Brian Montgomery

What skills do you believe manages should possess? A: Leadership, organizational and interaction skills, good communication. Planning Q: Why do you think Managers need to plan? A: You need to have agreed plans and goals; I?s how you measure yourselves and the business against planned targets Q: There are different kinds of Plans including, Mission statements, vision, marketing operational. What type of plans do you use in your business? A: In my division we use all of those, the company has our mission statement and vision, which we live but the operational plans are the day to day business for us.Q: How often do you refer to each of the plans? A: It really depends on the plan and situation but I would say at least weekly. Q: Do you discuss the plans with you your teams and why? A: Yes we discuss these in all of our meetings at different levels. Staff, supervisor and management meetings. Q: How effective do you think these plans are? A: There is always room for improvement, but at th is time they are good. They are achievable and relevant to the core business. Our plans have to be somewhat flexible due to the changing environment we work in. Q: What benefits do you think you get from each of those plans?A: The team get a sense of achievement, moving forward, setting new goals. We achieve then move the goals forward. It's great for the team to see the plan coming to fruition. Organizing Q: Why do you think businesses need to have organizational structures? A: Accountability and growth. Q: There are different kinds of Organizational structures in the workplace, Formal/informal, functional, and divisional and matrix. Which one or combination Of these is used in your business? A: would say Divisional due to the multiple sites. Q: What benefits do you think you get from those structures you use?A: loud say time is the biggest benefit. When you find something that works well at one site you can adapt that to fit another site. With not having to come up with a complete new system then have time to focus on other issues. Q: Do you see any drawbacks to any of the structures you use? A: Having too many sites sometimes mean you spread yourself a little thin. That's when you have to look at staff and co-leaders. Leadership Q: Why do you think leadership is important in business? A: Overall accountability, but part of that is ensuring that the whole team work together to achieve the desired outcome.Q: There are several types of adhering, Autocratic, Democratic Laissez-fairer, situational etc. Which of these do you use in your organization? A: Democratic for me, having said that there are occasions when time constants mean a directive needs to be the way to move forward quickly. Q:How would you describe your leadership style? A: Adaptable depending on the climate at the time and proactive. Q: What benefits do you think you get from this style? A: Success, great time management and good interactions with staff. This means we meet timeliness. Q:DO you see any drawbacks to this style?A: Sometimes if you don't stay focused on delivery, things can get interpreted Rooney. You really have to make sure you invest time on learning so everyone understands their part in the overall plan. Control Q: What does controlling mean for you? A: Guidelines are put in place sows have a structured approach. Q: What control systems are used in your business? A: Mainly Kepi's (Key Performance Indicators) Q: Why are controlling systems important in your business? A: So we can achieve and show that we have achieved. Q: What control functions that you use monitor your planning functions?A: The Kepi's are what shows how we are progressing against our plan and working towards our targets. With no Kepi's where are we really. 1 . The Planning Function of Management 1. 1 . A There are a variety of reasons that managers plan although to me the first reason would be to set the direction and priorities of the company or sector of the company. You want to ensure tha t everyone in the team is working towards a similar goal and understands what that goal is. 1 . 2. A Vision Statement: Describes what a company would like to achieve, their aspirations to be the leader or best at what they do.Mission Statement: This is really the overall aim of the company, it tells prospective customers who the company are and what they stand for. Strategic plans: these are the long term plans the company has to grow. The overall direction it wants to take to achieve its desired goals. Marketing plans: This is the companies plan outlining how they plan to achieve the strategic goal they set. Here they need to look at what they deliver how well and what gives them the competitive edge over others out there. How they show that information to prospective clients. Contingency plan: This is the ‘what if plan.As we all know â€Å"If anything can go wrong, it will. † Murphy's law With that in mind we need to put plans in place for possible events that were to originally planned for (the contingency plan). Operational plans: This is a short term plan often set at a lower level in the company to ensure the team or section of the company have a clear understanding of what they need to do in the short term to ensure the company as a whole is achieving its higher level plans. 1 . 2. B The company I studied has a variety of plans, they have a vision (what they want to be), Mission (Why they exist), Values(what is important to them).They also have a strategic plan looking at the goals of increasing contracts and turnover by a percentage each year for the next five years. They have a marketing plan, for how they plan to sell the business to prospective clients. All these plans are driven from their National Office. Then there is the operational planning side of things, this is how they plan their work week to week to ensure they carry out the work the client wants within the timeshare set. 1. 3. From what observed I think overall the company st udied has some good plans at each level.My study was more focused on the operational plans and at interview and at first look it appears that the plans are sound and have some clear expectations of how things would be done in order to achieve the goals. Looking closer showed that there were some things that could possibly be done to make it more effective 1 . 3. B I was able to see the operational plans and how these were looked at from week to week. They have various focuses form current week to next and then longer focus into months ahead. I was shown the targets for completions of set work and the actual percentages achieved week on week against the plans.They have set themselves some high goals for the year and are close to achieving. I did notice from discussions that where they appear to fail is due to not cooking at the contingency side of things fully. A lot of the day to day jobs are dependent on weather or plant access and often there is no plan for what they will do if th ey cannot do that. This means that the overall focus then becomes more reactive than proactive. 2. The Organizing Function of Management 2. 1 . A Businesses need to have organizational structures in order to allow them to function effectively.This is because the structure defines the roles and tasks undertaken by staff. â€Å"An idea can only become a reality once it is broken down into organized, actionable elements. † Scott Belles 2. 2. The main kinds Of organizational structures are: Formal: Generally roles and responsibilities are set out in writing and staff generally don't venture outside their job description. Informal: Is how people work together in practice, day to day interactions. This structure generally develops alongside a formal structure. Divisional: Is where an organization is split into a number of separate units.These can be grouped according to product, market, geographical location or a mix of these. Each division is self-managed. Functional: Is where sta ff are grouped according to the function or role they perform Matrix: Is where staff are grouped by both function and product, often this structure is used for project work. 2. B The company I studied had a combination Of the Structures discussed. The company as a whole have a formal structure with an organizational chart to show the positions, with each position having a formal job description.But alongside that the staff have developed good communication and day to day talking to ensure the jobs are completed which is really the informal addition. The company has certainly got a divisional side to mainly based on location, and there is somewhat of a functional split at the location I looked at where hey have a roofing team with team leader, a handyman team with team leader, an industrial cleaning team with team leader and a commercial cleaning team with team leader. 2. 3. A The impression I was left with is that the mix of organizational structures works very well in this company. There appear to be a good balance between the formal and informal. The functional structure impressed me in that each of the individual teams had a clear understanding of their roles and took pride in achieving and meeting their targets. 2. 3. B During my visit I was able to see the organizational chart and some of the position descriptions. Away the team members within the office and how they interacted with the team leaders to get tasks achieved. 3. The Leadership Function of Management 3. 1 . A Leadership is important because without it a business will fail to function to its full potential. Leadership is the capacity to transform vision into reality. † Warren G. Bennie 3. 2. A To me the business I studied relies heavily on the democratic style of leadership, with a little delegating added to the mix. Democratic: There were a lot of notes from meetings with the manager and her supervisors and team leaders, where you could see issues discussed and he thoughts of the team wit h the decision made and agreed as the way to move forward. I noted from the tone used by the manager at interview and the dealings I saw with staff that she asked for their thoughts and input to assist in the decision making process.Delegating: I could often see actions for tasks or monitoring being assigned to the supervisor and team leaders. 3. 2. B Compared to the democratic style the autocratic does not look for a collaborative approach. Generally it is a more solely directive or authoritarian approach. Whereas the democratic style assists staff in feeling that they are a ajar part of the process and engaging them the autocratic would not be the way to get the best from a team. The team with the autocratic leader often feel less loyal, have less commitment and in the end, less satisfaction from the job as those with a democratic leader.Having said this a few of the staff I came across liked the go to work and be told what to do and how, although it was a minority. Although not i deal in my view there are occasions where autocratic works, this is usually in situations where an emergency has occurred and a decision needs to be made sooner rather than waiting to see if a consensus can be reached. . 3. A I believe that the leadership in the business I studied was adequate. There seemed to be systems in place and all those I spoke to or observed seemed to be aware of their part in achieving.

Mateo Falcone by Prosper Mérimée Essay

Mateo Falcone Author: Prosper Mà ©rimà ©e Introduction Sept. 28, 1803, Paris — died Sept. 23, 1870, Cannes, France A French dramatist, historian, archaeologist, and master of the short story whose works — Romantic in theme but Classical and controlled in style — were a renewal of Classicism in a Romantic age. Story: Mateo Falcone This opera constitutes the last of three short serious operas by this composer, the other two being Feast in Time of Plague and Mademoiselle Fifi. â€Å"Mateo Falcone† addresses matters of family honor. It is set in Corsica in the seventeenth century in the region of Porto-Vecchio. Setting Mateo Falcone Characters Fortunato Falcone Mateo Falcone’s ten-year-old son. His father regards him as ‘‘the hope of the family.’’ The name Fortunato, meaning ‘‘the fortunate one,’’ reflects his father’s pride. cont. Introduction Story: Mateo Falcone Prosper Mà ©rimà ©e’s â€Å"Mateo Falcone† (1829), originally subtitled â€Å"Les moeurs de Corse† (â€Å"The Ways of Corsica†), chronicles the killing of a ten-year-old boy by his father. Such contemporaries as Stendhal (Henri Beyle), Henry James, and Walter Pater admired Mà ©rimà ©e and praised him for his craft. Pater called â€Å"Mateo Falcone† â€Å"the cruellest story in the world.† â€Å"Mateo Falcone† is a brief, but complex story. It features at least five points of view and at least four â€Å"ways of life† (the â€Å"moeurs† of the original subtitle). Mà ©rimà ©e’s themes include betrayal and honor, savagery and civilization, vendetta and law, and custom and morality. A forty-eight-year-old father of three married daughters and one ten-year-old son; Giuseppa Falcone’s husband. Giuseppa Falcone Mateo Falcone’s wife. Tiodoro Gamba The adjutant; a distant relative of Falcone’s. Gianetto Saupiero An outlaw. Exposition Plot Summary â€Å"Mateo Falcone† is set in Corsica in the seventeenth century in the region of Porto-Vecchio, which is midway between the town of Corte and the mà ¢aquis, the wild country of the Corsican highlands where outlaws and misfits find refuge from law and authority. Mateo Falcone, a forty-eight-year-old father of three married daughters and one ten-year-old son, is a successful sheep rancher. He sets off to gather his flock one afternoon. His wife, Guiseppa, accompanies him, and they leave their son, Fortunato alone. Rising Action Fortunato daydreams in the autumn sun. He anticipates going into town in a few days to have dinner with his uncle, the Caporal. Suddenly, he was distracted by the gunshots echo from nearby. On nearby path, a wounded man appears and had been shot in his thigh. Seeing Fortunato, he asks whether the boy is the son of Mateo Falcone, after confirming, he introduces himself as Gianetto Saupiero, the implication being that he has a tie to Falcone and thus a right to expect asylum. Fortunato at first declines to hide Gianetto, but when the bandit offers a piece of silver, the boy conceals him beneath the hay. Climax Six soldiers arrive, led by adjutant Tiodoro Gamba, who addresses Fortunato as â€Å"cousin,† once again implying a tie to the Falcone’s. Gamba wants to know whether Fortunato has seen a man on the trail. Fortunato evades Gamba ’s questions, and Gamba suspects that the boy is in complicity with Gianetto. He threatens to beat Fortunato, but the boy only replies that he is Mateo Falcone’s son, and the lieutenant understands that he dare not harm Fortunato for fear of angering the father. The soldiers search the property but find nothing. Finally, Gamba attempts to bribe Fortunato with a shiny new watch. Fortunato accepts the bribe and silently nods in the direction of the haystack. Falling Action Mateo and Guiseppa return from the pastures. Gamba advances cautiously and explains to Mateo what has happened. When Mateo ascertains the facts, he abruptly asks his wife whether the boy is really his child. Fortunato collapses in tears, sobbing and crying, and the wife becomes hysterical. Mateo commands Fortunato to leave with him into the high country. Denouement As Mateo and Fortunato climb into the mountains, Guiseppa prays inside the house to an icon of the Virgin Mary. In a ravine, Mateo commands Fortunato to kneel and say his prayers. When he finishes praying, Fortunato begs for mercy, but Mateo gives none. He raises his rifle and shoots. Theme Analysis Justice prevails. The end justifies the means. Regrets are always in the end. Symbolism Mateo Falcone – Justice Fortunato – Sin Gamba and Gianetto – Temptation Guiseppa – Love and Sympathy Foreshadowing Gamba attempts to bribe Fortunato with a shiny new watch. Flashback Gamba told Mateo what Gianetto had done to one of his soldiers and to the Caporal Chardon’s arm. Gamba told Mateo what Fortunato had done to help them discover where Gianetto is. Conflict Fortunato Falcone VS. Himself Mateo Falcone VS. Fortunato Falcone Land VS. Fortunato Falcone It is the temptation alone that brought Fortunato of committing bribery despite of knowing the fact that justice is placed on the hands of his father, Mateo Falcone which leads to his death.

FORD BUSINESS REPORT Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

FORD BUSINESS REPORT - Essay Example This paper has outlined some of the threats posed by other competitors, the unpredictable future especially on the issue of cheap fuel. The assessment has been done using the SWOT analysis in comparison with the competitors. By the end of this paper, one will understand the appropriate measures the company can take to deal with the competition, threats, opportunities and the stagnant European market, which has seemingly remained impervious to Ford. FORD is an automobile company based in the US states but operates in other countries where it manufactures various types of vehicles. Apart from owning various kinds of vehicles, the company has also bought some shares in other companies. For instance, Wilkins (2011) reported that Ford currently has a 21% stake in Japan’s Mazda. Additionally, Ford in UK owns 8% of Aston martin and China’s Jiangling offers 49% to the same company. The company has other ventures where it has worked with other companies like in Russia, Thailand and Turkey Away from the ventures and acquisitions, the company has gone various hurdles including the 2008 recession that saw many countries’ economies suffer adversely. It is during this time that fellow competitors like GM and Chrysler suffered greatly and only the US government’s efforts saved them. Having survived the crisis, Ford registered encouraging results and in 21012, the company had a $134 billion revenue and $ 5,665 billion profit (Grant 2012). At this time, the number of employees in this company had hit the 164,000 mark making it one of the best companies in the US. The essence of writing this report is to highlight its current position and offer recommendations on how to deal with its weaknesses and threats. Like in any other business, Ford has a number of competitors who could be a threat to its profitability unless measures are put in place. In the US, the number of companies rivaling Ford in the automobile business is pretty big. Firstly, the

Analyse learning and teaching strategies used in own specialism Essay

Analyse learning and teaching strategies used in own specialism - Essay Example nd work area, contraindications, skin and eye diseases, preparation of a client, they are shown pictures of before and after work, so they can imagine how their work should look like, I also demonstrate types of application how to prepare a client etc they have hands on practice with a mannequin learning how to separate and attach lashes, step by step explanations of what to do and pictures showing step by step applications. Second part of the training is working with real models and practicing of what they have learnt during the session. Basing on this experience, some teaching and learning strategies may apply, while some may not. Those applicable are discussed below. Here, each student who is to be taught at ago will watch me demonstrate a practical lesson as he or she observes and he or she will manipulate or observe real objects or materials at disposal. To utilize this strategy, I will be required to first of all plan practical work having particular learning objectives in mind. Through using a number of pedagogical methods, the practical task may be used to meet the diversified learning outcomes. Next is to ensure that the task design outlines the key objectives and minimizes any kind of nose. To make it more effective, I will link observables with scientific ideas and ask questions to ask each student’s understanding. In this context, I will ensure that the demonstrations are best as communication, rather than discovery (Hodson, 1990 When using this method, I will put in mind the strategies that will make it lively and smooth understanding by the learners. For instance, I will use humor, repetition, emotive language, and short sentences for quick learning and total concentration. I will be aware of each learner’s knowledge and likely perspectives so that I can connect with them and be able to convince them. My presentation must be along with clear rationale supported by proof, such as expert opinion, witness statements, statistics, facts, and present

The topic depend on what writer writing about Essay

The topic depend on what writer writing about - Essay Example The Kimberly Mines, which is up for sale, deals with the extraction of diamond for export purposes (Miller and MacDonald, n. p). However, the article does not offer cost analysis of the mine in regards to the expected revenues and investor benefits. This is vital to for more buyers to invest to boost the recovery business in the African state. It indicates the aspects that hinder the management of De Beers from managing several mines in the country. The environmental analysis is appropriate because Kimberly Mines is located in a prime area where transportation and extraction is efficient (Miller and MacDonald, n. p). The function of the mine in pulling stones from the old-mine can be converted into sustainable utilization within the diamond industry (Miller and MacDonald, n. p). For instance, the stones are essential for construction purposes by other users. This is because the contractors cannot easily access the minerals and have to dig deeper to trace the diamonds in the derelicts. I like the article and would encourage the writers to consider follow-up of the sale. Thank you so

Scientific advances on Cloning Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Scientific advances on Cloning - Research Paper Example Some have suggested that the â€Å"fear of the unknown† aspect of cloning mammals, though understandable, is largely unfounded. The potential benefits are numerous and outweigh the concerns brought forth by those who don’t fully understand the process or implications of cloning. Laws and regulations related to this new science will be implemented to address the ethical implications but it’s impossible to stop scientific exploration. The birth of Dolly the sheep represents the birth of a new, exciting scientific method that will change the course of medical history for the better. The Scottish scientist Ian Wilmut of the Roslin Institute, along with his colleagues, announced on February 23, 1996 they had cloned a sheep by using a ground-technique. The method involved transplanting genetic matter from an adult sheep into a hollowed-out egg, an egg that had its nucleus removed. â€Å"The researchers fused the adult udder cell with an (egg) that was ready to be fertilized, but taken from a different sheep. The scientists had previously removed the nucleus from the (egg) using an electrical current to fuse it with the udder cell.† (Barnes, 2012). This sequence instigated cell division. The resulting embryo was then implanted into another sheep who acted as the surrogate-mother. The secret to this method’s success was making the nucleus of the donor’s udder cell â€Å"silent† so it would quit performing as it was originally intended and then reprogrammed it to act as an embryonic cell. That embryo would become Dolly; a sheep with three â€Å"mothers† involved but only related biologically to the one that donated an udder cell. Dolly shared all of the udder donor’s chromosomes but none of the host egg cell’s chromosomes. Consequently, Dolly is an exact genetic reproduction of the donor-cell sheep. Previous cloning experiments that used

Marketing Strategies Development Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Marketing Strategies Development - Essay Example The essay "Marketing Strategies Development" aims to design a competitive and successful marketing strategy for the launching of the new mark of mobile phone Leviathan. In the last two decades, there have been major changes in the broader economic environment resulting from increasing globalization, deregulation, increased the competition and specialization of industries cited in Kotler. This has lead organizations to form cooperative agreements, such as alliances, resulting in a shift from stand-alone competition to the networked rivalry. The marketing mix has its origin in the marketing of goods for consumer markets and consists of the well known 4P’s: Price, Promotion, Place, and Product and must be carefully coordinated for the greatest success. Therefore, two methods were presented through which the divisions could be segmented. I suggested segmenting the market into geographical, demographical and time segment. Through these methods, the company is better placed to meet up with its objectives. The paper calls for a value adding and marketing strategy for increasing yields to the company for the benefits of the entire business. The company expects to target not only high-yielding niche market but low-income household as well with the introduction of the new products. Key success factors within the market will be MoTecH Ltd brand of innovative quality furniture and promotional gifts, individualized customer services – tailor made custom design providing customers with what they want, when and how they want it.

Formal Learning and Informal Learning Dissertation

Formal Learning and Informal Learning - Dissertation Example Research Design 38 3.2. Research Methodology 39 3.3. Method of Data Collection 40 3.3.1. Selection of Documents 40 3.3.2. Qualitative Research 41 3.4. Data Analysis 43 3.5. Justification of the Choice of Methodology 44 3.6. Role of the Researcher 45 3.7. ETHICAL ISSUES/CONSTRAINTS/VALUES OF THIS RESEARCH 46 3.8. Potential Value of this Research 47 Chapter 4 Findings and Discussions 48 4.0. Introduction 48 4.1. Findings and Discussions 48 4.1.1. Better Appreciation of Informal Learning in the Work Place and Central Role of Employees 49 4.1.2. The More Effective Approach 51 4.1.3. The Learning Approaches 55 4.1.4. Kinds of Information 61 4.1.5. The Factors 63 4.1.6. The Balance 64 Summary 68 Chapter 5 Conclusion, Limitations and Recommendations 69 5.0. Conclusion 70 5.1. Limitations/Possibilities 72 5.2. Recommendations 72 References: 75 Appendix 1 81 Fig. 1 p. 6 Fig. 2 p. 14 Fig. 3 p. 21 Fig. 4 p. 30 Fig. 5 p. 49 Table 1 p. 16 Chart 1 p. 55 Chart 2 p. 56 Chart 3 p. 57 Chart 4 p. 58 Ch art 5 p.59 Chart 6 p. 61 Chart 7 p.62 Chapter 1 Introduction 1.0. Introduction Globalisation opens a new a paradigm in the economic interactions among nations around the globe (Fisher, 2003). Generally, this unique phenomenon enables people across the globe to access services and goods from different countries with ease (Soros, 2002), thus, paving fro exchanges not only for goods and services, but also of ideas, knowledge and identity as greater mobility are experienced by people (Peet, 2003; Suarez-Orozco and Qin-Hilliard, 2004). In addition, globalisation creates tougher competition in the global market economy, challenging organisations to continuously come up with products and services that genuinely respond to the changing needs and demands of the 21st century clients (Suarez-Orozco and Qin-Hilliard, 2004). Responding to the challenge pose by globalisation, firms have come up with strategies and developments that will endow organisations with the opportunity in creating a niche and surviving the stringent global market competition. One of the most noteworthy development in the recent period is the recognition of the central importance of the role of employees in attaining the goals of the company (Armstrong, 2006). The human factor in the organisation is deemed as the human capital essential for the success of the organisation (Beer et al., 1984; Bontis et al., 1999; Caldwell, 2004; de Meneses and Woods, 2008; Ramirez, Guy, and Beale 2007). In effect, the collective knowledge, skills, learning, abilities and experiences that are deployed by the employees in the performance of their functions is crucial for the success of the firm and a primary source of the organisation’s strategic advantage (Armstrong, 2006). As such, in the last few decades, much scholarly work have been undertaken to elucidate the various concepts that are inherent in human capital . One of the subject matters that have been given ample consideration is learning in the workplace . Learning is considered as a spectrum of formal learning, informal learning and non-formal learning (Cook and Smith, 2004). A person may move from one section of the spectrum to another without diminishing the significance and influence of learning and its consequences to the individual. This is possible because learning is a process of awareness, reflection, association and application that involves transforming experience and knowledge into functional learning

Cyber search Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Cyber search - Research Paper Example As extra letters are added to the list, the sequence is updated to reduce the words that have been entered. When the required word shows on the screen, the learner simply selects the word or letter to insert into the text written (Mueller, 1992). Whether through enhanced accountability or more determining support, the major goal of a teacher is to make continuous improvement in learning and teaching. To achieve this objective, a teacher reflection system should be designed and practiced with teacher learning and growth at his or her core, as opposed to being appended afterwards as an addition. Professional development is often linked to â€Å"results† of the reflection rather than recognized as an essential part of the reflection itself. Thus, reflection generates greater teaching effectiveness (Harris, Bruster, & Peterson, 2010). According to Naef, 2008, the learning environment should be more welcoming if the learners, staff and the faculty are assisted to improve their attitudes towards disabled individuals. This can be done using new information that may result in cognitive dissonance, which gives the chance for change in behavior. Through offering information regarding these individuals, training programs improve attitudes in several services such as in cafeterias, sports, and rehabilitation. Another important step is interpersonal relations with the disabled learners to create positive attitudes. The learning institutions should work together with the Local Special Education Advisory institutions to develop a culture of mutual respect, equal opportunities, and understanding for all learners, inclusive of the disabled (Scot & Lawson, 2002). For instance, a disability awareness head at each school should arrange special events to spread awareness and make out the achievements and differences of all learners throughout history and in the community in particular, so that each learner is appreciated as a useful member. Naef, k. (2008). Yong Adult

Pervasive Computiong Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Pervasive Computiong - Research Paper Example This essay declares that the basic theory says that microprocessors can be embedded in everyday objects with the intention that they could be able to communicate information. Basically, these objects communicate with each other to carry out operations in support of the user. In fact, one of the basic goals of pervasive computing is to fade away from human observation; however the applications embedded in electronic devices must be down to business. In other words, they must be able to guess the requirements of the users in an attempt to provide them with anytime, anywhere desired information. In addition, both the terms pervasive and ubiquitous stand for "existing everywhere." This paper stresses that the target of scholars and researchers researching on pervasive computing is to build stylish products that can be used to communicate inconspicuously. Furthermore, these products are connected to the Internet and the data they produce is without problems accessible. There are many advantages of such technology based systems. This research will assess such advantages and will also outline some of the major issues in pervasive computing. This paper will also discuss some of the possible application areas of pervasive computing along with some ethical issues of pervasive computing. The pervasive computing can be implemented in a wide variety of departments, yet some of them still have not been identified. Some of the major applications of pervasive computing can be for healthcare, healthcare, environmental, transport monitoring and a lot of others. I have outlined below some of the main areas for the application of pervasive computing: (Tang; POST) Healthcare: Pervasive computing present’s opportunities for the future healthcare management all through the world, for managing and treating diseases, as well as for patient management. For example, new technology based remote sensors and monitoring technology can allow the healthcare professionals to continuously capture and analyze patients’ physiological data. In this scenario hospital and medical staff could be instantly alerted to some noticed irregularities (Tang; POST). Domiciliary care: Pervasive computing based sensors can be embedded all through the home to examine the association and fluctuations inside the ambient situation (for instance variation in temperature) to aware care-workers to some abnormality. In this scenario, the voice messages or visual displays could as well have the power to replace people to acquire medications, as video telephones could offer personal contact with family, friends and careers (Tang; POST). Intelligent transport systems: Pervasive com put

“Things Fall Apart” as well as West Africa and Sundiata (Sunjata) Essay Example for Free

â€Å"Things Fall Apart† as well as West Africa and Sundiata (Sunjata) Essay In this essay I will be talking about the book â€Å"Things Fall Apart†, as well as West Africa and Sundiata (Sunjata).   I will look at the unique personal relationships among the people in West Africa, and how this affected the economy and trade, especially following the infiltration of the Europeans in 1450.   In analyzing the book â€Å"Things Fall Apart† I will further look at a fictional, but poignantly portrayed, story of life and death and drama in West Africa in the late nineteenth century.    I will discuss the role of women in the book, the role of religion, and the decision-making process. The book â€Å"Things Fall Apart† was published in 1958 and written by Chinua Achebe as a college work.   Mr. Achebe was actually born in, and grew up in, a village in Nigeria.   However, the book was set in the 1890s, so the story in the book was not written as any kind of a memory of Mr. Achebe.   The book is both entertaining and informative about tribal relations in West Africa. There is a unique relationship between the people of the tropical rainforest, the savannah (sudan), the Sahara Desert, and the Mediterranean coast of Africa in the period down to 1450 CE.   The savannah in West Africa is a climate and vegetation zone with grass and some trees.   In the savannah horses could survive.   This caused the people in the savannah to form empires. In the rain forests horses could not survive.   Across the Sahara Desert, trade was conducted by the use of caravans.   A caravan was a source of trade across the desert.   It took place mostly between Arabs and West Africans.   Caravans were initially comprised of donkeys, but later came to be made up of camels.   Finally, the people on the coast traded with the Europeans the things that were brought from the interior of Africa, as well as things found along the coast.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Certain patters of trade and cultural influence existed in these areas during this time period.   After 1450 when Europeans settled along the Western coast of Africa, more Africans moved to that area.   Slaves and gold were big moneymakers in the coastal villages.    The people in the book â€Å"Things Fall Apart† lived in the coastal rain forest.   Gold was mostly mined along the â€Å"Gold Coast†, and along the coast Africans would also help the European slave trade.   They would go into the interior of Africa and bring other Africans out to be sold into slavery.   Some coastal Africans were thus able to become rich from the pay they received from the Europeans.   Many Africans died in the process of being transported within Africa, and many also died during the boat transport after they left Africa. Although the role of women in â€Å"Things Fall Apart† is limited and mostly submissive, there is a certain power of women in the book.   When Chielo decreed the death of Ikemefuna she may have had a female motive for it.   Normally she is a widow and a very ordinary woman. However, as the Priestess and the oracle she can say what happens to other people and their lives.   By forcing the death of the boy, using claims that she had the gift of prophecy from the gods, she was able to gain control over the life of a child.   In her normal life as a woman she did not have this much control.   However, using her role as the oracle she was able to elevate her position in society above what her gender would normally allow her.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Additionally, women exerted certain limited police and judicial powers over the market place.   The incident of the escaped cow is a good example of this.   When the cow escaped in Chapter 12 the women preparing for the bridal feast quickly push the loose cow back home and away from the neighboring farmers crops (Achebe).   Their quick intervention, coupled with the cow’s owner immediately paying the find for the cow being in another farmer’s crops, led to a fast dissipation of any potential conflict entering the joyful feast.   The women were able to use their womanly ways to avert attention from the fact that the cow was eating another person’s crops, in order that the bridal feast could happily continue. Religion is very important in community decisions in Umuofia.   The gods in Umuofia made many decisions.   Actually, people dressed up as gods or speaking on behalf of the gods made the decisions.   A religion based on multiple gods, such as that in Umuofia, is called polytheism.   Animism is another religion common in Africa.   Animism is a religion whereby people worship and revere animals. In Umuofia there were also decisions made by people speaking simply as people.   An example of this is the assemblies of male warriors.   Various people speaking as people, in numerous capacities, have made decisions in West Africa, throughout history.   A chieftain in West Africa is .   A king in West Africa is important because the kings of Western Europe rules in Africa when they colonized West African nations and when West Africans were forced into slavery. Sometimes tribes also had kings.   An emperor in West Africa is another kind of ruler within the tribal culture.   The people of Igbo in â€Å"Things Fall Apart† did not have any Emperor or king, however.   They generally dispensed justice internally, with a system of democracy among the men in the tribe.   Additionally, the Igbo people had a high sense of social mobility and were not predestined into a certain class. (Classic Note On Things Fall Apart) There are reasons for the two types of decisions making processes.   When people are speaking as gods they are deferring to the decisions of the gods to actually make their own decisions.   For example, when the oracle makes decisions she is probably allowing her own bias to influence what she believes the gods are telling her.   When the British commissioner is speaking, he is speaking as a person for himself because he does not want to be seen as deferring judgment to anyone else.   He wants the credit for all of his judgments. In contrast, when people are speaking as people they take credit, as well as blame, for what it is that they are saying.   They do not try to shift their opinions onto anyone else.   Instead, they stand up and say what it is that they believe.   The new Christian converts and the missionaries in â€Å"Things Fall Apart† were speaking on behalf of themselves and their own beliefs when they spoke.   They did not claim to have the gift of prophesy and speak on behalf of gods.   Neither did the British commissioner when he dispensed justice; when the British commissioner dispensed justice he spoke as a person speaking as a person, not as a person speaking for a god. In conclusion, the tribal people in West Africa were vastly affected by the infiltration of Europeans beginning in 1450.   Trade had historically been done by caravan on donkeys between Arabs and West Africans, but caravans later changed to be comprised more of trade on horses.   After 1450 Europeans were also actively involved in trade in West Africa, mostly of Gold, along the Gold Coast, and of slaves.   The slave trade made many Africans rich, and many Africans initially brought other Africans out of the interior of Africa out to be sold into slavery. Religion was also affected by the colonization of West Africa by the Europeans; Europeans brought Christianity to West Africa in a way that it had not been brought before by just missionaries.   Additionally, justice changed dramatically when Europeans arrived.   Europeans brought their own justice and their own white men to administer it.   In general, â€Å"Things Fall Apart† showed all of these aspects of West African society in the later nineteenth century.   And, importantly, â€Å"Things Fall Apart† served to realistically remind readers that the people in West Africa were intelligent tribal people who were hurtfully affected by British rule. REFERENCES Classic Note On Things Fall Apart. GradeSaver. 28 May. 2005  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   http://www.gradesaver.com/ClassicNotes/Titles/things/about.html. Achebe, Chinua. Things Fall Apart. New York: DoubleDay Company, Incorporated,   1994.

The Objectives Of Human Resources Development

The Objectives Of Human Resources Development The objectives of this report are to look at the Human Resource Management (HRM), Human Resource Planning and Development (HRP D), and Performance of McDonalds restaurant. Furthermore, it explains the human resource management activities, models of human resource management, effectiveness of organisational objectives, performance monitoring of McDonalds restaurant. The human resources of any organisation are the most important resource that is the direct connected between the quality of the workforce and ultimate goals. The human resource department of McDonalds is responsible for right people, right number, right jobs, right time, right cost with right knowledge, skills, experience in the right place and also responsible for training of all staff and keeping evidence on them. It also indicates us what is the usage of human resource management and how does it work in the company. McDonalds fast food restaurant began in America in 1954. It is leading food service retailer around the world with more than 30,000 restaurants in 119 countries serving 47 million customers each day. Moreover, McDonalds is one of the world most well-known and valuable brands and increasing share in the globally. Now it is recognised worldwide establishment and first restaurant in the UK. Today more than 2.6 million people of the UK trust about McDonalds and go to eat due to provide good food with a high standard, quick service and value of money. Task-1 Human Resource Management (HRM) Human resource management is the people management function where organizational function is fulfilled and focuses on the issues related to people for example compensation, performance management, organization development, safety, benefits, employee motivation, communication, administration ,training and, etc. As defined by Storey in 1995, HRM is a distinctive approach to employment management which seeks to achieve competitive advantage through the strategic development of a highly committed and capable workforce, using an integrated array of cultural, structural and personnel techniques. Human Resource Management (HRM) Activities Human Resource Management (HRM) deals with the Human feature of an organisation. There are many activities of an organisation to achieve their ultimate goals. To cite an example Recruitment and selection, training and development, human resource planning, provision of contracts, provision of fair treatment, provision of equal opportunities, assessing performance of employees, employee counseling, employee welfare, payment and reward of employees, health and safety, dismissals and redundancy, and etc. I am explaining three of them as below Recruitment and Selection In an organization, a change happens in the level of employees where HR department maintain the requirement of personnel to meet the demand. For effective recruiting, recruitment process can be costly and takes a great deal of time to set up. It includes on what jobs needs, advertising, application, identifying who best meet the criteria, interviewing candidates, finally selecting the best candidate for the post, and etc. McDonalds advertise their job vacancies on their specialized websites and use their own personnel department to recruit staff. Objectives of the Recruitment and Selection The objectives of the recruitment and selection process of human resource management are as below: To identify the most appropriate candidate to fill each post. Keep the cost of selection down Making sure that necessary skills and qualities have been specified and developing a process for identifying them in candidates Make sure that the candidate selected will want the job, and will stay with McDonalds To make the most of the effectiveness of the McDonalds recruitment and selection practices. Achievement of the Recruitment and Selection In the McDonalds, recruiting process is run throughout the year. Like other organisations, McDonalds recruit internally and externally, and they for the most part recruit their managers and Assistant managers internally rather than externally, because it is easier and less training is needed due to the candidate is well known about the job. Just about 50% of McDonalds salaried managers are promoted from within McDonalds. In addition, for preparing the job description, McDonalds describe the job title, department, location, the responsibilities, the job purpose and duties. McDonalds uses the application form with questions which are typical questions, to know what qualification the applicant has, such as knowledge, skills, experience, and etc. Application form fill-up and make the answer of question is the first step for applicant at crew member level. For the recruitment process, Interview is the most crucial part for McDonalds potential employee. From the short listed candidate, McDonalds call for interview with area manager or store manager at their flexible nearest branch. From the face to face interview, interviewers can know about applicants, such as behaves, confidence, knowledge, and basically how the applicants come across as a person. At crew member level, interview is the second step for applicant. At this step, short listed candidates involve selecting a small number of applicants for the next stage. This selecting process will be carried on until the right numbers of candidates are found with the wanted quality. As a result, the recruiting team can be able to distinguish easily the strong applicants from the weak hundreds of applicants. McDonalds inform to the successful candidate over mobile phone or by email within one week. One day, McDonalds arrange an induction for a new employee that may turn him or her into a long term, loyal member of staff. In the McDonalds, the induction process begins even before the candidate is offered the job. Training and Development From the initial training that is called skill training, Employee can know the basic job knowledge of each position and can develop. Moreover, ongoing training program provides a more advanced level of job knowledge and make an economical employee. An ongoing programme of training evaluation enables employees to keep training up to date and according to the demand of the business. McDonalds training and development programme is an important part to the 100% customer satisfaction that the company aims to achieve ultimate goal. Objectives of the Training and Development McDonalds arranges training and development programme for many reasons. For example, training and development programme may be introduced to: Increase job satisfaction and motivate employees, as a result, reducing absenteeism and labour turnover. Reduce wastage and accident rates by gaining a excellent performance across the workforce. Develop the skills of existing employees to cope with labour shortages Establish the most effective and efficient working methods in order to maximize productivity and remain competitive Use of new equipment and the application of new technology. Achievement of the Training and Development We believe that training is the foundation of any success and McDonalds think so. Immediately, training begins with a one-hour orientation in McDonalds. Each branch of McDonalds has its own video player and training room. Stepby step manuals and video tapes are played every detail of the operation. So, McDonalds is dedicated to the training and development of all their employees, providing career opportunities. So, it is an ongoing process of all McDonalds employees it is everyones job, every day. According to the employee position, all employees are to receive induction training followed by a structured development program. After completing the initial training, they are to pass one Observation Check list (OCL) in the particular area with successfully. In McDonalds has 21 days of employment probationary period. During this probationary period, employees performance is to evaluate. For example, standard of work, personal attitude, teamwork, focus of customers, hygiene and etc. After completing the probationary period, they must be achieved a competency rating of satisfactory. If they fail to meet the standards of required of performance, they can be terminated at any time during their probationary period. Human Resource Planning To achieve the McDonalds goals, human resource planning is concerned with getting the right people, using them perfectly, and training and developing them. In order to meet McDonalds aims and objectives successfully, people using are to identify perfectly and effective way and to identify any problem that are likely to occur (such as recruiting the best candidates) and then getting with proper solution. Human Resource Planning (HRP) is the process of ensuring an organisation has the correct staff at the right time, with the right skills and abilities in the right place. Objectives of the Human Resource Planning The aims of Human Resource Planning (HRP) are to create the best use of human resources look forward to the problems with surplus staff build up a well trained and flexible workers decrease organisations dependence on outside recruitment agencies Achievement of the Human Resource Planning Like all other businesses, for daily activities carry out McDonalds need the assistance of staff. All the important number of staff in McDonalds fulfils a key role in its operation. Without sophisticated technology McDonalds would not be successful, for setting up properly human being are responsible. If the manager of McDonalds do not select the potential employees in careful way and do not match against the ability of post that means who are unsuitable, it can create a number of problem, for example poor productivity levels no good feeling among staff job dissatisfaction high absenteeism levels customer complains dismissal replacement For demand of labour, McDonalds analysis its future plans and estimate the levels of activity within McDonalds. As a result, they can predict that the organisation has right number of potential employee with right quality. The external labour market is very important for any organisation because of it can make up of potential employees, locally, regionally, who have the right skills and qualification necessary at any time. For McDonalds, local unemployment figures are very important who give the indication of the general labour availability required at that time. Also, Human resource planning of McDonalds includes searching at how labour is organised within a business or an organisation. Theoretical Models of Human Resource Management Generally, human resource strategy is performance or behaviour based. In addition, employees are a main resource for any service organisation. Organisations which successfully manage change are those which have integrated their policies with their strategies and strategic change process. Johnson Scholes (1992) Exploring Corporate Strategy There are a lot of models associated within an organisation. Such as: The Fombrum, Tichy and Davanna model The Harvard model The Warwick model Guests model and etc Two models are explained among them as below: The Harvard model According to the Harvard Model, HRM polices need to derive from critical analysis of: the demands of the various stakeholders in a business and a number of situational factors Hannagan Tim, 1995 Employees are variable and valuable for any organisation. Moreover, organisations are owned and operated by various employees or people (stakeholders), the task of the management is to balance the returns to every person involved. The Harvard model emphasises on the importance of integration HR policies with business objectives. The Harvard Model is emphasised as the soft approach to HRM, employees like stakeholders of the company. In this model has discussed four areas such as, reward system, employee influences, human resource flow, and work systems, there are also included situational factors such as influence of trade unions, labour market, and laws. These are also relevant to the theory. The effectiveness of the HRM is related to the four Cs with the theory. The four Cs are Commitment, Competence, Congruence and Cost-effectiveness. According to the Harvard theory, employees are an asset rather than a cost. In McDonalds, line managers are responsible for people and store managers are responsible for the day to day running as a mixture of both the hard and soft approach. McDonalds believes that Staffs are an asset for them which are shown by training provision and should provide long term investment for the company. Guests Model Devid Guest has developed his model based on the Harvard model and included four outcomes which has developed into four policy goals Strategy integration Commitment Flexibility Quality Guests (1987) theory, is also included in McDonalds policy, Guest believes the organisation should, aim for high level of commitment from staff, obtain high quality output, continually improve standards, flexibility from staff, no fixed job definitions, working practices and conditions and seek strategic integration through HR policies. In McDonalds, improving standards continuously and flexible working times offering for staff. Line managers of McDonalds accept HRM policies and combine them into strategic plans, staff changing roles are allowing within the organisation. Acknowledged as culture, every organisation has different values, ideas and beliefs that affect the way they operate. According to Handy, there are four types of culture; Power, Role, Task and Person. McDonalds culture combines two of these. Top management of McDonalds reflects power culture that makes the overall decisions and allowing rapid response to decisions. Other one is the task culture. In McDonalds, the overall aim of the organisation is task orientated and focussing on team culture, and powerful communication between all levels of staff. McDonalds has integrated the contingency approach by considering the environment culture. Contingency approach suggests that different problems and situation require different solution, for making a sound solution, need both internal and external influences fit together. Also, this approach influences promotions of staff that comes from the company means McDonalds restaurant. It is very helpful for the staff and staffs are offered appraisals that means increasing job opportunities for staff. Task-2 Human Resource Planning and Development For a company, human resource planning is the recognition of the future labour requirements needed and how these requirements are going to be met. Human resource planning is the process by which a company ensures that it has the right number and kind of staffs, at the right time in the right place for which they are economically most useful for a company. The use of human resource planning is a big deal for any organisation. For employee develop, human resource development (HRD) is the framework. By which, employees can develop their personal and organizational skills, knowledge, and abilities. Human resource development includes many opportunities such as employee training for developing them, performance management and development, mentoring, series planning, key employee identification, organization development and etc. Human Resource Planning Model Best Practice Model Best Practice HRM is the idea that a particular bundle of HR practices has the potential to contribute to improved attitudes and behaviours, lower levels of absenteeism and labour turnover, and higher level of productivity, quality and customer service, ultimately generating higher organisational performance and profitability. Marchington Wilkinson (2002) Components of best practice include employment security and internal promotion, selective hiring and firing, extensive training, learning and development, employee involvement and voice, high compensation upon organisational performance, reduction of status differentials, etc. (Marchington Willinson, 2002; Hughes Julia M, 2002 International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management Vol.14 No.5) Effectiveness in achieving organisational objectives to Best Practice Model In McDonalds, more than 40% of senior managers have been promoted on the inside and not hired from outside directly. In the kitchen of the McDonalds restaurant, crewmembers are started their career by working at the smallest possible level of the chain of command. So, they carry out learning, training and development programs on a regular basis and lengthily which is reflected in their HR activities. McDonalds also offers high level of employment security. By implementing valuable and variable human resource activities, employee have been successful in developing dedicated and competent labour force who bring quality and customer satisfaction. By the recent market situation of McDonalds, employers can be observed easily what the condition of them is. On the other hand, according to the best practice model, employers can take long term view of strategy. In addition, from the view of personal experience, it is observed that the lowest level staffs (who work in the kitchen) generally do not have awareness of the strategy of the organisation. Also, some companys strategy is different. To cite an example, the lowest level staff of ASDA , they can give suggestion for the organisation. Their opinion senior management level can be considered or received. In additional, reward of the employee is totally appraisal based not on performance based. From the above discussion, it can be said that McDonalds is practising many components of the best practice model but do not implement full best practice model. Best-Fit (Contingency) Model There are three different models are defined under contingency as below (1) Business Life Cycle, (2) Strategy/Structure, and (3) Business Strategies (1) Business Life Cycle It includes four stages of organisational development for example, start-up, growth, maturity, and decline. This model also includes some human resource functions such as recruitment and selection, reward and benefit, staff training and improvement, employee relationships and etc with business life cycle stages. Effectiveness in achieving organisational objectives to Best Fit (Contingency) Model (Business Life Cycle) If McDonalds, want to open a new branch still today anywhere in the world, continue recruitment all around the year. (HR department, Headquarters, McDonalds) As seen earlier, Training and development has been practiced regularly and comprehensively. According to the Best fit model, during the growth stage, McDonalds recruit sufficient members and run through effective management and organisational growth. To match with HR function of an organisation, McDonalds always try to control labour costs, maintaining staff peace and getting better productivity during maturity stage. It is very difficult to say exactly that McDonalds is in which stage of Business Life Cycle but they are mature and growing at particular rate. (2) Strategy/structure Miles and Snow (1984; Cited in Bratton and Gold, 1999) identified four modes of strategic orientations: Defenders, Prospectors, Analysers, and Reactors. Defenders companies have limited product line and the management focus on getting better the efficiency of their existing operations. HR practices in defenders include extensive and long-term focus, well defined career ladders, clear grading structures, employee share ownership, well-established HR function, etc. Prospectors are companies with fairly broad product lines that focus on product innovation and market opportunities. It is right performance standards and expectations (Bratton and Gold, 1999) Effectiveness in achieving organisational objectives to Best Fit (Contingency) Model (Strategy/structure) By extensive training and development, McDonalds corporate strategy and issue want to improve their efficiency and always running to take the product into new markets. So, it can be said that McDonalds is followed the combination of Defenders and Prospectors. (3) Business Strategies (This model is based upon Porters competitive advantage model) Michael Porters (1980; cited in Bratton and Gold, 1999) formulated a framework that describes three competitive strategies: low cost leadership strategy, differentiation strategy, and focus strategy. In a differentiation strategy, managers try to distinguish their services and products-such as brand image or quality. In this way, value is added to the product and reflected in the product price. (Purcell, 1999 Human Resource management Journal Vol.9 No.3) Effectiveness in achieving organisational objectives to Best Fit (Contingency) Model (Business Strategies) By distinguishing McDonalds brand and providing quality of food and service around the world, McDonalds has achieved their present position. They have standard recruitment methods and policies, and highly focussed training and learning, reward system for staff remuneration. In McDonalds, line management function is very close with HR function, which has come from their HR strategy and activities. So, from the above discussion, it can be said that McDonalds is following differentiation strategy. Basic Human Resource Planning Model Recruit skilled workers Develop technical training programs Transfer managers from other facilities Recruiting and training programs feasible Transfers infeasible because of lack of managers with right skills Human Resource programs are made according to the organizational objectives and strategies require for achieving human resource goals. Moreover, human resource objectives are directly associated to the organizational objective and planning. To open a new branch of any company, Human Resource department need to think about production staffs, line managers, business manager, technical staffs and etc. Workforces are valuable for implementing the new product line, factory, distribution system, and achieving organizational goads. Effectiveness in achieving organizational objectives to human resource planning model HR department of McDonalds recruit skilled workers, develop technical training programs, and transfer managers from other facilities with right skills. They develop training programs regularly and broadly which are reflected in their activities. Although, employee hire is too costly from outside, sometimes, McDonalds hires the recruit managers from outside. After gaining most of things, McDonalds develop new objectives and new strategic plan for achieving ultimate goals. It involves forecasting outcome of various HR programs for employee flowing into, all the way through and out a variety of job classifications. They determine how existing program and added program or combination of program will be done and need to no capability of combining program. If HR department of McDonalds do not find practicable human resource program, they must change strategic plans. They are researched internal, external, and demand forecasting information. Such as, internal forecasting information- organizational features, productivity, promotion, demotion, transfer, turnover, and external forecasting information- external labor market aspects, controllable company factors and demand forecasting information- organizational strategic plans, size of organization, organizational design, employee support, and managerial support etc. Task-3 Performance management For the successful practices of people management, performance management is a holistic process which bringing together many elements of the organizational function. It includes particular learning and development, and gives an overview of employee status. Performance management is establishing a culture where individual and groups get responsibility for continuous development of business process and their own contributions, skill and behavior. Performance management is about interrelationships and improving the quality of relationship between manager and individual, between manager and teams, between members of teams, and etc. So, McDonalds believe that it is a joint process, not a one off-event, not just managers, apply to all employees. Therefore, McDonalds business manager can make clear what they look forward to individual and teams to do. For example, how they should be managed and what they need to do their jobs. Human Resource performance monitoring McDonalds follows the ongoing performance management for employees. For example, setting goals, monitoring the employees accomplishment of those goads, contributing feedback with the employees, evaluating the employees performance, rewarding performance or firing the employee. Performance management includes frequent activities to establish organisational aims to achieve those goad more effectively and efficiently. McDonalds believe that the best approach to accomplish value for money is to monitor the performance levels of staff and want to reduce wasteful actions. Effective Human Resource Performance By monitoring improvement, departmental managers or business managers can assess the efficiency of employees and determine which ones are meeting the terms of their agreement and contributing to McDonalds success. McDonalds monitoring is the quality of work being produced that is one of the features and the efficiency levels within departments. Employees performance helps the manager to know how they have been getting better in their business with the employees. For the future, it is an employee roadmap which increases job satisfaction. McDonalds think that it can help to develop their talent pool, support potential assessment and succession planning. Suggest ways to make improvements Sometimes, we see that poor performance lead to dismissal. If without checking, wastefulness is allowed to continue, staff will lose interest, motivation will be concentrated and no encouragement to produce good quality products or services. If the employees know that what jobs are doing, how they are doing, employees will be happier. If they know that they are doing good jobs, thats recognized, generally, they will keep on to do a good work and may make well every effort to do more. Otherwise, if they do not get people feedback, they are not doing good job, company cannot expect them to be either satisfied or productive. From the view of the company, if staffs are inefficient, customers will not return to McDonalds for repeat purchase due to many complaints and uncompleted responsibilities will push up costs to a very high figure. So, need to inform them according to responsibility.

History of the Microwave Oven

History of the Microwave Oven A Brief History of the Microwave Oven Like many of todays great inventions, the microwave oven was a by-product of another technology. It was during a radar-related research project around 1946 that Dr. Percy Spencer, a self-taught engineer with the Raytheon Corporation, noticed something very unusual. He was testing a new vacuum tube called a magnetron, when he discovered that the candy bar in his pocket had melted. This intrigued Dr. Spencer, so he tried another experiment. This time he placed some popcorn kernels near the tube and, perhaps standing a little farther away, he watched with an inventive sparkle in his eye as the popcorn sputtered, cracked and popped all over his lab. The next morning, Scientist Spencer decided to put the magnetron tube near an egg. Spencer was joined by a curious colleague, and they both watched as the egg began to tremor and quake. The rapid temperature rise within the egg was causing tremendous internal pressure. Evidently the curious colleague moved in for a closer look just as the egg exploded and splattered hot yolk all over his amazed face. The face of Spencer lit up with a logical scientific conclusion: the melted candy bar, the popcorn, and now the exploding egg, were all attributable to exposure to low-density microwave energy. Thus, if an egg can be cooked that quickly, why not other foods? Experimentation began Dr. Spencer fashioned a metal box with an opening into which he fed microwave power. The energy entering the box was unable to escape, thereby creating a higher density electromagnetic field. When food was placed in the box and microwave energy fed in, the temperature of the food rose very rapidly. Dr. Spencer had invented what was to revolutionize cooking, and form the basis of a multimillion dollar industry, the microwave oven. A Bit of Trivia: The Speedie Weenie Project In the spring of 1946, Percy Spencer and an associate, P.R. Hanson (Roly Hanson), were working on a secret project they called the Speedy Weenie. Muriel Withrow remembers the project well. She recalls, The Speedy Weenie Project was the nickname Mr. Spencer and my boss, Roly Hanson, gave to their secret project, the microwave [oven] Speedie Weenie meaning a quick hot dog!' (Our thanks to Mrs. Withrow for sharing this little known detail) Click HERE: 1958 Issue of Readers Digest article about Dr. Percy Spencer Click HERE: Wikiverse A World of Knowledge. Article about Percy Spencer with additional links. Nearly 6 Feet Tall, Weighing 750 Pounds Engineers went to work on Spencers hot new idea, developing and refining it for practical use. By late 1946, the Raytheon Company had filed a patent proposing that microwaves be used to cook food. An oven that heated food using microwave energy was then placed in a Boston restaurant for testing. At last, in 1947, the first commercial microwave oven hit the market. These primitive units where gigantic and enormously expensive, standing 5 1/2 feet tall, weighing over 750 pounds, and costing about $5000 each. The magnetron tube had to be water-cooled, so plumbing installations were also required. Initial Reactions Were Unfavorable Not surprisingly, many were highly reluctant about these first units, and so they found only limited acceptance. Initial sales were disappointingbut not for long. Further improvements and refinements soon produced a more reliable and lightweight oven that was not only less expensive, but, with the development of a new air-cooled magnetron, there was no longer any need for a plumber. The microwave oven had reached a new level of acceptance, particularly with regard to certain industrial applications. By having a microwave oven available, restaurants and vending companies could now keep products refrigerator-fresh up to the point of service, then heat to order. The result? Fresher food, less waste, and money saved. New and Unusual Applications As the food industry began to recognize the potential and versatility of the microwave oven, its usefulness was put to new tests. Industries began using microwaves to dry potato chips and roast coffee beans and peanuts. Meats could be defrosted, precooked and tempered. Even the shucking of oysters was made easier by microwaves. Other industries found the diverse applications of microwave heating quite advantageous. In time, microwaves were being used to dry cork, ceramics, paper, leather, tobacco, textiles, pencils, flowers, wet books and match heads. The microwave oven had become a necessity in the commercial market and the possibilities seemed endless. The First Radarange In 1947, Raytheon demonstrated the worlds first microwave oven and called it a Radarange, the winning name in an employee contest. Housed in refrigerator-sized cabinets, the first microwave ovens cost between $2,000 and $3,000. Sometime between 1952-55, Tappan introduced the first home model priced at $1295. In 1965 Raytheon acquired Amana Refrigeration. Two years later, the first countertop, domestic oven was introduced. It was a 100-volt microwave oven, which cost just under $500 and was smaller, safer and more reliable than previous models. By 1975 Sales of Microwave Ovens Exceeded that of Gas Ranges Technological advances and further developments led to a microwave oven that was polished and priced for the consumer kitchen. However, there were many myths and fears surrounding these mysterious new electronic radar ranges. By the seventies, more and more people were finding the benefits of microwave cooking to outweigh the possible risks, and none of them were dying of radiation poisoning, going blind, sterile, or becoming impotent (at least not from using microwave ovens). As fears faded, a swelling wave of acceptance began filtering into the kitchens of America and other countries. Myths were melting away, and doubt was turning into demand. By 1975, sales of microwave ovens would, for the first time, exceed that of gas ranges. The following year, a reported 17% of all homes in Japan were doing their cooking by microwaves, compared with 4% of the homes in the United States the same year. Before long, though, microwave ovens were adorning the kitchens in over nine million homes, or about 14%, of all the homes in the United States. In 1976, the microwave oven became a more commonly owned kitchen appliance than the dishwasher, reaching nearly 60%, or about 52 million U.S. households. Americas cooking habits were being drastically changed by the time and energy-saving convenience of the microwave oven. Once considered a luxury, the microwave oven had developed into a practical necessity for a fast-paced world. An expanding market has produced a style to suit every taste; a size, shape, and color to fit any kitchen, and a price to please almost every pocketbook. Options and features, such as the addition of convection heat, probe and sensor cooking, meet the needs of virtually every cooking, heating or drying application. Today, the magic of microwave cooking has radiated around the globe, becoming an international phenomenon. Inventor Spencer Doctor Spencer continued at Raytheon as a senior consultant until he died at the age of 76. At the time of his death, Dr. Spencer held 150 patents and was considered one of the worlds leading experts in the field of microwave energy, despite his lack of a high school education. On September 18, 1999, Dr. Percy LaBaron Spencer was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame and took his place in history alongside such great inventors as Thomas Edison, the Wright Brothers and George Washington Carver. History of the Microwave Oven History of the Microwave Oven Have you ever imagined your life without a microwave oven? To begin with, the word microwave is originated from the Greek word ‘micros, which means small and refers to high frequency radio waves, the shortest waves of the electromagnetic spectrum (ideafinder, 2009). Furthermore, it can be said that microwaves work by heating up water molecules in the food and this saves time from cooking since it is a relatively fast method of cooking compared to others (history, 2009). It all began in 1946, during World War II while a research related to radars was carried out. Dr. Percy Spencer, commonly known as an electronics genius (ideafinder, 2009), was working at that time in one of his experiment laboratories at Raytheon Company. He then realised that something strange had happened. While experimenting on a magnetron, vacuum tube, a chocolate bar situated in his pocked melted and intrigued him. Dr. Spencer did not hesitate and carried out a second experiment to identify the cause of that outcome by placing some popcorn kennels next to the magnetron and as a result the popcorn eventually popped and was thrown all over his lab. Fascinated by this outcome, the next morning Dr. Spencer carried out a further experiment using an egg which exploded from the microwaves radiation and as a result burned his workmates face. At that point the brilliant idea of why not using microwaves to cook food faster came to Dr. Spencers mind. Having made his observations Dr. Spencer designed a metal box, where by using microwaves that could not escape the box, food could be cooked in it quickly. As a result, Spencer and Raytheon during the last months of 1946 manufactured the microwave oven, which was mainly used in restaurants, ocean liners and in the coaches of the trains. By 1947 the invention launched in the market after the name ‘Radarange and it must be noticed that microwave ovens are considered as by-products of another technology, since their invention resulted from the research of another technology, the radars. However, ‘Radarange was huge, weighted 750 pounds, cost around $5000 and had to be cooled down using water after each use which required further costs and acted as a disincentive to consumers. After having made several modifications to the product, the first commercial microwave ‘1161 Radarange launched in the market in 1954 and cost $1295 and its power was 1600 Watts making it enormous and expensive again. This products consumers were restaurants and specific institutions. Later on in 1967 a turning point in the microwave ovens history was made after Amana, a division of Raytheon designed the domestic microwave oven appliance. It cost about $500 and was smaller in size. As years passed by the demand for microwaves increased and in 1975 sales of microwave ovens overcame the sales of gas ranges. As reported 17% of Japanese homes used microwaves as well as 4% of US households. However in 1976, microwave ovens usage rose to 60% in United States (gallawa, 2009). The innovatio n process of microwave ovens resulted from consumers preferences (lecture notes2, 2009). The demand of microwave ovens kept rising and its price kept falling generating competition since even more companies were entering the market. However, Nelson and Winter (1982) support, that technical modification is a guidance to human advancement but can bring about negative externalities as well, influencing the stakeholders. Some believed that microwave ovens would have adverse effects on peoples health but consumers realised that microwave ovens could help them in their everyday life cooking without doing any harm to them since there were no signs of radioactivity (gallawa, 2009). It can be said that it is a result of lateral thinking due to the fact that it eliminates criticisms and disbeliefs of stakeholders (Lecture Notes 2, 2009). As a result of combining several ideas microwave ovens took several forms in order to reflect consumers taste and needs. This means that the manufacturers ac t as business men and target several markets trying to differentiate their products in order to be unique and gain large amounts of profits. An entrepreneur is ‘the owner or manager of a business enterprise who, by risk and initiative, attempts to make profits (Richard Cantillon, 1755, Lecture Notes 1). In this case Dr. Spencer in collaboration with Raytheon, are considered as entrepreneurs since they made the first microwave oven and launched it in the market with the purpose of making profits. According to Joseph Schumpeter ‘Whatever the type, someone is an entrepreneur only when he actually carries out new combinations, and losses that character as soon as he has built up his business'(1934, Lecture Notes 2). This exemplifies that Dr. Spencer was an entrepreneur while experimenting on the metal box in order to manufacture a microwave oven but lost this character when his product got in the market. Additionally, the innovation of this product according to Schumpeters crucial distinction is a discrete change, since this innovation transformed unexpectedly in the market and no existing technology related to it. Some can argue that previous oven versions can be compared to it but the technology used while manufacturing the microwave oven is way much different since it involves microwave waves, which automatically detach it from being similar to any typical oven. Moreover, no signs of previous research concerning the product existed in the market and microwave oven reflected the customers choice. ‘Radarage had nothing similar to it in the market, and therefore predictions about the products success couldnt be made. Dr. Spencer and Raytheon were taking a risk, which was later proven to be a total failure. Improvements to the microwave oven and modifications that occurred later on resulted to gradual changes in innovation. Being closely related to previous editions of the produ ct it then reflected customers choice and remained in the market (Lecture Notes 2, 2009). Freeman (1984) explains stakeholders as ‘any group or individual who can affect or is affected by the achievement of the firms objectives and stakeholders can either be primary, those who have an immediate effect on the company or secondary, those who do not affect the company but can control it through primary ones. A stakeholder analysis would help while promoting the appliance and responding to the risks arising from this product being in the market. Will everybody be affected? All affected parties should be identified and considered and it must be stated how the product will affect their daily routine as well as if any legal issues might arise regarding the patent of the invention. Then, uncertainty would be reduced if all factors are considered fairly, since risks would be obvious and profits could be determined. Eventually, launch strategies would be designed like improving the current appliance and promoting it in the market by using the most suitable method (Lecture Not es 2, 2009). Nevertheless, the microwave oven plays a gigantic role on societys welfare. From the point in time when Dr. Spencer was experimenting on the magnetron and found out about the melt chocolate bar in his pocket until the conclusion was made stating that microwaves can be used to cook food, innovation started and it was defined. Then as a generating solution, Dr. Spencer through brainstorming and lateral thinking started the design of the new appliance. Afterwards, by combining several ideas he reached the ideal theory for the production of the microwave oven. Additionally, Raytheon Company helped Dr. Spencer with his idea and created the fist microwave oven to be launched in the market and this is described as selecting the optimal solution. Finally, after the construction of the microwave oven, one of the most crucial parts of the innovation process was done, that was to persuade the consumers that by investing in the product, they would get a benefit, and also persuade the company tha t microwave oven would generate profits. Abernathy and Clark (1985) and Martin (1994) highlighted the significance of the new market knowledge. The inventors of the microwave oven should have done enough research about producing exactly what the stakeholders would want and target those specific markets in order to succeed with their product, as it was later done when Amana designed the domestic microwave oven that was practical enough, small and affordable by households. Also, different markets have been approached since microwave oven is used for drying leather, paper and cork. Clarkson (1995) argues that stakeholders are of several ‘interests, claims or rights, proving again that research should be done. If it wasnt for the radical microwave oven, cooking nowadays would have taken more time. It improved peoples lives and it can be found in almost all households and where other kitchen appliances are situated since it is easy and safe to use. It is expected that gradual change will still be observed and that more advanced versions will be launched in the market in the near future just to meet peoples needs.

The Journey of Self-discovery Brian Moores The Luck of Ginger Coffey E

The Journey of Self-discovery Brian Moore's The Luck of Ginger Coffey When Ginger Coffey brought his family to Canada from Ireland, little did he know that he would attain partial triumph by discovering "himself and the refugee among the lame and the old". With the aid of those around him, Coffey pursued personal freedom and status in his adopted country. He stumbled through a journey of self-discovery while materialism obstructed his vision. The importance of his family rooted Coffey to his homeland and to his moral values while he tried to discover himself as an immigrant. All the world appeared hostile to Ginger Coffey when he tried to carve a niche for himself in this new country, for he felt insecure as a New Canadian—and he was faced with midlife crises to boost. As a schoolboy, Coffey had been warned by old Father Cogley that boys who didn’t settle like everyone else would sink in this world and the next, "because that class of boy is unable to accept his God-given limitations†¦has no love of God in him†¦is an ordinary, lazy lump and his talk of finding adventures is only wanting an excuse to get away and commit mortal sins." (The Luck of Ginger Coffey, 18) Coffey dreamed of a world in which "all men had reached the top of the hill; there were no dull jobs, no humiliating interviews, no turndowns; no man was saddled with ungrateful daughters, there were unlimited funds to spend†¦You were free." (40) Indeed, Coffey was a dreamer who longed for personal freedom. Having hopped from job to job because he detested being a "glorified office boy," (13) Coffey could not face the "misleading facts of a life" (7) and he was unprepared to scale the steep ascent to a successful career. While hunting for a job, Ginger Coffey no... ...use she needs [him]; it’s knowing [he] and she will still care about each other when sex and daydreams, fights and futures—when all that’s on the shelf and done with." (243) Mingling amongst the "lame and the old," Ginger Coffey saw reflections of himself as a New Canadian everywhere. He had learned that life was the victory, and that going on was the victory. The little triumphs in life have liberated him. Coffey, in his adjustment period as an immigrant, has found materialism to have a negative impact on his life. Concerned with the welfare of his family, Coffey was able to discover his tender-most self. Certainly, the weak and the poor have acted as the best guides for Ginger Coffey who, through a tumultuous journey, found himself at last. Work Cited Moore, Brian. The Luck of Ginger Coffey. Boston and Toronto: Atlantic-Little, Brown and Company, 1960.

The Sniper by Liam OFlaherty :: Sniper Liam OFlaherty Essays Papers

The Sniper by Liam O'Flaherty As a socialistic society we live in we find ourselves in positions were conflicts arise between friends or family. 'The Sniper'; was written by Liam O ' Flaherty to express a subtle yet powerful opinion on such a conflict. With references this essay will analyse the short story bringing to light the structure used to contribute to the theme. The basic plot of the story is based during an evening within the Irish civil wars. It tells of a republican sniper sitting on a rooftop and neutralising enemy units as the cross a bridge. When a free-states sniper shows himself on an opposite roof they wage a fierce and innovative war to see who would end up the better. Eventually the republican sniper gains the upper hand and after taking a bullet in the arm destroys the worthy opponent. After a curious inspection to the identity of the enemy sniper he finds himself looking into the eyes of his dead brother. The story is written in 3rd person P.O.V as to give an idea of the setting, and as they waged their war the outside person could give unbiased information of which would have been limited if it were to be presented in a 1st person P.O.V. We wouldn't have got an unbiased opinion of the two snipers, which defeats the purpose of the theme. How the setting was expressed is also a vital part for the development of the story. The opening paragraph gives a vivid description of the situation as would physically been seen. 'The long June twilight faded into night. Dublin lay enveloped in darkness, but for the dim light of the moon, which shone through fleecy clouds, casting a pale light as of approaching dawn over the streets and the dark waters of the Liffey.'; This extract emphasises the lonely, outworld feeling that would have been felt living in such settings. This puts into perspective the feeling that will be felt during the coarse of the plot development.

The Preprogrammin of a Child Essay -- essays research papers

A child is a blank book and a parent is the pen. A parent or elder makes a remark or takes action, and a child often will respond by mimicking what has been said or done. The essence of a child is one of innocence as well as gullibility. Adults serve as an abundance of knowledge, rules, and regulations, which a child is supposed to live and abide by. Not all children will obey the regulations expected of them, yet certain rules are more critical than others. When disciplining children, parents and adults take rules pertaining to gender specifications much more seriously than most other topics of obedience, without acknowledging they are practicing such behaviors. Gender distinctions are apparent within the way children are spoken to, how they are treated in certain situations, and the toys they play and interact with. Ultimately in a media driven society, such as America, it would be nearly impossible to raise a child free from gender stereotyping. Over the course of more recent yea rs the distinct gender defined world of toys has been lessened, yet most of these stereotypes still seem to appear to be engrained into a child’s brain almost from birth.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  As early as the birth of a child there are specified gender separations. Once born, a child is distinguished by either the color blue or pink. You can see a pink stork on the corner for a new baby girl or a blue stork for a new baby boy. Of course these colors are not comprehensible to the child, yet children throughout the rest of the neighborhood view these signs. A parent may make a comment pertaining to the neighbors having a new baby boy simply because of a blue sign. This could be one of the initial unconscious comments a parent or adult may make, which instills such beliefs that color defines gender. Throughout adolescence it is a rarity to see a young boy wearing a pink shirt, because there is a stigma associated with a young boy wearing the color pink. We take such an ineffectual concept, a color, and place behind it prejudice. Later on in life wearing the color pink can conjure up assumptions of homosexuality. These judgments have no validation to them, except the stigma American’s associated with this color throughout childhood experiences and understandings.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Another example of the emphasis of color on gender can be directed at the legos toy.... ...bsp;Children are blank books who need direction; it is obvious that parents are not the only ones holding the pen to dictate their knowledge. Other adults, peers, and society take their turn in marking their territory. In order to raise a child free from gender stereotypes, that child must be home schooled, not allowed to entertain themselves with most reading material available, and could not be permitted to socialize with anyone outside their â€Å"regulator.† The way in which society has been constructed restricts the level of censorship available outside the home. In other words this society has such an immense amount of gender stereotypes within every aspect of the outside world that it would be just about impossible to out run their impact. Ideally each person should be able to get past what society dictates, yet it is much easier to fall into the trap of acceptance. It is very difficult to parade a boy of two years old, in a pink outfit without feeling the stare of disapproval from outsiders. People must use the term acceptance rather than exclusion, because the worst oppression is that which is placed on a child who does not have the capability to understand his or her choices.

Promoting effective communication Essay

Describe five factors you consider when promoting effective communication: (remember to describe is more than just identifying, this requires a sentence for each one) There are a number of factors to consider in making sure that I can promote effective communication. Statistics show that we only listen to 7% of what is verbally said, 38% the way they are said and 55% non-verbal i.e. our body language, eye contact, gestures. So it is not so much of what we say that is important but how it is said. Verbal communication: 1. Tone and Pitch I need to make sure that the way in what I say things i.e. the tone and pitch of my voice suits the conversation. I might need to raise my voice in a group of many children trying to get their attention when they playing games. Where as in a small group of children were we are doing some structured learning I would talk a bit quitter, or even reading a story I would use voices for the characters in a book, making stories more interesting and so hope to keep the children’s attention. 2. Jargon I would try and use appropriate language, for instance when I am talking to a child I need to keep things simpler so that they can understand the instructions or topic of discussion. I would also kneel down or sit at the child’s level, to make eye contact, and to be sure they understand me. But when I am talking to an adult, I should adjust and speak at the appropriate tone and pitch in not to simple terms as if they are a child otherwise it may come across patronising. Non-verbal communication: 3. Body Language, expressions and gestures My body language, facial expressions and hand gestures, needs to suit the situation or topic. For example I might give a handshake, smile and a wave to a child leaving the session. These are all friendly gestures, and I would hope to get an appropriate response like a wave and smile back. There would not necessarily been any verbal communication but we both understand that it is a friendly goodbye. However I am aware that some cultures certain gestures could be offensive. A r standing with folded arms can indicate you are closing yourself of not open to listen or want to take part in the conversations. This can portray a negative message and make others feel uncomfortable. 4. Eye Contact I also make a lot of eye contact as this engages with the person I am speaking to and keeps them and me focused on what is being said. If there is little eye contact or other distractions then you can notice that there is not 100% focus. 5. Listening I would always listen at the person talking to me as this shows that I am engaged in the conversations/discussion and can act upon anything that is asked of me. If I just nod in acknowledgement and not really listen I could miss important information. If for example a child ask to go to the toilet and I just nodded without really listening, they might wet themselves and feel embarrassed and in future not trust to ask or tell me something.

Sunny Delight

They first released an advert that was a national phenomenon and it sold lots of bottles. Sunny D claimed it tasted as good as Coke but also a healthy alternative that would clench the thirst of children. The advert was so powerful that it became the nation's 3rd bestselling drink in 3 months of being released and in 1 999; it sold 200 million bottles in the year, leading to large supermarkets doubling and tripling their orders.The reason it was so good was because it claimed it was fresh and fresh means healthy so parents anted to buy them for their kids because they wanted drinks to be healthy and good for their kids and that is what it seemed. However, people started reading the labels and telling other people to read the label which lead to lots Of people finding bad things about Sunny Delight. People started finding out that Sunny D had only 5% juice and the other 95% was things like water, food coloring and other dodgy things. There was also a high amount of sugar which parents didn't want. After finding this out, parents started buying alternatives.One day a 4 year old girl from Wales who drank a litter and a half f Sunny D a day woke up one day and found her skin had turned orange and got sent to hospital. By the time 2001 came around, their sales have halved and they went from 3rd in the UK to 42nd in the space of 3 years. Sales have never recovered from it. If Sunny Delight were to release another advert, they would need to change their company to become healthier; they also need to not put as much sugar in each bottle. They need to be patient, to slowly get their customers trust back again. Their adverts should be truthful and not claim to be something they're not.

National Identity in Film

The Piano, by Campion, and Truman Show, by Weir both interact with concepts of national identity in separate ways.   Both of these films are products of New Zealand culture, either through production or in cultural discourse.   Both films have also been well received and heavily awarded. The Piano tells the story of Ada McGrath.   She is a Scotswoman from New Zealand who is sold into marriage.   The film is staged in 1851. She doesn’t speak throughout the majority of the film, but expresses herself through her piano playing; this is until her husband leaves her piano on a beach.   This is symbolic of his lack of love for her and an example of the emptiness in Ada’s life.   The piano is then sold to their neighbor George Baines who convinces Ada to give him piano lessons and eventually sexual favors.   As Ada gradually falls in love with Baines through their connection of the piano, she finds meaning for her life. The Truman Show is directed by Australian Peter Weir and written by New Zealander Andrew Niccol.   The story follows Truman Burbank who is unaware that his entire life, since birth, has been an organized farce for a television series/project.   He is luckily chosen, out of a group of five baby orphans, to be the star of the show.   The Truman Show represents Truman’s life.   Viewers are told that Truman’s birth was broadcast live on television, but his child rearing is not presented in the film. The idea behind national identity is that one defines their self through the identity of their nation.   In their article, National Identity and Self-Esteem, Jeff Spinner-Halev and Elizabeth Theiss-Morse analyze the nature of national identity.   They adopt the theory that if the self-esteem of an individual is tied to their nation than it’s the perfect proponent to maintain safe and secure nations.   They feel that there is an immediate connection between self respect and group identity; so much so, it could lead to one sacrificing their own personal needs for the good of the group. They also acknowledge that there is a competitive nature within group self esteem; this meaning that most groups want their group to do better than others.   This is often seen in the patriotic nature of political propaganda, carried out by many countries to convince soldiers to go to war.   This system of control is one known for cajoling groups to fallow a certain program or way of thinking by catering to individuals’ wants, needs, or taking advantage of their fears. This complex of national identity is a major aspect of a government’s societal control, as well as a significant ideal satirized in The Truman Show.   It is most visibly personified in the character of the show’s producer Christof.   He argues that human beings accept the world in which they are presented, and uses this to justify why Truman hasn’t figured out his predicament up to this point.   All of the employees, of the studio, acting as Truman’s family, friends and extras living within the town, can all be viewed as nationalists to the studio’s regime. The National Identity of these films can be directly corresponded to the culture and history of New Zealand.   In 1945, the New Zealand Film Critic Gordon Mirams argued that if there was a New Zealand culture, it was a mostly a Hollywood creation. The only thing more popular than going to the movies, in New Zealand, was drinking tea, during that time period. This idea is supported by the statistic that for many years New Zealanders were the most frequenters of the movie world. In their book New Zealand Film 1912-1996 Helen Martin and Sam Edwards analyze the filmography of many films produced during this century in New Zealand.   This book basically analyzes the entire history of film in New Zealand.   The two authors managed to find more than 162 films.   In formulating their list and deciding on what they would identify as New Zealand Films, they decided the film had to have a significant connection to the location in terms of the film’s creators, cast, copyright holder, financiers, production team, and technical equipment. They also felt that a film that holds a sociological connection to New Zealand should be categorized as a New Zealand films as well.   Thus, they included The Piano in their list of films pointing out that though it was not filmed in New Zealand, its story was still set there.   The authors also felt it the film addressed social issues pertaining to the history of New Zealand within the time frame it was set. The Piano, identified as a socially conscious New Zealander film, it is identified as such through its understanding of national identity and the plight of the New Zealand people.   This can be seen in the fact that the film is a historically place romance, and has much cultural significance.   The film is often credited for its style, in that it is deemed as a historical romance and a contemporary romance in a historical setting. In his article, Lost causes: the ideology of national identity in Australian cinema, John Slavin does an in-depth analysis of the cultural connotations present in cinema when using it to understand a nation.   His stance is that cinema as well as reality have an interweaving relationship with each other that ultimately define the national identity of a nation.   He further explains this in his closing statements when he says, Ideology transforms individuals into constitutive social subjects by interpelation, the Althusserian term for the seductive mirror images of coherent identity promoted by cultural artifacts such as the popular cinema. But this thesis follows the suggestion that it is the purpose of ideology to represent an imaginary relationship of the cinematic viewer to his/her real conditions of existence. Those real conditions, based on psychic and social displacement are symptomatic of the Marxist definition of alienation†¦ In other words, representations of identity, both national and individual, are thrown into critical doubt within the mythic narratives. (Slavin, 2002). Slavin’s view that though ideology is used in film, national identity is virtually dependant on film narrative is very ironic, considering that he uses ideology by connecting his argument to Marxism.   In the end, the interpretation of his argument, just like national identity, are both dependant on the work and views of their creator, no matter how drenched in history they. Even within this corruption of the true nature of things, Slavin acknowledges that the transitional tendency of film images, etiquette and social relations over the years is a perfect source for study of socio-economic change.   Once one grasps a clear understanding of cinema’s use of ideology to mold national culture, the only question left is, how is ideology used, and national culture shaped, specifically within these two films? In their novel, Piano Lessons: Approaches to the Piano by Felicity Coombs and Suzanne Germmell, the authors work to claim a better understanding of The Piano.   They point out the films originally human nature in the fact that there is no main villain.   The audience is often incited to pity, empathize and despise all three main characters. Baines, Stewart, and Ada can all be viewed as human because they all have their flaws.   It is wrong for Stewart to disregard his wife they way he does, though the nature of his arrange marriage is a notable statement pertaining to the era of the film’s plot.   The audience is allowed to relate to this sociological circumstance, while at the same time despise Stewart for his treatment of Ada.   Whereas Ada is presented as a victim of the cultural norms of her time period, she still transcends beyond this, to adopt contemporary ideals and relate to the audience.   The fact that she cheats on her husband is a motive for dislike, but it is also key to the liberation she achieves from her mundane existence. The fact that she does not embody the role of the victim throughout the entire film is testament to the film’s reality.   Baines also becomes an equally likeable figure in that his sexual advances evolve from something seemingly corrupt to an actual full blown love affair.   This triangular relationship between the three main characters says a lot about male and female relations during the time.   The authors also correspond to Ada’s relationship with men to the nature of post-colonialism, which was also a big part of New Zealand at this time and also a big part of this film. The relationship between the oppressor and the oppressed is a key theme in the relationships Ada has with men.   The colonial history of 1850’s New Zealand is encompassed within the plot.   This is an example of how ideology is used in narrative to enhance the value of a message more relevant.   In confronting these ideals of colonization, the film came under much scrutiny.   Many felt the film gave a false presentation of race.   During this time there were many Maori, who argued they were the product of White New Zealanders’ social injustice. They felt the film’s disregard for their cultural relevance was a form of national mythmaking, in avoiding the argument that whites staked claim on their land. This conflict is overlooked by the plot, but the nature of its severity is still implied through the topic being completely disregarded. It is also a common controversy within the land that many foreign investors come and buy land, from potentially the wrong owners. By disregarding their true history, the national identity presented for New Zealand is that of a small land with a history for sale. The connection with national identity here is cultural.   This differs from the connection visible in The Truman Show. Just like The Piano, The Truman Show poses an argument larger than itself in respect to national identity, only this film speaks more metaphorically.   The idea previously posed in National Identity and Self Esteem, was that national identity is largely the product of a model that is followed by a group of people.   These people are so caught up in the ideals of the group, they rather sacrifice their own individual comforts for the good of the team. The authors found that these groups are also very competitive with one another, identifying their identity with that of the group and basing the groups identity on their contrast from other groups.   This becomes very relative to some of Rene Girard’s views.   In his seminal theory of mediated desire Rene Girard argues that human desire is imitative.   His views is that the goals we hold most personal are actually the desires of others which we want to achieve because others want to achieve them. This is very compatible with the ideals of national culture and the cult group fallowing it incites.   This is also seen constantly in The Truman Show, the main motivation for Truman to escape the studio/town is to travel to Fiji after his one true love.   If the character personifying his school crush had never desired to move there, Truman would have never desired to follow.   This is a direct personification of Girard’s theory, as well as an example of Morse and Halev’s version of national identity.   Here it is easy to see the differing way in which The Truman Show represents national identity from how it is used in The Piano. In sum, through an understanding of identity theory and New Zealand culture, we can develop a better understanding of the directors’ use of national identity in the films The Piano, and The Truman Show.   National identity is depicted in The Piano through its cultural connotations, historical representation, and it authenticity to social norms. Despite all of its awards, the films inability to stay true to the ethnic history of the town is proof that it attempts to mold national identity through its filmic ideals.   The directors pick and chose the ideology they identify with and disregard the other aspect of New Zealand culture.   Whereas The Truman Show does not attempt to shape the national culture of New Zealand, it is virtually unidentifiable as a New Zealand film, except for the fact that is written by a New Zealander. What the film contributes to national identity is its use of the theories backing it, and its own underlying message on the nature of the conflict. What the film reveals about national identity is its dependency on the narrative of a film.   The ironic fact is that it does this through its own abuse of the power.   Truman represents everyman against the crowd.   The complex world he interacts with is very similar to the real world, only in his world he really is the center of attention.   The most intimate aspects of an individual’s life, like marriage, personal goals and beliefs are all a product of a false reality. This concept is very similar to Freudian theory, Marxist theory, biblical references and even many science fiction narratives.   What the films reveals about national identity is its core nature.   The entire town operates in one direction and for one purpose.   Truman is the only one who is unaware of this purpose, but he still seems to follow along contributing to what he feels is the best interest of the group.   His desires are compatible with his nation’s desires, until he breaks free from this methodology of control.   Both of these films interact with national identity theory; both are products of New Zealander culture, and both are great films. Work Cited Adorno, Theodor W. and Max Horkheimer. Dialectic of Enlightenment: Philosophical Fragments. 1947. Trans. Edmund Jephcott. Stanford: Stanford UP, 2002. Chatman, Seymour (1978) Story and Discourse: Narrative Structure in Fiction and Film (Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press). Cheshire, Ellen. Jane Campion. Great Britain: Pocket Essentials, 2000. Eric Young (Executive Producer). (1998). â€Å"How's It Going To End? The Making of The Truman Show, Part II† [DVD (Special Feature)]. Paramount Pictures Home Entertainment. Girard, Renà ©. Deceit, Desire, and the Novel: Self and Other in Literary Structure. Trans. Yvonne Freccero. Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins UP, 1965. Helen Martin and Sam Edwards, New Zealand Film, 1912-1996. Auckland: Oxford University Press, 1997. vi+215 pp. Illustrations, bibliography, index. Kaufman, Cynthia. â€Å"Colonialism, Purity, and Resistance in The Piano.† Socialist Review 24 (1995): 251-55. Sanes, Ken. Truman as Archetype. Transparencynow.com. 1996-2001. 29 July 2004. . Slavin, John (2002) Lost causes : the ideology of national identity in Australian cinema. PhD thesis, Department of English, University of Melbourne. The Piano. (2007, January 18). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 22:37, January 22, 2007, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Piano&oldid=101515698 The Truman Show. (2007, January 19). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 22:33, January 22, 2007, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Truman_Show&oldid=101870034 The Truman Show (1998) Directed by Peter Weir, screenplay by Andrew Niccol (Hollywood, CA: Paramount).