Waste Land All about Vik Muniz - 1040 Words

Introduction The documentary â€Å"Waste Land† is about Vik Muniz, an artist known for his series of amazing and creative images made from sugar, chocolate syrup, pigment, dirt and peanut butter. He started using different materials from garbage for his art and through his art he tried to help the pickers of the largest landfills near Rio de Genaro. In this analysis I also implement French psychoanalyst Jacques Lacan’s view about the society and culture. Jacques Lacan criticized the society and culture because of the lack of sensitivity and creativity in its culture and ideology that continue to be same since many years. Analysis The idea begins with the critical and innovative thinking of Vik Muniz about life of the Caribbean people and reason behind the significant difference between their childhood and adulthood. He found lack of sweetness that makes big difference in their life than he started making image of Caribbean people with sugar and Chocolate syrup. He moved to Jardim Gramacho with his idea of helping pickers and I really appreciate his successful attempt of helping pickers of the landfills through his art, working in unsafe condition and work with the people who are addicted to drug but the biggest concern was even if he succeed in his work, will it change the life of people? As vice president of Association of Pickers of Jardim Gramacho (ACAMJG), Valter, explain interesting fact that almost 50% of the garbage material can be recycled but people do not payShow MoreRelatedWaste Land : Depression And Depression2142 Words   |  9 PagesThe Oscar-nominated documentary â€Å"Waste Land† leads a controversial issue related to depression and the treatments of depression. The question that stems from the controversy is does the use of art therapy actually cope with the symptoms of depression. An artist by the name of Vik Muniz contends to the idea that art therapy is considered a coping method for depression, and helps with the effects of depression. The individuals within the documentary have a background of poverty, and with poverty comesRead Morepoverty should be fixed1167 Words   |  5 Pageshealth problem, and environmental effect from helping them. First of all, the government should help and train homeless people giving them a new job as long as they are physically able to do the work. This will be helpful and increase for the economic situation. For example, according to the film Waste Land, â€Å"These catadores lived and worked in the garbage, collecting and selling scrap metal and recyclable materials.†(Waste Land) This movie shows that homeless people can have a job, own a house, earn

I Am A Computer Programmer - 999 Words

For as far as I could remember technology was always a part of my life. My dad being a computer technician he would always have computers laptops, iPod, camera, my dad would try to fix anything he could because he also took an electronics class so he would try to fix anything. As a kid I always wondered how these things worked. I was the kid that always bugged my parents about how can I get this to break it just to see how it works on the inside. So Early on I learned that computers were empty but needed instructions needed programming a language if you will to make them actually work. I learned how difficult the programming was, on a scale of one to ten programming a computer is about a one hundred depending on your level. I am very determined and I don’t care how determined I was I made it my goal early on to become a computer programmer/software developer/computer scientist. Not knowing how much money I could make besides the fact that Bill Gates and Steve Jobs made it big off of computers. I wanted to capitalize early on the mistakes of both Bill Gates and Steve Jobs and their subsequent companies Apple and Microsoft. Sticking to the Computer Programming field I found that a Computer Programmer make $74,280 per year as median pay. I intend to work about 60 years old which mean I could make a total of 4,456,800. Now to get that high I know I would have to get at least a Bachelor’s degree. To make this work I could attend Georgia State University. I would major inShow MoreRelatedInformation On My Future Career1151 Words   |  5 Pages Recently, I have been using CFNC.org to gather more information on my future career. CFNC.org has provided me with more knowledge about my future than I could have gotten using Google. One goal of mine while writing this paper is to show how interested I am about my future. Another goal I do have is to teach the reader more information about a specific career path. Every individual has their own career plan, and possibly could be interested in the same career as me. In the CFNC.org website,Read MoreThe Software Development Field Of Computer Science843 Words   |  4 PagesCurrently, I am pursuing a career in the software development field of computer science. In this field, I will mostly be creating programs and software to be installed or run on computers or other machines. Of course like any professional career, ethical issues can appear, but the issues found in the tech industry are not always found in the office area. Many of the issues developers face are outside of the office area and out in the field. The type of issues I am addressing is computer crimes, computerRead MoreEssay on Cobol1212 Words   |  5 Pagesextremely hard to redo in a more current language. So it is obvious that COBOL programs are everywhere, and more importantly our economic system depends on these COBOL applications. Almost all of the economic algorithms have been coded in COBOL, and programmers should not be required to code all of these COBOL applications f rom scratch. COBOL has proven to be an outstanding language for expressing business rules, manipulating the operational data that businesses depend on, and handling transactions. TheRead MoreThe Field Of Computer Science Essay1517 Words   |  7 PagesIn the field of computer science, there are—which can be surprising to most—multiple occupations that involve more than just sitting in front of a computer and writing intricate codes. A systems analyst, for example, requires an individual to participate in an active team environment. Systems analysts work closely with many professionals such as programmers and hardware specialists to develop systems that can solve various kinds of problems. Additionally, a systems analyst is essential to numerousRead MoreProfessional Responsibility in Computer Science1358 Words   |  6 Pagescorresponding development in the concept of responsibility as it applies to computing practitioners (107). Gotterbarn believes that computer prof essionals should be perfect and are responsible for any effects caused by their coding. I disagree with Gotterbarn on this matter. In this essay, I will show that Gotterbarns thoughts and beliefs on professional responsibility in computer ethics are unreasonable and therefore should not be applied. Gotterbarn begins his article with examples of problems that resultedRead MoreFOCUS 2 Paper940 Words   |  4 Pages FOCUS 2 was a great computer program to help continue my career journey. My career planning readiness results seemed to fit in where I am at in my life. My score was a 3.67, this indicates that I am moderately involved in my interests, values, personality and skills. Agreeing with this because I have been not only trying to figure out who I am as an adult but also making life changes. Although having a clear understanding on these topics, career exploration and career planning satisfaction wereRead MoreSpeech For Young Group Of People About Computer Hacking Essay857 Words   |  4 Pagespeople about computer Hacking. English Teacher: Sally whitehead Good morning ladies and gentleman, how you doing? I hope everyone is doing well. My name is Haider Abbasi and I am here today to talk about computer hacking and the pros and cons. I am sure that we have all been affected at some point by hacking and some of us may have experienced a financial crisis as a result of hacking. I am sure that most of us would like to see computer hackers imprisoned and removed from sight. However, I would likeRead MoreComputer Science Is The Study Of Principals And How The Computers1207 Words   |  5 PagesComputer Science is the study of principals and how the computers works. Which leads to computer programming. What is computer programming? Well computer programing is a process that leads from an original formulation of computing problem to executable computer programs. You wonder why this is so important to everybody, but it is very important since things you will use in your daily life had to be programmed to be able to work. For example writing this paper I am using Microsoft Word which had toRead MoreArguments Against Physical Machines Jenna Beran1280 Words   |  6 Pagesobject like a computer, it doesn’t have the characteristics of subjectivity and intentionality. The computer does not have subjectivity because it cannot feel emotions. The computer also doesn’t have intentionality because it cannot express its beliefs. Humans can envision objects that do not really exist such as a desire. Computers cannot tell you their desires like humans can. A computer is not actually conscious of it surroundings. It cannot imagine something that does not exist. A computer only knowsRead MoreComputer Science And Medicine Or Art Science1225 Words   |  5 Pagesfields have always tended to be predominantly male; engineering and my major of interest-- computer science are composed mainly of male students. These fields have just recently started seeing more and more women pursuing them. Computer Science is an amazing field and offers a variety of opportunities in terms of how it can be applied; it can be a combination of computer science and another field-- computer science and medicine or art/desig n. There are endless possibilities as to what future technology

Will Amazon Overtake Walmart as the Worlds Largest Retailer

Question: Which approach do you believe will be the most successful? Can Amazon really pull off same-day delivery across the nation? Will Amazon overtake Walmart as the world's largest retailer? Answer: Introduction Amazon is the largest online retail store in USA and across the world. Whereas, Wal-Mart is an American multinational undisputed Retail Corporation. Wal-Mart is the leading company by revenue across the world (Cohen, 2015). Many customers would like to choose Wal-Mart over Amazon as Wal-Mart products can also bought from its different retail shops. Which approach do you believe will be the most successful? To become more successful the Amazon.com should opens some retailer shops in different places of the United States. Rural areas are mainly faced problems as delivery of the products is delayed in those areas. Amazon.com should follow some approach like the maintenance of minimum delivery time to reach in both urban and rural areas. If they try to deliver the order in urban areas within 5-6 hours, they also have to try to send the order to rural areas within 1 to one and half day (Wolfe Pyrooz, 2014). This type of approach would help the company to reach a highest peak all over the United States. Can Amazon really pull off same-day delivery across the nation (not just select urban markets)? No, Amazon cannot pull off same-day delivery across the nation, especially in rural areas. It takes minimum two days to send the products in different rural areas. Not only in urban areas but also in some rural areas where transport is great problem, the company should provide transportation system for their employees for delivering the products with minimum times (Ellickson Grieco, 2013). However, the company started using drones to delivers products within same day delivery system. Although Amazon.com unable to implement it across the country. Will Amazon overtake Wal-Mart as the world's largest retailer (they still have a long way to go)? Andy Bond, CEO of ASDA stated that Wal-Mart will be the largest retail by 2020. There is a great controversy about Amazon.com and Wal-Mart between analysts and retail experts (Seetharaman et al. 2013). They possess mixed reviews about these two companies retail business. Amazon.com possesses a more impact focus on page loading because if a page loading becomes more time consuming then there was a 1% decrease in sales. It becomes very user friendly to consumers. It also makes the browsing or searching of a product faster. It also helps consumers by providing different customers reviews in the site. It can influence consumers to consume more than one product by giving their products an attractive looks. From 2007-2012, the sales of Amazon increases from $15 billion to $60 billion. Whereas, Walmart sales from 2.5 billion in 2005 to 4.5 billion in 2012 (Wolfe Pyrooz, 2014). This growth rate can easily help Amazon.com to take over Walmart in the United States. Conclusion So, finally it can be concluded from the above discussions that Amazon.com become more and more popular and successful in the United States if it would build some retailer shops and also make their services more fast in delivering products to rural areas. Thus, the consumers lived in rural areas will become friendly towards the Amazon.com products. References Cohen, J. (2015). Wal-Mart Wars: Moral Populism in the Twenty-First Century. Contemporary Sociology: A Journal of Reviews, 44(3), 379-380 Ellickson, P., Grieco, P. (2013). Wal-Mart and the geography of grocery retailing. Journal Of Urban Economics, 75, 1-14 Seetharaman, A., Bajaj, S., Ruddolph Raj, J., Saravanan, A. (2013). A consumers perception of Wal-Mart in India. International Journal of Academic Research, 5(3), 136-150 Wolfe, S., Pyrooz, D. (2014). Rolling Back Prices and Raising Crime Rates? The Walmart Effect on Crime in the United States. British Journal of Criminology, 54(2), 199-221

King Arthur Court Essays - Time Travel Films,

King Arthur Court A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court is a complicated novel that fundamentally deals with the concept of the human experience. Hank Morgan is a nineteenth century mechanic who is transported back thirteen centuries to medieval Britain, during the time of King Arthur. After his initial shock, he becomes determined to "civilize" Camelot by introducing modern industrial technology. At an initial look Twain seems to be favoring the industrialized capitalist society that he lives in over the feudal society of medieval Britain. But in a closer examination of the work it becomes clear that this observation is much too simple, as the industrial world that Hank Morgan creates is destroyed. Therefore the book can be viewed as a working out of the idea that a quick change in a civilization brings disaster. Civilization and change need to be developed, or at least explained within the culture itself, in order for them to become lasting institutions. Hank's failing is that he believes that he is superior to everyone, and that he can change the society of Camelot simply by introducing technology. Hank becomes "the boss" of Camelot, and begins his plans to free the serfs and establish a republic. However his plans are destined to fail because he is incapable of understanding values that are different from his own; he is the ultimate know-it all, and sets out to remake the world in his own image. He is given "the choicest suite of apartments in the castle, after the king's"(Twain 31), but he criticizes them because they lack the conveniences of the nineteenth century, such as "a three-color God-Bless-Our-Home over the door"(Twain 32). His lack of acceptance of the local culture is also seen through his Victorian modesty, he sleeps in his armor because "it would have seemed so like undressing before folk"(Twain 60), even though he had clothes on underneath, and he is repelled by the language used in mixed company. Although Hank says he only wants to help the poor people of Britain who in his words "... were merely modified savages"(Twain 61), create a society like his own where "...all political power is inherent in the people..."(Twain 65) instead he promotes himself to the level of despot. He continually criticizes the structure of feudal society because it was a place where, "a right to say how the country should be governed was restricted to six persons in each thousand of its population"(Twain 65), but he sees himself above reproof. "Here I was, a giant among pigmies, a man among children, a master intelligence among moles..."(Twain 40). Hank forgets his own humanity and begins to believe that his knowledge makes him more of a man, just as the nobility that he shunned believed they were better than the serfs because of the titles they held. Hank Morgan uses his superior knowledge of technology to gain personal power. It soon becomes clear that even though thirteen hundred years have given Hank a technological advantage, they haven't made him any smarter. Hank possesses all of this technological knowledge, but fails to understand the implications that this knowledge will have on the people of the Camelot. Instead of educating the general public and teaching them how and why something works instead he sends a select few to his "man factories". He uses his knowledge instead to produce fantastic miracles, which although they give him personal power, continue to perpetuate the superstitions of the populace that he is trying to overcome. For example, Hank is asked to fix the well at the Valley of Holiness. He installs a pump that will return the water, but instead of explaining the principle behind the pump, Hank keeps the people in the dark and passes off the project as a great miracle. Afterward he says, "...the populace uncovered and fell reverently to make a wide way for me, as if I had been some kind of superior being-and I was."(Twain 131) It is evident from this that Hank is obsessed with his power. It seems ironic that the very ignorance that he deplores in the people is the same thing allows him to obtain power. It is this lack of willingness to share his knowledge that will destroy him in the end. Medieval society is a place where things just happen, and are not explained. "Cause and effect...don't exist in Camelot. Things happen to people in Camelot without purpose, plan, or coherence; God twists and turns the road whenever and however he pleases."(George 60) Hank's world is finally destroyed because he forgot this basic

Veterans essays

Veterans essays Veterans are those who have served in order to honor and protect their country. As these individuals boldly practiced their beliefs in freedom, they inadvertently rewrote history, and we as Americans honor these patriots who were willing to give the ultimate sacrifice. Veterans Day is the day that we set aside to honor those who served, but one day does not cover all the bloodshed. The day is not enough to show the appreciation which is due to the countless number of heroic men and women. The American people should do more to show respect to their veterans. After the many hard, sweaty days fighting the enemy with your friends dying all around you, the confrontation is finally over. A soldier gets to go home, but others will not be so lucky. This is what it means to be a veteran. Many people would just say it is putting on a uniform and carrying a gun against an enemy, but it is so much more than that. It is serving your country and standing up for what one believes is right. A veterans glory is not appreciated by the majority of the American people, because they do not understand all the heartache and pain that comes with the job. These heroes did not have to be asked to do what was right, or uphold their countries values. True, some were drafted to fight, but not one of these individuals would say it was not a life changing experience for them. The memory, whether happy or painful, will be permanently stuck with them for the rest of their lives. The men and women who helped shape the face of this country through their honor, legacy, and patriotism are those we call veterans. They are our dads, moms, uncles, brothers, and grandfathers. Yet, we constantly overlook their desire and passion for this country. The gratitude that they deserve is not shown towards them, as it should be. The way that the American people think that they sho ...

History of the American Labor Movement

History of the American Labor Movement The American labor force has changed profoundly during the nations evolution from an agrarian society into a modern industrial state. The United States remained a largely agricultural nation until late in the 19th century. Unskilled workers fared poorly in the early U.S. economy, receiving as little as half the pay of skilled craftsmen, artisans, and mechanics. About 40 percent of workers in cities were low-wage laborers and seamstresses in clothing factories, often living in dismal circumstances. With the rise of factories, children, women, and poor immigrants were commonly employed to run machines. Rise and Fall of Labor Unions The late 19th century and the 20th century brought substantial industrial growth. Many Americans left farms and small towns to work in factories, which were organized for mass production and characterized by steep hierarchy, a reliance on relatively unskilled labor, and low wages. In this environment, labor unions gradually developed clout. One such union was the Industrial Workers of the World, founded in 1905. Eventually, they won substantial improvements in working conditions. They also changed American politics; often aligned with the Democratic Party, unions represented a key constituency for much of the social legislation enacted from the time of President Franklin D. Roosevelts New Deal in the 1930s through the Kennedy and Johnson administrations of the 1960s. Organized labor continues to be an important political and economic force today, but its influence has waned markedly. Manufacturing has declined in relative importance, and the service sector has grown. More and more workers hold white-collar office jobs rather than unskilled, blue-collar factory jobs. Newer industries, meanwhile, have sought highly skilled workers who can adapt to continuous changes produced by computers and other new technologies. A growing emphasis on customization and a need to change products frequently in response to market demands has prompted some employers to reduce hierarchy and to rely instead on self-directed, interdisciplinary teams of workers. Organized labor, rooted in industries such as steel and heavy machinery, has had trouble responding to these changes. Unions prospered in the years immediately following World War II, but in later years, as the number of workers employed in the traditional manufacturing industries has declined, union membership has dropped. Employers, facing mounting challenges from low-wage, foreign competitors, have begun seeking greater flexibility in their employment policies, making more use of temporary and part-time employees and putting less emphasis on pay and benefit plans designed to cultivate long-term relationships with employees. They also have fought union organizing campaigns and strikes more aggressively. Politicians, once reluctant to buck union power, have passed legislation that cut further into the unions base. Meanwhile, many younger, skilled workers have come to see unions as anachronisms that restrict their independence. Only in sectors that essentially function as monopolies- such as government and public schools- have unions continued to make gains. Despite the diminished power of unions, skilled workers in successful industries have benefited from many of the recent changes in the workplace. But unskilled workers in more traditional industries often have encountered difficulties. The 1980s and 1990s saw a growing gap in the wages paid to skilled and unskilled workers. While American workers at the end of the 1990s thus could look back on a decade of growing prosperity born of strong economic growth and low unemployment, many felt uncertain about what the future would bring.

Finance 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Finance 2 - Essay Example sales and purchase agreements or decisions in the ‘futures market to develop a known price level’ and mainly ‘to offset the risk exposure and to limit themselves from any price fluctuations’. (investopedia.com) Although the future and forward hedging through future and forward contracts respectively are almost similar in nature yet there is one main difference between the two. Forward Contracts are made for fairly large transactions whereas future contracts are reached for smaller amounts. The large organizations such as multinational or supranational companies, large financial or investor groups may involve themselves in forward contract hedge. Monet market Hedge is an internal hedging technique which refers to â€Å"borrowing and lending transactions to eradicate currency risk by locking the particular variables related to foreign exchange and cash equivalents.† (Kofi Bofah) Currency Option is another instrument utilized by investors or corporations to hedge against negative fluctuations, volatility or movements in foreign exchange rates. In simple words, I can say that Currency Option is an agreement through which the holder f currency has the ‘right to involve in buying or selling of currency at a specified time period.’ For instance, in our case, Hybat Corporation can hedge against foreign currency risk by purchasing a currency option put or call. If it believes that USD/HUF rate is going to fall from 250 to 200 meaning that it will become more expensive for US Hybat to convert its export revenues from HUF to Dollar and send it to its parent company so Hybat would want to buy a ‘put option’. Similarly, if the rate is going to increase from 181 to 200, then Hybat would want to buy a â€Å"call option on USD/HUF so that  it could  stand to gain from an increase in the exchange rate† (or the  USD rise). (Investopedia.com) You must independently justify the credit rating for each category given. That is, if you use these catagories, they

Earth Science Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Earth Science - Essay Example Moreover, an analysis of current strategies as well as alternative energy dependence will also be discussed. It is hope of this author that through an analysis of these different mechanisms, the reader will be more fully able to integrate an understanding and appreciation for the fragile environment that humans currently exist within. Firstly, it should be understood by the reader/researcher that many natural processes that take place within the current system have a contributing effect upon the mass of CO2 that is released into the air atmosphere; thereby directly contributing to the greenhouse effect that impacts the planet as a whole. Recent research into this topic has indicated that processes such as volcanic eruptions or even the methane gas released by the Earth’s bovine population have an even greater impact upon overall CO2 levels than all human activity within any given year. However, this should not be seen to delegitimize the processes whereby humans can provide ad ditional negative impacts upon the global environment. Due to the fact that the Earth is ultimately a closed system, it can only integrate a certain amount of change before negative impacts are seen. As such the Earth’s ecological system might be able to integrate with volcanic eruptions or the methane gas produced by cows; however, further integration of the ever-increasing levels of human CO2 emissions is likely well beyond the capabilities of the system as a whole. Although human CO2 emissions have commonly been viewed within the context of emissions from internal combustion engines, the fact of the matter is that industrialized nations as well as power generation from a variety of sources, rainforest instruction, and a litany of other activities contribute to the overall levels of CO2 that are produced within any given year. Due to the fact that the earth’s population has continued to increase at an exponential rate of growth over the past centuries, it is only rea sonable to assume that the impacts of technological advancements as well as further urbanization and construction play a prominent role in the overall level and extent to which humans affect the environment. Whereas the preceding analysis has focused solely upon whether or not, and to what extent, humans’ impact upon the global environment is, the proceeding section will seek to place a level of focus upon some of the strategies and means by which humans can seek to wean themselves from fossil fuel dependence and become more reliant upon alternative energy. Whereas few individuals promote industrialization as a means of promoting the global environment, the most rational and reasonable strategy is to seek to find alternative means to continue the technological and industrialization advancements while at the same time promoting the environment. One of the most powerful mechanisms to accomplish such an end is by focusing upon the means of energy production that humans so readil y consume. Some of the most effective means of accomplishing this are by integrating a further reliance upon solar, nuclear, wind and other alternative means of energy production. Although the â€Å"dirty† forms of energy generation provide for the current needs of the system, they have a massively negative impact upon the environment.

Personal problems Essay Example for Free

Personal problems Essay 1. There are many things that contribute to the pessimism of poor people. Some of the most prominent reasons why poor people believe that it is impossible to them to get out of poverty are high competition in labor markets, increased population (increased competition), lack of sufficient jobs, lack of proper education and the perception that the government is not doing anything to help them. With these factors, behaviors of frustration, oppression and depression will most likely exist. If such behaviors cannot be contained, then the cultivation of criminal mindset will be inevitable. 2.The most vulnerable groups of people who will live in poverty are those who did not complete formal education, those who are indirectly discriminated (due to race, age and social status) and those who have lost their faith with the government system of service. Possibly, these groups will not be able to access proper healthcare as well. They may not be able to afford even the basic health services, will not be covered by a health insurance and will be discriminated by corporate-established medical institutions. 3. Most people who live in poverty are aggressive when faced with personal problems. The poor commit crimes and they are high among their established segments in the society (Raffaele, 1968). However, in general, culture of poverty may be described as helplessness, marginality, dependency and the perception of not belonging to the system. Culture clashes may happen between the poor and the health care delivery system when it comes to understanding the needs of the poor, non-adherence of the poor to the instructions of health personnel, intimidation on the part of the poor and possibly moral and ethical abuse committed by health personnel. 4. To make the healthcare system more responsive to the poor, institutions should at least reach out to poor people even as a form of charity. They should initiate to help the poor because majority of them is socially powerless. Moreover, health institutions should at least adhere to the laws and instructions mandated by the governed in terms of providing services to the poor. References Raffaele, J. A. (1968, May 9). Culture of poverty. Retrieved from http://www. nybooks. com/articles/archives/1968/may/09/culture-of-poverty-2/

A Land Rembered by Patrick D. Smith Essay -- essays research papers

The novel, A Land Remembered, is the epic saga of three generations of MacIveys. The novel begins with a flash back, from the last generation MacIvey, Sol. Sol was a real estate tycoon in Miami and the surrounding areas. He has chosen to give up his life in Miami to live his last hours in the cabin in Punta Rassa , Florida; the cabin his grandfather had built. Thus, the three generations of MacIveys in Florida ends. The first generation of MacIveys consisted of the father and husband, Tobias, the mother and wife, Emma, and their young son, Zech. The family had decided to escape the pressures of the Civil War in their native Georgia, and move to the scrub of Northern Florida. The MacIveys experience many troubles and learn many new things during their stay in the scrub, such as meeting Indians, that will turn out to influence their life greatly. Other experiences included Tobias being recruited by Marshall Adler to drive cattle to the confederate troops and also being recruited to chop trees to build walls of defense for the confederate forces. During the excursion to chop down trees, confederate deserters raided Emma and Zech and burned down their house. Tobias and Emma made the decision that the war was getting to close to the scrub, and that moving South would be a good idea. The MacIvey clan packed up their wagon and headed south along the St. John’s and Kissimmee rivers and settled in a hammock along the Kissimmee river. In Kissimmee is where Tobias begins his empire that turns the family into one of the wealthiest families in Florida. In the swamps of Florida, wild cows live and Tobias tries his best to capture these cows and make a drive, but without horses and dogs, Tobias makes little headway in his project. In the woods one day, Skillet, a freed slave, was found. Skillet agreed to stay on with the MacIveys and help them start their empire. Dogs and a marshtackie were given to the MacIveys by their Indian friends they helped in the scrub. The MacIveys now popped cows out of the swamp and their first drive to Punta Rassa ended in a disaster with all the cows being lost to a great flood. The determined MacIveys never looked back and gathered another heard and the whole clan drove the cows to Punta Rassa. In Punta Rassa, the cows were sold for fifteen dollars a head and the MacIvey empire begins. Also on this first trip, Hendry, the cattle buyer,... ... they too can experience the life of a Florida Cracker turned millionaire family of Florida. Throughout all three generations of MacIveys, all of the MacIvey men lose a woman who is so close to them and all of them realize once they are gone, that they didn’t do enough for their loved one, when they easily could have. Tobias had three trunks full of Spanish gold, and all he did for Emma was buy her a cook stove. Zech had even more trunks of Spanish gold, and he never took Glenda on the trips to the far away places she wanted to go. Sol had a multimillion acre vegetable business and owned half of Miami, and he never married Bonnie, yet, when he lost her, he missed her like his wife. I believe that Smith is trying to make us realize that you shouldn’t take for granted what you have, when they do so much for you. These lessons are ageless, and can be applied to today’s society as well as to the first ever society. A Land Remembered is a novel that truly is the epitome of a saga, that spans the trials and tribulations of three generations of the MacIvey fami ly as they enter Florida as a family destined to start a better life and die out as one of the wealthiest families in Florida.

Analyzing the role of Strategic Entrepreneurship in forming temporary Competitive Advantage that leads to Value Creation

Introduction Globalization and the rapid pace of development, combined with intense competition, have pushed firms to seek ways to survive and thrive in today’s highly volatile business environment. As such, entrepreneurs are primarily concerned with building competitive advantage and creating value for their firms. Recent studies point out the significance of strategic entrepreneurship as a way for businesses to develop a ‘more entrepreneurial orientation for sustained competitive advantage’ (Olusola, 2012). Strategic entrepreneurship essentially involves concurrent opportunity-seeking and advantage-seeking behaviors, which result in better performance of the firm (Ireland, Hitt & Sirmon, 2003). This research is interested in conducting a similar investigation and seeks to analyze the role of strategic entrepreneurship in forming temporary competitive advantage, which leads to the creation of value for the firm. Research Questions This dissertation is interested in determining whether firms, which engage in strategic entrepreneurship, are able to establish temporal competitive advantage in a dynamic environment, especially whilst competing with other firms and within the context of creating value for the firm. Below are the specific questions to be addressed in this dissertation: What benefits would a firm obtain by successfully employing strategic entrepreneurship in the current competitive market What temporary competitive advantage results from employing strategic entrepreneurship Does strategic entrepreneurship create value Aims and Objectives The primary aim of this research is to analyze the role of strategic entrepreneurship in building competitive advantage and creating value for the firm. Based on the research questions given above, the objectives of this dissertation are as follows: To find out the benefits of employing strategic entrepreneurship To understand what competitive advantages are the result of utilising strategic entrepreneurship To investigate whether strategic entrepreneurship creates value for the firm Rationale This dissertation will provide insights on the significance of strategic entrepreneurship, especially within the context of forming temporary competitive advantage, in pursuit of creating value for the firm. This research seeks to address some of the gaps in literature, such as understanding the balance between the opportunity-seeking behavior associated with entrepreneurship and the advantage-seeking behavior of strategic management (Hitt et al., 2011). Moreover, a Strategic Entrepreneurship Theoretical Tree will be utilized in order to analyze the various components of strategic entrepreneurship. The theoretical tree is created based from the different studies conducted on the subject. Literature Review (Preliminary) Strategic entrepreneurship is associated with firm’s objective of achieving superior performance through the simultaneous application of both opportunity-seeking and advantage-seeking activities (Ketchen, Ireland, & Snow, 2007). Various researchers have identified different components of strategic entrepreneurship, which can lead to superior performance of the firm. Ireland, Hitt & Sirmon (2003) proposes four dimensions for the successful implementation of strategic entrepreneurship: (a) entrepreneurial mindset; (b) entrepreneurial culture and leadership; (c) strategic management of resources; and (d) applying creativity to develop innovations. At the business level, value creation is usually reflected in the expansion and growth of a firm. Welter & Smallbone (2004) found that Institutional Economic Theory highlights the institutional embeddedness and path dependence of entrepreneurial behavior. This, in turn, influences the degree and nature of value creation for the firm. A number of authors have identified the factors that influence value creation and competitive advantage. Pongpearchan (2011, p.5) found that ‘operational innovation efficiency and business practice effectiveness have a significant positive effect on value creation excellence.’ On the other hand, Rindova & Fombrun (1999) argue that competitive advantage is a systemic outcome which develops as firms engage in processes that involve the use and exchange of resources, as well as the communication that occurs in these exchanges. Therefore, the fluctuations on the interpretations and evaluations of a firm affect its resources and its competitive advantage in the marketplace. Below is the model of the Strategic Entrepreneurship Theoretical Tree which will be used as the main theoretical framework of this research. Each of the components of this model is based on different studies. These will be discussed in more detail during the full dissertation document. Methodology This research will use quantitative research methodology in addressing the objectives of the study. Quantitative survey will be used in gathering data from respondents. Quantitative methodology is chosen for this study because it will allow the researcher to utilize the opinions of respondents in explaining the phenomena being studied. The survey will be administered to employees and managers of SMEs and large commercial firms in the UK to find out their views on the subject. The survey will asks questions such as how respondents perceive the role of strategic entrepreneurship in forming creative temporary competitive advantage; what are the benefits of strategic entrepreneurship; how can firms create value; etc. The target number of respondents for the survey is 100. In anticipation of the fact that some potential respondents might refuse to participate in the survey, around 175 to 200 questionnaires will be distributed to ensure that 100 responses will be gathered. The survey will be administered face-to-face, via post, though emails, and online. This is done to allow respondents to choose how they want to answer the survey. After data gathering is completed, statistical analysis will be used in analyzing the data. SPSS and Excel will be used as the primary software for analysis. References Hitt, M, Ireland, D, Sirman, G, & Trahms, C. (2011). Strategic Entrepreneurship: Creating value for individuals, organizations and society. Academy of Management Perspective. p.57-75. Ireland, D, Hitt, M, & Sirmon, D. (2003). A Model of Strategic Entrepreneurship: The Construct and its Dimensions. Journal of Management. 29(6), p.963-989 Ketchen, D, Ireland, D, & Snow, C. (2007). Strategic entrepreneurship, collaborative innovation, and wealth creation. Strategic Entrepreneurship Journal. 1(3-4), p.371-385. Olusola, A. (2012). Strategic Entrepreneurial Skills’ Influence on Small Businesses’ Performance in Oyo and Osun Western States-Nigeria. Research Journal in Organizational Psychology and Educational Studies.1 (6), p.345-352. Pongpearchan, P. (2011). Strategic entrepreneurship management competency and firm success: a comparative study of SMEs in auto and electronic parts in Thailand. International Journal of Business Strategy. 11(2). Rindova, V & Fombrun, C. (1999). Constructing competitive advantage: the role of firm-constituent interactions. Strategic Management Journal. 20(8), p.691-710.

Robert. M. Sapolsky: An Example of Versatility and Dedication

Civilization is a flow of billions of human beings, but it is only few who take up the task of developing it. It is purely their hard work that secures, augments, ramifies and manifests the lives of the rest.Away from the usual buzz of the society or any glitz, these people devote their energy, time and attention on the discoveries of science and art.These hermits, who are usually oblivious of laurels or social recognition, rightfully deserve to be highlighted, as that could inspire many to become their active followers. Hence, this essay focuses on a person who belongs to that rank and file, with a trail of his contribution in the field of biology. He is Robert. M. Sapolsky.The Sparks and Steps Chance collision ruled Sapolsky's destiny. Otherwise, even he didn't imagine that someone groomed in urban settings like Benson Hurst and Brooklyn, could fall in love with Natural History Museum of New York, and subsequently with paleontology – which finally set the mind of a boy of 12 years to explore the lives of primates for the rest of his life.That concrete aim about future made him taking Swahili at the school level, as he was determined to go to Africa! After that, he developed his interest on neuroscience, which propelled his focus on the neurobiological basis of behavior. In this way a roadmap of his activities were made: from field behavior to brain and behavior.He found his mentor in Melvin Konnor (the writer of ‘The Tangled Wing', on brain and behavior), who was the chairman of anthropology at Emory University, whose writing prowess equally attracted Sapolsky. No wonder, he gradually has risen himself to the rank of his mentor, by becoming a researcher per excellence and also one of the finest scientific and natural history writer, save his oratory skills.Otherwise, he received his Ph.D. in Neuroendocrinology from Rockefeller University, before receiving his AB in biological anthropology from Harvard University. Currently he is a professor at St anford University.On the Field The umpteenth number of solitary sojourns in the grasslands of Kenya for 20 years, coupled with uncounted hours in laboratory perhaps took Sapolsky where he is today – most knowledgeable person on earth about baboon behavior, an inveterate researcher of neuroscience, a magnificent orator and a prolific writer, who once made Serengeti as his hermitage.Sapolsky, the Common Man He has two young kids and a zoologist wife. Since the kids are not yet ready to lead a tent-life, he has to shuttle between Manhattan and Nairobi, but that doesn't put up any stress on him – why, he himself is a stress specialist! He misses out nothing, except his piano sessions – though there is a piano in his lab, which was once brought by his first salary – he doesn't get time for it anymore!

Paradise essays

Paradise essays This story is all about a stunner, a charming teen. Her name is Belle. Let me tell you her sorrowful past. Her family, cousins and relatives rejected her. Because, she is the only one who do things wrong all the time. She can get what she wants every time, everyday, whenever she wants. But she doesnt do the things she have to, so her parents told her that; she cannot get whatever she wants anytime, anymore. Therefore, Belle rebelled, by running away from home. She use to graduate college, but she went to her boy friends house. Moreover, talk about everything. After  ½ year, Belle and her boy friend Tony got married. Before they got married, they already had two children. One is a girl named Julian and the other one is named Juliana, they are both female. Julian is 2 months older than her sister Juliana is. So it means Julian is already 11 months and her younger sister Juliana is 9 months old. But Belle is too young to have babies, right? Then after they got married, Of course they will not let the Honeymoon pass by. And so on. After months, Belle had another baby, and it is a girl, so they both named it Julie Anne. And she is just 9 months, when her sister Julian is already 1 year old, and her sister Juliana is already 12 months old. Belle is only 16 when she rebelled, and when she got married, she is only 17, and now, she had three daughters, she is only 18! Still young to have babies... Belle thought that her family was better than her childhood family when she was younger. But that belief is gone. When she saw Tony, her husband, making Love with someone else and that someone is her younger sister... Belle never thought that she could see her sister, even in that way. So Belle was surprised to see her sister, and more surprised to see her husband making love with her younger sister Anna Rose. Tony is a smart simple and dazzling man, neat and responsible. But when Tony got home. He saw her wife Belle cleaning up h...

Molar Entropy Change of a Reaction - Example Problem

Molar Entropy Change of a Reaction Problem This example problem demonstrates how to find the entropy of reaction from standard molar entropy data on the reactants and products. Entropy is calculated as a change in the level of entropy before and after a chemical reaction. Essentially, it reflects whether the amount of disorder or randomness in the system increased or decreased as a consequence of the reaction. Standard Molar Entropy Change Problem What is the standard molar entropy change of the following reaction? 4 NH3(g) 5 O2(g) → 4 NO(g) 6 H2O(g)Given:SÂ °NH3 193 J/KÂ ·molSÂ °O2 205 J/KÂ ·molSÂ °NO 211 J/KÂ ·molSÂ °H2O 189 J/KÂ ·mol (Note, in this type of problem youll either be given the molar entropy values of the reactants and products or youll need to look them up in a table.)SolutionThe change in the standard molar entropy of a reaction can be found by the difference between the sum of the molar entropies of the products and the sum of the molar entropies of the reactants.ΔSÂ °reaction ÃŽ £npSÂ °products - ÃŽ £nrSÂ °reactantsΔSÂ °reaction (4 SÂ °NO 6 SÂ °H2O) - (4 SÂ °NH3 5 SÂ °O2)ΔSÂ °reaction (4(211 J/KÂ ·K) 6(189 J/KÂ ·mol)) - (4(193 J/KÂ ·mol) 5(205 J/KÂ ·mol))ΔSÂ °reaction (844 J/KÂ ·K 1134 J/KÂ ·mol) - (772 J/KÂ ·mol 1025 J/KÂ ·mol)ΔSÂ °reaction 1978 J/KÂ ·mol - 1797 J/KÂ ·mol)ΔSÂ °reaction 181 J/KÂ ·molWe can check our work using the techniques introduced in this example problem. The reaction involves all gasses and the number of moles of products is greater than the number of moles of reactants so the expected change in entropy should be pos itive. Answer The standard molar entropy change of the reaction is 181 J/KÂ ·mol.

Managed Care Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Managed Care - Essay Example emerged in this modern world and the employers in the present day context get involved in making as well as executing an effective plan with utmost focus on paying premiums. These premiums are paid by the workers in the form of deductibles, copayments as well as through contribution. It has been apparently recognized that this changed system of healthcare has transformed the investment pattern of the employees. In the year 2013, highest number of employees was recorded to be enrolling in the Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plans. The same has been illustrated in the form of the following chart: Managed care has proved its dominance in providing â€Å"qualified health plans† with the aid of different health insurance organizations. Specially mentioning, there is a need to follow the rules that are provided under the Affordable Care Act. The ACA prescribed system of medical loss is noted to be limiting the percentage of premium revenue for enhancing its use for administration, marketing as well as attaining maximum profit. However, to increase the transparency within the system, more regulations are required to be incorporated by the respective government. To increase the competition within the domain of healthcare aid, there are various additional developments being initiated to incorporate within the domain of healthcare based operations. This competitive edge is being developed with the notion to enhance the control over the premium rate fluctuations (Shi & Singh, 2011). ACA visualizes that Consumer Operated and Oriented Plans (CO-OPs) will be developed based on finances received from the federal government. This type of plans is available in small numbers within the US Medicaid services. CO-OPs started operating as nonprofit making organizations following the developments such as the Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) and PPO. CO-OPs are even structured based on standard models of such organizations that have been already active within Medicaid

Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 6

Essay Example Christina Hoff Sommers, in â€Å"Philosophers Against the Family† discusses that there is a false dichotomy as there is the great divide which distinguishes the radical feminist from the simply feminine and the mutual exclusivity of the two concepts which completely overlooks the reality that both can co-exist. Sommers (2005) offers that there is a middle ground, though this has not been widely recognized by both views, especially radical feminism in the United States. Liberal feminism gives focus on reforms which touches base on the very root of feminism. The oppression and the discrimination that necessarily entails sexism as commonly seen in the workplace and in society is the very nature that belittles women and that affects them on a regular basis. This is the fight of feminism on a daily basis that is in the heart of the average woman and her understanding of what feminism is. This, however, is far removed from the philosophical feminist’s view. â€Å"But to be a ntisexist in the technical, radical philosophical sense is not merely to be opposed to discrimination against women; it is to be for what Wasserstrom calls the assimilationalist ideal† (Sommers, 2005, p.313). The truly antisexist in this sense would neither fight nor agree for laws that give preference to women such as maternity leave. Equality is achieved by overlooking and consequently extinguishing gender and all notions that come with it. The wider perspective that transcends the philosophical feminist movement is best understood by first appreciating the average woman. â€Å"The average woman enjoys her femininity† (Sommers, 2005, p.314). She has goals which include being with a man, having children and maintaining a career with the same opportunities that her male counterpart has. â€Å"These are the goals that women actually have, and they are not easily attainable. But they will never be furthered by an elitist radical movement that views the actual aspirations of women as the product of a false consciousness† (Sommers, 2005, p.314). The goals and aspirations of the average woman must first be understood in order to make a correlation with these and how they are achieved. The characterization of a woman in the realistic sense juxtaposed to the ideal woman of the radical feminist movement made by the author brings forth a wider understanding on why the two concepts cannot meet. The illustration made by the radical feminist movement of the woman is arguably deductive and brings it to a realm that makes it incomprehensible most especially to the average woman herself. The false consciousness that is attributed her makes her very existence appear to be a pretense together with all of her life’s worth along with all her hopes and dreams. Sommers is correct in concluding that goals for marriage, family, career, and more logically, equal opportunity for all of the foregoing are the main points that calls for what is deemed as the av erage woman’s feminist ideals as oppose to the scholarly feminism written of extensively. Radical feminism, at the heart of it, attacks societal pressures to conform to gender roles which has been proliferated for ages and has been inculcated in every person from the moment of conception. The idea of an assimilationist society is the very purpose of many feminist movements which has often been likened to Marxism in many regards. Citing the famous feminist Simone de Beauvoir, Sommers

Six sigma Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Six sigma - Essay Example Today, Six Sigma is widely used in numerous organizations throughout the world specifically in business areas such as Business, Telecommunication, Aviation, Pharmaceutical, and so on. The term Six Sigma originated from manufacturing terms related to the statistical modeling of the manufacturing process. A Sigma rating describes the quality of a manufacturing process. This rating is based on the percentage of defect-free products generated. More importantly, a Six Sigma process is expected to yield 99.99966% of products without any defects, which means there is only an average of 3.4 defects for every million items created. Motorola aims to achieve these high quality outputs in all of its manufacturing processes through the implementation of Six Sigma (Pande & Holpp, 2002). The following sections shall discuss Six Sigma in greater detail, along with how Six Sigma is applied in the aviation industry. Six Sigma History In 1986, Motorola USA was criticized by its senior executive Art Sun dry due to the company’s poor performance and bad output quality (Schroeder & Harry, 2006). This pushed the company to understand the correlation of improving the product quality and decreasing production costs. The belief at the time was that increasing the product quality entails higher production expenses. ... In 2006, Motorola reported to have saved over $17 billion since it implemented Six Sigma in its manufacturing and business processes. Terminology Six Sigma is a term that originated from a the statistical model of process capability studies. The model referred to the ability of the manufacturing processes to generate outputs at high volumes within the set standards. All the Six Sigma projects are expected to produce only 3.4 defects for every million opportunities, which means a Six Sigma process has a rate of producing 99.99966% of defect-free products. A Six Sigma defect is defined as any error outside the customer specifications. Moreover, a Six Sigma opportunity is the total number of chances for a defect to occur. A Six Sigma calculator is used to compute for the process sigma (Pyzdek & Keller, 2009). Influences and Characteristics Six Sigma is mainly influenced by six decades of quality improvement methodologies, which include Zero Defects, Quality Control and Total Quality Man agement. The Six Sigma doctrine states that: manufacturing and business processes have variables that can be measured, analyzed, improved, and controlled; continuous effort to attain stable process results are essential to a successful business; and quality improvement may be sustained through the commitment of the whole organization, specifically the higher management. Furthermore, Six Sigma has its new and unique characteristics including: strong emphasis on passionate management leadership and support; every Six Sigma project entails a clear focus on attaining measurable and quantifiable financial results; special workforce infrastructure of â€Å"Champions,† â€Å"Master Black Belts,† â€Å"Black Belts,† â€Å"Green Belts†, and so on; and decisions are made based on factual and

Camus: The Stranger And Existentialism

Camus: The Stranger And Existentialism Existentialism is freedom and choice. It is impossible to define existentialism. We can witness some aspects of existentialism in The Stranger. Existentialists want to direct our attention to our individuality. They force us to think about the existence and nature of God, being a Christian, our values, and our death. Only mankind defines itself through the act of living. First you exist, and then the individual emerges as life decisions are made. Existentialists also believe the greatest achievement of an individual is to realize the absurdity of life and to accept it. The concepts of existentialism are simple, mankind has free will, and life is a series of choices, which rarely without any consequences. Some things are irrational or absurd, without explanation. If one makes a decision, he or she must follow through. The decisions you make are whom you are, so choose wisely. There are several existential themes displayed in The Stranger. One of the themes is freedom. It means that wh atever happened prior to now do not influence what your next choice in life will be, we are free to make any choice we want. He displays freedom by treating his Mamans death nothing out of the ordinary, also by not showing any emotion. He shows us free will; by not being influenced of his mother dying effect on what he wants to do. The other themes are existence, the awareness of our choices, and passion, our feelings that we understand before we think. Meursault wants to live his life to in the moment; he is not concerned with the future. Meursault wants the remembrance of his life. Through this thinking Meursault displays Existence and Passion. The following theme is uncertainty. It basically says that life is unpredictable, and unexpected. He shows us exactly how unpredictable life can be. One minute Meursault is just so happy and content with the sun shining on him, when suddenly something unexpected happens and his happiness is gone. I knew that I had shattered the harmony of t he day, the exceptional silence of a beach where Id been happy. There is also a theme of individuality. All individuals are a unique member of a society. Meursault lives out his individuality when he wants a crowd of people to witness his death, and greet him with cries of hatred. This way he retains his individuality. Begging for forgiveness would just make him a member of society. He also displays reflection, by turning our unawareness into awareness. Meursault leads a pre-reflective life. His daily events are so absorbed in each moment, which he never reflects on. While in prison he sees a reflection of himself, this is when he becomes aware of what he was unaware of. The overall theme though is absurd. The absurd beliefs are that life is meaningless and without purpose. This meaninglessness implies absence of any obvious meaning to our life. Can this be explained? No, no one can explain someone elses sense of meaning or meaninglessness towards life. Meursault who is sentenced to death after killing an Arab emphasizes the difference between the morals of society and his lack of them, refusing to conform to societys standards earns him the death sentence. In the end he faintly displays responsibility. Nearing his execution he symbolically shows emotion, as he comes face to face with nothingness and the impossibility of defending his immoral choices. Meursault is an outcast in society; therefore he cannot relate to others because he does not live as they do. He cannot abide by the same morals because he does not grasp them; he is apathetic to events occurring around him. His entire being is unemotional. This distinguishes him from society, whose strict guidelines focus on right and wrong. Meursault has the capability to break down the situation, but not conforming to it as society expects him to. Life, death, the in between, is irrelevant. Meursault sees the outcome as inevitable. He cannot perceive any right or wrong in killing the Arab. The killing itself w as not out of hatred for the man, he reveals at the trial, because of the sun. The sun at the beach, similar to the sun at his mothers funeral, was beating down on him. The sun represents Meursault emotions. The intense heat and the sun are overwhelming his senses, which he cannot deal with so ends the situation. The death of the Arab in itself doesnt seal his fate. His destruction comes from his lack of emotion. Meursault has come to conclusion he must create his own meaning in life. That there is no basic meaning in life its entirely based on living itself. Until this conclusion, hes a stranger to himself as well as to others. Society believes this is unacceptable, and by refusing to conform he must pay the price. Conforming to society norms doesnt allow the individual to reach his own decisions; however, it was impossible to restrict oneself from all. The character expresses no feeling about anything. Once in a while he shows a bit of heart, but for the most part, he gives a robotic appearance. Camus conveys his existentialistic philosophy with the death of Mersaults mother. He is more concerned about the time of death, and not the fact that he just lost a loved one. The lack of compassion at his mothers funeral is not what society expects of him. This labels him as insensitive, or that he did not love his mother. As an existentialist, he accepts life as it is. An example of existentialism is the murder of the Arab. The absurdity of the murder is what makes it a good portrayal of the concept of existentialism. This shows how Mersault is not only a stranger to his experiences in life, but also to nature. The sun and his sensual pleasures act against him, which cause him to lose control. Mersau lts actions lack true conscious motives. He consciously makes the decision to take a life due to the physical discomfort of his surroundings. To him, its simple: he committed murder, time to face the consequences. There are numerous meanings to the title, The Stranger, one is that if you live a life different than what society accepts, then you are a stranger; an outcast, and will be punished by the rest of society. His trial proved this to be true. It was all about the way he acted and how different he was. This was used to prove that people who are different are judged by their character over their actions. Society refuses to understand him and to know him, therefore he is a stranger. Being a stranger to himself makes him a stranger to life. In the end he gets the meaning of life. He was able to do so because he was approaching death, death is the only certainty of life. We are responsible for the choices we make; there is no predetermination or higher power which decides morality. After reading The Stranger made me look at my life. Some of Meursaults behavior I didnt agree with, but the further I read I understand the reasons for his actions. When I started reading the book for the first ti me I was quite confused and bored, I had to re-read it to understand it better which gave me a different message each time. Meursault was an interesting character to read about. His ideas and beliefs seem wrong but also right. I was able to understand what Camus conveyed with his philosophy. In fact, I have never heard of existentialism until I read this book. Meursault is able to accept the fact that everyone dies and realizing this allows you to live a better life. He controls his own life and actions. I cant say that I understand everything about him. Nonetheless, this character had the most interesting conflicts that kept me reading. The first half of the book was filled with action and there were no direct reasons given for certain actions. In the second half, it is mainly of his self-realization about society and life. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys thinking after reading a book. Work Cited Andrew Irvine, Basic Themes of existentialism, http://people.bu.edu/wwildman/WeirdWildWeb/courses/wphil/lectures/wphil_theme20.htm Crowell, Steven, Existentialism, The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Winter 2010 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.), URL = http://plato.stanford.edu/archives/win2010/entries/existentialism/ Existentialism Philosophy: Discussion of Existentialist Quotes, Jean Paul Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir, Albert Camus http://www.spaceandmotion.com/Philosophy-Existentialism.htm/ New World Encyclopedia, Existentialism http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Existentialism/ Solomon, Robert C. Wyatt, C. S. (1999). Existentialists: a primer to existentialism http://www.tameri.com/csw/exist/exist.html

The Fight between Christianity and Satanism :: essays research papers

The Fight between Christianity and Satanism This is a fight between a slave world and a free world. Just as the United States in 1862 could not remain half slave and half free, so in 1942 the world must make its decision for a complete victory one way or the other. As we begin the final stages of this fight to the death between the free world and the slave world, it is worth while to refresh our minds about the march of freedom for the common man. The idea of freedom — the freedom that we in the United States know and love so well — is derived from the Bible with its extraordinary emphasis on the dignity of the individual. Democracy is the only true political expression of Christianity. The prophets of the Old Testament were the first to preach social justice. But that which was sensed by the prophets many centuries before Christ was not given complete and powerful political expression until our nation was formed as a Federal Union a century and a half ago. Even then, the march of the common people had just begun. Most of them did not yet know how to read and write. There were no public schools to which all children could go. Men and women can not be really free until they have plenty to eat, and time and ability to read and think and talk things over. Down the years, the people of the United States have moved steadily forward in the practice of democracy. Through universal education, they now can read and write and form opinions of their own. They have learned, and are still learning, the art of production — that is, how to make a living. They have learned, and are still learning, the art of self-government. If we were to measure freedom by standards of nutrition, education and self-government, we might rank the United States and certain nations of Western Europe very high. But this would not be fair to other nations where education had become widespread only in the last twenty years. In many nations, a generation ago, nine out of ten of the people could not read or write. Russia, for example, was changed from an illiterate to a literate nation within one generation and, in the process, Russia's appreciation of freedom was enormously enhanced. In China, the increase during the past thirty years in the ability of the people to read and write has been matched by their increased interest in real liberty.

Compaction of Concrete

Consolidation of plastic concrete is termed as compaction. In the process of compaction, efforts are only directed to reduce the voids in the compacted concrete. Compaction of concrete can be done either manually or mechanically. When it is done manually it is called hand compaction or tamping, and in second case it is termed as machine compaction. ?Hand compaction: Hand compaction is done with the help of steel tamping rods, or timber screeds. Marrow and deep members are compacted with tamping rods. Thin slabs and floors are tamped with the help of screeds.Compaction should be done in layers of 30 cm for mass concrete and 15 cm for reinforced concrete. Companction should be carried out for such a time that a layer of mortar starts appearing at the compacted surface. Excessive compaction and under compaction both are harmful for concrete. Due to excessive compaction, C. A. particles sink to the bottom and cement and F. A. mortar appears at the top. This makes concrete structure heter ogeneous, and hence affects strength. This method of curing is adopted in the case of precast members.It has been noticed that by keeping the wet conditions, if temperature is increased, the rate of increase of strength also increases. This enables concrete to acquire its full strength within short period and hence, curing is also finished within short period. ?Machine compaction: Machine or mechanical compaction of concrete is done with the help of vibrators. Vibrators produce vibrations which when transmitted to plastic concrete make it to flow and affect compaction. The air bubbles are forced out of concrete due to vibrations. Over vibration should not be allowed, otherwise C.A. particles will concentrate at the lower layers and mortar will come to the surface. There are three types of vibrators in most common use: †¢Internal vibrator: This vibrator is also known as immersion, poker, or needle vibrator. It consists of a power unit and a long flexible tube at the end of which a vibrating head is attached. This vibrator develops about 7000 vibrations per minute. Wherever, compaction is to be done, the vibrating head is inserted in the concrete. This vibrator is very useful for compaction of mass concrete. †¢Form vibrator: This vibrator is clamped to he form-work and imparts vibrations to the concrete through form-work. This vibrator is used only if the use of internal vibrator is not practicable as in the case of thin and congested situations. It is also called external vibrator. †¢Surface vibrator: It is also named as screed or pan vibrator. It is clamped to the screed, it Imparts vibration to the concrete from the surface when screeding operation of the concrete is carried out. It is effective only for depths of about 20 cm and hence useful for thin horizontal surface such as pavements. Compaction of Concrete Consolidation of plastic concrete is termed as compaction. In the process of compaction, efforts are only directed to reduce the voids in the compacted concrete. Compaction of concrete can be done either manually or mechanically. When it is done manually it is called hand compaction or tamping, and in second case it is termed as machine compaction. ?Hand compaction: Hand compaction is done with the help of steel tamping rods, or timber screeds. Marrow and deep members are compacted with tamping rods. Thin slabs and floors are tamped with the help of screeds.Compaction should be done in layers of 30 cm for mass concrete and 15 cm for reinforced concrete. Companction should be carried out for such a time that a layer of mortar starts appearing at the compacted surface. Excessive compaction and under compaction both are harmful for concrete. Due to excessive compaction, C. A. particles sink to the bottom and cement and F. A. mortar appears at the top. This makes concrete structure heter ogeneous, and hence affects strength. This method of curing is adopted in the case of precast members.It has been noticed that by keeping the wet conditions, if temperature is increased, the rate of increase of strength also increases. This enables concrete to acquire its full strength within short period and hence, curing is also finished within short period. ?Machine compaction: Machine or mechanical compaction of concrete is done with the help of vibrators. Vibrators produce vibrations which when transmitted to plastic concrete make it to flow and affect compaction. The air bubbles are forced out of concrete due to vibrations. Over vibration should not be allowed, otherwise C.A. particles will concentrate at the lower layers and mortar will come to the surface. There are three types of vibrators in most common use: †¢Internal vibrator: This vibrator is also known as immersion, poker, or needle vibrator. It consists of a power unit and a long flexible tube at the end of which a vibrating head is attached. This vibrator develops about 7000 vibrations per minute. Wherever, compaction is to be done, the vibrating head is inserted in the concrete. This vibrator is very useful for compaction of mass concrete. †¢Form vibrator: This vibrator is clamped to he form-work and imparts vibrations to the concrete through form-work. This vibrator is used only if the use of internal vibrator is not practicable as in the case of thin and congested situations. It is also called external vibrator. †¢Surface vibrator: It is also named as screed or pan vibrator. It is clamped to the screed, it Imparts vibration to the concrete from the surface when screeding operation of the concrete is carried out. It is effective only for depths of about 20 cm and hence useful for thin horizontal surface such as pavements.

Sample – Report Writing

Sample Report A Formal Report Sample Reports A FORMAL REPORT THE EFFECTS OF STRESS ON BUSINESS EMPLOYEES AND PROGRAMS OFFERED BY EMPLOYERS TO MANAGE EMPLOYEE STRESS Prepared for Dr. Robert J. Olney Southwest Texas State University Prepared by Charles Dishinger Nancy Howard Bill Kiagler Sherry Seabrooke Donna Tucker November 29, 20– S-29 Copyright  © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. Sample Reports ii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page LIST OF TABLES†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. iii LIST OF FIGURES†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ vABSTRACT†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ SECTION I INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. Introduction†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ Statement of the Problem†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. Significance of the Study†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. Scope of the Study†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ Review of Related Literature†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ Methods of the Study†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ Source of Data†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ †¦. l S-30 Copyright  © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. iv 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 3 3 4 4 4 6 6 6 6 7 8 9 10 11 Sample Reports iii LIST OF TABLES Table 1.Programs Offered by Employers to Manage Stress †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ S-31 Copyright  © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. Page 8 Sample Reports iv LIST OF FIGURES Figure Page 1. Age Distribution of Respondents †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 2. Negative Effects of Stress on Work Performance †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ S-32 6 7 Copyright  © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. Sample Reports v Abstract This study was conducted to determine the effects of stress on employees and the methods employers use to manage employees' stress.It was limited to the perceptions of Central Texas business employees, who were selected using a nonprobability, convenience sampling method. A questionnaire consisting of three parts was used to collect primary data. The collected data were analyzed and interpreted using simple statistical techniques. The findings of the data indicated that the areas found to be most negatively affected by stress were j ob satisfaction/morale, courtesy, creativity, and productivity. In addition, personal appearance and absenteeism were listed as the areas least affected by stress. According to the results of the tudy, employers today are offering a wide variety of needed programs to manage the stress of their employees. One of the main conclusions drawn from the study was that stress does negatively affect the work performance of employees. Therefore, stress is not just an individual issue but an issue that must be addressed by both the employer and the employee; the work performance areas negatively affected have a direct effect on the company as a whole. S-33 Copyright  © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. Sample Reports The Effects of Stress on Business Employees nd Programs Offered by Employers to Manage Employee Stress Section I Introduction to the Study Introduction Today, many organizations and employees are experiencing the effects of stress on work performance. The effects of stress can be either positive or negative. What is perceived as positive stress by one person may be perceived as negative stress by another, since everyone perceives situations differently. According to Barden (2001), negative stress is becoming a major illness in the work environment, and it can debilitate employees and be costly to employers.Managers need to identify those suffering from negative stress and implement programs as a defense against stress. These programs may reduce the impact stress has on employees' work performance. Statement of the Problem The purpose of this study was to determine the negative effects of stress on employees and the methods employers use to manage employees' stress. Significance of the Study There are three primary groups that may benefit from this study. The first group, consisting of employees in today's business organizations, may learn to identify ways that stress negatively affects their work performance.Identifying the negative effects ma y enable them to take necessary action to cope with stress. By sharing this knowledge, employees can act as a vehicle to help management implement appropriate stress reduction programs. The second group that may benefit from this study is employers who may gain insight as to how stress is actually negatively affecting S-34 Copyright  © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. Sample Reports 2 employees’ work performance. Finally, educators can use these findings as a valuable guide to incorporate into their curriculum.By emphasizing to students the importance of developing programs to deal with stress, the students may be able to transfer this knowledge to the workplace, thereby improving the quality of the work environment. Scope of the Study This study was limited to the perceptions of full-time business employees as to the negative effects that stress has on work performance and the steps that employers are taking to manage stress. For the purpose of this study, wh at constitutes full-time employment is defined by the employer. This study was restricted to businesses operating in the Central Texas area.The Central Texas area encompasses all communities within Hays, Kendall, Travis, and Williamson counties. For the purpose of this study, stress is defined as disruptive or disquieting influences that negatively affect an individual in the workplace. Data for this study were collected during the fall of 2002. Review of Related Literature Barden (2001), a freelance writer specializing in health care and a former managing editor of Commerce and Health, stated the importance of wellness programs and gave specific examples of corporations that are successfully implementing such rograms. The Morrison Company currently saves $8. 33 for every dollar spent on wellness by offering programs such as weight loss, exercise, and back care. Axon Petroleum estimates that wellness programs will save $1. 6 million each year in health care costs for its 650 employe es. In addition to Morrison and Axon Petroleum, Barden cited the savings for six other companies. According to the Wellness Bureau of America, the success of these companies offers concrete proof that wellness programs pay off by lowering health care costs, reducing absenteeism, and increasing productivity.Foster (2002), a professional speaker on stress-management, surveyed midlevel managers and found stress to be a major determinant in worker productivity. According to the study, the primary areas affected by stress are employee morale, absenteeism, and decision making abilities. By recognizing that a problem exists and by addressing the issue, managers can reduce stressful activities and increase worker performance in the business organization. Harrold and Wayland (2002) reported that increasing stress affects morale, productivity, organizational efficiency, absenteeism, and profitability for both individuals and the organization.The problem for businesses today is knowing how S-3 5 Copyright  © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. Sample Reports 3 to determine stressful areas in their organizations and how to use constructive confrontation methods to reduce stress and improve efficiency. According to the authors, organizations that make a positive effort to deal with stress not only help build trust among their employees, but also increase the productivity of their employees and the organization as a whole. Maurer (2002) stated that stress-induced illnesses are prevalent in the workplace today, and stress is the problem of the sufferer and the employer.Stress causes absenteeism and can lead to other problems such as drug addiction, alcoholism, depression, and poor job performance. According to Maurer, the annual Barlow Corporation Forum on Human Resource Issues and Trends reported that large numbers of companies noticed severe levels of stress exhibited by employees. The forum's panelists agreed that more needed to be done in the workplace to hel p employees manage stress. Some of the suggestions were to expand wellness programs, offer stress-management seminars, and teach staff how to balance work and family life.Maurer also noted that Olympic TeamTech, a computer management company, has dealt with employee stress by providing training programs, monitoring employee concerns, and meeting once a month to be proactive instead of reactive. Olympic TeamTech's turnover is less than the industry average. Schorr (2001), a stress-management consultant, stated that stress causes problems in the workplace which negatively affect employee health and organizational productivity. Stress can lead to problems such as job dissatisfaction, alcoholism, absenteeism, physical ailments, and poor job performance.If managers know how to prevent and cope with stress, productivity can be increased. Many companies instituted stress-management programs that led to a decline in absenteeism, a decrease in sickness and accident costs, and/or an increase in job performance. Schorr reported that a stress inventory, available from a stress-management program, can assist executives and managers in assessing employee stress. The inventory can identify the sources of stress, which may include physical elements as well as other factors.Once these sources have been assessed, the program can provide the necessary skills for coping with the problems, and participants can learn that there are alternative ways of reacting to stress. Methods of the Study Source of Data Data for this study were collected using a questionnaire developed by a group of students at Southwest Texas State University. The questionnaire was divided into S-36 Copyright  © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. Sample Reports 4 three parts. Part one consisted of a list of 15 work performance areas that may be negatively affected by a person's level of stress.Respondents were asked to indicate whether stress increased, decreased, or had not changed their work per formance in each area. They were also asked to indicate from the list of 15 work performance areas the area that was the most negatively affected by stress and the area that was the least negatively affected by stress. In the second part of the questionnaire, a list of 17 programs was provided and the respondents were asked to indicate which programs their companies had implemented to manage stress. Part three was designed to collect demographic data for a respondent profile, including full-time employee classification and age group.A copy of the questionnaire is contained in Appendix A on page 12. Sample Selection The respondents involved in this survey were employees working in companies located in Central Texas. A nonprobability, convenience sampling technique was used to collect primary data. Each member of the research team was responsible for distributing three questionnaires to members of the sample. To ensure confidentiality, respondents were given self-addressed, stamped en velopes in which to return their completed questionnaires to Southwest Texas State University. Controls were used to eliminate duplication of the esponses. Statistical Methods Simple statistical techniques were used to tabulate the results of this study. The primary data were analyzed using a percent of response. To compute the percent of response, the number of responses to each choice was divided by the total number of respondents who answered the question. In question one, the percents of responses for the negative effects of stress on the 15 work performance areas were reported. The results of the next two questions were tabulated by totaling the number of respondents who chose an area they believed was least or most affected by stress.The fourth question reported the percent of respondents whose employers offered the listed programs to manage stress. Questions five and six asked the respondents to indicate if they were considered full-time employees and to indicate their age gr oup. Limitations of the Study This study may be limited through the use of a questionnaire as a data collection instrument. Because questionnaires must generally be brief, areas that may have been affected by stress may not have been included in the questionnaire. S-37 Copyright  © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. Sample Reports Also, all programs that may be available to employees for managing stress may not have been included in the study. The study may also be limited by the use of a nonprobability, convenience sampling method. The sample of business employees for the study was chosen for convenience and may not be representative of the total population of business employees. Care should be taken when generalizing these findings to the entire population. Finally, the use of simple statistical techniques may introduce an element of subjectivity into the interpretation and analysis of the data.All attempts have been made to minimize the effects of these limitations on the study. S-38 Copyright  © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. Sample Reports 6 Section II Findings, Conclusions, and Recommendations Introduction This study was designed to determine the effects of stress on employees and to discover methods employers use to manage employees' stress. Sixty questionnaires were distributed to business employees in the Central Texas area, and the response rate was 78. 3%. This section includes the Findings, Conclusions, and Recommendations. FindingsThe findings will be presented in three sections according to the following characteristics: Demographic Profile, Areas of Job Performance Affected by Stress, and Programs Employers Offer Employees to Manage Stress. Demographic Profile All returned responses from the sample were considered full-time employees by their employers. The respondents were also asked to indicate their age group; all age ranges were represented in the results, as shown in Figure 1. The breakdown consisted of 2. 1% under the age of 20, 33. 7% between 20 and 29, 29. 4% between the ages of 30 and 39, 26. % between 40 and 49, 5. 4% between 50 and 59, and 3. 3% were 60 and over. AGE GROUP 5 1 — Less than 20 1 6 2. 1% S-39 Copyright  © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. 26. 1% 5 — 50 to 59 Figure 1: Age Distribution of Respondents 29. 4% 4 — 40 to 49 3 33. 7% 3 — 30 to 39 2 4 2 — 20 to 29 5. 4% 6 — 60 or over 3. 3% Sample Reports 7 Areas of Job Performance Affected by Stress The respondents were given a list of work performance areas that might be affected by stress and were asked to identify whether stress increased, decreased, or had no change on their work performance.Only respondents who indicated stress negatively affected an area were considered in these findings. Of the 15 areas listed, four areas were identified as having a response rate of more than 50. 0%. These areas were as follows: job satisfaction/morale (73. 9%), courtesy (65. 2%), accuracy (52. 7%), and creativity (51. 6%). Similarly, Schorr (2001) stated that a significant number of employees' creativity is negatively affected by stress. Also, Harrold and Wayland (2002) agreed that morale is strongly affected by stress. Falling within the range of a 30. 0 to 50. 0% response rate were cooperation (49. %), organizational skills (46. 3%), initiative (45. 2%), productivity (42. 8%), alertness (39. 4%), decision making abilities (39. 1%), and perseverance (35. 5%). Harrold and Wayland (2002) established that increasing stress and anxiety are having a negative influence on an individual's organizational efficiency and productivity. The findings that negatively affect work performance are shown in Figure 2. Figure 2: Negative Effects of Stress on Work Performance 15 13 11 9 7 5 3 1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 S-40 10 42. 8% 73. 9% 39. 1% 52. 7% 51. 6% 28. 0% 46. 3% 65. 2% 20 30 40 ProductivityJob Satisfaction/Morale Decision Making Abilities Accuracy Creativity Attentio n to Appearance Organizational Skills Courtesy Copyright  © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. 50 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 60 49. 5% 45. 2% 26. 6% 39. 4% 35. 5% 25. 8% 28. 3% 70 Cooperation Initiative Reliability Alertness Perseverance Tardiness Absenteeism 80 Sample Reports 8 Central Texas employees indicated the area they believed was most affected by stress and the area they believed was least affected by stress. According to the results, job satisfaction and productivity were thought to be most affected by stress.On the other end of the scale, areas least affected by stress were personal appearance and absenteeism. However, Schorr's (2001) study found that, on the average, individuals experiencing stress are more inclined to be absent or tardy. Programs Employers Offer Employees to Manage Stress Question four listed 17 programs offered by employers for managing stress. Respondents were asked to indicate which programs their companies had implemented to manage stress. Th e responses for each program are shown in Table 1. Table 1: Programs Offered by Employers to Manage Stress.TYPE OF PROGRAM Insurance RESPONSES 72% Breaks Educational Assistance/Reimbursement 51. 0% Access for Disabled 42. 6% Alternate Schedule 34. 0% Employee Assistance Programs 34. 0% Wellness Programs 34. 0% Flextime 29. 8% Stress Management Seminars 29. 8% Training Programs 29. 8% Piped Music 17. 2% Assigned Parking 17. 0% Employee Empowerment Programs 17. 0% Ergonomically Correct Furniture 17. 0% Financial Counseling 8. 5% On-Site/Assistance with Child Care S-41 69. 2% 4. 3% Copyright  © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. Sample Reports 9Insurance received the highest number of responses (72. 0%), whereas, therapy received the lowest (2. 1%). Playing classical music and creating a comfortable work environment were found by Foster (2002) to be low cost stress reduction programs. Although these are inexpensive programs to implement, a relatively small response rate w as given for piped music (17. 2%) and ergonomically correct furniture (17. 0%). Maurer (2002) stated that it is necessary for companies to design programs that enable employees to assess stressful situations and develop a rational mode of behavior.In contrast to Maurer's research, only 17. 0% of the respondents indicated that Employee Empowerment Programs are being offered by their employer. A response rate of 34. 0% in the category of wellness programs/on-site fitness facilities was obtained. Barden (2001) reported programs that improve an individual's physical condition are both a positive and an effective method of managing stress. The remaining methods for managing stress were varied. Listed in decreasing percentages, they are as follows: breaks (69. 2%), educational assistance/ reimbursement (51. %), access for disabled (42. 6%), alternative schedules (34. 0%), Employee Assistance Programs (34. 0%), Wellness Programs (34. 0%) flextime (29. 8%), stress management seminars/classe s (29. 8%), training programs (29. 8%), assigned parking (17. 0%), financial counseling (8. 5%), and on-site/assistance with child care (4. 3%). Conclusions On the basis of the findings, several conclusions concerning the effects of stress on Central Texas business employees can be drawn. The findings of this study indicated stress does negatively affect the work performance of employees.Job satisfaction and productivity were indicated as two areas most affected by work-related stress. Therefore, stress cannot be considered just an individual issue because reduced job satisfaction and lower productivity has a direct effect on the company as a whole. From this study, it can be concluded that employers have realized the importance of managing stress in the workplace because of the wide variety of programs now offered to manage stress. Of all the programs offered by employers, insurance is the most frequently offered means for managing stress.Because insurance acts as a security net fo r employees and is offered the most, it can be inferred that employers contend that insurance is the most effective means for managing stress. S-42 Copyright  © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. Sample Reports 10 Recommendations Based on the findings and conclusions in this study, the following recommendations are made: 1. 2. Employers should conduct a survey of the programs they already offer to discover which programs are the most effective for managing their employees' stress. 3.Employees should share their ideas for managing stress with their employers in order to help their employers implement appropriate stress reduction programs. 4. Educators should incorporate into their business curriculum discussions of stress in the workplace and ways to manage stress. 5. S-43 Employers should offer various stress reduction programs to help employees manage stress because stress is prevalent in the workplace. Additional research should be done. First, other areas negatively affected by stress should be studied to determine if stress affects other aspects of an employee's life.In addition, other factors should be examined to learn what the personal and work-related causes and symptoms of stress are for an individual. Copyright  © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. Sample Reports 11 Bibliography Barden, Nancy Ray. â€Å"Wellness Programs: Everyone Wins. † Commerce and Health, November 2001, 28–42. Foster, Lucy Barnes. â€Å"Workplace Stress: Changing the Pattern. † Sales and Marketing Journal (2002), 32–33. Harrold, Robert and Wayland, Michael. â€Å"New Methods to Reduce Workplace Stress. † Industrial Concepts, June 2002, 19–21. Maurer, Marcia K. Is Stress Running Your Life? † Modern Office Innovation, February 2002, 27–28. Schorr, Leslie. â€Å"Coping with Stress, Boosting Productivity. † Employment News, Spring 2001, 23–26. S-44 Copyright  © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. Sample Reports Appendix A Questionnaire The Effects of Stress on Business Employees Students in the Graduate School of Business at Southwest Texas State University are conducting this survey to determine perceptions of the effects of stress on employees. The survey also is designed to determine efforts employers are making to help employees manage stress.Please return this questionnaire in the enclosed postage-paid envelope by Friday, November 8. 1. How does stress most often affect you at work? Please mark one response per line. AREA AFFECTED Productivity Job Satisfaction/Morale Absenteeism Decision Making Abilities Accuracy Creativity Attention to Personal Appearance Organizational Skills Courtesy Cooperation Initiative Reliability Alertness Perseverance T di S-45 Copyright  © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. INCREA SE DECREA SE NO CHANGE Sample Reports 13 2.Which one area from question 1 do you believe is most affected by stress? 3. Which one area from question 1 do you believe is least affected by stress? 4. Which of the following means for managing stress does your employer offer? Please mark all that apply. __ Employee Assistance Program On-Site/Assistance with Child Care Assigned Parking Employee Empowerment Programs Educational Assistance/Reimbursement Breaks Wellness Program/On-Site Fitness Facility Financial Counseling Access for Disabled Stress Management Seminars/Classes Training Programs TherapyAlternative Schedules (part-time, time off for family, etc. ) Flextime Piped Music Ergonomically Correct Furniture Insurance (security net for employee/family) Other (please specify) Note: Questions 5 and 6 are included in this questionnaire as a means of developing a demographic profile of our respondents. 5. Are you classified as a full-time employee by your employer? Yes 6. No Please check your age group. Less than 20 20 to 29 30 to 39 40 to 49 50 to 59 60 or over Thank you for taking time to help us. We value your i nput. S-46 Copyright  © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.