Assumptions of Human Behavior Personal Statement

Assumptions of Human Behavior - Personal Statement Example Her way of writing the letters, as emails and chats were not so prevalent few years back, was so charming that I had assumed her as the most beautiful girl on the earth. We finally fixed up a meeting and to my utter disappointment she was much older and totally devoid of the glamour I had attached to her in my conception. May be those were the fancies of a teenager about an unseen person but later I came across many similarly shocking revelations. For example as a student I had developed high regard for our literature teacher. She had a very calm, composed and elegant personality and I had her image in my mind as a person full of compassion. Once I saw her in the market place, shouting on top of her voice over some trivial matter. I felt as if she was hammering upon the beautiful image I had carved out for her in my heart. Human nature always keeps startling us in various ways. Many a times these revelations come to us after long associations. For instance, an elderly lady who was my business associate had taken great liking for me. Although we did business together, she treated me as her son. We had long conversations and she made me feel like her most precious associations. She confided in me about each and every matter including her souring relationship with her own children. She often told me how inconsiderate they had become towards her. She also appreciated my cordial relations with everyone around me and many a times even pleaded me to tell her how she can improve her relations with her family. Although I was much younger to her, she looked forward to my advice on all matters. One day I succumbed to her pleadings and made the mistake of telling her how she could improve her behavior. To my utter amazement, she turned around just like the ugly frog turning into a beautiful prince. This time it was the other way round. It was the beautiful prince or princess turning into an ugly frog. Her honey dipped tongue suddenly started shooting poison arrows at me. And in fraction of a second I was not only thrown down from the cloud nine where she had placed me but was trampled upon with demeaning expletives. This experience and many other experiences prove that human nature is totally unpredictable and it is very difficult to assume human behavior and reactions. At the same time, we still keep building a mental image of a person based on certain behavior portrayed by him or her. May be this is Nature's way of keeping the human race alive because in absence of any kind of expectation, we will lose interest in life. We have to accept such behavior as part of life. Even tiny creatures like birds show dedicated affection for their young ones who fly out of the nest as soon as they learn how to fly. The parent birds do not spend rest of their life shedding tears over this. They move on. We human beings are larger than those birds and that is why our behavior also has more amplified aspects and our reactions are even more amplified. This may be a natural trait but we can improve upon it with some acquired behavior just like we have acquired behavior in dressing, cooking and eating. We can learn to be mentally prepared for facing sudden change in people's behavior and not be so shocked. It is not an easy task just like learning to walk is not an easy task for a baby, just like tying shoelaces is not an easy task for a child. But they all learn it. We all can also learn that human

First Day of High School Essay Example for Free

First Day of High School Essay The beeping of my alarm clock sounded like a countdown. The first day of high school was only two hours away. I was excited, but a lot more nervous. I got out of bed, got ready, and then was on my way to the bus stop. All I could think of are the stories I heard about high school being so horrible with all the strict teachers, the really hard tests, and of course being a freshman doesn’t help either. The bus ride to the school was only ten minutes, but it seemed a lot longer. When we finally got there, I was more nervous than ever. The day ahead of me was about to get a lot more complicated though with all the work, finding a seat at lunch, and getting lost. After already being late to my first period and all of the not-so-bad classes afterwards, it was lunch time. I dropped off some books at the locker I shared with my boyfriend, and walked down with him. We were a little late when we got there so we ended up sitting somewhere we didn’t want to because the tables were already filled up. We went up to get our lunch and came back to find our seats were taken. We soon found out getting up meant risking your seat. The whole lunch period everyone was talking about how their day went so far. Most of them were complaining, including me. Then the bell rang and it was time to go to the next period. I really didn’t want lunch to end. But on the other hand, at least there were only about two hours left of the day. Finally, it was the end of the day. Finding my next class was easier. I still wasn’t in time, but neither were the other kids. When my 6th period ended, it was a huge relief. I thought the day was finally over. But I still had to get on the bus again to go home; therefore it still wasn’t completely over. I went to our locker, grabbed my take-home textbooks and checked to make sure I didn’t lock the combination in there again. I forgot which way to go, so I followed around my boyfriend. When I got outside, all the buses were in line. I walked back and forth trying to find mine or at least someone who was on the same bus as me. After most of the kids already found their bus, I started to get nervous. I still couldn’t find mine. Finally I saw someone who also took my bus. He was standing there clueless too. After a couple minutes, we finally found it. Our bus wasn’t in line like all the others were, it was behind some of the all of the buses. When I go t on, I knew the day was really over. To sum it all up, my first day of high school was a challenge. It’s a new school with new people, new teachers, new subjects, and new schedules. I also missed the school orientation so I was less experienced than most of the other students. I faced many problems such as the loads of work, finding a seat at lunch and keeping it, and getting lost. It was a long day, but I can now say I survived freshman year and the rest of High School.

Gender and Our Judicial System Essay -- Law

The ambiguous language and aim of the constitution has allowed for numerous interpretations of the law. There have been several instances, where our limited perception and interpretation of the constitution has warranted change due to cases that do not fit the ruling party’s ideology of equality. In those cases, we amended our constitution and included clear diction to award rights to those subjected to subordination, so in going forward a clear distinction would not allow room for interpretations that perpetuated further discrimination. Over the course of history, we have followed this path to incorporate our societies changing paradigm that was dissimilar to our founding fathers’. Interestingly so, the rights they deemed as inalienable are the ones that have required a clear distinction in order for them to apply to all. The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) is a necessary requirement for women as well as others who are subject to sex-based discrimination. Although the rights of women are somewhat protected by the constitution, without the clear diction of the ERA, those who face this type of discrimination, are left in a precarious position. The passage of the ERA would necessitate pragmatic consequences in judicial equality, highlight the pervasiveness of modern inequality, and enact change in society’s paradigm of equality. The loose interpretation of the notion of gender in our judicial system is subject to filtration through outdated ideologies, stereotypes, and gender bias. As the law currently stands, the interpretation of cases that involve gender or sexual discrimination are filtered through constitutional acts or amendments that only partially protect. An example of this partial protection would be the 14th amendment. T... ...122). Macmillan General Reference. Sexism in language. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.upou.edu.ph/gender/gender_fair. Lithwick, D. (2011, June 20). Class dismissed. Retrieved from http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/jurisprudence/2011/06/class_dismissed.html Terkel, A. (2011). Scalia: Women don't have constitutional protection against discrimination. Huffington Post, Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/03/scalia-women-discrimination-constitution_n_803813.html Cotter, D., Hermsen, J., Ovadia, S., & Vanneman, R. (2001). The glass ceiling effect. Informally published manuscript, University of North Carolina, North Carolina. Retrieved from http://www.bsos.umd.edu/socy/vanneman/papers/CotterHOV01.pdf Wood, J. T. (2008). Gendered lives, communication, gender, and culture. (8th ed.). Wadsworth Pub Co. U.S. Const. amend. XIV, Â § 1

How to improve homeland security in the United States Essay

Since the occurrence of the September 9, 2001 terrorist’s attacks and the constant threats by international terrorists such as the al Qaeda, and given the upsurge in other domestic terrorist networks within the United States, several agencies have had to be high on the alert for possible attacks. Moreover, other industries have also experienced the adverse effect of this menace. The entertainment industry for instance, was at an all time low point after the terrorist attacks of September 9, 2001. Woody Allen (2001) observed that â€Å"Everywhere you look in Hollywood since that tragic day; the entertainment landscape has been transformed, as if ripped asunder by a massive earthquake. People have come to work feeling like jittery sleepwalkers, especially after the studios received FBI warnings late last week that they could be possible targets for terrorism. Nearly every studio has been postponing films, giving them face lifts or tossing scripts out the window. â€Å" Los Angeles Times 09/25/01 Despite efforts made by U. S. n liaison with other countries to root out this evil, terrorists’ organizations continue to arm themselves with various complex assortments of weapons, and training their disciples each dawn. The problem of terrorism has further been complicated by terrorist friendly countries that provide financial support, military equipment and other kinds of assistance that help perpetrate the crime. As Rondea (2008) posits ‘Right now, terrorist friendly countries allow or support schools, training facilities and institutions that indoctrinate children into terrorist cause at a very early age. They are literally growing terrorists and terrorist sympathizers. Without ever having met an American, these children grow up into men and women who hate us and believe it is their duty to destroy our nation. These complex dynamic further complicates the problem, making efforts to stop terrorism futile. It is due to these eminent problems that this study has been undertaken in order to counter this problem and thus improve security in the United States. Greater focus has been put on the three most sensitive areas that have been frequently used in the past by terrorists to gain access to the United States. These key areas are: the aviation transport department, the visa waiver program, and the information technology. Aviation Transport Department America’s system for protecting and controlling commercial aviation and guaranteeing its citizens’ safety continues to be a major are of concern, especially after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. The Transportation Security System (TSA) employs the use of covert testing to discover techniques that are likely to be used by terrorists (Friedlander et. al 1979). This helps in identifying vulnerabilities and measuring the level of performance of airport systems. One of the methods used during these tests involve passing threat objects through passenger and luggage screening systems. This has been prompted by the realization that some terrorists smuggle dangerous chemicals onboard aircraft in order to construct explosives in flight (Clovis, 2008). Aviation security is made up of several layers. One layer involves the federal government’s ability to respond to threats, both actual and potential, while an aircraft is in flight. The Aviation and Transportation security Act which was enacted in November 2001 formed TSA as the agency in charge of securing all forms of transportation. TSA has since then, cooperated with other stakeholders in developing a layered approach that would guarantee the security of commercial aviation. This approach involves diverse yet coordinated measures that include providing flight and cabin crews with essential security training, thorough and systematic screening of travelers’ and luggage (Dacey, 2003). Response to an in-flight threat is, however, a duty well beyond the jurisdiction of the TSA. It involves four other departments namely: Justice, Defense, transportation, Homeland Security and the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC). These agencies may coordinate their activities using interagency communication tools in case of security threats arising during in-flight. This coordination efforts are however not only intricate and complex, but also involving. The stages involved include: identifying and notifying concerned agencies of suspected threat; discussing pertinent information and working in collaboration to assess the degree of the threat; making a decision on the action to be undertaken to counter the threat, and taking the action; and where necessary, finalizing the law enforcement response upon landing of the flight (Claude, 2008). TSA working in coordination with DHS has made some progress to counter threats in the aviation industry. TSA has for instance, designed covert testing programs on a national and local level. These programs are risk-based and are aimed at achieving its goals of identifying and mitigating vulnerabilities in the aviation security system. Secondly, during the past seven years, several successful interagency operations have been undertaken by federal agencies, some of which have led to arrest and return of suspected terrorists to the United States to face trial. In addition, TSA’s Office of Inspection (OI) has utilized information on terrorist threats to improve its national covert tests and to select suitable airports for tests based on the likelihood of attack by terrorists. Moreover, the federal agencies have carried out more than 200 tests involving federal agencies, state and local participants. However, some tests conducted by TSA have occasionally failed. It is suggested that some of these failures may have been a direct result of poor screening equipment that fails to detect threat objects or a failure on the part of Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) to follow the screening procedures properly. Given that OI does not systematically record reasons for test failures, such failures can potentially limit TSA’s ability to counter identified vulnerabilities. Various suggestions are, therefore offered to help mitigate vulnerability that may arise as a result of such factors. First, documenting all specific causes for test failures related to Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) and those related to screening procedures, is critical to aviation security. This documentation should be done in the covert testing database in order to help TSA recognize areas that need improvement and undertake the necessary steps towards making these improvements. It is also suggested that a systematic process of collecting, analyzing, passing of information on effective practices that are used by airports whose security levels are commendable, need to be put in place at other airports to help TSA managers improve the standards of operation in checkpoint screening operations. Moreover, the Office of Security Operations (OSO) needs to consider in time all recommendations that OI makes as a direct result of covert tests. It should then state its rationale for undertaking or not undertaking to address the recommendations made. In addition, an evaluation need to be done to see whether the steps taken to implement OI’s recommendation actually countered the identified vulnerability or did not. These evaluation needs to be developed by OSO since they are better placed to make follow up and see the changes brought by implementations recommended (Dacey, 2003). Finally, it is also recommended that in order to mitigate vulnerabilities in the transportation security system, threat and risk assessment need to be done. Billions of dollars are spent by the United States annually in countering terrorism yet it is doubtful that these funds are channeled in the right amounts or even in the right programs. An assessment would be beneficial in helping target these funds, consider priority activities and avoid duplicating effort (Dacey, 2003). Cybersecurity Federal agencies are confronted with constant cybersecurity threats brought about by the increase in sophisticated attack methods or the transformation of typical attacks into complex forms that render efforts to counter them almost impossible. Some notable examples include unsolicited commercial e-mail (spam), messages aimed at fraudulently obtaining personal or sensitive data (phishing) and software that monitors the activities of the user without the user being aware or consenting to such intrusion (spyware) (Hare, 2008). Even though initiatives have been undertaken by several entities operating within the federal government, the risk posed by the blending of these threats cannot easily be mitigated with the available equipment at the moment. Some of the initiatives already undertaken include: enlightening consumers about these threats, and targeting computer crime (Perrow, 2007). The United States Government Accountability Office (GAO) recommended that in order to ensure cybersecurity, a number of measures would need to be undertaken. Firstly, DHS’s United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT) would have to conduct frequent cyber analysis and warnings in order to make timely detection of attacks and threats. Secondly, frequent cyber attack exercises should be conducted and lessons learned be fully implemented. According to GAO’s recommendation, this can be accomplished by completing all corrective activities that the department identifies. Lastly, a strategy should be established to coordinate efforts aimed at securing or improving control system cyber security (U. S. G. P. O. 2004). The coordination efforts should include sharing of vulnerability information with other federal agencies as well as the private sector (Friedlander et. al 1979). In addition, other recommendations made to GAO to mitigate these threats include performing risk assessment periodically, implementing policies and procedures that are risk based to counter identified risks, educating and providing the staffs with security- awareness training and establishing procedures which will help in detecting, reporting and responding to issues regarding cybersecurity threats (Rondeau, 2008). Visa Waiver Program (VWP) The Visa Waiver Program provides way through which citizens of 27 countries can gain access to the United States for a period of 90 days without obtaining a visa (Moss & Michael, 2006). The terroristic attacks of 9-11, however, brought major concerns of the risk of foreigners with malicious intentions gaining entry into the United States. Consequently, tougher measures have had to be imposed to mitigate this potential threat. At the moment, foreigners from VWP countries are required to provide bibliographical information to the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) department before leaving for the United States (Saunter & Carafano, 2005). This is in accordance with the Recommendations made in the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007, Public Law 110-53, and Aug. , 2007, which also stipulates the guidelines to be adhered to by aliens from VWP countries wishing to travel to the United States either by air or sea. The amendments done to DHS regulations by the interim final rule allows for consideration of countries whose visa refusal rates laid between 3 and 10 percent in the previous fiscal year. Moreover, the regulation provides for the automation of the 1-94W process electronically in addition to enabling the provision of VWP traveler data in advance prior to travel by the individual. This is beneficial as it allows for a thorough scrutiny of the traveler’s documents well in advance before such individual enters the United States (Stiefel, 2008). The VWP however, still has some inherent risks that need to be tackled. Even though DHS has been successful in intercepting many counterfeit documents, an undetermined number of inadmissible foreigners have gained entry into the United States using a lost or stolen passport from a visa waiver country. Secondly, although the program eases consular workload, border inspectors face numerous challenges when screening VWP travelers. Notable among these challenges is the issue of language barrier and that of limited duration for conducting in-depth interviews (Wright & Wiesenger 2008). Moreover, due to insufficient funds, DHS’s monitoring unit cannot attain its main objective of monitoring and providing report on the ongoing security concerns in VWP member countries. Consequently, GAO recommended that in order to mitigate these risks, a number of actions will have to be implemented. First, DHS must incorporate biometric indicators into the air exit system in order to keep its power of admitting other countries into the program. Secondly, it needs to certify that the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) used for screening visa waiver foreigners before they travel to the U. S. is fully in operation by early January, 2009 (Moss & Michael, 2006). The certification will grant DHS power to expand the VWP to countries with visa refusal rates of between 3 and 10 percent. Thirdly, it is also proposed that a clear process be established in coordination with the Department of state and Justice to assist in determining criteria to be employed in considering countries to be included in the program, timelines for their nomination and negotiation of bilateral agreements meant to implement the legislative requirements of the program. Lastly, it was suggested that an office be designated whose purpose would be to develop overstay rate information to monitor whether VWP countries comply with the statutory requirements of the VWP (U. S. G. P. O. 2004). Conclusion New methods for improving homeland security in the United States were the main focus for this study. Particular emphasis was however, laid on the Aviation transport sector, the implementation of the visa waiver program, in accordance with the standards recommended by GAO and on effective methods of countering the risks brought on information technology equipment through computer crime. It can be seen from the study that the effective function of the key security areas discussed lies in the implementation of the weaknesses identified by the researcher and those recommended by GAO following a prior assessment of the operations of these key areas. After these recommendations are implemented, it is believed that homeland security will have been greatly improved. In conclusion, therefore, future research on the improvement of homeland security should address both merits and the drawbacks experienced upon implementation of the proposed changes.

Max Weber †Bureaucracy Essay

Describe the principles of organisation (sometimes known as the ‘classical organisations principles’) in a bureaucracy. What are the pros and cons of working in a bureaucracy? What was Max Weber’s contribution to the study of bureaucracy? At the beginning of the 20th Century, after the industrial revolution began, theories of classical management began to emerge. The industrial revolution was a massive turning point in history and the economic market was transformed for the better. The world average capita increased over tenfold (Maddison, Angus. The World Economy: Historical statistics, 2003). With the increase in the average income, there was an increase in jobs. The downside to this was that managers had a bigger workforce to deal with and were unsure how to train them and deal with them professionally and effectively. Henri Faylor was considered to be the founder of the classical school of organisation. In 1916, he constructed 14 principles or organisation that could be applied worldwide and in all workplaces. His 14 principles are as follows: 1: Division of labour- allocate tasks to specific workers, and then they know their job 2: Authority- Management are in charge and give orders 3: Discipline- employees listen to these orders 4: Unity of command- only one superior gives orders 5: Unity of direction- One manager, one plan 6: Subordination of Individual Interests to the general interests- Business comes first and foremost 7: Remuneration- Fair wage to all workers 8: Centralisation- the allocated decision makers 9: Scalar chain- communication goes through the chain of command 10: Order- allocated place for employees and materials 11: Equity- kindness and fairness from employer to staff 12: Stability of tenure of personnel- keep staff turnover to a low 13: Imitative- praise and reward employees who carry out tasks without being asked 14: Espirit de corps – keep team moral high Faylor, along with Max Weber studied management roles and believed they  found a revolutionary way in which managers should behave in the workplace, train and react towards their staff to increase productivity, therefore profits. Their theories and principles (though have been tweaked and slightly updated) have lasted the test of time and are still being used in many workplaces today. There are three assumptions based on the classical theory 1-The relationship between employees and management is defined by means of formal structured communication process, defined tasks, defined accountability, and formalised procedures and practices, defined tasks, defined accountability, and formalised procedures and practices to avoid any conflict in their relationship. 2-Workers have been treated as economic man who can be motivated by means of money only. 3-Workers have been considered as a product of means of production or as a cog in the wheel. (International Research Journal of Finance and E conomics-Issue 41, pg 61, 2010) The theories and principles of classic management play a major part in bureaucracy. The rules and guidelines of bureaucracy are very clear and can be identified easily. The higher up in the company you are, the more power and authority you have. The lower you are placed in the company; you will have little to no authority. The principles of bureaucracy are as follows 1- Hierarchy of authority: Managers sit at the top of the hierarchy. They give orders and commands and their subordinates must obey. 2-Unity of command: each member of staff deal with one superior and only one! They will deal with this superior for all reasons concerning work – tasks, problems etc 3-Task specialisation: workers with specialised knowledge will use this to carry out specialised tasks. 4-Responsibilities and job descriptions: Each employee follows their allocated job. They know what is exactly required from them at work. 5-Line and staff functions: Staff managers are there to serve the company and to help make it a success. Staff mangers are not there to carry out primary purposes. (DuBrin, Andrew, Essentials of management, pg257, 2009) Max Weber’s part in classical management is very much geared towards bureaucracy and believed its the most efficent way to organise a successful business. Weber felt that too many businesses were being ran on a personal level and that owners/managers should not treat their staff as friends, but  their attitude towards their subordinates should be strictly professional. Weber argued that a professional relationship would not only be beneficial to the buisness, but also to the staff. Staff would know their job role clearly and any promotions made would be given to members of staff based on their hard work ethic and not on their personality or personal relationship with the the employer. Weber outlined the charcteristics of bureaucracy as follows: 1-A continuous organisation of official functions are bound by rules. 2-Specialised – Staff know exactly what is expected of the. 3-A clearly defined hierachy of offices- Each official knows who to report to. 4-Rules – a re clear and all members of staff are made aware of them. 5-Impersonal- equality to all. No hatred or favourtism. 6-Free selection of appointed officials- officials are appointed through qualifications and not through bias or favour. 7-Full-time paid officials- the higher the hirearchy rank, the higher the pay. 8-Career officials- promotions is based only on merit and not by favour. 9-Private/public split – business and private life are completely seperate. 10-Discipline and control within the workplace. (www.HRMguide.com) Bureaucracy made modern civilisation possible (DuBrin, Andrew, Management essentials, 2012, pg265) Bureaucracy is severely required in large firms – without it there would not be structure and therefore the businesses would not run in an orderly manner, therefore would not thrive and expand. Without expanding businesses we would not have the privilidge of such advanced technologies, certain medicines and many other luxuries we all enjoy today. Labour is divided out in a bureaucracy, therfore all staff members know there job and what is exactly expected of them. If an employee is good at their job, it gives them confidence in what they’re doing, therefore makes them more at ease within their workplace. Rules and guidelines are explained to them from the outset, so discrepancies are generally kept to a minimum. As I outlined before, bureaucracy allows those within a workplace to be promoted on the basis of their skills and work ethic rather than being promoted because of their personality or  personal relationship with higher management. Weber highly advocated his principles, but he was also aware that it would not be without fault. He even pointed out a fault of bureaucracy himself – â€Å"Iron cageof control†. This refers to Weber’s feelings that when individuals work within a bureaucracy, they get â€Å"trapped in a system that is purely based on teleological effeiceny, rational calculation and control† (www.corwin.com) Weber’s views on bureacracy have also come under scrutiny from fellow sociologists. Argytis (1957) argued that people who follwed classical management theories were more likely to be unhappy and fail within the workplace. He felt that people working within a democracy are treated like children, they work to a short term perspective and have minimal control over their working lives – adults don’t respond well to being treated this way at work and therfore will not respond well towards the company/business. Another disadvantage of working in a democrac y is what is referred to as ‘Red Tape’. This refers to all the paperwork and procedures that is required when working in a demococracy. Weber’s views were that this negative impact was not meant to be included in his theories. When a bereacratic form has been implimented within a workplace, its very hard to remove, so therefore employers who wish to change the dynamics of their business and get away from a bureacratic form may find this a very lenghtly and costly process to do so. Generally, companies want their staff to use their time at work produtively and effectively – time is wasted in a bureaucracy as the chain of command is used, therefore employees speak to their senior, who then report to theirs and so forth. If an employee were able to go straight to the manager in charge, this would save time and money – profit in a company is crucial to keep it running. There are two main types of organisation structure. The flat structure and the tall structure. The flat structure represents organisations with few levels in the hierarchy which have a broad control span, as opposed to the tall structure which has more levels however more focused areas of control. There are many benefits of the flat structure. As there are fewer hierarchical levels there is less ‘administrative distance’ between grades which makes communication a lot easier. It also makes the organisation a  lot more personal without contradicting Weber’s principle of keeping professional relationships. Also, as the span of control is so vast it is vital to employ competent employees to ensure a smooth operational process, resulting in a better workforce and meeting business objectives. However the main disadvantage of this structure is perhaps the authoritarian structure itself. In order for this structure to function properly there must be a definite split between superiors and suborinates otherwise the authority levels are undermined. Group conflicts are more likely in a â€Å"them versus us† situation, and if a manager socialises with their staff they are merging the statuses of the groups. Communications between subordinates often become a problem, as there is no difference in authority between the grades. Then there is the tall structure, which many people often prefer because of the number of hierarcical levels. This gives more scope for promotion prospects which in turn generates a motivated workforce. Certain orginisations require this form of structure, one of the best examples being the military and its rank structure. It has many levels of authority, which is more effective when dealing with instant decisions and rapid adaptations ‘on the ground’. Other organisations like this are the fire service, police and hospitals. So both structures have pros and cons, and work well in different situations. Whichever structure may fit the organisation better it is plain to see that a bureaucracy benefits it more than it would disadvantage it. Being in a bureaucracy is better for the company, and the staff within it, resulting in a better managed and motivated workforce which is turn increases productivity and professionalism. Bibliography DuBrin, Andrew. Essentials of management, 2009. DuBrin, Andrew. Essentials of management, 2012. International Research Journal of finance and economics – issue 41, 2010 Maddison, Angus. The World Economy Historical statistics, 2003 www.corwin.com (visited site on 12/11/2012) www.HRM.guide.com (visited site on 12/11/2012 Word count including quotes and references-1722

Free Essays on Daisy Miller & Huck Finn- American Adventures

NOSEWAKS@aOl.com March 20, 2002 DAISY MILLER AND HUCK FINN-AMERICAN ADVENTURERS After reading the two American classics â€Å"Daisy Miller† by Henry James, and â€Å"Huckleberry Finn† by Mark Twain, I thought about the messages these authors were saying about their societies. Both authors lived at a time when very influential things were happening in their worlds. The Civil War, and the ceaseless turmoil between social classes. Twain and James both wrote these two stories around the same period. Like everyone, they were influenced by their surroundings and personal experiences. Although they were both very different people with completely different backgrounds, they both managed to have leading characters that had the common problem of not fitting in their societies. Although James’ Daisy Miller and Twain’s Huck had a common problem, they both had very different ways of coping with it. They both had different strategies of living in an environment they didn’t completely control. Henry James had the very plain Miller family traveling throughout Europe at a time when many people in the world were immigrating to the Unites States. Her family was wealthy enough to pay for such a trip where she was able to stay at the most extravagant hotels in Europe. James makes it clear numerous times that the Miller family was new to this level of money. While Daisy stayed in these hotels she had a chance to see what the people of her new status were like. Coming from a background that was not as fortunate as the people she stayed with in Europe, she wanted what she couldn’t have had. She wanted to be part of the privileged society. In Europe, James has her finally getting what she wanted- the ability to interact with societies upper class. Daisy’s flaw was that she had the tool to be with the 1900th century aristocrats (money), but she didn’t have the culture to pass as one. This is a tragic conflict for her.... Free Essays on Daisy Miller & Huck Finn- American Adventures Free Essays on Daisy Miller & Huck Finn- American Adventures NOSEWAKS@aOl.com March 20, 2002 DAISY MILLER AND HUCK FINN-AMERICAN ADVENTURERS After reading the two American classics â€Å"Daisy Miller† by Henry James, and â€Å"Huckleberry Finn† by Mark Twain, I thought about the messages these authors were saying about their societies. Both authors lived at a time when very influential things were happening in their worlds. The Civil War, and the ceaseless turmoil between social classes. Twain and James both wrote these two stories around the same period. Like everyone, they were influenced by their surroundings and personal experiences. Although they were both very different people with completely different backgrounds, they both managed to have leading characters that had the common problem of not fitting in their societies. Although James’ Daisy Miller and Twain’s Huck had a common problem, they both had very different ways of coping with it. They both had different strategies of living in an environment they didn’t completely control. Henry James had the very plain Miller family traveling throughout Europe at a time when many people in the world were immigrating to the Unites States. Her family was wealthy enough to pay for such a trip where she was able to stay at the most extravagant hotels in Europe. James makes it clear numerous times that the Miller family was new to this level of money. While Daisy stayed in these hotels she had a chance to see what the people of her new status were like. Coming from a background that was not as fortunate as the people she stayed with in Europe, she wanted what she couldn’t have had. She wanted to be part of the privileged society. In Europe, James has her finally getting what she wanted- the ability to interact with societies upper class. Daisy’s flaw was that she had the tool to be with the 1900th century aristocrats (money), but she didn’t have the culture to pass as one. This is a tragic conflict for her....

Article Review Topics #038; Ideas

Article Review Topics #038; Ideas Writing a well-developed article review is a great way to practice your analytical, reading, writing, and scientific skills. Nowadays, there is a significant number of captivating article review topics and ideas that allow presenting a strong central point and discussing some related ideas. Before you start, read thoroughly all the instructions provided by the professor and pay attention to the topics that are defined by the requirements. In addition, it is necessary to use provided guidelines that usually include a list of relevant literature, paper examples, and several interesting topics to research. Next, while reading the article, keep your focus on the main subject discussed by the author, as the majority of scholarly articles tend to evaluate a range of related theories, issues, and concerns, in this way, attracting the attention of the reader to many other similar subjects. Besides, the authors of such articles usually assume that the readers operate with background knowledge on the point, and, as a result, use sophisticated structures and discuss complicated issues. Therefore, it is highly recommended for the researcher to pay special attention to abstracts, summaries, and conclusions as they help to understand all the discussed information and write a well-developed and comprehensive article review. If you have some difficulties with completing the article review assignment, or you cannot think of proper topics and ideas, the following list of ideas and topics will help you to solve these issues and pick the most interesting one to research. Topic and Ideas for Article Review Below you can find examples of topics for article review: Communication Differences between Males and Females This topic for article review allows you to research gender peculiarities in communication. Search for the articles on the topic in scholarly journals and read them carefully in order to pick up the most interesting and informative. Next, provide a summary of the chosen article, evaluate the applied theories, research method, and discussion section, and provide comments on the results or the conclusion. The Importance of Sport for Students For sure, sport for students is of high importance as it allows young people to develop team spirit, make new friends, and improve their physical well-being. Therefore, you may search for the articles to review in peer-reviewed journals on health and education. In addition, some interesting articles may be found in specialized sports journals. On reading the article, it is necessary to summarize the covered material and provide a developed critique of facts, figures, and other information discussed by the author. Negative Health Effects Caused by Illegal Drugs and Substances In order to write a good article review on the topic, you should look through such journals as Nature Research: International Journal on Science, American Journal of Public Health, Drug and Alcohol Dependence, and others. These journals are reliable sources that provide a number of peer-reviewed articles on illegal drugs written by leading researchers, professors, and practicing specialists. On reading the article, summarize it and discuss the described negative health effects caused by illegal drugs and substances. You may also identify some contradictions or inconsistencies found in the article and think of topics for future research grounded on the discussed information. Use of Drugs in Professional Sports It is not a secret that famous professional sportsmen use different drugs in order to build stamina and perform better results. The articles on this particular subject may be found in The Sport Journal, Journal of Sports Science and Medicine, and Journal of Sport Management. Provide a summary of the chosen article evaluate the provided facts, in this way, developing an informative article review on the provocative topic. Street Art Tendencies in the USA Street art is a popular stream of visual art that is characterized by different graffiti forms, poster art, installations, and sculptures. The articles on these captivating topics may be found in The Street Art Urban Creativity Scientific Journal, The Art Journal, and The Art World. Read the article carefully and provide a comprehensive summary of street art tendencies in the USA. Evaluate the supportive illustrations and pieces of evidence, defining the informative value of the source and specifying the art tendencies in the nearest future. Obesity and Its Negative Effects on Health Nowadays, obesity is one of the most spread medical conditions characterized by negative effects on health. Therefore, it is a great topic to write an informative article review and provide the evaluation of future tendencies. Valuable articles on the point may be found in such peer-reviewed journals as International Journal of Obesity, Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases, and others. Causes and Treatment of Infectious Diseases Nowadays, infectious diseases like pneumonia, influenza, strep throat, and others are widely spread and treated with various antiviral medication. These diseases can be spread in direct and indirect ways, being transmitted from one person to another is short periods of time. For that reason, it is a captivating topic to research as it allows discussing the main causes of infectious diseases and evaluating the most efficient ways of treatment. The articles to review may be found in a range of periodicals including The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Scandinavian Journal of Infectious Diseases, International Journal of Infectious Diseases, and many others. Ethnic Music Ethnic music is a great topic to review as it allows discovering a lot of interesting information on the ways of expressing historical differences and performing identities in the international urban society. The articles on this topic may discuss the ethnic music of new immigrants, different religious communities, and working-class pieces of music. The articles on ethnic music may be found in The Folk Music Journal, Journal of World Popular Music, and Journal of the International Folk Music Council. Illegal Immigration in the USA The topic of illegal immigration in the USA appears to be one of the most discussed by the American government these days. The official figures of the illegal immigration provided in the government reports are impressive; however, the real number of illegal immigrants is reported to be much higher. Therefore, illegal immigration in the USA is a great topic to discuss as it allows discovering a lot of valuable information on the point. The related articles may be found in The Journal of Economic Literature, The Journal of Economic Perspectives, and The European journal of American studies. Gender Roles and Their Change in the Modern World Because of globalization, gender roles tend to change, having a significant impact on social, economic, and cultural aspects of international society. Numerous scholars and researchers examined this topic in their articles published in such journals as Sex Roles, Gender and Society, Social Politics, and others. On reading the chosen article, summarize the main points and evaluate them thoroughly, defining possible limitations and contradictions. Global Warming Global warming is an important issue that has been actively discussed by numerous specialists for several recent decades. The articles on this topic may be found in a range of American and international journals including The International Journal of Global Warming, The SciFed Journal of Global Warming, and The American Journal of Climate Change. Pick up the most interesting article, summarize the main points on global warming, and provide the evaluation of the supportive information. Multicultural Families Because of globalization, the number of multicultural families has increased considerably. This issue has been discussed in numerous articles published in Procedia Social and Behavioral Sciences, The Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, and Journal of Marriage and Family, and others. You may pick up the article on challenges faced by multicultural families, advantages and disadvantages of growing in such families, and adoption of children by multicultural couples. Racism Racism, racial inequality, and discrimination are captivating topics to research and review as they allow discovering a lot of valuable information on the Civil Rights Movement, evaluate the development of the law enforcement, and find numerous interesting historical facts. The related articles may be found in The Journal of World-Systems Research, The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education, American Journal of Public Health, and others. Pick up the article and summarize the information on racism, evaluate supportive facts and figures, and discuss its historical perspectives in the past century. Gun Violence in the USA Gun violence is one of the main causes of premature deaths in the territory of the USA. Because the considerations on this topic are usually controversial, it provides a lot of valuable ideas to research and review. Thus, you can discuss articles on mass shootings, gun violence against women, and gun violence against people of color. The articles on the point may be found in The American Journal of Nursing, Journal of Lancaster General Health, and Science Daily. Legalization of Marijuana Legalization of Marijuana is another topic that requires the author of the article review to evaluate the provided information, summarize it, and define some limitations and inconsistencies mentioned. The articles on the advantages and disadvantages of the legalization of marijuana may be found in The Journal for Nurse Practitioners, Journal of Nursing Regulation, and law journals. Alternative Medicine A range of practitioners all around the globe actively promotes alternative medicine. Because alternative medicine, also known as pseudo medicine, is not proven to be efficient, it is actively discussed by scientists, scholars, and researchers. The article for the review on the point may be found in a range of peer-reviewed journals: Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, and African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines. Alzheimers Disease Because Alzheimers disease continues to be one of the most spread chronic neurodegenerative diseases in the world, it is actively discussed by medical specialists, scientists, and researchers. Their well-developed articles on this disease may be found in the Journal of Alzheimers Disease, Journal of Alzheimers Disease and Parkinsonism, and The International Journal of Alzheimers Disease. On reading the article, discuss the possible limitations and evaluate the supportive facts and figures. Autism An autism spectrum disorder is a developmental disorder that has been actively researched by numerous specialists from different countries. Because the disorder usually affects the ability of children to communicate and interact, it is highly important for medical researchers to discuss the possible solutions and treatment programs and evaluate them thoroughly. Numerous articles on the point may be found in specialized journals like Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, Autism Research Journal, and others. On reading the article, it is necessary to summarize important facts and figures on autism, explain the main point of the author, and evaluate the information provided in conclusion. Greenhouse Effect The greenhouse effect is an important issue actively discussed by the specialists as it causes global warming and provides significant harm to the natural environment. Articles on the point are written by experienced researchers and may be found in the International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control, Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, and many others. Therefore, your review may include a summary of the article on the greenhouse effect, its evaluation, and some personal reflection on it. Recycling The problem of converting waste materials is growing, and the process of recycling is one of the best possible solutions provided for today. In this way, it is actively discussed by the specialists in a range of reliable sources that include Journal of Waste Resources and Recycling, International Journal of Recycling of Organic Waste in Agriculture, and Journal of Chemical Education. On reading the article, summarize it, provide the evaluation of possible advantages of recycling, and consider the limitations mentioned. Conclusion Writing an interesting and well-structured article review is not easy, as it requires you to find an article in a reliable source, read it thoroughly, evaluate the discussed information, and consider possible limitations. In addition, writing an article review requires you to utilize a set of writing and analytical skills, arrange the paper according to instructions, and meet all the requirements of the professor. At the same time, writing an article review allows discovering a lot of interesting and important information, comparing with the other sources, and define its scientific and academic value.

Cell Biology Glossary

Cell Biology Glossary Many biology students often wonder about the meanings of certain biology terms and words. What is a nucleus? What are sister chromatids? What is the cytoskeleton and what does it do? The Cell Biology Glossary is a good resource for finding succinct, practical, and meaningful biology definitions for various cell biology terms. Below is a list of common cell biology terms. Cell Biology Glossary Anaphase - a stage in mitosis where chromosomes begin moving to opposite ends (poles) of the cell. Animal Cells - eukaryotic cells that contain various membrane-bound organelles. Allele - an alternative form of a gene (one member of a pair) that is located at a specific position on a specific chromosome. Apoptosis - a controlled sequence of steps in which cells signal self-termination. Asters - radial microtubule arrays found in animal cells that help to manipulate chromosomes during cell division. Biology - the study of living organisms. Cell - the fundamental unit of life. Cellular Respiration - a process by which cells harvest the energy stored in food. Cell Biology - the subdiscipline of biology that focuses on the study of the basic unit of life, the cell. Cell Cycle - the life cycle of a dividing cell, including Interphase and the M phase or Mitotic phase (mitosis and cytokinesis). Cell Membrane - a thin semi-permeable membrane that surrounds the cytoplasm of a cell. Cell Theory - one of the five basic principles of biology, stating that the cell is the basic unit of life. Centrioles - cylindrical structures that are composed of groupings of microtubules arranged in a 9 3 pattern. Centromere - a region on a chromosome that joins two sister chromatids. Chromatid - one of two identical copies of a replicated chromosome. Chromatin - the mass of genetic material composed of DNA and proteins that condense to form chromosomes during eukaryotic cell division. Chromosome - a long, stringy aggregate of genes that carries heredity information (DNA) and is formed from condensed chromatin. Cilia and Flagella - protrusions from some cells that aid in cellular locomotion. Cytokinesis - the division of the cytoplasm that produces distinct daughter cells. Cytoplasm - all of the contents outside of the nucleus and enclosed within the cell membrane of a cell. Cytoskeleton - a network of fibers throughout the cells cytoplasm that helps the cell maintain its shape and gives support to the cell. Cytosol - semi-fluid component of a cells cytoplasm. Daughter Cell - a cell resulting from the replication and division of a single parent cell. Daughter Chromosome - a chromosome that results from the separation of sister chromatids during cell division. Diploid Cell - a cell that contains two sets of chromosomes- one set of chromosomes is donated from each parent. Endoplasmic Reticulum - a network of tubules and flattened sacs that serve a variety of functions in the cell. Gametes - reproductive cells that unite during sexual reproduction to form a new cell called a zygote. Gene Theory - one of the five basic principles of biology, stating that traits are inherited through gene transmission. Genes - segments of DNA located on chromosomes that exist in alternative forms called alleles. Golgi Complex - the cell organelle that is responsible for manufacturing, warehousing, and shipping certain cellular products. Haploid Cell - a cell that contains one complete set of chromosomes. Interphase - the stage in the cell cycle where a cell doubles in size and synthesizes DNA in preparation for cell division. Lysosomes - the membranous sacs of enzymes that can digest cellular macromolecules. Meiosis - a two-part cell division process in organisms that sexually reproduce, resulting in gametes with one-half the number of chromosomes of the parent cell. Metaphase - the stage in cell division where chromosomes align along the metaphase plate in the center of the cell. Microtubules - fibrous, hollow rods that function primarily to help support and shape the cell. Mitochondria - cell organelles that convert energy into forms that are usable by the cell. Mitosis - a phase of the cell cycle that involves the separation of nuclear chromosomes followed by cytokinesis. Nucleus - a membrane-bound structure that contains the cells hereditary information and controls the cells growth and reproduction. Organelles - tiny cellular structures, that carry out specific functions necessary for normal cellular operation. Peroxisomes - cell structures that contain enzymes that produce hydrogen peroxide as a by-product. Plant Cells - eukaryotic cells that contain various membrane-bound organelles. They are distinct from animal cells, containing various structures not found in animal cells. Polar Fibers - spindle fibers that extend from the two poles of a dividing cell. Prokaryotes - single-celled organisms that are the earliest and most primitive forms of life on earth. Prophase - the stage in cell division where chromatin condenses into discrete chromosomes. Ribosomes - cell organelles that are responsible for assembling proteins. Sister Chromatids - two identical copies of a single chromosome that are connected by a centromere. Spindle Fibers - aggregates of microtubules that move chromosomes during cell division. Telophase - the stage in cell division when the nucleus of one cell is divided equally into two nuclei.

Recruitment and Selection Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Recruitment and Selection - Research Paper Example he importance of effective recruitment process by envisioning the recruitments process in the organizational cultures thereby ensuring that an organization has a steady supply of qualified human resources. The recruitment process begins with the analysis of a job opening. This requires the human resource management must analyze the roles and responsibilities of the position thereby developing an effective recruitment process. The analysis should inform such features as the academic qualifications of the applicant, experiences and age among other pertinent issues that affect the productivity of employees in organization. This way, the human resource manager understands the features to look for in an individual during the recruitment process. After carrying out an effective analysis of the job position, the human resource manager begins to source for applicants. This relies on the ability of the manager to increase the awareness of the vacancy within a target population. Managers can advertise the position on mainstream media and carry out effective networking in order to attract the prospective employees. Managers thus carry out interviews among other assessment techniques to determine the appropriate employees from the numerous applicants. Such assessment techniques provide managers with appropriate platforms to interact with tea applicants thereby corroborate the claims that the applicants make in their cover letters and resumes. The process makes it possible for managers to interrogate the applicant and determine their motivations for the job and qualifications to hold such positions (Hill & Jones, 2011). This implies that the managers must have the ability to recognize the specific features in the applicants thereby recruit appropriate individuals. The panel of interviewees investigate interpersonal skills, communication abilities and grooming in order to recruits the individuals who can represent the organization in different capacities. The desire to

Ethics and Governance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 6

Ethics and Governance - Essay Example Kantian’s approach to ethics is relevant to business and management because it focuses on the maxim of the action. To Kant’s thinking, business stands to gain when it focuses its maxim on securing goodwill. Paying bribe does not add to the goodwill of business although the practice may be universal. â€Å"A business manager who accepts Kantian morality would ask for any given decision, does the principle on which the decision is based pass the test of the categorical imperative, that is, can it be willed universally without contradiction? If it can, then the decision would be morally permissible. If it cannot, the action is morally forbidden† (Bowie, Norman E; 2002, p5).A robust business house following Kant’s approach to ethics weighs its every action in ways that secures business without depending on malpractices such as payment of bribes. Such business houses are strongly self-reliant and prefer ethically sound actions irrespective of the outcome. In Ka ntian ideology, there is no means. There is only the end. Actions culminate as the end.Kantian approach is flexible. It does not treat other approaches as untouchables. However, it upholds high values and sets standards that weigh individual actions by the acceptance or rejection of others universally. In commercial terms, â€Å"Ethical capital reflects the additional revenues created by corporate moral agency, such as a price premium paid by an ethical consumer for an environmentally friendly product†.

Written Summary and Analysis of Assigned Readings Research Paper

Written Summary and Analysis of Assigned Readings - Research Paper Example The samples are divided into three starting with those who started schooling in the 1920. The assumption is that each person went to school for 12 years before they started working. Therefore, years of complete schooling in this analysis runs from 1932 to the year 1969 because the study runs twenty years of complete schooling. This is a correct choice of the sample because the group have finished with their schooling and many are running different jobs or employments. The research relies heavily on existing literature and research as one source of its data. The census statistics proved very important for this research because from it the researchers established a series of unrestricted earning-schooling model from sub samples drawn from it. Such census included the 1980 census, 1960, 1950, and 1940. Other data were obtained from the US office of education, which publishes a summary of the characteristics of the public schools system in each state. From state personal income, the study obtained average personal income per capita data used to indicate family background. In addition, statistical abstract of the US numbers 66, 75, and 85 provided data on median education of the parent’s generation. The main findings of this research were contrary to many other researches. Apparently, the research found out that there exist a positive relationship between quality of schooling and earnings. That is, school quality has an important effect on labour market performance but has no effect on standardised achievement tests. Therefore, labour market is a good yardstick of measuring the performance of education systems. I learnt some new information that the old system in the US required students to be in school for twelve years to start working unlike today when one can start earning quite early. Additionally, I was able to compare the earlier average pays of teachers with the current rates in the

MGT 3190 Cross Cultural Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

MGT 3190 Cross Cultural Management - Essay Example This strategy along with others that have to do with market segmentation and brand positioning for maximum customer satisfaction has been used by the Mattel Company in order to evolve a strategy that is best suited for the purpose of an entry level product in a diverse global market. Therefore, a good entry-level strategy for the Mattel Company has involved introducing the fact that Barbie has an international face as it can be modified to cater to any kind of culture or country. In this regard, there has been long-term growth through the management of the immediate and other short-term risks. In this case, the main risk came from losing its exclusivity, which can be tackled through the direct investment strategy. (Finnigan, 2001) The Japanese market did not take very kindly to the Mattel Company's Barbie. This was basically due to the fact that the Japanese market did not understand Barbie with her long legs and wide chest. The physical attributes did not conform to the general attributes of Japanese women. This was a major problem apart from stiff competition from the doll names Takara which was a huge success in the Japanese market. Despite trying to strike a partnership with Takara, Barbie did not do very well. (Chonko, 1999) In order to do better business, Mattel could have first of all changed the way Barbie looked, to a certain degree. Even though, its priority list speaks of countries like UK and Australia as strategic places for expansion, internationalisation in today's world would mean a westward as well as an eastward growth owing to the fact that the East is booming and almost at par with the West as far as politics and economies are concerned. As an entry point mode, a company dealing with such products needs to make a more individualistic statement so as to avoid cheap imitations, which is what happened in the case of the Japanese market when it came up with its own 'Japanese Barbie' after the agreement between Mattel and Takara fell through. This calls for a mix of passive as well as consumer centric activities at the location as well as around it for better cultural orientation and market segmentation. For this, it is important to touch the pulse of the target consumers by being accessible to them distance wise and culture wise. Therefore, it will be found that for an entry level product in an international market, exploring the retail market is the best option. The direct investment strategy is the best one for the entry mode strategy. According to the entry level mode strategy, it is important for the product to take the characteristics of its target market into account apart from the investment plan it will follow in the course of going international. (Walter et al, 1988) In this regard, the entry level mode can be applied to find the areas where there is competitive advantage so as to find variations in the large consumer base that this product can enjoy in Japan. This will assist the company in finding an appropriate contractual or intermediate strategy that may be customised to fit into the Indian market in terms of segmentation. With franchising, licensing and other activities that will promote an

International Business & Strategy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

International Business & Strategy - Essay Example This has been made possible through employing an effective international business strategy, which helps the company to direct their business in the global market effectively with an aim of maximising profits. Carrefour is one of the businesses that employ international business strategy to enable them to achieve a competitive advantage and increase profits in the global market. The company was established in 1958 and it grew into a vast chain after the first sales. Carrefour operates currently over 9,994 stores in thirty-three countries; therefore, expanding the business into the new markets in Botswana will enable the company to increase their profits because the political stability of this country has catapulted the economy into emerging and one of the fastest growing economies. The Potential Target Market for Carrefour’s Future International Expansion Strategy Botswana will be one of the prospective target markets for expanding the business in the future using international growth strategy. Many companies have made significant attempts to expand their business across the globe. This is through employing internalisation or global strategies that will enable them to expand their business and also reach their targeted customers effectively. Mun (2010, p. 42) argues that employing an effective strategy in the global business environment is vital because it will enable an organisation to increase profits. The globalisation is set to continue and this will contribute to new opportunities and challenges for the future generations of entrepreneurs who are seeking to prosper in an increasingly interdependent world. Therefore, Carrefour can use this strategy to expand their business in the future to untapped developing countries such as Botswana. Global retailers have continued to expand their business into untapped markets due to increased technology advancement and increased consumption across the globe. Many international companies such as Carrefour have rea lised the significance of expanding their business into the new market, especially the emerging market; thus, there is a need to also target in the future many developing countries. This is because many global companies operating in developing countries have increased and tapped revenues 2.5 times faster than in their home markets (Doh, Lawton & Rajwani, 2012, p. 23). The research study reveals a wider range of possibilities for vendors seeking to capture an instant impact and a growth advantage in third world countries (Brown & Gutterman, 2003, p. 27). Possibilities do not only flourish in the largest markets in the industrialised nations but also in smaller markets in third world nations; however, third world developing nations have been ranked among the leading nations for retail investment; thus, Carrefour Group should expand their international strategy by expanding their markets to a potential target market in Botswana. Macro-Environmental Characteristics of the Market Organis ations are constantly scanning not only their internal environment but also the external environmental factors that may impact their business performance in the global market. Macro-environment characteristics take into consideration the external factors that may be favourable or unfavourable to business performance. The macro-environment is external forces that result from a

MGT 3190 Cross Cultural Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

MGT 3190 Cross Cultural Management - Essay Example This strategy along with others that have to do with market segmentation and brand positioning for maximum customer satisfaction has been used by the Mattel Company in order to evolve a strategy that is best suited for the purpose of an entry level product in a diverse global market. Therefore, a good entry-level strategy for the Mattel Company has involved introducing the fact that Barbie has an international face as it can be modified to cater to any kind of culture or country. In this regard, there has been long-term growth through the management of the immediate and other short-term risks. In this case, the main risk came from losing its exclusivity, which can be tackled through the direct investment strategy. (Finnigan, 2001) The Japanese market did not take very kindly to the Mattel Company's Barbie. This was basically due to the fact that the Japanese market did not understand Barbie with her long legs and wide chest. The physical attributes did not conform to the general attributes of Japanese women. This was a major problem apart from stiff competition from the doll names Takara which was a huge success in the Japanese market. Despite trying to strike a partnership with Takara, Barbie did not do very well. (Chonko, 1999) In order to do better business, Mattel could have first of all changed the way Barbie looked, to a certain degree. Even though, its priority list speaks of countries like UK and Australia as strategic places for expansion, internationalisation in today's world would mean a westward as well as an eastward growth owing to the fact that the East is booming and almost at par with the West as far as politics and economies are concerned. As an entry point mode, a company dealing with such products needs to make a more individualistic statement so as to avoid cheap imitations, which is what happened in the case of the Japanese market when it came up with its own 'Japanese Barbie' after the agreement between Mattel and Takara fell through. This calls for a mix of passive as well as consumer centric activities at the location as well as around it for better cultural orientation and market segmentation. For this, it is important to touch the pulse of the target consumers by being accessible to them distance wise and culture wise. Therefore, it will be found that for an entry level product in an international market, exploring the retail market is the best option. The direct investment strategy is the best one for the entry mode strategy. According to the entry level mode strategy, it is important for the product to take the characteristics of its target market into account apart from the investment plan it will follow in the course of going international. (Walter et al, 1988) In this regard, the entry level mode can be applied to find the areas where there is competitive advantage so as to find variations in the large consumer base that this product can enjoy in Japan. This will assist the company in finding an appropriate contractual or intermediate strategy that may be customised to fit into the Indian market in terms of segmentation. With franchising, licensing and other activities that will promote an

Film review for the movie blow Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Film for the blow - Movie Review Example Later on, he visited his parents, and his mother had called the authorities to come and pick him up. He ended up in prison. However, there was a large question of how George was able to jump bail as he was already sentenced to two years. This is not how this would work ordinarily. Usually, the bail is set for the defendants who are awaiting trial and had not yet been sentenced. Then, after an individual has already been sentenced, they usually begin their incarceration right then and there. It is highly unusual that George was able to walk free after getting his sentence. Sometimes a defendant may be able to walk free after he or she has been convicted before they are sentenced if they post bail. But rarely a defendant gets a sentence and is able to walk onto the street after this. So, this was a peculiarity of the film, and one aspect that did not seem entirely realistic. Another unrealistic issue with the movie is the fact that after George is finally found and begins to serve his time, he is apparently sentenced to 26 months. His original sentence, according to George himself when he came out on the street and encountered Barbara who told George that she was dying, was 24 months. This would mean that even though George had jumped bail and had been hiding from the authorities for the previous two years, he only got two months added onto his sentence. It seems as if jumping bail should have been an additional charge that George would have had to face which would mean that he would have to be sentenced for that charge as well. However, it did not show that George had to stand trial nor be sentenced on his bail-jumping, and he only had to serve two extra months for what should have been considered to be a serious crime. Perhaps, the movie simply did not show that George was re-sentenced or charged with the crime of bail-jumping; it seems that George did not face this extra crime if he did not really have to do too much extra time. There is another scene, later o n, that also inexplicably features George jumping bail after being convicted of a drug-related offense. This was the scene after he and his party gets raided by the FBI. It was unclear exactly why the FBI was even surveilling George at this time as George had long since stopped the drug trade, so this was a question that was also left unanswered. However, George apparently gets convicted once again of distributing drugs, but again he becomes a fugitive. This seems especially unrealistic, considering that George had a history of being a fugitive so he should have been deemed a flight risk during this trial and been denied bail. Whether or not he got bail is not known. However, again he was seemingly able to be on the streets even after a conviction - this is doubly unrealistic. And he again gets a very light sentence – just three years. It is unclear what he was charged with and what he did wrong, but having already been convicted once of distributing drugs and apparently gett ing caught with a kilo of cocaine in his trunk, as he is on the run from another conviction, he would have to serve more than three years. After the previous lenient convictions it is especially mystifying that he finally got a sentence of 60 years for his final conviction. Compared to what he had done before, the conviction for his final act of drug distribution seems overly harsh. There are many similarities

Branding Essay Example for Free

Branding Essay Case Study 1: Transaction pricing in a recessionary economy Our client is an FMCG major that sells its products across many large and small retailers. The client is facing pressure from one such large retailer to cut prices across brands and categories. The client is therefore losing money on several products. Our client would like to use analytics to bring in some science into the pricing decision. Our analysis should help the client decide what pricing strategies should be applied to each product. How would you approach this analysis? The data available is weekly price and volume data for all client brands at the retailer for a period of 2 years. Case Study 2: Managing extreme seasonality Our brand is a high end lifestyle brand, famous globally. They however, face an issue of seasonal sales, with over 60% of their sales coming in the holiday period. They would like to understand how best to ensure sales in non seasonal periods as well and make the sales curve more even. Data available includes volume and values sales and usage and attitude studies. Case Study 3: NPD (own label) at a supermarket chain A leading supermarket chain wants to expand its limited portfolio of RTE food products. Transaction data for the past 1 year is available. How would you go about understanding the type of products to be introduced? What is the launch strategy for the products chosen? Case Study 4: Acquisition vs New product development A food major in the market with no chips brand in its portfolio. A decision has been made at the board level to either acquire an existing brand or launch a new one in this space. You are in charge of implementing this. 1. How will you take the decision on acquisition vs. new product development? Which metrics would you evaluate, what analysis would you perform what data would you require? 2. If you decide to acquire a brand, how would you choose among the existing brands? What info do you require on each brand to make this call? a. Any intangible factors that would influence your valuation of existing brands? In case you decide to launch a new brand, how would you go about it? How would you decide the desired new brand characteristics and the associated marketing mix? Case Study 5: Analyzing brand performance A chips brand has recently been launched, but its performance has not been too good. The large promotional investments put in have not yielded lasting returns. You are told to investigate what’s wrong with the brand. 1. What data would you request to complete your investigation in this case? 2. Can you talk about your analysis roadmap in this scenario? What possible corrective actions would you suggest (you are free to make relevant assumptions on the diagnosis)? Case Study 6: Heritage brand with stagnating growth A very old chips brand (kind of like a heritage brand) is faced with stagnating growth. It continues to perform reasonably well on key equity parameters, and there is no decline compared to previous years. 1. How do you read the situation? What data would you require to make an accurate diagnosis of the issue? What are the potential corrective actions you would suggest? How would you decide between the various options?

The ecological approach to classroom management

The ecological approach to classroom management An ecological approach to classroom and behaviour management accounts for the distinct individuality of each teaching setting. Such environments constitute a fusion of the many unique experiences, needs and expectations of their individual occupants. Hence, an ecological perspective embraces, attends to and nourishes this heterogeneity through the construction and maintenance of proactive, inclusive and positive learning environments. In the secondary school setting, this needs-based approach is both valuable and practical. (Arthur-Kelly, Lyons, Butterfield Gordon, 2003) Bronfenbrenner (1979, p.16) posits that behavior evolves as an interplay between person and environment. In the secondary classroom socio-cultural factors that have helped to shape each individual are also at play. These include race, family dynamics, gender, socioeconomic status, values and attitudes (Arthur-Kelly et al., 2003). As students mature, their histories of interacting with significant others must also be considered. For example, children with easygoing dispositions generally evoke positive reactions from social counterparts whereas those with less favourable dispositions attract negative, impatient or punitive responses. These bi-directional relationships may have contributed to lasting developmental effects (Berk, 2009). In educational settings coercive interactions, deficient teaching strategies and unfavourable learning environments may also lead to ingrained behavioural deficits (Conroy, Sutherland, Haydon, Stormont Harmon, 2009). Using an ecological approach, the classroom may be viewed as an ecology consisting of connected and intertwined personalities, activities, procedures and occurrences, all of which may impact upon behaviour (Arthur-Kelly et al., 2003). In comprehensively examining student behaviour, it is essential that all ecological contributions are identified and considered. With this approach, the relationship between the adolescent and influential environment factors is considered most critical rather than any suspected or diagnosed issues that the student may present with (Johnson Fullwood, 2006). This facilitates proactive manipulation or adjustment of the environmental context in which the behaviour occurs. Additionally, it ensures that actions are not merely reactive but seek to address causative imbalances (Arthur-Kelly et al., 2003). An ecological approach concerns itself with the construction and maintenance of positive learning environments comprised of effective preventative measures, targeted interventions where necessary and the fostering of student self-discipline. The provision of well delivered, engaging classroom activities that are perceived as worthwhile and meaningful by students, and attention to building positive, cooperative relationships are also imperative. An inclusive environment where students feel safe to contribute is created. In this way, classroom management becomes a collaborative process. The teachers task involves a cycle of providing structure, warmth and guidance, encouraging participation and belongingness, then monitoring and adjusting as necessary. (Osher, Bear, Sprague Doyle, 2010) In secondary classrooms, teachers face multiple challenges. By employing an ecological approach, the learning environment is enhanced, allowing students to share the burden by learning to participate constructively within a nurturing, dynamic system (Osher et al., 2010). Much research exists that extols the ecological approach as both practical and successful (Osher et al., 2010). Moreover, it is positively correlated with social and personal developmental gains and enhanced academic outcomes (McLeod, Fisher Hoover, 2003; Osher et al., 2010). 4 References Arthur-Kelly, M., Lyons, G., Butterfield, N., Gordon, C. (2003). Classroom management: Creating positive learning environments. (2nd ed.). South Melbourne, VIC: Cengage Learning Australia. Berk, L. E. (2009) Child development. (8th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson. Bronfenbrenner, U. (1979). The ecology of human development: Experiments by nature and design. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. Conroy, M., Sutherland, K., Haydon, T., Stormont, M., Harmon, J. (2009). Preventing and ameliorating young childrens chronic problem behaviors: An ecological classroom- based approach, Psychology in the Schools, 46, 1, 3-17. Johnson, H. L., Fullwood, H. L. (2006). Disturbing behaviors in the secondary classroom: How do general educators perceive problem behaviors? Journal of Instructional Psychology, 33, 1, 20-39. McLeod, J., Fisher, J., Hoover, G. (2003). The key elements of classroom management: Managing time and space, student behaviour and instructional strategies. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development. Osher, D., Bear, G. G., Sprague, J. R. Doyle, W. (2010). How can we improve school discipline? Educational Researcher, 39, 1, 48-58. 5 PART 2- TASK 4: In what ways could communication methods based on mutual respect alter the classroom ecosystem? How could these affect disruptive children as well as those who already exhibit positive behaviour? In the secondary school setting, effective communication skills are a vital component of positive learning environments. They enable teachers to alter the classroom ecology in such as way as to develop mutually respectful reciprocal interactions with students that serve to augment classroom experiences and outcomes. Well-developed communication methods may be used to enhance interpersonal exchanges, promote effective problem-solving and expedite conflict resolution. These are the vital building blocks that serve to build trust and understanding. Moreover, they assist greatly in facilitating warm reciprocal student/teacher relationships and productive learning environments which in turn, foster positive behaviour and learning outcomes. The use of effective communication processes in secondary classrooms has the potential to benefit students who exhibit disruptive behaviours as well as those who do not (Arthur-Kelly, Lyons, Butterfield Gordon, 2003). Many secondary school students perceive this time period to be especially challenging. Developmentally, such students are experiencing considerable upheaval as they begin to negotiate the maze to emotional, social, physical and cognitive maturity. The secondary school years are further complicated as adolescents begin to consolidate their sense of identity, strive for greater autonomy and freedom and expand their social networks. These momentous changes may cause many students to flounder and struggle both behaviourally and academically. Fortunately, through the use of effective interpersonal communication techniques teachers are able to build respectful, reciprocal relationships that bolster secondary students throughout this tumultuous journey. (Martin, 2010) 6 Effective communication skills have long been regarded as the backbone of classroom management that results in the creation and maintenance of positive learning environments (den Brok, Fisher, Wubbels, Brekelmans Rickards, 2006). As such, communication and more specifically, teacher interpersonal skills may be viewed as the single most influential tool in altering classroom ecology to facilitate positive behavioural and academic outcomes (den Brok, Fisher, Wubbels, Brekelmans Rickards, 2006). Much research also supports the notion that effective teacher interpersonal behaviour is positively correlated with greater student cognitive and behavioural outcomes (den Brok, Levy, Brekelmans Wubbels, 2006; Fraser Walberg, 2005; Urdan, Schoenfelder, 2006). More particularly, student motivation, learning and degree of compliance are predominantly shaped by their perception of their relationship with their teacher (den Brok, Levy, Brekelmans Wubbels, 2006). During the tumultuous secondary school years students care a great deal about establishing positive relationships with their teachers and the level of support this provides. Hence, students who exhibit challenging behaviours and their counterparts who do not, both respond with far greater enthusiasm, pronounced engagement and augmented effort, behaviourally and academically, when they perceive that their teachers care about them (Urdan, Schoenfelder, 2006). By using effective communication skills, teachers are equipped with the tools to impart this powerful belief in their students, thus leading to respectful reciprocal relationships, positively altered classroom ecology, increased compliance and associated behavioural and academic growth. 7 References Arthur-Kelly, M., Lyons, G., Butterfield, N., Gordon, C. (2003). Classroom management: Creating positive learning environments. (2nd ed.). South Melbourne, VIC: Cengage Learning Australia. den Brok, P., Fisher, D., Wubbels, T., Brekelmans, M., Rickards, T. (2006). Secondary teachers interpersonal behaviour in Singapore, Brunei and Australia: A cross-national comparison. Asia Pacific Journal of Education, 26, 1, 79-95. den Brok, P., Levy, J., Brekelmans, M., Wubbels, T. (2006). The effect of teacher interpersonal behaviour on students subject-specific motivation. The Journal of Classroom Interaction, 40, 2, 2-33. Fraser, B. J., Walberg, H. J. (2005). Research on teacher-student relationships and learning environments: Context, retrospect and prospect. International Journal of Educational Research, 43, 103-109. Martin, A. (2010). Building classroom success: Eliminating academic fear and failure. London: Continuum International Publishing Group. Urdan, T., Schoenfelder, E. (2006). Classroom effects on student motivation: Goal structures, social relationships, and competence beliefs. Journal of School Psychology, 44, 331-349. 8 PART 3- TASK 7: Read the four scenarios on pages 174-176 in Arthur-Kelly et al., [2006] and using goal-centred theory identify in each of the four scenarios: a. How the child achieving his or her goal of misbehaviour helps the child to belong? b. How might the teacher restructure the learning environment to avoid future recurrences of these problems? Scenario 1: Liana is a pain (Attention) Liana requests continuous attention that commands teacher concern and assistance in order to fulfil her need for social belonging (Edwards, 2008). Liana mistakenly believes that she only matters when the teacher is actively paying her attention (NSW Department of Education, 1987). Scenario 2: Maria pouts (Power) Maria demonstrates a power focussed approach. By refusing to cooperate, Maria announces to her teacher and peers that she can prove her societal worth by doing whatever she likes. Asserting her authority enables Maria to achieve her goal of feeling powerful and important within the group. (Balson, 1992) Scenario 3: Ivan is violent (Revenge) Ivan seeks revenge. He feels misunderstood, unfairly treated and hurt. These feelings have accumulated over time as a result of negative interactions with others and negative student appraisals (Balson, 1992). To cope with such strong emotions and to achieve his goal of feeling uniqueness and group belonging, Ivan resorts to forcing others to share his pain (Ming-tak Wai-shing, 2008). Scenario 4: Rodney is lazy (Inadequacy) Rodney has become extremely discouraged and entrenched in a firm belief of his own inadequacy and inability. This belief acts like a shield which protects Rodney from further 9 humiliation. By demonstrating such pervasive disability, Rodney hopes that nothing will ever be expected of him. This affords him special status within the group as he is increasingly able to manipulate others into leaving him alone (Balson, 1992). To prevent perpetuating the abovementioned behaviours in a secondary school setting the teacher needs to reconstruct the classroom environment to promote positive behaviour. This may be achieved by conveying a genuine sense of caring, respect and inclusivity to all students. Additionally, adolescents need to feel empowered by being recognised for positive behaviours and receiving opportunities to shine. Teachers needs to impart the belief that the classroom is a welcoming place where students are valued, encouraged and treated fairly. (Arthur-Kelly, Lyons, Butterfield Gordon, 2003) Four factors are involved, the first being the establishment of democratically negotiated class rules with coordinated logical consequences. The second factor is the inclusive formulation of an effective conflict resolution mechanism, perhaps taking the shape of class discussion or negotiation meetings. Thirdly, the teacher should provide regular positive feedback and encouragement to all students, thus nurturing their need for belonging. Lastly, the teacher should employ specialised approaches to address the needs of discouraged students. (Arthur-Kelly et al., 2003) This may involve using strategies such as regularly rewarding attention-seekers when they display appropriate behaviour (Tauber, 2007). Power seekers might be enlisted to assist, exercise judgement or to tutor others with subsequent teacher encouragement (Nelsen, 2000). For revenge-focussed students, the teacher could focus on strengthening classroom relationships, perhaps by regularly manoeuvring situations that allow the student to shine in front of peers so that their negative appraisals begin to diminish (Ming-tak Wai-shing, 10 2008). Genuine support and encouragement may be expressed for students who display inadequacy. Additionally, carefully tailored learning situations may be used to enable frequent experiences of success and acknowledgement. Particular attention should be paid to expressing faith in ability at every opportunity (Ming-tak Wai-shing, 2008). 11 References Arthur-Kelly, M., Lyons, G., Butterfield, N., Gordon, C. (2003). Classroom management: Creating positive learning environments. (2nd ed.). South Melbourne, VIC: Cengage Learning Australia. Balson, M. (1992). Understanding classroom behaviour. (3rd ed.). Hawthorn, VIC: ACER. Edwards, C. H. (2008). Classroom discipline and management. (5th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley Sons. Ming-tak, H., Wai-shing, L. (2008). Classroom management: Creating a positive learning environment. Aberdeen, Hong Kong: Hong Kong University Press. Tauber, R. T. (2007). Classroom management: Sound theory and effective practice. (4th ed.). Westport, CT: Praeger Publishers. Nelsen, J. (2000). Positive discipline: For teachers. Retrieved 25 November, 2010, from http://www.positivediscipline.com/questions_teacher/quest005.html NSW Department of Education. (1987). Understanding the roles and directing the characters goals of misbehaviour and how to respond. Retrieved 25 November, 2010, from http://alex.edfac.usyd.edu.au/localresource/schooldocs/respond.html 12 PART 4- TASK 9: Discuss the view put in Chapter 9 that you should develop and apply a model of classroom management that is aligned with both your personal philosophy of learning and teaching, and your personal approach to classroom management. It is crucial that pre-service teachers establish a model of classroom management that is in agreement with their personal learning/teaching philosophy and individual approach to classroom management. In constructing such an integrated structure, it is necessary to consider the contribution of personal values and beliefs as well as the various theories associated with instruction, pedagogy, development, behaviour, curriculum and assessment and the complex environmental attributes that constitute classrooms. A congruent and amalgamated philosophy, classroom management model and personal approach are prerequisites for facilitating success in dynamic secondary classroom ecologies. (Arthur-Kelly, Lyons, Butterfield Gordon, 2003) The process of developing such structures may be viewed as equally important as it enables the pre-service teacher to focus on and articulate a personal rationale (Goodyear Allchin, nd.). For pre-service secondary school teachers, this integrated approach is ak in to a blueprint, designed as a guide that all future classroom interactions may be evaluated against (Bosch, 2006). The process of creating an aligned teaching/learning philosophy, classroom management approach and model may be viewed as an essential planning phase (Arthur-Kelly et al., 2003). During this process, the pre-service teacher clarifies their assumptions, knowledge and beliefs regarding effective teaching/learning, the importance of classroom management, the theories that drive ones personal approach and the importance of ecological factors. Employing such scrutiny allows the pre-service teacher to reveal any discrepancies between their beliefs and intended actions and to develop a unique, consistent personal style. Any inconsistencies may be rectified, thus averting potential impediment to teaching practice (Osterman Kottkamp, 1993). 13 Pre-service secondary teachers are wise to conduct a thorough self-examination of their values, beliefs and their theoretical underpinnings prior to settling on a model of classroom management and corresponding learning/teaching philosophy. This synchronised technique engenders a surefooted base that maximises the potential for successful classroom interactions and achievements. Subsequent to employing this unifying approach, intentions, goals and methodology may be clearly communicated to all stakeholders (Raymond, 1997). Moreover, this framework allows the success of outcomes to be accurately measured and serves as a guide for reflective practice (Titus Gremler, 2010). This is especially important in secondary classrooms where a persistent, consistent and systematic approach is essential for the respectful and unambiguous communication that is a requirement in building positive learning environments (Arthur-Kelly et al., 2003). It is the pre-service teachers beliefs and values systems that drive their teaching practices and behaviour. An aligned model and approach to classroom management and personal philosophy of learning and teaching leads to consistent patterns of classroom communication and instruction and a well coordinated teaching style. Indeed, Heimlich and Norland (2002, p. 17) describe teaching style as a predilection toward teaching behaviour and the congruence between an educators teaching behaviour and teaching beliefs. Furthermore, the decisions that pre-service teachers make and the actions that ensue are reflections of their conscious beliefs regarding what constitutes effective teaching/learning. A teaching style marred by incongruity, lacks pedagogical reflection and direction, hence minimising the likelihood of effective and coordinated teaching practices (Titus Gremler, 2010). 14

The Darkness Out There - The Signal Man - A comparetive study :: English Literature

The Darkness Out There - The Signal Man - A comparetive study The mood at the beginning of both stories could not contrast any more than it does. 'The Darkness Out There' has a beginning that is summery and fresh. Whereas 'The Signal Man' has a start that is very eerie and creates a sense of fear. A factor that runs all the way through the story. The effect that the beginning of 'The Darkness Out There' has is that Mrs Rutter's story hits the reader when they are not expecting it making it a lot more shocking. The mood change is massive. 'The Signalman' however, attempts to sustain the atmosphere from beginning to end. This makes the overall story more eerie by gripping the reader so that they want to read on to discover what happens later on. Historically the two texts are set in very different periods. With 'The Signalman' being set in the Victorian era and 'The Darkness Out There' being set around the 1970's. We can tell this because of many factors such as the types of jobs mentioned. Signalmen worked on early railways and were abandoned when electronic signalling was introduced into railways. Also the language used in The Signalman` seems to be from around that era. Whereas Mrs Rutter is an old woman involved in the second world war, but some of the things she mentions lead us to believe that the story is set around the 1970's. Physically both stories are set in a similar climate to each other. In cosy little rooms, with atmosphere, that are lonely and secluded with an open fire. Fire helps create a perception of evil as many people think of hell as fire and brimstone orientated. As I have already said, the beginnings of the two stories are contrasted. 'The Signalmans' beginning is eerie and weird and doesn't give out a lot of information to the reader. This means the reader is enticed to read on just to see how the story develops. 'The Darkness Out There', however, has a light and refreshing start. Leading us into a false sense of security. But there are also similarities between the two. Both stories include places that represent people's fears. Packers End and the Tunnel. The main theme of 'The Darkness Out There' is that people are not necessarily what they seem to be. Also in 'The Darkness Out There' is the theme of young people growing up and realizing whom they are. Whereas the main theme in 'The Signalman' is death and responsibility and how it affects's people. So really they are similar in a way.