Sports Direct Vs. Sports - 943 Words

Sports Direct Sports Direct is a business that offers clothing and operates online and in store. The business provides a delivery service when buying clothes online. This business provides clothing for both male and females. They also provide clothing for all sport activities such as football and boxing. The age that sports direct provide for are children aged 3 to adults aged 50. Client needs The client of Sports Direct would be Sports Direct themselves. The needs of Sports Direct would be to offer a range of clothing and sports wear for a range of sport activities in store and online. Another need would be to have a website that can be easily updated and that is easy to use. The website should also be easy for the users to purchase products and provide customer service when needed, so that the customers know what to do if they have a problem. The business would make sure that all their products are well shown, so the images would be in a high quality with a 360 degree image of the product, so that the customers know what the product looks like. Also the business would provide full information of products is provided, so that the customers know the sizes and the colour is of the product. User needs The user’s needs of Sports Direct would be that the website is easy to use and easy to navigate so that the customers find the product that they are looking for faster. The website would have a search bar where the customers can type in a product name so that it displays,Show MoreRelatedThe Sports Fans Of Portland1213 Words   |  5 PagesUnderstanding the sport fans of Portland is a very important part area of having an NHL expansion team. This issue could potentially have a significant impact on people’s attitude towards an expansion team coming to Portland. We to gather the most information from the most important sources. The team representing the Portland NHL expansion team has a problem and that is they don’t understand who their fans are or could be. Our team wants to propose two ways to better understand potential fans andRead MoreEssay about Home Schooling vs Public Schooling : Which One Is Better ?1102 Words   |  5 PagesHome Schooling vs. Public S chools: Which One is Better? Thesis Statement: Many parents question what is best for their child’s education, home schooling or public school. Home schooling can sometimes provide a more direct and focused education than public schools, Public School is better in many ways including the child’s social development. I. Home Schooling vs. Public Schooling II. The Pros and Cons of Home Schooling A. Home schooling can benefit both students and parents by providingRead MoreDifferences Between Football And Soccer Essay922 Words   |  4 Pages Another difference is the skill sets used in each sport, along with the rules and regulations. However, there are a few similarities between the two popular sports. These include the places where the sport is played and the object of scoring goals. The games are played on a large field and many times professional teams will share the exact stadium. The object of each game is to score the most goals. Physical contact occurs in both sports; however, football is more rugged than soccer with moreRead MoreEssay on The Effectiveness of Sports Drinks Compared to Water961 Words   |  4 PagesStaying hydrated is one of the most important parts of physical activity. In Clinics of Sports Medicine, it explains that â€Å"Maintenance of water and electrolyte balance is important for sustaining cognitive and physical performance. Dehydration degrades morale and desire to work. Body water deficits of as little as 2% body weight can impair physical performance. Water deficits of 5% to 7% body weight are associated with headaches, dizziness, and apathy† (Latzka, Montain 1). To prevent dehydrationRead MoreProfessional Athletes Should Be Allowed At The Olympic Games878 Words   |  4 Pages With the multi-billions of dollars that the Olympics earn and spend, it’s certainly is in the best interest of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to remain under the circumstances of keeping sport open to professional athletes, not only financially, but as well as the majority of their viewers. In this position statement, I will use historic International Olympic Committee guidelines (1964) and official IOC reports as a basis for proving that professional athletes should be allowed to participateRead MorePropaganda from the Beauty Industry1226 Words   |  5 Pagesmarketing techniques against us. The beauty industry’s obvious goal is to increase revenue within their companies. In order to achieve this revenue the industry works hand in hand with other companies to help each other. Specifically, Victoria Secret and Sports Illustrated are two enormous companies with millions of viewers and readers. These two companies work with the other companies of the beauty in dustry to first raise awareness in women that we are not good enough through media. After the media hasRead MoreWhich Sports Have More Concussions?1320 Words   |  6 Pages Which sports have more concussions? Association football Association football is also known as soccer. It is world s significant game which have blackouts. Despite the fact that 50-80% of wounds in football are controlled to the legs, head wounds and 22% of football wounds, with a probability that heading the ball could harm the head, as the ball could go at 100 km/hour. Be that as it may, the most expert footballers reported that they encountered head wounds from impacting different players andRead MoreAdidas and Nike1270 Words   |  6 PagesAmerican multinational corporation, which produces footwear, clothes, equipment and other active sport items (Feifer 2014). The company was founded in 1964 by Phil Knight and Bill Bowerman. Nike uses specific method of advertising, which differentiates it from other sports companies; it creates motivational short videos, which promote sport and inspire people to stay fit. Hence, making an accent on sport, but not sportswear, Nike attracts customers in nonintrusive manner. In 2013, the total revenueR ead MoreShould College Athletes Be Paid Essay924 Words   |  4 Pagesthat the one idea that interests me most is whether student athletes should be paid or not. This is very intriguing to me since my master’s program is sports management. In order to do this research there must be many ways to use research as well as ideas from other people. This project is a very big topic in today’s discussion amongst sport fans, college administrators, and student athletes themselves. Media has recently put more pressure on this topic as well with the Northwestern decisionRead MoreMayeroffs Caring1685 Words   |  7 Pagestake into consideration each ingredient that Mayeroff describes so that growth can strengthen the players individually and as a team. This essay examines the ingredients, â€Å"Knowledge†, â€Å"Alternating Rhythms† and â€Å"Patience, of caring to illustrate a direct relationship between caring and coaching soccer. In chapter one, Mayeroff explains the basic pattern of caring with examples of how caring affects another person’s growth. Mayeroff further develops his thoughts on caring in chapter two by demonstrating

Why Is It Important For Schools - 923 Words

4. Why is it important for schools to choose interventions that are evidence based? It is vital that schools choose evidence based interventions because they need to prevent and remediate learning and behavior difficulties with strategies that can be easily replicated and have been proven effective. When schools follow the six criteria (define the intervention operationally, list the qualifications of people who may use the intervention with success, provide the outcomes that may be expected, introduce the settings in which the intervention is expected to be effective, state the target population for whom the intervention is effective, and give the conceptual theory/basic mechanisms framing the intervention), schools are able to easily look at the evidence to view the effectiveness of the intervention. By doing this, schools can be assured that students are being offered the best interventions and taking steps in the right direction. Along with that, evidence based interventions can be easily repeated in the future and are accompanied with data to help schools conti nuously make improvements to better these programs and strategies. Our students deserve the best, and evidence based interventions are a great step in helping make that happen. 10. What are the goals of evaluating an intervention, and how are these goals measured? The two goals of the evaluation are to provide feedback to the staff regarding the implementation of interventions (process evaluation) and toShow MoreRelatedWhy Is It Important to Follow School Rules1494 Words   |  6 Pagesregime, and schools are the mental concentration camps. Education is described by the mis-educated as real-life preparation; in actuality, schools train people to accept a society where the government and other institutions tell us what to think and do. Experience is the best teacher, and the purpose of school is to prevent experience. If school attendance were voluntary, schools would have to reform themselves to meet students needs, because if students could leave on a whim, schools would suddenlyRead MoreWhy Safety Is The Most Important Aspect Of School1399 Words   |  6 Pagesabout school, what is the first thing that pops into peoples minds? Academics? School appearances? The answer is safety. Safety is the most important aspect of school because if students do not feel safe, they will not learn. Safety is â€Å"the state of being safe; freedom from the occurrence or risk of injury, danger, or loss† (Dictionary.com). This research paper will talk about why safety is the school’s number one, what teachers and schools are doing to ensure students feel safe in school and theRead MoreWhy Education Is Important For Life After School868 Words   |  4 PagesI believe the purpose of education is to help teach students how to learn, how to prepare students for life after school, to provide students wi th a wide range of subjects, and most importantly, to give students the necessary tools and the help they need based on each student’s unique learning style. Teachers should teach in a way that will welcome all students to participate, knowing all students want to learn and all students are good. A good teacher is one who will accept all students and willRead MoreWhy Charter Schools Are Important to Education Essay example1415 Words   |  6 Pages Why Charter Schools Are Important to Education Charter schools are public schools, but can be a better option than traditional public schools for some students. By definition, a charter school is a publicly funded and privately run school under the charter of an educational authority. (2-4) A charter school is held to a different set of standards than most traditional public schools. This can often work towards their advantage because it allows them to try new and unique methods of educating childrenRead MoreTda 2.6 1.1 Describe Why Team Work Is Important in Schools Essay884 Words   |  4 PagesTDA 2.6 1.1 Describe why team work is important in schools Team work in schools is important as it’s a development not only for you but also for others. It helps to build a positive relationship with those that are within your team, as well as showing that there is support for one another within the structure. When there is team work, responsibilities and tasks are shared and are completed more effectively and also in a good time scale. Each member or person has their own skill and or expertiseRead MoreEssay on High School Internships1528 Words   |  7 PagesHigh School Internships When thinking about graduating high school and going into college, do you ever think that you will get a job right when you graduate? Yes that may be the case for some individuals but for the more technical jobs and the ones that require more schooling for, look for student who have experience with their major. It is important to know the different internships that are offered throughout high school and college. Browsing through the Missoula hospitals web pages I found informationRead MoreSchools Should Not Be A Safe Haven862 Words   |  4 PagesIt is no doubt that when a school shooting occurs it shakes our nation to the core. When we send our children off to school daily there is a level of security that we expect, and rightfully so. Schools are supposed to be a safe-haven not a place of fear or dread. Unfortunately, for many students when their day at school begins so does their nightmare. Since school-aged children are already filled with anxiety, emotions, and hormones when you add any type of negative experiences such as, rejectionRead MoreMixed Schools1386 Words   |  6 Pagesadvantages of mixed schools. The first part of the essay begins with the disadvantages of mixed schools, about why some parents do not allow their children to attend mixed schools and even why some students themselves do not want to attend mixed schools. These are the educational, psychological and social dis advantages of mixed schools. The second part of this essay provides the benefits of attending mixed schools by looking at the economic, educational and social benefits of mixed schools. The essay thenRead MoreMontessori Schools Are The Best For Our Future Generations1544 Words   |  7 Pages Montessori Schools In today’s world, we can find hundreds of schools all around us, but we can’t figure out which one is best for our future generations. One of the most outstanding schools are the Montessori schools. According to the American Montessori Society the Montessori schools are based on the observation of the students, letting the students choose what they want to do, letting the students rely on themselves for almost everything, and the teachers are there to only help andRead MoreBenefits Of Music And Art Education977 Words   |  4 Pagesopportunities, then why should music and art programs be cut from schools? When people hear the term â€Å"art†, their first initial thought would most likely be drawing or painting. However, it’s a lot more than the visual art forms that can be set on a paper or canvas; According to the Merriam Webster Dictionary, the term â€Å"Art† is â€Å"something that is created with imagination and skill and that is beautiful or that expresses important ideas or feelings.† Words can also be used to express and that’s why we have journals

Environmental Effect on Great Barrier-Free-Samples for Students

Question: Discuss about the Environmental Effect on Great Barrier Reef and Its Economic Impact. Answer: Introduction The Great Barrier Reef sited at the Australias east coast is considered as a wonder creation of nature. The Reef is extent up to 300,000 square kilometers forming a beautiful coral island can be visible from Earths surface. The Reef has both natural and economic importance for Australian and for the world as well. Therefore, protection of this natural beauty is the national responsibility. The Reef is endangered with human activity that leads to pollution and destroy lives of coral. With this, there is a threat to destruction of the only living organic island. In a step to protect Great Barrier Reef Conservationists in Queensland, ban the river mining. Article Summary Obsolete and inefficient method used for mining in north Queensland goes completely against the protection policy for Great Barrier Reef. Queensland is the only region left in Australia that allows extraction of tin, gold and silver with Instream mining method. In the method, fine sediments are released harming a major part of reefs catchments. Viewing this, Anthony Lynham, mines minister of the state has recently disallowed mining activities that have potential impact on the Reef. The potential dumping of sediments from these activities are computed as 22,000 tons in just one year (thehindu.com 2017). Conservation reserve director, Tim Hughes also supports this initiative of the mine minister. The primary factor for inefficient mining method in this South Australian State is its location disadvantage. It is still considered as a very remote place and thus is often ignored. However, now attention is also given to this state. In a report published by the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF), states there are more or less 22 mines responsible for destroying the reef and put a threat to the 30 or more species living there. These mines have coverage of 700 hectares in Normanby basin. ACF holds the view that ceasing of inefficient mining should be outlawed long before (theconversation.com 2017). Queensland state government should now ban such things. However, possible risk to the reef remains as many such mines have still approval for executing this kind of mining practice. Currently the numbers of approved mines are 18. Most of them are operating since 1984 and seven joined them in between 2010 and 2012. Opposition has come from the applicants side as well. John Withers, willing to continue its operation claimed that in the practice there are good money and rejects the argument of sediment released into the reef water. Environmental effect on Great Barrier Reef Climate change is the most significant environmental threat for Great Barrier Reef. The Reef and other habitats living there are highly exposed to change in climate and may even have a longer impact than that is expected. The complex structure of the coral reef is made of Calcium Carbonate of skeletons constituted by the hard corals (Hughes, Day and Brodie 2015). The structure is subject to destruction with increasing sea temperature, acidification in oceans and other extreme events of weather. Temperature of seawater above normal temperature results in coral bleaching that may harm hard corals (Petus et al. 2016). With this, coral bleaching will become more frequent event and will have a more severe impact. Some specific form of coral as staghorn coral are more vulnerable to beaching. In the event, fleshy seaweeds will be benefitted those are in competition with corals in Reef. In the Reef skeleton of organism like coralline algae is formed by the process is called calcification. With increasing acidic substance, the process of calcification is disturbed and this weakens the skeletons of creatures in the reef (Day and Dobbs 2013). This ultimate result will be loss of corals and disappearance of reefs structure. Economic Impact of Great Barrier Reef The main economic contribution of Great Barrier Reef is to the tourism industry. It attracts million of tourists every year in Australia for visiting the only living island in the world. With this, tourism has become a major earning sector for North Australia. All the parks in the nearby region permit tourism to this site and there are 500 commercial vessels, further easing tourism (australia.gov.au 2017). Tourism in the region generates nearly 2 billion $AU every year. Deloitte report recorded people willingness to pay for this site as $67.60 per person. In addition to economic valuation, the reef provides services to the eco system. Coral reef gives erosion and storm protection to the northern part of Australia. The nurseries made with 25% of existing marine animals also attract visitors (theguardian.com 2017). The marine animals themselves have distinct commercial value. Recommendation The environmental and economic value of Great Barrier Reefs is of great importance. Therefore, protection and conservation needs to give priority. The concerned authority has already initiated steps. Corrective measures are taken under Coastal Wetland Protection Program (Piggott-McKellar and McNamara 2017). More concerns are needed in this direction. Pollution free ocean water is the primary need. Water should be used efficiently so that less wastewater mixes with ocean. Reduction in the use of fossils fuel is required to save coral reef. The smoke emitted from the burning fuel causes high bleaching and destruction. Using public transport, travel by walking in the nearby region is some way out. Waste management so that he ocean water remains pollution free should also be considered under the conservation scheme. Business that does not harm the reef should be encouraged. Discussion should be arranged with boating, fishing, aquarium, dive, hotel or other related organization for the ri ght choice of business. Conclusion The paper analyzes the importance of Great Barrier Reef for the Australian economy and for the world as well. The reef has great economic value in Australia because of its significant contribution to the tourism industry and ear millions of Australian dollars. However, because of human activities and environmental effect existence of the reef is endangered. In order to address this issue mines minister recently rejected two mining application in the Springvale station. Directors of ACF also support the decision. The initiatives are expected to make success in conservation of the reef References Australia.gov.au. (2017).Great Barrier Reef | australia.gov.au. [online] Available at: https://www.australia.gov.au/about-australia/australian-story/great-barrier-reef [Accessed 26 Aug. 2017]. Day, J.C. and Dobbs, K., 2013. Effective governance of a large and complex cross-jurisdictional marine protected area: Australia's Great Barrier Reef.Marine Policy,41, pp.14-24. Hughes, T.P., Day, J.C. and Brodie, J., 2015. Securing the future of the Great Barrier Reef.Nature Climate Change,5(6), p.508. Petus, C., Devlin, M., Thompson, A., McKenzie, L., Teixeira da Silva, E., Collier, C., Tracey, D. and Martin, K., 2016. Estimating the Exposure of Coral Reefs and Seagrass Meadows to Land-Sourced Contaminants in River Flood Plumes of the Great Barrier Reef: Validating a Simple Satellite Risk Framework with Environmental Data.Remote Sensing,8(3), p.210. Piggott-McKellar, A.E. and McNamara, K.E., 2017. Last chance tourism and the Great Barrier Reef.Journal of Sustainable Tourism,25(3), pp.397-415. Robertson, J. (2017).Queensland conservationists call for river-mining ban to protect Great Barrier Reef. [online] the Guardian. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/aug/18/queensland-conservationists-call-for-river-mining-ban-to-protect-great-barrier-reef [Accessed 26 Aug. 2017]. The Conversation. (2017).What's the economic value of the Great Barrier Reef? It's priceless. [online] Available at: https://theconversation.com/whats-the-economic-value-of-the-great-barrier-reef-its-priceless-80061 [Accessed 26 Aug. 2017]. The Hindu. (2017).Coral bleaching on Great Barrier Reef may cause Australia $750-million loss. [online] Available at: https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/coral-bleaching-on-great-barrier-reef-may-cause-australia-750-million-loss/article17947899.ece [Accessed 26 Aug. 2017].

Role of Culture free essay sample

Cultural values, beliefs, and traditions significantly affect family life. Cultures are more than language, dress, and food customs. Cultural groups may share race, ethnicity, or nationality, but they also arise from cleavages of generation, socioeconomic class, sexual orientation, ability and disability, political and religious affiliation, language, and gender to name only a few. Two things are essential to remember about cultures: they are always changing, and they relate to the symbolic dimension of life. The symbolic dimension is the place where we are constantly making meaning and enacting our identities. Cultural messages from the groups we belong to give us information about what is meaningful or important, and who we are in the world and in relation to others our identities. Cultural messages, simply, are what everyone in a group knows that outsiders do not know. They are the water fish swim in, unaware of its effect on their vision. They are a series of lenses that shape what we see and dont see, how we perceive and interpret, and where we draw boundaries. We will write a custom essay sample on Role of Culture or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page In shaping our values, cultures contain starting points and currencies[1]. Starting points are those places it is natural to begin, whether with individual or group concerns, with the big picture or particularities. Currencies are those things we care about that influence and shape our interactions with others. | How Cultures Work Though largely below the surface, cultures are a shifting, dynamic set of starting points that orient us in particular ways and away from other directions. Each of us belongs to multiple cultures that give us messages about what is normal, appropriate, and expected. When others do not meet our expectations, it is often a cue that our cultural expectations are different. We may mistake differences between others and us for evidence of bad faith or lack of common sense on the part of others, not realizing that common sense is also cultural. What is common to one group may seem strange, counterintuitive, or wrong to another. Cultural messages shape our understandings of relationships, and of how to deal with the conflict and harmony that are always present whenever two or more people come together. Writing about or working across cultures is complicated, but not impossible. Here are some complications in working with cultural dimensions of conflict, and the implications that flow from them:Culture is constantly in flux as conditions change, cultural groups adapt in dynamic and sometimes unpredictable ways. Culture is largely below the surface, influencing identities and meaning-making, or who we believe ourselves to be and what we care about it is not easy to access these symbolic levels since they are largely outside our awareness. Cultural influences and identities become important depending on context. When an aspect of cultural identity is threatened or misunderstood, it may become relatively more important than other cultural identities and this fixed, narrow identity may become the focus of stereotyping negative projection, and conflict. This is a very common situation in intractable conflicts. Since culture is so closely related to our identities (who we think we are), and the ways we make meaning (what is important to us and how), it is always a factor in conflict. Cultural awareness leads us to apply the Platinum Rule in place of the Golden Rule. Rather than the maxim Do unto others as you would have them do unto you, the Platinum Rule advises: Do unto others as they would have you do unto them. Cultures are embedded in every conflict because conflicts arise in human relationships. Cultures affect the ways we name, frame, blame, and attempt to tame conflicts. Whether a conflict exists at all is a cultural question. In an interview conducted in Canada, an elderly Chinese man indicated he had experienced no conflict at all for the previous 40 years. [2] Among the possible reasons for his denial was a cultural preference to see the world through lenses of harmony rather than conflict, as encouraged by his Confucian upbringing. Labeling some of our interactions as conflicts and analyzing them into smaller component parts is a distinctly Western approach that may obscure other aspects of relationships. Culture is always a factor in conflict, whether it plays a central role or influences it subtly and gently. For any conflict that touches us where it matters, where we make meaning and hold our identities, there is always a cultural component. Intractable conflicts like the Israeli-Palestinian conflict or the India-Pakistan conflict over Kashmir are not just about territorial, boundary, and sovereignty issues they are also about acknowledgement, representation, and legitimization of different identities and ways of living, being, and making meaning. Conflicts between teenagers and parents are shaped by generational culture, and conflicts between spouses or partners are influenced by gender culture. In organizations, conflicts arising from different disciplinary cultures escalate tensions between co-workers, creating strained or inaccurate communication and stressed relationships. Culture permeates conflict no matter what sometimes pushing forth with intensity, other times quietly snaking along, hardly announcing its presence until surprised people nearly stumble on it. Culture is inextricable from conflict, though it does not cause it. When differences surface in families, organizations, or communities, culture is always present, shaping perceptions, attitudes, behaviors, and outcomes. When the cultural groups we belong to are a large majority in our community or nation, we are less likely to be aware of the content of the messages they send us. Cultures shared by dominant groups often seem to be natural, normal the way things are done. We only notice the effect of cultures that are different from our own, attending to behaviors that we label exotic or strange. Though culture is intertwined with conflict, some approaches to conflict resolution minimize cultural issues and influences. Since culture is like an iceberg largely submerged it is important to include it in our analyses and interventions. Icebergs unacknowledged can be dangerous, and it is impossible to make choices about them if we dont know their size or place. Acknowledging culture and bringing cultural fluency to conflicts can help all kinds of people make more intentional, adaptive choices. Given cultures important role in conflicts, what should be done to keep it in mind and include it in response plans? Cultures may act like temperamental children: complicated, elusive, and difficult to predict. Unless we develop comfort with culture as an integral part of conflict, we may find ourselves tangled in its net of complexity, limited by our own cultural lenses. Cultural fluency is a key tool for disentangling and managing multilayered, cultural conflicts. Cultural fluency means familiarity with cultures: their natures, how they work, and ways they intertwine with our relationships in times of conflict and harmony. Cultural fluency means awareness of several dimensions of culture, including * Communication, * Ways of naming, framing, and taming conflict, * Approaches to meaning making, * Identities and roles. Each of these is described in more detail below. As people communicate, they move along a continuum between high- and low-context. Depending on the kind of relationship, the context, and the purpose of communication, they may be more or less explicit and direct. In close relationships, communication shorthand is often used, which makes communication opaque to outsiders but perfectly clear to the parties. With strangers, the same people may choose low-context communication. Low- and high-context communication refers not only to individual communication strategies, but may be used to understand cultural groups. Generally, Western cultures tend to gravitate toward low-context starting points, while Eastern and Southern cultures tend to high-context communication. Within these huge categories, there are important differences and many variations. Where high-context communication tends to be featured, it is useful to pay specific attention to nonverbal cues and the behavior of others who may know more of the unstated rules governing the communication. Where low-context communication is the norm, directness is likely to be expected in return. There are many other ways that communication varies across cultures. Ways of naming, framing, and taming conflict vary across cultural boundaries. As the example of the elderly Chinese interviewee illustrates, not everyone agrees on what constitutes a conflict. For those accustomed to subdued, calm discussion, an emotional exchange among family members may seem a threatening conflict. The family members themselves may look at their exchange as a normal and desirable airing of differing views. These are just some of the ways that taming conflict varies across cultures. Third parties may use different strategies with quite different goals, depending on their cultural sense of what is needed. In multicultural contexts, parties expectations of how conflict should be addressed may vary, further escalating an existing conflict. Approaches to meaning-making also vary across cultures. Hampden-Turner and Trompenaars suggest that people have a range of starting points for making sense of their lives, including: * universalist (favoring rules, laws, and generalizations) and particularist (favoring exceptions, relations, and contextual evaluation) * specificity (preferring explicit definitions, breaking down wholes into component parts, and measurable results) and diffuseness (focusing on patterns, the big picture, and process over outcome) * inner direction (sees virtue in individuals who strive to realize their conscious purpose) and outer direction (where virtue is outside each of us in natural rhythms, nature, beauty, and relationships) * synchronous time (cyclical and spiraling) and sequential time (linear and unidirectional). 5] When we dont understand that others may have quite different starting points, conflict is more likely to occur and to escalate. Even though the starting points themselves are neutral, negative motives are easily attributed to someone who begins from a different end of the continuum. [6]For example, when First Nations people sit down with government representatives to negotiate land claims in Canada or Australia, different ideas of time may make it difficult to establish rapport and make progress. First Nations people tend to see time as stretching forward and back, binding them in relationship with seven generations in both directions. Their actions and choices in the present are thus relevant to history and to their progeny. Government negotiators acculturated to Western European ideas of time may find the telling of historical tales and the consideration of projections generations into the future tedious and irrelevant unless they understand the variations in the way time is understood by First Nations people. Of course, this example draws on generalizations that may or may not apply in a particular situation. There are many different Aboriginal peoples in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the United States, and elsewhere. Each has a distinct culture, and these cultures have different relationships to time, different ideas about negotiation, and unique identities. Government negotiators may also have a range of ethno cultural identities, and may not fit the stereotype of the woman or man in a hurry, with a measured, pressured orientation toward time. Examples can also be drawn from the other three dimensions identified by Hampden-Turner and Trompenaars. When an intractable conflict has been ongoing for years or even generations, should there be recourse to international standards and interveners, or local rules and practices? Those favoring a universalist starting point are more likely to prefer international intervention and the setting of international standards. Particularlists will be more comfortable with a tailor-made, home-grown approach than with the imposition of general rules that may or may not fit their needs and context. Specificity and diffuseness also lead to conflict and conflict escalation in many instances. People, who speak in specifics, looking for practical solutions to challenges that can be implemented and measured, may find those who focus on process, feelings, and the big picture obstructionist and frustrating. On the other hand, those whose starting points are diffuse are more apt to catch the flaw in the sum that is not easy to detect by looking at the component parts, and to see the context into which specific ideas must fit. Inner-directed people tend to feel confident that they can affect change, believing that they are the masters of their fate, the captains of their souls. They focus more on product than process. Imagine their frustration when faced with outer-directed people, whose attention goes to nurturing relationships, living in harmony with nature, going with the flow, and paying attention to processes rather than products. As with each of the above sets of starting points, neither is right or wrong; they are simply different. A focus on process is helpful, but not if it completely fails to ignore outcomes. A focus on outcomes is useful, but it is also important to monitor the tone and direction of the process. Cultural fluency means being aware of different sets of starting points, and having a way to speak in both dialects, helping translate between them when they are making conflict worse. This can be done by storytelling and by the creation of shared stories, stories that are co-constructed to make room for multiple points of view within them. Often, people in conflict tell stories that sound as though both cannot be true. Narrative conflict-resolution approaches help them leave their concern with truth and being right on the sideline for a time, turning their attention instead to stories in which they can both see themselves. Another way to explore meaning making is through metaphors. Metaphors are compact, tightly packaged word pictures that convey a great deal of information in shorthand form. For example, in exploring how a conflict began, one side may talk about its origins being buried in the mists of time before there were boundaries and roads and written laws. The other may see it as the offspring of a vexatious lawsuit begun in 1946. Neither is wrong the issue may well have deep roots, and the lawsuit was surely a part of the evolution of the conflict. As the two sides talk about their metaphors, the more diffuse starting point wrapped up in the mists of time meets the more specific one, attached to a particular legal action. As the two talk, they deepen their understanding of each other in context, and learn more about their respective roles and identities. In collectivist settings, the following values tend to be privileged: * cooperation * filial piety (respect for and deference toward elders) * participation in shared progress * reputation of the group * interdependence In individualist settings, the following values tend to be privileged: * competition * independence * individual achievement * personal growth and fulfillment * self-reliance When individualist and communitarian starting points influence those on either side of a conflict, escalation may result. Individualists may see no problem with no holds barred confrontation, while communitarian counterparts shrink from bringing dishonor or face-loss to their group by behaving in unseemly ways. In the end, one should remember that, as with other patterns described, most people are not purely individualist  or communitarian. Rather, people tend to have individualist or communitarian starting points, depending on ones upbringing, experience, and the context of the situation. Conclusion There is no one-size-fits-all approach to conflict resolution, since culture is always a factor. Cultural fluency is therefore a core competency for those who intervene in conflicts or simply want to function more effectively in their own lives and situations. Cultural fluency involves recognizing and acting respectfully from the knowledge that communication, ways of naming, framing, and taming conflict, approaches to meaning-making, and identities and roles vary across cultures.

African Yoruba Drumming

African Yoruba Drumming Free Online Research Papers There are many things that set Yoruba drumming and Shona mbira music apart from one another. Most plainly of which is the sound that each produces. Typically, Yoruba drumming consists of a section of drummers playing various sizes, shapes and styles of drums, and is usually accompanied by vocalists. The mbira is a pitch and tone producing instrument that is plucked, rather than a percussive instrument that is struck or beat. Therefore, Mbira music is almost never accompanied by anything other than another mbria. However, the dundun drum itself is widely known for it’s ability to produce a wide range of pitches, also known as the â€Å"talking drum†. The use of dundun drums in African culture plays an important role, due to its close relationship with the African language of the Yoruba people. Because the African language is tonal, the dundun drum imitates the speech patterns of the language when it is played, hence the nickname â€Å"talking drum†. In the Eegun oje, a Yoruba masquarade, the dance is usually accompanied by bata, an ensemble of conically-shaped, double-headed membrane drums, and one of Yoruba’s most ancient instrumental ensembles. A bata ensemble consists of four drums: the iyaalu (the mother drum), and three supporting drums (the omele abo, the omele ako, and the kudi). The omele ako and the kudi often play very repetitive patterns and rhythms, while the omele abo often engages in dialogue with the iyaalu. The iyaalu is played by a master drummer, whose text-based improvisations are accompanied by the ostinato patterns of the supporting drums (Omojola, 2005, par. 2). Yoruba drumming is most often performed during rituals, or masquerade dances, in which a number of dancers dance to rhythmic cues given to them by the master drummer, and those not dancing often partake in a call-and-response style of vocal singing. However, vocals are perceived to be more of an accompaniment to the more dominant drumming. The texts of the songs were often sung as self-praise to motivate the dancers into action. Although many masquerades are used to represent the ancestor spirits of the Yoruba people, the Eegun oje is not. It is used plainly for entertainment. The representation or worship of ancestor spirits in song is one of the few things that Shona mbira music shares as a similarity. The Shona people have strong beliefs in life after death, in the sense that when death occurs, the spirit of the loved one transitions to another plane of existence. It is important to the Shona people that when this occurs, they stay in close communication with the deceased, in order to guide the spirits away from danger. They believe that the music of the mbira provides the most important means of communication to these spirits. The mbira consists of three rows of different sized metal strips, attached to a wooden resonator that are plucked to create different pitches. Cowry shells or bottle caps are also attached to the box, causing them to vibrate when a metal strip is plucked. One of the most important types of mbiras is the mbira davadzimu. It is an instrument closely associated with spirit possession ceremonies, known as the bira. In a bira ceremony, the mbria is played to create an open line of communication between the living and the dead. Although both the Yoruba and the Shona have affiliations with the spirit world, the difference is that the Shona use music to actively communicate with the dead, whereas the Yoruba typically just use music to worship spirits and gods in rituals and masquerades. Mbiras are typically played by themselves, indoors, but can also be played outdoors with the addition of a deze, a calabash resonator used for amplification. It is also not uncommon for Mbria players to play along with other Mbira players, or with the help of shakers and light percussion sections. In comparison to the four different drums sections used in the Eegun oje, there are typically two parts in mbria music: a leader (kushaura) and a follower (kutsinhera). Typically these parts are played by two different players, but they can also be played by a single, virtuoso mbira player. References: Omojola, B. (2005). Exploring the landscape of african music. OnMusic of the World. Retrieved January 26, 2009, from connect4education.org/Serf/ Default.aspx?(aa0unv55grguqz55zizmyd55) (bhnbf545znprvprbp0c0aj45)Event16. Research Papers on African Yoruba DrummingHip-Hop is ArtWhere Wild and West MeetComparison: Letter from Birmingham and CritoBringing Democracy to AfricaAnalysis Of A Cosmetics AdvertisementThe Spring and AutumnThe Masque of the Red Death Room meaningsRelationship between Media Coverage and Social andThree Concepts of PsychodynamicAssess the importance of Nationalism 1815-1850 Europe

Women Celebrities of World War II

Women Celebrities of World War II With the 20th centurys movie industry making many women (and men) into well-known celebrities, and the star system extended into other fields such as sports as well, it was only natural that some stars would find ways to use their celebrity to support the war effort. The Axis Actress In Germany, Hitler used propaganda to support his war effort. Actress, dancer, and photographer Leni Riefenstahl made documentary films for the Nazi Party during the 1930s and Hitlers consolidation of power. She escaped punishment after the war after a court found that she was not herself a Nazi party member. Acting Allies In America, films and plays promoting participation in the war and anti-Nazi films and plays were also part of the overall war effort. Women actresses played in many of these. Women also wrote some of them: Lillian Hellmans 1941 play, The Rhine, warned of the rise of the Nazis. Entertainer Josephine Baker worked with the French Resistance and entertained troops in Africa and the Middle East. Alice Marble, a tennis star, secretly married an intelligence operative and when he died, was convinced to spy on a former lover, a Swiss banker, suspected of having records of Nazi finances. She found such information and was shot in the back, but escaped and recovered. Her story was told only after her death in 1990. Carole Lombard made her final film as a satire about the Nazis and died in a plane crash after attending a war bond rally. President Franklin D. Roosevelt declared her the first woman to die in the line of duty in the war. Her new husband, Clark Gable, enlisted in the Air Force after her death. A ship was named in Lombards honor. Perhaps the most famous pin-up poster in World War II showed Betty Grable in a swimsuit from the back, looking over her shoulder. The Varga Girls, drawn by Alberto Vargas, were also popular, as were photos of Veronica Lake, Jane Russell, and Lane Turner. Fundraising In New Yorks theater world, Rachel Crothers started the Stage Womens War Relief. Others who helped to raise funds for war relief and the war effort included Tallulah Bankhead, Bette Davis, Lynn Fontaine, Helen Hayes, Katharine Hepburn, Hedy Lamarr, Gypsy Rose Lee, Ethel Merman, and the Andrews Sisters. Giving Back To the Troops The USO Tours or Camp Shows which entertained troops in the US and overseas drew many women entertainers, too. Rita Hayworth, Betty Grable, the Andrews Sisters, Ann Miller, Martha Raye, Marlene Dietrich, and many lesser-knowns were ​a  welcome relief for the soldiers. Several all-girl bands and orchestras toured, including the International Sweethearts of Rhythm, one of the rare racially-mixed groups.

Marketing Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Marketing Analysis - Essay Example Today Systems Insurance fulfills its commitment made to customers by providing auto, home, life and business insurance rooted in the founding values ofhonesty, affordability, and service on the basis that our customers come first. We offer products that will protect you without any hidden surprises. Together with a large network of independent insurance agents Systems Insurance serves more than 5 million insurance Customers in 16 states as well asCosta Rica, and the District of Columbia. With our agents, we continue to carry out the company’s founding purpose: Our Customers know we will work to go the distance to help them with their insurance needs and to recover after any monetary loss. That may be the reason behind System Insurance retaining over 92 percent of Customers, year after year. The following is meant as a guideline to help while implementing a new business innovation, to help the organization evolve and grow through the efficiency and productivity of both Agents and customers. As with most, if not all insurance companies, Systems Insurance wishes to remain profitable while implementing innovative, products, and technology. Increase revenue without increasing the rate of our policies. At Systems Insurance, our company revolves around our dedicated Agents. Our daily goal is to maintain and improve the effectiveness of policies in order to help Agents bring in new customers. Agents depend on the effectiveness of the technology we provide, by providing the best technology we help to ensure we continue to offer the highest levels of customer service Systems Insurance will continue to grow to compete with the largest of Insurance companies. The growth of Systems Insurance Agents has led to a large push in the number of Policy Holders we hold today, as well as the overall organizational footprint. Systems Insurance runs a strict risk management plan,

Critical Reading and Rhetorical Modes Assignment

Critical Reading and Rhetorical Modes - Assignment Example All this was because an attempt to express herself through different languages that were seen as "illegitimate." Notably, this is evident in the second excerpt when she explains, â€Å"my tongue keep pushing out the wads of cotton, and pushing back the drills and the long thin needles.† Cause and effect is a mode that analyzes the connection between elements and finds a reason for their relationship. For instance, Chicano Spanish is because of the need for identity, means of communication and secrecy among the people had no known original language considered as the cause of the development of Chicano Spanish. Moreover, the author in trying to categorize the different people with whom she shared different language when communicating with has used modes like classification. For example, with Mexican she will speak standard Mexican Spanish. When in her parents companion, she uses Chicano Texas Spanish; with Arizonans, she will use Chicano Spanish and English for California. Lastly, the author in trying to explain the term â€Å"Anglicism† and â€Å"Pachuco† has used definition. Whereby, the author describes it as distorted English and a language of rebellion because it is against both Spanish and English. The language is made up of slang words from both English and Spanish. For example, churo means sure, Simon means

Development Assistance Essay Example for Free

Development Assistance Essay The best way for international donors to quicken development in poor Asian countries is to maximize overseas developmental assistance. ODA should be provided both to governments directly and to international and local NGOs. † Development can be considered as one of the most omnipresent concepts today. This term had been a commonplace in governments and non-governmental organizations alike (Nault, 2008). Overseas developmental assistance also referred to as official overseas assistance (ODA), had been a vital part of world economies especially to those who belong to the third world. As early as 1960s, underdeveloped and developing countries have seen the importance of receiving grants in forms of ODA from more developed countries (Berlage and Stokke, 1992) It is now given that most of the countries, which are underdeveloped, or those who are still in the process of developing are indeed in great need of ODAs coming from their more developed counterparts. The lack of resources on the part of the poor countries makes them suffer the opportunity cost of not attending to other pressing issues in within their territories. This paper will present arguments in two fold. First, it will make a point on how international donors can quicken development in poor Asian countries by maximizing the amount it gives through ODAs. Second, it will argue on why is there a necessity to give funds directly to international and local NGOs rather than just giving it to the government; it having the sole discretion on the funds’ disbursement. Similar to the case in developed countries, rising and relentless budget deficits had become one of the major causes for concern in developing countries. Asian countries have been suffering from massive budget deficits for the past recent years (Gupta, 1992). Given that most of the developing and underdeveloped countries are suffering from budget deficit, there really is a need that ODAs should be intensified in order to address other social concerns that are being neglected by the governments due to lack of budget. These social concerns, which deals with welfare and other public issues are often taken for granted by governments despite their noble ideas because they lack resources in financing these programs. If resources will be provided through ODA, the local government will be better equipped of bringing service to their people. Aside from mere economic progress, development must also entail improvements with regard to life expectancy, education levels, literacy, and access to resources (Nault, 2008). With more funds, which are easily available to finance social programs of the government, people may easily reap the benefits of ODAs coming from developed countries. The funds coming from the ODA can be allocated to programs aimed at empowering the grassroots and improving the living conditions of the people. With regard to economic progress, there is also a great need for the funds, which are given by more developed countries. Given the lack of resources of underdeveloped countries, they have no enough assets to stimulate their respective economies. Nowadays, government-initiated economic policies are necessary to save the worsening condition of the global economy. The world economy is being threatened by massive recessions. Hence, there is a necessity for state intervention in stimulating the economy. ODAs can be used by the government to back up state-initiated economic programs aimed at ameliorating the country’s economy. ODAs may be used as capital by the government and also as investment so that it would yield to higher profits in the future. ODAs can also be used by the government in coming up with schemes that will help protect the economy from the global trend of economic downturns by implementing regulations, which will somehow put safety nets to the national economy. ODAs may be used in employment training and job creation in order to assure that the citizens of the country are equipped with appropriate knowledge, which they may use in finding employment. Having established the necessity of increasing the amount of ODAs being transferred by developed countries to their poorer and less fortunate counterparts of Asia, the argumentation will shift towards the necessity of diverting funds not only to state governments but to non-governmental organizations as well. First, the author of this paper acknowledges the vital role being played by the government with regard to managing ODAs. Much substance have been given earlier in this paper and it is beyond argumentation that state-government acceptance of ODAs is indeed necessary. However, a new concept is being realized and offered which relates to the offering of ODAs from developed nations directly to international and local NGOs in the country. Perhaps one of the reasons to such proposition is the lessening trust of developed nations to their underdeveloped counterparts in Asia when it comes with governance. Many Asian countries, especially those who are financially-burdened, are often described in the international arena as engaging in the process of corruption. Documented evidence is being studied to support such claim (Lindsey and Dick, 2002). Good governance within the public sphere is indeed crucial in creating an environment, which will help mobilize resources, both domestically and internationally as well (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, 2002). Grantors of ODAs take into consideration the political climate within the country, which will receive their grant. They give premium to those who are practicing good governance. However, most countries in Asia had been involved in cases related to corruption. Hence, they do not appear as flawless to those who are sending them their ODAs. On the other hand, NGOs send a message of altruism to the international community. These NGOs project an image that they are indeed concerned in bringing progress to the countries where they have offices in. They appear as the good guys, whose business is to promote the welfare of the oppressed. NGOs are also offering programs that are aimed at bringing progress and development to their host countries. Sometimes, such programs from the NGOs are not being offered by state-governments. Another point is the fact that since grantors of aids are losing trust to corrupt governments, they are finding alternative channels to send their ODAs to residents of the receiving countries. Most NGOs in the international levels have earned themselves of the reputation to help others due to their noble causes. In spite of the manner as to how developed countries will be sending in their grants, what matters most is the fact that these grants are indeed helpful in bring progress and development to underdeveloped countries. References Berlage L. and Stokke, O. (1992). Evaluating Development Assistance: Approaches and Method. London: Routledge Publishing. Gupta, K. L. (1992). Budget Deficits and Economic Activity in Asia. London, Routledge Publishing. Lindsey, T. and Dick, H. W. (2002). Corruption in Asia: rethinking the governance paradigm. Annandale: NSW Federation Press. Nault D. M. (2008). Development in Asia: Interdisciplinary, Post-Neoliberal, and Transnational Perspectives. Boca Raton: Brown Walker Press. Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (2002). Official development assistance and private finance: attracting finance and investment to developing countries. Paris: OECD Publishing.

The Great Depression Essay -- American History

The causes and far-reaching effects of The Great Depression are examined. Discussion includes its impact on both American cultures and nations around the world. The role of World War II and the New Deal in overcoming the Depression are explored. The Great Depression began in October 1929, when the stock market in the United States dropped rapidly. Thousands of investors lost all of their of money and were forced to live on the streets often going without food. This crash led into the Great Depression. The ensuing period of 10 years ranked as the worst period of high unemployment and low business activity in modern times. Banks, stores, and factories were closed and left millions of Americans jobless, homeless, and without food. Many people came to depend on the government or charity to provide them with food. The Depression became a worldwide business slump of the 1930's that affected almost all nations. It led to a sharp decline in world trade as each country tried to protect their own industries. The Depression led to political turmoil in many countries such as Germany where poor economic conditions helped lead to the rise of Hitler. Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected President in 1932 and his 'new deal' reforms gave the go vernment more power and helped slow the depression. The Great Depression ended as nations increased their production of war materials at the start of World War II. This increased production provided jobs and put large amounts of money back into circulation. Several factors led to the great depression. One being the lack of diversification in the American economy. The prosperity of America had been basically dependent on a few industries like construction and the automobile and in the late 20's these industr... ...l deficit and Bennett cut back on government spending. A great burden on the country was Canadian National Railway, the government had to take over many railways and from that took in a debt of over two billion dollars. After seeing president Roosevelt's New Deal policy having good results in the U.S. Bennett introduced policies based on the New Deal. Bennett started up minimum wage and unemployment insurance. However Bennetts attempts to revive the economy were not nearly as successful as Roosevelt's. as a result the depression was worse in Canada than in the U.S., and this led to the defeat of Bennett in the 1935 election to liberal Mackenzie King. Like in the U.S. the Great Depression did not end until the outbreak of the second world war. A boost in the economy was created by a strong demand of Canadian goods in Europe and an increase of government spending.(ibid)

Planning a Lesson Module 1

Course:Teaching Assistant Level1 Q1. Give examples of how you would plan activities. Under the direction of the teacher, you will discuss and fully understand your role within the teacher’s lesson plan. The teacher will have previously completed long and medium term plans for the class. The class teacher’s short terms plan for the week can be broken down into daily plans. These will give you an idea of the number of children involved in the learning objective, previous learning, environment, resources available and a time scales.Which individuals or groups of children are to work on tasks at a particular time, taking into account individual needs and interests, grouping together children with similar abilities so that they are working towards the same targets, and give an indication of whether they are to be supported by an adult. This is a great opportunity for you the TA to get involved with the weekly plan and to contribute your own ideas to the planning session. â⠂¬ ¢You are aware in advance of what you are required to do. There are clear roles and responsibilities for you working together with the teacher to support the pupils. †¢The work you are covering fits in with the activities and topics which have been planned for the term. †¢You are aware of where, when, what and who you will be working with. †¢The objectives of the learning activity. †¢The type and level of support the pupils may need. The above established you can start preparing and organising for the learning activity: †¢Where the learning activity is being taken place: is there sufficient space for the learning activity. What resources may be needed: are the resources readily available and accessible, do you need to bring in furniture or equipment for implementing the learning activities. †¢Who you will be supporting: individuals, groups or perhaps a SEN pupil, in the event of a SEN pupil, you may want to gather further information on the pupil for example you should be aware of the IEP’s and PSP’s Q2. Describe your role in delivering learning activities Know and understand the objectives of the learning activities and strategies for supporting pupils and ensure you share the same goals as the teacher.Example of an Individual Lesson plan for Geography Learning Objective: For pupils to be familiar with and understand the water cycle. Introduction: Find out what the children know about the water cycle. Class discuss to see how much they can remember about water from the previous lesson. Main part of lesson: Children to work in groups: Group 1: Work with teacher, using the internet and reference books to see what they can find out. Group 2: Work with TA using artwork and models to explain what happens. Group 3: Work independently to explain the water cycle, in their own words and diagrams.Conclusion: Children to discuss what they have found out and give examples. As a TA you would: †¢Prepare the learning envir onment to meet the needs of all the pupils. †¢Provide appropriate learning activities for the individual or group, selecting the appropriate learning materials required. †¢Maintaining pupil safety at all times. †¢Interacting with the pupils, using praise and encouragement. †¢Observe the pupils responses. Assist the teacher in the implementation of set tasks, e. g. setting up and clearing the classroom before and after activities.Assist in the production of teaching aids and preparation of work for the pupils as required, charts, displays, worksheets, etc. Provide general classroom help. Making accurate and detailed records of what has been planned and delivered. Take a pro-active role and use initiative within the classroom. Q3. Make a list of the things expected from you as part of your role in supporting an individual pupil or group of pupils. Adapt activities that will encourage independent learning and provide challenges. Ensure the pupils understand and foll ow the teacher’s instructions.Help the pupils to use equipment and resources that is relevant to the learning activity. Supporting the pupils in enabling them to gain independence and participate fully in the curriculum. Challenge the pupils thinking and observe individual pupils progress and achievements. Provide focused support to help pupils move to the next level of learning. Be adaptable, have empathy but also follow the school’s positive discipline guidelines. Give the pupils choices and praise. Q4. Think about your role and responsibilities as a teaching assistant.List examples of your own general and specific tasks. 1. Supervise individuals / groups of pupils during specified learning activities, as directed by the class teacher. 2. Assist in preparing and maintaining an effective learning environment for pupils. 3. Getting the classroom ready for lessons. 4. Listen to children read and reading to them. 5. Helping children who need extra support to complete tas ks. 6. Taking care of children who are upset or have had accidents. 7. Clearing away materials and equipment after lessons. 8. Helping with outings and sports events. . Assist in the implementation of Individual Education Programmes for students and help monitor their progress. 10. Provide support for individual students inside and outside the classroom to enable them to fully participate in activities. 11. Assist class teachers with maintaining student records. 12. Prepare and present displays of student's work. 13. Support class teachers in photocopying and other tasks in order to support teaching. Q5. Briefly describe the role of the teaching assistant in relation to the teacher. Teachers Role:The teacher is responsible for planning and delivering of the National / Early Years Curriculum. To teach pupils to their educational needs. Assess record and report development. They are also responsible for all adults within the learning environment. Communicate and consult with parents. Teaching Assistant: Plan and prepare work alongside the teacher Support learning activities effectively, as directed by the teacher. Assess / evaluate pupil’s work, as directed by the teacher. Report any problems / queries to the teacher Give feedback to the teacher following planned activities. Q6.Briefly outline the role and responsibilities of: Head Teacher, Deputy Head Teacher, SENCO, Key stage co-ordinators, subject co-ordinators, class teacher. The Head Teacher: The role of the Head Teacher is to manage all aspects of the school and all of those within it, as well as making sure the curriculum are being effectively taught and managed. The Head is answerable to parents, Ofsted and the local authority for the smooth running of the school. The Deputy Head: Works closely with the Head, when the Head Teacher is absent from the school, the Deputy is responsible for its management.The Deputy will usually work as a Teacher; however he will still be responsible for running the d ay to day arrangements such as supply staff or training courses. He will liaise with the Head on a daily basis concerning the day’s priorities. SENCO: Is responsible for the managing of children with special needs throughout the school. Keeping records on all these children as well as being responsible for the management of individual support assistants in the school. SENCO are the line of contact for any outside agency, i. e. Speech and Language, Educational Psychologist.Key Stage Co-ordinators: Employed to lead and manage either Key Stage 1 or 2. They usually also have a class teaching commitment Subject Key Stage Co-ordinators:Responsible for the leadership and management of a particular curriculum subject. Class teachers may be expected to accept responsibility for an area of the curriculum as part of their normal professional duties The Teacher / Subject teacher: Plan, prepare and deliver lessons to meet the needs of all pupils, setting and marking work and recording pup il development as necessary.Includes advanced skills teachers and supply teachers. Often work in partnership with teaching assistants Q7. Give examples of how to promote independent learning, e. g. using ICT skills. Give positive encouragement and praise – this gives a pupil a feeling of achievement and the desire to continue with the learning activity. Listen – let the pupil see that you are listening to what they are saying, that you are taking notice of their contributions, this will build confident in their own abilities. Motivate – Give them positive experiences which are interesting and can be made real for them.Resources – Ensure that the relevant resources are available to them so they don’t need to ask for help, make things available and accessible. Repetition:Reminding a pupil what the teacher has said and encouraging them to think about what they are doing, without giving them the answer. Instruction:Following steps to complete a task, a sking them simple questions, â€Å"Do you think this is the best way to do it† or â€Å"Why do you think this is the best way†. Facilitating:Giving the pupils the tools to carry out a task and discover the outcome, again encourage the child to talk you through what they are doing and why.ICT: Encourage the children to access, enter, save and retrieve information independently, to research and interpret information to support work in other subjects. Encourage them to write themselves reminders for accessing different programmes. Q8. What strategies can be used to support pupils learning activities? Create a positive learning environment. Adapt learning activities to support each individuals needs. Encourage independent learning. Prompt shy or reticent pupils. Ask open-ended questions to encourage their participation, also to see their understanding of the subject.Look for and note any common problems that the pupils have or mistakes made, this will enable the teacher to address these at a future learning activity. Give pupils choices and only give further assistance if required. Check pupils work and encourage them to correct their own mistakes Translate or explain information used by the teacher, i. e. words / phrases. Organise and participate in appropriate play activities or games. Ensure that all pupils behave and concentrate Listen, respect and value the pupils. Gain the pupils trust and confidence.

How Teachers are a Positive Influence on Students Essay

Teachers have always been a excellent influence on students. Teachers also teach students how to be a good influence on other students as well. Teachers teach students how to respect and accept others for who they are not by their race or nationality. Having good teachers determines your education that you will need for the years to come. Passage I, by Ernesto Gallorzo and â€Å"Tornado Drill† by David Martin show how teachers positively influence the lives of students as revealed through the authors’ use of dialogue, theme, and figurative language. In Passage I, Ernesto uses dialogue to reveal the positive influence of teachers on students. For example, Ernesto’s teacher announced to the class, â€Å"Ernesto has learned to pronounce butterfly.† This expresses that teachers show a positive influence on students because by announcing that Ernesto can pronounce butterfly shows that his teacher and students are very proud of him and it encourages him to do better. A second reason that teachers are a excellent influence on students is because Ernesto states, â€Å"The main reason I was graduated with honors from the first grade was that I had fallen in love with Miss. Ryan.† This demonstrates that teachers have a special relationship with their students that allow them to cope with one another. Ernesto uses dialogue to prove the fact that teachers are a positive influence on students. Ernesto Gallorzo also uses the theme of acceptance to show that teachers have a positive influence on students. For example, Passage I is about teachers teaching their students the English heritage but also teaching them not to forget where they are from. In Passage I it states â€Å"Miss Hopley and her teachers never let us forget why we were at Lincoln: for those who were alien. To become good Americans ; for those who were so born to accept the rest of us.† This means that the teachers have taught their students to never forget who they are and where they came from, and also to accept others for who they are. A second example of why teachers are a positive influence on students is when it states, â€Å"Miss Hopley and her helpers warmed knowledge into us and roasted racial hatreds out of us.† This demonstrates that teachers teach students that it is not acceptable to judge other people certain ways because of their race. Ernesto Gallorzo uses theme to represent  th at teachers are a positive influence on students. In â€Å"Tornado Drill† David Martin uses theme to represent that teachers show a positive influence on students. Mrs. Wells states that â€Å"its just a drill† when it really is not a drill represents that teachers are a positive influence on students. By Mrs. Wells telling her students that it is just a drill she is tying to keep her students calm and making them think that there is nothing to worry about. Another reason why teachers are a positive influence on students is when David Martin states â€Å"the girls shrugged into the hall and crouched on their haunches facing the wall. The boys stood behind them and leaned over stretching like bridges to protect them. By the boys standing over the girls like bridges their teacher has taught them how to prepare for something like a tornado and how to protect one another. David Martin uses theme to show that teachers are a positive influence on students. In â€Å"Tornado Drill† David Martin also uses figurative language to reveal that teachers are a positive influence on students. In â€Å"Tornado Drill† it states that â€Å"Mrs. Wells said it was time to go back and the lights went on and over our bodies glowed with haloes.† This means that the students felt like angels and felt very protected by their teacher. Another example of why teachers are a positive influence on students is when in â€Å"Tornado Drill† it states â€Å"As we crossed the rubble we new we had survived only the first mystery of love.† This means that the students know that their teacher loves them and that that is only the first way that she has proved it. In â€Å"Tornado Drill† David Martin uses figurative language to prove the fact that teachers are a positive influence on students. Passage I written by Ernesto Gallarzo and â€Å"Tornado Drill† written by David Martin both show the positive influence of teachers on students through the authors use of dialogue, them, and figurative language. In Passage I through dialogue Ernesto’s teacher shows that she is proud of him by announcing to the class that he could pronounce butterfly. By doing this his teacher made him fell proud of himself. Ernesto also shows that he and his teacher have a good relationship with one another. Through theme Ernesto’s teacher has  taught them to never forget themselves as a person and to not be racist towards other people. In â€Å"Tornado Drill† David Martin’s teacher show that teachers are a positive influence on students by showing them how to protect themselves and others. She also proves to her students that she loves them and cares for them.

Friday Night Lights essays

Friday Night Lights essays In the novel, Friday Night Lights by H.G. Bissinger, there are several prominent characters who display vivid and unique characteristics. However, one character remains dominant as a person with ethics as he battles with himself over the eternal question of right or wrong. This person is none other than Ivory Christian, an aggressive Christian who is always seeking the answers to lifes questions. In this novel, Ivory is shown to be aggressive, loving, and dedication to everything he does. Ivory was known to be one of the most aggressive people in the high school. He demonstrates this characteristic very well when he ignores the morning practice rules and tackles his opponent causing him to skid across the gleaming gym floor like a billiard ball hopping over a pool table after a wild cue shot. (page 111-112). This shows that hes willing to do anything to prove his role as the dominant figure in the group. He also demonstrates aggressiveness when the coaches take his position as middle linebacker away from him his junior year. He decides to play his new position as offensive guard as perfect as possible. This causes the coaches to remark his playing ability as remarkable... major- college talent (112). Ivory Christian grows up full of arrogance and attitude, however soon after he discovers the power of Christ he becomes a loving and charismatic person. After his conversations with Pastor Hanson, Ivorys attitude changes from being very arrogant to displaying rigid righteousness (page 114). This change is complete and he begins to preach at his local church as well as show more care for his mother who had been worried of him, until his conversion. He may have done this because he realizes all of his life until then had been lead wrong, and this is an attempt to reconcile for all damages he had caused. This also helps demonstrate his complete love f ...

Turn Your Blogs Passive Readers Into Brand Advocates

Turn Your Blogs Passive Readers Into Brand Advocates I started blogging in 1999 before the word blog existed. Back then it was more like an online journal. I was a pimply high school student at the time and would write a few paragraphs about random geeky topics every day. But I gave up after a few months when nobody seemed to care. A few weeks later, some friends asked me why I hadnt posted in a while. My chin fell to the floor. It wasnt that they didnt care. They just were passive readers. They enjoyed what I wrote, but they just didnt do anything to show it. How To Easily Turn Passive Readers Into Genuine Brand Advocates via @ckeckYou might remember the 80/20 rule (80% of revenue comes from 20% of customers, etc.), so you might think that 80% of word-of-mouth for your blog comes from 20% of your readers. But that is not true when you are starting out. If you have 20% of your readers as active promoters- brand advocates, if you will- you are doing an amazing job. When you start blogging, you will likely only have 2 brand advocates... your mom and best friend.  Plus a few close customers, if you’re lucky. This can be incredibly frustrating because you spend countless hours writing endless blog posts. You know that content marketing is supposed to: Drive sales Generate leads Encourage conversions But instead, it feels like all it does is waste your time. If you're not getting the results you want from your blog readers, it might not be apathy that you are fighting. You might just need to engage with your audience in a slightly different way. There are some activities that popular bloggers all seem to do that are generally written off by beginner bloggers because they don't understand why they do them. I call these activities "The 5 Laws For Turning Passive Readers Into Brand Advocates", and here's how you can  make these work for your blog: Law #1: Use Surveys To Find Your Readers' Deepest Desires There are 5 major reasons people will share your content on social networks: entertainment, defining themselves, relationships, self-fulfillment,  and  supporting a cause. So how do you write content that helps people achieve their goals and define themselves to others? Many bloggers write from their gut instincts, this is a big rookie mistake. It is much more effective to just ask your readers about their own desires, hopes, and dreams. The biggest bloggers like Tim Ferriss do this on a regular basis. If you have a small mailing list and are just getting started, you might not get a lot of feedback if you ask people directly to tell you their hopes and dreams. In fact, asking people up front like that is generally ineffective (unless you have a big following) because people don’t often reply honestly with personal details like that to mass emails. But there’s a trick you can use to get high quality, actionable feedback even from a small mailing list: use the Net Promoter System. It’s a highly effective way to get 8–10 times more actionable data than traditional surveying methods. Asking about hopes and dreams can be effective in engaging your audience. You simply ask: How likely is it that you would recommend my brand/product/service to a friend or colleague? (Answers are based on a 0–10 scale). That's it. Because it is so quick, easy and painless to respond to such a simple survey, you will find much higher response rates. After they give you their number, you ask an open-ended question: What's the most important reason for your score? Although you will get interesting answers here, the single biggest trick for turning passive readers into active promoters and brand advocates is in responding personally to every survey whether they give you positive or negative feedback. If they give you a 9 or a 10 (very likely to promote), it’s the best case scenario. All you need to do is follow-up with a personalized email with a suggestion for how they could promote you to their friends (leave a review, tweet a message, etc.). Often people are willing to promote, but just need a nudge in the right direction for how to promote you. If they give you a 1 or a 2 (very unlikely to promote), don’t fret. This is a great opportunity to learn more. Follow-up with a personal email thanking them for their time and asking what their biggest problem is so you can write more about it in the future. That way you get ideas for new things you can write about that you had not considered yet. Action Items: Start a mailing list for your blog at MailChimp or something similar. Send an NPS survey with a system like Promoter.io or something similar. Follow-up with all survey responders using the NPS Follow-Up Cheat Sheet templates. Law #2: Create Conflict And Drama A fair amount  of  blog posts are dry and boring. The most common advice to spice things up is by adding facts and data, but sometimes that will just make a post more boring. The trick to draw people in is to create conflict and add drama by telling stories. For example, popular blogger Neil Patel tells the story of how he learned new marketing ideas from scantily clad women: 10 Marketing Techniques That I Learned From Instagram Models. People share controversial, provocative, and dramatic opinions like wildfire. Give them  something to talk about. Controversial opinions are shared like wildfire. Give people something to talk about.You don’t need to be as provocative as Neil to achieve a similar result. One simple and reliable formula you can use to draw in your own readers is to open every blog post with a personal story about a problem you faced and how you overcame it or what it taught you. For an example, take a look at the beginning of this post. Action Items: Make a list of at least 20 hopes, dreams, fears, and frustrations of your readers collected from the action item in Law #1. Think of 20 personal anecdotes or stories where you or a friend had similar dreams or frustrations for each one, and how you achieved the goal or overcame the frustration. Review previous blog posts to see if you can optimize them  with stories. Law #3: Train Your Readers To Be More Active Did you know subliminal messages are a myth? There is no scientific evidence that they work. That’s why the pre-show movie overtly shows you pictures of popcorn and coke. Because explicit messaging does work. So if you want people to share your content, you must ask them to. If you want people to join your mailing list, you must ask them explicitly. Ask: It's how to turn passive readers into subscribers.One of the most effective ways to engage your audience is by giving them an incentive to promote you. Virtual or physical giveaways  are always a great way to make this happen. A pro tip is that it’s usually better to give away 10 items one at a time than one giveaway with 10 items. For example, you will usually get the same number of people to enter the contest every time (and thus promote the contest). 10 times the prizes will not get you 10 times as many contestants. Action Items: Make a list of 20 things you could give away: paper books, e-books, audiobooks, interviews, checklists, cheat sheets. Make sure they are hyper-relevant to your audience’s hopes and desires. Use LeadPages or similar software to have the giveaways lead directly to new email list subscribers. Get the KingSumo Giveaways WordPress plugin to run your own contests quickly and easily. Tweets and Facebook messages give people better chances to win. Personality quizzes are a great way to activate your passive readers. WordPress plugins like WordPress Viral Quiz make them easily to build. Add them to your blog and watch them convert like crazy. Law #4: Create More Personal Relationships You are more likely to actively engage with friends than acquaintances, so how do you make your audience feel like they are your friend? One way to create personal relationships is by telling personal stories (from Law #2), but there are more techniques for creating intimacy with your reader. For example, if I am talking to you as friends would, I would never say: â€Å"People should share the content if they like it† if what I really meant to say was â€Å"You should share my post if you like it.† It goes against what you learned in high school, but when blogging, use personal pronouns (like â€Å"I† and â€Å"You†) instead of impersonal pronouns (like â€Å"people should do this and that†). Get personal with your #blog to build relationships with your readers.Another great method is to combine this with Laws #1 and #2. Engage with people through your surveys to find out their personal stories (like â€Å"please tell me your story†, not â€Å"send me stories†), and then ask permission to share their stories on your blog. Most people will gladly say yes, and then you can share your own point of view through your customers' stories (and even in their own words). Personal pronouns combined with great storytelling bonds people together and creates relationships. This should be a top goal for your blog if you want to create active subscribers and brand advocates. Action Items: Review your 3 most popular blog posts for impersonal pronouns (he, she, they, people, them, one) and see if you can replace them with more personal ones (I, you). This will give you a sense for how vigilant you will need to be in the future. Call or email your 5 best customers, and tell them you just wanted to make sure they were happy. Then ask them to tell you about the last big challenge they had and how they overcame it. LISTEN. Don’t interrupt. Write notes. Carefully read some of the popular blogs in your space and see what they do to draw people in. Do they use personal pronouns? Use QuickSprout to research their most popular posts and figure out how  you can replicate that success. Recommended Reading: 25 Growth Hacks Your Content Marketing Desperatly Need Law #5: Tell Your Audience What To Do The end of your posts will make or break how active your readers are. If you end with something typical like: â€Å"In conclusion, do X to get Y,† then your reader will happily close their tab and move on. But if you end with a call to action, then if they liked the post, they will know exactly what to do next. A simple and effective way to do this is with a postscript. Postscripts tend to catch people’s eye and are very hard to ignore. If you want people to share a post, you could write a post-script as simple as this one: P.S. If you know someone who makes this mistake, I'd love it if you shared  this post with them. Thank you! It’s a non-invasive way to increase the virality of your posts. You can even auto-include it on all your WordPress posts if you use a plugin like Bottom of Every Post. If you use the SumoMe WordPress plugin, you can keep track for free of what percent of readers get to the end of your posts. On average, we find that half of our readers will read the whole post. By the time they get there, they will be ready to take an action. You just need to point them in the right direction. Action Items: Think of 1 thing that has inspired you recently that wasn’t related to work, but tied into work (like Neil Patel’s 10 Marketing Techniques That I Learned From Instagram Models) and make it into a new blog post full of story and personal pronouns. End it with a P.S. that asks readers to share the post and see what happens. Combine postscripts with the giveaways created in Law #3 to make irresistible actions for your readers to take. Think of ways to make more content out of your most popular posts. For example, you could create slides and post them to SlideShare or record yourself dictating the post and make a podcast out of it. Then the action your readers can take is directly related to the content they just read. Turning passive readers into active promoters and brand advocates  isn’t hard, sometimes it just takes a few tweaks to make a big difference. Try some of these techniques and see what works for you. If you discover other techniques, please come back to this post and leave a comment to help others just like you.

Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 9

Assignment Example Increase in the wages of orange pickers. Again many firms operating below the appropriate profit margin will find it difficult to pay expensive orange pickers, who will be made redundant. As a result, firms will have to reduce their output and have to charge higher prices to compensate high wages of workers who are retained in the job. 3) The result of price reduction is increase in the companies producing these computers which increased the supply and at the same time reducing prices. It may also be due to foreign firm giving competition to the local expensive brands. 4) A tariff on imported orange juice will mean that imported orange juice will become more expensive. This will reduce the competition on the local firms to reduce their prices to compete with a cheaper brand. As a result, local firms will exploit the consumers charging higher prices and thus overall market price for consumers is going to increase. 5) A shift in demand signifies that a product will now be bought more or less at every give price. This occurs due to some factors that make the product more or less attractive and it is not due to the price. Similarly, increase in quantity demanded is movement along the curve and is basically increase or decrease in price brought about by price fluctuations. 6) An increase in income is going to increase the demand for normal good as income increases. This is because people now have more to spend and will try to improve their living standard. On the other hand, an increase in income is going to reduce the demand for inferior goods as people will look for better alternatives and high quality goods. 7) No, consumers do not buy more of every good as the price of goods fall. The demands for necessities remain more or less constant throughout the changes in income cycles. Demand for normal good increases as the price of a good falls, but the demand for inferior goods or cheap goods does not vary that much as they constitute only a small

Major 8-1 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Major 8-1 - Essay Example icated in causing liver cancers, aggressive behavior, gynaecomastia, and testicular atrophy (Josefson, 1996, 702).† Adolescence use performance enhancing drugs due to the pressure to achieve difficult goals, which paves the way for future substance abuse and health problems. Athletic students with goals to play collage or professional sports feel pressured to be the very best. Above all, professional sports roll models are often accused of using performance-enhancing drugs (Garzon et. al., 2006, 159). Professional athletes including baseball players Mark McGuire and Sammy Sosa, football player Emmit Smith, and wrestler Hulk Hogan used over the counter performance-enhancing drugs. â€Å"Mark McGuire and Sammy Sosa admitted consuming creatine, an energy boosting protein, Mark McGuire also admitted to taking androstendione, a testosterone producer (Josefson, 1996, 702).† Creatine and androstendione are both available over-the-counter. Hulk Hogan used over-the-counter steroids to build muscle mass to gain weight class in his wrestling career. As a result, student athletes turn to performance-enhancing drugs with the idea that their athletic performance will enhance; however, these drugs do not improve athletes’ skill level or make them stronge r. â€Å"High school and even middle school students are using these supplements because they are misled into thinking that supplements will enhance their athletic skills resulting in an improvement in their performance (Garzon et. al., 2006, 159).† Students with high expectations and low self-esteem â€Å"are at the risk of following the shoes of their role models as they seek performance enhancing drugs (Garzon et. al., 2006, 159).† Athletic organizations like â€Å"the International Olympic committee, National College Athletic Association, and National football league, have banned the use of androstenedione [but the ban is difficult to enforce], as the steroid is not tested for in standard drug test (Josefson, 1996, 702).†

Book report on The stranger by Albert Camus Essay

Book report on The stranger by Albert Camus - Essay Example Albert Camus is considered to the French author of the Modernism era, and he is also famous by its philosophical views and journalistic articles. The philosophy of absurd has remained to be his notable contribution in the field of literature of that period (McCarthy, 5-6). This man has an individual and extraordinary world perception that he effuses in his creations. â€Å"The Stranger† has been first published in the year 1942 (McCarthy, 1). Albert Camus has had 29 years old, and that was a period of war and devastation. His father has been killed in the whirlpool of events that happened in the previous war (McCarthy, 3). That is why we may lead to personal and historical references while reading the book. Camus represents his own pattern of live vision that may seem ridiculous and irritating for the society. Still, this pattern may be understood from different perspective that author suggest us to query. The setting of the novel is the French colony of Algiers and the time is introduced the period before World War II. â€Å"The Stranger† represents two parts of the story that are thematically and logically divided. The main character is named Meursault. There are a few secondary characters in the story which help to develop the plot. The slant on the novel is tragic with the philosophical implications. The atmosphere is gloomy and dull with calm and confident inclusions. Novel â€Å"The Stranger† suggests to the audience the story about allegedly ordinary person Meursault who remains to be the recluse man with small needs and paltry subsistence. He is engaged in boring work, and lives in a small and dirty room. Physical necessities form more important value for Meursault than some entire personal feelings and moral dogmas. This man is viewed as a protagonist of the story. We also may regard him as anti-hero of the novel due to some perspective. Camus involves the readers into contradictory

Seven Steps In The Benchmarking Process Business Essay

Seven Steps In The Benchmarking Process Business Essay Benchmarking  is the process of comparing ones business processes and  performance metrics  to industry bests or  best practices from other industries. Dimensions typically measured are quality, time and cost. In the process of benchmarking, management identifies the best firms in their industry, or in another industry where similar processes exist, and compare the results and processes of those studied (the targets) to ones own results and processes. In this way, they learn how well the targets perform and, more importantly, the business processes that explain why these firms are successful. Benchmarking is used to measure performance using a specific  indicator  (cost per unit of measure, productivity per unit of measure, cycle time of x per unit of measure or defects per unit of measure) resulting in a metric of performance that is then compared to others. Also referred to as best practice benchmarking or process benchmarking, this process is used in management and particularly strategic management, in which organizations evaluate various aspects of their processes in relation to best practice companies processes, usually within a peer group defined for the purposes of comparison. This then allows organizations to develop plans on how to make improvements or adapt specific best practices, usually with the aim of increasing some aspect of performance. Benchmarking may be a one-off event, but is often treated as a continuous process in which organizations continually seek to improve their practices. BASICS OF BENCHMARKING Indian organizations are becoming world class both in terms of size and performance. Therefore, there is a greater need to become superior in performance consistently. Quality is becoming the hallmark for both products and services. Indian and multinational organizations are increasingly becoming quality conscious and try to deliver high quality products and services to customers. Quality delivery which was the property of General Electric, Ford, General motors, Xerox and ATT had become the buzzword in many corporate circles in India as well. From Software major Infosys to Automobile giant Mahindra are adopting best in class technologies, borrows and adopt best ideas, incubate and implement them as part of their corporate strategy. As individuals do swot analysis, companies have to do swot analysis for their competitive advantage and for long term survival. The external competitive pressure on the system had made its absolutely necessary to benchmark with similar organizations or organizations of different breed. However, benchmarking cannot cure all diseases of the company. Why the companies benchmark? Instead of being inward looking companies, large corporations are more outward looking nowadays. Liberalization and globalization had made the industries very competitive. Equally the transfer and adoption of technologies are more easier nowadays. The other advantage of benchmarking is the lowest cost associated with the process. The companies do not invest sizeable investments in research and development and there is no threat of any sunk cost. The process or practice or technology are readily available and easily be plagiarized. A company that decides to undertake a bench-marking initiative should consider the following questions: When? Why? Who? What? and How? WHEN Benchmarking can be used at any time, but is usually performed in response to needs that arise within a company. According to C.J. McNair and Kathleen H.J. Leibfried in their book  Benchmarking: A Tool for Continuous Improvement,  some potential triggers for the benchmarking process include: quality programs cost reduction/budget process operations improvement efforts management change new operations/new ventures rethinking existing strategies competitive assaults/crises WHY This is the most important question in managements decision to begin the benchmarking process. McNair and Leibfried suggest several reasons why companies may embark upon benchmarking: to signal managements willingness to pursue a philosophy that embraces change in a proactive rather than reactive manner; to establish meaningful goals and performance measures that reflect an external/customer focus, foster quantum leap thinking, and focus on high-payoff opportunities; to create early awareness of competitive disadvantage; and to promote teamwork that is based on competitive need and is driven by concrete data analysis, not intuition or gut feeling. WHO Companies may decide to benchmark internally, against competitors, against industry performance, or against the best of the best. Internal benchmarking is the analysis of existing practice within various departments or divisions of the organization, looking for best performance as well as identifying baseline activities and drivers. Competitive benchmarking looks at a companys direct competitors and evaluates how the company is doing in comparison. Knowing the strengths and weaknesses of the competition is not only important in plotting a successful strategy, but it can also help prioritize areas of improvement as specific customer expectations are identified. Industry benchmarking is more trend-based and has a much broader scope. It can help establish performance baselines. The best-in-class form of benchmarking examines multiple industries in search of new, innovative practices. It not only provides a broad scope, but also it provides the best opportunities over that range. WHAT Benchmarking can focus on roles, processes, or strategic issues. It can be used to establish the function or mission of an organization. It can also be used to examine existing practices while looking at the organization as a whole to identify practices that support major processes or critical objectives. When focusing on specific processes or activities, the depth of the analysis is a key issue. The analysis can take the form of vertical or horizontal benchmarking. Vertical benchmarking is where the focus is placed on specific departments or functions, while horizontal bench-marking is where the focus is placed on a specific process or activity. Concerning strategic issues, the objective is to identify factors that are of greatest importance to competitive advantage, to define measures of excellence that capture these issues, and to isolate companies that appear to be top performers in these areas. HOW Benchmarking uses different sources of information, including published material, trade meetings, and conversations with industry experts, consultants, customers, and marketing representatives. The emergence of Internet technology has facilitated the bench-marking process. The Internet offers access to a number of databases-like Power-MARQ from the nonprofit American Productivity and Quality Center-containing performance indicators for thousands of different companies. The Internet also enables companies to conduct electronic surveys to collect bench-marking data. How a company benchmarks may depend on available resources, deadlines, and the number of alternative sources of information. ADVANTAGES OF BENCHMARKING Lowering Labor Costs One advantage of benchmarking may be lower labor costs. For example, a small manufacturing company may study how a top competitor uses robots for several basic plant functions. These robots may help the competitor save a significant amount of money on labor costs. Company managers may obtain information on these robotics systems through the competitors website or online articles. They may also identify the company that sold the competitor the robots. Subsequently, the company using benchmarking may call the robot manufacturer to help set up its own system. Improving Product Quality Companies may also use benchmarking to improve product quality. Engineers sometimes purchase leading competitors products. They may then take them apart, study them and determine how the competitors products outlast or outperform others in the industry. Chemical engineers may study food or cleaning products in a similar manner. They can then compare various elements contained in competitive products to their own product line. Subsequently, improvements can be made to product quality. Increasing Sales and Profits A company that uses benchmarking to improve its functions, operations, products and services may enjoy increases in sales and profits. Customers are likely to notice these improvements. The benchmarking company may also promote is improvements through company brochures, its sales reps, magazine and television ads. These efforts are likely to increase sales, especially among core customers. Companies that operate more efficiently due to benchmarking can drastically lower their expenses. These savings can be lead to greater profits. Considerations Some organizations use internal benchmarking to improve performance in different departments. Department managers may study and emulate the best practices of one particular department. These changes may spark improvements among all departments. Internal benchmarking has its limitations, however. The companys top department may not be functioning as efficiently as others in the industry. This means the other departments were not truly benchmarking against the best departments out there. PROCESS OF BENCHMARKING When it comes to Competitive Intelligence, there are a few simple tools that can provide for sophisticated comparisons of business functions between organizations that can help firms benchmark the constituent processes of the company with direct or indirect competitors, allowing a company to gain the upper hand in a marketplace. But, what is the process for setting the metrics, methodologies, milestones and comparisons which might be used to measure the success of a CI/benchmarking function, or the success of a Strategic Planning department as a whole? Benchmarking is best used and described as a framework for strategic planning in that, once elements of study are identified, metrics can be applied to the key success factors (KSFs) of the industry or marketplace and these measures or benchmarks are then used to develop future quality and market initiatives for the firm to enhance its overall competitive position. It is generally considered that there are seven steps to this process, as explained below. However, this analysis of intra- and sometimes inter-industry competitors can form the foundation for future competitor analysis when the emphasis is placed upon the goals and financial capabilities of the competitor. Seven Steps in the Benchmarking Process: 1. Determine which functional areas within your operation are to be benchmarked those that will benefit most from the benchmarking process, based upon the cost, importance and potential of changes following the study. 2. Identify the key factors and variables with which to measure those functions usually in the general form of financial resources and product strategy. 3. Select the best-in-class companies for each area to be benchmarked those companies that perform each function at the lowest cost, with the highest degree of customer satisfaction, etc. Best-in-class companies can be your direct competitors (foreign or domestic), or even companies from a different industry (parallel competitors with replacement or substitute products or services; latent competitors which might backwards- or forwards-integrate into your market; or, out-of-industry firms with whom you do not compete, but which have best-in-class areas to be studied such as FedEx or Wal-Mart in logistics). 4. Measure the performance of the best-in-class companies for each benchmark being considered from sources such as the SEC, companies themselves, articles in the press or trade journals, analysts in the market, credit reports, clients and vendors, trade associations, the government or from interviews with other organizations willing to share their prior research or swap it with you. 5. Measure your own performance for each variable and begin comparing the results in an apples-to-apples format to determine the gap between your firm and the best-in-class examples. Always feel free to estimate results, as exact measures are usually disproportionately difficult to obtain and often do not significantly add value to the study. 6. Specify those programs and actions to meet and surpass the competition based on a plan developed to enhance those areas that show potential for compliment. The firm can choose from a few different approaches from simply trying harder, to emulating the best-in-class, changing the rules of the industry or leapfrogging the competition with innovation or technology from outside the industry. 7. Implement these programs by setting specific improvement targets and deadlines, and by developing a monitoring process to review and update the analysis over time. This will also form the basis for monitoring, revision and recalibration of measurements in future benchmarking studies. DIFFERENT MEASURES OF BENCHMARKING One of benchmarkings cardinal questions is that of what to measure. That depends on the nature of the business. The point is that you cannot chase 50 benchmarks at the same time. One macro benchmark is required which then might be broken down into a series of supporting micro measures. Although it is fine to circulate such a measure, the most worthwhile aspect of the benchmarking process can be the opportunity for people in an organisation to see at first hand how other organisations go about their business. It is the process itself which is valuable; the voyage that is more educational than the reaching of the destination. Nevertheless, measurable performance falls into the three broad areas: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ time; à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ cost; and à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ quality. Time measures should incorporate the process from start to finish. For example, from when a customer places an order to the time of receipt of goods and payment, thereby accounting for total lead time, product development time and productive time. Cost measures are the traditional basis of comparison between firms and, because of this, we are often most comfortable with these measures. Two which can be useful in benchmarking are total process cost per unit of output and return on assets. Quality measures should capture the errors, defects and waste attributable to processes. Some measures which should be used in achieving this include process variability, defects, process yields, customer perceived quality, cost of quality and quality improvement efforts. TYPES OF BENCHMARKING There are a number of different types of benchmarking, as summarised below: Type Description Most Appropriate for the Following Purposes Strategic Benchmarking Where businesses need to improve overall performance by examining the long-term strategies and general approaches that have enabled high-performers to succeed. It involves considering high level aspects such as core competencies, developing new products and services and improving capabilities for dealing with changes in the external environment. Changes resulting from this type of benchmarking may be difficult to implement and take a long time to materialise Re-aligning business strategies that have become inappropriate Performance or Competitive Benchmarking Businesses consider their position in relation to performance characteristics of  key products and services. Benchmarking partners are drawn from the same sector. This type of analysis is often undertaken through trade associations or third parties to protect confidentiality. Assessing relative level of performance in key areas or activities in comparison with others in the same sector and finding ways of closing gaps in performance Process Benchmarking Focuses on improving specific  critical processes and operations. Benchmarking partners are sought from best practice organisations that perform similar work or deliver similar services. Process benchmarking invariably involves producing process maps to facilitate comparison and analysis. This type of benchmarking often results in short term benefits. Achieving improvements in key processes to obtain quick benefits Functional Benchmarking Businesses look to benchmark with partners drawn from different business sectors or areas of activity to find ways of improving similar functions or work processes. This sort of benchmarking can lead to innovation and dramatic improvements. Improving activities or services for which counterparts do not exist. Internal Benchmarking Involves benchmarking businesses or operations from within the same organisation (e.g. business units in different countries). The main advantages of internal benchmarking are that access to sensitive data and information is easier; standardised data is often readily available; and, usually less time and resources are needed. There may be fewer barriers to implementation as practices may be relatively easy to transfer across the same organisation. However, real innovation may be lacking and best in class performance is more likely to be found through external benchmarking. Several business units within the same organisation exemplify good practice and management want to spread this expertise quickly, throughout the organisation External Benchmarking Involves analysing outside organisations that are known to be best in class. External benchmarking provides opportunities of learning from those who are at the leading edge. This type of benchmarking can take up significant time and resource to ensure the comparability of data and information, the credibility of the findings and the development of sound recommendations. Where examples of good practices can be found in other organisations and there is a lack of good practices within internal business units International Benchmarking Best practitioners are identified and analysed elsewhere in the world, perhaps because there are too few benchmarking partners within the same country to produce valid results. Globalisation and advances in information technology are increasing opportunities for international projects. However, these can take more time and resources to set up and implement and the results may need careful analysis due to national differences Where the aim is to achieve world class status or simply because there are insufficientnational businesses against which to benchmark. SUCCESSFUL BENCHMARKING There are several keys to successful benchmarking. Management commitment is one that companies frequently name. Since management from top to bottom is responsible for the continued operation and evaluation of the company, it is imperative that management be committed as a team to using and implementing benchmarking strategies. A strong network of personal contacts as well as having an open mind to ideas is other keys. In order to implement benchmarking at all stages, there must be a well-trained team of people in order for the process to work accurately and efficiently. Based on the information gathered by a well-trained team, there must also be an effort toward continuous improvement. Other keys include a benchmarking process that has historical success, sufficient time and staff, and complete understanding of the processes to be benchmarked. In almost any type of program that a company researches or intends to implement, there must be goals and objectives set for that specific program. Benchmarking is no different. Successful companies determine goals and objectives, focus on them, keep them simple, and follow through on them. As in any program, it is always imperative to gather accurate and consistent information. The data should be understood and able to be defined as well as measured. The data must be able to be interpreted in order to make comparisons with other organizations. Lastly, keys to successful benchmarking include a thorough follow-through process and assistance from consultants with experience in designing and establishing such programs.