigrant is able to obtain a license, then they must pass both a written and road test like everyone else , making them more fit to drive. According to a website that advocates for low-income immigrants, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety said that Unlicensed drivers are almost five times more likely to be in a fatal accident that holders of a valid driver’s license Some people would say that the license is a privilege, not a law. Yet these same people forget that the license is only allowed to drive a vehicle, not a proof of legal residence and / or paper. To get a job, a drivers license is not enough. A valid green card and a Social Security number is required to apply to any work of minimum basic wage. We are Americans and we live in the land of opportunity and freedom. Base driving privileges should not be denied based on citizenship. Each state is different, but now in the state of Massachusetts, a undocumented drive cannot get a license. On the other hand, the Massachusetts law permits a foreign driving license with their country of origin for one year. The reality is that undocumented immigrants represent about 12 million people in our country, and our economy would be greatly devastated if we lose all these workers. A new documentary called Food Inc. portrays certain illegal immigrants as hard workers. Work up to 12 hours a day, only to get paid about $ 2.00 an hour. The documentary has predicted that the loss or deportation of all undocumented workers would collapse our economic infrastructure. In addition, our cost of living would be higher. According to National Public Radio in 2005, â€Å"about 3 percent of undocumented workers are involved in agriculture, 33 percent have jobs in service industries, and a large number can be found in construction and related occupations (16 percent), and in the production, installation and repair (17 percent) .There workers contribute a lot to us agriculture and economy. By giving the right to obtain a license to any resident of the United States, regardless of legal status will benefit our law enforcement in many ways. By obtaining license, the interested candidate will have a photograph and address taken at the time of authorization obtained. This will greatly reduce identity fraud, which makes it easier to track someone if they were to commit a crime. In 2005, the Government Accountability Office concluded that the database drivers license, are much the same time as the Ministry of database Homeland Security to track immigrants. If we deny licenses to illegal immigrants then we simply increase the pool of state residents who are not in a database to track outstanding warrants , offenders alimony and security threats national. No matter what we do, undocumented immigrants will continue to drive without a license. Why not make our streets a little safer by giving them a license legally. We should put in place several mechanisms to fight against fra ud to improve the integrity of a license. This will include some safety features and fingerprints. Al in all, Global illegal immigrants obtaining a license will still be a taboo in the United States, because of all the racism and the current paranoia about foreigners who want to take advantage of the system. It just makes sense to give illegals the right to drive. This may not be so easy in the years to come. In 2008, Congress passed a bill called the Real ID Act to toughen the standards for issuing drivers licenses. This act would help block the sale of fraudulent identity such licenses or State ID S driver cards. A real identity card would be a birth certificate, social security number, date of birth, and identification number unique among other stringent requirements. The card would also have added security features such as a bar code, chip or even fingerprints. According to a researcher named CQ, this law states â€Å"All licenses are valid for federal purposes must comply Real ID in May 2013. Until now, till now â€Å"Seven state legislatures have voted against it and 25 o thers are considering opposing the bill† While the future of real ID act is still very uncertain , it will affect thousands of undocumented workers who wish to obtain a license at the national level . Work cited Clark, Stephen. States Revise Rules on Drivers Licenses for Illegal Immigrants as National ID Approaches. Fox News. FOX News Network, 17 Feb. 2011. Web. 17 Nov. 2014. Cutler, Michael W. â€Å"States Should Not Issue Driver’s Licenses to Illegal Immigrants.†Practical Argument.Ed. Laurie G. Kirszner and Stephen R. Mandell. Boston: Bedford/ St Martin, 2011 24-26 Print. â€Å"Fact Sheet: Why Denying Driver’s Licenses to Undocumented Immigrants Harms Public Safety and Makes our Communities Less Secure.†National Immigration Law Center. Practical Argument. Ed. Laurie G. Kirszner and Stephen R. Mandell. Boston: Bedford/ St Martin, 2011 24-26 Print. Clark, Stephen. States Revise Rules on Drivers Licenses for Illegal Immigrants as National ID Approaches.Fox News. FOX News Network, 17 Feb. 2011. Web. 17 Nov. 2014. Katel, Peter. â€Å"Real Id will the new driver’s license law make Americans safer.†CQ Researcher.Ed. Colin J. Thomas and Kathy Koch. Washington DC: Congressional Quarterly Inc., May 2007, Volume 17 Number 17. Print.

Television and Media Violence - Is Aggressive Behavior Linked to TV Vio

Is Aggressive Behavior Linked to Television Violence?      Ã‚   According the Centerwall (1992), the average child aged 2-5 in 1990 watched 27 hours of television per day, or almost 4 hours per day. When much of what is on television, including cartoons and television shows targeted at children, contains violence, it becomes important to know whether watching televised violence can lead to or increase aggressive behavior. Social learning theory tells us that children model their behavior after those they see. It is reasonable, then, to infer that watching violence on television will lead to behaving violently, due to the modeling effect. The present study reviews some relevant prior research, and then investigates the hypothesis that children who view violent television behave more aggressively than children who view less violent television do.    Centerwall (1992) performed an intriguing study that strongly suggests a positive correlation with television viewing and aggressive, violent behavior. This study looks at the effect that the introduction of television had on the populations of three countries: the United States, Canada, and South Africa. Centerwall compared the homicide rates in these three countries during the years of 1945, 1974, and 1987. In 1945, the US and Canada were blessed with television, so the homicide statistics from 1945 were the last statistics that did not have the influence of television. South Africa, in contrast, did not receive television until 1975. Before 1975, South Africa had introduced other media   radio and cinema for example   so these statistics isolate the effect of television as a cause of increased homicide rates. Center... ...on cartoons on emotionally disturbed children. Journal of Pediatric Psychology 12:413-427 Huston-Stein, A., Fox, S., Greer, D., Watkins, B. A., & Whitaker, J. (1981). The effects of TV action and violence on children's social behavior. Journal of Genetic Psychology 138:183-191 Wiegman, O., Kuttschreuter, M., & Baarda, B. (1992). A longitudinal study of the effects of television viewing on aggressive and prosocial behaviors. British Journal of Social Psychology 31:147-164 Centerwall, B. S. (1992). Television and violence: the scale of the problem and where to go from here. The Journal of the American Medical Association 267:3059-3063 Singer, M. I., Miller, D. B., Guo, S., Flannery, D. J., Frierson, T., Slovak, K. (1999). Contributors to violent behavior among elementary and middle school children. Pediatrics 104:878

Lost Lenore Essay -- essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A raven is a dark and mysterious bird, and in this poem a raven visits a man with a message. Edgar Allan Poe’s â€Å"The Raven† is about a man who is having a mental breakdown because of the death of a dear friend. The narrator presents a frightening and sad setting, while throughout the poem, talking about his dear friend Lenore, who has passed away. Later, the mysterious figure of the Raven is introduced as he appears in the narrator’s chamber. Puzzled and terrified by the appearance of this dark vision, the narrator questions his guest in various ways to find out the meaning of his visit. No matter what the narrator asks, the Raven has only one eerie reply.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The narrator describes his frightening and sad surroundings, which reflect his state of mind caused by the death of his dear friend. The narrator opens his sad tale with â€Å"Once upon a midnight dreary† and later offers, â€Å"it was in the bleak December.† He describes his chamber as containing â€Å"many quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore† and his fireplace as â€Å"each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor.† With such images as the old musty books and the dying fire, a mood is set that represents the lonely and frightened state of mind of the narrator. Later, he sees curtains moving without a window open, and hears someone tapping on his chamber door. We begin to see that the narrator is losing touch with reality because he is deeply depressed by of the ...

The Usefulness of Methods in Language Teaching Essay -- Education, Tea

Introduction: Recently a big debate has been aroused on the issue of teaching methods and their usefulness to the actual practice in classroom. Some writers start to claim that methods are dead and are no longer considered in the teaching/learning process such as Brown(2002) . Whereas some others like Bell (2007) think that method still play a vital role in the teaching learning process. This essay will examine both views with relation to my own experience as a teacher and teacher trainer. First I will give a summary of both points of view then will review the usefulness of methods in relation to my profession and context. Summary of the two points of views: Brown (2002) claims the death of methods signaling the post-method era where there is no place for formulas in the second language teaching. Basing his literature in the linguists' findings about the failure of methods to solve the learning/teaching problems. The main attack over the methods is that: Methods are too prescriptive, they are 'laden with interested knowledge' and they can't be empirically proved to work in real classroom. He goes towards the Principles Approach to language teaching with its twelve principles and the three stages of the 'crafted process' of diagnosis, treatment and assessment' to match the different contexts and situations. However, the fact of the uselessness of methods seem to be just in the theoretical phase of it, and as a debate among the linguists according to Bell (2005). David Bells conducted a survey study to measure the extent to which methods are/are not considered in practice in classrooms as an attempt to investigate Block's claim that "Whereas the notion of method no longer plays a significant role in the thinking of applied... ...ot depart from the books they were typed in. How can I - as a teacher- develop certain 'unknown' techniques based on unclear principles? Approaches are always ambiguous specially to the less trained or experienced teachers Richards & Rodgers (2001). We as teachers will always need prescribed methods, not to follow rigidly, but to have more choices. It is always a fact that "there is never was and probably never will be a method for all" Nunan(1991 :228). And there are always " aspects of all methods which might usefully be incorporated into one's classroom practice"( Ibid:248). Conclusion: To conclude, Though methods do not give one-one solution to the problems of teaching and learning, they always give us a rich source of solutions to adapt, modify and develop in our own contexts. We may not be able to claim their death, neither now, nor in the near future.

Financial Markets in Pakistan Essay

A financial market is a place for buying and selling of financial securities such as stocks and bonds. It facilitates: * The raising of capital (in the capital markets) * The transfer of risk (in the derivatives markets * In matching those who want capital to those who have it. Financial Market in Pakistan consists of (i) Money Market which provides short term funds and (ii) Capital Market which makes long terms funds available to businesses and industries. The Financial market can be reclassified into (i) Primary Market in which new shares or bonds are issued and (ii) Secondary Market in which securities previously issued are traded such as Shares, Bonds, Commercial Papers, Options and Mutual Fund. Of this, the banking sectors and non-banking sectors are regulated by the central bank, State Bank of Pakistan. While rest of the market (lease, stock exchanges, modarba, mutual funds and insurance) is regulaled by Secruities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan. FINANCIAL MARKETS AND THEIR ROLES: COMMERCIAL BANKS A type of bank providing checking and saving accounts, credit cards and business loans. Such a bank induces general public to deposit their savings in the banks and offers a wide range of services such as: * Deposit Mobilization * Money transfer * Financing Working Capital * Financing other trade related mode (import and export) * Investing in government securities * Call money operations These banks are of three categories (i) Public Sector Banks, (ii) Private Bank and (iii) Foreign Banks. LEASE -FINANCE EQUIPMENT INVESTMENT BANKS Investment banks perform a variety of functions. Primarily, they assist corporations to raise equity-capital by underwriting the public issues. They also assist companies desiring of mergers and acquisition and derivatives. In addition, they provide services like trading of derivative, foreign exchange, fixed income instruments and shares listed on the stock exchanges. Such banks cannot take deposits. They manage their affairs by charging fees such as (i) retainer fee, (ii) advisory fees based on the transactions, (iii) commission on underwriting and (iv) other financial services. PICIC was once a premier development in Pakitan but has merged with a commerical bank. BOND MARKET OUTLOOK DEVELOPMENT BANKS These banks provide guidance in selection of industrial units and extend direct financial assistance to partly cover their financial requirements. Also, they engage themselves in promotional activities to attract investors towards neglected sectors through publishing brochures and research papers. Besides, they help in assessing feasibility of potential projects. Such banks are responsible for speeding up the pace of economic growth in the country in conformity with the national objectives, plans and priorities. Their core functions are: * Direct financial assistance * Catalytic function * Mobilization of domestic savings * Ensuring balance regional and industrial growth * Expanding entrepreneurial base by encourage new comers At one time, there were 14 Development Banks in Pakistan. However, most of them have been closed one after another as their bad debts mounted up. It is natural as they take substantial risks in promoting new types of industrial projects in underdeveloped areas sponsored preferably by new-comers. Nevertheless, their contribution brings fruits to the economy in the shape of successful industrial units and transfer of technology. At present, 8 development banks are operating which mostly are joint-venture with other Islamic Countries. MICROFINANCE BANK A microfinance bank would cater to the credit needs of poor households and their small enterprises. Thus microfinance bank provide credit to those poor who are not considered creditworthy by the commercial banks and other financial institutions. On the other hand, the microfinance bands recognize every single human being as a potential and creditworthy entrepreneur. In addition, they provide basic training in start of a small business, simple book-keeping and accounting. The main aim of microfinance institutions is alleviation of poverty through helping poor persons to earn some money especially the women. ISLAMIC BANKS In Islam, it is prohibited to charge interest on any loan. However, it is acceptable to pass on funds to a needy person or corporation for trade purpose in which case profit could be shared on an agreed basis whereas loss should be shared according to the funds invested. Besides, there are certain businesses where any form of deal is forbidden like alcohols and pork. Accordingly, Islamic bank refer to a banking activity which is consistent with the Sharia, the Islamic Laws. Otherwise, there is no difference between the traditional banks and the Islamic bank. DISCOUNT HOUSES These are firms which buys and discounts bills of exchange, banker’ acceptance, commercial paper, etc. Discount houses also tender for treasury bills, deal in short-dated government bonds, and are an important part of the short-term money markets. INSURANCE COMPANIES Insurance is a hedge against the risk of a contingent and uncertain loss. In other words, it is the equitable transfer of the risk of a loss, from one entity to another, in exchange for payment. For this service, the insurer charges a fee called premium depending upon the risk involved. Besides traditional insurance companies, there are many Islamic insurance companies in Pakistan known as Takaful operators. Takaful is an Islamic insurance concept based on mutual co-operation, responsibility, assurance, protection and assistance between groups of participants. These companies believe in promoting the cause of Takaful as well as promoting the insurance business in a Shariah Compliant i.e. halal and absolutely Riba-Free insurance. STOCK EXCHANGES Stock exchange is a place where securities are bought and sold. Such securities include shares, derivative, unit trusts and bonds. It also provides facilities for the issue and redemption of securities. Prices of shares and bonds are influenced by their demand and supply like in other commodities. In order to list a security on the stock exchange, there are certain requirements. Transactions in the stock exchange are conducted by members only. Stock exchange serves both as a primary market for the initial public offerings and as a secondary market for their subsequent buying and selling Investors are not bound to sell stock or bond through the stock exchange. They can directly deal with the seller. Similarly, there is no compulsion that stock must be traded on the exchange. The securities can change ownership out of the exchange which is called ‘over the counter† or â€Å"curb dealings.† LEASING It is a contract where owner of an asset agrees to allow someone to use it for a fixed rental. It can be for fixed or indefinite period of time. It is a binding contract which sets out terms of lease agreement between the owner and the user. Leases are of various types mainly (i) a financial lease and (ii) an operating lease. The financial lease is long-term and non-cancellable contract where the user assumes some of the risks of ownership and has the right to keep the assets or get it transferred to its own name after fulfilling the necessary conditions. In operating lease, the owner transfer only the right to use the assets which is returned back at the end of the lease. There are some other types especially in the aircraft industry like wet lease and dry-lease and. In wet lease, a company agrees to provide an aircraft along with pilot and crew and would be responsible for the maintenance of the aircraft. Dry lease, on the other hand, refers to leasing only the aircraft. MODARBA If is a form of partnership which has two distinct parties: (i) the financier and (ii) the manager. The financer takes no part of management of the business. The profits are distributed among the subscriber while the manager is paid the usual salary. Modarba is one the modes of Islamic finance. It is like mutual fund minus its un-Islamic features. Not only in Pakistan, the Islamic financial services industry has witnessed a phenomenal growth all over the Islamic world. In particuar, the Modaraba Sector has been able to create a market niche for itself in the corporate sector. This model is enjoying a unique recognition due to its well designed structure with proper rules and regulations defined by the regulators. It has proved its resilience in this time of global financial turmoil. MUTUAL FUND It is a professionally managed type of pooled investment for acquiring securities like stocks, bonds, marketable securities and commodities. The profit is distributed by way of dividend to all investors. Financial market in Pakistan experienced boom conditions in1991 due to liberalization policies of the government. There was a manifold increase in the number of listed companies; number of commercial banks, local and foreign and financial instruments like commercial paper. But it has still to develop and a number of suggestions have been made: * The public sector should reduce its dependence on State Bank of Pakistan. * The infrastructure projects should be financed through domestic bonds of longer maturities (10-20 years). * The financial sectors (capital markets, micro credit, banking and non-banking sector) should have a better and more clearly delineated division of responsibilities. * Foreign institutional investors should be encouraged to take up (i) private equity funds, (ii) private pension funds, (iii) provident and gratuity funds and (iv) Real Estate Investment Trusts. * Mortgage financing should be encouraged.

Academic Honesty-It Was Peer Reviewed and Published

The Issue In this was that most students thought It would be easier to heat In their online courses however very few followed through with cheating. It's also a theory that an honor code may reduce dishonesty. The second article I found while searching was Academic Integrity and Distance Learning by Mark Lankier. It was peer reviewed and published in the Journal of Criminal Justice Education in October of 2006. In this article academic dishonesty in on campus classes versus online classes was discussed.It believes that there hasn't been enough attention on the amount of academic dishonesty taking place in online courses. Here are some things that I feel are issues for academic honesty: -Lack of knowledge in what Is considered honest and dishonest. -Lack of concentration on academic honesty, the majority of the attention Is placed on academic dishonesty. -Lack of punishment for academic dishonesty therefore making It easier and more tempting to be dishonest. -Over assumption that It's easier to be dishonest through online classes without any consequences.Some things that I think should be done is honor code placement such as was issued in the first article I found. I think that if there was a concrete definition of what is considered cheating and what isn't because some people can cheat without knowing so because of their lack of knowledge. I think that academic honesty deserves more attention simply to acknowledge students who are working hard and being compliant and honest about their work. They are taking the time to make sure their work is original and that they are not taking any credit for someone else's hard ark.I think this deserves to be acknowledged Instead of overshadowed by people who are dishonest. I believe there should be punishment when it comes to severe cases of dishonesty. When It Is clear that the work has been popularized and taken as If It were their own, there should be no chances given. Academic dishonesty has continual to De a problem An a students need to Know Tanat It wall not De tolerated I think that the punishment for on campus students should be the same for online students.The place in which the dishonesty is taking place does not matter, dishonesty is dishonesty and all cases should be treated the same. In order for me to avoid any issues with dishonesty I will never cut and paste. If something is an exact quote I will make sure that it is cited and listed in a bibliography to ensure that it's known it was not something derived by me. I will summarize and make sure I use my own words to explain my point. I will also use the plagiarism checker provided by the university to double check.

Review of Parrot in the Oven Essay

Parrot in the Oven: Mi Vida is a coming of age novel written in 1996, by Victor Martinez. The story is set in California and is told from the point-of-view of a fourteen year old, Mexican American boy. Manuel Hernandez, like many young men, struggles with identity. Manny’s life is hard. He has two older siblings and a baby sister. His mother does not work. His father is unemployed and an alcoholic. The main provider and only person in his house that can keep a steady job is his older sister. His older brother cannot hold a job long. As would be expected, Manny’s family lives in the projects. Project life brings its own problems. The Garcia boys live in Manny’s neighborhood. They constantly terrorize and beat him. Manny does not fight back. He realizes that he is outnumbered and too afraid to do anything. This could be one of the reasons Manny joins a boxing club in school, and later joins a gang. Family life is not much better for Manny. Throughout the story Manny deals with an alcoholic father and a borderline obsessive compulsive mother that have both become bitter and resentful. Manny’s brother is rarely home, but when he is he is often drunk. His older sister is resentful that she must carry the family. At one point in the story she gets pregnant and soon loses the baby. Chapter nine shines light on a key aspect of Manny’s character. As the title implies, Manny is naive. He lives in a predominantly Latino community where racial discrimination is non-existent. In this section of the book, Manny’s boss urges his daughter to invite Manny to her birthday party. She reluctantly agrees. Manny tells his brother, Nardo, about the party. Nardo and their sister try to explain to Manny that white people do not usually interact with Mexicans socially; he is most likely being used. Manny does not listen. He is in lust. Needless to say, the party ends badly. A terrible home life, hormones and identity issues lead Manny to gangs. He takes the beating, as a form of initiation, so that he can kiss a girl. He is not entirely sold on the gang culture but feels that he should hang out with the members. On his first run with Eddie, a gang member, he witnesses Eddie assault a woman and steal her purse. At that moment he recognizes that Eddie is the guy that knocked up his sister. Frozen in place, Manny realizes that gang-life is not for him. He goes home and watches his sisters sleep, knowing that although life at home is rough there is nowhere else he would rather be. Parrot in the Oven: Mi Vida exposes many aspects familiar to first- and second-generation Mexican American families. Many young minorities might be able to relate to Manny’s struggles. Even though the book deals with ugly issues like abuse, alcoholism, racism, teen pregnancy and gangs, the book also provides a space for discussion around identity, self-esteem and pride. I would definitely recommend this book to students.

Organic vs. industrial food Essay

Organic foods, although stereotypically known for having a bland taste or having no taste have been shown to improve one’s quality of life be decreasing some health risk such as cancer or heart disease. If you haven’t realized it, organic fruits and vegetables taste better, and the flavor is crispier. The health consequences of genetically modified food, when examined closely, will convince you to change your eating habits. The shelf life of food depends on four main factors: formulation, processing, packaging and storage. Change any one of these conditions and you can change the shelf life for better or worse. Shelf life has many attributes: bacterial control, color stability, yeast and mold inhibition, flavor stability, textural stability and aroma stability. The appearance of shelf-life problems can be wide, as well, including oxidative browning, oxidation of flavor compounds, or liquescence. To increase the shelf life of more unstable foods, such as low-sugar jam, low-salt condiments, low-oil salad dressings, prepared fresh produce and deli meats, food companies may take steps to reduce bacterial load from ingredients before they process the final food. To grow, thrive and survive, microbes need a friendly environment; this usually includes moisture. Lowering moisture creates a hostile environment for bacteria by decreasing the available medium for them to grow in. There are a number of new ingredients to help regulate water activity in foods with a reduced fat phase. â€Å" Generally, the water activity of a minimally processed food needs to be about 0. 07 or lower, water has an a W rating of 1. 00, and most products preserved with sugar, measure about 0. 07, with the excess water bound so that bacteria are under osmotic pressure too great to survive(Katz, February 4, 2006). † Whenever you buy food, you have decision to make: Healthy or cheap, organic or industrial. If organic food was not so expensive, that decision would be easy, everybody would buy organic food, for a healthier body. Unfortunately not everybody can afford it, making it look like healthy food is becoming a luxury good. In the rush to produce more and more food for the people on this planet, chemicals came into play. Farmers begin by trying to sell the highest percentage of their crop and therefore often use pesticides, gen-manipulated corn, chemicals etc. The farmer’s investment in pesticides, hormones, and chemicals tends to pays off, earning more, their fruits look better and costumers are happy with huge pest fee fruits and vegetables. When a farmer says no to chemicals, he runs the risk of losing a harvest because of pests. The only way to compensate the cost is a higher price for organic food. You can’t ask everybody to pay higher prices, and a lot of people would starve to death without the use of chemicals which protect harvests against pests. Every time you eat something, you consume pesticides, these substances are added in order to produce and sell more efficient. Fortunately there are strict rules for the use of chemicals. Organic foods are produced following practices described in the USDA National Organic Program (NOP), a marketing program with a certification process throughout the production and manufacturing chain. The NOP describes the practices that are required for labeling a product â€Å"organic,† but it does not address nutritional benefits or food safety issues. Even when you buy organic food, you are consuming these substances, but the bar is set at a different height and you are consuming less harmful substances that could be particularly hazards for high-risk groups such as pregnant women, infants, young children and farm worker households. Since organic food is not prepared using chemical fertilizers and pesticides, it does not contain any traces of these strong chemicals and might not affect the human body. People strongly believe that organic food tastes better than non-organic food. The prominent reason for this belief is that it is produced using organic means of production. Further organic food is often sold locally resulting in availability of fresh produce in the market. So how bad is industrial food? Let’s take a look; there are maximum residue limits on all pesticides and chemicals. The department of health determines how much of each substance is ok. Eating organic food lowers the risk of getting hit by a similar scenario, but it’s not a 100% guarantee (Are Organic Foods Better for You. 2010). However, getting seriously sick from cheap food is not that high of a risk as long as you read food labels you can eat cheap and healthy at the same time? If you are eating organic food only, you are still eating unhealthy foods. Almost everyone is aware that foods grown according to organic principles are free from over exposure to harmful pesticides, but that is only one small aspect. A larger part of organic agriculture is the health of the soil and the ecosystem in which crops are raised. Organic farmers know that healthy, live soils significantly benefit crops. Synthetic chemicals such as herbicides, pesticides, and/or fast acting inorganic fertilizers applied to or around crops interrupt or destroy the micro biotic activity in the soil. Organic farming reduces groundwater pollutants, decreases pesticides that can end up in your drinking glass; in some cities, pesticides in tap water have been measured at unsafe levels. The Farmer’s Market is a growers’ market, meaning everything in the market is homegrown, but Richard Bowie, an experienced organic grower is not convinced that all the food being sold is homegrown. â€Å"The market’s slogan ‘100% Homegrown makes us different’ is used as a gimmick, said Bowie† (Shreve, October 3, 2011). Vendors have been seen carrying produce and selling it to other vendors at the market bringing the term organically grown in to question and without certification, and but by law they cannot say they are a certified organically grown vendor. Most vendors cannot afford the certification process and want consumers to look past the term organic there for focus on the soil used or nutrients used. Almost everyone is aware that foods grown according to organic principles are free from over exposure to harmful pesticides, but that is only one small aspect. A larger part of organic agriculture is the health of the soil and the ecosystem in which crops are raised. Organic farmers know that healthy, live soils significantly benefit crops. Synthetic chemicals such as herbicides, pesticides, and/or fast acting inorganic fertilizers applied to or around crops interrupt or destroy the micro biotic activity in the soil. Organic farming reduces groundwater pollutants, decreases pesticides that can end up in your drinking glass; in some cities, pesticides in tap water have been measured at unsafe levels. We should choose farming methods that truly address our real concerns safety and sustainability, not simply methods that satisfy an arbitrary marketing label. To whatever extent these practices include methods that are permitted under organic rules. But there’s never a case when a safe, more efficient, and sustainable modern technology that feeds more people worldwide should be disallowed for no logical reason. Eating â€Å"organic† alone doesn’t guarantee 100 percent healthy . The truth is that most Americans eat so badly that we get most of our calories from soft drinks, more than we do from vegetables; the top food group by caloric intake is â€Å"sweets†; and one-third of nation’s adults are now obese. It’s not unimportant, but it’s not the primary issue in the way Americans eat. To eat well, says means avoiding â€Å"edible food-like substances† and sticking to real ingredients, increasingly from the plant kingdom. There’s plenty of evidence that both a person’s health as well as the environment’s will improve with a simple shift in eating habits away from animal products and highly processed foods to plant products and what might be called â€Å"real food. † From these changes, Americans would reduce the amount of land, water and chemicals used to produce the food we eat, as well as the incidence of lifestyle diseases linked to unhealthy diets and greenhouse gases from industrial meat production. And the food would not necessarily have to be organic, all it takes is paying attention to what you eat and read your labels more closely. Participation on our part to be more aware of what we buy and to raise our voices, if need be. We can let our opinions be known even in the simplest ways. A good example is when we shop, if there is no substitute for the product we need, let the store owners know, they will surely change their products. Organic food is better as it uses natural farming techniques. It is similar to preferring natural remedies when suffering from a disease as compared to eating chemical antibiotics. So, the question of organic foods vs non organic foods; which is better, is clearly answered. Organic food surpasses the conventionally produced foods. References Katz, F. (Febuary 4, 2006). Formulating for increased shelf life. Retrieved November 22, 2011, from http://www. foodprocessing. com/articles/2006/039. html Are Organic Foods Better For You?. Retrieved November 19, 2011, from http://preventdisease. com/home/tips61. shtml Shreve, S. (October 3, 2011). Does organically grown produce really matter?. Retrieved November 21, 2011, from.

Background on Stress

As there is so many resources for employees to perform excellent in their jobs but there are also some factors that hinder their performance. These factors lead to their performance negatively. Newman and Behr (1979) defined job stress as ‘a situation wherein job-related factors interact with the worker to change his or her psychological and or psychological condition such that the person is forced to deviate from normal functioning. Some reasons for stress at the workplace could be; inability to meet the demand of the job, building and maintaining an amiable relationship with colleagues, management of subordinate staff, imparting knowledge to others and taking works from them, excessive work pressure to meet deadlines, inability to be creative, change of job, sexual harassment. These kind of work related stress results in poor performance by members of the organization. Attison (2002) says stress is a major factor in up to 80% of all work-related injuries and 40% of workplace turnovers. Despite tremendous advancement in science and technology and availability of various sources of luxury, majority of the workers in Ghana seem to be experiencing moderate to high degree of psychological stress in various spheres of their lives. Job related-stress is also a serious cause of mental health and health-related injuries. David and Cooper (1981) discovered that workplace stress has been increasingly quoted as the main cause of accidents, job dissatisfaction and other psychological illnesses like heart attack, alcoholism and hypertension. WORK RELATED STRESS Well-designed, organised and managed work is good for us but when insufficient attention to job design, work organisation and management has taken place, it can result in Work related stress. Work related stress develops because a person is unable to cope with the demands being placed on them. Stress, including work related stress, can be a significant cause of illness and is known to be linked with high levels of sickness absence, staff turnover and other issues such as more errors. Stress can hit anyone at any level of the business and recent research shows that work related stress is widespread and is not confined to particular sectors, jobs or industries. Background on Stress As there is so many resources for employees to perform excellent in their jobs but there are also some factors that hinder their performance. These factors lead to their performance negatively. Newman and Behr (1979) defined job stress as ‘a situation wherein job-related factors interact with the worker to change his or her psychological and or psychological condition such that the person is forced to deviate from normal functioning. Some reasons for stress at the workplace could be; inability to meet the demand of the job, building and maintaining an amiable relationship with colleagues, management of subordinate staff, imparting knowledge to others and taking works from them, excessive work pressure to meet deadlines, inability to be creative, change of job, sexual harassment. These kind of work related stress results in poor performance by members of the organization. Attison (2002) says stress is a major factor in up to 80% of all work-related injuries and 40% of workplace turnovers. Despite tremendous advancement in science and technology and availability of various sources of luxury, majority of the workers in Ghana seem to be experiencing moderate to high degree of psychological stress in various spheres of their lives. Job related-stress is also a serious cause of mental health and health-related injuries. David and Cooper (1981) discovered that workplace stress has been increasingly quoted as the main cause of accidents, job dissatisfaction and other psychological illnesses like heart attack, alcoholism and hypertension. WORK RELATED STRESS Well-designed, organised and managed work is good for us but when insufficient attention to job design, work organisation and management has taken place, it can result in Work related stress. Work related stress develops because a person is unable to cope with the demands being placed on them. Stress, including work related stress, can be a significant cause of illness and is known to be linked with high levels of sickness absence, staff turnover and other issues such as more errors. Stress can hit anyone at any level of the business and recent research shows that work related stress is widespread and is not confined to particular sectors, jobs or industries.

Back Injuries In Workplace Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Back Injuries In Workplace - Essay Example if literature related back belts, on evaluating the adequacy of data in support of the use of back belts in preventing work-related injuries was insufficient to draw any conclusion either in support or against the advantages of using a back belt in a work-related environment. The memorandum also concluded that â€Å"the effectiveness of using back belts to lessen the risk of back injuries among uninjured workers (NIOSH, 1996)† and does not consider back belts to be personal protective equipment as there is no supporting data to indicate the significant reduction of biomechanical loading on the trunk during manual lifting. Also, the popular claims of industrial back belt manufacturers that back belts reduce significantly back injury risk due to changes in intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) and trunk muscle electromyography (EMG). The claims of popular manufacturers in the market – OK-1 or Valeo or OccuNomix, seem to be focussing on the fact that the back belts work and help prevent workplace injuries by significantly reducing the intra-abdominal pressure or stiffening the spine. Now compare this with the authentic documentation from NIOSH or OSHA or the Surgeon General’s advisory that the efficacy of using back belts in preventing workplace back injuries seems to be almost contradictory. While the manufacturer’s claim efficacy in the usage of their products, there is no scientific evidence to back that claim. Probably this argument could go on and on both from the official front on lack of evidence to prove efficacy and manufacturers claiming efficacy. Taking a side in this argument leaves our organization nowhere near the solution near that is being sought to prevent workplace back injuries. The primary concern with respect to this paper is to prevent injuries and ensure well being of th e employees while ensuring the highest level of productivity for the organization.

Deontological Ethics Case Study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Deontological Ethics Case Study - Essay Example Company officials failed to map out civilian farms to be avoided despite the US Congress approving the discriminate use of harmful herbicides in the region (Lawson, 2001). As a result, approximately 10,000 natives of the region suffered from severe health complication. In addition, an immense loss of livestock and agricultural produce occurred. Dyncorp faced further disgrace in 2005 when allegations made by a whistleblower named Ben Johnston surfaced. He claimed that Dyncorp soldiers engaged in inhumane acts of trafficking, forceful prostitution with minors when on contract in Bosnia (Dowbenko, 2002). Deontological implications of the ethical problem A quick glance into the background of PMCs operating within the US indicates that these companies generate billions in their annual revenues; for example, Dyncorp’s revenues are about 3 billion yet it is a medium-sized company in this field (Dyncorp, 2012). Governments rely on the protection and military services offered by these firms when the country’s army has been deployed to attend to other pressing matters (Dyncorp, 2012). The running of these companies remains independent from the government because the stakeholders are private entities. The deontological implications of the ethical problem posed by Dyncorp revolve around the duty of the company to their clients and the people living within the affected region. Dyncorp’s duty to the government involved the company ensuring that the curtailing of drug production through the destruction of drug plantations (Dowbenko, 2007). Nonetheless, the company had a moral obligation to the inhabitants of the region to differentiate the drug plantations from the crop plantations. Disregarding their duty to the inhabitants of the region proves to be unethical and is an indication of poor corporate social responsibility policies (Lawson, 2001). Dyncorp disregarded the safety of human life led to the indiscriminate application of herbicides within the reg ion, therefore, defying different deontological principles (Dowbenko, 2002). The company’s incompetent actions fail to meet the standard set by the categorical imperative principle posited by Immanuel Kant (Stanford, 2007). The categorical imperative advances that an action or decision made ought to be universal in nature, meaning, it can be applied in similar circumstances because it qualifies as a universal rule or law. Negligent behavior is also wrong because it pays little regard to the concept of duty or moral obligation, which is the core concept of deontology ethics (Stanford, 2007). In addition, the company’s involvement in inhumane acts against underage children, in Bosnia, shows failure of the company to adhere to their moral obligations to their duties. a) Resolution of the problem; b)do you agree with the resolutions; c) Whether the problem was resolved consistent with the principles of deontological ethics Resolution of the problem involved efforts made by both the government and the company’s managerial board. The government imposed limitations on the jurisdiction of Dyncorp when serving in the capacity of hired soldiers when operating in foreign lands. The government also cautioned company officials to avoid negligent behavior when carrying out their services (Dowbenko, 2002). The US Department of Defense in 2005 drafted a proposal, which prohibited the involvement of military contractors in human trafficking, forced labor and prostitution (Dowbenko,

Reflective Journal Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Reflective Journal - Assignment Example Seeking to be a manager of a manufacturing firm, my strengths in interpersonal relationship and team leadership would enable me foster a collaborative management as this would ensure that employees’ ideas are considered in decision-making. This would be useful in avoiding resistance to change or management’s decisions. However, I would have to work on my conflict resolution and negotiation skills so as to enable me maintain harmony in the organisation and enforce a balance between organisational and individual goals. I would also have to improve on my communication skills to relay information effectively. The effectiveness of this tool in determining the alignment of my competencies to my expected managerial roles made me appreciate the argument by Chaston (2011) and Rosaline (2013) that gap analysis helps in the identification of personal goals. I am now aware of my strengths and the areas where I would need to improve on so as to become an effective manager. Management process could be more complicated than it could appear. This could even be more pronounced in case of an organisation operating in a complex and changing environment. As such, the postulate by Henry Mintzberg on the roles in managing information, people and action as given by Muma, Smith and Somers (2005) and Schermerhorn (2011) would be critical. The interpersonal role of a manager as a leader; informational roles as a monitor and disseminator; and decision roles as a disturbance handler, resource allocator and negotiator would be useful in such a situation. In my view, complex situations cause confusion among employees. Therefore, the role of a manager as a leader would help in guiding employees on the way forward in case of dilemmas. Organisations need to be keen on the changes in the environment so as to make decisions on adaptive strategies that would ensure their