Psycholinguistic: Linguistics and Language Essay

This study seeks to determine the relevance of the behavioristic and cognitive approaches for Saudi learners’ acquisition of English as a foreign language (EFL). A special attention is given to learners in EFL programs at the University level. It also assesses the effectiveness of these approaches on student in translation program as well. One contention is that while behaviorist-inspired structuralist methodologies are best applicable at the beginning levels, transformationalist/cognitivist approach contributes tried methodologies to enhance the learners’ written and spoken skills in advanced stages. Advances in translation can be achieved through a study of the process of translation with an emphasis on a deductive rather than an inductive approach. INTRODUCTION Foreign language teachers have long been perplexed by a continuum of abundant psycho-linguistic theories. One approach is the traditional method to second/foreign language teaching and learning. This embodied the grammar translation method which developed at the end of the eighteenth century in Germany and spread throughout Europe (Howat, 1984). The second approach is the direct method that developed in the late nineteenth century as a reaction against the grammar-translation method (R. Carter, 1993). Prior to the time of Chomsky, â€Å"little was known about the process of second language acquisition, and thus (traditional approaches) were grounded in the linguistic, psychological, and pedagogical theories of their day. †(1) The author has conducted literature search through Educational Resources Index (Eric) was well as Languages Association (MLA) and Psychological. Abstracts (Psyclit). It has been noticed that some work, mostly dissertation, have dealt with the Saudi acquisition of specific linguistic features of L2, such as Morpheme acquisition Order (Al-Afaleg, 1991), Temporal Conjunctions (Noor, 1991), English Derivational Morphology (Al-Qadi 1992) Tense and Aspect (Farraj, 1995) and Second Language Relative Clauses (Maghrabi, 1997), and Studies on the psycho-linguistic theories of language acquisition, specifically in relation to the Saudi learner of English do not seem to exist. There are four major theories of language acquisition and language learning which many psycholinguists and applied linguistics are familiar with:Behaviorism, neo-behaviorism, cognitivism, and humanism. The purpose of this article is to examine two of these theories: Behaviorism (which is related to structuralism) and cognitivism (which is related to transformationalism) and then show the extent to which these two theories relate to language learning and particularly to Saudi learners enrolled in EFL and translation programs in King Saud University. STRUCTURAL (BEHAVIORISTIC) VIEW: The psychological theory behind behaviorist linguistics was founded by J. B. Watson (1942). (2) The extreme behavioristic stand-point is characterized by B. F. Skinner’s well-known study, Verbal Behavior (1957) which presents a theory of language learning even more firmly planted in the court of Pavlovian animal behavior than the language theories of the Russian behaviorist school which was itself greatly influenced by the work of Pavlov. The work that could be regarded as the basic doctrine of the structural school of linguistic theory was Leonard Bloomfield’s Language (1933). In this work, Bloomfield argued that the study of language could be pursued without reference to psychological doctrines and he took a firmly behavioristic line aimed at scientific objectivity. Bloomfield did not deny the role of meaning in language, but he objected to its importance in the study of language at a time when human knowledge of the vast range of semantic association attached to every linguistic form was so very little. Moreover, he viewed semantics as a subordinate element to the primary stimulus response relationship of verbal behavior. To Bloomfieldians†¦ â€Å"language is nothing but a habit that the child comes to learn by imitation. In their account of language acquisition, the child is exposed to linguistic data which he/she internalizes and then reproduces at a later stage. Language is thus learned from outside, we learn it in the same way that we learn other habits. Learning a language is not very much different from the laboratory mouse learning to expect to be fed each time someone rings a bell. †(3) They believe that, â€Å"a scientific theory must reject all data that are not directly observable or physically measurable. †(4). To the behaviorists, habit formation is brought about through repetition, mimicry, and memorization. Thus no clear distinction seems to be made between learning the first language and the target language. To them linguistic habits, generalization and associations have to be repeated using different data. Skinner (1957) based his whole theory of language acquisition and speech realization on the recognizable external forms of what Chomsky terms â€Å"input and â€Å"output† and makes no allowance for any internal process of the organism. Stimulus and reinforcement (or reward) from the input and the â€Å"verbal operant† (or response) forms the output. The structuralists, whose views are related to behavioral psychology, see language as a finite list of ordered elements to which one can attach labels. They undertake a systematic analysis of structure. The teacher depends on such structural description as the distribution and combination of elements into a chain of speech. It is based on the process of substitution, the replacement of one unit by another unit of the same grammatical class. They follow a taxonomic approach in teaching. Their view is characterized by the insistence that language is learnt by the strength of habitual association and by the context generalization (i. e. general association). It is more of an inductive rather than a deductive system. The Swiss scholar Ferdinand de Saussure (1857-1913), who is an associationist, believes that â€Å"all language items are essentially interlinked. †(5) He argues that â€Å"language was like a game of chess, a system in which each item is defined by its relationship to all the others†¦language is a carefully built structure of interwoven elements. †(6) TRANSFORMATIONAL (COGNITIVE) VIEW: The transformational (cognitive) theories, represented by Noam Chomsky have been acknowledged by linguists as a revolutionary contribution to linguistics, though Chomsky himself related his views to those of Hambolt and to rationalist philosophers of the Seventeenth Century such as Descartes. The school of thinking, which has developed around Chomsky’s ideas, has been variously termed â€Å"Cognitive†, â€Å"mentalist†, â€Å"generative† and â€Å"transformationalist. †His Transformational Analysis (1955), Syntactic Structures (1957), Aspects of the Theory of Syntax (1965), and Language and Mind (1968) are regarded as particular pioneer works of the new approach. The cognitivists reject the views of the behaviorists. They believe that â€Å"everybody learns a language, not because they are subjected to a similar conditioning process, but because they possess an inborn capacity which permits them to acquire a language as a normal maturational process. This capacity is by definition universal†¦the nature of language is such that it is impossible to explain it without postulating an innate mechanism of a fairly well-defined kind. †(7) They look for a universal grammar that contains universals relating to the deep-seated regularities characterizing all languages. For instance, subject and predicate, negative and adjectival forms are present in all languages because they are a universal feature, whereas the structuring and arrangement of these features belong to individual languages. The deep structure rules are limited by the grammar of each particular language. Universal grammar, according to Chomsky is â€Å"†¦a theory of the â€Å"initial state† of the language faculty, prior to any linguistic experience. †(8) To the cognitivist, children are born with an innate capacity for language development. The human brain is â€Å"ready† for language, in the sense that when children are exposed to speech, certain general principles for discovering or structuring language automatically begin to operate. These principles constitute, what Chomsky terms, a child language acquisition device (LAD). â€Å"A child uses its LAD to make sense of utterances heard around it, derived from his â€Å"primary linguistic data† hypotheses about the grammar of the language-what the sentences are, and how they are constructed. This knowledge is then used to produce sentences that, after a process of trial and error, correspond to those in adult speech: the child has learned a set of generalizations of rules, governing the way in which sentences are formed. †(9) Chomsky emphasizes the linguistic ‘creativity’, that is â€Å".. the ability of human beings to produce and comprehend an infinite number of novel sentences. †(10) Basic to this reason, Comsky believes that â€Å"Bloomfieldian linguistics was too ambitious in that it was unrealistic to expect to be able to lay down foolproof rules for extracting a perfect description of a language from a mass of data. It was too limited because it concentrated on describing sets of utterances which happened to have been spoken. †(11) Whilst the structuralist lays emphasis on the surface structure (patterns†¦etc.), the transformationalist lays emphasis on the processes of the deep structure; the stress is on learning to learn the development of a strategy of learning rather than the accumulation of information and rules. The structuralist tends to overemphasize the surface forms and the development of rules and to neglect the meaning. Unlike the behaviorists who believe that if there is a response there must be stimulus, the transformationalists (cognitivists) argue that language acquisition is autogenic and that the environment serves merely to trigger off a maturation process. Language comes primarily though the maturation that the environment triggers off and not through the environment itself. Erric Lenneberg, who is a cognitivist, also suggests that training is not necessary and that maturation is enough. His critical period hypothesis (1967) holds that â€Å"language acquisition must occur before the onset of puberty in order for language to develop fully. †(12) DISCUSSION Based on the contradictory views of the two schools, a brief discussion of how these views may relate to second language learning and teaching will be presented. This will be followed by a presentation (explanation) of the extent to which these views can apply to the case of the Saudi learner of English at the university level. From the preceding background, structuralism (behaviorism) seems to attribute the function of language to instruction and experience. A process of habit formation is brought about through repetition, mimicry, and memorization. There is a little difference between learning a first language and a target language. Linguistic habits, generalizations, and associations have to be repeated using different data. Cognitivism, on the other hand proposes that the processes of second language acquisition are not identical to those of the first language acquisition although there are similarities. One of the similarities could be that L2 may need to be learned at the same time as L1. Nevertheless, considering the question of universal and maturation, since acquisition of an L2 requires conscious control of learning and this cannot be handled at an early stage, transformationlists (cognitivists) hold that consciously controlled learning should be left to a much later stage, though there is no conclusive evidence to support this view. At this stage of analysis, it can be argued that, first, innate factors are less important for L2 learning than social factors of environment, motivation, and reinforcement. Second, a transformational system can perhaps operate with native speakers of a language, but although it is too complicated and may be confusing to be applied in second language/foreign language teaching, certain aspects may be useful. For instance, identification of kernel sentences which are similar in different languages, could be economical. Transformation could work from the comparison of these kernel sentences. Third, due to abstract characteristics of some of the cognitive views, the structural acquisition technique is probably more practical for formal learning in the first stages of the second language, and the cognitive technique may assume greater importance in the more advanced stages. Fourth, while some credence should be given to Chomsky’s language acquisition device (LAD), which explains why children invent new terms that mean nothing to adults, its limitations become real when dealing with adults learning a second language. That is when linguistic interference causes serious obstacles to second/foreign language learners. In such situation LAD will not be useful. Fifth, a structuralist method closely linked to Skinners’ stimulus-response-reinforcement theory of verbal behavior is the audiolingual approach which advocates the formation of the speech habits. Its feasible use can be realized through J. B. Carrol’s (1966) following basic terms such as: a) Speech is primary, writing secondary, so the habits that are formed in language must be speech habits. b) Automatic response is best achieved by constant repetition. c) Automatic response is best achieved by constant repetition. Offshoots of this theory are the language laboratory, structural drill, imitation, and memorization techniques. (13) Finally, cognitive theory advocates the development in the student of a conscious control of the psychological, grammatical, and lexical patterns of a given second language. This can be achieved through study and analysis of these patterns so that facility in using language stems from the teacher’s understanding of its structure. The structural approach (as it employs behavioristic means) has remained useful in the teaching of English as a foreign language, most importantly to help the learner acquire good language basis. For Saudi EFL learners, the use of drills at the phonetic level is of great help especially when dealing with segmental items that cause either interlingual or intralingual errors. A Saudi learner not only fail to produce the voiceless stop /p/ and the voiced fricative /v/ but tends to replace them with his L1 segments /b/ and /f/ respectively. Similarly, the velar nasal / / as a phoneme occurring at the final position of a word like â€Å"sing†, â€Å"long† which causes some difficulties for the Saudi EFL learner where he replaces it with the sequence of the two phonetic segments /n/ and /g/, and the alveo-palatal affricate /c/, occurring in words like â€Å"children† and â€Å"speech† where, instead, he transfers his Arabic alveo-palatal fricative /s/. Emphasis on drills will also enable the learner to reduce a possible interference of the Arabic syllable structure CVCV into the English structure. Since some Saudis tend to pronounce English words like â€Å"against† as *againist†, and â€Å"first† as *firist†. Structural (behavioristic) teacher can help in solving other problematic linguistic features such as agreement and word order which Saudi EFL learner encounter. Thus, patterns and exercises are needed to reduce erroneous forms such as *†He play, they buyed, talls buildings, and hypercorrections such as: * â€Å"He cans, and She musts†. The transformational cognitive orientation can be effective in the advanced stages of a foreign language acquisition. Thus, for Saudi students at the university higher levels, where advanced courses on linguistics and translation are offered, it is logical to assume that structural drills, repetitions, and memorization techniques will no longer be essential. At this level of advancement in the intimate knowledge of language and culture we may conceive a minimal level of interference from the native tongue (Arabic) of the learners. Yet, such aspects of the target language as deep structure and transformational rules will enable the Saudi learner to understand some of the idiosyncratic forms and ambiguous sentences. Transformational rules will reinforce the learner’s awareness of the syntactic and the semantic relations between various English linguistic patterns. Through these linguistic relations, learners can make inferences and develop some generalizations about the structure of English language. Communication strategies, conversation, and creative essay writing using cultural content will be more beneficial at these levels. With regard to the translation program, the analysis of source language texts that translators have to translate and the analysis of texts they have to create, a process of linking aspects from cognitivism with that of behaviorism should be observed. Negotiating the meaning of the source language text is not just a sociolinguistic matter; it is psycholinguistic as well. Saudi trainees in our translation program happened to have rendered the meaning of â€Å"They are into the habit of splitting straws† based on knowledge acquired through some behavioristic approach and produced a literal erroneous translation outcome. This means that there is always much room for the smaller scale experimentation on the factors affecting the text conversion process. The transformation of a text originally in one language into an equivalent text in a different language demands that the content of the message and the formal features and functional roles of the original text should be retained. In this regard the Saudi trainees translated the verb â€Å"laid† in â€Å"They laid him open to blackmail† without any reference to a likely secondary meaning that the verb â€Å"lay† might imply. This approach supports the belief that much of our experience of the external world of the senses and of the inner world of the mind is mediated by language and by the concepts stored in our memories. These factors refer to entities via the convention of language and do so variably depending on the medium of communication (language used). It is the process that creates the translation outcome and it is only by understanding that process that we can hope to help our Saudi trainees to improve their linguistic skills. Having said that, it is difficult to see how translation theories can move beyond the subjective and the normative evaluation of texts without drawing heavily on aspects from both behaviorism an cognitivism. Translation theories have made little systematic use of the techniques and insights of contemporary linguistics. With this fact in mind, Saudi translation trainees should be trained within a framework that combines features from all branches of cognitivism and behaviorism. This entails developing in the  trainees’ performance and competence a familiarity with and a competence in the use of the psychological and psycholinguistic models of memory and information processing on the one hand, and linguistic models of meaning, including meaning beyond the sentence on the other. Logic of the examples provided above asserts the validity of some aspects of the two psycholinguistic views. Cognitive approach may operate with some specific semantic and pragmatic aspects of L2 by means of exploring features as cohesion, conceptual and connotative meanings, speech acts and kinetics. Such features should, at this stage, receive due consideration. CONCLUSION From the above analysis proceeds that with regard to language acquisition, behavioristic theory can provide much useful information concerning verbal responses and reinforcement. But it is inadequate to account for innate and cognitive features. Transformational theory, on the other hand, provides much useful information on the basic nature of the organism and its internal processes, but makes little or no account of stimulus-response-reinforcement relationships. Unlike the cognitive approach, behavioral approach tends to manipulate the language and disregard the content. Despite the pedagogic significance of both theories, it seems that none of their approaches is complete in itself. For one reason, the nature of the Arabic language has significantly different phonetic and grammatical structure from that of the English language. Due to this difference and as advocated by Smith (1987) there are â€Å"†¦ far fewer areas of facilitation, and far greater areas of interference†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (14) The situation of the Saudi EFL learners at the university level requires an eclectic approach with combined aspects derived from the approaches stated earlier. This approach can guarantee more effective outcome at the pedagogical level. I believe the attitude, the age, and the aptitude of the learners are three factors that should be considered in second language acquisition. A combination of innate propensities and objective necessity create the most favorable attitude. All these factors, including the teaching strategies, stand for fundamental variables in learning a foreign language. Relationship between communicative exchanges and syntactic forms alert the translator to the mechanisms that link the highly abstract and universal proposition with the totally physical and context-dependent utterance or text. REFERENCES (1) Pica, T. P. Communicative Language Teaching: â€Å"An aid to second language acquisition? Some insights from classroom research. † English Quarterly, Vol. 21, No. 2, 1988. , (p. 70) (2) Malmkjaer K. (Ed. ) The Linguistics Encyclopedia, Routledge, Longon, 1991. , (p. 53) (3) Kebbe, Z. M. , Lectures in general Linguistics, An Introductory Course, Arabic Academic Press, Aleppo, 1995. , (p. 14) (4) Op. cit,(P. 53) (5) Aitchison, J. , Linguistics, Hodder Headline, London, 1992. , (p. 24) (6) Ibid. (p. 24) (7) Wilkins, D. A. , Linguistics in Language Teaching, Edward Arnold, London, 1974. , (p. 168-169) (8) Slakie, R. , The Chomsky Update, Linguistics and Politics, Unwin Hyman, Ltd, London 1990. , (p. 19) (9) Crystal,. D. , The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Linguistics, Cambridge University Press 1987. (p. 234) (10) Op. cit. (p. 26) (11) Ibid. , (p. 26) (12) Brown, H. D. and Gonzo, S. , Readings on Second Language Acquisition, Prentice Hall. , p. 77, 1995. (13) Carrol, J. B. , â€Å"The contribution of Psychological Theory and Educational Research to the Teaching of Foreign Language†, in Trends in Language Teaching, Ed. , Valdmen, 1966. (14) Swan, M. and Smith, B. (Ed.) Learner English, Ateacher’s guide to interference and other problems, Cambridge University Press, 1987. , (p. 147) (15) Bloomfield, L. 1933 Language. London: Allen & Unwin. (16) Chomsky, N. Aspects of the Theory of Syntax. Cambridge, Mass. : MIT Press, 1965. (17) Chomsky, No. Syntactic Structures. The Hague: Mouton, 1957. Afaleg, O. â€Å"A Comparison of Morpheme Acquisition Order in Learners of English as a Foreign Language versus English as a Second Language: The Case of Adult Learners in Saudia. Diss. Indiana Univesity, Bloomington, 1991. (18) Qadi, N. S. , â€Å"Acquistion of English Derivational Morphology by Arab Speakers†, Diss. University of Georgia, Athens, 1991. (19) Farraj. , A. M. â€Å"Acquistion of Tense and Aspect in the English Based Inter-Language of Non-native Speakers†, Michigan State University, East Lansing, 1995. (20) Noor, Hashim, â€Å"The Acquisition of temporal Conjunctions by Saudi Arabian Learners of English’, International Journal of Applied Linguistics, Vol. 3, N. 1 (p. 101-2A), 1993. (21) Maghrabi, A. â€Å"The Roles of Psycholinguistic Constraints and Typological Influence in the Acquisition of Pronominal Copies in Relativization by Arabic and English Learners†, Thesis, Georgetown University, Washington, D. C. , 1997.

The Many Beneficial Effects of Adopting a Pet

The Many Beneficial Effects of Adopting a Pet Adopting a pet is advantageous to both the pet owner and the pet. When considering the pros and cons of welcoming a furry friend into the family, many are unaware of the fringe benefits that are gained from having a pet. These benefits are not Just one sided either – both the pet and the owner gain by the association. Besides having an affectionate pal, pet owners experience healthful side effects as a result of their relationship. For adopted animals, the most significant endorsement is much more basic and often overlooked: life.Still, many people are hesitant to take n the responsibility of a pet for various different reasons. We recently decided to make room in our household for a new resident. Having weathered the death of our 14 year old terrier Hercules, we wanted adopt another pet. Prior to arriving at that decision, we did some research to determine what type of animal would best fit into our home, which includes two cats. Of the many choices available to us, we finally settled on adopting another cat from a shelter. Here are my top compelling reasons to own a cat from a local humane organization.It comes as no surprise that each year millions of animals enter shelters and a igh percentage are put to sleep due to overpopulation (Salk, 2013). Pet adoptions from non-profit organizations, shelters or humane societies drastically reduce the necessity to euthanize these displaced animals and provide them with safe, loving homes. Adoption also creates an opportunity for new animals to receive help by freeing up space and resources. In addition to adoption, many humane organizations offer vaccinations, micro chips for tracking and spay or neuter services.There is a common misconception that animals in shelters are there because of behavioral or temperament issues. The reality is that most shelter animals are abandoned for reasons such as divorce, relocation, or financial constraints (Salk, 2013), making thei r situation all the more heart wrenching. Providing a healthy, loving environment is most certainly a wonderful gift to a homeless animal. And while the advantage to the animal is obvious, owners also receive unsought personal benefits. Pets are faithful friends that offer unconditional love and companionship.They keep secrets, aren't Judgmental and simply bloom when shown attention. Cats in particular adore snuggling and appear to be the happiest when in the presence of heir owner. Historically, cats have been characterized as solitary creatures, given to â€Å"diva† personality traits and snooty dispositions. While this might accurately describe the temperament of a few, cats are most commonly known for being loving, playful and inquisitive. It's not unusual for my cat to follow me around the house as I complete chores, watch TV with me or wait patiently outside the door for my re- emergence from the bathroom.As an only child, many times I found myself with the family cat a s my only companion. Though it was sometimes quiet, I never felt alone. When I moved into my first apartment, a cat proved to be the best option for my situation. Cats are the pertect pet tor apartment dwellers due in part to their relatively small size. Unlike dogs, cats are quiet – no raucous barking or whining to annoy the neighbors. They require only small amounts of food for survival and do not need to engage in long sessions of strenuous play for exercise.This makes them a budget friendly, low maintenance pet option. Additionally, cats are independent creatures that typically sleep the majority of the day, making them self-sufficient and very easy o maintain. Unlike many pets, cats require little input from their owner. For entertainment, simply give a cat a ball of yarn and he or she will be quite content to pass the time rolling around on the floor playing. Other playthings, such as cat nip laced balls or feather toys not only provide amusement but have the added adva ntage of providing active cats with exercise.Window sills afford cats the enjoyable opportunity to engage in favorite pastimes such as observing the outside world or soaking up the sun while napping. The low upkeep required for a cat is particularly convenient for hose with busy schedules or limited space. Another time saver is the fact that cats need little training. This is especially helpful when it comes to the potty. While training some animals to use the bathroom can be a time intensive labor of love, cats are quite intelligent and require very little direction.Show a cat the location of the litter box and essentially you're done. Cats are very persnickety about their hygiene and environment; therefore, if the litter box is scooped regularly, there are usually no potty accidents to address. Fastidious creatures, cats are incredibly lean animals and spend hours a day grooming themselves. This behavior is intuitive, much like their ability as hunters. Cats are great contributors to the household and earn their keep. Excellent hunters, cats can often be seen relentlessly chasing a fly or mosquito around the house.Spiders, mice, frogs and other small beasties, all fall prey to playful yet determined cats. Having a cat in residence growing up, we never had to purchase traps or other devices to maintain a vermin free household. While being a hunter is an important aspect of their personalities, cats also provide actual health benefits to heir owners. Studies have shown that pet owners receive quantifiable health benefits directly attributable to their pet. Pets are known to lower blood pressure (Sweat, 2013), reduce stress and even strengthen the immune system (Nazario, 2012).Cats are intuitive and sense the emotional state of their owners. It's been my personal experience that when I'm ill, my cat will not leave my side until I'm better. Loyal companions in sickness and in health, cats can be counted on to provide quiet support, sympathy and affection to assi st their caretakers in overcoming depression or other melancholy moods (Sweat, 2013). Did you know that having a special buddy around even helps to alleviate loneliness? With so many upsides, who wouldn't want a pet?There are countless reasons to own a pet in general and a cat in particular. Cats are the ideal pet for any circumstance, whether living in a house or in the small confines of an apartment. Cats are low maintenance, clean, intelligent and make wonderful friends for all ages. As with any animal, there is no greater expression of love then to offer them a safe haven. To homeless animals, adoption means the difference between life and death. In return, you get a friend for life and improved health. My cats are more than pets – they are my family.   

The Freedom of Information Act 2000 Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Freedom of Information Act 2000 - Case Study Example However, not all information may be divulged by public authorities. Those relating to matters of national security, for example, cannot be given, as well as those which can be properly classified as secret information even of foreign governments or international organizations. Prohibition in these areas is considered absolute and no amount of reconsideration may reverse the same. Other areas, on the other hand, are exempted, subject to some qualifications. In these aspects, the public authority concerned has to decide where the public interest would be subserved more: in maintaining the exemption or not. In case a request is denied, the requesting party may ask for reconsideration from the Information Commissioner who has the power to reverse the decision of the public authority who previously denied the request. This decision, however, may still be appealed to the Information Tribunal, a special tribunal especially created for the same. In relation thereto, the Government per se may interfere and override the decisions of the public authority, Information Commissioner and Information Tribunal.   In short, every right has its own limitations. The national interest cannot be bargained away in exchange for the public's right to know. The Information Act 2000 recognizes this inherent right of every state, the government, in particular, to maintain some qualified information which may prove detrimental to the national interest. The public's right to know, although recognized, is inferior to the national interest, and cannot be placed above and beyond the so-called national interest since the latter affects the country as a whole. Another important consideration is the prohibition on request for personal information, despite the fact that some of them are being kept and recorded by an agency of the government. Since this involves not just public information but mainly personal data of the state's constituents, requests for this kind of information are properly covered by the Data Protection Act 1998. Personal right of individuals and entities are considered beyond the ambit of the state's disposition.

How instrumental are parents in the development of their children Essay

How instrumental are parents in the development of their children - Essay Example The extent to which this is the case, though, continues to be a source of vigorous contention as each side argues that the personality is shaped more by one influence than the other. While the argument that genetics plays a significant role in the development of a personality, it seems clear that the parents play a much greater role in establishing the tools and skills the child will need to function within their particular society. The idea that nurturing plays a more significant role in the development of a child is found in these children’s increased ability to function in society as adults thanks to what they learned from their parents’ actions. From birth, parents play a large role in the life of the child, teaching the child everything they will need to know to function within the society in which the parents find themselves. Through consistent close contact with the child, the parent is able to instill their own ideas, beliefs, practices and behaviors in the child while providing the child with the socialization skills he or she will need for interaction with others. As the first and most persistent contact, the relationship with the parent is thus the starting point from which all children enter the world. According to Jerome Kagan of Harvard University, â€Å"Parents who regularly talk and read to their children usually produce children with the largest vocabularies, the highest intellig ence scores, and the best academic grades †¦ Parents who reason with their children while making requests for obedience usually end up with more civil children† (101). The importance of this association is further highlighted in studies that have been conducted on young orphans who have undergone periods of neglect or privation as a result of their family tragedy. When these children were placed in nurturing homes, they were often able to overcome their early

The 13th Bracey Report on the Condition of Public Education (Phi Delta Essay

The 13th Bracey Report on the Condition of Public Education (Phi Delta Kappan Oct2003, Vol. 85, issue 2, p148164, 17p - Essay Example Therefore, the NAEP's definition will predominate and, given that numerous institutions and organizations have assessed it as "fundamentally flawed," this is hardly a positive development (Bracey, 2003, p. 149). As proof of the problematic nature of flawed and discrepant proficiency definitions, Bracey (2003) points towards the fact that while the assessment tests used in Texas declared over 9 out of 10 eighth grade students proficient at mathematics, the NAEP assessment tests put the number at only 2.4 students out of every 10. The implication here is that the absence of a single, agreed-upon definition for proficiency leads to flawed and inaccurate assessment tests. Matching the problematic nature of the proficiency issue is the NCLB's "requirements for highly qualified teachers" (Bracey, 2003, p. 149). Stating that by 2005-2006 all teachers had to meet the new qualification standards, the NCLB quite effectively called for the impossible. In the first place, the 100% expectation is unrealistic and virtually impossible to fulfill. In the second place, while one of the criterion for qualification is "full state certification," the NCLB does not identify the components of full certification (Bracey, 2003, p. 151).

Business Strategy Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Business Strategy - Assignment Example According to this theory, a producer should work hard to make a product that has an appealing design, such that the customer gets to like the product before even using it. This theory explains that, for the satisfaction of the customers, the strategy that the business takes into consideration should tolerate achievements that are not for the long-term sustenance; rather, they should tolerate achievements that are lofty. There should be the addressing of the competitive advantage keenly in this context of business. The theory explains that for a business to achieve the strategy, it should be defensive rather than offensive; this helps the business to avoid the acute angle, leading to the loss of customers (Campbell & Edgar 2011). Theory of pricing For customers to afford the goods that are in the offer, the prices should be at their level of income. Thus, a legitimate business strategy should ensure that the pricing favours the majority of customers. According to this theory, the busi ness should first evaluate the level of income of the customer by conducting presale marketing, thus, they are able to know what is the best price to sell the goods such that they realise the optimum profits. Market mixing theory This theory aims at tapping customers from all runs of life by a business. Thus, the business ensures that the products that the business creates possess no bias on grounds of age, sex or religion. According to the theory, conducting of promotions ensures that the business learns of the potential market, thus, is able to establish the various strategies to put in place so as to increase its market. Production of products that favour all the people is the consideration in this technique (Ireland & Hoskisson 2008). Theory of competency The theory by McDonald’s explains that a business should consider a strategy that allows for the competence of employees for the maximum production. The technique indicates that the business should ensure that the strate gy does not create monotony on the workers. Giving breaks during working hours and offering considerable salaries, as well as vocational training to its employees, ensures competency (Kourdi 2009). Critical reflection in presentation of work This is essential in comparing the theory business aspects to the practical bit of business. Consideration of these factors ensures that there are minimal errors in running of the business. In work under presentation, there is a comprehensive description of the work done, from the resources in application to the actual sale of the goods. Use of critical reflection is through the determination of the actual meaning of the description. There is critical reflection due to the addition of the depth and breadth. This is through questioning things that help in the relation of the meaning of the work under presentation to a context of professional, as well as personal issues. The application of this work is essential because a business will succeed if what the management outlines for the business, that is, the theory bit is the same to the practical bit of business. Thus, customers get the best satisfaction from the products that a business sells to them (Ireland & Hoskisson 2008). The various techniques aim at legitimating the operations of the business such that the business strategy shows a building platform which ensures there is consolidation of numerous products that the business produces. The consolidation of the products leads to massive profits by the business, as

How the rise of China has hurt the US economy Research Paper

How the rise of China has hurt the US economy - Research Paper Example However, there are fears for the US economy that China’s economic growth may beset America’s economy. Over time, China has accumulated trillions of American dollars of currency reserves. Out of these reserves, about 800 billion US dollars are treasury bonds. This development is a culmination of escalating balance of trade surpluses that China has had with America, since China sells to the US much more than America can sell to China. In the course of this development, China has played the instrumental role of elbowing many American manufacturers out of business (Clark and Monk, 99-100) According to Liang, with the large stockpile of money mentioned above and the leverage this stockpile gives China, China is now threatening to dump the US treasury bonds and the American dollar on the market. The crux of the matter herein is that in the event that China executes this move, America’s currency will have been significantly devalued and the price of goods will skyrocket. This means that America’s economy will have been crippled. Although China has never made good this threat, yet the fact that it made this threat reveals its possibility. This situation has been gradually building up and it therefore continues to place America in a precarious position. This is because America has been producing less and has continued to increasingly survive on imports (Liang, 54). Mundell contends that a very strong way in which China’s growing economy continues to undermine America’s economy is by blocking US’ exports. What informs this decision by China is the fact that the People’s Republic of China reserves the largest part of its market strictly for state-owned businesses. The Beijing Administration demands that state-owned organizations have dominance domestic markets in railways, coal, telecom and other areas of key strategic interests. This means that these firms are immune from

Master project ( protien intake and bone lose) in elderly PowerPoint Presentation

Master project ( protien intake and bone lose) in elderly - PowerPoint Presentation Example of studies have documented several advantages of protein intake in elderly, on the other hand, a huge number of studies have found protein intake as disadvantageous for older people. The present study intends to make a huge contribution to the ongoing studies on the relationship between bone loss in elderly and protein intake not only by conducting a close investigation of the relationship between protein intake and bone health among older people, but also by investigating into the issues of the effects of dietary components which acts as supplement to protein, type of protein as well as of lifestyle of the elderly. (Weikert et al. 2005) All these literatures have been reviewed for extensive information on protein intake, its advantages and disadvantages. Selective articles and sources have been collected to throw adequate light on this issue The principal aim of the present research is to examine the relationship between protein intake and risks of bone loss in elderly, hence the present research tries to answer the question whether protein intake affects bone health of older people. It is very often presumed that no matter what is the level of protein intake, if a old person follow an exercise routine regularly then his/her bone health will get improved. So it will be quite interesting to find out whether regular exercise is alone effective in reducing bone loss in elderly, or it is protein intake which is essential for preventing bone loss during older ages. So to check the effectiveness of protein intake on bone health a null hypothesis that regular exercise can alone be effective in reducing bone loss in elderly can be tested. If this hypothesis is rejected on the basis of the results obtained then it can be said that protein intake plays a significant role in reducing bone loss. The main problem associated with gathering information regarding these variables is that appropriate secondary data is not readily available for these variables. Hence primary

Human Resources Organisational Change and Development Essay

Human Resources Organisational Change and Development - Essay Example This is a real case study of a merger between these two companies. Both the companies were multinationals having offices in various parts of the world. However, this case study refers to the change management problems encountered in Pakistan. The change process was first adopted in other countries and implemented as is in Pakistan after their success. During the year 2004, the Group Sanofi-Synthelabo and Aventis merged to create Sanofi-Aventis. Sanofi-Aventis operates within the Pharmaceutical preparations sector. The Group's principal activities are the research, production and distribution of pharmaceuticals. It has operations in more than one hundred countries worldwide on 5 continents. Consolidated sales of 25 billon euros and 4 billion euros Research & Development expenditure based on 2003 reported figures Sanofi and Aventis are both well known pharmaceutical companies. However, with time, their certain geographical operations centers have become non-productive and year after year are unable to deliver the same performance as it used to. There are various factors that made this merger necessary including: The management of both the companies i.e. ... Increase in price of labour, minimum wage laws THE REASON TO CHANGE Change Objective: - The basic objective was to successfully create the worlds third largest pharmaceutical group. INDUSTRY LEADERSHIP According to the last IMS report Sanofi-Aventis is the 3rd largest company worldwide and number one in Europe. The market share of 5.6% is also amongst the highest in the industry. Research and Development Expenses at Sanofi-Aventis are among the top 3 in the industry. Their growth rate of over 11.4% as reflected by IMS and market share of 4.6% is among the top in the industry. Their sale is approximately 3+ billion The management of both the companies i.e. Aventis and Sanofi realized that this would include a complete change management program to be devised keeping in mind the individual nature of the organizations internal cultures. This change management program had to be devised in such a way as to minimize dissatisfaction and job insecurity in the current human resource employed at both the companies. For this purpose, both the companies decided to opt for planned change. According to Stephen P. Robbins, "planned change, refers to change activities that are intentional and goal oriented" The planned change programs to be implemented at both the organizations were to encompass the following spheres: Changing structure, or in essence redesigning of organizational structure. The critical issue faced was duplication of human resources at similar parallel positions. For these cases the candidate with the better profile including education, technical expertise, years of experience and skills up gradation , would retain the old job designation, responsibilities, whereas the other candidate would be offered a

Persuasive Paper Essay Example for Free

Persuasive Paper Essay Toilet paper is a material item that most people use. This paper has a big impact on our society. Not many people pay attention to how they put their paper on they just sort of throw it all together in a matter of seconds. One day I noticed that my paper was harder to get than normal, then I noticed that the beginning of the paper was hanging from the back of the roll instead of laying on it or hanging over the front. This startled me, I did not realize until then that you can put your toilet paper either the front or the back. I said to myself This can not be, my paper is all wrong it should not be this way! (I made gestures). So I have come to decide that having your toilet paper is better in the front of the roll compared to the back. When most people go to sit down on their toilet they expect their paper to be there. Well what if your paper was there and a good full amount was present but when you go to reach for it, it seems a little bit farther away, well this is because your paper may have been placed wrong. Lets think about this in a conservative way. If you have a small child then you will know what I mean, Little kids like to play with toilet paper, some even like to eat it! Well if you have your paper in the front it will make it harder for the child to pull more of the roll from its original state, as opposed to if you had your paper in the back, the kid could pull it so hard, tons of it will roll because of the downward motion, and this may cause the tug to be to powerful and may rip the toilet paper, Then you would not be able to roll the paper back to its original rolling position. Having the paper in the front is also very convenient for easier toilet paper rolling. If the paper was in the back, you have to reach under or around the roll to get your paper, and then pull it in a downward motion, If you pull it straight towards you, it is liable to break! I have asked around to find if anyone likes there paper in the back position, I found out some people do! I asked those people why on earth they could like the paper in the back. They said: Because if you pull it from the back, you can have a faster speed of rolling paper I replied, But a lot of  the time the paper breaks and then you have bits and pieces he said, Bits and pieces are not always bad. You can just add them to your handful of toilet paper that youre going to use. I just shook my head nicely and thought to myself of an old saying an old man said to me once: Its quality not quantity. In conclusion, I have decided after hearing both sides that having you paper in front is indeed better than in the back. So the next time you are putting your roll of toilet paper on, you just remember that if you have a kid, think about your toilet paper placement. Think about your arm and hand energy when you go to grab a few sheets. Think about the quality of your handful and not the quantity!

The Materials Management In Malaysia Construction Construction Essay

The Materials Management In Malaysia Construction Construction Essay In construction, materials and equipment account for 50-60 of the project cost, and the most common cause of delays in construction is lack of materials (Amir Tavakoli  Ã‚  Adil Kakalia, 1993). Studies conducted by the Construction Industry Institute, American Association of Cost Engineers, and others have emphasized the importance of construction materials management (Amir Tavakoli  Ã‚  Adil Kakalia, 1993). These studies have concluded that effective materials management system will result in a 6-8% improvement in labour productivity, improved cash flow, reduced bulk materials surplus, reduced materials management human resource, improved vendor performance, reduced requirement for physical warehouse facilities, quantity purchasing discounts, minimized cost impact of change orders, and fewer project delays. The saving made as a result of these improvements outstrip the cost of implementing a materials management system by ten to one (Amir Tavakoli  Ã‚  Adil Kakalia, 1993). Nowadays, the cost of materials for construction is increasing form year to year due to market force, lack of natural resources, and etc. In order to reduce the construction cost, material management has to be carrying out to control the construction cost to make more profit. 1.2 Problem statement Lack of materials management in construction will result in rising of construction cost, more wastage, lowering the profit and etc. In order to make a higher profit with a high construction cost, developer tend to sell their development in a higher price and hence building cost will become higher and result in purchaser have to pay a larger afford on the payment. Government should pay more afford to contractor on materials management in order to reduce wastage as nowadays our world is more concern in recycle and also to reduce the afford of people to buy a comfort residential for themselves or to get a shop to undergoes their business. 1.3 Objectives 1. To identify whether the materials management system are properly carried out in construction site. 2. To determine the proper way in carrying out materials management on construction site. 2. To determine the advantages of the used of materials management. 1.4 Rationale of study Building materials is a important resources in a construction industry. No matter how big or small the project is, contractor should pay more attention on building materials in order to reduce wastage and also to maximize their profit. Many construction companies still do not do well in materials management which can help them to make more profit and also to help their construction running smoothly. So, there are some reasons why this research needs to be carried out. First of all, how to applied and organised the proper materials management system to a project. Secondly, how to increase the profit of construction company by the used of materials management system. Hopefully, this research will give a clear picture on materials management and provide a guideline for local construction company to improve their materials management system. 1.5 Methodology Methodology method to be used is questionnaires. First, aims and objectives will be planned and draft out all the content needed. After finalize the survey questionnaire, 30 samples will be conducted by sending to different construction company. The targeted constructions companies contacts are obtain from internet, friends and newspaper. After collected the questionnaires, the data collected will be analyze. Conclusion and recommendations will have made at the end of the research. The purpose of using questionnaires is that it can be compare different ways of materials management system carried out by different construction company and this also is an easy way to collect data. Chapter 2 Literature review 2.1 Definition Materials management is an organizational philosophy that has evolved through application of the systems approach to management, an approach that provides for integration of all management functions. A primary objective of this philosophy is to coordinate all business activities that are part of the materials cycle, from supplier through company operations and on to the customer. Materials management is an umbrella that integrates all the critical materials sub functions and , as such, is a major company function, among such others as engineering, finance, and manufacturing as show in figure 1.1(Eugene L. Magad and John M. Amos, 1995): Capture Figure : Major company function cooperating to achieve common objectives A simpler definition of materials management could be the line of responsibility which begins with the selection of suppliers and ends when the material is delivered to its point of use. (Dean S. Ammer, 1969). Material managements is a concept which brings together under one manager the responsibility for determining the manufacturing requirements, scheduling the manufacturing process, and procuring, storing and dispersing material. As such it is concerned with, and control, activities involved in the acquisition and use of all material employed in the production of a finished good. (R J Carter and P M Price, 1993) 2.2 Concept Neither the terminology nor the concept of a totally integrated material organization has been accepted by all business throughout the world. Many of the local company use the different term to coding this management such as Material Management, logistics, and Physical distribution for similar organizations. Others have embraced the title but not the full organizational philosophy. Despite different names, however, the trend in recent years has been for companies to adopt the materials management or logistics management title. (Eugene L. Magad and John M. Amos, 1995) Business costs attributable to material are significant portion of the total cost of goods and services. Increasingly, companies are recognizing the need to implement this type of organization to maximize profits, improve customer service, establish needs controls, and reduce costs. (Eugene L. Magad and John M. Amos, 1995) 2.3 Functions of Material Management In building construction industry, Material Management works with all departments, the major function is to provide the right materials to the right operating point at the right time in a usable condition and at the minimum cost. So, in generally the Material Management play an important role whether the profit the Contractors firm will maximize or remain unchanged. (R.J.Carter and P.M Price, 1993) Besides that, the amount of wastage also reduced with the used of materials management as nowadays what our community concern more about in the term of Recycle. Below are the basic function of the use of materials management in construction industry: Classification of materials Location on site Movement on site Reduction of waste Quality Control The main point of Material Management is to satisfy the needs of all operating systems, such as the manufacturing production line, the need arising from customer demand patterns, promotional activities and physical distribution schedules. (Ian E Chandler, 1978) 2.3.1 Classification of materials Materials can be classified into groups reflecting the manner in which they can be handled and stored on the site. The way in which a material is delivered will determine how it is offloaded and where it is located. For example, sand will arrive in a tip-up body vehicle and will need to deposit onto an even clean base with walls to prevent excessive spreading. No labour will be required other than an operative directing the vehicle. (Ian E Chandler, 1978) The classification can be divided into five broad areas. Bulk The material is delivered in bulk and deposited on site into some form of container. These materials have a high wastage rate and tend to be used indiscriminately. (Ian E Chandler, 1978) Bagged A bulk material placed in bags for ease of handling and controlled use in small quantities. The bag also offers some protection against wastage and deterioration. Generally, to ensure speedy unloading a large number of operatives are required to carry the bags to the storage point. (Ian E Chandler, 1978) Palleted Bagged materials can be loaded onto pallets on the transport vehicle and on arrival at the site mechanical means can be used to offload them, such as fork lift trucks or cranes. (Ian E Chandler, 1978) Packaged An increasing number of materials are packaged to prevent damage during transit and deterioration in storage. They can be banded together fully enclosed or just protected at their most vulnerable parts. (Ian E Chandler, 1978) Loose Components are in a partially fabricated state it may not be feasible to pallet or package them. They will have to handled individually according to their weight, size and intrinsic strength. (Ian E Chandler, 1978) The firms policy should be, wherever possible, to obtain the materials either palette or packaged. This will generally involve the buyer in negotiations with the suppliers to determine the most suitable requirements. There are advantages that will be of benefit to both parties: (Ian E Chandler, 1978) Faster turn-round for vehicles on site Quicker and easier loading at the source Possible rationalization of pallet sizes and loads, together with package sizes. As a summary for classification of materials by classify the materials into five groups, it can help to aid the site management in determining the handling and storage policy and practice it needs to carry out on the site. The manner in which the material is delivered will determine its storage location, when it will be required, and how it will be off-loaded and transported. (Ian E Chandler, 1978) 2.3.2 Location on site The overriding objective of the location of materials and components on the site is that they should be as close to the point of use as is practically and economically possible. (Ian E Chandler, 1978) When materials are delivering from a far distance to the site, it will result in wasting time in delivering, risk of damage to the materials and also an increase in the cost of materials. It is necessary that the distance of the delivering materials to be managed. In develop a plan for this management, the factor which will affect the plan is the time, space, labour, plant and costs. Time. If the contract has to be completed in a relatively short time compared to similar projects, then the cost of material handling becomes a secondary consideration. It is necessary to stock-pile materials to cushion the effects of irregular delivery. This will have to be re-handled at a later date if they are deposited some distance away from the point of use. The net effect on the programme in achieving continuous production to obtain completion on time may, in this particular case, justify the extra expenditure for the double handling. (Ian E Chandler, 1978) Space. On the majority of sites the space available for the storage and movement of materials and components is the major consideration. The amount of land left around a building or a group of building is restricted owning to design and cost factors. The cost of land is very high, owing mainly to its scarcity value for building, this means that the building will take up as much as of the available land area. The developer must achieve a balance between a high density of population and areas for leisure amenities. (Ian E Chandler, 1978) Labour and plant. The off-loading and handling of materials in site which should be carry out by worker or machine has to be done correctly. The important of this is more main on time as time is very important for construction. For example, by using a crane to lift concrete to a high floor is much for faster than carrying by worker as the amount to be lifted is much larger and the time used is much more shorter. But there still many item that must be carry by worker such as some small item which carry only a small amount and easily broken item should be carry by worker carefully to avoid losing or damage to the item. Costs. Whatever the outcome of looking at the location problem from the point of view of time, space or labour and plant the ultimate decision will inevitably be tempered by the cost factor. If the costs exceed the budget for that particular operation a decision will have to be taken in the best interests of the project. It may be justifiable to exceed the estimate for one activity in order to produce a saving in another. If after a number of feasible solutions have been obtained on the basis of the other limiting factors, then the distinguishing criteria will be cost, with the problem being solved by using the cheapest method. (Ian E Chandler, 1978) 2.3.3 Movement on Site Movement on site mean to move the material from 1 position to another position. Incorrect ways of movement might cause damage to the materials and increase the costs. Basically, movement on site can be divided into 2 types which is horizontal movement and vertical movement. For horizontal movement, the aim is to ensure that the material is moved from one position to another over the site to minimize time, handling, damage and costs by using routes planned to ensure safety and ease travel. The routes should be defined by laying roads or marking their width. Material checker should have the responsibility and authority to police the activity. (Ian E Chandler, 1978) Plant should be well maintained to avoid break down of vehicle in the way of delivery or any other to avoid wasting time on delivery. This might cause delay of construction when materials deliver to the site late and hence causes lost to the contractor. While for vertical movement, this is the movement of materials from one level to another in either a strict perpendicular manner or with a certain amount of horizontal movement. (Ian E Chandler, 1978) Very little vertical movement, except in single or two storey buildings, is carried out by labour excluding for example, bricks and mortar in hods and the placing of sanitary fittings. Labours intensive lifting is expensive both in time and money. The optimum is to get the materials to the required level in the most efficient way. Lifting plant should be positioned around the building to ensure that excessive horizontal movement within the structural envelope is minimized. It should be positioned around the structural envelope is minimized. It should be able to carry component that needs to lifted, also bearing in mind its overall size. The load must be carried safelt and should be secured if there is the slightest danger of it falling. If the lifting conveyance is fixed provision has to be made to prevent the load falling outside the area occupied by the lift appliance. (Ian E Chandler, 1978) The amount of space on site will determine the allocation of the horizontal and vertical movement corridors, with an inherent danger of excessive travel by the site transport on an unlimited site and detailed planning required on a restricted one. The mode of transport to the site will affect how and where the materials will be offloaded. Site corridors should be designated according to vehicle or pedestrian use and prepared according to the loads they will have to convey. The type of transport will have to convey. The type of transport will have to be decided at the planning stage to ensure that deliveries can be handled efficiently. Vertical movement will depend upon the materials to be lifted and the height they have to reach. (Ian E Chandler, 1978) 2.3.4 Reduction of Waste Contractors are often active in the design phase when involved in design-build, construction management at risk, and agency construction management contractual relationships. This early involvement in the process provides the opportunity to help build realistic specifications for reducing waste in the construction process. (William R. Mincks Hal Johnston, 2012) Designers are typically aware of the physical attributes of materials; however, they dont usually consider the waste generated by the use of the material in the construction process. The contractor ia aware of the efficient use of material and its waste in each application. This insight can help the designer choose the optimal material for each particular use. (William R. Mincks Hal Johnston, 2012) The specification need to reflect what the owner is intending to accomplish concerning waste management. The specification should include requirements to achieve reduction of waste, such as requiring detailed waste management plans form the contractor and trade contractors on the jobsite. (William R. Mincks Hal Johnston, 2012) Waste is generated in a systematic process that can be scheduled. Begin making schedule requirements that will illustrate when and how waste will be generated. The schedule should be used to better understand waste generation and how best to recycle, reuse, or dispose of the different kinds of materials being used on the project. (William R. Mincks Hal Johnston, 2012) Figure 2.0 shows the composition of construction waste. C:UsersUserDesktopwaste.PNG Figure : Composition of construction waste Closer cooperation between designer and contractor in the design stages of building can help to prevent waste. The present form of competitive tendering produces a waste of contractors management resources in the synthesis of an unaccepted tender. This is also reflected in the successful tender in so much as the contractor will have had little or no influence over the design. His experience could have alleviated some of the waste brought about by inherent design factors. The incidence of waste has repercussions throughout the contract. Its effect will be seen through extra administrative work by management personnel, an increase in contract time, reallocation of labour, extra costs in replacement of materials, remedying faulty work because of materials, and extra costs in cleaning and disposing of waste materials. (Ian E Chandler, 1978) 2.3.5 Quality Control According to Sidney M. Levy (2007), the control of quality construction begins with an intensive review of the plans and specifications. There may be few deficiencies in the plans and specifications, some of which may have been uncovered during the estimating process, while other were unearthed by the subcontractor and vendors. The project superintendent may have unearthed constructability issues during his or her review. The need for all parties to thoroughly examine the documents under their control cannot be overemphasized. When problem are uncovered early in the game, the impact and associated costs are considerably less. Quality control is the function which must be performed throughout an organization in order to achieve its quality objectives. To produce effective quality control of incoming materials and components a practical site based system must be adopted. The control of work-in-progress will not be discussed unless it overlaps the system to be applied to materials. (Ian E Chandler, 1978) Component of building is cannot without the present of quality control because of the interrelationship of each others. The quality must set at the target where it is likely possible to achieved and sufficient. If the target of quality is arrange out of the capability, it not just wasting the time but also create delay of the project. So, quality control is not just based on what quality standard is to be achieved, but it is also based on the existing techniques and capability to control the quality. In order to control the quality of materials, materials can be inspected by 3 method which is visual method, tactile method, and statistical method. Inspection is not carried out by using either one of these methods but by according to the type of materials by using which method. Inspection is preferred to be carry out before the materials are unloaded as this can avoid unnecessary defective hence to prevent from wasting time and energy to demolish and rebuild. Visual inspection is generally only possible if the items are not packaged and where the quality can be seen at a glance, eg timber. During unloading some damaged goods may be found if a competent person is in charge. If it is left to untrained operatives to unload, damage may be caused and defective items not noticed and their importance realized. Checks should be carried out prior to and during unloading, with a final check on the method of protection. The vast majority of quality control checks are visual and defective material is generally easily recognized. (Ian E Chandler, 1978) For tactile inspection, from the appearance of a material it may be seen to be defective or of a poor quality but by touching it this can be confirmed. This method of inspection has only a limited application and is usually confined to materials such as sand, cement, plaster and joinery timber. (Ian E Chandler, 1978) By using statistical techniques on samples from bulk deliveries the state of the whole deliver can be fairly accurately forecast. It is not intended to describe here the mathematics behind these techniques but to show where they can be applied on the site. The most common sampling test used is the concrete cube test. A quality if concrete is taken from a batch, and compacted into a number of cast iron cubes. These are allowed to cure for a specific number of days and then the concrete cubes are tested for compressive strength. It is assumed that the cubes represent the whole batch of concrete and that the results of the tests on the sample reflect the expected results if all the concrete was tested. This same technique can be used on bricks, aggregate, timber, and components. (Ian E Chandler, 1978) Suggested by Ian E Chandler (1978), to be effective a quality control system should be based on a close liaison between the architect and the builder. A system should be developed in conjunction with the general materials handling procedures and this carried out under the responsibility of the person in control of materials. The system must be set the quality standard, plan how it is to be adopted, implement the methods of inspection and provide for a long term control of quality. An efficient system will cover its costs, ensure that a job is executed to the satisfaction of the architect and possibly provide and additional saving for the contractor. With strict control, pressure can be brought to bear on the materials suppliers and with good quality materials a high standard of workmanship can be achieved in creating the finished article. 2.4 Advantages of Material Management in Building Construction In Building construction industries, what is the advantages of Material Management will bring the benefit to Contractors Company. In fact, the adoption of Material Management by the Contractors Company will generate a number of significantly valuable advantages in terms of total organizational control and materials control. In according to Eugene L. Magad and John M. Amos (1995), the advantages are as follows: Maximun company profit Improved customer service Improvement of credibility Enhancement of communication Improved quality of staff 2.4.1 Maximum company profit According to Eugene L. Magad and John M. Amos (1995), like other major company functions, Material Management is mainly responsible to maximize the company profits. Because Material Management control the company 4M which is materials, machines, manpower, and money, it has significant potential for increasing company profits by reducing costs. Cost reduction opportunities are possible throughout the material function. Some typical examples are as follows: Decreasing part shortages (resulting in more efficient use of labour, plant and materials). Reducing inventory level through improved controls. Lowering transportation costs as result of using minimum cost of transport vehicle to send the building materials Always ensure the material is order and send to the site at the suitable time, prevent any material which is brought to the site prematurely. If possible, purchasing manager should order the material in large quantity and enjoy certain amount of discount. (Material in large quantity like cement, timber, and etc where can be store for longer period of time) Material Management can make an important contribution to a companys profit margin by reducing total costs, which can then provide a reduction in Building development price. Reduction development price can result in higher sales during the periods of marketing for completed building, as well as the ability to maintain sales volume during a contracting market. Another benefit achieved by reducing materials cost is that can help a company to maintain the same product (Building) price during periods of increasing resources costs. (Eugene L. Magad and John M. Amos , 1995) According to Elijah E. Ogbadu (2009), materials management and marketing department should cooperate in ensuring the organization for the profitability. Materials management has the ability to produce the exact quality of the materials used to avoid wastage to obtain the lowest possible cost which will then bring marketing maintain competitive advantage. Consequently sales and profit will be increased. 2.4.2 Improved customer service The second benefit of applied the Material Management in building industry is that the product quality provided to the customer will increased. Quality control is part of the essential topic under the Material Management function. In regard with the product quality, the firm which adopted the Material Management system will normally balanced their product cost and quality. It is not true that with the lowest cost of product will decline the quality of the product. When the building sales in the market with the reasonable cost and better quality, then it will constantly maintain the customer product quality and with lower building cost. (Eugene L. Magad and John M. Amos , 1995) 2.4.3 Improvement of credibility An important factor in the day-to-day operation of a company is the reliability and accuracy of each groups performance and activities. Each and group within the company must depend on others for correct timing and performance, if anyone falters, the overall performance is affected. In some respects, company activities are more complex than this. Individual department begin to take safety precautions when they are forced to work with others who are less reliable than they. With a Material Management organization, various functions (marketing, manufacturing, etc) get better, more reliable service. The Material Management organization provides credibility of performance, which helps to reduce costs and lessen confusion. It also contributes to an atmosphere of mutual and cooperation. (Eugene L. Magad and John M. Amos , 1995) 2.4.4 Enhancement of communication The Material Management offer the benefit of enhance the communication by provide a communication network that reacts quickly and facilitates improved rational action throughout the system. Combining the various fragmented groups enhances communication by shortening message channels, allowing common use of data, providing greater potential use of communication through data processing equipment, and encouraging the flow of information between people. (Eugene L. Magad and John M. Amos , 1995) 2.4.5 Improved quality of staff This statement given that the material manager will promote team based working and will offer greater promotion and staff development opportunities, the company will attract a higher capability staff to work together. Majority, the employee will aim for higher status of working environment and also challenging work. The company with systematic organization may attract those experienced staff working within the firm, so the company with Material Management system is form of systematic approach which will create a good image to company. (Eugene L. Magad and John M. Amos , 1995)

Sexual Education in High School Essay examples -- Education, Teenagers

High school is a time for teenagers to discover themselves, explore their futures, meet new people, try new activities, and become more independent. Along with the new opportunities comes peer pressure and tough decisions. Most of the decisions are basic like choosing to go shopping with friends instead of studying for a math test or skipping soccer practice to go on a date with a crush. The consequences of simple work or friends decisions are minor. The teenager may get a bad grade on the math test and have to run extra laps at practice the next day but his life will not be significantly altered. Some decisions, however, are more complicated. In high school teenagers begin to date and engage in physical contact such as kissing. As relationships become more serious, pressure to perform other sexual acts increases. In order to make the best choice on an important decision requires information and knowledge on the subject, risks, consequences, and options available. Without proper information in regards to sexual intercourse and the risks associated with such actions, teenagers cannot be expected to make the best decision when it comes to performing sexual acts. Comprehensive sexual education needs to be taught in American high schools to increase the knowledge of teenagers on the risks of sexual intercourse and the preventative measures available to reduce the risks so teenagers can make informed decisions. The risks associated with the performance of sexual acts include pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, and sexually transmitted infections. When the risks become reality, the lives of the affected teenager are changed negatively. Teen pregnancies inhibit the education of women with only â€Å"about half (51%) of [them rece... ...ple do not support teaching about or providing contraceptives to teenagers. In the article â€Å"Distributing Condoms in Schools Encourages Teen Sex†, John D. Hartigan wrote, â€Å"†¦ supplying teenagers with condoms inevitably produces a marked increase in their sexual activity† (11). Regardless of the availability of condoms and other forms of contraceptives, teenagers will still engage in sexual intercourse. The article â€Å"Effective Sex Education† by Brigid McKeon for the Advocates for Youth states the information, such as contraception use and availability, taught in â€Å"comprehensive sex education†¦ [does] not increase rates of sexual initiation† (12) The only difference between making contraceptives easily available to teenagers and preventing teenagers access to contraceptives is the number of teenagers who are unprotected from pregnancy and sexually transmitted illnesses.

Whether Ritalin is Overprescribed or Not :: Argumentative Ritalin Prescription Drugs Essays

Whether Ritalin is Overprescribed or Not Is Ritalin the Answer to AD (H) D?The tousled brown hair that weaves so mischievously around his head may hint at the way he feels inside. He is seven-years-old and has already had to repeat a grade. He has an imagination that puts others to shame, but nothing seems to hold his attention for more than five minutes. He was recently diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or what we call AD (H) D.This scene is all too familiar for individuals who discover that they, too, have this learning disorder as they progress from elementary school to college. And in today's society we want a "quick fix" to remedy our problems. Therefore doctors are prescribing the drug, Ritalin, to control AD (H) D. Although Ritalin is a widely used drug to control AD (H) D, there are other safer alternatives to combat this worldwide disorder.Ritalin, like many other drugs, has several side effects-some of which are severe. Ritalin is in a class of drugs called Methylphetamines. These types of drugs (also called Central Nervous System or CNS stimulants) affect our central nervous system that controls everything from thought process to everyday breathing. Ritalin's major side effects influences the cardiovascular system (palpitation, tachycardia, and increased blood pressure), the central nervous system (psychosis, dizziness, headache, insomnia, tic syndromes, attacks of Gilles de la Tourette), gastrointestinal (anorexia, nausea), endocrine/metabolic system (weight loss, growth suppression). Also, Ritalin is a fairly new drug (introduced in the early eighties). It hasn't been around long enough to study the long-term effects.Since Ritalin is a Methylphetamine (closely related to the amphetamine f amily, such as cocaine), it has a high rate of abuse. In light of methylphenidate's abuse liability, it is important to note the tremendous increase in availability of this substance and the expanded population (adolescents and adults) receiving prescriptions for the treatment of AD (H) D. For example, the production quota for methylphenidate has increased from 1,361 kg in 1985 to 10,410 kg in 1995 with the primary increases occurring in the last five years. This drug is abused in two ways. One way is for recreational purposes. The abusers use the drug as a form of "speed" to pick themselves up. They feel that they need this in order to be "alive" and full of life. The other way this drug is abused is very different. Students are using Ritalin as a study aid.

Puerto Ricans Immigrating to America Essay -- Puerto Rican History Cul

Puerto Ricans Immigrating to America The migration of Puerto Ricans to the United States occurred in two major waves. The first wave was in the 1910s-1940s and the second wave was from the 1960s to the 1990s. Each wave of migrants brought new generations of Puerto Ricans to the United States. Both waves of migrants believed that they were going to live a better life in America and migrated to major cities such as New York City, Chicago, Hartford, etc. The early migrants looked for industrial jobs such as in cigar factories while the later migrants found agricultural work such as in tobacco fields. The communities in which they lived grew larger and larger due to chain migration and because of this, the need for politics evolved. However, the type of politics that evolved as a result were different for each wave, yet had many similarities as well. If you would like to learn a little more about Puerto Rican migration itself, read Jamie Hellman's paper and Shakira Ramos' which goes into more depth. Class politics was the major form of politics that evolved during the early half of the twentieth century. According to Bernardo Vega, the tabaqueros were the only organized group in existence. They formed many clubs whose membership was not limited to Puerto Ricans only. Although the clubs consisted mainly of Cuban and Puerto Ricans, other people of different ethnic origins were members. One reason for this can be that the main leaders were exiles who had radical views and wanted change quick. Their concern was of homeland issues and they fought for independence from Spain. Concentrating on home issues, they paid no attention to their hostland (meaning America) issues because they lived with the belief that they were... ...from The Commuter Nation: Perspectives on Puerto Rican Migration," ed. By Carlos Antonio Torre, Hugo Rodriguez Vecchini, and William Burgos. (Rio Piedras, PR: Editorial de la Universidad de Puerto Rico, 1994), 313-328 2. James Dietz, Migration and International Corporations: The Puerto Rican Model of Development," ed. By Carlos Antonio Torre, Hugo Rodriguez Vecchini, and william Burgos. (Rio Piedras, PR: Editorial de la Universidad de Puerto Rico, 1994), 153-170 3. Tom Seidl, Janet Shenk, and Adrian DeWind, "The San Juan Shuttle: Puerto Ricans on Contract," from The Puerto Ricans: Their History, Culture, and Society, ed. by Adalberto Lopez. 2d. Ed. (New York: Shenkman, 1980), 417-431 . Video: "Pa’lante, Siempre Pa'lante!" [The Story of the Young Lords Party], Written and Directed by Iris Morales.

Cherns staffing Essay

The strategic staffing process is guided by a set of staffing goals (process and outcome goals) that are logically linked with the company’s business strategy, culture and values. CHERN has managed to create a competitive advantage by providing quality products and the best customer service in the industry. Superior quality customer service is the company’s business strategy and this is linked to a very aggressive growth strategy for the next 5 years. The table below helps to understand the implications that the business growth strategy has on the staffing process at the company. The positions highlighted on the table are the positions that CHERN has to focus on because they are the core drivers of the company’s performance and they make up more than 80% of the total workforce of the organization. Table 1. Staffing Forecast for 5 year growth. PositionsEmployees per store Employees needed to hire per year Employees needed to hire per month Employees hired at end of 5 years Store Manager1151.2575 Dept. Manager812010600 Assistant Dept. Manager812010600 Full time sales associates10015001257500 Part time sale associates2537531.251875 Because the strategic staffing process is a future-oriented process, it is valuable to identify both short term and long term goals that involve attracting, developing and retaining the right number of the best appropriate talent. Table 2 contains both short-term and long-term process goals and outcome goals for CHERN’s strategic staffing and provides a rationale of why this are important to help achieve the business strategy. Table 2. Staffing Goals Short-term Process GoalsImportance 1 .Hiring qualified applicants within the timeline goals of our growth  projection. The staffing process has to be able to meet the time goals for the hiring process as needed for the year growth strategy. 2. Attract a pool of applicants large enough to be able to select the amount of talent needed for the new stores. The staffing process has to be able to supply the necessary amount of talent needed for the year growth strategy. Short-term Outcome Goals 1.Staffing talent that fits with corporate culture. CHERN needs talent that fits with its culture and feel comfortable, reducing turnover and developing longer relationships with customers. 2. Hiring talent who will succeed at work. Hiring process will supply talent that will be able to do the job and achieve the goals. Long-term Process Goals 1.Better efficiency in attracting qualified applicants. Achieve more efficiency on hiring top talent to keep our competitive advantage and continue with the same level of superior customer service. To achieve this, some processes have to be measured, revised, and modified. 2.Keep competitive benefits to attract top talent. Long-term Outcome Goals 1.Enhancing the business strategy execution All efforts should be made towards enhancing the business strategy. 2.Hiring talent who will benefit from the other HR functions ( compensation, training, succession) It is important for the company to achieve its  corporate strategy, to hire talent that will benefit from training, is motivated by the company’s compensation plan and is interested on building a career. Business and Staffing Strategies An organizations Human Resource strategy and Talent Philosophy shapes its staffing strategy and has direct impact on the business Strategy. We will now analyse CHERN’s Talent Philosophy, Human Resource Strategy and Staffing Strategy to align them with the corporate business Strategy. Table 3 helps us identify how the Organizations Talen Philosophy help shape its HR Strategy and staffing strategy. Table 3. Talent Philosophy-HR strategy-Staffing Strategy. Talent PhilosophyHR StrategyStaffing Strategy What to retain talent, creating long term careers that will contribute to the firms objectives Recruit, select, develop and retain valuable talentRecruitment & Selection: Hires talent that has the right set of traits and attributes to perform in the organization. Develop: Offer training, career development and support to take advantage of talent and help them achieve results. Retaining: Retains valuable talent. View employees as investors and not costs or assets. Respect applicants and employees, as we believe the company benefits from them as the same way they benefit from the company, and they are vital for our success.Recruiting and selection: Hires employees that relate to the corporate culture and makes the process transparent and gives as much information as possible to avoid mismatching. Develop: Gives employees empowerment and training to make them feel more comfortable at work. Retaining: We understand the investment employees are doing in the company and therefore we offer competitive benefits and wages. Have high ethical standards and a strong corporate culture of respect Treat employees and applicants with respect and fairness.Recruiting and  Selection: Transparent and well informed process. Develop: Provides well timed and appropriate feedback and offers personalized training to help employees achieve goals. Retaining: Clear reward system and promotes based on merit. Talent Philosophy At CHERN’s our greatest strength lies on the talent, set of skills and empowerment of our people. We are committed on attracting, growing and retaining the most talented people in the retail industry by creating a fair and positive environment where they can feel cared and comfortable, and have the opportunity to develop personally and professionally. Human Resource Strategy The goal of CHERN’s human resource strategy is to align all its HR functions in order to ensure the availability of the right amount of superior customer service oriented talent who is supported by the an organization in order to achieve the company’s objectives. The goals of the HR strategy involve providing training, support and the tools needed for our talent to fully develop within the company in a fair environment. Staffing Strategy To describe CHERN’s staffing strategy, we will divide this analysis into the 9 elements of the Staffing Strategy, and briefly describe its implications. 1.Core Vs Flexible Workforce. CHER benefits from a core workforce as opposed to a flexible workforce, because as we highlighted before, employees are central to their success and vital to achieve competitive advantage. CHERN’s effort on retaining valuable staff will contribute to achieving long term goals. Even though the company still has some part-time staff, they still consider them part of their core workforce and offer them similar benefits and same fair conditions. 2.Hire Internally Vs Hire Externally. CHERN has to source its talent both externally and internally. The company should continue to develop current talent and work on succession planning,  as done until now. This sends the message that good performance is rewarded enhancing staff motivation. Also, it allows staff in new positions to get up to speed easily because they already know the company’s culture and the way things are done. This is a huge benefit for the company as by the time a new position of middle management opens up, they already have a large pool of internal candidates who they have already assessed and know their performance. However, the company will still have to source its sales associate positions externally to meet the growing strategy that it has projected for the next 5 years. Hiring externally also brings some advantages to the organization like enhancing diversity and injecting different and fresh perspectives that can be beneficial. 3.Hire for Vs Train and Develop for. During the Recruiting and selection process, CHERN should focus on traits, attributes and abilities and not so much on skills and knowledge. Skills can be trained and CHERN is providing training to this set of skills already. However, qualities and attributes are harder or nearly impossible to teach and are vital for the job requirements such as being tech savvy, loving fashion, being customer oriented and being adaptable. Hiring the right skills with the wrong attitude is a mistake. Personality traits are very important on sales positions, that is why CHERN should hire talent with the right attitude and abilities, who lack some skills and knowledge and can grow together. Although hiring experienced, knowledgeable sales staff might reduce training costs and can start generating sales quickly, it is very unlikely that CHERN will find the enough pool of applicants that contain both the knowledge and the attributes. Without the attributes it is very likely that recruit will not be succe ssful in a long term .Hence the importance of training. 4.Replace Vs Retain talent. CHERN strives to retain talent. It is becoming more difficult to recruit staff that meets CHERN’s standards, and competition on le market is increasing. That is why it is important for CHERN to recruit, develop and retain valuable talent. If not, the competitors will benefit from the resources invested on training. CHERN should continue offering a competitive  set of benefits and remuneration as a strategy. This in hand with an inclusive and supporting environment creates a desirable working environment. 5.What levels of what skills? As CHERN’s strengths relies on its sales workforce it is critical to find and recruit individuals with a specific set of attributes that can enhance our business strategy. Attributes such as Confidence, ability to multitask, English skills, numerical skills flexibility, and service orientation are essential. Other important skills and knowledge requirements such as Sales techniques, persuasion, time management and information ordering can be held at a basic level and it can be strengthened through training. 6.Proactive Vs Reactive staffing. CHERN must follow a proactive staffing strategy to prepare for the coming growth of the company. Pursuing a talent oriented strategy will allow the company to fill the future positions at the right moment without having to hire quickly someone that might not fit the criteria. Labour market is getting tighter and it is becoming more difficult to find good recruits, so targeting gaps in advance of the actual need will bring benefits to the staffing process. 7.What jobs to focus on? The Sales associate both part-time and full-time are positions on which the company invests most of its resources and attention. This are the key positions that create value to the company and are helping to develop that competitive advantage that is crucial for the firm. 8.Staffing as an investment Vs Staffing as a Cost. CHERN sees staffing as an investment. CHERN believes that the effort in resources (time and money) invested in recruiting, selecting, training and retaining talent will show positive results in the short and long-term, because staff will perform better reducing costs, increasing productivity, and reducing turnover. Although it does involve costs, it is an investment into the company’s future. 9.Centralized Staffing Vs Decentralized Staffing. CHERN benefits from a combined approach to the staffing process between centralized and decentralized, where some of the functions are allowed to be adjusted to meet single unit needs, but still monitored by a centralized organization that ensures unity and cohesion. The company has already identified that customers from different units change and Managers have already some level of autonomy in decision-making. This allows each unit t cater to their customers providing a better designed service. So decentralization of the staffing process brings benefits to the brand. However, all units should follow specific procedures to ensure consistency throughout their branches.

Ilm Leadership

Title: Assessing your own leadership capability and performance (M5. 29) 5 6 Assessment criteria (the learner can) 1. 1 Review the prevailing leadership styles in the organisation Assess the impact of the prevailing leadership styles on the organisation’s values and performance Level: Credit value: Learning outcomes (the learner will) 1 Understand leadership styles within an organisation 1. 2 2 Be able to review effectiveness of own leadership capability and performance in meeting organisational values and goals 2. 1Assess own ability to apply different leadership styles in a range of situations Assess own ability to communicate the organisation’s values and goals to staff in own area Assess own ability to motivate others and build commitment to the organisation’s values and goals 2. 2 2. 3 3 Be able to adopt an effective leadership style to motivate staff to achieve organisational values and goals 3. 1 Justify the most effective leadership style to motivate staf f in own area, to achieve the organisation’s values and goals Implement the most effective leadership style in order to motivate staff in own area to achieve the organisation’s values and goals . 2 Additional information about the unit Unit purpose and aim(s) To develop understanding and ability to lead teams to achieve organisational values and goals as required by a practising or potential middle manager. 31/12/2014 Links to MSC 2004 NOS: A2, A3 Unit expiry date Details of the relationship between the unit and relevant national occupational standards or professional standards or curricula (if appropriate) Assessment requirements or guidance specified by a sector or regulatory body (if ppropriate) Support for the unit from a sector skills council or other appropriate body (if required) Location of the unit within the subject/sector classification system Name of the organisation submitting the unit Availability for use Units available from Unit guided learning hours Ad ditional Guidance about the Unit Indicative Content: 1 †¢ A range of leadership theories and different leadership styles, such as: the trait approach to leadership the behavioural school (McGregor, Blake and Mouton) the contingency or situational school (Fielder, Hersey-Blanchard, Tannenbaum and Schmidt, Adair) leaders and followers (Servant Leadership, Team Leadership, Transactional and Transformational) dispersed leadership The key responsibilities of the leadership role in terms of: taking responsibility contributing to overall vision and goals setting and providing guidance on values setting direction for significant programmes or projects stimulating innovation and enterprise anticipating, planning for and leading change overcoming obstacles delegating setting objectives for teams and individuals communicating and motivating supporting and developing programmes, projects, eams and individuals modelling appropriate behaviour representing the team and feeding back its experi ences and views protecting the team and its members Assessing the impact of different leadership styles Organisational values and acceptable standards of behaviour in the organisation Organisational values and organisational purpose, vision and mission Management Standards Centre (MSC) Business Management Institute of Leadership & Management Private 01/01/2008 15 †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ 2 †¢ †¢ †¢ Theories and principles of delegating responsibility and empowering others The critical importance of the leader gaining the motivation and commitment of others Critiques of the main theories of motivation, such as: Maslow’s Hierarchy McGregor’s Theory X and Theory Y †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢Herzberg’s Two Factor Theory Vroom’s Expectancy Theory McClelland’s 3-Needs Theory Motivational factors that are available to the leader (e. g. safety and security, sense of belonging and common purpose, respect, recognition of achievement , empowerment and self-actualisation, sense of fulfilment, personal and professional development, material rewards, sanctions, job roles and employment conditions) How to evaluate motivational factors and select those that are appropriate to different situations and people Effective communication of values and goals Leadership to support the achievement of the organisation’s goals by encouraging common and acceptable norms of organisational behaviour 3 †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢The concept of emotional intelligence as developed by different theorists and how it applies to the leadership role The importance of understanding one’s own strengths and limitations Using and interpreting different techniques to identify their own characteristics, strengths and limitations The importance of continuous self-development and how to identify opportunities to develop oneself in the leadership role The importance of leader s: displaying confidence and self-assurance by playing to own strengths and showing a readiness to take calculated risks being socially aware (empathy, organisational and ‘political’ awareness, service to others) managing relationships (inspiring, influencing, networking, conflict management) displaying self-leadership (controlling own emotions, particularly when under stress, being open and honest with others, showing integrity and trust worthiness, being flexible, setting challenging but realistic objectives for themselves and others, taking personal responsibility for significant challenges, seeing setbacks as opportunities rather than threats) communicating overall vision and goals and how to win and maintain the commitment of teams and individuals to these Effective techniques for communicating, persuading and negotiating both directly and indirectly with teams and individuals How to select communication, persuasion and negotiation skills appropriate to different s ituations and people The importance of being able to use a repertoire of leadership styles in different situations and with different people How to develop vision and goals for significant projects or programmes of work The importance of being aware of and analysing the internal and external environments in which the leader operates The leader’s role in supporting and mentoring team members