4 signs that your manager is the problemâ€not you

4 signs that your manager is the problem- not you Are you having problems at work? If so, you’re not alone, and it’s not something you should ignore. Most of us spend a significant portion of our lives at work- way too much time to be constantly unhappy or submerged in an uncomfortable environment. And the truth is, there’s a wide array of possible explanations for why you’re having issues- including many that aren’t really your fault, and might be a problem of poor management. Much like our family members, the vast majority of us don’t get to pick our bosses, which means that we’re often in the passenger seat regarding who we report to on a daily basis. In a perfect world, our managers would be great people and shining examples of professionalism, individuals whom we can aspire to emulate as we learn and grow on the job.Unfortunately, we don’t live in a perfect world, and most of us aren’t lucky enough to work with perfect managers. In fact, some of us find ourselves wo rking alongside problematic managers who really exert a negative energy and adversely impact the ability of others to do their jobs.Does this sound like the situation you’re in? If so- or if you’re finding yourself unhappy at work and are unsure if the problem lies with you or your manger- then keep a lookout for the following 4 signs that just might indicate that your manager is indeed the source of the problem.Everyone is having similar issuesAlthough your knee-jerk reaction to a less than ideal work environment might be that the problem lies in others and not you, you should take a step back and try to gain some perspective on the situation. If you think your manager might be the source of your problem at work, then listen to what others are saying. If you’re the only one who’s having a problem with your manager, then maybe the situation isn’t as black and white as you think, and you may benefit from taking a deeper look at your involvement and role (hopefully in an effort to make improvements). However, if others are also reporting problems (or show dismay at how your manager does business on a daily basis), it’s a good indication that they are the problem- not you.Productivity is downOne of the truly unfortunate side effects of having a problematic manager is that not only are they difficult to work with, but they also tend to negatively impact the workflow and productivity of the department or team they lead. This impact can be profound and quite apparent- everything from decreased efficiency and productivity to poor intradepartmental and interdepartmental communication and collaboration can result from the ill effects of an unchecked managerial bad seed. If your team or department is in chaos and productivity is down- and your manager simply refuses to right the ship or is unable to- then it’s pretty clear that there’s a problem.People are unhappyWhen a team reports to a problematic manager and the situation goes unchecked for too long without a course correction, the end result is often a sharp dip in morale alongside an uptick in stress and anxiety- not a recipe for employee happiness. And when employees are unhappy, it’s hard to imagine anything positive, productive, or innovative resulting. If the people who report to your manager are unhappy, then it doesn’t take an HR professional to deduce that there may be a problem at the top that needs to be addressed.People are leavingAn extreme result of employees being too unhappy for too long is that they tend to jump ship and seek out opportunities on different teams, in other departments- and at other companies. Are you noticing a trend of employees who report to your manager fleeing their positions in droves? If so, then it’s a classic red flag that there’s an unresolved problem with your manager that needs to be addressed.If you’re having a problem at work, the only path to improvement is t o first diagnose the problem, including from where- or who- the issue originates. Use the signs covered here to help you determine if the problem lies in your manager, so you can start the process of working towards a satisfying resolution for you and your career.

Profile of Toni Morrison, Nobel Prize Winning Novelist

Profile of Toni Morrison, Nobel Prize Winning Novelist Toni Morrison (February 18, 1931, to August 5, 2019) was an American novelist, editor, and educator whose novels focused on the experience of black Americans, particularly emphasizing black womens experience in an unjust society and the search for cultural identity. In her writing, she artfully used fantasy and mythical elements along with realistic depictions of racial, gender and class conflict. In 1993, she became the first African American woman to be awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature. Fast Facts: Toni Morrison Known For: American novelist, editor, and educatorAlso Known As: Chloe Anthony Wofford (given name at birth)Born: February 18, 1931 in Lorain, OhioDied: August 5, 2019 in The Bronx, New York City (pneumonia)Parents: Ramah and George WoffordEducation: Howard University (BA), Cornell University (MA)Noted Works: The Bluest Eye, Song of Solomon, Beloved, Jazz, ParadiseKey Awards: Pulitzer Prize for fiction (1987), Nobel Prize in Literature (1993), Presidential Medal of Freedom (2012)Spouse: Harold MorrisonChildren: sons Harold Ford Morrison, Slade MorrisonNotable Quote: â€Å"If you’re going to hold someone down you’re going to have to hold on by the other end of the chain. You are confined by your own repression.† Along with the Nobel Prize, Morrison won the Pulitzer Prize and the American Book Award in 1988 for her 1987 novel Beloved, and in 1996, she was selected for the Jefferson Lecture, the U.S. government’s highest honor for achievement in the humanities. On May 29, 2012, she was presented with the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama. Early Life, Education, and Teaching Career Toni Morrison was born Chloe Anthony Wofford in Lorain, Ohio, on February 18, 1931, to Ramah and George Wofford. Growing up during the economic hardship of the Great Depression, Morrison’s father, a former sharecropper, worked at three jobs to support the family. It was from her family that Morrison inherited her deep appreciation for all aspects of black culture. Morrison earned Bachelor of Arts degrees from Howard University in 1952 and a Masters degree from Cornell University in 1955. After college, she changed her first name to Toni and taught at Texas Southern University until 1957. From 1957 to 1964, she taught at Howard University, where she married Jamaican architect Harold Morrison. Before divorcing in 1964, the couple had two sons together, Harold Ford Morrison and Slade Morrison. Among her students at Howard were future Civil Rights Movement leader Stokely Carmichael and Claude Brown, author of Manchild in the Promised Land. In 1965, Toni Morrison went to work as an editor at book publisher Random House, becoming the first black woman senior editor in the fiction department in 1967. After returning to teaching at State University of New York at Albany from 1984 to 1989, she taught at Princeton University until she retired in 2006. Writing Career While working as a senior editor at Random House, Morrison also started sending her own manuscripts to publishers. Her first novel, The Bluest Eye, was published in 1970 when Morrison was 39. Bluest Eye told the story of a victimized young black girl whose obsession with her idea of white beauty drove her longing for blue eyes. Her second novel, Sula, depicting the friendship between two black women, was published in 1973, while she was teaching at State University of New York. While teaching at Yale in 1977, Morrison’s third novel, Song of Solomon, was published. The book gained critical and popular acclaim, winning the 1977 National Book Critics Circle Award for fiction. Her next novel, Tar Baby, exploring the conflicts of race, class, and sex, was published in 1981 and led to her being accepted as a member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters. Morrison’s first play, Dreaming Emmett, about the 1955 lynching of black teenager Emmett Till, premiered in 1986. The Beloved Trilogy Published in 1987, Morrison’s most celebrated novel, Beloved, was inspired by the life story of Margaret Garner, an enslaved African American woman. Remaining on the New York Times bestseller list for 25 weeks, Beloved won the 1987 Pulitzer Prize for fiction. In 1998, Beloved was made into a feature film starring Oprah Winfrey and Danny Glover.   The second book in what Morrison called her â€Å"Beloved trilogy,† Jazz, came out in 1992. Written in a style imitating the rhythms of jazz music, Jazz depicts a love triangle during New York City’s Harlem Renaissance period of the 1920s. Critical acclaim from Jazz resulted in Morrison becoming the first African American woman to be awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1993. Published in 1997, the third book of Morrison’s Beloved trilogy, Paradise, focuses on the citizens of a fictional all-black town. In suggesting that Beloved, Jazz, and Paradise should be read together as a trilogy, Morrison explained, â€Å"The conceptual connection is the search for the beloved- the part of the self that is you, and loves you, and is always there for you.† In her 1993 Nobel Prize acceptance speech, Morrison explained the source of her inspiration to depict the black experience by telling the story of an old, blind, black woman who is confronted by a group of black teenagers who ask her, â€Å"Is there no context for our lives? No song, no literature, no poem full of vitamins, no history connected to experience that you can pass along to help us start strong? †¦ Think of our lives and tell us your particularized world. Make up a story.† Final Years and the Writing of Home In her later life, Morrison wrote children’s books with her younger son, Slade Morrison, a painter and a musician. When Slade died of pancreatic cancer in December 2010, one of Morrison’s final novels, Home, was half-completed. She said at the time, â€Å"I stopped writing until I began to think, he would be really put out if he thought that he had caused me to stop. ‘Please, Mom, Im dead, could you keep going . . . ?’† Morrison did â€Å"keep on going† and finished Home, dedicating it to Slade. Published in 2012, Home tells the story of a black Korean War veteran living in the segregated United States of the 1950s, who fights to save his sister from brutal medical experiments performed on her by a racist white doctor. In a 2008 interview with NPR’s Michel Martin, Morrison addressed the future of racism: â€Å"Racism will disappear when [it is] no longer profitable and no longer psychologically useful. When that happens, it’ll be gone.† Today, Oberlin College, in Oberlin, Ohio, is the home of the Toni Morrison Society, an international literary society dedicated to teaching, reading, and researching the works of Toni Morrison. Toni Morrison died at age 88 from complications of pneumonia at the Montefiore Medical Center in The Bronx, New York City, on August 5, 2019. Updated by Robert Longley Sources and Further Reference .†Toni Morrison Fast Factsâ€Å" CNN Library. (August 6, 2019).Duvall, John N. (2000). â€Å".†The Identifying Fictions of Toni Morrison: Modernist Authenticity and Postmodern Blackness Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 978-0-312-23402-7.Fox, Margalit (August 6, 2019). â€Å".†Toni Morrison, Towering Novelist of the Black Experience, Dies at 88 The New York Times.Ghansah, Rachel Kaadzi (April 8, 2015). â€Å".†The Radical Vision of Toni Morrison The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331..†Ghosts in the House: How Toni Morrison Fostered a Generation of Black Writersâ€Å" The New Yorker. October 27, 2003.

Body cameras Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Body cameras - Essay Example Body cameras can record everything what the police officer can see and hear as an advantage to view in an unbiased situation. This is advantageous for the police department in keeping track the interaction with the community ensuring all-important information that can give links to enhancement of security situations are taken into consideration. When using a body camera, all the recordings are stored and accessed through a secure server where senior leaders can access and view all patrols. This would also be important as it helps the management of the security department to determine the patrol level of the officers to ascertain the meeting of the required patrol standards (Gonzalez-Sanchez & Puig, 2011). Police officers cannot alter the device but only turn it on or off. Chief Tony Farrar, Chief of the Rialto Police Department in California, conducted a 12-month experiment resulting over 50 percent drop in the number of complaints and the use of force. A statistics that could be attributed to the utilization of the body camera as a device that could equally act to relay the use of excess force by the police. Likewise, the University of Georgia police department described the use of the body camera as an â€Å"increase positive resolution† for their

Asian Indians Community of US Personal Statement

Asian Indians Community of US - Personal Statement Example Then, there are other Hindu important festivals Holi, Durga Pooja, Ganesh Chathuri which I celebrate with the rest of Hindu community while Christmas, Id, Easter, Hanukkah etc with the global community that resides in United States. But it is difficult at times, when we face discrimination at work place or called with funny names for our complexion, accent etc. However, these discriminatory acts were rare before 9/11 and even after the terrorist attacks on Twin Towers; we haven't been victim of any serious racism or prejudice compared to what our fore parents encountered when they moved first to the United States in early 1900s. The history of my community, Asian Indians, goes back to early 20th century when the first group of Indians from the province of Punjab arrived in America and worked as millers and farmers in California and Washington. They were mainly "Sikhs"-followers of Sikhism, a religion originated by Guru Nanak. They faced much difficulties and racist attacks because of their illiteracy and poor English-speaking skills. Associations such as Asiatic Exclusion League made serious efforts to prevent further immigration and property ownership of Indians.( Vinay Lal, 1999) The Sikhs were followed by large number of Indian students who demanded Indian independence overtly. They even formed their own political party to promote and forward their political ideas and demand for Independence. However, America who was strong and old ally of British, saw it as conspiracy of the Germany to overrule the British power in India-a colony within the British Empire. Thus organized attacks were made on these Indian students and successful prosecution of Indians took place. To add to the woes of Indian community, in 1923 the Supreme Court of United States ruled that Indians were ineligible for citizenship of the United States and that citizenship was only reserved for "whites" with European origins. They were also subjected to the Alien Land Law which prevented them from owning and leasing land and forced them to transfer their lands to the white Americans. As a result, the number of Indians sharply dropped from 10,000 in 1914 to 1,476 in 1940 in California alone.(Vinay Lal, 1999) But different Indian organization in America continued to fight for their rights to immigration and naturalization. By 1946, President Truman returned the right to immigrate and naturalize through Luce-Celler Act 1946. ("Indian American") After that, Indians actively participated in politics fighting for the end of British power in India. The most prominent among these politicians was Dalip Singh Saund who was also elected for US House of Representatives from California in 1956 and was also reelected for a 2nd and 3rd term. ("Indian American") Soon the number of Asian Indians grew well above 175000 (1975) and they demanded for minority status within American population. The Census Bureau declared them as a new category of minority group known as "Asian Indians". However, the conditions and performance of the existing Indian community wasn't impressive, to say the least. Unemployment and poverty was prevalent with most Indian employed for odd jobs as taxi drivers, gas-stations workers

Financial Reporting Appraisal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4500 words

Financial Reporting Appraisal - Essay Example Many authors have dealt with the issue of clarity and understand ability of the annual reports (Lee and Tweedie, 1975; Smith, 1992; Keane, 1977). In fact many authors emphasised the fact that shareholders tend to read the narrative part of the annual report which normally includes good news, rather than reading statutory part and usually investors make their investment decisions depending on those good news (Tauringana and Chong, 2004; Smith and Taffler, 1992). However In order to make an informed investment decision, an investor who is contemplating investment needs to understand both the potential rewards and the associated risks (IOSCO, 1995). The main aim of this report is to summarise what has been proposed so far about improvement in effectiveness of annual reports in shape of 11 models discussed in ICAEW report. A judgement criterion has also been prepared according to which the annual reports of three company Johnson Matthey plc, Smith and Nephew plc and Smiths Group plc will be analysed. An award will be granted to the Company, which has adopted most of these models in order to improve business reporting and serving the needs of the users. Problems addressed: With the changing business methods and environment the values playing important part in business has also changed. The label of assets has transformed from tangible to intangible assets. In this scenario it is become difficult for the users to analyse the future performance of the company. The companies mostly practise the old traditional accounting techniques according to which intangible assets such as knowledge brand etc are not included in the financial statements as assets. Although in today's business scenario it is important for the users to have complete knowledge of these intangible assets in order to undertake their decisions accordingly. Solution provided: The authors of the model proposed that in order to help the investors and users to evaluate the value of the company the information provided needs to be more transparent regarding the intangible assets as compare to the past. The model suggest that all the tangible and intangible assets need to be continuously, means used to their fair values and should be reported in order to provide the clear and transparent information. The model gives three dimensions to the information 1) Assets and their configuration represented by company. 2) Information on assets relating to external environment management process and value. 3) Time. The model suggests the businesses to reveal information about their mission, strategy, and business process and risk management. The model can best serve the purpose of today's users since it provides information in many segments, which can help the user to find out the information, related to him. The model is the best way to respond to the needs of openers and transparency, which will be the most attractive value generating forces in the future. Criterion no. 2: Hermes Principle: (ICAEW, p. 65) Problems

Theoretical And Practical Approach To Theatre Making Theatre Essay

Theoretical And Practical Approach To Theatre Making Theatre Essay This piece uncovers both the physiological and scientific actions behind the presentation of the voice. As an actor, theatre practitioner or theorist, we become aware that the presentation of communication is not a mere ability to speak, but an action from a complex organ which is bound up with our emotions and understanding which directs our physiological reflexes. For Linklater, the conveying of emotion must mean the feeling of emotion since our voice is powered by our very breath. Breath is chemically and physically linked to the bodys capacity and state of serenity. The natural relaxed voice occurs when the body is harmonious, relaxed and warm but any element of stress, excitement distraction can cause breath influxes which create tension and resonance which creates a new tone and inflection. (Linklater, 1976) Linklaters next piece continues that communication with the voice is not always the conveying of speech. However, in Western theatre it is recognised that speech and language is a primary form of expression. The voice and the actor must therefore become one. Both must be in their neutral state but not joined as they are in the actors human life but rejoined, both neutral and aligned to negotiate the new adornment of character in which to convey new expression. In this sense the actors own imagery behind their speech must be put aside and a new imagery must come from the character, this must occur organically, through exercises and development. Only here can the actor and their voice become unique and spontaneous in their role. Furthermore the learning of lines must be absorbed into the heart creating an understanding between the actor and their role. The actor must know more than the character in order to respond instinctively and naturally vocally within the action. (Linklater, 2006) Berry: Vocal Development In this chapter Berry focuses on the theory behind the vocal exercises he developed. These exercises help to convey how Linklaters ideas can be worked. For Berry the voice of the actor must be separated from the voice of the person and preconceived ideas. The way the individual communicates, their own anxieties and tensions must be removed in order to release full vocal potential. Berry laments that one can only get the best vocally if exercises are partaken. There are three stages of development for Berry. The first is relaxation and breathing. In this stage the actor develops the ability for vocal power by increasing the use of the lips and tongue. The second stage is the application of this to the actors role. They must be aware that their own vocal inhibitions are bound up with their acting voice, and that what they hear is not what the audience hears. Relying on their own voice would lead to a predictable style of acting, instead the actor must use these exercise to free the voi ce and allow the emotion of the role to become one with the voice, preventing the need for predictable pushing out and expression of emotions. Finally the third stage is the belief in both the exercises and an understanding of the second stage to create vocal freedom. The development of the voice through these three stages of exercises will create a new freedom, allowing the voice to respond instinctively to the action, beyond thought and technicality of the actors thoughts, but instead naturally and freely. (Berry, 1978) Lecoq: The Art of Mime Contrary to mimes generic image of speechless and silent expression, Lecoqs writings on mime express the important of the voice and indeed the concepts of freedom in movement and vocal as discussed above. Fundamentally Lecoq rejects the notion of mime being the expression of words without sound. The clichà ©d image of the mime, with exaggerated movements and facial expression, Lecoq would suggest fails to convey the practice of mime and its true art form. Mime in its simplest form is the idea of imitation. Here we can understand the art of dramatic mime that Lecoq discusses. This is creation of a theatrical situation with the body, often involving the impersonation of peoples. Such artists create the illusion of the person they mimic, vocally, in body and action. Their art lies in the ability to be this person in alternate scenarios. The actor must feel the movement, gestures and emotions as if they are their own, only the theatrics occurs when the addition of the actors true self i s added, their ownership of the movements produces the essence of mimicry. Symbolic mime requires the actor to partake in absolute mime, creating the environment and opening the audiences imagination. This requires a consistency of action, an understanding of the weight, placement and true abilities of the objects in the illusion. Finally there is the use of plastic mime, the use of the body as a language perhaps used with the constraints of face masks. The body must convey the story whilst the face illuminates the emotion. Lecoq theories a system for conveying mime through exercises designed to able the body. However, Lecoq laments that this system of exercises once used must be discarded of a true and spontaneous performance is to be conveyed. The body moves spontaneously, with reflective action and the system of exercises must not prevent this. All rhythm is organic and no two rhythms are the same and this is key to the creation of the art of mime. (Lecoq, 2006) Jos Houben: The Neutral Mask Once again this piece focuses on the freedom of expression necessary in acting. Through mask work, Shrubsall speaks of Houbens techniques, as inspired by Mosho Feldenkrais and Jacques Lecoq. The ability to separate and un-clutter ones own psychology which lays behind all our human movement, readying the body for meaningful spontaneous movement using techniques such as understanding the relationship between different parts of the body and their related movements. This is conveyed in the important of the mask in acting. The mask will only exist if there is a connection between the actor and the mask. They must become the mask. When the actor looks to the sky, the mask must convey this use of sight, his head expressing the movement and his back and shoulders responding as such. This piece is about the use of organic and functional movement, free from judgement and prior interpretation. (Shrubsall, 2002) Murray: Practical Exercises In this chapter Murray attempts to produce a series of exercises in which to share the experience of Lecoqs theatre and understanding how to prepare ones body for theatre as expressed by Lecoq. Murray defines the fundamental principles behind Lecoqs theories and hence his exercises. It is the idea that essentially movement provokes emotion and the body remembers this. This chapter focuses mainly on the teaching of these actual exercises rather than the theory behind but considers most primarily the bodys relationship between push and pull, balance and imbalance in the creation of Lecoqs work on tragedy, melodrama the neural mask and commedia delarte. (Murray, 2003) Conclusion There is a theme within these readings, that of body and movement in space and time incorporating ideas of freedom without influence. In order to grasp this freedom the readings suggest that the use of exercises is of prime importance for the natural, free vocal and bodied actor. The muscles of the mind and body must be warm and content in order to open up the actors full potential. There is the suggestion that acting without such consideration is meaningless and insincere. That to act is to be free from our human constraints.

Nutrition for Lean Muscle :: Health Nutrition Pyramid Diet

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  As important as it is to exercise, it may be even more important to watch what you eat. It is not so much of what you eat, but how much you eat, when you eat, and how often you eat. If you eat low in calorie snacks between meals, you will not be as hungry during normal meals, causing you to eat less then you would have without the snacks.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Eating five or six smaller meals a day, rather than three large meals, is said to increase your metabolism. An increase in metabolism should help you burn calories when you are exercising. A small meal may be a bowl of whole-wheat cereal with one percent milk for breakfast. For a mid morning meal, you could have a cup of cottage cheese. Your whole day continues like this, with small, yet healthy meals.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The problem with low protein, low calorie, low fat, low anything diets is that when you are working out, or even performing everyday activities, your body does not have anything to get energy from in order to burn off fat. Foods that are high in protein or calories give your body energy, which is important if you are trying to increase your metabolism. Smoking and drinking don’t help if you are trying to lose weight because they make your body hungry, one because you are not aware of how much you are eating, or two because your blood pressure and pulse increase, and they too need nutrition to keep them down.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  If you are careful about what you eat, how much you eat, and when you eat, your muscles should become healthy and lean. It is also important to note that skipping meals does not help you loose weight, but gain weight, because when your body does get food it stores it as fat because it does not know when you ate going to eat again.

Miller said the Crucible Essay

Miller emphasizes this by using short sentences with many pauses. The silence creates pathos for the characters from the audience. There is also a lot of questioning which reflects conflict and how the characters are helpless like a small child. This emotional togetherness of the Proctors contrasts greatly with their conflict with each other on pages 41-45: â€Å"A sense of their separation arises† p42. When the Proctors were together being able to live physically and sexually together they were separate but now they are about to be ripped apart they are emotionally together. Elizabeth speaks the last words of the play about John. This shows how their conflict has finally been resolved. This contrasts with the dramatic devices used in the next part of the scene after they begin to speak about John’s confession and when Hathorne comes in. This next part uses pauses and questioning as well to convey an interrogative atmosphere. It is no longer a personal scene- this part shows the community side to the play. There is a sharp conflict between the individual and the community in this scene but it is concentrated more on in the rest of the play. Another main theme in â€Å"The Crucible† is that of the conflict between innocence and experience/guilt. On page 110 Elizabeth says out in the open that â€Å"it were a cold house I kept. † This tells the audience that Elizabeth was frigid in her relationship with John. This has been hinted at throughout Elizabeth and John’s conversations and especially in Act 2 p42 â€Å"it’s winter in this house yet† as John says. Even though this is used by Elizabeth to show that she is guilty it tells the audience she is in fact innocent. To all appearances, and how most of the other characters perceive Elizabeth and Abigail, Elizabeth is the guilty one and Abigail is the innocent. They see Abigail as a child and a virgin who is pure sexually, morally and religiously whereas the audience, John, Elizabeth and Hale know better. The majority of characters see Elizabeth as the older, more sexually and sinfully experienced. Salem society’s religious outlook fogs their judgement and they assume that the woman who they perceive as sexually innocent is also legally innocent. As we see they are wrong in both respects: John has committed adultery with Abigail who is the experienced and guilty one. William Blake This play is about the individual vs. the community. It shows the world what can happen if an individual speaks up for his/herself and acts on his/her personal beliefs. If one is not on the side of the community one is estranged from the community and rejected. In extreme circumstances, such as in this play, one can be put to death. Hale says (p116) that † it is pride, it is vanity† to create conflict with the community when you know you will be punished for doing so. Personally I think, I believe Arthur Miller thinks and the character of John Proctor thinks, that Hale is wrong. He suggests that it is wrong when he says it is vanity. Miller tries to show that John is a mostly upright character and died for a good cause. Miller believes this conflict between the individual and the community is right when the community is repressive and punishing. The word â€Å"sibilance† in the stage directions (p106) at the beginning of this scene means hissing and actually makes a hissing sound when articulated properly. The sibilance at the beginning of this scene shows the conflict between Elizabeth’s inner emotions and the emotions of the other characters in the scene. This sound breaks the silence when John comes in. I think it sets the scene for the last part of the play because Elizabeth Proctor is very docile and defeated at this last part of the play and John’s feet on the ground sounds like an animal hissing in fright. I think that at this point Elizabeth is â€Å"hissing† inside and this is the expression of her inside emotions. It is later confirmed that she is very scared for John’s life and her own and terrified about the whole situation as she is later â€Å"in terror, weeping. † This is caused because of the Proctors’ earlier conflict being resolved. This sibilance could alternatively be interpreted as John’s defiance against the court officials and jailers because as we see when Parris feebly offers, â€Å"a cup of cider, Mr Proctor,† he has nothing but contempt for them. The themes in this scene relate to the play as a whole. The theme of truth and lies and its resultant effect upon justice and injustice runs throughout the play. It begins on a simple level in Act One then as the play develops the situation gets more serious. The yellow bird the â€Å"afflicted† girls â€Å"see† could symbolise lying because the colour yellow is often linked with this conflict. This conflict continues all through the play and is resolved at the end when John Proctor and Rebecca Nurse hang because they are on the side of truth. In a way one could say that justice is defeated and destroyed at the end of the play because of all the characters those who stand up for truth and real justice, not Salem â€Å"justice†, are hanged. In my opinion justice â€Å"wins† this conflict because Proctor doesn’t give in to lying at the very end. Although, he may be in part considering his and his family’s reputation, his behaviour can also be likened to that of a saint after all; it is reminiscent of the early Christian martyrs. The truth/lies and justice/injustice conflicts are intrinsically related not just in the play but also universally. Falsity like Abigail’s can invoke great injustices as we see in the play but falsity like Hale’s â€Å"let him give his lie† intended actions could bring us back to justice. In the same way truth like John’s saying he will not â€Å"sign myself to lies† can lead to injustice since he is hanged at the end but in this play a great number of characters would have to see the complete truth to lead the to justice. Since all the characters have some belief in God the supreme judge they all believe in truth and justice to a certain extent and that that will be give at the end. As Elizabeth says: â€Å"There be no higher judge under heaven†. No one except God can judge Proctor and the other people to be hanged. This essay has discussed conflict between and within various different themes, people and ideas. The Chambers Science and Technology Dictionary says that a crucible is, â€Å"a refractory vessel or pot in which metals are melted. † The introduction to the Heinemann version of The Crucible 1992 (Maureen Blakesley) says, â€Å"John Proctor is tested in a life threatening ordeal and his death at the end rather than betrayal of his conscience shows that he too has come through the fire to be purified. † I would go as far as to say that the crucible (refractory vessel) is the ordeal and events therefore the play itself: The Crucible and the whole idea of conflict can be taken from just the play title. When John finally has his transgressions and personal disbeliefs refracted he is executed. This is also symbolic to show he becomes pure suggesting he has reached paradise after being removed from the crucible. Imogen Hagarty 1 Show preview only The above preview is unformatted text This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our GCSE Arthur Miller section.

Is A Hero Really Nothing But Essays

Is A Hero Really Nothing But Essays Is A Hero Really Nothing But Paper Is A Hero Really Nothing But Paper Is a Hero Really Nothing but a Sandwich? In the article titled Is a Hero Really Nothing but a Sandwich? by Ted Toeless, he states what makes a person a hero. One Interesting Idea he mentions Is a hero has ability to boost change of community, and another important factor he raises is all heroes around the world are instructive and inspirational. While these are not the only factors that make up a hero, I believe they are the two most essential evidences to support the topic. The first point is that hero has ability to boost change of immunity. Ted Toeless indicates that heroes are catalysts for change. They have a vision from mountaintop; they have the skill and the charm to move the masses; they create new possibility. I am an advocate of this Idea because there Is a real hero In my country with these traits. Exactly, heroes are different with normal people. They are courageous, tenacious, wise, visionary and ambitious, so they dare to do something that normal can not do. They inspire masses, and they also influence people fallow them. In China, there are such words about that no chair Mao, no The Peoples Republic of China. Chair Mao is actually a hero in each Chinese mind. When the call war broken out In 1945, The Communist Party was always at a big disadvantage. However, Mao never displayed weakness; he leaded The Communist Party and masses to persist in battling until 1949. During four years war, He made many wise decisions and became popular around masses so that The Communist Party could win the war in 1949. He also predicted the leak of Soviet union System, so e does not let China follow Soviet. Finally, he changed whole China, and made people stood up instead of being oppressed; he established The Peoples Republic of China In 1949 with Chinas unique socialism system. Another Important point shows that all heroes around the world are instructive and Inspirational. Ted Toeless states heroes around the world generally share traits that instruct and inspire people. I believe this idea profoundly because I I had a hero in my mind when I was a little boy; the hero always conducted and inspired me to be better. So-called heroes, sometimes they should not have a number of glorious deeds, and they are not being popular among people; they Just have charming traits that attract masses to learn. I could remember that a Japanese carton called Pocket Monsters Inspired me since I was 10 years old. On each episode, the villains called Rocket Team want to snatch the pocket monster of leading role; however, they failed every time. Although they did not have enough combat effectiveness, they never gave it up. They tried all kinds of fantastic ways but useless. I started to think what support them keep moving? It was no doubt that the spirit of the persistence. I was Inspired profoundly because that was what I wanted and lacked. Each time I wanted to give up doing homework; I would remember Rocket Team; I should learn from their persistence. Therefore, I insisted on one rule: Study was the most important, and playing was second. I balanced study and entertainment well; I persisted in having some fun after finishing my homework so that I got high grade in my elementary school. Overall, I believe that roes have ability to influence people; their enchanting characteristics inspire people become well; they set examples for people so that people would be proud for teem Ana Tallow teem. I nee also can accelerate progress AT collect Decease teeny have supernormal skill that is able to lead people and make reforms. Heroes can be called heroes because they are different with normal people, and they benefit the world; they make large contribution to society and shape flawless images for people. These are the reason why these two points are vital for heroes.

Activity Based Costing

Activity Based Costing Introduction Activity based costing (ABC) is a widely adopted accounting practice where the cost of making various products and services are based on the companies’ activities (Panda1999, p. 5).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Activity Based Costing specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The costs are specifically allocated to products and services according to the level of consumption of each category but comprehensively, it assigns more indirect costs into direct costs (unlike other conventional accounting practices) (Armstrong 2006, p. 363). The major benefit associated with this accounting technique (ABC) is that a company can be able to specifically know which products and services take up most costs and which are overpriced and less profitable so that a required remedy is developed. Activity based costing basically works by allocating the overall resource costs according to the activities commensurate with the m to the final products and services that are produced by a given company (Armstrong 2006, p. 363). In a more general sense, the technique is basically used to understand a company’s profitability in relation to the costs incurred when producing various goods and services. In this regard, it is important to note that activity based costing has been widely adopted by many organization because it aids in decision-making processes that touch on pricing, outsourcing, identification, and the actual benchmarking of the standards of production of goods and services (Panda1999, p. 5). However, in as much as the activity based costing technique has been beneficial to many organizations; many are also finding it very difficult to implement it. This trend has seen a number of organizations in emerging economies face a number of challenges adopting the technique, despite evidence of incredible success of its implementation in other parts of the world existent in many literature excerpts. Significant challenges have been recorded in areas touching on acceptability, augmentation (with other computer systems in the organization), ensuring the system is of value to the company and its environment (among other challenges) (Liu and Pan 2007).Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This study will critically analyze the experiences and challenges of such companies in implementing ABC and how many of them have been able to succeed with this process, while others have openly failed. This will be done through an analysis of two companies (XU JI Electrical Company Limited and Global Electronics Inc) operating in emerging markets. XU JI Electrical Company Limited Though activity based costing has been widely adopted in the Western world, there is still increased skepticism among many companies operating in developing economies of its effectiveness. Such is the situa tion observed in China (Liu and Pan 2007). In fact, Hu (2001) explains that the implementation of Activity based costing in China is still at the theoretical level. This situation can be evidenced in the case of XU JI Electrical Company Limited which is based in China. The company is basically an electronics company that manufactures electronic goods used in the development of public infrastructures like rail. Activity based costing technique was introduced in the company in the year 2001 when there was a strong need to devise methods on how to tackle increased competition in the industry and to employ more efficient accounting techniques for better performance. The initial system was particularly based on the labor-hour absorption rate where costs were allocated across production lines. This system was largely inefficient because it inhibited the company from pursuing competitive pricing strategies. Activity based costing was therefore introduced in the early months of the year 200 9 under the First product department where the main objective for implementing the costing technique was to establish accurate product costing information for purposes of cost control (Liu and Pan 2007). In the implementation of the activity based costing technique, the services of an implementation team was sought, where their primary mandate was to train the existing employees on how to use the system and to build an ABC conceptual model. The latter task was effectively carried out, except for the general administrative and finance expenditures which contributed an overwhelming expenditure of approximately 77% of the entire cost budget. Due to the fact that there was an increased organization structure inhibition, the implementation team decided to develop the ABC conceptual model on the number of employees evidenced in each given activity (as a temporary measure) (Liu and Pan 2007).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Activity Based Costing specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More From this analysis, we can see that the company’s operations in China’s fast-paced business environment posed a challenge in the overall implementation of the ABC model because it was difficult to maintain it on an up-to-date level. In fact, similar research studies point out that many more companies face the same challenges especially in identifying a good cost driver for the application of ABC because some of these cost drivers become obsolete after a given period of time (Liu and Pan 2007). Liu and Pan (2007) further explain that the same situation has been evidenced in a number of Western economies where many companies have had to abandon their ABC implementation processes because of the volatility of the economy. After basing the model on the number of employees, the Activity based costing model had to be computerized where a specific Chinese software was identified for this purpose. However, during the imp lementation process, the lack of experience in dealing with such software augmentation led the company into significant conceptual errors that almost grounded the activities of Activity Based Costing implementation process. The company therefore had to seek the guidance of the activity based costing implementation team manager to asses the situation and provide possible remedies. The team manager did so, and after determining the company’s rationale, the project went on smoothly. The company was therefore able to produce monthly Activity based costing reports but there was a significant challenge in augmenting the ABC software with other computer softwares that were in existence before it. From this analysis, we can see that there is a strong need for technical expertise in the product implementation stage of ABC implementation to tackle functionality and compatibility issues. This fact is also supported by Baker (1998, p. 257) who affirms that the input of technical expertis e is vital in the overall successful implementation of ABC. The technical expertise evidenced in the above scenario was characteristic of the team manager’s input in salvaging the situation (ABC implementation). As regards functionality and compatibility issues, it should be understood that the incompatibility of the ABC system and other computer systems was likely to pose a problem for other staff members in the organization (like in the warehouse division or the finance department) because there normally are instances of increased workloads where the officers have to double-check data added by the frontline managers into the ABC system.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In making the employees and staff receptive to the new ABC system, XU JI Electrical Company Limited decided to adopt the formal feedback session technique (Liu and Pan 2007). This technique was successfully used to show employees the benefits of the system; a process which ultimately led to a lot of satisfaction among the company staff. However, some sense of resentment was observed from the front-line managers who pointed out the demanding nature of inputting data into the system as their biggest cause of concern regarding the system. Nonetheless, after subsequent meetings, there was a growing level of understanding among the managers. A link between ABC implementation and performance measures was identified to be the biggest cause for concern when analyzed in terms of future implementation considerations of the project which was considered to be a future agenda for discussion. From this analysis, we can see that the inclusion of the bottom-level and top-level employees in the impl ementation process was critical to the acceptance of the costing technique. Though there were significant objections coming from front-line managers, there were subsequent discussions aimed at seeking employee buy-in that brought the managers onboard. This analysis shows that constant communication between all stakeholders in the organization is likely to improve the probability that changes will be accommodated in the organization. Global Electronics Inc Global electronics Inc is a company specialized in making power semiconductors for signal processing and power control applications and many of its products are also used in braking antilock systems, airbag systems, computer keyboards, modems and the likes. During the end of the year 1999, the company had experienced a significant dip in sales that caused a lot of tension within the company (as regards the long-term prospects of the company’s sustainability) (Juras 2003, p. 1). To remedy this situation, the company decided t o employ the activity based costing system to uphold the company’s efficiency. In a general sense, the company experienced significant success in implementing the ABC system because its new manager, Chris Richards, had a good background in ABC. This was the first step that could be learnt from the company’s experience in implementing ABC because the company’s new manager brought a lot of technical expertise that could be used in implementing the ABC model. In a more general sense, this analysis shows that importing beneficial technical expertise is a positive move towards ensuring smooth implementation of ABC. It is also important to note that having someone with a significant experience about the implementation of ABC, spearheading the process, is also a good move for the company. It was also observed that the education about the new model (ABC) and the task of wrapping management’s thoughts around the new model was still attributed to him (Chris Richard s, the new manager). Basically, management’s buy-in could be attributed to his influence. This analysis is important to organizations that experience problems getting management to adopt to new changes in the organization. More essentially, it is important to note that having someone with considerable experience regarding ABC, in the managerial team is a plus towards getting the overall managerial team to accept changes in the organization. Another reason for the smooth implementation of the model was attributed to the company’s operating capacity. The company‘s director of manufacturing (cited in Juras 2003, p. 2) affirmed that: â€Å"The number one thing we had going for us was an urgency factor. I truly believe people would not have given us the time of day with respect to ABC if we were making 10 percent return on sales. Having operating losses of $100 million causes people to listen†. Moreover, in successfully implementing the ABC model, a steering co mmittee which encompassed most members of all the company’s departments was quickly formed. The members came from finance committees, product engineering, operations management, and other functional teams of the organization, but extra assistance was also sought from external organizations to enable the company effectively implement the ABC model (Juras 2003, p. 2). The move to include members from various departments of the organization ensured that the steering committee was holistic, in terms of member contribution because all the departmental members represented most functional areas of the organization. It is also important to note the input of the steering committee in the implementation of the ABC model because it played a vital role in the entire process. The steering committee basically went ahead to define the tasks of each company plant department, assign the resource costs to the specific activities, and determine the activity drivers, among other technical areas of the ABC implementation model (it is important to note that all functional managers of the organization gave support to the steering committee) (Juras 2003, p. 1). From this analysis, we can see that having a steering committee was quite vital to the successful implementation of the ABC model, considering the above tasks are key in the design stage of implementing the ABC model (Salvendy 2001, p. 2319). It is therefore vital for organizations that have a problem going past the design stage of the ABC model to have a steering committee that specializes on moderating the tasks to be covered at this stage. It was also confirmed by Global Electronics’ manager that setting short-term goals during the implementation of the ABC model was essential in ensuring the process implementation process was smooth (Juras 2003, p. 3). The short-term goals set for the implementation of the ABC model was meant to improve the product cost accuracy and optimize the company’s product mix. A long-term objective was also established, and it was meant to transit the company into a long-term activity based costing management criterion. This is also another pointer that can be borrowed by organizations which have a problem implementing the ABC model because quite a number fail to understand the short-term and long-term goals of implementing ABC in the first place. Having clearly set short-term and long-term goals is therefore vital to the overall implementation of the ABC model because it steers the organization into the right direction during implementation. Integrating the new ABC model with other existent systems was also a tricky affair for the company, but it successfully managed to undertake the ABC model in an offline manner where the system was managed separately from the previously existing labor-based standard costing system. In the same manner, the new model was also managed separately from the financial reporting system. However, it was quite tricky for the co mpany to maintain the offline system because there were issues of employee behavior, and other issues arising from previous negative experiences learnt from the PUC process that the company engaged in. Part of this problem was summarized by Juras (2003) that: â€Å"The problem with a non integrated approach, even though it is certainly a lot simpler and less risky, is how do you affect behavior?For example, you cant run the marketing organization based upon achieving some desired gross margin when they are relying upon bogus costs to push the stuff that you dont want them to be pushing.But, how do you motivate these people to go after the right set of products if youve got a bunch of accountants sitting over here who have knowledge derived from some offline system that nobody else is aware of?† (p. 3). This experience showed that despite the fact that the company had a remedy to solve the problem of implementing the ABC model; it still experienced significant challenges in su staining the strategy for long. The biggest cause for this problem can be attributed to the fact that the organization failed to include the behavioral aspect of implementing this strategy. From this analysis therefore, we can observe that the failure to include the behavioral considerations of implementing the ABC model in the organization can eventually render the whole strategy useless. Comprehensively, the ABC implementation process went on as planned and fell within a nine-month schedule, but this smooth transition could be attributed to including activities within the cost model that bore a strong influence to strategic product pricing and mix decisions (Juras 2003, p. 3). The inclusion of a centralized project team also contributed a lot to the coordination of activities that were done in the implementation process. This team was quite crucial in ensuring a sense of consistency was observed within all plants. It is also identified that the top-bottom approach of implementing the ABC model was deemed appropriate because such a model was basically aimed at making lower-level employees understand the benefits of the ABC model. Moreover, it was identified that the ABC model was essentially hatched at the company’s headquarters and it was the duty of management to push the idea down to lower-level managers and employees (regardless of their personal decisions) (Juras 2003, p. 3). Interestingly, the move by the company’s project team to educate the plant manager was criticized by the company’s manager as ineffective because of the assertion that: â€Å"When we went to the plants to do training, it was like a whirlwind tour; we just showed them some charts and said, now sit down and we are going to ask you some questions.I dont think we put ourselves in our internal customers shoes. We paid very little attention to their constructive concerns or their need to truly understand ABC†. Conclusion This study points out the challenges and successes of implementing ABC by two companies operating in emerging markets. Comprehensively, we see that firms in emerging markets have a significant problem in accepting ABC because it is not a previously implemented model. Having a steering committee and seeking the services of an external agency (with a significant experience in ABC implementation) is a good strategy to making existing managerial teams accept changes. We have also seen that there is a significant challenge experienced by the companies in augmenting ABC with previously existing computer applications, and comprehensively, we see that seeking technical expertise in doing so is a good move towards ensuring there is a smooth transition into ABC, without causing any operational hitches. Also, we see that having clearly set goals is an important tool to steer the implementation of the ABC model in the right direction. This observation is critical, in the sense that, many organizations have been identified to abandon ABC implementation because they do not have a clear understanding of the importance of implementing the ABC model in the first place. In a general sense, we can see that adopting a top-bottom implementation strategy is also important in ensuring the ABC mode is implemented effectively. Burke (2006) affirms this fact and implies that the top-bottom implementation strategy is important because the decision to implement an ABC model is normally undertaken at the company’s headquarters and many organizations expect managers to ensure employee buy-in, to make the transition a success. Conclusively, we can say that organizations operating in emerging markets experience challenges of transitioning from old accounting models to ABC and therefore, tactical strategies need to be adopted to ensure there is a smooth transition from old accounting models into new models. References Armstrong, M. (2006) A Handbook Of Management Techniques: A Comprehensive  Guide To Achieving Managerial E xcellence And Improved Decision Making. London, Kogan Page Publishers. Baker, J. (1998) Activity-Based Costing and Activity-Based Management for Health  Care. London, Jones Bartlett Learning. Burke, L. (2006) CIMA Learning System 2007 Management Accounting Decision  Management. London, Butterworth-Heinemann. Hu, Y.M. (2001) The spontaneous formation and development of ABC, ABM in Chinese Organization. Accounting Research (China), 3, 33–38. Juras, E. (2003) Global Electronics, Inc.: ABC Implementation and the Change  Management Process. (Online) Web. Liu, L.Y.J. and Pan, F. (2007) The implementation of Activity Based Costing in China: An innovation action research approach. The British Accounting Review, 39, 249 264. Panda, N. (1999) Activity Based Costing For Indian Industries. New Delhi, Mittal Publications. Salvendy, G. (2001) Handbook of Industrial Engineering: Technology and Operations  Management. London, Wiley-IEEE.

Constitutional and Administrative Law - The rule of Law and Human Essay

Constitutional and Administrative Law - The rule of Law and Human rights - Essay Example Was it so hard for Socrates to conclude that he constituted ‘a majority of one2’ on that matter? No doubt Socrates, having believed in the Rule of Law when he was alive sought to die in the same manner. This discussion will seek to explore the notion of the supremacy of law and in light of any exposition obtained will consider whether Socrates could have chosen another way to enlighten us. The idea of the supremacy of law is ideally one of the fundamental principles in a society, translating into the law being above all and all being subject to the ordinary law of the land. As such there exist a variety of views about the rule of law, forming a spectrum in light of the culture or society in consideration. What is significant is the recognition of the existence of the rule of law in various societies and to mark how this creature has changed shape over the centuries. For instance, half a millennium ago the rule of law would be seen to be present where the monarch ruled by right of conquest and everyone else was subservient to the monarchy. The monarchs were later substituted for ruling senates or governments but the status of the conquered nations would remain the same. This is exemplified by the Greek, Roman and later the British colonial empires where the conquered peoples were subject to the law introduced by the conquerors. Today such a rule would be considered und emocratic and singularly abhorrent. In the West, freedom had already attained its due significance as long ago as the Battle of Thermopylae and although it has often been in danger since then it is now too deeply ingrained in the system to be rooted out. It is this freedom that has led to liberal democracies and the idea of the rule of law as understood here is different from the eastern-more conservative societies. The supremacy of law in the West is often taken to be a fundamental principle because it gives way to equality, thereby making all equal, with none being above the

Human Rights in Vietnam Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Human Rights in Vietnam - Research Paper Example Every country has to abide with human rights laws. Every constitution has to focus on human rights. Rights have been described by the United Nations in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. There are also many other accounts of human rights that are present in other countries' governments and organizations. Vietnam is considered to be a country that is poor in human rights. The Communist Party of Vietnam governs the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. "Vietnam insists that human rights are a part of its own internal affairs and are inherently connected with the country's history, culture, tradition, and socioeconomic conditions" (Alagappa 457). There are no other legal political parties. The elections of 2002 were considered unfair as all candidates were chosen by the CPVs Vietnam Father Front or the VFF. The VFF was a group that monitored the country's popular organizations. The control of the security forces was maintained by the civil authorities. The Vietnamese government's human rights record has remained unsatisfactory. Abuses committed by local government official continued despite efforts made by the central authorities to monitor abuse concerns, particularly religious freedom. The Vietnamese people could not change the government, though several organizations that fought for this cause were not suppressed completely. The government wanted to enforce its control over the internet and press. "Human Rights Watch (HRW) has condemned Vietnam for its witch-hunt of those trying to disseminate information about democracy via the internet and urges the release of cyber prisoners" (Boobbyer, Spooner and O'TAilan 245) There were instances when police officials abused people during arrests, interrogation, and detention. Prison conditions were harsh but yet did not terrorize the lives of prisoners. Many prisons faced problems like insufficient diets, overcrowding, and poor sanitation. Prisoners were made to work but did not receive any wages for their duties. Prisoners were also reported to be moved to solitary confinement. The government did not grant permission to international organizations like the Red Cross or other non-governmental organizations to visit the prisons. Many citizens were detained for political activities at random. Citizens were deprived of the right to fair trials. Many other human rights were constantly monitored by the government and the government placed their limitations on human rights. Some of these rights included the right to freedom of press, freedom of speech, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and association. The government also maintained its ban on human rights organizations. Women in Vietnam suffered many threats; they faced plenty of discrimination and violence. Trafficking of women and children, and child prostitution remained prevalent, though the government made efforts to fight trafficking. Government monitored workers' rights, in particular organization that functioned independently. The Vietnamese government officially grants the freedom of religion. However, non-sanctioned groups usually face plenty of harassment. Additionally, the government constantly monitors these groups, justifying the act saying it is for the benefit of national unity. The Vietnamese government also lacks in the process of political trials, like, persecution of unauthorized religious organizations, independent journalists, labor union activists, land