Parvanas Journey

PARVANAS JOURNEY QUIZ CHAPTERS 6,7,8 PART 1 Complete the following multiple choice. 1. What is a Shalwar Kameez? A. Traditional dress worn by both men and women. B. Knitted Shaw C. Sandals D. Soft-soled leather shoes made from deer skin. 2. What job did Parvana do in exchange for food for Hassan, Asif and herself? A. Clean the Tea House B. Clean the chicken house C. Clean dishes D. Cleaned a pigeons cage 3. As Asif, Parvana and Hassan left the village, what did Asif return to steal? A. Eggs B. Rice C. Water D. Chicken 4. What did Asif make out of grass, down by the stream? A. Ball B. Boat C. Car D. House . What name did Parvana used when she introduced herself as a boy? A. Faraz B. Aadi C. Dakshi D. Kaseem PART 2 Fill in the blanks 1. _______________ Each letter Parvana wrote she addressed it to her best friend. What was her name? 2. _______________ What did Asif say he would buy out of his share of the treasure? 3. _______________ Parvana’s journey was to keep walking in hope s of bumping into who. 4. _______________ When Parvana, Asif and Hassan arrived in the tiny village, they spoke with some boys playing what sport? 5. _______________ Asif wanted to help Parvana out by carrying what on his back?PART 3 True or False 1. _____ The treasure chest found by Asif and Parvana was full of soap. 2. _____ When Parvana and Hassan left the cave, Asif decided to join them just to annoy Parvana. 3. _____ Out of anger Parvana returned to the chicken house to steal eggs. 4. _____ After Parvana finished cleaning the chickens house, the man returned with three bowls of white rice. 5. _____ Asif played baseball with the boys in the village for a drink of water. ANSWER KEY Multiple Choice A B D A D Fill in the blanks Shauzia Horses Mother Hassan Soccer True or False False True True False False

A Career in Tourism

Currently tourism – very promising and quickly developing field of economics. Now on volumes of revenue tourism in the third place in the world after the automotive and petroleum industries. But there is a forecast that in the coming years it will take a second or even first place. Also, it should be noted that in the tourism sector employs about half of the population of our planet. Therefore, I believe that tourism Is one of the most attractive areas of activity.In our time, given all the advancements and technology, travel has become easy. And If we consider that the standard of living In our country Is growing, we can still say that tourism Is becoming more affordable for us. Personally, I was attracted by specialty tourism, because I believe that this work- combining business with pleasure. That Is, If I work In the travel agency, I will get the opportunity to more and more to develop, to learn about different parts of our planet,I will certainly go to Info-tours at the e xpense the enterprise. If, for example, I work In a hotel, It Is a constant opportunity to communicate with new people, foreigners, with their culture. This is an opportunity to practice foreign languages. Jobs tour operator is also very interesting, as it implies a vast knowledge of geography, involves creativity. Make tours very interesting, because I can go to different countries.In addition to all the benefits that I have listed, we should add that all this high-paying places. More accurate to say that everything will depend on myself. To succeed in the career of tourism, first need to have a aspiration and a great desire, you need to be in the mood for communication. Should also receive special education. One must be aware of all the news related to tourism. Attend conferences, participate in the communities to be active within the enterprise, and to invent something new.

Reaction Paper in Food and Nutrition Essay

1. What are the dishes served at World Buffet? Group these dishes according to its main nutrients. Different foods are served at World Buffet just like a Japanese cuisines like sushi, maki and tempura. There are also western foods that are served at World Buffet just like US Roast Beef, Spanish Paella and Mexican Burritos. All of them are examples of foods that are served in a World Buffet. Desserts are also present in a World Buffet and these sweets are cakes, candies, brownies, fruit salads, and many more. Drinks are also there to make you feel refreshed and they different kinds of beverages like water, smoothies, shakes, juice, lemonades and green tea to lessen the â€Å"umay† (sorry ma’am there is no English word for this). 2. What dishes did you enjoy eating and why? When I heard of global cuisine, I assumed that there will be plenty of food to select from, and I’m right. They offer dishes from different countries around the world. When we got there, there’s a long line of people, in short we must line-up also. So after minutes of waiting we already got our table. We just place our bags in our chairs and ready to get our foods. When we are getting our foods we don’t know what to get because of so many choices from Japanese foods, Italian, Chinese, American, etc. I like the turkey so much, the lamb also taste good. Fruit shake especially four season is so refreshing!! The desserts are also delicious. Tempura is also good and their kebabs. They also have the grilling station where you can choose raw fish or meat and they will grill that for you and deliver right at your table. We had a great time on our visit. I want to come back again and try the dishes I didn’t eat. 3. Knowing what food/dishes you ate trace what happened to all nutrients in your meal from mouth to gastrointestinal tract. Carbohydrates: The digestible carbohydrates are broken into simpler fragments by enzymes in the saliva, in juice produced by the pancreas, and in the lining of the small intestine. Starch is digested in two steps. First, an enzyme in the saliva and pancreatic juice breaks the starch into molecules called maltose;  then an enzyme in the lining of the small intestine splits the maltose into glucose molecules that can be absorbed into the blood. Glucose is carried through the bloodstream to the liver, where it is stored or used to provide energy for the work of the body. Table sugar is another carbohydrate that must be digested to be useful. An enzyme in the lining of the small intestine digests table sugar into glucose and fructose, each of which can be absorbed from the intestinal cavity into the blood. Milk contains yet another type of sugar, lactose, which is changed into absorbable molecules by an enzyme called lactase, also found in the intestinal lining. Protein: Further digestion of the protein is completed in the small intestine. Here, several enzymes from the pancreatic juice and the lining of the intestine carry out the breakdown of huge protein molecules into small molecules called amino acid . These small molecules can be absorbed from the hollow of the small intestine into the blood and then be carried to all parts of the body to build the walls and other parts of cells. Fats: The first step in digestion of a fat such as butter is to dissolve it into the watery content of the intestinal cavity. The bile acids produced by the liver act as natural detergents to dissolve fat in water and allow the enzymes to break the large fat molecules into smaller molecules, some of which are fatty acids and cholesterol. The bile acids combine with the fatty acids and cholesterol and help these molecules to move into the cells of the mucosa. In these cells the small molecules are formed back into large molecules, most of which pass into vessels near the intestine. These small vessels carry the reformed fat to the veins of the chest, and the blood carries the fat to storage depots in different parts of the body. Vitamins: The large, hollow organs of the digestive system contain muscle that enables their walls to move. The movement of organ walls can propel food and liquid and also can mix the contents within each organ. Typical movement of the esophagus, stomach, and intestine is called peristalsis. The action of peristalsis looks like an ocean wave moving through the muscle. The muscle of the organ produces a narrowing and then propels the narrowed portion slowly down the length of the organ. These waves of narrowing push the food and fluid in front of them through each hollow organ.

Critical Review of Greasy Lake

When I began reading â€Å"Greasy Lake† by T. Coraghessan Boyle, I thought these boys were exhibiting typical behavior of young-adult men and their behavior led them to trouble. Boyle kept my interest by anticipation and disgust at the boys of the boy’s behavior in this story. The narrator, who is the main character of the story, often describes himself and his friends as â€Å"bad characters† and this becomes more convincing in the story. Boyle also used Greasy Lake at not only the setting for this story but also as a character. He described the lake as â€Å"fetid and murky, the mud banks glittering with broken glass and strewn with beer cans and the charred remains of bonfires. † Greasy Lake is used as a symbol for the youth culture itself in the story and is littered by alcohol, sex and violence. When the boys first came across the greasy man at the lake, their attitudes change for a moment, all three of them are scared. When they began to fight with the man, the narrator grabbed the tire iron out of fear. Once the three of them beat him up and knock him unconscious, I think this only increased their already arrogant attitudes. When they attempt to rape the greasy man’s lady companion, I think that shows how truly pathetic each of them are, acting like â€Å"deranged brothers†. In a very disturbing way, the boys were asserting a primal physical dominance over the woman. I think Boyle’s was sending a message that there are consequences for our actions. Even though kids tend to think they’re big and bad and have it all figured out, these once cocky boys quickly became horrified once they had to face the consequences of their actions. I personally enjoyed reading â€Å"Greasy Lake† very much. The language in the story Boyle used is crude and literal, but it goes with the theme of â€Å"badness† portrayed by his characters. Boyle emphasizes the corruption of the lake by using it as a not only the setting, but also as tool to compare the narrator and the youth of the time. In the beginning, the narrator is as corrupted as the lake; though born pure and â€Å"clear† he becomes tainted by the â€Å"beer† and wildness of his culture. By ending with the beaten narrator and his friend refusing drugs and driving home, Boyle left me with a sense of for the boys that they are not really â€Å"bad characters† after all. The narrator has realized the consequences of his actions, and that he can no longer act invincible.

Construction Management

Bonds LaShundra Hines Indiana Wesleyan University Personal Finance BUS 150 Keith Smith July 22, 2009 Construction Management The function of a construction manager is to advise and consult a client or owner concerning the programming and design of a project. This would include cost estimation, coordination of the work schedule , equipment and material deliveries. A concern in the managers advisement and consultation is trade jurisdiction of the various contractors and the activity coordination of the engineers and architect. One of the most important functions of a construction manager is to offer critical analysis as it relates to the design, economics, and constructibility being proposed by the architect while always keeping in mind the initial budget and the ultimate goal of providing the best possible facility. Demographics In the analysis of demographics and its impact on commercial spending, consideration should be given to the cause of Dayton residents who flee to neighboring communities,increasing crime rates. The lack of employment opportunities, and the infiltration of less desirable residents who fail to take proper care of their property, are some reasons for this flight,which robs Dayton City limits of responsible consumers whose spending would otherwise enhance retail development and progress. It is true, that those disadvantaged families who have been victimized by alcohol and substance abuse, economic down turns and criminal activity, need decent residents like anyone else. However; given the current economically depressing conditions, law enforcement, city inspectors and other institutional overseers are obliged to be more diligent in minimizing problems that arise under these circumstances. Urban Retail Strategy Proper use of land based resources dictates that urbanism advocates mixed-use development which combines residential, commercial, cultural, and recreational uses, rather than segregating these uses into separate zones or traditional single-use zoning. This strategy also facilitates the presence of a variety of demographic entities as per age, sex, income, etc. These varied consumers would be available in the area of retail development and would also cancel some concerns of isolated criminal activity. Environmental Concerns Asbestos legal firms advertising to represent victims of asbestos contamination , appear hourly on tv commercials. This fact emphasizes that asbestos is still a dangerous threat to the population at large. It is a carcinogenic with a prolong incubation period (30+) years, that incapacitates the lungs and breathing process by the infiltration of hook-like fibers for which there is no cure. The state of Ohio is reminded of the devastation caused by asbestos in the city of Mansfield. Exposure to construction materials that were manufactures there, consisting of asbestos caused the death of workers and their families. This occurred prior to governmental warnings and regulations of asbestos containing materials; and has resulted in a host of multi- billion dollar class-action law suits. Dayton is likewise, littered with older structures and vacant buildings that present a similar threat and must be dealt with in consideration of any urban renewal strategy. Environmental Considerations Type I and type II environmental research and analysis involves a careful walk-thru grid pattern of the land area to investigate the presence of illegal dumping, oil and chemical leakage, the presence of underground utilities and other buried materials. Various municipal departments and the fire department , should be consulted as to the historical use of a particular parcel. The type II process involves the abatement of such research which include taking bulk samples of hazardous materials for lab analysis and later air samples during and after abatement to determine atmospheric quality. For many decades throughout the country we have seen large segments of the general populace favor suburban residency. This same phenomenon has affected the downtown and inner-city areas of the city of Dayton for many of the same reasons: I- The increase of inner-city crime, home invasions, robbery,drug traffic, drive-by shootings. II- Unhealthy industrial environment : violation of EPA(Environmental Protection Agency). Federal standards pertaining to harmful emissions and chemical contamination, as well as accidents due to violation of OSHA(Occupational Safety and Health Administration) standards. III- Atmospheric pollution and traffic congestion. IV- Relocation of business parks and shopping centers to the outgoing suburbs. In the case of Dayton in particular, the demise of NCR, GM, DHL, HEWITT SON FACTORY, have all contributed to massive unemployment and relocation and displacement of the city's residents. Large National and international retailers and franchises such as Kroger, Wal-mart, McDonald's have traditionally, perceeded their decisions to locate in a metropolitan area, based upon a impact assessment of the location. Such assessment have been based upon most of the considerations that I have just itemized, and include others such as geographical flood and storm histories, traffic patterns, age, income, and educational demographics and statistical analysis. Judging from this itemized list it becomes obvious why Dayton lacks the presence of some of these franchises in certain areas. My target date for completion of the proposed report shall be 60 days maximum or less after contract award. My recommended fee for completing the requirements of the contract is $175,000( one hundred and seventy-five thousand dollars). A lesser amount can be considered by myself as an independent consultant, and in consideration of the city's budget limitations. A schedule for intermediate reports and presentations shall be available on a bi-weekly time-table. Construction Management Bonds LaShundra Hines Indiana Wesleyan University Personal Finance BUS 150 Keith Smith July 22, 2009 Construction Management The function of a construction manager is to advise and consult a client or owner concerning the programming and design of a project. This would include cost estimation, coordination of the work schedule , equipment and material deliveries. A concern in the managers advisement and consultation is trade jurisdiction of the various contractors and the activity coordination of the engineers and architect. One of the most important functions of a construction manager is to offer critical analysis as it relates to the design, economics, and constructibility being proposed by the architect while always keeping in mind the initial budget and the ultimate goal of providing the best possible facility. Demographics In the analysis of demographics and its impact on commercial spending, consideration should be given to the cause of Dayton residents who flee to neighboring communities,increasing crime rates. The lack of employment opportunities, and the infiltration of less desirable residents who fail to take proper care of their property, are some reasons for this flight,which robs Dayton City limits of responsible consumers whose spending would otherwise enhance retail development and progress. It is true, that those disadvantaged families who have been victimized by alcohol and substance abuse, economic down turns and criminal activity, need decent residents like anyone else. However; given the current economically depressing conditions, law enforcement, city inspectors and other institutional overseers are obliged to be more diligent in minimizing problems that arise under these circumstances. Urban Retail Strategy Proper use of land based resources dictates that urbanism advocates mixed-use development which combines residential, commercial, cultural, and recreational uses, rather than segregating these uses into separate zones or traditional single-use zoning. This strategy also facilitates the presence of a variety of demographic entities as per age, sex, income, etc. These varied consumers would be available in the area of retail development and would also cancel some concerns of isolated criminal activity. Environmental Concerns Asbestos legal firms advertising to represent victims of asbestos contamination , appear hourly on tv commercials. This fact emphasizes that asbestos is still a dangerous threat to the population at large. It is a carcinogenic with a prolong incubation period (30+) years, that incapacitates the lungs and breathing process by the infiltration of hook-like fibers for which there is no cure. The state of Ohio is reminded of the devastation caused by asbestos in the city of Mansfield. Exposure to construction materials that were manufactures there, consisting of asbestos caused the death of workers and their families. This occurred prior to governmental warnings and regulations of asbestos containing materials; and has resulted in a host of multi- billion dollar class-action law suits. Dayton is likewise, littered with older structures and vacant buildings that present a similar threat and must be dealt with in consideration of any urban renewal strategy. Environmental Considerations Type I and type II environmental research and analysis involves a careful walk-thru grid pattern of the land area to investigate the presence of illegal dumping, oil and chemical leakage, the presence of underground utilities and other buried materials. Various municipal departments and the fire department , should be consulted as to the historical use of a particular parcel. The type II process involves the abatement of such research which include taking bulk samples of hazardous materials for lab analysis and later air samples during and after abatement to determine atmospheric quality. For many decades throughout the country we have seen large segments of the general populace favor suburban residency. This same phenomenon has affected the downtown and inner-city areas of the city of Dayton for many of the same reasons: I- The increase of inner-city crime, home invasions, robbery,drug traffic, drive-by shootings. II- Unhealthy industrial environment : violation of EPA(Environmental Protection Agency). Federal standards pertaining to harmful emissions and chemical contamination, as well as accidents due to violation of OSHA(Occupational Safety and Health Administration) standards. III- Atmospheric pollution and traffic congestion. IV- Relocation of business parks and shopping centers to the outgoing suburbs. In the case of Dayton in particular, the demise of NCR, GM, DHL, HEWITT SON FACTORY, have all contributed to massive unemployment and relocation and displacement of the city's residents. Large National and international retailers and franchises such as Kroger, Wal-mart, McDonald's have traditionally, perceeded their decisions to locate in a metropolitan area, based upon a impact assessment of the location. Such assessment have been based upon most of the considerations that I have just itemized, and include others such as geographical flood and storm histories, traffic patterns, age, income, and educational demographics and statistical analysis. Judging from this itemized list it becomes obvious why Dayton lacks the presence of some of these franchises in certain areas. My target date for completion of the proposed report shall be 60 days maximum or less after contract award. My recommended fee for completing the requirements of the contract is $175,000( one hundred and seventy-five thousand dollars). A lesser amount can be considered by myself as an independent consultant, and in consideration of the city's budget limitations. A schedule for intermediate reports and presentations shall be available on a bi-weekly time-table.

HR needs of Natural Knibbles Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

HR needs of Natural Knibbles - Essay Example Aside from Furthermore, the same technology can be used to enable Cherrie to manage employee benefit packages that are effective in terms of motivating its existing employees to support the challenges the company is about to encounter. Among the HR issues and challenges that Natural Knibbles need to address includes: (1) the need to implement human resource information management system (HRIMS) that is tailored to the company’s current HR needs (Matthews: 140); (2) risk of facing the business consequences caused by resistance-to-change; (3) need to establish a strong organizational culture that strongly supports organizational learning, work flexibility and adaptation to organizational change; (4) significance of transformational leadership skills in the implementation of new HR strategies; and (5) importance of establishing a new organizational vision and mission. The problem with implementing HRIMS lies behind the possibility wherein some of the company’s existing employee may find it difficult to learn how to use new technologies. Although the use of HRIMS could enhance employees ability to improve the quality of their products and services rendered to the customers (Jackson, Schuler, & Werner, 2012: 54), the success of implementing HRIMS is highly dependent on the willingness of its employees to embrace change. Because of their fear of changing their usual working practices, some of them may refuse to adapt to the required organizational change. Because of the risk wherein, Brandon and Cherrie would face business consequences associated with resistance-to-change, Cherrie should be able to establish a strong organizational culture that strongly supports organizational learning, work flexibility and adaptation to organizational change. With this in mind, the process of making organizational learning such as peer coaching and work flexibility a part of the company’s culture can make its employees more open to organizational changes  (Richardson 2009: 138; Zepeda 2007: 227; Zepada & Mayers 2004: 33).

Discuss the challenges and benefits involved in using a health Essay - 1

Discuss the challenges and benefits involved in using a health promotion approach to tackle the levels of depression experienced within the general population - Essay Example This has been majorly attributed to the fact that research undertaken among these professionals to facilitate the understanding of mental health issues differ with regard to the methodologies, theories and language used to undertake the study. Stakeholders such as psychologist, sociologists, non-governmental organizations and governments have developed and implemented various approaches directed towards reducing various health challenges that arise due to cognitive problems. The level of efficacy among these approaches differs to a great extent; however, some of these challenges have shown a great level of relationship. Another most obvious characteristic of these challenges is the fact that they have benefits and to some extent demerits. This discussion will focus on the various approaches that are used to promote mental health among different populace and their associated challenges as well as benefits, specifically those that are applied towards reducing problems caused by depression. Depression one of the most common mental health challenges that are in the contemporary society. Most psychologists have described depression as disorder that affects an individual’s moods by causing continuous feelings of sadness as well as loss of interests in various human activities (Aguirre, 2008). In addition, depression has been cited as mental health challenge that can also affect an individual’s physical capacities and emotions by creating variation in an individual’s mode of thinking and behavior (Aguirre, 2008). One of the most common approach to addressing various levels of depression as a mental health challenge is the application of the Public Health Approach. Specifically, this approach involves the application of medical and psychological strategies geared towards changing the behaviors, lifestyles and coping mechanisms to challenges caused by depression. Public health approaches are closely related with the reduction of depression as a major

Reckoning Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Reckoning - Essay Example She compares England to â€Å"Jerusalem† (720), which is a holy place in her heart. According to Kincaid, England was a unique jewel that only special people got to wear (720). England the jewel is so beautiful, gentle, and delicate in her opinion that she cannot help but express her adoration. She even extends the admiration to the people of England. She says, â€Å"The people who got to wear England were English people† (720). The statement clearly shows how unique the English people were to be able to wear that special jewel, England. Kincaid forms her idea of England in many ways. First, she learned about England from school. She describes how her teacher first showed them England from a map. â€Å"When my teacher had pinned this map up on the blackboard, she said, ‘This is England’- and she said it with authority, seriousness, and adoration, and we all sat up† (720). The teacher’s tone was enough indication that the topic about England was important, and they needed to take it in seriously thus it drew Kincaid’s attention to the study and knowledge of England. Secondly, Kincaid experiences England in her daily life. An example is the can of cocoa that has a label of â€Å"Made in England† on it. Others like the box of oats, her cloth, socks, and shoes all have this particular tag. Her curiosity and knowledge of England improves with these daily experiences. Kincaid also learned much about England from demonstrations by her parents. She writes about how her father must have seen and admired the picture of an Englishman wearing a particular hat in England (721). She talks greatly of how her mother taught her to eat her food the English way (721). Although Kincaid has such fascinations about England, she is far away on an island and can only live with what she has heard or seen from few English people she met. She merely lives under the shadow of

Report on Japan Base Wages Rise for First Time in Nearly Two Years and Article

Report on Japan Base Wages Rise for First Time in Nearly Two Years and how it is related to the behavior of the Japanese economy - Article Example There has not been any official overall increase in wages since the late 90’s. This means that the economy of Japan has been facing a downhill trend for almost fifteen years. Companies like Toyota and Panasonic were on board with the idea with Toyota promising a point eight increase in overall salary which has had no change since 2008 (Tabuchi 1). The GDP of Japan has had an increase rate of about one percent per annum, which is a very slow rate for a third best economy state. The move to raise the wages will have an impact overall spending nature of workers, the more the workers have to spend the faster the economy grows. Increase in wages will give a reason for consumers to spend as opposed to the earlier trend where consumers had no need to spend. The increase is a strategy to encourage consumers to let go and spend a little more than they have been in the past. Spending more will eventually lead to an increase in the Nikkei stocks exchange

Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 9

Management - Essay Example It was acknowledged that Herzberg related need satisfaction to job conditions: job content and job context; where the job content factor was specifically identified a motivators (Martires & Fule, 2010, p. 15). The aim of the current discourse is to determine lack of job satisfaction and motivation as a contemporary management issue through the use of current events that were published on the subject. Identification of a Contemporary Management Issue In an article entitled â€Å"10 factors creating job satisfaction: what motivates now?† written by Spicer (2010) and published online in the Bradford University School of Management, the author actually delved into a closer evaluation of factors which apparently have been perceived as contributory to motivation. The author sought the participation of an original number of 268 managers across UK and Europe. As disclosed, there were â€Å"10 longstanding factors that research identifies as significant in influencing people’s motivation† (Spicer, 2010, par. 2). The factors were clearly enumerated and presented as Table 1, below: Table 1. Ten Longstanding Factors that Significantly Influence Motivation Factor 2010 2008 Interesting work 1 1 Job security 2 6 Full appreciation of work done 3 4 Good wages 4 2 Promotion and growth in the organization 5 3 Personal or company loyalty to employees 6 7 Feelings of being in on things 7 8 Tactful discipline 8 9 Good working conditions 9 5 Sympathetic help with personal problems 10 10 Source: Spicer, 2010 From the study, it was revealed that the factors most regarded as contributory to job satisfaction in 2010 were: interesting work, job security, and appreciation for work well done (Spicer, 2010). The top factor in 2008 was similar: interesting work, followed by good wages, as well as promotions and growth in the organization (Spicer, 2010). As published in Employee Benefits, â€Å"motivating employees is vital if employers are to achieve maximum performance and productivity. There are a wide variety of methods available for motivating staff, at prices to suit all budgets. These range from recognizing employees' achievements by simply saying 'thank you' to more complex schemes which combine set targets with fixed rewards† (Employee Benefits, 2006, par. 1). This is consistent with Spicer’s findings that acknowledged appreciation for work as a significant motivating factor that contributes to job satisfaction. Concurrently, in another study that aimed to determine the level of motivation and job satisfaction among employees of KFC, UK, the author disclosed that â€Å"non ­financial  factors  have a  significantly  higher  impact  on  the  employee's  motivation than   the  financial   factors†¦(and that)   the  study concluded  that  the  employees  working  at  KFC  UK  Ltd  are adequately motivated, though  a  significant  difference  of  level of motivation wa s   noticed   among   gender,   different   age groups,   working   status,   working   position   and   length   of employment  comparison† (Hossain & Hossain, 2012, p. 21). The study written by Adeyemi and Ositoye (2010) supported the theoretical frameworks on motivation as originally published by Maslow (1954), Koontz, O’Donnel and Weintzrizh (1980) which asserted that â€Å"what really matters in boosting employee productivity or output is not the kind of motivation that is employed but the extent to which the employee is being truly motivated by any chosen method. .. (And) the ability of the employer to identify employee

Assessing HRD need is important in developing strategic HRD process Essay

Assessing HRD need is important in developing strategic HRD process - Essay Example The role of HRD in modern organizations has been extensively emphasized in the literature; emphasis is given though on the potential complexity and the increased needs of HRD plans, a fact that has led to the assumption that the development of effective HRD policies requires the active support of both the employer and the employees. Current paper focuses on the examination of a particular aspect of HRD: the development of strategic HRD process. Reference is made specifically to the relationship between this process and the assessment of HRD need. The examination of the literature published in the particular field has revealed that indeed the accurate and appropriate assessment of HRD need can increase the chances for the successful development of strategic HRD process; however, the terms under which the interaction between the above two activities/ processes can be developed are not always clear. It seems that the conditions in the internal and the external organizational environment can affect the level at which the assessment of HR need affects the development of strategic HRD process. All the potential aspects of the above relationship are examined and critically analyzed in this paper using examples – as possible – from relevant organizational practices. ... terprises of all sizes; however, the forms of HRD that each of these enterprises decide to implement is differentiated – usually being depended on the organizational needs, the resources available and the benefits expected. Indicative forms of HRD are the following ones: ‘the training sessions for employees in various departments, the career planning projects and the participation in a wide change effort of the organization’ (Werner et al 2008, p.4). It is also noted that the development of effective HRD policies is depended on the existence of the relevant resources; for this reason, before proceeding to the establishment of a particular HRD plan, the managers involved need to ensure that the resources required for the execution of the plan are available – or, at least, that they will be available in the short term (Werner et al. 2008). Through a similar point of view, Reid et al. (2004) noted that HRD is a key process for enterprises of all sizes; however , it is explained that not all employers manage to understand the needs or the value of the specific process. Moreover, the ability of managers to respond to the needs of the HRD policies is often limited – under the influence of personal perceptions on organizational priorities and values (Reid et al 2004). At the next level, Reid et al (2004) state that the responsibility of managers involved in HRD policies can be differentiated – more specifically, differences have been identified in ‘managerial responsibility for learning, development and training’ (Reid et al. 2004, p.118) – a fact that it is negatively criticized by the above researchers. It is suggested that the responsibility of HR managers for the various phases of the HRD process should be equal securing their high level of engagement to

The Effectiveness of Internal Auditing in Saudi Arabian Local Essay

The Effectiveness of Internal Auditing in Saudi Arabian Local Government - Essay Example Variables used to measure the efficiency include the competence of the staff in the audit department, the size of the department, the independence and autonomy of the audit department, the management support of the audit process, relationship of the internal practitioners with the internal auditors and eventually, the relationship between the audit council and the auditing department (Kamrava, 2010). The methodology used in the survey, archival and the conduction of the research involved the use of unstructured interviews (personalized and intercepted via telephone) and use of survey questionnaires, the respondents in this process included administrators form the Al Sharqiyah Municipal government and in this organization, the internal audit department will be fully utilized as a source of information, Correspondence with the governor or his handlers will be required to evaluate the efficiency of the operations in the local government and to have their opinion ad take on the role and importance of internal auditing in local government. The analysis of the findings will help determine the level of comprehension of the practitioners and stakeholders of the audit process and importance and also gauge their efficiency in the implementation of the same. A review of their competence levels will be of prime importance since it will also indicate the nature of the workforce in the local government versus the kind of work they do which in turn will assist in the evaluation of their efficiency at work. The background information on the structure of local government and audit requirements of local government as mandated by the Generally Accepted Auditing Principles and the Audit Practice in Local Government will be used as a yardstick in the measurement of efficiency of the practitioners, the internal audit process and the compliance of the administrators to the laid rules and regulations of internal auditing (Kamrava, 2010). BACK GROUND / INTRODUCTION OF THE STUDY Saudi Arabia, home to a massive population of 22.1 million p eople according to polls done in 2001 by the Saudi Department of Statistics. To manage this population that sits on land and water. The Saudi Arabian government has divided the nation onto fourteen provinces also known as emirates. These are namely Al Banah,Al Hudud as Shamaliyah, Al Jawaf, Al Madinah, Al Qasim, Al Qurayyaf, Ar Riyadin , Al Sharqiyah ,Asir Hail Jizan, Mkkah, Najra and Tabuk. All these emirates are either headed by brothers, sons and nephews and other kin to the King (currently King Abdullah) according to the economic and political significance of the emirate. This system allows the emirates to be divided into districts and sub-districts relative to their geographical size. With the developments in trade within Saudi Arabia and the world, the economy, social set up and political

Student Achievements - Global Revisions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Student Achievements - Global Revisions - Essay Example The research concludes that all these factors play a major role in determining a student’s achievement in school. All educational institutions have the aim of promoting student achievement. There are different factors that positively or negatively affect the achievement of students. These include social, economic, environmental and political factors. In students’ achievement, different individuals have to pull forces to ensure that the process is successful. These individuals include teachers, parents and students. This paper analyses the positive effects of different factors that affect students’ achievement. A student’s achievement is influenced by several factors such as class size, family, motivation, teacher’s attitudes, a school’s culture and gender and therefore teachers should put these factors into perspective when teaching. Gross (2009) argues that student engagement in learning is an important factor in their success (Gross, 2009). Students can engage in the learning process through submission of assignments and agreeing to teachers instructions. Another form of students’ engagement in the learning process is class attendance. A teacher acts as a guide towards students’ engagement in class. The teacher should, therefore, design a strategy through which students can continuously participate in the learning process. One way through which a teacher can ensure student’s participation is by identifying individual differences among his learners. Use of questions and answers has been identified as one of the best method of engaging students in the process of learning (Capel & Whitehead, 2010). This method targets improving the learning capability of students and, teachers are encouraged to focus more on open ended questions. Such questions encourage thinking and hence enable students to achieve better results even if the students do not answer the questions (Kim, 2010). Teachers who ensure effective

Business Plan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 3

Business Plan - Essay Example It serves as a â€Å"bridge way† to three continents Europe, Asia and Africa. It boasts of an educated English-speaking population, moderate living costs, good airlines and telecommunication connections (US Department of State. 2007). Cyprus Financial Limited’s objectives are to make an equal and fair profit in the business-to-business and business-to-consumer financial services industry. This goal is to be reached by attaining the numbers presented in the sales forecast and financial plan topics. 1. Selling and Marketing Power – The services company’s products are made attractive in order to maintain a certain percentage of clients. CFL demonstrates a successful approach in converting its reputation into an excellent brand to ensure the conversion of its clients’ knowledge into their intellectual property, thus creating value for its clients. 2. Create multiple opportunities from a single line of expertise – Cyprus Financial Limited is able to leverage from a single pool of expertise into multiple revenue generation opportunities: business development, market development, personal financial planning, corporate management services, and tax and financial consulting. Cyprus is now living in an interesting era: the process of change from the "old economy" to the "global new economy" brings a tremendous development growth of e-commerce, mobility of capital, and liberalization to the region. Since the new global economy brings new economics, new market structures, new industry structures, and new company structures, the profile of customers has also changed. Customers have evolved from "solution demander" to "value demander," and from "clients† to â€Å"business partners†. CFL is a Private Limited Company and shall be headed by a Director, with two full time Account Managers. These account managers will handle all end-to-end processes, from sourcing clients to providing financial consultancy services, and shall report directly to the Director.

Mixed Analysis -Environmental Impact of Aviation (Noise Pollution) Assignment

Mixed Analysis -Environmental Impact of Aviation (Noise Pollution) - Assignment Example In the opinion scaled used, zero will denote no annoyance or no health effects while ten will show completely annoyed or adverse health effect (Heise, 2010). Perceptions on effects of the noise on quality of life and attitude towards the noise will however be described from open-ended questions. 9. Procedure: Stratified random sampling will be used to sample participants. Residence and work location will be the bases for stratification. A sample of 115 participants, with at least 30 percent of participants from each stratum, will be used for the quantitative aspect. Twenty-three of the participants, 16 people living in the affected areas, and 7 people working in the affected areas will then be selected from the sample, for the qualitative aspects of the study. Questionnaires will be used to collect data on closed-ended questions while focus groups will be used to collect data on open-ended questions. The strata will form two focus groups. Rigor: Reliance on participants’ experiences and informed consent will ensure credibility and dependability of results and conclusion of the study. Incorporated quantitative approach and large sample size will induce reliability and validity to inform transferability of the results. 10. Data analysis: The researcher will use participants’ perspective to develop meaning from collected qualitative data and researcher’s rationale and background knowledge on the subject will help to bridge gaps within a participant’s responses. Regression analysis will however evaluate the quantitative aspects of the study 11. Consent: The study will target communities that are exposed to aircraft noise by virtue of living or working near the source of the noise. Each respondent will be informed of the scope of the study. Respondents’ consent will then be sought, in writing, by asking them if they can participate in the study. Obtaining informed

Short - Term Financial Management Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Short - Term Financial Management - Case Study Example The second section will also come up with accounts receivable investment assuming the annual sales of the company is 4 million dollars. Consequently, the paper will come up with the number of times the company will turn over some of its inventories. The CCC of the company measures the number od days it will take the company cash in from their client from their previous inventories (Sagner, 2014). Above CCC indicates that the payable will be made within 67 days and the inventory will be made available to the client and later sold to a singleclient on account. The client will then pay for the inventories within 67 days after buying it. The amount of days taken between the vendor payment and when the retailer receives the money from the client will be 67 days. The company has a smaller calculation meaning that it is good to the company. This means that the money of the company is tied in the inventory at a manageable time   (Studyfinance.com, 2015) The CCC of the company measures the number od days it will take the company cash in from their client from their previous inventories. Above CCC indicates that the payable will be made within 51 days and the inventory will be made available to the client and later sold to a singleclient on account. The client will then pay for the inventories within 51 days days after buying it. The amount of days taken between the vendor payment and when the retailer receives the money from the client will be 51 days   (Studyfinance.com, 2015). When the company maintains the accounts receivable of 5.589 million dollars, it will enable the company to extend loans free from interest to their customers. The accounts receivable investment is important for the company to carry out some of its business. From the calculation, the investment accounts receivable of 5.589 million dollars is healthy for the company. The figure is due to the controlled ambition of the company to collect their policies from the

Oil, Islam and Authoritarianism Critical Review Paper Essay

Oil, Islam and Authoritarianism Critical Review Paper - Essay Example Kathleen Collins shows in her report how the current state of affairs has come about by reviewing some of the history behind not only the Afghan and Iraqi nations, but how Russia’s (formerly the U.S.S.R.) former domination and its subsequent downfall has shaped how we operate with the Middle Eastern nations. Starting with Russia and its five republics of Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Tajikistan, we can see the changes that occurred when the U.S.S. R. lost power and its domination over much of its territories. While it was thought that Democracy might perhaps take a front place to the new government establishments, there was a turn instead for the majority to a renewal of authoritarianism and a strong Islamic clan influence through clans. Only Kyrgyzstan seemed able to move to a Democratic structure, especially through 1991 to 1995. However, by 2000, democracy was only a former shadow of itself and would finally revert back to a government of authoritari anism. What remained throughout was the clan structure in many of these countries and this would be something of a thorn in the government’s side because loyalties and subsequent benefits of sticking together, sometimes clashed with what the government had in mind in terms of governance of the people (Collins, 2009). We can see these same issues in the Islamic countries such as Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan and others in the area who also happen to have a handle on the oil supply of the world. It is difficult to work effectively with countries when there are so many factions with different ideas, mainly because they are made up of clans. That, combined with the Islamic religion, has created many problems and wars, large and small. Brzezinski, in his book, The Grand Chessboard, does not address the clans so much as Collins does, yet he makes many of the same observations she does in terms of the authoritarianism of Middle Eastern nations and the effect of Russia’s loss of dominance over Eurasia and its own republics. In the midst of perceived chaos and lack of government stability for many nations in the Middle East after Russia’s downfall, what we see most often now is the surge of Islamic solidarity. We are seeing this in Egypt’s effort to build a new government right now. The Islamic Brotherhood has gained a majority in power, and while Western nations had originally thought Democracy would take hold, just the opposite has happened. Collins’ observations are relatively accurate but as we can also realize, events happen very quickly these days and while she looks at the hope that Afghanistan will settle down and find a certain peace, even today we are witnessing disturbance and chaos erupting once more, this time against the Americans and the West (Collins, 2009). Most events in the Middle East today, are shaped mainly by two factors, which work hand in hand to affect what happens everywhere else. Oil is one of the main prizes and the nations, who are the biggest producers, are also Islamic. All but one percent of crude oil is based in Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Kuwait, Iran and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The breakdown, as of the year 2000, is: Saudi Arabia with 26 percent, Iraq with 10 percent, Kuwait with 9 percent, UAE with 7 percent, and Iran with 6 percent. Russia and Venezuela have 6 percent, Mexico has 5 percent and the United States only has 2 percent (Salter, et al. 2000).

Project 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Project 2 - Essay Example Modern society is filled with hollow people who worship power and materialism, and it is a bad situation because they cannot be redeemed, until their deaths, when they whimper with the sight of their own emptiness and darkness. â€Å"The Hollow Men† is about the modern society of hollow men because people are empty and dark without meaningful identities. They are empty because they are like Kurtz who are consumed with pursuit of power and wealth. The allusion to Kurtz in the epigraph says something about this pursuit: â€Å"Mistah Kurtz- he dead† (Eliot). The native who says this is lost after their master is gone, a master who nurtured them to believe that power and wealth are the only things important in the world. He is one of the hollow men with hollow gods. The repetition of â€Å"we† signifies the rise of the majority that has the same thinking: â€Å"We are the hollow men/We are the stuffed men†¦Headpiece filled with straw† (Eliot 1-2, 4). They are hollow because they have stuffed their heads with the thinking that modern life should be based on the accumulation of wealth and power. Furthermore, the hollow men are dark because they conform to meaningless social norms. The poem describes the way they move: â€Å"We whisper together /Are quiet and meaningless/As wind in dry grass/Or rats' feet over broken glass† (Eliot 6-9). ... The rats’ feet over the glass shards indicate the rat race that they run, and the glass is broken because they cannot see that materialism has dehumanized them completely. Their identities are empty, hollow without meaning in and after life. Aside from meaningless identities, the poem shows that the hollow men want to be redeemed, but they cannot achieve it because they fear the knowledge of their wasted lives. The allusion to Dante Alighieri’s The Divine Comedy is present in the poem. The hollow men say: â€Å"Eyes I dare not meet in dreams/In death's dream kingdom† (Eliot 19-20). These lines can pertain to Dante who cannot look into Beatrice’s eyes yet because he is impure. In addition, the hollow men cannot be saved, until they die and see the depths of their emptiness and darkness. Eliot revises the children’s song on the mulberry bush: â€Å"Here we go round the prickly pear/At five o'clock in the morning† (70-71). The hollow men want re demption, as Christ died during this time. But they cannot be redeemed until their deaths: â€Å"This is the way the world ends/Not with a bang but a whimper† (Eliot 97-98). The whimper comes from seeing their lives as Kurtz had- horrified at the emptiness and darkness of their hearts. â€Å"The Hollow Men† is a reflection of the dead on the living. It manifests their desire to know what led them to be hollow. The hollow men are real men in modern society. They want power and wealth for itself, and as it becomes a constant pursuit, they are dehumanized. They become hollow with gaping space of darkness and emptiness in their souls. The saddest thing is that they vastly multiply, for the whispers of power and wealth have taken easily over the lives of many women and men, ringing loudly, turning

FIFA World Cup 2014 In Brazil Essay Example for Free

FIFA World Cup 2014 In Brazil Essay In 2014 Brazil will host one of the most important competitions for the sports. It is the FIFA world cup. It will be the 20th official FIFA world cup and it will happen between June 12 and July 14 of 2014. This is the 20th edition of this competition and will be contested by the mens national teams from the 208 member associations of the FIFA. Brazil will be host the competition for the second time. The first time was in 1950 right after the World War 2. The two world cups before the one in 1950 got canceled because of the war. Seventeen cities showed interest in being chosen as world cup host cities, but usually FIFA only approves 8 to 10 cities so they ended up choosing 12 cities in 12 different states. The final game will happen in Rio de Janeiro at the Macarana stadium. The opening ceremony was supposed to happen at Sao Paulo’s football club stadium but technical problems wouldn’t allow it so a brand new stadium will be built just for the world cup. Rio de Janeiro is one of the most popular cities and is the second largest cities of Brazil, containing 6.3 million people and it is very famous for the samba, carnival and the Christ of Redeemer. Maracana is their principal and biggest stadium. It was built for the world cup in 1050. It was renovated in 2006 and fits 82 000 people but in the days it used to fit almost 200 000 people. Sao Paulo is also a popular city. Sao Paulo is the largest city in South and Central America. The population use a lot of public transportation because cars are v ery expensive and there is a lot of traffic. Sao Paulo is known as the â€Å"motor of the economy† because a lot of big companies has their bases in Sao Paulo.

Incident Analysis and Development Plan Essay Example for Free

Incident Analysis and Development Plan Essay In my previous assignments I have attempted to shed some light on the 3 capabilities which I have identified; which were namely the Leadership skills, Knowledge skills and the Interpersonal Management skills. Each of these 3 skills is crucial for a good manager and each holds its own significance in the building of a solid character. For the purpose of this research paper, I will be concentrating on the Leadership and Interpersonal Management skills upon which I have already talked about before. Harnessing these two characteristics would help growth on the individual level and gives an insight into a person’s overall character as viewed from some external source. Incident Analysis Leadership is a value arousing skill (Heifetz, 1994). Recalling any such moment where I have taken the mantle of leadership I would most definitely have to quote of my academic experiences. Groups and teams are a fact of life during one’s academic years and in said groups and teams there are often conflicts arising which without the presence of a team leader, lead to failed deadlines, substandard work quality and overall unpleasantness among team members (Maister, 2002). I can clearly recall the last time I was part of a group and it was in said group that I got a chance to play the role of the team leader. The decision of me being team leader arose due to my past experience in the topic and when the time came to choose the leader from amongst the team-mates I had the expertise in the subject. Even though I was not experienced much in any leadership position, I was able to do a sufficient job as the group leader and it made me appreciate the tough job that it is to lead people towards a single goal so as to make the achievement a shared vision (Purpose of Leadership, 1997). However, one thing I learned was that Leadership is never static as the role of a leader keeps changing in modern times and anybody who has a proficiency in some skill would take on the leader role when work related to his area of specialization arose. Without any leadership there would hardly be any sense of where the team was headed and it would be meaningless progressing further (Kelly, 2007). Interpersonal skills are also very important in recent times as people of every walk of life have to interact with others to get their jobs done. Previously it was the belief that some jobs required very little interaction with other individuals, such as finance related jobs and other desk jobs where the employees would have minimal socializing (Hayes, 2002). But now the field has changed with people interacting with others for the exchange of knowledge, and for socializing purposes. An incident regarding where I had to demonstrate my interpersonal skills arose when while arranging for a charity event for which friends needed help, I had to visit different markets and deal with numerous people over getting sponsors and getting arrangements done. Through the course of this excursion I had to interact with numerous people and demonstrate communication skills which involved interacting with people at all levels, such as common laborers and store owners. This feature of interacting with people at all levels is beneficial in the sense that it helps later to impress employers (Seneca, 2001). Through the course of interacting with people I was able to get some good contacts that would come in fruitful for future use while also overcoming my dread of speaking to strangers and becoming more comfortable talking to people (Hargie Dickson, 2003). Self Assessment Measuring one’s leadership skills, one must first recognize the types of leaders that exist. There is some argument as to whether there are 6 types or 7 types of leaders but personally I prefer to side with the 7 types argument. Based on 5 criteria leaders are placed into the types of the transformational leader, the enforcer, the deal maker, the administrator, the visionary, the serial entrepreneur and the spin doctor (Taffinder). The five factors upon which leaders are determined are: impose context, have conviction, generate critical mass, challenge and change and they make and take risks. With respect to the definitions provided, I would rank myself as an Enforcer. This is due to the fact that I am risk averse when groups are concerned and tend to stick to tested and tried guidelines. I am highly confident when taking actions and try to motivate team members in a manner that they have the feeling to achieve something (Brill Barth, 2008). Â  I avoid taking unnecessary risks since the responsibility of leading a team in my opinion does not permit one the opportunity to take risks. If the risk pays off that’s well and good, but if the risk does not, then the leader is responsible for the outcome of events. This responsibility I believe takes away the liberty that a leader should have and should make him more serious towards leading his followers to attaining the goal (Ball, 2003). Judging anyone’s interpersonal skills is not so easy as it involves feedback from external sources. When others tell one how well they are performing, then one can be any statement regarding the success or failure of it. I would say that I am sufficiently endowed with my interpersonal skills. I would come to the conclusion taking into account the success rate when dealing with others. I have often had to conduct affairs with other external groups and so far I would say that I have done a very good job in carrying out interpersonal dealings. Researchers suggested that self analyzing when related to interpersonal skills should be avoided by researchers since the judgement would always be biased and the answer would be uninfluenced in very rare case (Rubin, Palmgreen, Sypher, Beatty, 2004). This goes back to the point mentioned that since people are unaware as to most of what they do, determining the efficiency of their success in Interpersonal Communication is very hard to do. A concept known as Self Monitoring usually leads to greater success in determining a person’s interpersonal skills. Self Monitoring is a trait exhibited by famous good public speakers, as they were very receptive of their audiences and could adapt their presentation as per the response from the audience. Many politicians such as Bill Clinton for example have been reported to have strong Self Monitoring skills. Viewing myself through outside eyes I have surmised that in the short time that I have become more pro active in interacting with others, I would say that I am quite successful in interacting with people and can easily carry forward a conversation and can entertain and communicate with others effortlessly (Corbin, Corbin, Lindsey, 2007). Â  If compared to the extent required in the managerial world and professional world, I would have to say that the skills I possess are somewhere between acceptable and need slightly more improvement. Since leadership is a situational issue, with leadership sometimes being given and other times not, only time can tell how well one has performed. Some situations require more insight and expertise whereas others are relatively simple as all you have to do is inspire your team and it successfully finishes the task on its own (Drucker, 1995)I have usually encountered the former as I haven’t yet witnessed any intense leadership role where I’d have to make decisions which would lead to greater consequences. Interpersonal skills are essential for any business activity and comparing it to the market levels I would say that some improvement, or refinement, is needed. Even though I am not hopeless with my interpersonal skills, it is still a far away from being absolutely perfect. I believe I possess enough skills to at least get the basic jobs done. Development Plans To improve upon my interpersonal skills, I have decided to listen to the suggestions stated. Smiling more often when talking to others, being more appreciative of others comments, paying more attention to others, practicing active listening (applying stuff that I have learnt through listening to others), bringing people together, trying to resolve conflicts, communicating early, and in a humorous manner, trying to see other people’s perspectives and avoiding complaining are some measures that I plan to adopt in order to improve my interpersonal skills (All Business). Following these tips I plan to become more popular in crowds and become more receptive to others when interacting with them. These tips would help me in making a more favorable impression in front of others and become a popular and pleasurable person to talk to. And that in turn would make communicating with others more easier for me and more often. Currently what I’m lacking due to inexperience with interacting with others would be resolved if I strictly follow these mentioned tips. To develop my leadership style I must first note where I fall behind other successful leaders, and in this case, I have identified that I am highly risk averse and in return wind up hindering group from reaching its full potential. Taking more risks, but with the consent and full information being provided to the group so that they can give their feedback as well, I will try to move towards becoming a Transformational Leader who not only gets the job done, but inspires the followers to think of the goals as their goals as well and have a combined motivation towards the job as well. Conclusion Leadership and interpersonal skills are very important for today’s managers as it is the manager’s job to get the tasks done while keeping a strong healthy relationship between all levels of the employees (Koellner, 2002). Currently I am more than capable of handling the simple situations which may arise on a day to day basis, but to actually handle situations which may affect a larger scale, I need to work harder to build my skills so as to become a Transformational leader (Argyris, 1976), who is the best type of flexible leader, and to have good links which can only be forged if the interpersonal relations I have with others are good. Without strong interpersonal skills, no one can actually get the full whole hearted support from others. A person should seek external opinions to actually gauge where he is standing since these are inherent qualities and people are not qualified enough to correctly identify their skills. References All Business. (n.d.). Ten Ways to Improve Your Interpersonal Skills. Retrieved April 28, 2009, from All Business: http://www.allbusiness.com/human-resources/careers-career-development/11134-1.html Argyris, C. (1976). Increasing leadership effectiveness. R.E Krieger. Ball, J. (2003). Managing People. Retrieved April 28, 2009, from http://www.accountancy.com.pk/articles.asp?id=54 Brill, F. S., Barth, R. (. (2008). Leading and Learning. Stenhouse Publishers. Corbin, C., Corbin, C. B., Lindsey, R. (2007). Fitness for Life. Human Kinetics. Drucker, P. F. (1995). The Practice of Management. Harper Collins. Hargie, O., Dickson, D. (2003). Skilled interpersonal communication. Routledge. Hayes, J. (2002). Interpersonal skills at work. Routledge.

Types Of Trade Unions Commerce Essay

Types Of Trade Unions Commerce Essay A trade union is an organization of employees formed on a continuous basis for the purpose of securing diverse range of benefits. It is a continuous association of wage earners for the purpose of maintaining and improving the conditions of their working lives. Trade union means combination, whether temporary or permanent, formed (i) primarily for the purpose of regulating the relation between (a) workmen and employers, or (b) between workmen and workmen, or (c) between employers and employers, or (ii) for imposing restrictive conditions and the conduct of any trade or business, and includes any federation of two or more trade unions. TYPES OF TRADE UNIONS Since the growth of unions are spontaneous and automatic there is no definite classification that is followed all over the country. However for clear gaps of differentiation the unions have been classified into the following categories. Industrial unions Industrial unionism is a labor union organizing method through which all workers in the same industry are organized into the same union-regardless of skill or trade-thus giving workers in one industry, or in all industries, more leverage in bargaining and in strike situations. For example:- FireBrigadeUnion the National Union of Miners (N.U.M), covering workers at all levels in the hierarchy b) General unions. A General Union is a trade union which represents workers from all industries and companies, rather than just one organization or a particular sector, as in a craft union or industrial union For example:- Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) cleaners, clerical staff, transport workers C) Craft unions. Craft unionism refers to organizing a labor union in a manner that seeks to unify workers in a particular industry along the lines of the particular craft or trade that they work in by class or skill level. It contrasts with industrial unionism, in which all workers in the same industry are organized into the same union, regardless of differences in skill. For example: Musician Unions D) White Collars Union : These are for white-collar (or professional) workers who perform the same or similar tasks in different industries. It represents office workers For example:. National Union of Teachers HISTORY The seeds for the development of trade union in India were sown with the growth of industrialization. As the humanitarian movement came to India in the 19th century, worker groups made several attempts to improve their working conditions. The British introduced this movement in India to divide Indian employers and employees and beat local competition. Attempts were also made to eradicate child labour in India. The British Government was finally compelled to pass a resolution against employing children between the ages of seven to twelve for more than nine hours a day. The trade unionism in India developed quite slowly as compared to the western nations. So far as the question of formation and development of Trade Unions in India is concerned, its necessity was realised from 1875 onwards by philanthropists, social workers like Shri Soirabji Shapaji Bengalle and Shri N.M. Lokhandey. Indian Trade Union movement can be divided into three phases. The First Phase (1850 to1900) During this phase the inception of trade unions took place. During this period, the working and living conditions of the labour were poor and their working hours were long. Capitalists were only interested in their productivity and profitability. In addition, the wages were also low and general economic conditions were poor in industries. Efforts towards organizing the workers were made during the early period of industrial development on humanitarian grounds.In order to regulate the working hours and other service conditions of the Indian textile labourers; the Indian Factories Act was enacted in 1881. As a result, employment of child labour was prohibited. The growth of trade union movement was slow in this phase and later on the Indian Factory Act of 1881 was amended in 1891. Many strikes took place in the two decades following 1880 in all industrial cities. These strikes taught workers to understand the power of united action even though there was no union in real terms. Small associations like Bombay Mill-Hands Association came up by this time. The Second Phase (1900 to 1946) This phase was characterized by the development of organized trade unions and political movements of the working class. A few trade unions like The Printers Union, Calcutta (1905) the Bombay Postal Union (1907) etc were formed. Between 1918 and 1923, many unions came into existence in the country. At Ahmedabad, under the guidance of Mahatma Gandhi, occupational unions like spinners unions and weavers unions were formed. A strike was launched by these unions under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi who turned it into a satyagrah. These unions federated into industrial union known as Textile Labour Association in 1920. In 1920, the First National Trade union organization (The All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC)) was established. Many of the leaders of this organization were leaders of the national Movement. In 1926, Trade union law came up with the efforts of Mr. N.M Joshi that became operative from 1927. During 1928, All India Trade Union Federation (AITUF) was formed. Besides Gandhi , the Whitly Commission on Labour in India (1929-31) had also pointed out that the Modem industrialism is itself of western importation and the difficulties which it creates for labour in India are similar to the difficulties it has created elsewhere. In these conditions the Commission realised that it is power to combine that labour has the only effective safeguard against exploitation and the only lasting security against inhuman conditions. Moreover the Commission did not find an evidence of any alternative remedy that is likely to prove effective. So it emphasised that the need of organisation among Indian workmen is great and it further recommended that nothing but a strong Trade Union movement will give the Indian working class adequate protection. The Third Phase (After 1947) The third phase began with the emergence of independent India (in 1947). The partition of country affected the trade union movement particularly Bengal and Punjab. The Planning Commission drafted its first five year plan, setting therein necessary targets of production industrial as well as agricultural to be achieved during the next five years. For having industrial advancement, Industrial Policy Resolution in 1948, was also prepared. As the economic progress is bound up with the Industrial peace so for the successful implementation of the plans, particularly in the economy organised for planned production and distribution, the co-operation from Trade Unions was considered absolutely essential at different stages of the execution of the plans. Accordingly, it was realised that the question of maintenance of smooth industrial relations was not a matter between employers and employees alone. But it was a vital concern of the community. Therefore their relationship has to be of a par tnership in this constructive endeavour. This was the reason why it was provided in the first five year plan that the dignity of labour must be recognised so that the workers who on account of hardships of illiteracy and ignorance and lack of opportunities have not been able to play as effective a role in the working of industry as they should, could understand and carry out their responsibility and could take an increasing share in the industry. Accordingly the workers right of association, organisation and collective bargaining was accepted and it was laid down in this plan that they (Trade unions) should be welcomed and helped to function as part and parcel of the industrial system. The necessity of Trade Unions was so much considered that no difference between the workers working in privately owned industries or in publicly owned industries was made. By 1949, four central trade union organizations were functioning in the country The All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) The Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) The Hindu Mazdoor Sangh (HMS) The United Trade Union Congress (UTUC) The working class movement was also politicized along the lines of political parties. For instance Indian national trade Union Congress (INTUC) is the trade union arm of the Congress Party. The AITUC is the trade union arm of the Communist Party of India. Besides workers, white-collar employees, supervisors and managers are also organized by the trade unions, as for example in the Banking, Insurance and Petroleum industries. OBJECTIVE The objectives of the trade unions generally are: I . They strive for achieving higher wages and better conditions for the members. 2. They not only minimize the helplessness of the individual workers by making them stand collectively and increasing their resistance power through collective bargaining but also protect their member against victimization or injustice of the employers. 3. They provide the worker self confidence and a feeling that they are not simply a log in the machine. 4. They imbibe a spirit of sincerity and discipline in the workers 5. They also take up welfare measures for improving the morale of the workers. 6. They demand an increasing share for workers in the management of industrial enterprises. They help in raising the status of workers as partners of Industry and as citizens of the society. This is another important area, which has a great impact on the industrial relations system. Labour legislation has been instrumental in shaping the course of industrial relations in India. Establishment of social justice has been the principle, which has guided the origin and development of labour legislation in India. The setting up of the International Labour Organization gave an impetus to the consideration of welfare and working conditions of the workers all over the world and also led to the growth of labour laws in all parts of the world, including 1ndia4. Some of the other factors which gave impetus to the development of labour laws in India were the Swaraj Movement of 192 1 -24 and the appointment of the Royal Commission on Labour in 1929. The labour laws regulate not only the conditions of work of industrial establishments, but also industrial relations, payment of wages, registration of trade unions, certification of standing orders etc. In addition, they provide social se curity measures for workers. They desire legal rights and obligations of employees and employers and also provide guidelines for their relationship. In India, all laws emanate from the constitution of India. Under the constitution, Labour is a concurrent subject, i..e., both the central and state governments can enact labour legislation, with the clause that the state legislature cannot enact a law which is repugnant to the central law. A rough estimate places the total number of enactments in India to be around 160. Workers Participation With the outbreak of First World War, countries like England, France, West Germany and USA experienced an industrial unrest largely because labor was regarded as a commodity of commerce which was exploited to its maximum. Because of the unrest they recognized the fact that labor is not a commodity to be sold at a price, but should be treated as human beings having capacity to grow and accept responsibility as citizens. A worker wants to participate in the affairs of the industry and contribute to the effectiveness of the co-operative enterprise to which he belongs. The human relations philosophy popularized by Elton Mayo gave the importance of human factor in the organization. Man is not purely an economic animal but a member of the group sharing its norms and goals. Workers participation aimed at giving the workers a feeling of having a place of their own in the social structure of the country, ultimately providing a social base. The humanitarian approach to labor brought about a new set of values, both for the workers and employers; power has been replaced by persuasion, authoritarianism by democracy and compulsion by co-operation. It is quite logical that people have right to choose their own government, has right to choose the management of the enterprise to which they belong. It rests on fundamental premise that the worker is not a slave who has no rights at all, he is a citizen employed in an industry and has opinions of his own which should be taken into account while formulating the policies and making decisions. The factory is not a mechanical entity which is governed by mechanical principles and economic laws, but a social system which is subject to democratic rights of those who are involved in it. In India, Mahatma Gandhi had already launched the idea of trusteeship after the First World War, and some experiments had followed in the Ahmedabad textile mills. After independence, the Government of India consolidated tripartism and created consultative forums. The various types of involvement with employees varied greatly, though, as several organizations established different practices in India. Information-sharing, suggestion schemes, consultation and, only in a few cases, co-determination or participation in its true sense, exist in many organizations. Issues The issues on which workers or employees are to be consulted have also varied widely. Broadly speaking, the range of issues in any enterprise on which decisions need to be taken from time to time can be classified under five major heads: Safety and Welfare issues; Work-Related issues (production on the shop floor, quality, machine maintenance); Sharing of gains (wages, incentives, allowances); Production-related issues (product-mix, plant production targets, technology) and; Business policy (expansion, contraction, pricing). Workers participation is system of communication and consultation, either formal or informal, by which employees of an organization are kept informed about affairs of the undertaking and through which they express their opinion and contribute to management decisions. It is based on the principles of equity, equality and voluntarism. It gives employees representatives the right to criticize, to offer constructive suggestions, and to become aware of various delicate issues involved in decision-making. The participation enhances employees ability to influence, decision-making at different levels of the organizational hierarchy with assumption of responsibility. Participation Refers to mental emotional involvement of Workers in unions activities it is more behaviorist rather than an attitudinal concept. Indicators of participations 1-participation in unions elections 2-membership enrolment subscription 3-membership on union committees 4-Attending unions meetings 5-Involvement in unions welfare social responsibility functions. Factors influencing WP in Unions 1-The type of leadership is available in unions 2-the history of labour management relations in a plant 3-the age, experience, skills educations, caste, employment of workers. 4- the style of supervision, motivation, morale, wage structure in the industry. 5-Welfare measures fringe benefits available to workers. Advantages of W.P in Unions 1-W.P in unions activities gives solidarity strength to the unions. 2-It helps in developing leadership from the rank ensures a strong bargaining power. 3- it checks the tendency on the part of selected leaders to become all powerful by a vigilant participative membership. 4-It is essential not only from the viewpoint of betterment of unions leaders but for the very success of trade unionism. Employers Associations Effectiveness of any industrial relations system whether based on legislation or voluntary arrangements, depends to a great extent on the attitude that unions and employers organizations adopt towards each other. The intention in covering employers organizations under the Trade unions Act, 1926 was to place both workers and employers organizations on a par in matters of rights and responsibilities. the principal of giving equal representation to capital and labour on all consultative bodies like the Indian Labour Conference, Standing Labour Committee and industrial committees recognizes this basic tenet in the employer- employee relationship. Functions Communication Advisory Functions Educational Efforts Representational Functions Functions of Social Responsibilities TRADE UNION ACT, 1926 The Trade Unions Act was passed in 1926 under the title of the Indian Trade unions Act and was brought into effect from 1st June 1927. The act was amended in 1947, 1960 and 1962. Subsequently, the word Indian was deleted from the amended Act of 1964, which came into force from 1st April 1965. Objectives of Act Terms and conditions required for trade unions to become officially registered. Responsibilities expected from a registered trade union. Rights and liabilities of registered trade unions Applicability of the Act The Act extends to the whole of India. The act was extended to Jammu Kashmir by the Central Labour Laws Act 1970 with effect from 1st September 1971. The Act applies not only to the unions of workers but also to the associations of employers. The Act is a central legislation, but it is administered and enforced mostly by state governments. For the purpose of this act, the Central government handles the cases of only those unions whose activities are not confined to one state. All other unions are the concern of state governments. The registrars of trade unions are appointed both by the central and state governments. They can also appoint additional or Deputy Registrars who may exercise the powers and functions of the Registrars, as they think fit so as to obviate delays in the disposal of applications for the registration of trade unions. Scope (a) Only persons engaged in Trade or Business (which includes an Industry) can form a trade union or become members of the trade union. As such persons employed in Raj Bhawan for domestic and other duties cannot form a trade union. Likewise, the government servants engaged in the task of sovereign and legal functions are not entitled to the registration of a trade union. (b) The Trade Unions Act 1926 applies to the whole of Indian Union. (c) Any person who has attained the age of 15 years may become the member of a registered trade union. Functions of Unions The functions of unions include intramural, extramural and political. Intramural functions are those activities which are at the betterment of needs of workers in relation to their employment such as ensuring adequate wages, securing better conditions of work, rest interval, continuity of employment etc. Extramural activities are those which perform to help the workers in times of need and improve their efficiency. They also include welfare measures and conduct recreational functions for the workers. The history of trade unionism in the country records profound effects of political leaders. The route of action, the concentration of work moves from workers to a more universal area- politics. In India most of the unions are politically affiliated or have strong support of leading political parties of the country. Thus the trade unions use their franchise to capture the government which indirectly results in acquiring stronger hold of power through political influence for their trade union. Penalties A. Failure to submit returns (Section 31): Section 31 of The Trade Union Act, 1926 states about the penalties on failure to submit returns by registered Trade Union. It contains, (1) If default is made on the part of any registered Trade Union in giving any notice or sending any statement or other document as required by or under any provision of this Act, every (office-bearer) or other person bound by the rules of the Trade Union to give or send the same . Again, if there is no such or person, every member of the executive of the Trade Union, shall be punishable with fine which may extend to five rupees and in the case of a continuing default, with an additional fine which may extend to five rupees for each week after the first during which the default continues and provided that the aggregate fine shall not exceed fifty rupees. (2) Any person who willfully makes, or causes to be made, any false entry in, or any omission from the general statement required by section 28, or in or form any copy of rules or of alterations of rules sent to the Registrar under that Section, shall be punishable with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees. B. Supplying false information regarding Trade Union (Section 32): Any person who, wit intent to deceive, gives to any member of a registered Trade Union or to any document purporting or applying to become a member of such Trade Union, any document purporting to be a copy of the rules of the Trade Union or of any alterations to the same which he knows, or has reason to believe, is not a correct copy of such rules or alterations as are for the time being in force. On the other hand, any person who, with the like intent gives a copy of any rules of an unregistered Trade Union to any person on the pretence that such rules are the rules of a registered Trade Union, shall be punishable with fine which may extend to two hundred rupees. C. Cognizance of offence (Section 33): (1) No court inferior to that of a Presidency Magistrate or a Magistrate of the first class shall try any offence under this Act. (2) No court shall take cognizance of any offence under this Act unless complaint thereof has been made by or with the previous sanction 32, by the person to whom the copy was given, within six months of the date on which the offence is alleged to have been committed. Provisions of the Act The main provisions of the act relate to 1. Definition 2. Registration of trade unions 3. Duties and liabilities of registered trade unions 4. Rights and privileges of registered trade unions. 5. Amalgamation and dissolution of trade unions. 6. Submission of returns 7. Penalties and fines. 8. Power to make regulations. Registration Application Application Any seven or more members of a Trade union may, by subscribing their names to the rules of the trade union and by otherwise complying with the provisions of this Act with respect to registration, apply for registration of the trade union under this Act. Registration Every application for registration of a Trade union shall be made to the Registrar, and shall be accompanied by copy of the rules of the trade union and a statement of the following particulars namely; (a) The names, occupations and addresses of the members making the application (b) The name of the trade union and the address of its Head Office and (c) The titles, names, ages, addresses and occupations of the office bearers of the trade union. The Trade Unions Act Does Not Affect 1. Any agreement between partners as to their own business 2. Any agreement between an employer and those employed by him as to such employment; or 3. Any agreement in consideration of the sale of the goodwill of a business or of instruction in any profession, trade or handicraft. EXISTING TRADE UNIONS At present there are 10 Central Trade Union Organizations in India: All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) It was established in 1920 as a result of a resolution passed by the organized workers of Bombay and the delegates which met in a conference on 31 October 1920. It was attended by such first rank political leaders as Motilal Nehru, MA Jinnae, Mrs. Annie Besant and Vallabhai Patel and Col. Wedgewood on behalf of the British Trade Union Congress. The first president was Lala Lajpat Rai. Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) This union has been the outcome of the decision taken by the Jana Sangh in its convention at Bhopal on 23rd July, 1954. Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) This was formed in 1970 when as a result of the rift in the AITUC; some members of the Communist Party seceded. Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS) When the Socialists separated from the Congress, those who were dissatisfied with the pro-Communist policies of the INTUC formed a new organization, the Hind Mazdoor panchayat, which was merged with the Indian Federation of Labour in 1948 under the name of the Hind Mazdoor Sabha. It is an organ of the Praja Socialist Party. Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) The INTUC came into existence on 4th May, 1948, as a result of the resolution passed on 17th November 1947, by the United Board of the Hindustan Mazdoor Sevak Sangh, which was a labour organisation working under the direction of National Congress-minded labour leaders on the Gandhian Philosophy of Sarvodaya. Since AITUC was under the stronghold of the Communists, the Congress labour leaders thought of forming a new central trade union organization. To give effect to this idea, a conference was held at New Delhi under the chairman ship of Sardar Vallabhai Patel. It was inaugurated by Shri Acharya J.B. Kripalani (on May 3, 1947) and was attended by eminent nationalist and socialist leaders. National Front of Indian Trade Unions (NFITU) This union was founded in 1967, with the claim that this is the only trade union in India which is not controlled by any of the political parties, employers or government. National Labor Organization (NLO) Trade Unions Co-ordination Centre (TUCC) Trade Union Coordination Committee is a central trade union federation in India. TUCC is politically attached to All India Forward Bloc. According to provisional statistics from the Ministry of Labour, TUCC had a membership of 732760 in 2002. The general secretary is Nripendra Kumar Mahto. United Trade Union Congress (UTUC) Some trade union leaders of the socialist bent met together in December 1948 to form a new central organisation of labour, called Hind Mazdoor Sabha. Some of the leaders did not agree with the principles and objectives of the Sabha and they therefore, again met at Calcutta on December 27, 1948, and decided to call upon a conference of trade union leaders to form a united Trade Union Committee. This Committee called for a meeting of the various leaders at Calcutta on April 30, 1949 and formed a new union under the name of United Trade Union Congress. United Trade Union Congress Lenin Sarani (UTUC LS) It is a Central Trade Union Organisation in India and the labour wing of the Socialist Unity Centre of India (Communist). Presently its activities are spread over 19 states. The organisation claims to have 600 affiliated unions, comprising an individual membership of over two million. It is the 6th largest trade union in India. According to provisional statistics from the Ministry of Labour, UTUC-LS had a membership of 1,368,535 in 2002. AFFILIATED ORGANISATIONS UNDER INTERNATIONAL TRADE UNION CONFEDERATION Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS) 5,788,822 Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) 8,200,000 Origin: Came into existence on 4th May 1948,as a result of the resolution passed on 17th November 1947,by the central board of the Hindustan Mazdoor Sevak Sangh. Objectives: It aims at the sarvodaya ideal and stands for gradual transformation of the existing social order. It aims at establishing a socialist state in India. It aims at placing industry under national ownership and control in a suitable form in order to realise the desired order of society. Methods Used: These strike is like a Brahmastra and is not to be resorted to in a light-hearted manner and made cheap and blunt. Political Affiliation: Affiliated with the Indian Natinal Congress (the ruling party). Its relations with the government are based on the mutuality. Self-Employed Womens Association (SEWA) 1,325,752 STRUCTURE The structure of unions refers to the basis on which unions are organised (i.e., whether they are organised on craft or industrial or general union basis) and to the pattern whereby the plant unions are linked to regional level or national level federations or unions. Unions in India are largely organised by industry rather than craft. Although industrial unionism has been the general trend, craft unions have also emerged here and there; primarily, they exist among non-manual workers like administrative staff, professionals, technicians, etc. Ahmedabad Textile Labour Association is the sole example of craft union of manual workers. Another aspect of the structure of unions in India relates to their pattern of relationship between national level, regional level, local level and plant level unions. Let us see how they are related in India. Plant level Unions The first level in the structure from below is the plant level union. This comprises the unions in one organisation or factory. Please note that only seven members are required to form a union. This has lead to multiple unions in one factory Local Level federations. This is the second level in the structure from below. The local trade union federation holds together the plant level unions at the local level in a particular craft and industry. These local level federations might be affiliated to either some regional level or national level federation or these may be independent. Regional level federations These are the organisations of all the constituent unions in a particular state or region. The importance of such federations cannot be exaggerated. In a country like India, conditions vary from region to region. The style of living, languages, customs, traditions, conditions, etc. are different. Therefore, it is better that workers are organised at regional or state level. These regional federations may have members of two kinds: (1) The plant level unions affiliating themselves to these directly and (2) The local federations. In the second case, plant level unions become the members of regional federation indirectly through the local federations. It may be noted that the regional federations may be independent or they may get affiliated to some national federation. National federations. These are national level bodies to which plant level unions, local unions or regional level unions may get affiliated. These are the apex bodies at the top of the structure. They act as coordinating bodies. Th

Study Analysis: Gentlemen Prefer Blondes

Study Analysis: Gentlemen Prefer Blondes Kwong Ho Kuen Everyday Social Psychology: Report on Media Article #2 A news article from The Independent reported that modern gentleman preferred â€Å"brains† rather than â€Å"blondes† (Lusher, 2014). Why do men value educational levels or intelligence over physical attractiveness? Is this argument just objective opinion or is it scientifically proved? If the phenomenon is true, can it be explained by social psychology? In this paper, we will take a closer look at the issue with the help of concepts and theories of social psychology. We will first review the news article and capture the main ideas of it. Then, we will further investigate the scientific evidence referred by the news article. Afterwards, we will define the main issue going to be discussed. Finally, we will examine related empirical journal articles and apply the findings to the explanation of the issue. Introduction of the Issue Review of the news article At the very beginning, let’s review the news article and summarize its main points. The news article is titled â€Å"Gentlemen prefer brains: similarly educated couples last†. It was published in The Independent on July 27, 2014. It reports some findings from a recent study of marriage about associations between educational levels and divorce rates. It says that marriages between a better educated wife and less educated husband from 1950 to 1979 were 34 percentage more likely to divorce than the opposite one. Furthermore, it is reported that couples having similar levels of education have a lower rate of divorce than marriages between a better educated husband and a less educated wife. Therefore, the article suggests that â€Å"similarly educated couples last†. The article quotes the title of a classic film called Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. It suggests that there was a common belief in the past that men preferred a less educated and maybe physically attractive wife. However, the research result suggests the opposite of it. Closer look at the study being referred to Does this article reflect the study finding subjectively? Is there are any personal opinions added to the article? With a view to examine the accuracy of report and gather further details about the study, the research being referred to in the news article is found. It is an empirical journal article titled â€Å"The reversal of the Gender Gap in Education and Trends in Marital Dissolution† (Schwartz Han, 2014). It was published in the American Sociological Review, an academic journal, in 2014. In this study, the researchers try to examine the risk of marital dissolution among marriages of couples with different combinations of educational level. These combinations include hypogamous marriages which a higher educated wife is married to a lower educated husband; hypergamous marriages which a lower educated wife is married to a higher educated husband; and a homogamous marriage which a couple with similar educational level get married. The study makes use of demographic data in American from the National Survey of Family Growth, Panel Study of Income Dynamics and Current Population Survey from 1950 to 2009. It examines the divorce rate of hypogamous, hypergamous and homogamous marriages. In addition to comparing the divorce rate, the study also tries to examine the changes in relative risk of divorce among three types of marriages over decades. Two major results are found. First, as reported in the news article, it is found that hypogamous marriages had a higher divorce rate than the hypergamous marriages before 1980. However, the association of higher divorce rate and hypogamous marriages no longer exists since 1990. In another word, the marriages between higher educated wives and lower educated husband are no longer more likely to break up in recent times. The study further asked if these hypogamous couples are less likely to divorce than hypergamous couples, but no conclusive evidence is found. In addition to what the news article reports, the study also attempts to find out factors behind this change. It suggested that an increase in education level may affect. Although the relative educational attainment of wives in hypogamous marriages is still higher, the data showed that the individual educational attainment of both wife and husband in hypogamous marriages increase over the decades. However, no evidence can be found by using Cox proportional hazard model, a statistical analysis method. On the other hand, the study also discovers that homogamous couples are less likely to divorce compared to hypergamous couples, as reported. What the news article does not include is the change of stability in these homogamous marriages. In 1950s, homogamous couples are no more likely to divorce than hypergamous couples. However, they are even less likely to divorce than the hypergamous couples after 1990. Going back to the news article, it is partly true to say that â€Å"similarly educated couples last†. It is true that homogamous couples are less likely to divorce compared to hypergamous couples. However, it is not completely accurate to say homogamous couples are least likely to divorce among all. It is because the study did not run any three group comparison like Analysis of Variance to find supporting evidence. Also, it is accurate for the news to say that â€Å"gentlemen prefer brains to blonde†. In the study, physical attractiveness was not measured and analyzed in any stages. Defining the issue to be discussed There are three ideas described in the news article. First, it is the mating preference of men to choose â€Å"brains† which is believed to be education level or intelligence over â€Å"blondes† which is believed to be physical attractiveness. As mentioned above, it is the reporter own comment rather what the research study finds. So, we are not going to focus on this idea. The second idea is the relative divorce rate among hypogamous couples comparing to hypergamous couples. There is a change from positive correlation before 1980 to no association afterward. However, it is still inconclusive whether a reversed situation has occurred. At the same time, researchers have attempted, but fail to discover the contributing factors behind. The phenomenon is still being studied by researchers. We cannot illustrate much about this idea at the moment. Finally, it is worth noticing about the stability of homogamous marriages. It is found that couples with similar educational background has less chance of marital dissolution comparing to hypergamous marriages. In this paper, we are going to illustrate this issue by social psychology concepts. We will see why people with similar educational background are attracted to each other. And we will see why couples of similar education background stay with each other. Empirical Journal Article and Application to the Issue (1) Attraction between People with Similar Educational Level To become a stable marital relationship, the couples should be attracted to each other at the very first place. The news article said that similarly educated couples are less likely to divorce. In another word, people with similar educational background are attracted to each other. Can social psychology concepts illustrate that similar people attract each other? To be more specific, do people of similar educational level attract each other? In Search of Empirical Journal Article In order to find supporting evidence, a search of empirical journal articles is conducted. The search is carried out in a database of peer reviewed psychology scholarly journals called PsycINFO. To find the linkage between education and mating selection with similar others, the keywords of â€Å"education† and â€Å"assortative mating† are used. With a view to include results of words with similar meaning, the search further includes â€Å"educational attainment† and â€Å"educational level† as alternative keywords to education. This is done with the help of the advanced search function. The preliminary searches gave 61 results in total including 55 scholarly journals, 5 dissertations or thesis and 1 book. To further refine the search, the results are limited to scholarly journals. Results are also limited to, publication after 2000 in order to obtain most updated evidence. Afterwards, 33 results are left. Related Empirical Journal Article Found Among the 33 journal articles, one titled â€Å"Match Makers and Deal Breakers: Analyses of Assortative Mating in Newlywed Couples† published in the Journal of Personality is selected (Watson et al., 2004). It tries to answer what qualities people look for in their spouses. It proposes that there are two ways in answering the question. One is to examine which traits or characteristics like social status or physical attractiveness people found desirable. The other method, which is used in this study, is to examine whether couples look for similarity or complementary in various aspects in their partners. To see whether similarity or complementary people found desirable, the study looks into newly married couples. It is supposed that newly married couples are attracted to each other well enough so that they decide to get married. If similarity rather than complementary in most aspects is found among them, it may be inferred that people look for similarity in their romantic partners. To take one step further, it also examines the similarities in which aspects are more important. The study uses a sample of 291 couples married in less than one year in Iowa. They were invited to attend a small group session lasted for around two hours. During the session, participants were asked to complete questionnaires and took different tests. Information was collected regarding their demographic background, personality, emotional expression style, adult attachment style, religious attitudes, political attitudes, values, and intelligence. After data collection, the researchers calculated the simple two-tail correlations between the husbands’ and wives’ scores on each aspect. If a strong correlation is found, similar in that aspect is significant for newlywed couples. In fact, strong similarity is found in age, religious and political views. Moderate similarity is found in educational attainment and verbal intelligence. Modest similarity is found in values. Little similarity is found in other aspects like personality and attachment styles. In summary, this study finds significant similarities on various aspects among newly married couples in American. Newly married couples usually love each other to a certain extend that they decided to get married. Therefore, similarities in newlywed may suggest that people are attracted to similarities rather than complementary to others, especially in age, religion, political views, education and intelligence. Application to the issue Is similarity related to attraction as the news article writers? This is an issue in social psychology termed as assortative mating which is defined to be the â€Å"nonrandom coupling of individuals based on their resemblance to each other on one or more characteristics (Buss, 1984). It is called positive assortment when significant similarity is found between husbands and wives. Conversely, it is called negative assortment when significant complementary is found among couples. To date, there is much more evidence on positive assortment rather than the negative assortment (Bouchard Loehlin, 2001; Mathews Reus, 2001). It suggests that people do prefer similarity in their romantic partners rather than differences. In fact, the empirical journal article above also confirms that many similarities are found among newly married couples (Watson et al., 2004). To be more specific, moderate similarity in educational attainment is also found among newlywed in the study (Watson et al., 2004). This may illustrate why similarly educated couples get together as said in the news article. Empirical Journal Article and Application to the Issue (2) Relationship with Similar Education Background Last Similarly educated couples getting together is only half of the story. The news article suggests that these couples also last longer. To be more accurate, the study being referred to finds that these couples have a lower risk of divorce comparing to couples with higher educated husbands. Why do similar couples divorce less? Do similar couples enjoy higher marital satisfaction? To be more specific, does similar education background associate with marital satisfaction? In Search of Empirical Journal Article Again, in search of supporting evidences, we make use of the scholarly journal database PsycINFO. To find the linkage between similarity in couples and satisfaction in their relationships, the keywords of â€Å"similarity† and â€Å"marital satisfaction† are used. There are 240 results in this preliminary searches, including 152 scholarly journals, 77 dissertations or thesis and 11 book. To further refine the search, one more keyword â€Å"socioeconomic† is added to explore specific if the similarity in socioeconomic status predicts marital satisfaction. Afterwards, 6 results are left. Related Empirical Journal Article Found Among the 6 results, an article titled â€Å"Does Similarity Breed Marital and Sexual Satisfaction† published in the Journal of Sex Research is selected (Zhang, Ho Yip, 2012). In this study, the researchers want to know if the similarity in couples is associated with marital satisfaction and sexual satisfaction. To take one step further, they also try to find out similarity in which aspects correlated stronger with marital satisfaction and sexual satisfaction than other aspects. This study makes use of the data from Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice survey in 2002. It is the longest running survey of family planning in Hong Kong. 1,083 couples are chosen randomly from groups stratified by their living districts. They were invited to an individual interview answering a number of questions. Information is collected on their marital satisfaction, sexual satisfaction, socioeconomic background, religion, age, educational attainment, employment, and birthplace. For each aspect, the researchers group the respondents according their similarity. For example, they divide the respondents into three education homogamy groups, namely husbands with higher education level, wives with higher education level and couples with the same education level. Then, for each group, the researchers further divide the respondents into martially satisfied or dissatisfied groups according to their scores of marital satisfaction. Finally, the researchers calculate the correlation between different groups and their marital satisfaction using chi-square tests. If significant correlation is found, it may suggest that similarity in certain aspect is associated with the marital and sexual satisfaction. In fact, this study finds out that education homogamy is a significant factor related to marital satisfaction especially the wives’ marital satisfaction. There are other influencing factors like employment homogamy, while some of them are not influencing like religious homogamy and birthplace homogamy. Application to the issue The news article says that â€Å"similarly educated couples last†. First of all, let’s look at what makes a marriage last before discussing why similarly educated couples last. In social psychology, there are sufficient evidences that marital satisfaction predicts divorce (Hirschberger et al., 2009). Marital satisfaction is defined as the global evaluation of the marital relationship, which depicts a general picture of the relationship (Glenn, 1990). Generally speaking, the more the couples are satisfied with their relationships, the less likely they will divorce. In layman terms, happy marriages last. If happy marriages last, is similarity related to marital satisfaction? There are evidences that couples with different age, religion, education or cultural have more conflicts than the counterpart (Cao, Fragmiere, Gauthier, Sapin Widmer, 2010). To be more specific, does similarity in educational attainment associate with marital satisfaction? In fact, the empirical journal article we found do suggest that education homogamy is correlated with marital satisfaction (Zhang, Ho Yip, 2012). This may illustrate why marriages of similarly educated couples last. To look at the reason behind, social psychologists suggest that similarity in attraction is enhanced by the positive feeling resulted from consensual validation (Byrne, 1971). Similar people usually share the same values and attitudes and they socially validated each other. We may guest that similarity in education predict similarity in other aspects, because education is correlated with socioeconomic status like occupation, lifestyles, and abilities (Zhang, Ho Yip, 2012). Therefore, more consensual validation may be found in education homogamy couples. As a result, the satisfaction resulted from social validation may influence the stability of their marriage. Conclusion In a nutshell, we read a news article from The Independent says â€Å"similarly educated couples last†. We first ask why similarly educated couples get together. Social psychology concepts show that people are attracted by similarity of others. We also find the first empirical journal article supporting that similarity in educational background is desirable in marriages (Watson et al., 2004). Then, we ask why similarly educated marriages last. A second empirical journal article shows that similarity in educational background is related to higher marital satisfaction (Zhang, Ho Yip, 2012). 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