Australia Regional And Global Links Alfred Li - 1253 Words

Australia Regional and Global Links Alfred Li Intro: Australia and Thailand have longstanding and deep connections. These two countries cooperate in a broad range of areas of mutual interest, which mainly includes trade and investment, law enforcement, counter-terrorism, education, security, migration and tourism. The bilateral relationship is supported by mutual membership of international and regional organisations. The steady relationship between these two countries facilitated a dramatic increase of two-way trade and investment over the last decades. Thailand Location: Thailand is a country located in the Southeast part of Asia, it is situated in between 15 º00’ North latitude and 100 º00’ East longitude. Thailand Annotated†¦show more content†¦This organisation was essentially consists of 5 countries, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippine, Singapore and Thailand. The main roles for this organisation are to accelerate economic growth, social progress, protection of regional stability and peace and the opportunities for these countries to resolves issues peacefully. Australia has become the first of ten dialogue partners of ASEAN. Over the last decades, the relationship between ASEAN and Australia was remarkable. ASEAN represents almost 15% of the Australia two way trade, with two-way trade valued at almost $100 billion Australia dollars in 2013, while Thailand hold more than 19% (worth approx. $19.5 billion Australia dollars) of the total values of two way trade between ASEAN and Australia in 2013, which is a rapid growth of values of trade compare to 2012 figure ($18.5 billion Australia dollars). Trade: Australia s trade and economic relationship with Thailand has grown significantly since the Thailand-Australia Free Trade Agreement (TAFTA) entry into force on the 1st January 2005. This agreement opens up a wider access to the Thai market for Australian products. It enhances prospects for

Essay about The Diagnosis- Personal Narrative - 607 Words

The Diagnosis- Personal Narrative One fateful day at the end of June in 1998 when I was spending some time at home; my mother came to me with the bad news: my parents best friend, Tommy, had been diagnosed with brain cancer. He had been sick for some time and we all had anxiously been awaiting a prognosis. But none of us were ready for the bumpy roads that lay ahead: testing, surgery, chemotherapy, nausea, headaches, and fatigue. Even loud music would induce vomiting. He just felt all around lousy. After several surgeries and many rounds of chemotherapy, Tommy had lost the will to go on. He stayed at home in bed, he didnt eat, he had lost the go get em attitude he once had. We all tried to give him the love and†¦show more content†¦For they would be the ones who would truly heal. Each item had a specific meaning and purpose, and each order must be followed exactly. The day came closer and we were all very nervous. The ceremony was to take place at Baiting Hollow Boy Scout Camp. Everything was coming together and the next weekend the healing would take place. We were all anxiously awaiting the day. It finally arrived, and as my mom and I drove down the small, dirt, boy scout camp road, you could almost slice through the tension in the car. I walked up the path, my heart echoing the faint sound of a beating drum. As we came upon a clearing I began to feel nervous and a bit unsure. No one knew what to expect. Familiar faces came into view. Some were faces I hadnt seen in years. We felt the urge to display our excitement, but we were told there was a sweat lodge nearby, and to resist the temptation. I wandered amongst the blur of faces saying hello to my large extended family, of life-long friends. I eventually found the man I was looking for. Our reason for gathering in the sweltering heat. The common bond we all shared. Looking upon his withered body almost broke my heart. He looked frail, nothing but brittle bones beneath his skin. His head is nearly bald with a few patches of the deep, dark hair I remembered that the chemotherapy left behind. His thin tank top exposed the scars the surgeries had left on his body. More difficult for me was noticing theShow MoreRelatedFamily Crucible Family Systems Theory1249 Words   |  5 PagesIntroduction This paper will use the book The Family Crucible to demonstrate the authors’ family systems approach to therapy. Narrative theory is compared and contrasted with family systems theory, and is ultimately integrated into my own theoretical foundation for practice as a social worker. Family Systems Therapy In The Family Crucible, Augustus Napier and Carl Whitaker’s form of therapy was strongly influenced by family systems theory, a burgeoning theory of the time. General systems theoryRead MoreEssay On Bricaging1197 Words   |  5 Pagesstudy sought to evaluate the performance of individuals above the age of 50 on the two narrative discourse tasks. 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Being a parent of a special needs child leavesRead MoreProstate Cancer : The Most Prevalent Nonskin Cancer1659 Words   |  7 Pages(corporeality), lived time (temporality) and lived other (relationality), all describe the way these men may experience this situation in their world. (Krumwiede, Krumwiede, 2012) Review of the Literature Phenomenology is a guided analysis and transformed personal experience into disciplinary understanding. This style of research (lived experience) also delivers a clear identified method for these men such as, using semi-structured and open-ended questions addressing the lived experience. This research helpedRead MoreNarrative Therapy Offers a Rewrite of a Persons Life1797 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction Often times, people live through painful events in their life that can alter their perception of themselves, their family, and the world. 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Developing Human Resources Gaining Quality and Productivity

Question: Discuss about theDeveloping Human Resourcesfor Gaining Quality and Productivity. Answer: Greatest Challenge to Effectively Developing Human Resource Managing human resources is an integral part of any organization and its management. A well-managed organization usually considers an average employee as the root source of gaining quality and productivity (Alfes et al., 2013). Therefore, human resource development is the most important role of any organization. However, there are several challenges for developing the human resource of an organization. Among all the challenges, the greatest challenge is the lack organizational commitment towards developing human resources. Effective organization should ensure that there is spirit, cooperation and sense of sphere among the employees for achieving the goals of the organization. Effective organizations mostly battle to get the most from their existing employees through characterizing the skills of the employees (Dries, 2013). Therefore, successful organizations are always committed to recognize the required skills and gaps in the skill level of the employees. Moreover, as per the skill gaps, successful organizations are committed to develop the employees for enhancing their skills towards achieving organizational success. Developing the skills and knowledge level of the employees needs effective training program, which needs huge financial resources to be invested. In such situation, if the organization does not want to invest their financial resources for employee training, then it is not possible to develop the human resources. On the other hand, performance level of the employees can also be hampered due to lack of motivation and organizational support. In such situation, the employees need motivation and support from the organization in terms of either financial reward or non-financial recognition (Cullen et al., 2014). In this extent, if the organization does not become willing to provide the required motivational tools to the employees, then it is quite complex to develop the human resource. In this way, lack of organizational commitment is the greatest challenge for developing the human resource of the organization. Human resource development is highly dependent on identification for proper human resource professional for providing training to the employees. In such case, the organization needs to be highly committed towards hiring right human resource professional for organizational training purpose (Heckman Mosso, 2014). In such extent, if the organization does not become willing to invest money for hiring right HR professional, then it is quite impossible to develop employees properly. On the other hand, the development of the employees is also dependent on assigning additional responsibilities to the employees. It needs effective performance appraisal from the part of organization towards choosing the key employees for developing their career. Lack of organizational commitment in effective performance appraisal ultimately hinders the development of the employees (Zimmerman et al., 2013). Moreover, it can be said lack of organizational commitment is the greatest challenge for the development of human resources. Identifying Degree of Responsibility While considering the above challenge, it can be said that the management of the organization does not support the employees to develop their career. Therefore, in future the organization needs to develop their commitment for supporting human resource development. While considering the human resource function, it can be said that the stakeholders who are responsible for human resource development is not keen towards organizational commitment. Specifically, the Human Resource manager and Operation manager can be figured out as the sole stakeholders for supporting human resource development. According to Kramar, (2014), the human resource function is explicitly influenced by several motivational factors and performance improvement factors. Such examples are Performance Improvement Plan (PIP), reward planning, succession planning and Career Planning and Development (CPD). On the other hand, Wright et al., (2014) pointed out that the operational head of an organization needs to quantify and place performance review and feedback schedule with human resource manager, so that potentiality of individual employees can be nourished and polished. Considering the above views of the authors, it is evident that the human resource functions in view of the specific role of Human Resource Manager and Operational Manager is having a high responsible degree to the above-mentioned challenge. Proactive and Reactive Steps The steps that the human resource professional must take in future for ensuring organizational commitment towards human resource development are discussed below. Role Analysis According to Paill et al., (2014), HR professional needs to identify and quantify the role of present employee base in an organization so that performance planning is made effective. Therefore, the role of employees of various departments will be analyzed at the initial phase. A list will be prepared regarding the total number of employees present in each department. Performance Planning Lengnick-Hall et al., (2013) opined that performance planning must be designed for such employees who are underperforming in the organizational department. Therefore, after analyzing the role, underperforming employees will be identified with the help of team leaders. Later specific sessions will be set up for the candidates for their development. Performance Appraisal Nyberg et al., (2014) pointed out that appraisal is the method that motivates and develops human resource, which reflects organizational commitment. Appraisal also helps the employers to understand the purpose, benefits, objectives and roles of existing human resource base (Heckman Mosso, 2014). Therefore, appraisal will be the next step for human resource development. Performance Review and Feedback According to the words of Kramar, (2014), reviewing employee performance after appraisal helps in identifying the optimal potentiality of a candidate. Therefore, the organization will review employee performance after six months of appraisal and report the same as a feedback to operational head. This will end up in identifying the most loyal and potential employees, who can be treated for succession. Succession Planning Cullen et al., (2014) opined that succession planning helps in developing employees for handling more responsible roles in future. Through this employers are able to retain more employees and gain trust from human resource base. Therefore, the organization will be able to plan new roles for most potential candidates, which will motivate others in enhanced performance. Induction Induction process creates an instinct of ownership among the minds of new employees (Alfes et al., 2013). Considering this organization, quite often it needs to hire employees from external agency and therefore induction process will be extremely necessary for enlightening the new candidates. Training Need Analysis According to Paill et al., (2014), training need is quite helpful for developing human resource as employees are able to get idea of the new policies, procedures and performance parameters. This is necessary for both existing and new employees in sharpening their performance can carry out their roles. Training Program Practical training program is placed just after the training need analysis, which includes PowerPoint presentation, workshops and series of courses associated with cost and budget (Nyberg et al., 2014). The organization will be able to develop its employees through sessions, meetings and demonstration so that they become efficient enough in performing better. Training Evaluation According to Cullen et al., (2014), evaluation of training schedules not only helps in figuring out the most potential candidates who can be given higher responsibility but also helps in addressing the performance related issues among the candidates. Therefore, the organization will be able to develop its employees and polish their method of performance for getting higher productivity. Career Planning and Development Career planning is the final step where selected existing employees are given the opportunity to perform in a higher scale with greater degree of responsibility and new roles (Heckman Mosso, 2014). Therefore, for the concerned organization this ultimate step will be the most noticeable human resource development activity, where the HR manager can show organizational commitment. References Alfes, K., Shantz, A. D., Truss, C., Soane, E. C. (2013). The link between perceived human resource management practices, engagement and employee behaviour: a moderated mediation model.The international journal of human resource management,24(2), 330-351. Cullen, K. L., Edwards, B. D., Casper, W. C., Gue, K. R. (2014). Employees adaptability and perceptions of change-related uncertainty: Implications for perceived organizational support, job satisfaction, and performance.Journal of Business and Psychology,29(2), 269-280. Dries, N. (2013). The psychology of talent management: A review and research agenda.Human Resource Management Review,23(4), 272-285. Heckman, J. J., Mosso, S. (2014). The economics of human development and social mobility.Annu. Rev. Econ.,6(1), 689-733. Kramar, R. (2014). Beyond strategic human resource management: is sustainable human resource management the next approach?.The International Journal of Human Resource Management,25(8), 1069-1089. Lengnick-Hall, M. L., Lengnick-Hall, C. A., Rigsbee, C. M. (2013). Strategic human resource management and supply chain orientation.Human Resource Management Review,23(4), 366-377. Nyberg, A. J., Moliterno, T. P., Hale, D., Lepak, D. P. (2014). Resource-based perspectives on unit-level human capital a review and integration.Journal of Management,40(1), 316-346. Paill, P., Chen, Y., Boiral, O., Jin, J. (2014). The impact of human resource management on environmental performance: An employee-level study.Journal of Business Ethics,121(3), 451-466. Wright, P. M., Coff, R., Moliterno, T. P. (2014). Strategic human capital crossing the great divide.Journal of Management,40(2), 353-370. Zimmerman, T., Gavrilova-Aguilar, M., Cullum, P. (2013). Rethinking human resource strategies: A shift in the treatment of contingent workers.International Journal of Business and Management,8(7), 28-34.

The Ultimate Guide for Budgeting at University

The Ultimate Guide for Budgeting at University Learning how to properly manage and budget your funds can be a difficult task, especially if you don't know what to expect in terms of expenses during your very first term. Budgeting at university is definitely a learning process and you'll make mistakes every now and then but it's not impossible to financially survive your University years as long as you have a good budget plan in place and you stick to it. Many first-year students are surprised by the high costs that they face once they've started university and often times these costs exceed the initial expectations that students have when planning their finances for each term.creating a uni budget Learn to save money The best way to stay on top of your student expenses is to keep up to speed with the current prices for different items and services in the area in which you are going to study and budget accordingly. Living costs such as rent and utilities can vary from one area to another and each university, as well as each speciality, will require a different set of course materials and supplies. Living costs can also change depending on your living conditions: costs associated with off-campus rent will be different than the costs for on-campus accommodations and the type of university dormitory you choose will also affect the price you have to pay for it. Utilities, food, and entertainment will cost more in certain areas so make sure to do your research in advance about the average prices for your university so that you can get an accurate estimate of what your overall costs will be. How to Make an Annual Budget Image Source The first thing to do when planning your annual budget is to estimate what your annual income will be at university. This includes tuition and maintenance loans, scholarships as well as any savings or additional funds you intend to use during your time there. ​ Estimate what your expenditure will be for the year and compare the sums: ideally you'll be left with some money after deducting all of your expected costs from your total annual budget or these costs will at least be covered by your budget. ​ Start to calculate your costs by adding up your monthly bills and what you spend on essentials such as food, then distribute the remaining funds towards varying expenses such as entertainment. ​ It's good to monitor your spending habits (we recommend these apps) during the first week or two of university to make sure that your estimates were correct and that your budget will accommodate your actual spending. ​ When you calculate your expenses, it would be best to write them down in a spread sheet so that you make sure you haven't overlooked anything. ​ Depending on your individual situation, you may have additional costs but your expenditure spread sheet should contain the main costs you can predict: ​ ​ Tuition Fee Rent Utility bills (Gas, water, electricity) Phone/Internet bills Course costs Books and stationery Food and drink Travel/Transport Insurance Clothes and shoes Laundry Toiletries Going out Entertainment Holidays and presents Emergency fund ​ Now that you have established an annual budget plan you can break it off into a weekly sum of money that you will need. Top tip: The best way to make sure that you don't overspend is to keep your money divided into two separate bank accounts: one where you keep the money for all of the essential expenses such as rent, bills and food and the other for non-essentials such as entertainment and going out. Keeping track of your weekly budget and of whether you're exceeding it or not will help you stay in control of your financial situation. ​ Breaking your money up into two separate bank accounts will make you aware of how much you can spend on luxuries after having covered your basic utilities and rent each month and as long as you stick to it you shouldn't run out of money at the end of the week. Back to Options ​ Apps You Can Use for Budgeting at University Image Source Sticking to your budget can be harder than it sounds but as long as you've made a realistic budget to begin with you should manage to follow your initial plan. ​ Still, there are some apps that can help you stay on top of your spending and keep you within budget once you get to university. ​ Technology is, once again, your friend and you can use your smart phone, tablet, or even laptop to keep tabs on your spending habits, monitor your budget, and calculate upcoming costs. ​ Look for the apps that work best for you according to what you need, just know that there are several types of budgeting apps and they can help in different ways: ​Finance centralising apps There are several apps that centralise all of your accounts and credit cards and constantly show you the balance you have on each of them. ​ Using one of these apps will help you monitor your spending, available income and due credit payments so don't hesitate to try them out and use the one you find the most comprehensive and easy to understand. ​ -- 10 Best Budgeting and Personal Finance Apps Budget calculator apps Budget calculators will help you to define your cost sheet as well as to stay up to date on your spending. This type of app will help you track your expenses and keep you in check when it comes to exceeding your budget so it's a useful tool to have. ​ -- Goodbudget Budget Planner(Apple) -- Monthly Budget(Android) Budget tracking apps These apps are staples of student budgeting and they can be used to manage all or your personal finances. Depending on the app that you choose, you might be able to also plan, organize, change, and monitor your budget. ​ There are many useful finance managing apps that you can choose from, just find one that is user-friendly, works for your OS, and seems the most engaging and easy to use for you. ​ -- We'd recommend theSpending Tracker app(available for Apple and Android) Spending monitoring apps Some apps are designed to monitor your spending habits and can help you stick to your budget by planning ahead for certain items and expenses. Not only can spending monitoring apps track where and how you spend money, they can notify you when you are about to exceed your previously established budget so that you know that you are about to overspend and plan accordingly. ​ -- 10 smartphone apps that can help track your expenses Shopping list apps This type of app will come in handy before going shopping and keep you from overspending on anything from groceries to stationery and toiletries. In a sense, if you're the kind of person that gets distracted and drawn in by the pretty, colourful labels and ends up buying things they don't need, this kind of app can become a life saver. ​ Apps that help you create shopping lists before a trip to the store will not only keep you focused on the items that you actually need as opposed to letting you get distracted by clever marketing campaigns, they can also predict the costs of your shopping cart so that you know what you can afford before going shopping. ​ Depending on the app you are using, you might get suggestions about the best stores to shop at based on how much the items in your basket cost in each supermarket. Using a shopping list app will keep your spending habits in check, keep you in budget and help you shop cheaper. ​ Browse around and choose the tools that work best for your situation since there are many types of personal finance apps and some might be more student friendly than others. Read about some of the more popular student budgeting apps and figure out if what they do can help you improve your budgeting then start using the ones you need. Back to Options ​ Overview of University Life on a Budget Image Source Starting university can be scary, for many students it's the first time living away from home and managing their own daily routines from grocery shopping to coursework and laundry. ​ However, besides the inevitable sad ramen dinner that will take place every once in a while, the years spent in university will likely be some of the most interesting and entertaining ones you'll remember. ​ Although many first-years fear the financial responsibility that they will have to take on, it's actually not that problematic as long as you make a budget plan and follow it. ​ Just get informed about your situation, know what your possibilities are and maximise your opportunities: you can make the best of the resources you have at your disposal and fully enjoy university life without constantly worrying about financial insecurities. ​ The most important thing is to stick to your weekly budget but once you've mastered that it will be a lot easier to enjoy university life. Here are a few more smart budgeting tips for you: Make sure that you have all the information you need before getting started and that you make sound financial decisions in every situation. ​ Do some research on student credit cards before applying for one so that you know how to use them to your advantage and how to maintain a good credit score. Credit cards can be a very helpful tool as long as you use them wisely but they can turn into a nightmare if you don't properly understand how they work. ​ Learn about the bursaries and scholarships that your university offers to help you get additional financial support while studying and maximise your income. Many students struggle with their budgeting in the beginning so don't panic, it takes a while to get the hang of it. ​ Ask for advice and help from your students' union and your university, as they have financial advisors who can guide you through your budgeting mishaps. The truth is that many students find that they need advice on personal finances once they start university so it's very common to ask for help when learning how to budget: a financial advisor working with your university will figure out the best solution for your problem and teach you how to maximise the resources that are available to you. ​ Once you've got a grip on your weekly budget and understand all the tools you have at your disposal for managing your personal finances, you can start to relax and enjoy university life. The more you learn about the ins and outs of campus life, the more you will be able to stretch your budget and save up for the things you want as well. Saving a few pounds here and there might not seem like a lot in the beginning but keep at it and you'll see the results in time. Be smart about saving money on all of your expenses and it'll be a lot easier to take a weekend trip or buy concert tickets if you've got a bit left in your budget at the end of the month. Back to Options ​ Living Expenses: Utilities Image Source Utility bills can't be avoided by most students since everybody needs gas and electricity but there are ways of cutting down on these expensive living costs by making informed decisions and being smart about the way you use energy every day. ​ You might think that saving a few quid every month isn't worth the trouble but think about what this small sum ads up to at the end of the year and you might change your opinion on the matter. ​ The fact is that every little helps so you won't realize how important it is to cut down on these expenses until you draw the line on your total costs: you will end up saving a lot of money that you can actually go on to spend on yourself rather than giving it to your gas company. ​ There are several simple things you can do to save on utility bills so combine these methods and figure out which you can implement best in your situation. ​Find the best deals and compare them There's no point in being loyal to your current supplier if they're not offering you a great deal. Shop around for the best deals on the market and go on the internet to compare them and figure out which is the best option for you. ​ There are many comparison websites online that you can use to see which company offers better rates and which deals will work best for you. Top tip: Use online tools to compare offers from gas companies, electricity companies, and even broadband providers so shop around before signing on for the best service available. Once you've found the best deal, don't hesitate to change your supplier at the start of each year if they're not the best option for you. It's ideal to avoid cancellation charges so wait for your contract to expire before changing your supplier and start your year right by shopping around before signing up to a service in the first place. Choose the best payment plan and method The way your payment is processed can affect how much you are charged by your supplier. ​ Most utility companies offer discounts for clients who choose to pay by direct debit so opt for direct debit payment plans whenever you can. ​ Paperless billing can also help you save money as you're no longer being charged a mailing fee. Top tip: Setting up direct debit payment doesn't take long and it ensures that your bills are paid on time every month so there are many obvious advantages to it but make sure that you are reading your meters and keeping tabs on your actual usage so that you don't have a large bill at the end of the year due to underpaying. Look for a good fixed fee plan Many energy companies offer you the option of paying a fixed fee each month instead of paying for the actual usage. ​ While this means that you will be paying for a bit more than you use during the summer, you'll save more during the winter months, when your usage is higher. Top tip: Be careful not to go overboard with your usage however, companies will charge you extra if you go over your estimation. Keep track of your usage If you're not on a fixed fee plan make sure to always read your meters and compare them to your monthly bills. ​ It only takes you a few minutes to check if what your meters indicate matches your utility bills and you won't be losing any money to poor estimates. Make sure that you always only pay for what you use. Cut down your usage We are creatures of habit, so we might as well make sure that our daily routines save us money instead of costing us more. ​ You've heard it all before but it's really important to be as energy efficient as possible so make sure you do everything you can to use as little as you can by getting used to doing a few important things: Turn off the lights when you're not using them; Don't leave electronics on stand-by; Don't leave taps running; Don't put a half load of clothes in your washing machine, wash smartly instead; Use energy-efficient products (especially light bulbs); Dress warmer instead of turning the heating up when possible; Hang your clothes out to dry instead of using a tumble dryer (it's free). It may not seem like much but getting into the habit of doing all of these things on a regular basis will have a noticeable impact on your monthly utility bills. Just try it and see for yourself just how much money you can save by being smarter about your use of electricity, water and gas. ​ Once you've figured out how well this can work for you, make sure you let your flatmates know about it as well. There's no point in you making all these efforts to save energy if your flatmates don't do the same: teamwork is required here to make your house energy efficient. ​ Speaking of flatmates, if one of them finds a significant other that spends a lot of time at your flat don't hesitate to talk to them about it: hanging out is fine but if they're sleeping there most of the time, charging their electronics, and taking showers at your place almost every day they should be pitching in for the utility bills, it's only fair. ​ Don't think it's rude to talk to your flatmate about it, if another person is running up your monthly utility usage they should be helping to pay the utilities as well. ​ Back to Options ​ TRANSPORTTake advantage of your student status when travelling, it would be a shame not to: there are many student travel cards that can lower the costs of travelling by as much as one third and they are easy to access. You'll need to budget for travelling expenses anyway since attending lectures off-campus, getting to workshops and going home for the holidays will require some extra funds so make sure you always travel for as little money as possible. Student cards are available for subways, railways, and buses in most areas so find out which discounts you can get in your region. If you're going home for the holidays, plan ahead and book your tickets in advance so that you save even more. Food Image Source The popular stereotype that students live on cup noodles and baked beans isn't necessarily true and while you're bound to experience the ramen-only dinner in your dormitory once or twice there are ways to have a healthy and well balanced diet while you are in university, even on a tight budget. ​ You just have to be organized in terms of shopping, meal planning, and time. ​ The most likely reason for a cup noodle dinner won't necessarily be the lack of funds so much as the lack of time to cook an actual meal so plan ahead and make sure you always have access to good quality food no matter how low you are on time or funds. Make a meal plan Plan your weekly meals before time and write down the ingredients you will need to prepare them. ​ Choose meals that are easy to make and are less time consuming but don't just eat junk food. You can easily find quick recipes online and integrate some protein, fruits and vegetables into your dinner. You don't have to obsess over portioning every snack but plan for at least one cooked meal a day, either lunch or dinner depending on what works best for your schedule, and stick to it. ​ Cook delicious meals from scratch in 15 to 20 minutes if you look at the right student friendly recipes so embrace your inner chef and start browsing for the best ideas. If you can't spare the time to cook every day, it's better to cook in bulk and then portion out your food into meals and freeze it. This way you don't waste any food and you can quickly defrost and reheat a portion of home-made food when you need a quick, warm dinner and you don't have the time to make it from scratch. ​ Even if you don't plan every meal, think about what you will need to make yourself a quick breakfast and pack yourself a good lunch throughout the week and add the items you need to your shopping list. ​ Pack your lunches to save money when you need to eat something on the go. It will only take you a couple of minutes to make a sandwich and grab an apple or an orange from the fridge and it will cost you a lot less than buying junk food later on in the day, not to mention it will be healthier for you.Always have a shopping list Having a shopping list keeps you organized and on the right track: you'll avoid the temptation of impulse shopping and make sure that you're only getting what you actually need. Estimating what the cost of the items on your list will be or using a shopping list app that displays the total cost of the items in your basket will keep you on top of your budget and help you avoid overspending. Back to Options ​ Study Materials Image Source Students can't avoid certain upfront costs when starting university since course materials are a must-have but you don't always have to pay full price for them. ​ Many universities are aware of the financial strain that students can experience when faced with many required purchases so they often run sales for second-hand course books: new students can purchase books at a discounted price from older students who no longer need to use them but that could, in turn, use some extra money. ​ So don't hesitate to buy second-hand books from older students and sell them again once you don't need them anymore. ​ Try to buy only the books that you absolutely have to and go down to the library and borrow the ones that are available. Universities might also offer discounts on course materials if you purchase them directly from your department so ask about what materials you can actually get this way before spending a lot of money in book stores. ​ Back to Options ​ Internet If you're living in a dormitory you most likely have access to a broadband connection but for those living off-campus the costs of setting up an internet connection could be higher than expected. ​ The library is a great way to access the internet for research and studying but when it comes to personal use it won't do. So, if you're interested in setting up a broadband connection you should do a bit of research first. Find out what additional fees you will be charged besides the quote that you receive for your broadband service package. ​ Customers are often unaware of the extra charges they will need to pay for services such as phone line installations or line rentals when setting up a broadband internet service so ask about those additional costs before deciding on the best option for you. Top tip: Go online and use comparison sites to find the best deal that you can and compare both service packages and providers before you make a decision so that you spend as little as you can for the service you need. Back to Options ​ Entertainment Fun Image Source Everybody needs to relax and have some fun every once in a while and some of the best memories you will have from your university days will be from parties and trips you and your friends will experience. ​ But this is where it becomes tough to stick to your budget as social outings can cost you quite a bit. ​ The golden rule is not to overdo it: it's great to go out with friends and relax as long as it doesn't affect your studies or your budget. Here are a few more tips for you: Set aside a certain amount of time for entertainment each week and plan your outings beforehand so that you can estimate how much they will cost you. ​ Stay on budget when it comes to entertainment by balancing out your activities: if you splurged a bit on the last night out by ordering an extra drink or grabbing something to eat on your way home and went a little over budget, make the next social gathering a less costly one by inviting your friends over for a movie night at your place or by attending free events organized by your university. ​ Since there are so many options to choose from when it comes to entertainment, don't settle. Shop around for the best deals you can get to save some money on your next fun activities by going online and finding special student discounts and offers such as two-for-one cinema nights or buy one get one free pizza deals. If you know about an upcoming trip and you don't want to miss out swap a few pricy club outings for staying in with your flatmates and watching movies so that you can save up the money you need.Just remember that you don't always need to spend a lot of money to have fun. ​ Choose activities that you love doing. Back to Options ​ Insurance Image SourceDepending on the home insurance policy that your parents have, your belongings may or may not be covered by your household and contents insurance at home. ​ Check with them to see if you are covered and try to get your possessions insured if they currently aren't since they might be a lot more valuable than you think. ​ Between your laptop, smartphone, TV, camera, clothes and jewellery your personal belongings will amount to a pretty penny. If they get stolen or lost it will be difficult for you to replace them without blowing your budget so get them insured before you start university. ​ Student contents insurance policies can be relatively cheap depending on what you need to cover so it's worth taking the time to find an affordable insurance package to fit your needs. ​ You can go online on comparison websites to find and compare policies and get free quotes before deciding on what the best option is for you. Back to Options ​ Personal Care (Toiletries)When you're no longer living at home you quickly discover that you have to spend a lot of money on toiletries. Since shampoo, shower gel and toothpaste aren't optional you should set aside a budget for the basic personal care items you will need. ​ But there are several things you can do to cut down the costs of toiletries and they all revolve around having a great shopping strategy. ​ Keeping an eye out for special offers and discounts on your preferred personal care products is always a great way to ensure you save money on every purchase: you can buy in bulk when the item you use is on sale and store the extra items away until you need them since toiletries don't usually spoil. ​ Another great tactic is to combine sales with coupons and get the lowest possible price on an item so don't throw coupons away before looking through them: they might offer discounts on products that you're interested in. ​ If you're finding that your toiletries are stretching your budget consider switching to less expensive brands for some of the items that you use. ​ When it comes to buying make-up, stick to the necessary items and try to only buy them when the stores or the companies you are getting them from have special offers since brand name make-up can be quite pricy. ​ Back to Options ​ Clothes Image SourceAlthough a trip to the shops is very tempting once you get some money into your bank account it may not be the best idea to spend your entire clothes budget in one major shopping spree. ​ Normally you'd look for sales and special offers so fight the temptation of impulse purchases and wait for store discounts. Top tips: Only buy what you really need at retail price and search for student discounts that are available in your area. There are student cards that you can get to gain access to additional discounts and sales and many brands and stores offer special prices for students via their student ID so do some research before you start shopping. You can also buy some of your clothes online from websites that offer you cash back with each purchase so look around and find out which supplier has the best deals. Charity shops and second hand stores can also be an option if your budget is stretched very thin but supermarket chains often carry their own lines of affordable clothing so they're worth looking into when it comes to your basic wardrobe needs. Another great way to diversify your look is to swap clothes with your friends every now and then: you and your friends are likely to have clothes you don't wear a lot that another one of you might love so swapping clothes is a great option for improving your wardrobe without spending any money. You can also go online and find websites that organize clothes swapping: you list the clothes you'd like to swap and find something you love to trade them for. Back to Options ​ Extra Expenses Image SourceMost students aren't aware of how many extra expenses can add up to their living and studying costs at the end of the term but the truth is that there will be unexpected costs here and there and unless they are properly handled they can add up to a massive sum. ​ Printing and photocopying course work can end up costing you a lot of money in the long run so it might be better to just buy a printer from the very beginning in order to limit these expenses. ​ Top tip: Refilling your own printer cartridges and buying refilled ones instead of new ones is a lot cheaper and will work well as long as you don't need to print out high quality photographs or content. Print in black and white and on both sides of the paper to cut down on your costs and avoid other unnecessary bills such as library fines, carelessness will just end up costing you more. As long as you calculate your annual budget well and stick to your weekly limit, you should have no problem staying on top of your finances. ​ It may seem scary at first but you once you get used to budgeting, spending and saving wisely living on a determined amount of money every week will become second nature. ​ The purpose of going to university is for you to grow as a person and that extends beyond your curriculum and your courses: you will make mistakes and learn how not to repeat them so don't panic if you find yourself struggling every now and then. ​ Teach yourself to be disciplined and organized when it comes to your personal finances and make every penny count: you're bound to manage your budget successfully and feel proud of yourself at the end of the term. ​ Back to Options ​

Satire in Great Gatsby (Chapter 5) Essay Example

Satire in Great Gatsby (Chapter 5) Paper In the novel, The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald satirizes how newly wealthy Americans acted during the 1920’s through Jay Gatsby. The 1920’s was nicknamed the ‘Roaring Twenties’, and during this time period, many people were much more wealthy and were only interested in big, extravagant things. Jay Gatsby is an example of this. He was born poor, gained his wealth, and now he throws big parties at his mansion to impress hundreds of people. In the beginning of Chapter 5, Nick arrives at West Egg to find Gatsby’s mansion lighting up the night sky. Nick said to Gatsby, â€Å"Your place looks like the World’s Fair† (81). The significance of Nicks statement shows how Gatsby tries to be â€Å"old money†, when really he is â€Å"new money†. Gatsby tries to show off his wealth by turning on every single light in his mansion, but he lacks the class of those who really are â€Å"old money†. This satirizes how wealthy people were during the 1920s; they were obnoxious and did not have the same class as those who were wealthy before that time period. Another example of this is when Fitzgerald tells the reader what Gatsby is wearing for when Daisy comes over Nick’s house. We will write a custom essay sample on Satire in Great Gatsby (Chapter 5) specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Satire in Great Gatsby (Chapter 5) specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Satire in Great Gatsby (Chapter 5) specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Fitzgerald wrote, â€Å"Gatsby, in a white flannel suit, silver shirt, and gold-colored tie, hurried in† (84). Daisy knows Gatsby as a poor man that she used to love, but couldn’t be with because her family didn’t approve. Gatsby still loves Daisy, and he dresses like this because he wants to impress her. Newly wealthy people during the 1920’s always wore expensive clothing. Gatsby dressing like this just satirizes those people, and shows he truly isn’t â€Å"old money†, no matter how hard he tries to be. Later in the chapter, Gatsby invited Daisy and Nick over to his house because he wants to show off his mansion to Daisy. Gatsby said, â€Å" I want you and Daisy to come over to my house† (89). Gatsby brought Daisy to his house, and even though she was impressed with what he has become, even Daisy realized that everything he owned is inelegant, and doesn’t have the same type of possessions that â€Å"old money† people have. This satirizes how people during the 1920’s tried to show off their flashy possessions, but they don’t truly have as much worth. Fitzgerald’s use of satire of newly wealthy people during the 1920’s are truly expressed through Gatsby’s actions and belongings.

Ana Maria Matute- Sin of Omission Essay Example

Ana Maria Matute Ana Maria Matute- Sin of Omission Paper Ana Maria Matute- Sin of Omission Paper Ana Maria Matute is one of the most significant writers in Spain today. Some of the autobiographic details, especially those of her early life are extremely important, as they influenced her work to a considerable extent. She was born in Barcelona in 1926 in a well-to-do family, but some of the events of her childhood left deep marks on her personality. The most important of these is the Civil War, which is probably the source of one of the most important themes of her writing: the loss of innocence. Also, the lack of affection in her own family where she felt neglected is probably at the root of the isolation and loneliness of the characters in her fiction. Other personal data, like her sickness as a child which endangered her life, shaped the pessimistic view of the world that her work expresses. Usually the autobiographical details are not used directly in her work, but they are still recognizable under the guise of her subjectivity. Sin of Omission is based, for example, on her e xperience of the Civil War, although indirectly. The short story tackles more than one theme at the same time: first of all, the religious underpinnings are obvious even from the title. It is a story about sin, about right and wrong, about human nature and human life. The title of the story is very significant as it offers the author’s subjective interpretation of the events in the text, which, otherwise are recounted in an objective tone. The author intentionally builds up a slight confusion around the word ‘sin’: according to the sixth commandment in the Old Testament, the sin in the story should be the murder of Emeterio, committed by Lope. The title indicates however that this is not so. The true sin is that of â€Å"omission†, therefore a sin which is not related to any performed act but precisely to what has not been done. It is Emeterio’s omission to provide anything else than the strictly necessary material needs for Lope, something which is not unlike murder in a figurative sense. Thus, the story is a brief overview of an orphan boy’s life, named Lope. The teenager is sent by a distant relative, a cousin of his father to be a shepherd in Sagrado. He is thirteen when the story begins when his mother dies. The story already mentions that he hadn’t been to school for three years, which is one of the â€Å"omissions† in the boy’s life. After he had been a shepherd for five years, Emeterio Ruiz Heredia calls him back to the village for a medical control and Lope accidentally meets on of his former school colleagues, Manuel Enriquez. The sharp contrast between the two boys, Lope a shepherd and Manuel a lawyer dressed in an elegant suit, is what generates the conflict of the story and brings it to its climax. Lope sees in the other boy the things that he has been deprived of by being sent as a shepherd in the mountains: a career, the possibility of cultivating his mind and his sensibility. There is a long list of omissions that, even if it is not given by the author, can be intuitively understood by the reader. Emeterio and his family, with a wife that had â€Å" a sharp tongue† and a twenty years old daughter already form a hostile environment for the Lope: â€Å"[†¦] even if he took him in when he became an orphan, without inheritance or trade†, Emeterio and his family didn’t treat him right. The act of sending him as a shepherd to earn his own money, although seemingly a good deed to an orphan boy, is in fact a great injustice. The positive gesture is only done halfway. Emeterio provides Lope with a trade that will help him live and have enough to eat, but for the rest, isolates him and refuses to give him an education even if he is advised to do so by the boy’s former teacher. The attributes that are human in Lope are completely ignored by his foster parent. The isolation in the mountains with only one other shepherd, who is fifty years old and a bit retarded, is symbolic: Emeteri o deprives him of human contact exactly at the time that his character and his understanding of life are being formed. The silence of his companion and of his surroundings is very limiting for the boy. It can not be said that a shepherd’s life would be bad for anyone, but for Lope it is, as he has been denied the education and the possibility to open his mind, as the author hints in the dialogue between Emeterio and Lope’s teacher: â€Å"’I have seen the Lope he said- he was mounting to Sagrado. It’s a pity for the boy. ‘Yes said Emeterio, cleaning his lips with the back of the hand.He goes as a shepherd. You know: one has to earn his money. Life is bad.’(Matute, 199) Emeterio’s limited view of life prevents him from seeing the wrong of sending the boy away as a shepherd. Matute’s main concern here is with human nature: a human being needs more than merely enough to eat or drink, and Emeterio denies these things to Lope exactly when the latter would have to open up to the world. As Jones emphasizes, Matute shows here the contrast between reality and the possibility of the ideal: â€Å"Ana Marà ­a Matutes foremost concern is man and human nature, to which she attributes unchanging characteristics conveyed to the reader by fixed literary patterns. The interpretation of the eternal condition of mankind moves from a study of individual situations to a view of history, and both specific characters and the wider perspective of historyand this is history in the sense of private history, not great eventsderive from an original notion of time. Time patterns hint at a dark side of life and emphasize mans unhappiness, loneliness and the difference between the reality of life and ideal possibilities.â€Å"(Jones, 283) The ideal for Lope is never realized, but he senses the omissions in his life when he meets with his former school companion. One of the greatest injustice is thus that of the lack of humanity in the way Lope is treated by Emeterio’s family. Not only is he isolated in Sagrado, but receives no attention or affection from the people surrounding him.   As Ordonez pointed out, Matute’s story is pervaded by a pervasive solitude and faulty communication: â€Å"[†¦] an isolation between the self and others; between the self and itself; pervasive solitude; separation caused by death, divorce and faulty communication.†(Ordonez, 11) The name of â€Å"Sagrado† is itself symbolic as it is the Spanish word for â€Å"sacred†, accentuating the religious themes of the story. The scenery described is also significant. The ceiling of the little clay hut where Lope lived and the sheer blue sky are contrasted here: the boy wakes up every day to the monotonous life in the mountains. Although the sky and the sun seem to indicate greatness, the little clay hut in which the two men could only go in by crawling seems cumbersome and suffocating: â€Å"The summits of Sagrado were beautiful, of a deep blue, a terrible, blind one. The sun, high and round, reigned there like an undaunted pupil. In the fog of the dawn, when the humming of the flies and the creaking was not heard yet, Lope used to wake up, with the clay ceiling in front of his eyes. He remained quiet awhile, feeling by his side the body of Roque Mediano, like a breathing bulk.† (Matute, 199) The author’s description of the roots that the men â€Å"hug† when they sleep in the hut is very significant: the verb â€Å"to hug† is used intentionally to underline the boy’s utter loneliness and the fact that he is deprived of any human contact. The whole atmosphere seems muffled and heavy, one in which the human shouts are lost, unheard: â€Å"In the same sky, crossing like fugitive stars, the shouts were lost, useless and great. Only God knew where they would fall. Like stones. Like the years. One year, two, five.†(Matute, 199) The boy suffers in the small, crowded hut, and under the contrasting, great sky that cannot hear the shouts of men. At the end of the story the effect of this heavy silence on the boy is again indicated. When he meets his companion, the boy is at first befuddled by the latter’s elegant clothes and by the fine cigar box he tends to him. He then feels the sharp contrast between them, between their hand and their whole appearance. The fact that Lope cannot understand what Manuel is saying is very telling: he cannot relate to another human being after having lived for five years in absolute isolation, without talking or thinking or knowing anything about life: â€Å"Who could understand what he was saying?†. The words and accents of the other man seem strange and unusual to Lope, who has only been accustomed to silence. The climax of the story, when Lope, after his encounter with Manuel, picks up a huge stone and hurtles it at his adoptive relative might seem shocking, but in fact, the murder comes almost naturally in the muffled atmosphere of the text. It is recounted as if it were another killing during a war. The actual sin in the story is not this murder but the seemingly innocent omissions in Emeterio’s behavior. Lope’s crime is very significant as it indicates what other critics have termed as a â€Å"moral ambiguity† in Matute’s works: â€Å"While she lost no family or close relatives during the war, one of Ana Marà ­as professors was killed attempting to escape to France. But the constant sensation of loss in her works is the result of a loss much more fundamental and irreplaceable: the loss of childhood, of innocence, of beliefs, of a whole world and the values on which it was based. That moral ambiguity, to which some critics have objected in Matutes works, is evidently a result of the Civil War.†(Diaz, 145) The author was immensely affected by the Civil War which made her understand the dreadful part of life- with its murders and horrors at an age when she was still innocent. The war which is in itself immoral and shatters one’s ideas about right and wrong influenced her view of morality, and made her see murder differently. This is why Matute ends chooses to punish the omissions in Lope’s life in a very radical manner. The blame is clearly lain on Emeterio, and the murder is almost unquestioned by the author. Thus, the war as an autobiographical source seems to be the main factor of influence for the moral attitude the author gives in her story: â€Å"The dominating concern with the Civil War is definitely of autobiographical origin, and where descriptions of the war are offered, they often have an autobiographical basis, as the novelist experienced bombings, witnessed shootings and burnings and other horrors of war.†(Diaz, 111) There are other autobiographical elements of the author’s life that influence Sin of Omission, as her illness that has brought her in contact the poverty and misery of existence in the countryside: â€Å"[Matutes] illness at the age of eight was particularly important for her interest in, and understanding of, the Castilian landscape, for she was sent to live with her grandparents during an extended convalescence, thus becoming acquainted with a countryside different from that of her summers, with new aspects of life, with the misery, poverty, and struggle for existence.†(Diaz, 146) Thus, in Sin of Omission not only morality is questioned, but also human life in general because of the difficulties of material existence that seem other aspects, like spirituality, seem irrelevant. The view on life she gives is extremely pessimistic because it presents the harshness of reality and the hostile environment for man. The focus on childhood and the early stages of life is also symbolic because it focuses on the moment in which the disenchantment takes place: â€Å"An interesting aspect of the question of Matutes utilization of autobiographical material is her apparent concentration on the early part of her life. The autobiographical elements mentioned heretofore and come from the period ending with the close of the Civil War, and are thus taken from only the first thirteen years of the novelists life. From this point on, she uses almost no autobiographical materials.†(Diaz, 147) This is why the murder done by Lope can be seen differently now: it is a radical gesture meant to symbolize the inadaptability of man to the hostile conditions of life, which is full of â€Å"omissions†: â€Å"There is nothing unusual about her marked division between the periods of childhood, adolescence and adulthood, but the transition between these stages is occasioned by a strange timetable. Children grow suddenly when forced to abandon a world of fantasy and accept the harshness of reality. If they cannot adjust to the adult world or refuse to do so, they must die, and the mortality rate for children in these works is exceedingly high. (Jones, 286)

Project Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

Project - Assignment Example The payoffs on the covered call position are related to the short put standing, the premium is the same as of the naked put (Kendrick, 2012). General electric trade shows the highest potential yields since it has bid premium of $1.14 that yields 12.23% and GE decreased its dividend to $10 from a high of $31 per quarter. Let’s look at the scenarios of pay offs at GE in a minimum span of six months, One has an alternative of 100 shares at the price of $18.79 and sells the shares in January at $19.00 call at $1.14 per share and after minimum number of days receive $114.00, later on prior to expiration collect $30.00 with almost three times the original expected yield. Is a risk management strategy for investors that involve use of shares and stocks to guard against the unrealized gains loss. It reduces the investor’s possible gain from the security he owns but is also a form of insurance. In the market the GE has provided certain basis from which investors can make proper analysis, example of which we use here. An investor purchased a stock of $12 that now is rated at a worth of $24 but has not put it on sell, the unrealized gains can be rated at $12. The investor can as well purchase a put option for the underlying stock if he still believes that he is not ready to sell but is also keen not to lose the gain of twelve. The investor can be able to increase the put option gain if the prices continue to rise and losses when they fall as illustrated in the graph. An option can be said to be a strategy that is used by investors in trading. It involves a simultaneous purchase and sale of two options that are categorized under the same type but have different expiration dates. The two are sold at different strike prices. The payoffs are shown by the narrowing and albeit, widening of the differences that exists between

MGT506 - Strategic Leadership, Mod 4 SLP Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

MGT506 - Strategic Leadership, Mod 4 SLP - Essay Example Among the leadership styles employed may include; task oriented, relationship oriented, dictatorship, and transactional, transformational, charismatic, participative and bureaucratic style of leadership (Lussier & Achua, 2010). This study will focus on both task and relationship styles of leadership. Below is a survey results indicating task Verses Relationship leadership style of leadership Questions Never†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.Always 1. Tells group members what they are supposed to do. 2. Sets standards for performance of the group. 3. Makes suggestion about how to solve the problem. 4. Makes his or her perspective clear to others 5. Develop a plan of actions for the group. 6. Defines roles responsibility for each member 7. Clarifies his or her own role within the group 8. Provides a plan for how the work is to be done 9. Provides criteria for what is expected of the group 10. Encourage group members to do high-quality work. 1 2 3 5 1 3 4 5 2 3 4 5 1 3 4 5 1 2 4 5 2 3 4 5 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 1 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 Total score for â€Å"A† orientation 4+2+1+2+3+1+1+5+2+3=26 =26 Scores Questions Never†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.Always 11. Act friendly with members of the group. 12. Helps others feel comfortable the group. 13. Responds favorably to responses made by others. 14. Treats others fairly. 15. Behaves in a predictable manner towards group members. 16. Communicates effectively with group members. 17. Shows concern for well-being of others. 18. Shows flexibility in making decisions. 19. Disclose thoughts and feelings to group members. 20. Helps group members to get a long. 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 5 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 5 1 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 5 1 2 3 5 1 2 4 5 1 2 3 4 Total score for â€Å"B† orientation 5+4+5+4+2+5+4+4+3+5= = 41 Scores A =  Task  Orientation Scores: 26 B =  Relationship  Orientation Scores: 41 Scale 45-50  Ã‚  Ã‚  Very high range 40-44  High range 35-39 moderately high range 30-34 moderately low range 25 -29  Low range 10-24  Very low range Analysis Based on the above survey, the scores indicates that task oriented leadership stand at 26 score while relationship oriented leadership style stands at 41 score. This indicates that the scores for relationship oriented style were within a scale of 40-44 (high range) while on the other hand, the scores for task oriented leadership lies within a scale of 25-29 (low range). This means that the leaders of this organization utilized relationship focus type of leadership. Where, leaders help members of the organization to understand their roles by providing them with necessary support as well as organizing how task will be executed (Daft & Lane, 2008). This means that this type of leadership not only encourages integration but also collaboration among team members (Daft & Lane, 2008). Therefore, the above results will be utilized by the leaders of this organization to strike a balance between task and relationship in order to become more ef ficient and effective in their future leadership. This is because both task and relationship oriented leadership styles complement each other (Goethals, Sorenson & Burns, 2004). For example, employees feel motivated to execute organization goals when treated with care and concern (Goethals, Sorenson & Burns, 2004). This may further leads to an increase in productivity and efficiency within an organization (Bolden, Gosling, Marturano & Dennison, 2003). Therefore, leaders should focus on relationship oriented type of leadership

Communicating Expectations Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Communicating Expectations - Assignment Example The work involved scheduling work and filling worksheets. Based on the information contained in the worksheets, each worker would have a specific duty to attend to. Every worker would have a worksheet that detailed where they would be working, the specific type of work they would be doing, how much time they would need to perform the work, and the main procedure involved in completing the work. After the work had been done, each worker the supervisors would certify that the workers did all the work specified in the work sheets. Based on the worksheets, the employees working on contract would be paid. Because each day had different demands, the worksheets had to be prepared every morning based on the orders that the company received. While everything worked well when the company had few orders to deliver, there was a big problem whenever there were several orders. The process of filling worksheets was slow much as I tried hard to cope with the numerous worksheets to fill. Many times, workers idled around as they waited for their worksheets while in fact they should have been working. This meant that sometimes the company failed to deliver its orders within deadline which never went well with the management. Realizing where the problem was, the manager in charge of my department informed me that I had to find a way of ensuring that the worksheets were produced within a much shorter time. He emphasized that he believed that I could find a way of making the process faster and more efficient so that production would be improved. I took his word positively and tried even more to work faster. There was a slight improvement in production as I produced more worksheets within a shorter time within three days. However, the manager still insisted that he believed that I could do much more to realize real change. I knew I was putting my very best effort and could not see at that time how I could work even faster. I got into real thought

The Secularization Thesis

The Secularization Thesis It was Voltaire who said, If God did not exist, it would be necessary to invent him. Our theory agrees. (Stark and Bainbridge 1987, page 23). These words uttered by Stark and Bainbridge back in 1987 offer a glimpse into the longstanding and heated debated between the previously dominant, the Secularization Thesis and the completing Supply Side Theory, in academic sociology. Both theories have profound implications for the future of religion as a force in society. This essay will look at two articles published in the Sociology of Religion. Firstly, this essay will look at the two completing theories of the Secularization Thesis and the Supply Side. Secondly, a summary of the main points of Starks article entitled Secularization: RIP† in 1999, and Bruces 2001 response article entitled Christianity in Britain: RIP will be presented. Looking critically at both articles, this essay will conclude that Stark has won the debate for this around. The secularization thesis dates from when the theory of development was at the high of its influence. The theory in its modern incantation comes from the work of British sociologist Bruan Wilson in the 1960s. This twofold thesis was based on the observation that since the French and industrial revolutions in Europe in the 19th and 20 centuries have lead to a decline in religiosity. Firstly, this theory used Modernity as an explanation for the exit of Christianity from the world. Secondary, this theory, would have the same effects on all types of societies. It saw the extinction of religion from an enlightened world. On the other hand, Supply Side Theory came to challenge the secularization theory in the 1980s. This theory aims to explain religiosity. Proponents believe that there is a constant potential human demand for religious goods over time and between societies. They believe that as the supply of these goods fluctuates, these fluctuations explain the different levels of religio us vigour in different societies. Basically, the greater the religious diversity of a society, the better the religious vigour in that society. As previously noted the secularization thesis theory has come under aggressive attack. Rodney Stark, then teaching at the University of Washington in 1999 published his article â€Å"Secularization, R.I.P. in the Sociology of Religion journal. In this article, Stark clearly argues that the Secularisation theoy, is out-dated, old-fashioned and, as the title of his article highlights, the theory is dead and should be left to rest in peace Stark begins his article by noting, â€Å"[f]or nearly three centuries, social scientists and assorted western intellectuals have been promising the end of religion†. Stark makes five major claims about the thesis. Firstly, according to Stark, Modernity and modernisation is seen by theorists to be the cause of secularization. He notes that modernisation is a â€Å"long, gradual, relatively stable process†, and that if secularization is the result of modernisation, there will be a corresponding â€Å"long-term, gradual, and relatively constant trend of religious decline†. Secondly, to Stark, the focus of the predictions is on individual piety, especially belief, not institutional differentiation. He believes that some supporters of the secularization thesis have changed their focus and definition so they do not have to admit that their thesis is failed. In fact, Stark agrees religion institutions have less power and that religious ritual and symbols have become le ss common in public life. Starks third argument is that in all versions of the thesis the claim that â€Å"of all aspects of modernization, it is science that has the most deadly implications for religion†. Fourthly, Secularization is irreversible. Nevertheless, Stark disagrees with this by noting Andree Greeleys 1994 comment that after 70 years of Soviet Union militant efforts to achieve secularisation â€Å"St. Vladimir has routed Karl Marx†. Finally, Stark notes that the thesis applies globally. While the theorists have mostly focuses on Christianity, â€Å"belief in supernatural powers† is going to die out all over the world. Allah and Jehovah will both join each other as an â€Å"interesting historical memory†. Secularization, R.I.P., then gets into specifics. To Stark the secularization thesis has failed to be an accurate prediction due to six main reasons. Firstly, it is a myth that there has been a decline in religious belief and participation because â€Å"there has been no demonstrable long-term decline in European religious participation† and in Europe â€Å"levels of subjective religiousness remain high.† Next, he argues that there has never been an â€Å"Age of Faith†. To Stark most Europeans did not attend church during the middle Ages and during the Renaissance. In fact, he highlights that many clergy were incompetent and that clergy were often absent from their parishes. In addition, while there were â€Å"periodic explosions of mass religious enthusiasm†, this offers even stronger evidence against involvement in organized religion. As a result, it can be said religious participation sometimes rises and sometimes declines. Thirdly, he argues that never was Europe really Christianized. Stark believes that although early Christianity was a â€Å"mass social movement in a highly competitive environment,† it lost its energy after it became the official religion of the Roman Empire. After Emperor Constantine converted to Christianity, there was never an attempt to convert the general population of Europe. This ties in to his fourth argument. Stark notes that while some theorists confirm there was no â€Å"Age of Faith, to them people still had high levels of religious belief, even if they did not go to church. Stark believes, using secular Iceland as an example, this still applies today, noting that while Iceland only has 2 percent church attendance, only 2.4 percent of the country are atheists. Fifthly, â€Å"if secularization is to show up anywhere it must show up among scientists†. However, Stark discovers that many scientists report being religious. Evidence that there is a conflict between religion and science is m ostly fictional, and scientists are not â€Å"notably irreligious†. Finally, Stark ends his rant about the fails of the Secularization theory by stating that evidence from Eastern Europe, Muslim nations and practitioners of Asian â€Å"folk† religions that modernity is compatible with religion. In 2001, Steven Bruce, Professor of Sociology at the University of Aberdeen, responded to Stark, with the appropriately titled â€Å"Christianity in Britain, R.I.P.†. Bruce disagrees with Starks hypothesis that the secularisation is simply a myth, based upon underestimating the religious vitality of the of the world today. Furthermore, Stark argued that this myth also exaggerated the religiosity of the past age of faith. In order to refute Starks claims, Bruce uses Britain as an example. Firstly, Bruce looks back at pre-industrial Britain. While knowledge of religion and its orthodoxy may have been limited, in order for there to be no golden age of faith we would have to be able accept nine â€Å"sociologically implausible assumptions†. These range from wondering if the most powerful national institution had little or no impact upon the people. To why would people allow such a large amount of the wealth of Britain go to this institution which they did not support. To Br uce, religious beliefs then were still far more pervasive and influential than they are now. Next, Bruce looks at various indicators of the decline of Christianity in Britain over the last 150 years. Today, most Christian communities are in decline. Even if we just look to surveys done in 1951, 1990, and 2000 there is a clear trend of dramatic decline. Bruce goes as far to comment that using the long-term stable trend of the decline of Church membership and attendance, it is possible to make a statistical projection that by the 2030s the main Christian denominations will cease to exist. (Methodist). Bruce clearly believes that no amount of supply side revisionism will change the fact that Christianity in Britain is in serious trouble. Bruce then takes a critical look at supply-side theories of religion, which argue that demand is constant and that levels of religious vitality therefore depend on the supply, which is greatest when there is a free and competitive market for providers. He asks that considering Christianity has always valued collective acts of worship, and if there is a free marketplace for religion and no lack of shortage of Christian organisations. Surly this should be expressed in some way. Bruce notes that while the New Age movement might appear to demonstrate the existence of widespread informal religious belief, perhaps of an enduring need for religion, his examination of the extent, nature, and significance of that movement suggests otherwise, noting that they are â€Å"numerically all but irrelevant†. The memberships of these new organisations do not sufficiently make up for those lost from the more traditional denominations, which are in danger of dwindling past the demographic point o f no return.

Korea and the Internet :: Computers Language Communication Papers

Korea and the Internet Since its birth a generation ago, the Internet has been dominated by the English language and North American culture. In a 1998 survey conducted by the Internet research group, eMarketer, two-thirds (68 percent) of a little over 60 million Internet users worldwide reside in just two countries, the United States, with 37 million users, and Canada, which has just over 4 million. About 60 percent of the Internet host computers are located in the United States. Nine out of 10 Internet users today are English-speaking. No fewer than 82 percent of home pages (web sites) are in English, according to the Internet Society’s survey of 60,000 computers with Internet addresses. Yet some foresee an end to this electronic hegemony. The number of non-U.S. Internet users is about to outnumber those inside the country soon and increase by nine-fold over the next five years, from 16.4 million in 1997 to 143 million by the year 2002, representing an annual growth rate of 70 percent. In that case, the present practice of conducting business, presenting news and information, and performing discussion on the Internet will have to be drastically changed. The widespread use of English will eventually be contested and the Internet itself will become multicultural. This is already happening. A consortium of American computer companies has developed a universal digital code known as Unicode to allow computers to represent the letters and characters of virtually all the world’s languages. Major search engines like Yahoo and Excite offer their services in multiple languages. Netscape Communications in partnership with the leading Latin American Internet service, Star Media Network, provides a free Internet guide in Spanish and Portuguese. Internet services in languages other than English, like Star Media, are starting to provide world and regional news, weather, stock listings, e-mail, chat rooms, Internet access and more, all in the users’ native language. Given such developments, optimists argue that far from ending diversity, the Internet will promote it by allowing even small groups of people to disseminate their messages worldwide. By overtaking the "middle range" languages, it may actually protect minority languages threatened with extinction. A wider range of languages on the Internet means at least in theory that a wider range of ideas will be exchanged in a cyberspace, the long-promised global village. Despite a tremendous influx of non-English languages in recent years, however, the Internet has a long way to go before it becomes a truly multilingual medium.

Environmental Protection Agency

Environmental Protection Agency is an agency of the United States government that protects human health and the environment. It also writes the rule and makes sure that it is followed. The industry regulations are set by A federal standards. The US federal emission standards for engines and vehicles, including standard for greenhouse gas emissions, are established by the US Environmental Protection Agency. The EPA authority regulates engine emissions and the air quality based on the clean air act in 1990. The noncompliant behavior addressed in the article state that â€Å"Germany top domestic automakers may have evaded emissions rules†. Follow by weeks later another article, state that â€Å"BMW's x5 model, built in 2009 to 2013 and BMW 330D model, sold in 2009 to 2011. All the of the models emit levels of nitrogen oxide higher than their gasoline counterparts†. The development of engine emission standard happen when a procedure of the US rule creates it. New regulation is published as proposed rules, then follow by a time of public discussion. Furthermore, the new rule is finalized and signed into law. In the BMW noncompliant case German prosecutors, the United State Justice Department and EPA searched and seized potential evidence at BMW headquarter in Austria. Follow by United State Justice Department files class action lawsuit in a New Jersey court for alleged emissions cheating on diesel vehicles. The BMW vehicles promised power, fuel economy, and efficiency are obtained only by turning off or turning down emission controls when the software in there vehicles senses that they are not in an emissions testing environments. The enforcement of the problem that cause the raid were software had been installed by mistake, and the company had not intentionally tired to deceive regulators. During internal testing, â€Å"BMW realized that a correctly developed software module had been allocated in error to models. BMW would recall about 11,000 cars containing the software fix the problem†. Governance, risk management and compliance is an organization approach across three areas: Governance, risk management and compliance. It is an integrated collection of capabilities that enable an organization to reliably achieve objectives. It is referred to keeping the company on track, activities manage in department such as internal audit, compliance, risk, legal, finance, IT, HR, and executive suite. â€Å"The compliance challenges are in five different areas: Organizational for a complex business process supporting financial operations are often linked to complex IT systems that are still manual and paper driven. Psychological are most decision makers look at regulation as extra constraints to their operations. Financial are a critical element is the cost implication. Technical can create a flexible framework that can nurture a business can serve well for the regulators. Political and public pressure on regulators are certainly other factors. New political may mean some will regulation will be withdrawn from the market and now ones can be introduced.† The BMW Group's corporate culture is clear with responsibility, mutual respect and trust. Lawful conduct and fair competition are integral to our business activities and an important condition for securing the long-term success of our company. BMW Group also established a compliance management system equipped with instruments and measure to help associates and managers handle legal risks and therefore ensure legal compliance. Regulatory Specialist for â€Å"Oasis Petroleum† – This position is responsible for state and local environmental and regulatory permitting in support of oil and gas operations. The duties will include regulatory reporting at the State and Federal levels. The job functions are responsible for the preparation and tracking of all regulatory operations. Meet with government officials in the regulatory department to ensure company strategy align with rulemaking.Coordinate regulatory hearings and proceedings. Make certain all annual updates, renewal, and reports are submitted to state and local municipal entities. Keep company informed of any changes to permit requirements to ensure compliance. Environmental Protection Agency Environmental Protection Agency is an agency of the United States government that protects human health and the environment. It also writes the rule and makes sure that it is followed. The industry regulations are set by A federal standards. The US federal emission standards for engines and vehicles, including standard for greenhouse gas emissions, are established by the US Environmental Protection Agency. The EPA authority regulates engine emissions and the air quality based on the clean air act in 1990. The noncompliant behavior addressed in the article state that â€Å"Germany top domestic automakers may have evaded emissions rules†. Follow by weeks later another article, state that â€Å"BMW's x5 model, built in 2009 to 2013 and BMW 330D model, sold in 2009 to 2011. All the of the models emit levels of nitrogen oxide higher than their gasoline counterparts†. The development of engine emission standard happen when a procedure of the US rule creates it. New regulation is published as proposed rules, then follow by a time of public discussion. Furthermore, the new rule is finalized and signed into law. In the BMW noncompliant case German prosecutors, the United State Justice Department and EPA searched and seized potential evidence at BMW headquarter in Austria. Follow by United State Justice Department files class action lawsuit in a New Jersey court for alleged emissions cheating on diesel vehicles. The BMW vehicles promised power, fuel economy, and efficiency are obtained only by turning off or turning down emission controls when the software in there vehicles senses that they are not in an emissions testing environments. The enforcement of the problem that cause the raid were software had been installed by mistake, and the company had not intentionally tired to deceive regulators. During internal testing, â€Å"BMW realized that a correctly developed software module had been allocated in error to models. BMW would recall about 11,000 cars containing the software fix the problem†. Governance, risk management and compliance is an organization approach across three areas: Governance, risk management and compliance. It is an integrated collection of capabilities that enable an organization to reliably achieve objectives. It is referred to keeping the company on track, activities manage in department such as internal audit, compliance, risk, legal, finance, IT, HR, and executive suite. â€Å"The compliance challenges are in five different areas: Organizational for a complex business process supporting financial operations are often linked to complex IT systems that are still manual and paper driven. Psychological are most decision makers look at regulation as extra constraints to their operations. Financial are a critical element is the cost implication. Technical can create a flexible framework that can nurture a business can serve well for the regulators. Political and public pressure on regulators are certainly other factors. New political may mean some will regulation will be withdrawn from the market and now ones can be introduced.† The BMW Group's corporate culture is clear with responsibility, mutual respect and trust. Lawful conduct and fair competition are integral to our business activities and an important condition for securing the long-term success of our company. BMW Group also established a compliance management system equipped with instruments and measure to help associates and managers handle legal risks and therefore ensure legal compliance. Regulatory Specialist for â€Å"Oasis Petroleum† – This position is responsible for state and local environmental and regulatory permitting in support of oil and gas operations. The duties will include regulatory reporting at the State and Federal levels. The job functions are responsible for the preparation and tracking of all regulatory operations. Meet with government officials in the regulatory department to ensure company strategy align with rulemaking.Coordinate regulatory hearings and proceedings. Make certain all annual updates, renewal, and reports are submitted to state and local municipal entities. Keep company informed of any changes to permit requirements to ensure compliance.

Aol Time WarnerS Essays - Time Warner, Turner Broadcasting System

Aol Time WarnerS Essays - Time Warner, Turner Broadcasting System Aol Time WarnerS NEW YORKAmerica Online, Inc. (NYSE: AOL) and Time Warner Inc. (NYSE: TWX) announced today the management team and structure for AOL Time Warners finance organization, which will take effect upon completion of the merger of the two companies. In making the announcement, J. Michael Kelly, currently AOLs chief financial officer and senior vice president, who will become chief financial officer and executive vice president of AOL Time Warner, said: We have assembled an extraordinarily talented group of finance executives from throughout AOL and Time Warner, drawing on the strengths of both companies. This is the first step in building the foundation for a world-class finance function. We have the right team, with the right combination of skills and experience, to support the financial and strategic goals of the company and to help us realize the tremendous potential of our merger. Gerald M. Levin, chairman and CEO of Time Warner, who will become CEO of AOL Time Warner, said: Today's executive appointments will provide AOL Time Warner with an experienced, top-flight, hard-driving financial organization which can establish the operating metrics to support the growth opportunities that will help drive our continually accelerating performance. The following executives were named to key finance positions at AOL Time Warner: John LaBarca, senior vice president, financial operations. LaBarcas responsibilities will include merger integration tracking, internal audit and purchasing. He is currently senior vice president, financial operations at Time Warner Inc. He joined Time Warner in 1993. Frederick Yeager, senior vice president, finance. Yeagers responsibilities will include advising corporate senior management on key financial issues and representing the CFO on other matters. Yeager is currently vice president, finance and development at Time Warner Inc. He joined Time Warner in 1995. James Barge, vice president, controller. Barge will be responsible for corporate-wide reporting of internal and external financial results, accounting policy and procedures, corporate accounting as well as all SEC-related issues. He is currently vice president and controller at Time Warner Inc. He joined Time Warner in 1995. Warren Christie, vice president, tax. Christies responsibilities will include tax planning and tax compliance. He is currently vice president, tax at Time Warner Inc. He joined Time Warner in 1982. Landel Hobbs, vice president, financial analysis and operations support. Hobbss responsibilities will include budgets and financial and operational analysis of the results of the companys business units. He is currently senior vice president, controller and chief accounting officer for Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. He joined Turner Broadcasting in 1993. Melinda Mount, vice president, finance and acquisitions. Mounts responsibilities will include financial strategies, business planning, mergers and acquisitions, and competitive analysis. She is currently vice president, corporate strategy and development at Time Warner Inc. She joined Time Warner in 1995. Raymond Murphy, vice president, treasurer. Murphys responsibilities will include worldwide treasury activities, including capital markets, cash management, project finance, real estate and risk management. He is currently senior vice president and treasurer at America Online, Inc. He joined AOL in 1999. Founded in 1985, America Online, Inc. (NYSE: AOL) is the worlds leader in interactive services, Web brands, Internet technologies and e-commerce services. Time Warner Inc. (NYSE: TWX, www.timewarner.com) is the worlds leading media company. Its businesses include cable networks, publishing, music, filmed entertainment, cable and digital media. 2 DULLES, VA and NEW YORK, NY America Online, Inc. [NYSE:AOL] and Time Warner Inc. [NYSE: TWX] released the following joint statement in response to today's decision by the European Commission to approve their merger: We are very pleased with today's approval of our merger by the European Commission, another important step forward in the approval process. In addition to today's action by the EC, AOL and Time Warner received shareholder approval of their merger on June 23 and by last month had the necessary Time Warner Cable franchise approvals. The companies' discussions with U.S. regulators are proceeding well and the companies are confident they will conclude successfully. AOL and Time Warner said they are on track to close their merger this fall 3. DULLES, VA and NEW YORK, NY America Online, Inc. (NYSE:AOL) and Time Warner Inc. (NYSE:TWX) today announced that their shareholders have voted to approve the proposed merger of the two companies at special shareholders meetings held respectively

Mary kate and ashley essays

Mary kate and ashley essays As part of the American dream, everyone aspires to be prosperous. Despite the struggles along the way people still want to be rich for anything. For some people, making a lot of money comes easy to them than others. However, for Mary-Kate and Ashley Olson, that would be an understatement. Mary-Kate and Ashley were born June 13, 1986 in Sherman Oakes, California to David and Jarnette Olson. They began their acting career in 1987 when they were chosen to play the role of Michelle Tanner on the television series, Full House. The show became a hit with books, dolls, and other merchandise being sold to promote it. During the years the show was on the air, they had a TVQ, popularity rating, second only to Bill Cosby. The twins continued to share the role through the shows end in 1995. During the years of Full House they teamed up with Robert Thorne and created Dualstar, their production company. After various TV movies, big screen movies and TV series shows, the twins became the youngest producers in history at age 6. They also have a magazine and clothing line. By the time they were 10, they became the youngest self-made millionaires in American history. On their 17th birthday, the USs CNN announced not only their birthday, but also the twins financial worth, which is $150,000,000 for each. They are predicted that they may be billionaires by the time their 21. Not only are they millionaires, but theyre also gorgeous. They happen to be number 61 in the 100 sexiest women alive. These fraternal twins who look like identical twins, have built their own empire over the last 18 years. These twins have done everything you can possibly imagine involving entertainment; TV shows, movies, sing-a-longs, dances, plus make up, clothes, fragrance and a magazine. Therefore, Mary-Kate and Ashley have built their own name for them. Still extremely successful and earning more and more money th...