Free College Essays - The Theme of Punishment in Hawthornes The Scarlet Letter :: Scarlet Letter essays

The Scarlet Letter:â The Theme of Punishmentâ â â â â â â â â â â â â Â Â â â â â Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter manages numerous subjects, the most ground-breaking being discipline. In this novel, Hester Prynne turns into a profoundly regarded individual in a Puritan culture by conquering one of the harshest disciplines, the red letter. This item on her chest; in any case, does the specific inverse of that which it was intended for. In the end, Hester Prynne alters all the chances against here because of her boldness, pride and exertion. Hester went past the apparent aim of the law what's more, did everything asked of here so as to demonstrate that she is capable. Â Â â â â â Hester turned out to be a significant well known needle worker, appreciated everywhere throughout the town of Boston for her work. Hester is humble in everything that she does. Hester herself wears just helpless garments while she weaves wonderful works for the remainder of Boston. The main garment taboo to make was the wedding vail. How could a lady wearing the red letter make a dress that speaks to the estimations of marriage; having submitted sin as she did to be associated with the conjugal obligations of another couple. Despite the fact that she carries out the responsibility enthusiastically furthermore, infrequently ever thinks back to the horrendous past behind. The red letter was continually worn by Hester with pride and poise. Hester realized that what was done in the past wasn't right and that the red A was the proper activity, therefor it is worn with a feeling of pride. Â Â â â â â The kid, Pearl, is a gift and as a token of her wrongdoing. As though the red A were insufficient discipline there was an imp of that horrendous variety which would help Hester to remember what occurred in the past. The imp could have been offered away to Governor Bellingham yet Hester announced that Pearl is my happiness!...Ye will not take her! I will bite the dust first! Not an individual in Boston, nor Hester herself had a favorable opinion of the little youngster and Hester would not release Pearl. Hester hefted the child around simply because it was an immediate reflection of her wrongdoing and to give away here transgression a role as openly as that to part with it would be low and out of line to Hester and Pearl.

John Keat`s La Belle Dame Essays - Gothic Fiction,

John Keat's La Belle Dame In La Belle Dame sans Merci: A Ballad, John Keats, the creator, relates sentiments of despair to the peruser by utilizing representations of graveness and distress. The sonnet is set around a knight's account of how his heart had been broken when he was left by a lady whom he had as of late became hopelessly enamored with. The lady, an evident succubus, goes to the knight in what is by all accounts some variety of a dream, and has intercourse to him. A succubus is known as a devil female wickedness soul that comes to Earth and has sex with men while they rest. The knight recounts how they met, their short romance and mediating period, and at last the finish of their suggestive scene. Keats utilizes allegories to evade to demonstrations of sexuality all through the whole ditty. Toward the starting Keats composes of how a bystander stops to ask a knight for what good reason he is strolling around so pitiful and horrid. He tells the knight that he looks pale and flushed as though he had been perspiring. The passing more interesting needs to realize what could be alarming the knight, and what could make them meander around the edge of the lake in the dead of winter looking so pale and troubled. The knight starts his story by depicting to his audience that he once met an excellent woman in the knoll. He talks about how she had long streaming hair, a tall, flimsy body, and odd eyes, which appeared to have a wild, wild look about them. He shouts that she more likely than not been the offspring of a pixie. At the point when they met he made presents for her, which he created from vines and blossoms. They incorporated a festoon for her head, wristbands for her wrists, and a belt for her to wear around her abdomen, close to her fragrant zone. Keats employments the expression fragrant zone to represent this present lady's arousing quality. He alludes to this territory just like an area which gives forward an apparently sweet fragrance. After the gathering of these endowments, the knight and the malicious flirt started to kiss furthermore, to stroke one another. At that point the steamy soul energetically groaned as the he set her on of his pacing horse, and they started having intercourse. Their sexual scene extended over the length of the whole day. They would every now and again change positions as she rehashed her pixie's tune of orgasmic delight. At the point when the sexual meeting reached a conclusion, the succubus gave her trickiness as she recharged the knight with wild foods grown from the ground underlying foundations of relish, as though she too were encountering the enthusiastic sentiments of warmth. She took him to her elfin grot, and deceitfully sobbed to him of her distresses. He gave his best undertaking to comfort her. As they lied upon the slope, the knight fell off into an apparently detestable stupor as the woman sang to him a lovely tune which put his psyche in a relaxed state so he would float off to rest. The knight recounts the contemplations he had while he lie dreaming on that chilly slope. He said he saw lords, sovereigns, and warriors the same. All were meandering erratically, looking distressed and pale. They would shout out, La bele woman sans merci hath thee in bondage! Which in interpretation implies, the beautiful woman without feel sorry for has subjugated thee. What they implied by that was that they also had once been lead off track by the female evil spirit soul, known as the succubus. At the point when the knight arose he ended up lying on the cool slope alone. His woman of the glade was presently gone, and with her she took the poor knight's spirit. She left him with nothing other than a sentiment of complete vacancy that has frequented him to this day. That could be the reason the poor knight strolls alone, palely dillydallying, however the sedge is wither'd from the lake, and no fowls sing. Suc-cu-transport ..thing 1. A female evil presence that was said to slip upon and have sex with a man while he is resting.

A Reputation Contradicted Essays - Odyssey, Ancient Greek Religion

A Reputation Contradicted A Reputation Contradicted To many, a ?saint? is somebody who spares some other person or thing. In spite of the fact that Odysseus is by all accounts the saint in Homer's The Odyssey, his name problematizes the idea of his bravery, and eventually, of his personality. In Greek, the formal person, place or thing ?Odysseus? likewise works as an action word importance ?to be against or to contradict.? Incomprehensibly, at that point, the hero of The Odyssey is additionally a foe; the saint is likewise the character liable for causing the best mischief. At the point when Odysseus leaves Ithaka to take on in the Conflict of Troy, he accomplishes more personal harm than he will ever acknowledge until he comes back to locate his home in a condition of confusion and resulting demolition. At the point when Odysseus leaves, he deserts a child that will never have a protected comprehension of who he truly is until he himself takes an excursion to locate his actual personality. For the twenty years that Odysseus is away, Telemekhos has no affirmation of who his dad genuinely is or in the event that he truly is Odysseus' child. All that Telemekhos needs is a dad that will develop old in his home, will go about as a dad demonstrations, and be there as a dad may be: ?Companion, let me put it in the plainest way. My mom says I am his child; I know not doubtlessly. I wish at any rate I had some glad man as father, developing old in his own home - yet, obscure demise and quiet are the destiny of him that, since you ask, they call my dad.? (Book I, 258 - 264). Odysseus has made enthusiastic harm Telemekhos by not being there like a dad ought to be. Odysseus additionally left his significant other Penelope with Telemekhos as a child when he went to battle. He left Penelope with the aim of returning yet there was no insurance. After such a large number of years a spouse can just envision the loathsome destinies her better half may have experienced. Penelope's passionate status is in a condition of torment and despondency because of the way that her darling has left and doesn't appear to be returning. Penelope, remains in her room and weaves and unweaves a cover with the expectation that he may return before she needs to pick another spouse. She sits in her room the entire day and she sobs and sobs for Odysseus' arrival: ?Sill with her kid in reality she is, poor heart,/still in your royal residence corridor. Desolate her evenings/and days pass by, her life spent in sobbing.? (Book XI, 204-206). Despite the fact that Odysseus is out playing s aint for some, inside his inward condition, he is causing cut off harm. The torment and harm that he has caused notwithstanding, isn't restricted to simply his significant other and his youngster. Odysseus additionally has hurt his mom and his dad. The passionate harm that Odysseus has never really mother, is broad to such an extent that she bites the dust not of a sickness however of forlornness: ?...not that disease surpassed me - no evident ailment squandering the body to fix the soul; just my dejection for you, Odysseus, for your thoughtful heart and guidance, delicate Odysseus, removed my own life.? (Book XI, 123 - 127). Odysseus additionally harmed his dad inwardly. After Odysseus left, he not, at this point held his attitude of a lord and started to fall into a condition of melancholy. At the point when Odysseus goes to the black market, his mom let him know: ?In any case, your dad is nation bound and comes to town no more. He possesses no bedding, carpets, or fluffy mantles, in any case, rests, winter evenings, among the slaves, abounded in old shrouds for spread, close to the ashes. Or on the other hand when the warmth comes toward the finish of summer, the fallen leaves, all around his vineyard plot, stored into windrows, make his humble bed. He lies presently all things considered, with throbbing heart, what's more, yearns for your arrival, while age goes ahead him.? (Book XI, 210-219). The personal harm that Odysseus has done is broad to the point that he has caused melancholy, and even demise. At the point when Odysseus arrives at Troy, he becomes legend to one fragment of the populace, however will consistently stay a destroyer to another portion of the populace. To his kindred warriors, he is a legend for his procedure in crushing the trojans: ?And as to tricks, no man would guarantee/Odysseus' present for those. He had no opponents,/your dad, at the stunts of war.?

Risk Analysis Process

The Art of Coffee At the point when I started my activity as a Barista at Mainline Coffee I knew close to nothing about this craftsmanship. I delighted in hanging out at coffeehouses with companions, and valued the jolt of energy drinking a cup could give me; in any case, the entirety of my insight gave off an impression of being just that I realized how to blend espresso at home. I didn’t know the contrasts among coffee and trickle blend espresso, or the contrasts between a cappuccino and a latte. I was uninformed of the amount more went into the way toward making great quality espresso. During my initial hardly any months there I endeavored to find out however much about this exchange as could be expected. Like whatever other activity that I have worked at, I felt that it was my obligation as a paid worker to become as completely qualified for the situation as could reasonably be expected. An earnest devotee about espresso, my administrator Josh encouraged me and started to give his immense t otal of information to me. Consistently I worked with him he would show me increasingly broiling methods, various starting points of espresso and their mind boggling tastes, the most ideal approach to froth milk, and the right names for claim to fame drinks. He dealt with building up my sense of taste for espresso by expecting me to taste each new inception we requested and afterward, utilizing espresso vernacular, portraying it as well as could be expected. We would likewise have rivalries between ourselves with respect to who could make the best smaller scale froth when foaming milk. As my insight into this craftsmanship expanded, I was energized by the potential that I was finding in espresso. I had the option to encounter amazing espresso and coffee, and it freed my eyes up to the way that there was significantly more to espresso than the â€Å"traditional† Maxwell House, Folgers, or moment espresso would ever offer. When simmered, espresso beans start to oxidize, and they quickly turn stale and unpleasant. Pressing and refrigeration can hinder this procedure, nonetheless, it can never be forestalled. Maxwell House, Folgers, and comparative brands come as of now ground, and who realizes to what extent they have been perched on the rack in the market. The flavors brought out of these espressos contrast with the rich, smooth, and full-bodied kinds of espresso that is as of late cooked and ground preceding fermenting. I had found something that was acceptable, and I needed to impart my new abundance of data to other espresso consumers such as myself.

Transformational leadership Essay Example for Free

Transformational initiative Essay Does Academic Leaders impact Staffs’ Commitment to Service Quality in Malaysia? This paper examined the connection between authority style of transformational and the responsibility to support quality among scholastic staffs in broad daylight and private Malaysian Universities. It has been contended that great assistance quality execution is one of the key factors in building specialty and having serious edge that isolates one from its rivals broadly and all around. All out useable surveys were 387 with a reaction pace of 36 percent. The outcome uncovered that there is a critical connection between transformational initiative style and duty to support quality among scholarly staff at the Malaysian colleges. This examination infers to the strategy producers and scholastic pioneers at the colleges that they should center in building up their scholarly staff, by tapping their possibilities, rousing them, advancing coordinated effort, spurring and strengthening uplifting perspectives towards duty to support quality. Future examination should consider elective methods of enquires, for example, utilizing the longitudinal technique for information assortment plan and an across the country study covering tests from the entire populace of the higher foundations of learning in Malaysia that would be increasingly huge in making speculations . Watchwords: Service quality, Transformational Leadership, Commitment to Service Quality, Malaysia 1. Presentation Existing writing on instruction demonstrates a movement towards â€Å"educational excellence† which is about world class marking, attractive scholarly projects, investigate exercises and offices in drawing in and holding remote and neighborhood understudies (Isahak, 2007), yet how can one contend to be different?Governing bodies, in Malaysia, for example, the Malaysian Qualification Agency (MQA) give accreditation to quality projects that satisfy certain guidelines. Be that as it may, how do Malaysian Universities endeavor to stay serious and keep up a practical development in this unpredictable condition where projects seen to be all inclusive homogeneous in nature, serious as far as estimating, and critical in area and marking? Hudson et al. (2004) contended that astounding assistance quality execution is one of the key factors in building showcase specialty and a serious edge that isolates one from its rivals. Sim and Idrus (2004), Jusoh et al. (2004), and Sahney et al, (2008) agreed and maintain the thought that responsibility from the scholastic staff in the training part to the general authoritative objective, for example, in the conveyance of high help quality is a superior methodology as on account of client maintenance and fulfillment. Shockingly, very little consideration has been given to the issue of duty to support quality among the scholastic staff in the advanced education segment. There is an expanding thought supporting that studentsâ€ÿ assessment of administration quality in the Malaysian colleges is to a huge degree impacted by the manner in which they are treated by the client contact representative eminently the scholarly staff (Hasan et al., 2008; Ismail Abiddin, 2009). Past examines have additionally proposed that a few colleges in Malaysia were losing understudies on the grounds that their standard of administration quality was not up to the desire for the understudies (Jain et al., 2004; Firdaus, 2006; Latif et al., 2009). It was accounted for that the degree of administration quality in the Malaysian colleges was simply average (Jusoh et al. 2004; Sim Idrus, 2004; Hasan et al., 2008, Ismail Abiddin, 2009). This emerges worry in the manner the studentsâ€ÿ are being dealt with or taken care of. The ramifications of these studentsâ€ÿ withdrawals may not exclusively be exorbitant to the studentsâ€ÿ potential accomplishment in their profession yet in addition to the universitiesâ€ÿ notoriety, operational and labor costs (Curry, 2001). Butâ the most prominent loss of all will be as far as potential information laborers to the country. Studies on „commitment to support qualityâ€ÿ are significant and important however tragically there is still little advancement in inquire about here. Grasping responsibility to support quality is basically to realize money related development and a picture of manageability to support associations. Numerous inquiries regarding what truly inspires duty to support quality among scholarly staff stays unanswered, especially with regards to instruction. Past authority literary works have related transformational pioneers to hierarchical duty, for example, to support quality conveyance (Jabnoun Rasasi, 2005); building associations with clients (Liao Chuang, 2007); understudies commitment with schools (Leithwood Jantzi,1999) and towards school changes (Geijsel et al., 2003). By and by, experimental research on transformational initiative and duty of scholastic staff to support quality isn't broad and in most past examinations, their emphasis was on the executives or dependent on the investigation of the client level. Singular center, explicitly on the investigation of scholarly staff is constrained in creating nations, for example, Malaysia. Subsequently, the goal of this exploration was to look at the connection between transformational authority style and the scholastic staffâ€ÿs responsibility to support quality at Malaysian Universities. In light of the discoveries of this exploration, it is trust that it would likewise give some data and understanding that will help the pioneers and approach creators of the Malaysian Universities as managers to understand the commitments of their scholarly staff in making sure about productivity and riches through the dedication of good assistance quality. 2. Writing Review 2.1 Commitment to Service Quality Studies on the duty to support quality in instruction literary works follow a similar pathway as the general meaning of full of feeling responsibility. Full of feeling duty is characterized by Meyer and Allen (1991) as â€Å"an employeeâ€ÿs passionate connection to, distinguishing proof with and association in the organization†. Pledge to support quality is characterized and comprehended asâ â€Å"conformity to a specification† (Martin 1986; Witt Steward, 1996; O‟Neil Palmer, 2004) and in accomplishing â€Å"excellence† (Peters Waterman, 1982). Clark et al. (2009) characterized promise to support quality as the â€Å"dedication of workers to render administration quality and the eagerness to go past what is anticipated from them†. Past discoveries have likewise settled that representatives who are focused on the association will stay faithful and are conversely identified with turnover (Hartline et al., 2000; Elmadag et al., 2008). In such conditions, workers were known to invest additional time and vitality in helping the association understand its objectives and they likewise put their own personal circumstance aside (Porter et al., 1973; Tsai, 2008; Sohail Shaikh, 2004; Yiing Ahmad, 2008). O‟Neil (2000) in his examination in advanced education agreed on the significance of inward client promise to support quality as a methods for increasing upper hand. Fulfilled outside clients, for instance the understudies, were accounted for to spread by â€Å"word of mouth recommendations†, which is a useful asset in showcasing (Cuthbert, 1996). 2.2. Transformational Leadership Initiatives can be of numerous features and looks. They vary in viability as far as outcomes of their activities towards inward and outer partners. Since associations today are confronting numerous difficulties, there is a requirement for pioneers in associations to contribute as far as information or thoughts as well as in settling on right the choices and reacting to the changes (Horner, 1997; Christie, 2002). As indicated by Bass and Avolio (1990), transformational pioneers will concentrate on building up their adherents by tapping them of their possibilities, moving them, advancing joint effort, persuading them and by strengthening positive practices. Bass (1990) contends that transformational pioneers are relevant particularly during tempestuous occasions when quick changes and globalization happens. Barnett et al. (2001), Antonakis et al., (2003) and Kirkbride (2006) liked to portray transformational authority dependent on five variables. They have embraced from Bass and Avolioâ€ÿs (1995, 1997) contemplates. The five segments as proposed by Barnett et al. (2001), Antonakis et al. (2003) and Kirkbride (2006) are: individualized contemplations, scholarly incitement, inspirationalâ motivation, admired impact (properties) and glorified impact (conduct). Table 1 beneath presents the five parts. Table 1: Five parts of Transformational Leadership Factors Individualized contemplations Attributes Pioneers who perceive their followersâ€ÿ singular contrasts and will treat them separately. Scholarly incitement Pioneers, who support critical thinking capacities and dangers taking. They likewise urge their devotees to rethink any difficult first and not making suspicions unbeneficial to the association. Rousing inspiration Pioneers, who can rouse and invigorate devotees to perform well in agreement to their capacity by giving them some feeling of direction. Pioneers, who show qualities of appealling and skill. They are sure about confronting and taking care of issues and indicating their forces for positive advantages. Admired Impact (qualities) Admire Leaders, who display alluring conduct that accompanies a high feeling of profound quality. They are dependable, fair, high honesty and are set to Influence accomplish their strategic reason (conduct) Source: Barnett et al. (2001), Antonakis et al. (2003) and Kirkbride (2006) In Malaysia, the examination on transformational initiative styles is ruled in different business settings and according to assorted indicators, for example, work fulfillment ( Yusof Shah, 2008) and hierarchical duty (Azman, Al-Banna, Za

MIT Dorms Really Random

MIT Dorms Really Random DID YOU KNOW? Pulitzer Prize-winning MIT professor John Harbison, who is teaching the undergraduate class 21M.304: Writing in Tonal Forms II this term, wrote an opera based on The Great Gatsby that was premiered at the Metropolitan Opera in New York. Happy Organic Chemistry II Day! I think that thus far, 5.13 has been my absolute favorite class at MIT. I was so excited about wishing you a happy April 31, because, as Ling noted, that would be European Pi Day (31/4), but I missed it this year, probably because I had to much work. Do you always wait for the longest day of the year and then miss it? So, Mollie did that entry about life in MacGregor, and Ive conned my excellent friend Kim 09 from marching band into making up this excellent photojournalistic piece about life in Random Hall. One thing she doesnt mention is that one of the floors in Random Hall is named Destiny. Why would a floor be named Destiny? Well, apparently the residents were strapped for cash one day and decided to sell the floors naming rights on eBay. Turns out that some guy bought it and named it after his eight-year-old daughter. When he found out that they were going to use the money to build robots instead of buy beer, he threw in an extra hundred dollars or something. Anyway, some current MIT student is going to come by and correct that, and then youll know the real story, and Ill give him or her credit where it is due. So, dont read any further in this entry if youre still on dialup, because your computer will probably die. Also, the entire internet system of your country might shut down. Maybe. I dont know. I just know that I went to an Athena Computing intro class my Freshman year and they told us that somebody from MIT accidentally broke Portugals internet in the late 1990s. So, please be careful when you get to MIT. And everything that follows from here is Kim 09! Welcome to Random Hall, 290 Massachusetts Avenue! width=512 height=384 / Say Hi to the friendly deskworker if youre lucky, shell let you in. WooHoo!! Youre inside and want to know what time it is. But this clock is sort of um interesting. You move on. You encounter the floor known as Fort Awesome. You admire the decorations and the spacious dining facilities We eat nutritiously! Pictured here: chocolate, steak, chicken, and bananas. Yay, videogames! These people are great at decorating their floors and ceilings (thats Fort Awesomer!) You walk around and admire the decor. We enjoy dart weaponry. I love this wall! Life sucks but then you dye! And we have fun toys too. The end. Thanks Kim! Post Tagged #Random Hall

Accumulation Examples

Accumulation Examples Accumulation The word "accumulation" means a building up or piling up of things. We "accumulate" belongings over our lifetimes. Snow can "accumulate" on the ground in the winter. Accumulation is also a rhetorical device. When a writer or speaker "gathers up" different points, or different ways of saying the same thing. This can be done to connect different aspects of a topic, or it can be done simply to summarize a collection of points that the speaker or writer wants to make. It helps to emphasize points by listing them together and can be an effective way to conclude. Examples of Accumulation: Examples of Accumulation from Speech and Literature 1. Shakespeare "accumulates" names for the king in Henry V: "Then shall our names, familiar in his mouth has household words, Harry the King, Bedford and Exeter, Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester, be in their flowing cups freshly remembered." 2. In the Bible, this verse "accumulates" physical things that occur, yet the Earth remains: "A generation goes and a generation comes, yet the earth remains forever. The sun rises and the sun sets, and rushes back again to the place from which it rises. The wind blows south, then returns to the north, round and round goes the wind, on its rounds it circulates. All streams flow to the sea, yet the sea does not fill up." 3. "Your organization, your vigilance, your devotion to duty, your zeal for the cause must be raised to the highest intensity." Winston Churchill 4. "I don't know how to manage my time; he does.... I don't know how to dance and he does. I don't know how to type and he does." Natalia Ginzburg

Strickland v. Washington Supreme Court Case, Arguments, Impact

In Strickland v. Washington (1986) the U.S. Supreme Court designed standards for determining when an attorney’s assistance has been so ineffective that it creates a violation of the Sixth Amendment. Fast Facts: Strickland v. Washington Case Argued: January 10, 1984Decision Issued: May 14, 1984Petitioner: Charles E. Strickland, Superintendent, Florida State PrisonRespondent: David Leroy WashingtonKey Questions: Is there a standard for courts to use when evaluating claims of ineffective counsel?Majority Decision: Justices Burger, Brennan, White, Blackmun, Powell, Rehnquist Stevens, O’ConnorDissenting: Justice Thurgood MarshallRuling: David Washingtons attorney provided effective assistance, in accordance with Sixth Amendment requirements. In order to prove ineffective assistance, a defendant must show that his or her attorney’s performance was deficient and that the deficiency prejudiced the defense so much that it changed the outcome of the legal proceeding. Facts of the Case David Washington participated in a 10-day crime spree that included three stabbings, burglary, assault, kidnapping, torture, attempted extortion, and theft. He was indicted for three counts of first-degree murder and multiple counts of kidnapping and robbery in the state of Florida. Washington confessed to two murders against his counsel’s advice. He waived his right to a jury trial and plead guilty to all charges against him, including three counts of murder in which he could receive capital punishment. At his plea hearing, Washington told the judge he had committed the burglaries, which escalated to more serious crimes, while under extreme financial stress. He said he had no prior record. The judge told Washington he had a great deal of respect for people who are willing to admit responsibility. At the sentencing hearing, Washington’s attorney chose not to present any character witnesses. He did not order a psychiatric evaluation of his client. The judge sentenced Washington to death, finding no mitigating circumstances to decide otherwise. Washington eventually filed a writ of habeas corpus in a Florida federal district court. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit reversed, remanding the case down to district court to determine whether or not a â€Å"totality of the circumstances† suggested Washington’s counsel had been ineffective. The Supreme Court granted certiorari. Arguments Washington argued that his counsel failed to conduct a proper investigation leading up to the sentencing hearing. This left his attorney unable to offer evidence during the hearing, damaging Washingtons overall defense. In oral arguments, the attorney before the Supreme Court argued that any standard for deciding whether counsel has been â€Å"reasonably competent† should take into account whether or not counsels failure to offer adequate assistance harmed the defense. The state of Florida argued that the Court should consider the overall fairness of the trial and whether or not the attorney acted out of prejudice. While Washington’s attorney may not have done everything perfectly, he did what he believed was in the best interest of his client, the state argued. Additionally, the actions of Washington’s attorney did not alter the fundamental fairness of the sentencing proceeding; even if the attorney had acted differently, the outcome would have been similar. Constitutional Issues How can a court determine when an attorney has been so ineffective in providing advice that a defendants Sixth Amendment right to counsel was violated? Majority Opinion Justice Sandra Day O’Connor delivered the 8-1 decision.  The Sixth Amendment right to counsel exists to ensure a fair trial, Justice OConnor wrote. Having an attorney physically present is not enough to satisfy the Sixth Amendment; the attorney must offer effective assistance to their client. If the defendants counsel fails to offer adequate legal assistance, it jeopardizes the defendants Sixth Amendment right to counsel and a fair trial. Justice OConnor, on behalf of the majority, developed a standard for determining whether an attorney’s conduct â€Å"fell below an objective standard of reasonableness.† The defendant must prove: Counsel’s performance was deficient. The attorney’s errors were so serious that they prevented the attorney from fulfilling their duty under the Sixth Amendment.Counsel’s deficient performance prejudiced the defense. The attorney’s actions harmed the defense so badly that it altered the outcome of the trial, depriving the defendant of their right to a fair trial. Justice OConnor wrote: The defendant must show that there is a reasonable probability that, but for counsels unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding would have been different. A reasonable probability is a probability sufficient to undermine confidence in the outcome. After detailing the standard itself, Justice OConnor turned to Washingtons case. Washingtons attorney strategically chose to focus on his clients sense of remorse because he knew the judge might be sympathetic to it. In light of the seriousness of the crimes, Justice OConnor concluded that there was no proof additional evidence would have changed the outcome of the sentencing hearing. Here is a double failure, she wrote, noting that Washington could not succeed under either component of the Courts standard. Dissenting Opinion Justice Thurgood Marshall dissented. He argued that the majoritys standard was too malleable and could have no grip at all or allow excessive variation. Justice Marshall pointed out the fact that terms like reasonable were not defined in the opinion, creating uncertainty. He also argued that the Court had discounted the importance of mitigating evidence like character witnesses at sentencing hearings. Washingtons attorney had not given his client effective assistance and he deserved a second sentencing hearing, Justice Marshall wrote. Justice William J. Brennan dissented, in part, because he believed Washington’s death sentence violated the Eighth Amendment protection against cruel and unusual punishment. Impact Washington was executed in July 1984, two months after the Supreme Court handed down its decision. He had exhausted all avenues of appeal. The Strickland standard was a compromise which sought to create a middle ground between more extreme and more relaxed state and federal standards for ineffectiveness claims. Two decades after the decision, Justice O’Connor called for the Strickland standard to be revisited. She noted that the standards did not account for outside factors, such as partisan judges and lack of legal aid that could contribute to ineffective counsel under the Sixth Amendment.  The Strickland standard was applied as recently as 2010 in Padilla v. Kentucky. Sources Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668 (1984).Kastenberg, Joshua. â€Å"Nearly Thirty Years: The Burger Court, Strickland v. Washington, and the Parameters of the Right to Counsel.†Ã‚  The Journal of Appellate Practice and Process, vol. 14, no. 2, 2013, pp. 215–265., https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id3100510.White, Lisa. â€Å"Strickland v. Washington: Justice OConnor Revisits Landmark Legislation.†Ã‚  Strickland v. Washington (January-February 2008) - Library of Congress Information Bulletin, https://www.loc.gov/loc/lcib/08012/oconnor.html.

Why Marine Life Is So Diverse in the Gulf of Maine

The Gulf of Maine is one of the most important marine habitats in the world and home to a wealth of marine life, from giant blue whales to microscopic plankton. Overview The Gulf of Maine is a semi-enclosed sea that covers 36,000 square miles of ocean and runs along 7,500 miles of coastline, from  Nova Scotia,  Canada,  to  Cape Cod,  Massachusetts. The Gulf is bordered by three New England states  (Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine) and two Canadian provinces (New Brunswick and Nova Scotia). Water depths in the Gulf of Maine range from zero feet to several hundred feet. The deepest spot is 1,200 feet and is found in Georges Basin. The Gulf of Maine has many dramatic underwater features, which were carved out by glaciers  10,000 to 20,000 years ago. History The Gulf of Maine was once dry land covered by the Laurentide Ice Sheet, which advanced from Canada and covered much of New England and the Gulf of Maine about 20,000 years ago. At that time, the sea level was about 300 to 400 feet below its current level. The weight of the ice sheet depressed the Earths crust, and as the glacier retreated, the area that is now the Gulf of Maine filled in with seawater. Types of Habitat The Gulf of Maine is home to a variety of different habitats. They include: Sandy banks (such as Stellwagen Bank and Georges Bank)Rocky ledges (such as Jeffreys Ledge)Deep  channels (such as the Northeast Channel and Great South Channel)Deep basins with water depths over 600 feet (such as the Jordan, Wilkinson and Georges Basins)Coastal areas near the shore, whose bottoms are composed of rocks, boulders, gravel, and sand Tides The Gulf of Maine has some of the greatest tide ranges in the world. In the southern Gulf of Maine, including the area around Cape Cod, the range between high tide and low tide may be as low as four feet. But the Bay of Fundy, which borders the northern Gulf of Maine, has the highest tides in the world. Here, the range between low and high tide can be as great as 50 feet. Marine Life The Gulf of Maine supports over 3,000 species of marine life. They include: About 20 species of whales and dolphinsFish, including Atlantic cod, bluefin tuna, ocean sunfish, basking sharks, thresher sharks, mako sharks haddock, and flounderMarine invertebrates such as lobsters, crabs, sea stars, brittle stars, scallops, oysters, and musselsMarine algae, such as kelp, sea lettuce, wrack, and Irish mossPlankton, which provide food for many larger marine species that live in the Gulf of Maine Scientists believe the Gulf is probably home to many more unidentified species, including small worms and microscopic bacteria. Information about individual marine species is available from the states Department of Marine Resources. Human Activity The Gulf of Maine is an important area, both historically and today, for commercial and recreational fishing. It is also popular for recreational activities such as boating, wildlife watching (such as whale watching), and scuba diving (although the waters can be chilly). Threats to the Gulf of Maine include  overfishing, habitat loss, and coastal development.

Man, Gandhi, Pope Francis, And Nelson Mandela - 808 Words

The littlest bit of inspiration can entice people to cause a lot of change. 3 men, Gandhi, Pope Francis, and Nelson Mandela were the people that provided the Inspiration. Although Gandhi, Pope Francis, and Nelson Mandela all enticed change in different ways, they all demonstrated patience, persistence, and courage . Nelson Mandela enicted change in his persistent and Courageous ways, he formed armed resistances, spent time in prison, and led protests. According to Biography.com Editors â€Å"In 1961, Nelson Mandela co-founded and became the first leader of Umkhonto we Sizwe (â€Å"Spear of the Nation†)† (Nelson Mandela). By Nelson forming this resistance against the government it showed the lengths he was willing to go for his cause and showed the†¦show more content†¦I prefer a Church which is bruised, hurting, and dirty because it has been out on the streets, rather than a Church which is unhealthy from being confined and from clinging to its own security, Po pe Francis’ willingness to openly call out and go against the church proves his courage in his battle for human rights. The Biography.com Editors also stated in the article â€Å"Pope Francis† , â€Å"It was not long after assuming the papacy that Pope Francis began offering more nuanced views and interpretations on key social issues about which the church holds more doctrinal views on. Thus resulting in many death threats coming in to the Pope.† This shows the courage and Persistence the Pope has in his mission for he still speaks his views as he receives death threats regularly. Lastly, Gandhi changed how we see Human rights movement with his virtues of patience, peace, and courage. In the article â€Å"Mahatma Gandhi† on Biography.com the text states, â€Å"Revered the world over for his nonviolent philosophy of passive resistance, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was known to his many followers as Mahatma, or â€Å"the great-souled one† As you can see Gandhi was worshipped worldwide for his peaceful and persistent ways of protesting, which proves his dedication to the cause of human rights. AnotherShow MoreRelatedThe 1982 movie Gandhi, starring Ben Kingsley and Candice Bergen had both strengths and weaknesses.2500 Words   |  10 PagesThe 1982 movie Gandhi, starring Ben Kingsley and Candice Bergen had both strengths and weaknesses. One of the movies weaknesses was that it left a lot of gaps. It is understandable why they had to leave a lot of gaps. The movie was supposed to depict the whole life of Gandhi. If they had of put every detail of Gand hi’s life, every year of every sentence he spent in jail, the movie would be way longer than three plus hours. I just think that they could have better picked and chosen which parts toRead MoreOne Significant Change That Has Occurred in the World Between 1900 and 2005. Explain the Impact This Change Has Made on Our Lives and Why It Is an Important Change.163893 Words   |  656 Pagesprimarily by opportunities for economic advancement—including the massive movement of rural agriculturalists to rapidly growing urban areas—but also the often-neglected displacements of populations that resulted from the wars, revolutions, and natural and man-made disasters of the twentieth century. Howard Spodek’s essay charts the development of the urban areas that have been the destination for the great majority of both international and domestic immigrants in the modern era, and that in 2005 became

Gestational Diabetes Mellitus ( Gdm ) - 1683 Words

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a type of diabetes that occurs during pregnancy and caused by insulin resistance in the body. Risk factors of GDM include maternal age, ethnicity, family history, BMI, and deficiency of vitamin D. To be diagnosed with GDM, a woman must go through two screenings tests called the glucose challenge test and glucose tolerance test with high blood glucose results. Proper management such as a healthy diet, physical activity, and medications are needed to prevent complications for the mom and newborn. Complications include fetal macrosomia, preterm labor, hypoglycemia, and a high risk for developing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in the future. It is exceptionally necessary for healthcare professionals to educate their patients to prevent an increase in the number of cases of GDM and to further prepare the patients on what to expect if they are diagnosed with GDM in the future and to avoid any negative emotions. Keywords: GDM, gestational diabetes mellitus, nursing, pregnancy Effects Gestational Diabetes Has on Women and Newborns Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a type of diabetes that only occurs during pregnancy and usually goes away after the delivery of the baby (Shin et al., 2013). GDM is diagnosed when the results of the screening tests done during 24-28 weeks gestations show high blood glucose levels (Wang et al., 2012) due to insulin resistance (Senti, Thiele, Anderson, 2012). Insulin is a hormone producedShow MoreRelatedGestational Diabetes Mellitus ( Gdm ) Essay2044 Words   |  9 Pages2016 Gestational Diabetes Mellitus INTRODUCTION Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) is defined as a glucose intolerance that has been diagnosed during pregnancy.1 GDM affects anywhere between 1% to 14% of pregnancies and is on the rise due to the global obesity epidemic.1 Such a large range is due to the differences in screening technique and diagnostic criteria. Those who have a higher risk include women who are obese, have a previous history of GDM, have a family member with type 2 diabetes, areRead MoreGestational Diabetes Mellitus ( Gdm )2927 Words   |  12 PagesGestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) is defined as glucose intolerance that occurs during pregnancy [1]. GDM is a widespread condition in Indian women during pregnancy affecting nearly 21 percent of all pregnancies [2, 3] nationwide. Prevalence of GDM in India differs from region to region, with 3.8% in Kashmir [4], 16.55% in Tamil Nadu [5], 7.7% in Maharashtra, 7.1% in Haryana [6], 19% in National Capital Region [3]. Epidemiological studies have confirmed the associ ation of GDM with increased feto-maternalRead MoreEssay on Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM)2085 Words   |  9 PagesGestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is an intolerance of glucose documented for the first time during pregnancy. It is usually a short-term type of diabetes and the most common health problem with pregnant women. GBM is caused by the way the hormones in pregnancy affect the mother. GDM accounts for 5-7% of all pregnancies (American Diabetes Association, 2010). During pregnancy the placenta develops and becomes the main bond between the mother and the baby. It is used to make sure the baby hasRead MoreGestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) Essay1850 Words   |  8 PagesThe prevalence of Gestational Diabetes mellitus (GDM) is growing worldwide. 1-14% of women in pregnancy is affected by DM 1. Due to increased incidence and proposed lower ¬ing of the thresholds for diagnosis the health care cost of GDM can be expected to rise proportionately. The discussion of whether a benefit exists to the treatment of GDM assumes greater importance now than in the past. Even though it has long been known that women with preexisting type 1 and type 2 diabetes are at increasedRead MoreIntroduction. Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (Gdm)By Definition1257 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) by definition is a carbohydrate intolerance that is developed or recognized for the first time during pregnancy (Chen, Chuang, Fang, Kuo, Lee, Li, Lin, NIen,Wu, 2017). With a drastic increase of GDM in recent years, attention and concern has been brought to the topic. GDM is linked to poor pregnancy outcomes including but not limited to; hypertension, macrosomia, maternal depression, neonatal hypoglycemia and stillbirth (Jagiello Chertok, 2015)Read MoreA Research Study On Gestational Diabetes Mellitus ( Gdm ) Essay1590 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Å"Follow-Up of Gestational Mellitus in an Urban Safety Net Hospital† Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a form of high blood sugar that affects pregnant women. It is called GDM in women who have never had high blood glucose readings until pregnancy. This type of diabetes usually develops around the 24th or 25th week of gestation. GDM occurs when the body is not able to make enough insulin or use the insulin that is made for its increased needs during pregnancy. GDM not only causes complicationsRead MoreNutrition Research Analysis1101 Words   |  5 Pages1. Cho, J., Choi, Y., Kim, A., Kim, H., Lee, J., Lim, S., Oh, J., Yoo, H., Yoon,K. Nutritional Intake of Pregnant Woman with Gestational Diabetes or Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. Clinical Nutrition Research 2013; 2: 81-90. Article from a Korean peer-reviewed journal examined the nutritional intake of 125 women diagnosed with gestational diabetes or type 2 diabetes mellitus for over two years. The woman had not been provided nutritional education on how to manage their blood glucose or proper diet duringRead MoreThe Effects Of Gestational Diabetes1016 Words   |  5 PagesOne of the most common metabolic disorders during pregnancy is gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and its occurrence continues to increase (8). The 2004 analysis by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention states that cases of GDM are at 9.2%. The American Diabetes Association defines GDM as a condition where glucose levels are higher than normal either at the start or during pregnancy (1). The definition is used whether insulin or only diet modification is used for treatment and even if theRead MoreDiabetes Mellitus : A Type Of Diabetes1369 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction Gestational Diabetes Mellitus is a type of diabetes that was first discovered during pregnancy. According to Canadian Diabetes Association (2015), three to twenty percent of women develop Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM). GDM is a result of increased insulin resistance or glucose intolerance. Incidence of GDM varies by age, body weight, and ethnicity. Canadian Diabetes Association (2015) mentioned that individuals who are at greater risk include women over 35 years of age, womenRead MoreGestational Diabetes Mellitus : An Overview1241 Words   |  5 Pages Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Isaac Anzaldua Norma Beardwood (Roper), MBA, M. Ed., RDN, LD, LPC, CEDS DIET 4252 September 21, 2015 â€Æ' Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Introduction Diabetes Mellitus is a disease; which occurs through the insufficiency of insulin being produced or its actions are not being utilized. This occurrence leads to hyperglycemia; an issue in which the amount of glucose in the blood is relatively high. Gestational Diabetes Mellitus falls under the category of DM. GDM also

A Single Tear Free Essays

Paintings can have all sorts of meanings. Usually, painters use these pieces of art to express themselves on things they cannot normally do. Sometimes, it can also be a product of imagination. We will write a custom essay sample on A Single Tear or any similar topic only for you Order Now At times, they want to visualize a series of events into one artwork. These paintings turn out to be abstracts but along the lines and colors used, there is still a hidden meaning enclosed in them. This what makes paintings interesting and mysterious. The lithograph represents the typical Indian leader amidst struggles and tests of life. No matter how strong and determined a leader is, he still has his weak moments and the snow and wind symbolize the stumbling blocks. But no matter how difficult it may seem to be, the leader is always a leader and he must not let his fears bring him down. The Indian Chief showed his strength by leading his people in their exodus. Even if he is uncertain of what is about to come, he kept his people together and hand in hand, they are to face the challenges. Just by his name alone, I think Mr. Echohawk is an Indian himself. If not, he probably has strong affiliations with Native Americans. This Indian Chief which he portrayed intensely could be his ancestors. Maybe he learned of their story about the hard times undergone by the American Indians not so long ago. And since he was not there and could not be there, he imagined what might have taken place through this painting. Since it is difficult or impossible to describe through paintings the feelings of this Indian Chief, he used a single tear to speak for his emotions. The single tear that streamed from this warrior’s face signifies leadership. It does not mean that a good leader would not feel apprehensions anymore. Further, it does not mean it would make the Indian Chief less of a man if a tear drops from his face. Like a normal human A Single Tear  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   2 being and any other leader, he feels scared too. But this Indian Chief is driven by willpower and fortitude to deliver his people to safety. The leader also felt fear but his responsibility to his people vanquished these feelings of doubt and insecurity to what the future holds. The single tear reveals the imperfection of the human race regardless of our color and tribe. By imperfection, it means that each person despite of his stature and position becomes fragile sometimes. The Indian Chief in the painting is experiencing vulnerability but he must live up to his dignity and sense of worth. As to his case, what urged him not to give up is for the sake of his people who look up to him being the person in command. If he surrenders, then his people would lose hope. His courage marks the fate of the American Indians. The single tear also denotes faith and hope. Faith in that after the storm, the sun will shine for the Indian Chief and his people. Faith that the snow and wind is only temporary and it will end somehow. Hope is a positive outlook from which they get their strength to surpass all these trials and hardships. Hope that a brighter life is in store for the native community. History tells us that the Native Americans have a rich past which upholds both their ups and downs. They acknowledged their victories and defeats and learned from these experiences which made them a stronger community despite chauvinism and discrimination from the whites. What is important for them is their unity and pride as a race of principled people.   Finally, I really view this painting by Mr. Echohawk as an emotional one. It portrays a mixture of passion and sentiment. I wish my readers can see this painting for themselves. Rest assured that anybody can definitely empathize with me. Just like any struggling race, the American Indians are trying their best to save their bloodline in the midst of globalization and modernity. This trait is the one I truly appreciate. How to cite A Single Tear, Papers

Competitive Strategy for Cost Advantage -myassignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about theCompetitive Strategy for Cost Advantage. Answer: Microsoft-Introduction Microsoft is currently the largest software maker globally and has been posting consistent profits yearly. It commands 90% of the Operating System for desktops around the world. It posted revenues of more than $78 billion with a profit margin of 28% (Statista 2017). Its consistency in innovation over a period of 39 years is testimony of a culture of organizational excellence that is founded on an ethical business model. Having a concise CSR approach as a responsible corporate citizen, the company operates sustainably with social and environment considerations at its core. The business model rests on licensing of its software to businesses through enterprise agreement contracts. Practical source of excellence Cost advantage- Cost advantage can be defined as the cost of production for a firm that is lower than its competitor and therefore gives it an advantage. Microsoft enjoys an advantage of cost for its desktop operating software which is used globally (Damodaran 2012). The volumes produced help to push down the cost of production making it difficult for new entrants to compete. Economies of learning translate into improved organizational dexterity and coordination for its global operations. Maximum capacity utilization as a driver of advantages of cost push down the costs associated with installing and closing capacity for the company. Differentiation advantage- This can be defined as the creation of services or goods that are superior than that of the competitor and therefore avails the advantage of being different. Microsoft has managed to maintain an advantage over its competitors with its Office Suite that offers unmatched services. Users of different operating systems such as Mac and Linux still use Microsoft Office as a separate application (Satell 2013).Its ease of use and versatility for both home and office applications makes it different from other similar software. CAGE distance framework- This framework is founded on Cultural, Political, Geographic and Economic differences between nations that impact business entities. Microsoft has been able to overcome the distance of differences by offering products with universal appeal that cuts across cultures, land boundaries and economies. The Microsoft Office Suite has universal application for home and office use despite the above differences (Microsoft Corporation 2017). Another product is the Xbo that crosses boundaries of economics such as bilateral and multilateral arrangements. Business Model Innovation- The company has adopted a new business model based on innovating a new approach. Microsoft has relied on its licensing model of its products to generate revenue over the years. This is changing with a new model that is known as freemium ( Microsoft Corporation Industry Profile 2015). This model moves beyond free trials to a tier on free offering for some of its products. Once the pool of users has grown, revenue will be generated by increased engagement that will be volume based. This transition to a new business model is to ensure that revenues and profit in the long-term are maintained. This transition will ensure market relevance in the face of changing market dynamics in the technology sector. Introduction-Nike Nike is the leading sports footwear and apparel globally with a market share of 22%. Income revenue for 2016 stood at $32 billion which was due to growth in every geographical market (Nike 2017). The brand has been in operation for more than forty years and has been leading through innovation in the sports apparel industry. Through sustainable manufacturing that empowers local communities where it operates, Nike has shown leadership as a corporate citizen. Environmental stewardship has resulted in factory scrap being reused to manufacture premium apparel and footwear. Strong brand recognition has also contributed to the success of Nike with its distinctive logo and use of brand ambassadors to drive growth. Practical cause of excellence Strategic Marketing- Strategic marketing is the way a firm leverage on its core strengths in order to differentiate itself from its competitors. Nike uses two distinct forms of marketing that contributes to its strategic approach. The firm focuses on the high end in its market position and pricing strategy that is buttressed by products which are unique to offer a better value proposition for the customer. Nike (2015) states that the company competes competitively through its direct-to-consumer strategy that rests on the pillars of innovation, speed and direct connection with the end consumer. Business model innovation- the firm has consistently modeled its business with strong brand recognition that uses brand ambassadors. Starting with Michael Jordan, the company has become synonymous with leading sports stars and this helps to reinforce the positioning of being associated with success and industry leader (Matt Dom et al. 2016). The firm has also partnered with other strategic partners such as Apple to innovate new sports technologies that are wearables such as the Apple Watch Nike+ (Apple 2016). Nike leverages on the social and marketing capital of Apple to drive growth in sports wearables. Value chain- Value chain can be defined as the processes that are used by a firm in order to add value to its products or service. The firm leverages its core strengths in its primary and secondary activities of manufacturing. It exercises strong control over its global channels of distribution in order not to dilute brand recognition and premiums. In its secondary activity of procurement, it maintains relations which are progressive and sustainable with its manufacturers. The innovative Flyknit technology ensures that wastage in the designing stage reduces wastage by 60% which translates to savings on cost of production (Nike 2015). The firm ensures sustainability by engaging manufacturing contractors who are compliant with labour and environmental industry best practices. CAGE framework- Nike uses a strategy that seeks to maintain brand premium in every market where it operates. While factoring in the economic distance between the different markets, the firm sets prices that reflect the incomes of its target audience in each geographic market. The prices offered are still well above average in order to maintain the premium attached to the brand. This ensures that there is growth of revenue despite the different markets differing in incomes. It is also a key growth factor for emerging markets such as China which are forecast to be the major revenue driver in the future. Conclusion Competitive strategy is important in positioning companies and firms to market leadership and dominance. Success which is sustainable is also as the result of embracing competitive strategies in a business entity. Advantages in cost, value addition in supply chain are some of the approaches that can be employed. Positioning on brand recognition and leveraging the CAGE framework all contribute in achieving competitive advantages in the industry of operation. Microsoft and Nike have used the above strategies in achieving success in their respective industries. References Apple, 2016, Apple Nike launch the perfect running partner, Apple watch Nike+, viewed 18 August, https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2016/09/apple-nike-launch-apple-watch-nike/ Damodaran, A, 2012,Investment valuation: tools and techniques for determining the value of any asset, New Jersey: Wiley. Mat Dom, SS, Ramli, Hb, Audrey Lim Li, C, Tan Tze, F 2016, 'DETERMINANTS OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF CELEBRITY ENDORSEMENT IN ADVERTISEMENT', Journal of Developing Areas, vol. 50, no. 5, pp. 525-535. 'Microsoft Corporation Industry Profile', 2015, Microsoft Corporation: Change in Direction Under Satya Nadella, pp. 1-31. 'Microsoft Corporation', 2017, pp. 1-51. Nike, 2015, Nike, Inc announces new consumer direct offense: a faster pipeline to serve consumers personally, at scale, viewed 18 August 2017, https://news.nike.com/news/nike-consumer-direct-offense Nike, 2017, Nike, Inc reports fiscal 2017 fourth quarter and full year results, viewed 18 August 2017, https://news.nike.com/news/nike-inc-reports-fiscal-2017-fourth-quarter-and-full-year-results Satell, G, 2013, The secret of Microsofts success (and some lessons for Apple), Forbes, viewed 18 August 2017, https://www.forbes.com/sites/gregsatell/2013/04/15/the-secret-of-microsofts-success-and-some-lessons-for-apple/#3e2489f21587 Statista, 2017, Microsoft statistics and facts, viewed 18 August 2017, https://www.statista.com/topics/823/microsoft/

Technology of Instant Messaging and it contributes to society

Question: Discuss about the Technology of Instant Messaging. Answer: Technology of Instant Messaging and it contributes to society In the last few decades, there have been significant changes in the technological aspects of the society. Instant messaging refers to the communication technology which is used to use text to communicate between two or more number of people. It uses the internet or any other form of network to establish this kind of communication. It is also known as IM chat and it occurs in real time. Initially, it was mainly text based but with the passage of time, now the users can share files, send a message to many people, invite a contact to a particular conversation, add video and voices, etc. It helps people to keep in touch with each other. Computer-based communication like IM is friendly medium for autistic patients to expand their networking since they get enough time to communicate their messages with a user at their own pace. Such channels do not adopt extra signals like body language that needs further possessing. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and children with autism. Autistic spectrum disorder refers to the neuron-developmental disorder which has characteristics like complexity in having social interaction and communication. The children who suffer from ASD generally have symptoms including learning disability, epilepsy, dyspraxia, obsessive compulsive disorder, etc(Lord et al., 2013). It is vital to check the early signs of autism in children so that appropriate treatment can be provided to them. Almost 1% of world population suffers from autism. People suffering from ASD are subject to discrimination, social stigma, etc. (Lauritsen, 2013). People suffering from ASD are unable to exploit technology since it is not user-friendly for them. But due to innovation in technological aspects, more friendly and useful applications can be developed which will help the patients to express their emotions in an easier manner. Introduction about Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) and how it helps the children with autism. The concept of PECS is the specific formulation which provides an augmentative as well as alternative communication. This kind of communication is used to deliver words to the children and further, it helps the children to communicate. Thus by the process of augmentative and alternative communication, the PECS was such designed that it can be used by the autistic children. As a result, the children can be able to communicate in a proper manner and treat the delay of speech development of the children (Boesch et al., 2013). Basically, when the concept of PECS is applied to the child at that time the child has been provided with a number of pictures of various things that they see in their day to day life like their favorite foods or toys. In that case when children think of having or using those things then they will make the indication to their person who is communicating with them. This communication partner is either a parent or any therapist or caregiver or any other child. Thereafter the communication partner handovers the child with what he or she has demanded and further this exchange process reinforce the communication (Boesch et al., 2013). Thereafter starts the training of various attributes and the language expansion in the personality of the autistic children. In this part, the children basically learn regarding the expansion of the sentences with the addition of proper adjectives, verbs as well as the prepositions. It is then addressed by the addition of more two phases to the process. So the fifth phase consists of the children learning the process of how to answer the questions properly by knowing the exact thing what they want. Again in the sixth phase, the children will get to know how they can comment in response to answer the questions asked to them (Landa Hanley, 2016). Apart from that the crucial part which should be known about the process of PECS is not place specific rather the treatment process through PECS can be started anywhere depending upon the capability of the children. The reason behind it some children are visual thinkers. By this manner, many alternate ways are being provided to the child to i nitiate the communication in the autistic children. PECS inside instant messaging App Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) refers to a system that assists the people to communicate who suffer from speech inability. The application of picture cards for communication makes it easier for the children suffering from the inability to communicate conveniently. The PECS can be incorporated into the instant messaging applications with the ability to record a voice speaking the symbol. This functionality would allow the teacher or the parents to either record the objects or make use of the default language by using another language. Hence, it would allow the application to be flexible for the use of the children suffering from inability with any language (Landa Hanley, 2016). The advantage of using PECS in instant messaging applications would provide a clear screen of choices with many categories to develop communication by helping ASD people in the formulation of sentences and conveying their messages to the loved ones. The incorporation of PECS into the instant messaging applications would also be provided with wide sections in order to facilitate the selection of phrasing the sentences and picture. The adoption of PECS by instant messaging applications would require stability in the internet access for facilitating a good and effective user interface. Fast internet connection and the technology would help the children and people suffering from ASD to be able to communicate, gain knowledge and be exposed to the real world like the rest of the people in the world do. This would be a vital initiative to make life better and technologically enhanced in this age of development so that they also move forward in their lives. The reason for me to choose the subject is to gain insights into the development of technology regarding PECS and providing suggestions to incorporate PECS into instant messaging applications which would help the people suffering from the ASD in moving ahead in life with technology. References Boesch, M. C., Wendt, O., Subramanian, A., Hsu, N. (2013). Comparative efficacy of the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) versus a speech-generating device: Effects on requesting skills. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 7(3), 480-493. Hill, D. A., Flores, M. M. (2014). Comparing the picture exchange communication system and the iPad (TM) for communication of students with autism spectrum disorder and developmental delay.TechTrends, 58(3), 45. Lord, C., Cook, E. H., Leventhal, B. L., Amaral, D. G. (2013). Autism spectrum disorders.Autism: The Science of Mental Health, 28(2), 217. Lauritsen, M. B. (2013). Autism spectrum disorders.European child adolescent psychiatry, 22(1), 37-42. Landa, R., Hanley, G. P. (2016). An evaluation of multiple?schedule variations to reduce high?rate requests in the picture exchange communication system. Journal of applied behavior analysis. Lorah, E. R., Tincani, M., Dodge, J., Gilroy, S., Hickey, A., Hantula, D. (2013).Evaluating picture exchange and the iPad as a speech generating device to teach communication to young children with autism.Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities, 25(6), 637-649.

How to improve academic writing in 60 minutes

These days academic writing is essential for all the students, and scholars. Academic writing is basically used to inform the audience and its very difficult that the audience gets engaged. Many students face a lot of difficulties in academic writing so they should get help from the academic writing services which are located online. You can select select the online services in cheap cost. Use of an easy language: If you want to improve your academic writing, the simple language you use like speaking. When you write in an easy language you can easily write in 60 minutes and also write accurately. The academic writing service gives you an assignment or project in a short time period because they use simple and easy language. Sit in a proper silent place while writing: You can sit in a silent place to improve the writing in a short period of time. When you sit in a silent place you can write properly in a short time period and there are less chances of mistakes in an academic writing. Academic writing services provides assignments, and projects in a short period of time. contains the group of people who are expert enough to write properly in few minutes and you can also take help from them. Your writing is automatically improved as you can understand the pattern and style of writing after reading it. Use of proper grammar and punctuation: It is important to use the proper grammar and punctuation in case of academic writing. If you want to write it is better to have a knowledge of using the proper basic grammar. The proper punctuation is also really important. By improving grammar and punctuation, you can easily improve the writing in academics. You can also see basic grammar knowledge video if you want to improve the academic writing in a very short time period. In   academic writing service consider as it solves all the assignments with a proper grammar and punctuation. Write for Your Audience: While improving the academic writing it is important to keep in mind the audience so that you can write it accordingly. It is important to know that whether you are a student and write for your professor or your main target is the public. In both cases you write according to your audience. Do the sentence structure Variation: In order to improve the writing, it is essential to use the different sentence structure so that the reader doesn’t feel any monotony in writing. Most of the professional writing services like are using the varied sentence structure in order to attract the audience. Making of an outline: If you are doing an essay writing service it is better to make an outline initially, which depicts the parts should be included in an essay. The outline contains the introduction, body of the topic and the conclusion. When an outline is written initially, then you can write the essay easily and accurately. Avoid unnecessary words: Your words really matter while writing the subject related work. It is important to avoid unnecessary words in writing because in academic the relevant information matters. There is a more chance to get a good grade when you write relevant information and words. Don’t use words that are vague and useless. So, make it simple for yourself and your examiner. Argument understanding and evidence analysis: While writing a thesis and an essay you must have an idea of arguments because it can make your academic writing to the point and concise. The evidence analysis in academic writing is really important because it tells you accurately that whether the evidence supports the thesis or essay or not. If the evidence supports the writing it means that you are going in the right direction and if it doesn’t support, it means you need to reconsider your writing. If you want the best argument is written you can take the services of the . Use of proper conclusion: It is important to write a proper conclusion in academic writing services, while doing it because it shows your whole research regarding the particular topic. The conclusion contains the proper evidence and it should not be written generally like introduction. It is essential to use the words which are not vague and if you want a well written conclusion then is the best option. Use of online sources for editing: In case you want to improve the writing quickly you can use different online editing sources. By using these sources you can automatically correct the grammar, spellings, and punctuations in a few minutes. These online sources are really reliable and it is better to use the Grammarly to correct the grammar, spellings and punctuations. You can use google scholar for reference styles. In a google scholar you can copy any reference style and your time is saved as it contains all types of references like APA, Harvard, and MLA, etc So, by using the online sources you can improve the academic writing in few minutes. Final Conclusion: These days, students find it difficult to improve the academic writing in a short period of time but by following the above mentioned points they see the quick results. They can also get the best writing in academics by choosing the Academic writing pro as it is famous for delivering the best assignment, and projects in a few hours.

What makes me tick Essay Example

What makes me tick Essay Example What makes me tick Paper What makes me tick Paper What makes me tick ? The question What makes me tick? , seemed a simple one at first, as we were just told to write about our hobbies and passions which I found illogical as this was meant to be a creative task. After some deeper thought and deliberation the idea hurtled toward me! It sent me into an uncontrollable spin, head first, down an endless well of alien self reflection. Have never pondered about the question of what makes me tick. I had to contemplate me, down to my core and all its numerous implications. It has certainly been an unorthodox road of adolescent self discovery. Just me in my room, encased in four walls, entombed in my thoughts, with a pencil in my hand and a weight on my head. Before knew it was in deep, deeper than I first thought possible. Realized this as was day dreaming, in my mind palace, in the midst of a house party. When my mind initially started working its gears and cogs pondering this question didnt know where to go mentally, until I had an epiphany. The thought of a clock in its simplest form made everything easier to understand because even though humans are infinitely more complicated than clocks we still have many similarities in how we both produce our ticks. Neither a clock nor a human can produce their tick without the necessary components and those very same components could not work without the stimulation of energy, and then it dawned on me, Before answering the question what makes me tick i have to know what my ticks are so what is my tick? What are my defining qualities? What does my hand move to the noise of? There isnt one single product like the movement of a hand or the changing of a number, humans are complicated. We do have what you could call components and a clear source of energy but answering what your tick is isnt such a simple task. I suppose you could say my tick is the production of creativity, concepts and connections which enable me create limitless possibilities, the opportunity to entirely pave the pathway to my future. More specifically some of my many, many ticks are an endless love for eating good food, Tech, traveling,Tv shows, Art in its many forms, education and an endless lust to succeed and obtain the obtainable . I dont just see food as function, as a mere source of energy but as an art form. Let needs to be enjoyed and consumed, for the unique pleasure that food alone can give. Nothing else compares to the way food stimulates all the menses. This appeal to the senses instantly evokes memories and whisks you far off, transporting you to a remembered world of time, place and people. Its our responsibility to be in awe of food and celebrate all that it is. Talk Traveling is what ever you make it, for me it is the idea of endless possibilities that await for the adventurer. Traveling excites me into a ball of euphoric anticipation awaiting anyone willing to break the seemingly inescapable mundane and the monotony of daily lifestyle, of familiarity and routines. The anticipation blinds us from the ecstasy of the present moment. Love to travel o seemingly alien worlds to leave everything behind, to discover, experience and explore the endless bounty that the world has to offer, and if done well discover myself again in the journey for self transcendence. Even though traveling can occur in a concentrated manner it can still change your entire perspective on life, broadening your mind and expanding your horizons . To me life is just one big adventure waiting for me to act, travel , explore and experience it. TOCK. The art Of cinematography is a beautiful mosaic comprised Of everything love. Through its many forms It can evoke every possible emotion pulling you onto a dream like state. If done well it releases you from the daily constraints and all of its burdens enveloping you in whatever world you desire at the flick of a switch. Igniting your childlike state of wonder, transfixing you in that moment and time making you feel whole as if this cinematography was the only tangible reality left. Just you and these fictional characters exploring the unexplored, immortalitys the most elusive thing, now thats why love TV. TICK Art and beauty in its many forms (in particular paintings) has had a firm hold since the day I was born transfixing me in its gaze, never ceasing to hold me n its aesthetic arrest. Ive had this searing passion permeate through my since i was single cell zygote . Waiting to bloom and flourish the moment was capable understand the dynamic event of beauty fully experiencing assimilating its perceptual vastness making time dilate because of the poetry of the moment. It alters the state of consciousness in a extraordinary moment of poetry and grace. Forcing me to marvel, reveling in a static elimination of opulence art sings in rapture and i love to drown in it. TOCK All these things truly embody me as an individual as navigate through this world . Trying desperately to transcend the normality of every day monotony. Making the now, represent me to the fullest degree . All to try and hopelessly create an identity for myself so that i can feel satisfied and happy with myself through the never ending cycle Of repetitiveness so that i can have dignity. Ill hearken back to my earlier words for it is physically impossible for a clock to work without its cogs, wires and components just like its impossible for me to produce my ticks without the right nurturing environment. Education, friends, ketchup, computers, TV shows and fulfillment keep me ticking away, pep me sane. For this allows me to fulfill and engineer my own divinity reining me in from the vertigo of freedom making me tick just one day at a time. Clocks come in various shapes, forms and sizes but its components cant function if they do not have a reliable source of energy just as cant work unless have what some would call human energy. For me human energy is the fundamentals of one self the you that you cant change: your traits. The real you the part of you that does not change but just waits for you to wake up and find it. To assimilate and construct a permanent rendering of it. That is what makes me tick.

Business management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 3

Business management - Essay Example ives and the resources available (human, physical, financial etc.), each company prioritizes some competitive criteria, according to market tendencies and concentrates its efforts to get a competitive position relating to concurrence’. Ryanair is a firm that operates for many years in the airline industry. The main characteristic of the firm’s strategic choices is that they are all directed towards the provision of low cost services to the customers. This strategy has helped the firm to survive in its market and expand its activities in many countries (apart from Britain). The potential differentiation of the firm’s strategic choices is examined in this paper trying to identify the reasons that led the firm to remain stable in its strategies since its establishment. The strategic direction of a firm that operates within the modern market is an issue that can be criticized and evaluated primarily by the firm’s owners/ stakeholders. At a first level the firm’s managers have a series of strategic options available (like Porter’s five forces model and SWOT analysis that will be analyzed in the following sections) that can help them to decide on the appropriateness of their strategic choices. However, the use of the above mentioned strategic tools requires the competency of the managers to understand all the aspects and the role of these tools – in order for the firm to be actually benefited. The accurate and the extensive industry analysis is also mentioned by many researchers as an appropriate tool offering to the firms’ managers the appropriate support towards the development of the corporate initiatives and the increase of effectiveness of the corporate plans. In this context, it is noticed by Pritsker (1997, 3 2) that ‘industry analysis typically focuses on a companys external dimensions such as its markets, customers, and competitors’. In the case of Ryanair the strategic tools chosen by the firm’s managers should be appropriately customized

Personal and Professional Development for engineers Assignment

Personal and Professional Development for engineers - Assignment Example These inventions by engineers not only made the human life easier but also provided more employment opportunities to the people. Research and development in engineering profession has also led to the invention of better technology, machines, and manufacturing processes, which guarantee a consistency in the quality of the finished products. Civil engineers can be credited for construction of bridges, roads, buildings, and dams; electrical engineers can be recognized for their establishment of power plants; chemical engineers can be appreciated for their role in manufacturing of apparel merchandise and pharmaceuticals; agricultural engineers can be credited for the increase in crop yield through better irrigation and farming practices; however, it is the mechanical engineer who lays the foundation for the proper functioning of other disciplines of engineering. If there were no machines, which are actually designed and fabricated by a mechanical engineer, there would be no industries an d no technological development. WorldWideLearn (n.d.) stated that a mechanical engineer invents the processes that are used in internal combustion engines, turbines, generators, refrigeration and air-conditioning units, etc. To accomplish the duties of a mechanical engineer successfully, proper certification through accreditation authorities is essential. 2. Professional Registration and Licensing Various countries have different norms and requirements for awarding license and registration to the engineers, including the mechanical engineers. Thornton (2010) mentioned that every state has its own registration and licensing procedure for awarding the professional engineer title in the USA. However, to facilitate the practice of engineering in various states, an individual can apply for professional engineering title in the concerned states with minimum paper work, if a license has already been granted by one American state. The Engineering Council (2011) declares that it is the gover ning body of the engineering profession in the UK, and it has laid down certain standards for getting an engineer professionally registered at various levels. There are national institutions of engineering recognized by the Engineering Council for granting memberships and licenses to the applicants. For memberships and registration of mechanical engineers, The Institution of Mechanical Engineers (2010) takes the responsibility. The various engineering titles, based on academic qualifications and experience, are defined by the chief governing body, the Engineering Council. 3. Engineering Council There are four levels at which the engineers, including the mechanical engineers, can get professionally registered in the United Kingdom. The purpose of having a professional license procedure is to maintain the high standards in the practice of engineering for ensuring the safety and health of the public as well as the environment. The Engineering Council (2011) asserts that by having the m embership of the respective engineering institution, which is also recognized by the Engineering Council, the engineers have better chances of getting employment, drawing more salaries, getting easier promotion, and are also well-accepted by the industry, the government, and the public. The four levels of professional engineers recognized by the governing body i.e. Engineering Counc

Performance Appraisal System

Performance Appraisal System Procedural justice and Interactional justice: Assessing employees perception of fairness of performance appraisal; an empirical study of a small manufacturing company. ABSTRACT This research identifies procedural justice and interactional justice influences on perceived fairness of performance appraisal at a small private manufacturing company located in Newcastle, UK. Distributive justice refers to the perceived fairness of procedures used to determine the appraisal ratings. Interactional justice refers to the perceived fairness of the raters interpersonal treatment of the ratee during the appraisal process. A qualitative and quantitative case study method was used to obtain an understanding of employee perceptions of the fairness of their performance appraisal. Data from both interviews with nine employees was collected along with questionnaires completed by these participants. Two hypotheses were developed. Both hypotheses were supported by research data. 1.1 Aim of the researcher The researcher will assess the relationship between perceived fairness of justice among employees of the performance appraisal system. The aim of this research is to prove through this study that level of employees satisfaction with the appraisal system is influenced by the employees perceived fairness of procedural and interactional justice of the performance appraisal session. 1.2 Introduction Performance appraisal is a process designed to evaluate, manage and ultimately improve employee performance. It should allow the employer and employee to openly discuss the expectations of the organisation and the achievements of the employee. That is, the primary emphasis is on future development of the employee within the objectives of the organisation. There is no universally accepted model of performance appraisal. However, more often than not this process is designed around the following elements: setting performance goals and objectives; measurement of performance against those goals and objectives; feedback of results; amendments to goals and objectives. Performance appraisal systems can provide organisations with valuable information to assist in the developments of organisational strategies and planning. The information gained from this process can assist: in identifying and developing future management potential; in increasing performance and overall productivity; it works towards identifying strengths and managing weaknesses; in providing clarity to employees about an organisations expectations regarding performance levels; in providing an opportunity to audit and evaluate current human resources and identify areas for future development. Managers may conduct appraisals primarily to affect employee input through the feedback process, or justify some sort of human resource action (termination, transfer, promotion etc). Jawroski and Kohli (1991) identify other benefits that can be obtained from performance appraisals. Among these benefits are increase in role clarity, performance, and job satisfaction. Given the positive returns obtained from performance appraisals, one could reasonably expect that organisations would devote considerable resource to the appraisal process. Correspondingly, it may be anticipated that managers try to make certain that the dimensions of the appraisal process are known, understood, and supported by the participants. Theres probably no management process that has been the subject of more research than the performance appraisal. At the best managed companies, the performance appraisal is no joke it is a serious business that powers the success of the organization. (Montague, 2007) It has been suggested that to enhance satisfaction, managers should consider expanding the evaluation criteria to include those criteria which are important to the employee, perhaps creating a participatory performance appraisal system. (Thomas and Bertz 1994) In fact, employee input into the process has been described as having an impact on the perceived fairness of the evaluation (Latham at el. 1993). It has been stated that the opinions of employees, as they pertain to the appraisal system, may be greater determinant of the systems effectiveness than the validity or reliability of the system itself (Wanguri 1995). As stated by Thomas and Bretz (1994) without a sense of ownership, both managers and employees may view the process with fear and loathing. Thus, they contend that a major concern in the evaluation process is an acceptance of the system by those employees being evaluated. To this end, if employees believe they are evaluated based upon inappropriate criteria, it would fol low that their commitment to and satisfaction with the organisation supporting this particular evaluation system would be correspondingly reduced. Academic background 2.1 The social context of performance appraisal Levy Williams (2002) argue that identifying, measuring, and defining the organizational context in which appraisal takes place is integral to truly understanding and developing effective performance appraisals. Further, it is believed that this has been the framework driving the performance appraisal research since about the 1990 and into the beginning of the 21st century. Whether it is discussed as the social-psychological process of performance appraisal (Murphy Cleveland, 1991), the social context of performance appraisal (Ferris, Judge, Rowland, Fitzgibbons, 1994) the social milieu of performance appraisal (Ilgen at al. 1993), performance appraisal from the organisational side (Levy Steelman, 1997) the games that rates and rates play (Kozlowski, Chao Morrison, 1998), or the dues process approach to performance appraisal (Folger, Konovsky Cropanzao, 1998) it is argued along with other scholars that performance appraisal takes place in a social contact and the context plays a major role in the effectiveness of the appraisal process and how participants react to the process (Farr Levy, 2004). It has been suggested elsewhere that research over the last 10 years has moved noticeable away from a limited psychometric scope and toward an emphasis on variables that compose the social context (Fletcher, 2001). Distal factors Levy Williams (2002) definition of distal variables is generally consistent with Murphy and Cleveland (1995). Specifically, distal variables are broadly construed as contextual factors that affect many human resource systems, including performance appraisal. In other words, distal variables are not necessarily related to performance appraisal, but they may have unique effects on the performance appraisal process that are useful to understand and consider. Distal factors include but are not limited to organisational climate and culture, organisational goals, human resource strategies, external factors, technological advances, and workforce composition. Levy Williams (2002) believe these factors have an effect on rater and rate behaviour, although not directly. For instance, an organisation that espouses a continuous learning culture may structure and implement a very different type of performance appraisal system than an organisation without such a culture. A review of the performance appraisal literature over the last 7-10 years reveals little systematic empirical work on the distal variables other than some studies on culture, climate and technology issues (see, e.g. Hebert Vorauer, 2003). While this is at some levels disappointing, it is rather understandable. First, there is little theory specific to performance appraisal to methodically guide this level of research. Second, the breadth of the constructs Levy Williams (2002) construe as distal make it difficult to measure and implement within the research setting. Third, given the distal nature of these factors, their direct effects on performance appraisal behaviour may be small. Perhaps closer examination of the relationships between distal and proximal relationships would prove more fruitful. Even with the difficulties regarding this type of research, however, it is believed it will be important to continue examining these factors to fully understand the social context in which performance appraisal operates. (Levy Williams, 2002) Process proximal variables The next two section of the paper will underscore those proximal variables (both process and structural) receiving attention in the recent appraisal literature. Some researchers chose to categorize the proximal variables as either process (i.e. having a direct impact on how the appraisal process is conducted including things such as accountability or supervisor subordinate relationships), or structural (i.e. dealing with the configuration or makeup of the appraisal itself and including areas such as appraisal dimensions or frequency of appraisal). Rater issue Rater affect is one of the most studied rater variables. Although the literature has not been consistent regarding a formal definition of affect in performance appraisal (Lefkowitz, 2000), a good general definition linked to most of this research involves liking or positive regard for ones subordinate. The Affect Infusion Model (Forgas Georges, 2001) suggests that affective states impact on judgements and behaviours and, in particular, affect or mood plays a large role when tasks require a degree of constructive processing. For instance, in performance appraisal, raters in good moods tend to recall more positive information from memory and appraise performance positively. Consistent with the Affect Infusion Model, a few recent studies have examined the role of mood or affect in performance appraisal. Lefkowitz (2000) reported that affective regard is related frequently to higher appraisal ratings, less inclination to punish subordinates, better supervisor subordinate relationships, greater halo effect, and less accuracy. A couple of recent studies have looked at the role of similarity in personality and similarity in affects levels between raters and rates, finding similarity is related to appraisal ratings. Antonioni and Park (2001) found that affect was more strongly related to rating leniency in upward and peer ratings than it was in traditional top-down ratings and the this effect was stronger when raters had observational time with their subordinates. They concluded from this that raters pay so much attention to their positive regard for subordinates that increased observations result in noticing more specific behaviours that fit their affect-driven schema. It was also found that although affect is positively related to appraisal ratings; it is more strongly related to more subjective trait-like ratings, then to ostensibly more objective task-based ratings. Further, keeping performance diaries tended to increase the strength of that relationship between affect and performance ratings leading the authors to conclude that perhaps affect follows from subordinate performance level rather than the other way around. A second broad area related to raters that has received considerable research attention has to do with the motivation of the raters. Traditionally, research seemed to assume that raters were motivated to rate accurately. More recently, however, researchers have begun to question whether all or even most raters are truly motivated to rate accurately. One line of research related to raters motivation has focused on the role of individual differences and rating purpose on rating leniency. Most practitioners report overwhelming leniency on the part of their raters and this rating elevation has been found in empirical papers as well as surveys of organisations (Murphy Cleveland, 1995). The role of attributions in the performance appraisal process has also attracted some recent research attention. In some of these studies investigators have examined how the attributions that raters make for ratees behaviours affect their motivation to rate or their actual rating. For instance, using a traditional social psychological framework, researchers found that whether individuals opted for consoling, reprimanding, transferring, demoting, or firing a hypothetical employee depended in large part on the extent to which rater believed that the exhibited behaviour was due to ability or effort. It was found that both liking and attributions mediated relationships between reputation and reward decisions. More specifically, raters consider ratees behaviour and their reputations when drawing attributional inferences and deciding on appropriate rewards. The implications of this line of research are clear: attributional processing is an important element of the rating process and these attributions, in part, determine raters reactions and ratings. (Murphy Cleveland, 1995) A second line of research related to rater motivation has to do with rater accountability, which is the perceived potential to be evaluated by someone and being held responsible for ones decisions or behaviours (Frink Ferris, 1998) With respect to performance appraisal, accountability is typically thought of as the extent to which a rater is held answerable to someone else for his or her ratings of another employee. They concluded that accountability can result in distortions of performance ratings. It is demonstrated that raters told that ratees had been rated too low in the past responded by inflating ratings while others told that they would have to defend their ratings in writing provided more accurate ratings. In a follow up to this study it was hypothesized that the accountability pressure on raters to justify ratings may operate through an increased motivation to better prepare themselves for their rating task. This was manifested in raters paying more attention to performanc e and recording better performance-related notes. A related study looking at accountability forces in performance appraisal found that raters inflated ratings when they were motivated to avoid a negative confrontation with poor performers, but did not adjust ratings downward when good performers rated themselves unfavourably (Levy Williams 1998). Ratee issues A second major of focus of performance appraisal research consist of research centred on the performance appraisal ratee. Two areas were covered, in particular, the links between performance ratings and rewards; those elements of the performance appraisal process which increases ratees motivation such as participation. Related article argues the while pay is an important motivator along with recognition, work enjoyment , and self-motivation, very few organisations actually link the performance appraisal system to pay or compensation in a clear, tangible way (Mani, 2002). Both traditional academic research (Roberts Reed, 1996) and more practitioner-focused research (Shah Murphy, 1995) have identified the significance of participation in the appraisal process as an antecedent of ratees work motivation. It suggests that participation is simply essential to any fair and ethical appraisal system. It was identified that participation and perception of fairness as integral to employees pe rceptions of job satisfaction and organisational commitment. Roberts Reed (1996) take somewhat similar track in proposing that participation, goals, and feedback impact on appraisal acceptance which affects appraisal satisfaction and finally employee motivation and productivity. Performance appraisals are no longer just about accuracy, but are about much more including development, ownership, input, perceptions of being valued, and being a part of an organisational team. Focus on reactions to the appraisal process Cardy and Dobbins (1994) arguing that perhaps the best criterion to use in evaluating performance appraisal systems was the reactions of ratees. The claim was that even the most-psychometrically-sound appraisal system would be ineffective if ratees (and raters) did not see it as fair, useful, valid, accurate, etc. Good psychometrics cannot make up for negative perceptions on the part of those involved in the system. Folger et al. (1992) define three elements that must be present to achieve higher perceptions of fairness: adequate notice, fair hearing, and judgement based on evidence. Although they identified specific interventions that should be implemented to increase due process, they cautioned that â€Å"due process mechanisms must be implemented in terms of guiding principles (i.e. designed with process goals in mind) rather than in a legalistic, mechanical, rote fashion. In general studies have found that both ratees and raters respond more favourably to fair performance appraisal systems (e.g. less emotional exhaustion, more acceptances of the feedback, more favourable reactions toward the supervisor, more favourable reactions toward the organisation, and more satisfaction with the appraisal system and the job on the part of both rater and rate) (Taylor et al. 1995, 1998). Trust issue Researchers have posited that trust is the key element in managing the supervisor employee relationship. According to Mayer and Davis (1999) trust is made up of three components: ability, benevolence, and integrity. In other words, if an employee believes a supervisor has the skills to properly appraise, has the interests of the employee at the heart, and believes the supervisor upholds standards and values, the employee is likely to trust that supervisor. Interest in understanding the processes related to trust are the result of research that support both direct and indirect effects of trust on important organisational and individual outcomes. For instance it is supported by research the relationship between trust and outcomes such as employee attitudes, cooperation, communication, and organizational citizenship behaviours. As with appraisal perceptions and reactions it is also believed that trust issues can limit the effectiveness of performance appraisal. If ratees have low level s of trust for their supervisor, they may be less satisfied with the appraisal and may not as readily accept feedback from the source. More to come 2.2 Behaviourally Anchored Rating Scales (BARS) performance appraisal Behaviourally Anchored Rating Scales (BARS) are a relatively new approach to performance evaluation. They are in effect a combination of the graphic rating scales and the critical incident method. An actual description of important job behaviour is developed and â€Å"anchored† alongside the scale. The evaluator is then asked to select the description of behaviour which best matches actual employee behaviour for the rating period. In a controlled field study, Silverman and Wexley (1984) used BARS to test the effect of rate participation on the appraisal process. BARS were developed for each of the following job classifications: clerical, non-clerical staff, technical and professional, nursing, management/supervisory. Those employees who participated in creating, and were evaluated by, the behaviourally-based scales, had a more positive reaction to the entire performance appraisal process. Specifically, they felt that the performance appraisal interviews were more useful, that their supervisors were more supportive, and that the process produced more motivation to improve job performance. BARS address many of the problems often found in traditional evaluation approaches such as the halo effect, leniency, and the central tendency error. In addition, research suggests that many employees prefer this evaluation method (Rarick Baxter, 1986) BARS are however not a panacea for management and do possess both advantages and disadvantages. According to Rarick and Baxter (1986) advantages of BARS are: clearer standards both subordinate and superior have a clearer idea of what constitutes good job performance. Ambiguity concerning expectations is reduced; more accurate measurement because individuals involved with the particular job develop the BARS instrument they have a good understanding of the requirements for good performance; better performance feedback since the BARS is based on specific behaviour it provides a guideline for improving future work performance; better consistency BARS have been shown to be more consistent in terms of reliability than more traditional e valuation methods. In other words, when more than one supervisor rates the same employee, the results are more similar when BARS is the evaluation method. Behaviourally Anchored Rating Scales are, however, not without drawbacks. Disadvantages of BARS are: more costly more time and effort, and eventually more expense is involved in the construction and implementation of BARS; possible activity trap since BARS are more activity oriented, they may cause both supervisor and subordinate to become more concerned with activity performance rather than accomplishing actual results; not exhaustive behaviour scale even if the rator posses lengthy listing of behaviour examples he/she may not be able to match the observed behaviour with the stipulated anchor. As Rarick and Baxter (1986) note Behaviourally Anchored Rating Scales have the potential to increase both the accuracy of employee appraisal and ultimately the effectiveness of the organization. BARS are equally useful as a judgemental instrument and as an employee developmental device. They are designed to make performance appraisal more accurate by minimising ambiguity and focusing on specific behaviour. BARS move employee performance appraisal away from the subjective opinions of the evaluator and closer towards on objective measure of true performance. 2.3 Limitations in performance appraisal The advantages and disadvantages of using performance assessment in making employment decisions are well documented (e.g. Murphy Cleveland, 1995). The limitations of performance assessment, such as inflated ratings, lack of consistency, and the politics of assessment (Tziner, Latham, Price Haccoun, 1996), often lead to their abandonment. Managers responsible for delivering performance reviews who are uncomfortable with the performance rating system may give uniformly high ratings that do not discriminate between rates. Poor ratings detract from organisational uses and increase employee mistrust in the performance appraisal system (Tziner Murphy, 1999). Employees on the receiving end of the appraisal often express dissatisfaction with both the decisions made as a result of performance assessment and the process of performance assessment (Milliman, Nason, Zhu De Cieri, 2002), which may have longitudinal effects on overall job satisfaction (Blau, 1999) and commitment (Cawley, Keepin g Levy, 1998). The extensive research on performance appraisal (Arvey Murphy, 1998: Fletcher, 2001: Fletcher Perry, 2001, Murphy Cleveland 1995) has not addressed the fundamental problems of the performance appraisal process the performance appraisal is influenced by a variety of relevant, non-performance factors such as cultural context (Latham Mann, 2006), that it does not provide either valid performance data or useful feedback to individuals (Fletcher, 2001) , or that performance appraisal instruments often measure the â€Å"wrong things† (Latham Mann, 2006). Murphy and Cleveland (1995) state that â€Å"a system that did nothing more than allow the making of correct promotion decisions would be a good system, even if the indices used to measure performance were inaccurate or measure the wrong set of constructs.† No assessment system, however, would meet with success if it did not have the support of those it assessed. In developing a new performance appraisal system it is important to use past research on performance appraisals that identified a number of factors that lead to greater acceptance of appraisals by employees. Firstly, legally sound performance appraisals should be objective and based on a job analysis, they should also be based on behaviours that relate to specific functions that are controllable by the rate, and the results of the appraisal should be communicated to the employee (Malos, 1998). Secondly, the appraisals must be perceived as fair. Procedural fairness is improved when employees participate in all aspects of the process, when there is consistency in all processes, when the assessments are free of supervisor bias, and when there is a formal channel for the employees to challenge or rebut their evaluations (Gilliland Langdon, 1998). In addition to perceptions of fairness, participation by employees in the appraisal process is related to motivation to improve job performance, satisfaction with the appraisal process, increased organisational commitment and the utility or value that the employees place on that appraisal (Cawley et al. 1998). 2.4 Blended approach Competencies To overcome the problem of job-specific performance dimensions, the performance assessment system was based on behaviourally defined core competencies (Dubois 1993; Klein 1996). The core competencies had been previously identified through an extensive process as being common to all positions; these competencies were to become the basis for training new recruits and for the continuous development of existing members (Himelfarb, 1996). Fletcher Perry (2001) stated the â€Å"the elements constituting what we normally think of as performance appraisal will increasingly be properly integrated into the human resources policies of the organisation using the same competency framework for all HR processes, linking individual objectives with team and business unit objectives framing the input of appraisal to promotion assessment in an appropriate manner, and so on† making it â€Å"more effective mechanism and less of annual ritual that appears to exist in a vacuum.† Along the s ame lines, Smither (1998) went on to note that the same competency model should guide â€Å"numerous human resource initiatives†. The competency development process used for this study followed the suggestions of Fletcher Perry (2001) and Smither (1998) and included a review of functional job analysis data for general police constables that covered a majority of the different job positions. In this sense, the competencies were blended by incorporating the values and specific attributes (Schippmann et al., 2000). A blended approach is one that couples and organisations strategy in the derivation of the broad competencies with the methodological rigor of task analysis. As Lievens, Sanchez, and De Corte (2004) note, blended approach is likely to improve the accuracy and quality of inferences made from the resulting competency model because a blended approach capitalizes on the strength of each method. Strategy is used as a frame of reference to guide subject matter experts to identify those worker attributes or competencies that are aligned with the organisations strategy and the to use the task statements to pro vide more concrete referents for the associated job behaviours (Lievens et al., 2004) 2.5 Justice of fairness The study of justice of fairness has been a topic of philosophical interest that extends back at least as far as Plato and Socrates (Ryan, 1993). In research in the organizational sciences, justice is considered to be socially constructed. That is, an act is defined as just if most individuals perceive it to be on the basis of empirical research (Cropanzao Greenberg 1997). Each approach propose a different way of conceptualizing justice, from the provision of process control (Thibaut Walker, 1975) to a focus on consistency control (Leventhal et al. 1980) and an examination of interpersonal treatment (Bies Moag, 1986). Performance appraisal systems are among the most important human resource systems in organizations insofar as the yield decisions integral to various human resource actions and outcomes (Murphy and Cleveland 1995). Reactions to appraisal and the appraisal process are believed to significantly influence the effectiveness and the overall viability of appraisal systems (Bernardin and Beatty 1984; Cardy and Dobbins 1994; Carroll and Schneier 1982, Lewer 1994), For instance. Murphy and Cleveland (1995:314) contended that â€Å"reaction criteria are almost always relevant and an unfavourable reaction may doom the most carefully constructed appraisal system†. Perceptions of fairness are important to all human resource processes, e.g., selection, performance appraisal, and compensation, and particularly so, to the performance appraisal process. Indeed, a decade ago, Cardy and Dobbins (1994:54) asserted that â€Å"with dissatisfaction and feelings of unfairness in process and inequity in evaluations, any appraisal system will be doomed to failure.† Other researchers have also acknowledged the importance of fairness to the success or failure of appraisal system (Taylor et al. 1995). 2.6 Procedural justice Procedural justice refers to the perceived fairness of the procedures used to determine appraisal outcomes (Greenberg 1986a), independent of favourability or fairness of the performance rating or its administrative consequences (Skarlicki, Ellard and Kelln 1998). Folger et. al (1992) have developed a procedural justice model for performance appraisal, rooted in the due process of law, and possessing three basic factors: adequate notice, a fair hearing and judgment based on evidence. Adequate notice involves giving employees knowledge of appraisal system and how it affects them well ahead of any formal appraisal. More specifically, it entails developing performance standards and objectives before the appraisal period commences. These standards and objectives must be well documented, clearly explained, fully understood and preferable set by mutual agreement, with employees only held accountable for standards and objectives properly communicated to them. Adequate notice also involves hi gh appraisal frequency and giving employees constant feedback on timely basis throughout the performance evaluation period, so that employees can rectify any performance deficiencies before the appraisal is conducted (Folger et al. 1992). Studies show that adequate notice is important to employee perceptions of procedural fairness. Williams and Levys (2000) study of 128 employees from three US banks revealed that system knowledge significantly predicts appraisal satisfaction and procedural fairness, controlling for the much smaller effect on organizational level. The second factor that affects employee perceptions of procedural fairness is a fair hearing. A fair hearing means several things in a performance appraisal context. These include: an opportunity to influence the evaluation decision through evidence and argument, access to the evaluation decision, and an opportunity to challenge the evaluation decision (Folger et al. 1992). Fundamentally, a fair hearing entails two-way comm unication, with employee input or voice in all aspects of the appraisal decision-making process. Several researchers have consistently found the ‘voice effects procedural justice in a variety of work contexts (Greenberg, 1986; Korsgaard and Robertson, 1995). In a study of 128 food service employees and their 23 supervisor at a large, US university, Dulebohn and Ferris (1991) found that the informal voice provided by influence tactics affected employee perceptions of fairness in the appraisal process. Two types of influence tactics were differentiated: the first on the supervisor and the second on the job. Influence of the supervisor focused on, for example, efforts at ingratiation. Influence on the job focused on, for example, manipulating performance data. Uses of supervisor-focused, influence tactics were positively associated with employees perceptions of procedural justice, but uses of job-focused influence tactics were negatively associated. The authors argue that this negative association may result from reverse causation: perception of unjust appraisal procedures ma y encourage employees to adopt job-focused influence tactics. The third procedural justice factor is the judgment based on evidence. This means convincing employees that ratings do accurately reflect per