Human Resource Management ( Hrm ) - 1508 Words

â€Å"Human resource management (HRM) is the managing of human skills and talents to make sure they are used effectively and in alignment with an organization’s goals† (Youssef, 2012). The primary role of human resource management is to plan, develop, and order policies and programmers designed to make prompt use of an organization’s human resources. It is that part of management which is concerned with the people at work and with their relationship within an organization. I currently work for a Human Resource agency in my town as a Workforce Development Manager. I do have some responsibilities as a human resource manager, but I am limited to some. In this reflective paper I will explain how the HRM aspects work together to perform their primary function and determine if any of the five are more valuable than the others. Finally, I will determine if the HRM role can be optimized for shaping organizational and employee behavior Areas of HRM When I think of human resource management, I think of recruiting, hiring and managing employees. Honestly in order for the human resource system to be effective there are many other aspects to think about such as ensuring health and safety, compensation and benefits, etc. â€Å"The human resource department is responsible for the management of the organization’s employee-related matters. The HR department attracts, hires, and retains the right employees, and it makes sure they perform according to expectations. The HR department also establishesShow MoreRelatedHuman Resource Management ( Hrm )1552 Words   |  7 PagesHuman Resource Management (HRM) is the function within an association that has emphases on the employment of, administration of, and providing direction for the employees within an organization. The Human Resource Management department members deliver knowledge, training, tools, administrative services, and lawful and organization advice. The HRM department is organized by very talented managers who has a mission to make sure the rest of the business has the needs for successful operation. HumanRead MoreHuman Resource Management ( Hrm )1562 Words   |  7 PagesHuman resource management (HRM) is an important strategic and systematic approach that provides each company with the opportunity to create policies and practices, as well as to establish administrative forms (Pfeffer, 2007). According to Armstrong (2009) HRM is an approach that deals with ‘employment, development, and well-being of the people working in organizations’. However HRM has evolved significantly through the years due to the rapid social, economic, political and environmental changes.Read MoreHuman Resource Management ( Hrm )1142 Words   |  5 Pageshe HRM Process Human Resource Management (HRM) is a combination of elements that work interdependently on each other to carry out the daily functions within an organization. Human Resources Management operates in several roles serving as a liaison between the organization and the employee. This dual role often present challenges within HRM; therefore it is vital the HRM Department is skilled on various issues that may arise on a daily basis within an organization. In this paper, I will discussRead MoreHuman Resource Management ( Hrm )1105 Words   |  5 PagesHuman Resource Management (HRM) is the function within an association that has emphases on the employment of, administration of, and providing direction for the employees within an organization. The Human Resource Management department members deliver knowledge, training, tools, administrative services, and lawful and organization advice. The HRM department is organized by very talented managers who has a mission to make sure the rest o f the business has the needs for successful operation. HumanRead MoreHuman Resource Management : Hrm772 Words   |  4 Pagesa brief description of the models of HRM discussed in the first chapter of the textbook, and explain how each one relates to strategic human resource management. Human Resource Management (HRM) at its best seeks to manage people and resources to maximize economic and social outputs. Social output resulting from providing opportunity for advancement will ultimately make employees become true participants in the company. Bratton and Gold (2012) outline six HRM models, they are: the Forbrum, TichyRead MoreHrm And The And Human Resource Management1094 Words   |  5 PagesIntroduction The main purpose to write this essay is to analogize the differences in the field of HRM and IR. The Foundation of Industrial Relations and Human Resource Management is based on intense academic study. The essay is an endeavor to illustrate by scrutinizing their objectives and the viewpoints or the approaches of this field. The first part of the essay is an attempt to define HRM and IR and it further continues to explain the differences and similarities between the two. In the lastRead MoreHuman Resource Management ( Hrm )1405 Words   |  6 PagesHuman Resource Management (HRM) seeks to manage people and resources to maximize economic and social outputs. Bratton and Gold (2012) outline six HRM models which include: the Forbrum, Tichy and Devanna model, the Harvard model, the Guest model, the Warwick model, The Storey model, and Ulrich’s Strategic Partner model of HRM. Forbrum Tichy and Devanna model of HRM is based on the principle of selecting, appraising, developing and rewarding employees who fulfill management strategic business interestsRead MoreHuman Resource Management ( Hrm )2412 Words   |  10 Pages these human traits can bring considerable benefits to organizations† (Mullins 1999). However, when managed poorly they have the potential to limit organizational growth and threaten the viability of a business. â€Å"There are countless examples of corporate and project crises in the construction sector which have arisen as the result of people s behaviour, and it would seem that human resource management (HRM) has the potential to eliminate more construction risks than any other management approach†Read MoreHuman Resources Management ( Hrm ) Essay794 Words   |  4 Pages Human Resources Management (HRM) is people who work in an organization. The manager is a person who manages people, leads, facilitates and provide tools for the organization. Human resources management also, sets strategic processes and procedures, run difficult and complex communication as the organization attracts the best talents from the recruiting process. Human resources management is where everything begins and ends for an individual and the organization. ConsequentlyRead MoreHuman Resources Management ( Hrm )1229 Words   |  5 Pages Human Resources Management (HRM) is people who work in an organization. The manager is a person who manages people, leads, facilitates and provide tools for the organization. HRM sets strategic processes and procedures, run difficult and complex communication as the organization attracts the best talents from the recruiting process. Human resources management is where everything begins and ends for an individual and the organization. Meaning, it’s where total processes are created for the

The Old Pond Essay - 1160 Words

Have you ever been to a place that made you feel free? As free as a bird soaring through the sky? The Old Pond was that place for me, and though I haven’t seen its sandy edges in what seems like an eternity, I still remember it like it was yesterday. As I think about the place that once brought me such joy, I am suddenly there again. The scent of the giant pine trees, the feeling of the pond’s minnows tickling my feet, the sunshine cascading down from the opening of the trees. No other place has ever made me feel so in touch with nature, and so in touch with myself. I think of the Old Pond, my mind brewing a concoction of memories, and my childhood is reborn. Our daily regimen at the park was quite simple. Our day started†¦show more content†¦I dove right back into the water and swam for a few more hours. I’ll never forget those long, hot summer days at Peter’s Pond. Swimming was by far my favorite thing to do at the park, but there was also something else that peaked my interest. After dinner with my family, my cousin Krista and I would park our bikes at the top of Cedar Street. Cedar Street was the biggest hill in the whole park. On the count of three, Krista and I wouldn’t peddle, but would simply let our selves go down the hill. It was an incredible feeling. It was like when you’re a kid and you’re trying to run as fast as you can, so fast that it feels as if your legs are going to fall off, but you don’t even care because it’s so much fun. When I let myself go from the top of that hill, that same incredible feeling would wash over me. I felt as if I was flying. The wind whipped past me in a frenzy and my hair, blowing into my face because of the wind, clouded my vision, but I didn’t even care. I felt as if I were walk ing on air. When I think of the Old Pond, I think of the camp fires we had almost every night, of bingo, of swimming, riding my bicycle, running around at the play ground, trying to look older to impress cute boys. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. There were the midnight escapades, when my cousin and I would sneak into the men’s room to use the bathroom, or would get spoken toShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Basho s Poetry Matsuo Kinsaku And The Old Pond 1458 Words   |  6 Pages1666. Basho’s writing career began after his lord’s death and continued until his own death in 1694. Basho influenced literature the most through his unique haiku (Poetry Foundation). Three of his most famous poems, â€Å"Heat Lightning Streak,† â€Å"The Old Pond,† and â€Å"Ungraciously† illustrate Basho’s style well. Matsuo’s combination of travelling and studies concocted his impeccable haiku form loaded with imagery and analytic thoughts of nature. Japan closed its borders shortly after Basho was born, allowingRead More Pike Ted Hughes Essay1260 Words   |  6 Pagesshow how terrifying it is to the river world but so delicate in our world. â€Å"A hundred feet long in their world† describing the Pike as its seen in the river world, even though so small in ours, in the river, it’s horrific, huge and deadly. â€Å"In ponds, under the heat-struck lily pads – Gloom of their stillness† the poet uses this to imagine what it is like in the river for the Pike lying in wait, using â€Å"gloom† Hughes sets the mood and the eeriness of the river the world. â€Å"Logged on last year’sRead MoreEssay on Memories from Grandmas House904 Words   |  4 Pagesremember the feel of the old metal handle that was loosely attached to the door. There was always a neatly stacked pile of wood on the back porch. The gray paint on the floor was scratched and chipped away from all the years of abuse absorbed by the constant restocking of wood. It was hard to pass by the wood pile without inhaling a deep breath of crisp cedar and oak. In the summer we would play in the pond behind my Grandma’s house, although, it looked more like a swamp than a pond. There was a hugeRead MoreAn Experiment On The Water Of Water1392 Words   |  6 PagesMicrobes, in particular, have made water their homes and their diversity within these freshwater aquatic habitats was tested in this experiment and the hypothesis put forward was that cleaner water, pond B, contained a higher biodiversity as compared to dirty water. Water from two different freshwater ponds, A and B, was collected and placed in beakers, six slides of each water sample were prepared carefully and methyl cellulose was added so the movement of microbes could be inhibited. The entire sectionRead MoreThe Origin Of Water On Earth Essay745 Words   |  3 PagesInvestigated, 2008) and water, in the form of ice was released into the atmosphere and on the landmass. Over time this water has accumulated to the amount that it is at today, covering approximately 70% of the planet in the forms of oceans, rivers lakes, ponds, polar ice caps etc.(Earth Investigated, 2008). Although water had arrived on the planet under such catastrophic circumstances, it has become the basis of survival for almost all living organisms (Earth Investigated, 2008.). Even though 70% of theRead MoreMy Internship At Waddell Mariculture Center1485 Words   |  6 Pagescalculate about how many we had from the hatching so we could know about how much to feed the fish. After this we took the Brine Shrimp and fed it too Spotted Sea Trout that were 2 weeks old. The Brine Shrimp are a very good source of protein for the fish because they are 40-60% protein and they also eat the bacteria in the ponds that are bad for the fish. Brine Shrimp start out at something called cysts which you can buy all over the world and it takes only one night in water for them to hatch into the BrineRead MoreArguments And Authorities Of Arizona Law1536 Words   |  7 PagesARGUMENTS AND AUTHORITIES UNDER ARIZONA LAW, THE MALONES HAVE A VAID NUISANCE CLAIM AGAINST HERRERA AND MUST BE UPHELD SINCE: (1) HERRERA KNEW AND REALIZED THE CONDITION OF THE POND WOULD CAUSE INJURY TO MARIA MALONES LEG AND POSSIBLE DEATH, AND (2) MARIA MALONE DID NOT APPRECIATE THE RISK OF DANGER PRESENT WITH THE CONDITION OF THE POND, BECAUSE OF MARIA MALONE S YOUTH AND LACK OF REAL WORLD EXPERIENCE. Under Arizona law, to determine whether an attractive nuisance claim is enforceable, the court mustRead MoreAnalysis Of The Poem Jake Pond 950 Words   |  4 PagesAppalachian short story, â€Å"Jake Pond†, portrays this inevitable cycle through the depiction of a young boy enjoying nature. Lou Crabtree writes of the many inner workings of life through symbolism. While some would say this story is a literal telling of a boy and his surroundings, it does, in fact, include a plethora of metaphors to display the complexities of life through figurative language (Crabtree). In Lou Crabtree’s â€Å"Jake Pond† symbols such as the young boy, black snakes, pond, hollytree, and other naturalRead MoreA Small Pond And A Big Pond799 Words   |  4 Pageswould you pick to be? A big fish in a small pond or a small fish in a big pond? Life will give you choices, situations, opportunities that can place you on one side or another and suddenly, the path of opportunity appears , the moment where you can escape from the pond and reach the glory. Could we change that spot where life place us? Could the fish escape from the pond? Being born in Santo Domingo put me for many years as the â€Å"Big fish in the Small Pond† Since I was a kid, one of my passions haveRead MoreSummary Of The Bird Lady 1009 Words   |  5 PagesJoshua Samuel 7/31/14 The Bird Lady. Old stuff aren t just said to be old, it s the new stuff that makes it old. Even to a girl in an orphanage seeing new things make me feel young and happy. A white lotus might bring a smile on a poor man s face and the world will seem to be in order. However, the main focus is on something that is old. Never did I have an interest in something like this but because of an old lady, I do now. The sun shined bright when I was walking on a sidewalk

Christinas World free essay sample

The front side of the house has the most detail compared to the three other buildings in the picture. I can clearly see the door, windows, and even the color of the house. This leads me to believe that Christina is focusing on the front of the house. I see what appears to be a typical farm in rural America, somewhere in a Midwestern grassland state. This farm however, has no livestock, or crops. I see a shed to the right, and a barn about fifty yards to the left of the house. If I look closely, birds can be seen flying from the barn. Is this a possible sign of abandonment? Judging between the rough, tall grass and the smooth texture to the grass around the farm tells me this place is not as deserted as it looks. This tells me that Christina’s world has boundaries, and it appears that she is out of bounds. We will write a custom essay sample on Christinas World or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The colors of the painting are very dull and flat. This only enhances the theme of a desolate and nearly dead farm. The vast field and wide open spaces make this place look very empty. The path leading up to the house seems faded by over growth; another sign that Christina’s world is a lonely place. When I come full circle, I set my eyes back on Christina. I begin to wonder, why is she here? Why is she in rough wild grass instead of the smooth tame lawn? As I take a closer look, I notice her rigid hands clutching the earth. It’s almost as if she’s pulling herself forward; as if she’s trying to get to safety. Her body is thin and frail. She looks starved and malnourished. Loose strands of hair are flowing in the breeze. Her dress is pink; a sign of femininity, but it’s also faded along with the rest of the scene. The point of view Wyeth gives is as if I’m standing right behind Christina. I can’t help but feel tempted to do something to help her. I want to get her to safety, give her some food, put her in bed, and get her some medical attention. Would she be safe though? When I look closely I can see a pile of lumber on the side of the house, and a latter propped up on the front. This house needs work done. Maybe this house isn’t a sanctuary for Christina. She probably dreads going back, but she has nowhere else to go. I think Christina has accepted her world because she has no other choice. She had to leave the boundaries and explore the outside a little bit before she realized this. Maybe the outside world rejected her so she begrudgingly turned back. Even though it’s a warm summer day; I sense coldness here. The dark looming house has a forbidden feel to it. The barn is equally forbidden; only home to the birds now. It seems Christina’s world was left to fade away. When I researched Andrew Wyeth, and his painting of Christina’s World I found some interesting facts. Christina is in fact Christina Olsen, one of Wyeth’s neighbors. She lived with her brother Aravo Olsen in what is now known as the Olsen House located in Cushing Maine. This is far from what I originally thought. There is some speculation that Christina was schizophrenic. This however, is false. On the other hand, Christina did have an undiagnosed muscular disorder. This disease, probably polio, caused her to lose her ability to walk in the late 1920’s. This explains why Christina is clutching the ground. She was crawling. It is a fact that Christina regularly crawled around the farm. The Olsen family and farm were inspirations for a few of Wyeth’s paintings. They even let him use the third floor of their house as an art studio. Wyeth’s father died in a horrible train accident three years before he painted â€Å"Christina’s World. † This had a noticeable impact on Wyeth’s art. His colors became more bland and dull. His landscapes were bare. These traits are highly reflected in â€Å"Christina’s World. † If you look at modern pictures of the Olsen House you can see the place is surrounded by evergreens. In the painting, there isn’t a tree in sight. The landscape is almost bare except for the grass. I would say â€Å"Christina’s World† is Wyeth’s way of expressing his grief for his father’s death. Andrew Wyeth was inspired to paint this picture when he looked out his window and seen Christina crawling around in the fields. Though Christina inspired the painting, it was Wyeth’s wife Betsy who modeled the torso, and head. The Olsen farmhouse is the most famous model of the painting. It was first built in the late 1700’s, then later had a third floor annexed to it. The Olsen house still stands to this day in Cushing Maine, and is a historic landmark. It is owned by the Farnsworth Art Museum. I believe Wyeth was asking his viewers a question in this painting. If your standing behind this woman who is crawling across the field. What would you do? Wyeth is giving us a choice. He’s showing us a cruel, harsh world. Do you help her, or do you pass her by; letting her fend for herself?

Polyamory Essays (355 words) - Sexual Fidelity, Human Sexuality

Marlon Josephs Professor Ehtesham-Zadeh ENGL 1101: Composition Rhetoric 13 October 2018 An Abundance of Lovers Why do we assume women cheat due to loneliness and a desire for affection? Why do we surmise men cheat because of boredom and lust for intimacy? If happy, contented people become unfaithful, what drives us to do so? Most Americans' believe infidelity occurs, because of strained relationships and personal shortcomings. Society, world religions, and cultural institutions have maintained that humanity evolved in families. In reality, Human nature isn't at all monogamous. We may know this intellectually, but on an emotional level, we seem to be hardwired for denial. Our promiscuous past worsens struggles over monogamy, sexual orientation, and family dynamics. Given that human nature appreciate s love, sex, and affection but struggle with continuing commitment . Why don't people consider consensual non-monogamy? We need to examine the foundation of a polyamorous lifestyle. That requires confronting the erroneous presumptions that relationships consisting of more than one partner involve one man and his harem of women. That is an understandable stereotype that's heavily ingrained in our society, because these types of dynamics have been encouraged by numerous religious groups and previous civilizations. However, today's polyamory movement doesn't believe this notion. In actuality, some argue polyamory's rise is attributable to the feminist revolution: as women gained financial and social independence, they were able to choose their relationships. Today, gender equality is a central value of the polyamorous community, and the makeup of connections is determined not by sex, but by individual preferences. I t is clear: polyamory is not a remedy for low self-esteem, emotional wounds or lovesickness. It does not eliminate jealousy or serves well to maintain relationships without compromising. It is not an escape or recess. It is more like a beginning than an end, a refuge than a party. Polyamory is more like a viewpoint that remained hidden in the forest of normality: a place to remove, for the first time, the significant burden we carry, our limits and desires. If we want it can give us company for the road.

Revising Sentences With Absolute Phrases

Revising Sentences With Absolute Phrases An absolute phrase  is a group of words that modifies an independent clause as a whole. Absolute phrases are useful constructions for adding details to an entire sentence- details that often describe one aspect of someone or something mentioned elsewhere in the sentence. Sample questions offer practice revising sentences with absolute phrases Practice Questions Rewrite each sentence or set of sentences below according to the guidelines that precede each practice question. When youre done, compare your revised sentences with the answers that follow. Keep in mind that more than one correct response is possible. 1) Combine the two sentences below: Turn the second sentence into an absolute phrase and place it in front of the first sentence. The storks circled above us. Their slender bodies were sleek and black against the orange sky. 2) Combine the two sentences below: Turn the second sentence into an absolute phrase and place it after the first sentence. On the tops of the hills, the grass stands at its tallest and greenest. Its new seed plumes rise through a dead crop of last years withered spears. 3) Create two absolute phrases by eliminating the words in bold. Odysseus comes to shore, and the skin is torn from his hands, and the sea water is gushing from his mouth and nostrils. 4) Combine the three sentences below: Turn the second and third sentences into absolute phrases, and position them at the start of the sentence to establish a clear cause-effect relationship. Norton vowed never to marry again. His first marriage ended in divorce. His second marriage ended in despair. 5) Omit the word when and turn the main clause- in bold- into an absolute phrase. When the double giant Ferris wheel circles, the swaying seats are more frightening than a jet plane flying through a monsoon. 6) Combine the following four sentences into a single sentence with a present participial phrase and two absolute phrases. All afternoon the caravan passed by. The caravan shimmered in the winter light. Its numberless facets were gleaming. The hundreds of wagon wheels were turning in the dust in slow and endless motion. 7) Combine the following five sentences into a single sentence with a present participial phrase and three absolute phrases. Six boys came over the hill. The boys were running hard. Their heads were down. Their forearms were working. Their breaths were whistling. 8) Begin your new sentence with The buildings sit empty, and turn the rest of the sentence into an absolute phrase. Jagged pieces of glass stick out of the frames of the hundreds of broken windows in the buildings that sit empty. 9) Combine these sentences by replacing the period with a comma and eliminating the word in bold. Proud of my freedom and bumhood, I stood in the doorway of the boxcar, rocking with the motion of the train. My ears were full of the rushing wind and the clattering wheels. 10) Combine these three sentences by turning the first sentence into an absolute phrase and the third into a subordinate clause beginning with where. His hair was wet from the showers. He walked in the icy air to Lukes Luncheonette. There he ate three hamburgers in a booth with three juniors. Answers Here are the sentences that served as models for the exercises above. Keep in mind that more than one correct response is possible. Their slender bodies sleek and black against the orange sky, the storks circled above us.On the tops of the hills, the grass stands at its tallest and greenest, its new seed plumes rising through a dead crop of last years withered spears.Odysseus comes to shore, the skin torn from his hands, the sea water gushing from his mouth and nostrils.His first marriage having ended in divorce and his second in despair, Norton vowed never to marry again.The double giant Ferris wheel circles, the swaying seats more frightening than a jet plane flying through a monsoon.All afternoon the caravan passed by, shimmering in the winter light, its numberless facets gleaming and the hundreds of wagon wheels turning in the dust in slow and endless motion.Six boys came over the hill, running hard, their heads down, their forearms working, their breaths whistling.The buildings sit empty, jagged pieces of glass sticking out of the frames of the hundreds of broken windows.Proud of my freedom and bumhood, I st ood in the doorway of the boxcar, rocking with the motion of the train, my ears full of the rushing wind and the clattering wheels. His hair  wet  from the showers, he walked  in  the icy air to Lukes Luncheonette, where he ate three hamburgers in a booth with three juniors.

BUY PAPERS

BUY PAPERS Essay writing is essential part of any educational program. There are different types of essays that are being required to be written by the students. One of the mostly used essay types is observation essay. There are two options to go about this assignment. One is writing the paper and doing your best, the other option is to give this assignment to professional writer and buy papers online. Observation essay outline requires clear description, main facts presentation and general rules overview.    Observation essay outline concentrates on description and maid facts. Important aspect of observation essay is actually fundamental style of writing. Do a few sketches before you start composing your original observation essay. Ensure that you purely stick to the basic standard for essay writing. Try and create a special atmosphere to be present at the moment. Write at present tense. Display as many details as possible using senses of smell, light, touch, sound and taste. Employ your skill to develop parallels and include comparisons. BUY PAPERS Whether you are attending college or university, essay and term paper writing is definitely the most important part of any educational process. There are different types of papers which are being required and recommended to be written by the students. Among the mostly used and wide spread writing forms is observation essay. There can be two alternatives to go about this assignment. The first option is writing the paper on your own and doing all of your best. And the other option would be giving this assignment to professional writer, buy papers through secure essay writing online system. Observation essay outline demands clear and simply clear description. The main facts representation and general rules overview must be written as well. Observation essay outline concentrates on written description and main facts. Important aspect of observation essay is actually the fundamental style of writing. Perform a few sketches before you start composing your actual observation essay writing. Make sure that you strictly stick to the basic standard for observation essay writing format. BUY PAPERS Another important type of writing that you probably know about is junior research paper. Being a type of academic writing, junior research paper gives description of the research results. If a student is interested in gaining experience in research competition, then a junior research paper is written. We have gathered a list of important and useful tips that are able to help you create a junior research paper today. If you need assistance with writing junior research paper, you can always consult our writers and buy papers online.   The cover page or the junior research paper shows research field and research title that are concise. Include a research thesis approval by the college or university board. Introduction will discuss the thesis statement, important parts of the research. You may also include several aspects of the research problem. Body paragraphs will include methods and procedures used while doing a research itself. Then present results or findings in logical manner. Also, use graphics and tables as a fact or an argument. Conclusion must not only show but interpret the presented materials. Restate the thesis statement or the hypothesis. Remind the findings and give full interpretation of the received results. Finish up with a cited literature including list of citations.

Oedipus the King and his Importance to Religious Festivals Essay

Oedipus the King and his Importance to Religious Festivals - Essay Example Oedipus the King and his Importance to Religious Festivals Despite the plethora of gods the ancient Greeks had to choose from in terms of whom they wished to worship, there were two major cults that had tremendous influence over all the rest. These were the Dionysians and the Apollonians. In general terms, the Apollonian revered analytic distinctions, unique individuality and rational thought – anything that was structured and made sharp distinctions (Kreis, 2004). Dionysus, on the other hand, was associated with the concepts of drunkenness and wild abandon, the creativity of nature and the abandonment of the individual in favor of becoming lost in the whole (Kreis, 2004). Although these concepts seem diametrically opposed, they actually tend to represent the two sides of human nature and are thus both necessary in any examination into the motivations and activities of any individual. Tragedies such as Oedipus the King, through its use of the various elements of tragedy identified by Aristotle, helped illustrate the values of each of these religious traditions and clarify the need for both in order to live a happy, healthy, successful life. Much of Greek tragedy follows a consistent pattern that was once identified specifically by one eloquent orator. According to Aristotle, every tragedy is structured around five key events. These include mimesis, hamartia, anagnorisis, peripeteia and catharsis. Aristotle said all poetry was a form of imitation of real life. â€Å"Aristotle imagines that poetry springs from a basic human delight in mimicry.

Compensation Strategy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Compensation Strategy - Essay Example However, any compensation strategy must bear the interest and goals of the company and the employee. As such, to achieve this balance, variant compensation strategies apply uniquely in a given company. This paper highlights and evaluates three compensation strategies that can apply in our manufacturing company. Moreover, it will recommend the modes of applying these compensation strategies while considering the company and employee’s interests. Introduction A compensation strategy refers to the planned utilization of the pay system as a fundamental integrating mechanism geared towards achieving company objectives and rewarding employees subject to limitations within the company (Gomez-Mejia, Berrone, & Franco-Santos, 2010). As the human resources manager in our manufacturing company, I have the mandate of evaluating the different compensation strategies that are available for adoption within our organization. Actually, the best compensation strategy will ensure attraction and retention of critical employees. Our manufacturing company has 120 employees and various compensation strategies can apply to them. The compensation strategies that I will evaluate in this paper include the Competitive strategy, Retention-based strategy, and the performance- based strategy. I will hence compare and contrast them with an aim of applying them in our organization. Indeed, the compensation strategies should be reasonable to both the employees and the company itself (Deb, 2009). I will therefore determine recommendations on how to implement them within our organization. Research findings I have done substantial research on the three compensation strategies and gathered relevant information that can help in the application of these strategies in our manufacturing company. Most specifically, in the competitive strategy, the company pays employees the market rate. On the other hand, in the retention-based strategy, the employees earn more as they stay in the company. Additi onally, in the performance- based strategy, the pay relates to the performance of an employee, the team or the entire organization. Specific findings on each compensation strategy follow here in. Findings on the competitive strategy It is notable that one of the main goals of any company is to remain competitive in the market and where possible gain competitive advantage over other competitors (Kumar, 2010). As such, the competitive strategy seeks to retain existing employees in offering them rewards that equal to industry standards. Additionally, this compensation strategy seeks to attract potential employees by motivating them to join the company as it offers compensation that meets what others in the industry offer (Petroleum Human Resources Council of Canada, 2012). Nevertheless, the competitive strategy offers the reference company no competitive advantage over its competitors since its compensation rates are at par with those of its competitors. Hence, this strategy may not mo tivate employees to remain in the company for a long time. Indeed, this strategy keeps the management at risk of fluctuating wages, as the industry would dictate. As such, where the company cannot keep up with the escalating wages, then there is a high risk of employee turnover. Moreover, the existing employees are at a high risk of leaving the company if another company offers higher rewards than the reference com

Creating a Travel Planning ICT System Essay Example for Free

Creating a Travel Planning ICT System Essay In this project I will be creating a system to help plan the costs, amount of people and which people are going on the overnight trip. Here you will be taking the role of Sana, who is helping her French teacher (Mr Campbell) work out the costs of the week long French trip as he was experiencing some difficulty. On a day to day basis Mr Campbell has to create a letter about parent evenings for the trip, permission slips, dietary and medical requirements and remaining money. He also needs to work out the total in goings and total outgoings and make sure that the school doesnt make a loss but doesnt need to make a profit. He will also need to create a record of data about which pupils are going and arent going and how we will put this in and use this to help create letters As Mr Campbell was experiencing some difficulty working out the costs using a calculator and paper and you had suggested that you would create a system that helps him work out the cost very easily and is a very user friendly design (maybe a user guide to help those who find this system hard and need some help) and you should ensure that anybody with little knowledge of computers is able to change certain amounts e.g. amount of people to see how this affects the overall costs. Sana has also offered to create a system in which Mr Campbell can enter a pupils data, how much they have paid (deposit and other monies) and if he/her has brought in the reply slip, this system must also be able search within this data and pick out what you are asking to see. As well as creating a system that does this you must create a system that links to the list of names and using the information that you have searched for I should be able to create a letter to be sent to parents about reply slips, remainin g money etc. My user for this system is Mr Campbell and Mrs Mccloud and could be the deputy head, head teacher etc. As anyone who needs to know how many people will be missing school and how long for, other teachers will need this information to ensure that all important work is given before and after (this information could be presented in queries or reports). Many people will need to access this record or receive information about the trip so I should be able to send out pieces to teachers e.g. form, lesson etc about which dates will be missed. At the moment the business is run by Mr Campbell and he runs it by collecting information from letters and from pupils then writing it down into a log book but this way is too long and too hard so I will be creating a system which will significantly decrease the amount of time wasted by sifting through handwritten data. Sub problems involved In this task there are 4 different sub-problems within the system they are shown on the next page in the diagram with the problem being at the top and the sub problems being shown below and also how these sub problems are linked shown on the diagram. My first sub problem is my costing sheet which will work out all the separate and total costs of the trip. For this sub problem I could use Microsoft word and Microsoft excel. There are advantages and disadvantages of all of these problems and there are all listed below these will all help me to decide which would be the best method of working out these costs. I have chosen these two programs because in each one I can create tables. Different methods of tackling the problem In Microsoft word I can * Create a table * Merge cells * Change the page layout (portrait and landscape) * Change the background colour of the cells * Change the text colour of the cells * Change the justification of the cells * Make cells bold, italic or underlined * Auto fit the cells * I can sort the data * I can add formulas * Use a table auto format But using Microsoft word also has its disadvantages * Harder to change formulas * Harder to use * If something needed to be changed if would be harder for the user I think that Microsoft word isnt a very good program to use because even though you can do a lot of things with making the table and changing things within the table I dont feel that this is the right program to use as I would like a program specifically designed to do things like costing sheets as I have more experience with those so I am able to make them more user friendly and use more features on it. In Microsoft excel I can * Create a table * Merge cells * Change the page layout (portrait and landscape) * Change the background colour of the cells * Change the text colour of the cells * Change the justification of the cells * Make cells bold, italic or underlined * Auto fit the cells * I can sort the data * I can add formulas * Use a table auto format * Create graphs with data * Do auto sum * Use conditional formatting I can also do many other things that would be useful to the sub problem. The disadvantages of this is * it might seem hard to use the only problem I have with this program is that it could look hard top use but with a user guide and a colour coded system I think that that is over come easily and because I am able to do many different things with this package as I am more familiar to it and I think that that would benefit the user. Any methods of doing this would be better than handwriting it because then I would have to work everything out for each little change and keep writing out the results and this can be very time consuming so the best option is to use a computer with maybe a program that is able to create costing sheets For my second sub problem I am creating a poster to advertise this trip to France I am going to use Microsoft word, publisher or paint. I will be listing there advantages and disadvantages to help me to decide which one is more appropriate and suited to this task. Microsoft word is good because * can insert picture * can insert text * can make text boxes * can change colour, background and type and size and justification of text * can change colours etc of background * can insert tables to display data * can insert diagrams You can also do many other things with Microsoft word sop it would be a good program to use but I dont have as much freedom with the text etc then what I would have with another program in which I am able to do many more things. Paint is a good program to use because * I have a lot of freedom within this program * Can create my own lines and shapes and copy and paste parts easily * Can insert text boxes Microsoft paint also has many other good points but I still think I that this program isnt the most ideal because: * I dont now how to make it fit the whole page * Cant use word art, would have to copy and paste it There are also more problems with it and they wouldnt really influence my decision as I think that using paint is already to tedious from the above two problems so it isnt the most desirable solution. Microsoft publisher is good because * I have freedom * can insert picture * can insert text * can make text boxes * can change colour, background and type and size and justification of text * can change colours etc of background * can insert tables to display data * can insert diagrams I can also do other things with Microsoft publisher but they do not need to be stated as I dont feel that that has any tedious or major problems with it so feel that for this task it is the best piece of software to use. Using a computer and its software to tackle this sub problem rather than using a computer because it would take me a long time as well as designing it I would them need to draw and stick anything on then I would need to colour each drawing in staying within the lines and making sure the colour is even this isnt a very good thing because it would take vary long time and wouldnt look professional so for this task it is better to use a computer. For my third sub problem I am creating a record to store all the details about pupils and teachers going on this trip I will be using either of these two programs as I can use tables in both Mycroft access and Microsoft word. Microsoft word would be good to use because * I can make a table * I can sort the data * I can give the data titles The rest of what I can do with Microsoft word is irrelevant and there are too many problems to list with it because I count do much with this program and there is no use in listing it but I know for definable that I will not need to used this program as I cant even make forms or use queries. Microsoft access would be good to use because * I can create queries * Create forms * Search for and sort data * Create definite field headings for the record * Be able to mail merge this data There are also many other good points but I do not need to state them because of what is above and concerning this sub problem there arent any bad points of using this piece of software for this sub problem. Using a computer is much better than using a hand made system because in a hand made system you would have to write each one out and if any changes needed to be made I would have to re-write the whole sheet and finding data and taking parts of that data would also be very hard as I wouldnt be able to do it in a short period of time so using a computer would save time and frustration. For my fourth sub problem I am creating a letter which will need to be mail merged so I can do this quickly and efficiently. I can use two programs for this task Microsoft word pad and Microsoft word. They bother have there advantages and disadvantages and stating them will help me to decide which program is better. But I already know as I cannot mail merge in word pad and retyping this letter would take too long so I already know that Microsoft word is the best option as I can mail merge here. Using computer I much better than writing this letter out again and again or writing it out and leaving gaps for details because it is less time consuming if I do it this way sop using a computer is the much better option. Reusability Each of my sub problems can be used again. The first sub problem (costing sheet) is reusable because it is not just for one year because it can be used for later French trips or even other overnight trips because if anything needs to be changed like a cost for any one thing you can without changing any of the formulas as this costing sheet will be totally user friendly. The second sub problem (poster) will also be reusable because if you just change maybe the title and dates you will have a poster for another overnight trip or a poster for the same trip for a different year. The third sub problem (record) will also be reusable because if you were to delete the fields you would be able to reuse the system for a new year. The last sub problem (letter) will be reusable because if you were to use the record system to do this you would just need to delete previous records and put the new ones in and use it for next years and the years after trip. Testing For sub problem 1 (costing sheet) testing is needed. For sub problem 3 (record) testing is needed. For sub problem 4 (letter) testing is needed. Performance criterias Performance criteria sub problem 1 Must be able to merge cells Must be able to use formulas Must be able to do auto sum Must be able to do conditional formatting Must be bright Must be colourful Must have an interesting but easy to read font Must be able to make IF statements Must use absolute cell references Must be able to work out total income Must be able top work out total outgoings Must be able to work out the balance All the text will be aligned left It will be in times new roman It will have a font size of 12 In the title there will be a picture of the Eiffel tower The text must be in blue The title will have a blue background and white text. All titles must start with a capital letter. I will be using this to decide on the venue depending on how the transport costs It has to tell me if the trip can go ahead using an if statement It should fit onto one page I should ensure that there isnt a loss made I should be able to work out the minimum amount of people and use this in conditional formatting I should be able to limit the amount of people by using data validation I must be able to make a complicated IF statement Must be able to work out total costs Must be able to work out single costs e.g. travel, hotel, food, etc Performance criteria for sub problem 2 Must be bright and colourful Must use interesting fonts Must attract attention Must give dates of trip Must give price of trip Must give contact number Must give teachers name Performance criteria for sub problem 3 I must be able to link the tables Must be able to use these links to insert this data into the linked table Must be bale to create queries Must be bale to create reports Must be bale to create forms I musty be able to give a description of the fields I must be able to limit the field size I must be able to assign a key field I must be able to have a foreign key I must be able to change the data type to: * Text * Number * Auto number * Currency * Yes/no * Date and time I must be able to create a permanent field name Must be able to store data about each pupil and teacher attending the trip Must have a surname field Must have a forename field Must have an address field Must have a home phone number field Must have first deposit, second and third yes/ no fields Must be able to use this data to mail merge Performance criteria for sub problem four Must be able to mail merge in data Must be able to say which deposit has gone unpaid Must be able to say if we havent had a permission slip Must be able to give money remaining Must be able to give date Must be able to give total cost of trip Must say when next parents evening for the trip is Below I am stating the performance criteria for the whole system with headings to show which it is for so there will be no confusion Performance criteria for the whole system Performance criteria for first sub problem Must be able to merge cells Must be able to use formulas Must be able to do auto sum Must be able to do conditional formatting Must be bright Must be colourful Must have an interesting but easy to read font Must be able to make IF statements Must use absolute cell references Must be able to work out total income Must be able top work out total outgoings Must be able to work out the balance All the text will be aligned left It will be in times new roman It will have a font size of 12 In the title there will be a picture of the Eiffel tower The text must be in blue The title will have a blue background and white text. All titles must start with a capital letter. I will be using this to decide on the venue depending on how the transport costs It has to tell me if the trip can go ahead using an if statement It should fit onto one page I should ensure that there isnt a loss made I should be able to work out the minimum amount of people and use this in conditional formatting I should be able to limit the amount of people by using data validation I must be able to make a complicated IF statement Must be able to work out total costs Must be able to work out single costs e.g. travel, hotel, food, etc Performance criteria for second sub problem Must be bright and colourful Must use interesting fonts Must attract attention Must give dates of trip Must give price of trip Must give contact number Must give teachers name Performance criteria for the third sub problem I must be able to link the tables Must be able to use these links to insert this data into the linked table Must be bale to create queries Must be bale to create reports Must be bale to create forms I musty be able to give a description of the fields I must be able to limit the field size I must be able to assign a key field I must be able to have a foreign key I must be able to change the data type to: * Text * Number * Auto number * Currency * Yes/no * Date and time I must be able to create a permanent field name Must be able to store data about each pupil and teacher attending the trip Must have a surname field Must have a forename field Must have an address field Must have a home phone number field Must have first deposit, second and third yes/ no fields Must be able to use this data to mail merge Performance criteria for the last problem Must be able to mail merge in data Must be able to say which deposit has gone unpaid Must be able to say if we havent had a permission slip Must be able to give money remaining Must be able to give date Must be able to give total cost of trip Must say when next parents evening for the trip is

Rosencrantz and Gildenstern Are Dead :: essays research papers, shakespeare, hamlet

Hamlet in Rosencrantz and Gildenstern Are Dead   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The play Rosencrantz and Gildenstern Are Dead by Tom Stoppard is a focus on two of the minor characters from Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Stoppard’s work is completely ingenious and thus requires that the reader have extensive knowledge of Hamlet. Many snippets of actual dialogue from Hamlet can be found in Stoppard’s play. This dialogue rarely is featured as the main goings on at time but it serves as a guide to understanding just some of Stoppard’s many metaphysical themes.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Rosencrantz and Gildenstern are unimportant servants to King Claudius in Hamlet. They keep their same roles in R & G Are Dead but are instead completely spotlighted. Stoppard follows them through their actions, which are often nothing more than lengthy discussions portraying their lack of knowledge about their identities and their existence. They can barely remember their own names as is showed when characters of Hamlet cannot discern which is which.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Stoppard’s main use of the play Hamlet is to have it represent the actions of one’s life. Stoppard’s goal in this work is to show life as a quick journey through the unknown and to show death as an inevitable and final end to this journey. Hamlet, in this play, truly stands as a mini human life. This representation is completely essential to grasping Stoppard’s theme. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern know nothing of their creation or why they are truly here. They stand for all of humanity, which knows nothing of what life truly is or why they are here.

Applying Theories and Principles for Planning Essay

The Theories of Learning according to Reece Walker (2007) that states The five main areas are Behaviourism, Neo-behaviourism, Gestalt (Insight), Cognitive Development, and Humanists, as well as more recently theorised areas of lifelong learning, but Geoff Petty (2009) explains that Theories of Learning can be separated into three main schools of thought 1) The behaviourist school. 2) The cognitivist school. 3) The humanist school. Behaviourist school of thought is concerned completely with learned behaviour, and is interested in looking at behavior and observable changes, the learners react more to teaching rather than being actively involved in the process. Cognitivist is interested in looking at the thought processes behind the behavior, for example encoding information into short term and long term memory. Therefore cognitivist is the theory that humans generate knowledge and meaning through a sequence of development, such as the mental processes of recognition, recollection, anal ysis, reflection, application, creation, understanding, and evaluation. Humanist learner is able to adapt prior knowledge to new experience. The teachers role in humanistic learning is to encourage and enable the learner, by providing access to appropriate resources without obtrusive interference. The learning goal is high order learning of procedural knowledge, strategy, reasoning, abstract analysis, and development of expertise. All three learning theories have some common ground with each other. They all agree that learners respond better with positive reinforcement and praise should be given when the learners have completed their task and achieved. They also consider that new learning must be built on existing learning. But Cognitivist and Humanist theory have the most common ground. In my teaching practice I have applied theories and principles of learning in the following four areas lesson planning, lesson structure, meeting learners needs and assessing learning. I always write constructive session plans to serve it as a guide for anyone to use it. I have applied teaching strategies that suit different group profile. I used  learning theory cognitivist as a teacher being a facilitator and imparting the knowledge in a way it can be retained by the learners and applied. Based on implementing a democratic teaching style when the learning becomes a learner centered practice as they discover things themselv es in group learning to increase knowledge, by memorising information acquiring facts, skills, and methods making sense or abstracting meaning interpreting and understanding things in a different way. I also applied organisational policies and procedures in demonstrating the use of appropriate resources, strengths and limitations of specific resources, representation of cultural differences. To avoid stereotyping, and adapt resources to accommodate specific learning difficulties and disabilities, safety, learners wellbeing, self esteem, as Reece Walker (2007) referred to (Maslows hierarchy of needs). Principles of Learning to me are my beliefs about something. It is my feelings on a given subject. Geoff Petty (2004) states that, every teacher and every learner has a theory about learning. There are many different theories and principles which have been developed to help us understand how effective learning, communication and underpin and enable teachers to develop high quality inclusive practice, Reece Walker (2007) states that Theorists tend to separate learning into three groups or domains. These are the psychomotor, cognitive and affective domains. They are called Blooms Taxono my. Geoff Petty (2009) States that We need to learn all Blooms bits. Blooms Taxonomy is a classification of learning objectives that provides a framework for discussing cognitive, affective, and psycho-motor learning. In improving my own practice I have applied theories and principles of inclusive learning to ensure that I differentiate learning methods to address different ability levels, and in my sessions plans I used the Blooms taxonomy to state the different outcomes. Communication to me as a teacher it means sharing information through listening, interacting, responding, talking, writing and understanding. It also has to be relevant and respectful to the group of learners. Some theories of communication included According to Shannon and Weaver 1949 model of communication (Online Link) that is based on a process in which a message begins at an information source/ speaker/ information (encoder), transmits a message through a channel to a destination, where the message arrives via a signal towards the receiver (decoder). But before it reaches the receiver, the  message must go through noise (sources of interference). Finally, the receiver must convey the message to its destination. I used this model in delivering teaching to convey information with no interaction or a way of measuring understanding in the learner, which is significant to higher education teaching. And Harold Lasswells Lasswells Formula in 1976 (Online Link as above) is also a tran smission model, but it introduces the concept of the effect on the receiver or learner. In modern day teaching, communication is shifting further away from a teacher dictated methods of delivering education, to methods to ensure the learner is placed at the heart of teaching, and every individual within the classroom is considered and catered for. Furthermore, I used the advanced technology communication methods to contribute and to broaden my teaching styles, but I used this through the need to differentiate teaching more effectively and to break down the barriers that exist between teacher and learner. Engaging every learner is a difficult task and learners may differ in terms of age, gender, ability level, communication skills, confidence, learning styles and many other factors. But my job as a teacher is to ensure these factors do not hinder individual learning and that success and achievement within the group is widespread and at a high level. Unit 405 Part B Taking a lesson plan you have written, comment on how I have used the barriers to equality approach stated by Reece Walker (2007). Those barriers could arise from family issues, bullying or abuse (emotionally, mentally or physically) that could occur at home or at work place, specific learning difficulties, e.g. Dyslexia, disability, social, emotional or behavioural needs, bereavement, etc. I have I usually put a plan in place at the beginning of learners course to identify and diagnose their barriers on a one to one basis. By carrying out an individual learning plan (ILP), and initial assessment to know their literacy numeracy levels, prior learning skills, and then focused on what they can or cannot do (Problematic). I also used the inclusive learning approach stated by Gravells Simpson (2010), I have promoted ensured the inclusion in preparing my lesson plan, by adhering implementing the equality diversity Laws Legislations. That is based on acknowledging and respecting learners differences regardless of learners ethnic background, race, age, gender, sexuality, religion, disability, marital status or belief. I have eliminated discrimination and ensured that  learners needs were met by making reasonable adjustments and created a positive environment. That is based on adapting no culture blame, and acknowledge learners strength, skills knowledge and background (Synthesis). I have used a fresh approach suggested by Peter Scales (2008) states Embedded teaching and learning combines the development of t he literacy language (ESOL), and numeracy with vocational and other skills. in embedding minimum core of Functional Skills including Literacy, Numeracy ICT. By incorporating the practical skills of the topics assessments with Functional Skills delivered in the sessions. For example in embedding literacy I applied communications skills using a range of TV programmes, media reports and Internet texts such as Webpages. For embedding Numeracy, I used application numbers, calculations. For embedding ICT, I used communication skills using computers to ensure that learners are aware of current and emerging technology and their impact on themselves and others, for example, incorporating navigation of the websites of several of national newspapers. They have downloaded articles on the same subject but from different newspaper. Then they have applied information, compared, analysed and evaluated to find out if the issues were logical or biased (Cognitive theories). Evaluating my lesson plan and the sessions delivered an area for improvement in my own application of theories and principles for planning and enabling of inclusive learning and teaching is using differentiation learning methods to address different ability levels in my sessions (Blooms taxonomy) t o state the different outcomes. For example I have applied the teaching strategies that suits my group profile, based on knowing how learners learning style, in order to get the best outcome of the sessions delivered. That is by implementing appropriate theories and principles of learning such as communications, cognitive, inclusive learning. The learners understood the subject content taught thoroughly, and they have enjoyed the benefits of multi resources, and methods to suit learners learning style individually. Bibliography Ian Reece, Stephen Walker, Teaching, Training Learning. Business Education Publisher Ltd, 6th Edition (2009). Geoff Petty, Teaching Today, 2nd Edition. Nelson Thornes Ltd (1998). Geoff Petty, Teaching Today, 3rd Edition. Nelson Thornes Ltd (2004). Geoff Petty, Teaching Today, 4th Edition. Nelson Thornes Ltd (2009). Peter Scales, Teaching in the Lifelong Learning Sector, Open  University Press (2008). Ann Gravells Susan Simpson, Planning and Enabling Learning in the Lifelong Learning Sector, Learning Matters Ltd, 2nd Edition (2010). Below is the Link HYPERLINK http//www.businessballs.com/transact.htm http//www.businessballs.com/transact.htm Below is the Link regarding Shannon and Weaver 1949 Communication model HYPERLINK http//scholar.googleusercontent.com/scholarqcacheKAvTeu1SGmgJscholar.google.com/shannonandweaver1949bookhlenas_sdt0,5as_vis1 http//scholar.googleusercontent.com/scholarqcacheKAvTeu1SGmgJscholar.google.com/shannonandweaver1949bookhlenas_sdt0,5as_vis1 Below is the Lin k for the H.D.Lasswell/ Communication model HYPERLINK http//communicationtheory.org/lasswells-model/ http//communicationtheory.org/lasswells-model/ Y, dXiJ(x(I_TS1EZBmU/xYy5g/GMGeD3Vqq8K)fw9 xrxwrTZaGy8IjbRcXI u3KGnD1NIBs RuKV.ELM2fiVvlu8zH (W uV4(Tn 7_m-UBww_8(/0hFL)7iAs),Qg20ppf DU4p MDBJlC5 2FhsFYn3E6945Z5k8Fmw-dznZxJZp/P,)KQk5qpN8KGbe Sd17paSR 6Q

Graduate study plan Essay

I currently poses an undergraduate degree in Health Care Administration, from Sacramento State University. My current career is within the Health Care field at Kaiser Permanente hospital Health Connect Department in Pleasanton, California. This is the regional department for, electronic medical records. I manage projects for system upgrades, and any technical issues that require a fix. I have worked for Kaiser Permanente for five years and wish to succeed at a higher level within the organization. In this paper I will give an insight into my reasons for pursuing my graduate degree, and strategies I will use for personal success and achievement. I have managed always to accomplish both personal and professional goals that I set. It is important to have a goal, whether personal or professional that one is striving to accomplish, so they are motivated to work harder. My short-term personal goal is completing my Master’s Degree. A few personal long-term goals, are to have an open mind to change, effective time management, and continuing to grow as an individual and Mother. A long-term goal in my professional career is becoming a manager or director within Kaiser Permanente or another organization. In lieu of the professional job opportunities and accomplishments, confidence, and knowledge is a professional area I am striving to gain more of, which is a main reason for advancing my education to the graduate level. Obtaining a Master’s Degree will permit expansion in knowledge and skills within area’s I did not advance at the undergraduate level. I am pursuing my degree, to grow as an individual and in my professional career, this degree will expand my skills, knowledge, and confidence to perform at a higher level. Pursuing a degree will open job opportunities, and a higher pay scale. Setting goals is the easy part, but achieving them is the hard part. Challenges will arise and everyday life may interfere. Three challenges I face in meeting both short and long-term goals, is lack of time, personal life distractions, and control in advancing professionally. I have to focus on incorporating better time management and stress management into my every day schedule, so lack of time is not an issue. Personal life distractions, include a Forty-hour work week and commute, my fourth month old baby girl, and leisure activities. What I have learned is to plan out a time each day for these activities. It helps manage my time and stress, by keeping track of all activities and obligations on a calendar. If I have a written schedule that I visually can see, I stay focused. Finding a good balance in life is what keeps me moving forward and accomplishing my goals. One may not always have complete control in accomplishing goals one may have for themselves, an example is my goal to achieve at a higher level professionally. Sure I can have an abundance of knowledge and work hard every day, but in the end it will be the hirer who determines if I am a good fit for the position. Competition in the job industry is at its all-around high, but the key to success is, never give up. Graduating with a Master’s Degree is a milestone in achieving my short-term goal, and advancing professionally in a new career as well as showing confidence, by performing at a higher level is a long-term milestone that will mark my achievement in the goals I have set. I believe effective communication is an essential factor in overcoming differences and creating an environment that people can come together to learn, work, or play. Communication on the surface seems straight forward, but I am guilty of a weaknesses related to how I communicate, which includes relating to the audiences age or gender when communicating. In practice, it is troubled with multiple issues dependent on the parties involved, who convey, and receive messages. A couple of questions that one can ask to improve communication, are, â€Å"Is it possible to convey a message and have it received as the speaker intended? What happens between the voicing of a message and the hearing of a message? Under what conditions does accurate communication occur? Do our own mental models affect interactions with others? What can leaders do to create the conditions for clear  communication?† (â€Å"Creating the Conditions for Effective Communication and Learning in Organizations,† 2008, p. 11). These are numerous examples of questions one should ask themselves, and I will use these examples of what I can ask myself to improve my method of communication. A challenge between faculty and students is to communicate as clearly as possible to ensure students receive the information they need. Given this, I have also noticed how often miscommunication happens between staff and their students. In the journal article titled, â€Å"Creating the Conditions for Effective Communication and Learning in Organization,† it was stated that traditional communication strategies, such as paraphrasing to ensure a faculty member understands a student and asking him or her to articulate back their understanding of what was said. It was observed that no matter how skilled the speaker, there are still many interpretations by the receiver (Scott, 2008). Three strategies I will practice as a communicator are, ask myself questions that may benefit how effective my communication is before communicating to a specific audience, have the audience restate how they understood my statement or question and be as detailed as possible so my information is not misconstrued. Regarding my stronger aspects of communicating, I am clear and concise, an experienced public speaker, and able to communicate effectively in a business environment. Communication is one of the main planks on which organizational success rests in today’s tough business environment. As a result effective communication skills have become essential to enable professionals to achieve the exact levels of performance demanded by them. Apart from the practical aspects if one has a grasp on basic concepts of communication, it can further assist professionals to communicate skillfully and persuasively (Rai & Rai, 2002). Suggesting that the saying â€Å"It’s not what you say, it’s how you say it† rings true for effective communication. Possessing the quality of effective communication heads toward a high quality leader because it enables one to express ideas successfully (Rolle, 2002). Effective time management, reasonable goals, overcoming obstacles, and  effective communication will lead to success in acquiring a graduate degree. If one strives to succeed and manages their time efficiently, this is easily obtainable. Re-evaluating my goals and strategies to overcome obstacles, and analyzing my communication level, has already advanced me closer to success. Recognition is a way to advance both personally and professionally. References  Rai, S. M., & Rai, U. (2002, September). Effective Communication. Effective Communication, 16(3), 1129-1130. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy.apollolibrary.com/docview/224372918?accountid=35812 Rolle, J. R. (2002). The Role of Communication in Effective Leadership. The Role of Communication in Effective Leadership, 16. Retrieved from http://www.eric.ed.gov/contentdelivery/servlet/ERICServlet?accno=ED467282 Scott, M. (2008). Creating the Conditions for Effective Communication and Learning in Organizations. Creating the Conditions for Effective Communication and Learning in Organizations, 11(3), 11. Retrieved from http://www.eric.ed.gov/contentdelivery/servlet/ERICServlet?accno=EJ830651

Industrial Revolution Writing Assignment essays

Industrial Revolution Writing Assignment essays An industrial worker would work for 6 to 8 hours or more. They had poor working conditions, and were often overworked. For the workers to adjust to their routine the factory management would punish or fine workers for every mistake they made. Working conditions were unsanitary and dangerous toward the health. For example, the cotton mills with the depressing heat, or the coalmines with the air pollution, cave-ins, and labor of carrying heavy loads of coal. Which caused many workers to become physically deformed. Industrial workers worker very hard and were underpaid. Now farmers, make their money from the produce they grew on the field they toiled on. They worked vigorously at harvest time, but were used to periods of rest, unlike factory workers. Since farmers grew everything they needed, money was not an issue, or even oftener used. Unlike industrial workers who tried to make the most money possible, and who had to live off the money they made. New social distinction was needed because of difference in payment from jobs, money owned, and life-style. For instance, because of the of the amount of money the working-class made, the quality of housing, clothing, food, and other material items be a great deal different than with the factory owners. Thus many farmers became members of the working class because of the little money they made and heavy work they carried out. And so the new class of factory-owners was called bourgeois. Now, money was not the only reason that they need of social structure, the job itself would require it. A farmer, for instance, would produce his own living, and so would have no use for much money. And would most likely stay a farmer with no way of becoming a factory owner because of the great deal of money that would be needed to just start one. While a factory owner/industrial worker, who lived in the city, would need and make more money, and have more job opportunities to go upon. The bourgeoisie were als...

The Job Interviews 7 Deadly Sins

The Job Interviews 7 Deadly Sins Think you know exactly what it takes to land your dream job? Maybe you do. But do you also know what it will take to wind up eliminated from consideration? Unfortunately, even the most qualified candidates can sometimes make the wrong impression †¦ .and cost themselves a job in the process. Don’t fall prey to these seven deadly job hunting â€Å"sins.† 1. The Mass EmailBlindly sending out resume after resume to every job you see not only reeks of desperation, but is also a waste of your time. Sure, versatility is an admirable trait, but so is the ability to play to your strength. Hiring managers value flexibility, but they also prize focus. Not to mention: casting a wide net hauls up as many old fisherman’s boots as it does treasure.The more refined your job search and targeted your resume and cover letter, the more likely you are to hit on the keywords recruiters are looking for in order to advance to the next round.2. Stretching the TruthYes, your resume s hould present you in your very best light. However, it should also present your skills, experience and interests accurately. Even worse than a shoddy or incomplete resume for a hiring manager? One that misrepresents a candidate.Avoid exaggerating your background and/or skill set. Even if you make it past the recruiter, the longer-term consequences of fudging the truth on your resume can be dire if your employee finds out.3. Carelessness CountsIf you think being a few minutes late is no big deal, think again. Not only does showing up late for an interview convey disrespect for the interviewer, but it also demonstrates poor time management. If possible, do a test run before an interview to find out how long transit, parking, walking, etc. will take.Carelessness in appearance is also a deal-breaker for many employers. Keep the old adage in mind: â€Å"Dress for the job you want, not the job you have.† Select your interview outfit at least a day in advance. Is it clean? Pressed? Appropriate? As much as you might like to think that appearance doesn’t matter as much as skill, you will be judged on your appearance. Make sure to take a quick look in the mirror before you walk out the door.4. Lack of PreparationThe internet puts a wealth of information at the fingers of the average job searcher. Failure to use this information is an enormous and often unforgivable oversight. Take time in advance to research the company, industry, and even your interviewer. And be prepared to ask questions. Knowledge and curiosity both demonstrate the above-and-beyond qualities sought by today’s employers.5. Failure to Follow UpThe job interview doesn’t end when you walk out the door. Even if your interview was a slam dunk, you might end up fouling out of the game if you don’t send a thank you note. In fact, 59 percent of HR managers believe that it’s â€Å"very helpful† for promising job candidates to follow up with a thank you note afte r an interview.While a handwritten note on a piece of monogrammed stationery has timeless appeal, 87 percent of hiring managers now believe that email is an acceptable means of expressing your gratitude.How long do you have to send your thank you? Today’s job cycle can move quickly: within 24 hours is ideal.6. No NetworkingNetworking remains an essential part of the job hunt, but it’s an active process, not a passive one. if you attend networking events, make time for one-on-one interactions; these are far more meaningful than group settings.With the rise of social networking, job seekers have 24/7 opportunities for networking. Make sure your social media presence is appropriate and appealing. A quick Google search on your own name can turn up any areas of concern.If you don’t yet have a LinkedIn profile, get one: approximately 93 percent of hiring managers check out LinkedIn when looking for qualified candidates.7. A Single-Pronged ApproachToday’s job hu nt is anything but the linear process it was 20 years ago. There are many channels through which job seekers can interact with recruiting managers. A multi-pronged approach incorporating everything from networking at industry meetings to job boards.

Research paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 19

Research paper - Essay Example The initial interaction of culture and marketing appears at this level where the language and symbols used must be meaningful to the market in question. It therefore follows that the marketer must use the symbols that are synonymous with the particular culture Bryan, (2013). Marketing does not only involve presenting a product to the consumer, but also entails designing the product to meet the customer’s wants. For a product to satisfy people, its design, style, use and any other marketing activities must be culturally acceptable. Culture features in all marketing activities ranging from promotion, pricing, distribution channels, packaging of products and styling. The interaction between market forces and the culture of the market is responsible for success in marketing. It’s important to note that the way in which human beings satisfy their wants, the amount of a commodity they consume and the way they consume the product is all a function of their culture. Marketers play two roles in a market. They extend all their efforts to satisfying the cultural demands in the market as well as act as agents of change whenever the idea or product marketed is innovative. The usage of a new product in a market is the beginning of change in the people’s traditions making the marketer an agent of change. It’s therefore very crucial for a marketer to study cultural differences between societies and identify the important aspects that he/she should focus on. The influence of culture on a market of commodities can be demonstrated by the examples below, Michael, (2007). According to Brian, culture affects nearly every portion of our lives from birth till death. These effects have very remarkable consequences in the market of products (2013). For example in Chinese culture, it’s considered to be good luck to be born in the â€Å"year of the dragon†. This leads to an increase of birthrates

Data Communication and Networking Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Data Communication and Networking - Assignment Example Using this method, a computer can bypass some access controls or servers or even imitate other computers on a certain network, thus a simple way to hack into the system. A man-in-the-middle attack through DHCP, also known as DHCP spoofing occurs when an attack is initiated, and the attacker tries to make DHCP requests responses by trying to enlist as the default server. In such a case, traffic is intercepted before it is forwarded to the user gateway. BEAST: This is a hacking tool developed in Delphi that infects Windows operating systems. BEAST operates in reverse engineering mode and gets the required codes. It utilizes some ports and can terminate the operations of an antivirus or even a firewall, to gain entry into a victim. RSA is an asymmetric public key algorithm whilst DES uses cipher that is old symmetric. RSA uses two keys, a public one and a private one whilst DES uses one key that is shared. DES can handle large chunks of data, a mechanism that is slow in RSA. Both are secret keys. PGP is standardized software that utilizes the former algorithms and others for operation. PGP is thus not an algorithm per se but has to use the other algorithms but perform the same encryption function (Keith,

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND POLITICS Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND POLITICS - Essay Example The term of imperialism is usually applied when speaking about such countries as the United Kingdom, the USA, Japan, Italy, Spain and France of the 19th century. In that time these countries were trying to found empires by owning areas in Africa. This process is known as â€Å"the Scramble for Africa†. In his work dated 1916 â€Å"Imperialism, the Highest stage of Capitalism† Lenin wrote about the importance of building the strong capitalist empire that will treat other nations and will have enough power to take decisions on the world arena. According to him, imperialism implies the domination of the developed countries over the underdeveloped ones (such as African counties). Though it must be mentioned that empire-building and the desire to capture other lands has always been in the history, the Lenin’s imperialism was a specific one because of the capitalist basis. Capitalism is founded on the idea that all the power is possessed by private owners and capital s tands for the key element in the economic system. Within the turn of the 19th century the capitalism in such countries as France, Japan, the USA and the UK was characterized by a great number of monopolies. Lenin wrote in his manifest that the small privately owned companies that were the key factor of the nation prosperity according to Karl Marx were to be replaced by the big monopolies that would have fewer owners, and in other words, fewer people controlling it. Such giants of production or other business controlled the whole nation with the help of the power that capital gave to them. The thing is that the dominant elements of the economy â€Å"capital, land and wealth were concentrated in the hands of the few† (Greene, 1970). Lenin wrote: "if it was necessary to give the briefest possible definition of imperialism, we should have to say that imperialism is the monopoly stage of capitalism" (Greene, 1970). So, when the economy of one country strives for monopoly, it leads to the decrease of competition. In a while such situation in one state can project to the international arena. In order to secure the power, capital and their ownership those few people needed the support of the state. Any security implies heavy spending on military forces. According to Lenin’s theory, the monopolization of the capital leads to the army strengthening. The rate of a country’s security depended on its army and navy forces, and it in its turn depended on the industrial production that provided these departments. As a result the interests of monopolies and state linked together and there appeared tough interdependence. According to Bukharin, the counterpart of Lenin, the monopolization of economy leads to its internationalization, though this internationalization was to be slowed by the armed nations that protected their ownership and capital violently. Therefore, there was the necessity for a state to cooperate with other countries, but it was to be done carefully in order not to risk the state security. As Lenin explained, "Capitalism's transition to the stage of monopoly capitalism, to finance capital, is connected with the intensification of the struggle for the partitioning of the world" (Warren, 1980). As mentioned above the new wave of imperialism based on capitalism was founded on the scramble for weak counties in order to provide

Effect of Child Rearing Styles on Pro-Social Development

Effect of Child Rearing Styles on Pro-Social Development PROSOCIAL DEVELOPMENT 1 COMPARISON OF CHILD-REARING STYLES AND THE EFFECTS THEREOF ON PROSOCIAL DEVELOPMENT There are many factors that play a role in the development of prosocial behaviour in children. The two participants that I used are both mothers of 3 year old children. One of them is a stay at home mom with one child (a girl), and the other is a single mom, working full time, with two children (both boys), one of whom is autistic (the oldest child). An Authoritative parenting style is generally considered the most successful parenting style, and is associated with the development of prosocial behaviours. Research participant 1 scored higher than Research participant 2 on the Authoritative and Authoritarian scale, however, the child of Research Participant 2 scored higher on the prosocial scale. This difference could be due to several other factors, besides the parenting styles, including family situation and context. The child of Research participant 2 is the youngest of two boys, the older of which has severe autism. Due to the fact that his brother is ill, this little boy has learnt from an early age to care for others. He is very caring of his older brother, and helps his mother with him a lot. This has taught him to be caring towards others, and to consider their needs, as well as his own. This has flowed over into his interactions with other children and people he meets / socialises with. Parenting styles play in important role in the development of prosocial behaviour in children, and even though the child of Research participant 1 scored lower than the child of Research participant 2 on the prosocial scale, she is still a caring and loving little girl, who displays prosocial behaviour. There are however, many other factors that influence these behaviours in children. PART B INTRODUCTION Because of the importance of the consequences of aggression, criminality and immorality for society, not much importance was placed on prosocial development prior to 1970. Eisenberg and Fabes (1998) define prosocial behaviour as â€Å"voluntary behaviour intended to benefit another†. Prosocial acts include sharing, helping others and comforting others. There are many reasons why people act prosocially, but the subgroup of prosocial behaviours labelled as altruism is considered to be very important. Eisenberg Mussen (1989) define altruism as being â€Å"intrinsically motivated, voluntary behaviour intended to benefit another; acts motivated by internal motives such as concern for others, or by internalised values, goals and self-reward or the avoidance of punishment†. However, because it is difficult to determine whether altruism or a less noble motivation drives the behaviour, a broader focus needs to be taken. CULTURAL FACTORS It is evident from various research that environment plays a big role in the development of prosocial behaviour, and research on the cultural bases of prosocial responding provides insight into the role of the environment in the development of prosocial behaviour (Eisenberg Fabes, 1998). Anthropological literature and Psychological studies in non-Western cultures clearly indicate that societies vary greatly in the degree to which prosocial and cooperative behaviours are normative (Mead, 1935). These studies show that some cultures value prosocial behaviours while there are some cultures in which prosocial behaviour is rare and hostility and cruelty is the norm. It is difficult to make cross-cultural comparisons as there seems to be differences across cultures with respect to the degree to which children display prosocial behaviour. THE FAMILY Another influence in the development of prosocial behaviour in children is their parents. Children model their parents behaviour, so if the parents tend to display prosocial behaviour, the children will develop prosocial behaviour. Parental practices, beliefs, characteristics and emotional atmosphere at home plays a role in the development of prosocial behaviour. Staub (1992) found that prosocial behavioural development is enhanced by a connection to others, exposure to parental warmth, adult guidance and children’s participation in prosocial activites. In their study on the relationship between parenting styles, parental practices, sympathy on prosocial behaviours in adolescents, Gustavo et al. (2007) found strong evidence that parenting practices were closely related to prosocial behaviour. They did find however, that the associations occurred mostly through the indirect relations with sympathy. Dunsmore et al. (2009) conducted a study to determine whether a mothers expressive style and specific emotional responses to their children’s behaviour is linked to their children’s prosocial ratings. The results of their study show that the mothers positive and negative expressiveness is related to the child’s lower prosocial self-rating, and the mothers happiness about the child’s prosocial behaviour is associated with the child’s higher self-ratings for prosocial self-rating. CHILD’S INDIVIDUAL CHARACTERISTICS Eisenberg and Fabes (1998) believe that social cognition and prosocial behaviour should at least be modestly correlated, and this has been shown to be true in studies, as prosocial children are more sociable, well regulated, low impulsivity and are not shy or anxious. â€Å"Prosocial children are also able to communicate and resolve their own needs, feel guilt and remorse about wrongdoing, exercise self-control when tempted to do wrong, and feel compassion for others (Hoffman, 1970; Mischel, Shoda, and Rodriguez, 1989). Eisenberg and Fabes (1998) also believe that emotion plays a vital role in the development of prosocial values, motives and behaviours, with empathy-related emotions playing a larger role. There are various definitions of empathy, but Eisenberg and Fabes (1998) define empathy as an â€Å"affective response that stems from the apprehension / comprehension of another’s emotional state / condition, and that it is identical / very similar to what the other person is feeling / would be expected to feel†. Many theorists argue that some or all humans are born with an innate ability to feel / exhibit altruistic behaviour, thereby being biologically predisposed to experience empathy and develop prosocial behaviour, including smaller children. Many twin studies have been done to determine whether prosocial tendencies are inherited. Matthews et al. (1986) and Rushton et al. (1986) believed that if the correlation is higher for identical twins than for fraternal twins, then the difference can be attributed to heritability / genetics. Their study involved self-reported data from adults, and they found that 50% of the variance in the twin’s empathy, altruism and nurturance was accounted for by genetic factors. The other 50% difference was accounted for by differences in the twin’s environment. There are also studies that have been done on the neurophysiological underpinnings of prosocial behaviour. Panskepp (1986) believes that the nurturant dictates of brain systems that mediate social bonding and maternal care is what leads to mammalian helping behaviour. Maclean (1985) believes that the limbic system is responsible for maternal behaviour, affiliation and play, which in turn forms the basis for altruism. During the second year the prefrontal functions increase, which enables the child to identify which feelings are his / hers or which feelings belong to someone else. Researchers propose that (based on Keller’s 2007 model of culturally informed development pathways), depending on the socio-cultural context, toddlers may follow different pathways to the same development outcome, for example, prosocial development. In their study using longitudinal genetic analysis, Knafo Plomin (2006) found that genetics account for change and continuity in prosocial behaviour. Clark Ladd (2000) found that prosocial children are relatively well-adjusted and have better peer relationships than children low in prosocial behaviour. CONCLUSION Prosocial development in children is a complex multidimensional issue. Many factors play a role in the development of prosocial behaviours, and emphasis should not be placed on a single factor to the exclusion of others. Culture, family and genetics are but some of the factors or environments that influence the development of empathy, which in turn aids in the development of prosocial behaviour. All these factors should be considered together when determining what plays a role in prosocial development.

Possible Solutions to Remedy the Detrimental Effects of Soil Acidity on

Possible Solutions to Remedy the Detrimental Effects of Soil Acidity on Tropical Agriculture Arable tropical soils, which mainly consist of Oxisols and Ultisols but also include regions of Inceptisols and Alfisols, cover approximately one billion hectares; this area represents 33 percent of the total potentially arable land of this world which does not require irrigation. Most of these soils have optimum conditions for crop production, including low population density, excellent physical conditions, and a favorable climate (Van Wambeke, 1976). The main limitation of agricultural productivity and the reason that these tropical soils are underutilized for farming is soil acidity and its related factors. Improving the quality and yield of crops in these regions would do much to relieve the food pressures imposed upon us by the world's growing population. As stated by I.M. Rao, et al.: It is particularly critical to realize the agricultural potential of Ultisols and Oxisols which remain idle in huge areas of the tropics...(but) we cannot repeat previous attempts to settle farmers in these areas before we have collected sufficient data and facts upon which we can honestly base our recommendations which guarantee a decent living from agricultural enterprise (Rao et al., 1993). Therefore, it is of the utmost importance for us to find a feasible and cost-effective way to alleviate the problems of soil acidity on tropical agriculture. Before the effects of soil acidity on tropical agriculture is examined, it is necessary to have a good background on what soil acidity is and how it occurs. Soils become acid because of vigorous leaching, coupled with the inputs of acids (substances capable of releasing positive hydrogen atom... ...fisol from Zambia": Tropical Agriculture, vol. 70, no. 4, pp. 309-313. Rao, I.M. et al., 1993, "Selection and Breeding for Acid-Soil Tolerance in Crops": Bioscience, vol. 43, pp. 454-465. Ritchey, K.D. et al., 1991, "Rapid evaluation of Juvenile Sorghum for Tolerance to Soil Acidity": Journal of Plant Nutrition, vol. 14, no. 3, pp. 315-329. Singer, Michael and Munns, Donald, 1996, Soils: An Introduction (3rd ed.): New Jersey, Prentice Hall, 480 p. Van Wambeke, A., 1976, "Formation, Distribution, and Consequences of Acid Soils in Agricultural Development": Proceedings of Workshop on Plant Adaptation to Mineral Stress in Problem Soils, Nov. 22-23, 1976, pp. 15-24. Yamoah, Charles, et al., 1992, "Correction of Acid Infertility in Rwandan Oxisols with Lime from an Indigenous Source for Sustainable Cropping": Exploratory Agriculture, vol. 28, pp. 417-424.

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According to Hector Avalos, religions might preach peace, love, and harmony, but establishing a textual canon or sacred site which only some have privileged access to also establishes an illusory â€Å"scarcity† which causes people to fight. This is the intent of religious leaders, but it's an inevitable outgrowth of their actions — and we can see this occurring in the context of Islam with its holy sites and cities: Mecca, Medina, the Dome of the Rock, Hebron, and so on. Each city is holy to Muslims, but while Muslims focus on what they regard as the positive aspects, they cannot pretend that the negative aspects don't exist.Moreover, even the positive aspects can be criticized as often inaccurate. The holiness of each site is associated with violence against other religions or against other Muslims and their importance has been as dependent on politics as religion, a sign of the degree to which political ideologies and parties make use of the religious concept of â₠¬Å"holiness† to further their own agendas. Mecca Islam's holiest site, Mecca, is where Muhammad was born. During his exile in Medina, Muhammad had his followers pray in the direction of Mecca instead of Jerusalem which was the original orientation site.Going on a pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in a person's life is one of the Five Pillars of Islam. Mecca is closed to non-Muslims because of a revelation Muhammad allegedly received from God, but some outsiders have entered while disguised as Muslims. Even before Muhammad, Mecca was a pilgrimage site for pagan polytheists and some argue that the Muslim practice of pilgrimage was borrowed from those ancient rituals. Some scholars argue that because Jews and Christians rejected Muhammad's message, ancient pagan practices had to be incorporated into Islam in order to more easily capture the allegiance of local polytheists.Christianity did much the same throughout Europe in order to convert pagans there. Located in the courtyard o f the Great Mosque in Mecca is a windowless cube known as the Kaaba, believed by Muslims to have been built by the prophet Abraham In the southeastern corner of the Kaaba is the â€Å"Black Stone,† an object which Muslims believe was given to Abraham by the angel Gabriel. Reports of local pagans worshipping gods in the form of stones go back centuries and Muhammad probably incorporated this practice through the Kabaa itself.Pagan rituals were thus re-told through the lives of biblical characters and so that local practices could continue under the guise of Muslim tradition. Medina Medina is where Muhammad was exiled after he found little support for his ideas in his home city of Mecca, making it the second holiest site in Islam. There was a large Jewish community in Medina which Muhammad had hoped to convert, but his failure eventually led him to banish, enslave, or kill every Jew in the area. The presence of non-believers was at first an affront to Muhammad's claims that his religion superseded theirs; later, it was an affront to the holiness of the place.Medina was also the capital of the Muslim empire until 661 when it was moved to Damascus. Despite its religious status, this loss of political power caused the city to decline precipitously and it had little influence during the Middle Ages. Medina's modern rise to prominence was again due to politics, not religion: after Britain occupied Egypt, the Ottoman occupiers of the region funneled communications through Medina, transforming it into a major transportation and communication center. Thus the importance, decline, and growth of Medina was always dependent upon the political situation, not on religion or religious beliefs.Dome of the Rock The Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem is a Muslim shrine which stands where the first Jewish temple is believed to have stood, where Abraham tried to sacrifice his son to God, and where Muhammad ascended into heaven in order to receive God's commandments. For Muslims this is the third holiest site for pilgrimage, after Mecca and Medina. It may be the oldest surviving example of early Islamic architecture and is modeled after the Christian Church of the Holy Sepulchre, located nearby. Control of the site is a hotly contested issue for Muslims and Jews.Many devout Jews would like to see the mosques torn down and the Temple reconstructed in their place, but this would destroy one of the holiest sites of Islam and lead to a religious war of unprecedented proportions. True Believers have gathered together in a variety of Third Temple societies in active preparation, even going so far as to prepare the precise clothing, coinage, and sacrificial implements needed for use in a rebuilt Temple. Stories have spread among Muslims that the creation of Israel was the first step in an apocalyptic process which will culminate in the total triumph of Islam over all the world.The Dome of the Rock is thus one of the best examples of Avalos' argument about how reli gions create false scarcities which encourage violence. There are no natural resources on this site which humans might be expected to fight over — no oil, water, gold, etc. Instead, people are willing to launch an apocalyptic war simply because they all believe that the site is â€Å"holy† to them and, therefore, that only they should be allowed to control and build upon it. Hebron The city of Hebron is holy for both Muslims and Jews because it contains the â€Å"Cave of the Patriarchs,† supposedly a tomb for Abraham and his family.During the Six Day War of June, 1967, Israel seized Hebron along with the rest of the West Bank. After this war, hundreds of Israelis settled in the area, creating conflict with thousands of Palestinian neighbors. Because of this, Hebron has become a symbol of Israeli-Palestinian hostilities — and thus of interreligious strife, suspicion, and violence. It's not possible for both Jews and Muslims to have exclusive control of Heb ron and neither group is willing to share control. It's only because of the insistence of both that the city is â€Å"holy† that they fight over it at all, though.Mashhad Mashhhad, Iran, is the site for the burial places and shrines for all twelve of the imams revered by the Twelver Shia Muslims. These holy men, believed to be a source of sanctity, are all martyrs because they were murdered, poisoned, or otherwise persecuted. It wasn't Christians or Jews who did this, though, but other Muslims. These shrines to the early imams are treated by Shia Muslims today as religious symbols, but if anything they are symbols for the ability of religion, including Islam, to encourage violence, brutality, and division among believers. QomQom, Iran, is an important pilgrimage site for the Shi'a because of the burial sites of numerous shahs. The Borujerdi mosque is opened and closed each day by government guards who praise Iran's Islamic government. It is also the site of Shia theology trai ning — and thus also of Shia political activism. When the Ayatollah Khomeini returned to Iran from exile, his first stop was Qom. The city is thus as much a political shrine as it is a religious one, a monument to authoritarian politics and the authoritarian religion which provides politics with existential justification. –>