Characteristics of the Postmodern Horror Film

Characteristics of the Postmodern Horror Film In our world today, box offices are flooded with giddy teenagers seeking a thrill from horror movies. Horror movies date back all the way to the 1890’s so what is it exactly that keeps viewers wanting more? According to Isabel Cristina Pinedo, there are four key elements to the success of the contemporary horror film. Today’s successful films constitute a violent disruption of the everyday world, transgress and violate boundaries, throw into question the validity of rationality, and repudiate narrative closure.The movie Final Destination (2000) is a more recent horror film that consists of three out of four of Pinedo’s elements. While the movie does not apply to all four elements, the characteristics of the three present are strong enough to allow the film to still be considered a horror film. Final Destination is loaded with scare tactics that closely resemble the characteristics described by Pinedo. The film is base d off of a series of deaths that are unexplainable and unpredictable, matching the first element of characteristics of the postmodern horror, â€Å"horror constitutes a violent disruption of the everyday world† (Pinedo 17).More specifically relating to this element are the mysterious tragedies that take place throughout Final Destination. In this film death comes at random times violating â€Å"our assumption that we live in a predictable, routinized world by demonstrating that we live in a minefield† (18). Death is just that, a minefield. The characters feel they have no control over their lives because while Alex, the main character, figures out that there is an order to these deaths, nobody is certain exactly when their time will come. Also contributing to the students’ constant fear is the way the deaths are occurring.One boy, Todd slips in the bathroom and is accidentally hung from the shower clothesline, another girl, Terry, is hit in the middle of town by a speeding bus, and a teacher is killed from an unlikely house explosion. All three deaths treat â€Å"violence as a constituent element of everyday life† (18). The incidents occur in ordinary settings involving items typically used on a daily basis, creating fear that one cannot escape. Not only are the deaths strange, they are extremely violent and gory. Pinedo states, â€Å"the disruption takes the form of physical violence against the body† (18).Blood is prominent in the death scenes as well as mutilation of the bodies with the use of sharp objects, knives, electrocution, and hanging. Pinedo’s idea that death can happen anywhere does not lack in this movie and the realistic gore provides more evidence to support the idea that this film is without a doubt, a horror film. In horror films, confusion is a great way to create even more fear. The deaths in Final Destination are dramatic and in our world unheard of and fall right into place when exploring Pinedoâ €™s characteristics of recreational terror.The way these deaths happen â€Å"[throw] into question the validity of rationality† (17). The concept of irrationality is Pinedo’s third element and is huge in her eyes. She claims â€Å"characters who survive must come to terms not only with the irrationality of the situation but also with their own ability to be as single-mindedly destructive as the monster† (24). Final Destination begins with Alex and his classmates boarding a plane for a school trip however, that trip is short-lived due to a fatal explosion that oddly enough, Alex had already seen in a terrifying premonition.Alex’s premonition makes little to no sense but he chooses to believe it and is able to cheat death. This is just as Pinedo explains. The rationality of Alex’s world is gone and his premonition leaves him to wonder what is true in his life. The other characters throughout the movie continue to think Alex is crazy for having th ese ideas that death is following them. They â€Å"insist upon rational explanations in the face of evidence that does not lend itself to rationality [and] are destined to become victims of the monster† (24).Throughout the movie Alex makes it very clear that he believes there is a specific time and place for each character’s death. Alex does not doubt himself or his premonition once and is able to remain alive until the end of the film. This is just what Pinedo means when she claims â€Å"the ones that survive necessarily suspend their rational presuppositions and trust their gut instinct† (24). There may be a more realistic explanation for these deaths or, there may be no explanation at all but one thing is for sure: the characters who choose to not believe anything at all is happening, are dead by the end of the movie.In this film Alex would be considered the protagonist or the hero. When discussing the hero, Pinedo claims, â€Å"postmodern horror compels its hero†¦to rely on intuition; it requires [the protagonist and the monster] to be both violent and to trust their gut instincts† (25). Alex fights hard to get the others to believe in his original premonition as he tries to stop the order in which it will come. He figures out who is next on the list and uses all power to save the remaining students. Generally speaking, the most important part of a horror film is the ending.Viewers wait on the edge of their seats in fear that the protagonist will not prevail. However according to Pinedo’s fourth element of postmodern horror, it â€Å"repudiates narrative closure† meaning that â€Å"the film may come to an end, but it is open ending† (29). Throughout Final Destination viewers watch Alex try to solve the mystery of death. At one point in the movie, Alex and his friend visit their late classmate Todd where a mortician tells them â€Å"in death there are no accidents, no coincidences, no mishaps, and no es capes†¦we’re all just a mouse that a cat has by the tail. Alex is certain that now that he knows death has a plan, he will be able to solve the pattern within his high school. Although, by the end of the movie, there is still no resolution. Death continues to seek prey and â€Å"we are left with this open ending, unable to determine where the nightmare begins or ends, or whether it ends at all† (33). Alex cheats death one more time and the remaining students are finally able to take their trip to Paris but in the final scene of the movie a hotel sign swings down and comes right for Alex’s head. The audience never does find out whether or not Alex survived or if death is stopped.Pinedo is right on target with this element and this horror film almost identically matches her characteristics. Violence is a concept easily recognizable in this film, however, does not seem to directly follow what Pinedo describes as â€Å"horror transgresses and violates boundari es† (17) where she goes into depth about the importance of a specific monster. Pinedo states â€Å"the monster violates the boundaries of the body in a two-fold manner: through the use of violence against other bodies†¦and through the disruptive qualities of its own body† (21).In Final Destination the monster is unexplainable. The â€Å"monster†, death, does use violence against other bodies by murdering the students in very violent manners although it does not disrupt through the use of its own body. The feared â€Å"monster† in Final Destination does not come in a physical form thus creating a more complex mystery for the characters without harming itself. Another point Pinedo makes is that â€Å"it is only when the monster is truly dead and subject to decay that it ceases to threaten the social order† (22).Because death is the monster in this movie and is not an animate object, it is unable to be subject to decay. Alex discovers that if the order of death is disturbed, the pattern will be rearranged and he who cheated death is placed at the end of the list instead. He seems to have accomplished total destruction of the â€Å"monster† by solving its mysterious death pattern however, alive or dead, it is impossible to avoid threat to the social order thus proving Pinedo’s point incorrect in this case.In classical horror films an audience got a little scare yet left the theater with the comfort of a closed ending. As discussed in Pinedo’s fourth element of postmodern horror, movies today leave their viewers wondering what will happen next. Perhaps the fourth element is the most important because it is what follows the audience into their everyday lives. A successful horror film gives the viewer a chilling fright and then leaves an impact on their life after the final scene.It is those movies that leave us afraid to look under the bed, afraid to walk alone at night, or afraid of certain sounds and imag es. Pinedo does an excellent job of going into detail about well-done modern horror films. Although, Final Destination does follow Pinedo’s characteristics and leaves viewers with one agonizing question: Can you cheat death? Works Cited Final Destination. James Wong. New Line Cinema, 2000. Film. Pinedo, Isabel Cristina. Recreational Terror. Albany: State U of New York P, 1997. Print.

Cambridge University Press Essay

In literature, the notions of a sovereign and a tyrant were always mixed. Philosophical and theological works have not delineated any clear boundaries between a sovereign and a tyrant. However, several professors have attempted to determine, whether it was permissible to resist a tyrant, and how easily a sovereign could turn into a tyrant. In order to decide whether it is possible to resist a tyrant, we should determine who a tyrant is, and what resistance is meant by the question. Bodin (1992) refers to a tyrant as â€Å"someone who makes himself into a sovereign prince by his own authority – without election, or right of succession, or lot, or a just war, or a special calling from God. † Furthermore, tyrants are identified as those who are â€Å"cruel, oppressive or excessively wicked† (Bodin, 1992). Although ancient writers discussed the possibility of resisting to tyrant, they have not evaluated the risks for such resistance. Any opposition, whether real or imagined (planned) would be equaled to treason. Furthermore, a tyrant is also a sovereign who possesses absolute power and unlimited rights. Bodin (1992) suggests that the nation does not have the right to kill or physically eliminate the tyrant; but it can ignore the decisions that contradict to the laws of nature and God (Bodin, 1992). In this context, we should also remember that to be a sovereign does not necessarily means to be a tyrant; but being a tyrant always implies being a sovereign. It is a matter of ethical and powerful boundaries that each sovereign is able to cross. â€Å"The first prerogative of a sovereign prince is to give law to all in general and each in particular† (Bodin, 1992). This is also a prerogative of a tyrant, but a tyrant gives law without distinguishing between wickedness and virtue (Bodin, 1992). In general, Bodin (1992) concludes that â€Å"it is never permissible for a subject to attempt a thing against a sovereign price, no matter how wicked and cruel a tyrant he may be†. The problem is in that we still lack a proper definition of what a tyrant is. We risk abusing a sovereign for high taxes, but that does not mean that this sovereign is a tyrant! A tyrant may have the right to punish conspirators, but this may also be a natural need to protect one’s right to live (Bodin, 1992). That is why we cannot make tyrants’ elimination lawful. References Bodin, J. (1992). On Sovereignty. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Business Management Expanding Product Overseas Essay

Business Management Expanding Product Overseas - Essay Example The gradual elimination of barriers to the flow of goods, services, and investment, coupled with strong protection of intellectual property rights. Also, "The United States is the largest source of FDI in Mexico, accounting for 65% of total FDI in 2003" (Villarreal, 2005). In spite of the fact that Mexico's GDP in 2004 was $677 billion, the country has a stable political situation and high rates of economic growth. Economic trends and analysis (Villarreal, 2005) show that Mexico proposes great opportunities for the company and can be valued as potential market for this type of equipment. Marketing mix (4 Ps) will be based on the following objectives for the company in Mexico: to initiate co-operative marketing with medical centers and hospitals in the big cities around the country. Product: It combines an insulin pump with a glucose monitor and facilitates data interchange between the two. The use of the integrated system is expected to make it more convenient for people to manage their diabetes. The device does not require a battery, With no wires across the skin, there is no deterioration of the skin surface or other areas inside the skin and no danger of track infection. Place: The products will be delivered by trucks because this is the most economizing way for the company to deliver the goods. There are no transit points needed. The shipping will be 4 times a month. The products will be packed in the USA including an instruction on the Spanish language. Outside resources and customs brokers will be unnecessary as the company covers all the areas of delivery. Th e company will be one of the largest medical equipment companies in Mexico, and its approach of mainly independent distributors would continue to serve it well against other large rivals. Promotion: Advertising messages will be designed to communicate with potential consumers in different regions. Also, it will involve both on-line and offline advertising. The core of promotion will be personal selling and direct marketing. Applied to the device for diabetics, direct marketing refers to consumers being able to order products from their home. Direct marketing will involve a number of different methods which can be used in order to reach, communicate, interest and encourage consumers to buy (Fill, 1999). The main difference from competitors' products is that 'device' is easy to use; it has a smaller size and lower cost while keeping all the basic characteristics of similar products. The basic advantage of this product is absence of seasonality in purchases, which allows the company to calculate revenue growth and the degree of market penetration. In the USA, the company uses similar strategies to reach the target market and increase sales. In the USA, direct mail involves the posting of promotional literature, designed to sell a product or service direct to a potential customer's home and hospitals. In Mexico, direct mail (mainly to hospitals and medical centers) will help the company to reach a widely dispersed target market. A Pricing

Post World War II Migration to the Suburbs Research Paper

Post World War II Migration to the Suburbs - Research Paper Example In the period after World War II, life started changing back to normal with the soldiers and other returning war veterans. One of the major factors that led to the Post World War II migration to the suburbs is the returning World War II Veterans. The return of the war veterans contributed to the Post World War II migration to the suburbs in two ways. First, the soldiers who were fighting in the World War II sought a place to live, as they started obtaining peacetime jobs and earning a living in different ways, as opposed to fighting on the battlefronts (Garnett, 285). In their attempt to earn a living, the soldiers and war veterans could not find sufficient accommodation in the urban areas, due to the shortage of housing in the urban regions. This being the case, the war veterans had to seek for a place to live, which was not far from the urban areas, and thus would allow them to commute from the urban areas where they were working in industries and other sectors back to their homes (Stahura, 317). This led to the development of various suburbs in close proximity to the main towns and cities. This saw a move from the urban areas to the suburbs, which was not only meant for the War veterans, but also for the other urban residents who found that the suburbs had developed close to the urban areas, and therefore it was easy for them to commute to and from the suburbs. It is this pressure of developing housing for the returning war veterans that saw many suburbs develop, especially between 1947 and 1951 (Richard and Frederic, 43).

Rolex Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Rolex - Essay Example were being charged on products like gold along with silver utilized for the cases he specialized in was making the costs rise beyond what he could afford. The company was then registered as the Rolex Watch Company which has remained its name since then. However, after the death of Hans’s wife in the year 1944, the founder created a foundation that would handle the entire shares his company owned. He made sure that all the company’s’ income would from then on be going to charity thereby making the company the private trust it still is today. This implies that the company’s shares are not also traded on the stock exchange (Fernande, 2011). According to Fernande, the company has recently been witnessing a decline in its sales along with profitability. The company currently has a debt expenditure of over 2.28 billion dollars but has attracted private capital investments to the tune of 1.5 billion dollars. The company in collaboration with the individual investors aims at producing motor vehicle parts like gearboxes, wheel hubs for the purpose of diversifying their revenue collection efforts. In the year 2010, the company reported a loss of 73.48 million dollars from their net sales that were worth 1530.0 million dollars. This again showed a loss of over 9 million dollars from their previous year’s net sales worth 2593.0 million dollars (2011). The company is currently battling the sale of fake Rolex watches which have adversely affected their sales along with profitability. The company has opened up branches across many nations in the world to help in the distribution of their products. The revenue collected is directed to charity work across many parts of the world (Fernande,

Emotional Intelligence Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Emotional Intelligence - Essay Example coined the phrase â€Å"emotional intelligence† which they defined as being a type of social intelligence that included the ability to monitor their own feelings and those of people around them. This awareness would allow the individual to use that information to modify their own behavior and speech patterns to greatly increase their chances of successful communication. However the concept of emotional intelligence has been traced back to Edward Thorndike and his work Law of effect research (1911). The key element of Thorndike’s (1911) theory was the idea that in cases where responses are made to a situation, if the consequence of those responses was a positive experience (bringing pleasure) then it was more likely for those responses to be evident again in future similar situations. Conversely those situations that bring about a negative consequence (pain) were not likely to result in recurring responses for future events. Thereby Thorndike offered a positive and negative law of effect. This was the first time that such a theory had been proposed and supported by experimental evidence. His later work on animal intelligence made constant reference to this same theory. For example he noted that in his experiment of a cat in a box that â€Å"gradually all the other non-successful impulses will be stamped out and the particular impulse leading to the successful act will be stamped in by the resulting pleasure†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (1898, p.13). He made similar observations about confined chickens. What he was looking for, or appeared to have identified was a connectionist theory that could explain the mechanism behind reinforcer action. This was an idea that was explored by later researchers such as Hull (1943) and more notably Skinner’s work on reinforcement. Skinner’s (1938) work on reinforcement did address a noted criticism of Thorndike’s work: namely circularity and affect. Thorndike’s aim was to find the underlying mechanism for certain actions – namely

Evidence-Based Project.Paper on Diabetes that describes a new Essay

Evidence-Based Project.Paper on Diabetes that describes a new diagnostic tool or intervention for the treatment of diabetes in - Essay Example The psychosocial concerns of parents and children should be addressed primarily. Parents must get proper assurance that the diabetic needs of their children would be addressed in school. Each and every child with diabetes should be monitored in their developmental level that measures the child’s acceptance and its ability to perform self-care. Proper family coping mechanism can be introduced in the school diabetic control program so that parents can deal with child’s behaviors and feelings. Self empowerment and enhancement of self confidence would enable better disease management. Special counseling is recommended for adolescents who struggle with problems like depression and poor self confidence. School personnel and nurses who manage the diabetic control program can guide the children and their families. The diabetic control program puts forward a care planning that includes parent conference and individual care plan. A planning meeting would be organized when a new s tudent is diagnosed with diabetes. School nurse and the health care team would train children and their parents to make diabetes care. The diabetic control program recommends organizing parents meeting in which parents’ checklist would be prepared. ... Planning meeting must gather all healthcare personnel who are part of the diabetic control program, and the caretakers of the child including parents. They would be familiarized with an agenda that would enable proper diabetic care for the child. For example, teachers, school bus drivers and others would be taught what an emergency is and what must be done during an emergency. Individual care plan is also a highly useful diabetic care aspect. School nurse would develop the individual care plan and educate the child, parents and the school staff with the plan. Such plan contains the routine care factors that includes blood glucose monitoring, food schedule, insulin schedule and syringe disposal. In the special training provided in the diabetic control program, all who are involved with the child would be familiarized and trained with the diabetic control measures. They would be taught about the monitoring tools like glucometer. They would be taught to recognize the symptoms of hypogly cemia and hyperglycemia. Parents, children and staff would be trained of daily diabetic care procedures, monitoring techniques, insulin injections and healthcare and safety guidelines. Treatment or diabetes management (diabetes control) involves diabetes monitoring and necessary control measures. Children, parents and school staff would be taught of blood glucose monitoring procedures. Difference steps of blood glucose monitoring and disposal of supplies would be performed. Emergency care situations like loss of consciousness, absence of blood sugar level increase (even after food intake). Low blood sugar can take the child to an emergency situation where prompt action is required. Nurse and school staff should take quick actions at the initial signs of hypoglycemia.

Paper should be down on the country Ethopia Research

Should be down on the country Ethopia - Research Paper Example There are eighty six known indigenous languages in Ethiopia out of which 82 are spoken and 4 are extinct. The Amhara have been the dominant ethnic groups traditionally. Other ethnic groups have responded differently to different situations taking place in Ethiopia. The Standard of living refers to the well being. Well being is defined in terms of a state being healthy, happy and satisfied. It refers to the quality, degree of excellence, grade or distinguishing characteristics. In the context of Ethiopia it refers to mainly availability of resources/goals to satisfy basic needs. Standard of living has to do with having farm, land, farm implements and a house in rural settings, as well as having a job (employment) or business (income) in urban settings. Those people without these have a jeopardized standard of living The standard of living or the economy of Ethiopia started to grow by early 1970’s, and it diversified into areas such as manufacturing and services. Ethiopia is the 12th least developed country in the world (UNDP, 2007). The HDI for Ethiopia is 0.414 which ranks the country 171st out of 182 countries. The less than average score of HDI ~0.51 for Sub Saharan Africa is scored by Ethiopia. It made no improvement in its people’s standard of living as compared to earlier years. ... The PPP income of Ethiopia is 58% and is on 146th number among the other countries of the world. The standard of living reflected by the GDP, HDI and PPP values places Ethiopia behind 132 countries in having a better living standard. Inequality within the countries and between the countries is identified as one of the main barriers to human development (UNDP HDR, 2005). The inequality is a major problem in Ethiopia which includes major gender inequality and income inequality issues. Although Ethiopia remains one of the most tradition bound societies in Africa, the policy instruments and legislative commitments serving women’s interests, recently introduced a vast majority of Ethiopian women, particularly in rural areas, as far from being well off, independent, and direct beneficiaries of development initiatives. Women are considered inferior to men both in family life and society at large, following traditional socio cultural installations and practices. Polygamy, female genit al mutilation, and violence against women are very common in Ethiopia. Many urban and rural women believe that their husbands have a right to beat them. About 73 percent of Sub Saharan Africans live on less the US$2 per day (UNDP, 2011). The UNDP has launched a pro-poor initiative to boost job creation through pro business development that engages low income Africans e.g. customers, employees, producers or entrepreneurs. This initiative includes African countries like Ethiopia, Kenya, Angola and Malawi. 12 million people in 44% population are chronically or at least periodically poor and food insecure. A large percentage of Ethiopians are under nourished, and majority of the

Issac Newton(Scientist) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Issac Newton(Scientist) - Essay Example When he was sixteen, his mother, who had become widowed once again, pulled her son from school in the hopes of turning him into a farmer. Newton detested farming, preferring to spend his time in the confines of his books. Fortunately, the master at the school that Newton attended convinced his mother to allow Newton to finish his education. He became the top-ranked student of his year, and in June 1661, he was admitted to Trinity College in Cambridge, where he studied advanced philosophy and the works of many renowned astronomers (Dolnick 18). The courses that he took influenced not only the rest of his educational years, but his future career as well, making many contributions to mathematics and space sciences. In regard to his contributions to mathematics, Newton discovered the binomial theorem, as well as began to form a mathematical theory that would eventually become what it now known as infinitesimal calculus. Not too long after these discoveries and developments, the school th at Newton attended closed down in an attempt to protect teachers and students from the Great Plague. The private studies that he tended to at home showed more development than they had while Newton was physically attending school. During his independent studies, Newton further developed his calculus theories, as well as theories of optics and the law of gravitation. Newton published many books about his mathematical theories, but then decided to focus more on mathematics in regard to space. After his education, Newton lectured on optics, focusing primarily on the refraction of light, â€Å"demonstrating that a prism could decompose white light into a spectrum of colours, and that a lens and a second prism could recompose the multicoloured spectrum into white light (Ball 324).† It was also during this that Newton discovered that colored light does not change its properties, regardless of whether or not it was scattered or reflected, which became known as Newton’s theory of color. Wanting to test his theory, Newton built the first refracting telescope to physically display his theory of color. When Newton had penned out and taught all that he could about color and light, and after many successes with publishing and being acknowledged for his works, Newton turned back to his work on celestial mechanics. He focused more specifically on the effect of gravity on the orbits of planets, referring to Kepler’s laws of planetary motion. Newton became even more involved in his work with space sciences at the appearance of a comet, which he used to prove his theory of universal gravitation. This law of universal gravitation reveals that â€Å"every point mass in the universe attracts every other point mass with a force that is directly proportional to the product of their masses (Brackenridge 36).† Between the universal gravitational law and Kepler’s laws of planetary motion, Newton was able to prove that the Moon has a gravitational attr action to the Earth, which he was then able to apply to the orbits of comets and other celestial objects. Newton also made an impression in the ongoing argument of whether or not the universe was heliocentric (everything orbits around the Sun) or geocentric (the belief that everything orbits around the Earth). This argument had been one that was religiously heated, especially from within the Catholic Church, so a lot of the information in regard to the arguments were based

Fixed Tangible Dissertation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Fixed Tangible - Dissertation Example nce sheet of the company. The cost include cost incurred at the time of purchase of asset such as cash payment for the acquisition of assets, duty paid on the import of assets at the time of import, transportation cost incurred for bringing the asset to the desired location and place. Although, there might be cost incurred related to the acquisition of the assets but it might not be relevant and thus not capitalized. Examples of such cost are cost of opening a new production facility, cost of advertising and promotional activities and other indirect and administrative costs. The capitalization of the cost is stopped when the asset is the location or place for the intended use. Cost such as initial operating losses, initial cost incurred by the company when it is operating below the capacity and cost or relocation or reorganization of some or all of the holdings of the company, is also not capitalized. The expenditure incurred can also be capitalized in the cost of the asset subsequen t to the acquisition of the assets. These costs primarily include significant maintenance or overhauling expenditure. These costs are only recognized in those circumstances when the future economic benefits associated with that expenditure lasts for more than one year. Other than general maintenance expenditure, there are other costs which can also be capitalized in the cost of the asset. For example borrowing cost, incurred on acquiring to the acquisition of qualifying assets is also recognized in the cost of the assets acquired. This capitalization is accounted for in accordance with the IAS 23 ‘Borrowing Cost’. [2] At the initial recognition of any item of property, plant and equipment, if the payment for an item of property, plant and equipment is deferred, interest at market rate must also be recognized. In certain circumstances, the asset might be acquired in an exchange for another asset, which could be similar or dissimilar to the asset being disposed off. In th ese cases, the cost is measured at the fair value of the asset being acquired. But this measurement technique would not be applicable if the asset exchange transaction lacks commercial substance or the fair value of the assets involved in the transaction cannot be determined reliably. In case where the fair value of the asset acquired is not reliably measured, the cost of the asset, at which it is recognized in the balance sheet of the company, is the fair value of the assets given up. Subsequent to the initial measurement, the IAS 16 has allowed to record the asset at accounting models which are Cost Model Revaluation Model [1] In the cost model, the asset is carried at cost less accumulated depreciation and impairment losses, if any. Whereas, according to the revaluation model, the items are carried at revalued amount. The revalued amount of an item of property, plant and equipment is its fair value at its revaluation date. According to IAS 16, when an item of property, plant and equipment is revalued, the entire class of assets to which that item belongs, is also revalued. In case where a company conducts the revaluation of an item of property plant and equipment, and it results in an increase in the amount at which it was previously recorded in the balance sheet, the increase is credited to equity and is represented as ‘

Individualism vs. Societal Norm and Acceptance Essay Example for Free

Individualism vs. Societal Norm and Acceptance Essay In the community of Salem, Massachusetts of 1692, their community is set as a theocratic society, where the church and the state come as one. Moral laws and state laws are also combined as one. Everyone is expected to live up to the established social norms. Any individual within the Puritan community whose private lives doesn’t conform to the moral laws established by the government is represented as a threat to the community and to the rule of God and true religion. In Salem, everything and everyone belongs to either God or the devil, anything that is unlawful is considered a devil’s work. Everyone in this community is expected to meet the expectations of the society, every little thing they do will be held against them. John Proctor is an example of an individualist in this society. John Proctor was unfaithful to his wife, Elizabeth Proctor, when he had committed an affair with a younger female, Abigail Williams. Committing adultery and telling lies are some examples of sinning in the Puritan community. John Proctor is breaking from the mores, beliefs and ethical codes of the Puritan community because not only does he commit adultery, but he also hides it from the community. His actions were the main cause of false accusation of witchcraft in this society. Eventually, when he realizes everyone else’s life is at risk because of him, he confesses. John proctor chose to hide his adultery because he was afraid of his reputation being ruined and having his life put at risk because he went going against the Puritan law. Another way John Proctor breaks away from the united societal norm of the Puritans is going against the court. The court is in high power in this society. At first, he lies to the court, admitting to witchcraft to save his own life, but when John proctor realizes it is wrong and a sin to the religion to tell a lie, he goes against his false confession to witchcraft. He caused contempt at court while trying to prove everyone’s innocence, but it did not go so well. John Proctor went against the Puritan law because he does not want to dishonor the innocent prisoners and he will not be able to live with himself knowing that other innocents died while he committed sins and the innocents were paying for it. The following quote said by John Proctor in Act IV, clearly shows contempt at court in the Puritans’ way of life:  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Because it is my name! Because I cannot have another in my life! Because I lie and sign myself to lies! Because I am not worth the dust on the feet of them that hang! How may I live without my name? I have given you my soul; leave me my name!† At the end, John Proctor was hung. He was hung for his mistakes, and died without lies to his name. In a theocratic society, where the church and state comes as one, every little thing you do is held against you in the long run. Individuals in the Puritan community whose lives did not meet moral laws were considered a â€Å"witch.† In Salem, everything and everyone belongs to either God or the devil, anything that is unlawful is considered a devil’s work.

Objectives For An E Business Strategy

Objectives For An E Business Strategy Investigation, critical analysis and formulation of e-business strategy for Under Study who manufacture, maintain, service and support scientific machinery and accessories.   (Jump to) Task A To generate research and formulate an e-business strategy for the company by means of applying five analytical tools in strategic management. Task B Discuss the challenges of adoption of e-business and evaluate the critical success factors for e-business in relation to the company Task C Critically review the process analysis in relation to operations with a view to improving performance. Executive Summary (Synopsis) The aim of the project is to investigate the current state of the company with a view to investment. The intention is to identify and set objectives for an e-business strategy. The company under study has a workforce with over 150 years of experience in manufacturing, maintaining, service and support of scientific machinery and accessories. It is part of a larger group of five privately owned companies. The company aspires to expand its operations into new countries and produce innovative products with exceptional quality however it currently operates with dated and obsolete equipment with no long term business to business agreements, minimal profit margins and no e-business strategy. The report will review a process analysis of the company in relation to expanding its operations into a new country with a view to improving performance. The first part of this report applies five analytical tools in strategic management concluding with an evaluation of a proposed approach. The second part of this report details the challenges of e-business adoption ending with an evaluation of the critical success factors. The third part of this report is a critical review of the process analysis. Task A The objective of this task is to formulate a suitable E-business strategy for the company. Competition has always been central to the agenda of companies. Strategic planning has now become widely accepted as the important task of charting a long term direction for a company. Strategies offer a frame work for understanding position and the underlying forces of competition (M Porter). Reviewing Information Systems (IS) and Information Technology (IT) are used in business to add value and achieve objectives (McKay and Marshall, 2004). Identifying internal and external forces is essential to understanding and defining strategic goals and objectives. The rate of change in both internal and external environments of manufacturing firms is increasing, which necessitates that increased attention be paid to strategic planning and strategy formulation. The approach for this task will mirror that suggested by McKay and Marshal who recommended that internal and external analysis can create an e-v ision. An appropriate devised e-business strategy can then be proposed. McFarlans Strategic Grid In 1993 McFarlan and McKenney provided a strategic grid to examine the strategic role of information technology. The tool is useful in balance decision making. Analysing and understanding the companys information technology and information systems will be vital in terms of how the company does its business currently and how its business model or e-business strategy is formulated for the future. Factory: High operational impact, low strategic impact, this quadrant is about operational improvements that affect large portions of the firm, and are aimed at improving performance or decreasing cost. Turnaround: low operational impact, high strategic impact. This quadrant is about exploiting new technologies to provide strategic opportunities. Strategic: High operational impact, high strategic impact. IT organisations that have most projects in this quadrant understand that IT can both improve core operations of the firm while simultaneously generating strategic options. Application of Model. Figure 1.0 Illustrates the companys position in the McFlaranss strategic grid as strategic quadrant. The company has identified that information technology and information systems are an important part of their future. This has been identified by the companys desire for an e-business strategy. If the company utilised IS IT more then the business will perform more efficiently and potentially gain a competitive advantage. Future investment in IT IS is a necessity for the companys growth. It can not be ignored that the company is positioned close to the turnaround quadrant but on analysis the company has identified its needs for growth thus strategic planning is of higher importance. Pest Analysis When analyzing the macro-environment, it is important to identify the factors that might in turn affect a number of vital variables that are likely to influence the organizations supply and demand levels and its costs (Kotter and Schlesinger, 1991; Johnson and Scholes, 1993). The radical and ongoing changes occurring in society create an uncertain environment and have an impact on the function of the whole organization (Tsiakkiros, 2002). Kotler (1998) claims that the PEST analysis is a useful tool for understanding market growth or decline, and as such the position, potential and direction for a business. A PEST analysis is a business measurement tool. PEST is an acronym for Political, Economic, Social and Technological factors, which are used to assess the market for a business or organisational unit. The PEST analysis headings are a framework for reviewing a situation, and can also, like SWOT analysis, and PorterHYPERLINK http://www.businessballs.com/portersfiveforcesofcompetition.htmHYPERLINK http://www.businessballs.com/portersfiveforcesofcompetition.htms Five Forces model, be used to review a strategy or position, direction of a company, a marketing proposition or a proposal. As PEST factors are essentially external, completing a PEST analysis is helpful prior to completing a SWOT analysis, a SWOT analysis Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats is based broadly on half internal and half external factors. PEST ensures that companys performance is aligned positively with the powerful forces of change that are affecting business environment (Porter, 1985). PEST is useful when a company decides to enter its business operations into new markets and new countries. The use of PEST, in this case, helps to break free of unconscious assumptions, and help to effectively adapt to the realities of the new environment. The results can be used to take advantage of opportunities and to make contingency plans for threats when preparing business and strategic plans (Byars, 1991; Cooper, 2000). Application of Model (P)olitical Factors The company opening in new countries must consider political factors such as regulations and legalities; for example an e-business may not be eligible to trade or have premises in a new territory. Chinese regulations for example have limited Googles search engine, excluding Googles You Tube. In March 2010 China banned Googles search engine only to lift the ban a day after. The company must monitor the new Countrys policies or regulations to ensure the way it conducts business is politically acceptable and thus not limiting any future strategies or goals. Ensuring the selected country has a stable political environment will aid company stability. Many countries have restrictive polices which are designed to protect local manufactures from larger organisations. Such policies often hinder foreign companies from entering into these markets. The company should form a strategic alliance with a local company to circumvent any limitations in opening in a new country. (E)conomic Factors The industry is in growth, this is indicated by the company wishing to expand and develop an e-business strategy. Funding in new countrys can be affected by monetary and fiscal rates. Changing inflation rates and currency fluctuation can determine the profitability of the company. A depressed economy will generally be a luxury which results in a number of organisations going out of business, it can provide opportunities for some (Robinson and et al., 1978; Thompson, 2002). If the company is restricted by political issues this would be considered if an alliance was required to set up operations in a new country. A depressed economy could also give an advantage on labour due to high unemployment. Energy availability and cost will require analysing for suitability in the new country. This could affect the e-business strategy in a negative or positive way. (S)ocio Cultural Factors Recruitment in a new country will have to consider technology limitations due to education. Higher educational standards will raise the probability of technology advancement thus having a competitive edge. Consumers attitudes towards online transactions may negatively influence the e-business strategy however if the new country is emerging as an online leader due to political influences such as investing in IT then this could gain a competitive advantage. Cultural attitudes towards e-business across the globe may affect the company objectives. (T)echnological Factors Safer online transactions will aid online communication thus improving business to business communications and orders. Internet accessibility can determine whether the companys e-business strategy will work. Some locations may have limited services or none at all. This can also be a competitive advantage if the area is in development or an internet provider is expanding. Technology advances could potentially aid the company in being more efficient and lean. Becoming a lean world class business will aid the company in being financially competitive. Government investment in technology and research will aid growth. SWOT Analysis SWOT has an extensive history as a model of strategic and marketing analysis. It has featured in strategy books since 1972. SWOT analysis is a strategic planning method used to evaluate the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats in a project or in a business venture. It involves identifying the internal and external factors that are favourable and unfavourable to achieve that objective. The technique is credited to Albert Humphrey It advocates say that it can be used to gauge the degree of fit between the organisations strategies and its environment, and to suggest ways in which the organisation can profit from strengths and opportunities and shield itself against weaknesses and threats (Adams, 2005). The tool is relatively simple to use but its impact if used academically could be influential in a new business strategy. A weakness is that SWOT, having been conceived in simpler times means it does not cope very well with some of the subtler aspects of modern strategic theory, such as trade-offs (De Witt and Meyer, 1998). Strengths: characteristics of the business or team that give it an advantage over others in the industry. Weaknesses: are characteristics that place the firm at a disadvantage relative to others. Opportunities: external chances to make greater sales or profits in the environment. Threats: external elements in the environment that could cause difficulty for the business. Application of Tool The tool has been applied to the company to establish the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. (S)trengths 150 Years workforce experience. Good company name. High quality production and service. Constantly lowering costs to compete. Informative website Desire to grow the business into new territory. Competent workforce Strategic growth into new country / territory Supply directly to customer After sales service Privately owned International customer base Service and support is world wide (W)eaknesses Limited resources. Website is designed for marketing, no transactions. Limited investment. Bricks and mortar organisation no web transactions Skills shortage or little innovation. Weak marketing with no e-commerce or e- business strategy. Dated processing of supply chain management, lack of information technology and information systems. Profit margins are set to compete for business Still using some dated equipment (O)pportunities Competition is unwilling to take on less important projects. Mergers or strategic alliances in new country IS and IT improvements for competitive advantage enhancing a professional company image. Website sales developing market. International market LTA (long term agreements) with suppliers and customers. Educated general manager. Logistics / transportation. Diversification Up to date technology manufacturing. Potential to open new site. Development of new technology, processes and materials. Faster manufacturing with less power (competitive pricing) Environmental leader Unsaturated market IT director with 20 years experience in e-business (T)hreats Language barriers in potential new country Competitive rivalry in global market for larger contracts. Fluctuation in global monetary policy fiscal/interest rates could leave the company exposed (supply chain). Cheap labour abroad. Fierce competition from larger companies. Possibility of a competitor developing new technology. Porters Five Forces Model of Competition The Porters Five Forces model is a simple tool that supports strategic understanding where power lies in a business situation. It also helps to understand both the strength of a firms current competitive position, and the strength of a position a company is looking to move into. Despite the fact that the Five Force framework focuses on business concerns rather than public policy, it also emphasizes extended competition for value rather than just competition among existing rivals, and the simpleness of its application inspired numerous companies as well as business schools to adopt its use (Wheelen and Hunger, 1998). The original competitive forces model, as proposed by Porter, identified five forces which would impact on an organizations behaviour in a competitive market. These include the following: The rivalry between existing sellers in the market. The power exerted by the customers in the market. The impact of the suppliers on the sellers. The potential threat of new sellers entering the market. The threat of substitute products becoming available in the market. Understanding the nature of each of these forces gives organizations the necessary insights to enable them to formulate the appropriate strategies to be successful in their market (Thurlby, 1998). Application of Tool Rivalry Amongst Existing Firms Strong amount of rivalry within the companys chosen products/industry. Rivalry is evident by the presence of larger businesses in the same industry. Competitive pricing indicates fierce competition. Bargaining Power of Buyers Buyers can approach the company and the competition (larger companies) thus creating competition and fierce pricing strategies. Long term agreements are essential to long term stability. The company accepting minimal profit demonstrates the bargaining power of buyers. The company doesnt hold a niche product thus the cost of a buyer switching supply will be minimal. Bargaining Power of Suppliers Suppliers could strategically integrate forward for example assemble the product and sell direct to customer. The World Wide Web (www.) reduces the possibility of suppliers rates being overpriced and uncompetitive. The company can access the www to research suppliers and costs to ensure the right price is being paid thus forcing the supplier to have less bargaining power. If the cost of switching supplier is high e.g. switching from one component supplier to another though there is no evidence of this to the company, it shouldnt be overlooked. Threat of New Entrants The high set up costs and technology reduce the risk of new entrants. This is indicated by larger organisations as competition. The desire to develop the business into a new country indicates that competition is minimal. Competitors could retaliate when made aware of the company establishing itself in a new country. Threat of Substitute Products The threat of a substitute product is high. The company are manufacturing dated products. New technology could eliminate the need for the dated product thus ending the majority of the companys revenue. The threat of the customer not needing the dated part, designed out of the end product. There is no evidence to support the threat but choosing to ignore it could be costly. McKinsey 7S Model The McKinsey 7S model was developed in the late 1970s and named after a consulting company, McKinsey and Company, which has conducted applied research in business and industry (Pascale Athos, 1981; Peters Waterman, 1982). The 7-S model is a tool for managerial analysis and action that provides a structure with which to consider a company as a whole, so that the organisations problems may be diagnosed and a strategy may be developed and implemented. The 7-S diagram illustrates the multiplicity interconnectedness of elements that define an organisations ability to change. The Seven-Ss is a framework for analyzing organizations and their effectiveness. It looks at the seven key elements that make the organisations successful, or not: Strategy plan of action Structure dictates way the company operates and performs (Waterman, 1980) Systems user friendly as possible (Lynch, 2005) Style important in the performance of strategy (Martins and Terblanche 2003) Skill to maintain competitive edge in technology advancement Staff people make a business successful Shared values common goals working together to achieve them Application of Tool Strategy The company has a desire for growth by entering in to a new country and establishing an e-business strategy. Realisation of companys business strategy and the groups corporate goals requires substantial capital investment in the near future. Structure The structure of the company often dictates the way it operates and performs (waterman et al 1980). No formal alliances. Privately owned. Systems Customer satisfaction the website offers a feedback mechanism Local area network provides administration a range of functional applications. The wider area network enables access to email and the World Wide Web. The company utilises computer aided design (CAD) and has a new stock control system which will drive forward control and the desire for efficiency. Style The company prides itself on quality of products and services satisfying customers has a grate deal of focus. Over engineering a product to achieve superior quality may hinder effectiveness to compete in pricing. Utilising a competitive prising strategy to establish sales. Skill Over 150 years experience. Develops machinery from design to manufacturing with the use of computer aided design (CAD). Educated and enthusiastic general manager Appears to be a lack of creativity/innovation amongst the companys workforce. In house training offered to customers in all aspects of machinery and instrumentation demonstrates a high skill level. Staff New general manager has ethicised the need for a flexible work force and working environment. A new recruitment policy has been recognized as a driver for development. Shared values Service support contracts with emphasis on creating quality products and services. Good relationships with a number of organisations, sector manufacturers and developers. E- Business Strategy Objectives Strategy is designed to transform the firm from the present position to the new position described by objectives, subject to constraints of the capabilities or the potential (Ansoff, 1965). The author recommends the following objectives for the companys e-business strategy supported by the data provided from the analytical tools used; SWOT, Porters Five Forces, Mckinseys 7S, PEST and McFarlans Strategic Grid. To innovate new technology and efficiency through strategic investment, employee motivation and empowerment. Increase efficiency and effectiveness e-procurement Increase revenue from global markets Establish an long term agreement (LTA) E-Business Strategy Evaluation and Alignment with Business Objectives To remain competitive in todays global economy, the company must decide what methods, processes, and technologies will best optimize their operations. They have to weigh the company analysis and take action quickly in this ultra-competitive environment. Innovations and faster product development can also often create a barrier for potential new entrants (Porter, 2004) .The Companys dependence on obsolete products and lack of innovation has been analysed as a threat in Mckinseys 7S analysis and SWOT. The workforce has a wealth of over 150 years experience yet the business relays on obsolete components as its main revenue. It is essential to form strategic alliances with suitable organisations across the globe. Collaboration between the businesses will form the foundation for the development of new products. To aid the process of managing the change the author would recommend a well chosen project management technique or tool be applied especially in the planning stage. A suitable tool would be Critical Path Analysis which was originally created to benefit large defence projects. Two models, SWOT and Mckinseys 7S identified a lack of creativity/innovation amongst the companys workforce. It is important for the organisation to instil confidence among the employees about their future in the organisation and future career growth as an incentive for hard work (Purcell and Boxal, 2003) Emphasis is needed on hiring the best staff, providing them with rigorous training and mentoring support, and pushing personnel to their limits to achieve professional excellence. Creating professional excellence will gain competitive advantage over competitors. Empowered employees become more proactive with ideas and solutions. To overcome pockets of reluctance to change, the companys vision for change must provide an atmosphere of communication where concerns about transformation are not seen negatively but rather welcomed. Achieving empowerment and employee motivation requires continuous articulation and communication of reporting results and monitoring each individuals contribut ion and accountability to the overall companys objective. Leading others to think innovatively and promoting the continual discovery of new solutions and technologies is essential for the company to achieve its goal. Motivation is the art of getting people to do what you want them to do because they want to do it (Dwight Eisenhower) In order to maximise efficiencies across the supply chain the company needs to invest in information technology and information systems, the SWOT analysis has identified efficiency gains in e-procurement. IS and IT efficiencies will offer a competitive advantage also enhancing professionalism of the company and its overall image thus being more attractive to potential customers. Information systems and information technology are used in business to add value and achieve objectives (McKay and Marshall, 2004) The data from SWOT and PEST indicate the companys weakness of not utilising e-commerce thus missing an opportunity. The analysis demonstrates that the website is non transactional and therefore does not generate revenue from new or existing customers. To achieve an increase in revenue from global markets the company must form an e-commerce facility on its already established website. Search engine optimisation and key word density will ensure the company websites place on the World Wide Web. A recommendation would be for an external company to monitor the company website and scan competitors sites, frequently reporting results. Recruiting a specialist company would guarantee the site is in the top 10 results for the companys sector. Engaging in e-commerce will positively reduce risk of falling behind the competition. To address complexities of change, each component must be aligned, along with the enabling technology, (Statoils Data Quality Manager; Hesterbrink, 1999). Product suitab ility will need to be established during the planning stage. The company needs to be cable of adapting its business to thrive in this ever-changing world of e-business. In order to recoup costly investments in new production technologies the company needs to be assured that there will be income in the future to pay for the investment, as a way of reducing the risk in the investment decision. Establishing positive relationships and service are extremely important in winning business. It would be clear with an LTA (long term agreement) that customer is committed to the company. The technology advanced product would be key to a successful business to business (B2B) relationship. The company vision shows the company is committed to delivering to the customer a high quality product, on time and at a competitive price which in its self and with the SWOT analysis shows the need to invest. Securing long term agreements will create a competitive advantage. Task B The objective of this task is to discuss the challenges of adoption of e-business and evaluate the critical success factors (CFSs) for e-business in relation to the company. Critical success factors are the essential areas of activity that must be performed well if you are to achieve the objectives. The concept was developed by D. Ronald 1961 and refined by John F Rockart 1981. The company faces various challenges in implementing e-business. Critical success factors can typically be identified for each individual objective. Financial implications The initial test is financing the change process. The company has previously restricted investment due to the unavailability of resources and the absence of commercial awareness of innovation. Positive changes have been put into operation to overcome the obstacles such as employing an enthusiastic, educated general manager and a IT director with over 20 years experience. Initial costs of implementing e-business are: Preparation or project management and communicating the strategy Consultancy fees for Information systems and Information technology Recruitment is costly when advertising for specialists Equipment and software installation including maintenance / service costs Reorganisation of business to ensure world class lean principles are applied Human implications Implementing an e-business strategy will raise numerous issues within the workforce and business. Essential training will need time allocating. The company will have to capacity plan the impact on the business. Training the workforce to operate the new equipment / tools Creation of new procedures is time consuming Support, emotional and stress often employees dislike change If an alliance is formed will both sites be utilised potential redundancies A formal approach for managing change, beginning with the leadership team and then engaging key stakeholders and leaders should be developed early and adapted often as change moves through the organization the leaders themselves must embrace the new approaches first, both to challenge and to motivate the rest of the organisation. They must speak with one voice and model the desired behaviors. Data Protection Security is a prime concern for the successful adoption of e-business (Chaffey, 2007). Data utilized by the company requires safeguarding against: Fire Fraud or theft Failures in the system data recovery and backups on or off site Electronic espionage Customer information Strategic Alliances Firstly a suitable company needs to be identified for its qualities and business presence. The alliance company will need to compliment the company regards to vision and objectives. Organisational differences will need aligning for example one company may have a strong environmental stance when the other chooses to ignore the issues thus causing friction and possibly undermining already implemented procedures. Once the organisations have formed realignment or restructuring will need to be completed for example in lean world class manufacturing both sites would not require a human resource executive. The alliance formed must be mutually beneficial to both sides thus creating harmony between the two businesses. Long Term Agreements It would be clear with an LTA (long term agreement) that the customer is committed to the company. Developing innovative technology would be required to approach potential new and old customers with the objective of securing an LTA. The technology advanced product or products would be key to a successful business to business (B2B) relationship and long term agreement. The company vision and the acknowledgment of a required investment demonstrates the company is committed to delivering to the customer a technology advanced high quality product, on time and at a competitive price which in its self and with the SWOT analysis shows the need to invest. Securing long term agreements will create a competitive advantage and a secure future. Worldwide Business Worldwide trading is a competitive market with numerous challenges. E-business will encounter cultural variances which will need to be overcome if the implementation is to be fully successful. Operating in a worldwide market will create a fiercely competitive environment. The United Kingdom is known for technology development but not mass production. Technology development is suggested to be skills related. Mass production is suggested to be low cost labour operating with proven processes if a suitable product is developed then a consideration must be applied for outsourcing production to a low cost labour facility which will allow the company to compete in the worldwide market. Technology Small and medium sized businesses are often reluctant to develop into e-business due to resource. The company will have to commit to resourcing the e-business strategy. Implementation of the software will be challenging, adapting the workforce to an automated business process will be difficult. Employees are often reluctant to change. A transformational management style would be beneficial in impleme

A study into secretive human behavior

A study into secretive human behavior Secretive is human behavior that has generally negative connation which should not be confused with Privacy which generally represents the human trait in which one individual is not ready to share his/her personal information to others. In contrast the secretive behavior is not limited to personal information only. If we look at the relevance of the particular behavior we may find that not only it is associated to individual level behavior but also to the organizational level. Therefore we can say that it has considerable effect in behavior modeling of individual as well as at organizational level. We can also distinguish the effect of this behavior on individual and organizational level. Secretive behavior can be associated to particular personality traits that an individual possesses which can be looked into by different conceptual framework as given in this study. Though the secretive behavior of an individual is always taken in negative sense but when we compare the inherent traits that build up this kind of behavior we may find that secretive behavior arise some positive traits in an individual which is more explained by Johari Window in following precedence. Conceptual Framework According to the study of scholarly articles studied by me I have come upon the definition of secretive behavior as the personality trait of an individual which comprises of hiding some information (that can be relevant or irrelevant) from others either consciously or unconsciously by the virtue of the individual traits that a person possesses. The hiding of the information can be act of introvert nature of a person or a kind of defence mechanism as suggested by Freud Theory. Therefore to analyze the personality traits that mould the secretive behavior I have taken help of Johari Window Framework. Johari Window was developed by Joseph Luft and Harry Ingman (Jo + Hari, Johari) in 1950s which is taken as 2 X 2 window having 4 quadrants or regions. Each quadrant or region depicts the information of an individual as perceived by themselves and by others as well. And hence by knowing the findings one can get a good understanding of themselves and their personalities in a more refined way. Figure 1 depicts the four quadrant of Johari Window from perceivers perspective and from others perspective. Perceived Person Known Unknown Perceiver Known OPEN BLIND Unknown SECRETS UNKNOWN Figure 1: Johari Window Following are the details of all four regions of Joharis Window described in detail: Open Region: When the personality traits or behavior of a person matches with the perspective of others as well, it is called as open region. It is generally that part that you show and share with others. It includes your appearance, team behavior, skills etc. It is generally recommended that people should belong to this region to increase there productivity in an organization. Blind Region: This is the region which includes characteristics that are known to other members in the group but individuals are not aware of that. These are generally the blind spot which should be as low as possible. These include individual behavior like making faces, showing emotions, aggressive nature etc which an individual does not know when they indulge in this type of traits. The aim is to reduce this area as much as possible which can be done by taking feedback from other members in the group to know things that an individual is not aware of. Secret Region: In this region the individual is aware of certain things but the others not. These things or behaviors are generally kept as secrets by the individual. This can be related to the introvert, shy nature of an individual. Another aspect is the avoided area by the individual which can be result from certain behavior that is socially not acceptable or considered as wrong. It can include certain private information that an individual does not want to share or the information that individual did not want to share. This kind of secretive behavior can adversely affect the dynamics of group therefore, it is recommended to reduce this area as much as possible and make the system more transparent. Unknown Region: When the behavior or traits are unknowns to the individual as well as the other team it is classified under this region. This can include talent and other behavior that can be revealed by either the person himself in future or by any other team member. By taking the Joharis window as a framework to analyze the personal traits of an individual one can distinguish that in which region out of the four does it belong and a person if it belongs in 3rd region that is Secret Region the attributes of that person can be best suited to know more about the secretive behavior of an individual at individual level as well as group level. Review of Literature The dictionary definition of secretive is defined as inclined to secrecy or reticence about divulging information; although they knew her whereabouts her friends kept close about it . If we look into literature review of this behavior there is lot of research papers that are presented. Few author presentation and perspective has been presented below: The well known concept of Johari Window1, which is a model of self awareness, personal development, group development and understanding relationship. This concept can be related to MBTI (Myers-Briggs Type Indicator)2 Indicator According to Julie D. Lane and Daniel M. Wegner 3, secrecy is a form of intentional deception that is peculiar for two reasons. First, whereas deception involves inducing a belief in another person that one knows to be false, secrecy involves preventing the other from knowing something one believes to be true. The second distinction is that secrecy is something one can do alone in a room. In another perspective Aldert Vrij, Karl Nunkoosing, Beth Paterson, Annerieke Oosterwegel and Stavroula Soukara4, defines the impact on individual behavior which is stated as Secret-holders confided information to those with whom they felt emotionally close; were more reluctant to confide when they kept the secret to avoid disapproval, and more likely to confide when they believed that others would find out about their secrets by paying attention to their (secret-holders) behaviors. Another context in the literature in Sullivans Interpersonal Theory5, which looks into interpersonal relations that modify the individual behavior. Sullivan stated that the personality of human being is shaped by the interpersonal relations that an individual have. More depth on individual aspect of why do people indulge in this kind of behavior is given by Defence Mechanism Theory by Sigmund Freud6. It involves the involvement of an individual in any behavior either unconsciously or by projecting wrong deception to indulge into defence mechanism. Empirical Study Generalization To study the effect of secretive behavior of an individual, I conducted a case study of four people studying in XLRI PMIR programme who knew well each other before coming here. This case study takes the help of Johari window from which I can deduce the understanding of personalities of these individual according to them as well as from the perspective of others. The main aim of doing this case study is to actually study the personality traits of an individual as perceived by him/her and as perceived by others. With the help of this I can categorize people into each of the four windows as described above in Johari Window and with the help of this segregation I can correlate which kind of people generally depict secretive behavior at individual level. Description of Case Study: In the case study I deliberately choose four people who knew each other very well so that the perception of an individual as perceived by others does not depend on just spontaneous interaction. I gave them 55 adjectives that a person can associates with himself/herself or with others. Then I make them to choose 6 adjectives that they think are best to describe about themselves and then I gave same set of adjectives to other three individual and noted down their responses about the same individual from their perspective on the same 6 adjective parameters. The adjectives that I have used are given in Appendices at the end of this report. Wile filling the corresponding personality traits choices one constraint that I follow is I gave only 120 seconds to fill out their responses for themselves and for others also. Since, there can be a possibility that during 120 seconds the individual does not get enough time to think upon the actual important personality traits. To eliminate out this discrepancy, I conducted same set of case study 4 times among the same set of individual but each time the response sheet which contains the set of 55 adjectives was in random order. To further reduce any unwanted deviations I conducted this at different times over a span of 3 days. By doing this an individual does not actually remember the choices that he/she had filled for others in previous trials. Findings of the Study Generalization Based on the case study as described above following are the results obtained for each of the four individual. Figure 2 represents the Adjectives picked by individual for themselves out of the given 55 adjectives. Adjectives associated with personality 1 2 3 4 5 6 Values perceived by Person A   friendly caring   cheerful   energetic   brave   sensible   Values perceived by Person B   independent logical   organized   helpful   caring     modest Values perceived by Person C   sentimental quiet   sensible   observant dignify   wise   Values perceived by Person D   giving happy   helpful   sensible caring   proud   Figure 2: Adjectives picked by individual for themselves out of the given 55 adjectives Figure 3 represents the adjectives associated with each person as perceived by other three persons. In this the frequency of each adjective is shown in () after taking the questionnaire at different point of time. Person A Person B Person C Person D Person A X   friendly(3), bold(2), extrovert(2) bold(3), energetic(2), organized(2)   extrovert(3), powerful(2), responsive(2)   Person B   Caring (4), helpful (3), extrovert(3) X helpful (4), logical (2), modest (2)   logical (2), proud (2), helpful (2)   Person C   extrovert(2), cheerful (2) , happy (2) nervous(3), tense(2), complex(2)   X relaxed(2), ingenious(1), giving(1) Person D   helpful(3), calm(2), modest(2)   giving(2), happy(2), caring(2)   modest(2), organized(2), giving(1) X Figure 3: Adjectives picked by others for specific person. ( ) represents the frequency of that adjective As we can see from the data collected by taking down the personality traits of an individual from perceiver as well as perceived perspective that the individual behavior of Person A ,Person B and Person C matches to a certain extent with the behavior as noted by other members in the group. Moreover, the frequency with which the kind of adjectives appears for both the persons indicates that all of them belong to Region 1 of Johari Window which is Open region. And the adjectives associated with both persons like friendly, organized, brave, responsive, helpful, extrovert etc are in perfect correlation with the qualities that are associated with Region 1 as given by Joseph Luft and Harry Ingman. If we consider the case of Person 3, where the behavior described by himself does not matches with the behaviors as perceived by others, we can say that the Person C belongs to Region 3 or Secret Region of the Johari Window where the behavior are known to the person but are unknown to others. The basic traits that the person think of him is sentimental, quiet, sensible, observant, dignify and wise which is in negative correlation with the behavior given by other like extrovert, happy, relaxed etc. Moreover, the attributes associate with Person 3 which he think of him perfectly correlates with the behavior associated with Region 3 of Johari Window as given by Joseph Luft and Harry Ingman. Therefore, we can say that the individual having personality traits like introvert, quiet, shy, powerful, observant are much more associated to the persons having secretive behavior as compared to the person with the behavior like extrovert, happy, openness etc. Implications of Group Work We can distinguish the effect of this behavior on individual and organizational level which is given as follows: At Individual Level: Impact on Psychological Aspect: When we look into the effect of this kind of behavior on mental functions of human we can see that this type of behavior is generally associated with the people who are reserved, introvert, who does not want to share information. Also we can say that that the type of people who show this kind of behavior have very strong will which make them to hide information from others. Impact on Behavioral Modernity: With the advent of more information channels and competition the secretive nature has been considerably changed from our ancestors. And by comparing with the previous we can say that it has considerably increased. At Organizational level: Impact on Sociological Aspect: Sometimes secretive nature of the organization is more concerned with hiding of some information due to protection of ideas, future plans, information which can affect them severely. Impact on Anthropological Aspect: When an organization does not share proper information with employees, they are actually creating a traditional relations with them which will affect the motivation and performance of there work. Impact on Job Satisfaction Level: Job Satisfaction relates to the content level of an individual with his/her performance. And when an individual thinks that an organization is hiding some relevant information that arise a suspicion which decreases the job satisfaction or this behavior shows the negative correlation with job satisfaction. Contributions to Organizational Behavior I feel that as a part of organizational behavior it is very important to understand the individual behaviors and personality traits. In addition to this it is very much essential to understand and focus on the actual causes behind these behaviors which actually force an individual to indulge in secretive behavior. Therefore I think my study about secretive behavior is very much relevant to organizational behavior. But since my research involves the study the effect of internal personality traits on secretive nature and therefore it will be interesting to see how external effects like situation and society plays an important role in contributing the modification of secretive behavior in an individual. Hence, there is further scope to extend this study in the light of external factors and correlation of these external factors with the internal behavioral trait of an individual. Conclusion According to the study of scholarly articles studied by me I have come upon the definition of secretive behavior as the personality trait of an individual which comprises of hiding some information (that can be relevant or irrelevant) from others either consciously or unconsciously by the virtue of the individual traits that a person possesses. As showed in the case study results given above the personality traits to a greater extent affects the secretive behavior of an individual. For example the individual who are more introvert, shy and reserve tend to show more secretive behavior as compared to the people who are extrovert or outspoken. Even the people who have strong determination are more capable in holding any secret as compared to one who did not have strong will power. Therefore, by studying the Joharis window on different set of people I can say that individual personality traits or internal factors affect the secretive nature very much.

Computers and Communication :: Technology Essays Papers

Computers & Communication Today, more than ever people, are using technology in many different ways. Some people are using technology for leisure purposes while others are making technology work for them. Rapid advancements in technology are forever changing the way that we as people, react with the rest of the world and with each other. My parents, and the parents of many other college students, had little exposure to computers throughout their college education. It is up to the current generation of educators and students to harness the benefits of technology so they can be applied to many aspects of life, from work to communication, and from recreation to leisure. Within the context of this paper I will give some examples of technology (generally computer related) and how it has benefited the way we interact in society. Along with the benefits there are always some kinds of drawbacks, and I would like to touch on a few of those. In an attempt to make some chronological sense I will start off with some to the most basic technological advancements that are helping people like myself to conduct simple tasks such as word processing and so on. Computers, along with their input devices (such as keyboards) and their output devices (such as monitors and printers) allow us to do things in a more efficient manner than in times past (O’Leary 119). For instance, if I were to have typed this paper on a standard typewriter, and decided that I wanted paragraph number three to go where paragraph number four was at, I would have to retype the whole page, if not the entire paper again. Programs like word processors simulate a typewriter in a way that the data is editable for future corrections without ruining what is currently on the virtual page. Word processor programs have ingenious tools that come with them, such as spell checking. Spell checking can be a double-edged sword when it comes to the English language. It is all fine and dandy that your finished text can come out free of spelling errors, but I have noticed that spell checking can weaken ones ability to spell on their own terms using traditional paper and pencil. We must be able to use technology in a way that it does not hinder our skills as human beings. The advent of the word processor is eating away at the use of pen and paper during rough draft procedures, and it is common to see many students starting their rough drafts via computers.

Struggles in the United States Steel Industry :: Business Essays

Struggles in the United States Steel Industry In the past decade the United States has encountered many challenges to its steel industry. The steel industry has changed tremendously since the early 1900’s when the United States dominated the steel market. According to figures on a Global Steel Business website, in 1900, the United States produced 37% of the world's steel. Now Asia produces 40% of the world's steel and China is the world leader in steel production. The United States decline in steel production has forced the United States to import 24% more steel in 1999 than 1998. (GSB 1) There are many reasons why United States steel industries are struggling. One main reason is the recent increase of steel production in poorer foreign countries. These countries have weak economies and are able to produce steel cheaper than the United States by paying smaller wages and using cheaper, less safe ways of producing steel. (GSB 1) An article headed by Global Steel Business writes â€Å" these economic stricken countries pay an average of four dollars less an hour than the United States.† (GSB 2) It also writes, â€Å"the methods used by such countries are abnormally dangerous.† (GSB 2) These changes have increased the United States imports from 98-99 from Japan 147.8%, South Korea 93.3% and Russia 53.3%. Another reason the United States is struggling is due to steel dumping. Dumping is the process when a company takes part in â€Å"pricing items below their production cost to drive competitors out of an import market† (SD1). Many countries, in cluding Japan, have been accused of steel dumping by the United States. Countries such as Japan are able to do legally dump steel on the United States do to their foreign government subsidies (SD1). According to an internet site dealing with steel dumping, â€Å"The U.S. Commerce Department ruled that Japan sold steel as much as 60% below fair market value† (SD1). The United States steel companies can't compete with these foreign steel prices and are constantly undersold. A third reason United States Steel companies are struggling is the problem within the company's management. Unlike a century ago when large companies ruled the market, now most steel companies are smaller. A recent article in The Economist magazine explains that these small companies often don't have the managerial skills to compete in the â€Å"highly complicated steel market† (The Economist 83).

History of the Periodic Table :: essays research papers

Things are very different from each other, and can be broken down into small groups inside itself, which was then noticed early by people, and Greek thinkers, about 400BC. Which just happened to use words like "element', and `atom' to describe the many different parts and even the smallest parts of matter. These ideas were around for over 2000 years while ideas such as `Elements' of Earth, Fire, Air, and Water to explain `world stuff' came and went. Much later, Boyle, an experimenter like Galileo and Bacon, was influenced much by Democritus, Gassendi, and Descartes, which lent much important weight to the atomic theory of matter in the 1600s. Although it was Lavoisier who had divided the very few elements known in the 1700's into four different classes, and then John Dalton made atoms even more believable, telling everyone that the mass of an atom was it's most important property. Then in the early 1800's Dobereiner noted that the similar elements often had relative atomic mass es, and DeChancourtois made a cylindrical table of elements to display the periodic reoccurrence of properties. Cannizaro then determined atomic weights for the 60 or so elements known in the 1860s, and then a table was arranged by Newlands, with the many elements given a serial number in order of their atomic weights, of course beginning with Hydrogen. That made it clear that "the eighth element, starting from a given one, is a kind of a repeat of the first", which Newlands called the Law of Octaves. Then both Meyer and Mendeleyev built periodic tables alone, Meyer more impressed by the periodicity of physical properties, while Mendeleyev was more interested in the chemical properties. Then Mendeleyev had published his periodic table and his law in 1869 and forecasted the properties of the missing elements, and chemists then began to be grateful for it when the discovery of elements was predicted by the table that had taken place. Although, periodic tables have always been related to the way scientists thought about the shape and structure of the atom, and has changed over the years exactly for that reason. The modern periodic table is very much like a later table by Meyer, but arranged, by Mendeleev’s, but it had to be according to the size of the atomic weight. The only thing though that was made by Mendeleev’s was Group 0, which was then added by Ramsay.

Obama Immigration Reform Essay

Currently, 11 million illegal immigrants inhabit the United States. This number will continue to augment without proper regulation of these aliens. Ever since his first inauguration, it has been President Barack Obama’s mission to improve America’s mediocre immigration system. Since Obama’s reelection for his second term, he has constantly stressed the fact that the new ideas for immigration reform are on the top of his list. Not only will these new reclaims help both the legal and illegal immigrants, and American citizens, but also they will benefit the US economy. It has been a controversial argument whether Obama’s reform ideas will either positively or negatively affect the US economy, but according to the bipartisan group of democrats and republicans, it is agreed that the positives greatly outweigh the negatives. After the bipartisan meeting on January 28th, 2013, in which both parties’ principles were announced for comprehensive immigration reform (CNN Political Unit, CNN. com), Obama presented a speech on January 29th, 2013, which consisted of numerous solutions to the troubled immigration system presently used in the United States. This speech not only contained these ideas, but also his plan of action to pursue them during his next four years in office. Obama proved to America that he would attempt to fulfill these reforms as soon as possible by saying, â€Å"It is time to fix the system that has been broken for way too long,† (CNN Political Unit, CNN. com). The first, and arguably the most imperative, immigrant reform plan is to strengthen the US-Mexico border’s security, strictly correlating with illegal immigrant crossings. Since Obama has been in office, the number of illegal crossings has shrunk down to about 80% from their peak in 2000 (CNN Political Unit, CNN. com). Some specific methods that are considered being used to strengthen the US-Mexico border are: increase protection and number of border patrol agents, add 350 miles of fencing, add 290 miles of vehicle barriers, invest in more cameras and radar towers, and finally, end the â€Å"Catch & Release† Policy (USA Immigration Reform, USAimmigrationreform. org). Secondly, Obama desires to increase the enforcement efforts on illegal immigrant criminals who endanger the country’s communities. Thankfully, with Obama in office, the deportation of undocumented criminals is at its highest level than it has ever been before (CNN Political Unit, CNN. com). The third angle for this project is to reinforce the already-formed DREAM Act, which stands for â€Å"Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors. † The main purpose of this addition to the bill of reforms is so the minors that travelled with their parents or guardians over the border (in this case, they are not responsible for being an illegal alien) are ensured opportunity, safety, and equal rights (Zuckerman-Bernstein, policymic. om). Providing conditional permanent residency to certain illegal minors of good moral character who graduate from high schools in the United States is the platform of this act (CNN Political Unit, CNN. com). The fourth contribution in Obama’s speech discussed worksite enforcement. It is strongly suggested that we implement a new national system that enables businesses to rapidly and accurately verify one’s employment status, and even more emphasized, heighten and ramp up the penalties deserved by the businesses that still hire illegally (CNN Political Unit, CNN. om). Actions to be accounted for in this effort are: moderating the number of documents accepted to verify identity and work eligibility, ensuring that all workers must hold legal status in the United States, increasing the fines and consequences for those continually hiring illegal workers, and lastly, to surge investigation of these employers (USA Immigration Reform, USAimmigrationreform. org). This topic is a bit more accentuated because the employment of illegal workers generates an unbalanced and unfair workplace for American citizens. The companies that hire illegally create a battlefield for companies that do proceed to follow the law and pay decent wages, causing those of which to suffer. Not only are these loyal companies and businesses affected, but also is a majority of general working Americans. Their wages and working conditions are threatened, but Obama demands to protect each worker’s rights and clarifies this motion by stating,† We will make sure that every worker and business in America is playing the same set of rules,† (CNN Political Unit, CNN. com). The fifth input could hold the most considerable amount of influence on illegal immigrants currently living in America, and for those who wish to come to America legally but unfortunately have a hard time doing so. Obama’s idea of laying out a pathway to citizenship has caught the eyes and ears of many. This pathway consists of various forms of tests and agreements that attain to both present illegal immigrants and legal ones wishing to move, such as: a background check, paying taxes, learning English, paying a penalty upon illegal entry and getting in back of the line behind the people who have waited to arrive legally (illegals only). Obama claims this is only fair (CNN Political Unit, CNN. com). There will be a revised naturalization test, with a focus on American democracy, US history, and what is expected of a US citizen. Also, a rise of immigrant coach training will help applicants through the immigration process. Finally, it’s planned to enhance the development of web-based learning tools to increase English language skills (USA Immigration Reform, USAimmigrationreform. org). Congress stresses that this pathway to citizenship is mainly focused on the 11 million undocumented aliens in America, but it is equally vital to deal with future immigrants, as well, or the country may find itself housing more illegals and not progressing to a better America (Fox News, The Associated Press, foxnews. com). Lastly, Obama’s final aspiration is to break our old fashioned system and bring it to the 21st century. The president’s opinion about visa card laws was that they are â€Å"outdated† and â€Å"make no sense,† (Fox News, The Associated Press, foxnews. com). He hopes to join family members with those who have come to earn a living already and to avoid the prolonged wait of future immigrants. Having to wait years before being able to send one’s family to America is absurd to the President and surely to a majority of others (CNN Political Unit, CNN. com). These plans, ideas, and desires for a higher quality national immigration system will be assorted into a bill. Witnesses largely appealed to congress’ disposition to pass the bill because not only will this bill ameliorate the lives of immigrants and their families, but also the US economy (Fox News, The Associated Press, foxnews. om). Correspondingly, there is a plethora of reasons why a substantial immigration reform would positively impact the US economy. To begin, immigrants start businesses. The Small Business Administration says immigrants are 30% more likely to start a business compared to a native, and 18% of small business owners today are immigrants (Gray, Furman, thewhitehouse. gov). In addition, this reform would create an annual increase of 0. 8% points to the economic growth rate, presently stuck at a frustrating 2% (CBN News, CBN. com). Additional boosts to the economic growth could potentially come from rising wages for newly legalized workers and higher productivity levels from the arrival of new, highly-skilled workers from abroad (Krudy, NBCnews. com). To even further express the benefit of immigration reform, just in 2008, the Congressional Budget Office projected an acquired $48 billion in revenue from 2008-2017, simply caused by a more efficient, modernized national immigration system (Krudy, NBCnews. com). Continuing on from the point above, immigrant-owned businesses create jobs for Americans. The Fiscal Policy Institute stated that small businesses owned by immigrants employed about 4. 7 million people in 2007. These businesses generated over $776 billion annually. With this statistic, it only makes sense to assume that this ratio will continually grow in the future since more businesses will be started. Also, the Center of American Progress affirmed that comprehensive immigration reform would create jobs — 900,000 people got jobs within 3 years from the increase of immigrant consumer spending (Gray, Furman, thewhitehouse. ov). Yes, immigrants will aid the US in creating jobs for its native citizens, but it is also true that immigrants are more likely to create their own jobs as well. The Department of Labor claimed that 7. 5% of foreign born people in the United States are self-employed, while only 6. 6% of native born are self-employed (Gray, Furman, thewhitehouse. gov). Immigrants are also a great contributor to the economy because they have and probably will co ntinue to create cutting-edge technology and companies. Big businesses like Google, Yahoo, Intel and eBay were all produced with the help of immigrants, and 25% of public US companies were started by them (Gray, Furman, thewhitehouse. gov). Alone, these booming businesses create an influx of earnings for the American economy. The earnings developed from these businesses wouldn’t reach their full potential without the help of immigrants. Between 1990 and 2004, an accession of immigration correlated with increased earnings of about 0. 7% annually, recorded from studies at University of California (Gray, Furman, thewhitehouse. ov). Oddly enough, it is proven that immigrants earn greater degrees than non-immigrants. Surprisingly, with all of America’s exceptional education programs, only 16% of the resident population holds a bachelor’s degree. Immigrants represent 33% of America’s engineers, 27% of mathematicians, statisticians, and computer scientists, and 34% of physical scientists (Gray, Furman, thewhitehouse. gov). Another reason to implement this bill immediately is because reform legislation would reduce the deficit. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office says that if the 2010 version of the DREAM Act was used, the federal deficit would be abated $2. 2 trillion over a course of 10 years because of accumulated tax revenues (Gray, Furman, thewhitehouse. gov). The consensus among economists said the new reform would maximize housing demand, encourage entrepreneurship, and raise tax revenues, which in total would sufficiently aid the budget deficit (CBN News, CBNnews. com). So basically, the consensus among economists has determined immigration reform as a net benefit. Economist Giovanni Peri plans to utilize a â€Å"cap-and-trade† visa system, which would induce a profit of $1. 2 billion a year (Krudy, NBCnews. com). Finally, immigration reform would increase America’s gross domestic product. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office asserted that even under low investment assumptions, immigration reform would raise the GDP by 0. 8%-1. 3% from 2012-2016 (Gray, Furman, thewhitehouse. gov). As one can see, President Barack Obama has put forth a much needed effort in the mission to create a noteworthy national immigration system. With all of these fair and effective plans and ideas, not one foreigner should have to think twice about becoming an American citizen, considering it is for the benefit of themselves, their family, the United States and its economy. The National Council of La Raza, the League of United Latin American Citizens, and the International Secretary of the Service Employees International Union, all of these tied in with immigration policies, issued a joint statement saying â€Å"The time to act is now,† (Zuckerman-Bernstein, policymic. com).