Music and Its Effects on Behaviors in Teenagers and Young Adults

Jorja M. Rea Professor Andre Yang English 1A 25 November 2012 Music and its effects on Behaviors in Teenagers and Young Adults Picture this: A young man is arrested for murder, twisting and cursing at the police as his mother watches from the sidewalk. It is light enough out that you can see, not far from him, lays the body of a young women. She was his girlfriend, whom he had beaten to death. This young man is just one of many young adults that are being arrested for committing vicious crimes in our society. Barongan and Nagayama Hall (1995) examined the effects of cognitive distortions in men had towards women.The men in this study viewed women in a sexually aggressive way. The men’s behavior was observed in a laboratory setting. Twenty-seven men listened to misogynous rap music and 27 men listened to neutral rap music. Participants then viewed neutral, sexually-violent, and assaultive film vignettes and chose the vignette that they found appealing. The results showed that à ¢â‚¬Å"participants who viewed the sexual-violent stimuli indeed felt sexually violent towards women, even having thoughts of raping and abusing women†.That young man will spend the next 3 years of his teenage life in a jovial facility and then be relocated to prison once he turns 18. What happened that caused a young man with a 3. 0 GPA to go from good to bad? According to Ortiz (2004) it all has to do with the human brain. The human brain has been called the most complex mass in the known universe. This is a well-deserved reputation, for this organ contains billions of connections called neurons. Among its parts and governs countless actions, involuntary and voluntary, physical, mental and emotional. The largest part of the brain is the frontal lobe.A small area of the frontal lobe located behind the forehead, called the prefrontal cortex, controls the brain’s most advanced functions. This part often referred to as the â€Å"CEO† of the body, providing humans wi th advanced cognition. It allows us to prioritize thoughts, imagine, think in the abstract, anticipate consequences, plan, and control impulses. Along with everything else in the body, the brain changes significantly during adolescence. In the last five years, scientists, using new technologies, such as an MRI, have discovered that adolescent brain is far less developed han previously believed. Doctors of Harvard Medical School have studied the relation between these new findings and teen behavior and concluded that adolescents often rely on emotional parts of the brain, the Amygdala, rather than the frontal lobe, â€Å"one of the things that teenagers seem to do is to respond more strongly with gut response than they do with evaluating the consequences of what they’re doing. † Since this young man, and many countless others in his position, lacks a complete prefrontal cortex they are forced to use the Amygdala.Fight or Flight is all it tells us to do. Thus, without an y clear knowledge these young people are forced to find role models who the feel â€Å"get them†. They turn to music for its lyrics and beat and this is where the trouble begins. Mahiri and Conner (2003) tested whether or not it is true that our African-American youth is more violent than other nationalities and why. Is it the rap music that they may listen to? The researchers assessed the perspective on violence of 41 middle school students attending a unique school in a low-income section of a large northern California city.The researchers probed ways that these students interpreted or reflected upon rap music and hip-hop culture, particularly its representation of violence, crime, and sex. A brief questionnaire was handed out to each of these participants, which consisted of scenario questions (what would you do if†¦). Based on the responses to the questions researchers were able to come to the conclusion that these particular students were â€Å"unfortunately lookin g up to these negative role models†. The constant talk of female assault, sex, and violence was being imbedded into these children’s minds†. And it doesn’t end there. Many other researchers have examined the effects of how musical genres have increased tendencies towards violet behaviors in teenagers and young adults. These studies have helped to uncover whether or not violent and aggressive music and music lyrics have had in fact, increased the rate of individuals that lash out in a violent, aggressive manner.Although none of the researchers in this paper considered the lack of the prefrontal cortex as a results as to why these young adults are so effects by the images they see or the music they listen to, they did however find something else altogether; these studies were done to inform society on how music is affecting people’s moods. For example: Anderson et al. (2003) studied whether or not media violence influences youth. They randomly assigned youths to watch either a short violent or a short nonviolent music video and then observed how they interacted with other people after viewing the music video.After each participant watched the music video for approximately 15 minutes, both physical and verbal aggression towards others was assessed using a 10-point scale: with 1 showing nonviolent behaviors and 10 showing a lot of violent behaviors. A correlational analysis was used to see if there was a relationship between a participant watching the violent music video and acting violent, or watching the nonviolent music video and not acting violent. â€Å"The results showed that exposure to media violence had a statistically significant association with aggression and violence among youth†.This research clearly demonstrates that exposure to media violence heightens the chances that a youth will behave aggressively and have aggressive thoughts in the short run. Arlin (1996) examined the â€Å"influence of exposure to viol ent rock videos on participants’ appraisals of their own aggressiveness†. Participants were preselected based on their scores on a measure of locus of control. After completing a measure of Buss and Durkee’s Hostility Inventory, they were randomly assigned to view either a view or nonviolent music video. After viewing the video, participants once again completed the Hostility Inventory.The results revealed a main effect of locus of control, such that individuals with an external locus of control showed lower self-reported aggressiveness after viewing a music video than individuals with an internal locus of control. Johnson, Jackson and Gatto (1995) studied whether exposure to rap music could cause violent attitudes and delayed academic performance. Forty-six African-American males (ages 11 to 16 years) from an inner city boys club in Wilmington, North Carolina were recruited to participate in this study. Participants were randomly exposed to violent rap music vid eos, nonviolent rap music videos, or no music videos.They read two vignettes involving: (a) a violent act perpetrated against a man and a woman and (b) a young man who chose to engage in academic pursuits to achieve success, whereas his friend, who was unemployed, â€Å"mysteriously† obtained extravagant items (i. e. , a nice car, nice clothes). The results showed that participants who saw the violent rap music videos reported greater acceptance of violence. In addition, â€Å"participants who saw the violent rap videos reported higher probability of committing similar acts of violence and greater acceptance of the use of violence against women†. St.Lawrence and Joyner (1991) examined the effects of sexually violent rock videos on males’ acceptance or violence against women. The experimental manipulation involved exposure to sexually violent heavy-metal rock music, Christian heavy-metal rock music, or easy listening classical music. One month prior to the experi mental manipulation, participants were administered several attitudinal scales about religious orientation, sex roles, rape myths, and interpersonal violence. The results indicated that â€Å"males without a religious background were more accepting of sexist and rape-supportive beliefs†.The researchers also came across an unexpected finding which was greater self-reported sexual arousal in response to classical music. Kalof (1999) examined the effects of gender and music video imagery on sexual attitudes. A group of 44 U. S. college students were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 groups that viewed either a video portraying stereotyped sexual imagery or a video that excluded all sexual images. A two-way scale revealed that exposure to traditional sexual imagery had a significant main effect on attitudes about adversarial sexual relationships. There seems to be some confirmation of a relation between sex and exposure to conventional sexual imagery on the acceptance of interpersonal violence. † Viemero and Paajanen (1992) examined whether or not viewing violent television actually does increase the aggressive behavior of those who viewed it. There were 391 eight-year old and ten-year old children participating in this study. â€Å"These children were tested on their aggression, their fear fantasies, and their dream and fantasies about these shows†. Two measurements of aggression were made: peer-nominated aggression and self-related aggression.TV viewing habits were measured by the amount of TV viewed during the week. Violence was depicted by how regularly violent TV shows were watched. They found that there was significant positive correlation for boys between TV viewing variables and aggression. There was also a significant positive correlation between the amount of TV and televised violence viewing and fear and aggressive fantasies about actual shows that were seen by the children. â€Å"These children seem to have been strongly impacted by the violence seen on television shows they were watching, and then acting in a more aggressive way after watching the violence†.Now that the It seems very obvious that there is a significant relationship between listening to violent music and watching aggressive/violent music videos and one getting into more fights, using inappropriate language, inappropriate gestures, and a tendency to think less of women. All of these researchers identified in this paper studied this exact relationship and found significant results. It is apparent that there is indeed a direct correlation between violent music and people’s aggressive behaviors.An operational definition of violent behavior is physically and verbally hurrying others, cursing, stealing, inappropriate gestures and negative views of women. Whether it is the lyrics, the beat, or watching the entertainers act violently, people in general who are viewing these music videos are behaving in an inappropriate and destructive way. Lis tening to violent music has an effect on aggression. This information is useful for parents of young children who are growing up watching these music videos. The studies completed by the researches mentioned in this paper reveal a serious problem.Our society as a whole should consider this a severe problem, especially with all of the school bombings, the high rates of angry- gang affiliated- weapon carrying young people, and the millions of dollars being spent on this violent and degrading (mostly to women) kind of music. When angry, violent, aggressive, vulgar videos were shown, participants portrayed a massive amount of hostility; their moods were changing as the video continued as did their behavior. They also answered the scenario questions with the most violent answer chose available.The participants who viewed nonviolent videos showed amazingly different answers to the questions, the majority of them answering the questions with the nonviolent or calmer answer choses. This cle arly shows evidence that allowing teenagers and young adults to watch violent music videos (like Eminem or DMX) has and will have a strong effect on violent tendencies like beating a women to death. It can also be said that the reason the results were significant in the violent groups is because of the extreme difference between the two videos.The violent videos were extremely violent showing fighting, carjacking, yelling, cursing, and hitting women. Meanwhile, the nonviolent groups watched music videos that showed people dancing on the beach and having fun. The extreme differences between the two types of videos could be the reason for the significant results obtained by the researchers. It may be wise in the future research to use videos that are not so tremendously different. Bibliography Anderson, C. A, Berkowits, L. , Donnerstein, M. , Edward, K. , Huesmann, L. , Rowell, J. , Johnson, J. , Linz, D. , Malamuth, N. , & Wartella, H. 2003). The influence of media violence on youth. Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 4, 81- 110. Arlin, B. , (1996). The influence of locus of control and aggressiveness of rock music on aggression. Journal of Social Behavior and Personality, 14, 491- 498. Barongan, C. , & Nagayama Hall, G. C. (1995). The influence of misogynous rap music on sexual aggression against women. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 19, 195-207. Mahiri, J. , & Conner, E. Black youth violence has a bad rap. Journal of Social Issues, 59, 121-140. Johnson, J. D, Jackson, L. A. , & Gatto, L (1995).Violent attitudes and different academic aspirations: Deleterious effects of exposure to rap music. Basic and Applied Social Psychology, 16 (1-2), 27-41. Kalof, L. (1999). The effects of gender and music video imagery on sexual attitudes. Journal of Social Psychology, 139, 378- 385. St. Lawrence, J. S. , & Joyner, D. J.. (1991). The effect of sexually violent rock music on males’ acceptance of violence against women. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 15, 49-63. Viemero, V. , & Paajanen, S. (1992). The role of fantasies and dreams in the TV viewing-aggression relationship. Journal of Social Psychology, 18, 109-116.

Explain Why the Boycott of Jewish Businesses Took Place in April 1933

Explain why the boycott of Jewish businesses took place in April 1933. [12 marks] In April 1933, only 1 week after the Enabling Act was passed, a boycott against Jewish businesses took place, which targeted mainly Jewish shops and businesses but also Jewish professionals such as doctors and lawyers. There are many reasons as to why this event took place. The most important reason, in my opinion was to introduce explicit anti-Semitic propaganda. When it was decided that the boycott would take place, Gobbels organised an intensive propaganda campaign to maximise the impact of the boycott.The boycott made a big public impact and featured prominently in the news. Gobbels made it clear that the boycott was an act of anti-Semitic violence as he had the Star of David painted largely on the windows of all Jewish businesses and had signs put up saying ‘Don’t buy from Jews’ or ‘Jews are our misfortune’. While some Germans weren’t too bothered about the b oycott, others disapproved. This leads to the next reason the boycott took place. Now that Hitler had the power to do as he pleased, he needed to see how German citizens would react to his extreme anti-Semitic views.The SA stood outside of Jewish shops in order to intimidate people into not going in to the shop. As mentioned earlier, some Germans weren’t too bothered about the boycott. Most of these Germans where owners of small businesses that were afraid that large Jewish chain businesses would eventually put them out of business. This boycott meant that their businesses would be saved. Others, on the other hand, thought the boycott was terrible that it was the work of extremists and that Hitler was sure to put a stop to it soon. Some went purposely went into Jewish shops and Jewish shops only to show their disapproval of Nazi policies.But, whether they were for or against the boycott, it was agreed everywhere that the boycott showed the unleashing of Nazi violence by an ag gressive new dictatorship. The main purpose of the boycott of Jewish businesses was to get German people to start to act and think anti-Semitic. Although the reaction to the boycott was varied, it could be said that they boycott did exactly what it was meant to do; turn normal German citizens against the German Jews. For example, one month after the boycott of Jewish businesses, the Burning of the Books took place. Gobbels announced, â€Å"the Age of Jewish materialism is ended! He then started a fire and, along with gangs of SA men, started to throw in book that were written by Jews. A crowd of some 40,000 people gathered at the scene. This suggests that the boycott ‘eased’ German citizens into the anti-Semitic atrocities that were yet to come. In conclusion, the boycott of Jewish businesses could be both – a success and a failure. It was a failure because the Nazi party only portrayed themselves as a violent dictatorship. But, it was a success because it got G erman citizens thinking and acting anti-Semitic like the Nazis and prepared them for what was to come.

No Topic Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

No Topic - Essay Example Parents rely on continuous monitoring of babies left in their cribs by twoway radio transmitters. Teens and fasttrackers everywhere, wouldnt leave home these days without packing their mobile telecommunications device, whether it be telephone handset, personal communicator device, or other gadget. The modern world increasingly is bent on staying in touch. By saying this, Molitor (2003) has focused his attention on only one aspect of the impact of communication technology on families. But English-Lueck (1998) has on the other hand approached the issue in its totality and drawn attention to how the â€Å"world of home† is equally changed as is the â€Å"world of work† by technology. By telling a story about how communication technologies have changed the lives and behaviors of the members of an imaginary family, English-Lueck (1998) has asked the question what impact these communication devices have on community and family, and tried to answer it convincingly. English-Lueck (1998) has further explained how technologies changed the â€Å"work-home† dynamics and redefined â€Å"the scope of work.† Problamitizing the responses of interviewees that what made a family was a context of doing things together, English-Lueck (1998) have concluded that it is action rather than a natural state of being that define cont emporary family, and that this action is often defined by the â€Å"devices that facilitate that action.† The consequences for the family, according to English- Lueck (1998) are, â€Å"colonization of home time by work†, creation of a problem of access between the members of the family, transformation of family into being viewed as a management issue by its members, creation of a â€Å"sense of street safety† for the members of a family, creation of gender stereotypes as well as gender role reversals, transformation of parental roles in terms of control etc. Also families belonging to certain cultures have been found to be

God Grew tired of us Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

God Grew tired of us - Essay Example Even as the film specializes in this particular historic incidence, it allures to similar distress faced by innocent civilians in other African countries as a result of political fallout and persistent warfare. As they persistently strive to endure or at least survive the distress, hope is seemingly lost along with faith and the promise of better days. Written in their faces are memoirs of despair, misery, and desolation. They look up to God only He is seemingly absent or ignorant of their plight. Even as all hope seems lost, there appears to be some hope in humanity as witnessed in the actions of well-wishers and the humanitarian assistance offered by Red Cross and the UN. The fleeing men found some reprieve as the exodus took a detour heading south into Kenya’s Kakuma refugee camp. As one of the worst humanitarian crises in the Horn of Africa, the exodus from Sudan offers various perspectives on the role of humanity and how our actions have consequences on others. Love, compassion, and kindness may be lost on some of us but it still runs deep among a passionate minority of

Managerial Report on the Real Estate Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Managerial Report on the Real Estate - Essay Example This, they accomplish by collecting on site data, monitoring information relative to the sale and purchase of condominiums. The number of days it takes for each condominium to be sold is also taken into account and recorded for analysis and reference. The Gulf Real Estate Properties has classified the condominiums by separating those present on the areas of the Gulf from those present elsewhere such as on the bay or a golf course. The data relative to the recent sales of Condominiums both on and off Gulf, which is in thousands of dollars, has been selected. Statistical analysis of the acclaimed data would reveal facts which would be accommodated within a managerial report. The data comprise of three variables namely list price, sale price and days to sell for both the categories of condominiums that are â€Å"Gulf View† and â€Å"No Gulf View†. The sample size for former is 40 while for the latter it is 18. The price values are given in thousands of dollars. The data is acquired from condominium sales reported in the Naples MLS (Coldwell Banker, June 2000). The data is appended below as Table 1.1 under Appendix A. The subscripts that are used to indicate the statistical figures of both the â€Å"Gulf View† and â€Å"No Gulf View† categories in this report are 1 and 2 respectively. The descriptive statistics regarding each of the three variables for the 40 â€Å"Gulf View Condominiums† and for the 18 â€Å"No Gulf View Condominiums† is presented in Table 1.0 below. The descriptive statistics highlight multiple factors that would assist a real estate agent comprehend the real estate market. The sample mean of days to sell variable for Gulf View Condominiums (= 106 days) is comparatively lesser than the sample mean of No Gulf View Condominiums (= 135 days).

Analyze effective communication practices within diverse contemporary Essay

Analyze effective communication practices within diverse contemporary families - Essay Example People are not as close to each other as they once were. The much older folks prefer their people close to them. This is unlike the younger ones who prefer the distance between family members to be relatively large. Mobile phones are the only connection that enables people to communicate. This paper will review some stages present in the family life cycle. Also, it will look into the effects that effective communication plays in the different family settings that exist today. There are different stages that are present in the family life cycle. This is the transition that different families undergo during certain phases in their lives. This means that a family can undergo changes in their lives as times change, and the need to adapt to their immediate environment arises (Tutwiler, 2005). The first stage in the family cycle is the where young adults leave their homes. This is maybe in search of emotional and financial stability. This they may achieve on their own or maybe through help. At this stage, they struggle to create their own identities by becoming self-reliant. The comfort that comes with achieving independence is what drives them. The second stage that comes in the family life cycle is the joining of a couple. This is either through marriage, or living together. Here, a couple gets to adapt to the changes by learning to live with their spouse, and all the people in the other person’s life. Commitment is the fundamental foundation on which this stage is based on (Gonzalez, 2005). Without commitment, the people in this arrangement may not have the ability to stand the test of time let alone have the time to create a family of their own. The third stage is the introduction of children into the family. Children bring a whole new dimension to the family structure. Room and time have to be created so as to accommodate them. They bring the family structure closer. This is sometimes

Hotel Rwanda Movie Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Hotel Rwanda - Movie Review Example The Tutsis were traditionally the landholders and the Hutus were the poorer farmers. When the Belgians colonized Rwanda, they gave more power to the Hutus. After Rwanda became independent, the resentment of the majority Hutus started simmering. The Hutus started dehumanizing the Tutsis by calling them "cockroaches". The film begins with a virulent and hate-filled broadcast by the RTLM, the national radio station. "Why do we hate the Tutsis They are cockroaches!" it says, inciting racial violence. The reactions of the different groups of people to the massacre are varied. When the violence starts, some of the Hutu employees of the hotel stop working and keep listening to the radio with its hate filled propaganda. One Hutu employee occupies the Presidential suite and says to Paul, "There is the smell of cockroaches here." The response of the foreign nationals is mainly cynical The UN peacekeepers are incapable of any assertive action, because they have been instructed not to intervene .Their inaction is explained by Col. Oliver's words, "We are peace keepers, not peace makers." Even when the jeering Hutu militia men throw a blood stained UN soldier's helmet at them, reminding them of their murdered Belgian comrades, they can do nothing. When Red Cross workers bring Tutsi children from an orphanage to the hotel to escape massacre by the militia, the Western guests of the hotel do nothing to help them.. The journalists are intent on getting as much footage as possible, including some of the gruesome killings by machete. One journalist says cynically, "If people see this footage, they'll go, 'Oh my God! That's horrible!, and then go on eating their dinner." The final act of callousness by the foreigners is when they all leave under the escort of UN peace keeping force, leaving behind the victims to their fate. There are various reasons why the international community turned the other way when the massacre was happening. The U.S.A and the European nations did not do anything to stop it because Rwanda has neither oil nor any great mineral wealth. Rwanda being an African nation of black people was another reason for the inaction. The harassed Col. Oliver sums up the opinion of the West when he says, "You are dirt!" Finally, Paul also realizes the truth- that the people whom they trusted, have abandoned them. In a poignant scene, after all the whites have left , Paul says to the refugees in the hotel, "We have been abandoned. There will be no rescue. We can only save ourselves" We see Paul's cleverness .in another scene when the Hutu army comes to take away the Tutsi refugees in the hotel by force. Paul telephones the owner of the hotel chain in Belgium., and the owner asks Paul who should be called to stop it. Showing great acuity, Paul says,"The French. They are the ones arming and supplying the army" Very soon, the Hutu general receives a radio message not to disturb the hotel. The hotel owner had talked directly to the French President. A disquieting but uplifting movie, Hotel Rwanda is the portrayal of a courageous man, who, by using his wits,

Systematic Comparison between Traditional and Agile Methods Essay

Systematic Comparison between Traditional and Agile Methods - Essay Example Some do not go through all the stages while others may pass through one stage more than once. The Traditional approach involves designing a detailed plan before the start of the project and strictly adhering to it. Therefore, the whole project is clear to the developers before it is started. Agile project management is a collaborative approach in which all the team members are involved in the project. It involves an iterative process in which managers facilitate the working of the team and it requires regular adaptation to changing situations. The project plan is flexible and is not developed at the beginning of the project. Instead, it is developed throughout the project. The end result of the project is not predictable. This discussion explores the comparison between traditional and agile project management approaches. Traditional Project Management Approaches The traditional approach to project management consists of five components namely initiation, planning, execution, monitori ng and control, closure. Some traditional project management methods include linear and incremental project management lifecycle. Linear project management lifecycle does not allow any changes in the project plan. ... Scheduling the whole project before starting it gives the team a clear picture of what is expected to be done and who is responsible for each task. Moreover, details about the resources necessary for the completion of the project are known from the beginning. This approach does not require people with a lot of skills and supervision is not necessary as all the project details are written down. Co-location of team members is not necessary as each person has details of the part he/she is expected to play. It also has disadvantages. This model does not allow for changes. It is also very costly. It does not produce deliverables until in the late stages of the project. In addition, preparing a complete plan beforehand is time wasting. The process is rigid and there is no going back to make changes. This model is focused on the timely completion of the project within the available budget but not on client value (Wysocki 2011). Incremental project management life cycle consists of several d ependent increments, each with the lifecycle components of execution, monitoring, and project closure. These increments are accomplished in a prearranged sequence. The characteristics of the incremental project management lifecycle method are similar to those of the linear approach. The deliverables in this model are released against a schedule that is more aggressive. Advantages include the following: The business value is produced early and not at the end of the project like in linear approach. This model can allow for some changes in the scope of the project. It focuses on the client value more than the linear approach. It also facilitates the scheduling of few resources better. Some disadvantages include the following: Team members can be lost in between increments. It

Different ethnic groups in Nigeria Essay Example for Free

Different ethnic groups in Nigeria Essay Nigeria is very rich in culture. Various ethnic groups in Nigeria have their own culture. The Durbar festival in the various emirates of the North of Nigeria symbolizes strength and dexterous skills in riding of horses. Durbars are called up during religious festivals like Id el Fitri and Id el Kabir. They are also called up during installation ceremonies of the Emirs. They are also called up during installation ceremonies of the Emirs. The Durbars serve as entertainment for very important visitors. Durbars are also called up during the anniversary of the birth of Prophet Mohammed (Id el Maulud). The horses are colorfully adorned and the horse riders are in procession. The riders are dressed in aristocratic regalia blowing bugles and trumpets accompanied by drumming and dancing. They make displays in riding the horses and come to abrupt halt to salute and pledge loyalty to Emirs. Also in Kano and Katsina, there is the Kalankwa Festival, which usually comes at the end of the harvest season. At the Kalankwa Festival, traditional boxing, wrestling, music and dances of different types are performed. In Benue State the Eje Alekwu Festival is an annual festival celebrated to relate with the ancestral gods of Idoma land. Before the Eje Alekwu masquerades appear, sacrifices are offered to the gods to appease them and appeal for protection for the future. The festival is celebrated by different masquerades to represent various ancestral characters and spirits of the ancestors. The Tiv Day is a national day for the Tiv all over the country. During the festival the people send delegates from ever town to converge at the Tor Tivs palace for deliberations on developments strategy among the Tiv local government areas. At the same time old and offensive laws are abrogated and new ones made for the people for peace and progress. New traditional titles are conferred on deserving sons and daughters of the land. It is held annually on the 19th of September to coincide with the day the first Tor Tiv was installed in 1946. In Nigeria, boat regattas are part of the socio-cultural life of the riverine people in the Niger Delta. The boats do not have engines but they are rowed manually with traditional paddles by over twenty to fifty people on board depending on the size of the boat. Boat regattas are special festival to celebrate attachment of the people to water, as fishing is their dominant occupation. When there is a bountiful catch and sea yields boat regattas are held that year. In Bonny, River State we have the masquerade group known as Owogbo. Each of the major houses in the Bonny Kingdom has their end of the fishing season locally known as Fungu. The masquerade is the traditional way of paying homage to the sea gods. They carry a carved shellfish. The masquerade is usually brightly colored with locally made fabrics. Both men and women take part in the dancing. Among the Efik and some Ibibio tribes of Cross River and Akwa Ibom States of Nigeria the Ekpe Secret Society occupies a significant position and functional as an instrument for law and order. Mention of Ekpe brings fear and terror to the uninitiated. The word Epke literally means leopard and its masquerade are so named for its multi-colored costume. Membership of Ekpe Society is seen as a status symbol. The Ekemini Theatre Troupe of Akwa Ibom State captivates local and international audiences through a galaxy of choreographed dance drama. Traditional instruments are used. The group has fused many of the folk tale and culture of Akwa Ibom and neighboring states with contemporary dance styles. The star performer of the group is Ofonine Felix Essien popularly known as Udo Maryam who at the age of four started playing many traditional instruments. Among the Ibos, festivals play an important role in the social cohesion. There are such festivals as the Ofala and the new yam festival. The spices of these festivals are cultural dances and drama while masquerades add mythical splendor. The Atilogu dances are a very popular form of cultural display in Igoland. It comprised of series of systematic acrobatic dance  actions like twisting, somersaulting and building of human pyramids. During joyful occasions the dancers dress in bright colors but on sorrowful occasion they dress in dark attires and their movements are slow and mournful. Because of the rich mix of ethnic groups in Ondo state. It presents a wide variety of culture and festivals. Prominent among them are the Bata Dance, the Ititum Maiden Dance, Ajabore, Igogo, Oluwa and Ogun festivals. Animals such as dogs are offered to the god of iron, Ogun during the celebration. The Akoo and Ekiti areas are well known for cloth weaving while Owo is popular for its special cloth or royalty. In Lagos State, the eyo masquerade is of traditional importance and it has a historical background. It is the pride of the Oba, Chiefs and people of Lagos. It was first performed in Ikoyi in the 18th century as a traditional play. It now features during special ceremonies. Eyo is hooded and robed in flowing white gowns. These cover his hands and feet. It carries a special staff known as the Opabata. The Eyo is barefooted and spectators who want to see the Eyo must be barefooted in order not t incur the anger of the masquerade. The offender is beaten with Opabata. The Benin Kingdom, the best-known center of civilization in the pre-colonial days, has the oba as the traditional head. The Igu festival is celebrated annually in December for the Oba and his subjects. It is a combination of nine principal ceremonies during which animals especially goats are sacrificed. The celebrants dress in their finest attires and join in songs and dances. I find Nigeria culture interesting in that it unites the people and also leads to progress.

Competitive Grants, Action Research Proposal, and Business Plans Essay Example for Free

Competitive Grants, Action Research Proposal, and Business Plans Essay Competitive grants, action research proposals, and business plans all seem to be predisposed with results and outcomes. All three seem to be geared towards the realization of a goal or an objective that supports desirable changes and results in society. Competitive grants are designed to be able to provide help and support to various populations who are in dire need of them (USDH, 2000). Action Research Proposals are written because of the need for changes in people’s behavior and responses toward certain issues or themes that need to be improved in order to result to desirable change through action research (Ferrance, 2000). Business plans are also designed in such a way that it provides for the needs of the consumers or the people and influence desirable changes in the economy and the satisfaction of the nation. It includes all the most important decision that one can make in order to make the business progress and be successful in its venture. (My Own Business, 2007)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In addition, competitive grants, action research proposals, and business plans are instrumental in identifying and determining the varied needs of members in the society. These three also differ in their purpose, content, and outline. To have a deeper understanding about the similarities and differences among these three, the discussion about their nature and characteristics is relevant and will be stated in the following paragraphs.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Funding programs for a specific group of population takes on the form of competitive grants. Competitive grants aim to address the growing needs of and problems in society. However, grants are only available to those who are eligible to apply and be granted access to the benefits and advantages that goes along with the grant. The funding and support that come from competitive grants are only limited to those who fit the characteristics of its target population. Moreover, these grants are only available for a limited period of time as proclaimed by the public or private organization implementing the program. Examples of competitive grants include training programs for young people who cannot afford to go to school, funding for nutrition and a healthy lifestyle advocacy, etc. (USDH, 2000)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   An action research proposal plays a significant role in conducting a research, especially one that is academic in nature. The purpose of an action research proposal is to establish a background about the theme that is to be addressed after the research. In addition, an action research aims to influence change in certain processes and progressions that would in turn affect desirable changes in society. The action research proposal is instrumental in the accomplishment of this mission as it provides an overview of the problem and the solutions that would cause pleasant changes. The action research proposal is the basis of the action research. All the information and other action researches that have been conducted in the past are included in the proposal. In addition, it also contains predictions or calculated guesses of what the action research would lead to. It also includes the various processes that will be employed in order to collect all data, interpret them, and establish a solution to the main problem in the proposal. (Ferrance, 2000)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   A business plan is a tool used by professionals in the business arena to predict the status of a specific business venture. It is also a way of preventing losses or cutbacks in the future. The business plan also continuously functions as a monitoring guide in evaluating or assessing the path of the business, whether it follows the plan or it is progressing or digressing in a different direction. Therefore, it is important to include substantial information and integrate it in the plan in order to see that changes that are occurring in a business enterprise. (Berry, 2008) The business plan is also broad than the action plan proposal and the competitive grant because it covers a wider range of information, from consumers, to human resources, capital funds, marketing strategies, etc. (My Own Business, 2007) References Berry, T. (2008). What is a Business Plan? Retrieved March 22, 2008, from Palo Alto Software, Inc. Website: http://articles.bplans.com/index.php/business-articles/writing-a-business-plan/What-is-a-Business-Plan?/ Ferrance, A. (2000). Action Research. Retrieved March 22, 2008, from The Education Alliance.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Website: http://www.alliance.brown.edu/pubs/themes_ed/act_research.pdf My Own Business. (2007). Business Plan. Retrieved March 22, 2008, from My Own Business,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Inc. Website: http://www.myownbusiness.org/s2/#1 USDH. (2000). What is a Competitive Grant Program. Retrieved March 22, 2008, from U.S.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Department of Housing. Website: http://www.hud.gov/nofa/suprnofa/sprprt1b.cfm

How the Cultural Revolution Affected Beijing Opera

How the Cultural Revolution Affected Beijing Opera Beijing opera is a longstanding tradition in Chinese culture. It has been celebrated for many years, between high and low classes alike. It is intricate and specific. It has wrestled its way through reform and still retains its traditional values. Many people and parties have fought for control of it and many have succeeded. During Chinas Cultural Revolution, all arts suffered in their own ways, and Beijing opera is not among the least of them. What is Beijing opera? It is a form of Chinese musical theatre that incorporates song, acting, bright and intricate costume and difficult acrobatics. Nancy Guy claims that it is one of the most highly developed and best known of Chinese opera forms both in China and abroad. The city of Beijing is called Peking by most natives of the country; therefore Beijing opera also is called Peking opera by some people. The official Chinese name, however, is Jingju, literally meaning city opera. The orchestra is split into two sections, the stringed and the percussive instruments. In addition to the orchestra, vocalists perform. In fact, vocals are the most important part of jingju. Frederick Lau explains in Music in China that there are four voice types and therefore four characters. The characters, which indicate age and social status, are young female (dan), young male (sheng), painted face (jing), and clown or comic character (chou). In addition to the facial makeup and costumes, each stock character is characterized by one vocal style and is identified by timbre, voice quality, volume, and manner of enunciation. (73) The actors work on their role their entire lives and are greatly respected for what they do because the level of artistry is very high and specific. Jingju had to evolve into that respect, though. It did not start with a great reputation within the palace. Chinese opera started out in troupes of people that would get together and perform for birthdays, which was a big tradition (Guy). In 1790, many troupes were called to the capital to perform for the Qianlong Emperors 80th birthday. Guy states that among the theatrical participants were troupes from Anhui province in central-eastern China, who specialized in the performance of the xipi and erhuang music. These are the core of Jingju. Historians believe that never before had these styles been heard together, and so have decided that 1790 is the year the Beijing opera began. Soon after, in 1798, it was officially banned (Guy). However, the new opera prospered in Beijing. (Guy). Until 1860, Beijing opera was looked down upon as vulgar entertainment by imperials. Even so, in this year two opera companies performed for the Xianfeng Emperors 30th birthday. Again in 1884 another troupe performed for the dowager empress Cixis 50th birthday (Guy). This kick-started a good several years for Beijing opera, for from 1884 to 1910 several performances were enjoyed at the palace, and some actors even took up residence at court, where they taught and performed (Guy). If it were not for the imperials shameless love of jingju, it might not have become as popular and widely practiced as it did. Instead of just farmers entertainment, it had been raised up through the classes. In the early 1900s, Beijing opera experienced a golden age, with the art form being one of the most pervasive and popular types of entertainment in Chinaà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ the work of actors, musicians and librettists of the early republican period remain unsurpassed in terms of volume, innovation and longevity (Guy). After it became so popular, jingju was very important to many people in many different ways. Social activistsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ viewed it as a potentially powerful vehicle for social and political change (Guy). The first attempt at government-organized change within Beijing opera was the Beijing Opera Reform Movement which had much power between 1908 and 1917. Activists believed that the theatre served as a classroom for the largely illiterate masses and that the most expedient way to achieve broad social change was through opera (Guy). This led to many changes within opera, such as gender equality and modernization of sets, costumes and general substance. In 1949 the Republic of China became the Peoples Republic of China, or PRC. Attempts at reform became much stronger at this point because everyone wanted to follow Mao Zedongs way. Many people were added to the production of operas, giving actors much less control over their art (Wichmann-Walczak 96). Mao saw all art as representing interests of a particular class and demanded that Beijing opera should serve the workers, peasants and soldiersà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ art should be explicit propaganda for the revolution and should help to convert the masses to socialism (Guy). Western artists were brought in to help change jingju and to make it more scientific. The Chinese government even went so far as to change the scripts to emphasize patriotism, democracy and equality between the sexes (Guy). In certain ways this helped the popularity of Beijing opera and it gained much more respect from most people. This did not last for long. During the ten-year catastrophe, as the devastating Cultural Revolution of autumn 1966 through autumn 1976 is usually now identified by people in the PRC, Chinas performing arts suffered considerably (Yang 90). The arts were then completely controlled by the government and the actors no longer had any control or say of what was to become of them. According to Daniel Yang, all traditional plays were banned and a great many talented artists died (92). If famous actors were not killed, they were publicly shamed and some were also forced into retirement (94). The only music that was allowed to be performed during the Cultural Revolution was called yangbanxi, or model opera, the themes of which were contemporary and revolutionary, with realistic staging and costumes (Guy). Mao Zedongs wife, Jiang Qing, rewrote many of the operas using contemporary themes and her own interpretation of the communist ideology (Lau 137). It is believed that she is one that thought of model operas and that she pushed for these reformed, rewritten operas to be the only ones that were acceptable to be performed. The subject of the yangbanxi was highly political and again directed towards those who were uneducated. It was meant as another form of brainwash into the communist idea and the reign of Mao Zedong. Most of them portray the party as the benefactor of all oppressed people (Lau 137) and as someone the people can have peace of mind around and not be afraid of. The party is there for the people. Not only was the subject matter changed, but the musical style changed as well. There were many more Western instruments and instead of a small group of musicians entire orchestras were performing. There are far fewer percussive sections, which were usually attributed to fight scenes. Even the singing was westernized, following bel canto style. Ironically, Western instruments were banned during this time, yet were allowed to be performed because the music was based on model operas' (Lau 137-138). The end of the decade-long Cultural Revolution in 1976 marked the end of model opera. People attributed it with political turmoil and unrest. Traditional jingju made its way back to the theatres and is now regularly practiced, but much damage has been done. During that decade many actors died, retired, or simply lost the touch of their art because of the lack of ability to practice it. Yang claims that there are still plenty of older actors that made it through the Cultural Revolution and are still performing today (94) and that even though traditional Beijing opera has been greatly damaged, traditional theatre in contemporary China is still thriving (95). Operas are being reformed again, but this time simply to appeal to modern audiences and not in an attempt to control the content that is getting out to the public. For instance, for intellectual urban audiences, plays with daring political and philosophical themes are staged with imagistic rather than realistic scenery and original , historically-based costumes, extraordinary classic-based scores, and innovative instrumentation (Wichmann-Walczak 108). Modern jingju still holds 200 years of tradition and is blossoming in its recovery from the Cultural Revolution. Many older operas are being performed, some in pure traditional style and some with modern twists. Considering every reform that Beijing opera has been through, one might be surprised at how much of the originality is still retained.

Modernism in Forsters A Passage to India Essay -- Forster Passage to

Modernism in Forster's A Passage to India      Ã‚  Ã‚   When considering the novels of E.M. Forster, it is natural to recall the reserved landscapes of the Merchant and Ivory cinematic versions. Gauzy images - green hills, languorous boat rides, tender embraces - these impressions, cousins, really, to Jane Austen's plots and settings, are remembered as period pieces seldom associated with the literary experimentation of Virginia Woolf or the winsome angst of the lost War poets. It seems - does it not? - the movies end happily with the appropriate pairing of couples. But Forster should not be lumped in with representative Edwardian literature or with cinematic bliss. In order to analyze the worth of Forster's literary contribution, our impressions of the films must be put aside so that the text's echo can rattle in our ears.    And once the mediums are pried apart and banished to separate corners, a novel like A Passage to India stands alone and can be admired for its complex study of people who interact in an unfamiliar landscape, a landscape that ignores humans entirely. This text is not about good breeding, dowries, or happy endings. With its multiple perspectives, fragile personal connections, and symbolic caves that house an echo of nothingness not every character can hear, A Passage to India is Forster's own quiet rendition of Modernism. He does not try, as do Woolf, Joyce, and Eliot, to break free from standard English fictive forms. Instead, Forster's text contains an innovative, urgent assertion that the core of things like love, friendship, and self-knowledge are perpetually capable of collapsing, yet are valuable in spite of their fragility. His work demonstrates the individual's need to connec... ...nd Joyce are not directly present in A Passage to India, and while Forster's fictive structure might not be as experimental as theirs, his novel stands shoulder to shoulder with other modernists who in a little flash of light detect hidden glimmers beneath the stacks of words that comprise the universal story, the self-deception, the quiet conversation with a friend in a moonlit mosque.    Works Cited    Forster, E.M. A Passage to India. New York: Harcourt Brace, 1924. ---. "What I Believe." Modern British Literature. Eds. John Hollander and Frank Kermode. New York: Oxford, 1973. 624.    Rutherford, Andrew. Introduction. Twentieth Century Interpretations of A Passage to India. Ed. Andrew Rutherford. New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 1970.    Scherer Herz, Judith. A Passage to India: Nation and Narration. New York: Twayne, 1993.   

generalized anxiety disorder Essay -- essays research papers

Generalized Anxiety Disorder Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is a chronic and often disabling condition that is associated with uncontrollable worry and tension. The vicious cycle of anxiety and worry interferes with relationships, careers, and education, and often leads to depression. This disorder is much more than the normal anxiety that everyone experiences from time to time, and can be crippling in its severity. GAD is unlikely to disappear without proper treatment, and often worsens over time. Physical manifestations of GAD often include headaches, trembling, twitching, fatigue, irritability, frustration, muscle tension, and inability to concentrate. Sleep disturbances may also occur. Individuals suffering from this disorder may appear to be always tense and unable to relax, or may startle more easily than others. Often they might seem to be constantly moving or fidgeting, unable to sit comfortably through a movie without worrying about something else that needs to be done. Some research suggests that GAD may run in families, and it Generalized Anxiety Disorder may grow worse during times of stress. Symptoms can begin at any age, but the risk is highest between childhood and middle age. GAD affects about 4 million adult Americans. Women are twice as likely to be affected than men. The disorder usually comes on gradually, although it can be suddenly triggered by a childhood psychological trauma, the death of a loved one, divorce, and losing or changing a job. DSM-IV Diagnostic Criteria: 1.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Excessive anxiety and worry (apprehensive expectation), occurring more days than not for at least 6 months, about a number of events or activities (such as work or school performance). 2.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The person finds it difficult to control the worry. 3.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The anxiety and worry are associated with three (or more) of the following six symptoms (with at least some symptoms present for more days than not for the past 6 months). Note: Only one item is required in children. -  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  restlessness or feeling keyed up or on edge -  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  being easily fatigued -  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  difficulty concentrating or mind going blank -  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  irritability -  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  muscle tension -  Ã‚  Ã‚  &nb... ...he anxiety the patient is having. There are many studies pertaining to generalized anxiety disorder. The studies examine the genetic and environmental risks for major anxiety disorders, their course-both alone and when they occur along with other diseases such as depression-and their treatment. Like heart disease and diabetes, these brain disorders are complex and probably result from a combination of genetic, behavioral, developmental, and other factors. Much of the research of anxiety centers on the amygdale, an almond-shaped structure deep within the brain. The amygdale is believed to serve as a communications hub between the parts of the brain that process incoming sensory signals and the parts that interpret them. Other research focuses on the hippocampus, another brain structure that is responsible for processing threatening or traumatic stimuli. By learning more about brain circuitry involved in fear and anxiety, scientists may be able to devise new and more specific treatments for anxiety disorders. Researche rs are attempting to learn how genetics and experience interact in each of the anxiety disorders-information they hope will yield clues to prevention and treatment.

Computer Benefits Essay

Science and technology Adv of technology First of all, technologies play a very important role in society because it makes life easier to live on and less time consuming. Technology has the ability to create shortcuts in working. People do not have to do all the hard labor anymore. For example, microwave ovens cook food easily without using any stoves and making a big mess. Some decade ago, there were no gas or electric stoves, people have to get firewoods and lighting them up for cooking. Technology makes things very easy to use comparing it in the old fashion way. Moreover, medical science is very progressive and saves many innocent lives. Medical treatment has been going well with the help of technology. Nowadays, hospitals use technology as the assistance for the operation. Doctors use machines to produce medicine to cure sickness and the discovery of x-ray enable doctors to treat some kinds of diseases. On the otherhand, the application of science leads to the development of technology. Technology comes from the Greek word tekne, which means art, craft or skill. Technology is the art craft and skill of harnessing scientific knowledge. Technology has improved the quality of life in many ways. DNA Analysis is now used to solve crimes. Packaged livelihood technologies produce goods and provide work and income. Nuclear research has brought about technologies fro treating cancer, preserving food and providing energy. Harnessing energy from the sun has brought about solar powered batteries for calculators and watches. The aqualung allowed man to explore the ocean depths thereby opening the underwater world for deeper exploration. In addition to this, science and technology influences our lives. These inventions that have changed the world are products of genuises who altogether make up only a small percentile of the millions of people who inhabit the earth. Disad of tech However, there is always a down side to everything. As a saying goes, there is no such thing as free lunch. Technological advancement has its own negative effects. For example, the burning of fossil fuels is primarily to energize the modern worldand to power cars. However, it has degraded the quality of air we breathe and has caused other environmental hazards with health threatening effects that adversely affect life. On the contrary, technology also brings harm to our society. The booming of industrialization and development causes pollutions to our world. For example, the smoke from the vehicles and machines affects the quality of air and destroy the ozone layer. As a result, people suffer illness like cancers. In addition, technologies also create financial problems in families because most of the technologies are expensive like computers. People that cannot afford to buy this kind of technology will live in a stressful life. For example, people that do not have washing machine will have to wash clothes by hand which is time consuming

Cafes monte bianco case analysis Essay

This course focuses on the strategic nature of management accounting and emphasizes the critical role that information plays in decision-making, strategy execution, and overall enhancement of a firm’s value. Primarily taught through case studies, this course will utilize and build upon the concepts studied in prior Management Accounting courses, and allow the students an opportunity to see how these concepts fit together. Selected readings from textbooks and business periodicals will be used to blend in appropriate theory for newer subjects that may be the focus of some case studies. The world of business continues to change dramatically. As a result, the role of managerial accounting is very different than it was even a decade ago. Today, managerial accountants serve as internal business consultants, working side-by-side in cross-functional teams with managers from all areas of the organization as they make decisions towards defining and implementing strategy. To complete their knowledge of managerial accounting, students must understand how managers are likely to use and react to information provided by management accounting. On the other hand, managers must understand the basis of the financial information provided by management accountants. We will explore both sides during our discussions. The course is divided into three major parts. The first part covers fundamental concepts, including activity-based management, and provides an overview of managerial accounting. The second part discusses concepts and methods useful for managerial decision making, such as CVP and differential analysis. Finally, in the third part, we concentrate on planning and performance evaluation of business segments as they strive to execute the firm’s strategy. In this part, we also discuss measurement and incentives (compensation) of managers. As indicated above, this is a case-based course to illustrate the applications of managerial accounting concepts in real-life situations. While preparing these cases, students should read about basic concepts on their own, using any of the textbooks mentioned later in this syllabus. However, I do intend lecturing on some of the relatively advanced topics (e. g. activity-based costing, variance analysis, pricing, target costing and allocations) at appropriate times during the quarter. TARGET AUDIENCE The course is general enough to benefit both MAcc and MBA students. A basic knowledge of financial and managerial accounting should suffice as a pre-requisite for the course. Both sets of students will enhance their understanding of Managerial Accounting topics by seeing how they are applied to real-life situations. In addition, MBA students will find that the course integrates several of the concepts they have learned in their curriculum. MAcc students will welcome the exposure to Strategy, and see how important Managerial Accounting is towards its (Strategy) implementation. ABOUT YOUR INSTRUCTOR With over 30 years of experience in industry, Mr. Mulchandani brings extensive knowledge of the â€Å"real world† towards teaching in the Business curriculum. Joining Rockwell International soon after obtaining his MBA, Mr. Mulchandani had assignments in several functional areas of the Company, including Finance, Accounting, Materials/Logistics and Manufacturing. After three years as a Division General Manager, he was named President of the Commercial Vehicle Systems Business ($3.5 billion in Revenue), from which he retired in December 2000. During his tenure in industry, Mr. Mulchandani actively participated in several global joint ventures, some of which he was instrumental in setting up. In addition, he has experienced being part of a spin-off into a separate automotive company, which later merged with another company for economic scale. In Spring 2001, Mr. Mulchandani entered the Masters of Accounting (MAcc) program at The Ohio State University, which he completed in June 2002. As a faculty member of the AMIS Department since then, Mr. Mulchandani teaches, or has taught, undergraduate financial and managerial accounting courses, Managerial Accounting in the MBA core, an MBA elective (Implementing Corporate Strategy), and the MAcc/MBA Elective (AMIS 823) at the Fisher College of Business.

The Influence of Media to Female Audiences

In the current state of society, the media has placed itself as one of the most important institutions in which influences the masses through the perspective that it has. One of the most evident and controversial issues that media had brought is the status of the female.There had been many issues regarding females in which some find very intriguing and even degrading for some. One of the most common issues for females is the issue of body structure. In the media, it is important that a person maybe able to maintain the body a healthy body.However, a healthy body immediately means that a female should have a slim and slender body. Having a slim and slender body for the media automatically means being healthy and being beautiful. But then, this type of issue had been a concern of some females in which contradicts the view of the media.It is known that every individual has his or her own body type. Others may have a slim body or some may have a pear shaped body. It is also recognized th at we cannot choose the type of body that we want because most of the time it is biological in nature.In connection to the concerns of the media regarding the body, it is somehow unfair for those that cannot and would not attain the body in which they view as beautiful. Of course, every woman and even men want to be known as beautiful. Each and everyone want to be recognized and seen as beautiful yet the media had already set their criteria in their perception of what is beautiful or not.Although the media is still in contradiction to the hypothesis of people that they are indeed setting a criterion for women and their body, it is evident in magazines and television shows that the media sees a slender women are much beautiful than the regular ones.As a proof, many celebrities and models are slender. Most of them have a body in which regular individuals would not exactly have like Misha Barton, Paris Hilton, Angelina Jolie, Jennifer Aniston and etc. All of these personalities’ exposes a body in which is very perfect in the view of the media. They are often seen as sexy and glamorous actresses in which could carry them selves well. In red carpet nights or even small parties, they are seen as beautiful.On the other hand, celebrities who are a bit heavier or has a much curvy body is not appreciated as much compared to slender celebrities. In magazine covers, slim actresses or models are often featured. Every edition of the magazine presents a slim female in which often posses a sexy image. However, curvy females in the media are not often given this opportunity. If they are able to pose for a magazine this is because they have done something important or they magazine advocates curvy women.The continuous presentation of the media of these types of women influences the society and their view towards the body. It could be observed that many women have created a thought that they should and must be like these Hollywood stars in order to be fully accepted by th e society.Any woman would like to be recognized as someone â€Å"beautiful† in the eyes of the society. Women started to make ways in order to imitate the celebrities. Some women try to exercise and lessen their food in take for them to be like these celebrities.However, this process is not enough for some women. There are those women that would like better and assured results for their bodies. Some result to plastic surgery which is the fastest way to eliminate excess fat or fix their problematic areas. Furthermore, there are women in which results to very unhealthy weight lost activities such as bulimia or anorexia.

Bowman Strategy Essay

1.0 Introduction Strategy is a long term directions for companies. Bennett (1996, cited by Cousins 2000) describes strategy as: â€Å"The word strategy is used to describe the direction that the organisation chooses to follow in order to fulfil its mission†. Today, strategies are vital for businesses, in many cases it helps to achieve a competitive advantage. Increasing competition in most sectors and technological development has led to accelerated changes in the global economy. In order to meet the market needs, strategies encourage and enable the adaptation of companies in a changing environment (Tribe, 2010). The aim of the report is to conduct a research on Bowman’s Strategy Clock which will demonstrate a rational, reflective and critical evaluation of the concept. To do so, the report is going to be divided in three parts. The first or the report part is going to give an overview of the Bowman’s strategy with its background. The second part will analyse the model and its different strategies by using example from companies. Then some authors’ opinions about the model will be analysed. 2.0 Bowman’s Strategy Clock 2.1 Strategy Overview In 1980 Michael Porter published his seminal book wherein he identified three generic strategies for a business to gain competitive advantage: cost leadership, product differentiation and market segmentation (Johnson et al., 2008). Basically, Porter analysed that business compete either on price (cost), on perceived value (differentiation), or by focusing on a very precise customer (market segmentation). Source: Eldring (2009) With his model, Porter (1980- cited in Eldring, 2009) explained that a company must choose between one of the three generic strategies otherwise it will be â€Å"stuck in the middle† and suffer from below-average performance. In 1996, Cliff Bowman and David Faulkner developed Bowman’s Strategy Clock Looking at Porter’s Generic strategies in a different way. This model extends Porter’s three strategic positions to eight. Figure 1 below, represents Bowman’s eight different strategies that are identified by varying levels of price and value. Figure 2: Bowman’s Strategy Clock Source: Johnson et al (2008) 2.2 Model explanation Bowman strategy is a competitive strategy. Competitive strategies are tools that businesses use to achieve competitive advantages (Johnson et al. 2005). The Bowman’s clock strategy is a more sophisticated approach, which recognizes and deals with certain criticisms of Porter’s model (Tiwari, 2009). For instance, as it has already been said, according to Porter generic model, a business has to choose one generic strategy are it means that the company is place in the middle which means being â€Å"dead†. However what Bowman believes is that a business can be both low cost and differentiated and still be successful over the long term, such as the companies Swatch, IKEA, Sainsbury and many others. In Bowman model, these companies are situated at the hybrid position, also known as combined strategy (Dobson et al. 2004). Figure 3 demonstrates that there are eight approaches on the clock in total. Meanwhile, these strategic positions can be grouped into three- risk strategies, low price strategies and differentiation strategies (Thomson & Banden-Fuller 2010, 184). Figure 3: Bowman’s Strategy Clock companies examples Source: (Thomson and Baden-Fuller, 2010: 184) To have a clear understanding of the eight different positions of Bowman’s Strategy clock, the author has decided to illustrate them with some companies’ examples. 2.2.1 Low Price Strategies Number 1 and 2 (No frills and Low price) on the clock are organisations who are going to position themselves in a part of the market which is looking for reasonable prices. The examples given are Ryanair and Easyjet. Indeed these two companies have managed to cut their costs by only focusing on their core service (every extras have to be paid by customers), also by using online bookings, and using secondary airports. The advantages of these two strategies are that the expectations of the customers who are choosing their services are very low because of the costs of the service/ products; they are more likely to be satisfied as figure 4 demonstrate it. Figure 4: Customers’ expectations Source: Cook (2008: 17) However the drawbacks of these two positions are that the only way to succeed here is through cost effectively selling quantity, and by constantly attracting new clients. These businesses will not be winning any customer loyalty contests, but they may be able to sustain themselves as long as they stay one step ahead of the consumer (Mindtools, 2012) 2.2.2 Differentiation Strategies From number 3 through number 5 (hybrid, differentiation and focused differentiation) are companies that are offering a customised product or service. The service or product is designed separately for each individual customer, and therefore customers are prepared to pay a price premium for that. The examples given is British Airways whose goal is to present better-quality service to its customers, stakeholders and employees alike (British Airways, 2010). A lot of companies in hospitality industry (such as 3 to 5 star hotels) would not try to compete on price; they would try to position themselves near position 4 or 5 on the model by offering something better, or improve a service. However in order to choose focused differentiation as strategy, businesses need to have a strong branding to make sure their customers are willing to pay a higher price for it. Strong brand have the power to capture consumer preference and loyalty (Armstrong, 2009). This is the reason why this strategy often takes place in the luxury segment. But it can also takes place in other segment such as technology, where for instance with the brand Apple. The company Apple has such strong brand images that according to a recent survey cited in Hughes (2011) consumers are extremely interested in the prospect of an Apple-branded television, that they are willing to pay a twenty percent premium over existing TV prices for such a device. Although it can be difficult for businesses to carry on the successful hybrid strategy due to the lower level of margins caused by the low costs products. As it has been mentioned earlier, companies that have both low cost and differentiated can sometimes be successful because they are quite difficult to compete against The value and quality is good and consumers are assured of reasonable prices. This combination builds customer fidelity. 2.2.3 Risk Strategies The strategies 6, 7 and 8 are called risk strategies because there is a high risk for failure when applying them within a business. For instance number 7, increasing price and keeping a low value product or service is only possible in a monopoly market situation and the customers have no choice else than to pay high price for poor value (Thomson and Baden-Fuller, 2010). However, in a competitive market, this approach remains unsustainable for long. Generally the companies arbitrarily increasing prices soon lose market share, as consumers migrate to competitors that offer the same value at lower prices. An example of a company in hospitality industry that was using high Increased price and standard values is the previous national airline of Belgium from 1923 to 2001 before its bankrupt (Castle, 2001). Regarding low value and increased price suggests Dwyer et al. (2010) that the night club cover charges as example. 2. 3 Model criticisms Although most of the researchers agree that it is an excellent model for companies to understand how to compete in the market place. Some remains sceptical regarding the position number 3 (hybrid). Simister (2011) believes that a differentiated, low cost hybrid position may be an achievable position only under certain conditions and that therefore it is not it is not applicable for every sector. The strategy clock can also lead to negative thinking and almost justify doing nothing for companies. The model’s strength is to consider competitive actions to possible moves in the clock but all of them could be damaging to business’ profit. Sometimes companies have to be ready to take a risk and make a decisive move because if they do not, another competitor will. . Conclusion The strategy clock represents a set of eight generic strategies for achieving competitive advantage: It is a very useful model to help understand how businesses compete in the market place. This is a powerful way of looking at how to establish and sustain a competitive position in a market driven economy. A competitive advantage is an advantage gained over competition by offering consumers superior value, either through lower prices or by providing additional benefits and service that justify similar, or higher, prices. By looking at the different combinations of price and perceived value, companies can begin to choose a position of competitive advantage that makes sense for them.

Change and Conflict Management in Nursing

Change and Conflict Management in Nursing Jon Teegardin Change and Conflict Change and conflict occur in all aspects of our society. In nursing, it is important to identify and embrace change, address and resolve conflict, and do so in an effective and efficient manner. This paper will present descriptions of change theories, conflict theories, and how a nurse’s ability to handle both can enhance or hinder effective leadership. Additionally, the leader as a change agent will be discussed. Change Theories While there are numerous theories of change that exist, in the profession of nursing there are three main theories that are consistently seen throughout the healthcare industry. These theories are Lewins theory of change, Rogers change theory, and Spradley’s change theory. Lewins change theory Probably the most recognizable theory of change is that presented by Kurt Lewin. His theory involves three stages to change: unfreezing, moving, and refreezing (Stolley, 2005). Two forces are present in this theory, the driving force, or those pushing for a particular change, and the resistant force, those who are resistant to the change. For change to occur the driving force or agents for change, must be stronger than the resistant force. In the unfreezing stage, the driving force develops a method that allows people to let go of the current, unproductive way of doing something. By finding this method, individual resistance to the change is overcome. In the moving phase, individuals are encouraged to change their way of thinking, feeling, or behavior to the new method. Finally, in the refreezing stage, this change becomes the new habit and ultimately the standard operating procedure. Lewins theory is also referred to as the force field theory that states an organization attempts to maintain a state of equilibrium between change forces and restraining forces (Swanson, & Creed, 2014). Change agents are the forces for change and must overcome the restraining forces to make the change successful. Rogers change theory Everette Rogers’s theory is a modification of Lewin’s change theory and involves five stages. The stages are awareness, interest, evaluation, implementation and adoption (Boston University School of Health, 2013). Roger’s theory is typically applied to long term projects. In the awareness stage, individuals are exposed to the new idea or process but lack all of the information about it. In the interest stage, the individual is interested in the new idea and seeks out additional information. The next stage is the evaluation stage where the individual determines how to apply the idea or process to their situation and decides whether or not they want to try it. The implementation stage occurs when the individual decides to make full use of the idea or process. Finally, in the adoption stage, the individual decides to continue to use the new idea or process. Roger’s theory is an example of social cognitive theory. Change does not occur im mediately among all those presented with the change. There are actually five groups of people that implement the change over time. These groups are innovators who are leaders that embrace the change immediately, early adopters who are also leaders but will follow innovators, the early majority who are the bulk of the followers, the late majority who include skeptics of the change, and finally laggards who are resistant to change (Kaminski, 2011).

Analysis Report Tata Steel of India Research Paper - 1

Analysis Report Tata Steel of India - Research Paper Example The Indian Government has pursued a policy of progressively opening India’s local economy to foreign competition, and there is currently no levy or tax restriction on the import and export of iron and steel products. (India Ministry of Steel, 2009) The consequence of this is considered to be increased competition in the sector, and lower prices, particularly as set by Chinese steel producers for export. China produced over 10 times the steel capacity of India, at 567 million metric tons in 2009 compared to 56.1 million metric tons produced by India in the same period. (India Ministry of Steel, 2010) Nevertheless, Tata Steel has produced a corporate strategy to meet these competitive challenges, and this includes sustainability policies directed at the greater welfare of workers, the environment, and community. This report will review Tata Steel’s sustainability policies as implemented by corporate management to determine the success of these programs and to recommend ch anges that are mutually beneficial to the stakeholders of the company. Tata Steel states publicly that â€Å"the primary purpose of a business is to improve the quality of life of people.† (Tata Steel, 2011) This tenet constitutes the cornerstone of the company’s sustainability policy and represents the wider mandate held by corporate management on behalf of stakeholders. In India, there is a need for social and economic development that uplifts people out of poverty. One of the main processes that enable individuals to improve their living condition in the modern, globalized economy is the possession of a professional, well-paying job. Another factor is the level of education that an individual receives in the formative years of development.

Monet and his painting Water Lilies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Monet and his painting Water Lilies - Essay Example This essay tells us about the painting, â€Å"Water Lilies,† by Claude Monet, a great masterpiece, which carries several elements of expression to the spectator. More important, this particular painting uses different techniques and ideologies to make a statement within the society and the culture which Claude Monet was in. The different concepts which Monet used in this particular painting were a part of a series which was able to show a true reflection and impression of nature as well as the shifts which were occurring during Monet’s time. However, it is the aesthetics that Monet uses in this piece that allows it to become a masterpiece and which has allowed it to stand out from a variety of paintings for a longer time frame. The painting of â€Å"Water Lilies† is one which shows Claude Monet’s personal philosophies and which reflects the time frame. This particular painting was a part of a series of water lilies which were painted from 1906 to 1926. The others are placed in various museums throughout the world. The brush strokes that are used with this specific painting are thicker in texture and include wider and long strokes that create the reflection of the leaves, water and the look of the lilies. This is combined with the shading which is created through the use of the oil paints, specifically which can be seen in the layers of the piece. The shading of the painting is not from light and dark, but instead comes from a darker and lighter mixture with each of the colors used. Content The content that is used by Monet is of the water lilies that are by a specific water body. The piece works as an Impressionist piece, which was used commonly by Monet as one which was defined by a glance or look at a specific scene at a given time. The impression which was left with the main look was what was painted, as opposed to manipulating or changing the textures that were with the piece of work. The impression is important to note because i t defines elements that are not a part of the main expressions which an artist is trying to convey. Instead, the expression and message is sent through the natural scenery and the moment which is caught in the painting. It is this natural setting that is able to capture specific characteristics and relay a given message to the audience (Werner, 3). The Impressionism in this piece comes from looking at the water lilies and seeing the reflection and movement of the water. When looking at this piece, it can be seen that the impression was left with the water lilies, which stayed still in the water and which are seen by the layers of paint and color. The brush strokes of the water lilies are smaller and move upward, which creates a sense of stillness with the subject. The reflection of the leaves are seen with several layers of shading and with long brush strokes, which makes the eye move from one end of the canvas to the other. The portrayal of the water moves in the same way, which ma kes the water look like it is swaying or moving forward. Even though the water lilies are only on the right hand corner and left hand bottom corner, the changing brush strokes cause the eye to see the lilies as constant and not moving, despite the changing reflections and movement of the water. The content then leaves an impression on the natural elements and the characteristics, which show the lilies as a constant in the continuous changes of the water. Iconography The icons which are presented from the water lilies become important with this picture as well as the other subjects of water lilies which

Project Planning, Execution and Closure - final project Essay

Project Planning, Execution and Closure - final project - Essay Example The company believes that the new system will be of immense help to the customers of the company, who will be able to access and perform many of those functions through the web, which were so far only available physically. The company is planning to outsource the development work to a vendor who will perform the required upgrades collaboratively. The company is planning to employ some of its man hours during the course of the development and is planning to keep its direct involvement in the project to the minimum. On its part, IRTC is planning to play a more supervisory role all through the project life cycle. Since the vendor has already worked on the project in question, it would be ideal to outsource the work rather than use company resources to execute the project because of the learning curve involved. 1. Provide a web interface for the existing system so that it would be beneficial to customers as well as internal staff. Customers can benefit from the web interface to perform their routine requirements, while the staff can benefit from reduced work load and increased ease of delivery of services 3. The system has been envisaged to create more interaction between the customer service department and the billing department so that more professional exchanges can happen between the departments. This would also allow the company to enhance the performance of the two departments. 4. The new system will not directly enhance the internal processes of the system and will not undertake a business process reengineering effort. The software will merely be deployed according to the direction of the managers who are managing the change. 6. The system will be delivered in modules that will cater to the immediate needs of the billing and customer service departments. The third module will integrate the two departments. The fourth and final module will integrate the back office functionality with a user interface that will be provided to the customer. 7. The

Reflection Using Gibbs Cycle - Development of Your Academic Learning Essay

Reflection Using Gibbs Cycle - Development of Your Academic Learning Skills and Experience in Practice During 3rd Year - Essay Example Throughout the session, I did various presentations using PowerPoint to horn my visual skills. Ethical issues were also part of communication that I learned. Numeracy was part of module seven and the activities entailed gathering and recording data, understanding research data, drug calculation, and general mathematics. The activities involved in developing IT skills in module seven were word processing, blackboard discussion, searching Databases, Emailing, and the use of the internet. Additionally, throughout the model, I developed learning skills by engaging in activities like literature search, use of literature and research, summarizing information, time management, self-evaluation, and working to deadlines. The model also helped me to know ways of working with others. I now comprehend the role of multi-disciplinary team and negotiating in teams. Feelings At first, it could not see the significance of skills in nursing. However, after meeting severally with my personal tutor, I a cknowledged the importance of skills in supporting my transition into the role of a staff nurse. Evaluation Achievement in developing communication was evident through passing the test, but I failed my oral exam due to anxiety and panic. I also did not do well in exam techniques and I will improve by meeting in groups to share knowledge and read individually for six hours. In the first attempt, I failed drug calculation but I improved by doing weekly practice. This was achieved at a 100 percent on my second attempt. To advance critical thinking skillfulness, I read more books and attended tutorial. I achieved 54 percent in research and 50 percent in the dissertation and this was a good achievement in the critical appraisal skills. How the development will supports my transition into the role of nursing (Analysis) Communication The good communication skills that I developed during the module will help me when shifting from a student to a staff nurse. The written communication profici ency will help me in my career as a nurse because I will need to write clear instructions for the patient to understand. Through the development of the communication skills, I will efficiently communicate verbally in formal and informal way. This will helps me as a staff nurse when making presentations in formal meetings and in my peer work groups. Listening skills will be an important attribute, which will help me as a nurse to assist in getting patients to value me. This is because listening will be a way of showing my interests in what the patients will say. Listening skills is always associated with humility rather than talkativeness. It can be empathetic and therefore therapeutic (Debnath, 2009, p152). Numeracy Numeracy skills will also help me in my nursing profession. The drug calculation skills that I acquired in module seven will increase my competency. Through that skill, I will not make dose errors. It is essential for nurses to be able to make accurate calculations of me dicine doses and to be fully conversant with the component of drugs in current use. Nurses should have an understanding of formulae for complex calculations. This enables them to direct the correct quantity and volume of the drugs. Incorrect drug computations can cause mistakes in prescription and harm patients. Drug computation skillfulness will therefore enable me to give right ratios, percentages, fractions and be able to interpret information found in clinical

Julius Caesar Biography Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Julius Caesar Biography - Essay Example Whatever he achieved in his life were rightly deserved. Amidst all this, it can be safely said, that geniuses at times have a flaw in them, which leads to their downfall and doom. Julius Caesar lived to this category and matched it to perfection. During his life, he managed to attain those heights which many others together could not manage doing so. His life was full of events. He made his way out of trouble and tough times and earned himself the name of being one of the best rulers of his time. Marcus Tullius Cicero the great orator who lived in the same era quite rightly defined Julius Caesar â€Å"A realist by his fingertips, not led astray by ideals or ideologies. He was not afraid to temporarily grovel†. (BookRags). ... 360) Julius Caesar was born in a family representing a humble background .His childhood days were mostly spent in the neighborhood of Rome .It would not be wrong to say that the political events of unrest taking place in the background of his childhood, left an impact on his mind and guided him taking an inspiration from the unrest and followed the ways in same manner later in his life .Childhood was spent in rough pattern and the entire family found it difficult making both ends meet. This was brought up by various reasons, one of them being the civil war in those days that was going on in the surroundings. Teenage life was one of the toughest times in his life where he was totally broke. While he was still in his teen age, things took turn for the better when he joined the Army and spent some time there. He started showing his abilities soon after and in the battle against Rome he performed above his abilities and saved number of his companions in the battle field. From here on, hi s life kept taking turns and events kept occurring during his life. In 80 B.C he earned himself the civil crown during the capture of Mytilene (Caesar and Kennedy) .Later on he went on to achieve the distinction of becoming the military tribune. The journey of success continued in various forms of promotion through the ranks till he became the all superior and top ranked. His personal life was never stable and from the beginning kept shifting between dark and light color. Got married at early age yet things were not smooth on this front .The wife was from a rich background and she by chance happened to belong to the family that was in opposition to the then rules, hence his personal peace and marriage landed in the hands of political intrigues and personal enmities and he had to take

The Statement and Limitations of the Reasoning Essay

The Statement and Limitations of the Reasoning - Essay Example Therefore I exist† is used in one place by Descartes in his Discourse on the Method, part 4, paragraph 1, where he says, â€Å"I noticed that while I was thus trying to think everything false, it was necessary that I, who was thinking this, was something. And observing that this truth "I am thinking, therefore I exist" was so firm and sure that all the most extravagant suppositions of the skeptics were incapable of shaking it, I decided that I could accept it without scruple as for the first principle of the philosophy I was seeking†. Descartes observed that there were several conflicts in philosophy, state Skirbekk and Gilje (2001), and according to him the only certain method was the deductive mathematical method. It became the determining factor in his philosophy. In a deductive system, the conclusions are of little value if the premises are uncertain and only half-true. If philosophy is to be a deductive system like Euclid’s geometry, completely true premises or axioms should be found. According to Moorman (1943), Descartes synthesized Mathematics with Philosophy. The scientific system that Descartes borrowed from Mathematics and from deductive components of the scientific method, led to the deductive philosophical system in which absolutely certain propositions had to be found. â€Å"The cogito was an axiomatic statement, one of identity†. Descartes gave objective reality to a geometrical extension. The Cogito argument is represented as a compelling intuition about ourselves in relation to the physical world, and it has a close connection with the improbability of materialism, states Slezak (1983). Ayer (1953) agrees with Descartes that the proposition â€Å"I am thinking, therefore I exist† cannot be doubted. Descartes’ methodical doubt is a means of filtering out all the propositions that one logically can doubt in order to find the propositions that are logically beyond doubt, and these propositions can be used as premises in the deductive system.  

Crisis analysis- major assessment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Crisis analysis- major assessment - Essay Example There are important areas that have been focused on this subject. Knowing the informational content is a vital responsibility for any crisis communication. Informational content basses on the following principles; what do the authorities know concerning the crisis? What is it that they want people to consent? And how are they going to deliver the information to the people accordingly?. Media also is another based area of concern. The primary task that the management ask themselves is that how will they get their content from them into the minds of the public. Another based field is the assessment of the audience. From the study of the past years, it reveals that a successful progress in crisis communication has been a sector that is growing bearing in mind that not all people are intelligent (Jaques 2007). Due to variations in knowledge, values, and emotions, it gives the assessors very tough time in giving out the information. Basing on what, do they need to reach the people, what they have in their mind already and the effect that will arise the moment they are told about the crisis? Involving the audience also is another aspect that needs to be put into concern. Targeting a deliverable communication at the two-way end and the mode that they need to keep immediate audience active is their worry. Self-assessment gives self-examination on the effect of values, emotions, and political problems relating to crisis management (Coombs 2009). From the definition approaches, there have not been good levels of agreement that demonstrate critically what is a crisis and what the issue is in management. Many writers have analyzed problem management, and it was found to lack clarity. Crisis, on the other hand, has been hard to be defined indecently without the placement of crisis management. The illustration of this by individual scholars shows a thesis that identify a frequent

How ICT requirements are met in an organisation Essay Example for Free

How ICT requirements are met in an organisation Essay Report B: How ICT requirements are met in an organisation Before Haden was introduced ICT, everything was done by hand. This took longer and was not a reliable method of processing information. Haden has many departments and altogether they have many computers. I am going to only analyse one of those departments because doing the whole building with the number of computers will be ridiculous. The department I will be analysing is the Fraud department. This department deals with all the people committing benefit fraud. They work with the police to get those people in court. The Fraud department found it hard to cope without computers. When the computers were introduced everything was easy. Everything needed ICT. In the Fraud department there are 45 computers. Here are the specifications of the hardware. Hardware Input devices Keyboard- There is 40 standard QWERTY keyboards and 5 ergonomic keyboards. Ergonomic keyboards are QWERTY but the layout is different. The keyboards connect by PS/2 port. Mice- There is 45 standard mice. These come as default on all the computers. The mice connect also connect through PS/2 port. Digital Cameras- These cameras are devices that can take photos or moving images (films) and transfer them on to a PC. The images are JPEG, GIF, UGA, UFO or PSO. There are a total of 4 cameras in the department. The digital cameras connect to the via USB port. Scanners- There is 2 scanners in the department and they also transfer images to the computer. They work like photocopier but can transfer the images to a PC. This device also connects through USB port. Web Cams- The web cams are used to project moving images on to the internet. Only 7 computers have these and they are only used for handling confidential documents. The web cams connect to the computers by the USB port. The web cams are used for personal use. Well, thats what I think! An input device is something that transfers raw data into a computer for it to be processed. These can include images and evidence from fraud suspects. Output devices Monitors- There is 45 monitors. 5 flat screen monitors, also know as LCD (liquid crystal display) screens and the rest are standard default monitors which are CRT (cathode ray tube) monitors. The monitors connect through the serial port. Colour printer- The colour printers are used to print documents with Hadens header on them. The colour makes it more professional. The printers connect through the LPT or parallel port. These are the main output devices. They take raw information/data and give it back to us processed. Every computer has many different specifications inside and outside. The computers are all the same so it will be easy to describe them. Below are the specifications. Compaq Deskpro 40 GB Hard drive CD/CD-RW Drive Floppy Drive Zip Drive 512 mb DDR RAM 64 mb DDR Geforce 4 graphics card Creative soundcard Ethernet Card Modem port 4 USB 2. 0 ports 2 serial ports 2 LPT/parallel ports 2 Fire wire ports 2 PS/2 ports 1 game pad port 1 Network port The hard drives are big so that a lot of data can be stored. But there is a downfall to that. It is easier for files to get lost and the file security is not great. The RAM is a ridiculously large. It seems like the computers are made to play games and not do work. This also applies for the graphics card. It also has a large card memory. Most of it is wasted because it is not being used. The department can save a lot of money they had computers which are a bit lower on the specifications. (RAM, Graphics card etc) As all the computers are same, it is easy for me to describe only one of the computers specifications because they have the same specifications like the other computers in the department. There is a large server for the department. The server is very fast and quick. Below are the server specifications. Intel Pentium 4 M 3. 0 GHz processor memory 1024 mb DDR RAM 120 GB Hard drive Tape drive CD/CD-RW Drive Floppy Drive All the computers are Compaq brand. They are reliable and safe to use. Software The computers have different software installed on their hard drives. The computers are new. They have Microsoft Office 2002 installed on their hard drive. They also have other programs like anti-virus. Microsoft Word- This is the default word processing application. It is easy to use and it has many features like recording macros and inserting pictures. Microsoft Excel- This application is installed on the system but it is not used often. It may be used to do calculations for wages and salaries. I am not very sure what it is used for in this department. Microsoft Access- This application is not used. Database- Haden have there own database. It is very complicated to use their database. It comes up as a black screen with white writing. Almost like MS-DOS on old computers. The database holds information of people that have benefits and that commit fraud. You have to be trained to use the database because it is so complicated. This is what I think are in the databases: Name, address, post code, county, age, gender, contact details, national insurance number etc. Outlook Express- Easy to use and is fast for sending and receiving information. The e-mail is not for personal use. The companies boss can other employees can read the personal e-mails. Information is not confidential so it is a great and fast method of transferring data. Internet Explorer is used to surf the web for web related fraud. The internet has a special tracking device that seeks out people using other peoples insurance numbers and other details to get money. Intranet- All the computers are linked to an intranet. The intranet is a small network that only the company personnel can enter. No one from the outside, like me, can enter the intranet. Some of the files are password protected and only those who have the password can enter. Others are common files that everyone linked to the intranet can access. All personnel have their own password. They also have a card key that is used to enter the PC otherwise they do not have access. Norton System works is an antivirus application. All the computers have this software to protect against viruses. There is however a disadvantage. There is no internet firewall. Although one will be installed soon, the security is at risk and therefore hackers can enter easily. Evidence Eliminator is an application that is used to destroy unwanted fraud evidence from the Fraud departments computers. The evidence will no longer be available for hackers. Evaluation Hadens use of ICT is excellent. They are faster now than before computers were introduced. The department of Fraud has found that using ICT is a must for them. Most of it is writing up databases. They have improved in using their own database that has outstanding security due to it being hard to use. There are several advantages and disadvantages. The main one is that the computers can get out of date and will require fixing all the time. Another disadvantage is in the Fraud computers the security is not that good. Hackers can attack it easily. The evidence eliminator application will have to be used several times because there is no firewall and hacker can attack any time. The Fraud department has to step up its security to insure that it is safe to transfer files through the networks. Overall, the organisation has improved in keeping things up to date. The security has to improve for the internet, other than that; the company is sophisticated and well improved.