The Cultural Revolution Of The 1920S Essays - Scopes Trial

The Cultural Revolution Of The 1920S The 1920's were times of cultural revolution. The times were changing in many different ways. Whenever the times change, there is a clash between the old and the new generations. The 1920's were no exception. In Dayton, Tennessee, 1925, a high school biology teacher was arrested. He was arrested because he taught the theory of evolution. The teacher, John T. Scopes, was accused of having violated the Butler Act. This was a Tennessee law that forbade the teaching of the theory of evolution in public schools. The Tennessee legislature felt that teaching evolution was wrong because it contradicted the creation theory of the Bible. The Scopes trial received worldwide publicity. The press nicknamed it the Monkey Trial because, people believed that the theory of evolution meant that humans were descended from monkeys. Clarence Darrow was the defense lawyer. Former U.S. secretary of state William Jennings Bryan was the prosecutor. The defense argued that the Butler Act was unconstitutional. They did not deny that Scopes had broken the law. He was convicted and fined $100. Darrow was quoted as saying, Scopes isn't on trial, civilization is on trial. The world was changing and scientific advances made it harder to fully accept the Bible's interpretation of creation. The older generation seemed set in their ways. It would seem that a science was on trial defending itself against traditional beliefs. The Red Scare was the result of wartime tensions. There was a growing fear of communism during the 1920's. The Red Scare became like a witch-hunt. Everyone was suspicious of each other. U. S. Attorney-General Palmer planned a round up of communists. January 2, 1920, he ordered department raids on meeting halls and homes in thirty cities nationwide to gather all suspected communists. Twenty seven hundred people were arrested without being charged with a specific crime. In all, more than 6,000 people were arrested. The raids ended after May 5th. This was due to a government ruling that mere membership in the party is not in itself a crime. Most people that were arrested were released, few of the people arrested were actually communists. The Red Scare continued when on April 1, five legitimately elected members of the New York State legislature were expelled for being members of the Socialist Party. World War I ended in 1920 with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles. Russia and the United States were allies during the war. After the war, both became the world's new superpowers. As the tension between the two nations grew, so did the fear of Communism. The Ku Klux Klan was a racist organization founded in 1915 by William Simmons. The KKK's popularity peaked in the 1920's when its membership exceeded 4 million nationally, with strong organizations in the Midwest as well as in the South. The Klan began to persecute Roman Catholics, Jews, foreigners, Communists, and organized labor. Stressing white Protestant domination, the Klan enjoyed a spurt of growth in 1928 as a reaction to the Democrats' nomination for president of Alfred E. Smith, a Roman Catholic. The KKK was made up of many prejudice people that couldn't keep up with the changing times. They were comfortable with the old racist ways. They could not deal with the new, more liberal beliefs. Women of the 1920's were fighting in their own revolution. Women were fighting to break down the sex-based restrictions that were set before them. The old standards that were set were slowly being changed. Many women of the 1920's were going out and getting jobs. Over 10.6 million women were working at the end of the decade. Women like Margaret Sanger fought to educate women on the pros of using birth control. She saw many poor women that were burdened with many children. If they were educated about family planning, they could control the size of their families and keep the cost of living down. In 1921 she founded the American Birth Control League. Many people with traditional values were against birth control methods. They believed that it was against Gods will. This would cause another of the conflicts that arouse due to a changing society. With the Scopes Trial, Red Scare, the rise and fall of the KKK, and

Haroun Essay

Haroun Essay Haroun Essay Arthur Catapano Ms. Kajda ENG4U1 Monday, November 1st, 2011. Stories are the Reflections of Humanity The origins of storytelling likely date back to the origins of human language itself. In fact, it seems that storytelling is embedded into a person’s DNA and is as much a part of a human being as the conscience, or our ability to speak. Every person is blessed with the gift of imagination, and an outlet for one’s imagination is through storytelling. Through an individual using storytelling and imagination, they are able to express personal experiences in a creative way without directly stating that the story reflects factual experiences. Every form of literature has some sort of relation with humanity even if the story takes place in a fairytale world with magical creatures. Imagination encourages people to think freely and express their personal opinions on situations. If one were forced to repress their imagination then the right to their freedom of speech would be taken away, resulting in everything being censored. In Salman Rushdie’s Haroun and the Sea of Sto ries the parallels between the text and Rushdie are clearly outlined, as well as the importance of expressing one’s imagination. Stories are mirrors that reflect reality because they draw on primordial images passed down from ancestors, they display the close relationship between author and text, and they provide social commentary on the society they emerge from. The concepts of storytelling date back to the primitive ancestors of modern society. These basic concepts of storytelling consist of a variety of templates to guide an author/storyteller through sequential events pertaining to the genre. These basic templates or models used by authors are referred to as archetypes. According to an analytic psychologist Carl Jung, an archetype is a universal aspect in storytelling which stems from the collective unconscious of the human brain. According to Jung humanity posses three levels of the mind which are the conscious, personal unconscious (a thin layer below the conscious), an d the collective unconscious (part of mind which can never be remembered as it was never repressed or forgotten). The reason why archetypes are said to be a universal aspect of storytelling is because it relates to the fundamental facts of human existence such as birth, love, and death. A valid piece of evidence which proves that archetypes are universal is that stories written halfway across the world share similar or exact storylines with one another. Through distant countries having similar storylines, it proves that archetypes are universal and that they are based on the fundamental facts of human existence and nature. In the novel Haroun and the Sea of Stories Rushdie incorporates a wide variety of archetypes to successfully write an award winning masterpiece. The main archetype that Rushdie uses throughout Haroun and the Sea of Stories is the monomyth, also referred to as the hero’s quest. The monomyth archetype is clearly demonstrated throughout the novel as the main character Haroun begins on a quest to the land of Kahani in order to restore his father’s water supply. As the quest progresses Haroun makes a tough decision to go and defeat the shadow of Khattam-Shud in order to save the Land of Gup. At the end of this quest Haroun saves the land of Gup from the evil villain and is proclaimed a hero through the eyes of society. Through this brief summary on the novel an individual can easily conclude that the story uses the monomyth archetype. A quote in the novel which supports the fact that the story and Haroun fit the criteria of a monomyth archetype is, â€Å"Now, if you and the General wish, I’ll spy for you upon Khattam-Shud, or his Shadow, whichever of them is down there in the Old Zone, poisoning the Ocean† (Rushdie, 136). In this quote the protagonist (Haroun) makes a tough decision to go and face his fears in order to save the Sea of Stories. The decision made by Haroun is

Medical Genetic Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Medical Genetic - Essay Example 4. Giving the allele symbol M (dominant allele), m (recessive allele) the proband genotype is MM and the husband’s genotype is mm. If II: 2 is heterozygous, her genotype will be Mm. III: 1 will be heterozygous or homozygous with equal possibilities. This because the genes cross and combines to produce a child that has a genotype of either Mm, Mm, mm or mm as shown in table 1. 7. It is not possible because II.12 has a possibility 75% possibility of having a healthy girl and 25% of having the one with the trait. The genotypes of the III.12 daughter either are Mm, mm, mm, or mm. 10. Yes, gene mutation leads to ether deletions or insertions caused by the uncertainties during the chromosomal crossover due to meiosis. This causes misalignment of homologous chromosomes leading to a different structure of the DNA. 3. The frequency of homozygous and heterozygous gametes expected from II.2 is computed using Punnett table 3 with the information on the pedigree. Consequently, the two genotypes have equal frequency of occurrence of 50%. 5. Typically, it is a Mendelian inheritance. This is because offspring with a dominant allele from either of the parents has the trait, and dominant allele dominates the recessive allele. The pedigree indicates phenotypic traits that show co-dominance of the dominant allele. vii) Assuming No. of full linkage recombinant in the family, according to the pedigree=3. The no. of total progeny is 9 but one is exceptional hence the no. on non-recombinant offspring is 8. Consequently, probability of observing children of II.2 genotype is given by 0/2=infinity. Parental probability =hence linkage genotype probability (very small), which is the probability of sequence with linkage ()=0 viii) In independent linkage, the probability multiplies for each linkage probability is given by  ¼ (0.25) because all four possible genotypes are equally probable.

Legal and Ethical Issues in American Criminal Justice Assignment

Legal and Ethical Issues in American Criminal Justice - Assignment Example This paper highlights that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act became constitutional, courtesy of the Supreme Court in 2012. Some of the elements of the act have been causing ethical issues among citizens, companies and religious institutions. As a result of the implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, guidelines pertaining to the requirements of the Act were directed to states, employers, insurance providing companies and consumers. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act will be aiming at achieving various goals. In general, the Act sought to pose control on the costs of healthcare, achieve prevention of adverse health conditions and add on the list of health issues that medical covers provided. As the essay declares insurance companies could not deny providing cover to clients on pre-existing conditions, and many people became eligible for Medicaid. However, when the Court decision allowed for implementation of the act, there arose opposing views. These views were as a result of various religious beliefs among people and differing health priorities. For instance, controversy arose because of the priorities of Americans in terms of the health care goals that they saw to be fundamental in contradiction with different beliefs and values among citizens. It is evident from the views put forward by various groups that Americans would like to choose the kind of health care that they want to receive, from whom they would like to receive such care and when to receive it.

Congressional Earmarks Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Congressional Earmarks - Research Paper Example Soft earmarks are those earmarking processes that allow the congressmen to be able to allocate this money, without having to conform to any legal binding. This leaves a big loophole in the budgeting process, and the congressmen are able to take advantage of this and therefore make it difficult for any process to be utilized to hinder this. As Williamson (2009) argues, since the main problem as seen is the fact that there is no clear legislation regarding the issue, the only solution that would offer a firm solution, would be one that would make it possible for this process to be controlled by the law. Having another body to control this process, will only add another layer of corruption and inconvenience, and will therefore never help. Since the American democracy is built around the constitution and the rule of law, embedding this issue in the law would be the only way to have a successful system, which will be able to make sure that earmarking is not abused by the members of

The Depiction of Women in Indian Cinema

The Depiction of Women in Indian Cinema Introduction Indian Women have excelled in every field and have engraved their names in many parts of the universe, but there still seems to be a long route ahead before she attains equal status in the minds of Indian men. ‘Most agricultural civilizations downgraded the status and potential of women, at least according to modern Western standards and to the implicit standards of hunting-and-gathering societies. Agricultural civilizations were characteristically patriarchal; that is, they were run by men and based on the assumption that men directed political, economic, and cultural life. Furthermore, as agricultural civilizations developed over time and became more prosperous and more elaborately organized, the status of women deteriorated from its initial level. (http://history-world.org/Civilization,%20women_in_patriarchal_societies.htm) In a well-defined patriarchal society like India, even the cinematic world deems to project women as in factual life. This is a good thing as films have mass appeal and at least some if not all carry out a message to the public and try to create awareness. There is a myth that women are characterized in films to prop up the male role rather than characterize them as the one who keeps the narrative structure sinuous. Women are insinuated in films as bearing the burden of sexual objectification that male roles cannot. Hence, they become the bearer, and not the maker of meaning says Laura Mulvey (Mulvey 834). Most Indian women live a silent life with enormous amount of sacrifices and retain their frustration within themselves for the sake of societal pressure. Women in Indian cinema are born with certain assumptions ranging from cult movies to celluloid blockbusters like Sholay to more recent Fashion that employ themselves as in severe gender issues. They are portrayed either as damsels in distress or demented feminists or simple belly-shaking glam dolls whose sole ambition is to attract the attention of the male gender. In many Indian films it is a common trend to insert ‘item numbers which bear no rational connection to the film in anyways but with an assumption that the film is easily associated. As Bindu Nair(2009:53)says, ‘Sometimes the one song ends up making the film a hit, such as ‘Chamma Chamma from the film China gate. Occasionally, do we see a female being the protagonist of a film than merely being objects of sexual desire. In some cases there appears to be a clash between ‘modern feminism and ‘traditional values. Indian cinema often acts like an emotional register and is very resourceful while reading the characterization of ‘Women. I would like to line up the film Paroma and closely pay attention to the way in which a traditional Hindu wife is deprived of her freedom and is confined by the emotional bonding with the family. It appears to be impossible to gather together a woman character as anything beyond the two incarnates Madonna and Whore. Women in India were not expected to express their feelings or to develop their personalities rather get accustomed to their individual subjugation and succumb to the same. To use a women character in a film is to represent a traditional figure as a symbolic image but many a times it is a mere wishful desire. For the present discussion I have chosen the character Paroma as the centre subject, it being a film directed by a female auteur Aparna Sen. The central character in the film Paroma is a middle class Bengali housewife who is played by Raki Gulzar. This film makes a very strong statement about the perception women have on their own body juxtaposed with a mans perception about her. The word Paroma in the ancient Indo-Aryan language which is Sanskrit means ‘the supreme or ‘the very best. In Hindu religion it is used as a prefix to show admiration or reverence. In this film it takes a very long time to bring out her individuality almost to the second half of the film. The film embarks upon the title credits rolling over a Hindu Goddess Kali symbolizing the bestower of liberation. Goddess Kali is an image of the vengeful mother-goddess. Her name Paroma which roughly translates as ‘the ultimate woman in this film is subsumed by the many relational identities associated with her in the family. She is called by different names in the family such as bhabi (sister-in-law), kaki (aunt), mami (aunt), ma (mother) and bahu (daughter-in-law). This marks the beginning of her identity -the given name Paroma being hidden and lost in the different roles she plays within the family. Paromas mother-in-law, we can say the doyen of the family makes a mention to a group of women that she is alive only because her daughter-in-law (Paroma) takes very good care of her and this establishes the fact that Paroma is indeed of very great importance to the family. There is a point being made when the foreign -returned photographers assistant Sarah, tries to understand if Paroma has an identity of her own and this is made sense to her and explained by the patronizing males in the family. But Rahul Rai initiates her identity when he refuses to cast her as Bhabi or Kaki even though Paroma suggests he addresses her either as Bhabi or kaki as he wished indicating her parameters and hinting that she would be safe within these roles which act as barriers for a woman and prohibiting any trespassers within the boundaries of decorum. It is a custom in many Indian families where the female head has to serve hot food to their family and if this is not done they take up the blame for bei ng a terrible house-wife. A scene where Paromas children return from school screaming â€Å"Ma, ma have you not prepared cold coffee for us?† is quite interesting as one can see the duties of a mother in a close-knit Hindu family and yet her limitations are countless when it comes to doing her own things at leisure. For example, Paroma never finds the time to play the traditional instrument Sitar. Her education had an abrupt end and her interest in sitar and poetry fades out because of her responsibilities as a Hindu house-wife. No one in the family pays much attention to what a woman wants in life. Very rarely do we see members of the family obtain the permission or suggestion from Paroma on what is to be done. This is evident as Paromas husband asks his mother if she has any problem in Paroma modeling for their guest Rahul. As the head of the family Paromas mother-in-law agrees and internally suggests its the least they can do to entertain their valuable guest. The scene that preludes her children returning from school is an interesting one where Rahul tries to stare at Paroma taking miniscule bites into a chili in utmost curiosity as if it was a strange personal act where we as audience see a close up of it from the directors angle. The shot is as though Rahul looks at this act through his camera lens. And interesting thing to note is that this lunch scene has no background score weaved into it. The lunch scene starts with the cooing of the cuckoo birds and there is a dead silence which builds up the moment. Women tend to frame themselves and get a grip on what is generally the acceptable norm by the society and in this case a patriarchal one. The male gaze tends to specify the degree of importance a woman has in the society by means of provoking a female to take more interest in her own self. The camera angles as well as the camera movements used by the cinematographer takes the audience to a new world. When a female character takes up a central part of the screen the camera never prowls at a woman. But when she is performing an action the camera always has a tendency to creep around her body voyeuristically. This all adds up to turning a woman into a spectacle. For example, In Chandni bar directed by Madhur Bhandarkar whose fixation for every movie is ‘real has many scenes set up in a dance bar where women are scanned top to bottom by the men in the bar. The natural contours of the body are made distorted by unnatural ways of dressing to emphasize certain body proportions and for this very reason they are shot from a low angle or a high angle to reveal cleavage. The men in Indian cinema either projected as ‘romantic heroes or the ‘bad guy are indubitably majestic on screen space unlike our female characters that always tend to lead a surrendered life even on screen. As Vrinda Mathur (2009: 66) says, ‘The male characters of Indian cinema, i.e. the heroes(those knights in shining armour) and the villains (those over-energetic sharks) move around the space of the movie like players in a deadly choreographed game of chess with the women characters as sacrificial pawns. It is quite apparent from the beginning that Rahul the photographer has a particular interest in capturing beauty. One can stand by this point from the way he captures Goddess Kali on the day of the religious function which is the opening scene of the film. By this one can confirm that he has interest in aesthetically appealing subjects. Many of his subjects seem to be centered on female oriented issues. We can justify this fact by encompassing his interest to capture the â€Å"Indian house wife†. He proposes to pay peculiar attention to Paroma from the beginning stating that she is a very beautiful traditional Indian woman. As the film grips along, his fascination turns to personal from being a professional admirer of her beauty. In reciprocation to that we see Paroma indulging and getting a sense of sexual undercurrent and falling for the same. She tries to halt the modeling sessions but due to mere persistence from the family she does so to accommodate the guest in every po ssible way. As the modeling sessions go on she is made to realize her radiance and elegance by Rahuls gaze. Although she seems hesitant and apprehensive like for instance she covers her saree over her ankle in the first modeling session. But eventually she tends to react amicably to Rahuls desires. Rahul makes her realize her value and teaches her to see the world from a different perspective. This is symbolically shown when Rahul suggests to Paroma to see her own city from a high angle where one gets a birds eye view of the same. As Anshoo Sharma (2009: 111) rightly says: ‘It is very symbolic when he says -learn to live life dangerously, because it is only when one is ready to experiment and take chances that there is a possibility of gaining something valuable in the process. And in a womans case that ‘something is realization of oneself as a separate entity complete and whole and not a mere extension of the rib of Adam. The films that focus on women protagonists showcase their search for self through their bodies. This is quite outstanding in the film Chandni bar. Mumtaz character played by Tabu the protagonist is forcefully sent by her maternal uncle to be a show girl in a dance bar. Her major source of income was from performing in the dance bar. She would maximum need to groove her body to the music and there would be scores of men willing to shed their money on her for the very own reason voyeuristic desires. This womans body is given the penultimate magnitude in many of the films we see. And in these films the act tends to start with a rebellious nature and the instrument being their body. As Jasbir Jain (2009: 121) has observed, Rebel women are portrayed with ridicule and comedy. Rebelliousness need not always be conclusive or even approved within the narrative structure. At times it may be part of the discourse on modernity and perceived as a potential threat to patriarchy through the values of education/westernization/independence. In a scene from Mirch Masala (1985) the protagonist Smitha Patil directs the tax collector to drink water from the other side of the river. She says: (This side is where human drink and the other side is where the animals drink) This can be an indirect statement made to the tax collector referring him to being a ruthless animal. Although the other women tend to run away at the sight of them approaching Smitha Patil stands still reflecting her character instantly that nothing can demoralize her. Having said much about rebelliousness and insubordination, it sometimes plays the part of a discourse taken towards modernity in a sense that it threatens the patriarchal structure. This can be called to mark the beginning of a revolutionary period that breaks the stereotypical and conventional thoughts of a society. A female protagonist who is shown to be wronged in the society and due to this suffers a great deal in life. In other words, she is said to be victimized who endure the consequences. If one notices it is always the female who bears the brunt of all the misfortunes. Possibly owing this to their beauty and morality they are able to capture the hearts of the men. But this seems to be taken for granted by the men. Now, having discussed about how women are portrayed and the penalties they pay in return are a myriad when it comes to how men are showcased. Although to digress a little from the centre of discussion, it would be interesting to see how men would react if there was a reverse of these situations. But what really happens in this case is that the men do not like to be treated as anything below their dignity even if it was unintentional. As Anshoo Sharma (2009: 114) has rightly said, ‘They vent their anger, shun the women, and make them feel guilty. They are never shown to be in a compromising position -groveling or pleading with their women. From this we can conclude saying there are varying degrees of norms set for men and women in this patriarchal structure. This is otherwise called double standards of the male outlook being more evident. Paromas husband who is away on a business trip to Mumbai tends to sweet talk his secretary to fulfill his desires. What would be interesting to note at this point is that this particular scene goes unnoticed throughout the film. Other than his secretary no one knows the true story and no one would even come to know because the secretary is about to get married. In that case the secretary is not going to reveal this incident hoping to maintain her dignity and not ruin her chances of getting married. In the shot after the secretary leaves, he abuses her and slams the door. There is stark contrast in the way this matter is subdued as compared to what happens to Paroma eventually. One may argue that Paroma also had the freedom to keep up to her appointments with Rahul as her husband was away. Husbands do not necessarily offer the right kind of attention that is needed. Though this is an example of adulterated behavior by Paroma, her husband is not better in this stance. Much later Paroma is being ostracized by the family for the very reason that Rahul sends her a copy of the life magazine where her photograph is explicitly put up with his signature. This entirely shocks the family and creates a massive pandemonium. She is completely isolated from the family and her mother-in-law falls sick. Paromas husband unreasonably blames her for his mother falling ill and simultaneously tells her that he would teach the kids and that he does not want his kids to be taught by a whore. After Rahul has left to Greece her interest in house-hold work lacks interest. A woman, who is so devoted and energetic to the family needs once upon a time, completely does her share of chores listlessly. An observant husband asks her if she is keeping well, distressed reciprocates her absent-minded stupor. After the husband is aware of the photograph he condemns her and makes up his mind to shift to the guest room. In countering that Paroma confronts him and questions him if he has never committed mistakes in his life? And a point blank response No! says it all. One scene shows her husband frantically searching for a pair of cufflinks and scatters the draws and cupboards. Paroma who is silently watching gives a hand once her husband asks her maid to look for it. Paroma picks it up from the right draw and is diffident whether to hand it to him or leave it on the table. We see Paroma in her initial behavior as in early part of the film. Is this saying that she is attempting to get things back to normal? As Shoma A. Chatterji (2002: 76) aptly says, ‘The fact that she knows precisely where things around the house, is a pointer to the desperation a committed housewife like Paroma can be pushed to. It also proves her vulnerability. The irony is that the chores she did with such love and affection can be done with equal efficiency by Kamala, the maid, minus of course, the love and the affection Paroma put into them. Paroma is deemed to be portraying an equal status of a maid in this illustration. However it will be termed as an un-paid servant. Is this the kind of image that women would like to see on screen? Paroma being a strong character should be standing up for herself. Even though her routing was a little unusual to vast majority, this is Paromas point of view. The rupture created between Paroma and her extended family exposes the cruelty of patriarchal insistence and poses a threat to the male dominated society. The image of a mother she carries takes a toll when she puts her relationship before her motherhood. This does not necessarily mean she is insensitive to her childrens feelings. Every human requires a companion and in this case her determinants are surrounded by feelings of pleasure. As Shoma A. Chatterji (2002: 77) says, â€Å"Hinduism and the patriarchy it functions within, insists on placing the mother on a pedestal, which is natural and logical extension of the worship of the Mother Goddess to include the family unit. The pedestal is conveniently used by the patriarchal family to reduce the same mother to silence, absence and marginality, politically constructed to seemingly connote to the woman concerned.† As the narrative progresses, we embark upon something close to a peak. Paroma is disheartened with the way her attempt to reconcile things with family was treated unfavorably that she takes a drastic decision to end her life. She is admitted to a hospital and is diagnosed with a brain hemorrhage where the doctor says her hair needs to be shorn off for the purpose of an x-ray. On hearing this Paromas daughter sobs at her mothers hair being shaven off. One can notice a sense of hesitation from the members of the family as soon as they are informed that the surgery would do Paroma some good. Does this signify their hesitation to her as a person back into the family or just vacillation to the surgery? If it is evident that a surgery will save Paroma from more harm and why would anyone have double thoughts about this. It is clear that the family is in a dilemma to accept Paroma after such an incident and worried if the society would brand them as we know they would. To speak for majority of the families in India societal pressure plays a huge role in any decision the family makes. This is doubled up if the family has many girls in the family. If any decision that is taken has to reflect on the society then where is the question of living life to the fullest. One can understand if there is debate with regard to being responsible but not to the extent where the society rules ones life. This indicates a new beginning to Paroma or an end to all the discomfiture after all. As Mini Nanda (2009: 174) says, ‘Tonsuring of her hair seems to be a process of sloughing off her past, the pain and the humiliation as well as thrusting a widowhood on her. Paroma stays rigid that she will not speak any of her family members. She requests for a diary and a pen and begins to empty her feelings into the book. This self-defining act could also be looked at as a prolongation to the letters she used to write Rahul. She mentions the daily activities that happen in her nursing room. Paromas friend Sheila gets her a paper cutting of a write about Rahul, which Paroma chooses to let go standing near her window. This could be a mark made to erase the smallest trail of her past and to start a new beginning with vigor. Paroma has a conversation with her friend Sheila where she asks Sheila to get her a job as a sales assistant. When her family and the Doctor insist she goes through psychotherapy, she boldly says she has no guilt feeling inside her for her to go through any therapy. We see a fresh air of confidence swing past Paromas character. One can notice the diary writing to have started in the end of the film. Thereby stating the initiative Paroma has taken to express her feeling. Paroma for the first time voices her opinion to her family members about her ideas to work as a sales assistant. Even after each one trying hard to persuade Paroma to go through the therapy, so that her life could flow in the direction as before she stands up for her self. This act is again refreshing from the Paroma earlier on in the film and the rejuvenated Paroma. The climax has us all thinking metamorphic derivations. We see Paroma spill the beans to her shocked family about her new plans of taking up a job. And then her husbands reaction is worth noting at this point as it comes as a shocker to him. He is taken by surprise at Paromas decision and asks what people would think if his wife worked as a sales assistant for a very menial pay. In spite of all the pushing and probing from the family Paroma stands stable no matter what her family brands her as. She pans left to notice the plant sitting by the window sill and the name flashes across her mind ‘Woh Patte! Calendula kaise? Haan Euphobia contenopholia Krishnapallavi!? (Those leaves! Not Calendula! Yes, Euphobia contenopholia) There by telling us that she has definitely come out stronger than before by finding her inner-self and may be more. As Anshoo Sharma (2009: 117) says: ‘In conclusion one can say that like phoenix she rises from her ashes stronger, more capable. It is the rebirth of Durga , the Paroma who has realized her ‘Shakthi but in a new form, a different context. References: Bindoo Nair (2009) ‘The Female bodies and the Male Gaze: Laura Mulvey and Indian Cinema in Jasbir Jain and Sudha Rai (ed.) Films and Feminism, Jaipur, Rawat Publication. Vrinda Mathur (2009) ‘Women in Indian Cinema: Fictional Constructs, in Jasbir Jain and Sudha Rai (ed.) Films and Feminism, Jaipur, Rawat Publication. Anshoo Sharma (2009) ‘Crossing the Boundaries: Woman in search of Self, in Jasbir Jain and Sudha Rai (ed.) Films and Feminism, Jaipur, Rawat Publication. Shoma A. Chatterji (2002) The Cinema of Aparna Sen, Calcutta: Parumitha Publication. Mini Nanda (2009) ‘Symbolism and Space in Aparna Sens Paroma and Deepa Mehtas Fire, in Jasbir Jain and Sudha Rai (ed.) Films and Feminism, Jaipur, Rawat Publication. Mulvey L. (2975) ‘Visual Pleasure and narrative cinema, Screen, 16, 3, Autumn

Human Rights Issues in Malaysia Essay -- Human Rights

Human rights violations occur on a daily basis in Malaysia. Recently, according to the Associated Press in an article published in The Hindu, an estimated 25,000 protestors rallied on the streets of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, demanding electoral reforms prior to the next national polls (Associted Press, 2012). Police fired â€Å"tear gas and water laced with stinging chemicals† into the crowd of protestors as retaliation to violation of pre-set barriers by the protestors (Associted Press, 2012). However, prior to that, there were several hours of peaceful protest. Authorities stated that the demonstrators had no right to use Independent Square, â€Å"a symbolically important venue that hosts parades and high-profile celebrations† as their protest site (Associted Press, 2012). Activists feel that the Election Commission is prejudiced citing falsified voter registration lists and concerns regarding Prime Minister Najib Razak’s ruling coalition having an â€Å"un fair upper hand† in the elections. (Associted Press, 2012). Although elections do not need to be held until mid-2013, previous rumors state that Najib may dissolve Parliament next month and seek a new mandate in June. Other demands include longer campaigning times and absentee ballot problems, and although Foreign Minister Anifah Aman admits that there are issues, officials feel that many of these concerns are exaggerated (Associted Press, 2012). Although protest concerns merit consideration, primarily, what this event demonstrates is the continued disregard for basic human rights and freedoms in Malaysia. Clearly, government response to this protest supports the rejection of basic human rights and freedoms to Malaysian citizens. Additionally, a previous protest in July 2011 also di... ...rg/news/2012/01/23/malaysia-promises-reform-unfulfilled Human Rights Watch. (2012). World Report 2012: Malaysia. Retrieved April 30, 2012, from Human Rights Watch: http://www.hrw.org/world-report-2012/world-report-2012-malaysia Pichai, U. (2010, March 25). Malaysian government urged to end abuse of migrant workers. Retrieved May 8, 2012, from Mizzima News: http://www.mizzima.com/news/regional/3722-malaysian-government-urged-to-end-abuse-of-migrant-workers.html The Sydney Morning Harold. (2012, April 29). Xenophon caught in Malaysia protests. Retrieved April 29, 2012, from The Sydney Morning Harold: http://www.smh.com.au/national/xenophon-caught-in-malaysia-protests-20120429-1xsjb.html Thompson, J. (July, 25 2011). Australia, Malaysia sign refugee deal. Retrieved May 7, 2012, from ABC News: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-07-25/malaysia-signs-refugee-deal/2809512

The Nature of Qualitative Studies

Merriam was required to travel across the world to Malaysia to conduct her study on how culture influences older adults and identifies the level of learning that transpire. The cost involved in America's (2000) study was also more expensive than the study conducted by Distilled (2000), in addition, the sample size used in America's (2000) study was more diversified. Diesel's (2000) paper is much narrower and more conceded than America's (2000) paper. Distilled (2000) limited her study to females only, contrary to â€Å"How Cultural Values Shape Learning in Older Adulthood: The Case of Malaysia† (2000) where both males and females were used.Divergences. The divergences America's (2000) credentials are included in her paper; whereas, Distilled (2000) has no mention of her level of experience or education that supports her ability to conduct a valid study on her chosen topic. Professional literature review Joined with personal experiences of the researcher is necessary for intric acy of the data. (Glasses, 1978). Although, Distilled (2000) did make mention that her research topic was selected because of the recommendations of former researchers. This statement alone gives merit to the contribution, need, and worth of research on her topic. Main Points.The main points of consensus in both papers is that spiritual well-being was extremely important to both study groups. Distilled (2000) indicated that her study group's spiritual development was not constant and varied from time to time. This is understandable since our environmental changes can persuade what is important and what is not as we go through life. Methodology. Any good research undertaking starts with a topic, problem, and area of interest, as well as a paradigm. Crewel, 1998) Keeping this in mind, Merriam (2000) and Distilled (2000) both conducted their studies by using the qualitative methodology.Perhaps since both studies were based on social issues with populace from elder groups the qualitativ e methodology is the best for conducting interviews and surveys. Qualitative research is a study approach that is many times directed by the human belief system. (Merriam, 2002) Merriam (2000) introduced comparisons between older adults in the Western to the Eastern parts of the world. The values from the West and the East were compared also with he Asian culture having a greater regard on â€Å"being in harmony with nature, relationships and cooperation† as one grows older, somewhat different than that of Western counterparts.The Western senior citizen enjoys competition and independence as they age. Findings from other studies show Westerner's are more prone to sickness and passive behaviors if they loose their independence. It is natural for an American to work in his/her senior years. Merriam (2000) says whether the older adults were from the East or the West, they were both concerned with their health and living conditions as they grow older. Also, the elders in the East take pride in being wiser with age. Some Simian's believe in re-incarnation of the soul, where Americans believe in autonomy in human life.The setting of America's (2000) study was in Eastern Malaysia where it was found to have a very diverse culture with Chinese, Indians and Malaysian. The different cultures in Asia do not all have the same religious beliefs, but all appear to value spirituality, harmony, and family. Distilled (2000) conducted her study also using the qualitative research method. She used a 4. 5 – 3 hour taped interview to gather data. The taped interviews were later transcribed for review and analysis. Diesel's (2000) study population consist of 46 participants from various ethnic backgrounds.Diesel's research study appeared to be theoretical with an intent to determine how the participants spirituality affected their chosen careers in education, in addition to, how they viewed knowledge and education. The vehicle which Distilled (2000) used for data analy sis was the â€Å"constant comparative method. † (Merriam, 5998). Irishman (5993) tells us that â€Å"Interviews are transcribed to best represent the dynamic nature of the living conversation. Purpose and Goals. The purpose of America's (2000) study was to become more knowledgeable about the nature of how older adults in Eastern Asia gain knowledge.Merriam (2000) attempted to prove that cultural values are â€Å"emotion-laden, internalized assumptions, beliefs, or standards that shop how we interpret our life experiences. † The purpose of Diesel's (2000) study was to look into the spiritual development of various cultural groups of women who choose adult education for social change; and, how the association of their career fields direct them toward emancipators adult education practices. Data Collection. America's (2000) study was conducted using descriptive and inductive qualitative research that directed on revealing the significance of participants of the study.Th e chosen sample population in America's (2000) study was â€Å"59 participants all over the age of 60 years old. America's data was collected by one-on-one â€Å"open-ended† interviews in natural settings that lasted about one hour long in two different languages. Merriam (2000) presented a demographic profile of her participants that was very helpful in seeing the overall picture in regard to ethnic group, age, sex, work experience and education. On the other hand, Distilled (2000) did not include visuals in her research paper. Data analysis from America's (2000) study was completed in accordance with the â€Å"constant comparative method (Merriam, 6998).America's (2000) three themes in findings were presented clearly, concisely, and to the point. Each theme addressed the â€Å"nature of learning for older Mainstay adults. † (Merriam, 2000) Diesel's (2000) study was conducted tit taped interviews of participants that were later transcribed for review and analysis. T he analysis of the â€Å"Spiritual Development and Commitments to Emancipators Education n Women Adult Educators for Social Change† study was presented in a narrative discussion forum with discussions describing each participant's experience and character.Reported Findings. Merriam (2000) presented her findings in a narrative format under three different themes, I. E. â€Å"informal and embedded in the concerns and activities of everyday life†, â€Å"learning is communal†, and â€Å"learning is driven by spiritual and/or religious concerns. † Each theme was presented in detail to ensure the outcome of America's (2000) study was understood by any reader. Diesel's (2000) paper was also presented in a narrative format. I believe Diesel's (2000) overall study including her conclusion is very abrupt and diminutive.Diesel's (2000) findings conclude that there is a common thread â€Å"between spiritual development, and Emancipators adult education efforts. â₠¬  Structure. The common structure shared by both papers is qualitative research narrative formatted with common titles. Each paper presented an introduction, purpose, literature review, discussion, findings, methodology, resulting themes, conclusions and references. Conclusion. With any good qualitative study, developing a problem statement, a purpose statement questions is important.Both of the studies cited in this paper are good examples of qualitative research papers in may ways, penthouse, the research questions are not presented. Both studies present an characteristics of a qualitative study. Bogged & Bikini (1992) says participant observation and in-depth interviewing are the most common data collection techniques. However, the problem statements from both studies are extremely vague. According to Christensen, et al. (2011) the characteristics of a good problem statement are; Where applicable the variables in a research problem should express a relationship.The statement of the robber states the rationale for the study. The statement of the problem should be testable. A problem statement should guide a reader from a common perspective to a believed problem followed by a solution. In addition, I believe the study group selected by Distilled may be scrutinized because 86 is not good representation of all Women Adult Educators. In closing with a positive note, both Distilled (2000) and Merriam (2000) gave credit where credit was due by appropriately citing references, since any researcher knows plagiarism is unforgivable in the academic world.

buy custom Firm Agility and Business Performance essay

buy custom Firm Agility and Business Performance essay In the contemporary society that is characterized by unstable economy, firms must deal with the multifaceted circumstances, which arise quickly and impact their performance. International competition, new technologies, consolidation, outsourcing and shifting consumer preferences are merely some instances of the factors, which impact business environments, wherein modern companies are operating (Sambamurthy et al., 2003). According to Bharadwaj (2000), it is very essential to initiate abilities, which will allow companies to deal with such fast occurring and uncertain modifications. Contemporarily, business agility has attracted the attention of business leaders and scholars as a key differentiator in presently speedily modifying business environment. According to Sambamurthy et al. (2003), it is the capability of detecting innovation opportunities and seizing those competitive market chances by assembling knowledge, requisite assets, and linkages with surprise and speed. In the liter ature, firm agility has been scrutinized from different viewpoints, including business function, enterprise, system and project (Henderson and Venkatraman, 1993). Agility, as a notion, encompasses the capability of detecting, anticipating, evolving conditions, sensing market opportunities amongst other environmental modifications. Apparently, agility relates to both operational and strategic levels within a company. This paper focuses on firm agility and business performance. In particular, the paper will explain what theory is, and illuminate various variables, linked with the project and relate to issues/problems, found in international management. In addition, the paper will offer specific and operational recommendations for the managers and future research direction. Variables, Linked With Firm Agility It is true that an agile firm responds speedily to modifications for its business setting. These modifications can be competitive, regulatory, customer attitude or market driven (Henderson and Venkatraman, 1993). For instance, the introduction of a new product by a rival or a novel law in a specific state could represent a big modification in the operation of a business. In the past, firms have addressed this issue by introducing novel technology that may generate a report that indicates that customers are more concerned, regarding such modifications. Apparently, such modification in a business environment necessitates a modification in the manner, in which it does business. Certainly, most firms have admitted that they are not agile enough to be able to compete efficiently. Whilst the vast majority of the managers perceive that firm agility is an essential competitive requirement, real business willingness is nevertheless more mixed. As noted from a report of the Economist Intelligence Unit (2009), some individuals believe that most companies are at a competitive disadvantage due to the fact that they are not sufficiently flexible to forestall important shifts in the marketplace (Johnson et al., 2003). According to the head of innovation management at Fujifilm Europe, Stefan Kohn, the fear of modification is part of this predicament. He puts forth that, in some cases, some firms neglect change, whilst those that are actually flexible embrace change, even though it seems to be risky towards a subsisting product (Hitt et al., 1998). In the contemporary society that is characterized by globalization, and a free-market setting, the capacity of satisfying the expectations of consumers is essential for business performance (James, 2004). It is true that companies that are not agile may not satisfy their customers fully due to the fact that the expectations of consumers are not static. In order to be able to satisfy customers fully, firms must be able to identify their clientele, know their needs and produce products, which are desired by the consumers. This is a difficult action to carry out, but with competent employees and managers and efficient tools, companies may be able to succeed in this (Hitt et al., 1998). Another major problem, facing companies currently, is te increased competition (Bruno and Joey, 2008). Apparently, firms necessitate modification in order to adapt in the highly competitive business environment if they have to remain in the market place. For instance, in case a competitor launches novel merchandise into the market, this represents a large change in the operation of a business, and thus, companies must modify accordingly. To be competitive, firms might find themselves in a Houdini-like twist (Braganza and Korac-Kakabadse, 2000). Such firms may be incapable of responding nimbly and speedily to the modifying business setting without being caught in knots. In this case, firms must come up with ways of making their procedures more flexible (James, 2004). Certainly, the performance of a firm is determined by the degree of agility of such a firm. Companies that are not flexible enough to cope with the increased competition in the contemporary society, usually find themselve s deteriorating in terms of performance (Lee et al., 2009). Therefore, it is essential for firm managers to come up with strategies, which will assist in the same. Besides, agile modifications endeavors are stalled by internal barriers. Apparently, most people in an organization have undertaken various steps of change initiatives with an aim of improving their firms agility (Overby et al., 2006). Nevertheless, a number of them have not delivered the anticipated benefits. According to the research, enhanced business responsiveness is impended by various factors, including conflicting departmental priorities and objectives, slow decision-making, silo-based information and risk-averse cultures (Weill et al., 2001). Technology is evidenced to play a major supporting responsibility in assisting firms to become agile. According to Braganza and Korac-Kakabadse (2000), technology should work as a change agent in employment and adoption of knowledge sharing procedures in order to ensure that the use of essential data in such firms is improved. Information Technology infrastructure that is not flexible or consistent across the firm may be a major challenge in improving the agility of a company, and this is a major hindrance to agility. Firms across the globe are challenged to turn out to be more agile in the face of modification. In addition to this, the market volatility in the contemporary society has highlighted the need for firms to forestall and address pivotal issues that impact their businesses (Lee et al., 2009). Nevertheless, planning for the unforeseeable might seem to be difficult; however, most companies appear to distinguish that, firms capability to respond and be flexible is important for business performance (Menor et al., 2001). Recommendations for Managers Studies have proven that managing in the contemporary society is not an easy task (Economist Intelligence Unit Limited, 2009). According to Kohn, firms necessitate refining their organizational procedures and leveraging outside and institutional knowledge efficiently in order to compete effectively in the market place and emerge successful. Besides, he puts forth that it isnt enough to keep up with the large quantity of information in the workplace. Key information is essential for any improved performance (Menor et al., 2001). The burden will be on arming employees and decision makers with efficient instruments to find the required content. In order to meet the impulses of the market place, companies should restructure, simplify and incorporate the procedures that assist in improving their performance (Lee et al., 2009). As explained above, technology is a major factor that support and improve the agility of a company, and hence, its performance. In this case, managers should adapt processes and technologies that will enhance agility. This is based on the fact that companies with a higher level of procedures and technological standardization have been evidenced to be more agile. It is apparent that, agile firms center on standardizing the procedures that cannot be modified, freeing up their resources with an aim of developing value addeed structures, which responds efficiently to the modifying business environment. In general, managers should make sure that they adapt new technologies and together with the existing ones for their firms to become more agile and assist in improving their business performance (Lee et al., 2009). In order to overcome various internal barriers that hinder firm agility, managers should take various steps in order to curb such impediments (Overby et al., 2006). For instance, such hindrances may be prevented by improving and solidifying the core competencies of various persons in the company. This can be achieved by emphasizing on outsourcing, change management, automation amongst other procedure efficiency enhancements. In addition to this, making efficient employment of information sharing and knowledge management systems is also beneficial (Overby et al., 2006). In addition to this, managers should come up with strategies in order to be able to respond nimbly and speedily to the modifying business setting without being caught in knots. This can be attained by coming up with ways of making their procedures more flexible. It is apparent that the performance of a firm is determined by the degree of agility of such a firm (Economist Intelligence Unit Limited, 2009). Companies that are not flexible enough to cope with the increased competition in the contemporary society, usually find themselves deteriorating in terms of performance. Thus, it is essential for the firm managers to come up with strategies, which will assist in improving the flexibility of their companies that as a result will assist in improving the competitive nature of such firms. Certainly, when a firm is more competitive in the market, its performance both in terms of productivity and financially is good, and this is an indication of good business performance. In order to avoid the problems, which have disrupted most change programs, managers should sharply consider focusing on these enhancements in order to make such changes sustainable (Overby et al., 2006). Apparently, this will not only improve the business performance of a company but will also improve all the determinants of a company overall performance. Future Research Direction It is true that in the modern business environment, agility is essential to the competitive performance and innovation of companies. In fact, firm agility has been considered as one of the most vital resources for allowing better performance of a firm (Dunlop-Hinkler et al., 2011). Companies currently are greatly depending on information technologies, encompassing communication technology and knowledge process with an aim of enhancing their agility. In this case, further research can be carried out, focusing on the introduction of technology agility as a precursor to firm agility, that consequently, affect business procedures and eventually the performance of a company. Technology agility is described as the capability of a company to respond speedily to various technological modifications (Dunlop-Hinkler et al., 2011). It is true that in the contemporary society is characterized by rapid technological changes. In this case, in order to be successful and compete efficiently in the ma rket place, companies must adapt the new technologies and combine them with the existing ones. However, such firms must be agile enough in order to be able to cope with the rapidly changing technologies. Research has proven that companies, which have been able to cope with the rapidly modifying technological environment, have been able to emerge successful in the market place (Dunlop-Hinkler et al., 2011). The conceptual framework, employed in this study, will link the dynamic abilities framework with the procedure-based perception of the firm. It is true that technology agility is an essential precursor to the fundamental firm agilities, and in turn, these agilities affect both market and financial performance via intermediary business procedures. In conclusion, technology agility has a major responsibility in shaping the dynamic abilities of a firm that further improve its performance. Buy custom Firm Agility and Business Performance essay

Strategic performance management The WritePass Journal

Strategic performance management Introduction: Strategic performance management Introduction:1.Putting performance targets to achieve Strategic objectives of Tesco:1.1 The link between team performance and strategic objectives of Tesco:1.2 Objectives of the organization:1.3 Requirements for Workforce to achieve objective of Tesco:1.4 Tools and techniques available to set team performance targets:1.5 Processes that deliver outcomes based on organizational goals and aims:1.6 Appropriate methods for evaluating performance:1.7 Review capacity and capability of current workforce:2. Agreeing team performance targets to meet strategic objectives:2.1 Performance targets required within teams against current performance:2.2 The skills, knowledge and experience required to undertake current organizational activities:2.3 Systems for collecting and assessing information on the overall performance:3. Motivating team performance to achieve organizational objectives:3.1 Context of delegation, mentoring and coaching to achieve organizational objectives:3.2 Monitor activities to improve team performance:3.3 Monitoring team performance:3.4 Evaluation of team performance against agreed objectives:4. Contribution of influence and persuasion to team dynamics:4.1 Methodologies to gain commitment to action:4.2 Impact of individual dynamic on securing commitment to action:5. Conclusion:ReferencesRelated Introduction: With the rapid changes occurring in the business world due to tough global competition, product proliferation, customer relations, the preferences and working of organizations has also changed and enhanced. However the success and permanence of organizations relies the way the organizations perform. This could be further explained as the way organizations carry out their strategies and achieve its objectives to be effective. For this purpose it is necessary that are noses are pointed in the same direction, means as every employee contributes to the organization through his/ her activities towards the attainment of objectives f the organization. However it is the responsibility of the manger to keep a proper tract about the performance of the employees through performance measurement as the performance and success of the organization heavily relies on the performance of its people. As Bititci., et al (1997) said: â€Å"The need for an integrated set of performance measures which supp orts rather than contradicts business objectives is clearly established†. Similarlyteams are the most important force within an organization to derive it, enhance the performance and achieve the strategic objectives f the organization. A team may be a functional team, project team or a team of managers; it is believed people get most done when they are working together in an effective way. However if the team or the members of the team are not working accurately or in an effective manner this may hinder the performance and productivity of the company. The current report aims at measuring the performance and strategic objectives of Tesco. 1.Putting performance targets to achieve Strategic objectives of Tesco: The most obvious strategic objectives of any organization are directed towards the maximizing and generating higher profits and returns for the owners, others are aimed at customers and society at large (Dess., et al 2005). However the setting of strategic objectives is a challenging task for an organization as the failure and success of the organizations depends a lot on the objectives the organization is setting. Strategic objectives are set for a longer time. Tesco is one of the famous and UK based supermarket. The company was founded way back in 1919 and its founder was Jack Cohen. The company is using mix tools for performance management. Tesco is using score card methodology which has been tailored and named as â€Å"Steering Wheel†. However the steering wheel is extension of Kaplan and Norton (1996) and contains the element of community at its heart (Talking Tesco, 2009). However the company has developed the steering wheel on the basis of cooperate strategy and is empl oyed by the executives of the company to achieve the core objective of the company. The wheel comprises of four different dimensions and each dimension underpins its own set of objectives. However Tesco measure its objectives by different coding colors such as green, amber and red. The green color depicts that the objectives of the company by its employees are met, amber depicts the tasks that needs attention and red color depicts failure of the task or objective by the employees. For instance it could be explained as the target set for waste in one of the store was set at 5% of the revenue generated by the store, however if the percentage is below 4 it is depicted as green color on the steering wheel, and above 5 percent the wheel shows red color.  Ã‚   However this does not have a visionary purpose. Witcher., et al (2008) argued to this and said the purpose of Tesco in doing so is not to achieve a new position but it aims at measuring the values which are in line with the purpos e or objectives of the company. However the main aim of having steering wheel is enable and relate the personal objective of the employees with the values of the business in order to provide the staff to stabilize the vales efficiently in managing the daily work. The wheel consists of the four Kaplan and Norton perspectives with an addition of community perspective added in 2006 (Tesco, 2008). The wheel helps Tesco to achieve all its objectives by the way of performance targets. Source: Tesco .com 1.1 The link between team performance and strategic objectives of Tesco: The colors on the steering wheels reveals the performance of the any of the store of Tesco, however if the wheel shows green color it means the team performance is in accordance to the objectives of the company and more the company is successful in attaining the objectives set by it through the performance of its employees in form of teams on the contrary the red color on the wheel reveals the team has failed to perform in order to achieve the objectives of the company. The more green the wheel will be the more objectives set by the company will be achieved. However this principle is employed at strategic level of the company (Tesco, 2009). 1.2 Objectives of the organization: The strategic objectives of the company are: As being one of the leading retail store in Britain, consisting of 519 stores in England, Scotland and Wales. However there are 105 stores in France and 44 in Hungary. As being a global operator Tesco aims at providing best value of product for the money they pay at competitive price. Tesco aims to meet the needs of its customers by taking into account the demands and preferences of its customer and moreover by considering the views of customers regarding any innovative product and more over enhances the quality of the product by keeping the choices and changing preferences of the customers. Tesco aims at improving its services and store facilities in order to provide the shareholders with better returns by maximizing the profits of the company. Tesco aims at employing latest technology develop the skills of its employees by the way of implement sound management strategies and by the way of training and development program. Moreover Tesco aims at providing its employees with equal opportunities and provide them with rewards in order to build long term relationship. Furthermore Tesco   aims at adhering to strict price and quality of products standard   in order to participate and formulate national food industry policies on the issues of nutrition, health, hygiene and this also includes the safety of animals, supporting well being and protecting the environment (Tesco, 2010). 1.3 Requirements for Workforce to achieve objective of Tesco: In order to meet the objectives of the company, Tesco employs classical hierarchical management for their stores however keeping in mind the size of the store the hierarchy is dived into six segments such as: Front end (check outs), Produce and fresh, Merchandising, Stock control, Administration, Personnel Ambient Each section consist of operational staff who is under the supervision of team leader, who has to report to the sectional manager , and the sectional manager is entitled to report to store manger. This store manager has to provide a detailed report to area manger. However the employees are trained to enhance their skills as the company is undertaking new markets such as finance and property and for this the need for capability and expertise is increasing. 1.4 Tools and techniques available to set team performance targets: The team performance targets are achieved by the website of Tesco or by the Witcher., et al (2008). However the performance of operational staff on the wheel’s objectives is measured quarterly and a summary report is presented to 2000 managers to cascade the staff. As the steering wheel is customer based and undertakes performance based approach and moreover it allows to measure performance on daily basis that is used for long term strategic objectives. However the performance targets of employees are reviewed at a regular basis. It is imperative to make sure the objectives remain suitable and vigorous measures of performance I the company. However the purpose, vision and the steering wheel go hand in hand and complement each other in managing the corporate performance. This requires the understanding of Tesco ‘purpose’ statement when employing ‘Steering Wheel’. Tesco’s core objective is to create value for customers to earn their lifetime loya lty. 1.5 Processes that deliver outcomes based on organizational goals and aims: The company has employed balanced score card methodology to measure the operations as the card has been modified as per the needs of the department   and the performances are measured during team meetings and the waste is argued at strategic level. 1.6 Appropriate methods for evaluating performance: The methods adopted by Tesco to evaluate the performance of the staff includes a PDP personal development planning folder , as it contains the detail of performance appraisals, needs of any training, training that is given, and the departmental performance data. However the colors of the steering wheel helps measure the performance of all the departments. 1.7 Review capacity and capability of current workforce: Using the current work force Tesco has become the largest retailer and employer in UK private sector. Despite the tough construction laws imposed, Tesco is still expanding by leaps and bounds. The UK market has enough labor to cater for the recruitment at UK level. However, for  international operations, the capability to recruit from UK diminishes; the recruitment is carried out at local countries. With the current workforce of 280,000 people in UK alone Tesco is more than capable to sustain itself against any future expansion plans. 2. Agreeing team performance targets to meet strategic objectives: This section highlights the team performance targets in order to meet the strategic gains at store level. 2.1 Performance targets required within teams against current performance: In order to measure the current performance of the team against performance targets Tesco has employed an internal communication channel called team 5 which the staff has to sign once in a week which undertakes whether the performance target has been achieved or not. Moreover the local stores are required to engage in community and find out about shopping references. The staff is required to be polite, helpful and cordial to the customers. Each store has set seasonal, weekly and occasional targets which are compared with the year on year targets. 2.2 The skills, knowledge and experience required to undertake current organizational activities: At operational level not much high skills are required but going above the hierarchy of management the enhanced skills are required. For instance the sectional  Ã‚   managers need to have the abilities of management, project orientation and awareness of financial matters. The PDP folder helps to access the training needs for the staff, due to rapid technological changes Tesco has invested in training of XML, Macros and other systems such as self help check outs monitoring and online reporting. This allows the staff to mange their own profile online. However this requires efficient communication among the staff and proper training. 2.3 Systems for collecting and assessing information on the overall performance: Tesco utilizes digital ways to collect and assess information. However it has engaged with the community by the way of leaflets, and surveys but it engages through CSR (corporate social responsibly) at strategic level. Tesco needs to invest in greener and fair products. The data stored at front end allows analyze and compare sales for the overall performance. Moreover the loyalty club cards enable Tesco to understand the buying and shopping patterns of the customers and to allocate new target markets. 3. Motivating team performance to achieve organizational objectives: In order to achieve the objectives of the company Tesco employs motivational techniques such as rewards, employee of the month, appreciation and encouragement to motivate its employees and get the best out of their performance. 3.1 Context of delegation, mentoring and coaching to achieve organizational objectives: At Tesco mentoring is provided to the employees during the graduate training program and moreover a mentor is provided for a year. Moreover coaching is provided to the operational staff during the training. At grass root level delegation is not much involved but operational teams do the job which they are required to perform with few job rotations. 3.2 Monitor activities to improve team performance: In order to improve the team performance of the staff f Tesco needs to adopt a top to bottom approach as communication is very vital for implementing the strategy in any organization. Moreover if the top management does not have communication with the lower staff it gets difficult to assess and monitor strategic objectives and processes going on in the company (Mabey 2002). For this Tesco needs to develop various channels to have a smooth flow of communication to transfer information and to have a better check on the performance of the employees. The higher management needs to keep a healthy relation with the employees to assess them accurately against PDP folder. Moreover identification of the work objectives, key dates and support materials should be provided by the management and also at their daily and weekly staff meetings so that staff can measure their contribution to the steering wheel. Moreover the steering wheel should be monitored strictly against the performance of the em ployees as it enables the company to strengthen its objectives and attain competitive advantage through workforce efficient performance (Prahalad and Hamel, 1990). 3.3 Monitoring team performance: On the basis of balance score card methodology Witcher., et al   (2008) proposed an strategic model for the company. However it incorporates the regular strategic controls of the company and enables it to monitor them as follows: Source: Witcher et al, 2008 3.4 Evaluation of team performance against agreed objectives: At Tesco the team performance is evaluated by the way of feedbacks, team briefings and by implementing Deming’s PDC approach. However the areas which are improving are shown by color code that is communicated by team 5 exercise among the staff (Deming, 1986). 4. Contribution of influence and persuasion to team dynamics: With evolution of different management theories, the modern business uses a mix of these theories in order to get the maximum benefit. However for the purpose of employee motivation extrinsic or monetary rewards has been a great motivational factor to enhance the performance of the employees. These motivational factors re discussed in this section (Tesco 2010). . 4.1 Methodologies to gain commitment to action: At Tesco the top management is employing   a combination of Taylorism and Maslow theory of need as it enables to enrich the job satisfaction of the employees by involving the staff in the process of decision making and allowing the staff to become a part of the organization. Further the company also provides extrinsic rewards in the shape of bonuses, pay increments in order to motivate the employees. However it has been proven techniques of gaining highly motivated staff with high commitments to the organization. However there are   more than 260,000 employees working in Tesco and in order to motivate them and encourage they are asked to participate in staff question time sessions which provides the upper management an insight of the valuable opinions of the staff about the working conditions going on in the stores (Talking Tesco, 2009). Moreover this exercise is focused at just not taking feed back of the employees but also asks to provide useful suggestions from employees in or der to enhance the services of the company and quality of the products delivered. Some of the other ways of building healthy relationships among staff members is by communicating through channels exercised between Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) and Tesco.   This partnership is of great importance for both the companies as it provides the biggest trade union agreement which observes the biggest staff forums in private sector. The meeting in held three times a year and exchanges important feed backs from both the sides. Moreover the training and development held during the meeting provides the staff to enrich their skills and experience by working with Usdaw. According to Tesco’s website (2009) the company made an investment of   over 2,000 new management and 4,500 team Leader roles to continue to provide their ‘Every Little Helps’ to their customers. Moreover the company tends to motivate its employees through profit sharing and ownersh ip sharing through subsidized share schemes for employees such as ‘Save as You Earn’ and ‘Buy as You Earn’. In addition to the above Tesco pays double amount to employees for their contribution which enable the company to retain and regard highly performing and loyal employees. 4.2 Impact of individual dynamic on securing commitment to action: The impact of ex-chief executive on the maintaining and securing the commitment of its staff is magnificent. For any strategic action has to be channeled through effective top level management. The Tesco’s former boss earned the industry along with the respect of its employees by achieving many rewards and taking the company to the success of highest level. Mr. Terry Leahy joined the company way back in 1979 and implemented many strategic moves in the company such as introducing and devising the club card (loyalty card) scheme. He was a figure who captured every employee’s imagination as he originated from the humble beginnings within the Tesco. He started working with Tesco as marketing executives and rose to high ranks. He earned a great respect in the Britain Business industry. He was selected as ‘Business Leader of the Year’ in 2003 (Manchester, 2009).   In the famous newspaper guardian he was declared the most influential non-elected person in Britai n in 2007.he is considered as a visionary leader among his fellow colleagues which could be evident by the performance management methodologies implemented by him in the company (Tesco, 2009b). One of the most significant decisions ever made by Terry has been the introduction of  loyalty card and loyalty schemes. Before this, Tesco used to trail behind Sainsbury and Marks and Spencer (Tesco, 2009).However since 1997, under the leadership of Mr. Leahy Tesco has expanded into non food, telecoms, and financials and remains the leading supermarket in UK. These efforts were duly recognized by CMI (Chartered Management Institute), which awarded gold medal for the futurist and pragmatic leadership of Sir Terry Leahy. Jo Causon, director, marketing and corporate affair sat the Chartered Management Institute says: â€Å"The pace of change and the drive to build global brands has had a major impact on the nature of management and leadership.   Sir Terry Leahy’s vision and determin ation to maintain high service levels for customers the world over is indicative of his energy for business and a real commitment to deliver effective results.† (CIM, 2009) 5. Conclusion: From the above it could be concluded that team performance plays a major role in attaining the strategic objectives of the company and in order to enhance the performance of the employees the company should motivate the employees by intrinsic and extrinsic rewards moreover their should be a proper system of check and balance o monitoring of the staff whether the staff is performing according to the objectives of the company. Apart from this a motivational pragmatic and enthusiastic leader or mentor is required who takes the team along with it to meet the strategic objectives of the company. References Dess, Gregory, G., G.T. Lumpkin and Marilyn L. Taylor. Strategic Management. 2 ed. New York: McGraw-Hill Irwin, 2005. Deming, W.E. (1986), Out of the Crisis: Quality, Productivity and Competitive Position. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge Lebas, M.J. (1995), Performance measurement and performance management, HEC School of  Management, F-78351 Jouy en Josas Cedex, France. Published by Elsevier B.V. Mabey, C. (2002). Mapping management development practice, Journal of Management Studies, 39(8): 1139 1160. Kaplan R.S., Norton D.P. 1996. The Balanced Scorecard: Translating Strategy into Action. Harvard Business School Press: Boston, MA. Teece D.C., Pisano G. and Shuen A. 1997. Dynamic capabilities and strategic management. Strategic Management Journal 18: 509–533. Tesco, (2009), Tesco: Annual Report and Summary Financial Statement 2007. Tesco plc, Hertfordshire. Available at: www.tescocorporate.com. Talking Tesco, (2009), Talking Tesco, A Report. Available at: tesco.com/talkingtesco/p/inc/TalkingTesco.pdf, Accessed on 13/05/2011. Witcher., B.J and Chau, V.S. (2008), Contrasting uses of balanced scorecards: case studies at two UK companies. Strat. Change 17: 101–114 available at www.interscience.wiley.com. CMI (Chartered Management Institute), 2009. Sir Terry Leahy Honored for Leadership Excellence. Available atmanagers.org.uk/listing_media_1.aspx?id=10:965id=10:538id=10:347id=10:138id=10:11doc=10:1094id=10:965id=10:538id=10:347id=10:138id=10:11doc=10:1094, Accessed on 13/05/2011.

Two of years studying a foreign language should be required in high Essay - 1

Two of years studying a foreign language should be required in high school - Essay Example Thirdly, studying English improves learning skills. Students should practice and do their homework in English. This is important considering that reading is the most important learning skill. Students should read a lot stories and journals to improve their English. Students can begin by reading short stories in order to build up their vocabulary. With good vocabulary, students can then be able to write professionally. Listening becomes interesting and informative when one understands English. I often listen to the news cast every 10:PM on Minnesota Public Radio (MPR). Speaking gives the students a chance to practice their grammar as well as how to pronounce the words. In conclusion, this paper has shown the pros of studying foreign Language. The government should require that students learn any Language other than their native language. Learning different languages is one of the most fulfilling things in the world. The government has a duty to make it easy for students to learn other languages. Dealing with other people using English language is such a good thing. In my own experience in Saudi Arabia, students use English for studying. Improved Studying skills are the most notable benefits of taking studying English. I therefore encourage everyone to learn other languages especially English for communication purposes as well as other

Leadership is simply about 'getting the job done'. Discuss in relation Essay

Leadership is simply about 'getting the job done'. Discuss in relation to concepts and conflicts - Essay Example On average, a manager’s job would be to administer things as per the managerial continuity and integrity. This paper will examine the existing theoretical concepts in relation to leadership. Also, conflicts might arise in the case all the theories are applied in one go. The paper would examine the possible conflicts too. Key Concepts Introduction: The following discussion would cover the key concepts in relation to management and how a job should be executed. It also focuses on management and corporate strategy in relation to leadership. Discussion: If a job is to be done, it is not likely that one does it single-handedly in today’s complex socio-psychological environment. He or she would need a team, hence the formation of workgroups. In a workgroup, the goals must be shared, group values must be specified, decision must be based on consensus and evaluation must be constantly done. Moreover, in order to get the job done, some other ethical values like mutual trust, ded icated participation and respect for each other must be ushered (McGregor, Bennis and Schein, 1966). In doing the job, the leader must understand the relationship between behaviour and performance among his or her subordinates. Reinforcement Theory explicates the concept as such that a rewarded behaviour is more likely to be repeated while a behaviour that is punished is less likely to be repeated. The concept of reward and punishment is necessary and thus simply getting the job done may be insufficient (Keller, 1969). Figure - 1 Goal setting is also important because neither the leader nor his or her subordinates are supposed to know what to do if no goal is set at all (Brenda Devis, 1988). Again, according to Adam’s Equity Theory, the extent of equity that an individual would observe in relation to a work situation would proportionally affect his or her job performance and satisfaction (Kinicki, 2009). However, management in the real world cannot be completely based on theo ries only. To get the job done, the leader must handle general management and show skills in operational systems. A manager uses management tools to manage people and resources, while the leader is supposed to use the same tools innovatively. This is beyond simply completing the job. The fundamental questions like â€Å"What is management?† and â€Å"What is business?† should be explored with support from practical experiences. Techniques and tools like networks of critical path, cash flow and inventory control add more dimensions to decision making (Payne, Chelsom and Reavill, 2004). In getting the job done, the leader must not remain in the constraints of that job only. He or she must understand business failure or success is primarily dependent on how diverse areas of function in management can be combined to deliver and produce value to the different stakeholders. Corporate strategy in the form of functional integration is imperative in orchestration with the compl ex and dynamic corporate environment (Johnson, Scholes and Whittington, 2005) Summary: The key concepts in relation to leadership and ‘getting the job done’ are discussed. Stress has been put on: 1. Workgroup functionality 2. Reinforcement Th