Birth Control Controversy

Contraception is a critical issue for women of all ages and social class because the decision to have a baby impacts a woman’s physical, mental, and emotional health. Contraception is also very costly and is an expense that a woman primarily shoulders. Not every employer’s health insurance plan provides benefits for prescription contraceptives and devices. A personal survey of 50 adults with varying types of insurance plans, asked if their health insurance plans provided coverage for birth control, Viagra, or abortion.Everyone surveyed maintain that his plan provides coverage for Viagra, a sexual enhancement drug, and abortion. The same survey showed that 26% of the insurance plans do not provide benefits for Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved prescription contraceptives or devices for the solitary purpose of preventing pregnancy (personal communication, 2010). Not providing coverage for birth control, yet providing coverage for other types of prescription drug s, services, and devices, is discriminatory against women and has a negative impact on an employer’s and the government’s economics.The federal government should mandate that all health care plans provide coverage for FDA approved contraceptives because not providing them is discriminatory against women. Preventive Health Care and Finance Women that plan their pregnancies usually obtain pre-natal care and take better care of themselves and unborn child. Moreover, women who have planned their families put enough distance between each pregnancy so not to put a strain on their physical, mental, and emotional welfare. This is better for both mother and child.Furthermore, to obtain FDA approved prescription birth control, women must first be seen be a licensed physician and have an examination. That examination includes a Pap smear, breast exam, and screening for sexually transmitted diseases. Without the motivation of obtaining contraception, women may not schedule an exam that could detect, and treat, potentially life-threatening diseases. Early detection of disease, such as cervical and breast cancer, is vital to making a full recovery.Family planning devices and prescriptions should be a benefit that all health insurance plans provide because more than half of the pregnancies that occur within this country are not planned. The United States has the highest rate of accidental pregnancies of the entire industrialized world. Of those pregnancies, only half come to term. The other pregnancies end because of spontaneous abortion, also known as miscarriage, or the woman elects to have an abortion (Roan, 2009).With insurance provided birth control these statistics can decrease considerably. Lack of coverage, and the out-of –pocket expense for birth control, is a factor in the high rate of unintended pregnancies because women are going without birth control, or opt for less effective methods for family planning. Women spend approximately two-thirds of their lives in an attempt to avoid pregnancy, but still a majority of women experience an unplanned pregnancy by the time they reach age 45 (Vargas, 2002).Women are primarily responsible for preventing pregnancy and rely on prescribed contraceptives and devices because there is no effective form of over-the-counter birth control available for women’s use. The most effective form of birth control, other than abstinence, is oral contraceptives, which is better known as â€Å"the pill. † With insurance, co-payments for the pill range from $10 to $50 per month (Andrews, 2010). Without insurance coverage, the expense of the pill can range from $20 to $75 per month. Over a 25-year period this could amass from $6,000 to well over $20,000 (Guttmacher, 2010).Therefore, women are paying upwards of 68% higher health care expenditures than their male counterparts (Zolman, 2002). In comparison, the only form of birth control used by men is a condom, and they are available witho ut prescription and not costly. Pictured above are different types of birth control available. All, except condoms, require a prescription and are used by women. Photo courtesy of Dawn Stacey Sexual Discrimination Some health insurance plans exclude contraceptives because it views them as quality of life drug and not medically necessary.If a doctor deems a woman to have a clinical need for contraception, such as recurring headaches, endometriosis, acne, or irregular menstruation, an insurance company may choose to authorize benefits. However, Viagra is one quality of life drug that insurance plans cover without question (Vargas, 2002). Viagra is an oral treatment that a doctor prescribes exclusively to men who suffer from erectile dysfunction. Covering expenses for one quality of life drug, aimed for the improvement of men’s sex lives, and denying benefit of another quality of life drug, intended to prevent pregnancy for women, is undoubtedly discriminatory.The Equal Employme nt Opportunity Commission (EEOC) sustain employers are legally bound to provide a full range of family planning options if other forms of preventive health prescriptions and devices are part of their benefits package. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 says it is unlawful when employers â€Å"fail or refuse to hire or discharge any individual, or otherwise discriminate against any individual with respect to his compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment because of such individual’s race, color, religion, sex, or national origin† (Zolman, 2002, p. 8). Health and prescription coverage is part of the compensation and terms of employment as mentioned in Title VII. To provide further clarification, the United States government added an amendment in 1978 called the Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA), and it reads â€Å"†¦women affected by pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions shall be treated the same for all employment related p urposes, including of receipt of benefits under fringe benefit programs† (Vargas, 2002, p. 9).The current regulations for health insurance governance vary and are subject to different protocol. The Employment Retirement Security Act (ERISA) is a federal law that oversees self-funded insurance plans. A self-funded insurance plan, also known as self-insured, is a plan that an employer provides and pays for from a self-established fund. ERISA oversees the compliance of procedure, such as providing insurance information and instructions on how to file grievances, however; it does not require employers to provide specific benefits (Zolman, 2002).Within ERISA is a loophole that self-funded insurance plans have used to avoid following mandates that may be in effect through state legislation. Fully insured health plans contract through insurance brokers, are subject to state insurance mandates, and are not governed by ERISA (Zolman, 2002). The Equity in Prescription Insurance and Cont raceptive Coverage Act (EPICC) is a federal contraceptive prescription and device mandate that has gone before Congress on several occasions but has not been successful in passing into law.Nevertheless, there have been 27 states that have passed there on version of EPICC since 1998 (Andrews, 2010). However, requirements for coverage vary from state to state and self-funded insurance plans are exempt from complying. Throughout the last decade there have been several lawsuits filed against employers unwilling to include prescription contraception benefits. The first such case was Erickson versus Bartell. In 2001, Jennifer Erickson brought a lawsuit of sexual discrimination against Bartell Drug Company for failing to provide birth control in a prescription drug benefit package.Federal Judge Lasnik determined that Bartell Drug Company was in violation of Title VII and the PDA (HRMagazine, 2005). Sadly, the majority of employers who exclude prescription contraceptives choose to wait for legal action before changing policy. In those cases, society loses as precious taxpayer dollars are spent. Employer Expenses Many people have the misconception that it is expensive for an employer to provided prescription contraceptive benefits and that the employer should be able to limit available benefits to help keep health insurance premiums to a minimum.A study conducted by the Washington Business Group on Health concluded that employers experience greater direct and indirect financial losses when an employee becomes pregnant. The indirect expenses include the employee’s absence for doctor’s appointments, fatigue, or illness. Indirect costs can also include reduced productivity, and the need to train another person to fulfill the pregnant employee’s position when absent. Direct costs can reach well above $10,000 for expenses related to pre-natal care, delivery, and one-year of infant pediatrics (HRMagazine, 2005).

ECPE Essay about single parrent families Essay

The Family structure has changed significantly in the last fifty years. With higher percentages of marriage ending in divorce, and higher rates of childbearing out of wedlock, single parent families are increasing rapidly. Seventy percent of all the children will spend the all or part of their lives in a single-parent household. Studies have shown that the children of these families are affected dramatically, both negatively and positively. It is never a childs decision to only live with one parent. There are many ways that single-parent homes occur. Some of these ways include unplanned pregnancy, divorce, the decision to be a single parent by choice, and death of a spouse. In every case families are disputed greatly. Parents might experience depression, emotional problems etc. but the child is affected the most. It is ideal for a child to be living with both parents for many reasons that will affect the child’s emotional development. Even if the parent living away from the child visits often it does not make up for times where the child might have needed the parent. Lack of parental involvement can harm the child in many ways. With less parental influence in single parent homes the children might experience difficulty in school. With a grasp of a healthy marriage of their parents, children might have problems later in life with holding a job and having strong healthy relationships themselves. Studies have shown that children coming from a disrupted family significantly increases a young adult’s risk of experiencing social, emotional or academic difficulties. Aside from all the negative things a child growing up in a single-parent family might face the child will become more independent and responsible at an earlier age. Being forced at an early age to have more household responsibilities helps children later in life to be mature and make decisions for his/herself. Learning skills early can be applied to them later in life. The children also have higher self-esteem, because they that they are capable of facing problems, and taking on tasks. They know that they can’t rely on both parents to meet all their needs. Even though the ideal family is a dual family, children living in a single-parent home might face problems financially and economically which doesn’t mean they can fare off as well rounded adults later in life. As long as there are the established kinds of basic support given to the child, we do not need to target mothers or fathers for the breakdown of society. Every type of family has faced problems. As long as we acknowledge parents struggle to fight for their best for the kids and accept that they are not perfect.

Ethical analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Ethical analysis - Essay Example The treating physician has to maximize the benefits and decrease the harm for his/her patient .However, there are times when the physician, the patient and/or patient`s family might find it difficult to proceed; due to the fact that harm and benefit are not in a balance. In the case of J.R., the patient was complaining of leg pain for which he sought medical consultation. Further, the medical consultation resulted in a recommendation for a bone biopsy; a biopsy which showed bone cancer. The physician decided to start the treatment immediately. The treatment was chemotherapy with a chance of leg amputation. But it was not clear what was the probability of amputation. Considering the medical situation, a decision to disclose the information regarding the treatment plan with a chance of leg amputation will result in a psychological harm to the patient. The harm is that the patient knows the diagnosis before the graduation. Another harm would be expected when the patient gains an access to his lab results and knows the diagnosis by himself. This will prevent the patient from enjoying the graduation. The physician is facing a challenge to his duty in truth telling. This quadrant is derived directly from the ethical principle of respect for patient autonomy. Furthermore, this deals with what the patient prefers if he is competent and his presumed wishes if he is not competent. J.R. is a competent adult. This is clear when the treating physician had obtained J.R permission to speak to his parents after the surgery.This suggest that the physician had assessed the capability of J.R and realized that the patient has the right for confidentiality and to choose whom to share the medical information with. What is the preference of this capable adult? This is unknown with regards to this particular case; however, it is related that the mother`s preference is to let her son fully enjoy the graduation which will not be possible if

Ethics in Contemporary organizations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Ethics in Contemporary organizations - Essay Example Ethnic leaders should have strong moral values and principles and are able to control their feelings. As such, they should be able to handle stressful situations through self-control and tolerance. Such leaders should always strive for success and be able to balance their personal and professional lives. Additionally, good leaders should learn new strategies to handle issues through scholarly means, advance their learning skills and seeking feedback from the rest of the crew ethical leaders should always be energetic at their work to set a good example to the workers and increase the effectiveness of the organization (Dhar & Indian Society for Training & Development, 2009 ). As such, organizational leaders ought to have high ethical standards as it encourages the employees in organization to meet the same level of ethnicity. An ethical leader enhances the reputation of the company and this increases the effectiveness of the organization. An ethical organization attracts customers and this helps in the boosting of the sales and profits of the company. As such, the investors of the business are always at peace that their money is being used in the right way. Ethical employees adhere to the rules and regulations of the organization and ensure that they offer quality services to the company (Dhar & Indian Society for Training & Development, 2009).With this; these principles ensure that employees stay and meet the goals hence increasing the productivity. An organization with high moral principles strives to keep its customers by making sure that they provide insurance covers to them. Increasing the employees’ retention reduces the cost of replacing more employees. The principles ensure that the organization keeps the talented work and this increases the organizations productivity. A principled company ensures that there is a good relationship between the management and the vendors. Through this, the leaders make certain that vendors are paid on

Behavior modification for children with ADHD Essay

Behavior modification for children with ADHD - Essay Example This is a significant number that makes ADHD one of the most common learning and behavioral disorders to date. The number of American children and adults diagnosed with ADHD has significantly increased from over the years (Frame, 2003). ADHD is a medical term and as it is a problem related to children, that educators and researchers in education should learn its explanation and the symptoms that help identify the problem. It is necessary to clarify the term ADHD because it is not a single behavior but a mix of complex patterns that it is sometimes called an â€Å"assemblage† (Marcus &Saka, 2006 cited in Goodwin, 2010, p.2). It is a condition that the National Institute of Mental Health (2012) explains as â€Å"one of the most common childhood brain disorders and can continue through adolescence and adulthood† (p.1). The most obvious symptoms are â€Å"difficulty staying focused and paying attention, difficulty controlling behavior, and hyperactivity (over-activity). These symptoms can make it difficult for a child with ADHD to succeed in school, get along with other children or adults, or finish tasks at home† (ibid, p.1). In order to be diagnosed, symptoms include inattentiveness, disruptivene ss, as well as social and academic discrepancies in the child’s school or home settings. For example, this includes poor interactions with their parents, teachers, and classmates and a decrease in academic achievement. Children with ADHD endure these difficulties chronically and persist into adolescence and adulthood, negatively impacting their lives and the people surrounding them (Jones & Chronis-Tuscano, 2008). Many children are losing their battle with ADHD without the much needed help from their surroundings. ADHD cannot be categorized as a medical problem, but it is a behavioral and learning difficulty that needs to be effectively managed in the classroom by teachers and at home by the parents, because â€Å"there is currently no cure

The Role of the United Nations in Defending International Human Rights Essay

The Role of the United Nations in Defending International Human Rights - Essay Example The United Nations is an organization which was founded in the year 1945, at the signing of the United Nations Charter by 50 countries, and it replaced the League of Nations, which was founded in 1919. Since 1948 there have been 60 UN peacekeeping missions, and thus far, close to 130 nations have contributed personnel at various times. As of the year 2007, there are now 192 United Nations member states, thus encompassing almost every recognized independent state. â€Å"From its headquarters in New York City, the UN and its specialized agencies decide on substantive and administrative issues in regular meetings throughout the year. The organization is divided into administrative bodies, including the General Assembly, Security Council, Economic and Social Council, Secretariat, Trusteeship Council, and the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Additional bodies deal with the governance of all other UN System agencies, such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nationâ€⠄¢s Children Fund (UNICEF). The UN’s most visible public figure is the Secretary-General† (Wikipedia, 2007). The purpose of the United Nations from the very beginning was to maintain international security and peace, seek to develop friendly relations amongst all nations, try to tackle economic and social problems as well as humanitarian issues, and act as a hub for all nations to be able to act together so that as a result their actions could then be directed towards achieving good for the whole of the world.... The organization is divided into administrative bodies, including the General Assembly, Security Council, Economic and Social Council, Secretariat, Trusteeship Council, and the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Additional bodies deal with the governance of all other UN System agencies, such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nation's Children Fund (UNICF). The UN's most visible public figure is the Secretary-General" (Wikipedia, 2007). The purpose of the United Nations from the very beginning was to maintain international security and peace, seek to develop friendly relations amongst all nations, try to tackle economic and social problems as well as humanitarian issues, and act as a hub for all nations to be able to act together so that as a result their actions could then be directed towards achieving good for the whole of the world. One of the most major goals of the UN is to defend international human rights, and they are by far the most representative and influential organization in the world in this regards. They have worked dutifully and consistently in order to provide the most stable and secure international human rights and they are constantly striving to even further improve in these areas. The importance of this particular role of the UN has always been evident and present, however more so than ever it has been in recent years, particularly in regards to the complexities and troubles that have been taking place internationally. One of the most recent and significant troubles is that of the invasion of Iraq by the United States, which occurred on March 20, 2003, and which resulted in the winning of a quick military victory and the ousting of the government of Saddam Hussein. Although both the United States and the

Anatomy in MRI (Magnetic resonance imaging) Essay - 4

Anatomy in MRI (Magnetic resonance imaging) - Essay Example These collisions eventually cause the molecules to follow different trajectories, described as random walk. (m852, module1) Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), on the other hand, is another MRI sequence which is indicated for tissues with internal stuctures demonstrating anisotropy similar to that of some crystals, such as white matter axons in the brain or heart muscle fibers. With this anisotropic structure, the water molecules will diffuse faster along the internal structure and slower as it moves perpicularly. Hence, the direction of movement of the molecules, whether parallel or perpendicular to the internal structure will cause a change in the rate of diffusion. The infrastructure of muscle fibre is complicated. This infrastructure determines the functionality of the muscle itself. Diffusion tensor imaging (‘DTI’) is a technique that can be used to better the muscle fibre/functionality relationship (Damon et al, 2002, pp.97-104). In addition to investigation of skeletal muscles, DTI is used for viewing the muscles of the heart, kidney, spinal cord, and brain. DTI is a non-invasive technique that is particularly used for in vivo analysis (Frank et al, 2010, p. 1510). For example, researchers are increasingly interested in the direction information concerning fibrous structures in muscle that DTI can reveal (Villanova et al, 2005, pp 1-38). Direction information concerning fibrous structures in white matter can also be obtained. The following figure, Figure 1, shows Images of the white matters comparing children and adolescents using DTI technology (Barnea Goraly et al 2005, p. 1849). DTI measuring water diffusion in vivo is a pioneering modality (Villanova et al, 2005, pp 1-38). The theory behind DTI is based of cell physiology. Within the cell, the cell membranes and proteins influence the flow of water. These cell membranes and proteins tend to limit the diffusion rate

Synthisis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Synthisis - Essay Example Facebook makes a person or a student happy and helps them go through life challenges. It also helps freshmen to adapt faster to their new stage in life, as explained in â€Å"Facebook and first year college students†. In spite of the criticisms against social websites, these sites help many people such as students in dealing with stressful situations and life challenges through constant communication between peers who pass advisory information. In Konnikova’s article, she talks about how everyone who joins Facebook sought not to be sad or depressed, but becomes inflected after a while. She quotes, â€Å"the more people used Facebook in the time between the two texts, the less happy they felt—and the more their overall satisfaction declined from the beginning of the study until its end. The data, he argues, shows that Facebook was making them unhappy.†(Ethan Kross). I do not agree with her, the problem is that it becomes an obsession or an addiction to check Facebook more and more to see what people have written on their walls and keep track on a crush or a loved one. I do not believe this form of unhappiness can be attributed to the social media website but from the individual self who gets too close to a website that has no feelings or affection. In the article about college students, Facebook helps first year college students overcome the major change in their lives. â€Å"An estimated 17 million Americans attend college each year, of whom, approximately 3.5 million are first-year students† (U.S. Census Bureau, 2008). It also helps them to overcome challenges and depression when facing the changes and moving away from home. This is mainly achieved through reading memorable messages, or seeing a picture that will keep them going forward and help them in focusing in their educational goals. Personally, I can relate to this point in that social media helped me to get in touch with peers and professors. Furthermore, it

Why I want to become a voulunteer at Pomona Valley Hospital Essay

Why I want to become a voulunteer at Pomona Valley Hospital - Essay Example In the future I might be interested in working in this industry. The core values of the organization, CHANGE, are aligned with my perspectives and views in life. All organizations should seek to satisfy the customers due to the fact that customers are the people that provide organizations with revenues. Honor and respect are sound ethical principles that can help a company improve its operations and reputation. It is essential for companies to become accountable for their actions. New ideas are needed to apply innovations within an organization. Excellent enables companies to provide the best possible service to its customers. As a volunteer I plan on upholding the values of Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center. These values make sense to me which is the reason why I intend to abide by the mission and vision of the organization. I hope I get an opportunity to join the PVHMC as a

Analysis of the Proscenium Arch Essay Example for Free

Analysis of the Proscenium Arch Essay a)The Proscenium Arch StageThis stage is the traditional stage, where the audience is seated in one large block facing the stage, with a definite division between the audience and the stage. This division is usually in the form of an arch or a frame, called the proscenium arch. Advantages: This stage is the most common, and most of the worlds scripts were designed with this kind of staging in mind. It also allows much more realism and special effects, as the audience only watches from one side, so tricks can be concealed and props/scenery/actors can be positioned, ready for action, only just out of the audiences view. A curtain at the back allows actors to run from one side of the stage to the other without being seen, while elements of the play can easily be brought into view or taken out from above, below, or the sides. Disadvantages: The proscenium theatre is the most expensive to build and maintain. Because of the high production costs, plays for the proscenium stage are often written for small casts and minimal scenery. Also, the proscenium stage is not flexible; it cannot provide intimate contact with the audience, or give a different stage orientation. b)The Arena Stage/Theatre in the RoundAn arena stage is an open stage where the audience surrounds the stage, similar to the Colosseum. The stage may be any shape and provides access for actors and audience alike with aisles through the seating. Some stages have tunnels instead of aisles, to hide actors as they move towards and away from the stage. Advantages: The arena stage is best for amateur groups with low funding, as it is a cheap stage to produce, the focus is solely on the actors, scenery costs are reduced to a minimum, and the audience, being close to the stage, can easily hear the actors voices. Disadvantages: A stage surrounded by the audience means that no matter which direction an actor is facing, he/she is always giving his/her back to part of the audience. Also, large productions that require realistic scenery, concealment tricks or special effects are impossible to run on such a stage.  The simplicity of the stage, which is intentional, means that plays cannot look as realistic as on another stage, as less scenery and special effects can be used. c)The Thrust StageIn a thrust stage, the stage itself projects into the audience, so the audience are seated on 3 sides of the stage, similar to a catwalk design. Advantages: The two main advantages of a thrust stage are intimacy and lower cost. More audience members can be closer to the stage and viewing the action from three sides emphasises the three dimensional aspect of the scene. The audience has a sense of being in the same room as the actors and since audience members are seated facing each other, there is a greater sense of community and shared experience. Costs can also be lowered; as less scenery changing is required (scenery is only changed for the backstage, which does not require lots of movement devices). Disadvantages: Spectacular effects and large scenery changes in productions such as musicals are not easy to do in this kind of open stage. The thrust stage is not suited to large-scale productions, as large props and scenery cannot be easily moved around, and vertical scenery must be avoided, as it can block audience sightlines. d)The Traverse StageThe traverse stage is a long stage, similar to a corridor, where audience are seated on opposite sides of the stage, which divides the audience seating in half. The stage is like a road that runs through the viewers, giving them a wide view of the scene. When designing for this stage, more thought must be put in as to how actors use their space, as movement in the second dimension is limited. Advantages: The audience can clearly and easily see everything that is going on, there are 2 clear entry points and only one stretch of stage in between, making it easy to view the performance. Disadvantages: Movement is heavily restricted, and if an actor is facing one  part of the audience, their back will be to the other. Placing scenery and large props is difficult, as it is important not to block or interfere with the sightlines of the audience, and sightlines from two opposite sides is hard to design for. e)The Open StageOpen stages include the thrust stage, the arena stage and the black box stage (a type of extremely flexible staging where the audience and elements of the stage can be moved to any form).The open stage is named after the fact that there is no clear division between the stage and the audience both are architecturally in the same room. Advantages: Obviously no arch/frame gives much more intimacy between the audience and actors, and the viewers can be closer to the action. Viewers can fully appreciate the play and be in the same room with the actors, giving them more of a sense of being part of the scene. Disadvantages: Since the area is open, rather than the audience viewing the play through one view port, more consideration of the different audience views must be taken into account when designing and performing the play. Many stage tricks, special effects and scenery changes are much more difficult because the audience has a more three-dimensional view, and there are not as many mechanisms for movement of actors and props.

Meaning Of Employee Voice Commerce Essay

Meaning Of Employee Voice Commerce Essay Collective voice achieves what a lone voice could never do. Collective representation is also the foundation of a partnership relationship between employers, employees and unions that bring positive benefits for the business (Prosser, 2001). Throughout the twentieth century collective bargaining was the most significant means of regularity relationships in UK between employers and employees via trade union. In continental Europe there is more emphasis on employee voice having some role in the practice of companies. As defined by Boxall and Purcell (2003): Employee voice is the term increasingly used to cover a whole variety of process and structures which enable, and sometimes empower employees, directly and indirectly, to contribute to decision making in the firm. This essay will be focusing on the key areas such as Meaning and Purpose of employee voice, the frame work of employee voice, mechanisms and the impact of employee voice on unionised and non-unionised organisations. Meaning of Employee Voice Voice is a term that has been more widely used in the practitioner and academic literature on Human Resource Management and Industrial Relations in recent years (Breadwell 1998, Sako1998, Benson2000: Roche, 2000). According to Hirschmans classic study (1970) of African railways, he said that voice is an option for customers in a context of how organisations respond to decline, since then the term as been used in different applications. But Freeman and Medoff (1984) argued that it would be better for both the employer and employee to have a voice mechanism. Employee voice is said to be a two way communication process between the employer and the employee, in which the employers communicate to their employees as well as receiving or listening from the employee. Employee voice is one of the most important characteristics of employee participation. Employee voice mainly focuses on how employees can be part of decision making in the firm, which can be done through trade unions or by any other means of support. Employee Voice can be reached out by different forms of medium, but the main forms of means stated by (Millword et al.(2000)) are via trade union membership, recognition and representation, via indirect or representative participation mechanisms such as joint consultation and via direct employee involvement in the management .Freeman and Medoff( 1984) believed that trade unions were one the best means of approach for the employees to put there point across to the management as they remained independent . Purpose of Employee Voice Four main purpose of Employee voice according to Michael Armstrong (2006) First voice talks about Individual Dissatisfaction, in this type the main aim is to solve a problem or an issue with the management, like finding expression in a grievance procedure or speak up programme. The second voice talks about expression of collective organisation where voice provides a countervailing source of power to management, which is either done with the help of unionisation and collective bargaining. This can be related to Freeman and Medoff theory. The third voice is about contribution in management decision making, the main purpose is concerned with decision making which is generally regarding work organisation, quality and productivity. This view is evident in high involvement. Fourth voice is all about mutual understanding between the employees and the employer. Basically it is a form of mutuality, with partnership seen as delivering viability for the organisation and its employees. Types of Employee voice There are various forms of Employee voice. Lewin and Mitchell (1992) distinguished voice between mandated voice (e.g. co-determination and legislation) and voluntary voice (e.g. collective bargaining and grievance procedures). The framework for employee voice has been modelled by Marchinglon et al (2000) Voices can be divided into two different parts: Individual- which is purely based on employees. Collective- which is based on unions or any forms of groups. Shared and Contested Agenda- which covers four ideal types which are upward problem solving, grievance process, partnerships and collective bargaining. Organizations can see one of these dimensions, whereas organization can have more than two dimensions at the same time. This frame work of voice is more on the broader perspective and systematic. Mechanisms of Employee Voice Employee voice mechanisms can be divided into three categories: Upward Problem Solving- refers to an technique in which managers use to tap into employees ideas and opinions, either through two way communication or through any specific systems set up for the employees to express their voice, it is structured such that it can be operated directly between managers and employees rather than any employee representatives. Techniques included in upward problem solving are: -Electronic media: sharing and seeking of ideas via electronic means such as email. -Two-way communication: sharing and seeking ideas face to face between managers and staff to whom they report, e.g. By having one on one interaction or by regular meetings. -suggestion schemes: where each of the employees put their ideas and suggestion to the management, who then make sure the relevant ideas are implemented. -Attitude Survey: is basically sending out questionnaires or conducting survey to check on the level of satisfaction with a particular aspect of work or organization. -Project Teams: group of employees brought together to discuss quality of work in the organization or any issues regarding the organization. b) Representative Participation- refers to a scheme in which the employee representatives meet up with the managers on a regular basis. The main characteristic of that there is no direct involvement of the employees and their managers. Techniques used in Representative Participation are Partnership schemes, European work council, Joint consultation, and Collective Representation and Employee forum. All of these mechanisms are formal, but informal mechanisms can be very effective form of voice at small organizations. Example for informal voice is grey point, strikes and many more. c) Engagement is a feeling on the part of the employees that are able to express their view point to the management and in return the management would will provide support to allow this to happen, so that the employees are satisfied. Union and Non-union forms of employee voice and it impact on organisational performance as a whole Lot of research and study has been conducted and different theories have been collected regarding union and non-union representation of employees. Freeman and Medoff (1984) said that unions are the key mechanisms for improving workers productivity, reducing economic inequality and stabilizing the work force. Whereas according to the Human Resource Management (HRM) there has been an increase attention on collective decision making, information sharing and employee participation (Benson, 2000). Unionised Employee Voice According to Boxall and Purcell (2003) in industrial relations, the main reasons for employee voice representation are collective bargaining and consultation. Freeman (1976) defined unions as the institutions of collective voice in the labour market, Freeman further stated that collective forums for employee voice is more effective as its strengthens up the worker communities and provides a direct contact between the employees and management; but Addison and Belfields ( 2004) argued that this union structure would create an communication gap between the workers and management because they have to deal with issues through an third party. Freeman and Medoff (1984) also stated that unions play an important role in minimising the turnover rate as they provide their employees with voice mechanisms through which they rectify work related problems and also negotiate for higher compensation package. Freeman and Medoff (1984) arguments was supported by Batt, Colvin and Keefe(2002) who also be lieved that employees have to be given an higher compensation than what they would earn in an non-union set up and also unions strengthens employees, by providing them voice which would help them in reducing the grievance and pay inequality. Unions not only help in strengthening the employees, but they also help employers in minimizing turnover ratio, reducing hiring and training for new employees. Pettinger (1999) states that many organisations prefer to have a unionised set-up rather than unstructured approach for employee voice recognition, as it consumes less time and energy. Freeman and Medoff further added that unions can stop the organisation from engaging themselves into an opportunistic behaviour, which could cause damage for the workers. Basically unions help the organization to take proper care of their workers concerns so they would be motivated and committed in fulfilling their job responsibilities. Unfortunately unions have a negative impact on the organisations as well. Many researchers and employers state that, one thing which hurts the business and employers badly is stoppage of work by conducting strikes for fulfilments of their demands. A recent incident can be considered as an example, which is about Royal Mail (UK).Where Communication Workers Union (CWU) went on series of strikes from July to october,2007 which was regarding increase in pay, which not only caused damage to Royal Mail but also other business. This Example gives rise to the argument that unions tend to be selfish and not consider the needs or repercussions which are going to be caused, which could affect the long-term future of the organization. Most of researchers believe that unions help in increasing workers efficiency and productivity, but Addison and Hirsch (1989)denies this statement because there is average effect of unions on employees productivity and efficiency is quite less, as they are located in industries with low growth rate, they further believed that unionised set-ups experience lower profit margin; there are some exceptions, where most of the Asian organisation such as Sony, Tata Motor (India) and others, have a very well established union structure and still making huge amount of profit, probability a lot more than other organizations, so the efficiency and effectiveness of unions also depends on environment of business. Non-Unionised Employee Voice Pettinger, (1999) describes non-unionised employee voice to be forms of joint consultation which includes joint consultative committees and work councils. Joint consultative committees act like a bridge in providing formal information sharing mechanisms among management and the employees. In a non-unionised employee representation joint consultation not only allows management to determine the issues in which they want employee participation to seek their opinions for better solutions, but also they retain the right to decide the final outcomes or results. Management view is taken into consideration rather than the employees as employers are the one investing money in the business and they would want the best performance, so they would be deciding rather than the employees or unions. Work council are constituted by the organisations and representatives are chosen from different departments so that employees views concerns can be answered. Work council provided benefits both employees and employers by providing them with improved work flow system, increasing trust and cooperation and by spreading the use of the best practice. Work councils are representatives for the entire workforce of organisation regardless of the membership. Croucher and Brewster (1998) stated that work council are more effective when compared to trade unions in dealing with issues related to work practice, this argument was further supported by Pettinger (1999) that work council acts as a forum to exchange ideas, which will encourage the employees to participate in the growth of the organisation and also give rise to flexibility in working environment, which reduced isolation between different departments in the organisation. The work council also has an negative impact on the organisation unlike the trade unions, they are created in-house and are not dependent bodies representing employees issues, due to this an additional cost has to be bared by the organisation which will be an problem for the employers( Pettinger,1999). There is a common believe that employees might not understand the strategic perspectives of the organisations as it is an in-house creation of committees, they might bog down to management pressure where they have to make difficult . Critics of work council argued that they are the employers initiated structure, based on their own terms so they cannot be effective in voicing employees concern and issues, and are likely to serve management position on certain issues (Gollan,2001). He further stated that this structure is believed to have more management supporters, so they are not fully independent of bias factors. Benefits for Employers According to the CIPD view, high performance workplace knowledge and skills are developed and better used, leading to high valve enterprise and an increasingly knowledge economy, with a greater voice for employees. The employers are benefited by employees skills and knowledge can be better used leading to higher productivity. Employees feel more valued, so they are more likely to stay and contribute more to the organisation. The gains a positive reputation, making it easier to recruit good employees. Conflict is reduced and co-operation between employer and employee is based on interdependence. Benefits for Employees Having more influence over the work. Higher job satisfaction. More opportunities to develop skills. More job security if their employer is more successful as a result of voice imitative. Impacts of Employee Voice Conclusion From an organization point of view it would be in the companys best interest to involve management programmes that includes several voice mechanisms, by encouraging employees voice at the workplace through various methods , an organisation can fulfil an ethical and political need while also fortifying their bottom line by awarding high exit ration and resignation rate, It can be precisely conclude that choice of employee voice mechanisms entirely depends on the circumstances and the environment in which employees are conducting their business activities.

The Dysfunctional Family in Brontë’s Wuthering Heights Essay -- Wuther

The Dysfunctional Family in Brontà «Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s Wuthering Heights Creating a haven from the cruel outside world, families ideally provide protection and support for each of their members. In Emily Brontà «Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s Wuthering Heights, however, bitterness grows between the Earnshaws and the Lintons. Within these two families, siblings rival for power and parents fail to fulfill their roles as caregivers. The intertwining relationships of the Earnshaws and the Lintons are marked by physical abuse, degradation, and emotional negligence. These reduce each of the family members’ life to a lonely and meaningless journey though the cold and misty moors. Unforgiving as the moors that surround them, the Earnshaws and the Lintons often resort to physical violence when interacting with one another. When Lockwood first visits the protagonist Heathcliff at Wuthering Heights, he tries to caress one of Heathcliff’s dogs but is met with angry snarls. Heathcliff, seeing this, kicks the dog and informs his visitor: â€Å"You’d better let the dog alone. She’s not accustomed to be spoiled – not kept for a pet†(12). Like Heathcliff’s dog, no one in the Earnshaw or the Linton family is accustomed to affection. Nelly, the servant who has worked for the Earnshaws and the Lintons for many years, is considered to be a part of these two families. She has grown so accustomed to her master Hindley Earnshaw’s physical violence that she is unfazed when he sticks a knife between her teeth. Hindley tries to use physical violence as a means of re-establishing his power within his household, for he has lost his stranglehold on it when he spiralled into depression over his wife Frances’ death. An alcoholic and a gambler, Hindley is unsuccessful in obtaining his son Hareton’s a... ...s purposes. When Edgar Linton marries his beloved Catherine, Heathcliff revenges on his adoptive brother-in-law by marrying Isabella so that he may inherit the family fortune. He is only playing a game of emotions though, for he does not love Isabella at all. As Isabella laments to Nelly of her husband Heathcliff: â€Å"I gave him my heart, and he took and pinched it to death, and flung it back to me† (168). Cruel and false, the Earnshaws and the Lintons wreck havoc with each other’s hearts. They abuse each other physically, degrade their children, and withhold affection. The family structure collapses as the spirit is crushed. These two families banish the warmth of love and care from their midst and embrace the coldness of the still, harsh moors between their two houses. WORK CITED Brontà «, Emily. Wuthering Heights. New York: New American Library, 1959. The Dysfunctional Family in Brontà «Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s Wuthering Heights Essay -- Wuther The Dysfunctional Family in Brontà «Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s Wuthering Heights Creating a haven from the cruel outside world, families ideally provide protection and support for each of their members. In Emily Brontà «Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s Wuthering Heights, however, bitterness grows between the Earnshaws and the Lintons. Within these two families, siblings rival for power and parents fail to fulfill their roles as caregivers. The intertwining relationships of the Earnshaws and the Lintons are marked by physical abuse, degradation, and emotional negligence. These reduce each of the family members’ life to a lonely and meaningless journey though the cold and misty moors. Unforgiving as the moors that surround them, the Earnshaws and the Lintons often resort to physical violence when interacting with one another. When Lockwood first visits the protagonist Heathcliff at Wuthering Heights, he tries to caress one of Heathcliff’s dogs but is met with angry snarls. Heathcliff, seeing this, kicks the dog and informs his visitor: â€Å"You’d better let the dog alone. She’s not accustomed to be spoiled – not kept for a pet†(12). Like Heathcliff’s dog, no one in the Earnshaw or the Linton family is accustomed to affection. Nelly, the servant who has worked for the Earnshaws and the Lintons for many years, is considered to be a part of these two families. She has grown so accustomed to her master Hindley Earnshaw’s physical violence that she is unfazed when he sticks a knife between her teeth. Hindley tries to use physical violence as a means of re-establishing his power within his household, for he has lost his stranglehold on it when he spiralled into depression over his wife Frances’ death. An alcoholic and a gambler, Hindley is unsuccessful in obtaining his son Hareton’s a... ...s purposes. When Edgar Linton marries his beloved Catherine, Heathcliff revenges on his adoptive brother-in-law by marrying Isabella so that he may inherit the family fortune. He is only playing a game of emotions though, for he does not love Isabella at all. As Isabella laments to Nelly of her husband Heathcliff: â€Å"I gave him my heart, and he took and pinched it to death, and flung it back to me† (168). Cruel and false, the Earnshaws and the Lintons wreck havoc with each other’s hearts. They abuse each other physically, degrade their children, and withhold affection. The family structure collapses as the spirit is crushed. These two families banish the warmth of love and care from their midst and embrace the coldness of the still, harsh moors between their two houses. WORK CITED Brontà «, Emily. Wuthering Heights. New York: New American Library, 1959.

Kelly and Sale: Persuasive Or Pointless? Essay -- Kelly Sale Argumenta

Kelly and Sale: Persuasive Or Pointless? Unarguably, since technology has been introduced, it has had profound effects, permeating not only onto society, but our entire ecological system. To categorize the effects of technology as predominantly beneficial or detrimental, as Kevin Kelly and Kirkpatrick Sale claim in their interview, is difficult. "Interview With The Luddite" captures and vividly illustrates their seemingly pointless and underdeveloped ideas. Kelly, protechnology, and Sale, a contemporary neo-Luddite, discuss many technological issues, including the automation of the labor force, oral tradition, literacy, and civilization. Later, they go on to present often radical and unrealistic solutions to the issues. While at times I can fathom certain aspects of the arguments, their solutions are predominantly too idealistic. In this paper, I plan to explore the physical setting of the interview, important nonphysical aspects including the intentions of the participants, and the ideas presented, while incorporating my o wn perceptions of their persuasiveness and effectiveness. The atmosphere of the June 1995 interview between Kelly and Sale is of essential importance to the initial impressions of the audience. Firstly, Kelly and Sale agreed to the interview which was published in Wired magazine. "This popular on-line magazine lacks any in-depth discussion of even the most problematic issues surrounding digital culture" (243). Obviously, the magazine offers a purely biased perspective and presents only the positive effects of technological innovations. Appearing in such a biased magazine may seem initially beneficial to the conversion intentions of Sale, the Luddite, but with deeper analysis it becomes clear that the c... ... convincing. Still, I cannot fathom the motivations behind the interview for either participant. Perhaps Kelly's goal was to persuade Sale, which he did, and perhaps Sale's goal was to attract publicity. Nevertheless, neither was very effective or intriguing in their arguments. I propose we invite technology and essentially the future. But we should never overstep our boundaries in this world. Instead, accept our role, have regard for nature, respect the Higher Being, and finally consider the consequences of our actions. If all aspects are considered, the undeveloped and seemingly pointless analogies illustrated by Kelly and Sale can be thankfully avoided. Works Cited Kelly, Kevin. "Interview With The Luddite." Andrea A.Lunsford and John J. Ruszkiewicz, The Presence Of Others: Voices That Call For A Response. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1997. (243-253)

Ritz Carlton Essay examples -- essays research papers

In 1983, President and COO, Horst Schulze, decided upon a strategy to manage the Ritz Carlton in order to compete on quality. The strategy affected the entire organization, with significant differences in:  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Defining traits of all company products defined in the company Credo  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Translating the Credo into basic standards to clarify the responsibilities for employees  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Personally train employees the new Ritz-Carlton Credo and basic standards (the Gold Standards)  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Aggressively instilling a passion for excellence Five years later, Schulze began using the Malcolm Baldridge National Quality Award criteria to develop a system of business excellence. This system used the Deming Wheel in order to achieve optimum performance levels throughout the organization. With these new policies in place, Schulze lead Ritz Carlton to the first recipient of the Malcolm Baldridge National Quality Award for Service. The 1999 Ritz-Carlton application summary is as follows: Criteria 1: Leadership â€Å"Plan† – There are seven specific decisions collectively made by Senior Leaders to set direction for business excellence:  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  10 year vision  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚ ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Strategy  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  5 year mission  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚ ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Methods  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  3 year objective  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚ ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Foundation  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  1 year tactic  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The senior leaders formed the Gold Standards, which are comprised of the Credo, The Basics, Three Steps of Service, the Motto, and the Employee Promise. Together, the Gold Standards have the ability to empower employees to take initiative in thinking and acting with innovation and independence, for the overall benefit of not only the company, but the customers as well. â€Å"Do† – Specific actions by senior leaders in order to properly manage the new leadership approach are made up of three salient processes:  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ensuring each new hotel’s goods and services are characteristic of all other Ritz Carlton’s on opening day.  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The results of seven specific decisions defined at the annual ... ... well as drivers of employee satisfaction. 7.4  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Supplier and Partner Results The Ritz-Carlton ensures that performance requirements of their suppliers are met through a thorough Supplier Compliance and Quality survey that measures key aspects of supplier quality. Purchasing personnel at each hotel fill out the survey every six months and rate specific issues, for example, fit for use, accuracy and service, etc. Suppliers who achieve an 80% or better overall rating on all attributes meet Ritz-Carlton’s quality requirements. 7.5  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Organizational Effectiveness Results Ritz-Carlton’s C.A.R.E. program of systematic preventive maintenance has kept their property and equipment at world-class levels at reduced costs. This is in line with their goal of pursuing a defect-free environment. With unemployment at a low and significant competition for skilled workers, the Ritz-Carlton embarked on a major project to improve the cycle time from when a potential new-hire walks in the door and a job offer is tendered. Using scientific quality approaches, the Ritz-Carlton has improved cycle time from 21 days in 1996 to just 1 day in 1999.

Facebook and Harmful Effects: Internet Addiction Essay

Unlike reading books and long magazine articles which requires the ability of critical thinking, social networks such as Facebook are the new addiction among people. With its limitless quantities of photos and status updates, which are bright-colored candies for the mind, it’s been difficult to recognize how toxic and harmful Facebook and other social networks can be. In the last five years, researchers from the United States, Europe, South America, China, and other locations have conducted studies related to internet addiction, social media use, and Facebook. From the review of literature detailed in these studies, many researchers have suggested that a new form of internet addiction related to Facebook use has emerged globally. Determining how much use of Facebook is normal and what type of behavior represents addictive or abusive activity is not a simple issue, as work patterns, artistic creativity, photography, text messaging, and family activities can all be involved. The negative consequences of addictive social media use may not be immediately apparent to casual users. With debate ongoing as to whether to include social media addiction as a mental illness in the forthcoming version of the DSM used in clinical psychiatry, a review of current research in psychology and sociology is required to learn the characteristics, symptoms, and treatments for this growing problem. By reviewing individual case studies and surveys of cultural groups, more information about the modern diagnosis of Facebook addiction globally can be found. People are not rational enough to be exposed to Facebook, which can lead to a change of behaviors. When these changes become negative to the life experience or health of the individual, professionals in mental health care have begun questioning whether social media addiction is a problem that must be addressed in large numbers. Psychological research into internet addiction begins with case studies of individuals that are then reviewed in large groups to combine quantitative and qualitative methods in statistical  results. For example, the study by Karaiskos et al. (2010) looked at the example of a 24 year old woman who used Facebook for 5 hours per day, with over 400 friends. The woman had lost her job because of excessive Facebook use, posting status updates and other details to her profile. (Karaiskos et al., 2010) The woman had used the internet for many years without developing addiction to other sites before using Facebook. The Karaiskos study concluded that â€Å"Facebook addiction can be considered as an ‘urge-driven disorder’ with a strong compulsive component†¦ another subcategory of the internet spectrum addiction disorders.† (Karaiskos et al., 2010) Recent research by Kuss & Griffiths (2013) found â€Å"internet addiction appears as mental health concern for UK university students† and that â€Å"3.2% of the students were classified as being addicted to the Internet.† (Kuss & Griffiths, 2013) These researchers concluded that there was significant evidence that supported â€Å"the inclusion of ‘Internet addiction’ in the DSM-V.† (Kuss & Griffiths, 2013) Thus, a wide range of research in psychology and sociology is developing that identifies Facebook addiction as a serious mental health problem. Facebook consumption is a competitive disadvantage, where the less time spent on Facebook, the bigger the advantage people might have. The case study of the woman given by the Karaiskos study showed how people could use their job because of too much Facebook use. However, the impact of overuse of Facebook and the loss of personal productivity in the workplace can also be found in enterprise studies. For example, companies whose employees are addicted to Facebook may check frequently their profiles or friends’ information as to be viewed as wasting time and reducing office or workplace efficiency. The Sherman study (2014) showed the influence of workplace factors related to â€Å"personality type, values, boredom and procrastination† in employees. (Sherman, 2014) Recent studies by Kuss and Griffiths (2013) suggest that as much of 21.5% of the differential shown in addictive use to Facebook varies according to personality type. (Kuss & Griffiths, 2013) Sherman identifies neurotic individuals, women, and people prone to procrastination activities as most influenced by or susceptible to symptoms of Facebook addiction. (Sherman, 2014) Kuss & Griffiths (2011) found another characteristic that was indicative of increased susceptibility to Facebook  addiction in ecommerce and online shopping frequency. (Kuss & Griffith, 2011) From these and other studies, it is increasingly evident that the mental health issues related to Facebook addiction have an impact on worker productivity across both white-collar and blue-collar sectors. Continued research is required to determine the degree of impact in different industry from social media addiction. People who develop internet dependence may isolate and refrain from real-world activities, which can increase their risk of negative outcomes. While it may seem paradoxical that social media can lead to individual isolation, there are major issues with new technology use that have not been studied in long-term social impact or effect on individual mental health. Social media and Facebook usage are both relatively new phenomena, as are the rise of the internet and mobile phones globally. With these new technologies come new risks for people who are not critically prepared to monitor and condition their own behavior. Where isolation may also lead to addiction in other areas as an escape from personal problems, social media is then just one of many forms of abusive activity that can develop through negative mental health patterns. In this way, Facebook addiction may derive characteristics and causes in individual psychology on pathways similar to those that are found in other types of neurosis. (Kuss & Griffiths, 2013) Job loss, neglect of loved ones, friends, and family, or other problems can develop from people who become overly immersed in Facebook, while this can also lead to financial concerns, academic performance issues, or loss of contact with social groups in the â€Å"real world.† The problem with Facebook and social media addiction is further linked to narcissistic behavior in isolated individuals and environments that are mediated by new technologies. Facebook status updates are overwhelmingly about things you cannot influence. The daily repetition of notifications about things that people can’t act upon makes them passive. The Bergen Facebook Addiction Scale (BFAS) looked at a set of 18 variables that related to Facebook addiction, including â€Å"the six core elements of addiction (salience, mood modification, tolerance, withdrawal, conflict, and relapse).† (Andreassen et al., 2012) The group found a high relation of correspondence between neurosis in  individual mental health and social media addiction. To a lesser degree, extroversion was also seen as a personality trait that can contribute to Facebook addiction, whereas conscientiousness would be a trait that would preserve people from falling into the problem. (Andreassen et al., 2012) From studies such as this, it becomes evident that increasing conscientiousness or critical thinking abilities in people could help them mentally balance activities and avoid internet, social media, or Facebook addiction. Sleep and regulated bed times were also seen as significant variables in these studies. (Andreassen et al., 2012) Social conditioning can have a large impact as it varies with personality traits in individuals to both encourage and discourage the development of Facebook and social media addiction. The primary antidote to what is unconscious, need-driven neurotic expression in Facebook addiction can be found in critical thinking. The more time people spend on Facebook, the more they exercise their ability to skimming and multitasking while ignoring the ability used for reading deeply and thinking with profound focus. This leads to a reduced ability to concentrate that may impact work performance, academic testing, memory, or other issues. The Kuss and Griffiths (2011) study found narcissism and neuroticism as related root causes of Facebook addiction. â€Å"Extraverts appear to use social networking sites for social enhancement, whereas introverts use it for social compensation, each of which appears to be related to greater usage, as does low conscientiousness and high narcissism.† (Kuss & Griffiths, 2011) Whether or not critical thinking is capable of addressing deeper root neurotic tendencies is currently under debate by these researchers, leading for many to argue for the inclusion of social media addiction into the DSM-V to reflect clinic and counseling environments. Critical thinking can be seen as a wider solution which does not address the neurotic elements at a root level of treatment, needing for the inclusion of social media addiction as a new mental illness category. Facebook can severely affect memory, disrupt concentration, and weaken comprehension. Developments in neuroscience and psychology can be applied to diagnose instances of social media addiction and to study the neurochemical or behavioral changes induced by the neurosis. In studying the individual  effects of Facebook addiction in MRI scans or neurochemistry, scientists can shed new light on the physiological issues associated with this problem. However, the phenomena is still new and related to technological innovations which require further studies worldwide in individual psychology and collective sociological issues involved. The â€Å"decrease in real life social community participation and academic achievement, as well as relationship problems† are seen at this stage as the most apparent symptoms of Facebook addiction as a mental illness concern. (Kuss & Griffiths, 2011) These conclusions may change as more research in neurophysiology, pharmacology, and neurochemistry are applied to social media addiction. Debate as to whether to include Facebook addiction as a mental illness in the forthcoming version of the DSM-V used in clinical psychiatry are strong, as the problem of internet addiction is well established. The problem of social media addiction has roots in narcissistic and neurotic behavior, and can lead to decline in performance in the workplace or school. Personal relationships can also be neglected when people become morbidly obsessed or addicted to their Facebook status and profile settings. The social media websites have an addiction percentage that may be as high as 3.5% of the population, which can represent serious mental health and economic consequences for millions of people. In addition to this, those who need help and treatment for this disease must have official psychiatric recognition in order for insurance coverage to pay for treatment, counseling, and prescriptions. Therefore, current research developing the characteristics, signs, and symptoms of Facebook addiction should be closely monitored in order that appropriate treatment responses may be applied. Works Cited ANDREASSEN, C.S., TORSHEIM, T., BRUNBORG, G.S., & PALLESEN, S. â€Å"DEVELOPMENT OF A FACEBOOK ADDICTION SCALE.† Psychological Reports, Volume 110, 2012, pp. 501-517. Aug. 03, 2014 . Karaiskos, D., Tzavellas, E., Balta, G., & Paparrigopoulos, T. â€Å"Social network addiction : a new clinical disorder?† European Psychiatry, Volume 25, Supplement 1, 2010, Pages 855. Aug. 03, 2014 . Kuss, D.J. & Griffiths, M.D. â€Å"Online Social Networking and Addiction—A Review of the Psychological Literature.† Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 2011, pp. 3528-3552. PDF. Kuss, D.J., Griffiths, M.D., & Binder, J.F. â€Å"Internet addiction in students: Prevalence and risk factors.† Computers in Human Behavior, Volume 29, Issue 3, May 2013, Pages 959–966. Aug. 03, 2014 . Sherman, Erica. â€Å"Facebook Addiction: Factors Influencing an Individual’s Addiction.† Honors Thesis Program in the College of Management, Paper 5, 2011. Aug. 03, 2014 .

Emily Dickinson’s Success is Counted Sweetest Essay

Emily Dickinson’s â€Å"Success is Counted Sweetest† has been penned in iambic trimeter with the exception of the first two lines of the second stanza. The poem highlights aphoristic truths that are universal. In the first stanza, Emily Dickinson endeavors to define the true essence of success. The general impression is that success can be ‘counted’ by only those who have experienced it numerous times. Nevertheless, it is more precisely evaluated or counted by those who have never succeeded as they can apprehend its true value. In another poem, â€Å"I Had Been Hungry, All the Years†, Emily Dickinson writes that â€Å"Hunger-was a way / Of Persons outside Windows- / The Entering-takes away-â€Å". For the true experience of life, failures are inevitable. For, what we learn from our failures, success can never teach us. The alliteration with the repetition of the ‘s’ sound lays emphasis on ‘success’. Success also tastes sweeter to the person who has persevered very hard for it, than to a person who has found success effortlessly. The former is also more thankful to God, and cherishes his accomplishment. The word ‘nectar’ here implies water. However, it is perception that renders it ‘nectar’. To the thirsty ones with parched throats, a drop of water tastes as sweet as nectar. Here ‘sorest’ is utilized with reference to its old meaning ,that is ‘greatest’.Only the one in the direst need, can treasure any sort of sanction. Not one of all the purple host Who took the flag to-day Can tell the definition, So clear, of victory! Some people define success by virtue of positions that they acquire and assume in life. The poetess asserts how none of the purple leaders who took the flag to-day could describe what victory actually meant. The act of victory in such a stance of winning a battle is limited to the act of taking away a flag. It also points to the worldly act of hoisting a flag. Arundhati Roy in â€Å"The End of Imagination† toys with the word ‘successful’.She echoes how the meaning of the word ‘successful’ depends upon perception. For instance,a soldier who dies at war is deemed by others to be ‘unsuccessful’.Roy points out that it does not necassarily mean that the soldier is in any way ‘unfulfilled’. The poetess highlights the word ‘to-day’ to underline the presentness and transiency of the situation. ‘Purple’ is the colour of royalty because the fine clothes/robes of kings and emperors were dyed purple; and also connotes ‘blood’. It was the trend that dynasties ruled over some countries .Being born to a royal family, one could never realize how difficult it was to achieve that position as it naturally came to them as a heirloom .Shakespeare said: Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon ’em. (Twelfth Night Quote Act ii. Scene 5.)Of these,only those who achieve it comprehend its worth according to Dickinson. As he, defeated, dying, On whose forbidden ear The distant strains of triumph Burst agonized and clear! In the above lines, the poetess exemplifies the frenzy of success, that one loses consciousness in. He loses the ability to evaluate himself objectively. In such a context, the person who loses the battle and is dying can perceive it better. The dying man’s ears are not ‘forbidden’. The figure of speech utilized here is a’ transferred epithet’ .Rather what is forbidden to his ears is the sound of success, as he belonged to the defeated side. He is successful in that he can realize the futility of war, and the meaningless of success as the speaker in Wilfred Owen’s â€Å"Strange Meeting’ does. The word ‘strain’ in â€Å"strains of triumphs’ may be used as a pun in the above phrase. Here,the victory may also be ‘strained’. The idea of distance and defeat is suggested by the alliteration of the ‘d’ sound. Moreover, the one who is caught in the noise and fury of success cannot ,in fact hear its sound. The one who serenely lies away can perceive it better. It does not manifest itself subtly, but does† Burst agonized and clear!† Rukhaya, M. (2012, October 07). Poetry analysis: Emily dickinson’s â€Å"success is counted sweetest†. Retrieved from http://voices.yahoo.com/poetry-analysis-emily-dickinsons-success-counted-

You’re Not Special

Son of famed historian and Puller Prize winner David McCullough, English instructor David McCullough, Jar. Delivered one of the most controversial and memorable high-school commencement speeches on June 7, 2012. Addressing over 400 capped and gowned graduating students, family, and friends at Wellesley High School, McCullough humorous Introduction set the attention-garnering foundation for his main argument: to inspire his audience-?and this generation-?to be exceptional and lead extraordinary lives† (McCullough,Jar. ).Perhaps the most revocation piece of McCullough presentation is his simple and challenging proposition: â€Å"You're not special. † A direct response to the exigency that everyone Is uniquely gifted, the phrase was Immediately demonic by social media and generated a maelstrom of conflicting responses. But rather than analyze this comment as a self-evident rhetorical entity, it is instead important to review McCullough message In context. McCullough effecti vely frames ethical, logical, and pathetic appeals with preexisting commonplaces and a calculated delivery to further his positive precept for the future generation.Situated ethos primes McCullough audience and lends credibility to his argument before he even utters a word. A retro's ability to persuade, in fact, Is directly linked to their reputation: preconceived moral Judgments affect the perceived validity of the messenger (Crowley and Heehaw, 148). Thus, McCullough prestigious social standing-?devoted teacher, advocate of civic engagement, and son of a prolific academic-?commands respect and receptiveness.For example, McCullough authority as a scholar is reinforced by his reference to ancient philosophers and prominent literary figures: â€Å"You've learned, o, I hope, as Sophocles assured us, that wisdom Is the chief element of happiness. † By virtue of his extrinsic virtuosity, the audience perceives McCullough as reputable, a veritable expert in the field. This shared rhetorical lens, or commonplace, consequently establishes a positive Interpersonal dimension between McCullough and his audience and promotes attentive listening.An audience engaged with the rhetoric moreover shifts individuals' attitudes from indifference to acceptance or rejection, two states conducive to persuasion (163). Additionally, McCullough later assertions to carper the heck out of the diem† and resist the easy comforts of complacency' are bolstered by his social eminence. Ultimately, an exemplary rhetoric is more efficacious at telling his audience to be exemplary: McCullough message is transformed through situated ethos.Just as McCullough rhetorical proposition is strengthened through ethos, so too Is the effectiveness of his dialectical conclusion reliant upon all aspects of logical appeal. McCullough first lays an Inductive foundation on which to build his deductive argument that â€Å"You're not special. † This inundation, in fact, is augmented both in p otency and applicability by McCullough detailed enumeration of irrefutable instances and cognizance of contentious reasoning. Many of McCullough particulars demand belief without further elaboration; they are what Aristotle deemed â€Å"[†¦ J scientific demonstrations† (119).Indeed, McCullough statistical evidence not only serves as incontrovertible proof, 1 OFF encompassing: â€Å"So think about this: even if you're one in a million, on a planet of 6. 8 billion that means there are nearly 7,000 Just like you. † McCullough facts also carry eight because he utilizes outside expertise to corroborate his claims: â€Å"In fact, astrophysicists assure us the universe has no center; therefore, you cannot be it. † Furthermore, McCullough exposes the false pretenses on which many audience members claim academic superiority and distinction: â€Å"And I hope you caught me when I said ‘one of the best. But the phrase defies logic. By definition there can be onl y one best. You're it or you're not. † Interestingly, McCullough further demonstrates the fallacious nature of this reasoning by noting that the venue-?the Wellesley High football stadium-?is a literal level playing field. † Having not only piled on particulars† (124) but also shown the illogic of opposing claims, McCullough conclusion-?that no one is special-?readily follows. His subsequent deduction, thoroughly dependent on the strength of his inductive reasoning, is thus nearly inescapable.It goes as follows: No one is special; you are someone; you are not special. This syllogism certainly hearkens to the literal meaning of anthem, cutting right to the heart of the matter† (125). McCullough recognizes that an individual's response to a proposition is dependent on preexisting commonplaces which coalesce into larger ideologies. For this reason, his logical appeal challenges the normally unarticulated but widely held belief that everyone has talents which dif ferentiate them from others.By objectively attacking a near universal commonplace, McCullough makes his message relevant to his entire audience and indisputable. McCullough, in turn, concludes his speech with a collection of dialectical dictums: â€Å"Develop and protect a moral sensibility and demonstrate the character to apply it. Dream big. Work hard. Think for yourself. † These final developments are McCullough true proposition to the Wellesley High School graduates of 2012. Though improvable, the rhetorical impact and acceptance of such moral adages relies upon the perceived â€Å"wisdom† (119) of the rhetoric.Thus, McCullough compelling message-?his dialectical claims-?are substantiated by his logically sound reasoning, resulting in a message that fully resonates with the audience. McCullough also furthers his proposition by altering the emotional state of his audience and challenging commonplaces with pathos. Speeches are neither given nor received in a vacuum; McCullough audience, showered with accolades, brings with them preexisting states of self-absorption and entitlement.As such, a powerful change in emotional intensity is required to induce openness and receptivity. McCullough effects this change through pejorative language and indirect confrontation of sensitive commonplaces. His diction-?including words like â€Å"pamper,† â€Å"cosset,† â€Å"dote,† and â€Å"bubble-wrap†-?is colorful and conveys disparaging, valued judgments† (186). Similarly, his degradation of commonplace symbols like trophies ND awards contests the ideological underpinning that such achievements have intrinsic value: â€Å"If everyone gets a trophy, trophies become meaningless.We have of late, we Americans, to our detriment, come to love accolades more than genuine achievement. † Perhaps most inciting is McCullough cynical description of childhood, being doted upon and called sweetie pie. † The net effect is an em otional globalization of the audience which polarize beliefs and generates a genuine, hierarchy affects emotional responses-?individuals are less indignant at those of rater communal standing (176)-?McCullough position allows to him to temper his message and strike an optimal balance between boredom and excessive â€Å"C†¦ Enrage† (185). In this way, McCullough increases audience enforceability and the impact of his other rhetorical claims. Just as important as his rhetorical appeals is McCullough delivery, which confers eloquence on a seemingly scathing commentary. In truth, however, McCullough body language, tone, and cadence highlight some weaknesses as an orator. It was evident that he read from a manuscript, and he made no use of deliberate pauses to highlight certain concepts. As such, some of McCullough more grandiose ideas and imagery were not done justice.Nonetheless, McCullough mastery of one stylistic piece of ammunition is apparent: calculated perception and humor. His tasteful use of levity is effective because it appeals to all sectors of his audience; consider his references to baseball, marriage, Barney, M)LO,† and the universal distaste for Donald Trump's hair, which is â€Å"C†¦ ] quite a phenomenon. † McCullough humorous, multidimensional allure-?a emission unrepresented in multimedia portrayal-?makes the tenets of his oration memorable and adds a much needed human element.Through situated ethos, logos, pathos, ubiquitous commonplaces, and a cogent delivery, English instructor David McCullough, Jar. Effectively conveys a timeless and fundamental doctrine to his audience: to lead â€Å"The fulfilling life, the distinctive life, the relevant life. † And though a superficial synopsis of uniform Not Special† is a caustic condemnation of the future generation, a genuine examination reveals a much deeper, uplifting truth: life is not meant to be accomplished, but experienced.

Counselling for Loss and Grief

3000 WORD ESSAY ON LOSS AND GRIEF – ELIZABETH KUBLER ROSS AND J W WORDEN . Elizabeth Kubler Ross 1926-2004. â€Å" The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat ,known suffering ,known loss ,and have found their way out of the depths . These people have an appreciation ,a sensitivity ,and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion ,gentleness ,and a deep loving concern . -Beautiful people do not just happen –Elizabeth Kubler Ross ‘ Elizabeth had a unique childhood she was one of triplet girls born in Zurich Switzerland on July 8th 1926 ,her mother Emmy Villiger Kubler closely attended to all their physical needs as they were all extremely small at birth .Elizabeth’s childhood treatment by her father was said to be very harsh ,which might explain why she was concerned by peoples suffering ,and her experiences at the end of the second world war including the aftermath of Majdanek –concentration camp in Poland ,a nd very soon after she was well known for her work with the terminally ill and her ideas soon came in to counselling and support for people effected by death and bereavement .She challenged previous conservative theories ,and was welcomed by carers ,and the dying and bereaved as many western people saw death as a taboo subject where as other cultures did not see death as such a taboo . Critics have tended to appauled her model as vague and others have had mixed responses to her interest in the after life ,and her study of Thanatollog which is a Greek work for death and means the study of death and dying .She has written over twenty books and her book in 1969 called death and dying was revolutionary as it did reflect her bold and unspoken approach . It was Elizabeth’s work with dying individuals which led her to develop a five stage model for coping with terminal illness , the five stages are –denial ,anger,bargaining ,depression and acceptance . Today many professional s have adapted this model . her model does imply that all dying people go through the stages and in the same order and acceptance is an essential part of the process.She also conclude in her theory that women are more likely to go through the five stages of grief than men , however most people go through at least two . First there will be the initial shock of the news ,and a person may not show any physical symptoms at this stage as internally they have frozen the news out and have not yet taken a hold of what has happened , telling a person several times helps ,external symptoms can be paling of he skin ,shortness of breath and fight or flight reaction. After the initial shock a person may be in denial this is where a person may close their eye s to what is being told to them and pretend nothing has happened ,they will continue to carry on doing their job , and classic behaviour will be â€Å" flight in to health â€Å" where previous problems are suddenly seen as fixed by themse lves ,they are trying to avoid the inevitable .Getting stuck in denial is common in â€Å" cool â€Å" cultures ,ie Britian . A person can suddenly swing into anger ,bottled up feelings can come up and â€Å" why me† may be repeated in their heads and â€Å" why not you â€Å" fuels the anger even more ,supporting the anger and accepting it helps the person and just letting them be angry ,and also channelling the anger in to useful channels with help .After the fires of anger have been burnt out the next stage is bargaining , it is an expression of hope that the bad news is reversible , this is a time when false hope should not be given though ,and support instead . Depression is when the news now starts to sink in and the person slumps in to a slough of despond , they turn towards themselves and turn away from help , and may start blaming themselves not others or the situation .Finally the person is back to reality when they are at the acceptance stage , this is where th e person is ready to move on ,acceptance is visible by people taking ownership for themselves again and their own actions , in this stage many will appear more content as they find their way forward in life again , people at this stage are at the completion of the transition. Elizabeth did not wish her process to become rigid steps , she intended it to be a framework , a guide as such ,as some steps may not be visited ,and others may be revisited ,as people s experiences of grief and trauma are all individual .Elizabeth also recognized that people have to pass through their own grief journey in order for acceptance to happen and enable them to cope , having an understanding of what is happening and our emotions makes dealing with it much easier. The mourning process may last for months or years ,intense symptoms of emotional distress generally lasts between six and twelve months ,however if morning is not complete growth ,and development can not take place and complications can deve lop .Similar reactions can be observed in people confronted with far less trauma than death and bereavement, such as crime , relocation ,disability ,injury ,breakups ,so it is a model that can not only be for people suffering with death and dying but also trauma ,as trauma and emotional shock are relative in terms of effect on people , life challenges cause similar emotional upset , but one persons personal trauma will not be another person’s personal trauma .

Perceptual Learning for Speech Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Perceptual Learning for Speech - Research Paper Example owever, it provides the easier means of making assessment on the comparative assessment the talkers independent and the talker dependence adaptation to foreign accent speech. From a practical point of view, it would also suggest that exposure to individuals of multiple talkers to foreign accent would have a higher chance of being more effective in the enhancement of the speech communication among the natives and the non-native speakers. The results also demonstrated that the polish accented talker exposed a note-worthy limit on adaptation of listeners on speech of the foreign accent such as Chinese-accented English, and that it promoted some level of perpetual flexibility, which facilitated the recognition of some other foreign accent. This however is a gap that it is believed that some other researches need to exhaustively considers. This include whether exposure to a particular accent would be used for generalization to other typical accents such as the Spanish-accented English. Studies that attempted to reveal the efficacy of a high-variability perspective to phonemes of non natives was clearly matched with the fact that there was a need for the exposure of multiple talkers to the adaptation with the Chinese-accented English. In the study, it was also found out that the study with single talker of a Chinese accented English, regardless of the fact that the talker baseline level of intelligibility of sentence was not enough to present recognition accurately. These findings had some contrast with Weil (2001) that indicated that a single Marathi accented English talker. The difference between this study and the previous study is that this study

Essentials of Corporate Fraud Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Essentials of Corporate Fraud - Assignment Example Extortion; refers to the deliberate action of a person to commit theft by seeking to obtain property or services through advancing threats to others (Coenen 2008). One specific element of extortion that the credit manager may have participated in is exposing secrets or thought facts, which may be true or untrue with the intention of subjecting anyone to hatred, contempt or mockery or to damage the individual’s credit or business. The manager’s operations can be vetted to detect any instances of fraud. A board of vetting can be hired or instituted to assess the extent of his actions, especially to track his dealings with the applicants. The credit manager’s transactions with the credit applicants can be evaluated through a credit assessment report. It will can a brief description of the two parties’ submission during the process of credit application and evaluation. The report has to be signed by both the manager and the client. It will state whether the client has been subjected to any form of extortion or not. The clients/ customers/ applicants of loans can be given an avenue of reporting their grievances to the company. Such avenues can be in form of a quality check/ control for the services offered to them by the credit manager. Through such avenues, they can reveal instances of extortion or attempts of the same to the company. c. Suppose there was no direct evidence of fraud detected in the credit manager’s operations, there will be no action to be taken on this case, against him. He is well known as a very hard worker, who lives close to the branch and frequently works late into the evening. He also has not taken any vacations in three years in spite of the bank policy that all employees take a least a weeks vacation every year.  

Lurking in the shadows Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Lurking in the shadows - Essay Example So I try to put them at ease. I uncross my legs slowly so as not to draw their attention. I steady the rocking chair and I become very still. I am as still as a thousand year old stone; stiller, in all reality. I relax and then adjust my vision. I breathe softly, in measured breaths, and study these fascinating creatures anew. The distance is not close; indeed, there is an open field over which I must peer before reaching the edge of the wooded field where the doe keeps her fawn close by her side. The wheat in the open field rolls as the wind passes by, and the wooded field is studded with oak and pine. The fawn blends at times with the yellow of the wheat field and the brown of the woods. The fawn is at one moment visible and then nearly imperceptible; it is the down, with a darker brown color, that allows me to keep focused most precisely. The trees are crowded closely together, a shadow almost when compared with the brightly rolling yellow field of wheat, and the deer are perceptible only in their occasional movements.

Determine whether compensation and overtime applies to exempt and Essay

Determine whether compensation and overtime applies to exempt and non-exempt security personnel in your state - Essay Example † Bob the employee inquires, though he already knows the response. â€Å"Good one, that’s why we moved you to salary remember?† Joe chuckles as he walks back to his office. Fairness, in workers time and effort, versus pay has long been a minefield for dispute in the workplace. Typically speaking the worker tends to feel overworked and underpaid, and the owner tends to feel the employee is underworked and overpaid. Over the years lawsuits on compensation and overtime have arisen many times, and the decisions made by the Supreme Court in interpreting the constitution have greatly impacted the way these two are handled. So in order to investigate these laws and how they are applied in greater detail we are going to take one group of employees, security personnel, and see how overtime and compensation are regulated for them in the state of Texas. We will do this by defining overtime, by looking at what FLSA and the states say, by determining who is considered exempt a nd non-exempt employees, and by looking at how the United States Supreme Court case of Garcia v. City of San Antonio applies. ... In the United States the custom for regular working hours is forty hours a week. The second way regular working hours can be defined is by the practices of a given trade or profession. A regular working week for an air traffic controller, for example, is anywhere between fifty – seventy hours. The third way regular working hours can be determined is by legislation. This occurs through bills being passed through congress to regulate the work environment and determine that healthy, reasonable expectations are being placed on the employee. Legislation such as this tends to be determined by court cases or bills being past. The final way regular working hours can be determined is by agreement between employers and their employees. This type of agreement has to fall into compliance with any legislation that governs the hours allowed, however, were applicable. FLSA The Fair Labor Standards Act or the FLSA was created, by congress, in 1938 during the midst of the great depression. Its goal was to protect the rights of the workers who were being treated exceptionally unfairly during this time. In doing this it encouraged fairness between management and workers. It accomplished this by regulating minimum wage, overtime, and child labor laws, as well as other work related laws. It is still in effect and constantly being updated and affects any businesses with employees who engage in interstate commerce. The FLSA is a federal act and is enforced by the federal government, due to this, there have been many court cases disputing states rights to regulate these laws versus that of the federal governments. Exempt and Non-Exempt Employees The majority of jobs are covered by the FLSA, however, some are not. If a job is covered by FLSA it is

Organizational Behavior - Interpersonal skills and manegerial roles Term Paper

Organizational Behavior - Interpersonal skills and manegerial roles - Term Paper Example For transformational leadership to take place, leaders must elevate and broaden interests for their employees. It may also occur after acceptance and awareness of purpose and mission for the specific group has been generated. The leaders may also stir his or her employees and look beyond self interests to cater for the group. Mutual capacity and commitment help in leading greater productivity and additional efforts (Lawrence, 2010). The major components of transformational leadership include intellectual stimulation, individualized consideration, inspirational motivation and idealized influence. All of these components play an important part in the work place which is ridden by problems such as employee dissatisfaction, poor performance and low morale. In this case, as the honorable committee is aware of the problems facing the organization. Therefore, it is recommendable that the manager should use his leadership style which can have beneficial impact on the workers by helping them to feel encouraged as they work (Hedrick, 2007). Transformational leadership allows the people in charge to challenge the status quo and allow subordinates to innovate new ideas. This style of leadership does not only identify the problem, but also provides the alternatives which are useful in solving the problem. This is summed under the intellectual stimulation component. This type of leadership is really necessary for an organization as employees express their discomfort with their current supervisor without fear. The major complaint against the supervisor may be that he is too rigid and not ready to change. In fact, such leaders do not like people innovating and even if their effort yielded good results, he wants them to go by the rules of the book. These leads to boredom and employees start to openly criticize the way their immediate supervisor is leading them. In order to

Cineplex Entertainment - The Loyalty Program Case Study

Cineplex Entertainment - The Loyalty Program - Case Study Example The essay aims to outline the recommendations of Sarah Lewthwaite, the market director for the Cineplex Entertainment, to the committee of senior executives. The presentation contains persuasive arguments regarding loyalty program development campaign, considering the movie industry, which is having inconsistent revenues each year. Cineplex entertainment was founded in 1979 as a small chain of movie theaters. In 2005 Cineplex acquired its largest supplier and become the Canada’s largest film exhibiter. The market share of Cineplex after that acquisition jumped up to 40 million visits of customer per day. Cineplex also started giving value added services to its customer like food at branded concession counters, arcade games, etc. In the same year they also expanded their strategies and entered into new markets which generated customer traffic and boosted their revenue per day. Although the revenue appreciated a lot in the year 2005 compared to the previous years but cost of operation got high as well which shrined the net income of the company. Cineplex Entertainment had issued Elite cards to the customer which offered them rewards like free movie viewing after they accumulate a certain number of points. Cineplex had no CRM capabilities which could help them in driving customer traffic. According to the survey in 2005, 95% respondents wanted to have movie reward offer back. Considering that option for further investment Sarah Lewthwaite gave option of starting a loyalty program to the committee. Cineplex needed a loyalty partner because creating their own data system it would have cost them about $5.5 million in the first year. So they looked went on to look for a partner. Flight Miles, having 72 percent of Canadian active members, had the top loyalty program in Canada. Flight Miles can give Cineplex an opportunity to get access to their data bank of seven million customers which would certainly help them in targeting their market. Flight Miles program would cost yearly about $5 million and $0.09 on every point issued to the customer. Flight Miles executives offered Cineplex $250,000 to make the deal more attractive. Scotiabank approached to Cineplex as a potential partner for the loyalty program. It is amongst the top five bank of Canada having 6.8 million customers and 950 branches in Canada. The Scotiabank proposed a 50-50 cost sharing and expected naming rights on three theatres. They offered a three card reward strategy as well. The estimated cost portion of Cineplex w as about $3 million in the first year and $1.7 million and $1.9 million in the later years. Sarah Lewthwaite has now three options to look for loyalty program and had to work on them to finally get the best option. She will have to see the benefits as well as the constraints of the three options. She also restructured the reward program. Sarah performed a sensitivity analysis in the concession revenue per guest which might increase by 5 to 15 per cent and also thought of having a nominal one time or annual membership fee of $2 to $5. Sarah Lewthwaite also knew the fact that only 40 per cent of the points earned by the customer in the loyalty program would be redeemed annually. Lewthwaite then drafted reward structure that contained a preliminary list of four options but she was not sure that which option will click in the customer mind. Loyalty program required a data base vendor who could manage the