Hidden Guilt Abolishes Selfhood Essay

Those who keep their sins and feelings to themselves cause themselves only anguish and despair. In The Scarlet Letter, a romance by Nathaniel Hawthorne, Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale is a young man who achieved fame in England as a theologian and then immigrated to America. In a moment of weakness, he and Hester Prynne, a young, beautiful, married woman whose husband is away in Europe, become lovers. Although he will not confess it publicly, Dimmesdale is the father of her child; also, he deals with the guilt by tormenting himself physically and psychologically, developing a heart condition in the process. Dimmesdale is an intelligent and emotional man, and his sermons are thus masterpieces of eloquence and persuasiveness. His commitments to his congregation are in constant conflict with his feelings of sinfulness and need to confess. He lives behind a false self for many years while unknowingly living beside Hester’s husband, finally his true self appears and he is redeemed of his sins as he admits them publicly. Selfhood can be achieved when a hypocritical persona is rejected and the true self consistently emerges. Dimmesdale is shown as the protagonist of the romance through Hawthorne’s use of characterization, conflict, by showing the transformation of Dimmesdale, and by showing that Roger Chillingworth and Dimmesdale’s own guilt oppose him. Hawthorne uses characterization throughout The Scarlet Letter to show Dimmesdale as the protagonist. The Scarlet Letter is a story of characters that have to live and deal with the effects of sin in different ways; of these characters, the Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale is the character portrayed as the most inadequate. Despite this portrayal Dimmesdale was a stronger character than given credit for, his unbelievable amount of control in his way of handling his burdens displays his great sense of strength and intellect; although, he is very intelligent, his faults mask his dignity, Dimmesdale is aware that he is covering up his true self but hides these feelings to keep his reputation of being a pious, dutiful minister. His shortcomings and distress throughout the narrative conceal his pride, â€Å"Dimmesdale clearly suffers from an excess of self. His weakness and suffering throughout most of the romance, as I suggested earlier, have  tended to blur for some readers the fact of his p ride, which, like his scarlet letter, lies beneath and gives special form to his mask of saintliness† (Martin 124). He is first characterized as a nervous and sensitive individual, despite his outer appearance, inside Dimmesdale is a very stable, strong person. Hawthorne states that he showed nervous sensibility and a great willpower, â€Å"His eloquence and religious fervor had already given the earnest of high eminence in his profession†¦expressing both nervous sensibility and a vast power of self-restraint† (Hawthorne 51). While this seems to give Dimmesdale great strength, it is also his largest flaw; moreover, his body refuses to do what his heart says is right. Dimmesdale instructs Hester to reveal the truth, but when she refuses he does not have the determination to confess himself. Therefore, his sin becomes even larger than hers, because while hers is an exposed sin. He continues to lie to himself and his followers by keeping his secret hidden, so his is a concealed sin, while Hester wears her sin openly on her bosom. Here Hawthorne shows us just how strong Dimmesdale actually is, by allowing him to hide his sin and bear the weight of it, he creates an extremely interesting and tremendously strong character; further, the scaffold is the place that Dimmesdale shows the amount of pain and self-loathing he is truly capable of concealing. Dimmesdale denies the fact that he is associated with Hester, and also that he is the father of Pearl multiple times, particularly during those crucial scaffold scenes. During those long seven years he made no move to lessen her load or his own. Seven years prior, Hester stood in this place and took the punishment for both of them while he quietly stood aside and led people to believe that he also condemned her. During the first scaffold scene Dimmesdale interrogates Hester, his purpose was to find out who the father of her daughter was, Dimmesdale pretended as if he had never spoken to Hester before, as did Hester. Dimmesdale acknowledges their relationship later on in the narrative, but at this time he must seem as if he does not know her because if the magistrates of Boston knew of their relationship, Dimmesdale would be treated with the same rejection as Hester. During the second scaffold scene Dimmesdale has had all that he can bear and lets out a yell that draws the attention o f fellow villagers, â€Å"Without any effort of  his will, or power to restrain himself, he shrieked aloud† (108). He curses himself for his silence and cowardice. Also in the second scaffold scene Dimmesdale denies Hester and Pearl again when Pearl asks him to stand with herself and Hester during the day in public, â€Å"Wilt thou stand here with mother and me to-morrow noontide?† Dimmesdale responded, â€Å"Nay, not so, my little Pearl!† (111). Finally the last time Dimmesdale stood on the scaffold he accepted Hester and admitted that he was indeed the father of Pearl, â€Å"The law we [himself and Hester] broke!- the sin here so awfully revealed!† (181). During the third scaffold scene the true sign of strength is revealed, to admit he is wrong takes strength, but the way that he held in his sin thus committing two, one of the original sin, and two of the concealment, then confessing after years of frustrating cowardice takes a stronger man. Dimmesdale is also characterized as a very hypocritical being. He has the town believe that he is a pious, dedicated minister, when in actuality he has sinned greatly, â€Å"But Dim mesdale’s burden keeps him on a level with the lowest. His congregation worships him; their adoration intensifies his guilty anguish; and his suffering heightens his fervor† (Male 334). He is not brave enough to publicly admit his sins until the end of the narrative; moreover, he lives years hiding his secret of adultery. The only people who know his secret before he publicly condemns himself are Hester, Pearl, and Chillingworth. He suffers from this secret every day and night, he punishes himself physically and tortures himself mentally, as well as being tortured mentally and physically by Chillingworth, â€Å"Dimmesdale suffers worlds of penance; but, since he is not willing to sacrifice the public image of himself, it is penance without penitence. He knows that the morality of this colony calls for sin and iniquity to be exposed in the broad light of noonday, that confession is here a public matter† (Martin 124). It takes Dimmesdale three trips to the scaffold for him to be able to reveal to the public that he is the father of Pearl and that he had hidden his sin for many years. His demise was from the drain of his will, which was worn and lacking. Dimmesdale was not courageous in his actions in the story but strong; he was able to carry the burdens, frustration, and pain throughout his life. Whether he was good, brave, or right in what he did is to remain unseen but the fact that he was strong is certain. Rev. Dimmesdale is proven to be the protagonist of the narrative also by conflict, he proves to be a sinner against man, against God and most importantly against himself because he has committed adultery with Hester. His sinning against himself, for which he ultimately paid the price of death, proved to be more harmful and more destructive than this sin of the flesh, and his sin against God. Dimmesdale’s internal conflict causes him more anguish and discontent than any external conflict throughout the romance. His internal feelings of sin and his late night attempts to redeem himself on the scaffold are more of a mockery of ignominy than actual ignominy, â€Å"So long as they are covert, the minister’s gestures are but a mockery of penance, and his cloistral flagellations, fasts, and vigils are unavailing† (Male 334). Dimmesdale is not ignorant, he is very well educated, as Hawthorne states, â€Å"†¦Rev. Mr. Dimmesdale; a young clergyman who had come from o ne of the great English universities, bringing all the learning of the age into our wild forestland. His eloquence and religious fervor had already given the earnest of high eminence in his profession.† (Hawthorne 72). This man’s morals had, until the adultery, been high. He is very spiritual because on top of being of the Puritan faith, he is a minister of the word of God. Throughout most of the novel, Rev. Dimmesdale is forced to hide his guilt of being Hester’s partner in sin, when in reality, he is not being forced by anyone, but himself, for he is the one who chooses not to reveal his secret to the town. Dimmesdale has a concealed sin that is eating at him. He just doesn’t have the courage to admit his wrongs. He seems to be a coward during these seven years of living with guilt. There is a scene in chapter three where Dimmesdale states, â€Å"Hester Prynne†¦If thou feelest it to be for thy soul’s peace, and that thy earthly punishment will thereby be made more effectual to salvation, I charge thee to speak out the name of thy fellow -sinner and fellow- sufferer! Be not silent from any mistaken pity and tenderness for him; for, believe me, Hester, though he we re to step down from a high place, and stand there beside thee on thy pedestal of shame, yet better were it so, than to hide a guilty heart through life? What can thy silence do for him, except it tempt him-yea compel him as it were-to add hypocrisy to sin?† (73). In this scene it is almost as if we see Dimmesdale speaking as a hypocrite. Dimmesdale portrays himself very ironically; he is a very well respected reverend and  yet, has, for the last seven years, worked on preaching the word of God, especially while he urges the congregation to confess openly to repent unto God. While, in reality, Dimmesdale is the one who needs a clean conscious. He feels like he needs to confess not only to the town but also too himself. Halfway through the novel Dimmesdale has yet to reveal the truth, which, so far, has been devouring him, physically and mentally. Since this good reverend is so spiritual, he cannot reveal his truths to the town so simply. He is of the Puritan faith and being a follower of that, the sin of adultery is a very grand sin; additionally, the whole town would look down on him as if he were a hypocrite, which in fact, he is, but his sin of adultery in that town would have been scoffed at just as Hester’s has. The reverend is v ery well liked by the townsfolk, â€Å"They fancied him the mouthpiece of Heaven’s messages of wisdom, rebuke, and love. In their eyes, the very ground on which he trod was sanctified.† (139). He has been living without revealing his true self for seven years, and it was hard for him, mentally and physically. Mentally, his whole body shuts down because he cannot take it anymore, even though he does not give in to confess yet. He has become emaciated because he has let the sin against himself churn inside and on the outside he has spent many nights whipping himself. Perhaps this is a sign for him to feel he has punished himself, as God would have punished him, if he were on Earth. One day while Dimmesdale and Roger Chillingworth are talking about medicinal plants that Chillingworth found on an old grave that had no tombstone or marking whatsoever, Chillingworth says to Dimmesdale, â€Å"†¦They grew out of his heart, and typify, it may be, some hideous secret that was buried with him, and which he had done better to confess during his lifetime.† (129). It’s as if Chillingworth can tell that Rev. Dimmesdale is hiding something, something that could be the c ause of his health depleting. Chillingworth then states that, â€Å"Then why not reveal them here?† (129). Chillingworth knows, he simply knows that there is something else, something that Dimmesdale has not yet come forth to tell him. Dimmesdale, in chapter twelve, is finally realizing that it could be a better thing to disclose his secret to the town. He has become so weak that he has even thought about his own death; moreover, he has walked to the scaffold and climbed up as if he wants to proclaim something, and yet, it is nighttime and the whole town is resting. Some are at the deathbed of the ailing governor who has just died.  They do not notice him. As Hester and Pearl walk by, Dimmesdale tells them, â€Å"Come up hither, Hester, thou and little Pearl†¦Ye have both been here before, but I was not with you. Come up hither once again, and we will stand all three together!† (148) Dimmesdale has obviously been thinking that he wants to reveal himself, he is struggling with internal conflict yet again, but his choice of the hour tells the reader that he cannot confess in t he day, not yet. Pearl herself knows or at least feels that this is right, that the three of them together is a match, because she says, â€Å"Wilt thou stand here with Mother and me, tomorrow noontide?† (148). But Dimmesdale refuses, â€Å"Not so, my child. I shall, indeed, stand with thy mother and thee one other day, but not tomorrow† (148-149). Dimmesdale is coming close to speaking, but he does not. He reveals his truths to the town after he has preached his finest sermon and after the town is holding him so very high on a pedestal. Dimmesdale says to the town, â€Å"†¦ye, that have loved me!-ye that have deemed me holy!-behold me here, the one sinner of the world! At last!-at last!-I stand upon the spot where, seven years since, I should have stood; here, with this woman†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (237). Now that Dimmesdale has confessed his secret, he can die. He has admitted to being the father of Hester Prynne’s child, Pearl, and his poor corpse, which is so deathly, can rest in peace now. His mind is well aware that it can live on knowing that the truth is out but his body is so battered that it cannot go on living. Dimmesdale has sinned against God, and more importantly against himself. Yes, he has not lived a true life because for seven years he has lived in denial of his sin. It did prove to be more harmful in the end, since he died on the scaffold while standing next to his fellow-sinner Hester. He knew that he needed to reveal himself but in his Puritan ways, it was hard to confess. The irony he portrays and the hypocrisy that he lives is such a grand sin in itself, he lived looking his sin in the face every single day, because he was a minister and not only would have to answer to the townsfolk after he had admitted but he had to face God everyday; his character has perhaps the central struggle in this novel, for he has the struggle within, and the struggle portrayed outwardly to the town, and Hester; in addition, he is definitely a very dramatic character in this novel, for Hawthorne stated, â€Å"Be true! Be true! Be true! Show freely to the world, if not your worst, yet some trait whereby the worst may be inferred.† (242). When Hawthorne made  this quote in reference to Rev. Dimmesdale, he meant many things, he said that he should â€Å"be true† and â€Å"†¦show freely to the world,† because Dimmesdale should have showed his true feelings about Hester, and his feelings that he kept hidden for seven years about the adultery then, h e would have much more relief. When Hawthorne says â€Å"†¦if not your worst†¦whereby the worst may be inferred,† he is saying that if you cannot at least get out the worst trait that you have been indicted of, you should try to get a point across that would aid in the finding of that worst trait. By this quote, it appears that Hawthorne thought that if Dimmesdale had only confessed earlier, he had the opportunities, he could have admitted his sins each time he was at the scaffold, then he would have saved himself from all the torment he had put himself through; additionally, it appears that Hawthorne meant that the town, itself, would still have scoffed but wouldn’t have remembered the sin of adultery as much now, as back then when Hester got accused as well. Dimmesdale is shown at the protagonist of The Scarlet Letter by being opposed by his own conscience and by Roger Chillingworth. Chillingworth opposes Dimmesdale in the sense that, he knows that Dimmesdale has repressed sin; and, he desires to find out what that sin is, â€Å"This man, pure as they deem him,- all spiritual as he seems,- hath inherited a strong animal nature from his father or his mother. Let us dig a little farther in the direction of this vein!† (94). Dimmesdale thought that he had a friendly relationship with Chillingworth, â€Å"He therefore still kept up a familiar intercourse with him, daily receiving the old physician in his study; or visiting the laboratory, and, for recreation’s sake, watching the process by which weeds were converted into drugs of potency† (95), but in actuality Chillingworth was torturing Dimmesdale without Dimmesdale knowing it. Chillingworth constantly tortured Dimmesdale physically and mentally. Chillingworth is always giving the minister drugs that he makes with weeds. Many times the physician acquires these weeds from the town cemetery, these weeds are also characterized as, â€Å"unsightly,† â€Å"ugly† or, â€Å"dark and tangled,† this suggests that the medicine that Dimmesdale is taking is venomous. Chillingworth is generally characterized as an evil person, and many of the actions he takes suggest that he represents the devil; moreover, he even notices this  similarity in himself, â€Å"I have already told thee what I am! A fiend!† (158). Chillingworth is given the name â€Å"The Black Man† by Pearl, this clearly shows that he is representative of the devil. Dimmesdale is also shown as the protagonist through his opposition to his own conscience, he opposes himself in many ways. Dimmesdale’s true self which he reveals at the end of the narrative is the protagonist when compared to his true self throughout the rest of the narrative. His true self during the majority of the narrative is a man who has sinner and refuses to publicly admit it. During this time he privately hurts himself and damages his mind and his body. Although, that the end of the romance, he repents and is able to die. He was not able to die until he disclosed his secret because without divulging his sin he would not be close enough to God, and he believed that he would not be in Heaven after his death. Dimmesdale ultimately was transformed from a man too timid to share his sin publicly, to one who proclaims to the entire town that he is the father of the illegitimate child whose mother has been accepting his sin for years. He was too coy to publicly come form as Pearl’s father that he went to the scaffold in the dead of night to â€Å"repent,† although this action was more a mockery of penance than actual ignominy, â€Å"No eye could see him†¦Why then had he come hither? Was it but the mockery of penitence? A mockery indeed†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (107). Dimmesdale was changed from the apprehensive, seemingly pious and innocent minister to the man that proclaimed his sin openly, â€Å"The new man is really Arthur Dimmesdale. Having achieved individuation in the forest, he now returns to join the procession only to rise above it† (Male 341). Hawthorne shows Dimmesdale’s complete transformation through characterization and conflict, Dimmesdale could only die a fter he redeemed himself through ignominy. Thus, Arthur Dimmesdale is established as the protagonist of The Scarlet Letter, Hawthorne shows this through characterization, internal and external conflict, transformation, and Dimmesdale’s opposition of Roger Chillingworth and his own conscience. Those who keep their sins and feelings to themselves cause themselves only anguish and despair, Arthur Dimmesdale did this  throughout the majority of The Scarlet Letter, he internalized his feelings and sins and was not able to express them until the final scaffold scene when he threw himself at the mercy of God as he died with a clear conscience. Sense of self can be attained when a deceitful facade is rejected and the true self steadily materializes.

Sergical Tech. Informative

Courtney Davis English 111 –CML 02-09-12 Essay #2 – informative Do You Want to Be A â€Å"Scrub†? Have you ever considered entertaining the idea of establishing a career in Surgical Technology? Many people are not thoroughly familiar with the job duties, educational requirements, earnings, job outlook, and potential downsides. Exploring these five areas will assist you in making a more informed career decision. Surgical Technologist can also be referred to as â€Å"Scrubs† (Occupational Outlook Handbook, p. ). A Surgical Technologists’ duties before an operation is to help prepare the Operating Room by setting up instruments and equipment that are used and needed by the Surgeon performing the procedure. Cynthia Davis, RN/ CST states her duty â€Å"I prepare and maintain highly complex sterile environments. † They get the patients ready for surgery by washing and shaving the necessary parts of the body that the surgeon will be focusing on. The y also observe the patients vital signs and check charts.During surgery a surgical technologists assist the surgeon or their assistant by passing and holding instruments, cutting sutures, counting needles and other supplies that are essential to the surgery being performed at the time. Sometimes the surgical techs even operate suction machines, sterilizers, adjust lights to a specific area, and help operate diagnostic equipment that is in the surgical room. .Cynthia describes her position as â€Å"the primary surgical tech responsible for handling instruments, supplies, and equipment during all surgical procedures. These procedures range from minimally invasive biopsies to highly complex surgeries†.After an operation Scrubs may help the patient to recovery. They also clean and restock the operating room so that it will be ready for the next operation. Jennifer Davis, NP . , says, â€Å"My responsibilities as a surgical technologist are to set up, maintain a sterile field dur ing surgery, assist the surgeon if needed and clean up and start all over again†. Most Scrubs work a regular 40hour week, but also will remain on call to work nights, weekends, or whenever needed just depending on how many surgeries are scheduled throughout the week. Usually, holidays are on a rotating basis. (Bureau of Labor Statistics,U. S.Department of Labor. ) Most employers prefer to hire certified technologist. Training programs last 9-24 months and lead to a certificate, diploma, or associates degree (Occupational Outlook Handbook, p. 1). Technologist may obtain voluntary professional certification from the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting by graduating from a CAAHEP-accredited program and a passing a national certification examination In order to maintain certification they must earn 60 hours of approved continuing education over 4 years or retake and pass the certifying exam at the end of 4 years (Occupational Outlook Handbook, p. 3).The wa ges of surgical technologist can vary with their experience, education, responsibility of the position, working hours, and the economy of a given region of the country (Occupational Outlook Handbook). The benefits that are provided by most employers will include paid vacation and sick leave, health, medical, vision, dental, life insurance; and a retirement program. A few even provide tuition reimbursement and child care benefits. Cynthia Davis reports she organizes her own schedule that must consist of four twelve hour shifts , says she is always on call but that the excellent benefits and health insurance make up for it. . On average surgical technologist made $38,740 in May of 2008 according to Occupational Outlook Handbook. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U. S. Department of Labor the employment is expected to grow much faster than average. Job opportunities will be the best for those willing to relocate (ooh) in 2008, surgical Technologist held about 91,500 jobs, wi th 71 percent of the jobs being in hospitals. Other positions were held in offices of physicians’, dentist, and ambulatory surgical centers (Occupational Outlook Handbook). Industries employing the largest numbers of surgical technologist were Specialty hospitals $40,880 and Out patient centers $39,660. (Bureau of Labor Statics, U. S. Department of Labor) â€Å"Technologists must respond quickly and must be familiar with operation procedures in the order to have instruments ready for surgeons without having to be told to do so† (Occupational Outlook Handbook, p. 3). Scrubs need manual dexterity to handle instruments quickly. They must be conscientious, orderly, and emotionally stable to handle the demand s of the operating room environment.Potential downsides are standing for long periods of time, being exposed to communicable diseases and unpleasant sights, odors and materials. Jennifer describes this job as high stress but very rewarding. The worst part of the job is losing a patient. † In conclusion, the thought of establishing yourself in a surgical technology career can consist of knowing the duties, educational requirements, earnings, job outlook, and the potential downsides to the job.The relatively short amount of time it takes to obtain a degree or license needed to start a career, the joy of doing something different everyday, and the substantial earnings you can make each year are all good reasons to pursue nursing as a career, as long as the downsides are tolerable for you. If you are thinking that the downsides don’t seem so bad then you should check into pursuing a career in surgical technology and you can be a â€Å"Scrub†.

Emerging Trends Essay

Communications technology is progressing at light-speed, seemingly shrinking our world, as we can now communicate and conduct business in real time around the globe. Through innovations such as high-speed modem technology, businesses and people can share new ideas with friends and colleagues from the farthest lands. As more people and businesses strive to globalize, existing communication technologies are overloading, as they have approached the limitations of today’s available hardware. To gain higher speed access to the available information over the Internet, there are many factors one must research, as they ultimately work together. These factors include hardware, choosing an Internet Service Provider (ISP), as well as a modem, which will be used to send and receive the data via the Internet. The intent of this document is to review the latest high-speed technologies for improving information access using the Internet. By understanding these new technologies, one can make a more informed decision when choosing their hardware and ISP. Choosing Hardware for Individual Needs: Computer Choices To gain faster Internet access requires choosing a faster computer that best suits one’s needs. In determining the type of computer to purchase, one should first determine the application in which it will be used most. Applications such as word processing, computer games, and Internet access, all require various hardware and operating systems. Today, there are three main choices for computers, which include laptops, PCs, and hand-held devices. â€Å"Until recently, we only needed to decide on the type and speed of the processor that we wanted in our new computer, since most of the Intel Pentium based computers had a data bus with a maximum speed of 66 MHz† (PC World, 2000, July, p. 33). â€Å"With the release of the new Intel 100 MHz bus architecture, this has changed, as the new line of Pentium II and Pentium III processors use this new bus instead of the older 66 MHz bus† (PC World, 2000, July, p. 33). Needless to say, a PC equipped with this much power will su rely increase the communication speed between the processor and components in the computer. The main advantage of a notebook computer, versus a desktop, is the size and portability. Due to their smaller size, notebooks are the computer of choice for people that have limited space in their office or home. â€Å"A typical notebook computer will contain either an Intel Celeron, Pentium III, or AMD K6 processor, which all range in speed, while the more common speeds vary from 600 MHz to 850 MHz† (PC World, 2000, July, p. 37). The price of a standard notebook computer typically ranges between $1200 to $1900. Introduced in 1996, handheld computers, also known as Palm Pilots and Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), have been gaining in popularity. These devices are portable and are no larger than a palm-size calculator. One of the most popular models on the market today is the Visor, offered in three models, ranging from $149 to $249 (Businessweek Online website, November 15, 1999, p. 192). While the speed of a handheld computer may vary, according to one source, the Palm Vx model runs slightly faster than other handhelds. â€Å"It runs with a 20mhz processor versus the 16mhz found in other models† (Palmgear website, 2000). Most palms come with standard applications like an address book, calculator, and a date book. Newer palms will also allow the user e-mail capabilities, using a memo pad similar to the Windows notepad. Since Internet access is now available as an option for handheld computers, they are a viable choice for consumers. Choosing an Internet Service Provider (ISP) Next, one needs to decide on an Internet Service Provider (ISP), and whether it is for personal or business use. Today, many companies offer free Internet Service to consumers and businesses. Broadband Digital Group (BDD) offers free dial up service at no additional cost, and is available nationwide. Another free ISP is Bluelight.com, which allows customers to shop online and receive various discounts on items purchased with Kmart. Free ISPs are economical and provide many of the services of fee based ISPs, such as sending and receiving email, web surfing, and online shopping.   Although some people find free ISPs to be economical, there are some disadvantages. Free ISPs represent less than 13 percent of the market, and are used as an alternate means to connect online (Fusco, 1999, pars. 4-6). With this, the customer is provided with Internet access, but not the quality service that is provided by most fee-based ISPs. In some cases, free ISPs do not provide consumers with high-spee d delivery, which results in slower connection speeds. According to a recent report by Patricia Fusco, fee-based Internet access service providers are among the elite and provide high quality, high speed, and wireless services. The top rated ISPs are, AT&T WorldNet, EarthLink, Inc., MSN, America Online, CompuServe, and Prodigy. All of these services can provide consumers with high-speed service, good customer service, and technical support (Fusco, 2000a, pars. 2-10). There are, however, some disadvantages with fee-based ISPs, as the monthly billing fees can range from $7.00-$40.00 per month. In addition, providers such as AOL, Prodigy, MSN, and CompuServe have monthly billing plans that must be applied to a customer’s major credit card or telephone bill. Payment by check is also an option, however, your ISP provider applies a surcharge. Fee based ISPs benefit people and companies who have a need for high capacity, high-speed, and a broad range of features. Providers like AT &T and MSN offer wireless service plans, so consumers have the option of accessing the Internet through their laptops or personal PDAs (Fusco, 2000b, pars. 4-6). In determining which ISP is best, one should consider cost, speed, availability, and technical support. The content of the ISP’s website, personal services, and customer satisfaction should also be considered. Choosing a High-Speed Modem Technology: Cable vs. DSL Of course, there is much more to achieving high-performance Internet access than just choosing a fast computer and an Internet Service Provider, as one will also need a connection capable of handling all of this bandwidth. Recently, there are new emerging technologies that will allow you to access information over the Internet at blinding speeds. Today, one can choose between new high-speed subscriber lines, such as Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) or Cable Modem, which enables one to access information over 10 times faster than the 56K modem. To utilize DSL will require a DSL-capable modem, which connects to the phone lines already present in the home. Installing DSL is a bit tricky. Although there are installation kits available, it is easier to have the phone company install the service, since installation requires a few components needed for avoiding interference while using the modem and telephone at the same time. The cost of installing DSL runs between $50-$100, while the monthly service fee averages about $80 per month, and includes an ISP (PC World, 2000, May, p. 106). DSL is not yet offered in all areas, however, a recent survey from The Yankee Group estimates that 21% of US households will have access to DSL shortly (PC World, 2000, May, p. 104). Cable Modem is another high-speed solution for accessing the Internet. Cable Modem technology offers similar performance as DSL, yet the technology is a bit different, as it utilizes the existing television cable in the home. Like DSL, Cable Modem access will require a special modem and can be installed by the consumer, or by a local cable company. Expect to pay approximately $100 for the installation, while the monthly service fee averages about $50 per month (PC World, 2000, May, p. 106). The Yankee Group estimates that 41% of US households will have access to Cable Modem technology, which is limited to those households already equipped with cable television services (PC World, 2000, May, p. 104). 87% of Cable Modem users and 86% of DSL users are satisfied with the performance, according to a PC World survey (PC World, 2000, May, p. 116). While the monthly service fees are more for DSL, as compared to Cable Modem, the fees are expected to normalize as the technology becomes more widespread. In reviewing these high-speed technologies, the choice begins to shift from choosing between DSL and Cable Modem, to choosing between either of these two, along with any of the new computers. Summary This study reveals that to gain high speed connectivity, any of the new computer hardware choices are adequate. The key to high speed information access is now governed by your connection, where this situation was revered just a few short years ago. DSL and Cable Modem both offer substantial performance improvements over conventional 56K Internet access. Either choice enables high-speed Internet access, which will be a vital component as more and more on-line information begins to congest the information pipeline. To truly gain high speed Internet access, one must incorporate either of these new modem technologies, along with their choice of hardware, which should be based on one’s individual needs. References Businessweek Online website. (November 15, 2000) The Palm is Mightier†¦, [Available] Retrieved March 31, 2001, from the World Wide Web: www.businessweek.com Fusco, P. (1999, December). Jupiter: Free ISPs won’t replace dial-up access (16 paragraphs). InternetNews – ISP News Archives, [Available] Retrieved March 31, 2001, from the World Wide Web: www.internetnews.com Fusco, P. (2000a, May). AT &T Wireless Debuts Free Wireless Internet (15 paragraphs) InternetNews – ISP News Archives, [Available] Retrieved March 31, 2001, from the World Wide Web: http://www.internet.news.com/isp-news/article/0,,8_356751,00.html Fusco, P. (2000b, September). J.D. Powers Ranks Big Six ISPs (19 paragraphs). InternetNews – ISP News Archives, [Available] Retrieved March 31, 2001, from the World Wide Web: http://www.internetnews.com/isp-news/article/0,,8_460761,00.html Overton, R & Goavec, P. (May 2000). PC World – Broadband or Bust, Volume 18, Number 5. 102-108, 112, 116 Palmgear website. (Copyright 2000, internet.com Corp), [Available] Retrieved March 31, 2001, from the World Wide Web: www.palmblvd.com

New KFC International Structure Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

New KFC International Structure - Essay Example There are numerous sections in the organization that management may be required such as in the Human Resource department, sales and marketing, research and the financial department. Just as with other organizations, there are major considerations for the successful operations of the organization. In this case, I intend to concentrate on increasing the sales of the firm, improving the customer and staff relations as well as minimizing conflict within the running of the firm (Stacks, 2010, p. 128). In increase, the sales there are a number of aspects that I should look into. Firstly, I have to assess the current market needs, against what KFC offers. The aim of the management in this stage is to create a competitive edge. As management, to increase the sales we have to have a proper marketing and advertising strategy, serve the customers and popularize our products. A SWOT analysis is important at this stage to ensure that all the needs of the business are met. The strengths that KFC has to include reputation, a wide point of sales, and an elaborate distribution system and community acceptance. The weaknesses that the management is to work on include a growing number of competitors, ever increasing costs of products and operational costs (Day and Antonakis, 2012, p. 123), dwindling revenue and an overwhelming pressure against the fried foods that compose a large portion of our menu. The opportunities that are presented to KFC include indulgence of organic and healthy foods, cor poration with other firms in other fields such as airlines and sporting organizers. The major threats to the company are the upcoming restaurant businesses and the tendency of customers avoiding the fast foods. In advertising, the best option to take on currently is the IT geared advertisements. The bulk that is KFC’s target is the youth and the middle-aged persons.  

How can women climb up the corporate ladder in China Dissertation

How can women climb up the corporate ladder in China - Dissertation Example This instills in the women low esteem and lack of confidence. The results of this research show that most women consider ambition as a bad thing. Also, many Chinese women deliberately avoid high position jobs either because they lack confidence or because they want to maintain a balanced lifestyle. One interesting thing that has been observed in this research is that a large number of Chinese women believe that if they become too successful in their career, then it becomes difficult to attract eligible Chinese men. This is because most Chinese men still retain the traditional thinking that a perfect wife is one who can manage her home and family, and does not focus on earning money. Contents I. Introduction †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦4 II. Literature review†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.5 III. Methodology†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦10 IV. Findings†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦11 V. Analysis ........................................†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦14 VI. Conclusion and Recommendations ..............†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..16 VII. References ................................................................................18 VIII. ... According to one Chinese saying when a woman takes up a responsible position or becomes a leader it is more like â€Å"a donkey taking the place of a horse which can only lead to trouble†. There are several other such proverbs which have been belittling the dignity of women in China until the 1970s when the anti-Confucian and Lin Piao campaigns tried to improve the status of women in China. Women are still under-represented in the responsible positions in various careers. They are still deprived of the right pay and after marriage, they find it hard to maintain the right balance between family and work responsibilities (Enderwick & Dunning, 1994). However, economic restructuring, privatization, globalization has changed the nature of work, nature of management and kind of entrepreneurship among women in China. All these have influenced not only the culture of work but also in particular have influenced the equation of gendered relationships in the society of China. (Fielden & Davidson, 2010). Modern women in China today are income generators and also decision makers. Research estimates that in 1950s, women contributed to around 20% to the family income; it rose to 35% by 1990s, and expected to escalate to 52% by 2014.   Mostly, women in China have been facing traditional norms as a main barrier to their holistic growth and development.   Lack of education, early marriage, family responsibilities and the general view that women are meant to be always placed below the level of a man have been the major causes for inequality among men and women. The traditional norms are so imposing that women in China were meant to portray the â€Å"three obediences†, that is women were first supposed to obey

Grey Intelligence Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Grey Intelligence - Essay Example This has forced the government of the United States of America to use unconventional styles to counter terrorism. Intelligence had been converted into a private service. Private companies are playing a prominent role in the interrogation of prisoners besides sending intelligence signals1. It is now official that 70 per cent of United States budget on intelligence services goes to these private companies. The government of United States has heavily invested in paramilitary forces posing the question of reliability and the threat of leakage of government secrets. The concept of grey intelligence or privatization of intelligence has introduced the fears of conflict of interest between the private sector and intelligence agencies2. The United States senate encouraged the relationship between private sector and intelligence community three years after the September 2001 terrorist attack. The contractors outnumber the employees of United States government in Pakistan. The private companies are now involved in water boarding the war crimes detainees using the CIA facilities. The private intelligence companies seem to be allowed to use lethal force in some environments3. Questions have been raised over the use of the United States Special Forces in the paramilitary forces. Many people are increasingly viewing privatization of intelligence as a strategy to use force without an accountability framework. In the military terms, the term intelligence refers to the analytical product of private companies or intelligence agencies. The activities of these private companies are said to be reinforced by covert operations. The use of outsourced or privatized intelligence has spread the use of terrorists surveillance program (TSP). The program enables these companies to intercept electronic messages including phone calls. It is clear that the contractors are involved in water boarding the Al Qaeda detainees. The yielding of

Law an Offer and Acceptance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Law an Offer and Acceptance - Essay Example An offer can be defined as an expression of a willing to contract, on particular terms which becomes binding, upon the acceptance of the one to whom it was directed to. The expression of a contract generally means the form in which the contract is embodied in. It could be expressed in a letter, in the traditional sense, an email, fax and construed from the conduct of the offeror communicating the main grounds for the contract terms. The case of Smith v Hughes defines what entails intention to create legally binding agreement entails. It was held that the court objectively deduct an intention, not on the basis of the offeror’s intention per se but on the premise of what a reasonable man would construe as intention. However, beyond the classic definition of an offer being a bilateral expression of willingness to contract; there are instances in which the court has interpreted unilateral contract and held that they were legally binding. An excellent example emerges from the case of Calil v Carbolic Smoke Ball Company. In this case, the smoke ball company, made an advertisement in the newspaper stating that it will give a reward of 100 pounds for anybody who used the smoke ball as prescribed and still gets influenza, a cold or a related disease. Calil on seeing the advertisement bought the smoke ball used it as per the instructions and, when she contracted the influenza she proceeded with the lawsuit. Lord Lindley, held that it emerged from the conduct of the offeror a waiver of the offeree duty to notify them acceptance from the nature of the public advertisement; and thus an acceptance by Calil was held to be valid thus they were instructed to pay the price of 100 pounds. There are cases in which an offer may be confused with an invitation to treat. An invitation to treat is not an offer, but an invitation of a negotiation of terms of a contract. This was illustrated in the case of Harley v Facey where the owner of some property had indicated that he was w illing to sell his property at a certain rate. The person to whom this was directed took it as an offer and moved to court to enforce the said offer. It was held that it was an invitation to treat thus, made with the intention of receiving offers. There are four kinds of invitation to treat in common law in common law. One is an auction, where a bid is held to be an offer for the auctioneer to either accept or reject. In Payne v Cave, D made the highest bid for an item in an auction but withdrew the bid before the fall of the hammer. It was held that the bid was an offer and thus revocable before acceptance. Acceptance occurs at the fall of the hammer. An advertisement is also an invitation to treat and not an offer. In the case of Partridge v Crittenden, D made an advertisement for the sale of a protected species of birds and was sued under respective Act. It was held that the advertisement was a mere invitation to treat and not an offer. Exhibition for goods for sale like it is do ne in supermarkets constitute an invitation for customers to make offers and are not offers in itself. In the case of Fisher v Bell where it was held, displaying goods with the price on them was an invitation to treat and receive offers which the shopkeeper could either accept or reject. An invitation for tenders is the last example of invitations to treat and not an offer. Response to the tenders is the offers that the person who advertised the tenders can either accept or

A part of an outline for security on campus paper Essay

A part of an outline for security on campus paper - Essay Example It is wise to enquire what other campuses have done to deal with insecurity and boost the security of their schools. There are professionals who have studied crime, criminals and psychology. They can help identify the weakest areas in security on the campus. Moreover, they can appraise and audit the campus security apparatus and staff against the crime in the campus area. This will provide video records of the movement of students around the campus. Students or other people showing suspicious behaviour will be easily noted by security personnel from the command centre who will remain on high alert. Students will complain about their privacy. However, they will be issued with a privacy policy from the campus that will indicate the records will only be used for security purposes (Phaneuf 48). Criminals like lurking in the dark. The dark conceals their identities and thus evidence of a crime cannot be traced back to them. There should be enough lighting. Lighting will increase surveillance by security personnel and movement can be easily noted in the dark. Vulnerable rooms are those that are easy to get. Vulnerable rooms on campus, especially those that contain valuables such as university electronics, exam papers and so on should not be easily accessible. The doors should be made from metal and cameras should be installed so that any suspicious movement or attempt to break in is traced back to the criminal. Police officers are implementers of the law. When a crime occurs, they should be informed so that they restore law and order. Criminals are then arrested. Early reporting can help prevent a crime from taking

CAPM ana Capital Budgeting Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

CAPM ana Capital Budgeting - Essay Example The estimation of the cost of capital in turn is based upon the CAPM. However, not only does recent discourses in academic literature challenge the validity of the CAPM model, there is lack of consensus regarding the adequate measure of the market risk premium, a central input required for computing the cost of capital using the CAPM. However, in spite of these short comings, the CAPM has survived as the predominant quantitative model in its class for over 40 years since its inception. It is precisely this paradox the paper in concern addresses. In particular, Jagannathan and Meler (2002) offer an explanation to the following question: in spite of the various short comings of the CAPM model in computing the cost of capital, why do majority of managers report using the model to make critical decisions? The answer they offer is that in the real world, computing the exact cost of capital may not be crucial for optimal decisions. Hence, although the CAPM may not provide the exact value o f cost of capital, but it still remains useful for managers. Assuming rationed organizational and managerial capital which implies that not all projects with positive NPVs can be invested in, the paper shows that utilizing a hurdle rate greater than the cost of capital and the typical NPV computations, the value of waiting for an option can be accounted for. Therefore, the exact value of cost of capital no longer remains an imperative for optimal decisions. The idea that discounting values are set much higher than the cost of capital has significant support in financial literature. Stein (2001) for instance shows that aspects like agency costs arising out of asymmetric informational situations among share owners and managers leads to setting of discount rates that are much higher than the actual cost of capital. Empirical literature also lends further support to the claim by establishing the existence of a large number of hurdle rates that are set higher than the cost of capital (Po terba and Summers, 1995). Truong, Partington and Peat (2008) have also established that there are a number of hurdle rates used in the capital budgeting procedure in Australia. The critiques of using CAPM in capital budgeting fundamentally stem from two particular difficulties. First, the time horizon of the basic model is limited to a single period. But in reality, investment appraisals of firms typically involve decision making over multiple periods. Thus, this raises the question of applicability of the CAPM in investment appraisal in the real world. Secondly, computing discount rates specific to particular projects can prove difficult owing to for instance, difficulties arising in identification of appropriate proxy betas as proxy companies usually undertake multiple activities simultaneously. Disentangling the beta specific to a project may prove near impossible because these require certain information that may be extremely difficult to obtain. (Head, 2008) Additionally, it ha s been shown that although the NPV criterion can be utilized to make accept/reject decisions, these are valid and optimal only if the discount rate is not computed using the CAPM (Magni, 2009). In light of the discussion above what emerges essentially is that the CAPM generates estimates of cost of capital

The European Union in International Commercial Negotiations Essay Example for Free

The European Union in International Commercial Negotiations Essay Commercial negotiation is negotiation in the context of a business setting such that it involves the management of commercial activities that includes contract negotiation and project management with the sole intention of making maximum returns from the same. This process allows for the development and creation of new business opportunities CITATION Bea00 l 1033 ( Beasor Steele, 2000). The job description of commercial negotiators includes an overviewing role in the whole sales process and to some extend responsible for the implementation of a detailed business sales plan. The overall role is to make sure they retrieve the best deal out of any business opportunity. It is therefore important for a commercial negotiator to have a grasp of the customers’ business needs in order to offer the required products and services demanded by the consumer. Commercial negotiation entails the following vital functions. Conducting market research of the different products by the business, analysis of data from the sale activities of a business, provision of financial reports to the senior management of the business and also to the different stakeholders of the enterprise. Another function is the identification of new opportunities for the business, commercial negotiation also includes reviewing and assessing opportunities for new businesses. Commercial negotiators play a critical role in the maximization of the revenue from the business. Commercial negotiation thus requires one to have the necessary skills to excel in the field. One needs to have great interpersonal skills that will enable them to easily interact with people. This is important in order to win and sell ideas to the people one interacts without stepping outside one mandate. Procedural and communication skills are necessary for commercial negotiators because of the constant flow of information from team members. One should also be accommodative of other team member’s opinions that are different from dependable as a commercial negotiator. Commercial negotiators play a pivotal role in the success of any business. A successful commercial negotiator brings together control elements and definitions and operates them efficiently. This means that a successful commercial negotiator will apply leadership skills already applied in the departmental running. The role of a commercial negotiator is to blend responsibilities related to project execution, planni ng, monitoring and achievement of the desired goals. For someone to be a successful manager they should have demonstrated ability to lead others and organize work CITATION Gat11 l 1033 (Gates, 2011). A commercial negotiator needs to have contact with other required resources. For projects that need coordination between divisions and departments, a commercial negotiator with contacts outside a single department is required. An aspiring commercial negotiator should ensure and develop contacts within the organizations departments to help run a project successfully. They should also be able to coordinate a diverse pool of resources. This would be achieved by working with different people from different backgrounds and disciplines. As an aspiring commercial negotiator, one should be able to supervise and delegate work in areas alien to their background. All this is possible by having a close rapport and teamwork. Procedural and communication skills. This is because of the constant flow of information from team members. One should also be accommodative of other team member’s opinions that are different from dependable as a commercial negotiator. Commercial negotiation skills and techniques in the western world (European Union) and China For one to do business abroad he has to understand the various cultures and practices that are accepted in the process of commercial negotiation. Before travelling to the European Union one has to consider the required etiquette that is observed and required in the meetings, negotiations and business protocol. Europeans are known to be humorless, stubborn, and aggressive they also pay attention to details. A successful business has to understand the cross cultural aspects to present the right etiquette. The Europeans are strictly formal while doing business and according to them it’s wrong to swap jokes or have informal chats when working. Europe is a significant trade partner for many states. Learning to do business in Europe and understanding their business practices, culture and etiquette improves skills and success of international business men CITATION Meu05 l 1033 ( Meunier, 2005).The first aspect of etiquette in Europe’s business spheres is Organization. They are usually uneasy with ambiguity and disorder. They lean towards conservatism and conformism they don’t like uncertainty so one has to have first-hand information and facts at hand. When doing business in Europe, one has to emphasize on careful planning. One has to consult and get a consensus before presenting his idea and opinions. European commercial negotiations appreciate statistics, facts and details and there is no room for mistakes and omissions. To observe business etiquette one has to avert risk and negate uncertainty. The stress on conformity and fear of risk makes them apprehensive and they guarantee security through risk analysis. This is ensured by keen deliberation and scrutiny based on factual evidence and not intuition. They prefer written documentation as it is the safest and objective for analysis. In communication the Chinese mind their privacy and they usually divide their private and public life. While communicating one has to be formal and stick to official duty. They don’t talk about their private lives as they are protective of personal issues. They prefer their communication to be short direct and straight to the point. They consider emotions unnecessary in conversations at the work place.They don’t talk out of context as they only stick to the issue at hand. The Chinese also prefer brief greetings and that’s why they only do short handshakes When several people are being introduced they take turns to greet each other and they avoid reaching out over someone’s hand. They find it rude to greet someone with one hand in the pocket and when women enter a room the men stand as a show of politeness. The men sit after all the women have taken their seats. The Chinese etiquette requires that people are addressed using Mr., Ms or Mrs. followed by the s urname. The only people who are allowed to use the first names are family members and very close friends. The Chinese culture also insists on the use of professional titles such as doctors, academics and others. One has to establish professional titles before any meeting. They use the surnames to maintain formality and respect CITATION Lam00 l 1033 ( Lam, 2000). Punctuality is another important aspect of etiquette in Europe. Punctuality is a serious issue as they value their time. The business people are usually under a lot of pressure and they plan for their time very well to meet their daily objectives. Being late shows disrespect for people and their time, it is also a show that the person is not interested or not serious about the business deal or meeting. The punctuality is seen as a sign of commitment to the business. Europeans also don’t mix humor with business affairs. If jokes are made they should be in context and tasteful. They usually have a very strict protocol in their meetings leaving little room for humor. They believe that when jokes are made during business then the meeting seizes to be formal. In doing business with Europeans one has to plan ahead the meetings should be booked two to three weeks in advance. They have a culture where they hold their meetings between eleven to one and three to five p.m. They avoid mee tings on Friday afternoons, during their regional festivities and the holiday months of July, December and August.Their meetings in most cases are usually formal, functional and they stick to the set agenda. The set start time and finish time are obeyed by all means so everything is done within the time limit. They prioritize business as they discourage relationship building and small talks CITATION Lam00 l 1033 ( Lam, 2000). They analyze commercial negotiation proposals thoroughly while considering every detail. They ensure the information and facts are provided in written and scientifically presented. They make logical conclusion basing on the empirical details. Decisions are not made based on the subject’s charm or marketing skills but they consider concrete facts and the accuracy found in the details. The Europeans are slow when it comes to making decisions hence the proceedings should not be rushed. They take their time as they try to furnish the decisions with additional information. Once a decision is reached they rarely change their mind regarding the same. They give respect priority and they give each other personal space in the work environment. They are not allowed to touch during meetings and business dealings. They don’t mix official meeting with social issues. They prefer official dressing when doing commercial negotiations .They rarely dress in casual clothes when working. Europeans trade show participants do not wear badges. Introductions are saved until the visitor shows interest. If the introduction is made too early they consider it superficial and intrusive. Europeans also don’t give their business cards quite easily. They value their privacy and in case they hand you one it should be treated as confidential and private. It should not be passed to another person without the owner’s permission. In calling the Europeans they take it offensively when they are not referred to by their title and name. Europeans shake hands to say hello and goodbye. The hand shake should be done using a firm grip. This is a show of respect and also it depicts the appreciation of the colleague. Women are the ones to be greeted first and not while seated. The men have to stand before they greet women this clearly shows the high level of respect they maintain in the working area. They also have a culture of maintaining eye contact. This is a show of confidence and legitimacy. In Germany company stability and long term commitment are top priorities. Europeans are usually curious about the company ownership, history and the product lines. References will be requested to prove honesty and reliability. Because of all this the process may be slow and trying to speed them up is considered rude and suspicious. Importance of Knowledge on Target Culture in Commercial Negotiation The influence of cultural diversity has major impacts on work relationships in most organizations commercial negotiation. The cross cultural occurrence affects communication between employees, causing confusion and thereafter results in misunderstanding in the workplace. It is therefore important for both managers and their employees to understand the target cultures’ communication process and recognize the sources of cross cultural conflicts. Depending on how they are managed, cross cultural conflicts may have either positive or negative outcomes. It is also important for managers to develop better skills that help in handling the complications caused by different cultures. Managers should be able to convert the problems of cultural diversity into strengths of the organization CITATION Bea00 l 1033 ( Beasor Steele, 2000). This is so to avoid getting in disputes in different cross-cultural platforms. As a commercial negotiator it is important to identify and address any underlying disputes or conflicts before anything goes wrong at the workplace. I have made it clear to my employees of the expected behaviors at the work place and most importantly during their interactions with foreign customers. As a negotiator one is the greatest ally but greatest obstacle to effective management of my employees. One has to closest to the junior managers who need to adapt to the new behaviors and cultures associated with management programs. Getting supervisors and managers on board and taking the lead in supporting cultural diversity is an important aspect of my commercial negotiation skills. This will ensure that employees are given an opportunity and platform to interact and raise any issues or concerns that they might have. Most importantly, employees should be given a chance to develop their own competencies and skills for enhancing cultural sensitivity among other employees in the company. As a commercial negotiator working in a multicultural company, it has been necessary for me to develop my skills in cross-cultural conflict management which affects productivity in the long run. Cross-cultural disputes have often lead to voluntary employment termination. These conflicts resulted in the loss of working time and loss of morale CITATION Bea00 l 1033 ( Beasor Steele, 2000). References   Beasor, T., Steele, P. (2000). Business Negotiation: A Practical Workbook. London: Gower Publishing, Ltd. Lam, M. L.-L. (2000). Working with Chinese Expatriates in Business Negotiations: Portraits, Issues, and Applications. Greenwood Publishing Group. Meunier, S. (2005). Trading Voices: The European Union in International Commercial Negotiations. Princeton : Princeton University Press. Adoranti, F. (2006). The Managers Guide to Understanding Commercial Contract Negotiation. New York: Global Professional Publishers. Burke, W. (n.d.). An examination of the commercial principles of the late negotiation between Great Britain and France in MDCCLXI: In which the system of that negotiation with regard to our colonies and commerce is considered (Google eBook). Printed for R. and J. Dodsley. Fox, W. F. (2009). International Commercial Agreements: A Primer on Drafting, Negotiating, and Resolving Disputes. Kluwer Law International. Gates, S. (2011). The Negotiation Book: Your Definitive Guide To Successful Negotiating. New York: John Wiley Sons. Marsh, P. D. (2001). Contract Negotiation Handbook. London: Gower Publishing, Ltd. Pye, L. W. (1990). Chinese Commercial Negotiating Style. Hong Kong: Oelgeschlager, Gunn Hain, Publishers. Ward, D. (2012). Contract Negotiation Handbook: Getting the Most Out of Commercial Deals. New York: John Wiley Sons. Source document

The Crime Film Genre and Coppolas The Godfather

The Crime Film Genre and Coppolas The Godfather Introduction Genre theory Films belong to different kind of genres which depend on the content of the film. One of the familiar types of movies available in the market today and the entire movie industry is crime and drama type of movies that are loved by most youth today. (Corliss, 2014). Crime films are arguably the most complex genre of movies that reflect our ideology of moral order and justice in society, lawful even illicit, desirable and sometimes unworthy. Crime genre of films mirrors society because of its relationship with the complexity of real live events that fulfill the audience’s desire for mayhem and underdog characters. The critical alternative and tradition, for the most part, focuses on the nature of the film where the traditional movies tend to emphasize heroism together with the restoration of moral order in the society. (Seel, 2008). The earliest crime film is traced to be the silent epoch in 1897-1927. Duringthis Progressive erain the United States of America. Social conditions that existed this time, such as immigration together with increased urbanizationled to a proliferation ofmost organized crimes, social anarchy and there was also a distrust of the government activities. Serial killer movie genres have far more cerebral-thinking characters the slasher movies. Serial killers have specialized victims in them and a consistent way of committing crimes in the same movies. More than this, these films once emerged during a time when conservative criminal justice policies were more and society viewed crimes as inherently evil people. There was a big need for research and funding in dealing with serial murderers. And to make matters worse, criminologists and psychologists were less careful to this pattern of behavior. But serial killer movies grew in fame due to the increase of actual serial killer cases worldwide and human interest in movies that are awry in nature. (Poon, 2006). The Godfather first movie The Godfather is a 1972 American film in which the director was Francis Ford. The producer of this movie was Albert Ruddy and the screenplay was facilitated by Mario Puzo together with Coppola. Starring in the movie was Marlon Brando and one Al Pacino, who were leaders of a fictional New York family of crime, the story was written between 1945and 1955. The concentration was on the transformation of Michael Corleone from being in a reluctant family outsider to a ruthless Mafia boss while undertaking the Corleones under the one patriarch Vito. This movie that was ideally based on a script labored between for some period by Puzo and later given form, I believe, by director gets the same feel by the person watching. We even tend to observe with Don Corleone’s family not that we dig gang wars, but just because we have been with them from the start, watching them in the movie wait for battle while situated even at the kitchen table in the activity of eating. (Welsh, Fleming Dowler, 2011). The Godfather† himself in the movie is not even the central character in the drama. The position goes to the youngest and the brightest son known as Michael, who keenly understands the way of his father’s position while revising his old ways of life. The Godfather’s role in the family business is described by his name as he stands outside the next generation that will move on and eventually angle the family into the legitimate business. In the film, Brando’s performance is skillful. Though it earned him an Award of the Academy for the best actor. His voice is wheezy and also whispery. We also notice that physical movements deliberately lack enough precision in the film. The effect of lack of precision is of a man so accustomed to the power that he no longer needs to remind others of it. Brando does look the part of old one, Don Corleone, just because of acting and partly because of his makeup. However at some point, he seems to have stuffed a bit of cotton into his jowls, making his lower face immobile. (Poon, 2006). The genre conventions available. The film genre convention is the presentation of the film.the way the actions of the actors convey the theme, and the title of the movie is what genre convention is all about.In the Godfather movie, the act of family loyalties was portrayed. With his father at the end of his career and also his brother too weak, Michael takes the reins of the family and then promising Kay that he will make the business legitimate within five years period. To this end, he insists that Hagen has to relocate to Las Vegas and relinquish his role to Vito for Tom is not a wartime consigliere and thus the older man concurs that Tom should have no part in whatever will in case happen in the coming battles with their rival families. At the time when Michael travels to Las Vegas in order to buy out Greenes stake from the familys casinos, their partner derides the family for being run out of town. Michael, to his dismay, notices that Fredo has fallen beneath Greenes sway. (Navarro, 2012). We also see that there are violence and murder. When Vito suffers a fatal heart attack and dies, at the funeral Tessio, one of the Don’s capos, approaches Michael in order to arrange a meeting between him and Barzini, exposing on the treachery that Vito had just forewarned. The meeting is set to occur the same day as it was for the christening of Connie’s baby. As Michael stands on the altar as the childs godfather, Corleone just assassins murder to the other New York dons and Moe Greene. Tessio is executed because of his betrayal, and then Michael extracts Carlo’s confession for his involvement in setting up Sonnys murder of Barzini, and also Clemenza garrotes Carlo with a wire. Kay tries hard to comfort Connie when she goes on and accuses Michael of killing her dear husband and ordering other executions, and she is finally relieved when he finally denies it. But when the capos arrive, they address her husband as Don Corleone. (Andrew, 2008). References Andrew, D. (2008). The GODFATHER. (Cover story). Film Comment, 44(6), 38-42. Corliss, R. (2014). Corleone Family Values: The Godfather Part II at 40. Time.Com, N.PAG. Navarro, V. (2012). Nonfictional Performance from Portrait Films to the Internet. Cinema Journal, 51(3), 136-141 Poon, P. (2006). The Corleone CHRONICLES. Journal Of Popular Film Television, 33(4), 187-195. Poon, P. (2006). The Tragedy of Michael Corleone in The Godfather: Part III.. Literature Film Quarterly, 34(1), 64-70. Roundtable on the Return to Classical Film Theory. (2014). October, (148), 5-26. Seel, M. (2008). Realism and Anti-Realism in Film Theory. Critical Horizons, 9(2), 157-175. Welsh, A., Fleming, T., Dowler, K. (2011). Constructing crime and justice on film: meaning and message in cinema. Contemporary Justice Review, 14(4), 457-476. doi:10.1080/10282580.2011.616376

Hazard And Hazard Management Construction Essay

Hazard And Hazard Management Construction Essay The construction industry is characterized by a relatively high injury and illness rate compared to other industries. In the past two decades more than 26,000 U.S. construction workers have died at work. That equates to approximately five construction worker deaths every working day. Safe practices can help eliminate the hazards present in the construction industry, and reduce the number of on-the-job injuries and deaths. The techniques in the construction industry have been improved due to the rapid development of science and technology. However, the constructional hazards are not decreased as expected. To reduce or prevent occupational hazards in the construction industry, some methods were proposed to provide a prevention and improvement technique against occupational hazards. A method was developed to identify important hazard types and hazard causes. Additionally, especial analyses were performed to assess the risk value of the hazard. 2. Hazard and Hazard Management: Hazards identification is the act of identifying the failure conditions or threats which could lead to undesirable events. It may be outlined as a condition, object, activity or event with the potential of inflicting injuries or sick health to personnel, injury to property, loss of fabric, or reduction of the ability to perform a prescribed operate or combination of those (DOSH, 2006). Paul Everitt and Anthony Price (2004) define hazard as à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬ ¢any source or situation with the potential to cause harm to the safety and health of people or damage the environment or to plant / equipment. Because the existence of a hazard is not always obvious, and increases with human interaction a structured and systematic approach is essential in compiling a comprehensive list of hazards. The hazard management means, the method of implementing counter measures to decrease the chance of hazard. 3. The project features and their relation to the construction hazard To determine that how the project features contribute to construction hazard, it needs to categorize the project to the specific project features and breaking that down into a sequence of stages, and then, identifying all possible loss-of-control incident that may occur during the construction work. 3.1. The project features and the sequence of stages: Foundations: Excavation Pilling Structural activities Concrete Slabs Cast-in-place concrete columns and walls Erecting pre-cast slabs Erecting pre-cast walls Forming walls with stone cladding Finishing activities: Brick masonry Stone cladding Exterior plastering Gypsum boards Floor tiling Roof insulation Roof sealing Glazing Other activities Electrical installation Plumbing HVAC installation 3.2. Some sub-activities of the above stages are: According to the above category there are some sub-activities that would be hazardous in construction sites such as: Activity Sub-activity Hazard Event Foundation Excavation Cave- in Collapse the excavation wall Piling Sequencing of piling work Conflict with other parts of the project construction, creating unsafe working conditions Piles located in positions in restricted working space Personal injury from falling debris, crushing. Unsafe removal of guards or auger cleaners. Risk to third parties Piling near to the top of slopes Slope failure, rig overturning Working in excavations Access ramps and wall props can hold up working space Structural activities Concrete Slabs Slips, trips Fall Cast-in-place concrete walls with stone cladding Pouring concrete using a crane bucket Filling bucket Concrete spatter Exterior working Preparing the wall area Filling holes Dropping an object Casting lightweight concrete for drainage Casting concrete Pouring the concrete Dropping an object Concrete columns and walls Fix steel rebar cage Final ties Collision with steel bars Drywall construction Erecting the framing Attaching studs to exterior masonry or concrete walls Spatter of debris from drilling or nailing Exterior stucco Manually applying an insulating layer Curing and cutting protrusions Struck by a tool Cast-in-place concrete columns and walls Installing forms Cleaning and greasing forms in height Fall from a ladder Concrete columns and walls Casting concrete with a crane Lifting a bucket full of concrete Crane collapse A researcher argued that, according to the fatalities statistic, 40% of that involved incidents related to falls from height. Inadequate, removed, or inappropriate use of fall protection equipment contributed to more than 30% of the falls. As these statistics indicate, safety in construction remains a big problem. As good safety practices and records create a positive, hazard free, and productive work environment, planning for safety at the front-end of a project is not only the first but also a fundamental step for managing safety. There are some hazard identification tools, such as: Text Brainstorming Checklist Structured What-if (SWIFT) 4. Some Common Construction Hazard Issues: 4.1. Construction Hazards: Construction hazards may include falls, extreme heights, falling from rooftops, machinery failure, unguarded machinery, being struck by heavy construction equipment, electrocutions, silica dust, asbestos, lead, welding emissions, accidents, structure collapse, roofing and pavement tar, engine exhaust fumes, and other hazards. Construction sites include residential construction, bridge erection, roadway paving, excavations, demolitions, and big painting jobs. 4.2. Construction Hazard Statistics According to OSHA : Figure 1 shows that falls from elevation generally represent the leading cause of a death due to construction related activity, representing about 33% of all construction fatalities. Getting struck by some object, caught in-between two objects, and electrical shock is also leading factors of construction fatalities. Together, these make up about 90% of all construction fatalities. It is important to note that over the last few years, these numbers have statistically declined or increased in a linear, proportion fashion. The occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Statistics show that about 90% of the fatalities occur from four types of injuries. These injuries may be from falls from height such as scaffolding or ladders, being struck by objects, being caught between objects, and electrocution. There are other common hazards in construction sites that may include power tools and equipment, Heavy machinery, excavations, and confined. 4.3. Is the Engineers and Safety Staff are blame? Failures in hazard identification are often due to the limited expertise or oversight of engineers or safety staff when planning or executing safety practices, or poor training of construction staff. Examples are tasks in design for safety, safety inspection, and monitoring safety. Failure in any of these can result in increased risk of exposing workers to hazards in the construction environment. Safety planning in construction is generally done separately from project execution planning and involves different actors. This separation and the resulting lack of communication create difficulties for safety engineers to analyze what, when, why, and where the hazards located for preventing accidents. 5. Fall Hazards Identification and Preventive Measures: As mentioned above, 40% of involved incidents are related to falls from height, due to that here will focus on Identifying and assessing the hazards and risks as an essential step in safety management. The potential fall hazards regarding to construction features are, holes in slabs, leading or unbounded edges of the floor slab, and openings in walls. According to OSHA a slab hole means a gap or void of 2 in. (5.1 cm) or more in its least dimension. A hole can exist at several heights, for example, on a floor (e.g., concrete slab), a roof (e.g., skylight), or any other walking/working surface. Similar rules exist for openings in walls, for example, unprotected windows. Regardless of the size of the hole or opening, if the location of the object is elevated more than 1.8 m (6 ft), it would be hazardous. The preventive measure for falls include, always using appropriate fall protection, installing and maintaining perimeter protection when working from heights, covering and securing all floor openings, and following safe practices when using ladders and scaffolds. 6. Conclusion: The construction industry has been considered an accident prone industry. Alarming statistics indicate that the construction industry accounts for 55,000 fatal injuries each year. That is because construction sites are often filled with potential hazards that can lead to serious injury or death. Safety planning can be considered in the scheduling stage for early detection, including identification of a hazardous location, and schedule for implementation of protective safety equipment. Construction sites, unlike other production facilities, undergo changes in topography, topology and work conditions throughout the duration of the projects. These features make managing construction site-safety more difficult than managing safety in manufacturing plants. Mostly in construction, a different approach is needed to identify hazards and risks, increase safety and prevent accidents. The employee is responsible for reporting any defects in the workplace or on any of the equipment that is being used. A workplace inspection is a critical part of a comprehensive safety and health program in which the workplace is examined closely on a regular basis for the purpose of: Identifying and recording potential and actual hazards associated with buildings, equipment, environment, and processes. Identifying hazards which require immediate attention. Ensuring that existing hazard controls are functioning and recommending corrective action.

Do Not Follow Doctors Orders :: essays research papers

I remember when in class in Kindergarden our teacher had to tell us about our little classmate that would not be coming back to school anymore. She had died from a very bad virus and her parents did not take her to the doctor nor did they give her the medicine the doctor had prescribed to her so she got very sick and died. We later found out it was menengitis but at that time all we knew as that she died because her parents did not do what the doctor told them to do. I have always trusted my doctor and believed thats the reason the go to school for so many years, to be able to tell you, to recomend and prescribe the best medicinal treatment for what ever it is that ails you but, now our government, not doctors, not my doctors anyway, are not qualified to make any sort of medical decision what-so-ever, are telling me to dis obey my doctors recomendation or they will put me in jail, destroy my life, my familys life, cost the tax payers thousands if not hundreds of thousands of dollars and for what good reason? It is not reason enough that our government does not believe it is any good as a medicine, nor do they have any legal reason because they allow alcohol as a recreational drug, tobacco, the number one cause of lung cancer and it also kills hundreds of thousands of people with its second hand smoke, backed by scientific facts of coarse but what about the facts needed to prove that marijuana has no value as a medicinal plant? HOG WASH It is the number one cash crop and the government wants to figure out how they are going to have full controll over it, they just admitted it in an article. You do your own research and see if you can prove any of what I said here wrong. Ha Ha Ha! I know the facts and the facts are it is a very good and extremely valuable medicinal plant and as long as it is under government black ball, we are allowing our government to take away our freedom to a degree that has only been done once before and that was with alcohol. Watch and listen, I will be posting here daily as long as they allow me to. Oh yea, they won another one today!!!

Summary of Holes by Louis Sachar Essay -- essays research papers

HOLES LOUIS SACHAR Stanley Yelnats is under a curse, one that began with his no-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealing-great-great-grandfather and has followed generations of Yelnats. Stanley has been falsely convicted of stealing Clyde ?Sweet Feet? Livingston?s, a famous baseball player, sneakers from a homeless shelter. Now he must attend a boy?s detention center, Camp Green Lake, where bad boys dig holes all day, every day, digging holes five feet wide and five feet deep, to become good boys. There is no lake at Camp Green Lake, But there are an awful a lot of holes. When Stanley first gets to the camp he meets Mr. Sir a man that dresses like a cowboy and has just quit smoking. Mr. Sir tells Stanley that if he wants to run he can run, but that Camp Green Lake is the only place with water for a hundred miles. Then Stanley goes to his tent, tent D, and meets his guidance counselor Mr. Pendanski who everyone else calls ?Mom?. He is introduced to his fellow inmates who are Squid, X-ray, Magnet, Armpit, Zigzag, and Zero. Stanley quickly learns that there nicknames are there only names to call them when he calls Armpit ?Theodore? and gets thrown to the ground. The kids ask Stanley why they sent him to the camp and he tells them it was his no-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealing-great-great-grandfather. He was unjustly convicted of stealing Clyde Livingston?s cleats from a shelter. Stanley was walking when they just fell from the sky and hit him on the head, he took them and started to run home when the police pulled him over and thought he had stole them. Stanley pleaded his case to the court but they didn?t believe and it was Camp Green Lake or jail, as any sane kid would, he picked the camp. Camp Green Lake reminded Stanley of th... ...s the song ?If only, if only? and since zero is the descendant of Madame Zeroni he breaks the curse that was on his bloodline. They continue traveling when they decide to start digging for treasure. They start digging because Stanley found lipstick that belonged to Kate Barlow and they went back to the area where they found it. Stanley and Hector find the treasure but are surrounded by yellow spotted lizards so they have no choice but to stay in the hole with out moving. A lawyer comes to Camp Green Lake looking for Stanley and the warden and the counselors star looking for them. The next day the warden finds them in the hole and tries to take the treasure but it has Stanley?s name on it. The lawyer goes to take Stanley home and he says he will only go if they can take Zero. Since the warden erased Hector?s files the camp gets shutdown and everyone goes back home.

Educational stages Essay

Education in its general sense is a form of learning in which knowledge, skills, and habits of a group of people are transferred from one generation to the next through teaching, training, research, or simply through autodidacticism. [1] Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts. Systems of schooling involve institutionalized teaching and learning in relation to a curriculum, which itself is established according to a predetermined purpose of the schools in the system. Schools systems were also based on people’s religion giving them different curricula. [edit] Curriculum Main articles: Curriculum, Curriculum theory, and List of academic disciplines School children in Durban, South Africa. In formal education, a curriculum is the set of courses and their content offered at a school or university. As an idea, curriculum stems from the Latin word for race course, referring to the course of deeds and experiences through which children grow to become mature adults. A curriculum is prescriptive, and is based on a more general syllabus which merely specifies what topics must be understood and to what level to achieve a particular grade or standard. An academic discipline is a branch of knowledge which is formally taught, either at the university–or via some other such method. Each discipline usually has several sub-disciplines or branches, and distinguishing lines are often both arbitrary and ambiguous. Examples of broad areas of academic disciplines include the natural sciences, mathematics, computer science, social sciences, humanities and applied sciences. [5] Educational institutions may incorporate fine arts as part of K-12 grade curriculums or within majors at colleges and universities as electives. The various types of fine arts are music, dance, and theater. [6] [edit] Preschools Main article: Preschool education The term preschool refers to a school for children who are not old enough to attend kindergarten. It is a nursery school. Preschool education is important because it can give a child the edge in a competitive world and education climate. [citation needed] While children who do not receive the fundamentals during their preschool years will be taught the alphabet, counting, shapes and colors and designs when they begin their formal education they will be behind the children who already possess that knowledge. The true purpose behind kindergarten is â€Å"to provide a child-centered, preschool curriculum for three to seven year old children that aimed at unfolding the child’s physical, intellectual, and moral nature with balanced emphasis on each of them. †[7] [edit] Primary schools Main article: Primary education Primary school in open air. Teacher (priest) with class from the outskirts of Bucharest, around 1842. Primary (or elementary) education consists of the first 5–7 years of formal, structured education. In general, primary education consists of six or eight years of schooling starting at the age of five or six, although this varies between, and sometimes within, countries. Globally, around 89% of primary-age children are enrolled in primary education, and this proportion is rising. [8] Under the Education For All programs driven by UNESCO, most countries have committed to achieving universal enrollment in primary education by 2015, and in many countries, it is compulsory for children to receive primary education. The division between primary and secondary education is somewhat arbitrary, but it generally occurs at about eleven or twelve years of age. Some education systems have separate middle schools, with the transition to the final stage of secondary education taking place at around the age of fourteen. Schools that provide primary education, are mostly referred to as primary schools. Primary schools in these countries are often subdivided into infant schools and junior school. In India, compulsory education spans over twelve years, out of which children receive elementary education for 8 years. Elementary schooling consists of five years of primary schooling and 3 years of upper primary schooling. Various states in the republic of India provide 12 years of compulsory school education based on national curriculum framework designed by the National Council of Educational Research and Training. Students working with a teacher at Albany Senior High School, New Zealand Students in a classroom at Samdach Euv High School, Cambodia In most contemporary educational systems of the world, secondary education comprises the formal education that occurs during adolescence. It is characterized by transition from the typically compulsory, comprehensive primary education for minors, to the optional, selective tertiary, â€Å"post-secondary†, or â€Å"higher† education (e. g. university, vocational school) for adults. Depending on the system, schools for this period, or a part of it, may be called secondary or high schools, gymnasiums, lyceums, middle schools, colleges, or vocational schools. The exact meaning of any of these terms varies from one system to another. The exact boundary between primary and secondary education also varies from country to country and even within them, but is generally around the seventh to the tenth year of schooling. Secondary education occurs mainly during the teenage years. In the United States, Canada and Australia primary and secondary education together are sometimes referred to as K-12 education, and in New Zealand Year 1–13 is used. The purpose of secondary education can be to give common knowledge, to prepare for higher education or to train directly in a profession. The emergence of secondary education in the United States did not happen until 1910, caused by the rise in big businesses and technological advances in factories (for instance, the emergence of electrification), that required skilled workers. In order to meet this new job demand, high schools were created, with a curriculum focused on practical job skills that would better  prepare students for white collar or skilled blue collar work. This proved to be beneficial for both employers and employees, for the improvement in human capital caused employees to become more efficient, which lowered costs for the employer, and skilled employees received a higher wage than employees with just primary educational attainment. In Europe, grammar schools or academies date from as early as the 16th century, in the form of public schools, fee-paying schools, or charitable educational foundations, which themselves have an even longer history.

An analysis of eHarmony, including the five forces according to Porter Essay

1.1 The threat of new entrants The biggest threat to eHarmony and other paid dating sites was the free dating sites that were the newest entrants into the market. These sites did not have major restrictions to joining and did not necessarily do the match-making for the members. According to Piskorski, Halaburda & Smith, very many people subscribed to such sites as witnessed by the rise of â€Å"Plenty of Fish† in 2007 to become the most frequently visited in Canada and the U.K, and fourth in the United States(8). 1.2 Bargaining power of suppliers A study by eHarmony showed that couples who met through eHarmony had happier and more successful relationships than those from other online sites (Piskorski, Halaburda & Smith 6). Accordingly, eHarmony charged twice as much prescription fees as other sites but the company revenue continued growing mostly because the customers were satisfied with the product. 1.3 Rivalry among existing competitors eHarmony’s biggest competitor, Match, had also come up with â€Å"Chemistry† a new dating site that had the same match-making idea as eHarmony. However, Match priced its site at 10% less than what eHarmony was charging. However, despite such competition eHarmony was able to distinguish itself by offering more personalized services that allowed for guided communication between would-be partners by use of personality profiles. 1.4 The threat posed by substitute products Apart from Match, according to Piskorski, Halaburda, & Smith other free sites were coming up all over the internet that made it difficult for paid online sites to retain members (1). People were opting for the more personalized yet free online sites instead of having to pay for similar services on paid sites. However, these users were more of the casual daters; but those seeking serious relationships continued their subscription to eHarmony. 1.5 Bargaining power of buyers Being a paid online site means that the company charged premiums for people  to communicate with the people they had been matched with. However, even non-paying members could be matched with potential partners only that the former could not send messages. This caused paying members to complain that sometimes they sent messages to non-paying members and never got any response, meaning it was a loss in investment. This made the company consider showing paying members which messages had been read and which ones had not. 2. eHarmony’s value proposition At eHarmony, the customer gets the chance to communicate with a potential partner after having paid for the communication process. The value provided in eHarmony’s business model concerns giving the paying member guided communication with a potential partner. The company ensures that they consider the preferences of the applicants before starting on the match-making process. According to Piskorski, Halaburda & Smith, the company considers the similarities among applicants in order to start the match-making process (6). In line with this, the company considers a person’s characteristics, interests, and values and looks for a person whose profile is similar. In fact, the company has gone against the traditional idea that opposites attract and opted for the similar traits while match-making. This assures the customer of the value of the investment they make when subscribing for the site as it offers more personalized and workable options than other sites. 3. eHarmony’s business level strategy eHarmony’s success is based on the business level strategy employed by the company through which, the company is able to identify its customer base, the services needed, and how to satisfy those needs. When eHarmony started in 2001, the customer base was, mainly composed of people seeking serious relationships especially among faith-based communities. Piskorski, Halaburda & Smith write that eHarmony received over 100,000 subscriptions within the first few weeks after launching (4). However, with time, the company was able to expand its customer base to cover a broader customer base especially as a result of massive advertising. By 2004, the company had managed 3 million subscriptions. eHarmony understood that the customers were in search of potential lifetime partners, thus making the company’s match-making process very specific. The customer’s personal interests were  analyzed through a matching algorithm that often guarantees personal satisfaction. According to Piskorski, Halaburda & Smith, results from a study conducted in 2005 showed that on average in the United States, members belonging to the eHarmony site married everyday, and by 2007on average, 236 eHarmony members were getting married daily (8). The company continued to strategize in a bid to invent products that would attract more members and retain the current ones. For instance, according to Piskorski, Halaburda & Smith, the company was considering easing some of the restrictions to joining the site, allowing more casual daters, and expanding geographically (13-14).In addition, the company looks to focus more customers’ life events such as weddings, births, parenting, and care for the elderly. Work Cited Piskorski, Mikolaj., Halaburda, Hanna. &Smith, Troy. eHarmony. Harvard: Harvard Business School, 2008. Print.