Germany and the Germans Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Germany and the Germans - Essay Example According to the research "Germany and the Germans" findings Judea Declares War on Germany is a film which suggests that World War II was started by Jews who launched an economic boycott of Germany soon after Hitler's rise to power. The argument puts forward the premise that Germany was only defending itself following this attack, and that the war truly began with the Jewish declaration in 1933. Germany's position in the war was therefore not offensive, but defensive. This suggestion is completely ridiculous. No serious historian believes this, and the creators of this so-called documentary would not pass a fifth-grade history test. Germany's position throughout the 1930s was offensive. Hitler's views of Jews were well known from his book Mein Kampf. This documentary distorts history and is only useful as an example of anti-Semitic propaganda. Benjamin Freedman's speech in the 1960s, called Germany and the Jews: The Role of the Jews in WWI and WWII, is a similar example of historical revisionism and distortion. He talks about how many Jews were Communists and how Jews tried to control Germany after its loss in the First World War. All of this is the same kind of anti-Semitic propaganda as discussed above. It is not historically factual and it is offensive to those who understand what really happened during this years. Again claims are made that Jews control all of the media and all of the finance, again these so-called facts are not backed up with any evidence. The speech is all innuendo and makes belief.

Is Dictatorship Ever Justified Politics Essay

Is Dictatorship Ever Justified Politics Essay Many people take a negative light to dictatorship, even though in some countries it can really help to improve circumstances. Take for example Singapore, in 1960 it was slums and poverty, but in 1965 it became independent from Britain and took on a dictatorship under the Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew. Lee transformed the slums into a thriving city, which now has one of the highest GDPs per person. This essay will take a look at dictatorships, in Singapore specifically, and answer the question of if they can ever be justified, and the subtopic questions the original raises. To understand the question one must first understand the context. The definition of a dictatorship is when one person or a group of people has absolute power, meaning that they have total control, no one can challenge them.  [1]  Dictatorships come into power when there is a weakness in government due to a financial problem or social problem. Singapore used to be full of poverty and uneducated people in the 1960s  [2]  , and when Lee Kuan Yew saw this, he saw an opportunity. He persuaded his way into power through the PAP (Peoples Action Party),  [3]  and begun to implement his plans for the city. However, he used his power to greater benefit the city and all its inhabitants, and this is called a benevolent dictatorship.  [4]  The other kind of dictator is called a tyrant, and it is the one that most people think of when they hear the word dictator: a cruel person or group who uses his or her power for himself or herself or a small portion of the population. Dictators are basically just the modern version, or word, really, of kings. There have been many famous, or really infamous, tyrants in history, and not so many benevolent ones. For example, there has been Hitler, Stalin, and Kim Jong-Il. All of these tyrants have given a bad reputation to dictatorship. In todays world, dictatorship is linked with cruelness and oppressiveness, but that is not always the case. Singapore is a great example of a justified dictatorship. Singapore was ruled by Britain until 1965 when they declared their independence. However, this meant that Singapore was cut off from Malaysias economy and Indonesia continued to threaten them, drying up their entrepot, a port that can import or export without paying import duties, taxes on the goods.  [5]  This greatly hurt Singapore but they did not despair. Because of this economic crisis, a dictator came into power. Lee Kuan Yew quickly cleaned up the place using a number of techniques. To control birth rates he put up free family planning clinics and ran a campaign while decreeing that women who have more than 2 children would get higher hospital bills, shorter maternity leaves and less income tax relief  [6]  . Lee also gave a $5000 reward to mothers who, after their second child, are sterilized. Sterilized mothers are given better housing and education for their kids.  [7]  On the problem of poverty and econo my, Lee came up with a brilliant solution. He required all workers to save 25% of their salaries, and the money can only be claimed after the age of 55.  [8]  This effectively cut down poverty so much that Singapore is now almost completely poverty-free. Almost all Singaporeans agree with these rules as well. They think that it is reasonable and they make sense. They do not fear the government either, they (most, at least) complain when they feel they need to.  [9]  The amazing part about all of this is that it was achieved through a dictatorship, something once associated with vile and cruel acts and feelings. Nothing comes without a price, unfortunately. Although Singapore is rich economically, they are harsh politically. Is this price worth it? Singapore has a harsh death penalty, which has been criticized before, and freedom of speech is suppressed. However, Singapore has virtually no criminals due to their government, so there were only 11 executions from 2008 to 2010.  [10]  There has also been some ill treatment, namely caning. Caning is when you are beat with a rod, though human rights say that is must be covered in antiseptic beforehand to ensure that there will not be any infections.  [11]  A good number of the offences that are punishable by caning are immigration violations.  [12]  On the other hand, Singapores economy has skyrocketed, it has one of the highest GDPs per person in the world, and their poverty rate is 0.3%. Americas poverty rate is 20%.  [13]  Another thing to address in this question is that although these treatments are incredibly strict and unor thodox, they get their job done. They are barely ever used, and when they are, it is only enforcing the point to people. Over all, most people would agree that these unusual treatments are not without reason, they do what they are supposed to do very well, and that the huge economic benefits outweigh the ethical downsides. Another thing to consider is whether Singapore is considered a dictatorship at all. Singapore is assumed to be a dictatorship because there is one party that runs unopposed, the Peoples Action Party. There are still elections but no one wants to run against them, mainly because the way they run the country is fine with everyone as explained before. Another reason why Singapore is a dictatorship is because Lee was in power for over 30 years, while in typical democracies like the U.S. there are term limits to prevent presidents or leaders from staying in power too long and becoming dictators. Yet another reason why Singapore is not a democracy is that the peoples opinion is very important in most democracies. In Singapore people can complain to the government but that does not mean that their opinion will be taken into effect, it is always the ruling partys decision. Nonetheless, this could have changed easily. If an opposing party ran against the PAP and won other parties may be inspi red to rise up as well, turning the dictatorship into a democracy quite quickly. This is why most dictators must find ways to force their people into submission so that they will not challenge his authority. The ruling party does not need to because they have acted in the peoples best interest and therefore the people have no need to challenge their authority, they already like what they are currently doing. These are the reasons that peoples assumptions about Singapore are right, that it is a dictatorship; it is just under the guise of a democracy. Even if Singapore is a dictatorship, what makes it a benevolent dictatorship? A few reasons have been mentioned before, but those arent fact enough. The problem with a question like this is that considering Singapore a benevolent dictatorship is all an opinion, it is all based on your point of view. So, to answer the question you must ask the people. In this case, the majority of people say that yes, the Peoples Action Party are benevolent dictators. However, people do not consider them to be dictators because they are benevolent. They associate dictatorship with meanness and cruelty, not kindness and the best interest of the people. But what are their reasons behind their decision to support their government? As mentioned before in this essay, the PAP have done much to control birth rates and they have also made savings mandatory so that old people can support themselves and to reduce poverty. Along with that the Peoples Action Party has helped to improve every apartment complex so that it either has or is near to a swimming pool, recreation centre, shopping centre, community centre, and a school. They have also helped to make sure that the apartments not be shabbily built and not tiny, either. The PAP has also practically declared war against bad habits, such as littering, jaywalking, spitting, smoking, gambling, and even anti-social behaviour. The fine for all of these (except for anti-social behaviour) is $250, though gambling in the state lottery is allowed.  [14]  The PAP has especially attacked smoking. During a certain Smoke-Free Week they put up signs everywhere saying, Stub it Out, Singapore! and other signs state the cities smoking deaths, around 10 a day back then. The best part about their campaign against smoking was not the signs, anyone can put up signs, but the Peoples Action Party sent out smiling teens with baskets of apples and the teens offered to trade an apple for a pack of cigarettes. Their campaign was successful in the end, with th e percentage of smokers in the population going from 23% to only 13%.  [15]  The PAP also created new jobs for people, and improved the conditions of working by simply shifting the countrys focus to technology-intensive high value industries. That was in 1989, and that same year 30% of the countrys GDP was from manufacturing alone.  [16]  These are the reasons that people consider the PAP to be benevolent, and with that many improvements plus more unmentioned it is enough to make anyone believe that they are benevolent. However, just because dictatorship worked for one country does not mean it will work for all. One of the worst dictators was Adolf Hitler. He was smart enough to find a way to keep people from challenging him out of power but not enough to not wage war  [17]  . He paid no attention to the state of his country, and left that up to his subordinates, who paid even less attention than him.  [18]  Another example would be Kim-Jong-Il in North Korea. He ignored his people so much that 43% of children under 5 were so malnourished that their growth was actually stunted  [19]  . He monitored everything and kept around 200,000 prisoners in labour camps where they starve and are tortured.  [20]  Many people, if asked, would say that dictatorship is very bad and one person or a group having all the power is just too much. However, Singapore clearly shows that if the right man or woman is chosen for the job, they can really use that power to change their country, and even the worl d. On the other hand, if the wrong person is given power they can misuse it to the point that the rest of the world has to step in to intervene. Unfortunately, this is the most common case. So really, it all depends on the person put in power. So, in conclusion, is dictatorship ever justified? Yes, it is. It is justified in the case of Singapore, under a benevolent dictatorship disguised as a democracy. The way the dictatorship turns out depends on the person put in power. Hitler had no more power than any other dictators he just misused it more. If you can find the right person, than your country can be hugely improved and redesigned to discover new advancements, a perfect example of which is Singapore.

Chaucers Canterbury Tales Essay -- Philosophy Literature Papers

Chaucer's Canterbury Tales After reading explications of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, a student is likely to come away with the impression that the Franklin is the critics favorite punching bag. To the average reader in the modern English-speaking world, the Franklin comes across as surprisingly fair-minded and level-headed, noteworthy as the man kind and inventive enough to resolve the marriage cycle with a tale of decency and openness. The critics, however, often depict the Franklin as a man primarily concerned with upward mobility, finding in his tale a number of remarks intended to win over the nobility and subtly assert his own claim to a kind of nobility. The contrast between the fawning Franklin of certain critical approaches and the open-minded Franklin of the more pedestrian reader can probably be summed up in the word "bourgeois." Some critics find in the Franklin a good example of the less flattering qualities of the word, while modern American readers -- products of a society in which the bourgeois lifestyle is considered the norm -- tend to find in the Franklin an intelligence, style and tolerance often associated with the upwardly mobile or the middle class. His "everybody wins" approach to the problems of the romance might even be an example of what Marxists and anarchists used to decry as bourgeois liberalism. It might be best to first clear up what exactly is meant when we speak of a Marxist critique. Marxist literary criticism is based largely on the Marxist paradigm of historical materialism: the idea that social and cultural institutions -- including art -- are the product of prevailing economic conditions (Murfin 157-158). Not only is the medium the message, Marxists argue, the medium is a commodity which... ...served. Here, whether he likes it or not, the Franklin is forced to endorse the system of contracts which turns Dorigen into a commodity. The success of his story, and possibly the validity of the worldview which produces it, depends on the Franklin's ability to postpone the expression of his listeners doubts -- to postpone them indefinitely, if need be. Perhaps this is why the Franklin is so insistent, at tales end, on asking which character was most generous, and why he insists on hearing answers immediately. His tale of the elimination of maistrye has turned into a tale of people mastered not by each other but by a system of exchange. The best way to hide the maistrye of the marketplace is to offer the audience a chance to argue while directing them away from the shocking moment when the gentillesse of the marketplace tramples on free will and personal integrity.

All Quiet on the Western Front by E.M. Remarque

â€Å"This book is to be neither an accusation nor a confession†¦ It will try simply to tell of a generation of men who, even though they may have escaped its shells, were destroyed by the war† states Erich Maria Remarque in the very beginning of his most known novel All Quiet on the Western Front. This book blames the war on damaging young people and states how they will never adapt back to normal life and accuses people who don't even fight in the war of starting it for no reason. The narrator of the story, Paul, talks about his experience with the war turning these sane men into heaps of madness, and how the war was completely unnecessary and does not do the country any good. Paul says while on leave, â€Å"Out there I was indifferent and often hopeless– I will never be able to be so again. I was a soldier, and now I am nothing but an agony for myself, my mother, for everything that is so comfortless and without end†.(p. 185) This evidence shows that the war causes the soldiers to feel uncomfortable with the world outside after the war. The war changes the soldiers into people who teach others to kill and don't even know the reason. For example, one night while Paul volunteered for patrol, shelling started so he got into a shell hole to take cover. A Frenchman later jumps into the hole with Paul but Paul has to stab him. While in the hole with the Frenchman's lifeless body Paul talks to him he says, â€Å"Why do they never tell us that you are poor devils like us, that your mothers are just as anxious as ours, and that we have the same fear of death, and the same dying and the same agony–Forgive me, comrade; how could you be my enemy?†(p.223) this shows that even the soldiers don't like the fact that they fight these people for no reason, that they all have rights as people and they all show fear so why would they fight each other. While on leave Paul speaks to two gentlemen who offer him cigars, while talking to the gentlemen one says, â€Å"but this relates to the whole. And of that, you are not able to judge. You see only your little sector and so cannot have any general survey. You do your duty, you risk your lives, that deserves the highest honor–every man.†, this shows that people who don't even fight in the war think that they know more about what goes on than the soldiers who actually fight in the battle. Another way the book shows that the soldiers don't want the war and that it only helps a select few takes place on page 206. One quote on this page reads † every full-grown emperor requires at least one war otherwise he would not be famous†¦ there are other people back behind there who profit from the war, that's for certain.† this blames the government for needing a war because they believe it would make them go down in history as a great nation and that the war's only purpose consisted of a government wanting too much power. â€Å"I think it is more of a kind of fever no one, in particular, wants it, and then all at once there, it is. We didn't want the war, the others say the same thing– and yet half the world's in it all the same.†(p.206) this quote comes up when Paul and his comrades talked about the significance of the war and why they fought the war. It states that the people never wanted or needed the war in the first place the government wanted to show that they had power. Remarque accuses the government with this statement because he writes about the people and the soldiers not wanting the war for many reasons such as food, materials, and money, but yet the war still took place. All in all this book accuses the war and the government of the death of these young men and for ruining their lives. The war did not need to take place and many people did not like the war. The war caused young men to get drafted and not have proper training on the battlefield causing more casualties. All of these things make All Quiet on the Western Front what remarque said it wouldn't turn into, an accusation.

Field research is Primary research Essay

I will write short, concise notes. A mix of both types of recording is needed, given the type of primary data wanted at the end of the questioning.  On our fieldtrip we will go to a small area called Ballyhackamore as it is very close to our school and has a very wide range of shops. There are also a lot of people that shop here every week. These people are of a very varied age range and also an even proportion of males and females. We have decided to use field and desk research.  Field research is Primary research.  This means that we go out and collect the information ourselves, so we do not have to sift through many pages of useless information, trying to find out one small piece of information that we could use.  However we will also use desk research. This is where we look at information other people have gathered and use it to our advantage. This includes looking through newspapers, surfing the Internet or going to a library and examining records or books and the Companies Office if they are a limited company. This is going to be used to find out what businesses are in the area and what sort of profit they are making per annum. Market Research – Market research is the process of gaining information about customers, competitors and market trends through collecting primary and secondary data. I will use market research to find the answer to my questionnaire i.e. what sort of business the local people in the Ballyhackamore area thought was missing and what they would like to see in the area. This is Primary research. It is also called Field Research. This will be our Questionnaire. There is also Secondary Research. This involves looking at status from different years about topics and drawing conclusions from it. I could look at maps of Ballyhackamore to make sure I don’t create a business where it is not needed, or indeed duplicate a similar business, unless I feel the demand is there for a second one.  Bank – I am using the bank for the purpose of collecting information about anything financial, from loans to pay for property, mortgage on property and starting the best bank account to suit my circumstances. They will act like a Financial Advisor. I will check Interest Rates and get the best deal. Estate Agents – The estate agents job will be to show me the best available premises to start my business. I will look around many different estate agents until I can find the property and price that suits my business. I will also keep checking in the local press.  Internet – the Internet will be used to show me available properties in the area but also to find out about the competition from rival companies in the area. It will also be used as advertising once the business has been set up. I could use E-Mail to send people information on the business. This may be unsuccessful because people will probably think it is Junk Mail and delete it. Therefore I will not depend on this as my only source of advertising. Newspaper – this will be used while searching for the property but also as advertising after the business has been opened. It will also be used to advertise jobs in the business.  Invest NI -I will talk to Invest NI (the new name for LEDU) about the possibility of both capital and revenue to help until the initial set up phase of my business. Also in the medium to long term I will hope to keep my relationship with Invest NI and be eligible for future grants. Shell Livewire – Shell Livewire is another company, the same as Invest NI that helps businesses to begin and grow. They give grants to entrepreneurs to help them in their quest for a successful business.  After completing all my questionnaires I will now put all my information into a database. I am using a database because I can perform searches on the information I have gathered to try and find exactly what I need to know. I can find different age groups, different sexes and even if the people are married or not. I will be using the database a lot until I discover which business I am going to open. I will then analyse my database and from that, hopefully find out what the public want in the area.    On a search of properties in East Belfast I found there were no available properties in Ballyhackamore that would suit setting up a business. However I did find a lot of buildings in East Belfast that could be possible sites for setting up a business.  I found a sound property on Castlereagh Street.  I also found a property on the Cregagh Road. It is in a good location because this is near Ballyhackamore, however it is an upstairs premises so this could limit the type of people who could visit my business e.g. people in wheelchairs. New legislation coming in the next few years regarding access for the disabled means that an upstairs coffee shop without a lift to the first floor would not be viable.  I have also found a suitable building in Kings Square. This is very close to Ballyhackamore and has a small shopping community itself. This would be a brilliant place for a coffee shop or trendy coffee bar. However on further examination of the area I discovered a coffee shop above a light shop in the Square, but again, access to the first floor could be a problem in the future.

Free Essays on My Last Duchess Poem Analysis

Picture Frame Bill Cosby once said, â€Å"It’s not a lack of love, but a lack of trust that makes an unhappy marriage.† Would a man kill his wife if he didn’t trust her? Narrating his own tale of possessiveness, jealousy, and murder, the husband in Robert Browning’s poem â€Å"My Last Duchess† intentionally justifies his dead wife’s actions. The husband in Browning’s poem considered his most prized possession to be his wife. Like household objects the husband considered his wife to be no less then just a thing. In his opening statements the husband introduces his dead wife in a painting he had made to be placed on his mantle. The husband obviously felt that just like a chair or a table, he had every right to the painting and the person inside. He told her how to behave and even in the end not to smile at all. Another factor that made the husband tighten his hold on his wife was that his â€Å"gift of a nine-hundred-year-old name† which he felt wasn’t considered the same to his wife like everyone else’s gift. The husband felt that his name wasn’t valued to her, as much as he did. Finally, he expressed his attitude toward his wife when he pointed out a bronze statue, which showed a sea god capturing a storm. Not only does it show’s he’s wealthy, but the fact that he consider s himself a god being able to tame anything, in this case his wife. His perception toward his wife, being merely just an object in his house like a statue or a painting, caused him to dominate his wife. When he felt that he couldn’t control her actions, he murdered her. There are many causes for the husband to be possessive. One cause was the fact that his wife received open advances from other men, and instead of ignoring them, which he felt she was supposed to, she openly acknowledged them. The wife was open to every man’s responses, which caused her husband to be more jealous. By her reactions to the men, the husband felt threatened by of his... Free Essays on My Last Duchess Poem Analysis Free Essays on My Last Duchess Poem Analysis Picture Frame Bill Cosby once said, â€Å"It’s not a lack of love, but a lack of trust that makes an unhappy marriage.† Would a man kill his wife if he didn’t trust her? Narrating his own tale of possessiveness, jealousy, and murder, the husband in Robert Browning’s poem â€Å"My Last Duchess† intentionally justifies his dead wife’s actions. The husband in Browning’s poem considered his most prized possession to be his wife. Like household objects the husband considered his wife to be no less then just a thing. In his opening statements the husband introduces his dead wife in a painting he had made to be placed on his mantle. The husband obviously felt that just like a chair or a table, he had every right to the painting and the person inside. He told her how to behave and even in the end not to smile at all. Another factor that made the husband tighten his hold on his wife was that his â€Å"gift of a nine-hundred-year-old name† which he felt wasn’t considered the same to his wife like everyone else’s gift. The husband felt that his name wasn’t valued to her, as much as he did. Finally, he expressed his attitude toward his wife when he pointed out a bronze statue, which showed a sea god capturing a storm. Not only does it show’s he’s wealthy, but the fact that he consider s himself a god being able to tame anything, in this case his wife. His perception toward his wife, being merely just an object in his house like a statue or a painting, caused him to dominate his wife. When he felt that he couldn’t control her actions, he murdered her. There are many causes for the husband to be possessive. One cause was the fact that his wife received open advances from other men, and instead of ignoring them, which he felt she was supposed to, she openly acknowledged them. The wife was open to every man’s responses, which caused her husband to be more jealous. By her reactions to the men, the husband felt threatened by of his...

Richard Rodriguezs education

Richard Rodriguezs education Free Online Research Papers According to the writer James Baldwin, â€Å"the making of an American begins at the point where he himself rejects all other ties, any other history, and himself adopts the vesture of his adopted land.† This quotation means there are times when people should put aside any type of foreign cultural link in order to be recognized within their society. When people try to gather their native cultures with another one chaos will be formed and the achievement of having a prosperous society will not be probable most likely. Similarly, in Hunger of Memory, Richard Rodriguez mentions how crucial it was for him to give up his culture in order to be recognized within the American society. Rodriguez learns that English is his way of being heard; he states, â€Å"I came to believe what had been technically true since my birth: I was an American citizen.† Rodriguez’s discovery strongly leads him to believe he can speak for himself and be someone; yet his actions make him lose connection with his family due to his parents’ ignorance of the English language. Therefore, Rodriguez is unavoidably forced to leave his family and his culture behind; however, he is still able to obtain a high level o f education which gives him fundamental assimilation and individual involvement within society. Rodriguez is obligated to untie his relationships with his family. About his first day of school Rodriguez says, â€Å"I remember to start with that day in Sacramentowhen I first entered a classroom, able to understand some fifty stray English words.† As a kid, Rodriguez knowledge of the English language makes him to be around an uncomfortable environment at school. Not being able to respond and talk at school mortifies Rodriguez. He feels disadvantaged since his poor social skills at the time were not letting him have a good education. While he tries to become more open towards society trough his education, he encounters himself distant from his family. Also, as Rodriguez feels inept answering questions in English during class and fearing any talk that can go beyond a few basic words, a couple of nuns from his school ask his parents to speak English around the house. So, in that way, Rodriguez would attach to his school. Once Rodriguez is forced to speak English at home, he suffers a huge change in his personality, changing him for the better. Now, he is a participant at school. He raises his hand in the classroom and loudly expresses himself in English. English becomes Rodriguez’ primary language while his native language, the language of his parents, Spanish, is almost forgotten. At the same time, Rodriguez notices that this family is no longer close to him, realizing he was not an immigrant. Consequently, he grows embarrassed as his parents and his relatives know that forgetting â€Å"his own language.† Rodriguez’s relatives feel he does not belong, due to his lack of Spanish, in their culture. They even call him â€Å"Pocho†, a word used to define Mexican-Americans who, in becoming an American, forgets his native society. This in general forces Rodriguez to part ways with his culture and family. Education does not bring separation between Rodriguez and his family, but it also allows him assimilate into the American society. He credits learning English and his schooling with helping him develop his sociability. The success of Rodriguez in school is due to his enormous effort he puts on his studies and his constant habit of reading and writing. Rodriguez believes that a primary reason for his success in the classroom is that he can’t forget that schooling is changing him because he is becoming a member of society. Moreover, Rodriguez feels integrated in society as his educational level rises. It is then when Rodriguez takes his first steps toward achieving a public identity. He knows with a public identity he will be able to have a personality that is going to represent him among people. Having a public identity will allow him to become more sociable as well. Rodriguez’ youth seems awkward mainly because of the tension between his private family life and his public life outside his house until he acknowledges he is a member of society thanks to his schooling. Due to his educational efforts, Rodriguez gains involvement within society. The efforts lead him to attend great universities such as Stanford, Columbia, and Berkeley. As a scholar student, Rodriguez perceives the world differently. Socialization is not a problem any longer since he feels his education permits him to have not only a personality but a right to be involved in social topics as well. Also, it is via his involvement and his social skills that Rodriguez understands issues regarding his character. His involvement within society lets him to have a voice that can be heard among people. That voice permits to speak with authority in society. When affirmative action takes action, benefiting Rodriguez, he is not able understand why he is being treated as a minority. He says that he cannot identify himself with the term â€Å"minority student† since he acknowledges in his early age that he forms part of the American society. In Hunger of Memory, education plays a fundamental role in Rodriguez’s life. Rodriguez’ education parts him away from his family, culture, and any other immigrant background. He feels speaking two different languages at different settings alters his schooling, but, on the other hand, he desires to have an education abundantly because that achievement integrates and involves him within society. By having education, Rodriguez experiences socialization and the achievement of his desired goals. Rodriguez educational efforts allow him to attend schools which permit him to gain incredible knowledge of social skills. He understands that those social skills make him part of the American society. Such assimilation into American culture is what he valuably needs so that in the end he can become an educated public man with a strong voice among people. 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How to Be Successful in High School Complete Guide

How to Be Successful in High School Complete Guide SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips There's a lot of pressure in high school to prepare for the future, but between classes, extracurriculars, and trying to have a social life, thinking about what comes after high school can feel like being told to climb a mountain with no help. Instead of fixating on the future, success in high school means thinking about what you can donow. Being on top of things in high school is a great foundation for success in the future. But what does being successful mean? How can you get started today? What should you worry about, and what should you let slide? This guide will help you learn how to be successful in high school no matter where you are in your education. With tips and goals to strive for, you'll be prepared for the future at any point in high school- it's never too late to start getting a plan together. What Does Being Successful in High School Mean? "Success" is a tricky thing to aim for- everybody has different goals and priorities, so the first step of how to be successful in high school is to determine what your goals are. It's important to understand that success won't look the same for everybody. Not only is every person coming from a different background with unique abilities and hindrances, but people also don't all want the same thing. Some have high career aspirations and income goals, while other people want to travel the world, and still others want to improve their own communities. Every one of those things is a kind of success. Regardless of what your individual goals are, one thing is true- the earlier you start to prepare, the better equipped you are to achieve those goals. Whether you're shooting for the moon (literally!) or sticking close to home, planning your roadmap to success means you understand not just where you're going, but how to get there. You don't want to be scrambling at the last minute to finish everything you need to do, so start as soon as you can. Your goals don't have to be this literal, but they can be! How to Set Goals for Success in High School Take some time to brainstorm what you want for the future. Don't be afraid to dream big- if you want to be an astronaut, write it down! If you want to solve world hunger, write it down! You'll figure the rest out later. Brainstorming gets your ideas down on paper, and later you'll refine them into actions. Once you know for certain what you want, you can start figuring out how to get there. Say you want to solve world hunger- that's pretty abstract, so you need to figure out how you can tackle such a big problem through concrete actions. Do a little research to find out what efforts are already being made. What skills do you have? How can you use those skills to add to the work in progress? If you're aiming for a particular career goal, do some research into how the best of the best got where they are. What degrees do they have? What colleges did they attend? What interests do they have that lead to their career? Match these up with your own desires and factor them into your goals. For example, let's say you want to become an astronaut. You don't just become one by doing a job interview- you need a few more things before you'll be accepted into NASA, like a bachelor's degree in a science or math field. That means getting a degree should be a high priority for you. Part of goal-setting is determining which colleges best suit your needs. Make a list, and start researching what criteria you need to meet to get accepted. Each item you list will need its own set of goals, such as reaching a certain GPA or getting a particular SAT score. Write all this down- you'll want to keep it for planning concrete steps! Next, you need either an advanced degree or 1,000 hours of in-command time on a jet aircraft. Consider which you'd rather do, and plan accordingly. If you want the advanced degree, repeat the search above for grad schools and doctoral programs. These later goals may not be things you can do right now, but you can break them down into smaller pieces that you can start working on as soon as today. If you'd rather go for the 1,000 hours of flight, joining the military or becoming a commercial pilot are both options. Again, each of these comes with its own set of goals to accomplish, so keep breaking those into smaller and smaller achievable pieces, such as getting your physics grade up or joining science-related extracurriculars. Lastly, becoming an astronaut means you need to be in prime physical fitness. This is something you can start now, especially with NASA's requirement for swimming- if your shuttle makes a water landing, you'll need to be prepared to swim! Setting physical fitness goals (or any type of goal) now gets you into the habit of practicing them, something that will serve you well as you progress through your life. No matter what your dream career is, you can follow these steps. And even if you don't make it into your dream school or you find that the field you once aspired to isn't right for you later in life, you're still set up for excellence! Aim high, and you'll have your pick of options- don't limit yourself now because you're unsure if you can reach your highest goal. Your organization session doesn't need to look anywhere near this fancy. The #1 Key to Being Successful in High School: Prioritization Prioritization is one of the most important skills you can have as a student. Being naturally gifted or having a great work ethic doesn't mean much if you can't figure out where to direct your skills. That's why setting goals should always be your first step to success. Once you have a list of goals, including ones for the long- and short-term, you can start to prioritize them. Look at where you are in comparison to where you need to be. What can you do to get there? What can you do right now that will make the most meaningful difference? Obviously, if you're aiming to be an astronaut, you can't just walk into college and ask for a degree. You have to work to get there, which means asking yourself what you can do to get to your dream school. You can apply, of course, but that application needs to be polished. How do you polish it? What can you doright now to get your application into shape? For example, say your physics grade has slipped. You need a good GPA- especially in science courses- to make it into a program that will help you become an astronaut. What can you do to fix that? Studying more is an obvious choice, but "more" isn't a concrete goal. Two hours per week is a good starting point, but you can break that down even further and make it actionable. Two hours per week equates to about 25 minutes per day, so let's round that up to a half hour.Studying an extra half-hour per day is an actionable goal, one that's not so big that you'll have to entirely rewrite your life to achieve it, but not one so small that it won't make any meaningful difference. Upping your study time is more immediately important than being able to swim three pool lengths in astronaut gear. You've got time to work up to that- your Bachelor's degree will take you four years, and whatever training you do beyond that will add on time- so focus on what you can fixright now. Not only is your physics grade something you have control over, but you also have less time to fix it, so it needs to be higher on your priority list. Prioritizing will allow you to plan out milestones and tackle them in an order that makes sense. Rather than trying to do everything- swim three pool lengths, get into college, raise your physics grade, rack up 1,000 hours piloting jets- you confront them one at a time, crossing one off and moving to the next. Get yourself some highlighters and colorful tabs, because it's time to start a planner. How to Keep Track of Everything You Need to Do All this goal setting is great, but you have to keep track of them or you'll be stuck spinning your wheels without direction. Consider getting a planner or making use of a calendar to stay on top of everything. Passion Planners are a great choice. They're goal-focused and contain lots of tools for getting inspired and breaking your goals into actionable items. This structure is great for those who have big dreams but struggle with getting started and following through. There's even an academic version that only covers school months, and there are tons of tutorials online for how to best use (and decorate) them. If the structure of Passion Planner doesn't work for you, plenty of other people swear by Bullet Journaling. This system uses a series of symbols to dictate what should be done now and what should be done later, as well as encouraging you to break tasks into actionable items. If you prefer to be a bit more free-form in your planning, Bullet Journaling may be for you. Whatever route you end up taking, the important thing is that you give yourself structure and a means to execute your goals. Set due dates. If you need to raise your physics grade, set that goal sometime in the future- say, raising your B- to an A by the end of the quarter. Since you've already asked yourself what you can do to get there, you can assign your goals, such as studying an extra half hour per day, joining a study group, or turning in missing assignments, to specific dates. Write that extra half hour down on every day, and write another reminder once per week, for example, to complete a missing assignment. Essentially, keeping track of everything means setting goals, breaking those goals down into actionable items, setting deadlines, and following through. Aim high, but all the little stops on your roadmap are important, too. Think of the small tasks as steps in a large staircase with your goal at the top- you can't leap directly to the top, but you can get there one step at a time. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now: How to Be Successful in 9th Grade Planning for specifics is how you achieve big goals, but general planning is great too. Even if you're not sure what you want to do with the rest of your life yet, there are still big steps you can take to make sure you're on track for success later in life. It's never too early to start thinking about college, even if you're not ready to settle on one school or field of study yet. One of the best ways to ensure that you're ready for college, even as soon as ninth grade, is to make sure you're taking challenging, useful courses. If you don't know what you want to do with your life, that's okay! Elective courses can help you figure that out. Your course load in ninth grade should be a mixture of required classes, electives, and challenging classes. There's no magic number of AP or honors courses that will magically get you into your dream school, but colleges do want to see you making the most of what's available to you. That said, if you find yourself struggling to keep your grades up, it's okay to reassess. You need to pass the classes in order for colleges to take them seriously, so be sure you're taking on a workload that you can handle. For a freshman, one to two AP courses is a great place to start. Ninth grade is also a great time to start getting involved- really involved- in extracurriculars. If you're into journalism, you may not get a coveted editor position as a freshman, but you can start taking on additional responsibilities and writing stories that matter to you. To return to the astronaut example, you can consider joining a science or math club at school, and going for a leadership position down the road. Don't be afraid to start thinking about college choices. That doesn't mean you have to make concrete plans, but doing some research into what requirements schools have and what features appeal to you is a great way to start narrowing down your choices early on. Instead of looking through every conceivable school junior year, you'll already have a possible list narrowed down. In tenth grade, keep up good habits and keep forming new ones. How to Be Successful in 10th Grade Tenth grade is a time to start thinking seriously about your future plans. It’s a good time to research schools and potentially start narrowing them down. You have plenty of time to apply, so don’t stress about whether or not you’ll get in- use this time to think about how you’ll set yourself up for success rather than worrying about whether or not you’ll succeed. As with ninth grade, you’ll want to focus on keeping your grades up, getting involved in extracurriculars, and taking honors and AP courses in tenth grade. Shoot for one to three AP courses in your schedule, but always keep in mind that your grades come first. If you’re struggling in your regular classes, it’s okay to cut back. You want to find a healthy balance of schoolwork and extracurriculars, which may sometimes mean letting something go to fix where you’re struggling. It may feel a bit like playing Whack-a-Mole, but prioritization and goal setting will help you focus on what’s most important. Now is a good time to take the PSAT or PreACT for the first time. If you have a sense of where you’re starting from, you’ll know where to focus your studying efforts as you get closer to taking the real thing. Even better, you’ll have more time to study. Instead of crunching junior and senior year, you'll be able to focus on weak points rather than trying to bring all your scores up at once. If you’re not 100 percent on track with where you want to be, that’s okay! Spend some time thinking about how you can correct course and get back on schedule. There are no hard and fast rules for success, as every person is unique. Things get a little more serious in eleventh grade. How to Be Successful in th Grade Eleventh grade is why it’s important to start planning early. Suddenly you’re faced with the very real task of college applications and standardized tests, and it can feel like things are closing in on you. Still, don’t panic. Even if you haven’t started preparing yet, you can get yourself back on track. In eleventh grade, it’s time to start thinking seriously about college applications. That doesn’t mean filling them out- though you can start early, applications won’t be due until the next year, even for early decision. Instead, focus on your standardized test scores. Take an SAT or ACT test if you can and see where you’re at, compare that to your college of choice’s average score, and start working to make sure your score is at that level. If it’s already there, great! You can instead work on getting a higher than average score to look even more impressive in your application. Junior year is the most important one for your GPA. Every year is important, but junior year is the last full year you have to impress colleges before applications, so make it count.To be competitive for college, aim to take two to four AP courses in eleventh grade, and keep those grades up. If you struggle your junior year, it’s not the end of the world. You will need to explain things to colleges you apply to, and also demonstrate that you’re working to fix anything that’s slipped. That’s why it’s important to have a plan- when you know where you’re going, getting back on track is far easier. Get started early so you can look this excited on graduation day. How to Be Successful in 12th Grade If only senior year was the time to relax after all your hard work. Instead, now is the time you’ll be putting all that hard work into action, applying to colleges, seeking leadership positions in the extracurriculars you’ve been involved in, and continuing to maintain your GPA. If you’ve been on track until this point, congratulations! Just keep doing what you’ve been doing, with the added responsibility of applying to colleges. If you’re coming at this a little late and are worried about your odds, don’t panic- you still have options. Maybe you slipped in junior year, or maybe you just didn’t know that you had to get started early. You can still achieve success, even if you’re a little late to the game. Identify any weak points in your grades, extracurriculars, and courses. What can you correct? What will make the biggest difference right now? If you haven’t started SAT or ACT prep, do so now. Take a practice test and start working to get your score up to your target. Though your social life might suffer with these additional demands, it’s important to make the most of the time that you do have. Don’t burn yourself out, but do be sure you’re putting in the work. No matter what, don’t feel like it’s the end of the world. Maybe you don’t get into your dream school. Maybe you don’t get into most of the schools you apply to. That doesn’t mean a great future is out of reach- it just means you need to reassess. Consider enrolling in community college and transferring to a four-year school when you’re ready, or starting at a lower volume school and transferring later. These are perfectly legitimate options that can lead to a wonderful and lucrative future for you- getting started late is better than never getting started at all. It’s important not to let yourself give up. You might run into obstacles and need to change plans, but it’s never too late to strive for more. Keep making goals and reaching for new milestones, because there are always options. You might not see results right away, but good planning and effort will be rewarding. 5 Tips for How to Be Successful in High School Making goals and prioritizing them is a great way to be successful in high school.But there are other skills you can cultivate, too, that will help you on your path to success. #1: Start Planning Early The earlier you start getting your plans together, the better. Your plans can change over time- don't be afraid to be flexible- but you simply can't achieve your goals if you don't have any. Making goals early and breaking them down into digestible pieces gives you clear milestones to achieve. It's far easier to hit a bunch of small goals leading to a larger one than to jump right from a C to an A, so the earlier you can start, the smoother your path to success will be. #2: Follow a Schedule Figure out what you need to do, how long you have to get it done, and break that into smaller achievable goals. "Raise my grades," is a good goal, but you can't jump right there- instead, commit to studying two hours per week or completing one missing or extra credit assignment per week. Set a schedule for when you need to get things done, but also schedule in time for workand for breaks. If you work at a specific time every day, you'll find yourself settling into a more efficient pattern. And giving yourself regular breaks ensures that your brain is always performing its best rather than struggling to focus after hours of studying. #3: Designate a Study Space It sounds strange, but picking one particular place to study in can actually be a big help in focusing better. If you have a desk or a quiet place in your home, decide that that's your studying zone and clear it of distractions- no phone, no magazines, no video games. When you sit down there, you'll start to associate it with studying, and your brain will find it easier to shift into work mode. If you can avoid it, don't make a place that has a different purpose, such as your bed, your dining room table, or your noisy living room your study space. If you try to use the same place for multiple purposes, it loses its association with studying. Find somewhere that you can get work done andonly use it to get work done. #4: Find Unique Ways to Practice Studying is good, but you have to study smart. Reading the same things over and over again won't necessarily help, so find ways to really engage with what you're learning. Flashcards are a popular study method for a reason- writing the information down and quizzing yourself on it repeatedly can drill it into your mind a whole lot easier than reading and re-reading the same page of notes. But you can try other things, too, such as coming up with your own mnemonics or even teaching the material to somebody else. If you're struggling to understand or memorize something, get creative with it rather than forcing yourself to keep studying in a way that isn't working for you. #5: Find a Study Buddy Not only is studying easier when you have somebody to quiz you, but accountability is also a great way to motivate yourself. It's far harder to cancel plans with somebody else than to cancel plans with yourself. Of course, be sure you find somebody who isn't just there to hang out. Your ideal study partner should be somebody whoalso has goals and who isn't going to distract you when you're trying to work. Tell each other what you're going to get done, and hold each other accountable for achieving it. Check in to see what their progress is, and tell them what you've achieved. When you share your goals with others, you get them involved and invested in your success, making you more likely to keep going when you feel like giving up. What’s Next? All these tips for success will help you prepare for college, but you still need to apply. This guide to college applications will help you understand exactly what schools are looking for. Even if you don't want to go to Harvard, you can still study like you do. If your application is Harvard-ready, you're also ready for most other schools- the higher you aim, the better your chances are no matter where you want to go. Grades are a crucial part of a successful college application. This guide to getting a 4.0 GPA will help you plan effective studying habits, giving you a better chance at getting into your dream college. Want to build the best possible college application? We can help. PrepScholar Admissions is the world's best admissions consulting service. We combine world-class admissions counselors with our data-driven, proprietary admissions strategies. We've overseen thousands of students get into their top choice schools, from state colleges to the Ivy League. We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit. We want to get you admitted to your dream schools. Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your chance of getting in.

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FAS 202Discussion 7 - Essay Example Renaissance architecture was first practiced in Florence in Italy by Filippo Brunellesch (Dickerson, 2013). This underlying apportion of my introduction in regard to paper analysis. I chose Baroque artwork is closely related to the baroque cultural movement with the Absolutism. Absolutism is normally a renowned Counter Reformation and the underlying Catholic Revival. Moreover, it possesses vital era ideas of empire, iconography and compositions movement that took place in the eighteenth century, and characterized by massive performance that is rich in deep color and corresponding deep light coupled with the dark shadows. These features are mainly utilized to depict the duration prior to the event. The second piece of Renaissance era in regard to architecture by Filippo Brunellesch occurred in 15th century extending to early 17th century in Europe. It mainly defines the conscious revival and advancement of particular elements pertaining to ancient Greek and Roman and the corresponding material culture. Moreover, it also depicts the transition from Gothic architecture that was mainly succeeded by the Baroque architecture Renaissance architecture (Dickerson, 2013). The artwork also employ Classical art of the Roman and Greek art, which depicts modern style such as painting, scripture and architecture after the development of

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Economic Development Middle East and South Asia - Essay Example The dramatic increase of oil prices can be related to the Arab-Israeli war that occurred in the year 1973 and the Iranian revolution which occurred in 1979. The oil producing states in the Middle East have directly benefited from the high export earnings brought by oil earnings. Further, there has been a decrease in the employment opportunities due to the blooming economies of these oil producing states (Askari 9). Non oil producing countries in the Middle East have also benefited even though they do not produce oil. Their citizens have crossed borders to seek for employment opportunities as well as suitable markets for doing business. Further, several citizens in the non oil producing countries have migrated in order to earn money as teachers, construction workers and engineers in the oil fields. The earnings from the employment opportunities for these citizens have very important for the growth of countries like Egypt, Jordan, Yemen and Palestine. During the period of economic development in the oil producing countries in this region, non oil producing countries also gained from the high levels of foreign aid they were able to get from the oil producing countries (Askari 9). The increased oil revenues in the Middle East brought about several developments, especially in the social scene. The country’s infant mortality as well as life expectancy was improved. The infant mortality rates were halved while life expectancy in the Middle East region rose to over ten years. On the education sector, more citizens were able to enroll for school. Adult education levels were also on the rise (Rodney 45). Further, another benefit for increased oil revenues led to the decreased gap between the poor and the rich. This show that while the revenues from oil were increasing, some countries developed faster than the others in their national wealth. The major oil producing countries especially those with low population in the gulf were able to substantially improve the lives of their citizens. The income level per person in these countries would in some cases, surpass those of the European countries. On the contrary, countries such as Jordan and Yemen have remained t o be the poorest in the region as well as in the world (Rodney 45). The economic growth, however, came to a decline in 1986. This period witnessed the decrease of oil prices from $28 per barrel to $10 per barrel. This huge drop in the price of oil was as a result of the overproduction of oil in these states. Consequently, the huge economic gains that had been made started to decrease. This decline in the economy led to the loss of employment opportunities as well as numerous job losses. Further, the non oil producing countries were not able to get foreign aid they had previously enjoyed from the oil producing countries (Rodney 45). Economic future The Middle East is currently being challenged by various factors in their economies. The most evident factor is the rapid population growth. The average population growth in the Middle East currently stands at 3% per year. This means that the population in a given state will double in every 20 years. The increased rate of population growth in this region is one of the highest in the world. The sub Saharan region in Africa still leads in the population growth rate in the world (Askari 10). Large population growth leads to various challenges in the economy and the available resources.

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American Revolution - Term Paper Example The American Revolution, which took place from 1775 to 1783, can be considered as a remarkable event in the United States history (Fiske 2009, p. 26). The revolution played a significant role as it brought the United States into existence. As a result of the revolution, the United States gained independence from the oppressive British rule. During the political upheaval that accompanied the American Revolution in the second half of the 18th century, thirteen colonies from the North of America joined together. These colonies broke from the British Empire and combined to become the United States of America. First, the colonies turned down the authority of the Great Britain Parliament, which aimed at governing them overseas and denied them representation. This lack of representation made the states condemn the oppressive British rule, and they worked extremely hard to get rid of it (Wood 2002, p. 34). The introduction of new taxes can be regarded as a significant cause of the revolution. Since the British government wanted to come up with ways of generating income, it made a decision to levy new taxes on the colonies. These taxes could be used to offset the high costs of defense incurred by the Great Britain. For example, the Sugar Act of 1764 introduced a three pence tax for every gallon of molasses. The act also included a list of the goods that could be exported to the Great Britain. Contrary to other previous acts, this act had to be strictly enforced; this placed a heavy burden on the colonies and led to enormous economic downturns (McNeese 2003, p. 42). The â€Å"taxation without representation† triggered the onset of the revolution as colonial leaders complained of lacking members of Parliament to represent the interest of Americans. Further, the implementation of the currency act worsened the situation 2in the United States; the act prohibited the printing of paper money by the colonies. A number of

DB2_SBS318 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

DB2_SBS318 - Essay Example People live in the atmosphere of immigration, without beginning and end, but only few know the true origins of Mexican migration to the United States. As such, the purpose of Gonzalez’s book is to provide facts, describe the history of immigration from Mexico to the U.S. and to emphasize the differences between Latin American and European immigration. It is really important as the immigrants need to know the history of their move to the United States in order to understand their position and choose the right direction. In his book, Gonzalez (2001) discusses the three important themes. First, the roots of the Latino immigration and its evolution are described. A reader can learn the important facts, which were not known before. Second, Gonzalez applies to the anecdotal evidence from one particular family, to reconsider immigration experiences from the viewpoint of one Hispanic family. Finally, Gonzalez describes modern Hispanic immigration in relation to the growth of political mobilization among the Hispanic immigrants. The themes of cultural assimilation and the marginalization of minorities have to complete the picture of Mexican immigration to the U.S. This is essential for Mexican immigrants to obtain the right understanding of their past and the author wants to help with it. Unfortunately, not always can the author stay neutral. Gonzalez (2001) is a prominent Latino journalist, and he cannot always conceal his rage at American racism and domination. This can be easily traced throughout his writing. The struggle against racism is an important issue but the author seems to overemphasize the differences between European and Mexican immigration, while it is known that many immigrants from other countries were treated even worse. Nevertheless, what he writes at the end of the introductory chapter of his book lays the foundation and defines the direction of his argument: â€Å"The American people still cling to

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EFFECTIVE RESEARCH & PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE + ISM - Case Study Example This can act as a delimiting factor at times. However, I feel that with a little bit of push I can make it to the top. I don’t feel that I possess any kind of threat. There are immense opportunities which I can cash upon. My curious nature, my cognitive thinking skills and my ability to work under pressure. All this will ensure that I produce high quality work in less time. The article is an empirical study on the role and scope of knowledge management systems in organizations. The article’s aims were well defined and chalked out. The article tried to test hypothetical the belief that the technologies used for information purposes in organizations and to lend support to business operations need to more in sync with each other. The focus was to redefine and reanalyze the purpose of KMS in light of the ways most organizations perceive Knowledge management. The study made use of findings from Delphi study and various in-depth interviews were conducted by them. Eventually, it concluded in a suggestion for developing organizational knowledge management systems. It was a qualitative analysis that came to the conclusion that knowledge management systems should be better integrated with the overall technology used in the firm. Thus instead of using a Knowledge Management system as a distinct entity the focus should be put the KMS in context with the prevailing technologies and enhancing their potential through the KM capabilities. The quality of the article was good. It was well researched, well explained and well substantiated. The limitations of the study were clearly indicated in the end and the discussion of the findings was very comprehensive. I believe that a qualitative study should be conducted for this research. As explained by many researchers, a qualitative study is more helpful when complex human behavior need to be researched and studied. In this study, current human behavior towards tutorial systems, prospect attitude towards them and a complex

Nurses Role in Communication of Health Promotion Initiative Assignment

Nurses Role in Communication of Health Promotion Initiative - Assignment Example Also, studies have proved that even though most nurses agree that obesity is a diagnosis that needs intervention, they do not pursue matter with overweight patients (Birse, 1998). Since obese people do not feel free to got the hospital to seek medical intervention and nurses are not fully committed to assist them when they encounter them at the hospital, what could be advocated is a social website that will educate the obese people on how to lose weight. People today tend to express their feeling at the social sites, which are gaining fast recognition (McCarthy, 2009). Hence, having a hospital social site that seeks to assist obese people share their feeling will, without doubt, work. The social site could also mean that nurses will stop worrying about countering obese people in reality and only face them when the matter is critical. It also acts as a cheaper alternative to actual medical

EFFECTIVE RESEARCH & PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE + ISM Case Study

EFFECTIVE RESEARCH & PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE + ISM - Case Study Example This can act as a delimiting factor at times. However, I feel that with a little bit of push I can make it to the top. I don’t feel that I possess any kind of threat. There are immense opportunities which I can cash upon. My curious nature, my cognitive thinking skills and my ability to work under pressure. All this will ensure that I produce high quality work in less time. The article is an empirical study on the role and scope of knowledge management systems in organizations. The article’s aims were well defined and chalked out. The article tried to test hypothetical the belief that the technologies used for information purposes in organizations and to lend support to business operations need to more in sync with each other. The focus was to redefine and reanalyze the purpose of KMS in light of the ways most organizations perceive Knowledge management. The study made use of findings from Delphi study and various in-depth interviews were conducted by them. Eventually, it concluded in a suggestion for developing organizational knowledge management systems. It was a qualitative analysis that came to the conclusion that knowledge management systems should be better integrated with the overall technology used in the firm. Thus instead of using a Knowledge Management system as a distinct entity the focus should be put the KMS in context with the prevailing technologies and enhancing their potential through the KM capabilities. The quality of the article was good. It was well researched, well explained and well substantiated. The limitations of the study were clearly indicated in the end and the discussion of the findings was very comprehensive. I believe that a qualitative study should be conducted for this research. As explained by many researchers, a qualitative study is more helpful when complex human behavior need to be researched and studied. In this study, current human behavior towards tutorial systems, prospect attitude towards them and a complex

Instant messaging and Videoconferencing Research Paper

Instant messaging and Videoconferencing - Research Paper Example Another example is when two employees from the same department are working at distance from each other and they have to work in proper collaboration. In such situations, instant messaging is useful as they can send files to them and can talk about them in real time. The benefits of instant messaging include instantaneous response, real time messaging, and file transfer facility. Some other key features of instant messaging include perceived control and telepresence (Zaman, Anandarajan, & Dai, 2010, p. 1009). The challenges related to instant messaging include leakage of trade secrets and privacy issues. Video conferencing helps in communicating being at distance (Judge, 2010, p. 655). It can be useful at workplaces in situations where employees are located at distance from each other and they have to talk to each other frequently to discuss project related issues. Another example is when time is short and manager wants to have a meeting with his/her employees. In such situations, video conferencing is useful because it saves time and increases efficiency and productivity. The benefits of video conferencing include accessibility, utility, and flexibility (Lowden & Hostetter, 2012, p. 377). The challenges related to video conferencing include lack of training to do such interactions and lack of use of nonverbal cues during

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Stationary Phase In Gas Chromatography Engineering Essay Stationary phase in Gas Chromatography (GC) is the part of the chromatographic system where the mobile phase will flow and distribute the solutes between the phases. Stationary phase plays a vital role in determining the selectivity and retention of solutes in a mixture. There are two major types of GC which are gas-solid chromatography and gas-liquid chromatography. In gas-solid chromatography, same material is used as both the stationary phase and support material. The common adsorbents used include alumina, molecular sieve such as zeolite and clay, silica and active carbon. In gas-liquid chromatography, the stationary phase is a liquid which is immobilized or adsorbed on a solid support material such as silica particles. The material of stationary phase ranges from polymers such as polysiloxanes, polyesters, polyethylene glycols to fluorocarbons, and liquid crystals. In addition, the stationary phase may consist of either porous particles, solid particles or a fibrous material such as paper. There are various types of stationary phases available because the choice of stationary phase being the most suitable one depends on the polarity of components. The primary rule of separation is like dissolved like where non-polar analytes will partition strongly into non-polar stationary phases and polar analytes partition into polar phases. Polysiloxanes, for instance are the most common stationary phases. They possess the greatest variety and are stable, robust and versatile. Besides that, they can resist oxidation and offer high solute diffusivitites into the polymer coupled with excellent chemical and thermal stability. 100% methyl substituted is the most basic polysiloxane being used and is non polar. The diagram below shows the basic structure of 100% dimethyl substituted polysiloxane. Because a variety of groups can be incorporated into the structure, polysiloxane exhibit a wide range of polarities ranging from non polar to polar. This can be done by replacing the methyl groups with other functional groups in the polymer structure. The structure below is a general representation of substituted polysiloxane. The R groups can be methyl(-CH3), phenyl(-C6H5), trifluoropropyl(-CH2CH2CF3) or cyanopropyl(-CH2CH2CH2CN). X and Y indicate the percentage of an aggregate in the overall polymeric stationary phase composition. The increase in the percentage of substitution of these polar groups increases the polarity of the liquid phase to various degree. For instance, 5% diphenyl-95% dimethyl polysiloxane. In this structure, R1 and R2 are phenyl groups and R3 and R4 are methyl groups. M and N have the value of 5% and 95% respectively. Table below shows some of the common stationary phases used in gas-liquid chromatography. Stationary Phase Common Trade Name Temperature ÃÅ'Ã…  C Applications Polydimethyl siloxane OV-1, SE-30 350 hydrocarbons, drugs, steroids Poly(phenylmethyldimethyl) siloxane (10% phenyl) OV-3, SE-52 350 Fatty acid methyl esters, alkaloids, drugs Poly(phenylmethyl) siloxane (50% phenyl) OV-17 250 Drugs, steroids, pesticides, glycols Poly(trifluoropropyldimethyl) siloxane OV-210 200 Chlorinated aromatics, nitroaromatics,alkyl substituted benzene Methyl-5% phenyl polysiloxane SE-54, OV-23, DB-5, SPB-5, BP-5, HP-5, ULTRA 2, RTx-5, CPSil-8 50-325 Similar to methyl polysiloxane. Slightly more selective due to phenyl content. Excellent thermal stability. Methyl 50% Phenyl Polysiloxane OV-17, DB-17, SPB-7, BP-10, HP-17, RTx-17, AT-50, 40-325 Added selectivity-higher phenyl content.Retains similar compounds longer than methyl silicone.Efficient separations of drugs, sugars and steroids. Good thermal stability. 6% Cyanopropylphenyl 94% Methylpolysiloxane DB-1301, RTx-1301, HP-1301 30-320 Selectivity for polarizable and polar compounds. Exhibits less retention of polyaromatic compounds.Good thermal stability. Methyl 7% Cyanopropyl 7% Phenyl Polysiloxane DB-1701, CPSil-19, RTx-1701, AT-1701 280 Unique selectivity of cyanopropyl and phenyl groups.Not truly a polar phase.Good thermal stability Methyl 25% Cyanopropyl 25% Phenyl Polyciloxane DB-255, HP-255, CPSil-43, RTx-225, AT-255 40-240 Polar phase.Efficient separations of fatty acids and alditol acetate derivatives of sugars.Fair thermal stability Silicone Oil DC-550 180-200 Moderately polar substrate,used for alkylbenzenes and naphthalene homologs Silicone Gum Rubber SE-30 400 Non polar,for highest temperature work. Used for steroids and polycyclic aromatics For polydimethyl siloxane, the -R groups are all hydrophobic giving liquid the least polarity and has the following general structure. Poly(cyanopropylphenyldimethyl) siloxanes are another polar stationary phases. They are used in separating compounds which contain several hydroxyl groups such as steroids. Another type of stationary phase is polyethylene glycols (PEGs) which is shown below. This stationary phase is non-silicon-containing stationary phase and is most widely used after siloxanes in the analysis of polar solutes. They are moderately polar and was considered the most polar stationary phase available due to the difficulty in coating and cross-linking of polar siloxane on the stationary phase. Besides, they are well known for their unique selectivity and high polarity as a liquid phase. The polyethylene backbone of these columns is different than polysiloxane phases. Strong polar dispersive interaction in the phase is imparted by the oxygen group in the polymer backbone. It also provides a very strong dipole interaction as the phase itself is capable of hydrogen bonding which is the bonding between a strong polar group (OH, NH) and a compound with strong electronegativity (F, O, N)]. Stationary phases with wax or FFAP in their names also belong to polyethylene glycol. Polyethylene glycols stationary phases have 100% of the stated material because they are not substituted. They have several disadvantages such as less stable, less robust and limited maximum temperature compared to most siloxanes. In addition, they exhibit shorter lifetimes and have high susceptibility to damage upon over-heating or exposure to oxygen. However, the unique separation properties of polyethylene glycol have made these liabilities tolerable. Also, cross-linked PEG phase is able to overcome these deficiencies. Under GC temperature condition, PEG stationary phases must be liquids. For example, alcohols, ethers, aldehydes and other compounds with low boiling points can be separated by a suitable sorbent called PEG 400. Carbowax 20M can be used for the separation of polar compounds with higher boiling points. Other polar compounds such as amino alcohols, hydroxyl acids, dibasic acids, amines, nitrile, fatty acids, fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs), aromatic volatile compounds, and nitrosamines can also be separated using PEG columns. Arylene-modified polysiloxanes are also known as aryl-poly or arylene stationary phase. They are similar to standard polysiloxane except having phenyl groups in the polymer backbone. This stationary phase has several advantages including lower column bleed and higher temperature limits than their polysiloxane counterparts. Diagram 1 : Structure of arylene-modified polysiloxane In order to prevent column bleed during GC analysis, most of the stationary phases used today are of arylene-modified polysiloxane. These stationary phases have been designed to be equivalent to a familiar stationary phase such as 5% phenylmethyl polysiloxane (BD-5ms and DB-5). They have slight differences although both the stationary phases have similar separation characteristics. Chiral stationary phases are also used in Gas Chromatography analysis. These stationary phases are typically used to separate individual enantiomers, stereoisomers which only differ in the spatial arrangement of their atoms and in their ability to rotate the plane of polarized light. Separation of two substances can only occur when their standard energy of distribution differ, which means that their standard enthalpies and/or their standard entropies of distribution also differ. In general, the standard enthalpy indicates the difference in the interactive forces such as polar, dispersive and ionic interactive on the molecule in the two phases whereas the standard entropy indicates their spatial disposition. Hence, to separate chiral solutes, the stationary phase chosen must differ significantly in the spatial arrangement of its composite atoms results in the probability or proximity of interaction between the two enantiomers to be separated. Many chiral compounds are used in the prep aration of chiral stationary phase (CSP). Cyclodextrin (CD) and their derivatives are the most commonly used chiral compounds. Cyclodextrin is a cyclic oligomer substituted into a conventional siloxane stationary phase. A strong interaction with the cavity in the CD is achieved when organic molecules of correct size and shape are present. Hence, these organic molecules will be more strongly retained on the capillary column. Furthermore, modified CDs are used since they are capable of resolving chiral solutes over a high range of GC temperatures. Chiral stationary phase plays a vital role in separation especially in pharmaceutical industry because pharmaceutical compounds usually exist as enantiomers. Some rough estimations about the target compounds that are generally well dissolved into their enantiomers by using specific chiral stationary phase are illustrated below. Product Name Stationary Phase Analytes Cyclodextrin E 2,6-Pentyl-3-Butyryl-gamma-Cyclodextrin oxygenated terpenes, alcohols, epoxides Cyslodextrin G 6-Methyl-2,3-Pentyl-gamma-Cyclodextrin monoterpene hydrocarbons, volatile/low temperature Cyclodextrin H 2,6-Methyl-3-Pentyl-gamma-Cyclodextrin terpenes, alcohols, alkenes Cyclodextrin 3P 2,6-Methyl-3-Pentyl-beta-Cyclodextrin terpenes, alcohols, alkenes Cyclodextrin TM 6-TBDMS-2,3-Methyl-beta-Cyclodextrin PCB, polycyclic or chlorinated aromatics, pesticides Cyclodextrin TE 6-TBDMS-2,3-Ethyl-beta-Cyclodextrin pharmacopeia separations of essential oils Cyclodextrin TA 6-TBDMS-2,3-Acetyl-beta-Cyclodextrin oxygenated terpenes, aromatics, low volatile Cyclodextrin PM 2,3,6-Methyl-beta-Cyclodextrin legacy phase for many analytes . In Gas Chromatography, there are generally two different types of column used which are packed columns and capillary columns. Packed columns contain finely divided inert solid support material that is densely packed in the inside of the column in which the material is coated with a liquid stationary phase. This stationary phase is 3-10% by weight of the solid support and will form a thin liquid film on the surface of the material where the mobile phase will flow over and around the coated material as it travels down the column. The solid support material used is usually diatomaceous earth. To improve resolution and speed, the particles size should be small enough, ranging from less than 100-300mm and are uniform in size. Small size of particles is necessary as it increases the surface area for easier partition and separation of solutes. Besides that, the material should be inert to avoid any chemical reaction between the solutes and solid support material. However, packed columns have limited resolution where N Diagram 2 : Cross section of packed column Solid support material Packed columns are 1.5 10 m in length and have an internal diameter of 2 4Â  mm. They are normally constructed from stainless steel but can be glass such as Pyrex glass if a less reactive surface is desired. Pyrex glass is chosen when thermally labile solutes are being separated. Unfortunately, glass has pressure limitations and for long packed columns, stainless steel columns are chosen since they possess high pressure tolerance. The nature of the coating material which is the liquid stationary phase determines what type of solutes will be most strongly adsorbed onto it. Hence, various columns are available that are designed to separate specific types of compounds. Open tubular columns or rather known as capillary columns are characterized by a small narrow opening in the centre of the column through which the mobile phase will travel as it moves past the stationary phase. There is no packing of solid support material unlike packed columns. Capillary column is constructed by fused silica which is a highly purified and inert material. There is a protective coating on the outside of the column, called polyamide that affords strength and flexibility in order to wind into small coil. Diagram 3 : Cross-section of capillary column Capillary columns have a very small internal diameter, on the order of a few tenths of millimeters, are between 25-60 meters in length. Capillary columns can be divided into three classes which are wall-coated open tubular (WCOT) columns, support-coated open tubular (SCOT) columns and porous layer open tubular (PLOT) columns. For WCOT columns, the inner column walls are coated with a thin layer of liquid stationary phase. The thickness of liquid coating is 0.25 0.5 Â µm thick leading to very fast and efficient separations (up to 300,000 plates). Other types of capillary columns exist with the stationary phase contained in different formats. These columns are typically efficient but they have a small sample capacity due to their low surface area. For SCOT columns, the inner wall of capillary columns are lined with approximately 30ÃŽÂ ¼m of a porous support material in order to allow a higher loading of stationary phase, resulting higher column capacity. Then, a thin film of liqui d stationary phase is then coated on this layer of support material, providing SCOT columns a larger surface area. For PLOT columns, they are similar to SCOT columns except solid support materials are attached to the inner column wall where the particles themselves are the stationary phase. There support materials can be glass powder or microcrystalline materials rather than particulate support. Diagram 4 : cross section of WCOT, SCOT and PLOT columns Generally, capillary columns are favored over packed columns and WCOT columns are more efficient than SCOT columns in Gas Chromatography. The table below shows further comparison of capillary (WCOT) and packed columns. Parameter Capillary Column Packed column Efficiency (plates/m) >100000 Sample size (ng) 10-75 10-1000000 Realtive pressure Low High Relative speed Fast Slow Chemical inertness Best Poorest Column flexibility Yes No Resolution Good Poor

September 11th: The Day Innocence Died :: September 11 Terrorism Essays

September 11th, 8:45 a.m.: A large plane, possibly a hijacked airliner, crashes into one of the World Trade Center towers, tearing a gaping hole in the building and setting it afire. 9:03 a.m.: A second plane, apparently a passenger jet, crashes into the second World Trade Center tower and explodes. Both buildings are burning. 9:30 a.m.: Bush, speaking in Florida, says the country has suffered an "apparent terrorist attack." 9:43 a.m.: An aircraft crashes into the Pentagon, sending up a huge plume of smoke. Evacuation begins immediately. 9:45 a.m.: The White House evacuates. 10:05 a.m.: The south tower of the World Trade Center collapses, plummeting into the streets below. A massive cloud of dust and debris forms and slowly drifts away from the building. 10:10 a.m.: A portion of the Pentagon collapses. 1:27 p.m.: A state of emergency is declared by the city of Washington. 1:30 p.m. The country wants answers. First shock, then terror, followed by sorrow, and lastly rage. How could such an act be committed on American soil? This country asks this question in disbelief. The US demands answers and revenge for this act of evil. Who is to blame for the possible tens of thousands of deaths? The only way to answer this question is to look at the people that could do such an act and what possible reasons they would have for doing it. This county as a hole looks over seas for answers, they look to a county called Afghanistan that harbors a terrorist called Osama bin Laden. "Bin Laden, an Islamic fundamentalist and the son of a Saudi billionaire, has been on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitive list since 1999, and the U.S. State Department has offered a $5 million reward for his arrest." Quoted from www.cnn.com. Most U.S. prosecutors say bin Laden is the leader of a group called al Qaeda (Arabic for "the Base"), this is a network blamed for successful and failed terrorist strikes on the U.S. Some are the millennium-bombing plot, last year's attack on the USS Cole, in Yemen killing 17 U.S. sailors and wounding 39, and the nearly simultaneous bombings of the U.S. embassies in Tanzania and Kenya. Bin Laden, a Muslim believes that he is fighting a holy war in the name of his religion. Muslims are Followers of the Islam religion. They believe that Allah is the One True God.

Abortions Prevent Child Abuse and Poverty Essay -- Argumentative Persu

Abortion is one of the most controversial issues in America today. There are approximately 1.5 million abortions every year in this country. Abortion was made legal in the 1970s. However, pro-life activists argue that it is no different than murder. Should the government have the right to take away a women's right to make decisions regarding her own body? The main issue that pro-life people have with abortion is that they believe it causes an unborn child to suffer. However, many children who's mothers want to have an abortion have a reasonable cause and the child is better off being aborted. Most unwanted children are abused and neglected. Some are born addicted to drugs. Why should we make innocent, young children suffer with being beaten, born addicted to crack, and being raped wh...

Action Learning Review

The Longwall department is responsible for the majority of coal production at the mine and hence, revenue for the business. The management group in this department consist of five staff members, with the Superintendent as the senior person reporting to the Mine Manager. As Technical Services Manager I am a member of the senior management team for the mine, and a peer to the Mine Manager. However, I have no direct authority over the Longwall department. Although it is suited to the approach, the Longwall department does not tend to operate effectively as a team.Whilst there is a clear annual performance target set by senior management, there will often be confusion amongst the group when they attend the mine’s planning meetings as to what the specific short term priorities for the department should be and the best way to achieve them. This confusion invariably leads to conflict in these meetings between group members, with individuals attempting to ensure that their specific ar ea of responsibility is not affected by the other’s individual priorities.There has been a high turnover of staff in the past year and the overall performance of the Longwall has been poor, with production results 40% below budget impacting significantly on the profitability of the business. Analysis The Longwall mining process is complex and to be successful requires reciprocal interdependence of tasks (Thompson, 1967). The engineers must work closely with the operations staff in the department through the planning and implementation stages to ensure safe and productive operations with minimal unplanned delays.This requirement of interdependence makes the Longwall process ideally suited to a team approach for management. Although it is a small group comprised of five staff with complementary skills, and a common production target for the year, the Longwall department does not currently satisfy the requirements of Katzenbach and Smith’s (1993) definition of a team. The y fail to define short term goals and work processes which would lead to achievement of the annual production target and, in addition, the group does not hold themselves mutually accountable for their performance.The lack of team approach towards these highly interdependent tasks leads to competing short term priorities within the group and results in poor overall performance. One of the key reasons that the Longwall department has failed to come together as a team is a lack of group cohesiveness (Shaw, 1981). The members of the group are heterogeneous (Managing People & Organisations, 2006), with different expertise and experience and as a result there is often competition and conflict (Raelin, 1985) with regards to the best approach to various tasks.This is potentially linked to the lack of specific short term goal setting completed within the group as they seek to avoid conflict because they lack the interpersonal skill of conflict resolution (Managing People & Organisations, 200 6). However, this conflict inevitably occurs when the group attends the mine’s planning meetings, as the individuals promote different priorities and ideas. If the group was more cohesive and co-operative, individuals would not feel threatened by other members and the heterogeneity of the group could be harnessed in a positive way through creative and flexible solutions to problems.For example one of the mining staff may have a different solution to an engineering problem which was not considered by the engineers. The lack of cohesiveness has led to a high turnover of staff over the past year. This means that Tuckman and Jensen’s (1977) life cycle of the group has had to return to the forming stage of the on a number of occasions and this in turn has hindered the development of group norms (norming stage) which would enhance co-operation within the group and is essential to achieve the required performance.This lack of progress through the group life cycle is also link ed to the level of competition between heterogeneous group members as they battle for power and influence in the group. The required short term goal setting and work approaches would be more easily achieved by a cohesive group. If the group was able to achieve the latter stages of the life cycle it is likely that group cohesiveness would be high and there would be significantly less staff turnover.The management processes at the mine currently manage individuals rather than teams (Hackman, 1990). This is linked to the Longwall department’s reluctance to embrace mutual accountability for performance and also the reluctance of the Superintendent to effectively lead the group as a team, as discussed below. Remuneration and bonuses are reviewed on the basis of individual performance, with little accountability for performance as part of a team. This leads individuals to â€Å"protect† themselves by making excuses and blaming others for poor performance.It also encourages i ndividuals to focus on the specific tasks and priorities that are linked to their individual performance rather than those best suited to the overall department’s performance, resulting in conflict and a lack of co-operation in the planning and implementation of tasks. On the basis of Thompson’s (2000) model, the Longwall department achieves two out of three essential conditions to be an effective team. The group has the requisite knowledge, skills and ability to complete the required tasks and their motivation to do so is evidenced by the long hours that each individual spends at work focussing on those tasks.However, as mentioned earlier, the group lacks co-ordination strategies such as short term goal setting and work method development which prevents them from developing into a real team. In addition, Thompson’s team effectiveness model also requires an appropriate environment in which the team can operate. As discussed earlier, the design of the team is app ropriate however the requisite organisational context and team culture are currently absent.As can be seen from the earlier analysis, the management of the Longwall mining process is well suited to a team approach, provided that the personnel are managed effectively as a team rather than as individuals in a group. On the basis of Katzenbach and Smith’s team performance curve (1992) the Longwall department is currently at the potential team stage. The individuals in the department have a clear annual production target and are all working hard to achieve it, however, they lack specific short term goals, a common working approach and an attitude of mutual accountability.To achieve the desired performance and meet the annual production targets, the team will need to move from the potential team stage to the real team stage. Improvement Planning From my analysis of the Longwall department I have identified three specific improvement opportunities that I would pursue if I was the M ine Manager to move the team from the potential team stage to the real team stage. Firstly I would look to improve the group’s specific competencies essential for effective teamwork through formal training and improve group cohesiveness through team building activities.Secondly I would implement a process to facilitate the setting of short term goals and work methods to achieve them. Finally I would modify the performance management system and remuneration packages for the individuals in the department to reflect a team based approach rather than individual management. However, prior to beginning the improvement processes I would begin calling the department the Longwall team so that they begin to identify themselves as a team rather than a workgroup or department.To improve the group’s task-related and interpersonal competencies, which are important for effective teamwork, I would organise for the group to go off site together for one week of formal training and team building exercises (Managing People & Organisations, 2006). This training may need to be ongoing. It is important that the group attends this training together so that they can begin to build mutual trust and respect and develop social capital (Lengnick-Hall and Lengnick-Hall, 2004).It is also essential that the training is held off site to ensure there are no distractions. One possible obstacle to carrying out this training is that taking the whole group offsite at the same time leaves the workforce with a lack of supervision or direction. To overcome this I would arrange the Superintendent of another area of the mine who has significant Longwall experience to cover the absence of Longwall Superintendent. I would also arrange for the mechanical and electrical engineers from the engineering department to provide coverage from an engineering perspective.The success of this training can be measured through an assessment process conducted by the training organisation at the end of the training program to examine the understanding and application of the concepts by the individuals in the group. A questionnaire completed by each member of the group would also be implemented to determine their perception of the applicability and success of the training. To facilitate the group’s setting of short term goals and work methods to achieve them, I would send them off site again for two days with an external facilitator.This forum would also include team building activities to break up the workshop and continue to promote team bonding. They would utilise the task-related competencies gained in the formal training process to develop and document short term goals based on achieving the annual production targets set by senior management. They would also be required to assess the potential obstacles and risks to achieving their short term goals and develop and document contingency plans to overcome those obstacles. It is essential that the team develops the goals togeth er so that they have ownership and commitment to achieving them.They need to ensure that the goals and work methods focus on performance not just togetherness (Katzenbach and Smith, 1992). Again, a potential obstacle to this process is taking the group offsite together leaving the workforce with a lack of supervision and direction. This would be addressed in the same manner as previously for the formal training. A second potential obstacle/risk to this process is the quality of the external facilitator. If this person does not have the appropriate skills to keep the workshop on track and the understanding of the desired outcomes, it is likely that the workshop will not be successful.To overcome this obstacle I would interview potential facilitators and seek references from others who have used them in the past. Once selected, I would ensure that the facilitator is very clear about the purpose of the workshop and the required documented outcomes. To measure the success of this worksh op I would review the documented short term goals to ensure that they will allow the team to meet the annual production target and I would also assess the adequacy and relevance of the contingency plans to overcome the identified obstacles and risks.A second measure will be whether or not the group achieves its self developed short term goals over the following weeks. To modify the performance management review system I would change it from an individual performance review by the Superintendent to a 360 degree review process. This review would be based on individual contribution to the team performance as viewed by other members of the team and will provide valuable feedback for individuals.I would also change the remuneration system for the individuals in the team to incorporate a bonus related to Longwall performance as a team measured on the basis of coal produced against targets (Gross 1995). This would encourage the team culture to develop with individuals supporting each other and keeping each other on track rather than pursuing individual priorities. One obstacle to this could be the feeling that some things which could impact Longwall production are out of the management team’s control, such as geological conditions.To overcome this I would document the potential influences on performance which are not controllable by the team and undertake to discount the production targets by a proportional amount to any performance impacts suffered to ensure that the bonus arrangement is not compromised. The measure of the success of this improvement strategy will be the achievement of production targets over the short and long term. References Gross, S. E. 1995, Compensation for teams: how to design and implement team-based reward programs, American Management Association, New York.Hackman, J. R. 1990, Groups that work (and those that don’t), Jossey-Bass, San Francisco. Katzenbach, J. & Smith, D. K. 1993, The wisdom of teams: creating the high perform ance organization, McGraw-Hill, London. Katzenbach, J. & Smith, D. 1992, ‘Why teams matter’, extract from The wisdom of teams: creating the high performance organization, in The McKinsey Quarterly, no. 3 of 1992, pp. 3-27. Lengnick-Hall, M. L. & Lengnick-Hall, C. A. 2004, ‘HR’s role in building relationship networks’, Academy of Management Review, vol. 17, no. 4, pp. 53-63.Managing People and Organisations, 2006, Unit 5, pp. 1-56, AGSM MBA (Executive) Program. Raelin, J. 1985, The clash of cultures, Harvard Business School Press, Boston. Shaw, M. E. 1981, Group dynamics: the social psychology of small group behaviour, McGraw-Hill, New York Thompson, J. D. 1967, Organizations in action, McGraw-Hill, New York. Thompson, L. 2000, Making the team: a guide for managers, Prentice-Hall, Upper Saddle River. Tuckman, B. & Jensen, M. 1977, ‘Stages of small group development’ Group and organisational studies, vol. 2.