Tuesday, December 24, 2019

The Distribution Of Annual Net Income Scaled By The Market...

The distribution of annual net income scaled by the market value at the beginning of the year (Burgstahler and Dichev, 1997). Notice the obvious shift of observations from just under expected levels of income to just over expected levels, showing evidence of earnings management. Dechow et al. (2000) focus on firms with positive earnings and firms with zero forecast error to evaluate whether firms manipulate accruals and special items to beat the zero earnings benchmark. However, the result fails to establish a significant difference between the level of discretionary accruals and working capital accruals in firms that achieve the target and those that fall short. The earning distribution method is based on the assumption that the target†¦show more content†¦Roychowdhury (2006) derived normal levels of cash flow from operations, discretionary expenses and production costs; then tested the effect of sales manipulation, discretionary expenditures and overproduction on the abnormal of the previous three variables. His research found that directors use the various RM activities to manipulate earnings, however it is unclear just how much can be attributed to the purpose of meeting expectations, and how much is to simply control expenses during times of difficulty. Grahama, Harvey and Rajgopalc (2004) interviewed over 400 executives, revealing that executives assign a high level of priority in meeting target earnings as it builds credibility with the market and multiplies the positive effect, confirming previous research. The executives also believed failing to meet the targets would result in a severe market reaction and that directors sacrifice economic value to avoid these effects, avoiding a potentially larger economic loss. This can also be said of achieving or beating expectations, where the potential economic gain from the multiplied positive market effect can easily outweigh the economic sacrifice. Equipped with these justifications, over 80% of those surveyed admitted they were willing to sacrifice economic value and use RM to meet expectations. Moreover, the executives acknowledged that RM is more widespread and favoured to the manipulation of accounting methods,Show MoreRelatedDoes Fair Value Accounting for Non-Financial Assets17711 Words   |  71 PagesDoes Fair Value Accounting for Non-Financial Assets Pass the Market Test? Hans B. Christensen and Valeri V. Nikolaevï€ ª The University of Chicago Booth School of Business 5807 South Woodlawn Avenue Chicago, IL 60637 Abstract: The choice between fair value and historical cost accounting is the subject of longstanding controversy among accounting academics and regulators. Nevertheless, the market based evidence on this subject is very limited. We study the choice of fair value versus historical Read MoreStarbucks Financial Statement Analysis13473 Words   |  54 Pageswhich the capital markets impound quarterly earnings information into share prices, showing that the post-earnings-announcement-drift results of Bernard and Thomas (1989) extend to recent data. E INTRODUCTION arnings (or more precisely, accounting net income) represents the “bottom-line” accounting measure of firm performance. A firmÂ’s earnings number is an accrual accounting measure of the firmÂ’s profit or loss from business activities and events during a quarter or annual period. A firmÂ’sRead Morecfa LEVEL ONE7514 Words   |  31 Pages27 19–32 Quantitative Methods 21 33–44 Economics 18 45–68 Financial Statement Analysis 36 69–78 Corporate Finance 15 79–90 Equity Investments 18 91–96 Derivative Investments 9 97–108 Fixed Income Investments 18 109–114 Alternative Investments 9 115–120 Portfolio Management 9 Total: 180 Questions 1 through 18 relate to Ethical and Professional Standards 1. Carlos Cruz, CFA, is one of two founders of an equityRead MoreEssay about Kmart Corporate Strategy3173 Words   |  13 Pagesniches began to emerge offering larger, more specialized stores, Kmart hit a major hurdle. The successful management strategies it had developed early on were now outdated and in major need of being renovated to coincide with changing market place and customer values. As Kmart attempted to revolutionize its image and infrastructure, stores such as Target and Wal-Mart took over as the leaders in the discount retailer arena. As Kmarts image began to sink along with its customer satisfaction, salesRead MoreThe Usefulness of Accounting Estimates for Predicting Cash Flows and Earnings19729 Words   |  79 PagesUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, University of Texas at Dallas, Washington University in St. Louis, the joint Columbia–NYU Seminar, the 16th Financial Economics and Accounting Conference, the 2006 AAA FARS Midyear Meeting, and the 2008 AAA Annual Meeting. 1 ABSTRACT Estimates and projections are embedded in most financial statement items. These estimates potentially improve the relevance of financial information by providing managers the means to convey to investors forward-lookingRead MoreCorporate Finance - Concept Questions12247 Words   |  49 Pages ( How is value created? ( List three reasons why value creation is difficult. Value creation is difficult because it is not easy to observe cash flows directly. The reasons are: a. Cash flows are sometimes difficult to identify. b. The timing of cash flows is difficult to determine. c. Cash flows are uncertain and therefore risky. 1.2 ( What is a contingent claim? A contingent claim is a claim whose payoffs are dependent on the value of the firm atRead MoreBonias Company6114 Words   |  25 PagesTrade Fair in Bologna (Italy). He then registered Bonia as a brand name in 1977. 1978 was the year that Bonia entered into the Malaysian market and by 1980, Bonia became a market leader in Singapore and Malaysia due to their aggressive advertising and promotion exercises. The first boutique was opened in Singapore in 1981 and subsequently in Malaysia in 1988. By 1990, Bonia managed to penetrate the market in Indonesia, Hong Kong, Brunei and Taiwan and actively participated in International LeatherRead MoreBaidu Valuation at IPO9089 Words   |  37 Pageson the NASDAQ Stock Market (Ticker Symbol: BIDU) on August 5, 2005. (See Exhibits 1 and 2 for a listing of Baidu’s private funding sources and pre-IPO share allocations.) The initial public offering (IPO) turned out to be one of the highest-profile debuts since the Internet bubble burst in 2000. The stock price jumped 354 percent on the first day of trading and closed at $122.54, valuing the company at about $3.96 billion based on 32.3 million shares outstanding. While the market showed strong enthusiasmRe ad MoreKrispy Kreme Case Analysis Essay5571 Words   |  23 Pagesstrategies are still considered by Krispy Kreme to be â€Å"Brand Elements† as reported in current, annual financial reports. By keeping control of the recipe and the doughnut-making process, they also maintained product standards and reduced, while not completely eliminating, the competition through the uniqueness of their product. In fact, attempts to change the recipe, or even the look of the shops, in later years met with negative reactions from customers and the company quickly returned to the originalRead MoreKrispy Kreme Case Analysis5576 Words   |  23 Pagesstrategies are still considered by Krispy Kreme to be â€Å"Brand Elements† as reported in current, annual financial reports. By keeping control of the recipe and the doughnut-making process, they also maintained product standards and reduced, while not completely eliminating, the competition through the uniqueness of their product. In fa ct, attempts to change the recipe, or even the look of the shops, in later years met with negative reactions from customers and the company quickly returned to the original

Monday, December 16, 2019

Role Reflection In Nursing Free Essays

The nursing role is rapidly evolving as nurses are tasked with an even wider range of health care responsibilities. In hospitals, clinics, and care centers around the US, nurses are rising to meet these challenges. Today’s nurses are not just caring for the sick; they are changing our very notion of modern medicine and health care delivery. We will write a custom essay sample on Role Reflection In Nursing or any similar topic only for you Order Now A nurse’s role is about being a more effective member of the health care team and navigating clinical systems. No matter the work environment, all nurses are members of the profession which implies accountability for one’s professional image (Essentials of Baccalaureate Education, 2008, p. 9). In my career as a nurse, my role has changed many times and began as a provider of direct patient care. My first job after graduation I worked as a bedside nurse on an Orthopedic and Rehabilitation floor in the hospital setting. As rehabilitation staff nurse, provided direct care and education on self-care including safe medication administration, sleep, nutrition, safety, bowel and bladder care. I helped perform activities that served to maintain and restore function and prevent complications. I feel lucky to have had this opportunity as my first nursing role because of the team-based care coordination and the value based on each member of the interdisciplinary team. As I transitioned from a novice nurse to a more competent nurse, I gained perspective from planning my own actions based on critical thinking and organization. It was during this time that began to think of long-term goals pertaining to my nursing career. After two years, I was approached to train to cover the Care Coordinator role for the department of Orthopedic during her times of vacation and medical eave. This quickly turned into a full time position for me and took me away from direct bedside nursing. My main responsibilities were to assist the patient with transitions between healthcare settings, identify skills and expectations of patients and families in regard to the rehabilitation process and help ensure the patient and his or her family understood their healthcare benefits. Enjoyed learning all the aspects of coordinating patient care for this population. Five years passed and accepted the Manager position of the Orthopedic Institute. It served me well to rely on the team based environment when I began honing my skills as a leader. I quickly learned to supervise and delegate to staff, manage a million dollar budget and remain visible and open to staff. Served my clinical area by developing, implementing and evaluating systems that ensure cost effective, quality patient care. There were times as a manager that my priorities were to maintain multiple projects in alignment with our vision. Communication was always a must for an effective relationship with staff and providers. As a ember of the profession of nursing I have been able to take part in many activities. Have joined professional organizations. I have enjoyed participating in research for our Orthopedic population. Have participated in community events. It is very rewarding to be able to serve the community in which you live. Throughout my career, as a direct care provider and currently a manager of a patient care center, I have always insisted that patients and families come first and my primary goal is to provide safe quality care. A professional nurse must have the ability to think critically, mufti-task ND prioritize appropriately. I am truly honored to have chosen a profession that has allowed me the opportunity to grow and become the successful leader I am today. Am fully committed to furthering my education and focusing on the next chapter in my career. Nursing has become more complex in ways that could not have been imagined a generation ago. Now there is an imperative to be not just a great caregiver but a great innovator too. The demands of health care are calling for a new generation of thinkers who want to be agents of care innovation. Nursing is a profession for the intellectually curious, lifelong learner. However, as nursing continues to evolve with new hospital structures, wonderful technology, and political challenges, the heart of the profession stays the same. Whatever the tools and technologies, the job of the nurse will remain caregiver and advocate for the most sick and vulnerable members of our communities. The field is growing and so are opportunities for nurse practitioners, DNA and PhD nurses, nurse educators, nurse-anesthetists, and nurse researchers. Great nurses take what they learn in their formal education and apply it to make surprising, difficult, life-or-death decisions every day. Feel that is why nursing education has such a crucial role to play. Getting an advanced nursing degree means preparing myself for a changing world of possibility. With the right skills and knowledge, the next generation of nurses can make a bigger difference for patients, communities, and our national health care environment. I am glad to be part of such a rewarding profession. How to cite Role Reflection In Nursing, Papers

Sunday, December 8, 2019

New Chicago school budget relies on state pension free essay sample

[vc_row][vc_column width=3/4 el_class=vc_sidebar_position_right offset=vc_col-lg-9 vc_col-md-9 vc_col-sm-12][stm_post_info css=.vc_custom_1437111129257{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}][vc_column_text]Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elites. Nulla convallis egestas rhoncusa. Donec lorem facilisis fermentum sem, ac viverra ante luctus vel. Donec vel mauris quam Proin vestibulum leo eget erat congue interdum. Suspendisse nunc ligula, suscipit vehicula consequat eu. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut laboreso et dolore magna aliqua Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco Cras condimentum a elit eget sagittis. Ut dignissim sapien feugiat purus tristique, vitae aliquet arcu tempor. Nulla facilisi. Integer maximus mi non nulla posuere consectetur. Phasellus erat lectus, ullamcorper nec erat vel, hendrerit hendrerit urna. Curabitur ut tempor lacus. Vivamus mollis, elit vitae maximus imperdiet, nisi nulla fermentum nisi, sed luctus metus dolor ac eros. We will write a custom essay sample on New Chicago school budget relies on state pension or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Nulla cursus venenatis enim, vitae tincidunt justo vulputate a. Sed elementum elit ultrices tellus elementum, et molestie nulla pharetra. [/vc_column_text][vc_custom_heading text=Unordered Ordered Lists font_container=tag:h3|text_align:left google_fonts=font_family:Montserrat%3Aregular%2C700|font_style:700%20bold%20regular%3A700%3Anormal][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=1/2][vc_column_text] Donec porta ultricies urna, faucibus magna dapibus. Etiam varius tortor ut ligula facilisis varius in a leo. Folutpat tempor tur duis mattis dapibus, felis amet. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=1/2][vc_column_text] Donec porta ultricies urna, faucibus magna dapibus. Etiam varius tortor ut ligula facilisis varius in a leo. Folutpat tempor tur duis mattis dapibus, felis amet. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_column_text]Donec porta ultricies urna, nec faucibus magna dapibus vel. Pellentesque habitant morbi tristique senectus et netus et malesuada fames ac turpis egestas. Etiam varius tortor ut ligula facilisis varius in a leo.[/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=1/2][stm_post_tags][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=1/2][stm_share code=JTNDc3BhbiUyMGNsYXNzJTNEJTI3c3RfZmFjZWJvb2tfbGFyZ2UlMjclMjBkaXNwbGF5VGV4dCUzRCUyNyUyNyUzRSUzQyUyRnNwYW4lM0UlMEElM0NzcGFuJTIwY2xhc3MlM0QlMjdzdF90d2l0dGVyX2xhcmdlJTI3JTIwZGlzcGxheVRleHQlM0QlMjclMjclM0UlM0MlMkZzcGFuJTNFJTBBJTNDc3BhbiUyMGNsYXNzJTNEJTI3c3RfZ29vZ2xlcGx1c19sYXJnZSUyNyUyMGRpc3BsYXlUZXh0JTNEJTI3JTI3JTNFJTNDJTJGc3BhbiUzRSUwQSUzQ3NwYW4lMjBjbGFzcyUzRCUyN3N0X3NoYXJldGhpc19sYXJnZSUyNyUyMGRpc3BsYXlUZXh0JTNEJTI3JTI3JTNFJTNDJTJGc3BhbiUzRQ==][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][stm_post_author][stm_post_comments][/vc_column][vc_column width=1/4 offset=vc_hidden-sm vc_hidden-xs][vc_widg et_sidebar sidebar_id=default el_class=sidebar-area-right sidebar-area][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Saturday, November 30, 2019

Never Say anything a Kid Can Say

During the early days of his teaching career, the author of the article took a lot of time to prepare for his classes. He then taught with the conviction that he was making a difference in the understanding of the students, but they were often left confused. The principal commented that he was a good teacher although the students were capable of doing better than they did, so he decided to change his teaching strategies. This essay analyzes the article; never say anything a child can say.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Never Say anything a Kid Can Say specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In this article, the author is compelled by the low performance of the students to find out what is wrong with his teaching methods. After doing intensive research, he discovers that there is a fundamental flaw in his teaching methods and embarks on a journey to change them. He makes a list of strategies that work and ones that he r evisits regularly. He says that it is important to create a plan, share with students the reasons behind asking questions, be non-judgmental about responses or comments by students and avoid repeating the answers of students . The author takes a strong position that, participation is not optional in the class room. Based on the long-term experience in teaching he has, participation is one of the strategies through which students can perform well. This is an expectation that he reminds the students every time for them to know that they are expected to contribute. It is a valid and useful position since through participation, he is able to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the students. Consequently, the best ways of assisting them can be devised. In my opinion, it is important for teachers to ensure that they do not teach for the sake of teaching. A teacher should be in a position to determine whether the students understand or not. The strategies of teaching well outlined by the author are very important and practical. I would therefore advise other teachers to follow them in order to ensure that students understand all the content taught. Reference Reinhart, S. (2000). Never Say Anything A Kid Can Say. Web. This essay on Never Say anything a Kid Can Say was written and submitted by user Tomas Thompson to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

How to Stir Up Your Essay Writing Motivation

How to Stir Up Your Essay Writing Motivation How to Stir Up Your Essay Writing Motivation Essay writing motivation is invaluable. Finding personal motivation is key to success in any academic environment. Whenever you set out to complete an academic task, you face the risk of demotivation. This simply means you cannot find the inspiration to get to work. Starting on any project is always the most difficult part. Once you start you will find that moving onward is not nearly as challenging. As a college student, there are many things which might get in the way of stirring up the motivation, especially if you are busy with a multitude of other projects. But it is possible and we will show you how: Look Deep into Yourself If you are struggling to get motivated, look into yourself and find out what the issue is. You have control only over your actions and your thoughts, so if there is a problem with someone else or something else in your life, deal with it as far as you are personally able to and then let the rest go. You should not let yourself become demotivated to work simply because of things you cannot control. Get Less Stressed Sometimes the lack of personal motivation stems from stress, and more often than not in college stress can be debilitating for students who are unable to press onward through the storm. But thankfully, you can get back your personal motivation. If you are stressed about a project, break it down into smaller pieces. Crop down the Deadline Set up a deadline working backward from your due date so that you can assign manageable milestones for each day. Reward Yourself Give yourself a break as a reward once you accomplish the halfway point on your milestone list. Embrace the Feeling of Accomplishment Remember that setting smaller goals means you will feel accomplished more easily. That feeling will be motivating enough to get you through the next milestone, and the next one too. Soon enough, your entire project will be completed. This is something you want to apply to each task you face during the course of your academic career. A lack of personal motivation might come from feeling ill, from money problems, from stress, anxiety, or a fight with your friend. Regardless of why you are feeling less motivated, it is up to you to rise up, overcome the reasons for demotivation, and rectify the problem. Whether you are frustrated by a heavy workload, friends, family, or something else in between, you can identify the issue and start working to put it aside. If you are overwhelmed, start organizing your work or setting up a time management schedule. This will help you to feel motivated and accomplished; take that small accomplishment and turn it into something bigger and better. You can regain your motivation if you talk with family about your issues, or tell them that you need some space in order to get work done. Again, whatever the cause of your demotivation, find it out and fix it. Only then can you return to pursuing your academic goals. If you are demotivated in writing your paper feel free to contact our professional custom essay writing service right now!

Friday, November 22, 2019

Definition and importance of a tree butt

Definition and importance of a tree butt The butt of a tree is its bottom portion and this basal portion of the trunk is distinctively different from a trees branches, roots, and upper trunk.   A trees  butt is above the roots but separated from the trunk which continues upward toward the terminal bud A trees butt is often referred to by loggers as the bottom log of a felled tree. The first cut  nearly always starts at the butt or base of the tree for the initial cut. It is the most valuable part of the tree when sold and converted to a wood product A tree butt is also important when tree disease is detected at or near ground level. Butt rot diseases  are serious concerns for tree owners and tree managers. A basal rot will inevitably weaken  the tree to the point where its support system is compromised  resulting in trunk failure and the eventual death of the tree. The butt of a tree is also its most valuable section to a timber grower. If there is a defect in the butt log which by definition is the first 16 feet of a tree trunk, the trees lumber grade is diminished considerably. Butt Rot and Effects on Trees Butt rot  is a serious disease of trees and all species are susceptible to a greater or lesser degree. Fungal pathogens are the primary causal agent of butt rot  and attack the moist, vulnerable and under-protected lower portion of a tree trunk where its largest diameter is recorded. A tree is most  vulnerable to rot where the bottom end of the trunk  stem  makes contact with the  soil. The tree butts location, when diseased, can  attack the roots as well causing a disease known as  root rot. These kinds of  infections are  likely to impair the transport properties of the  xylem  tissue found in the cambial region under the tree bark. Again, it also weakens the stem and makes the plant more vulnerable to toppling. Rot in the area of the tree butt can spread to the roots and/or  move up and into the tree compartment producing a roughly conical column of dead, rotted wood which increases in size proportional to a trees age and ability to compartmentalize and stop the spread. These wood-decay diseases can start as a root or butt disease but can  overlap as both root and  stem decays. Most are caused by Basidiomycota  or fungi. They may get in through wounds in the lower part of the tree or penetrate roots directly. Understanding a Butt Log and Its Quality The highest quality logs typically  come from the first or lowest section  called the butt log by timber harvesters. The butt log is where the best, highest quality wood veneer and lumber is found. Wood veneer (usually hardwood) that is sliced  or plywood (usually pine) that is rotary cut  command high prices. It should be noted that high-quality trees with butt log damage or disease will negatively affect what will be paid at the timber harvest time. Buyers of veneer and plywood quality wood will  require certain minimum log lengths depending on the mills operation and set up.   A  common minimum used in North America is  8 feet plus an extra 6 inches  for trim allowance. However, different veneer markets have different requirements for species, wood color and grain quality and can take logs as long as 11 feet plus 6 inches. Top grade veneer logs may have a 14-inch diameter minimum and extra prime grade  can only come from the first butt cut. What is Tree Butt Swell? All trees will have some taper but the most valuable timber tree will maintain a cylinder-like form extending up the trunk. Any extra expansion of  tree trunk butt above the normal stump flare is called butt swell and is normal in some tree species (especially trees on wet sites like cypress and tupelo gum). Sound wood within the butt swell can be used but only as non-construction materials including wood chips and specialty items. Timber cutters are  recommended to cut above the swell for construction logs. Butt swell is considered a defect for veneer logs.

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Innovation Strategies Description Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Innovation Strategies Description - Assignment Example Therefore, Diamond believes that proximate reason as to why some civilizations came to dominate others through militarily, economically, politically, and cultural landscapes are from the effects of food production, effects of writing, effects of technology, governmental organizations, and effects of religion. He thus went ahead to demonstrate how these issues led to the occurrence of differences among cultures (Diamond, 1998). On the other part, Diamond believes that ultimate reason as to why some civilizations came to dominate others is through geography, but not through biology or race of which some studies have tried to prove. Henceforth, geography produces the cultural disparities of which his friend Yali had pointed out. The concept thus implies that Eurasian colonizers did not gain it power they still hold today through a systematic process, or through having the greatest of skill or mind, but pure geographic chance created this difference. The role of innovation in this process is that it leads to the development of systems of some specialized knowledge that eventually leads to the advances in metallurgy, literacy, and eventually the socio-economic organization. Diamond thus concludes that accidents of geography and environment created the domination of whites of the Eurasian origin over other races. Thus, the Europeans received more favors since they had more starting material and also had more favorable conditions. I agree with Diamond’s conclusion because I believe that all people and cultures have the capacity of doing similar things on the provision that they have the resources and privileges of doing so. Another proximate factor that might cause these differences in availability of advanced resources. These resources could be useful for people in all regions to conduct their own research, hence becoming the ultimate solution to many problems that occur in societies.

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Assessment on Newsweek Claims on increase in violent behavior of girls Essay

Assessment on Newsweek Claims on increase in violent behavior of girls - Essay Example In 2003, the Federal Bureau of Investigation reports 378,895 instances of arrests in female groups under the age of 18 (fbi.gov, 275). The majority of these crimes included property crimes, larceny and various assaults (fbi.gov). With theft or damage to another’s property topping the list of crime varieties for this group, it might suggest that there is a trend toward materialism, essentially wanting more than their financial means can provide them, therefore they lash out at others who have more than they do. Even though this is not described as a probable cause in the article, the arrest rates for these types of crimes show a trend in theft and property damage that cannot be ignored. This could be caused by the high level of merchandise availability in retail stores versus their own socio-economic status, leading to aggressive behavior in an attempt to procure a better lifestyle through theft. â€Å"Children who are exposed to violence undergo lasting physical, mental, and emotional harm. They suffer from problems with attachment, anxiety, or depression† (ncjrs.gov, 1). Violence exposure can occur within the household, in the school environment, or virtually any other location where the child is present and violence continues to occur. These negative emotional outcomes, such as problems with social attachment, cause further problems such as dating violence, delinquency or ongoing victimization of others (ncjrs.gov). Viewing images of violence in every lifestyle shows a strong linkage between emotional stability and the child’s ability to rationalize their own aggressive behaviors. There is a theory in childhood development that suggests many children model the same behaviors they witness others displaying, especially if they see these behaviors being rewarded. In an environment where a parent continuously expresses violence toward others and the female child witnesses other adult peers applauding these behaviors, the

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Manliness, Hostility, Aggression Essay Example for Free

Manliness, Hostility, Aggression Essay How are these ideas connected? A View from the Bridge was written in 1955 and is set in the 1940s in Red Hook Brooklyn, a poor suburb of New York populated by a large Italo-American Community. There are lots of illegal immigrants living in this community, all pursuing the American Dream. Arthur Miller had spent time living there with the longshoremen and working for a short time on the docks with them. This gave him an insight into the difficult conditions of their lives, the way they lived and how poor their lives were. He had also been to Sicily and was shocked by the poverty and amazed by the strict and violent code of honour which the people there were suspected to abide by. The plot of his play originated from a story he heard about in America where someone informed the authorities about illegal immigrants because he was of jealousy of them. This man had then been disowned by the community because of it he had lost his name. Poverty, jealousy, codes of conduct and ideas of what it is to be manly all combine to create the dramatic tension in this play and contribute to its effect. Eddie Carbone is the main character in the play. It is around him, his ideas about what it means to be manly and also his attraction to his niece Catherine that the action centres. We follow him as the certainties of his world are challenged and he reacts in the only way he knows how by defending what he sees as the most important thing for a man, his good name. It is a violent place that they live in and one where betrayal of family to the authorities is seen as just about the worst thing that you can do. Eddie and Beatrice tell a story at the beginning of the play which illustrates this. A boy who had informed on some illegal immigrants had been disowned by his family and thrown out of the community. He had been thrown downstairs and his head was bouncin like a coconut. Eddie makes it clear that, even though its a sad situation for a 14 year old boy to be beaten up and thrown out, it was inevitable once hed lost his honour and good name, Youll never see him no more, a guy do a thing like that? Hows he gonna show his face? The problem for Eddie is that he needs to be seen as a real man with a good name who is respected but because of his attraction to his niece, Catherine, he allows himself to feel jealous of her lover, Rodolfo, and is ready to risk everything to stop them being together. Eddie has a clear and simple vision of what it means to be a man and he reacts with hostility and aggression to any other character in the play that either challenges him and his ideas or who does not show any signs of what he considers to be manly. Eddie considers a man to be someone who looks after and is the leader of the family. At the very beginning of the play we get an idea of the position of the three members of the family and the relationships between them. The women stay at home and Eddie goes out to work. When he comes home from work the women are waiting for him. Beatrice, for example, is in the kitchen preparing food and Catherine almost straightaway goes to get him a beer. He likes to see himself as the head of the house and whatever he says goes. He tells Beatrice off when she tries to stand up to him when they are talking about Catherines new job, You lived in a house all your life, what do you know about it. You never worked in your life. It is important to Eddie that he sees himself as the protector of the family. For example, he is very proud of the way he has brought up Catherine when her mother died. Even though he disapproves of Rodolfo and is jealous of him he defends him against Mike and Louies jokes because he has taken him into his house and his protection, Hes a kid yet, yknow? Hes just a kid thats all. Later in the play when Beatrice is complaining that they dont sleep together anymore Eddie tells her, I do what I feel like doin or what I dont feel like doin'. He even uses his idea of how a family should be when he is trying to make out that he didnt inform on Marco and Eddie. When Beatrice does not believe what he is saying about why the immigration men came he says to her, a wifes supposed to believe her husband. All of these quotes by Eddie show that he is constantly trying to reinforce his role as the dominant figure in the family. In spite of Eddie wanting to be the head of the house and the man of the family, it gets more and more obvious during the play that things are not quite right. Early on in the play Beatrice, his wife, looks at him, into his eyes and says, Im just worried about you, thats all Im worried. Later on she asks him, When am I goin to be a wife again, Eddie? He is not fulfilling his obligations as a man and husband to Beatrice. The reason she is worried is that he seems to be more interested in Catherine than in her. He comments on everything Catherine does and wants to control it. He wants to tell her what to wear and even how to walk. He hates to think that she might be attractive to other men.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

periodic table Essay -- essays research papers

The History of the Periodic Table of Elements Dmitri Mendeleev and the early Periodic Table Dmitri Mendeleev was born in Tobolsk, Siberia; on February 7, 1834 .He was the youngest of 14 children born to Maria Dmitrievna Korniliev and Ivan Pavlovitch Mendeleev. His father was director of the local gymnasium. Maria Korniliev's family settled in Tobolsk in the early 1700's and introduced paper- and glass-making to Siberia. Unfortunately, Ivan died when Dmitri was quite young, leaving his wife to support the large family. The death hit them hard economically especially for a large family, which meant that Maria had no other choice but to find work. Maria's family owned a glass factory and they allowed her to take over managing the company so she could support the family. Dmitri, being the youngest, appears to have been his mother's favorite child and was provided as many opportunities as she could afford. From his early years, she began to save money for Dmitri to attend the university. As he grew older, it became apparent that he had a bright future. At the age of 14, he was attending the Gymnasium in Tobolsk and his mother was continuing to plan for his future. In that year, however, a second major family tragedy occurred; the glass factory burned to the ground. The family was devastated. Maria was not about to give up her dreams for her son. She knew at this point that Dmitri's only hope to go on to school was to win a scholarship. So in his final years at the gymnasium, Maria pushed Dmitri to improve his grades and prepare for entrance exams. After much nagging from his mother and Bessargin, Mendeleev passed his gymnasium exams and prepared to enter the university. In 1849 they moved Moscow. At this point the family included Maria, Dmitri, and Elizabeth (Dmitri's older sister). In Moscow, they entered a climate of considerable political uproar, which made the university reluctant to admit anyone from outside of Moscow. Mendeleev was rejected. Maria did not give up, however, and the family headed for St. Petersburg. Mendeleev was left alone to face his work at the university. Dmitri fell right into his work at St. Petersburg. Mendeleev graduated and was awarded the medal of excellence for being first in his class. Mendeleev already had his life's ambitions in mind and, hoping to extend his life as long as possible, he moved to Simferopol in the Crimean Peni... ...sp;  Ã‚  Ã‚  Pu  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Am  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Cm  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Bk  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Cf  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Es  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Fm  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Md  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  No  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Lr   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  1899  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  1828  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  1917  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  1789  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  1940  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  1940  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  1945  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  1944  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  1949  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  1950  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  1952  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  1953  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  1955  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  1957  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  1961 * Known to ancient civilizations Element Groups (Families) Alkali Earth   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Alkaline Earth  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Transition Metals Rare Earth  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Other Metals  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Metalloids Non-Metals  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Halogens  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Noble Gases

Monday, November 11, 2019

Introduction To Marketing Essay

Describe how a selected organisation uses marketing research to contribute to the development of its marketing plans In this section of the unit the investigation of the marketing research used by Kellogg’s will be shown through thorough research and evaluation also how it links in to the development of Kellogg’s marketing plans. The Purpose of Market Research Marketing research is what informs business’s make decisions by helping it to understand the changing dynamics of its market. This involves finding out more about customers, competitors and the overall marketing environment. The purpose of doing this is to gather data on customers and potential customers. The pure definition of market research is systematically gathering, recording and analysing data and also about the issues relating to marketing products and services. There are two types of research’s that can be conducted: Primary Secondary These research can then be formed into either quantitative or qualitative Primary Research Primary research is data and information that the business has gathered first-hand and has not been gathered before. Internal primary research data sources include: Sales figures for the business’s own products Customer data held on a central database. External primary research methods include: Questionnaires and Surveys Interviews and Focus Groups Mystery Shoppers, And other observation techniques. Secondary Research Secondary research uses data and information that has been collected before, either from within the organisation which can also be seen as internal data or by another organisation which is mostly regarded to as external data. Secondary research is sometimes referred to as ‘desk research’ and sources include: Reports from sales and regional representatives Previous marketing research (internal) Trade journals and websites (external) Books and newspapers (external) Industry reports from industry associations and government departments (external) Census data and public records (external). This now M2-Explain the limitations of marketing research used to contribute to the development of a selected organisation’s marketing plans For this sector of the report I will be identifying and explaining the limitations of the market research methods used in the Kellogg’s investigation. This should give a clear overview of how Kellogg’s develop. In the case study I have been studying I have acknowledged Kellogg’s uses four junctures of market research to ensure they have examined a product collectively which enable Kellogg’s to develop they’re products better and to better the product to suit its target audience. Firstly, we have a very important sector of market research which is seen as discovery, it is vital to identify a set of new food ideas that would be suitable for developing a new Crunchy Nut product. Secondary research was conducted from Mintel and Datamonitor and was used to find out about innovation trends in the cereal market. It was also used to find out about new products, flavours and foods from around the world. Food developers at Kellogg’s used this information to come up with a number of new food ideas. Although secondary data is easy to access there are some limitations Kellogg’s need to take into consideration, this could be for instance the age of the documents and when the research had been operated. Also the size of the group the research was taken and how many people were involved. I have also accredited secondary research can be very vague and general this would prove difficult for Kellogg’s to make a decision. In market research there are different aspects a business can branch into, many in which are very beneficial. The next form of research Kellogg’s had fore taken was selecting the best concept for their product they ensured they could do this by overseeing a quantitative survey. This had then created specific statistical information that indicated that a new Crunchy Nut Bites idea was perceived as the most appealing amongst all the ideas tested. Although Kellogg’s manage to use the quantitative data  efficiently there can be drawbacks to us ing quantitative data, the main hindrance of quantitative research is the context of the study is ignored. Quantitative research does not study things in a natural setting or discuss the meaning things have for different people as qualitative research does. Another shortcoming is that a large sample of the population must be studied; the larger the sample of people researched, the more statistically accurate the results will be. Once the conception was formed Kellogg’s then had a job conform and construct the concept into a new product this involved usage of qualitative research which helped Kellogg’s food technologists to explore the taste and texture of the new food idea in more detail. Kellogg’s needed to understand the ‘eating experience’ of the consumer before a decision could be made about how to develop the recipe in more detail. Kellogg’s needed to take in to consideration even though the qualitative would help they’re market research they may be some downfalls, for example the researcher of the study is heavily involved in the proce ss, which gives the researcher a subjective view of the study and its participants. The researcher interprets the research according to his or her own biased view, which skews the data gathered. Another disadvantage is that this research method is very time consuming and can last for months or even years. Finally, it is always important to ensure the financial side of the product are understood and the product brings in a good profit also it is a good idea to set promotional prices to enable the customer to have a taster of the product. This meant Kellogg’s were required to predict a forecast of the product, Kellogg’s do this by undergoing one final test prior to the new product launch. This is called the ‘In Home Usage Test’. The consumers are given the product to try for several days and this enables Kellogg’s to capture how consumers interact with the product for the first time. As well as this being a very good technique to understand the consumer they can be negatives to this the obvious problem Kellogg’s would be facing is that markets are unpredictable. Any sales forecast, however rigorous its analysis of conditions, can be fla t-out wrong. Sales forecasts fall into two basic categories, each of which has distinct disadvantages. In this case this is a qualitative forecast so sales forecasts rely on experts’ opinions to predict upcoming sales performance. Which may be detrimental to Kellogg’s because qualitative approaches is subjective therefore opinions, even well-informed  ones, can be wrong, especially if they don’t take into account relevant economic data. After overseeing Kellogg’s market research although the major drawbacks Kellogg’s can face, market research is very important for Kellogg’s as it previews what Kellogg’s can stumble upon when launching a new product. However market research that is gathered by any organisation could prove to be irrelevant and inappropriate. D2-Make justified recommendations for improving the validity of the marketing research used to contribute to the development of a selected organisation’s marketing plans. After looking at all the limitations that effect Kellogg’s this has entitled me to make justification and recommendation for improving the validity of the marketing research used in Kellogg’s. Consequently I will be making three comprehensive recommendations with justifications to improve validity of the market research used to contribute to the development of Kellogg’s marketing plans. Market research is used by many organisations and is very fatal tool; however the data collected can sometimes not be as valid for various reasons, resulting in a business to make the wrong decision and highly affecting its market plans. The first recommendation I would like is to discuss to enhance the validity of the market research is for an organisation like Kellogg’s to choose the right amount of people to question. Kellogg’s main objective is to improve their current product and to continue to create new products in order to carry this out they would have to carry research to find out what they lack in and what they need more of however if the amount of people questioned is too small the results would be invalid and will not do any justice to statistic therefore Kellogg’s should make the sample random and larger this will increase the accuracy of the information leading to the right decisions, Kellogg’s also need to be aware of setting themselves a goal and objective they would like to reach when choosing a people to take part in their research this increase validity as it gives and aim of what is required from conducting this research Secondly, I would like to recommend if Kellogg’s ask specific and objective questions, the people Kellogg’s survey should represent a cross-section of their target groups. This can extend the results to the whole group as long a s Kellogg’s sample is representative. Key factors in this matching process are sampling time and number of people  surveyed. For example if they were to launch a new product of a similar range they need to question what they feel is missing from the existing products they can do this by asking feedback of existing customers this will make the data more valid and reliable because the right questions have been asked. Finally I would like to propose to Kellogg’s to avoid self-selection and use a valid samples with a representative view of Kellogg’s target group are based on random selection. If Kellogg’s allow survey respondents to decide whether to answer a survey, Kellogg’s can’t be sure the respondents represent a random sample. You have to pick survey respondents at random and classify those who don’t answer the questions as â€Å"did not respond.† If the non-responsive group is substantial, reducing it by adding people who volunteer adds self-selection bias to the result because the volunteers are likely to share characteristics not demonstrative of your whole target group. Kellogg’s may have to change how you conduct the survey to get enough samples from a random selection. All of the above suggestions are to improve the validity and reliability of market research used by Kellogg’s; however Kellogg’s should also make sure that the question it uses match its research objectives to ensure that information collected contributes to the development of its marketing plans. Recommendations mentioned above will improve the validity of the research and accuracy of the information that will help the business make the right decisions based on the information collected and results of the research.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Abraham Lincoln Bio Essay

Since his death in 1865, Abraham Lincoln has been immortalized as one of, if not the greatest hero in American history due to his role in ending the Civil War and abolishing slavery. He led our country through its’ darkest days and was able to prevent the south from successfully seceding and preserving the United States. Throughout history many have been called heroes, some deservedly and others not. Lincoln’s recognition as a hero is valid because of his many achievements and his leadership style. Lincoln was born in February 1809, in Kentucky. His early life was difficult, losing his mother to illness at 9 years old. The family was poor and Lincoln needed to work to help support them. As a result, he had very little formal education, but it was this hard work and humble beginnings that ignited the spark in Lincoln to learn. When he was a young man the family moved to Illinois and it was there that Lincoln learned the law and became interested in local politics. In 183 4 he was elected to the Illinois State Legislature. He taught himself the law, was admitted to the Bar in 1836 and also began a career as a successful lawyer. Between 1847 and 1849 he served one term in the U.S. House of Representatives. As a result of the increased opposition to slavery, the Republican Party was born and Lincoln joined the party in 1856. It was his anti-slavery views and the continuing passing of laws to protect slavery that further sparked his interest in politics. He ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate but obtain national exposure from the race due to his unique communication and debating techniques. It was this exposure that found him as a candidate for President in 1860. He was elected the 16th President of the United States and the first President from the Republican Party. Because of his well-known views on slavery, the  secessionists began their plans to split from the Union prior to his taking office. The Civil Was began in April of 1861 with the attack on Fort Sumter in South Carolina. Almost immediately in his role as President, Lincoln was faced with the most challenging situation of any President prior to him. His decision-making and communication skills, though unpopular at times, would be a vital part of his success over the next several years. Lincoln possessed strong social intelligence skills. He was sensitive to other people’s feelings and moods, and he was particularly adept at reading people. Lincoln had a great ability in understanding the motivations of others, and was skillful at getting others to cooperate with him. He knew to be pleasant and approachable while also being fierce when fighting for causes he believed in. One tool that Lincoln would use was storytelling. He would use stories from his past which would put people at ease while at the same time relaying his point in a clear way. Another method he would use was to ask questions to get his rivals to see things his way. His communication style and speeches were simple and logical. Abraham Lincoln’s most famous speech was the Gettysburg Address given in 1863 at the dedication of the National Cemetery after the battle at Gettysburg. The speech last just over two minutes and was an example of how Lincoln understood his audience. There had been much â€Å"Pomp and Circumstance† throughout the ceremony and many long speeches prior to his. The words he chose were short and to the point, but were full of inspiration and emotion. The speech focused on the principles of the founding fathers of our nation and the words from the Declaration of Independence that â€Å"all men are created equal† and that all men have the unalienable rights to the pursuit of life, liberty and happiness. One of the main things Lincoln wanted to accomplish with this speech, was to rally support for the 13th Amendment, which would abolish slavery and was in jeopardy of failing to pass in Congress. Lincoln again used his influence as a communicator to get the 13th Amendment passed. He would spend hours with his political rivals building relationships. It was important that he understood their perspectives on the issues and would give them the opportunity to express their views and needs. His approach was thoughtful and personal. This bill was met with much opposition and it took great skill and tenacity on Lincoln’s part to insure its passage. Many Presidents since Lincoln have also faced challenges when trying to pass  legislature, among them our current President Barack Obama. Whether or not you are a supporter of our current President aside, some similarities can be seen between the two. As was the case with Lincoln, Obama is known for his listening skills, and taking in ideas from all sides. He is a skilled orator and there is a strong sense of morality in his tone when speaking. There are many references to President Lincoln in Obama’s speeches which show the influence the former President has on him. Abraham Lincoln led our nation through one of its most turbulent times. He used his communication skills and understanding of people to obtain success. His ability to talk to people and understand what they stood for while moving them to see things his way led him to be regarded as one of our greatest Presidents. References A-E Networks. Abraham lincoln – biography [Web log message]. Retrieved from http://www.biography.com/people/abraham-lincoln-9382540 Abraham and Mary Lincoln: A House Divided PBS. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/films/lincolns/player/ Hubbard, C. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.historynet.com/abraham-lincoln Communicate like Abraham Lincoln. Retrieved from:http://www.communitelligence.com/blps/article.cfm?weblog The Connections Between President Barack Obama and President Abraham Lincoln (n.d.)Retrieved from: http://www.reobama.com/ObamaLincoln.htm House passes the 13th Amendment. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/house-passes-the-13th-amendment

Thursday, November 7, 2019

The Cat Cry Syndrome, Its Causes and Consequences essays

The Cat Cry Syndrome, Its Causes and Consequences essays The Cat Cry Syndrome, Its Causes and Consequences Cat Cry or Cri du Chat Syndrome literally means cry of the cat in French. It was named for the cat-like cry made by infants who have the disorder. The consequences for the disorder are many and extremely wide ranged. It mostly occurs in children and is entirely random when choosing its victims. Cat Cry Syndrome occurs when the short or p arm of chromosome 5 is missing. The cry is causes by an abnormal development of the larynx. About 50-60 children in the United Stated are born with the syndrome each year. The chromosome deletion is sporadic, so its not hereditary and it happens randomly. The deletion size can vary from the terminal band 5p15 to a larger segment. Sometimes it can even go as far as the Centro mere and the 5q11 proximal long arm band. Most cases are paternal in origin and caused by de novo deletions. In infancy, hearing the cry is a good indicator that a child has the disorder. The cry becomes less noticeable as children get older, making it more difficult to diagnose. If the syndrome is suspected, the patient will under go chromosome analysis called Karyotyping. Karyotyping is a laboratory procedure in which chromosomes are separated from cells, stained and arranged so that their structure can be studied under the microscope. Some times the deletion can not be seen in this way. For those cases a technique that detects very small deletions is used. This method is called FISH, or fluorescence in-situ hybridization. The consequences of having Cri du Chat Syndrome can be many. Unfortunately a degree of mental retardation occurs in all patients. It is possible that the severity of the retardation may be affected by the amount of therapy the patient receives. Infants may have a low birth weight, grow more slowly, and congenital heart defects. The disorder also causes unusual facial feat ...

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Age of the Joker (2012) by Edguy

As seen with their newest album, Space Police, these are crazy people when it comes to power metal. Toby and the gang have made somwthing a bit more special with this release here. This is really where they pull out all the stops to be funny. For these guys, forget the term power metal, instead use the term Comedy Metal because thats what this band really is. Age of the Joker is an album that has many a good tracks in it to keep you on your toes. My personal favorite is the track 2 Out of 7 which is more like a love song gone wrong. The final stretch of the song also has the greatest line ever in power metal history. You know a songs good if it could catch you off guard in a good way like that. Believe me it did, I wasnt hardly listening to it until that line came up and slapped me in the face. This has also made an appearence on The Metal Voices top 10 albums of 2012 making Number 4 I believe. I love this album with a passion and would love to own it on a vinyl and/or CD. I recommend you check this out if you love power metal, you can say you like Iron Maiden and would may still enjoy it. A sfor the rating I give it a 10/10.

Saturday, November 2, 2019

Should China adopt a flexible exchange rate regime Essay

Should China adopt a flexible exchange rate regime - Essay Example United States of America is one of the key trading partners with China. However, there has been controversy surrounding China and its trading partners. China is blamed for not opening fully its vast domestic market to other foreign trading partners through its currency devaluation, fixed exchange rate regime and tighter import regulations. China has to make painful decisions on whether to allow its currency to appreciate or not. In addition, it has to choose from maintaining its fixed currency exchange rate regime or adopting a flexible exchange range regime. By studying its economy and listening to the concerns of its trading partners, China will be in a position to make decisions that best suit its interest as well as those of its trading partners. If China chooses maintain a devalued RMB, it will generate more wealth at the expense of its trading partners. Why China chooses to keep its currency artificially low compared to it trading partners. There are many reasons why China woul d wish to maintain artificially low currency as compared with those of its trading partners, especially against the dollar of the United States of America. According to James (2010) China wishes to maintain artificially low RMB exchange rate to other currencies of major trading partners in its interest. Federal Reserve (1999) revealed that a country devalues her own currency when it does not have sufficient foreign reserves or unwilling to spend foreign exchange reserves to maintain its exchange rate to foreign currencies. China is among the richest countries with high level of foreign exchange reserves in the world. However, it seems China has different ambitions and is unwilling to spend its foreign exchange reserves to keep RMB at a rate appropriate against the dollar. There are many genuine and valid reasons, which make China keep its currency artificially low. The first reason why china wants to maintain its devalued currency is because it wishes to maintain high levels of expo rts. By keeping its currency low, China is able to make its currency cheaper in relation to other major currencies. As a result, it makes its products and services cheaper to customers (consumers) in foreign countries. This will ensure that China continues to exports a lot of goods and services to other countries. China’s currency devaluation approach is consistent with foreign exchange theory that stipulates that that the lower the currency in relation with those of other trading partners, the lower the prices of exports hence a country will be able to export more. Higher exports as compared to imports will enable China to generate trade surpluses and build even more reserves of foreign currencies. The second reason why china wants to keep its currency low is to discourage its domestic consumers from purchasing imported goods and services. China’s artificially low currency will make foreign goods and services more expensive as compared to similar goods and services pr oduced in China. Devaluated currency discourages imports and China will be able to control quantity and value of imports entering its borders. When a country increases consumption of domestic goods and services, it keeps its factories running (Saccomanni, 2008). Therefore, the country is able to maintain its employment levels and even increase employment rates with increase in domestic consumption. Furthermore, by reducing the number of imports, China will be abl

Thursday, October 31, 2019

Analyzing the Management Information System of an Organization Essay

Analyzing the Management Information System of an Organization - Essay Example The essay "Analyzing the Management Information System of an Organization" makes use of the HR Frames and The Political Frame to see what reasons there are for failures of the two major organizations being discussed - Senior Class Gift Committee and Bryant Senior Advisory Council, and examines the capabilities of the leaders in handling their responsibilities. The symbolic frame emphasizes the concept of culture as a central role in leadership. Leaders should know they must work simultaneously on staff needs and skills, on goals and roles and the dynamics of political power and conflict. But there is something that operates beyond all these, an intangible manifestation that reflects the ethos or climate of the university. In Bolman and Deal’s terms, â€Å"what is most important is not what happens but what it means.† In SCG and BSA’s case, this frame is portrayed by the interpersonal relationship that the officers have towards the other members and towards themse lves as well. This frame of leadership helps the leaders re-compose themselves for the sake of the whole organization’s benefit. This is the easiest issue that needs to be dealt with in Bryant University.  Meanwhile, the structural frame emphasizes the importance of formal roles and relationships. â€Å"Structures- commonly depicted by means of organizational charts - are created to fit an organization’s environment and technology†.  The focus is on organizational direction and goals.

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Mildred Pierce Assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Mildred Pierce Assignment - Essay Example The first purpose, which relates to placing a woman at the center of the story universe, best describes the messages in Mildred Pierce movie. Indeed, this purpose is very dominant in the film as the film revolves around the life of a long-suffering mother and her ungrateful daughter. In fact, the film focuses on domestic life in the context of women, motherhood, and the female opinion. In fact, Mildred Pierce is a homemaker who sacrifices everything and tries all income generating projects to support her ungrateful daughter (Mildred Pierce 1945). The movie even presents female rivalries between the younger woman and the older woman. We can also see Mildred getting married to a newly unemployed Pierce who later leaves her with no income (Mildred Pierce 1945). Moreover, we can see Mildred surrounded by weak men and supportive women that confirms the purpose of placing a woman at the center of the story universe. In fact, the questioning of Mildred by police after they discover the body of her second husband, Monte Berago forms the basis of the film (Mildred Pierce 1945). These aspects confirm the purpose of placing a woman at the center of the story universe in the Mildred Pierce film.... Such an association depicts bad motherhood. On the other hand, Mildred could only become a waitress, a fact which she hides from her daughter Veda (Mildred Pierce 1945). Such lies do not represent good motherhood and consequently we can identify with Veda’s infuriation on learning the truth about her mother’s job. Additionally, Mildred acts unethically by entering into a loveless marriage with Monte Beragon for purposes of improving her social class to please her daughter (Mildred Pierce 1945). Ultimately, we can see Mildred supporting Beragon who is a playboy that consequently led to her financial dismal performance. As a good mother, Mildred would have focused on providing for her children but not seeking to improve her social class. Ideally, we only see Mildred focusing on providing for Veda to the neglect of the 10-year-old Kay (Mildred Pierce 1945). Response 3 Kathryn D’Alessandro describes how many of the visual images (cinematography, lighting) in Mildred Pierce are reminiscent of film noir. Mildred Pierce is a film noir that represents the sacrifices of a mother to provide for her ungrateful daughter. Indeed, the film has a cinematography that enhances darkness in the plot and theme. In fact, the film has inky blackness and images with long and sharp shadows (Mildred Pierce 1945). The long and sharp shadows show that the filming took place indoors or in places with low-key lighting. All these aspects explain how the visual images in Mildred Pierce are reminiscent of film noir. Response 4 Sybil DelGaudio defines the racial stereotype of the "Mammy" role in the "Mammy in Hollywood" article (DelGaudio, 2005). The character of Thelma McQueen who was Mildred’s

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Assisting The Health And Needs Of The Community Social Work Essay

Assisting The Health And Needs Of The Community Social Work Essay ACCV exists to promote, encourage and assist the health and care needs of the aged and community care clients and support its members in a professional and ethical manner, to provide accurate relevant information, services and advice and to provide leadership in the aged and community care sector. North Yarra Community Health aims to provide high quality and responsive programs and services to all members of our community. We work with people to overcome their experiences of disadvantage, discrimination and disempowerment. We respect peoples choices and support them to make informed decisions to prevent illness and promote their health and well being. We encourage active participation in our services and in the life of our community. Find out if your organization has a mission statement and write it here. If not, search in your community for a community development project and discover what other projects are using as their mission statement. Our mission is to provide individualised community services to Victorians who need short-term or long-term assistance with daily living activities. (Vista Community Support, Victoria) Assessment activity 2 Contact your local community centre or Neighbourhood House and find out whether they are currently working on a community development project. If so, what is it and how did they go about identifying this? The project is called Splinters and it is aimed at males from the sixteen to twenty-five year old age group. It is to provide disengaged males who are not participating in any form of ongoing education or employment the opportunity to learn woodwork skills. The aim is that the group will be able to develop two products, timber chicken coops and rabbit hutches, and if the products are developed to a high enough standard, then the participants will be encouraged to develop a plan, to market and sell the products. The project will run for sixteen weeks and the hopeful outcome is that the participants will have a sustainable opportunity for further development. The need for this project was identified by the high level of young males in the community estate with no direction in daily life. The community house staff witnessed a lack of positive activities for the group specified and the difficulties faced in attempting to engage with them. Local residents have reported that this targeted group is responsible for antisocial behaviour within the housing estate. Providing an opportunity for participation in the project will give the males the opportunity to disengage from antisocial behaviour. Assessment activity 3 Values and assumptions are inherent in all of us. Identify at least 2 values that you hold and discuss how these might affect the way you work. The first personal value that I will identify is honesty. I find that honesty is one of the most basic personal core values. One quote that I have always followed is Have the courage to say no. Have the courage to face the truth. Do the right thing because it is right. These are the magic keys to living your life with integrity. (W. Clement Stone) If we are honest in all facets of our life we will gain many more benefits for it. I consider honesty to mean the quality of being fair, truthful, and morally upright. If this is used in a work environment I find that I can gain the trust and respect of people that I work with and for. I endeavour to try and not doubt others, and I try to deal with them with good feelings. This often gives positive vibes to the other person. It enables them to modify their behavior and attitudes so we can be on a similar wavelength. It may be necessary to waiver depending on the circumstances as the level of honesty may have to be adapted depending on the p erson. Blunt and straightforward honesty can get in the way of a caring response or cooperative effort when you are working with people. Honesty is not about hurting feelings but trying to connect with a person or a situation. The second value that I can identify is justice. This means to me a level of fairness, especially in the way people are treated and decisions are made. Every person I work with deserves to be treated fairly and I expect the same for myself in the work environment. I know this is not a core value for some people and it can have a significant impact on me. I have to control my own values and work with what I have. I find that when my values clash in the work environment, I may still do a good job, but I probably will not feel good about it. On the other side of this dilemma, I find that if my work environment incorporates my core values, I am happier and more engaged, even if the work itself is difficult. My whole being is connected with what I am doing daily. If my job does not allow me to honour my core values, and there is no possible way to change this, then it would be time for me to consider alternatives that would meet my needs. At times, our values can get in the way of productive outcome by leading us to express ourselves aggressively or to dominate a discussion. These behaviours can lead to serious and potentially damaging conflicts between people. Finally I think that it would be naÃÆ' ¯ve to expect everyones values to be the same, as we all have had different backgrounds and experiences that make up our beliefs, so compromises need to be negotiated in the work place. Assessment activity 4 The local neighbourhood centre is planning on a community development project that plans to hold a number of multicultural lunches in an effort to bring together a number of isolated individuals from various ethnic backgrounds. Make a list of the issues you might need to consider before setting out on this project. Participants age groups eg. children / elders Racial backgrounds Awareness of cultural differences including fasting periods / celebrations Respect Dignity Religions Duty of Care Communication Personal core values and beliefs Racism Group conflict Transportation Supervision Cultural sensitivity Food considerations Staffing mix of females and males Understanding the different perspectives of time priorities participants may turn up late Assessment activity 5 Case study Stan has identified a need in his community to set up a work area where other folk in the community can gather with the aim to repair broken toys and to make new ones for the children in the district. Stan has a background in carpentry and believes he has the necessary knowledge and skills to take control over the project. He contacts the local Neighbourhood House and advertises in the local shops expressing his ideas. Stan is able to set up his group, mainly men, and after 6 months feels that the group is running quite successfully. However, a year later, Stan finds out that the initial funding is due to run out at the end of the 2 years, something he had forgotten about. What are some of the social and economic concerns that might affect the group long term? Money to continue funding the project The project needs to look at becoming self-sustaining. A project management team Employment Lowered self-esteem and empowerment Lack of knowledge/skills Empowerment Loss of project interest Social acceptance of project Participation Insurance Support from a larger organisation OHS Mental health Qualifications necessary eg. Red card Assessment activity 6 You have gone through the initial stages of consulting the community about the proposed project and you hear along the grape vine that there are some individuals who have impaired vision (ie. they are blind) and would like dearly to participate in the project. What mechanisms could you use to ensure that they receive all the necessary information about future meetings and events? Telephone Email used with assisted technology Compact disc / audio tape A newsletter sent out in Braille Voice mail Assessment activity 7 Often issues come up during the course of conversation. Sometimes the information shared is easily understood whilst at other times it is not. In the following statement, identify what you see the problem being, and how you would go about solving it. Mrs H wants to be involved with the local community development project working with young people who abuse drugs. She becomes friends with a young lad James, aged 18 years who is currently living on the streets. Mrs H invites James to come and stay at her house, which James would like to do, as he has been homeless for the last 5 years. However, James feels a little unsure about this and does not know what to do. What is the problem here? How would you deal with it? The first issue that struck me is that Mrs H has crossed the boundary of being a worker, whether it is in a voluntary or paid position. Mrs H would need to consider her own safety and the support networks necessary to have a person come and reside with her that has a history of drug abuse. Mrs H would need to under go some sort of training in this area to have the skills to deal with any arising issues and she would also need to arrange for a mentor for herself. As for James the issue of whether he is continuing his drug use would need to be looked at. James would also need individual support to overcome the issues he will face living with someone after being homeless for a significant amount of time. Giving James a home to live in is not the only issue that needs to be addressed, a holistically based approach to the situation needs to be implemented to avoid setting James up to fail. Assessment activity 8 An issue was identified, during the initial consultation process, indicating that a number of individuals from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds want to find out more about the Australian culture and language which they were having difficulties in understanding, What referrals or resources would be needed to meet these needs? Internet Language classes and programs Culturally Linguistically Specific Community Visitors Centres Community Service Organisations Books Community Centres Local Council Multi-cultural centres Community groups Church groups Informal workshops with other people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds Assessment activity 9 Give another example of duty of care, and how you would deal with it. Pam is a 24-year-old woman with a diagnosis of schizophrenia. Pam lives in a group home where a picnic outing to the local park is being planned. Pams behaviour can be unpredictable, with her becoming verbally abusive and extremely loud in public places. As a staff member going on the outing I do owe a duty of care to the public. Pams behaviour may be embarrassing for the public but she does not present a danger to them. To exclude Pam from public outings would be far more damaging to her than any embarrassment caused to the public. Pam is reliant on our care service, where as the public can function independently. Therefore my duty of care is owed to Pam to meet her community access needs. Assessment activity 10 Through discussion with peers, family and friends, identify 2 issues that could become a community development project. What would be the next step in the process of putting one of these projects into action? In modern society some members of the community are living in accommodation that does not have surrounding gardens. This is particularly true for the elderly when they are living in aged care homes or units. The elderly that do not live in this sort of accommodation quite often live with family and feel that they cannot alter or participate in garden design or maintenance. A community garden offers the opportunity to belong and it is enjoyable to many of the aging population. The garden can bring together a diverse range of people who are committed to one goal, planning, building and maintaining a garden. Gardening brings the community together, rather than accelerate their segregation. The focus in todays world is all about global warming and sustainability. If communities do not come together and try and change modern practices that will affect the climate, the world will have long-term damage. Sustainability is the word that everyone needs to learn and adopt. The idea of educating in environmental sustainability needs to be addressed on the home front. This approach will bring together communities to learn about sustainable living at home and to equip them to teach others about these issues. Before any project can commence the community will have to be consulted on what they consider their needs to be. This can be achieved through a needs based analysis and the prioritising of community needs, but this has to be carefully monitored as wants, needs and rights can become confused while trying to address and identify issues. The community needs analysis will aim to clarify what the residents want, assess which needs and rights should be recognised and indicate which community facilities, services or programs can best meet these. Assessment activity 11 The capacity building approach focuses on the notion that community development works with the individual and not for the individual. What does this mean for you? In a community setting if a capacity building approach is not used, where appropriate, it can create a dependency on services to meet needs. If a person, a group or a community were able to achieve their goals, using their own strategies, it would deliver an overwhelming sense of empowerment for these people. It is a wonderful feeling to assist people with achieving desired outcomes and it gives me a feeling of self-worth. If the capacity building approach were not used, there would not be the employment opportunities in community work to assist people with the tools for success in their lives. Teamwork can deliver better results in my opinion, as it is using a combined knowledge base striving towards a common goal. Assessment activity 12 A community development project being undertaken by the local Aboriginal Health Service in outback South Australia is wanting to deliver a program called Getting the message across. The aim is to undertake a range of initiatives including an early intervention project that will target children as young as 8 years of age on anti-drug and harm minimisation messages. What other resources could be used to get the message across? Parents Schools Teachers Aboriginal Elders Peer groups Sporting idols Drug educators Role models People with real life experience Posters Books Comparison information with other Aboriginal groups DVDs Pamphlets Postcards Communication Cards Assessment activity 13 You have decided on the project you want to undertake. Write up a checklist of what you need to take into account in the initial stages of the planning process, for example who are you going to contact, how will you do this, what do you need to take into account before doing this, when will you undertake the start of the project. Clear objective Clear target group Brainstorm Who are the interested parties? Which clients will benefit from the project? How will the project be accomplished? Community meeting Public Notice announcements Community radio Written communication Participation Budget requirements Advertising Partnership opportunities Consultation after delivery of initial planning Undertake start of project after the bases, planning and participation is successfully completed Assessment activity 14 You are involved in a project called the Multicultural Drug Prevention Project. The principle behind it is the education, training and support of young people from culturally diverse backgrounds to undertake training in drug education as peer educators in the local community centre. What organizations could the project approach? Odyssey House Victoria The Odyssey Institute of Studies Training Unit are able to supply a diverse and comprehensive range of training options to organizations working with people who may present with drug and alcohol issues. Tranquilliser Recovery and New Existence (TRANX) Education and training sessions are provided in Victoria on request to doctors, nurses, alcohol and drug practitioners, community health practitioners, psychologists, youth workers and other health and welfare practitioners. Sessions are tailored to meet the specific needs of the organization. Topics include: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Treatment for benzodiazepine dependency à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Recognition of benzodiazepine dependency and information regarding safe use of benzodiazepines à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Providing a safe tranquilliser use message to people from culturally diverse backgrounds Uniting Care Moreland Hall Services are offered on a fee-for-service basis but special rates apply to charitable organizations and services, which are unfunded or have special needs. The Education and Training unit provides Alcohol and Other Drug training to a wide range of professional and community groups. This training may be tailored to meet particular needs through consultation with the group or it can be Competency Training designed to provide the target group with one of the National Alcohol and Other Drug Competencies as part of the Community Services training package. Youth Substance Abuse Service (YSAS) YSAS offers a wide range of training packages that can be customised to meet the needs of individual workers as well as the needs of services and organizations. YSAS trainers have extensive knowledge and experience in all areas related to young people and substance use. Depending on what is required, YSAS can offer more comprehensive professional development programs that range from single session seminars through a number of seminars that cover a range of subject areas. What issues would need to be considered? There are a number of issues to consider when forming this project. The first would be the selection of people who undergo the training. A commitment contract would need to be drawn up so that the young people follow through on the training and education supplied to them. The cultural groups selected will have to be interviewed to find their position on what isnt and what is acceptable as drug use. Different cultures can find some drugs acceptable for recreational use. The youth group will have to be made up of mixed genders to get their message across. Finally their personal life experiences will have an influence on their values so this needs to be addressed. Assessment activity 15 Case Study Men, especially Aboriginal men and those from other countries, rarely seek the help they need particularly when it comes to health issues. The local community centre along with community members decided to run an education session on mens health in general. Often the men wait and wait until the problem becomes unbearable. The aim of the project is to identify who would come along to the group. What sort of issues may arise, what issues are important to them and how would you get them there? Aboriginal men are less likely to address their health issues and this results in an increased presentation of secondary health issues. The reason for this neglect of health issues is because they are more likely to not feel empowerment within their communities because of limited education and employment opportunities, because of reduced authority and status, a loss of their traditional role in both society and family, as well as the loss of a sense of self worth. The result of these changes in their society can lead to despair, shame, and a sense of inadequacy. Aboriginal men do not allow themselves to be seen as weak, they feel a need to protect their privacy and for this; they deny any health problems to save face in their community. There needs to be considerations of gender, that is mens business, it will need to be a part of the program development. Aboriginal men are unlikely to seek advice or help from women when it concerns their health issues. To get the men to participate would be a process that would take time by informally mingling with them to build a rapport within the terms set down by local men. For the partnership to work with them an environment based on respect, trust, and equality needs to be established. This could involve meeting outside of the community center, for example at a Mens Shed or a fishing excursion, and during this time, use the opportunity to become familiar with them and learn about their issues. Assessment activity 16 Contact your local community house or Neighbourhood House and check whether they have any programs or projects incorporating the positive contribution of diversity in the community. If so, what are they? If not, what would you suggest in the way of an appropriate project? At the current time Ballarat is celebrating the Eureka Rebellion Uprising. This event gives the community a chance to celebrate freedom and diversity. The uprising at Eureka was the only armed civil uprising in Australia, to battle for democracy, fairness and freedom for people. The gold rush in Ballarat brought a flood of immigrants from around the world seeking liberty and freedom. The Ballarat African Association has identified the project as a way of making a positive contribution of diversity to the community. The association identified that the local diverse cultures in the area are undervalued and their contribution to society is often not given any recognition. To address this issue and promote the benefits of diversity, the association in conjuction with community organisations are aiming to make this project an annual event. The contibution to the music feastival will be delivered in the lead up to the event by establishing a community music, singing and dancing workshop. Professional artists will be used to train existing cultural performance groups and to create new ones. This iniative is aimed to gain the direct involvement of local young people and performers of different cultural backgrounds. The successful outcome will not only be an entertaining performance by a diverse group of people, but the development of relationships that will develop through the workshops and shared performances. This outcome will enhance peoples connection with their community and create a greater awareness and acceptance of Ballarats diversity. Assessment activity 17 As a community development worker, you will come across certain individuals who feel strongly about certain issues and biases and make judgemental comments towards others. How would you deal with this? My view is, that to end judgemental comments and bias it will take awareness, openness and practice on the behalf of the person who has limited vision. When dealing with people in the community it is really important not to take what they say, or how they say it, personally. It is not about me; it can be that the person has had a limited exposure to diversity. I would keep my communication neutral when conversing with the person. I am not there to judge the person, as I would be no different from them. The key to effective bias free communication is treating all people with respect and consideration regardless of other issues. Assessment tool 2 (AT2): Written / oral questions List 5 ways you can distribute information in your community about upcoming projects and relevant issues. Community notice board Flyers and pamphlets (individual drops to houses) Local newspaper Local radio Local television If you are in charge of a community initiative, how should you address people if they come to you wanting to talk about particular issues? The person in charge of a community initiative needs to be aware of the fact that you are in their community. The people in the community need to have input and ownership of initiatives or they will not fully support the programs implemented. There needs to be an evident benefit for them to overcome particular issues. The first thing to do is to treat people with the respect they deserve, listen intently and talk clearly to the person. The ability to treat people with honesty and integrity will be the foundation to a successful outcome. Just because you are in charge of an initiative this does not put you in a different class to people, you still have to be approachable to the people around you. All of this relates to have sound communication skills. Communication is the process of transferring a message between people using various methods. One skill is to make eye contact whether I am speaking or listening, to convey interest in the other person and what they are trying to say. Another strategy is to manifest a constructive attitude, as the attitude you have will have an impact on your interaction with other people. This attitude should involve being honest, patient, optimistic, sincere, respectful and accepting of others and their beliefs. Talking to the person is not effective if your body language does not match what you are trying to say. A conversation can stop before it starts, if your body language is saying you do not want to talk. Appropriate and clear language should be used, matched to the person you are communicating with. Using superior language would intimidate and confuse the person. An appropriate tone and volume can let the other person know that you mean what you say, have thought about what you are saying, and what you are saying is worth hearing. Using a propre tone helps ensure that the other person hears exactly what you are saying, and reduces possibilities for misunderstanding. Finally if you do not have effective listening skills the conversation will go no where. The other person may have some very important thoughts that you can learn from and use to develop the iniative further. Any input by interested parties can create a more successful outcome for all involved. What is the role of a mission statement? Think of some statements youve seen/heard. What did they mean to you and others in the community? The role of a mission statement is to identify the purpose and direction of an organization or company. The statement should guide the actions of the company or organization to provide a sense of direction, to make clear its overall goal and guide future decisions made. To the interested stakeholders outside of the company it will explain the intentions, priorities and values of the people inside of the group. If a mission statement does not address my core values and beliefs I would need to assess whether this is the right organisation to meet my needs. In the eyes of the community, mission statements will have no meaning if they are just ambiguous words that are not acted upon by the organization. What are some social, political and economic issues that might affect your community? Election of a new Prime Minister or Premier Inflation Unemployment Health Care Crime Immigration Interest Rates Poverty Homelessness Alcohol and Drug use Youth boredom Education Welfare Unskilled work force How can learning a new skill help someone to resolve personal issues? The chance to learn one new skill maybe all it takes to break a cycle. Its all about having the opportunity to use the new skills to address ongoing issues. Learning how to solve problems is a very useful tool in understanding and solving difficult situations. If we look at young children they have very limited problem-solving skills. Young children do not have the maturity to understand that solving problems is a social skill and that it is one of the most important life skills. As we develop we should develop this skill but some people are not shown techniques to achieve this in life. Solving problems is also about finding solutions to personal issues. If someone came to you with a problem that stemmed from beliefs different to your own, how would you help them? I would empathize with the other person, as it is a good way to show respect for others and their beliefs. If I am sensitive to his feelings I will develop an understanding of why they think and act as they do. It is important to think before you speak and be polite, as you do not wish to hurt the person with thoughtless words. I would not criticize the person for having beliefs different to my own. The fastest way to lose a relationship is to criticise what a person thinks is right or the beliefs they hold. Communication is all about building bridges instead of walls by genuinely appreciating the good that you see in others and showing respect to his ideas no matter how different his beliefs are from yours. I understand that everyone I meet is unique. Individuals from the same culture dont always share the same point of view and beliefs. The best way to approach this is by showing respect to what others think by respecting who they are and where they came from. I listen to what other people have to say, even if I dont agree. The best way to show respect to others belief is to listen to what they share with you. It can be surprising what new things youll learn from them. It will not only improve my listening skills, but I will also gain their trust and respect. Imagine you have set up a community group where each member speaks English apart from one. How would you enable this person to be an active member of the group? This person can participate in all facets of the group, especially if a buddy system is implemented to make their participation easier and by incorporating strategies to make the group socially inclusive. Good communication is the foundation of successful relationships, but people seem to rely mainly on communicating with words. Nonverbal communication, or body language can include our facial expressions, gestures, eye contact, posture, and even the tone of our voice. For this reason nonverbal communication is a vital form of communication. When we interact with others, we continuously give and receive countless wordless signals. The way you listen, look, move, and react tell the other person whether or not you care and how well youre listening. The nonverbal signals you send can produce a sense of interest, trust, and desire for connection. The human face is extremely expressive and able to express countless emotions without saying a word. And unlike some forms of nonverbal communication, facial expressions are universal. The facial expressions for happiness, sadness, anger, surprise, fear, and disgust are the same across cultures. With the inclusion of visual aids to assist with body language

Friday, October 25, 2019

Chinesse Education :: essays research papers

China has a long and rich cultural tradition in which education has played a major role. In 124 BC the first university was established for training prospective bureaucrats in Confucian learning and the Chinese classics. Only members of the upper class could attend school. Peasants and factory workers did not have the time to attend school; therefore as of 1949 only 20% of China was literate. The Communists who controlled China considered illiteracy a major stumbling block in their promotion of political programs. They then combined political propaganda with educational development. During the first few years (1949-51) of this push on education, over 60 million peasants enrolled in winter schools, or sessions, established to take advantage of the slack season for agricultural workers. Mao, the Communist leader of China, felt that the ultimate goal of education was to eliminate class distinction. After Mao’s death in 1976 a review of government policies concerning education was started. Out of this review came standardized testing and the reinstitution of entrance exams to get into schools and these exams were also used to get in the civil service.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Chinese children entered school at age six and stayed for six years. They would study the Chinese language, math and other basic subjects. After going to an elementary school children would enter a middle school. The subjects the Chinese taught were particularly important for the advancement of the country. During the Ming dynasty Chinese novels became very popular. There were many poems and collections of short stories. The Ming also established free schools for the public hoping to expand education in china.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Gifted students were selected for studying abroad especially in the United States. As these students finished their education and returned to China some of them teaching at Chinese Universities a major political unrest began to place.