Planning A Vacation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Planning A Vacation - Essay Example Although nobody has enough time to plan for a vacation; it could be easy if you follow these simple steps. When you first begin planning your vacation get a folder and keep all your vacation plans in one place. This folder will have all the brochures from the sites you plan to visit. It will have information on airline flights and hotels. Make reservations and keep a detailed account in this folder of everyone you talk to. Get information from local restaurants and make a list of the ones you want to visit. With all the information in one place, you can then make a daily itinerary of your planned events. By looking through the folder at your leisure, ideas will bubble forth and in no time you will have a full schedule for your vacation plans. With the schedule in hand, it's time to pack. Pack a carry-on that is small enough to stay with you at all times. Include the necessary items that you must have in the event that you get separated from your other luggage for a day. If you need to take medication, be sure this is with you at all times and not in the checked baggage. Be sure to pack for the climate and the outings you have planned. Let the children pack their own bag with their own special take-alongs. This may include CDs, games, or magazines. Make sure that it is small enough to carry on the plane. Planning makes packing a breeze. T

Fun Fair in Sat Hill Park Essay Example for Free

Fun Fair in Sat Hill Park Essay It all started out unexpectedly. The storm began to get worse, sounds of the storm roared the atmosphere, with rage. Everything felt like a blur. Fog spurred over the plains of the path, it was as if the path was abandoned, because of silence that brought cries to each to each soul. I could see the people getting ready, taking their places in line. Time was running, fast as an earthquake destroys land within seconds. It was coming to dawn, not waiting for a hold. It was as only one person was allowed to move and goes on hold as a mobile phone. Less than a second ,the storm stopped, happier faces came and they started to run as fast as a bull, hunting its prey. For a while, everyone was in a mind of their own , having fun; and much more. But not for long.Out of no where came 3 men dressed in black with faces hidden and bodies covered with leather jacket and jeans with trainers.They had the same clothes, it was like a uniform. Then ,one man aimed the gun up high;asking for attention but before we knew it ; it was aimed at the nearest person near him..The ground was scattered with body parts detached from the dead body: hands, arms, feet’s and heads. Many started screaming; many cried. But most of all whos in pain was the mother.She lost her son. All of a sudden, I had an urge of walking across the battlefield, screaming to us to be quiet or were dead .It was an awakening response, my heart was racing fast, as I slowly walked through the jaws of death. As I was walking I stopped, it got to a point where I could’t talk no more. I stood still and froze in isolation and a thought, cropped up in my mind, though, I dont want to die and i dont want anymore to die. This thought was eating me inside, the sense of reality had been established, I knew this wasnt a dream. I didnt know what to do. I don’t mind looking at dead flesh but i dont want to make life hard for my parents. I knew without me, they are nothing. All I felt was loneliness and pain, as one day every living soul will bear such a punishment.Another one of them wanted to grab our attention again as everyones lost in their world.The young fellow aimed a bullet at dog. We could see its puppy dog eyes fainting in fear. Suddenly, someone else came and saved the day. The man who was ready to risk his life for all of us spoke for humanity. Asking them for what they want.The answer was nothing. They ran away as soon as a police car came pass.

Religion as a Gothic Element in American Romanticism Essay -- Romantici

Religion as a Gothic Element in American Romanticism American Romanticism can be strongly defined through its use of Gothic elements. Webster’s defines gothic as "of or relating to a style of fiction characterized by the use of desolate or remote settings and macabre, mysterious, or violent incidents" (529). Pre-American Romantic writers, such as Anne Bradstreet and Jonathan Edwards, do not tend towards the gothic in their writings of religion and religious elements. Although God is mysterious to both writers, they maintain certain characteristics and aspects expected of them and their religion. They keep their texts true to their beliefs. However, Mary Rowlandson begins a transition phase for the writers of this period. She begins to view God and religion in a darker and /more mysterious manner. By the time James Fenimore Cooper is writing, he blurs religion between two different religions. The Christian and the Indian God becomes mixed, along with their heaven. Whereas the earlier writers tend to understand and accept their Go d, the writers in the American Romantic period re-create their God adding a gothic twist to their religion and beliefs. Anne Bradstreet believes if she lives her life the way God meant her to live it, things will work out fine for her. She writes, "About 16, the Lord laid His hand sore upon me and smote me with the smallpox. When I was in my affliction, I besought the Lord and confessed my pride and vanity, and He was entreated of me and again restored me" (145). Bradstreet has a traditional view about God. She believes if she lives her life as a good person, she will be rewarded for it. If she lives her life full of pride and vanity, then she will pay the consequences. The good and just are rewarded ... ...us. Cora and Uncas end up together. There is the traditional romantic ending of riding off into the sunset, but into a Heaven which accepts both Indians and whites equally, adding elements of the gothic. Works Cited Bradstreet, Anne. "To My Dear Children." The Norton Anthology of American Literature. Ed. Nina Baym. New York: Norton & Company, 1999. 144-147. Cooper, James Fenimore. The Last of the Mohicans. New York: Viking Penguin Inc, 1986. Edwards, Jonathan. "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God." The Norton Anthology of American Literature. Ed. Nina Baym. New York: Norton & Company, 1999. 200-211. "Gothic." Webster’s Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary. 1991 ed. Rowlandson, Mary. "A Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson." The Norton Anthology of American Literature. Ed. Nina Baym. New York: Norton & Company, 1999. 148-164.

Has Cultural Globalization Been Good or Bad for Egypt?

Globalization is defined as â€Å"making something worldwide in a certain function† (dictionary. com). The incredible shift a country, the society, and the country’s culture inherits both positive and negative aspects. The change is not as visible in developed countries in comparison to developing countries. Egypt is a poor, developing country in which is influenced by countries across the world. Different elements such as the economy and the society must be considered to determine whether globalization has a positive or negative effect on Egypt. To begin, with the spread of the idea of globalization in Egypt and worldwide new economical advancements have forced an alteration in how bank systems are used today. The positive outlook on this developing issue is that the new system tries to adapt in order to fit the global picture of how a bank should act and what exactly their roles should contain. Also, globalization has â€Å"enhanced the manner of how businesses should operate and the manner of how larger companies take in and execute the cash flow of money† (Ganguly). On the other hand, the bank system is corrupt and several citizens till this day do not understand the new system. The reason behind their confusion is because the lack of knowledge, gap of social classes, and inability to adapt to a new development. Their aspect is the manner in which the bank is perceived negatively and is why several citizens, especially the ones of a lower class, stay far away from the bank system. Next, the issue that has shaken the Egyptian society as a whole is whether or not to accept the fact that their original cultural values are beginning to adjust due to the uprising and spreading of globalization. With the distribution of diverse cultures, it is difficult for the citizens of Egypt to stay intact with their own cultural principles. For instance, fashion plays a tremendous role in the altering of cultural values. This can be seen today in the male youths who walk the streets of Cairo, Egypt wearing low-waist jeans, loose t-shirts and holding the â€Å"coolest trend of all, a cigarette in their right hand†(Ganguly). When being compared to the youths of the early 1900s men at this time did not have the lavish choice to wear anything but slacks and a dress shirt. Even on casual outings their dress code required nothing but chinos.

Rhetorical Analysis Ap

Rhetorical Analysis Essay: 2008 AP Question 2 John M. Barry argues that scientists need to embrace uncertainty within the passage; he asserts that they need the courage and will to overcome the intimidating uncertainty of exploring new fields. With an honest and clear tone Barry highlights the divide between certainty and uncertainty in the passage, discussing the importance of â€Å"pioneers†, individuals who are willing to adventure into the unexplored to further their researches.Courage and wit are indeed two crucial factors for the biologists, chemists, and engineers of today to further develop science; it is important to â€Å"probe† the unknown in order to search for answers, and it is important to embrace failure instead of fearing it, for mistakes and faults help in perfecting research techniques. In The Great Influenza, Barry employs extended metaphor, repetition, and juxtaposition to deliver his message on the need for scientists to explore the unknown.Extended metaphor is used to highlight the intimidation brought from exploring undiscovered aspects of science, furthering her argument that researchers require courage. Barry claims that â€Å"real scientists† are â€Å"on the frontier† and must therefore â€Å"deal with the unknown† and develop â€Å"tools and techniques needed to clear the wilderness†.He describes the harshness and fear-inspiring nature of conducting foreign and novel experiments by comparing it to a â€Å"frontier†, describing it as the â€Å"unknown† and the â€Å"wilderness†Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬Å"frontier† connotes a barren landscape, insinuating the vast and unexplored characteristic of performing ambitious researches, and â€Å"unknown† and â€Å"wilderness† imply fear and intimidation, deterring scientists away from furthering their hypothesis. In doing this Barry emphasizes that courage is a crucial requirement for scientists to have in developing science.Furthermore, Barry mentions â₠¬Å"shovel†, â€Å"pick†, and â€Å"dynamite† as examples of â€Å"tools one needs†. All of the utilities are used for grating and arduous purposes, which furthers the idea that scientists â€Å"must create . . . everything†; scientists must work diligently and face the challenges they are given with perseverance; to execute successful experiments one must preserver in the face of failure by utilizing whatever means of tools that is available, and by connecting this to the â€Å"wilderness† and â€Å"frontier† at the beginning, Barry suggests that scientists might be afraid of this ailure and onerous work. The extended metaphor portrayed the larger idea that scientists must be courageous in dealing with unexplored areas and topics.Repetition was used to enforce the precarious nature of exploring new areas, insinuating that doing so required a strong mentality by researchers. Barry contends that even a â€Å"single laboratory findingâ⠂¬  can destroy a seemingly monumental belief, saying that it â€Å"can also take one off a cliff†, while arguing that it is also beneficial in that it â€Å"can take them through the looking glass into a world that seems entirely different . . crystal to precipitate an order†. In repeating â€Å"single† and describing many effects that can arise from it, Barry reasons that even a small, isolated finding can destroy a monumental belief that had been upheld for a long time, and that scientists must readily acknowledge this. He also repeats the notion of fragility in using â€Å"sharp edge†, â€Å"glass†, and â€Å"crystal†, implying that new experiments are delicately balanced; he contends that such a brittle nature by intimidate scientists.Barry introduces obstacles that must be overcome by scientists not only through a smart mind, but also through a daring heart. By juxtaposing the two mentalities of following a pre-established road and pi oneering a new one, Barry argues that scientists need to have an adventurous and brave spirit to truly expand the horizons of current models and research techniques. He contrasts â€Å"Certainty† and â€Å"Uncertainty†, describing the former as â€Å"strength† and â€Å"something upon which to lean†, while distinguishing the latter as â€Å"weakness† and â€Å"mak[ing] one tentative if not fearful†.From the very onset Barry describes two very different paths that scientists are faced with in facing â€Å"certainty† and â€Å"uncertainty†. These two significant but strikingly different ideas are posed as the difference between comfort and fear, and Barry argues that scientists need to push themselves into stepping into â€Å"uncertainty† and facing the possibility of disproving their own hypothesis, or the possibility of using the wrong equipment, or even the possibility of making a crucial mistake in order to further dev elop not only science but also their own research techniques.Barry conveys his argument that scientists must overcome the obstacle of â€Å"uncertainty† and must be willing to embrace the fear that entails it through juxtaposing the two ideas of â€Å"uncertainty† and â€Å"certainty†. Through using extended metaphor and repetition to highlight the stark and intimidating conditions of conducting innovative experiments, and juxtaposition to emphasize how the difficult obstacles to overcome, Barry reasons that scientists not only need intellectual curiosity and bright wit, but also a courageous and adventurous spirit.Today education is emphasizing on spoon-feeding children; it teaches children what to think, not how to think; standardized exams pressure students into abiding by â€Å"proven† methods, and creativity and critical thinking are left in the back seat. Barry’s dissertation on the necessary qualities of a scientist indirectly but gratingly points out this flaw within the system, admonishing us that at this rate there will be a lack of â€Å"investigators† or â€Å"pioneers† in the future.

Positive vs. Normative Analysis

Positive vs. Normative Analysis While economics is largely an academic discipline, it is quite common for economists to act as business consultants, media analysts, and advisers on government policy. As a result, its very important to understand when economists are making objective, evidence-based statements about how the world works and when they are making value judgments about what policies should be enacted or what business decisions should be made. Positive Analysis Descriptive, factual statements about the world are referred to as positive statements by economists. The term positive isnt used to imply that economists always convey good news, of course, and economists often make very, well, negative-positive statements. Positive analysis, accordingly, uses scientific principles to arrive at objective, testable conclusions. Normative Analysis On the other hand, economists refer to prescriptive, value-based statements as normative statements. Normative statements usually use factual evidence as support, but they are not by themselves factual. Instead, they incorporate the opinions and underlying morals and standards of those people making the statements. Normative analysis refers to the process of making recommendations about what action should be taken or taking a particular viewpoint on a topic. Examples of Positive vs. Normative The distinction between positive and normative statements is easily shown via examples. The statement: The unemployment rate is currently at 9 percent. is a positive statement, since it conveys factual, testable information about the world. Statements such as: The unemployment rate is too high.The government must take action in order to reduce the unemployment rate. are normative statements, since they include value judgments and are of a prescriptive nature. Its important to understand that, despite the fact that the two normative statements above are intuitively related to the positive statement, they cannot be logically inferred from the objective information provided. (In other words, they dont have to be true given that the unemployment rate is at 9 percent.) How to Effectively Disagree With an Economist People seem to like disagreeing with economists (and, in fact, economists often seem to enjoy disagreeing with one another), so its important to understand the distinction between positive and normative in order to disagree effectively. To disagree with a positive statement, one must bring other facts to the table or question the economists methodology. In order to disagree with the positive statement about unemployment above, for example, one would have to make the case that the unemployment rate isnt actually 9 percent. One could do this either by providing different unemployment data or by performing different calculations on the original data. To disagree with a normative statement, one can either dispute the validity of the positive information used to reach the value judgment or can argue the merits of the normative conclusion itself. This becomes a more murky type of debate  since there is no objective right and wrong when it comes to normative statements. In a perfectly organized world, economists would be pure scientists who perform only positive analysis and exclusively convey factual, scientific conclusions, and policymakers and consultants would take the positive statements and develop normative recommendations. In reality, however, economists often play both of these roles, so its important to be able to distinguish fact from opinion, i.e. positive from normative.

Definition and Examples of the Etymological Fallacy

Definition and Examples of the Etymological Fallacy Etymological fallacy is the faulty argument that the true or proper meaning of a word is its oldest or original meaning. Because the meanings of words change over time, a words contemporary definition cant be established from its origin (or etymology). The best indicator of a words meaning is its current use, not its derivation. Examples and Observations The OED [Oxford English Dictionary] . . . records that the word black has a difficult history, and was sometimes confused in Old English with a similar word which meant shining or white, but speakers would be ill-advised nowadays to use black to mean white.(Source: Michael Stubbs, Words and Phrases: Corpus Studies of Lexical Semantics. Blackwell, 2002)Doctor, Orient, Gyp, Decimate, Grow, DilapidatedIn our own day the etymological fallacy is widely honored, as revealed in countless statements by columnists, in letters to editors, and other public fora, which declare for example that the real meaning of doctor is teacher; or that the verb orient properly means to arrange something to face east; or that gyp cheat is derived from Gypsy (probably), and therefore, its use in any context is de facto an ethnic slur; or that decimate correctly means only to punish a mutiny or other serious breach of military discipline by killing one soldier in ten.The etymological fallacy appears from time t o time in puristic prescriptions, too, as when we are warned by usage authorities that because the real meaning of the verb grow is get bigger, expressions like grow weaker or grow smaller are incoherent; or that it is impossible to climb down; or that only stone structures can be dilapidated.(Source: Andrew L. Sihler, Language History: An Introduction. John Benjamins, 2000) Manure, December, CaptionOne thing to remember when you read or hear someone insisting that an English word must have a certain meaning because of its Latin or Greek roots is that these insisters apply their etymologies very selectively. You will find few of them who object to December being used for the twelfth month, when its Latin root means ten, or to manure being used as a noun meaning to work (land) by hand. So when you read, for example, that caption must refer to matter above a picture because it comes from Latin caput head, keep manure in mind.(Source: Merriam-Websters Dictionary of English Usage, 1995)EducationWhat could be called an etymological fallacy can sometimes be pushed quite a distance. Thus, partisans of a liberal conception of education have claimed that the word education comes from educere, etymology that invites a conception of education as an act of leading (induco) out of (ex) ignorance- which conforms to the liberal notion of education. On the other side ar e those who favor a notion of education understood as nourishing and, more broadly, furnishing the conditions necessary for a persons development. They invoke a second etymological hypothesis, according to which education comes from educare, which means nourish or raise. And still others maintain that education is an indeterminate concept and support their thesis with the very uncertainty of the etymology. You see that etymology, as illuminating as it sometimes is, cannot, in any instance, resolve problems of conceptual definition on its own.(Source: Normand Baillargeon, A Short Course in Intellectual Self-Defense. Seven Stories, 2007) Passing InsightsEtymology does not make a contribution to the description of the contemporary meaning and usage of words; it may help to illuminate how things have got to where they are now, but it as likely to be misleading as helpful (as with the etymological fallacy). Etymology offers no advice to one who consults a dictionary on the appropriate use of a word in the context of a written text or spoken discourse. It merely provides some passing insight for the interested dictionary browser with the requisite background knowledge and interpretative skills.(Source: Howard Jackson, Lexicography: An Introduction. Routledge, 2002)

Famous Quotations About Marriage and Married Life

Famous Quotations About Marriage and Married Life Anybody who has been in a happy marriage will confirm that the key to a happy married life lies in the bedrock of trust and friendship. Marriage spells out a lifetime of love. With trust, you can overcome all odds. Build your marriage into a rock-steady relationship with trust. For more secrets to a successful marriage, read these quotes about marriage. Quotes on Marriage HomerThere is nothing nobler or more admirable than when two people who see eye to eye keep house as man and wife, confounding their enemies and delighting their friends. Robert C. DoddsThe goal in marriage is not to think alike, but to think together. Lyndon B. JohnsonOnly two things are necessary to keep ones wife happy. One is to let her think she is having her own way, the other, to let her have it. Pearl S. BuckA good marriage is one which allows for change and growth in the individuals and in the way they express their love. Rainer Maria RilkeA good marriage is that in which each appoints the other guardian of his solitude. Simone SignoretChains do not hold a marriage together. It is threads, hundreds of tiny threads which sew people together through the years. That is what makes a marriage last more than passion or even sex! SocratesMy advice to you is to get married. If you find a good wife, youll be happy; if not, youll become a philosopher. Martin LutherThere is no more lovely, friendly and charming relationship, communion or company than a good marriage Iris MurdochThe absolute yearning of one human body for another particular body and its indifference to substitutes is one of lifes major mysteries. Nanette NewmanA good marriage is at least 80 percent good luck in finding the right person at the right time. The rest is trust. Morris L. ErnstA sound marriage is not based on complete frankness; it is based on a sensible reticence. Dave MeurerA great marriage is not when the perfect couple come together. It is when an imperfect couple learns to enjoy their differences. Helen Gahagan DouglasWhen a marriage works, nothing on earth can take its place. Paul TournierThis is what marriage really means: helping one another to reach the full status of being persons, responsible beings who do not run away from life. Mignon McLaughlinA successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person. Honore de BalzacOne should believe in marriage as in the immortality of the soul. Benjamin DisraeliIt destroys ones nerves to be amiable every day to the same human being. Robert AndersonIn every marriage more than a week old, there are grounds for divorce. The trick is to find, and continue to find, grounds for marriage. Sydney J. HarrisAlmost no one is foolish enough to imagine that he automatically deserves great success in any field of activity, yet almost everyone believes that he automatically deserves success in marriage. George EliotThat quiet mutual gaze of a trusting husband and wife is like the first moment of rest or refuge from a great weariness or a great danger.

James Posts theory of global corporate citizenship Essay

James Posts theory of global corporate citizenship - Essay Example James Post rightly considers companies as stakeholders of the world. This can be estimated from the fact that the recent economic recession that has blanketed the whole world has caused a considerable damage to the business scenario. A lot of companies have downsized in order to save their expenses resulting into increased unemployment. Many people have lost their jobs in the recent years. This proves the fact that companies are stakeholders to the globe. Do you believe businesses have a moral obligation to integrate public work into their private work, or treat their private work as public work? Yes, businesses do have a moral obligation of integrating public work into the private work. As James Post rightly emphasizes, it is in the self interest of management not to be an entirely private good. Managers can enhance the life and profitability of their business by working for the achievement of societal commonwealth because this way, they will gain the consent and encouragement of th e stakeholders in the society. Where managers adopt such practices which are not directed at addressing a truly public concern, and where managers’ skills are treated as a totally private property, the business does not have many golden days and the continuity of business is threatened by social forces.

Maritime Logistics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Maritime Logistics - Essay Example Maritime logistics industry itself is going through a very subtle but important change which will make it critical for the leading industry players to prepare them strategically in such a manner that can allow them to develop sustainable and progressive businesses in largely volatile business environment. Our target company which emerged from being a small player to one of the key international player only because of the management of the most important key drivers in such a manner that it allowed to develop its strengths and potential to dominate the market. The fact that company has been able to withstand the pressures of the current financial crisis itself is one of the ample proofs of how a successful company can actually sustain the external pressures and develop its internal strengths to achieve the success. Some of the issues that have been discussed in part 1 of this report focused on the understanding of the basic characteristics of the industry as well as to study and understand as to how the company has been working over the period of time and what are some of the risk factors that can contribute towards increasing the overall risk of the investment opportunity. As such there is a need to have a broader understanding of the factors identified in part 1 of this report so that a comprehensive and to the point understanding of the critical success factors can be developed for making better and more informed decisions. Our target company is also one of the firms which has been able to successfully withstand the economic pressures because of the fact that it has strategically developed itself to a point where it is relatively more stable and resilient against the changes in economic conditions. The target firm therefore is one of such firms which will contribute positively towards value creation if all the risk factors and critical issues are factored in accordingly. Some of the issues that have been discussed in

(Technology Supporting Business Processes 2 ) Assignment

(Technology Supporting Business Processes 2 ) - Assignment Example This has been through a number of aspects. First, the use of information system in businesses has largely shaped the decisions. Reason being; it can deliver all information needed. Consequently, with the availability of updated information business can make informed decisions. For example, in the event that the business owners are to choose between two factors, the system derives key indicators (costs, income, etc) for both. Therefore, this will result into making a choice that will be more efficient and competitive (How Information System Impact Organizations and Businesses, 2013). Second, the use of information system in business setting has influenced increased productivity. This is because automation of the process in a business increases the production speed. Moreover, this shifts employees’ attention to other duties that require critical thinking. Consequently, this makes the business more competitive. Furthermore, information system reduces the number of workers. As a result, the business will minimize expenses and increase profitability (Goessl, 2010). Third, information systems provide an efficient and effective way to store data. This enables quick accessibility. As a result, costs associated with setting up storage units are minimized (Doom, 2010). In conclusion, it is evident that through the incorporation of information business system, businesses are positively affected. This is because it minimizes costs associated with the production. Consequently, this ensures that businesses are competitive. Goessl, L. (2010, February). Advantages of Using Information System in Business. Retrieved July Thursday, 2014, from Inside Business: http://www.insidebusiness360.com/index.php/advantages-of-using-information-systems-in-business-14410/ How Information System Impact Organizations and Businesses. (2013). Retrieved July Thursday, 2014, from Slide

Foreign direct investment Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

Foreign direct investment - Assignment Example Foreign direct investment involves acquisition of managerial control in a company. The threshold of this form of ownership is 10% or more in UK. This varies across countries. With the liberalization of the various global economies in Africa and Asia this form of investment has grown considerably. Foreign direct investment (FDI) facilitates the interaction of two firms and economies with varying economic differences. The foreign investors invest their funds with a long term perspective to exploit the cheap labour costs, strategic advantages, rich natural resources, market etc of another economy. In short this form of investment involves investing within the firm but outside the region. Importance of FDI This form of investment provides the necessary capital required by some developing economies which might be difficult to generate through domestic means. Besides the financial resources the foreign direct investment also provides the opportunity to make use of sophisticated and latest technology. It has been seen that the companies with no prior experience face problems in the import of such technology as this is deemed to be risky as well as expensive. With time FDI imparts a number of benefits to the host country that was hitherto not available. This includes upgrading of industrial operations, transferring of advanced technology, training the labour force, introduction of developed methods of accounting & modern management, developing the trading and finance related networks and up gradation of telecommunication related services. In sectors like services FDI uplifts the competitive strength of the host country by increasing the productivity of financial resources.

Professional Goal and Action Plan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Professional Goal and Action Plan - Essay Example For me, being successful in public relations will serve a lifelong purpose as it will help me create an environment that significantly values the importance of interpersonal relations. It is not only for me but for the society. I want to create a difference in the society, and this is the primary reason why I want to become successful in that field. I want to reiterate the value of interpersonal relations in the success of any person, business or culture. Since humans are natural social beings, the field of public relations is important as it helps in creating the environment, values and morals of the society (Reddi, 2009). It gives a hand in shaping people’s perspectives and reveal the truth and facts behind things in a manner that laymen can easily understand. The first thing that I need to do is specify my goals. In this section, I need to create a specific objective statement which corresponds to the smart action plan. The smart goal contains a statement which is specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and time-bound. Without these important aspects, I wouldn’t be able to create an action plan that is relevant to my goal. ... The primary function of a public relations practitioner is to advise the management of the impact of its policies to the public and to relay the impact of business moves and policies to the public (Johnston, et.al., 2009; Narula, 2006). Breaking this down, a public relations publicist are: â€Å"to advise management on policy and its effect on public relations, to channel and coordinate within an organization the activities that affect public relations, to provide the mechanics for explaining an organization and its policies to its various publics through communication media and to ascertain and explain to management what various publics think about the organization† (Johnston, et.al., 2009). In this regard, I believe that the role of a public relations practitioner is to guide not only the public of what is happening within the business by relating the policies to the masses’ experience but also to inform the business industry of the impact of their policies to the pub lic (Botha, et.al., 2007). This is an important ground in creating policies and defining changes and development within the business in order to be better and to be able to gain the trust and confidence of the public. The different areas of public relations are the following: communication, publicity, promotions, press agentry, integrated marketing, issues management, crisis management, press secretary or public information agent, public affairs or lobbyist, financial relations, communication relations, internal relations, industry relations, minority relations, media relations, public diplomacy, event management, sponsorship, cause relationship marketing and fundraising (Johnston,

Foreign direct investment Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

Foreign direct investment - Assignment Example Foreign direct investment involves acquisition of managerial control in a company. The threshold of this form of ownership is 10% or more in UK. This varies across countries. With the liberalization of the various global economies in Africa and Asia this form of investment has grown considerably. Foreign direct investment (FDI) facilitates the interaction of two firms and economies with varying economic differences. The foreign investors invest their funds with a long term perspective to exploit the cheap labour costs, strategic advantages, rich natural resources, market etc of another economy. In short this form of investment involves investing within the firm but outside the region. Importance of FDI This form of investment provides the necessary capital required by some developing economies which might be difficult to generate through domestic means. Besides the financial resources the foreign direct investment also provides the opportunity to make use of sophisticated and latest technology. It has been seen that the companies with no prior experience face problems in the import of such technology as this is deemed to be risky as well as expensive. With time FDI imparts a number of benefits to the host country that was hitherto not available. This includes upgrading of industrial operations, transferring of advanced technology, training the labour force, introduction of developed methods of accounting & modern management, developing the trading and finance related networks and up gradation of telecommunication related services. In sectors like services FDI uplifts the competitive strength of the host country by increasing the productivity of financial resources.

Art criticism paper Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Art criticism paper - Assignment Example From 1995, Jackson has been serving as the owner of Peoria’s home of contemporary Art center called the Raven Gallery. It is here that I got to see his painting entitled A Fishing Party displayed as one of the exhibits. This painting shows a group of fishermen and women who have come together to celebrate their fishing endeavours (Art Museum image). This is evidenced by the man on the right who is holding a fishing rod, women dancing and the man behind who is holding a spoon and seems to be eating. The party takes places in an open area during the night. The painting is about the economic status of fishermen in the society. The main underlying them is the disparity in investment capacity between the blacks and the white in the current American society which consequently determines their economic status (Art Museum image). The group represented has one fishing rod. This shows that despite their long existence in America, the African-Americans are still limited access to economic resources. Though they are in a party, the people are not really happy. This means that they do not really appreciate the achievements they have gained so far from their fishing. This is definitely a result of their limited capacity to acquire modern fishing technologies that could have given them results worth joyous celebrations. At the same time, it is ironical to call it a Fishing Party yet the people are not really celebrating as expected of them. And worst of all they are fishermen and women but where is fish tonight? This shows that the pressure to meet their economic obligations cannot allow them to have a share of the valuable meal. Such a reality makes their party to have mixed mood. The artist has correctly brought out the state of mixed mood by using a range of bright and dark colours as well as light shades and dark shades of colour and painting faces with mixed emotional expressions.

Uniform Crime Report Essay Example for Free

Uniform Crime Report Essay A Uniform Crime Report is a data series published by the Federal Bureau of Investigation that has been collected since 1930 and has been widely used by criminal justice researchers to collect data on crime. (Maxfield Babbie, 2012) Law enforcement agencies provide the crime data to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and then the reports are compiled and created. The Uniform Crime Report does not count all crimes that are reported to the police. Part I offenses such as murders and non-negligent manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny theft, and motor vehicle theft are all counted in the Uniform Crime Report. (Maxfield Babbie, 2012) There are a large number of crimes that are not measured in the Uniform Crime Report because they are considered to be Part II crimes. Part II crimes consist of shoplifting, drug sale or use, fraud, prostitution, simple assault, vandalism, receiving stolen property, and other non-traffic offenses. (Maxfield Babbie, 2012) Part II crimes are counted on the Uniform Crime Reports only if that person has been arrested and charged with a crime. These crimes do represent a large number of offenses that occur across the United States. And since they are only reported if a person has been arrested and charged with a crime, this does create some measurement errors in the Uniform Crime Report. In the 1920’s, the International Association of Chiefs of Police formed the Committee on Uniform Crime Reports. (Atlas, 2011) This committee wanted to establish a system of uniform police crime statistics. This committee evaluated various crimes based on how serious the crime is and how frequent that crime occurred as well as the likelihood of it being reported to law enforcement in all areas of the country. (Atlas, 2011) After the studies and evaluations were completed in each state, the Committee completed a plan for crime reporting that became the foundation of the Uniform Crime Report Program in 1929. (Atlas, 2011) Every month, law enforcement agencies across the United States submit results on the amount of Part I index offenses to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The index offenses consists of criminal homicide: the willful non-negligent killing of one human being by another or a death caused by negligence, attempted killings, and suicides; Forcible rape: the knowledge of raping a female forcibly and against her will and attempts or assaults excluding statutory offenses; Robbery: The taking or attempting to take anything of value from the custody or control of a person or persons by force or threat of force; Aggravated assault: an unlawful attack by one person upon another for the purpose of inflicting severe or aggravated bodily injury with the use of a weapon; Burglary: The unlawful entry of a structure to commit a felony or a theft; Larceny theft: the unlawful taking, carrying, leading, or riding away of property from the possession or constructive possession of another such as bicycles, shoplifting, and pocket-picking; Motor vehicle theft: the theft or attempted theft of a motor vehicle; Arson: any willful or malicious burning or attempt to burn, with or without intent to defraud a house, public building or any other personal property of another. (Atlas, 2011) Arson was not included in the Part I crime index’s originally when the Committee first formed the Uniform Crime Report. It was later added in 1979 to be included on the Uniform Crime Report. Before looking into the Uniform Crime Report statistics, violent crime in Illinois seems to have been on the rise especially the major metropolitan areas like Chicago. Just based on the news reports and changes in the communities that I have seen over the years has led me to believe that violent crime has increased tremendously. But after looking into the statistics more and reviewing the Uniform Crime Reports for the state Illinois I was able to really determine how violent crime was measured and recorded in Illinois. I will be reviewing violent crimes consisting of murder and non-negligent manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery and aggravated assault from the years of 2006 through 2010. I have included a table showing the crime reporting statistics for the state of Illinois from 2006 through 2010. Table 1, State of Illinois The statistics that appear in table 1 from the Uniform Crime Report show that in the categories of aggravated assault, robbery, forcible rape, and murder and non-negligent homicide, the number of violent crimes overall has decreased or stayed approximately the same from the years 2006 through 2010. Aggravated assaults in the years 2006 and 2010 had noticeably dropped while robberies stayed approximately the same throughout the five years with the biggest drop in the years 2006 and 2010 as well. Aggravated assaults in 2006 were reported at 40,858 and 32,042 in 2010. Forcible rape also stayed consistent during the five years with the exception of years 2006 and 2010. In 2006, forcible rape was reported at 4,078 and 3,033 in 2010. Murders and non-negligent homicides were surprisingly reported approximately about the same from 2006 through 2010. That category also had the biggest change in the year 2006 and 2010. Overall, the crimes reported show that crime has had its biggest decrease in the year 2010 in all four crime index categories. There isn’t a significant amount of differences amongst the numbers reported for violent crimes, but there still shows some improvement from the years 2006 through 2010. When looking at other states violent crime statistics between the years of 2006 through 2010 in comparison to Illinois, I reviewed Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. These three states were similar to Illinois in population. Violent crime trends in Illinois did not mirror these states at all. Tables 2, 3 and 4 show the crime rates between Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania between the years of 2006 through 2010. Table 2, State of Michigan Table 3, State of Ohio Table 4, State of Pennsylvania Although the Uniform Crime Report numbers for these states above are very different from one another, there were some noticeable changes within all four states. While Michigan and Illinois had similar aggravated assaults, Ohio had a significant amount that was less. The biggest difference is shown in the year 2006 where Illinois had 40,858 aggravated assaults, and Ohio only had 15,973. Forcible rapes were pretty consistent in decreases in the four states, but Ohio had the highest reduction from 2006 through 2010. Robberies is also an area where the statistics reported were shown to have decreased consistently in all four states throughout the same years. This was a major similarity between the four states with Illinois reporting the highest robbery crimes amongst Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. The last crime offense what was looked at was murder and non-negligent homicide. This is another area where it showed a consistent decrease amongst all four states with Ohio having the lowes t amount of murders and non-negligent homicides reported in the year 2010 compared to the other states. Most of the areas in each state showed trends of a consistent pattern even though the numbers reported and shown were different from year to year. Overall, there is a pattern that shows in all four states that violent crimes appear to be decreasing starting from the year 2006 through 2010 which is good. There were some discrepancies that were reported with the forcible rape offenses in the state of Illinois. According to the Uniform Crime Report in the year 2006, Illinois data include arrests made for rapes of male victims. Therefore, Illinois figures for forcible rape include only forcible rape offenses from Rockford, Illinois that had female victims. (Justice, 2007) In other words, Rockford, Illinois is the only part of the state that is submitting data for female victims of forcible rapes whereas the remaining area is not. Therefore the national Uniform Crime Report did not include all of the arrest data. There are other crimes that are not reported in the Uniform Crime Report suc h as drug sale or use, vandalism, simple assault, prostitution, and all other non-traffic offenses. Because of this, a large number of crimes reported are not measured in the Uniform Crime Report. (Maxfield Babbie, 2012) The hierarchy rule is also another measurement error in the Uniform Crime Report that is used by police agencies and the Federal Bureau of Investigation to classify crimes. Under the hierarchy rule, if multiple crimes are committed in a single incident, only the most serious is counted in the Uniform Crime Report. (Maxfield Babbie, 2012) This is what was seen in the crime statistics for Illinois. According to the Uniform Crime Report for Illinois, valid counts for murder, forcible rape, robbery, and aggravated assault were available only for agencies in cities 100,000 and over in population. (Justice, 2007) The only available data generated by the Illinois State Program were totals based upon an incident-level system without indication of multiple offenses recorded within single incidents. (Justice, 2007) Therefore, the Uniform Crime Report hierarchy rule could not be applied in order to convert the state’s data to Summary format. (Justice, 2007) To arrive at a comparable state estimate to be included in national compilations, the Illinois State Program’s totals were reduced by the proportion of multiple offenses reported within single incidents in the National Incident-Based Reporting System database. Data for cities 100,000 and over in population were excluded from the reduction process. (Justice, 2007) Even though there are many measurement errors in the Uniform Crime Report, I still believe that the report is very useful throughout the United States. It gives an estimated figure on violent and property crimes from state to state. This is important because based on the measures of accurately assessing these crimes, more tactical ways to minimize crime amongst police agencies can be developed based on what is being reported in the Uniform Crime Report. We all want our communities to be as safe as possible and this is a great way to start along with monthly meetings about what is being reported in each area of the cities. Works Cited Atlas, N. (2011, January 26). Summary of the Uniform Crime Reporting Program. Retrieved October 5, 2012, from Summary of the Uniform Crime Reporting Program: http://www.nationalatlas.gov/articles/people/a_crimereport.html Justice, U. S. (2007, September 1). Federal Bureau of Investigation. Retrieved 10 05, 2012, from Crime in the United States: http://www2.fbi.gov/ucr/cius2006/data/table_05_dd.html Maxfield, M. G., Babbie, E. R. (2012). Basics of Research Methods. In M. G. Maxfield, E. R. Babbie, Basics of Research Methods (p. 90). Belmont: Cenveo Publisher Services.

The Internet And Social Media

The Internet And Social Media Self-esteem is all about how a person views themselves. When a person has a healthy sense of self, they respect themselves and they possess the courage to try different experiences even if it means that they might fail. A positive sense of self is driven to make healthy decisions and does not search for negative influences to pattern after. Low self-esteem is the complete opposite; it entails feelings of loneliness and self-hate. Low self-esteem is a serious problem for many young people; they often feel that they are undesirable and not worthy of having long lasting friendships or love interest. These feelings are a normal part of adolescence but, children who have low self-esteem find that negative thoughts and feelings of self-loathing dont seem to disappear. A child who has a normal and healthy sense of self has the ability to overcome these feelings or find ways to cope with them. Children with low self-esteem often cant summons the energy to channel positive thoughts and feelin gs. To combat this problem, teens will search for things that will make them feel complete. According to (Bessie`re, Seay, Kiesler, 2007; Wan Chiou, 2006), feelings of inadequacy and meekness often leads young people to prolonged use of the Internet. Children with low self-esteem also feel that the important adults in their lives, constantly judge them on their performances in school and in other social situations. They feel a need for acceptance and love from their parents, peers and community. The Internet and Social media sites also provide children the opportunity to fill the void of despair by choosing negative and harmful role models to pattern themselves after. These role models become important to them, they feel a need to nurture them and allow them to grow. Many times, these characters are more important than actual face to face communication with peers and family. Internet addiction in this case is characterized as a child or young adult spending excessive amounts of time and energy on the internet or on social media sites. The child will often find himself visiting sites; posting pictures and communicating all day long, while neglecting their daily responsibilities and routines. Instead of having normal peer relationships and interactions, the child seeks; people to chat with on-line. Greenfield (1999) found that young people, who use chat-rooms in a marked degree, make up a large group of compulsive Internet users. For these participators, chat rooms and Social media sites become their primary outlet for interactions; relationship building and the fulfillment of social needs. These children often miss the opportunity to make friends in the real world because they start to believe that the people they meet on line can be trusted with personal information. Polls taken on students found that Seventy-two percent of school age range youth has adm itted to using internet chat rooms in excess on a daily basis. Young (1997) found that children lose out on peer interactions and academic opportunities due to compulsive internet use. Egger (1996), found eight prevalent indications of Internet addiction: 1. the child seems to overlook time spent when on line, 2. the child gets angry when he is asked to end Internet time. 3. The child steals time on the internet without parental permission, 4. The child exhibits a loss of interest in daily activities or relationships, 5. Child seems depressed and despondent when they are not on-line, 6. Child checks e-mails and Social Media accounts constantly, 7. The child seeks out friends on-line and forms new relationships and 8. The child uses chat identification names while off-line. A child can also find themselves developing addictive patterns like; checking media sites or entering chat rooms. On the Internet; a child who is normally shy and reserved, can create a whole new image and personality by joining on-line chat rooms. In a groundbreaking article, Rheingold (1996) argued that internet chat rooms and Social media sites are places that a child can act out a part in a role of their choosing. The child can create their own reality, while hiding behind a computer terminal. In these social media rooms, the child feels the freedom to re-create himself into the person he wishes to be. This gives the child the power to control his state of being. Instead of feeling powerless and non-existent, the child has the confidence that he never had before. On-line friendships in Social media sites become more important than actual relationships with family members and peers. This is why it is so easy for the child to become addicted to Social media; they seem to be a safe harbor for anyone who feels lonely and powerless. There are many popular sites that children use in order to chat with others; many times these sites condone sexually explicit behavior and messages. These sites have a large adolescent following; they offer the chance to chat with peers and create web pages that can be suggestive and inappropriate. Many children often feel free enough to explore their sexuality and desires without anyone knowing who they are. Arisoy and Davis (2009, 2001) states that despite the fact that overuse of Social media and Internet sites are seen as productive and gratifying to the user; it is actually an unhealthy way of coping with feelings of inadequacy. Facebook and MySpace are very popular Social media sites that teens with low self-esteem frequent. These sites are among the most popular social networking sites that children frequent today; with millions of teen followers (most under the age of 15). These sites allow the users to update their status as many times as they would like without fear of being reprimanded for inappropriate language or content. Lampe (2006) argued that the dominant reason why Social media sites exist is to bridge friends and family together; in spite of distance and time constraints. But what happens when these sites are abused by teens? These sites then become addictive and harmful to the user and can ultimately cause the child to perform poorly in school and in life. The allure to these sites seems to be the fact that children can create the self-image they always wanted to have. They can create an identity that mirrors the self-image they wish to have; while inviting the same peers who tease them to be friends with them. The child feels that the friends made on line are true and loyal. The child feels a sense of excitement and joy when their peers desire to view their page; this is seen as acceptance-even if the child is being deceptive. Children with self-image issues are given the platform to voice concerns and maybe turn the tables on awkward situations. Many children will hide behind Social media sites in order to empower themselves-sometimes in negative ways. Another effect that the internet has on self-esteem is cyber bullying. Cyber bullying entails using the internet or other electronic devises to harass or intimidate another person. Cyber bullying occurs when a child or group of children flood the internet or other electronic devises with negative images; slurs or rumors about fellow classmates of peers. Analysis establishes that cyber bullying causes both boys and girls feelings of exasperation, sadness, and desperation. Girls tend to respond with discontent but boys are preoccupied with feelings of possible revenge and score settling by the bully. This negative behavior has become a national problem; it is among the leading cause of teen suicide and school violence. Cyber bullies have many excuses as to why they harass their peers. Some say that they do it to get back at them for some wrong doing; another cyber bully says they did it because the class mate dressed and acted differently from other students. Children who have low self -esteem and are bullied feel unsafe in their surroundings. They feel that wherever they are, they can be touched by vicious and unfounded rumors on the Internet or physically harmed by the people who started the rumors. Children in this situation may feel too intimidated to tell a parent, family member or community leader. There is an unspoken rule that children in schools across the country follow; the no snitching or tattling rule. It often does not matter if the child is threatened or harmed in front of hundreds of their peers, that child feels that they cant tell. If they are brave enough to tell, the child will most certainly face retaliation and social humiliation by not only the bully but their friends also. These feelings of helplessness and confusion often lead the victim to either take their own life or the lives of the bully or other innocent people. Kessel (2012) stated that many victims of cyber bullying dealt with feelings of emotional distress; these feelings lead to depression, self-mutilation and or suicide. Pedophilia and predatory stalkers are also contributors to self-esteem and the Internet. In this case, children are preyed on while on certain Social media sites with the assumption that they are reaching out to young people their own age; but police reports and news articles paint a different picture. In the last few years; reports have invaded the news about the dangers of frequenting sites that have a large youth following. Pedophiles and stalkers prey on the young and naÃÆ'Â ¯ve; they use and contact children through their social media pages with false identities and backgrounds. The perpetrator is only chatting with the child in order to gain their trust and to acquire their personal information. After the offender gains that childs trust; they offer to meet them face to face with the promise of sex, drugs or some type of adventure. Often; these children are found sexually abused, psychologically scared or even worse- deceased. According to Melody (2007), in standard, there ar e three elements of staking: 1. there has to be a continuous sequence of unwanted behavior displayed by the stalker to the victim; 2. The stalker has to have made a threat toward the victim; 3. The victim has to have experienced a sense of uneasiness or danger as a result of the stalker. Recently, Facebook and other sites have promised to clean up its content by going in and deleting the member pages that contain explicit and suggestive language and content. They also vowed to delete the pages of children who post personal information such as; phone numbers, addresses and names of schools. Facebook and other sites only agreed to do this after a group of angry parents and educators called attention to the threat against our youth. Spitzberg and Hoobler (2002) argued that with the influx of Social media sites and other forms of technology, stalkers and pedophiles have better access to their victims. It is imperative that parents become active participants in spreading the word about the dangers of excessive internet use. Another link to self-esteem and internet use is negative body image. Teens are often ambushed with some type of media which includes circulars, videos, radio and Internet sites. Many young people and teens spend large amounts of time searching on fashion sites for the latest trend and fad diet. Children can spend hours in their rooms on various sites researching pictures of the perfect nose; eyes; stomach and behind. Many times these images are photo shopped and doctored to be flawless; the children feel that these images are real and should be aspired to. Young people with low self-esteem feel that their bodies are ugly and flawed so they are in search of what will make them feel whole. Many young women find themselves eager to have reconstructive surgeries done on their bodies due to these feelings. The Internet fuels these feelings of self-hate by encouraging young women and sometimes boys to fixate on images and celebrities body parts that they deem as attainable. The more these images are downloaded; more time consuming it becomes for the adolescent; this causes them to loose themselves in a world of unhealthy and detrimental thoughts. This time could be better spent interacting with peers and forming; lasting relationships outside of the home. Park (2005) suggests that the issues teens face with body image has taken an upturn with the surge in popularity of the Internet and Social media sites. There are many strategies parents can use in order to build higher self-esteem in children: parents need to create an open dialogue with children about their feelings and social interactions. Children who are disheartened feel that they have little chance to be successful in life. By opening the lines of communication; the child can express emotions and work out any aggression they might feel. This also gives the parent a better understanding on how to help the child through difficult times. Adults should show genuine care and concern toward the child and their particular issues; this will break down the wall of uncertainty and lack of trust between parent and child. Children can feel betrayed and angry when they sense that the parent is humoring them or being condescending; these feelings might lead the child to mistrust the parent and shut down. These assumptions could also lead the child to feel that their parents dont have their best interest at heart. To ensure that the child is not made to feel embarrassed or shunned, parents should think before they engage in an open dialogue. It is a good idea that parents establish an environment of optimism and concern about life and its ups and downs; be honest enough to tell them that we all face disappointments and hardships but stress the importance of not giving up. Have faith in the child/young person and display it- let the child know that they make a difference in the world. Dispense praise and positive assessment; chil dren feel their self-worth is contingent on how their peers view of them. To help reassure the child a parent can acknowledge when they attempt a hard task then, praise them for having had the courage to try. Learn to acknowledge what a child is feeling by asking them to identify their feelings. Parents of young children can even have a feelings chart hung in sight; with the proper title under each emotion. When the young child cant express their emotion in words, they can point to an emotion that best describes them. This will give the child the assurance that they are heard and understood by the parent while the parent teaches the names of the emotions and the best ways child how to handle them. Parents should also try to focus on the positive actions of the child instead of the negative ones so the child will feel confident and empowered instead of degraded and singled-out. Children love to imitate or follow after adults so it is important to allow children to see you take chances and step outside the norm. This action sends a clear message to the child; If I am brave enough to try, you can do it also. Encourage your child to use the creativity they possess; if they like to draw or paint, enroll them in an art class and participate. Lastly; trust that your child can handle making their own decisions; start with small issues then work up to large ones but keep the lines of communicati on open. For example; allow the child to choose their wardrobe for school. If there are questionable choices made, use that situation to positively discuss it. As time goes on, both sides will learn to compromise and talk out larger issues. Parents can also get children involved in activities away from home and the computer. Engaging in physical activity helps to stimulate the mind; build muscles and allows opportunities for positive social interactions. There are many strategies parents can use in order to combat excessive Internet usage in children. 1. Parents need to inform themselves about the internet and chat rooms; parents are not aware that their children are addicted to the internet because they know so little about it. Parents should ask their children to help them navigate through some of the social media sites. Allow them to assume the role of teacher while the parent praises them of their knowledge and understanding of the sites. This will make the child feel easier about sharing this information and create an opening for questions and answers. 2. Take a computer literacy class. If parents are not comfortable with asking their child to show them how to navigate the web, they can sign up for free classes. Places like the public library and community centers offer free or reduced priced classes that will teach the basics of computer usage. 3. Computers should reside in an open space in the home. This way; the child will not lock himself away in a room or spend enormous hours surfing unknown and unsafe sites. If the entire family has access to the computer, the child does not have the privacy to sneak away and use the computer inappropriately. 4. Adults also need to monitor childrens use of the internet. The child should not spend more than two hours a day on the Internet with each hour broken into half an hour intervals. By allowing children to use the internet in intervals, we give them an opportunity to explore other talents and interests that might not be utilized while on-line. 5. Parents should become detectives. Parents can log on and create their own page in a site that a child frequents; this way the parent will find out the types of conversations that takes place. Some may find this as intrusive but in some cases; it has to be done to save a childs life. 6. When choosing data plans for cell phones or other devises, limit the time and sites that the child can visit. There are many applications that can be downloaded on the phone to ensure the safety of youth and teens. Technology can be wonderful and beneficial if we learn to use it properly. In an effort to combat cyber bullying and online harassment it is a good idea to get teachers and school administrators involved. Some students are more comfortable confiding in teachers or counselors about cyber bullying rather than talking to their parents. They may feel that the teacher has a better understanding of these issues because they understand teens better. While in school, teachers should: 1. Discuss Internet safety and proper usage of cell phones and other devises. 2. Facilitate open dialogues in class about the dangers and warning signs if cyber bullying. 3. Give students the strategies to combat cyber bullying like; reporting it right away and keep personal business and information off the Internet. 4. Lastly, make an effort to let the student know that you are available to assist them with the issue. Parents can also turn to churches for seminars and small group discussions about self-esteem and internet use. Parents can play a role in self-esteem building by treating the child with respect and love, seriously listening to their views and opinions. Most importantly, parents have to remember that self-esteem is paramount in every childs development. When the child sees that this issue is important to you; they will take notice and start talk about their concerns. Now that we have identified the link between internet addiction and self-esteem, parents must be proactive and get involved with their children and their activities. Parents have to be able to recognize the signs of low self-esteem and be ready to help the child cope with their feelings. Parents have to be the childs first resource when their feelings and emotions seem to go awry. In order to be this resource, they have to become familiar with various strategies and plans that will aid the child. Parents should be prepared to notice the signs of low self-esteem and be willing to seek outside help. The Internet and other technologies have indeed changed our lives in meaningful and substantial ways; this why we have to help our children understand and assume the responsibilities of it.

The Blue Whale Essay -- essays research papers

The Blue Whale   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Balaenoptera Musculus, or the blue whale, is the largest mammal in the world. This enormous mammal can grow to be 110 feet long and weigh as much as 190 tons. That's longer than two city buses and the total weight of 30 elephants. This giant is powered by a heart the size of a taxi-cab. The blue whale's of the Antarctic grow larger than those of the Northern Hemisphere. Also, the females tend to be slightly larger than the males of the same age. These mammals are bluish-gray in color, with some paler spots. Algae tends to accumulate on their bellies causing a yellowish or mustard color. It has a mottled appearance with a broad, flattened U-shaped head. Fifty to ninety throat grooves run from the mouth to the belly. Instead of teeth, blue whales have 270 to 400 black baleen plates on each side of their mouths. These plates are about forty inches long and twenty-two inches wide. The blue whale has a tiny, stubby dorsal fin set far back on its body. It has a 20 foot wide, slightly notched, triangular flukes, which is propelled by an extremely thick tail stock. The flippers on this creature are long and slender, and are about one-seventh of the whale's body length. The blue whale's most prominent feature is its exceptionally fleshy splashgaurd, which surrounds the blowholes at the front and sides. This whale spouts a single slender jet that soars forty to fifty feet high.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The blue whale has very poor eyesight, no sense of smell, and has no sense of taste. However, the blue whale does have well-developed senses of touch and hearing. This large mammal has a life span of about eighty years.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  At this time there is not too much known about the blue whale's behavior. Blowing and diving patterns vary according to the whale's activity. The blue whale blows every ten to twenty seconds for a total of two to six minutes, when relaxed, and then dives. They usually stay submerged for five to twenty minutes, but can stay under for up to 40 minutes. Blue whale's usually dive to around 490 feet, but can go deeper if need be. When swimming slowly, the whale rises at a shallow angle. He blows as soon as the head begins to brake the surface. The head disappears below the surface and a long expanse of the back rolls into view. The dorsal fin normally appears some time after the... ...ws about blue whales coming from the rest of the world's oceans. California waters may now represent some of the most critical large whale habitats in the world. Bibliograpghy 1.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Boitani, Luigi and Bartoli, Stefania 1983. Simon and Schuster's Guide to Mammals. NewYork: Simon & Schuster Inc., p.237. 2.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Singing Blues for the Blues. U.S. News and World Report, July 3, 1989 vol 107, n 1; pp.8 and 9. 3.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Leatherwood, Stephen and Reeves, Randall 1983. The Seirra Club Handbook of Whales and Dolphins. San Francisco: Seirra Club Books, pp. 47-51. 4.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Sattler, Helen Roney 1987. Whales, the Nomads of the Sea. New York: Lothrop, Lee and Shepard Books; pp. 17, 28, 62-63. 5.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Carwardine, Mark 1985. Whales, Dolphins, and Porpoises. New York: Dorling Kindersley Publishing, Inc., pp.68-71. 6.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Lockley, Ronald M. 1979. Whales, Dolphins, and Porpoises. NewYork: W.W. Norton and Co., Inc. p. 88. 7.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Baskin, Yvonne. Blue Behemoth Bounds Back. Bio Science, October 1993, vol 43, n 9; pp. 603-606.

Contrasting Cultures: Spain and Pakistan

Contrasting Cultures: Spain and Pakistan This paper goes through the cultural differences of two countries, Spain and Pakistan based on four â€Å"culture-driving† factors: food, Religion, Clothing and Language. Culture may differ from country to country, family to family or even individual to individual. Mostly a country has its culture ,according to which the citizens of that country behave respectively. â€Å"A nation’s culture resides in the heart and in the soul of its people† (Mahatma Gandhi) Pakistan, which is officially known as Islamic Republic of Pakistan, follows the Islamic law or Shari’aa.It’s obvious that the main religion of Pakistan is Islam. About 96% of the population are Muslims ,out of which 80% are Sunnis and 20% Shia’’s, 2% are Hindus, less than 1% are Christians and the others are Jews, Sikhs, Ismailis etc (Worldtradepress, 2010). As the majority of Pakistanis are Muslims, and is a huge factor in driving the cult ure of Pakistan, all the citizens engage in the Islamic holidays and festivals for example Eid-ul-Adha, Eid-ul-Fitr and respect the Muslims who are fasting in the Holy Month of Ramadan by not drinking or eating in public.Where Pakistan has a dominant religion as Islam, Spain’s dominant religion is Roman Catholicism which comprises of 94% of the population and the remaining 6% are Muslims, Hindus and Jews (kiwiessential. co. uk, n. d. ) The Catholic Church in Toledo implements instructions on the society, but as the rest of the Europe, Spain has now become a secular country so it literally does not have an official religion. Islam and Arab roots of Spain have been present for about 400 years, however in the modern Spain there are only Muslims which are either converts or immigrants from Morocco.Religion does not have great influence on culture in Spain when compared to Pakistan, even though there are dominant religions and minor religions in both countries. The factor which ma kes a person known is the language they speak. Both countries have different languages, Urdu being the national language of Pakistan and Castilian Spanish being the dominant language of Spain. However the similarity of languages in both countries is that the other languages spoken in the country are based on the region.For example, In Pakistan, Punjabi is spoken in Punjab province, Sindhi in the Sindh province and the other languages like Balochi, Siraiki, Pashtu and others adding upto 12 different languages (Saarctourism. org,n. d) Same is in the case of Spain where Castilian (national language) is spoken in Castile, Galician in Galicia, Basque in Euskardi, Calan and Valencia in Catalonia and Valencian region respectively (kiwiessential. co. uk, n. d). All the languages spoken in Spain are not known to Pakistanis and vice versa. Hence language differentiates the two cultures, and basically defines them.Apart from language, dressing of a person makes the other judge from which count ry he or she belongs to. Spanish people wear semi-conservative but fashionable clothes and the way they dress mostly depends on the weather (Hagerty,J 2012) Women mostly wear modest clothes which do not reveal a lot of skin, They prefer not to wear revealing clothes or sleeveless in public and mostly wear skirts, long pants or loose fitting shirts (Worldtradepress, 2010). However in Pakistan, the clothing is mostly conservative, except for the upper class.Shalwar Kameez is the the national dress of Pakistan which is basically a long shirt and loose pants. As the times now in Pakistan have changed, people over there wear both western and traditional clothes, but wearing sleeveless or short dresses are looked down upon. The trend of Jeans-Kameez is very common in the women now ( Korener S. & Rusell, I. , 2010) However, not wearing Shalwar Kameez by women is still not accepted in many parts of Pakistan and moreover women or girls are expected to wear the most modest clothes and sta y â€Å"covered† as it is a very conservative society as well as a Muslim country.Pakistani clothes are mostly rich in embroidery and full of colours (mapsofworld. com) whereas the people in Spain wear clothes which are mainly made of wool, cotton or leather because of the geographical situation of the country (Hagerty J. , 2012) The clothes worn in the two countries differentiate each other a lot and mostly the Pakistani clothing especially to women is driven by the religion factor. The next culture-driving-factor is food. Food is always different â€Å"regionally† throughout the globe.Pakistani food uses a lot of spices and herbs making it an exquisite cuisine. Lentils are eaten a lot as well as wheat and flour products such as Chapatti, which are like the Mexican Tortillas, are eaten almost daily. The use of clarified butter known as Ghee is widely used in the middle-class and low-class of Pakistanis, however now the people are more health conscious which has reduce d its use in the upper class. Pakistanis are big lovers of pickles and sour pastes called as chutneys which make their food even tastier. Saarctourism. org,n. d) On the other hand, Spain’s food is nothing like that of Pakistan’s. They ate very mild food and mostly have Continental breakfast, a Heavy lunch and a light dinner (Harkins A, 2011). Wine is a must for them during lunch and so are the desserts mainly Black Pudding The lunch is mostly a four course meal with a soup, a fish or egg dish, a meat dish served with vegetables and a dessert mainly a pastry or custard (Porter D, & Prince D, 2004). However the famous dishes vary from city to city in Spain.Due to the Islamic law any kind of alcoholic beverage is not included in Pakistani meals unlike Spain. Rabbit, Chicken and Pork are the main meats eaten in Spain (expatfocus. com, n. d. ) whereas in Pakistan ,due to Islamic law Pork is not allowed, hence chicken, lamb and beef are mostly eaten (saarctourism. org). In conclusion, after reading this paper the clear conclusion which comes is that both the cultures are extremely different. They rarely have any similarity. The main point is that Pakistan’s culture is driven by Religion whereas Spain’s culture is driven by Region!References * Expat Focus, n. d, Spain- Food and Drink, accessed on 5/11/2012, available URL http://www. expatfocus. com/expatriate-spain-food-drink? gclid=CMzKzYuVurMCFSHHtAodmjMA2Q * Hagerty, J 2012, 10 Facts about Clothing in Spain, accessed on 6/11/2012, available URL http://www. travels. com/travel-tips/advice/facts-clothing-spain/ * Harkins, A 2010, Espana, accessed on 6/11/2012, available URL http://dreamweaver. reinhardt. edu/harkins91109/spain-cultures. html * Kiwi essential, n. , Spain Culture Guide: Religion in Spain, accessed 5/11/2012, available URL http://www. kwintessential. co. uk/articles/spain/Spain-culture-guide-Religion-in-Spain/21 * Kiwi essential, n. d, Spain-Language, culture, Customs An d Etiquette, accessed 5/11/2012, available URL http://www. kwintessential. co. uk/resources/global-etiquette/spain-country-profile. html * Koerner, S & Russell, I 2010, Unquiet Pasts,p382-385, Ashgate Publishing Ltd. , accessed on 6/11/2012, URL http://books. google. ae/books? id=7li2jpQgYvAC&pg=PA382&dq=nati

Input Output Devices in Aviation Essay

Abstract Computer technologies recognized in the video presented were as follows. LCD screens for flights, operations program used for air traffic controllers, in flight routing and revision of flight plans thru the restructure of airspaces in European airports. By using these technologies, the benefits derived from these programs are, smoother flight plans, safer takeoffs and landings, less runway collisions, less communication with pilots from ATC. The challenges and risks of using CPDLC are, taking pilots attention away from the air to use system, texting while flying, not a good idea. The challenges to take away from flight time to look down to make sure you are making the correct response to ATC seems risky, especially since the safety of the souls is first priority. Not just with safety but today’s world, even the skies are not safe to travel with the conflicts that we have globally. Input Output Devices in Aviation Taking a journey around the globe today. The challenges we face, the revisions the FAA are making. How safe are the skies and what is considered the best form of piloting these days? We will take a walk thru the history of the ATC and commercial pilots. How we use to travel and communicate back then to now. What makes the friendly skies friendly? Technology constantly changes and for the friendly skies; The way we fly, how we communicate and work while travelling. The CPDLC, the major concern of passengers a pilot. The response time to the amount of space we have before leaving the ground and before touch the ground. As my flight instructor always said, a pilot should always be ahead of the plane. Staying ahead of the game is important but also keeping your eyes on all instruments while flying. For communication to ATC, it lowers the stress level for air traffic controllers. By taking this extra stress off of ATC, this will open up the  development of new technology in the near fut ure. The calculation of technology error over human error for airplanes taking off and landing. CPDLC is a wonderful tool but just as we have gone from live operators to technology via phone comes concerns. Conclusion In conclusion, our skies today are much safer than they were in the past. We have made large leaps and jumps into a safer and a better world for flying. Hungary started their upgrades of the CPDLC September 15th of this year and many countries are making their changes. Canada their monthly tally for communication before CPDLC was 7,000 monthly, by May the totals with CPDLS were 76,000. This change may be movement in the right direction but for a person that has been so use to communication, this will take some time to get use to. I am sure for the older pilots, it will eventually grow on them. The changes are being made globally and maybe the concerns will diminish into nothing. Changes in the aviation industry, verbal communication or not, that is the question. References Mark, R.P. (2014, July 21). General format. Retrieved from http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/ainsafety/2014-07-21/nav-canada-says-cpdlc-message-numbers-are-rising Croft, J. (2012, January 24). General format. Retrieved from http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/in-focus-round-two-for-controller-pilot-datalink-as-faa-contract-award-366940/

Human Resource at Mcdonald’s Essay

I. Introduction In today’s intensely competitive and global marketplace, having a highly committed or competent workforce is one of the most critical factors in maintaining a competitive advantage (Millmore et al., 2007). Therefore, in a growing number of organizations, strategic human resources management (SHRM) is now viewed as a source of competitive advantage. Strategic human resource management is designed to help companies meet the needs of their employees while promoting company goals. As an important aspect of strategic human resource management is employee development, organisations have to consider employees may want or need and what the company can reasonably supply (Baker, 2009a; Tarique and Schuler, 2010). This research paper tries to discuss how organisations achieve this mission. We will discuss about two very important aspects of SHRM, strategic international HRM (SIHRM) and employment relationship. Although these two fields will be analysed separately, we can see the link bet ween them when we apply them to the case McDonalds’ (Goldsmith et al., 2009). In each section, we will discuss about the theories and models relating to each of those aspects and how these theories showed up in McDonalds’. II. McDonalds’ and Strategic International HRM II.1. Literature review of SIHRM and its frameworks The main trend of recent studies on changes in the business environment is the growth of internalisation, for example Ferenbach and Pinney (2012); Hitt et al. (2012); and Zain and Kassim (2012). As businesses become more and more global, SIHRM plays an important role in the development and success of multi-national corporations (MNCs) (Festing et al., 2012; Smale et al., 2012; and Stahl et al., 2012). According to Briscoe (2012) international human resource management (IHRM) can be defined as set of managerial tools for managing organizational human resources at international level to achieve organizational objectives and competitive advantage over competitors, both domestic and international. IHRM, therefore, includes typical HRM functions such as recruitment, selection, training and development, performance appraisal and rewards and punishment done at international level and additional activities such as global management skills, expatriate management and so on (Millmore et al., 20 07). Milliman et al. (1991) developed a SIHRM framework based theory of â€Å"fit and flexibility†. The concept of â€Å"IHRM fit† included external and internal side. External IHRM fit indicated the MNCs’ capability to deal with the cross-national environment, which includes the social, legal, political and cultural factors of diversified foreign countries where they operate. On the other hand, internal IHRM fit stressed on the management ability to ensure appropriate control and co-ordination between corporate and foreign subsidiaries. In addition to â€Å"fit† concept, â€Å"flexible† was also important as it specified the organisational capability to smoothly implement changes and adapt to diverse circumstances. Zheng (2013) commented on the framework that in today’s open global environment in which information and knowledge is transferred freely and quickly, an integration of fit between internal HRM and external functions is required and sho uld not be treated as two separate functions. The SIHRM framework of Schuler et al. (1993) seems to implement this point (Figure 1). The framework constituted of two major elements: inter-unit linkages and internal operations. Inter-unit linkages showed the MNC’s ability to differentiate its operating units thorough the world while, at the same time, keep them well coordinated and controlled. Internal operations indicated the fit between each unit’s confines of its local environment, laws, politics, culture, economy and society and its own strategic objectives given by the corporation. Schuler et al. (1993) framework’s limitation is to ignore the role of human-beings (managers and staff) which is widely considered as a very important constituent of SIHRM (for example Briscoe et al., 2012; Shi and Handfield, 2012; and Sanchez-Arias et al., 2013). The SIHRM framework of Taylor et al. (1996) stressed on how smoothly top managers can transfer the parent company’s SIHRM orientation to affiliate’s HR M system, then to impart organisational values and top managers’ belief to specific employees within the affiliate (Figure 2). Although Taylor’s model (1996) can complement the limitation of Schuler’s framework (1993), we still need a more detailed and practical model to apply in the real business world. This is the point at which the framework for global talent management of Tarique and Schuler (2010) comes in handy. In the next section, we will discuss about the framework in details and in the case of Mc Donalds’ (Figure 3). II.2. The framework for global talent management and the case of McDonald’s a.Global Talent Challenges for McDonalds’ The major driver of global talent challenges for McDonalds’ is the globalisation. Although globalisation enables firms to employ workers in the developing economies of the world at much lower wages than is possible in the developed economies of the world (Wise and Covarrubias, 2012), it also leads to increasing competition in fast food industry (Asif et al., 2011; Gupta, 2012; and Royle, 2012). In such circumstance, global competitive advantage is only for those multinational firms that succeed in locating and relocating its workforce over the world, adapting to local differences, learn continuously, and transfer knowledge more effectively than their competitors do (Molinsky, 2013; Steers et al., 2013). Therefore, human recourse becomes more and more important in maintaining competitive advantage at MNCs. In addition, as McDonalds’, like other MNCs, expand its business into many other countries, its consumers continue to have very different buying patterns from region to region. The organisation therefore must have a talent management strategy in place that continually assesses whether employees have the ability to address the particular needs of a diverse customer base (Podsiadlowskia et al., 2013). In 2011, Manpower Group conducted research among nearly 25,000 companies across 39 different countries and territories, which shed light on that 32% of American companies were looking for foreign workers, higher than any other area (that number of the whole world was 24%). This raises the demand for workers with competencies and motivation considerably high, especially for American companies. While the demand was getting higher, the foreign labour supply for MNCs was not so abundant. The research of Manpower (2011) showed that 74% of American employers (among 5,820 surveyed companies) found it difficult in recruiting foreign labours. In addition, Pearson (2012) believed that high employee turnover is a threat for today’s businesses. These issues made the labor market more competitive for employers, especially operates in an industry whose the rate of employee turnover is as high as fast food industry (Harris, 2012). For McDonald’s and other fast food restaurant, there is another specific obstacle. According to Sharma and Kiran (2012), employees nowadays do not only look for organisations offering high wage but also those â€Å"whose philosophies and operating practices match with their own principles†. This might create an issue for McDonalds’ to compete in recruiting best talents as fast food restaurants usually have bad reputation of causing ethical healthy issues such as obesity (Fraser et al., 2012; Jeffery and Utter, 2012). Tarique and Schuler (2010) summarised global talent challenges as too little needed talent and too much unneeded talent, or rather â€Å"the needed talent is available in the wrong place†. b.McDonalds’ Human Resource Actions to Address Global Talent Challenges Talent management initiatives can only be effectively successful when linked to the strategies of the organization. Since 2005, McDonald’s global workforce strategy has been designed to be aligned with and support the execution of its business objective, which is â€Å"to become everyone’s favorite place and way to eat† (Harkins et al., 2005). Interestingly, the global talent management practice initiated by McDonalds’ nearly ten years ago was very similar to the Tarique and and Schuler’s framework (2010). Prior to 2001, McDonald’s developed its performance assessment system comprised of six â€Å"performance drivers† (Figure 4) on which managers and staffs’ annual performance will be measured not just on the â€Å"what† of their accomplishments but also on â€Å"how† they accomplished it (Goldsmith et al., 2009). However, when it was rolled out globally in 2003, it was clear that certain elements of the new system re-design were not suited for the foreign cultures and legal structures that existed in certain countries. As a result, all of its affiliate and franchising stores were given flexible to make certain changes to adapt local requirements. This manager’s initiative reflected the â€Å"fit and flexible† concept of Milliman et al. (1991) as discussed in the last section. In 2003, McDonalds’ introduced its Global Talent Review Process of which main purpose is to train and develop next generation of leaders and managers and in 2006, the organisation added a more in-depth analysis of who needs development moves to enhance their experience and a process that facilitates this movement (Goldsmith et al., 2009). The initiative allowed potential leaders of next generation to move more freely to various organizational departments in order to realise development job opportunities with support of their peers and develop their own talents (Brown and Lent, 2012). With the intention of attracting and retaining high-performing talents, The McDonald’s Leadership Institute and the Global Leadership Development Program were introduced in 2006 (McDonald’s, 2013). The Institute was a virtual community that provides a culture of learning and development and to which anyone from any geographic location can accessed. The Global Leadership Development Program focused on preparing participants for broader leadership responsibilities and building a strong peer network that will support these individuals in developing their leadership path. The qualitative impacts of these initiatives were managers and staffs became much more aware of the strengths and talent gaps in each area, so they can recognise their own development needs and develop their talents more effectively. In addition, as the number of cross-organizational movement increased, organisation had better selections for all tasks. Schuler et al. (2010) pointed out several barriers of talent management to which McDonalds’ and other MNCs should pay attention. First, managers at all levels rather spend time on their own pressing tasks than on talent management programs. Second, organizational structures might inhibit collaboration and the sharing of knowledge across boundaries. Finally, HR departments might be short of â€Å"the respect of other executives whose cooperation is needed to implement appropriate HR actions† and might not be able to deal with the global talent challenges. III. McDonalds’ and Employment Relationship III.1. Literature review of employment relationship and new ERM model In last section, we discussed how important talent management is for McDonalds’ to maintain its competitive advantage in today’s widely open business. Although McDonald’s already has a quite complete talent management program, the organisation should be noticed that its workforce strategy could not be successful without great employment relationship. Gospel and Palmer (1993:3) define employment relationship as â€Å"an economic, social and political relationship in which employees provide manual and mental labour in exchange for rewards allotted by employers.† Rose (2004) clarified that rewards can be not only economic but also social and psychological. Millmore et al. (2007) believed that psychological reward is an indispensable part in employment relationship. They went on to define two key strategic concepts that were labour – management partnership and psychological contract. According to Millmore et al. (2007), key values of a successful labour – management partnership included share of goals, culture, knowledge, effort and information. Armstrong (1996) discussed that the labour – management partnership initiated when employees provide skill and effort to employers and the employers provide the employee with a salary in return. However, the employment relationship can also be expressed in terms of a psychological contract defined by Rousseau (1994, cited by Millmore, 2007:448) as â€Å"the understanding people have regarding the commitments made between themselves and their organisations†. Noe (1999, p. 290) states, â€Å"a psychological contract is the expectation that employers and employees have about each other†. According to CIPD (2006), psychological contract breach occurs when employees believe that the organization has failed to deliver its promises or obligations. There were many research works about psychological contract and its importance in employment relationship, for example Robinson and Morrison (2000); Coyle-Shapiro and Kessler (2000); Guest and Conway (2002); Turnley et al. (2003); Conway and Briner (2005). These works however did not point out a model that is practical and easy to apply and measure in the workplace. In addition, because of globalisation and today’s fast changing business environment, the needs of organizations and workers’ expectations changed significantly (Burke and Ng, 2006). Therefore, the traditional psychological contract might not work as well as it had been. Besides, most of the research in the past has emphasised the employee, while it should be on both employees and employers’ perspectives (Baker, 2009a). Baker (2009a) believed that there is a need to develop a new concept of employment relationship that enables corporations to attract good staff and retaining talented employees in toda y’s business environment of volatility, uncertainty, and global competition. In such a business environment the traditional perspective on employment relationship such as that of Gospel and Palmer (1993) might not work. According to Baker (2009a), the new employment relationship model must base on the workers’ needs with organisational outcomes. He then provided core attributes of the model including flexible environment, customer-focus, focus on performance, project-based work, human spirit and work, loyalty, learning and development and open information. In next section, we will discuss about these core attributes with the illustration of McDonalds’. III.2. McDonald’s and the application of new employment relationship model The first aspect of the relationship is flexible employment which defined by Baker (2009a) as organisation policy to encourage workers to work for other units or departments. In 2006, McDonalds’ conducted an in-depth analysis of which staffs could be potential leaders and managers, what skills and experience they needs, to which units they should be moved to get these skills and knowledge, and how to facilitate the movement (Goldsmith et al., 2009). The implementation of flexible employment strategies can create opportunities for workers to develop their career beyond the confines of their specific specialization. Kappia et al. (2007) proved these career development opportunities could be more motivating than monetary rewards. The concept of customer-focus, which becomes more and more important in business techniques (Bharadwaj et al., 2012; Idris, 2012; Kanti, 2012), is the second attributes of new employment relationship model (ERM). The concept of customer-focus places empl oyees in the â€Å"unique position of answering to two bosses†, the organisation and the customer (Baker, 2002). Baker (2009b) believed that a successful customer-focused strategy depend on managers and workers’ good communication with external sources such as local communities and culture. Related to the case of McDonald’s, its customer-focused â€Å"Plan to Win† relies on local talent to develop a deep connection between McDonald’s and the local communities in which it operates (Goldsmith et al., 2009). According to Baker (2009a), the concept of focus-on-performance suggests that customers should focus on the achievements of their job and the way they achieve them instead of job specifications. Organisations, on the other side, should link rewards and benefits with performance rather than organisational policies and rules. Moreover, new ERM suggests that an effective â€Å"multidimensional performance system† promotes workers to contribute beyond their regular task while organisations can utilise and reward workers for these non-job contributions (Baker, 2009b). Since 2001, McDonald’s redesign its performance measurement system with six â€Å"performance drivers† for which employees ‘be measured not just on the â€Å"what† of their accomplishments but also on â€Å"how† they accomplished it’ (Goldsmith et al., 2009). The system also enable top managers to signal the importance of needed culture change in which employees are encouraged to be more innovative and contribute more than merely doing their regular tasks. The fourth aspect of new ERM is project-based work. As business environment is increasingly uncertain and unstable, project-based work gains more interest from both corporations and employees (Watson, 2012). This initiative includes several forms such as temporary and fixed term contracts, outsourcing, flexible time, part-time working, overtime, job rotation, or functional mobility, which provides job flexibility (Peirà ³ et al., 2002) The project-based work is also widely applied in McDonalds’ as the senior managers often depend on peers’ assessment in providing employees development job opportunities (Goldsmith et al., 2009). With the increase in market competition and dynamic work environment, many employees are suffering from work overload that could seriously affect the organisational performance (Altaf and Awan, 2011) and many researchers believes that workplace spirituality is one way to deal with this problem (Karakas, 2010). Baker (2009a) also mentioned human spirit and work as a function of new ERM. The effectiveness of the workplace spirituality on work performace, however, is still criticised by several researches and hypothesis tests, for example Bell et al. (2012) and Weitz (2012). There is also no evidence that this concept has ever been applied at McDonalds’. Another aspect of new ERM doubted to be effective and not applied at McDonalds’ is open information. Loyalty and commitment, on the other hand, has no doubt to be a so important attribute of new ERM. According to Baker (2009b), these aspects should come from both sides. Employees’ loyalty is to enhance organisational outcome rather than processes, while organisational commitment is to improve employees’ personal objectives and development. McDonald’s has paid significant attention to its employees for years. McDonald’s has its Commitment Survey to assesses employee satisfaction with the support and recognition they receive, the extent to which their skills are utilized and developed, the degree of their empowerment, working condition and their compensation (Goldsmith et al., 2009). A manager’s scores on the Commitment Survey are one of many important factors considered in assess employees’ effectiveness and potential for advancement. Much related to this aspect is learning and development. As discussed in last section, McDonalds’ initiated its The Leadership at McDonald’s Program, which aimed at identifying developing high potential talent, in 2004 (Goldsmith et al., 2009). Having been accessed as qualified candidates of the program, employees will be granted for many individual learning opportunities. First, each participant will have a coach to discuss progress against objectives and receive objective feedback and developmental coaching throughout the program. They also have opportunities to work closely with McDonald’s high potential peers throughout the program and with talented management peers from other companies/industries as part of the Thunderbird Program in order to build strong internal and external peer networks ( Goldsmith et al., 2009). The application of these attributes brought McDonalds’ several positive signs. As of mid-2006, 34% of the 104 graduates of the LAMP Program have been promoted while only 4% of the them have left the company for other opportunities. It is a key objective of the program for its participants to know they are highly regarded and that the company will continue to invest in their ongoing development. The program also made itself a strong brand identity and equity within the organization and more and more employees want to join the program (Goldsmith et al., 2009). IV. Conclusion As SHRM becomes more and more important for organisations, it is critical for managers to understand not only its related theories and concepts but also discover and invent the most practical models for which they can apply to their organisation. As businesses become more and more global SIHRM and the model of global talent management of Tarique and Schuler (2010) plays an important role in the development and success of MNCs. Even when organisations already have a quite complete talent management program, they should notice that its workforce strategy could not be successful without good employment relationship. Baker (2009a) believed that there is a need to develop a new concept of employment relationship in today’s business environment of volatility, uncertainty, and global competition and he introduced the new ERM. The case of McDonalds’ (Goldsmith et al., 2009) has shed the light on how practically successful these models could be when appropriately and effectively applying in an organisation. This is, however, just the beginning of these relatively young models and the question of whether these models can create sustainable competitive advantage will need more academic and practical researches in the future.