Research paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 2

Research paper - Essay Example By definition, money is referred to as anything of value that can be used as a medium of exchange (Weatherford, 2009). This is to say that money is that what is used to pay for goods and/or services. This can also take the form of repaying debts at an individual, corporate, or government level. The history of money is highly built on the need to establish a streamlined exchange medium, thus the observed shift from barter trade to the development of contemporary currencies. The history of money makes vital reference to barter trade and barter economies. In many historical barter economies, goods and services were exchanged for other goods and services (Walthall, 2006). However, this form of trade had operational challenges due to the fact that transacting parties had to match their needs or wants in order to trade. Such economies lacked a central exchange medium, but there transactions at the time would fundamentally shape the history of money. At the height of barter trade, the emerg ence of money started being realized. The introduction of shells, stones, beads, and fur as money was observed (Walthall, 2006). The acknowledgement of these things as money revolutionized exchange transactions within and across communities. Business and commerce emerged for people would accumulate the now acknowledged type of money. This followed difficulties in barter trade to have for example a farmer exchange his/her produce with a blacksmith. The introduction of forms of money now allowed traders and people in general to obtain goods and services without necessary having to engage in barter trade. Development of money along its rich history eventually saw the introduction of coin money. Precious metals became the central focus as far as development of money was concerned. Gold, silver, and bronze among other metals were shaped into coins that were easy to carry and transact with. From around 1000 B.C onwards, the use of coin money increased and many societies quickly welcomed t his new development (Del Mar, 2004). In the 11th century, paper money came into the picture and was produced for use in China (Del Mar, 2004). This marked the extensive spread of money within and across all continents. Eventually, bank notes and coins were adopted all over the world, thus becoming the central exchange medium for domestic and international exchanges. In the United States, the use of paper bills dubbed â€Å"greenbacks† was actualized in the year 1861 (Weatherford, 2009). The emergence and development of money was aligned with the fall of civilization around the world. Asia, Europe, and America were the leading factors of civilization. When it came to the development and use of money, they as well led the course. Civilization subject to the money factor had its positive and negative effects. Money essentially made different civilizations realize that wealth could be stored in form of money. Wealth accumulation took its toll, with many civilizations seeking to d ominate this course. Before long, money would be a differential factor in many societies and countries at large. Notably, money contributed and still contributes in enhancing civilization of societies. Although money has critically divided rich and poor civilizations, it has made exchange transactions easy, efficient, and effective. Over and above this, the shift from barter economies to contemporary currency-driven economies has resulted in enormous currency issues. Different economies want to maintain independent

Shutter Island Essay Example for Free

Shutter Island Essay This movie was confusing from the beginning, Edward Teddy Daniels a previous World War II veteran whom suffers from Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome and constantly has flashbacks. Shutter Island follows U.S. Marshall Daniels and his partners Chuck Aule while the investigate the disappearance mental patient from Ashecliffe Hospital for the Criminal Insane. Teddy requested the assignment for personal reasons. But he wonders was he hasn’t been brought to the island and conspiracy. Fire is an symbol for Teddy whole existence every time Teddy is around (ex. The matches he lights in Ward C) the fire in the cave with Dr. Solando and when he starts an fire and blows up Dr. Crawley’s car. He constantly played with fire that burnt down his own apartment killing four people one of which was his own wife Dolores Chanal. He has produced this whole conspiracy theory that somehow the government has begun doing experimental testing on patients at the asylum. In reality Teddy has been declared insane and was sent to Shutters Island. Upon arriving at the institution. Teddy is the subject of the experiment; the doctors attempt to have Teddy regain his life back. Dr. Crawley and Dr. Sheehan began implanting false memories into Teddy’s mind. Teddy is delusional claims that he is an U.S. Marshall to justify his own presence. Dr. Crawley who invented Racheal Solando for him to discover what happen to the 67 patient which is actually Edward (Teddy) Daniels. Teddy’s partner who is really Dr. Sheehan is in on the experiment he tries to steer Teddy in right direction. He encourages Teddy to continue the hunt he tries to push fear on Teddy by even taking him to an Mausoleum. And he is always playing with Teddy whether its real or delusional He even gives Teddy an admission form that says it’s really 67 patients at the asylum so Teddy’s Feel that he has to find Racheal whom is supposedly escaped which she really turns out to be a nurse whom has treated Teddy while he has been a patient at Ashecliffe Hospital. While on the hunt for the missing patient Teddy encounters different obstacles. Dr. Crawley and Dr. Sheehan are is slowly taking Teddy off his meds so he starting to feel body tremors and withdrawals. Sheehan and Crawley began to monitor his doses for the role playing experiment in the film Teddy begins to have more vivid hallucinations while he’s awake his meds are meant to suppress all types of psychosis not to trigger more going off the meds make Teddy really unsteady. When Teddy reaches the lighthouse he is confused and is starting to second guess everything that he has been going through. He has developed his own explanation. Though it was an complete delusional fantasy. At this point the experiment is judged to have failed or succeeded , If Teddy accepts this fabricated account that the Drs. Have succeeded in attempting to implant a false memory. Teddy has been through this before and realizes that there is no way out Shutter Island Teddy struggles with being Lobotomize but reconsiders and decides that lobotomy would be better than chasing Andrew Laeddis for the rest of his life he figure they’ll just try to keep forcing the Lake House, Racheal Solando, and the other delusions he was having over and over again. Teddy made the choice to take the lobotomy and thus die a good man. â€Å"It is better to live as a monster or die a good man†. He refuses to accept the reality that he was just a an maintenance man who love to play with fire whose wife died because of this, and is stuck in a delusion in which he is Teddy Daniels an U.S. Marshall hunting down a suspected killer Andrew Laeddis an false identity other than a man that killed his wife. Throughout the entire movie the audience is caught up in the Teddy story thinking that he is actually sent to the island to find a suspected escapee. Even his flashbacks trigger the watcher to think Teddy has really had a hard life losing his children, killing his beloved wife whom the audience thought she actually killed the children which causing Teddy is become an alcoholic. Unbeknown to the watcher Teddy is playing the role of a functioning adult whose is trying desperately trying to figure up what is really happening on Shutter Island. The Drs. are trying so hard to get a major breakthrough with medicine by giving the opportunity to reenact his own fabricated story. The viewer is rooting for Teddy only to realize he is leading them a on wild goose hunt because in fact he is insane and can’t grasp the concept on reality what’s real, fake, makeup, or just plain lunacy. One question are there two possible endings were Teddy and Andrew possibly real was Teddy really married was a government it coverup did Teddy knows too much about the Nazis and espionage? This moving was scaring at the same time interesting because it is an movie one would possibly have to see more than once to get an complete understanding.

Public School Choice Essay -- Research Education Educational Essays

Public School Choice Public School Choice is an easy program to understand and it contains many advantages but also many disadvantages. Public School Choice is when parents can elect to send their children out of a school that has not made adequate yearly progress for two consecutive years into a school that has made progress. (McClure, 2002) If there are no available schools within the original school district, then a family can choose to send their children to another district. This only happens when the other schools in the original district are all labeled as ‘underachieving schools’ and have not made the adequate yearly progress. (McClure, 2002) Some of the advantages to this new public school choice option include: offers a way out of a low performing school, supports educational innovation because it supports alternatives to the traditional school day, school choice can match child and parents needs thus parents will be involved and more committed to the school and their child’s learning experience. (O’Neil, 1996) There are some restrictions when one thinks about the public school choice option. Restrictions include claims that all schools are too crowded, short windows of opportunity for parents to exercise choice, when parent can choose if they want to use school choice or not, and outright restrictions on which schools can participate in public school choice program. (Snell, 2002) Other disadvantages include: create inequalities by taking the more desirable students, fewer opportunities to learn from students of different backgrounds, and changes the focus from education for the public good to education for the private good. Education is no longer being seen as providing ‘some common experience in common se... ...nts Choose Choice. Academic Search/EBSCO databases, pp.63. Retrieved March 6, 2003. Ellig, J. (1999). Issue Analysis 96-School Choice:Issues and Answers. [55 paragrphs]. Retrieved April 3, 2003 from the World Wide Web: www.cse.org/informed/issues_template.php?issue_id=669 Snell, L. (2002). Meaningful Public School Choice. [15 paragraphs]. Retrieved April 3, 2003 from the World Wide Web: http://www.rppi.org/publicschoolchoice.html United States Department of Education (1997). Overview of Charter Schools. Retrieved April 3, 2003 from the World Wide Web: http://uscharterschools.org/pub/uscs_docs/gi/overview.htm Van Dunk, E. (2003). Pros and Cons of School Choice. Retrieved April 3, 2003 from the World Wide Web: http://www.joycefdn.org/articles/eduarticles/0301prosandcons.html O’Neil, J. (1996) New Options, Old Concerns. Educational Leadership, 54, 6-8.

Sammy the Social Climber in John Updikes A&P :: A&P Essays

Sammy the Social Climber in A & P Men will go to extreme measures to impress women. This is the case in the story "A & P" written by John Updike. Sammy, who is a cashier at a supermarket, displays a classic example of a man trying to impress a woman. His rash decision to quit his job was a bad decision and will definitely have an adverse effect on him in the future. Sammy seems doomed from the very first sentence when he says, "In walks three girls in nothing but bathing suits" (Updike 1026). He notices every little detail about the girls from the color of their bathing suits to their tan lines. At this time he is checking out "one of these cash-register-watchers," and he is yelled at for ringing up her item twice (Updike 1026). This distraction from his job shows his interest in the girls, especially the one he calls "Queenie." To Sammy’s delight, Queenie and her two friends pick his register to purchase the "Fancy Herring Snacks in Pure Sour Cream" (Updike 1027). When she puts the snacks down on the counter, Sammy notices that her hands are free. While he is wondering where the money is going to come from, she proceeds to pull the dollar bills "out of the hollow at the center of her nubbled pink top" (Updike 1027). This gesture puts Sammy in total awe of the girl, and this is the turning point, this is when he makes his decision that he should try to impress her. His big chance comes when the store manager, Lengel, makes a visit to Sammy’s line. "Girls, this isn’t the beach," is the first thing Lengel says to the girls when he sees them (Updike 1028). Queenie explains that her mother sent her to pick up some herring snacks, implying that since her mother sent her it is perfectly fine for her to be in the store with only a bathing suit on. While Lengel and Queenie are arguing, Sammy visualizes himself at Queenie’s house during a party. In his imagination he sees, "her father and the other men were standing around in ice-cream coats and bow ties and the women were in sandals picking up herring snacks on toothpicks off a big glass plate and they were all holding drinks the color of water with olives and sprigs of mint in them" (Updike 1028).

Nursing Care in Rural Communities Essay

Nursing Care in Rural CommunitiesLiving in a rural community can present challenges for residents in receiving adequate health care. Many believe that rural communities present less health risks than urban communities. In actuality, they each have their own unique health problems and risks. In rural areas, the elderly population is at risk for not obtaining sufficient healthcare for numerous reasons such as knowledge deficit, lack of transportation, and financial woes. The healthcare community also faces challenges in providing healthcare in rural areas. The community health nurse plays an extremely important role in rural America. They will help ensure that the community has access to appropriate medical care and assist with referrals for financial assistance. Rural Community Health versus Urban City Health There have many debates over the years about who has the better quality of life, including less health problems, those who live in rural communities or those that live in the urban city communities. Any person that is asked, will most likely have their own opinion. However, in actuality, both have their own unique set of health problems. Kids that grow up in rural areas, particularly farming areas, have a lower incidence of asthma and breathing difficulties than kids raised in urban areas. But, on the other hand, children in rural areas, on average, consume more fat and sugar than those in urban areas. Therefore, it is no surprise that the childhood obesity rate is the highest in rural areas CITATION Bec11 l 1033 (Beck, 2011). Urban communities a higher rate of sexually transmitted diseases and more violent crimes than that in rural communities. In urban areas, there tends to be a larger impoverished population due to immigrants migrating to urban areas. When a large portion of the population is at or below poverty level, it results in poorer living conditions and difficulty obtaining adequate food, water, sewage, and health care. Because of that, there is an increased rate of preventable diseases related to lifestyles CITATION Gal12  l 1033 (Galea, Ompad, & Vlahov, 2012). Both urban and rural communities have various drug and alcohol problems. The types of drugs and population using are unique to the area. Urban areas tend to have more sources available to help those seeking it. There are more treatment centers and also clean needle exchange programs. The Elderly Population in Rural America Many elderly that live in rural communities, have lived there the majority of their lives. Many will be living alone if their spouse has previously passed away. A specific need that many may have is lack of transportation. In most rural areas, there is not public transportation available. This results in many elderly missing medical appointments, check-ups, and possibly not even making an appointment when ill. Lack of receiving appropriate medication can also be a result of being without transportation. However, there are many other contributing factors for those not taking the appropriate medications. Many elderly living in rural areas, come from families that have farmed all their lives. Farming is an industry that has its ups and downs financially, and although provided for the family at the time, many did not have money available in retirement funds. This has resulted in a monetary deficit in the aging population. Another reason the elderly population in rural areas may not recei ve the appropriate prescriptions, is knowledge deficit. Many, especially in rural areas, have grown up treating themselves and their families with home remedies. This was a cost-saving solution, and also resolved the issue of limited available medical care. There are specific medical problems that are more prevalent in rural populations. These include heart disease, skin cancers, and Alzheimer’s or a form of dementia. Chronic diseases also more predominant in the aging population of rural America, these include arthritis and hypertension CITATION Rog02 l 1033 (Rogers, 2002). Challenges for Healthcare in Rural America. There are several challenges that are widespread when providing healthcare in Rural America. In general, there are less healthcare providers and hospitals available in rural areas. If there is a hospital close, it will most likely lack many pertinent departments such as a cardiac cath lab or a labor and delivery unit. Patients will be required to relocate to a larger town, further away. This may not be possible to many rural  Americans due to lack of financial ability, lack of transportation, or the lack of education. T hey may not have been educated on the importance of the procedure. There are also many insurance companies that do not contract with rural physicians. This would deter many people from obtaining adequate medical care due to the out of pocket cost CITATION Mos08 l 1033 (Moscovice & Rosenblatt, 2008). The Role of the Community Health Nurse in Rural Settings. The community health nurse will take on many roles in rural settings. Educating about the importance of immunizations is imperative. But, also, ensuring that all community members that desire the immunizations have the ability to come to the clinic to receive them. If not, the nurse may need to develop another plan in order to meet the community’s needs. The community health nurse needs to assist the elderly with obtaining transportation for medical visits. If they are only able to establish transportation certain days of the week, if possible make appointments for that day for them. Education is a large part of any nurse’s job description. However, as a rural community health nurse, it is essential that the community is educated on disease processes and the importa nce of taking prescriptions as prescribed by the physician. Many in rural communities, will generally have their own home remedies that they have used and may not understand why a specific medication is necessary. Because of financial concerns of many in rural areas, the community health nurse will need to educate patients on medical financial assistance programs and which local providers and hospitals are contracted with their insurance companies. Urban areas and rural communities in America, each come with their own unique health problems that are specific to that area. As a rural community health nurse, it is imperative to understand what specific deficits the general rural population has related to healthcare. The community health nurse has the ability to ensure that the entire rural community has access to healthcare, adequate education related to their medical problems, and can help refer patients to assistance for transportation and financial assistance. References BIBLIOGRAPHY Beck, M. (2011). City vs. Country: Who is Healthier. Wall Street Journal. Galea, S., Ompad, D., & Vlahov, D. (2012, September). Urban Health Issues. Retrieved from Rutgers University: http://www.healthynj.org/ Moscovice, I., & Rosenblatt, R. (2008). Quality-of-Care Challenges for Rural Health. The Journal of Rural Health, 168-176. Rogers, C. (2002). The Older Population in 21st Century Rural America. Rural America, 2-10.

Free Essays on IMU

Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) To better understand the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, it is essential to first give a brief overview of the history and economic state of Uzbekistan. This lays the groundwork for the explanation of why the IMU was formed. Uzbekistan is a small county located in central Asia. It extends from the foothills of the Tian Shan and Pamir mountains to land just west of the Aral Sea. Its capital and largest city is Tashkent. Uzbekistan became independent in 1991, after nearly 70 years as a republic of the Soviet Union. The dominant political party in Uzbekistan is the People's Democratic Party of Uzbekistan. It formed after the Soviet Communist Party disbanded in 1991. This party kept much of the Communist Party's membership and policies. A few other parties are allowed to exist but none that seriously challenges government policies. [2] Ethnic Uzbeks make up more than 70 percent of the population. Russians, the second largest group, make up less than 10 percent of the population. Other groups include Tatars, Kazakhs, Tajiks, and Karakalpaks. As far as the economy is concerned, the government indirectly controls most of Uzbekistan’s economy. Although many farms and small businesses are privately owned, the government controls much of the supply of raw materials and transportation. The government also regulates much of the marketing of goods, particularly exports. [2] The Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan consists of a coalition of Islamic militants from Uzbekistan and other Central Asian states who oppose the secular government of the current Uzbek regime led by President Islam Karimov. IMU leader Tohir Yuldashev has declared a "jihad" or "holy war" against the Government of Uzbekistan. The IMU was founded in 1996. Its members include individuals who fought in Tajikistan's 1992-97 civil war. Since early 1999, its activities have become more violent, to include bombings and kidnappings. ... Free Essays on IMU Free Essays on IMU Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) To better understand the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, it is essential to first give a brief overview of the history and economic state of Uzbekistan. This lays the groundwork for the explanation of why the IMU was formed. Uzbekistan is a small county located in central Asia. It extends from the foothills of the Tian Shan and Pamir mountains to land just west of the Aral Sea. Its capital and largest city is Tashkent. Uzbekistan became independent in 1991, after nearly 70 years as a republic of the Soviet Union. The dominant political party in Uzbekistan is the People's Democratic Party of Uzbekistan. It formed after the Soviet Communist Party disbanded in 1991. This party kept much of the Communist Party's membership and policies. A few other parties are allowed to exist but none that seriously challenges government policies. [2] Ethnic Uzbeks make up more than 70 percent of the population. Russians, the second largest group, make up less than 10 percent of the population. Other groups include Tatars, Kazakhs, Tajiks, and Karakalpaks. As far as the economy is concerned, the government indirectly controls most of Uzbekistan’s economy. Although many farms and small businesses are privately owned, the government controls much of the supply of raw materials and transportation. The government also regulates much of the marketing of goods, particularly exports. [2] The Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan consists of a coalition of Islamic militants from Uzbekistan and other Central Asian states who oppose the secular government of the current Uzbek regime led by President Islam Karimov. IMU leader Tohir Yuldashev has declared a "jihad" or "holy war" against the Government of Uzbekistan. The IMU was founded in 1996. Its members include individuals who fought in Tajikistan's 1992-97 civil war. Since early 1999, its activities have become more violent, to include bombings and kidnappings. ...

Absolutely unsinkable Essay Example

Absolutely unsinkable Essay Example Absolutely unsinkable Essay Absolutely unsinkable Essay The character of Mr.Birling is the main source of dramatic irony in the opening of the play. Many examples of this can be found in the text, such examples include Birling stating the Titanic was absolutely unsinkable and that war was impossible. The audience targeted for this play had the advantage of hindsight because of the play being written in 1945, therefore allowing them to realise the absurd nature of Birlings views and attitudes. Priestley is standing in opposition to Birlings views, so he makes him look as inane as possible by continually being contemptuous towards him through the role of the Inspector. With Birling living in a patriarchal society, men are the dominant sex and Birling feels the need to protect his family, which is ironic because he doesnt actually know that everyone present at that time is guilty in one way or another. By using dramatic irony within the role of Birling we know that what he is saying is actually the opposite of what will happen. This shows us that that his ideas are nonsense, and it will cause is to distrust his ideas and thoughts later on in the play. At the very beginning of the play, before we even meet any on the characters, it tells us that the lighting for Act One should be pink and intimate. This is to show that the current mood is calm and relaxed, and that the characters are quite comfortable with how everything is at that moment. The lighting then changes as soon as the inspector arrives; it goes from pink and intimate to brighter and harder. This contrast in lighting is very important; it shows us that the mood in the house is going to change and the characters are going to be interrogated in some way. We get the idea of interrogation from the way the lighting is described because the words used brighter and harder gives us the image of a blank, serious place like a police station in which interrogation takes place. This links to Priestleys social concerns for the simple reason that the characters are pleased with themselves and their current status, and do not want anything to change which could jeopardise this. The characters attitudes are a strong representation of the era they live in and show us exactly what it is that Priestley is trying to change about peoples perception of life. The doorbell signals the entrance of the inspector into the house, this is when everything changes. Birling is in the middle of his speech when the doorbell interrupts him. This is significant because just as Birling is talking about how a man has to mind his own business and look after himself and his own, Priestley chooses then as the right time to stop him. It is Priestleys way of stating that his attitude is entirely wrong and that he does not agree with it at all. By interrupting him, it shows the audience that Birlings ideas are corrupt and we cannot believe they are plausible. When the new major character of the inspector is introduced into the play, it has a dramatic effect on the rest of the characters. Before the inspector arrives, the characters seem to be closely bonded, a secure family unit, but as soon as the doorbell sounds, they fall to pieces. At that moment, the characters are quite satisfied with themselves, pleased with their current social status and wealth, even Birling is feeling contented, for once. The mood of the characters subsequently could not be more diverse, they panic, their dialogue suffers and none of the characters are certain what to say anymore, they are in a general state of perplexity. The character that suffers most from the introduction of the inspector is Birling himself, he goes from making extensive speeches about life and the world, to short statements and questions, which both in turn reflect the state of bewilderment he is in. Examples of this can be found when shortly before the arrival of the Inspector, Birling is talking of the old days and says, They worked us hard in those days and kept us short of cash, but when he is aware of the Inspector now being present, he begins to sound worried, An inspector? What sort of inspector? At first Birling had full control over his family, he was the manager so to speak, but when the inspector enters this superiority crumbles and Birling frantically attempts to regain this dominance. He tries to use his social status to control the situation but they are words falling on deaf ears. He uses all the possible solutions in which he feels the inspector may find intimidating, such as the fact he was an alderman for years and that he was Lord Mayor two years ago. However, the inspector takes no notice of this newly established information, and is not even concerned with the fact that Birling is still on the Bench. By the end of Act One we see that Birling has utterly no power left over the characters, and that they are all tied to Eva Smith in one way or another and there is nothing he can say or do to get them out of it. In An Inspector Calls, character exits are used to further the plot and so extend the audiences knowledge of the background to the characters. The most important uses of these character exits can be found very near the beginning and towards the end of Act One. Firstly, there is the character exit in which Sheila and Eric exit, after Birling makes an elongated statement expressing his general Edwardian views for example The worlds developing so fast itll make war impossible. This character exit is especially important as it helps us to understand the characters social and political views for later in the play. When Eric and Sheila leave, Birling and Gerald are left behind, this is significant because it leaves the older generation to express their Edwardian ideas and helps us to see Birlings character in full light as all the attention is placed on him, we would not see him the same later in the play if this had not happened. It is relevant that Eric and Sheila exit since their opinions differ to those of their father, and if they were to stay on stage then they would have argued against Birlings many speechs and then we would not get such a deep understanding of his character as he would no longer be the only focal point on stage. On the other hand, if Priestley were to leave the characters on stage but keep them quiet, then it would totally defeat the object of what he is trying to achieve; keeping them quiet while Birling continues would clearly show them not opposing their fathers views, which could ultimately mislead the audience into thinking they are in agreement with him. Secondly, it is when the inspector leaves Sheila and Gerald alone to converse about how it is that Gerald is associated with Eva Smith (known as Daisy Renton to Gerald). This character exit is used so that the two characters can be left alone to talk over the relationship between Gerald and Daisy, and so giving us additional information to what happened to Daisy prior to her committing suicide. Whats more, the characters feel intimidated when they are around the Inspector and when he leaves Gerald and Sheila alone it gives them a chance to act normally with each other, and as the Inspector is a very overpowering character, with him not being present it leaves the audience to focus on them. This broadens our familiarity of the two characters, Gerald and Sheila, as we see how they act around each other when they are alone. In addition, it shows us that Sheila and Geralds relationship is not as steady and secure as they had previously believed it to be. These character exits relate to the question as they leave behind characters so they can share their part with one another and so thicken the plot, as well as the fact that Priestley uses the exits so characters are left to widen our knowledge of them as a person and helps us understand them as the play continues. The end of Act One has many effects on the audience by not only interesting them, but also making them want to continue watching the rest of the play. One of the effects the end has is that it is left on a cliff-hanger; no one is sure what exactly is going to happen and who will be accused next. Another effect is the fact that more characters are becoming suspects, at first we got the impression he was only coming to see Birling but then we soon realised it involves more then just him, as is shown by the fact the inspector will not reveal the photo to everyone at the same time. One effect that is clearly apparent by the end of Act One is that the characters have no family loyalty left, they seem to be all thinking about themselves, which reflects on Priestleys concern of people becoming selfish and self-absorbed. The final effect the end has on the audience is when the act is finished with the inspector saying Well? This gives us the idea that he knows more is to come and is just wai ting for Gerald to continue. Almost all of Act One is ironic in retrospect, due to the fact that much of it talks of things which are history for the audience and they already know the outcome for the reason that they have the advantage of hindsight. It is ironic because when Birling talks of the Titanic being absolutely unsinkable and war being impossible, the audience know that both of these statements are incorrect due to the fact that they have both happened, and in the case of war they have even taken place twice. If you look at the book in a wider text, you will see that the whole play is actually ironic when we look back at it. The fact that the play begins with the death of Eva Smith, and then ends with the announcement of her death, is ironic because we spend the whole play going through the motions of Eva Smith before her death only to end up back where we started at the end of the play. The playwright, J.B.Priestley, changes the audiences opinion of the Birlings during Act One. The first impression given is that the Birlings are a respectable family highly regarded in their vicinity. They have worked hard to get where they are and deserve to enjoy their wealth and happiness, but this opinion differs as Act One progresses. Birling is seen as a very proud character; he is middle class but works to become higher in his social status. He is very shallow, he determines success on peoples wealth and social status and believes that he and his family are important, he is not responsible for anyone else. At the beginning of the play, they give the impression they are a close family unit and support each other throughout, but we soon see that it is in fact the total opposite, it is every man for himself, there is a sense of insincerity. The characters are self-interested and in the end are out for themselves. The only character I would say changes for the better, is Sheila. Her first impression is one of childishness, for example when Gerald presents her with the ring she says Look-Mummy-isnt it a beauty? The word Mummy we wouldnt usually associate with a girl in her early twenties. When she realises her part in the death of Eva Smith she is full of remorse and penitence. She is the only one that learns from the death and changes for the better. All of the other characters seem to be either in self-denial or are too interested in what is going to happen to them and how it will effect their reputation etc. then they are in the fact they played a part in the girls suicide. Priestley uses many methods to interest and involve the audience. He uses dramatic irony to interest the audience because he knows they understand that Birlings thoughts and ideas are nonsense, and so are found to be ironic. In addition, he plays on the fact that the audience have the use of hindsight that links to Priestleys use of dramatic irony. The audience know that Birling is wrong in what he says and it shows them to not trust his thoughts and feelings later in the play.  Another method Priestley uses, is the role of the inspector within the play, Priestley reveals his concerns through the inspector and uses him to teach the Birlings a lesson in the right way in which to live. The end of the play suggests that the interrogation of the Birlings will continue in a vicious circle until they eventually learn their lesson. I believe that Priestley is trying to get across the message of responsibility, and the fact that we all need to accept responsibility for our own actions because in the long term they not only affect us, but also the people around us. He conveys this message throughout Act One by using many dramatic devices, including making fun of Birlings Edwardian beliefs and airing his own Socialist views through the role of the Inspector. This message is still relevant today because it does not matter, what time period you live in, your actions always have a ripple effect on other people and it would be selfish not to consider others when contemplating doing something which may affect the lives of others in the short or the long term.

Free Essays on Babettes Feast

â€Å"the Way† â€Å"It is due to religion and art that one can arrive at a representation of what is individual; it is due to feeling (friendship, love, affection) that one human being is different from others.† (Weil, Simone) Much of Simone Weil’s writing dealt with the ways in which G-d touches our lives, and the ways we can open ourselves to him. If Simone Weil could draw you a picture map on the way to finding G-d it would start at the basin of a pyramid. Finding the path to the direct love of G-d begins with one of three indirect forms of love: love of beauty of nature, love of neighbor, and love of religious practices. The soul can find the path to the love of G-d by going through any one of these indirect forms. The three indirect forms introduced by Weil were more clearly established within the short story film, â€Å"Babette’s Feast.† Through the characters of the movie it is better understood how people can use love to establish a more direct connection with G-d. Simone Weil’s writings are complex. In referring to nature’s beauty she says all things which make up matter are not beautiful when they simply obey man, but only when matter obeys G-d. For example she wrote, â€Å"The Sea is not less beautiful in our eyes because we know ships have wrecked on it. On the contrary, this adds to its beauty. If it altered the movement of its waves to spare a ship it would be a creature gifted with discernment and choice, and not this fluid, perfectly obedient to every external pressure. It is its’ perfect obedience which makes the seas beauty.† Within the love of beauty of nature lies art. Although Weil shuns art and imagination as possible routes to enlightenment, she did admit that poetry was a very engaging form that could possibly lead to truth. She believed that artists were capable of being touched by G-d. One such poem by George Herbert, titled â€Å"Love† truly reached Weil. â€Å"Love† contained such a compatib... Free Essays on Babette's Feast Free Essays on Babette's Feast â€Å"the Way† â€Å"It is due to religion and art that one can arrive at a representation of what is individual; it is due to feeling (friendship, love, affection) that one human being is different from others.† (Weil, Simone) Much of Simone Weil’s writing dealt with the ways in which G-d touches our lives, and the ways we can open ourselves to him. If Simone Weil could draw you a picture map on the way to finding G-d it would start at the basin of a pyramid. Finding the path to the direct love of G-d begins with one of three indirect forms of love: love of beauty of nature, love of neighbor, and love of religious practices. The soul can find the path to the love of G-d by going through any one of these indirect forms. The three indirect forms introduced by Weil were more clearly established within the short story film, â€Å"Babette’s Feast.† Through the characters of the movie it is better understood how people can use love to establish a more direct connection with G-d. Simone Weil’s writings are complex. In referring to nature’s beauty she says all things which make up matter are not beautiful when they simply obey man, but only when matter obeys G-d. For example she wrote, â€Å"The Sea is not less beautiful in our eyes because we know ships have wrecked on it. On the contrary, this adds to its beauty. If it altered the movement of its waves to spare a ship it would be a creature gifted with discernment and choice, and not this fluid, perfectly obedient to every external pressure. It is its’ perfect obedience which makes the seas beauty.† Within the love of beauty of nature lies art. Although Weil shuns art and imagination as possible routes to enlightenment, she did admit that poetry was a very engaging form that could possibly lead to truth. She believed that artists were capable of being touched by G-d. One such poem by George Herbert, titled â€Å"Love† truly reached Weil. â€Å"Love† contained such a compatib...

647 W5D Fish Bone diagram Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

647 W5D Fish Bone diagram - Essay Example Fishbone diagrams allow for a thoughtful analysis that avoids overlooking any possible cause for a need (Reilly, Myers, Salvador & Trowbridge, 2014). The diagram employs a technique that is easy to implement and that creates an easily comprehensible visual representation with categories. One can concentrate on the group that is most likely to cause the problem. Location can address the need to a given situation. However, the fishbone diagram goes further to indicate the areas of weakness requiring rectification in time before causing sustained difficulties (Wang, 2013). In the example below the problem in question is the â€Å"effect.† It illustrates the Missed Free Throws. The causes are categorised as either service setting or manufacturing setting. In this example, the manufacturing setting groups come first because they have no variability. They include materials, measurement, people, methods and environment. Enough details that identify the exact root causes are then fixed under each major category. The detailed sub-categories are generated from the data collected from the data sheets and brainstorming from group

Research Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Research - Essay Example I am equally overwhelmed by the unflinching support of all my other professors, lecturers and administrative staff and the library staff at the _____________ University and thank them profusely. Their slightest disarrangement would have distracted my focus from the research. As early as 1960’s the object-oriented programming (OOP) emerged in the computer software arena, when â€Å"data abstraction, polymorphism and modularisation were being applied to the procedural paradigm† (Cardelli, 1996). By 1980’s, research predicted that what structured programming was in the 1970’s, object-oriented programming will be in the 1980’s (Booch, 1986). Object-oriented software development not only prevailed all through the 1980’s, but also through the next two decades. But in a globalised market, as the software market becomes more and more competitive with ever increasing pressure on shortening software development cycles and for improved software productivity, an important dilemma has engulfed the software developers across the world. Can the object-oriented programming stand the test of the time? The present section deals with the issues pertaining to using software methodologies and the implications for object-oriented sof tware projects. Booch (1986) defined object-oriented development as â€Å"a partial-lifecycle software development method in which decomposition of a system is based upon the concept of an object† (Booch, 1986, p.211). Booch in his paper â€Å"Object-Oriented Development† argued that the object-oriented technology is fundamentally different from the traditional functional approaches in respect of designing, serving and managing massive software-intensive systems as well (Booch, 1986). Nearly one and a half decade later, Montlick (1999) supports Booch’s argument and suggests that â€Å"object oriented software is all about objects† (Montlick, 1999). While defining an object as a

Congressional Term Limits Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Congressional Term Limits - Essay Example In a conservative, rural Republican district, term limits could force the retirement of a white male conservative Republican, but why assume that the new person will be any different (another white male conservative Republican) or vote any differently. So you need to explain why you think this argument for term limits is valid. It is indeed in the hands of the voters to elect the new candidate, thus they need to carefully study and understand their respective candidates before voting for them. Through the various campaigning and other public talks that have been given by the respective new candidates, the voters can understand whether the candidate they are going to elect will be just another white male conservative Republican or not. It is true that the American citizens need to be more active regarding the political sphere, that is try to understand more about the candidates before taking any decision. In case if the present person turns out to be just another white male conservative Republican, the term limit will ensure that he does not stay for long, and the voters can elect a candidate who is more than just a white male conservative Republican. This is exactly why there should be term limits.

Immigration in United States, From the view point of The Jungle Research Paper

Immigration in United States, From the view point of The Jungle - Research Paper Example These were the changes that had been induced by the rise of the metropolis, the development of a national economy and, to a crucial extent, by the industrial revolution –which has been viewed by highly educated people (including Sinclair) as the feverish mechanization of human life - arousing deep tensions and turbulences in the sociopolitical culture of the American society around 1890s. Sinclair’s readers may ask whether the transformations in the culture of the Lithuanian immigrants, who occupy the central themes of the novel, will suffice the cultural transformations of the US society. But while asking the question, one has to bear in mind the fact that the novel presents a particular aspect of American society in which the society’s socio-political-cultural variables of social transformations allow other cultures to be assimilated and to be fused with its own cultural traits in order to produce another which is more global and tolerant in nature. Consequentl y, the traits of the socio-political-cultural-economic transformation of the Lithuanian immigrants’ culture and their assimilations into the mainstream US culture serve as the prototype of the cultural changes of the US society around the first half of the 1960s. ... Then finally, they are forced to adapt themselves and their culture to the changed circumstances. These adaptations necessarily yield into new cultural forms that are capable of surviving in the hostile environment of industrialization. The attempts of the Lithuanians to preserve their native values, norms and traits of culture are evident throughout the whole novel. But in the beginning of the novel, the marital culture and other cultural values that are observed in an exuberant environment are livelier than in any other part of the novel. These wedding customs of the Lithuanians have had to go through the inevitable transformations and have to adapt themselves to the changed circumstances of life in Chicago. Throughout the first six chapters, the Lithuanian marital customs such as the matchmaker episode, wedding ceremony, wedding feast, very often accompanied by music, wedding songs, dances etc seem to exist in more or less modified forms. As Suk Bong Suh says, â€Å"Lithuanians s eem to have preserved much of these traditional wedding customs in America, though in somewhat modified form. Among others, the detailed descriptions of the wedding feast, veselija, show graphically to what extent they tried to preserve their old customs in a new environment† (Suh 11). Being the part of the agrarian society norms, the Lithuanian wedding tradition includes serving abundant foods and drinks during the marriage ceremony. As Sinclair remarks, â€Å"It was one of the laws of the veselija that no one goes hungry, and, while a rule made in the forests of Lithuania is hard to apply in the stockyards district of Chicago, with its quarter of a million inhabitants, still they did their best,

The Movie Entertainment Industry ( Current Issues ) Research Paper

The Movie Entertainment Industry ( Current Issues ) - Research Paper Example The strategy is quite simple: movies became more larger than life, splashier and are made to impress in order to attract the public who have become more sophisticated in their tastes. This has become the blockbuster formula that has worked for major studios. By 2002 the annual ticket sales peaked at $1.6 billion.1 After this period, however, one can no longer say the same. In 2008, the figure dropped to $1.3 billion while the audience registered a constant decline in size across all segments of the movie-going public except teenage boys.2 Hollywood’s formula for blockbuster films - one that has so far succeeded in impressing the audience and keep them coming back - relies much on technology because it is crucial in providing flashier visual effects, which has been proven to appeal to a broader audience. Background According to Vanhala (2011), the average production cost of a movie from a major studio is $55 million with an additional $27 million to advertise and market, a tota l of almost a hundred million per film.3 Big productions that almost often assure box-office success could cost a studio up to 300 million dollars such as with the cases of Spiderman 3 and Pirates of the Caribbean 3. The figures are humungous and one could often hear producers lament about the viability of moviemaking and of the way films lose even with a decent performance at the box office. The complaint is not entirely unfounded. A detailed explanation has been offered by Vanhala as it was suggested that domestic box office, home video, DVD, television and cable revenues often cannot collectively cover the invested money in a film unless it is a major blockbuster.4 Pricewaterhouse-Coopers reported that the major studios’ revenues can be broken down as follows: 1) theatrical box office 24.6 percent; 2) television 28.8 percent; and 3) Home Video 46.6 percent.5 There are those who would argue that other means of revenues could make up for box office losses but this is not alw ays the case. According to the Motion Pictures Association of America â€Å"most films never recoup their initial investment.†6 A case in point is Prince’s (2002) discussion of movie revenue in which he stressed: There is little home video revenue left over to pay back the substantial negative cost still on the books from a theatrical flop. Home video success in such a case is significant for the company’s cash flow and especially for its home video profit center, but profit participants due a percentage on the theatrical flop are unlikely to be close to paydirt.7 It is not surprising, hence, when both academics and economists brand moviemaking in American as a risky affair. The dynamics by which film financing are undertaken with their complex and elaborate risk-sharing schemes underscore this point. Today, films are no longer produced by one studio or entity. Investors are pooled, which include corporate entities and other third-parties such as A-list actors, directors and producers.8 Out of all of the dismal statistics cited, however, it is interesting to note that Hollywood still makes about 400-600 films each year.9 The answer to this puzzle is crucial in identifying the effect of technology in movie-making. Understanding them can help outline the importance of technology in American filmmaking today. There are two identified drivers to the American film industry’s profitability: blockbuster films and the international market. These two areas proved to be not just the

Immigration in United States, From the view point of The Jungle Research Paper

Immigration in United States, From the view point of The Jungle - Research Paper Example These were the changes that had been induced by the rise of the metropolis, the development of a national economy and, to a crucial extent, by the industrial revolution –which has been viewed by highly educated people (including Sinclair) as the feverish mechanization of human life - arousing deep tensions and turbulences in the sociopolitical culture of the American society around 1890s. Sinclair’s readers may ask whether the transformations in the culture of the Lithuanian immigrants, who occupy the central themes of the novel, will suffice the cultural transformations of the US society. But while asking the question, one has to bear in mind the fact that the novel presents a particular aspect of American society in which the society’s socio-political-cultural variables of social transformations allow other cultures to be assimilated and to be fused with its own cultural traits in order to produce another which is more global and tolerant in nature. Consequentl y, the traits of the socio-political-cultural-economic transformation of the Lithuanian immigrants’ culture and their assimilations into the mainstream US culture serve as the prototype of the cultural changes of the US society around the first half of the 1960s. ... Then finally, they are forced to adapt themselves and their culture to the changed circumstances. These adaptations necessarily yield into new cultural forms that are capable of surviving in the hostile environment of industrialization. The attempts of the Lithuanians to preserve their native values, norms and traits of culture are evident throughout the whole novel. But in the beginning of the novel, the marital culture and other cultural values that are observed in an exuberant environment are livelier than in any other part of the novel. These wedding customs of the Lithuanians have had to go through the inevitable transformations and have to adapt themselves to the changed circumstances of life in Chicago. Throughout the first six chapters, the Lithuanian marital customs such as the matchmaker episode, wedding ceremony, wedding feast, very often accompanied by music, wedding songs, dances etc seem to exist in more or less modified forms. As Suk Bong Suh says, â€Å"Lithuanians s eem to have preserved much of these traditional wedding customs in America, though in somewhat modified form. Among others, the detailed descriptions of the wedding feast, veselija, show graphically to what extent they tried to preserve their old customs in a new environment† (Suh 11). Being the part of the agrarian society norms, the Lithuanian wedding tradition includes serving abundant foods and drinks during the marriage ceremony. As Sinclair remarks, â€Å"It was one of the laws of the veselija that no one goes hungry, and, while a rule made in the forests of Lithuania is hard to apply in the stockyards district of Chicago, with its quarter of a million inhabitants, still they did their best,

Innovative nursing care delivery model Term Paper

Innovative nursing care delivery model - Term Paper Example Nurses form a critical part of this model because they have immense knowledge on patient evaluation and education just to mention a few. The model aims at avoiding complications such as phantasm, which is commonly caused by hospital admission of the elderly patients. Joynt and Kimball (2008) describe ACO as a collaboration that involves various parties including primary care clinicians, the hospital, and other healthcare professionals. These parties work jointly with an aim of not only ensuring quality service delivery, but also reducing the high costs of care provided to patients. Upon ACO’s success, all providers are offered to keep part of the saving contributed by the organization. The ACO model exposes nurses and clinical officers to leadership skills. Through this, health employees are able to take the mantle of organizational leadership especially in providing care in underserved areas. Retail clinics, also referred to as nurse-managed health clinics (NMHCs), are created with the aim of offering holistic primary care services and quality services to particular populations such as those deemed underserved or vulnerable. Debra (2013) posits that retail health centre are an important avenue where healthcare can be offered as per the model. The model as pursued by the federal government depict the above model. According to Debra (2013), retail clinics are, usually, associated with schools, federally qualified health center and social service agencies. Retail health centre bring health care close to people and ensure that services are affordable and of high quality. Through retail health centre patients save a lot of their finances used in emergency room care. Involvement of nurses in these clinics helps in not only containing costs but also optimizes patient outcomes. This is an innovative Care Delivery Model, which makes use of technology in monitoring patients with chronic illness. Usually, data goes back to the

Practical book review Essay Example for Free

Practical book review Essay Petersen breaks down the book in five parts . He starts off with part one the value of of communication balancing: listing awhile , talk until the other person stops hearing , Listen until the person calms enough to hear again. He furthers this in a another chapter. He then moves on to the Flat-brain theory . He uses diagrams to explain the different levels of Stomach functions which is where the our emotions are located . This area is were we experience our inner nudges . He also explains how the heart functions , the heart functions as a filter it gives and receives concerns , suggestions, and support. The next function is the head. The functions of the head is thinking, planning , remembering. The next couple of chapters begin to talk about he goes into a deeper understanding of the the flat brain theory until he reaches the flat- brain syndrome where he talks about how our brains function better in a short football shape. However when our brains are squished it creates a serious defect in our head fiction.he continues to talk about this concept . Part two starts off with the talker listener process taking turns talking and listening. This can and will determine the role of talker or listener. The talker-listener card was introduced and we were provided a actual card to put to use in our personal time. The purpose of this card is to create an atmosphere and role of each persons involved. The card provides instructions on when to talk and when to listen this the opportunity of the talker to without being interrupted and the listener to be attentive to what the talker is talking about. Chapters 8 through 15 go deeper in depth of the talker- listener card and its many functions from the talker prescriptive and the listener prescriptive. Part Three Petersen highlights the six communication traps, 1. Ritual listening, 2.Perry Masons( which made me chuckle ) 3. Why? 4. Not?5. I understand, he goes in depth to help the reader understand the difference between the five communications traps. He also talks about when trying new things and some of the thoughts that come long with that . When trying new skills you always have negative reactions such as: To much repetition grates, new skills often sound fake, friends and family co-worker get rattled by change. He further part three by discussing basic listening technique . He uses technique such as : para-feeling ( putting the talker’s feelings into your words), decoding . He futhers the conversation of why we don’t listen better in part five Where you can use TLC( talker-listener card) in group settings . The TLC card can help aide through difficult discussion as well help moderate a two person conversation . In conclusion in part five he states â€Å" how if you go beyond skill to increase empathy, genuineness and warmth you’ll tap into reservoir of healthy humanness that’ll out wheels on your technique( Pg 210). RESPOND! I remember growing up and my mother would ask me â€Å" how are you? what are thinking about?† I would have such a difficult time in expressing my feelings. I felt like when no one really cared about me , and my thoughts. In chapter eleven Petersen talks about the first talker goal: sharing your feelings. I immediately become more in tune with what I was reading. I recently had an encounter with a very close friend and she made the statement: Kia you listen to everyone else’s problems but you never seem to open as easy as we do to you. That’s unfair to us as friends. I thought to myself I trust them as friends but sometimes its easier for me to keep my thoughts to my self . However from reading this chapter I understand that it hinders my communication not only with my friends but with others . It puts a stumbling block on me to be open and receptive. So I went back to that friend and we went to dinner and I used skittles as props; we sat down and for every skittle in my hand I had to share my feelings or thoughts on questions she had or asked. I can honestly say that just by having this little prop it open the door and I was able to release so much that I was holding back from her. I now see the difference of talking and listening she listened attentively and this allowed me to be honest and not feel judged by her or her actions. REFLECT! Honestly the thought that popped in my head as I was reading this book was our relationship with Christ. I have said this before but it seems to be more imperative . We often talk to Christ and we tell Him all the troubles of our lives and how we need this or we need that.However we often neglect the fact that Christ has to something to say to us. I started to reflect on the stories of Jonah , Moses. They did not want to recognize the many clues that was present to them throughout their walk so it took spectacular things to happen to them before they got the message. Isn’t like God to speak to us In the loudest moments of our lives. In those times of anger and frustration and we miss the mark because we are so loud internally. He took Jonah inside of the fishes belly in order to get the message to him . It took a burning bush to get Moses attention and it took me reading this book ; to recognize that internally Im so loud that I need to learn how to calm myself down and others to experience me. Could it be that God has to extreme measures sometimes for me to stop and recognize Him? I often am on the go and pray on the go but I have recognize that in the moments when I feel like giving up or fighting or screaming He speaks quietly and calms my mind , soul, and spirit. He speaks often I guess the question is how much are we really listening ?Silence keeps you bound , talking gets you free, listening brings understanding! ACT! Some of the techniques that I plan on using are the Talker- Listener card . I plan using this in my personal life ,when I have arguments and as well as in just simple conversations when trying to come to an agreement. I believe that this strategy will be helpful in my prayer time . The concept of talking and listening and really allowing God to minster to me as I minster to Him. Another technique I will use and will keep visuals of is the balancing scale of the emotions, heart, judgement or thoughts. Remembering the scale will help balance my conversations in the future especially when it comes to a misunderstanding. I really thank Petersen because I am a visual learner and the pictures put what he was saying in perceptive for me. Another technique that is really important to is remembering the pointing finger. In many conversations I often use my hands to communicate how Im feeling . After reading this section of the book I understand how my hands and fingers can seem more offensive then helping . I will remember this and will try to not use my hands as much in explaining my feelings. I plan incorporating the talker- listener card in my youth groups and after school programs. Teaching our youth to the stages of communication now . View as multi-pages

Entrepreneurial Management In Marks And Spencer

Entrepreneurial Management In Marks And Spencer The issue of entrepreneurial management is utterly important for any organisation, as it is responsible for the realisation of strategic plans and business objectives by means of the human resources available for a company. This report discusses the perspectives and challenges of entrepreneurial management in Marks Spencer and particularly the issue of the relationship with human resources. The analysis of the problem relies on the models of organisational design context, organisational culture and entrepreneurial skills. The author explores and analyses the changes that the organisational has undergone in respects to MSs organisational structure and how their culture has been formulated. The necessary components of core managerial skills and competencies have been discussed in-line with MSs entrepreneurial activities. These factors have been evaluated and recommendations have been made. The author concludes that on the one hand, the recent reduction of the levels in the organisational structure of MS is beneficial for the company as the communication between the level, transparency and overall effectiveness increase. On the other hand, precise hierarchy and centralisation (mechanistic structure) make the company inflexible and difficult to adapt. Also tight environmental conditions and the current strategic objectives emphasise the need for organisational learning and professional development for both common employees and managers, which should be oriented to develop their existing entrepreneurial skills. The author states that MS should reward the most active and progressive managers creating motivation by all means. It is recommended that the organisational structure is flattened further, managerial control and communication should be improved to ensure better performances of MS and that the company should act in a more consultative manner. 2. Case Study: Marks Spencer The company Marks Spencer (MS) was founded by Michael Marks in 1884. Michael initially opened a stall at Leeds Kirkgate market that sold various items such as nails, screws, soap and wooden spoons for a penny each. In 1893 Michael decided to return back to his home routes in Manchester, and set up a shop downstairs from where he lived. He decided to seek a business partner; the business partner being Thomas Spencer. Today, MS is the largest UK retailer with 600 domestic outlets. Furthermore, the company is presented in over 40 other countries (294 foreign outlets). Marks Spencer concentrates predominantly of clothing and food retailing, which constitute 49% and 51% of its business respectively. The company offers stylish, high quality and great value clothing, as well as giving customers the opportunity to purchase food that is of outstanding quality that has been responsibly sourced from approximately 2,000 suppliers globally. The company has grown substantially throughout the years; the company direction and strategies have been manipulated to cater for the needs and desires of their existing and potential customer base and other stakeholders such as the employees, community, suppliers, shareholders and so forth. MS believes that their company values of Quality, Value, Service, Innovation and Trust are not newly established, and state that they are the principles that the business was founded (MS, 2010). More than 75,000 are employed by the firm all over the world. In 2009, revenue of MS was equal to  £9,062 million; net income constituted  £506 million. The companys profitability has been much higher prior to the recession. The company is listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) and is included in the FTSE 100 Index (MS, 2009). The share price reached its peak in 2007, and took a dramatic fall in 2008. MS has a variety of competitors ranging from the main supermarket groups, to specialists in fashion and homeware. The competitive environment has changed in recent years due to the rise of home shopping, and more consumers purchasing products from catalogues and the Internet. MS have to compete on price, what they have to offer, the rising expectations of the consumers and on the in-store experience. MSs management recognise the need to do business in an ethical way; to provide products and services to stimulate public interest and to abide by legislations/regulations such as consumers rights, environmental rules and other Industry regulations. Management have attracted 21 million people visiting the stores each week by their entrepreneurial implementations through their decision making processes by acting competitively and innovatively, also by differentiating themselves from their competitors in the retail industry by what they have to offer and by their strong ethical stance. The organisational design, organisational culture and the entrepreneurial skills that the management possess have contributed to MSs success in recent years. Management have been able to spot opportunities first were other competitors havent, or have not been fast enough to act; such as in 2002 MS announced that it was the first ever retailer to use only free-range eggs in all of their products, in 2005 MSs Cafe Revive were the first UK Coffee chain to offer Fair-Trade tea and coffee as standard, and in 2008 by becoming the first retailer to remove all artificial colour and flavourings from their entire food and soft drinks range (MS, 2008). MS empl oyees may therefore feel a sense of satisfaction for working for a well established, strongly ethical and successful company, thus potentially improving their co-operation and motivational levels. Stuart Rose, the Chairman/Chief Executive of MS expressed that the company has a key goal in everything they do: to build a sustainable business for the long term, generating shareholder value through consistent, profitable growth whilst making sure that customers can trust them to do the right thing. Rose states that customers of MS have told us that despite the impact of the recession our commitment to the environment and trading fairly is still important to them (MS, 2009). MS have planned ambitions to satisfy the general public by challenging themselves with the implementation of Plan A, aiming to become the worlds most sustainable major retailer by 2015 that could also prove to be a factor that encourages customer loyalty and help establishing a competitive advantage. Plan A was launched in January 2007 and is a five year eco-plan which has a positive contribution to the environment and society in every aspect of how MS do business so that they grow in a sustainable way. The plan addresses challenges across five areas: Climate change, waste, sustainable raw materials, fair partner and health (http://plana.marksandspencer.com). MS has a standard centralised organisational structure that is characteristic to the majority of the UK multiple retailers. The organisation structure is vertical (Whitehead, 1994). MS has moved to a new flatter structure recently, which implies the reduction of organisational layers in the structure (Varley, 2006); this therefore makes the organisation faster to perceive any changes and respond to them. Due to the organisation having a large complex structure, MS have to ensure that managerial control and communication throughout the hierarchy is efficient and effective to try ensuring high employee morale and motivation, thus a more efficient and effective workforce to meet MSs strategic objectives. This is a key problem area that MS need to focus on. The structure of the hierarchy is complex; therefore employees attitudes and values may only be conveyed to the employees line manager. This reflects the importance of communication in MS between the vertical levels of authority. The leadership style is autocratic; the business decisions are typically made and influenced by management only with a lack of consultation of the employees. Consultation could give employees recognition, motivation and a sense of belonging/need. The recession has had direct effect on MS in terms of profitability and their entrepreneurial thinking in decision making processes, due to the serious nature and potential negative associations that can follow from such an economic downturn. In October 2008 Stuart Rose stated that Consumer confidence remained fragile and the retail environment was unpredictable (http://business.timesonline.co.uk); this enforcing company management to act in an entrepreneurial way, by being alert and acting rapidly in the best interests of the organisation and its stakeholders. MSs management realise that there is an importance of having the ability to spot any opportunities available; in the scope to improve customer loyalty and confidence in the brand to attempt to overcome the negative side effects of the recession and assisting the creation of stability/prosperity for the company. According to Morgan (2001) the corporation provides the training of technical skills and business competencies of their employees. Afterwards, the effectiveness analysis of the learning is conducted within six months (Schutt, 2006). The learning process is necessary for the management to develop entrepreneurial skills to lead the workforce in an effective, appropriate and motivational manner. In January 2009 management announced that they were to cut costs by reducing their workforce by 1000 staff members across the retail stores, head office and their support functions (www.telegraph.co.uk). This reflects the need for strict management of the workforce and certain constraints to be implemented in such a dynamic environment to meet short/long term company objectives. The company comprehend the requirement to ensure that there is a focused balance between each of the stakeholders needs and desires; sacrifices such as these cost cutting measures have been implemented in attempts to outweigh financial uncertainty. According to Stiegert and Kim (2009) the rewards and bonuses for the employees in MS have been reduced considerably with the coming of the global financial crisis; which could be detrimental for the workforces future efficiency, motivation and morale; thus potentially affecting customer satisfaction levels. MS strive to satisfy stakeholders through the utilisation of the management team and their employees. They emphasise the need for effective managerial control in-line with company objectives; for the employees to know the entailment of their job specifications to provide efficiency that may contribute to a competitive advantage being established for MS. The outcome of this process will decide the companys future competitive stance in their market. 3. Context of Organisational Design According to Ferrell (1979) and Gibson et al. (2003), the notion of organisational design is directly associated with the creation of formal relationship, roles and processes within an organisation. The researcher has chosen the model that describes the context of organisational design, since it is necessary to analyse the framework and conditions of the management process and managers roles within Marks Spencer from the very beginning. According to Stanford (2005), the model of the context of organisational design is five-fold, where all the components are mutually influenced. The context of organisational design in Marks Spencer can be presented as follows: Structure: MS has a standard centralised organisational structure that is characteristic to the majority of the UK multiple retailers. Marks Spencer does not possess any manufacturing facilities in Great Britain. This means that the success of this retail business is determined by greater centralisation. The company has a vertical structure (Whitehead, 1994). MS has moved to a new flatter structure recently, which implies the reduction of organisational layers in the structure (Varley, 2006). The composition of the second-layer management team is the following: human resources, international business, retail, IT and logistics, food, store marketing and design, merchandise, finance and operations, marketing (MS, 2009). It can be argued that such hierarchy and the reduced number or levels in the organisational structure to be an advantage (mechanistic structure). The communication between the layers is better arranged, tasks and responsibilities are clearly defined, which is the key to stability. However, it may be argued that the whole organisation is less flexible and adaptive as in the case of organic structure. This deals predominantly with the initiative of lower rank managers. Size: According to the size, Marks Spencer can be classified as a large business, since the company employs more than 75,000 people all over the world (MS, 2010). Huge size implies extensive hierarchy from the CEO to a common worker (Coe, 2004). Despite the fact that organisational structure has been flattened recently, it is complicated anyway. Huge size obliges MS to state and restate precise responsibilities on a regular basis. The fulfilment of duties raises the problem of advanced managerial control. Environment: The environment in which Marks Spencer operates can be characterised as complex. The company is to respect consumer rights, operate according to the regulations in the industry and comply with environmental rules such as waste control (Bevan, 2001). Furthermore, MS is responsible to provide timely salaries and wages to its employees (Jones and Simmons, 1990). Moreover, the company is to adjust to recent social changes, which imply that the UK residents tend to spend more time online than outdoors. It is valid to argue that such a complex environment makes the management process within MS more difficult. Better entrepreneurial skills are required from the top management. And more sophisticated strategies should be used. It can be argued that in such conditions, there is a pressing need for greater integration of the departments of Marks Spencer. Technology: The technologies implemented in Marks Spencer would be rather characterised as routine technologies. Being of a clothes and food retailer, the company faces automatic and frequently repeated processes and tasks. Very few employees are required to demonstrate a creative approach to their responsibilities (non-routine technologies) (Dobson et al., 2004). It may be argued that routine technologies in MS can be explained by the considerable hierarchal organisational structure. In such a case the presence of bureaucracy is inevitable. It is valid to argue that the existing bureaucratic organisational structure should be improved by a more creative management process. This requires better entrepreneurial skills from the managers themselves. But this will enable to upgrade the inter-level communication quality. Strategy: Corporate strategy is quite a broad notion, but it can be stated that the key objectives of MS is to accentuate its own brand, to improve the clothing segment in order to reach the balance between food and clothing retail. Furthermore, the company seeks to improve the line of Home Beauty in its retail stores, to accelerate the programme of store renewal, improve the supply chain and start to use the space in outlets more effectively (MS, 2009; MS, 2010). In May 2008 a press release stated that international sales and profits were up by 16.8% and 33% (http://news.bbc.co.uk); it could be suggested that MS are hoping to overcome some weaknesses of the UKs current economic climate with geographical diversification by increasing stores internationally. As it is seen, these business strategic issues require optimisation and rationalisation of the existing directions. This means that MS is to provide professional training and organisational learning for its employees. According to Morgan (2001) the corporation provides the training of technical skills and business competencies of their employees. Afterwards, the effectiveness analysis of the learning is conducted within six months (Schutt, 2006). It may be argued by the author that the discussed strategic orientation of MS requires more specialised training of the employees. Furthermore, the training should not be academic by nature, but it must be integrated into the practical fulfillment of responsibilities. It is supposed that learning groups should be organised within departments and the team work is to be emphasised in such learning. The model of organisational design context can be criticised for the fact that it does not take into account the dimension of industry. Retail industry, in which Marks Spencer is engaged, is attributed to numerous specific features that do matter in the aspects of organisational learning, entrepreneurial skills and competences. First of all, this industry is customer-oriented (Stanford, 2005). Second, the whole structure should be aimed to provide a stable and high-quality service. From this standpoint, culture of communication, fast reaction between the organisational layers and strong lea dership are sufficient. 4. Organisational Culture The model of organisational culture has been chosen for discussion because it embraces a wide range of management categories associated with the company. It is possible to discuss leadership styles, controls and rewards in organisational processes. Managerial ethics and inter-industry specifics are also included into the model (Pinches, 1999). As it was mentioned, the previous model lacked these industry-related issues. However, the framework was formulated on the foundation of very fundamental assumptions about how organisations work and how they are managed (Cameron and Quinn, 2006); these assumptions may not be true of all organisations in practice; the model also represents that each of the four inputs are of equal importance in prescribing culture, this may not always be the case. Organisational processes: Discussing the leadership styles in Marks Spencer it is quite difficult to generalise since different managers can choose different leadership depending on personal preferences, educational background and experience. Nevertheless, the top managers of the company have been numerously characterised in the past as having an autocratic leadership style (Williams, 1992). This means that with such state of affairs the authority of managers is high, but the autonomy of departments, groups and individuals in the decision-making process is low (Messick and Kramer, 2005; Mullins, 2007). This is partially explained by the centralised vertical structure with considerable number of layers. It is difficult to judge whether this style is the best one for MS, but it is valid to assume that it contributes to bureaucracy, lower motivation and absence of the necessity of personal development of employees. Hence, the management can be at least recommended to improve the autonomy of the creative departm ents. The employees engaged in non-routine technologies should be managed consultatively. According to Stiegert and Kim (2009) the rewards and bonuses for the employees in MS have been reduced considerably with the coming of the global financial crisis. A press release in May 2008 stated that store teams are set to share  £12.8 million; the previous year MS paid a record of  £91 million in bonuses to its 75,000 staff (http://investmentmarkets.co.uk). This could generate negative effect on the motivation and productivity of the personnel. It can be argued that the corporation should find the possibility to reward the most active and progressive managers and employees. However, Stuart Rose believes MS are expecting market conditions to remain difficult for the foreseeable future and are managing the business accordingly. Tight stock control and management of costs are priority. (http://corporate.marksandspencer.com) The company announced cuts of 1000 jobs in January 2009; this could create uncertainty in the workforce that may lead to a lack of motivation, morale and in crease absenteeism levels due to stress and anxiety. Cognitive processes: One of the strongest features of MS is that the company supports professional ethics. This characteristic refers to both the employees and customers of the company. Managerial decisions and actions cannot contradict to the existing regulations (MS, 2010). Nevertheless, the process of strategic thinking is vertical as in the case of organisational structure. It is valid to argue that lower rank managers should be involved into the process of strategic thinking. Behaviours: Group member behaviour in Marks Spencer can be described as traditional teamwork. This kind of member and manager behaviour is characteristic to centralised vertical organisational structures (Morgan, 2001). Such form of behaviour implies lower control by group members and greater control by group facilitators. Again, the company can be criticised for increased control over employees and strict frameworks in which the employees have to perform their functions. Values: The values of Marks Spencer are the following: quality, service, innovation, trust and commitment towards employees and valued people (MS, 2010). The implementation of Plan A strives to meet the environmental concerns of the company, employees and customers, encouraging people to live a greener lifestyle (MS, 2010). Human resources are among the highest values of the company. However, such direction is to be confirmed by the practical actions of the corporation. 5. Entrepreneurial Skills Another model that can be applied to characterise Marks Spencer is the entrepreneurial skills model. It has been chosen for the discussion because it vividly illustrates the necessary components of core managerial skills and competencies developing that take place within the company to contribute towards forming the organisations culture and design. However though, research to determine whether identifiable relationships exist between the performance of the firm, the learning mode of the organisation and organisational competence does not provide clear statistically significant relationships and further work is clearly needed (Chaston et al, 1999). Entrepreneurial skills- The necessary components of core managerial skills and competencies: Research and practice connected to competence is focused by the ambition to achieve superior performance, and for economic gain or business success (Spencer and Spencer, 1993). As it has been already mentioned, the personnel of Marks Spencer participate in regular organisational learning aimed to develop the core skills and competencies (Johansson, 2004). However, the researcher argues that such learning is necessary in the first place for the management of the company to develop entrepreneurial skills; Deakins and Freel (2003) proclaim that there is need for sophisticated knowledge and competencies to operate larger production runs and manage a workforce. It may be stated that the connection to the industry should be emphasised at every stage. The business should focus on the management to build a reliable customer-oriented service. An Industry opportunity has been spotted by management in the implementation of Plan A, in which MS feel has motivated employees and involved them in taking part in contributing to the good cause that they have an interest in in the community where they and the customers live. Costs have also been reduced in result of Plan A, with a  £50 million surplus in 2009/2010 (http://plana.marksandspencer.com). It could be argued that the management team implementing these changes relate to the definition of an entrepreneur as according to Schumpeter and Kirzner. Shumpeter (1934) believed the entrepreneur is a special person who brings about change, whilst Kirzner (1979) believed the entrepreneur is anyone who is alert to the profitable opportunities for exchange; who has additional knowledge which enables the recognition and exploitation of an opportunity (Deakins and Freel, 2003). The skill to recognise and exploit the positive financial, environmental and employee motivational implications of Plan A appears to be welcomed by the general public (through the knowledge gathered from customers (MS 2009) which could establish a competitive advantage). Also by the company and its employees due to the improvement of environmental issues that may affect all of the stakeholders; and by the savings that have been made that can be utilised in other means to the companys strategic advantage. Personal motivation is necessary for managers. If they possess this, it would be a transmitter to further organisational levels. According to Lussier (2009) managers have come to realise that a motivated workforce can contribute powerfully to bottom-line profits and that the poor performance of employees can be caused inadvertently by managers themselves potentially due to their lack of motivation. In this light, the bonuses and rewards for the managers are extremely important. David Michels (Deputy Chairman of MS) expressed that he believes good governance encourages entrepreneurship and innovation within a framework of accountability (http://corporate.marksandspencer.com). The general management skills and human relationship skills appear to be the fundamental competencies for managers. 6. Conclusion and Recommendation It may be concluded that on the one hand, the reduction of the levels in the organisational structure of Marks Spencer is beneficial for the company as the communication between the level, transparency and overall effectiveness increase. On the other hand, precise hierarchy and centralisation (mechanistic structure) make the company inflexible and difficult to adapt. MS can be recommended to flatten its structure even more because the number of departments and layers has remained high in spite of the restructuring that was attempted (MS, 2010). Furthermore, communication, quality control and managerial control over the fulfilment of employees responsibilities should be improved to ensure better performance in the company. Tight environmental conditions and the current strategic objectives emphasise the need for organisational learning and professional development for both common employees and managers. In particular, the professional training of common employees should be carried out in real teams (departments) and should be practical. The professional development of managers in MS should be oriented to develop their entrepreneurial skills. Marks Spencer can be recommended to concentrate on industry specifics, general management and human relationship. Furthermore, the company is to reward the most active and progressive managers creating motivation by all means. MS can be recommended to reconsider leadership styles with respect to creative workers engaged in non-routing technologies (from autocratic to consultative). In addition, lower rank managers are to be involved into the decision-making process of MS that may encourage them to act in a more enthusiastic intrapreneurial way.

Teaching the Future Today :: Education Teachers School Essays

Teaching the Future Today School is often not enjoyable as one grows up and sometimes it is even dreaded. So many children will make any excuse in the world not to attend school. Students will begin to skip school and inevitably, they will drop out of school if they are able to. I, however, loved going to school. I remember while growing up school was always something I looked forward to everyday. Throughout my school years, I participated in everything I was able to when it came to school activities. Though, towards the end I was getting excited about graduation and all of the senior events, I was also saddened because I did not want these days to end. Many people often wondered why it was that I had such a love for school. I even wondered at times what it was that made me feel so compelled to go to school. I was not the most popular person in school, though I had many great friends. I kept my grades up the best I could but I was never the most academic student in school. There was sti ll something that made my school days the best memories of my life. Teachers, my teachers were what made my days flow by happily as they helped me grow educational and morally. Teachers are sometimes the only thing that makes school fun and enjoyable. School is obviously about education and learning and meant to teach one the basics of education, allowing them to grow mentally. There is however such a thin line between educational and moral growth. To teach one without the other uprooting is nearly impossible. Growing up I was so luck to have been taught by the finest teachers out there and I can honestly say that I never had a teacher in school that made me feel uncomfortable or inadequate. Learning was fun to me and that is mostly thanks to my upbringing and having wonderful educators. I have been taught as a student in many different states such as Florida, Michigan, North Carolina, Oklahoma, and West Virginia and in these states I have always been blessed with fine educators.

Drugs: A Major Problem In Canadian Society :: essays research papers fc

Drugs: A Major Problem In Canadian Society A major problem that exists within Canadian society is the abuse of mind- altering substances. Such narcotics cause not only health problems, but also violent and potentially criminal acts. A mind-altering narcotic can be defined as both the legal and illegal type. The four main categories of drugs are: narcotics, CNS depressants, CNS stimulants, and hallucinogens. Most of these drugs are highly addictive and are usually obtained by prescription or are considered a banned substance and must be purchased illegally. Users of many of the "harder" drugs being abused today also face the possibility of an eventual overdose. An overdose is the ingestion of a lethal or mind- damaging amount of drugs. Once an full addiction of these drugs occur, the user faces withdrawal symptoms when a discontinuation of a drug transpires. This is due to a reduction of the natural pain-killers that exist in the body of non- drug users. These symptoms include chills, sweating, cramps, headaches, diarrhea and excessive vomiting. The treatment of drug addicts includes an extensive program of detoxification. Medical drugs, such as Naloxone, are sometimes given to patients to aid in overcoming these addictions. These drugs occupy opiate receptors in the brain to block all effects of the damaging drugs, however the Naloxone is not an addictive drug, as the others are. The downfall to the medical drugs being used to help addiction are that there effects are very short-term and cannot cure the patient, but does assist in attaining the goal of substituting a more controllable, less lethal drug as opposed to the original narcotic . The key to preventing substance abuse in Canada is to educate the public, preferably at a young age, never to experiment with potentially life-threating drugs. This education can be attained within the pre-secondary schools. In 1988 prime minister Brian Mulroney announced proposed Canada's Drug Strategy. Laws were enacted, which prohibited the sale of drug paraphernalia and increased the power of police to seize the assets of arrested drug offenders. The Strategy allocated the sum of $210 million in its first five years (and an additional $270 million in 1992) mainly to the prevention, education and treatment of drug use, while 30 per cent of this money was intended for the traditional area of law enforcement. The goal of education within the school system should be to support those students who are non-users with recognition and social activities that will encourage them to remain non-users and to facilitate a belief and value system that incorporates concern for fellow students and residents of the community. Drug education should emphasise the negative aspects of drugs to give the

Touching the Void: Moitivational Theories

Touching the Void is an inspiring story about the power of the human will. To my surprise, the film left me emotionally spent as it touched on the issues of friendship, mortality and survival. I am sure many of my classmates will agree that it is an amazing story. But, for me, the thing that makes it truly inspirational is the way that Joe never gave up. In this brief paper I intend to show how Self Determination and Goal Setting theory influenced Joe’s inspiring story of survival. Self Determination Theory Self-Determination Theory draws from the research that people are inherently active organisms that strive for positive interactions with the environment (Class Lecture, February 3rd 2011). The theory suggests that people have three psychological needs that must be satisfied to initiate and regulate everyday behaviour. In addition, the theory also specifies that satisfaction of these needs also enhances intrinsic motivation (Deci & Ryan, 1985b, as cited in Reeve 2008). Intrinsic motivation is self-directed process which leads to more interest based behaviour rather than behaviour based on external rewards (Deci & Ryan, 1985b, as cited in Reeve 2008). The first psychological need is to feel a sense of autonomy in performing an activity. Autonomous behaviour involves having an internal locus of control and freedom to determine own behaviour. Autonomy is increased by having a choice, flexibility and opportunities for self direction (Reeve & Jang, 2006, as cited in Reeve 2008). The second need is having a sense of relatedness. This can be achieved by having close relationships with people who care about you (Baumeister & Leary, 1995, as cited in Reeve 2008). The third fundamental need is to perceive competence in relation to an activity. Competence is increased by engaging in activities that facilate optimal challenge and provides effective feedback (Deci & Ryan, 1985b, as cited in Reeve 2008). Self Determination theory provides us with a very applicable framework to understand Joe’s behaviour during his fight to stay alive. As noted by Professor Nisbet in class, intrinsic motivation is generally inherent in people and, can flourish out of people’s need for autonomy, relatedness and competence. There are many benefits an individual can attain by embracing intrinsic motivation. One of these benefits is the importance of persistence on a challenging task (Deci & Ryan, 1985b, as cited in Reeve 2008). There are numerous occasions during the film which persistence on a task is evident. Immediately after Joe breaks his leg, it obvious the persistence level of both climbers begins to escalate. Although both men know that a broken leg during a mountain ascent is likely fatal, they still persistent and work toward the goals of reaching the bottom. Joe is in excruciating pain but he continues on simply because there are no other options. There comes a point in the film where Joe is alone, and he continues to fight even though his hope of survival is slipping. Joe describes a constant â€Å"voice† in his head that urges him to â€Å"keep going†. I believe that Joe’s inner voice represents his continued persistence and determination to survive. It is clear that Joe’s high level of persistence allowed him to push him forward when he felt like giving up. Goal Setting Theory Goal setting theory is based on the idea that specific, difficult goals lead to higher task performance than do easy goals (Locke & Latham, 1990; Mento, Steel & Karren, 1987; Tubbs, 1986, as cited in Reeve 2008). Before difficult and specific goals can raise performance, the concept of goal acceptance must take place within an individual. In general, the individual must decide either to accept or reject the goal. If the goal is both accepted, it will enhance performance and facilitate goal commitment (Erez & Kanfer, 1983, as cited in Reeve 2008). In addition, Because goals refer to a future ideal state, setting goals may uncover discrepancy between a present and ideal state. This mismatch between present and ideal state will motivate an individual to achieve an ideal state and modify an ineffective plan if necessary. (Campion & Lord, 1982, as cited in Reeve 2008). Joe’s survival story is a testament to how to effective goal setting can be. With no food, no water frostbitten fingers, and a shattered leg Joe comes to the conclusion that if he wants to survive he must â€Å"set definite targets† for himself. Faced with an enormous task, Joe consistently sets small specific, attainable goals to increase the chances of his survival. For example, Joe would challenge himself to crawl to a particular rock within twenty minutes. When he got there, he set himself another goal, and then another. This is how Joes managed to mentally deal with the seemingly impossible task of getting to the bottom of the mountain. In summary, Touching the Void is an astonishing story of determination and persistence and it probably says more to me about goal-setting than anything else I have ever watched. By focusing on Joe’s 3 psychological needs and goal setting motives, we have learned much about the reasons why Joe never gave up. Although it may seem unrealistic to compare how Joe survived a life and death ordeal to our ordinary lives, extreme stories like this help us understand what drives motivational behaviours in everyday situations.