IRAC Brief Essay

According to United States District Court District of Massachusetts Civil Action 11-10313-GAO (2013), Anderson, Silva, Johnson and Funches contracted through a limited liability company by the name of SLS to perform delivery services work on behalf of HDA (United States District Court District of Massachusetts, 2013). Plaintiffs Case Each driver was provided with their truck Trucks provided to the contractors bore Sears Logo Uniforms bore both Sears and HDA logos Each driver hired their helpers and paid their helpers directly Drivers worked full-time and solely for HDA (while under contract) (United States District Court District of Massachusetts, 2013) HDAs Argument Plaintiffs contracted through SLS and not directly with HDA as individuals; therefore, HDA should not be a litigant in this case Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 149,  § 148B is preempted by the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act, 49 U.S.C (See Case 1:11-cv-10313-GAO Document 99 Filed 12/30/13 Page 3 of 5) (United States District Court District of Massachusetts, 2013) IRAC Issue: The issues below are the reasons this case has been brought to court. The court must provide the answers to these reasons in order to begin the rule assessment portion of IRAC (1) Were the plaintiffs (Anderson, Silva, and Funches) misclassified as independent contractors by HAD? (2) Were deductions taken from plaintiff’s wages in violation of wage laws? Rules Below are the rules found in Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 149,  § 148B. These rules must be applied to the facts of the case to assess the fault or culpability of the litigants. Below is cited via United States District Court District of Massachusetts Civil Action 11-10313-GAO (2013). (1) The individual is free from control and direction in connection with the (2) Performance of the service, both under his contract for the performance of service and in fact; and the service is performed outside the usual course of the business of the employer; and (3) The individual is customarily engaged in an independently established trade, occupation; profession or business of the same nature as that involved in the service performed. (United States District Court District of Massachusetts, 2013) Application When looking at the mass general law 149 subsection 148B, we can apply the three stipulations of the law to the case against HDA violating this law. The plaintiffs in the case were acting solely for the purposes of HDA as a delivery service wearing both the seniors and HDA logos on uniforms provided to them. None of the drivers worked outside of the scope of work on subcontracts for any other provider other than HDA, and finally, each driver performed these duties under the direction of HDA’s vision. It is clear in this case that circumstances are such that every appearance and performance of duties was done in a way to appear that they were solely employees of HDA in that HDA has violated Mass General Law on salary and wages (United States District Court District of Massachusetts, 2013). When applying this to business setting the business entity hiring subcontractors must stipulate in a written contract as to whether the employee is to be treated as a subcontractor under a 1099 tax form or as a subcontract employee for the business. Under the assumptions made in mass general law 149 subsection 148B, subcontractors are deemed employees if they meet certain criteria within the law. This criteria is easily determined under general operating practices and business owners should be aware of these criteria before hiring subcontractors (United States District Court District of Massachusetts, 2013). Analysis/Conclusion Plaintiffs (Anderson, Silva, and Funches) were misclassified as independent contractors by HDA. It was found that deductions were taken from plaintiff’s wages in violation of wage laws. Thus, findings were established through determining that HDA violated the law in place (Mass General Law on Salary and Wages). For the foregoing reasons, the plaintiffs’ Motion for Partial Summary Judgment as to liability against HDA (dkt. no. 65) is GRANTED. It is SO ORDERED. Business Managerial Setting Application There are numerous torts to consider when reviewing Anderson v HDA: (1) Intentional Tort a civil matter resulting in an intentional act of damages. (2) Unintentional Tort civil matter unintentional acts that results in economic loss, property damage, or physical injuries. (3) Property Torts occur when one’s enjoyment of their private property is interfered with by either acts of trespass or illegal conversion of the private property. (4) Negligence a civil matter resulting damages due to the lack of care or duty that is owed. (5) Strict Liability Torts can be criminal or civil and culpability or finding of fault is not a factor, to name a few. The tort that is evident in the case of Anderson v HDA is an Unintentional Tort resulting in an act of economic loss. The wage deduction and mis-classification of employment status have led to the loss of wages and possible benefits to the plaintiffs and their helpers. The issues that arose in the Anderson v HDA civil lawsuit could have been avoided by utilizing an effective risk management process for contracts review and management. Co-employment issues arise in the third party relationships due to the unknown, so it is beneficial to know as much as possible about all relationships that are encompassed for the work at hand. Understanding the Torts liabilities that can arise in the areas of contract language and negotiations will ensure that liabilities are managed early in the relationship building process. An effective way to manage this risk is to identify the gaps that may exist with employment status classification, ensure that necessary tax forms are completed, monitor direct partnership and obtain direct partnership attestations regarding their direct  relationship with their contractors. The next step is to have an ongoing control mechanism in place to monitor regulations and update business checklist and standard operation procedures. Reference United States District Court District of Massachusetts. (2013). Civil Action 11-10313-GAO. Retrieved from United States District Court District of Massachusetts, website.

Descriptive ethics Essay

Morality is the intentions, decisions and actions between a good choice and a bad choice. Morality is the concerns beliefs according to good and bad behavior. Morality is something every single person has weather they are a good person of character or a bad person of character. According to philosophy ethics is morality. Ethics is a moral code the study of morality using tools and methods of philosophy. A moral is what you are taught and practiced. Some of the things we are taught and practice are right and wrong, good and bad. Although ethics are morals; there are different types of ethics that go with the use of morality. Descriptive ethics, normative ethics, Meta ethics, applied ethics, and bio ethics. Descriptive ethics is the methodology of science within the study of morality; peoples beliefs on morality. It helps to decided what people think is right. Normative ethics is justification of the moral standards of norms; the ideal way people should act. The justification of basic moral beliefs is called Meta ethics. Meta ethics helps to define what is â€Å"right†. Applied ethics are concepts and norms that are used to resolve practical moral issues. Applied ethics tell us how do we take moral knowledge and put it into practice. Ethics that are focused on health care, medical science and medical technology are called bio ethics. Morality is the behavior as it is affect by these moral principles. Moral principles are personal conduct that is accepted by individuals or social groups. There four different types of moral principles; autonomy, beneficence, utility and justice. One of the types of moral principles are autonomy is the basis for determining moral responsibility for your own actions. Autonomy is referred to self-government of people. An example of autonomy is being able to direct one’s life and choose for them. Beneficence is doing the good thing for others without doing harm to them. Beneficence is understood to be the first principle of morality. It is to do well to others but avoid the bad that can come. The next moral principle plays a big part of creation and revaluation of health policies of institutions and society, this is called utility. Utility increases happiness and decreases suffering. Lastly is justice this is a concept based on ethics, law, religion and fairness. It is the right to protect people from basis discrimination of race gender sexual orientation age and ethnicity. In my opinion moral principles should be an absolute consideration and not subjected to compromise; although they are subjected to compromise. Autonomy is to direct one’s life and chose for themselves, although some people are dependent on others and let others make decisions for them, it should be their own choice.

Business Risk Approach Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Business Risk Approach - Assignment Example The specific risk of fraud or error that might occur will be the error of omission of individual transactions. The accountants (Rittenberg, Karla, Johnstone, and Audrey, Gramling, p.22) make the errors in the financial statements. The identification of the internal auditor of the misstatement of a material in the financial statements for the particular period under audit. There is a possibility that it was initially identified by the internal control of the entity. It includes misstatements that involve judgment and estimation by which an auditor detects the likely adjustments of material and corrections of the amounts recorded (Rittenberg, Karla, Johnstone, and Audrey, Gramling, p.22). Here there is the presence of the fraud resulting from material misstatements especially on the part of the senior management. It will affect the company financial capacity at the end (Rittenberg, Karla, Johnstone, and Audrey, Gramling, p.22). There is also the failure by the management or those who have the responsibility to assess deficiency impacts that were communicated earlier to them. They have a responsibility of either to remedy it or asset that no rectification will be made (Rittenberg, Karla, Johnstone, and Audrey, Gramling, p.22). There is also the presence of an ineffective control environment. Weak control of the various aspects of the internal control could result in an incorrect judgment by the auditor. He could conclude that there exists a significant deficiency or weakness of the material in the control environment (Rittenberg, Karla, Johnstone, and Audrey, Gramling, p.22). There is also the restatement of financial statements that were issued previously to reflect the correction of a material misstatement. The correction of a misstatement entails those errors due to frauds or error. It does not require restatements that indicate a significant change in the principle of accounting to be in line with a new principle of accounting. In addition, to be in line with a voluntary change of one accepted principle of accounting to the other accepted principle of accounting (Rittenberg, Karla, Johnstone, and Audrey, Gramling, p.22).     

Central American Immigrants Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Central American Immigrants - Essay Example For Central American immigrants who have experienced years of political and social strife, immigrating to the US promises opportunity and liberties that they have cease to believe as possible in their respective countries. The issues faced by Central American immigrants is a particular concern since most of immigrants who have become isolated in the US. The situation face by the immigrants are not unique to them or to immigrants. The challenges they face are also shared with other populations that suffer social exclusion or marginalization that may be unique to regional origins . In the critically acclaimed film Toritlla Soup, the plight of many many of these immigrants, particularly those from Central America trying to escape political persecution, face the seemingly impossible choice of having no choice to leave one's country and having nowhere to go. The sense of disenfranchisement prevails in whatever choice they make. At the same time, they also have to struggle with their personal and social identity as they and their family transition to their adoptive communities whose cultural, social and political barriers often lie beyond their competencies to surpass. Ellis and Wright (2005) study of geography and immigration also shows that there are differences in units of assimilation differs based on geography of immigration. They concluded that there is indication that there is sensitivity to political issues. Menjivar (2000) points out that there is a need to develop more intimate perspective of the issue from immigrants points of view. In her study regrading the immigration trends and issues among El Salvadorans, she points out that immigration into the US, whether legal or not, provides limited opportunity for social representation or empowerment. Often, with the focus of "managing" immigrants, policies become insensitive and unresponsive to the issues that are driving immigration trends, in particular those that are illegal. She points out that most policies view immigrants individually without recognizing the informal and formal social networks. The result is that individual immigrants feel that they are isolated from mainstream America n society and rely more on these social groups which can make communicating with the population restrictive, if not combative with the government's various social programs (Johnson, 2006). Menjivar's (2002) subsequent work, this time focusing on Guatemalans, highlight that the challenged that immigrants are often carried over to their offspring whose identity is often split between being American and that of their parent's native country. Anderson (2003) points out that this can create stress particularly for juveniles and also is considered to reason behind delinquency and victimization. Though these populations may have little link or awareness of their cultural or social history they are subject to the social preconceptions that may incite their feeling of marginalization of social exclusion. This has further been attributed to adult victimization and criminal behavior and lead to diminished effectiveness of social institutions and services for these populations as a whole. Survey of the population who have become victims of abuse indicate a significant history of marginalization, cultural or social exclusion (Menjivar & Salcido, 2002). The experience not only incr eases their vulnerability to crime or victimization but also their propensity to commit the acts to others.

John Edward Robinson Sr Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

John Edward Robinson Sr - Essay Example The Robinson’s moved to a bigger house in Missouri. He worked for the medical practice of Dr. Wallace Graham. In 1969, he was sentenced to 3 years’ probation after embezzling $33,000 from the medical practice. Robinson had sexually propositions about many of his neighbors’ wives and got into a physical fight with one of the husbands. On the other hand, he was involved in many rape crimes most of the victims were young girls (Thomas). In 1984 the first prey for Robinson was Paula Godfrey, she was 19 years old. John hired her to work in his firm. He picked her from her parents’ home to go to the airport but she never was found after that. From 1987-1993 Robinson was incarcerated, first in Kansas (1987-91) on multiple fraud conviction and other fraud convictions and parole violations. In addition, he was using the internet for sexual activities by using the â€Å"Slavemaster† as a nickname in the social network sites. Suzette was the way to expose Robi nson by her online friendships from around the world who knew she had gone to Kansas city to be with John Robinson. Her friends were worried about her because she no longer appeared online. Also he tried to seduce Lore and she is one of Suzette’s online friends, who lived in Eastern Canada. Lore tried to drag Robinson to find her friend Suzette. There were some telephone calls and email between them, in that time the police was tracking all the calls and emails. The police contacted Lore and told her that they were doing investigation about Robinson and they asked her to continue her relationship with him. Lore wasn’t the only target for Robinson. He was meeting women locally and outside the country. Tiffany Lynn Stasi is a child linked to Robinson, who disappeared 15 years ago after her mother crossed paths with Robinson. She was a 4-month old baby when she disappeared. Police was investigating whether Tiffany was living under another name (Canon). Sources who were kn owledgeable of the investigation said â€Å"She could have been raised by a couple known to Robinson without ever being legally adopted† (Jury Backs Execution in 'Sex Slave' Murders). Finally, in Missouri, members of the task force found that all five women were killed in the same way, by one or two blows to the head. They found these bodies in two garages that Robinson rented. In 2003, Robinson was sentenced to death in Kansan for the murders of Trouten and Lewicka, and life imprisonment for killing Stasi. The article shows that Robinson victims were 8 women and he was a serial killer. In my opinion, John Edward Robinson is one of the famous serial killers. While searching and reading articles about Robinson I found that he is sick of sexual activity or sexual things, even when he got married to Nancy, he was cheating on her and had many girlfriends everywhere around the world. Then he used internet for such purposes. Also he chose such nicknames that tell about his mentalit y and his indulgence in sex life. In fact, he loves porn and sexual life. That can be the cause of Robinson crimes. He did many criminal things such as, rape, stealing and killing. Each one of these crimes is related to the other one. For example, rape drives you to kill etc. The second reason that drove him to steal was that he was always expelled from his work and he tried to make his own firm but was haunted by debt. These things happened to him when he was not a part of notorious world. Maybe there is such a devilish force that pushed him to do all these crimes or was mentally ill. In the

Managerial Economics Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Managerial Economics - Research Paper Example The cost of production is dependent on the materials the firms choose. In this case the building materials are the materials for production. It is to be noted that the firm is earning short run profits which are the driver of new firms into the market. As new firms enter into the market, the demand for the materials for production will rise. The chosen firm will also have to buy the materials at higher costs and therefore, the costs of production will rise (United Nations Department of Agriculture, n.d.). b) The price that the chosen firm charges for their services will depend on two major factors: the competition that the firm faces from other competitors and the real estate market. As there is entry of new firms into the market, there is increased competition which will tend to force the equilibrium price down. Therefore, the chosen firm will be forced to charge less for the remodeling services. c) From the above two discussions it is clear that the firm will have to face increased competition and the costs of production will also increase. When new entrants appear in the market, the share of each of the other firms operating within the same industry decreases. As a result, the profits of the chosen firm will decrease. The firm will now enjoy only normal profits. Managerial Decisions for Firms with Market Power 2. ... How? What evidence might you bring to the hearing? Answer: The Federal Trade Commission is concerned that the merger increased the market power for the firms that merged. However, it is difficult to argue that the market power will not increase if it is assumed that the rivals are close to the size of the merged firms. But it can be argued that the merger was simply aimed to save costs. Suppose the individual firms had to incur some overhead costs while operating as individual units. If it can be argued that increasing market power was not the aim of the merger and if it can be proved that the overhead costs have really decreased while operating as a merged company, then it will provide a foothold in the argument. The concentration of market power will also help to derive the price elasticity of demand. It can also be argued that the market power will not increase as much as in a situation of monopoly and would lack the power to hurt the consumers. In an industry characterized by fir ms that enjoy similar market shares, it is unlikely that the market power will increase as a result of the merger. The search engine market power tremendously increased because of the deal between Microsoft and Yahoo. The deal was allowed as Google enjoyed a fair power of the market. If the deal would not have taken place, both companies would have began to lose market power which could have hurt the consumers. Strategic Decision Making in Oligopoly Market 3. When McDonald’s Corp reduced the price of its Big Mac by 75 percent if customers also purchased French fries and a soft drink, The Wall Street Journal reported that the company was hoping the novel promotion would revive its U.S. sales growth. It didn’t. Within two weeks sales had fallen. Using your knowledge of game theory,

Social Influences in the Stock Market Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Social Influences in the Stock Market - Essay Example Kenrick and Simpson (1997) maintain that "...in the stock market, people's investment decisions are determined, not by the actual value of a resource but by the perceived value" (p. 36). Once an investor moves from pure economic analysis into the area of perception, social influence becomes a key influence. By using acuity rather than data, the investor draws upon the elements that make up the perception, whether factual or not. Those perceptive elements are usually socially-derived and filtered through the individual's own bias. The investment decision is then no longer about objective fact, it is about the individual's subjective opinion-right or wrong. The prices of securities themselves are often a function of this process. In the stock market, pricing is set by the market's consensus opinion of a company's underlying value. If more people have a good opinion of a stock's worth or potential, they will pay more for it. If the majority, however, have a negative view on a security, that outlook will express itself as a lower price. The obvious social influence here is that many of the people who are setting the price are making decisions based on their unique view of the company, market, or economy. This perception is certainly not always accurate. Shefrin states it like this, "People commit errors in the course of making decisions; and these errors cause the prices of securities to be different from what they would have been in an error-free environment" (2002: p. 6). If the majority of investors in ABC Company are influenced by an erroneous social perception, e.g., the company is not environmentally responsible, they will make the ir investment decisions accordingly and the price of the stock will fall. ABC Company may or may not be an industrial polluter; but if the market perceives that they are, the result is negative. In this case, perception is reality. A dramatic example of this premise is demonstrated by observing the impact of the media on market events. For example, in October 1987, the United State's stock market crashed with a resulting massive loss in equity. In trying to understand the reasons behind the event, economist Robert Shiller sent questionnaires to active traders. What he discovered from the response was that the investors were responding to the news of the crisis, not necessarily the underlying fundamentals of the market itself (Brehm, 2005, n.p.). That day, the price movements in the market were not triggered by any objective economic information; prices were dropping because of mass investor response to the news that prices were dropping. Shiller (2000) articulates this concept very well when he observes that, while the media may represent that they are independent "...observers of market events, they are themselves an integral part of these events. Significant market events...occur only if there is similar thin king among large groups of people, and the news media are essential vehicles for the spread of ideas" (p. 71). Within the context of the modern information age; given the pervasive presence of journalists reporting, pundits opining, and bloggers ranting, it is easy to infer the significant social influence wielded upon the financial markets by the media. Stock

Drawing on examples of ethnographic studies, critically evaluate the Essay

Drawing on examples of ethnographic studies, critically evaluate the main strengths and limitations of this research method - Essay Example The deployment of ethnography as a method to capture the realm of culture enables the researcher to dissect even the most subtle meanings associated with actions and interactions that often take place within that respective realm. It focuses on observation of specific actions and interactions within specific and natural settings rather relying solely on data collected through different external methods (Tuckman 1999). It helps to make sense of the deeper meanings that are motivated both from historical and political corner points and which rule the ruse in the daily lives. It also enables the researcher to simultaneously participate in the daily lives as well as to keep distance from the same in order to make sense of the subjective meanings attached to the actions by the subjects (Geertz 1995). In this paper I shall attempt to provide a critical overview of ethnographic research with regard to the possibilities it offer in social research. I have basically attempted to club the meri ts, demerits and instances of ethnographic research in singular edifice in the form of this paper. Thus I have attempted to draw from specific works in order to understand the relevance of the advantages and disadvantages and how the latter are overcome and through what additional methods. Being inductive in nature than deductive ethnographic research is more flexible and reserves sufficient room to incorporate elements that are difficult to manage and control and that emerge, even spontaneously, during the course of the study. The most significant use of making ethnographic analysis is that it helps the researcher to closely observe and understand the internal dynamics of the local daily lives in the cultural locale being studied. The use of observation and interviews in ethnography helps the researcher to stick to the natural settings (Wilson 1977). The opportunities for the researcher to observe the behaviour and human relations, actions and interactions within their usual enviro nment helps the researcher to â€Å"contextualize† her research (Brewer 2004: 154); it also plays a crucial role in the very process of laying foundation for the particular research. Gay and Airasian, during the course of their study about educational research generally in the European context, observes that â€Å"in ethnographic research, as opposed to other forms of social researches, hypothesis is formed after the initial phase of field visits, observation and so on† (25). This is a very crucial factor since it keeps the researcher away from any form of preoccupations about the research as such and the research questions and widens the scope of the project. In addition to the above this contextual specificity saves the researcher a great deal from generalizing the outcomes of the specific research. According to Pawson (1999), as a result of the constant interaction with subjects in their usual settings, there are constant and unexpected twists and turns in the ethno graphic research which prevent it from becoming â€Å"a neat series of sequential stages† (32). Thus ethnography could better be understood as incorporating great amounts of flexibility incorporating a â€Å"multiple series of actions in a rather flexible manner† (Ibid 33). While this remains so the question of research design occupies an important place in this research framework and ordering the research in a systematic

Small-Business Opportunities Available Today Essay

Small-Business Opportunities Available Today - Essay Example (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Small_business). There are certain types of difficulties faced by such businesses due to their small size. One of the most common reasons for bankruptcy is undercapitalization. This is mainly due to the bogus arrangement and not the financial circumstances; meaning that any business should have enough amount of money to run that business and a certain criteria is set up. If the required isn't done, then the company can suffer from bankruptcy. Along with the fact of having good amount of capital, the proprietor of the small business should have a good knowledge of gross margin, which are "sales minus variable costs." In order to work appropriately and efficiently, the business is required to achieve a standard of sales having gross margin surpass the "fixed costs." In United States, few of the important small business proprietors are in the field of "insurance costs, rising energy costs and taxes." While in United Kingdom and Australia, small business possessors are more into the field "with excessive governmental red tape." It can be a complicated task for a fresh and developing business to gain trust of customers. To overcome this complication, some associations like Better Business Bureau and the International Charter are proposing Small Business Certification, "which certifies the quality of the services and goods produced and can encourage new and larger customers." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Small_business). Comparing and Contrasting Two Small Business Firms The two small business companies which will be compared in this report are two different finance corporations running in United States. The first one is Southwestern Business Financing Corporation, operating in State of Arizona and Contiguous States. The second one is Chesapeake Business Finance Corporation operating in Kent and Sussex Counties. About the Firms Southwestern Business Financing Cooperation is a classified, non-profit company that gives "small businesses with long-term loans for owner-occupied fixed assets." This company is one of the two corporations of Arizona which is endorsed by the U.S Small Business Administration to create the SBA 504 loan to small businesses for construction of gigantic utensils from "$ 125,000 to $ 10,000,000." This company offers a "long-term, fixed-rate financing" with a decreased down payment. From the time when it was founded, SBFC has financed the purchase or building of over $500 million of buildings for small businesses. (http://www.swbfc.com/mission.cfmpagename=mission). Chesapeake Busines

To Kill a Mockingbird Essay Example for Free

To Kill a Mockingbird Essay ‘Jem’s growing up now and you are too,’ She said to me. ‘we decided to have some feminine influence! ’ (I. ch. 13) In To Kill a Mockingbird, the protagonist is Atticus Finch, a father of two children named Jem and Jean Louis â€Å"Scout† Finch. His wife died when his children were very young. Atticus is quite an old, wise, white man. The book was set in the early 1930’s and it was very common for white men and women to be very racist towards others who aren’t the same race as them. But, Atticus was not like most of the white men and women. He was very kind to everyone not matter what their race was. It seemed as if he didn’t believe in racism. In the book, Atticus was a lawyer for a black man named, Tom Robinson, who was falsely accused of raping Mayella Ewell. He did everything he could to win that trial. But, deep down Atticus knew he would not win because Tom Robinson wasn’t a white man. After the trial ended, he still had to stay strong for his children even though he was worn out. Above all, Atticus was a widower and he was taking care of two growing children on his own. Although, he was a single father, he did raise his children correctly. He taught them not to be racist to others; he always knew exactly what to say. His children were growing up quickly and they needed a feminine figure in their life and that’s not something Atticus could on his own. That’s probably something Atticus will always struggle with. No matter what, children will always need a mother and a father in their life. Atticus was full of knowledge and whenever his children had a question, he would always answer perfectly. In chapter 28, Jem and Scout got attacked by Bob Ewell. Jem got knocked unconscious and Atticus stayed by his bedside until morning. I’m sure he didn’t even sleep. He’s willing to sacrifice his sleep for his children because that’s how good of a father he is. I’m sure he stayed there to make sure Jem wasn’t in pain or he wanted to be there right when Jem woke up. In conclusion, Atticus being a single father really will affect him and his children. Although, his children try not to show it, it is hard growing up without a mother. It just doesn’t balance correctly. Atticus taking care of his children by himself could affect his health at a great deal because he’s not so young, and taking of his children is very, very tiring.

Communication and its Barriers

Communication and its Barriers Any act by which one person gives to or receives from another person information about that persons needs, desires, perceptions, knowledge, or affective states. Communication may be intentional or unintentional; it may involve conventional or unconventional signals, may take linguistic or non-linguistic forms, and may occur through spoken or other modes. Organisations cannot operate without communication. Communication can take various forms but all forms involve the transfer of information from one party to the other. In order for the transfer of information to qualify as communication, the recipient must understand the meaning of the information transferred to them. If the recipient does not understand the meaning of the information conveyed to them, communication has not taken place. Communication is the life source of organisations because organisations involve people. People cannot interact with each other without communication. In the absence of communication, everything would grind to a halt. For example; the workers in an organisation would not know the organisations objectives so they would not strive to achieve the organisations objectives. The workers in an organisation would not know what their roles and responsibilities were, so they would not be able to carry out their daily tasks and duties. The managers would not be able to train their workers reports so the workers would not possess the skills they needed to carry out their jobs. The managers would not be able to inform workers of changes The organisation would not be aware of their competitors activities On the whole people are able to communicate with each other as this is a basic human function. However successful organisations strive not only for communication but effective communication. Interpersonal Communication This is defined as communication between two or more people and involves the transfer of information (or message) from one person to the other(s). The person transferring the information is called the sender or transmitter. The people receiving the message are known as receivers. The transmitter will need to send the information in a format that the receiver(s) will understand. Converting the information into a format that the receivers will understand is known as Encoding. Messages can be encoded into a variety of formats oral, written or visual. After encoding the message is transferred via a medium called a channel, for example a letter, fax, phone call, or e-mail. After transference the information will need to be interpreted by the receiver. This process of interpretation is known as decoding. Finally the receiver will send a message back to the transmitter confirming whether the information sent has been understood. This back check is known as feedback. The communication process involves seven key elements as illustrated in the diagram below. Why you need to get your message across Effective communication is all about conveying your messages to other people clearly and unambiguously. Its also about receiving information that others are sending to you, with as little distortion as possible. Doing this involves effort from both the sender of the message and the receiver. And its a process that can be fraught with error, with messages muddled by the sender, or misinterpreted by the recipient. When this isnt detected, it can cause tremendous confusion, wasted effort and missed opportunity. In fact, communication is only successful when both the sender and the receiver understand the same information as a result of the communication. By successfully getting your message across, you convey your thoughts and ideas effectively. When not successful, the thoughts and ideas that you actually send do not necessarily reflect what you think, causing a communications breakdown and creating roadblocks that stand in the way of your goals both personally and professionally. In a recent survey of recruiters from companies with more than 50,000 employees, communication skills were cited as the single more important decisive factor in choosing managers. The survey, conducted by the University of Pittsburghs Katz Business School, points out that communication skills, including written and oral presentations, as well as an ability to work with others, are the main factor contributing to job success. In spite of the increasing importance placed on communication skills, many individuals continue to struggle, unable to communicate their thoughts and ideas effectively whether in verbal or written format. This inability makes it nearly impossible for them to compete effectively in the workplace, and stands in the way of career progression. Being able to communicate effectively is therefore essential if you want to build a successful career. To do this, you must understand what your message is, what audience you are sending it to, and how it will be perceived. You must also weigh-in the circumstances surrounding your communications, such as situational and cultural context. The Communications Process To be an effective communicator and to get your point across without misunderstanding and confusion, your goal should be to lessen the frequency of problems at each stage of this process, with clear, concise, accurate, well-planned communications. We follow the process through below: Source As the source of the message, you need to be clear about why youre communicating, and what you want to communicate. You also need to be confident that the information youre communicating is useful and accurate. Message The message is the information that you want to communicate. Encoding This is the process of transferring the information you want to communicate into a form that can be sent and correctly decoded at the other end. Your success in encoding depends partly on your ability to convey information clearly and simply, but also on your ability to anticipate and eliminate sources of confusion (for example, cultural issues, mistaken assumptions, and missing information.) A key part of this knows your audience: Failure to understand who you are communicating with will result in delivering messages that are misunderstood. Channel Messages are conveyed through channels, with verbal channels including face-to-face meetings, telephone and videoconferencing; and written channels including letters, emails, memos and reports. Different channels have different strengths and weaknesses. For example, its not particularly effective to give a long list of directions verbally, while youll quickly cause problems if you give someone negative feedback using email. Decoding Just as successful encoding is a skill, so is successful decoding (involving, for example, taking the time to read a message carefully, or listen actively to it.) Just as confusion can arise from errors in encoding, it can also arise from decoding errors. This is particularly the case if the decoder doesnt have enough knowledge to understand the message. Receiver Your message is delivered to individual members of your audience. No doubt, you have in mind the actions or reactions you hope your message will get from this audience. Keep in mind, though, that each of these individuals enters into the communication process with ideas and feelings that will undoubtedly influence their understanding of your message, and their response. To be a successful communicator, you should consider these before delivering your message, and act appropriately. Feedback Your audience will provide you with feedback, as verbal and nonverbal reactions to your communicated message. Pay close attention to this feedback, as it is the only thing that can give you confidence that your audience has understood your message. If you find that there has been a misunderstanding, at least you have the opportunity to send the message a second time. Context The situation in which your message is delivered is the context. This may include the surrounding environment or broader culture (corporate culture, international cultures, and so on). QUESTION 2 Barriers of Communication 1. Physical barriers Physical barriers in the workplace include: Marked out territories, empires and fiefdoms into which strangers are not allowed Closed office doors, barrier screens, separate areas for people of different status Large working areas or working in one unit that is physically separate from others. Research shows that one of the most important factors in building cohesive teams is proximity. As long as people still have a personal space that they can call their own, nearness to others aids communication because it helps us get to know one another. 2. Perceptual barriers The problem with communicating with others is that we all see the world differently. If we didnt, we would have no need to communicate: something like extrasensory perception would take its place. The following anecdote is a reminder of how our thoughts, assumptions and perceptions shape our own realities: A traveller was walking down a road when he met a man from the next town. Excuse me, he said. I am hoping to stay in the next town tonight. Can you tell me what the townspeople are like? Well, said the townsman, how did you find the people in the last town you visited? Oh, they were an irascible bunch. Kept to themselves. Took me for a fool. Over-charged me for what I got. Gave me very poor service. Well, then, said the townsman, youll find them pretty much the same here. 3. Emotional barriers One of the chief barriers to open and free communications is the emotional barrier. It is comprised mainly of fear, mistrust and suspicion. The roots of our emotional mistrust of others lie in our childhood and infancy when we were taught to be careful what we said to others. Mind your Ps and Qs; Dont speak until youre spoken to; Children should be seen and not heard. As a result many people hold back from communicating their thoughts and feelings to others. They feel vulnerable. While some caution may be wise in certain relationships, excessive fear of what others might think of us can stunt our development as effective communicators and our ability to form meaningful relationships. 4. Cultural barriers When we join a group and wish to remain in it, sooner or later we need to adopt the behaviour patterns of the group. These are the behaviours that the group accept as signs of belonging. The group rewards such behaviour through acts of recognition, approval and inclusion. In groups which are happy to accept you, and where you are happy to conform, there is a mutuality of interest and a high level of win-win contact. Where, however, there are barriers to your membership of a group, a high level of game-playing replaces good communication. 5. Language barriers Language that describes what we want to say in our terms may present barriers to others who are not familiar with our expressions, buzz-words and jargon. When we couch our communication in such language, it is a way of excluding others. In a global market place the greatest compliment we can pay another person is to talk in their language. One of the more chilling memories of the Cold War was the threat by the Soviet leader Nikita Khruschev saying to the Americans at the United Nations: We will bury you! This was taken to mean a threat of nuclear annihilation. However, a more accurate reading of Khruschevs words would have been: We will overtake you! meaning economic superiority. It was not just the language, but the fear and suspicion that the West had of the Soviet Union that led to the more alarmist and sinister interpretation. 6. Gender barriers There are distinct differences between the speech patterns in a man and those in a woman. A woman speaks between 22,000 and 25,000 words a day whereas a man speaks between 7,000 and 10,000. In childhood, girls speak earlier than boys and at the age of three, have a vocabulary twice that of boys. The reason for this lies in the wiring of a mans and womans brains. When a man talks, his speech is located in the left side of the brain but in no specific area. When a woman talks, the speech is located in both hemispheres and in two specific locations. This means that a man talks in a linear, logical and compartmentalised way, features of left-brain thinking; whereas a woman talks more freely mixing logic and emotion, features of both sides of the brain. It also explains why women talk for much longer than men each day. Removing Barriers at All These Stages To deliver your messages effectively, you must commit to breaking down the barriers that exist within each of these stages of the communication process. Lets begin with the message itself. If your message is too lengthy, disorganized, or contains errors, you can expect the message to be misunderstood and misinterpreted. Use of poor verbal and body language can also confuse the message. Barriers in context tend to stem from senders offering too much information too fast. When in doubt here, less is oftentimes more. It is best to be mindful of the demands on other peoples time, especially in todays ultra-busy society. Once you understand this, you need to work to understand your audiences culture, making sure you can converse and deliver your message to people of different backgrounds and cultures within your own organization, in your country and even abroad. Barrier refers to something non physical that keeps apart or prevents activity, movement so on. Types of Barriers Physical mechanical barriers Language or Semantic barriers Socio-psychological barriers Organisational barriers Personal barriers 1- Physical Mechanical Barriers Noise It is the disruption or interference in communication process anywhere along the way. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¡ Noise though of varying degree, disturbs or interferes with communication. Whatever that distracts the receivers attention causes communication breakdown. Noise can be physical psychological. Physical distractions or disturbances such as loud speakers, gossip etc., draw the attention of the receiver. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¡ Psychological noise is related to mental disturbances like ego clash, pre occupied thoughts, hang over, anxiety. DISTANCE Long distances between the sender the receivers can also obstruct effective communication TIME Time refers to the reaching of message. If an important message reaches late it is sure to affect communication. INFORMATION OVERLOAD It refers to excessive transmission of information. Much more information than what the receiver can process is transmitted to him/her. The receiver can ·t understand , digest, analyze act upon information overload that is beyond mental capacity. MECHANICAL BARRIERS Outdated machines equipment may produce excessive noise leading to physical barriers in communication. Distraction like background noise, poor lighting., affect the morale of the employees also obstruct effective communication. 2- SEMANTIC OR LANGUAGE BARRIER UNCLEAR MESSAGE Lack of clarity in message makes it badly expressed. poorly chosen empty word , phrases, inadequate vocabulary, failure to clarify implications etc., are some common faults found. FAULTY TRANSLATION The message that every manager receives from his superiors, peers, subordinates must be translated into language suitable for the respective person( for whom the information is destined). SPECIALISTS LANGUAGE It is often found that technical personnel special groups tend to develop a special, peculiar technical language of their own. It hinders their communication with persons not in their specialty, because of the receivers ignorance of that type of language. 3- SOCIO-PSYCHOLOGICAL BARRIERS DIFFERENCES IN PERCEPTION Perceptual barriers may arise due to differences between individuals in the way they perceive, organize understand their environment. DIFFERENCES IN ATTITUDE People differ with regard to attitudes opinions which often interfere with communication. If the message is consistent with our attitudes opinions we receive it favorably. INATTENTION Communication has no impact on those who are unable or unwilling to listen. If people do not pay the required degree of attention to listening understanding the messages they are supposed to receive. PREMATURE EVALUATION Some people form a judgment before receiving the complete message. Such premature evaluation prevents effective communication. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¡ RESISTANCE TO CHANGE when new ideas are being communicated, the listening apparatus may act as a filter in rejecting new ideas. Thus resistance to change is an important obstacle to effective communication. CULTURAL DIFFERENCE Cultural refers to values, beliefs, norms, attitudes perceptions of people of different nations or regions. Symbols, words, colors, gestures, language must be carefully selected when senders of information are dealing with people of different nations regions. 4- ORGANISATIONAL BARRIERS STATUS RELATIONSHIP ONE WAY FLOW ORGANISATION STRUCTURE RULES REGULATIONS 5- PERSONAL BARRIERS ATTITUDE OF SUPERIOR- the attitude of superiors towards communication affects the flow of messages in different directions. LACK OF CONFIDENCE IN SUBORDINATES LACK OF TIME MESSAGE OVERLOAD Barriers to effective Communication (leaky bucket) At each stage in the process encoding, transference, and decoding there is the possibility of interference which may hinder the communication process. This interference is known as noise. Often a comparison is made between communication and a leaky bucket. If you use a leaky bucket to carry water, water will be lost at various points in your journey from the water tap to your destination. It is not possible to stop losing water because the bucket contains holes. The amount of water you will lose will be determined by the number of holes in the bucket, the size of the holes, the route you take to your final destination and length of time it takes you to get to your destination. There may also be other events that occur during your journey which increase the amount of water lost. Similarly when information is transferred from the transmitter to the receiver not all of the information may be received by the receiver because of holes called noise. Each of the noise may be affect the amou nt of information transferred. Just as in a leaky bucket, more holes decrease the amount of water, more noise decreases the amount of correct information received. Language issues and Cultural Differences The receiver(s) may not (fully) understand the language used by the transmitter. This may occur if the transmitters language is foreign to the receiver. There may also be language problems (that the communication process) if the message contains technical information and the receivers is not familiar with the technical terms used. Cultural differences created by an individuals background and experience affect their perception of the world. Such cultural differences may affect the interpretation (decoding) of the message sent. Environmental issues If the environment that the transmitter or receiver are in, is noisy and full of sound, the sounds may prevent the message being fully understood. Background noise is often created by colleagues or machinery. Channel issues If the channel used to transfer the information is poor it may prevent all or some of the information being transferred. Examples include a faulty fax machine, a crackling phone, handwriting that cannot be read or in the case of oral messages incorrect facial gestures. Receivers Attitude and behavior If the receiver(s) is not interested in the message (or unable to give their full attention to decoding) this may reduce the amount of information received or the accuracy of the information transmitted to them. Similarly the receiver(s) may misinterpret the message by jumping to conclusions or reading the message in a manner that suits their own interests/objectives and distort the true meaning of the message. Transmission journey i.e. steps in the message, If the message is complicated or there are lots of steps taken to transfer the message it may affect the accuracy or interpretation. Comparing with the leaky bucket if the leaky bucket has to carry water over a longer distance more water will probably lost than if the journey was shorter. Internal / Organisational Communication This is communication that takes place within (or across) an organisation. In addition to the usual face to face, telephone, fax or mail; modern organisations may use technology to communicate internally. Technology may be used for e-mails or a linked internal communication system such as the intranet which is an internet system designed solely for use by those working for the organisation. External Communications Conversely external communication is communication between the organisation and those outside the organisation. Modern organisations may design technological systems so that they can communicate with customers and undertake e-Commerce. Alternatively they communicate with other businesses through the internet or similar systems and undertake e-Business. Functions of Internal and External Communications Technology has rapidly expanded the types of internal and external communication available to organisations. The diagram illustrates the vast array of internal and external communication available. Combined together internal and external types of communications allow various sectors of the local, national and international community to interact, liaise and conduct business. Formal and Informal Communications Formal communication is defined as communication which occurs through the official organisational channels or is undertaken by an employee to do their job. For example official meetings, letters and a manager asking an employee to carry out a particular task. Conversely informal communication is that which occurs outside the recognised communication networks such as talking in the lunchroom or hallways between employees. Informal communication can be productive or negative. It has the potential to build teams, improve working relationships and generate ideas as employees are in a relaxed environment. Upward and Downward Communications Downward communication is communication created by directors and managers and passed down the hierarchy of workers in the organisation. In traditional organisations this is the preferred method of communication ie Managers decide what the systems, rules and procedures will be and then they pass these down to employees they manage and supervise. Downward Communication can increase efficiency by synchronising organisational procedures and can ensure that everybody is working towards the same overall aims and objectives. Types of downward communication include job descriptions, appraisals/evaluations, organisational policy, and organisational systems. Although there are advantages to downward communication organisations have began to encourage upward communication. This is communication which originates at the lower level of the employment hierarchy and is then communicated up through the line. Organisations encouraging upward communication believe that everybody is capable of generating thoughts and ideas which may help the organisation to progress, particularly when they are working closely in the area that the idea applies to. Upward communication may increase motivation and make employees feel valued and respected whilst enabling managers to understand how employees are feeling. Furthermore if problems occur at they are more likely to be identified earlier by those working closely in the area that they occur. Types of upward communications include suggestion schemes, feedback forums/surveys, grievance procedures and employee-manager discussions. Lateral Communication This is communication that occurs between employees on the same level in the organisation. As this can involve decision making it can create efficiency as employees do not have to wait for managerial approval. On the other hand if the manager is not kept informed or if the manager fails to set boundaries there is potential for conflict. Diagonal Communication This occurs when communication occurs between workers in a different section of the organisation and where one of the workers involved is on a higher level in the organisation. For example in a bank diagonal communication will occur when a department manager in head office converses with a cashier in a branch of the bank based on the high street. TELECOMMUNICATIONS GLOSSARY Term Definition Telecommunication Communication between parties based in different locations by using a cable, telephone, broadcast or a telegraph. Networking Linking to or more computers together so that information and facilities can be shared. Computers in the same room may be linked together or the organisation may decide to link, computers in different parts of the world together. Local Area Network (LAN) Computers linked by a network without the use of telecommunications. Often the computers linked are based in the same location, group of buildings or site. Wide Area Network (WAN) Computers linked by a network using telecommunications. Often the computers linked are based in different locations. Teleconferencing Through the use of telecommunication devices such as video link participants based in different locations communicating is known as teleconferencing. Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) Computer networks used to exchange standard business transaction documents between organisations. QUESTION 3 How might a manager use the GRAPEVINE to his or her advantage? First of all the definition of grapevine is that it is the unofficial way that communication takes place within the organization. It is neither supported nor authorized by the organization. It can also be called gossip. As we know many gossips have no factual bases at all; most of them however do. A manager can use grapevine to his or her advantage if it is an organization where people are used to get their information from these sources. And of course it would be a lie to say that most of us dont gossip, or listen to them at least occasionally, especially if it involves us. Bad information spreads a lot faster than good news, so the information gets to employees real fast. It can happen by a word of mouth, or recently more frequently by electronic means. If an organization is based on honesty, these grapevine information can be a lot more accurate than in an organization that is based on an authoritative culture. Usually there is always some truth to it however. Rumours about major lay-offs, plant closings, and the like may be filled with accurate information regarding who will be affected and when it may occur. This truth component is what a manager can use to his or her benefit. Most employees know that if there is any kind of grapevine information circling in the company, whatever its about can be true. If a manager for example wants to influence employees to work harder, or put more effort into it, he or she can simply start a new gossip, or encourage an existing one about lay-offs that might involve their department. Im not saying this is a nice way to do this, but if nothing else works, why not. This is however not the sign of the good manager, because he or she should be able to use other methods of motivation. A good leader needs to be able to exert high level of effort from his or her employees by motivating them in different ways. Another way of looking grapevine information is its usefulness in supplementing formal information channels. It provides a way for employees to communicate their imaginations and inputs to a certain issue. If management is not really doing a good job with communicating with employees about what is going on in an organization, then grapevine can satisfy these natural needs for information. Grapevine is a healthy human desire to communicate. It is the informal communication channel within the organization. Managers have to acknowledge this fact, and try to use it to their own advantage. Managers interested in creating good communication within the organization will use grapevine as a mean to improve it. The real value of grapevine should be to management is that it reveals issues that generate from those whom interested in or effected by it. Managers can also participate in grapevine. They can be filters, who monitor the information and forward to upper management only the valuable and important components. Grapevine usually pops up during times of uncertain times; therefore management has to make sure that it is providing enough information about important issues. The longer the rumour goes around, the hardest it is to control, so management had to intervene quickly if it wants to avoid its damaging effects. The fact is that grapevine is exists within organizations, and they always have a truth component to them. Management therefore can use them to their own benefits, as a compliment to the official and formal channels of information. How to use the Grapevine effectively in business organizations? Grapevine is an informal channel of business communication. It is called so because it stretches throughout the organization in all directions irrespective of the authority levels. The management can use grapevine to supplement the formal channels of communication. Though it carries some degree of error and distortion, efforts can be made to correct it. Ignoring the grapevine is nothing but to ignore a valuable source of communication. The management can eliminate its negative consequences and, at the same time, it can nourish its positive benefits. The managers have to learn to manage and control it. 1. The management can open up all the channels of organizational communication to present the facts positively before the employees and thereby can fight the negative messages with the positive weapons of facts and figures. 2. Better job design and better quality of work life can easily bring the grapevine under the control of the management. 3. It also prevents the boredom, idleness and suspicions among the employees. 4. The negative consequences of the grapevine can be easily eliminated if the management is successful in creating trust-relatio

Leadership In Ancient Civilizations Essay -- essays research papers

During the period of the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire, different leaders exhibited different styles of leadership and employed different political strategies. In addition, these leaders came to power and maintained their control in their own unique ways. Each leader seemed to have his own agenda, which set the tone for that era. Five prominent leaders of this time period were Agricola, Augustus, Julius Caesar, and the brothers Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus. The point to be made with respect to these particular men is related to the obvious correlation between the nature of a leader’s agenda and the impact of his reign. In the end, a ruler’s fate was dependent not on his agenda, but on style and strategy with which he pushed his agenda. Those leaders whose methods were completely altruistic were heralded as great leaders, while those with devious and/or unethical methods of pushing their agendas were hastily assassinated. First consider Tiberius Gracchus. It is imperative to analyze his style of leadership and his political strategies. During his term as tribune, Tiberius’ major goal was to pass a land reform bill. This bill was biased toward the masses. Tiberius tried fairly and squarely to gain the support of the Roman senate, but this effort was to no avail. Tiberius then resorted to unfavorable tactics when he impeached another tribune, Octavius, the major opponent of Tiberius’ bill. Thus Tiberius willingly destroyed the long-held and quite favored notion of an immune tribune. However, this is what the common people wanted. Tiberius’ big mistake was blatantly opposing, thus disrespecting the Roman senate. As a result, the senate assassinated Tiberius. The lesson to be learned here is not that Tiberius’ agenda was constructed out of self-interest or greed. Tiberius simply wanted to help the common people. However, Tiberius’ methods were not proper for that time in that place. And it is probable that Tiberius could easily have been persuaded to compromise. Thus, Tiberius’ downfall was not his agenda, but his style and political strategy. A different example of the same principle is summed up with the story of Tiberius’ younger brother, Gaius Gracchus. Gaius worked not to appease the senate, but to appease the people. Although this seems quite noble of him, it was still a mistake to oppose the senate. Granted, this notion is counter-intuitive. One wo... ...in accordance with the main point we have been discussing, he did so with a particular style and political strategy, so as not to offset social order. He ruled very subtly. He saw to it that he got what he wanted, yet he did so with such caution that it was disguised as interest in providing for the good of the citizens. Therefore, Augustus’ reign supports the theory that a ruler can drive a selfish agenda, yet as long as the style and political strategy of the leader in question is favored by the people, then the leader can still be considered a good ruler.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Therefore, upon considering the lives of Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus, Julius Caesar, Agricola, and Augustus Caesar, it is clear that people in the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire considered a leader’s particular actions more that his agenda when deciding whether or not a leader is worthy of being called â€Å"great† or being assassinated. Obviously, a leader’s agenda and accomplishments are important factors, but we have seen with these five particular leaders that sometimes accomplishments do not matter. What matters greatly are the steps taken by a leader to obtain goals or satisfy certain needs.

Huck Matures in Huckleberry Finn Essays -- Adventures of Huckleberry F

In the novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn a young adolescent's journeys and struggles are portrayed and questioned with Huck's maturation. Throughout the book, Mark Twain examines societal standards and the influence of adults that one experiences during childhood. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn have been condemned since its publication, usually focusing, especially in modern times, on its use of the word "nigger." While this could be a valid argument had the author portrayed Jim negatively, I find another reason to argue against the novel because it subverts the ideals that many parents wish to instill in their youth. Reading this book for the first time since high school and my departure from my parents this year, watching Huck live without parental controls made me realize how impressionable one is to the values instilled by his or her constant role models. Without being forced to conform to societal standards, Huck is supposed to use his own logic to realize what is good and bad, rather than blindly following his elders' "wisdom." †¨Ã¢â‚¬ ¨At the beginning of the novel, Huck shows his skepticism of the values that society imposes when the Widow Douglas attempts to â€Å"civilize† him, running away to his freedom until his friends threaten to kick him out of the gang. Given the option of loneliness or independence, Huck chooses to return. When his father returns and takes custody of him again, Huck is deprived of his friends against his own will. Locked alone in the cabin, Huck is given plenty of time to consider his options. If he remains in the cabin, he will continue to be power less to the will of his father. If he escapes and returns to town, he will only be returned to his drunken father, who will certainly beat him. He r... ...ny of the lessons that Twain previously informed us in the books' Notice are not in the book. Huck is completely freed of the fear of his father, as Jim realizes that it is time that he learns the truth about his death. Jim is now a free man, showing that Miss Watson realized the error of her ways right before death. Most importantly, Huck realizes how his life has changed throughout this experience and chooses that the society that he was born into is in many ways corrupted by the people within it. Fortunately, because of the money and lack of legal control, he has the ability to retire from it, as he plans to "light out for the Territory ahead of the rest" (Twain, 1256) before mainstream society has the ability to come and ruin it with the misguided traditions and beliefs. Works Cited Twain, Mark The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Norton Anthropology 2008

Fiction Authors :: Biographies

Fiction Authors For more than half a century science fiction writers have thrilled and challenged readers with visions of the future and future worlds. These authors offered an insight into what they expected man, society, and life to be like at some future time. One such author, Ray Bradbury, utilized this concept in his work, Fahrenheit 451, a futuristic look at a man and his role in society. Bradbury utilizes the luxuries of life in America today, in addition to various occupations and technological advances, to show what life could be like if the future takes a drastic turn for the worse. He turns man's best friend, the dog, against man, changes the role of public servants and changes the value of a person. Aldous Huxley also uses the concept of society out of control in his science fiction novel Brave New World. Written late in his career, Brave New World also deals with man in a changed society. Huxley asks his readers to look at the role of science and literature in the future world, scared that it may be rendered useless and discarded. Unlike Bradbury, Huxley includes in his book a group of people unaffected by the changes in society, a group that still has religious beliefs and marriage, things no longer part of the changed society, to compare and contrast today's culture with his proposed futuristic culture. But one theme that both Brave New World and Fahrenheit 451 use in common is the theme of individual discovery by refusing to accept a passive approach to life, and refusing to conform. In addition, the refusal of various methods of escape from reality is shown to be a path to discovery. In Brave New World, the main characters of Bernard Marx and the "Savage" boy John both come to realize the faults with their own cultures. In Fahrenheit 451 Guy Montag begins to discover that things could be better in his society but, sue to some uncontrollable events, his discover happens much faster than it would have. He is forced out on his own, away from society, to live with others like himself who think differently that the society does. Marx, from the civilized culture, seriously questions the lack of history that his society has. He also wonders as to the lack of books, banned because they were old and did not encourage the new culture. By visiting a reservation, home of an "uncivilized" culture of savages, he is able to see first hand something of what life and society use to be like. Afterwards he returns and attempts to incorporate some of what he saw into his work as an

Why Uniforms Should Be Abolished

Uniforms Should Be Abolished at WHCI Being in highschool is hard enough as it is with teacher and principal breathing down your neck constantly telling you to wear uniform all the time it like you have no freedom. I think uniform should be abolished at West Humber C. I because it will give the student a little freedom. Reason why i think it should be abolished at West Humber C.I is because you have to buy more than one set of uniformsand you wouldn't want to wear that one set over and over again plus you have to buy a set of clothing for when your not in school . The price of uniform is very costly because you have to buy the shirt and pant which they are overpriced and it kill's off the cash you you have just buy purchasing the uniform.The second reason why uniform should be abolished at West Humber is because teachers get annoyed when they constantly tell you to wear your uniform or they send you down to the office to talk with the principal for the uniform infraction. The uniform causes so much trouble for both you and your teachers/principal because it causes confrontation then argument then you'll be sent home and miss out on class time when you might be missing something important that might be needed for a test.The last reason why uniforms should be abolished at West Humber C. I is because Students who aren't able to express their own personalities and express themselves as individuals get labled when wearing a uniform and it hard to form peer relationship with other students. Regardless of their negative reputations, cliques allow students to express themselves and find acceptance within their individual peer groups. Having students wear uniforms may prevent students from forming peer relationships that stop social communication between students.

Discuss The Measures We Can Take to Prevent the Spread of the H1N1 Virus

As we all know, and are aware that, the H1N1 influenza, or the more commonly used name, Swine Flu, has been attacking various citizens throughout the world. This virus is spreading at a steady state and will harm many others unless measures are taken immediately. The world has been under attack from such diseases for an unimaginably long time. There is a long-standing history of viruses, epidemics and plagues blackening our past. Cures have failed; people have died, the major reason being that our ancestors did not take enough preventative measures to oppose the spread of such diseases. However, in today's world, where we have all the privileges a person can dream of, and all sorts of advancements in medical technology, we have a responsibility to make the best use of this awareness and use it to our fullest advantage. In 2005, people were frightened to go to poultry markets for fears of catching Avian Flu, or H1N3, and many precautionary measures were taken to eradicate that virus. With much struggle, we were finally successful. The same sort of preventative measures need to be taken with H1N1. This being a viral disease, in can be transmitted from one person to the next almost instantly. The consumption of pork should be minimized or completely stopped for the time being, in order to aid the prevention of the virus spreading. However, this is also an airborne, contagious virus, so the government should urge medical and pharmaceutical companies to produce a preventative vaccine. Everyone in the country must be inoculated no matter what the side effect are, as long as we eradicate the virus and stop it spreading. Schools should educate and inform children of the dangers of avoiding the use of preventative measures and should give special classes on cleanliness/hygiene and how to dispose correctly of used tissues, for example. These classes should be especially targeted towards children below the age of twelve, as they are more susceptible to the virus than adolescents. As individuals, we all have a duty to one another. We must be aware of the symptoms of this virus, which are a high temperature, a mucus-filled cough, drooping eyelids, weakness up to the point of fatigue, and sometimes diarrhea and/or vomiting. If we spot a fellow classmate or anyone in a public area such as a mall or shopping market demonstrating any of these symptoms, we must inform the school nurse or ask for assistance in the public area immediately and without the slightest delay. This should not be neglected at all. These people deserve the opportunity for treatment as soon as possible. In school, we should ask our senior staff members to make sure there are hand sanitizers available in every corridor and soap in all the bathrooms, so that we may have clean hands at all times. Extra care should be taken to maintain the sanitation and hygiene of the school bathrooms. Also, everyone must keep a bag of antiseptic wipes in their backpack for times when hand sanitizer is unavailable. This will dramatically reduce the risk on infection and will greatly enhance the safety of the pupils and staff alike. This may seem like a lot of effort but to protect our health, and possibly our lives, these measures are extremely essential. Together, we will be able to prevent, or at least minimize, the spread of the H1N1 virus, so that we may live our lives healthily, and without fear.

Mobile phones. Essay

Starting Point: Communication methods (25 minutes) Use your textbook or the resources on Student Portal or the Internet to help you research these topics. The first one has been done for you so you can see the level of detail expected. http://www. enkivillage. com/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-mobile-phones. html https://www. google. co. uk/search? q=teact+ict+advnat%5Cges+of+mobile+phones&sourceid=ie7&rls=com. microsoft:en-GB:IE-Address&ie=&oe=&surl=1&safe=active&gws_rd=ssl Method Of communication What is it? Benefits/advantages Drawbacks/disadvantages Mobile phones. Hand-help device for making calls, texting, listen to music, surf web, email   Portable so the communication is easy Can be contacted anytime / You are always connected   There are multiply uses   Security – children feel safer as they can easily contact their parents   In emergency situations , help can be reached You can call people anywhere on the planet   No specialist equipment is needed.   Cause accidents as they are a distraction for example driving Disturb other people   Might be inference so the quality of the call can be poor.   You can’t see body language so a lot of non verbal communication is lost. Its hard to make a record of what’s being said , things may get forgotten or misinterpreted SMS (texting) Texts are sent from one mobile phone to another. It is a quick and convenient way of sending a short message to someone . Sending messages, images, videos and sound clips between devices. Can send them at any time, day or night   Good for informal messages Good for helping friends and family keep in touch   Only short messages can be sent Needs basic typing skills Text speak spills over into written school work and formal communication.   Fast   Cheap No internet needed. Instant Messaging (IM) A system for exchanging typed electronic messages instantly via the Internet or a cellular network, using a shared software application on a personal computer or mobile device. Conversations happen in real time .   You can add video using webcams or add a mic rather than talking . This helps show that the person you’re talking to is genuine.   Useful for customer support Internet is needed There’s no time to reflect on the message before sending   There’s a lot of ads , you have to pay extra to remove ads Anyone can send you a message Chat rooms. An area on the Internet or other computer network where users can communicate, typically one dedicated to a particular topic.   Gives the ability to chat to more than one person at the same time Extremely useful for gamers where there are hundreds of players You can also private message people   People can fake their identity   Cyber bullying can occur Fax A system that normally uses telephone lines to send images of documents to others .   Good for places where security and legal issues are importan Fair inexpensive   Simple to use and require very little training. As long as the machine is on , messages can be received day and night   No specialist installation/ cabling needed because it uses the existing telephone line   No immediate response   You might dial wrong number and sent important document to someone else   If the machine is busy , the fax will not be delivered. The quality is often poor and might have some of the smaller details   You need to buy ink , the machine and paper Social networking A place where people of the same interests or backgrounds can communication .   Keep in contact with old friends Free   You can make new friends. Cyberbullying can occur Discrimination can occur People may be able to find out personal details   Its time consuming   People can easily lie about who they are   You need internet Weblogs A place where people can write down their activities on a website for others to read giving a commentary on their life . There can be photos / videos but are mainly text based.   Can easily be viewed / updated from any device that connects to the internet .   Allows you to express your thoughts   Easy to set up , little technical knowledge needed   There’s millions of blogs to read from   You can leave comments on blogs.

The 1970s vs. 2000s

Many studies have proven that people perceive the world with 80 milliseconds of delay, which means that we live 80 milliseconds behind reality; this is because there is some transfer time from our senses to our brain (Meyers 7). The distance between the generations have different historical experiences, reactions of later generations about democracy, economics, music, fashion, as the revolutions were taking in all aspects. The differences between generations have their own importance; however, we can compare and contrast them, between 1970s and 2000s in three aspects : music, trends and technology. In the 1970s, people enjoyed music by radio, tapes, live concerts and brought vinyl records, whereas in the 2000s through software such as Spotify and Itunes are used, Youtube allows audiences to access a wide range of music from different genres and downloading music from online. On the other hand, in the1970s music was marketed by way of the artist gigs being advertised in newspapers, the band would play live on music programs and also touring was a primary means of promotion, while in the 2000s some artists give away free mix tapes, TV adverts and online web pages (Rodriguez 94). As examples of artists belonging to the 1970s can appoint: Bee Gees, Elton John and ABBA; in contrast, in the 2000s can mention: Colplay, Beyonce and Britney Spears. In addition to the music, a difference that marked between these two decades have been the trends. Fashion in the clothing of 1970s, the ideal was not to show the female attributes or curves, but on the contrary seem delegated nymphs showing their side children as a game of seduction compared with 2000s it's put it that makes you feel comfortable, without giving much importance to the opinions of others or trends; so, casual clothes became fashion. On the other hand, the accessories in 1970s that stood out were sunglasses with very large lenses frames typically yellow, blue or purple, large earrings and showy necklaces compared to 2000s that it used handbags, shoes and watches of well known brands (Benaim 98). The symbol of the 1970s was flowers and prints; however, in 2000s was scarves and handkerchiefs. Thus, how trends marked difference between these two decades, the technology also made it. In the 1970s people used music players as cassette, tape recorder and record player; in contrast in 2000s people used walkman, discman and mp3 player. The only brand of cell phone that was highlighted in the 1970s was the Motorola DynaTAC 8000 X; on the contrary, in 2000s there were some brands such as: Motorola with touch technology and sonic Ericson with the â€Å"Smartphone†. Car types in 1970 was very limited with vehicles such as: Fiat Coupe 1500, Gordini and Peugeot 404 Gran Prix le mans, while in 2000s automotive technology was opening field in many countries with new deployments such as: Fiat Palio, Volkswagen Gol G3 and Citroen Xsara 1. I Sx Full (Hernandez 66). All in all, the differences between these two decades have been important to the advances of the present; music, trends and technology have been progressing and taking new directions, propose an active relationship between the subject that is the history, the past and the world in which we live. If the present has primacy over the past it is because only the present imposes and allows you to change the world.

5 questions Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

5 questions - Assignment Example caused by physical factors such as exercise, hereditary and environmental factors such as radiation, pollution and climatic changes and personality traits. In addition, socio-economical factors in a cultural context that gives the human being the ability to interact communicate and position presented in the society such as education, wealth and the place of residence. However, nutrition factors or metabolic factors determine the rate human growth and development in the form of physical and cognitive characteristics. In addition, technology development plays a crucial role in the modern human development in the manner in which human beings acquire and control other factors such as environmental pollution, hereditary factors as well as social factors such as occupation (Rubenstein & Rakic, 2013). 2) The description of the divisions and systems of the mammalian nervous system, e.g. the central nervous system (areas of the brain, spinal cord) and peripheral nervous systems and their respective function (s) The gross organization of the Nervous System is divided into two divisions, the peripheral and the central nervous and their respective subdivisions both in functions and architecture. As single unit, the mammalian nervous system is responsible for the production, control as well as guidance on all mammalian actions, thoughts, and responses to their daily activities. However, each division and system is differentiated by different architecture and function. The peripheral nervous system division consists of the nerves connected directly to the mammalian skin, muscles, body organs as well as blood vessels excluding those nerves that are attached to the skull and the spinal column (Rubenstein & Rakic, 2013). Peripheral nervous system divisions include the somatic nervous system and automatic nervous system. Somatic nervous system is further subdivided into afferent and efferent nerve fibers responsible for mammalian physical sensation and voluntary movements.

Employment Law--- case study on Whitakers Fine Wines Limited Essay - 1

Employment Law--- case study on Whitakers Fine Wines Limited - Essay Example Furthermore, the Employment Relations Act (section 44) stipulates that a worker retains the right not to be subjected to detriment as a result of an employer’s action or inaction. In the case of Adam, the company acted in a manner that may have posed risk to Adam by subjecting him to overwork that resulted in his state of anxiety and depression. Furthermore, the company failed to act appropriately by not providing an adequate solution to Adam’s problem, which he articulated well in time. One major cause of injury at the workplace relates to negligence as exemplified in Donoghue Vs Stevenson [1932] and Caparo Vs Dickman [1990] (Feinman, 2010). In this case, negligence seems to have been on the part of the company as it failed to take appropriate measures to avoid risking Adam’s life. Adam seems not to have acted in negligence as he seems to have taken his duties seriously. Apparently, express terms of the engagement did not contain any obligation on Adam’s part to take care for the role of the sick manager, leading to a breach of his employment rights. As observed in Garrod v. North Devon NHS Primary Care Trust 2006, passing on the responsibility of the absent employee amounts to breach of employment regulations (Personnel Today 2006, para.4). Additionally, the deliberation on the liability of the employer will illustrate the breach of implied terms, where only the employee seems to comply. Whereas his acceptance to serve in the role of the sick employee was voluntary, the management acted in negligence of the agreement that previously relied on the premise that the leave would take short (Cabrelli 2007, p195). Signs of negligence from the director and human resources officials emerge from the facts given in the case, which can directly relate to the psychological pressure manifested in form of anxiety and depression. According to the employment

Health and Safety Legislation Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

Health and Safety Legislation - Research Paper Example Regardless of the number of employees, all industrial operations have to be monitored by appropriate strategies and procedures. Nature of work is a significant factor that determines the range of health and safety measures required in the industry. Whenever high-risk factors are identified, an employer has to seek the advice and permit of the responsible manager regarding the required precautions. This permit to work practice is mandatory when an employee gets into an unusual and risky job. Besides permit to work, there are some more obligatory safety measures such as isolation, monitoring equipment and protective clothing and equipment that may control or prevent risks in the workplace. According to Hughese & Ferrett (2005 p.82), the permit to work procedure is a specialized type of safe system of work for ensuring that potentially very dangerous work is done safely. In fact, this is written consent from a responsible person which ensures that adequate precautions have been taken to avoid or control risk. The authorized individual usually considers certain factors before issuing a permit like the nature of work, equipment involved in the work, the ability of the authorized worker, and if he needs training, possible hazards and the steps taken to overtake them (Hughese & Ferrett p.83). Most of the industrial accidents are the result of negligence and paucity of awareness about the risk factors and safety measures. Industrial operations require a permit when there is a chance of any of the following or similar risks; mechanical or natural toxic, electric shock, fall from a height, radiation, suffocation, chemical exposure, explosion, inflammable substances etc. Howeve r, according to the Guidelines on Permit to Work Systems (Jan.1993), simply a permit does not reduce risk; instead, it is an essential part of a system which determines how that work can be carried out safely.

Jazz-duke ellington Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Jazz-duke ellington - Essay Example Today’s American music though technically complex, has directness and simplicity of expression largely present in that of Ellington as they tend to perform in different styles. People are brought to their first great achievements through very few minutes’ performance and they later write music for all kinds of settings for instance; the comedy stage, the ballroom, the movie house, the nightclub, the concert hall, and the theater. His blues writing were due to new conceptions of form, harmony, and piece of song and he grew to become the leader of the romantic ballad creating much work that faceted the enormous soloists in his jazz group (Crease 100). This has greatly been portrayed in today’s performers in that they write their music basing on the current happenings and rumors quickly spreading throughout the world. Some of the musicians’ sense of musical drama make them stand out. Their blend of rhythms, subtle sonic movements, and melodies give audiences a new experience—complex yet accessible that makes their heart swing in joy. Most of the musicians perform in restaurants and clubs. Duke Ellington was an American jazz player and his full names were,† Edward Kennedy Ellington, and he bore the stage name, â€Å"Duke†. ... He was one of the jazz composers as he was one of the most prolific composers during the early twentieth century as far as both variety of forms and number of compositions were concerned. Duke Ellington has been credited for being the most significant composer of jazz in history. He also receives credit for being a bandleader who strongly held his large group together for close to fifty years. He had two aspects of his career, which were closely related. He used his band as a laboratory for music for the most ne compositions as well as shaped his writing skills particularly to showcase the abilities of his band members, most of whom remained by his side for a long period. In addition to composing jazz, he also wrote stage musicals and film scores. Most of his instrumental works were later adapted into standard songs (Ford 90). Irrespective of the fact that he toured a lot, he recorded extensively, a factor that resulted to his tremendous body of work that was assessed for a reasonabl y long time after his death. The many celebrations he received in 1999 evidences that he continued been regarded as a strong jazz composer. He was talented so much to overcome oddity. He was the primary writer of his band, allowing his players room to solo in his compositions. This resulted to a creation of a body of work that would have allowed jazz to enter the institutional and academic realms, which was its direction during the end of the 20th century. It is, therefore, arguable that he predicted the future of jazz and would have laid a claim as one of the most significant practitioners of jazz. He had impact of popular music of the twentieth century. He travelled across the world both as a bandleader and piano player

LANGUAGE, PEDAGOGY AND CULTURAL DIVERSITY. Policy and practice in the Essay

LANGUAGE, PEDAGOGY AND CULTURAL DIVERSITY. Policy and practice in the education of bilingual children - Essay Example hildren through formulation of teaching strategies that are effective in the improvement of academic competency of bilingual students’ as well as analysis of the policies that support bilingual education. The observed school is located in Tower Hamlets in East London. The learning environment in the school is very approachable and welcoming. The observed year one classroom has 30 pupils aged five years with 10 bilingual learners from Mexico, Somalia, Poland, Bangladesh, Brazil and France, making for a widely diverse language and cultural environment. According to Ofsted, the performance of the school is good in terms of pupil achievement, behaviour, quality of teaching, quality of the curriculum pupil’s welfare, health and safety as well as leadership and management. The performance of bilingual pupils’ has improved steadily as they have achieved comprehension that is near that of mainstream children. To improve the performance, it is recommended that pupils be given work that challenges them and matches their level of ability (Ofsted, 2013). Cummins’ 1986 empowerment theory analysis the learning trends of bilingual students’ exploring how status relations and power difference, minority language instruction, interdependence hypothesis, community and school liaison and power and status relationships impacts the school performance of minority groups. Cummins (1986) influence on teaching strategies and policy of bilingual education is arguably very effective in focusing on the education of the bilingual students in a holistic view as opposed to Conteh’s (2009) framework, that extensively focuses on integration of parents and the community. Cummins’ framework enhances the design of intervention to ensure the potential of revising the underachievement of most bilingual pupils’ by encouraging community and parent’s participation as well as collaboration of teachers in pedagogy (Delgado-Gaitan, 1991). According to Cummins, the aim of empowerment is

No more Privacy polices Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

No more Privacy polices - Term Paper Example This is manifested on how machines that we encounter in daily activities like ATMs and supermarkets and such things store our data, which are not limited to personal but includes behavioral patterns determined through recorded choices (Moor 1997:27). This kind of phenomenon intrudes one’s privacy. In some cases, the data gathered through these channels can be used to oppress or tamper’s one’s right, not just privacy but extends to other rights innate to individual like due process and others. In dealing with complex issue of privacy, there is a need to look at in a theoretical perspective: ethical theory of privacy. Three – fold premises emerges: something vital and important to defend and something based on individual’s preference and the importance of privacy (Moor 1997:28). There is a need to be not confused on how these premises work. Having Moor as the point of departure, I shall project a more concise use and view of the term â€Å"privacy†. One thing to take into account is that privacy is an instrument for protection from harm, which could be an incursion of personal life that is no longer the scope of outside forces (Moor 1997:28). One example is HIV+ individuals whose medical information can be prejudiced, which can be a cause for non – selection in a profession or can face other forms of discrimination (Moors 1997:28). In this case, privacy accords individual safety to assure enjoyment of equal benefits like fair treatment in work place or any other things that should be enjoyed by everyone. Furthermore, privacy is a tool to build relationship to people (Moors 1997:28). In the case of building relationships, there are certain personal things that are kept private for the sake of assurance and acceptance. Sometimes, in intimate relationships, like marriages, privacy can be considered absence since trust is a condition to be met. There is a need to be open about one’s actions and decisions since it is shared.

MARKETING ESSAY QUESTION Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

MARKETING QUESTION - Essay Example 538). Most marketers today are experiencing difficulties with effective and systematic planning due to a number of market forces such as globalization, fierce competition among market players, radical changes in technology and changing consumer behavior. This piece of research work presents a brief study on systematic approach to marketing planning from the perspective of contemporary international marketing contexts. This paper reviews relevant literatures to critically evaluate the statement â€Å"A systematic approach to marketing planning is essential to successfully inform the marketing decisions made within a contemporary international company†. Marketing planning Planning is basically a systematized method of relating to the future (Cateora and Graham, 2007, p. 317) and therefore many literatures have considered marketing planning as all rational, incremental and intuitive processes that guides a firm’s marketing activities to its future (Greenley, Hooley and Sau nders, 2004, p. 933). Dibb and Simkin (1996, p. 3) who provided a clear and systematic approach to marketing planning defined it as a systematic process that involves assessing marketing opportunities and resources, determines marketing goals and develops future plan for implementation and control. Traditionally, literatures described marketing planning as a model of logical-sequential decision making that incorporates a firm’s objectives, strategies, tactics and control. Greenley, Hooley and Saunders (2004, p. 933) pointed that this explanation to marketing planning has focused on what marketing planning decisions could be and not on how they could be made. They emphasized that marketing planning is used to pursue dynamic marketing opportunities in order to guide a firm’s marketing to its future. In today’s rigorously competitive marketing contexts, market opportunities keep on changing and hence firms need to adopt their plans with a view to pursue these dynam ic opportunities. Marketing planning involves deciding on significant marketing strategies that help the firm achieve its overall strategic objectives and future goals. A marketing planning is required for each business, each product and each brand (Armstrong and Kotler, 2005, p. 59). A Systematic approach to Marketing Planning A systematic approach to marketing planning has been considered to be the most difficult of all marketing tasks since it involves bringing together all the various marketing elements in to coherent and realistic plan (McDonald, 2007, p. 9). A systematic marketing planning necessarily requires certain degree of organizational procedures and compromise between conflicting objectives. McDonald (1992, p. 5) identified ‘lack of systematic approach to marketing planning’ as one of the most difficult barriers to marketing planning. Marketers need to design and implement most appropriate planning system for their firms. As McDonald (1992, p. 14) pointed, a marketing planning system is essential to ensure that all key issues are systematically