Thursday, September 3, 2020

Snowcrash :: Technology Electronics Cyberspace Essays

Snowcrash The day was at long last here, the day to pick our books to peruse for the semester. Being Nick I hadnt even took a gander at the understanding rundown and that was the ideal opportunity to pick my novel. My companion in the class Maygan let me take a gander at the perusing list for a short second. I skimmed through the rundown searching for an intriguing book title and possibly a title that I could relate something in my life to. I picked the novel SnowCrash, by Neal Stephenson. SnowCrash, seemed like a great snowboarding novel or winter novel that would be amusing to peruse. Perhaps something about a snow portable accident. This book has no snow at all in it. . I was misguided. This book has a progressively idealistic look on our future, and the result of our current innovation. The book ends up having an ordinary dark horse versus the world subject, however the plot is captivating to such an extent this ought not prevent you of the quality. One of the most unmistakable highlights of cyberpunk is the innovative viewpoint. Customary sci-fi managed things that were conceivable, yet not likely. Cyberpunk bargains conceivable, the likely, however innovation that man as of now has. It is not necessarily the case that cyberpunks don't have there decent amount of remote human interface hookups, etc, however they are discussing innovation that if it somehow happened to be created, it would be inside the journalists life time or somewhere in the vicinity. The other distinction in the innovation that is depicted in cyberpunk is the way it is utilized. Pretty much every individual in the accounts approaches the innovation. All the more significantly, the innovation included regularly takes into account outrageous human between activity with it. The author will cause PCs and people to associate, and permit the PC to change the psyche, human social practices, and additionally society itself. Cyberpunk prospects make PCs become a piece of regular daily existence, however a vital component for endurance and flourishing. This angle is the fundamental plot in Gibson's epic. His primary character, Chase, needs to figure out how to invert the harm in a chip in his mind for him to do the sort of work he needed to do. Prior to cyberpunk, people had power over their innovation, and it was a different element, however now the qualification over how much an individual is human and the amount of them are machine isn't so clear.

Wednesday, August 26, 2020

Marcus James Essays (1370 words) - Aiden, Punk Rock,

Marcus James Introduction I picked a sensational piece, it is a play follows a gathering of office laborers who grumble about their life at work while on a lunch break, the supervisor comes in and afterward they attempt to disclose to him their circumstances. The reason for this piece is to disclose to others a portion of the impacts of utilizing innovation in the working environment. I picked this class since I needed to introduce the examination in a re latable yet useful way. I figured a play would genuine ly handle the peruser's consideration, using vernacular. I was roused to compose this piece on account of the idea of the class and that it is so natural to peruse and follow a play about a particular subject. This piece would in all probability request to grown-ups who are as of now working in the working environment, or it can likewise speak to understudies in optional school who are planning to go out into the working scene. At long last, a piece like this wo uld in all likelihood be found in an online article or in an office roundabout. Along these lines it will contact the grown-up crowd or any other person who intends to work in an office domain later on. Word Count: 199 words Intelligent Office Woes Four laborers are in the break room talk about ing the issues they are having in the working environment identified with the innovation they utilize each day. Enter Bill, Stan, Josh and Tom into the lounge Stan: Aye Josh you finish dah venture ? Josh : No boi, my back rel hurtin' meh, I cyah work for the remainder of de day . Bill: Daiz cause each day so we slouching over de damn PCs , plunking down gazing at dem entire day go be rel terrible for us later on . Tom : Is genuine what he saying boi, observe how Stan needed to get glasses, I was perusing ah article about how watching de PC screen for such a long time ruins your vision . Bill: A h next chime that could happen is we get rel worried boi, observe how Josh sprout session 50 silver hair in de last couple months Josh: Yea boi I had strain to show myself how to utilize some new program and it was rel pressure Stan: And all these email and chime coming in is rel diverting, I was attempting to complete ah venture de oder day and I could scarcely think . Josh: A ll kinda 11 o'clock in the night and chime to o inno , das rel attack of my own time . Tom: My neck is straini ng me too boi, dey state de seat we sitting in expected to support dat however it not doing nuttin' . Bill: (chuckling) Dem seats as old as my nenen boi! Tom: We shouldn't be sittin ' as the day progressed; we ought to be gettin' 30 minutes of physical action a day Stan : Dis innovation is causing rel social issues too boi, no one talks any longer, is just texting. Josh: (messaging Bill on his PDA) How you all talking like yuh experience childhood in the shrubbery so? Bill: (after r eading the content) Boi Josh yuh believe yuh superior to we or somethin' ? Tom: A' yuh perceive how dey get Jerry de other day boi, he was doing some hackin ' on his PC attempting to t ief cash from the business . Stan: Steups! Innovation could make it rel simple to tief boi . Bill: I read how some examination demonstrated that presentation to de light from a PC could cause sorrow. Tom: Boi ah next article say how dat s ame introduction to light could make malignant growth o , we hadda inform the bossman concerning some of dese issues Mr Aiden, the supervisor strolls in and hinders Mr Aiden: (collapsing his arms) Firstly men of their word, I trust that all of you don't address customers like that, to climb the co-work ladde r you should talk expertly, besides what are a portion of these issues? The laborers fix up in their seats and go straightforwardly to Mr Aiden Bill: (faltering) Mr Aiden, s-sir

Saturday, August 22, 2020

Tikanga Maori Essay Example

Tikanga Maori Paper (Tikanga Whakaaro, Barlow, C 1996) In every one of these models, the word kaupapa is utilized to depict the kind of work or capacities to be done. Additionally, with regards to government offices, the word kaupapa applies to the setting of approach, for instance: Social government assistance strategy: the arrangement contains the standards and rules, identifying with the tasks of the division. Maori school approach: this identifies with the rules, rules, and conditions for setting up autonomous Maori schools at the essential level. Iwi progress authority strategy: since 1989 Maori clans and government authorities have been occupied with a procedure of deciding arrangement for iwi specialists which following the devolution of the Maori Affairs Department. The word kaupapa can be related with practically any association concerning its strategy and practices, especially corresponding to organization. (Tikanga Whakaaro, Barlow,C 1996) Te Toi Whakairo is the specialty of Maori cutting, and Tohunga Whakairo was the extraordinary carvers the ace skilled workers. An ace carver was exceptionally thought of. We will compose a custom paper test on Tikanga Maori explicitly for you for just $16.38 $13.9/page Request now We will compose a custom paper test on Tikanga Maori explicitly for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Recruit Writer We will compose a custom paper test on Tikanga Maori explicitly for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Recruit Writer The Maori accepted that the divine beings made and imparted through the ace carvers. Today, cutting is a significant Tikanga for Maori. Tapu and noa remain some portion of Maori culture today. Tapu goes to the core of Maori strict idea and despite the fact that a greater part of Maori are individuals from some Christian church or group the thought of tapu holds. It isn't generally a matter of picking one religion over another. Or maybe it has to do with incorporating various methods of reasoning and trying to accommodate evident logical inconsistencies. tapu is wherever in our reality. It is available in individuals, in places, in structures, in things, word, and in all tikanga. tapu is indistinguishable from mana, from our way of life as Maori and from our social practices. Maori regard tapu of spots and structures, for example, the tribal gathering house. They likewise regard the tapu of people including their own. These are beliefs and qualities that Maori have confidence in however it must be conceded that a large number of them no longer think about these qualities and regularly don't have the foggiest idea what to do. Be that as it may, tapu stays a significant piece of Maori activities and of their convictions. Maori ought not step over a dozing individual the explanation has to do with the tapu of the individual; one ought not disregard anything the leader of another, the head being the most tapu part of an individual. A structure is opened at day break since it is tapu until the second the manufacturers, carvers and decorators are discharged from the tapu of imaginative work and the structure is cleared prepared for open use. The entire of the tangihanga service can't be clarified except if the thought of tapu is unmistakably comprehended. tapu itself was the most remarkable, the most significant, and the most broad into Maori life. (http://www. history-nz. organization) Noa is frequently combined with tapu prosecuting that regularly noa alludes to reestablishing a parity. An elevated level of tapu is viewed as risky. Here the job of tikanga and of tohunga is decreasing the degree of endogenous tapu until it is noa or safe. It isn't valuable to consider noa being something contrary to tapu or as nonattendance of tapu. This is clearly not the situation. For instance an individual can be very tapu on the off chance that one is sick of there is draining and shedding of blood. Once these tapu-expanding manifestations have passed the individual comes back to a protected state, yet has individual tapu . the condition of noa shows that a parity has been reached, an emergency is finished, wellbeing is reestablished and life is typical once more. This implies connections are reestablished. This state matches with a condition of ea and noa. This state may keep going for a little while until steamed at some surprising occasion. (http://www. history-nz. organization) Tapu and noa remain some portion of Maori culture today, in spite of the fact that people today are not dependent upon the equivalent tapu as that of past occasions. Another house today, for instance, may have a noa service to evacuate the tapu, so as to make the home safe before the family moves in. These days, tapu totally are still in proof concerning disorder, passing, and entombment. Tapu is obvious in the Marae and in the Whare also. The first explanations behind some tapu are indistinct today, however different purposes behind tapu incorporated the protection of regular habitat. This supposedly benefitted the network all in all. (http://www. history-nz. organization) Taking everything into account, this report shows the qualities, convictions and morals that support conventional Maori society and make pertinence of writing about kaupapa Maori and tikanga Maori, examination pertinent philosophical and culture term of customary Maori society and culture. List of sources http://www. history-nz. organization New Zealand in History http://tikanga. maori. organization. nz The internet of Maori Organizations of New Zealand http://tikanga. maori. organization. nz/The principle Maori Site on the Net. Barlow,C(1996)Tikanga Whakaaro: Key ideas in Maori Culture, Oxford University Press, Auckland.

Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An Am Essay Example For Students

Story of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An Am Essay erican Slave Douglass felt that Christianity was utilized by slaveholders to legitimize the brutality of their activities and to some way or another filter them against the evilness of their hearts. He felt that being the captive of a Christian slaveholder was as terrible as bondage itself. Were I to be again diminished to the chains of servitude, close to that oppression, I should respect being the captive of a strict ace the best disaster that could come upon me. (p. 731) Douglas brings up in his informative supplement that the Christianity of Christ and Christianity of this land are at inverse focuses on the range of good also, detestable. Fredrick Douglass develops from a slave kid to a liberated man all through Narrative of the Life of Fredrick Douglass, an American Slave and he utilizes this progress and personality to give an outlet to which the peruser can distinguish. Douglass first creates this with the nonappearance of dates. Slaves were kept uninformed with respect to the realities of this present reality, at times not in any event, knowing the time of their introduction to the world, forestalling the information on a hostages genuine age. A birthday is something with which individuals can recognize, as they are a praised piece of our way of life, particularly to youth. Douglass here recognizes himself as a person practically deficient with regards to what we may consider a typical adolescence essentially using dates. These are imperative to our way of life, tallying during the time until your birthday, until Christmas. We distinguish ourselves by the dates which encompass the occasions of our lives. Some portion of our personality is framed from dates and this was a benefit he was denied. He is, in any case, inevitably gave a lucky opening in numerous to learn dates, yet increase a general vibe for information too. At the point when the open entryway of discovering that his fancy woman gave was for all time shut, he says, it was another and uncommon disclosure, clarifying dim and puzzling things, with which my young comprehension had battled, yet battled futile. I currently comprehended what had been to me a most confusing trouble indeed, the white keeps an eye on capacity to subjugate the dark man. It was a terrific accomplishment and I prized it profoundly. From that second I comprehended the pathway from subjection to opportunity (Douglass 78). Douglass was learning and he didnt need to surrender it. The peruser can perceive the amount he esteemed information and his ironclad will to keep that entryway open. In doing this, Douglass recognizes himself as a developing youngster, constrained somewhere around conditions outside his ability to control. He is developing, he is learning, he is developing, and like a little kid who poses a great many inquiries, he won't rest until his hunger for information is suppressed. As he acquires and more information, his yearning and interest develop, and as he is fulfilled in this angle, his want opportunity develops. This gets predominant in his activities; as one of his Masters, Captain Auld put it, city life had nearly demolished me for each great reason and fitted me for everything which was awful (Douglass 99). His experience made him develop as an individual and person. An old clich states that information is power; Douglass had taken in this direct and was developing into an individual with the mental fortitude to retaliate and inevitably guarantee his opportunity. All through the book, Douglass introduces himself as an individual, compelled to beat amazing obstructions to accomplish what a large number of us underestimate through the accounts he tells. He initially guarantees that the peruser can relate to him before delving into the natural subtleties of a specific story, along these lines guaranteeing whatever feeling he is attempting to bring out. It was additionally basic that Douglass exhibit his development as an individual with the goal that we would consider him to be only that, an individual, not some creature to be effectively excused. .u353d8a8d8d9e2c10d48af457742f602d , .u353d8a8d8d9e2c10d48af457742f602d .postImageUrl , .u353d8a8d8d9e2c10d48af457742f602d .focused content region { min-tallness: 80px; position: relative; } .u353d8a8d8d9e2c10d48af457742f602d , .u353d8a8d8d9e2c10d48af457742f602d:hover , .u353d8a8d8d9e2c10d48af457742f602d:visited , .u353d8a8d8d9e2c10d48af457742f602d:active { border:0!important; } .u353d8a8d8d9e2c10d48af457742f602d .clearfix:after { content: ; show: table; clear: both; } .u353d8a8d8d9e2c10d48af457742f602d { show: square; progress: foundation shading 250ms; webkit-change: foundation shading 250ms; width: 100%; haziness: 1; change: obscurity 250ms; webkit-change: mistiness 250ms; foundation shading: #95A5A6; } .u353d8a8d8d9e2c10d48af457742f602d:active , .u353d8a8d8d9e2c10d48af457742f602d:hover { darkness: 1; progress: murkiness 250ms; webkit-change: mistiness 250ms; foundation shading: #2C3E50; } .u353d8a8d8d9e2c10d48af457742f602d .focused content territory { width: 100%; position: relat ive; } .u353d8a8d8d9e2c10d48af457742f602d .ctaText { outskirt base: 0 strong #fff; shading: #2980B9; text dimension: 16px; textual style weight: intense; edge: 0; cushioning: 0; content beautification: underline; } .u353d8a8d8d9e2c10d48af457742f602d .postTitle { shading: #FFFFFF; text dimension: 16px; text style weight: 600; edge: 0; cushioning: 0; width: 100%; } .u353d8a8d8d9e2c10d48af457742f602d .ctaButton { foundation shading: #7F8C8D!important; shading: #2980B9; fringe: none; outskirt range: 3px; box-shadow: none; text dimension: 14px; textual style weight: striking; line-stature: 26px; moz-outskirt sweep: 3px; content adjust: focus; content embellishment: none; content shadow: none; width: 80px; min-tallness: 80px; foundation: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/modules/intelly-related-posts/resources/pictures/straightforward arrow.png)no-rehash; position: supreme; right: 0; top: 0; } .u353d8a8d8d9e2c10d48af457742f602d:hover .ctaButton { foundation shading: #34495E!importan t; } .u353d8a8d8d9e2c10d48af457742f602d .focused content { show: table; stature: 80px; cushioning left: 18px; top: 0; } .u353d8a8d8d9e2c10d48af457742f602d-content { show: table-cell; edge: 0; cushioning: 0; cushioning right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-adjust: center; width: 100%; } .u353d8a8d8d9e2c10d48af457742f602d:after { content: ; show: square; clear: both; } READ: Web DuBois Argumentative EssayBecause Douglass was so expressive, and his personal history so elegantly composed, the uncertainty surfaced in the brain of some crowd individuals concerning whether he had composed the account or more to the outrageous, regardless of whether he had really been a slave. In this manner, his validity was raised doubt about. Douglass adequately .

Friday, August 21, 2020

Consumerism and Environment Essays

Industrialism and Environment Essays Industrialism and Environment Paper Industrialism and Environment Paper Industrialism is a wonder that was constantly inalienable in the moderately thudded social orders, where individuals bought merchandise and devoured assets over the top to their requirements. In any case, there was a significant change after the Industrial Revolution, when the shortage of assets was survived and a gigantic assortment Of merchandise in boundless sums opened up to a wide scope of individuals. The Industrial Revolution and a few different elements made free enterprise ; another sort of economy that brought about a fast development of a working class in created nations. White collar class began to have cash not exclusively to cover their essential needs yet additionally more. In 1899 Thorniest Blend considered t the relaxation class Billions of individuals overall currently have a place with the buyer class. Things that at one point in time were viewed as extravagances TVs, cell phones, PCs, cooling are currently seen as necessities. We are basically basing our satisfaction around material belongings and requesting the best and greatest things (like houses, vehicles Money can purchase, and our ways of life are committed to the gathering of unimportant products. As we are continually presented to broad communications and mainstream society in our cutting edge society, commercialization has infiltrated into each angle f our lives, directing our own convictions, qualities and needs. As to and cons: On the one hand, we can express that rising utilization has helped address fundamental issues and make employments. There is no uncertainty whatever about t his: more utilization includes more creation, deals, occupations. Which are acceptable and positive viewpoints in an entrepreneur framework. Truth be told, a few people contend that industrialism can't erase or obliterate our general public, yet in addition it is something basic for the general public and it unequivocally benefits the economy. Then again, there is another view that builds up that the enormous and mutinously expanding purchaser request has been getting earth out of parity for a long time. We are confronting an issue of over-devouring that is subverting the regular frameworks that we as a whole rely upon, and making it significantly harder for the least fortunate or creating nations to meet their fundamental needs. . This pattern Of over expending and tossing out what we wear t need is having crushing/damaging consequences for the earth (the fatigue of Earth s assets, uncontrolled air, water and soil contamination and a risk to human rights; sweatshops with strange wages and ghastly working documentations with gigantic injury rates. These are the expenses of commercialization. There are numerous ways that i ndustrialism can influence nature. Commercialization can cause air and water contamination, land defilement, and timberland debasement. Utilization itself, in addition to the creation and misuse of items utilized in utilization is identified with contamination. Mechanical waste (particularly when just dumped into the streams and seas), squander from the traveler business (counting luxury ships, air travel, and so forth ), squander from modern agribusiness, and vehicle emanations are instances of air and water contaminations brought about by industrialism. Tobacco creation, for instance, can prompt soil debasement and land defilement. Plastic sacks are genuine case of how industrialism can influence our condition. Plastic packs impact our condition since when they are tossed out they can get washed into our conduits . At the point when they arrive at the waterways and seas, creatures can become involved with the plastic pack and choke. The purchasing and selling of energizes is additionally a significant issue in light of the fact that the machines it goes into transforms it into a noxious gas (carbon monoxide) which is overlooked into the universes climate. 3. So what is the arrangement? Would we be able to effectively change the consumerist society? Truly, we can and more than that we need to. What the counter consumerists propose is to possess less and to appreciate what you own more. Fundamentally, numerous things we purchase we dont need. As it goes in an unknown statement We purchase things we dont need to intrigue individuals we dont know. What's more, thusly, keen expending will at long last come to the heart of the matter of objective utilization of normal assets. So as to transform, we should dispose of a cast off mindset. Lessen, reuse, reuse is a straightforward enemy of consumerist mantra. Also, it accomplishes work, regardless of whether you imagine that only you will scarcely have any effect.

Saturday, August 15, 2020

Understanding Technology and Its Influence on Human Behavior

Understanding Technology and Its Influence on Human Behavior The proliferation of technology has made it an extremely influential part of human lives. Right from the time, we start our day all the way till we hit the sack. We utilize technology in every possible way to make our lives convenient.  With the digital social revolution that exploded in the early 2000s, technology has changed â€"the way we socialize the way we workthe way we communicatethe way we gather informationThis drastic change has brought us to an important question â€" Are we too reliant on technology to the point where technology has spoilt us, and are we able to exist without it? Read on for a full depth answer and decide for yourself.IMPACT OF TECHNOLOGY ON THE HUMAN MINDOne of the biggest inventions of human history was understanding how electromagnetism works. Nikola Tesla, the famous Serbian inventor, was an avid technological genius that discovered a way to pass electricity without the use of wires in the year 1894. This technology was way ahead of its time and unfort unately, the secret to wireless energy died with the prominent inventor himself but that didn’t stop others from trying to recreate his work. Although there wasn’t any success in achieving wireless energy the way Tesla would have wanted to. Today, we have quite the technologies that have changed the way the world experiences life. Here are a few of them. Internet â€" Undoubtedly the biggest technology in this list. The internet has improved the way people receive information and the way we communicate. The internet is a daily part of our lives and it’s impossible to think that we existed without this incredible piece of technology in the past. Remote Controls â€" A device that you point to interact with other gadgets such as a television, a music player, an automobile, etc. The technology brought great convenience and allowed us to simply change a channel or lock/unlock our cars with a tap of a button. Digital Cameras â€" Digital cameras have played an important role in record ing personal memories and capturing profound moments in full HD color. With new age smartphones and tablets, sharing images through a digital camera in seconds is now a reality. GPS â€" Imagine trying to find a location while looking at a paper map only to find out that you’ve been reading the map wrong all this time. In comes the GPS technology, making it easier to find our favorite shopping destinations and multiplexes in less than a second and at a tap of a finger. The U.S military originally developed this technology to be used in warfare. Smartphones â€" Life would be incredibly boring if all our phones were only used for a single purpose â€" to receive and make calls. If it wasn’t obvious already, the “smart” phone allows us to access our work data, act as a digital GPS device to find locations, surf the web, watch movies, listen to music, and much more in a tiny device that we carry in our pockets. In fact, the world is so reliant on technology that people don’t jus t adopt technology into their business but shape their business around the current technology. Let’s take an example â€" Jake wants to open a physical store and set up several artworks that he has created over the years to sell for a profit. If Jake were to calculate his expenses in opening a physical store, it would go something like thisRent1,200  $Electricity200  $Wages for 2-3 Employees2,000  $Other Monthly Expenses (Food, Repair, etc.)1,000  $Total4,400  $Jake needs about $4400 dollars to run a physical store to sell his art. Now if Jake were to adopt the current technology and open a digitalized store while putting up his paintings online without having to open a physical store. Here’s how much it would cost Jake.Website Hosting Platform 1 year150  $Domain Name 1 year15  $Other Expenses (Food, Digital Advertising, Internet Plan)400  $Total565  $An obvious choice, Jake would obviously opt for the digital store over a physical one as far as expenses are concerned. It also al lows him to gain an advantage in selling his artwork to a global audience compared to restricting his customers to a small vicinity in an area. Jake would also get more views for his artwork in a digital store without worrying about a crowd taking over his shop. In this way, technology has recreated the way businesses and startups are launched. With every passing year, new technology forces businesses to either adopt it or miss out on valuable profits in the long run. The next section will center around the negative aspect of technology and how it has affected creativity. Is Technology Evil?While technology has undoubtedly changed our lives to that of a convenient one. There are things that we’ve lost along the way while we search for newer technologies. Some of the negative points of technology are as follows â€"Lack of Physical Human Bonding Before the turn of the digital social revolution, people would hang out in parks and gardens and socialize in the good old-fashioned way by approaching each other and building relationships along the way. Technology has forced us back into a digital cave and enables us to forge these friendships in a virtual environment where there are no actual emotions felt and no physical touch and the complete lack of a bonding process. Children who grow up in a technological world are also forced into a digital world at an early age. This restricts the cognitive abilities that a child develops and thus, as the child begins to grow into an adult, their emotions and feelings are purely synthetic as compared to a kid that was born before the 1990’s. A study done by The Guardian in 2013 demonstrates how kids are addicted to smartphone apps and the most downloaded app was “Angry Birds” by kids whose age group was between 6 and 15 years. In yet another research study conducted by the European Commission, kids were introduced to smart devices at an extremely young age where they couldn’t tell if it was harmful to them or not. Ins tances such as cyber-bullying, digital predators, and hijacking privacy were some of the worst affecting scenarios that the kids of the digital age face today. Without a doubt, technology has a critical role to play in the negative side of how kids are being raised in a digital environment and how making a friend or two in a virtual environment has no emotional bonding behind it.Plagiarism False NewsPrior to the digital age, copying another artist’s work was considered impossible or relatively hard to accomplish due to the strong private nature of a non-digitalized world. Today, if an article is on the web, it can easily be converted into 20-different pseudo-articles in less than a minute thanks to various nefarious software. Leaked movies are spread around the web before the actual premier that costs producers and directors millions of dollars due to piracy. Even music isn’t spared, it’s not uncommon to find a famous tune being turned into another song without the knowledge of the original artist, thanks to the digital age.While the internet is a breeding medium for all the latest news and updates around the globe, there’s another emerging trend that has created havoc and chaos on the world wide web â€" Fake News. If you’ve recently read of an untimely demise of a popular actor and later, found out that he is alive and kicking, you’ve been a victim of fake news. Fake news also spreads misinformation on various drugs helping with weight loss and cancer and causes people to blindly buy into these medications without verifying. This demonstrates how technology can be a wild card and how false news threatens the lives of people by misleading them. Internet Scams HackersWith the internet age, a new wave of imposters has been unleashed on the world. If you aren’t careful you lose your life savings to a scam artist located in a remote corner of the globe and all this with a simple click of a button.How do they do it?Surely, you visit your bank’s of ficial site to log in to your net banking section to access important financial information and updates. Imagine if a remarkably similar site such as your bank’s website existed, and you were sent an official email asking for verification of your account. You’ll end up providing sensitive information and private data to these imposters and in less than 10 seconds, your funds are transferred to the imposter’s account. These funds are untraceable.Websites that are fake but look like an original website are known as phishing sites. These types of sites exist to collect user information and then steal from them.While technology has brought you and your bank closer, it has also left you vulnerable to internet threats such as phishing sites and hacking. That’s why we’ve created a to-do list to ensure you don’t fall prey to the dark side of technology.Checklist to Secure Yourself on The InternetAlways ensure your firewall is activated. Reject any program’s permission that see ks to disable your firewall. This is your first line of defense. Verify email addresses before opening your email, if you don’t know the sender, chances are it’s a hacker trying to get to your information. Use the “Spam” option to block future emails from this sender. A prefix at the start of your URL should always have “HTTPS” and not “HTTP”. The S stands for secure and it’s usually lit in a bright green color to notify the page is safe. Always upgrade your anti-virus to ensure your system is updated with the latest security files. An anti-virus is like a bodyguard to your private data. When using a wireless network, always provide an administrative password to deny hackers and invasive neighbors from using your home network. Never provide sensitive details such as login information and bank details to anonymous phone calls or emails. No company worth its salt ever needs this information through compromised sources. Keep a strong password of at least 9-15 letters long. Ensure the password isn’t just made up of numbers and alphabets and includes special characters and other random sequences that aren’t easily guessed by password generators. Finally, always update yourself with the latest information regarding internet technologies. The internet is a great place to be when safe-browsing is practiced. It’s also a nightmare when you let yourself be ignorant.How Technology Governs Human BehaviorToday, a valid number of people would take out their smartphones to record a crime-in-progress rather than calling emergency services. Many of the actions we do are centered around technology. We take out our phones when delicious food shows up on our table, we are more interested in taking a video of our favorite band at a concert and finally, our creativity is judged based on the technology we have in our homes. There is a term for this type of dependence â€" it’s called Techno Addiction. There is a fine line where we use technology to supplement our lives and where we are glued to technology for an unhealthy 16 hours a day. In fact, every one of us is familiar or know someone that is a techno addict. That high school friend who’s always texting during lunchtime rather than spending time with you. Maybe it’s the neighbor across the street who you haven’t seen for over a month and almost tried calling the emergency services only to discover they’ve buried themselves in front of their gaming screens. So how do you truly find out if you’ve been a victim of technology? Let’s find out with an evaluation.Do you feel anxious when you leave home without your phone even when there are no important calls to be expected?Is it important for you to sleep with your phone beside you?Do you feel unhappy when a recently uploaded photo of yours on a social media site doesn’t get the intended likes and attention?Are you distracted from your work to constantly check your phones for notifications and other alerts?Do you prefer usi ng video conferencing to stay in touch with your family instead of visiting them for the holidays?Have your family and friends ever complained about how disconnected you are with them because you’ve been spending time with your electronic devices?Have you ever been sleep deprived waiting for a message from your friend or loved one while using instant messengers?During the weekend, do you spend most of the time glued to a digital device? â€" Video games, online surfing, mobile phones, etc.Do you spend more time recording at a live concert over enjoying the spectacle?Do you share your pain with an online community rather than real life family and friends?If you’ve answered Yes to â€" None of the questions. Fabulous! You are a role model to today’s generation and a real adventurous person who can make do without technology for as long as he wants.1-3 questions. You’ve got some level of addiction but with regular intervention, you should be able to beat it.4-6 questions. There†™s a serious addiction here.   You’ll need to immediately sort your life out by seeking help from family and friends. Spend time outdoors without any digital devices. Including your phone.6-10 questions. Extremely dangerous. The only way out of this type of addiction is if you seek professional help. No amount of motivation can get you to switch off. Immediately dial the helpline number at Addiction.com and start your journey back to the real world today.5 WAYS TECHNOLOGY HIJACKS PEOPLE’S BEHAVIOR1. Introducing FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) Your favorite shopping site just announced a shopping bonanza. Plenty of gifts, prizes, and discounts are to be won. All for just visiting their site multiple times a day to check the different flash sales that are on. If you don’t find enough time to log on, you’ll miss out on a lot of exciting deals and prizes. This is how a typical advertising campaign usually sets itself out and gets a ton of customers to visit their page during differen t times of the day. In fact, your product wishlist is empty since your last purchase but you still decide to make the best use of the shopping festival. All because of one important factor â€" Fear of Missing Out. The modern shoppers feel that they need to be connected to every brand and newsletter to ensure they don’t miss out on a sweet deal. It’s great to save $25 from a juicer brand that costs $100 and it’s on sale for a limited time at $75. Great investment, right? Not exactly. People don’t understand this, but technology manipulates us to buy products that we don’t need or desire. You don’t really want to buy a pair of boots, but the online discount coupon is super tempting. You end up buying it rather than missing out an irresistible offer. We psychologically react to any tempting sale. That’s what FOMO does to us.We end up spending more money on products and this can bring down our monthly budget which means less savings for the year. Had we not seen the offer, we wouldn’t even know the item exists and we wouldn’t be buying it and would rather invest our money in wealth creation. It’s always better to live in the moment than to live thinking of the future. Don’t buy products for tomorrow buy it for the immediate present. If a winter coat helps keep you warm, then go ahead and shop for a winter coat during the winter months. Buying a winter coat during spring just because you save a whopping 30% on the total price is the not smart shopping but a complete waste of money. 2. Pretends to Give People Control on Their Buying OptionsWhen presented with the menu in a fine-dining restaurant, you have the freedom of choice to choose the food that you want to eat. And that’s exactly what technology makes us feel, that we are in control. We forget to realize that the choice is already made for us. How? By controlling the type of menu, the restaurant indirectly controls the type of food you can order. While it’s your choice to walk into an y cuisine you may seem fit, but the ultimate decision is with the hotel serving you. They decide what goes through their menu. Let’s say you search for lawyer services on Google. The search engine will pop up links to lawyers that have a high SEO rating with Google or are being advertised. So, are you getting the best lawyers in the world based on expertise? Quite frankly, No! You’re only being served the popular options from Google’s own search indexing menu. Similarly, when visiting a shopping site, you’ll be shown a variety of choices and garments on display. When we shop we think we have the freedom to choose the color of the dress, the type of dress, the fitting of the dress. Ultimately, the dress itself has been displayed on the shopping site because the website wants to show you exactly what they want you to see. In this way, we surrender our ability to make choices while we fool ourselves thinking we have the freedom of choice with technology on our side.3. Endless E ntertainment FeedSurely there can’t be anything wrong with video streaming sites such as Netflix and Hulu. They’ve only made it easier for us to watch the movies that we want at a cost-effective pricing. So why would we present something that’s completely positive in a negative light? We did say the topic was about “hijacking people’s behavior” and how it causes you to spend more time and money without a full stop to it. Let’s say you buy a year worth of Netflix entertainment, you’ll be greeted to create a selection of your favorite genres and to choose the movies and tv shows that you’ve already watched and would like similar recommendations. Well, every time you finish an episode or a movie, you’ll be greeted with a recommendation screen to move on to the next movie or episode. The average user will sign out and proceed with his daily life. But what if you’re a binge-watcher. A binge-watcher is someone who spends several hours of continuously watching enterta inment in a single stretch of time. We might be closer to our favorite tv shows and movies with a tap of a button thanks to technology but unfortunately, unlike our remote controls, there isn’t a stop button to stop us from enjoying endless entertainment. Binge-watching has the following cases of negative health effects related to it â€" 56% of users develop an antisocial behaviorWatchers usually tend to forget their real-life responsibilities and end up wasting valuable timeReal life relationships are affected due to less time spent in family bondingAn addictive behavior begins to manifest which can take months or even years to treatWatching videos without resting can cause you to experience â€" fatigue, gain weight, increase health issues such as stroke and heart attack, etc.Binge-watching has been a recent phenomenon due to the ease of accessibility of home entertainment. You can watch a movie while on a subway thanks to smartphones. You’ll never leave home without entertainm ent and that’s caused a negative phenomenon called binge-watching to spread.4. Inconvenient ChoicesEver been provided a free 14-day trial to try a service or product. From your perspective, it’s completely free. After all, what possible ulterior motive can be brewing behind providing people with a trial. While signing up for your trial, you’ll be asked for your information â€" personal and business. After which you’ll be asked to hook your credit card information on the basis that it won’t be charged until after the trial period has passed. With this, you’ve just provided the following information for a 14-day free trial Credit card accessibilityPersonal Information Product purchase history matched with other sites against your personal informationThey’ve now got everything they need to know about you and the brand will begin to send personalized ads your way. The telemarketers that call and waste 20 minutes of your daily life? Blame it on the information that you’ve just given to an unknown company that’s been giving you a free trial period.Technology has cleverly manipulated you into providing all your information without you realizing it. It’s only when you are spammed with ads when opening an app do you realize that something’s truly wrong. You realize every ad that you get from that point on is based around the products that you just bought from another website. How did they get so much access to your information? Well because you just happened to give it to them. Your emails won’t be spared either as you’ll be spammed until your inbox is full of advertising emails that you manually must block every individual sender. A very time-consuming process.5. Shortened Attention SpanDid you know technology has in adversely affected your attention span without you knowing about it?The number of book readers in America alone has declined to 43% in 2016 from 57% in 1982. With every technological revolution that we enter, our attention span i s declining to dangerous levels. In the future, we might not even hold a conversation with our family members for more than a minute before getting up to leave. The cause of this is the dangerous trend of technology and its offerings. According to Microsoft Corp., the average attention span of a human has been reduced from 12 seconds to 8 seconds. Which means a goldfish which has an attention span of 9 seconds has beaten a full-grown human being. The age of technology has let us access countless articles on the cyberspace that we prefer scanning them instead of reading and understanding the articles. Microsoft Corp. demonstrates that weaker attention span is linked to the evolving internet age along with the availability of devices such as tablets and mobile phones. To normalize your attention, it’s recommended to quit using electronic devices before bedtime. Follow the below 3 habits and you’ll be on your way to paying attention to everything in detail in no time. MusicAreas of the brain that were exposed to music were shown to share the same space with the attentive areas of the brain. This makes sense when you listen to a soundtrack and you attentively try to track the number of instruments that are being used in a song. You try to break down the bass, rhythm, drums, vocals, and other sounds. Take NotesWrite your notes down on pen and paper, don’t have the habit of typing your notes using Google Keep or other software on your devices. Writing down notes also allows you to fully explore the idea rather than typing it down on a computer screen where your attention span is lowered thanks to our minds using the scan-and-go approach.Ask questionsWe don’t mean Google all your questions but develop a conversation with someone and pay attention to them by listening to their answers. This way, your brain begins to analyze what’s being heard by the other person and you’ll have a better attention span when listening to words that are being heard rather tha n scanning through articles for your answers. CLOSING WORDSBeware! While technology is a great access point, it also allows others to access you. It’s a two-way tunnel connecting you to the world and connecting the world to you. Just as you can watch a movie that is available online, companies are able to view your information without entering your homes. Privacy is a concern due to technology’s grasp of everything that happens around the world. It’s always a good idea to think twice before you provide information to unknown sources or face the danger of becoming a victim.

Sunday, June 21, 2020

What Does the SAT Redesign Mean for Philadelphia-Area A+ Tutoring Students

The SAT completely changed in March 2016—The College Boardredesigned the SAT to more closely align with what students are learning in high school. At A+ Test Prep Tutoring, our education experts have created a new curriculum to prepare our students from the Main Line, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia Counties for the new test. Below are some of the key changes students will see on the redesigned SAT. Scoring The "old" SAT was scored on a scale of 600–2400. The redesigned SAT is scored on a scale of 400–1600, with the reading and writing components being combined into a single â€Å"Evidenced-Based Reading and Writing† score. The "old" SAT awarded one point for a correct answer, and deducted a quarter of a point for an incorrect answer. In the new version, students are not penalized for guessing—since there will be is no deduction for an incorrect answer (similar to the ACT), no question should ever be left blank on the redesigned SAT. In another change, multiple choice questions now offer four choices, rather than five choices. Optional Essay The essay task on the revised SAT is optional, much like theACT Writing option, and has been entirely redesigned. Instead of students choosing a position on an issue and supporting it with evidence, the new writing task requires students to read, analyze, and write a response to a provided source text. And commensurate with the increased difficulty level of the writing task, the time allotted for the essay section has doubled, from 25 to 50 minutes. The way the essay is scored has changed significantly as well. Unlike the "old" SAT essay, there are three separate scores on the revised SAT essay (reading, analysis, and writing). And scores are reported separately from each other (rather than combined into a single score) and from the other scores on the test. In other words, essay scores are not a factor in a student’s combined 400-1600 scaled score, but are reported separately. Sections The redesigned SAT is divided into two major sections: (1) Evidence-Based Reading and Writing and (2) Math. The subsections of the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing section are a reading test, and a writing and language test. There is also an optional Essay section. Time The new test must be completed in 3 hours, with an additional 50 minutes for the optional Essay. With breaks, the test takes about 4 hours and 10 minutes. Change in Emphasis The SAT is notorious for testing obscure vocabulary words, but the new test takes a step back from that method. On the redesigned test, there is a greater emphasis on testing relevant vocabulary in context and recognizing how words are used to shape meaning and tone. The Math section also looks different, focusing on areas that â€Å"research shows are used most often in a wide range of majors and careers.† Math problems emphasize word problems as well as the ability to analyze charts, graphs and other data representations. In addition, on one of the two math sections students are not allowed to use their calculators. What’s Next? Since all colleges now accept both the SAT and ACT, we recommend that students take a free practice SAT and a practice ACT so we can help them compare their scores on the two exams and determine which test is going to give them the best chance to shine. With all of the recent changes to the SAT, and the ever-changing college admissions landscape, it is worth investing the time in taking these practice tests before starting test prep. Related Articles: Why Students in the Class of 2017 Should Not Take the New SAT Exam

Sunday, May 24, 2020

Hamlet Revenge, Uncertainty, And Madness - 1252 Words

Hamlet is one of William Shakespeare’s tragedy play surrounded with three major themes: Revenge, Uncertainty, and Madness. Throughout the play, the theme Madness is surrounding the protagonist, Hamlet. Although, nowadays, Hamlet’s madness is still an enigma to the readers. His words and actions are highly debated whether he is deeply submerged in the sea of madness or he is merely acting. According to the Merriam Webster Dictionary, madness is â€Å"the state of having serious mental sickness, or showing foolish actions and completely unrestrained by reason and judgment.† Based on this definition, Hamlet could be seen as truly sane through his intellectual, calculating mind and other characters’ viewpoint on his action. In the beginning of the†¦show more content†¦Another time, Hamlet shows how upset and betrayed he is, â€Å"You would pluck out the hear of my mystery†, â€Å"Call me what instrument you will, though you can fret me, you ca nnot play upon me† (II.II.373-380) or calling Polonius as a â€Å"fishmonger†. His act of lunacy gives a sense of distrust and elucidates Hamlet cleverness through his sarcastic riddles, wittiness, in the guise of madness to insult, criticize and ridicule without anyone suspicious. Also, he can gain information by observing Claudius and his henchmen’s moves to generate a new plan that leads to his motive of killing Claudius. No mad man would be able to construct such plans and thoughts. His crazy talk has a reason and the reader can easily notice the implication in it, how he astutely uses the act not only to mock but also to monitor their plans closely while they are not guarded. In contrast, unlike an insane man, Hamlet displays his intellectuality at times where it is not necessary to act mad. When Hamlet tells Horatio about the play â€Å"Observe my uncle. If his occulted guilt does not itself unkennel in one speech.† (III.II.82) or when he is directin g the players â€Å"Suit the action to the word, the word to the action† (III.II.18) these are not how a mad man can talk, these shows how Hamlet is rather calculating and perfecting his plan than being truly mad. Hamlet’s sanity can also be proven through other characters’Show MoreRelatedWilliam Shakespeare s Hamlet And Hamlet1442 Words   |  6 Pagesmultifaceted nature of revenge. Furthermore, the ability of a text to have different interpretations and discussions about these varying interpretations contributes to the textual integrity of a text. Madness and its portrayal throughout Hamlet and Hamlet’s ruminations endows audiences thoughts into the complex nature of revenge. The impacts of madness, introspection, uncertainty and honour on Hamlet’s ability to enact revenge contribute to the complex nature of revenge in Hamlet. Thus, the textualRead MoreIs the Ghost in Hamlet Pure Evil? Essay1181 Words   |  5 PagesGhost in Hamlet is a widel y controversial topic with arguments determining whether the Ghost is a â€Å"goblin damn’d† or a â€Å"spirit of health.† (1.4.40) â€Å"‘A spirit of health’ is one, which comes from heaven with charitable intentions, and ‘a goblin damn’d’ is one, which comes from Hell with wicked intentions.† The Ghost only has two appearances in the play and is a symbol for uncertainty, yet it is important as it catalyses the play into action and also Hamlet into madness. The Ghost in Hamlet is an evilRead More Insanity in Hamlet1565 Words   |  7 PagesHamlet: A look Inside the Insanity Many people have seen Hamlet as a play about uncertainty and about Hamlets failure to act appropriately. It is very interesting to consider that the play shows many uncertainties that lives are built upon, or how many unknown quantities are taken for granted when people act or when they evaluate one anothers actions. Hamlet is an especially intriguing production, both on the set and on the screen because of its uniqueness to be different from what most peopleRead MoreMadness versus Reality in Hamlet1550 Words   |  6 PagesRunning Head: Hamlet Madness Versus Reality A tragic story motivated by revenge leads to a tragic end with avengers hunger for revenge results in death of the murderer and most often demise of the avenger himself. Revenge tragedies share within themselves some common aspects; sub plots, madness, passion, one or more violent scenes and a main character filled with hate for a significant opponent usually due to a crime committed against the avenger or the main character. Since authorities of theRead MoreHamlet s Madness Is Less Than Madness And More Than Feigned779 Words   |  4 PagesPeriod Dec. 17. 2015 Fact or Fake? â€Å"Hamlet’s madness is less than madness and more than feigned†. What is madness? Mad is a word with such uncertainty that it can be stretched to mean an abundance of things more than just pure psychological instability: a weariness of life; a suicidal impulse; a plotting charisma. In the play Hamlet by William Shakespeare, a wild disagreement has been consequent for a series of years in the case of the madness of Hamlet, the play s central narrative, was justifiableRead MoreHamlets Madness Essay1147 Words   |  5 PagesShakespeare’s famous play Hamlet parallels this quote as it portrays his character caught in a mental battle as a result of his madness. When left alone to his thoughts, Hamlet contemplates decisions to the point of obsession, leading him into isolation. He can no longer distinguish fantasy from reality in turn motivating his impulsive behavior and stripping him of his integrity. Shakespeare has Hamlet feign madness however, as a result of hi s father’s murder, the obsession to plot revenge on Claudius, andRead MoreHamlet, By William Shakespeare891 Words   |  4 Pagesliterature, William Shakespeare’s play, Hamlet, was written in the early 1600s. Set in the Kingdom of Denmark, the protagonist, young prince Hamlet, is instructed by the ghostly figure of his father to seek revenge on his uncle, Claudius. Hamlet’s father was murdered by Claudius, who seized the throne after his death and married the queen, Hamlet’s mother. The occurring events possibly drive young Hamlet into madness. Madness plays a major part in the play, Hamlet, but one could compare Hamlet’s abilityRead MoreTheme Analysis : The Tragedy Of Hamlet 1578 Words   |  7 PagesJackson F. Jones Mrs. Larr English IV 1st Period 16 December 2014 Theme Analysis of Hamlet The tragedy of Hamlet is a work of literature that contains a multitude of themes. Some of these themes are apparently obvious as you read through the tragedy. Themes such as revenge and madness present themselves openly through the progression of the story. However, there are other themes that lurk below the surface. You just have to dive a little deeper into the story to find them. On the surface, the themeRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Hamlet - Hamlet1083 Words   |  5 PagesTitle: Hamlet Author: William Shakespeare Main Characters (Protagonist/Antagonist), Title, Traits: Hamlet (Protagonist): Prince of Denmark. Sarcastic, intelligent, stricken with grief at the death of his father, Hamlet Senior. Son of Hamlet Sr and Gertrude. Disgusted by his mother’s marriage to his uncle, Claudius. He is profoundly reflective, but at times acts rashly (likely the result of the rage and grief that consumes him thanks to the circumstances). Has a desire to bring justice to thoseRead MoreThe Tragedy Of Hamlet By William Shakespeare Essay822 Words   |  4 PagesShakespeare finished one of the most famous plays of revenge in English history. This play has left a plethora of questions, most left unanswered even after the hundreds of scholars who have analyzed it. The complexity and multiple facades of the characters, the use of many themes, and the symbols in this play have been construed into a delicate tale; Shakespeare purposely left out many details in order to shroud this piece in mystery. In The Tragedy of Hamlet, Shakespeare s vague developing characters create

Monday, May 18, 2020

The Recruitment And Selection Process Business Essay - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 9 Words: 2665 Downloads: 5 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Business Essay Type Argumentative essay Did you like this example? In this report the topic that will be discussed is The Recruitment and Selection process and how it has moved on from the days of newspaper ads and block interviews. The introduction of the report will discuss recruitment and selection and the methods of recruitment and selection. The main body of the report will focus on companies today, and how they are recruiting and selecting with more innovative approaches that many companies are beginning to use in 2013. Then in the report there will be a section on some weaknesses about the ways in which companies are beginning to recruit and select. To conclude the report I will sum up everything on the topic of recruitment and selection and state my opinion. Recruitment and selection is one of the many roles played by a human resource manager in an organisation. In the human resource department they deal with what positions need to be filled, they take the possible candidates through a series of interviews, select the best candidate for the job, the training of the employees, they also tell the employees all about the services they offer and they make sure that the employees and the organisation are highly motivated. Organisations all over the world have realized that human resources is a very valuable asset to them and therefore necessary measures have been put in place to make sure that the organisation will gain and keep a highly skilled workforce which would guarantee that the organisation manage a competitive advantage over its competitors (Jones George, 2007). In recruiting and selecting it is very important to have a clear job description and personal specification. A job description will entail what the title of the job is, to whom the job holder will be responsible and for whom they will be responsible too. It will also entail what their roles and responsibilities will be. A person specification will look for what skills and characteristics the applicants will need for the job. When applying the two together they provide the foundation for a job advertisement. Recruitment is the process in which you source possible applicants for a job. The manager who is in charge of hiring the applicants can use the likes of job boards, social networking sites, recruitment programmes that may be linked with colleges and possibly job fairs. These may be used by companies to create an interest in jobs that are available in a certain company (Peterson, J. 2013). Selection is the process where when all the candidates have been selected the group of candidates will be broken down and one out of all of them will be selected for the job. This process may and can require a couple of different interviews and assessments of the applicants personality (Peterson, J. 2013). For the selection of a candidate, many organisations use a range of different tools and technologies to measure a candidates abilities and skills, allowing them to successfully choose the most qualified candid ates that would benefit the company most to proceed to the interview process. By assessing a candidates skills this will enable the organisation to look into different qualifications within the interview.(Human Resource Management in Ireland 3rd edition (2006) Page 119). As part of the recruitment and selection process, it is very important to assess the candidates true interest in the company and their position in the organisation, which can then ensure you are hiring a long-term employee. A good way to retain employees in an organisation is to include things such as telling them about their salary and the benefits that they may offer within the good work environment. Today there are many different methods of recruitment such as: 1. Internal methods e.g. Internal promotion 2. External agencies e.g. Employment agency 3. Printed media e.g. National local newspapers 4. Other media e.g. Internet, TV 5. Education Liaison e.g. Careers fairs 6. Professional c ontracts e.g. Conferences, trade unions 7. Other methods e.g. Past applicants, word of mouth (Noel Harvey Lecture slides) There are a few different selection processes, which are as follows: The interview The objective of this, is to meet the candidate face to face to see if they are the right person for the job, to record some answers to critical incident-type questions, to discuss contractual terms and conditions etc. Psychometric tests Standardised test of performance attitudes or personality. There are a few different types for example: cognitive ability, personality, attitudes and values, and career choice and guidance. These tests can either precede or follow interview stage. Results can form basis of further interview questions, or interview can be used to feedback test results. Assessment centres Multiple-method design, usually incorporating testing, interviews, and work sample exercises, where candidates are tested by observers on job-relevant dimens ions. Can last from 1-5 days. These are usually the final stage of assessment to reach outcome decisions. This is a good form of selection because it gives employers the opportunity to observe candidates over a longer period of time in formal and informal situations, and multiple assessments by several assessors over several exercises can eliminate some individual biases associated with one-to-one interviews.(Human Resource Management in Ireland 3rd edition (2006) Page 120) It is essential to recruit and select employees who are fully committed to the aims and objectives of the organisation. An employee who believes in what the company is about and what it wants to achieve, will try their best to accomplish the companys goals. They will want the company to be successful, and will feel the sense of achievement from being part of the companys success. By hiring the right high quality employees for the job, with the right qualifications and skills, who are determined to succeed, thi s will result in increased levels of organisation performance. Every company has recruitment and selection processes in place to hire their employees, for example Boston Scientific, ESB, Google, and Dunnes Stores etc. In recruiting today we are now in an era where technology rules. The whole process of the recruitment and selection has and is continuously changing and evolving as the years go by. Its changing as technology is changing. As stated in paragraphs above recruitment and selection strategies can vary but now employers are turning to more efficient, effective and modern ways of recruiting staff. Methods today are changing drastically for not just the employer but the employee too. Online recruitment is the way forward and in 2013 its what most companies are using to recruit and select. Online recruitment uses the power of the internet to match people to jobs (George Finnegan- Lecture slides). Some examples of the online recruitment methods are using social networking sites like Facebook and twitter, job boards and even mobile apps. Research shows that 2012 was the year for workforce innovation; companies were testing in the use of social media in branding and marketing their organisations. But in 2013 research has shown that now companies are taking social further and that this year 2013 will be the year of social HR, as many organisations are integrating with social technology to recruit, develop and engage employees (Meister. J, 2013). Employers have begun to find out more about who they may be recruiting and selecting by going online. The Death of the CV, in 2013 the traditional CV is being replaced by a persons personal brand and how they are portrayed online. Now that times have changed employers are checking out potential candidates backgrounds before they are even interviewed. The manager that is going to hire you will definitely look into some of the following sources about a potential employee. (Meister. J, 2013). They will che ck your Facebook profile. They will enter your name into Google and Bing to see what may come up. They will check up on your twitter account to see how many followers you have and to look through your tweets. They will check your LinkedIn profile, they will look into the quality and size of it community. They will also check your recommendations on your LinkedIn profile. Another innovative approach online that some employers are taking in recruiting and selecting candidates is through Gamification. This process is edging its way in through the back door. Here is an example of how the Marriott use it as a method of recruiting and selecting. The Marriott Hotel have come up with a hotel-themed game that is played online, its quite similar to Farmville. In this game the players (potential candidates) have to play and manage the responsibilities if they were to be an actual manager in a kitchen. The candidate playing the game will get to know a bit about the industry, a lso there is a reward system in place to make it more realistic for the candidates. The basis behind the game is first of all the Marriotts name is growing outside the market, and the younger generation coming up they are finding new ways to interest them in careers in hospitality. Gamification is now a popular tool being used in the recruitment process because it attracts possible candidates through these social games on Facebook and LinkedIn. The game My Marriot on Facebook is an opportunity for any company to use a social network like these as a platform to engage global perspective new hires and show them what it could be like to work for them in there company (Meister. J, 2012). Another innovative approach used online to recruit is using YouTube a social media site it a very effective tool for recruiting employees today. It is used by managers who are hiring. They may talk about a role that they are looking to fill in their team. When using this method of recruitment it mean s that anybody who is a candidate for the job can get the chance to see where they might be working, who they may be working for and they may be working with. Another approach online that is being taken is RSS (really simple syndication). This website is used by applicants. Its a website that keeps potential applicants up to date with any jobs that have been posted online. There is a daily update about the posting of jobs without the applicant even having to return to the website. When the website is set up the RSS reader will continuously check websites for any new and available jobs that may have been posted online. It will then proceed to show these jobs to the applicant without them having to do a thing. This section of the report will discuss some of the disadvantages of online recruitment. Today online recruitment and selection is one of the most popular methods with most companies and it is the way forward in this process. There can also be some disadvantages to this me thod. The first disadvantage may be the high volume of responses to the job because now everyone around the world is able to gain internet access so easily they could see the job advertisement online. Many unqualified may apply for the job this may be time consuming for a company to go through each applicant. To avoid this happening make sure the job advertisement is specific to exactly what you are looking for. Another disadvantage is online recruiting is too impersonal because a lot of it involves emailing and telephone interviews this can make it come across as too impersonal. The employer may not get the chance to interview the possible candidate multiple times; this makes it hard for the employer to determine if the candidate would be correct for the job and for the company and its culture. Another disadvantage of online recruitment is security problems that may come about with the internet. People can create spams and fake profiles. Here are some of the more innova tive approaches being taken by companies in 2013 towards filling vacancies in an organisation. These recruitment sources have become very popular also. This section of the report will discuss some of the advantages and disadvantages of these different recruitment methods. Companies have now begun to use airplane banners in recruiting. The advantage of these is that it will grasp the attention of potential applicants. Although some may think it is an unprofessional approach even slightly intrusive. Companies have also begun to hang large banners and signs. The advantage of these banners is that they are cheap making them cost effective. But also they may be considered as an unprofessional approach and a busy location is always needed. Bill bored advertising is now another popular recruitment method. Its advantage is its a high volume attention grabber but its unable to display a large amount of information this could come as a disadvantage. Another popular recruitment met hod that is now being used is companies have begun to use competitions to recruit. The advantage of this would be the opportunity to evaluate skills before extending the job offer. It may be very time consuming though. The use of kiosks makes it easy for the person to apply for the job. The disadvantage of kiosks would be the unmonitored application flow. Many companies are now using movie ads because they attract people who are currently looking for a job. The disadvantage is that these ads may be intrusive and disturbing. Another recruitment method would be on site recruitment. Here the company can reach a wide variety and audience of people; it also saves time and deals with good public relations. There would be a disadvantage that it would deal with lots of unqualified applicants. To conclude this essay it entails a thorough analysis and discussion and on what the recruitment and selection process is and how it is one of the many roles played by a human resource mana ger. There is a definition of what recruitment is and what selection is and how they come together as a process. In the report it states many different methods of recruitment and different selection processes. It discusses why it is so essential to recruit and select employees who are fully committed. The report then goes on to discuss the innovative approaches that are now being used by companies in recruiting and selecting. This was the primary aim of the report. The main one and most popular being online recruitment. It discusses firstly how employers are now before interviewing possible candidates, finding out more about these candidates online. Then the report discusses a new innovative approach called gamification that is starting to become popular and how companies are using it as a tool for recruiting. The report also states some of the disadvantages of online recruitment. After discussing the innovative online approaches of recruitment and selection in the report, the re is then a few other examples of innovative approaches that are being used in recruitment and selection in 2013. Here the advantages and disadvantages are discussed of each. In my opinion after researching this topic on recruitment and selection it gave me a better understanding and insight into how companies are going about recruiting and selecting today. As technology is evolving so are the methods and processes of recruitment and selection. In an article that was discussed in the report it stated that 2013 will be the year of social HR, as many organisations are integrating with social technology to recruit, develop and engage employees. The further I researched the more true this statement became. I feel after doing this research that online recruitment will be how all companies will be recruiting and selecting within the next few years. As technology gets more innovative so will the approaches to how companies will recruit and select. There where both pros and cons to o nline recruitment but within the next year I feel that any negative of online recruitment will be flushed out. There is no problem with using the old methods of recruitment and selection but as the new generation workforce coming up now they should be mostly aware and comfortable with the online methods that they are going to come across as they begin to look for employment. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "The Recruitment And Selection Process Business Essay" essay for you Create order

Wednesday, May 13, 2020

Battle of Bannockburn in the War for Scottish Independence

The Battle of Bannockburn was fought June 23-24, 1314, during the First War of Scottish Independence (1296-1328). Advancing north to relieve Stirling Castle and reclaim lands in Scotland lost after his fathers death, Edward II of England encountered the Scottish army of Robert the Bruce near the castle. In the resulting Battle of Bannockburn, the Scots routed the invaders and drove them from the field. One of the iconic victories in Scottish history, Bannockburn secured Roberts place on the throne and set the stage for his nations independence. Background In the spring of 1314, Edward Bruce, brother of King Robert the Bruce, laid siege to English-held Stirling Castle. Unable to make any significant progress, he struck a deal with the castles commander, Sir Philip Mowbray, that if the castle was not relieved by Midsummer Day (June 24) it would be surrendered to the Scots. By the terms of the deal a large English force was required to arrive within three miles of the castle by the specified date. Great Hall of Stirling Castle from the Nether Bailey. Photo  © 2007 Patricia A. Hickman This arrangement displeased both King Robert, who wished to avoid pitched battles, and King Edward II who viewed the potential loss of the castle as a blow to his prestige. Seeing an opportunity to regain the Scottish lands lost since his fathers death in 1307, Edward prepared to march north that summer. Assembling a force numbering around 20,000 men, the army included seasoned veterans of the Scottish campaigns such as the Earl of Pembroke, Henry de Beaumont, and Robert Clifford. Departing Berwick-upon-Tweed on June 17, it moved north through Edinburgh and arrived south of Stirling on the 23rd. Long aware of Edwards intentions, Bruce was able to assemble 6,000-7,000 skilled troops as well as 500 cavalry, under Sir Robert Keith, and approximately 2,000 small folk. With the advantage of time, Bruce was able train his soldiers and better prepare them for the coming battle. The Scots Prepare The basic Scottish unit, the schiltron (shield-troop) consisted of around 500 spearmen fighting as a cohesive unit. As the immobility of schiltron had been fatal at the Battle of Falkirk, Bruce instructed his soldiers in fighting on the move. As the English marched north, Bruce shifted his army to the New Park, a wooded area overlooking the Falkirk-Stirling road, a low-lying plain known as the Carse, as well as a small stream, the Bannock Burn, and its nearby marshes. Robert the Bruce. Public Domain As the road offered some of the only firm ground on which the English heavy cavalry could operate, it was Bruces goal to force Edward to move right, over the Carse, in order to reach Stirling. To accomplish this, camouflaged pits, three feet deep were dug on both sides of the road. Once Edwards army was on the Carse, it would be constricted by the Bannock Burn and its wetlands and forced to fight on a narrow front, thus negating its superior numbers. Despite this commanding position, Bruce debated giving battle until the last minute but was swayed by reports that English morale was low. Battle of Bannockburn Conflict: First War of Scottish Independence (1296-1328)Date: June 23-24, 1314Armies Commanders:ScotlandKing Robert the BruceEdward Bruce, Earl of CarrickSir Robert KeithSir James DouglasThomas Randolph, Earl of Moray6,000-6,500 menEnglandKing Edward IIEarl of HerefordEarl of Gloucesterapproximately 20,000 menCasualties:Scots: 400-4,000English: 4,700-11,700 Early Actions On June 23, Mowbray arrived in Edwards camp and told the king that battle was not necessary as the terms of the bargain had been met. This advice was ignored, as part of the English army, led by the Earls of Gloucester and Hereford, moved to attack Bruces division at the south end of the New Park. As the English approached, Sir Henry de Bohun, nephew of the Earl of Hereford, spotted Bruce riding in front of his troops and charged. Robert the Bruce kills Henry de Bohun. Public Domain The Scottish king, unarmored and armed with only a battle axe, turned and met Bohuns charge. Evading the knights lance, Bruce cleaved Bohuns head in two with his axe. Chastised by his commanders for taking such a risk, Bruce simply complained that he had broken his axe. The incident helped inspire the Scots and they, with aid of the pits, drove off Gloucester and Herefords attack. To the north, a small English force led by Henry de Beaumont and Robert Clifford was also beaten off by the Scottish division of the Earl of Moray. In both cases, the English cavalry was defeated by the solid wall of Scottish spears. Unable to move up the road, Edwards army moved to the right, crossing the Bannock Burn, and camped for the night on the Carse. Bruce Attacks At dawn on the 24th, with Edwards army surrounded on three sides by the Bannock Burn, Bruce turned to the offensive. Advancing in four divisions, led by Edward Bruce, James Douglas, the Earl of Moray, and the king, the Scottish army moved towards the English. As they drew near, they paused and knelt in prayer. Seeing this, Edward reportedly exclaimed, Ha! they kneel for mercy! To which an aid replied, Yea sire, they kneel for mercy, but not from you. These men will conqueror or die. As the Scots resumed their advance, the English rushed to form up, which proved difficult in confined space between the waters. Almost immediately, the Earl of Gloucester charged forward with his men. Colliding with the spears of Edward Bruces division, Gloucester was killed and his charge broken. The Scottish army then reached the English, engaging them along the entire front. Scottish troops drive the English back at the Battle of Bannockburn. Public Domain Trapped and pressed between the Scots and the waters, the English were unable to assume their battle formations and soon their army became a disorganized mass. Pushing forward, the Scots soon began to gain ground, with the English dead and wounded being trampled. Driving home their assault with cries of Press on! Press on! the Scots attack forced many in the English rear to flee back across the Bannock Burn. Finally, the English were able to deploy their archers to attack the Scottish left. Seeing this new threat, Bruce ordered Sir Robert Keith to attack them with his light cavalry. Riding forward, Keiths men struck the archers, driving them from the field. As the English lines began to waver, the call went up On them, on them! They fail! Surging with renewed strength, the Scots pressed home the attack. They were aided by the arrival of the small folk (those lacking training or weapons) who had been held in reserve. Their arrival, coupled with Edward fleeing the field, led to the English armys collapse and a rout ensued. Aftermath The Battle of Bannockburn became the greatest victory in the history of Scotland. While full recognition of Scottish independence was still several years off, Bruce had driven the English from Scotland and secured his position as king. While exact numbers of Scottish casualties are not known, they are believed to have been light. English losses are not known with precision but may have ranged from 4,000-11,000 men. Following the battle, Edward raced south and finally found safety at Dunbar Castle. He never again returned to Scotland.

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Homeless People Move Into Traditional Housing Essay

Many public policies have been done to reduce the number of the homelessness and to help out those to rebound back to the normal life. Most policies focus on ending homelessness. Programs such as Continuum of Care Program (CoC) which is helping homeless people move into traditional housing, Emergency Solutions Grants Program (ESG) which is regaining stability in permanent housing, Rural Housing Stability Assistance Program (RHSP) which is stabilizing the individuals and who with risk of losing housing, and Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program which is assisting and preventing the homelessness. These efforts actually bring the decreasing result. According to the National Alliance to End homelessness, Between 2005 and 2008, chronic homelessness in Wichita/Sedgwick County (KS) decreased by 61 percent. From 2006 to 2008, Norfolk (VA) reduced homelessness by 25 percent. From 2005 to 2007, homelessness among families in Chicago (IL) decreased by 23 percent. 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Cultural Issues of Human Resource Management Free Essays

string(128) " points out the dangers of our assumptions and beliefs systems when working with coachees from varying origins and backgrounds\." International Journal of Evidence Based Coaching and Mentoring Vol. 5. No. We will write a custom essay sample on Cultural Issues of Human Resource Management or any similar topic only for you Order Now 2 August, 2007 Page 45 Carrying Cultural Baggage: the contribution of socio-cultural anthropology to cross-cultural coaching Barbara St Claire-Ostwald, CINCRA International Coaching Training Consultancy, UK Email Contact: barbara@cincra. com Abstract This study examines the cultural awareness of professionals working in organisations. Given the multicultural nature of today’s workforce, it is becoming increasingly important for companies and coaches alike to take into account how cross-cultural differences may affect daily working practices. The study draws on a review of current research into cultural dimensions and looks at the complex relationship between personality and culture – our ‘cultural baggage’. In order to explore the opinions and cultural awareness of participants, a questionnaire was developed. The purpose of the questionnaire was to identify themes and orientations to cross-cultural issues in terms not only of communality but also of paradoxes. The results highlighted a high level of recognition of cultural dilemmas and a perceived need and willingness to address and reconcile them. However, the diversity of opinions about the potential benefits of specific methods of addressing cultural dilemmas suggested considerable uncertainly about dealing with cross cultural issues. Key Words: Cross-cultural, cultural baggage, cultural dimensions, coaching, mentoring, socio-cultural anthropology Introduction The aim of this paper is to report on the results of a study designed to explore the emerging discipline of cross-cultural coaching (Rosinski 2003) and to establish the levels of awareness about, and attitudes to cross-cultural issues; the patterns and/or relationships between awareness, attitudes and cultural dimensions among businesses and business consultants, coaches, mentors and coaching/mentoring organisations. I began this study from the perspective that while there has been some research into mentoring and coaching, there appeared to be little that focussed specifically on cross-cultural influences. In my review of the available literature, it became increasingly clear that the integration of a cultural perspective into coaching was very much at the ‘pioneering’ stage. The main aims of this study were to try and establish levels of awareness bout, and attitudes to cross-cultural issues; and to study the patterns and/or relationships between awareness, attitudes and the cultural dimensions developed by Hofstede and Trompenaars and HampdenTurner among businesses and business consultants, and coaching organisations. Cross-cultural coaching addresses the way in which cultural differences affect the daily lives of people, and raises awareness of cultural differences and the effect they can have on the process of managing others and doing business in general. In today’s global economy organisations understand that to sustain successful and resilient businesses and to keep their competitive edge, they must develop employees who understand their global business, and employ people with global skills. Rosinski (2003) and Trompenaars and Hampden-Turner (1997) have developed pioneering work in cross-cultural competencies and coaching methods. At a fundamental level, their International Journal of Evidence Based Coaching and Mentoring Vol. 5. No. 2 August, 2007 Page 46 work has been based on the works of socio-cultural anthropologists Hofstede (1980) and Schwartz (1994). Their contribution in overcoming cultural miscommunication, tension and conflict, including the perils of stereotyping and ‘mono-culturalism’, has helped to formulate and explore the hypothesis of this study. Cultural baggage: a by-product of cultural systems Socio-anthropological thinking is based on the premise that all humans are born with the same basic physical characteristics, but depending on where they grow up, each individual is exposed to different climates, foods, languages, religious beliefs etc. Therefore, ‘are we really self-made or did our parents, teachers, families and friends have a hand in it? ’ (Trompenaars and Hampden-Turner, 1997, p. 54). Thus, one could argue that the socioanthropological perspective on culture takes a holistic view, describing culture as a pattern of learned and shared behaviours of people and/or groups consisting of belief systems and languages; and of social relationships be they personal, organisational, or institutional. (Hall, 1963; Hall and Hall, 1987; Hofstede, 1980; Kondo, 1990; Levi-Strauss, 1966; Schwartz, 1994). Therefore, at a fundamental level, it could be argued that culture is a representation of a complete way of life of a people who share the same attitudes, values and practices. Csikszentmihalyi (1997, p. 7) makes the distinction of ‘identity’ by using snowflakes as a metaphor: â€Å"They look identical as they fall, but taking a closer look, we soon discover that they are not identical†. Hence, he argues, rather than seeing identity as a single unitary self, perhaps cultural identity should be viewed as being multi-faceted, i. e. cknowledging that people have a number of selves or identities depending on context and setting. For example, the biggest barrier individuals and/or employees encounter is not necessarily that they come from different parts of the world, or that they speak a different language or even occupy a different physical space, it is the baggage they carry in their own cultural suitcases which needs to be explored. Trompenaars and Hampden-Turner m aintain that what people expect depends on where they come from, and the meanings they give to what they have or are experiencing. They argue that â€Å"expectations occur on many different levels, from concrete, explicit level to implicit and subconscious ones† (1997, p. 21). Furthermore, they describe culture as consisting of various layers: †¦The outer layers are the products and artefacts that symbolise the deeper, more basic values and assumptions about life. The different layers are not independent from one another, but are complementary [†¦]. The shared meanings that are the core of the culture are man-made; are incorporated into people within a culture yet transcend the people in culture. (1997, p. 7) Cross-cultural dilemmas Trompenaars and Hampden-Turner argue that â€Å"Every culture distinguishes itself from others by the specific solutions it chooses to certain problems which reveal themselves as dilemmas† (p. 8); to this end, they have incorporated best management theories into their own analysis of the task of managing across cultures. These theories were realized by using a participant questionnaire profiler, which was based on their Seven Dimensions of Culture model and by incorporating Trompenaars and Woolliams framework for managing change across cultures. Similarly, Rosinski points out the dangers of our assumptions and beliefs systems when working with coachees from varying origins and backgrounds. You read "Cultural Issues of Human Resource Management" in category "Papers" He argues that by providing a framework for integrating coaching and cultural perspectives, i. e. examining numerous International Journal of Evidence Based Coaching and Mentoring Vol. 5. No. 2 August, 2007 Page 47 cultural orientations, styles and approaches to coaching, the development of a cross-cultural mindset will be facilitated. For example, he writes: Our identity could be viewed as this personal and dynamic synthesis of multiple cultures. Our behaviour will typically vary depending on the group we happen to be associated with [. †¦]. The fact that our behaviours depend in part on the particular cultural context further justifies the need for coaches to integrate the cultural perspective into their practice. In some cases the obstacle to someone’s progress may be cultural rather than psychological, thus calling for a different coaching dialogue. p. 1) Furthermore, he maintains that cultural awareness is more than just realizing another culture is different from our own; it is also about learning to value that other culture. He argues that culture is behind our behaviour, and often without our realization. It can influence how close we stand, how loud we speak, how we deal with conflict and as a result, by failing to understand how culture impacts our needs and preferences, culture can often lead us to misinterpret behaviour. Methodology As the research was exploratory, I focussed the design on two main aspects: the initial review of literature which drew on a broad array of coaching and socio-anthropological theories and studies, and the less extensive, but nevertheless in-depth cross-cultural coaching work of Trompenaars and Hampden-Turner (1997), and Rosinski (2003). In turn, this provided the basis for the primary research, which took the form of a questionnaire which was sent to a small expert survey sample to identify cross-cultural themes and patterns. To ensure that survey participants had some recognizable expertise on the subject under investigation, I adopted the model in (Fig. 1) below. On the one hand, I was attempting to quantify levels of awareness of cross-cultural issues, as well as to explore the accompanying opinions, beliefs and assumptions, and how they relate to the dimensions of culture. I was also trying to make sure that the survey respondents would have an interest in this particular area of study. Fig. Survey Sample and Questionnaire Model Corporate/Business Consultants Awareness Opinions Coaching Organisations The survey sample was not only limited in size, but also in terms of the geographical make-up of the participants, who were mostly from the U. K. with the rest from continental Europe. By International Journal of Evidence Based Coaching and Mentoring Vol. 5. No. 2 August, 2007 Page 48 extension it would be difficult to generalise from the results, however, this was not the intention of the study. While gender could also be a factor which might influence attitudes and responses, the exploratory nature of the study precluded it from being a controlled variable at this point, although this issue could form the basis for further research. The purpose of the initial questionnaire was to elicit the opinions of the survey participants in order to identify themes and orientations to cross-cultural issues, in terms of communality as well as potential paradoxes. It was also intended to see how these opinions and orientations fitted with responses to questions about the various cultural dimensions identified and developed by Hofstede and Trompenaars and Hampden-Turner. The questionnaire was therefore divided into two parts. The first section addressed the opinions about attitudes, values and behaviours pertaining to culture in general, cultural dilemmas and, to crosscultural coaching and training specifically. I also decided to use a number of similar questions to check for inconsistencies in responses, which might indicate either a paradox in terms of opinions, possibly a conflict between a ‘norm’ and a given individual’s personal view, or could reflect a lack of appreciation for, or indeed indifference to, a given issue. The second section of the questionnaire was constructed on the basis of Hofstede’s and Trompenaars and Hampden-Turner’s cultural dimensions, and sought to elicit culture-specific values, beliefs and assumptions which could influence cross-cultural interaction within a professional environment. Results, discussions and recommendations In analyzing the responses to the questionnaire, it was evident that there was a high level of recognition of the importance of cross-cultural issues, and the need to address and reconcile them. However it was very difficult to define or quantify levels of cultural awareness, which was to some extent unsurprising given the complexity of the issues involved. But as I outlined in the methodology, a major objective was also to explore the quality of awareness and understanding of cultural dilemmas and dimensions. In this respect, the first section of the questionnaire (on attitudes to culture and potential cross-cultural training solutions) was very instructive in terms of perceptions about the relationship between culture and personality. In my opinion, the most notable contrast was that there was considerably greater agreement that culture shapes the personality and a lot more uncertainty about how the individual shapes culture. This impression was further reinforced by the general agreement that managers from different cultures do not necessarily find it easy to adapt their behaviour to fit the different needs of another culture. From a coaching perspective, it suggests some attention needs to be paid to how an individual perceives and relates to his/her culture. For example, there is a clear difference between seeing culture as providing a framework for social interaction, which is constantly evolving, and on the other hand perceiving culture as providing a set of social constraints. In either case, there may be some elements of our culture, which at an individual level are considered to be important in our everyday lives, while there are others which may be difficult to accept, which could be sources of tension with other members of our culture. Given that such perceptions may be operating partly at a subconscious level, this may not be easy to establish. But they appear to me to be a significant element in the process of gaining a better understanding of our cultural baggage, i. e. in how we synthesize the myriad of cultural groupings to which we are exposed on a daily basis. There was greater diversity of opinion about the benefits of specific cross-cultural training solutions, and when, where and how they might be applied. The initial conclusion that can be drawn is this shows that the process of integrating the cross-cultural domain into both business and coaching practice is still at an early stage of development. International Journal of Evidence Based Coaching and Mentoring Vol. 5. No. 2 August, 2007 Page 49 As far as improving the general awareness and understanding of the benefits of cross-cultural training, three sets of responses in the first section seem to me to define some of the issues that need to be addressed. Firstly the fact that half of the respondents believed that cultural issues within organisations are dealt with only if they relate to behavioural issues is indicative of a certain level of resistance to dealing with these issues, which may be due to an appreciation of the complexity of such issues. On the other hand, if cultural issues in some organisations are only addressed when there is a behavioural conflict, then this will tend to cast them in a negative light. Hence it does lead to the conclusion that some organisations are not sufficiently aware that ignoring and playing down cultural differences, as well as evaluating them negatively, is a major contributor to miscommunication, misunderstanding and conflict. Secondly, while coaches largely agreed that business managers recognise that diversity training should now include cross-cultural training for employees sent on global assignments, the business organisation responses were much divided. This leads me to conclude that some businesses are either unaware, or possibly not persuaded of the benefits of this specific approach. Nevertheless this set of responses, and the fact that none of the respondents disagreed that incorporating the dilemmas deriving from the differences in cultural dimensions help organisations to integrate their cultural orientations suggests that the key area of uncertainty among businesses and coaches is the method and/or models of integrating cultural dilemmas. The point that this suggests to me is, that before any attempt is made to develop the skills necessary to negotiate the differences between cultures, a greater awareness of how we negotiate difference in our own culture is required. This is to say we need to be more consciously and self-critically aware of the assumptions that underlie our habitual responses and modes of interaction, in other words our cultural baggage. In principal this is already the main focus of traditional coaching and mentoring. But I believe considerably more research needs to be conducted into how these methods and skills can be developed to take account of and integrate cross-cultural issues and dilemmas. From national to cross-cultural perspectives Cross-cultural research has largely focused on national differences because it is much easier to establish a person’s nationality, than to identify him/her as belonging to another type of cultural grouping, be that regional, professional, political, economic or social. The most frequently cited reason is that a given individual will be a member of numerous forms of socalled sub-cultures or higher level cultures (e. g. European), which in effect rules them out as unique independent variables. But I believe that without exercising some control for the effect of these ‘other’ cultural variables, it is difficult to be sure that attributing a given behaviour, belief, value or attitude expressed by an individual to national cultural influences is theoretically or empirically valid. For example, even at a national level, there has to be particular care to acknowledge the difference between ethnically diverse nations such as Canada or Malaysia; ethnically and/or religiously divided nations such as Belgium or the former Yugoslavia, or relatively homogeneous nations such as Japan or Korea, let alone very complex national cultures such as China or India. In essence, this does nothing more than acknowledge that socio-cultural anthropology is the study of the dilemmas and problems of differences and similarities not only between, but also within societies. In the specific context of this study, one of the most interesting aspects of the responses to the second section of the questionnaire on cultural dimensions was the differences in opinions both within and between coaches and business organisations. My original intention in including a section on cultural dimensions was to explore the relationship between these responses and those on the first section of the questionnaire. But the differences of opinions between the two sets of respondents on ‘universalism vs. particularism’ and ‘individualism vs. ommunitarianism’ (Fig. 6) suggested to me that I had to consider whether these opinions in some way reflected values that were influenced by the differing needs and requirements of the corporate and coaching environments. I cannot conclude whether this was the key influence International Journal of Evidence Based Coaching and Mentoring Vol. 5. No. 2 August, 2007 Page 50 on these responses. However I do think this e mphasizes that it is tenuous to assume that the responses to such value dimensions questionnaires can be ascribed largely to national culture. I also believe that the way that corporate and professional culture influences our habits and values requires a great deal more in-depth research. For example, it might be interesting to establish whether there are differences in the responses to a cultural dimensions questionnaire between professional groups, e. g. doctors, police officers, computer programmers, sports professionals, etc. , and how these compare to national differences. However, it also has to be acknowledged that the difficulty of drawing any definite conclusions about key influences is clearly a limitation to the use of questionnaires in general. This does suggest it would have been preferable to be able to expand and explore the data that was generated by the questionnaires via follow-up interviews. But, as discussed in the methodology, this would have required a lot more time and resources than were available to me in this study. Nevertheless analyzing the results in relation to the problem of ignoring and playing down the importance of cultural differences also suggested that the questionnaire design needed refinement. Specifically, I was unable to deduce or make any assumptions about what level of importance each respondent attached to each of the dimensions. A system of ranking the various value dimensions is not a new concept or methodology, in that it is very similar to the two ‘basic bipolar’ dimensions of ‘openness to change vs. conservation’ and ‘selfenhancement vs. self transcendence’ that are incorporated as higher dimensions in the Schwartz Value Inventory (Fig. 4). But more importantly I think that more research into developing a system of ranking the value dimensions would not only help to identify those value dimensions, which may be ignored, downplayed or even negatively evaluated, but also provide a potentially very useful tool for integrating the cross-cultural dimension into traditional coaching and mentoring practices. Conclusion From this specific perspective, a focus on quantifying how national cultures differ along the various value dimensions that have been identified does run some risk of contributing to the formation of cultural stereotypes, which have little or no predictive value. This is why greater emphasis needs to be placed on understanding our own ‘cultural baggage’ from a coaching perspective, particularly on the dynamic processes of the way in which our own culture has, and is evolving. The building blocks of improving cultural awareness and developing cross-cultural skills therefore have much in common with the key skills associated with building rapport as a coach or mentor. For the coach or business organisation, it is therefore about understanding the processes involved with the different ways in which we negotiate social interaction, and the elements of the various models of culture. These range from the apparently simple distinction between the visible and invisible level of values (Fig. 1) to the complexity of Schwartz’s ‘Theoretical model of relations among motivational value types and two basic bipolar value dimensions’ (Fig. 4). It is about raising our awareness of what is subconscious and invisible up to a conscious and visible level; and from there we can develop the skills necessary to negotiate ways of interacting with others whose values, attitudes and habits, or indeed in contexts are unfamiliar to us. I believe that if this is to be achieved, coaching and cross-cultural research needs to transcend the limitations of a focus on national culture. It needs to acknowledge that cultural identity should be viewed as being multi-faceted, and that people have a number of selves or identities depending on context and setting. The work of Schwartz, Hofstede and Trompenaars Hampden-Turner has provided very valuable insight into the cultural dimensions, which help to identify the way in which values differ between national cultures. However, they would also be the first to acknowledge that International Journal of Evidence Based Coaching and Mentoring Vol. 5. No. 2 August, 2007 Page 51 national cultures are in a constant state of change, and this in turn dictates the need to evolve their questionnaires, re-analyze the accompanying databases of results, and amend and redefine their models accordingly. But perhaps the key aspect for further research is to develop methods that place a greater emphasis on the processes though which culture changes. In other words how human actions and practices change, and new meanings evolve in response to changes to social contexts. By this I mean for example: the impact of increased migration (whether voluntary, or in response to political or economic factors), or the proliferation of new forms of communication like the internet, not only on working environments, but on the myriad ways in which we organize our social lives. The point being that this should help to move research and practice from a focus on more abstract concepts such as values, to the ways in which culture is produced and negotiated. Consequently, as Rosinski (2003, p. xviii) said, ‘intercultural professionals will be better equipped to fulfil their commitment to extend people’s worldviews, bridge cultural gaps, and enable successful work across cultures’. 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Skiffington, S. 2002), The Coaching at Work Toolkit – A Complete Guide to Techniques and Practices, Australia: McGraw-Hill Barbara StClaire-Ostwald is an international coach and freelance consultant who specialises in cross-cultural awareness and developing successful and effective communication skills for global managers and teams. Barbara grew up in the United Kingdom as a Polish/British dual national. Prior to setting up her coaching practice CINCRA, she lived and worked in the UK, Continental Europe and North Africa for over 30 years; working for multinationals in the private, public and not for profit sectors. Barbara is a member of the European Mentoring and Coaching Council (EMCC) and until recently, Chair of the EMCC European Conference Committee. She is also a member of the British Psychological Society, Chartered Institute of Personnel Development, British Sociological Association and the Society for Intercultural Education, Training and Research (SIETAR). She is tri-lingual (Polish, English, French) and she is able to converse in Dutch, German, Czech and Slovak. How to cite Cultural Issues of Human Resource Management, Papers