Where The Five Functional Areas Of Network Management (FCAPS) Are Not Essay

Where The Five Functional Areas Of Network Management (FCAPS) Are Not Adhered To - Essay Example They also have committed to provide business to the tune of 100 seats in the next two year. The organisation also wants to setup offices across many cities out of US. Presently the system of the company x is not good enough to cater the needs of the customers and the company x is also facing some problems because it has not implemented the OSI application functions namely, fault, configuration Accounting performance and security management. Due to this the present system of networking management is facing the following problems: First the fault management in the company x is not working properly i.e. not providing clear and correct report about the incident/fault which has occurred and therefore the problem arises about identifying the fault and its source. In this way the system cannot priorities the fault, which has occurred and cannot be able to restore services on time and properly. Some Hardware faults to be handled instantaneously through replacement to restore services cannot be attended immediately. Due to fault in network, a user is immediately affected and the better services could not be provided to the users. The most common and serious problems of networks are connectivity failure, which are in the category of fault management. The network failure is caused more often by a node failure than by failure of passive links. When this happens all downstream systems from the interface are inaccessible. Such failures are associated with the network interface card, which needs replacement. The nod failures manifest as connectivity failures to the user. Another cause of network connectivity failure is procedural but very common. Network connectivity is based on IP address, which is a logical address assigned by the network administrator. The IP address in uniquely associated with a physical MAC address of network component. However mistakes are made in assigning duplicate IP addresses, especially in an enterprise environment with many system administrators. A host or system interface problem is a shared medium can bring the entire segment down. It becomes nightmare for the network manager to isola te problem without causing interruption is services. The intermittent problem could also occur as a result traffic overload, which would cause packets to be lost. Sometimes the management system indicates failure, when in actuality data traffic is flowing normally. Power hits could reset network component configuration, causing network failure. The network has a permanent configuration (default) and a dynamic configuration (runtime) and thus a performance problem could manifest as a network delay. The company is using LAN networking system, which is not sufficient for the organization. Because of connection through wires / cables and switches, it is not useful. So without proper network connecting Architecture, Company is facing lots of problems. Due to circuit - switch connection security of data and information has always been at stake. Security conscious clients always looking for more security proof network. Security plays a crucial role in deciding network architectures. Due to multiple servers at single location cannot fulfill the requirement of the organisation. Organisation had a network having lesser bandwidth and this creates lots of problem. The network used at a time by number of concurrent users for various applications and which takes longer response time and at times posting websites will be more than that of an organisation processing manufacturing orders. (Also the cost of the LAN system where

Marketing and Food Essay Example for Free

Marketing and Food Essay This literature review will focus on exploring marketing strategies employed when selling food. I will be looking at what influence these marketing strategies have on consumers decision making process and the effectiveness of these strategies. It is clear that consumers dont all buy the same things and I am interested to find out what causes this difference in product selection. There are many things that can influence these decisions, from the placement of products or the aesthetics of the product. Food companies may also take location or population into account when choosing what product to sell and where to sell it. Demographical marketing strategies use population statistics as a way of finding out what products will sell best. Lars Perner[1] uses age demographic as an example. â€Å"a firm interested in entering the market for sports drinks in a given country, or worldwide, might investigate the number of people between the ages of fifteen and thirty-five, who would constitute a particularly significant market.† In some countries such as Germany, it has been noted that the birth rate is dropping significantly, in this sort of market, a company may steer away from creating a baby food product in favour of a product geared towards older people, this is due to the old age market being larger than the young age market. Perner also discusses upward pull marketing. This takes advantage of social class in order to increase ones desire for a product. By Portraying a product as something the upper class society would consume, it can take advantage of the consumers desire to advance their social class. Companies such as Haagen-Daas, who display their product as a luxury ice-cream, and several wine brands make use of this strategy. The layout of a supermarket also has a dramatic effect on food sales. One example is the location of the entrance into supermarkets. One study[2] suggests that if the entrance to a supermarket is located on the right side, it encourages counter-clockwise movement throughout the supermarket. Whereas if the entrance is on the left, it encourages clockwise movement. The study claims â€Å"counter-clockwise shoppers spend $2 more per trip, than clockwise shoppers.† Products that have a large profit margin are usually located around the perimeter of the supermarket, as most shoppers favour travelling around the perimeter than traversing up and down the isles. Fresh fruit and vegetable sections are usually located at the start or end of the supermarket, and are presented as a cleaner and more welcoming area to the rest of the supermarket as most shoppers spend the most money in this section. Items placed at the ends of aisles serve as and introduction the items the customer will find in that aisle, the items in the centre of the aisle will receive less time with the customer, so items that will make more of a profit will be placed towards the end of aisles. Commonly purchased items such as milk or bread are generally located at the back of a supermarket, forcing the consumer to travel through many other products in order to get the item they need. It is then that advertising and aesthetic marketing come into play. Different tactics are employed in certain aisles in order to force customers into decisions. One example may be[3] the use of music and lights in junk food aisles. By using loud music and bright lights, the supermarket may cause the customer to be overwhelmed and make an impulse decision on what to buy, they may reach out for something that would comfort them, such as their favourite junk food. In a different situation, a supermarket may employ the use of dim lights and relaxing music, in order to convince the customer to take their time and spend more time in the supermarket, in turn having them buy more products. Some supermarkets tend to move items around from time to time in order to confuse their customers, having them search through all the aisles in order to find the product, picking up other products along the way. The location of the product is also important, most customers tend to only look at products at are at eye level. The most expensive items will also be found at eye level, with better deals being hidden away above or below. The packaging of a product can also influence the decisions of a consumer. †More expensive brands tend to have fancier labelling then generic brands. Therefore we assume the quality is better and are willing to pay higher prices, regardless of whether that is true[4]† Supermarkets also make use of the senses in order to draw customers in and attempt to force them into buying something they didnt intend to. They will cater to sight by using colours to evoke certain feelings, light blues and pinks may be used around baby food or sweet sections in order to appeal to children. Reds may be used around alcoholic beverages in order to appeal to consumers emotions such as anger or love, both of which have ties with alcohol and the colour red. They may bake fresh cakes and cookies in the bakery section to draw customers into buying the products due to the appealing smell. These findings provide evidence of a definite link between the marketing strategies used by supermarkets and brands, and the effect they have on sales of products. A number of ways in which strategies are employed have been noted, such as demographical marketing, placement of products and product aesthetics. Bibliography Perner, L. (2008). Food Marketing. Food Marketing. [ONLINE] Available at:http://www.consumerpsychologist.com/food_marketing.html (2008) The science of supermarket psychology | tribalinsight. The science of supermarket psychology | tribalinsight. [ONLINE] Available at:http://tribalinsight.wordpress.com/2008/08/19/supermarket-psychology/ (2008) Supermarket tricks. 2008, Supermarket tricks. [ONLINE] Available at: http://today.ninemsn.com.au/moneyandconsumer/598695/supermarket-tricks [1]Perner, L. (2008). Food Marketing. Food Marketing. [ONLINE] Available at:http://www.consumerpsychologist.com/food_marketing.html [2](2008) The science of supermarket psychology | tribalinsight. The science of supermarket psychology | tribalinsight. [ONLINE] Available at:http://tribalinsight.wordpress.com/2008/08/19/supermarket-psychology/ [3](2008) Supermarket tricks. 2008, Supermarket tricks. [ONLINE] Available at: http://today.ninemsn.com.au/moneyandconsumer/598695/supermarket-tricks [4](2008) Supermarket tricks. 2008, Supermarket tricks. [ONLINE] Available at: http://today.ninemsn.com.au/moneyandconsumer/598695/supermarket-tricks

Essay --

The American College of Sports Medicine’s fitness trend survey for 2011 consisted of information from the health and fitness industry as well as the opinions of professionals who currently worked in the field. The survey encouraged its respondents to make the important distinction between a â€Å"fad† and a â€Å"trend† (Thompson, 2010). This survey consists of trends rather than fads a trend is a long term change in the way people behave. A fad on the other hand is a short term fashion that is taken up with strong feeling of active interest but only for a brief period. Trying out new exercise techniques and fitness programs can encourage and motivate people to engage in physical activity. The ACSM conducted its first fitness survey in 2006 for the predicted trends of 2007 this was the earliest effort in developing a systematic way to predict the future of the health and fitness industry (Thompson, 2010). There were three consecutive surveys conducted to identify fitness trends for the year 2008, 2009 and 2010. The surveys measured health and fitness trends in various sectors of the industry which consisted of commercial (for-profit), clinical (medical fitness), community (not-for-profit) and corporate sectors (Thompson, 2010). The 2011 survey consisted of 31 feasible trends which was six lesser than the previous 2010 survey. The number was fewer because the respondents complained about the length of the survey. The 31 items were designed using a Likert-type scale ranging from 1-10 the low score of 1 (less likely to be a trend) and 10 (most likely to be a trend) (Thompson, 2010). The initial step in this analysis was to gather all of the responses and place them in order from the most crowd-pleasing trend to the least popular trend. The r... ...ed due to cost. Programs that were considered costly such as Pilates and indoor cycling are no longer in the top 20. The results of the 2014 survey predicts that more people will be engaging in high-intensity interval training (HIT) this was the trend’s debut year. This was offered as a potential trend in previous surveys but never made it to the top 20. This trend is more appealing to consumers because it takes less time allowing people to engage in other daily responsibilities. Another cost-effective trend also making its debut in the survey is body weight training which uses very little equipment which helps to keep cost down. Consumers are also engaging in group personal training which consists of two or more people being trained by one person trainer in order save money. Based on these predictions the new trend for fitness consumers is to save time and money.

Outline + Evaluate Different Types of Attachment

‘Outline and evaluate different types of attachment’ Ainsworths ‘strange situation’ was developed as a tool to measure types of attachment in infants. The experiment was carried out in a purpose build playroom and children were observed with cameras. It consisted of several situations, standardised for all those who took part. Each condition involved variation of the presence of the mother and/or a stranger, over 3 minute intervals. During these different conditions, the child’s behaviour was monitored, assessing their exploratory behaviour, stranger anxiety, separation protest and reunion behaviour.From her study, Ainsworth identified three types of attachment, these were: secure, insecure- avoidant and insecure-resistant, she believes all infants can fit into these categories. A child with a secure attachment to the mother has high exploratory behaviour; they would explore happily when the mother is present and use her as a safe base. Stranger anxie ty would be seen, they would be wary and treat the stranger differently. There is a high level of separation protest, distress and crying was shown when the mother left, but they would easily be soothed when the mother was welcomed back on her return.On the other hand, a child with an insecure-avoidant attachment would be happy to explore, and there would be low stranger anxiety, the child would treat the stranger indifferently to the mother. Some separation protest can be shown, and the child may become distressed. However, when the mother returns they will carry on doing what they were before her return as they do not use the caregiver to provide comfort. Finally, those with an insecure-resistant attachment are less likely to show exploratory behaviour as they want attention from the caregiver.Intense stranger anxiety would be shown, as well as an intense separation protest, they would not be easily comforted by the mother on return, they would be angry and reject her. With this a ttachment, the child alternates between seeking closeness and wanting distance. Ainsworth suggested differences in attachment types are caused by the sensitivity of the mother, this is known as the ‘caregiver sensitivity hypothesis’. According to Ainsworth, a mother who is sensitive to the babies needs and correctly reads their social releasers, moods and feelings is likely to form a secure attachment with her child.An insecure- avoidant attachment would form if he mother is less sensitive and responsive, she may even ignore the baby, and be impatient with them. Finally, she believes that an insecure-resistant attachment would form if the mother is less sensitive and her response to her child is inconsistent, some days she may ignore the baby but the next day she may give the baby a lot of attention. However, Kagan argues that this theory puts too much emphasis on the role of the mother; he suggested attachments formed were due to the babies temperament, this is known a s the ‘temperament hypothesis’.Infact, in 1991, Fox found there was a strong relationship between attachment types towards both parents, supporting the claim that attachments relate to inbuilt temperament. Furthermore, a study carried out using meta-analysis in 1997 found a weak correlation of 0. 24 between type of attachment formed and sensitivity of the mother, showing Ainsworths theory of the development of attachment is weaker compared to Kagans. According to Kagan, a secure attachment between mother and child may be due to the baby having an ‘easy’ temperament, meaning they will have high activity and sociability.Furthermore, a baby with a ‘slow to warm up’ temperament is likely to form an insecure-avoidant attachment, and those with a ‘difficult’ temperament will have high emotionality, meaning an insecure-resistant attachment is most likely to form. However, Belsky and Rovin argued that individual differences in attachment r elate to both theories because different temperaments will present different challenges to the caregiver, a ‘slow to warm up’ baby would need more encouragement, which may influence the formation of a secure attachment.In addition, the method used in the ‘strange situation’ has been a useful tool, giving a great deal of information about a baby’s attachment in little time. It is also easy to replicate and has led to a rapid increase in the amount of research carried out, many finding similar results, suggesting the experiment is a reliable method to study attachment behaviours. However, the research lacks validity because of the unfamiliar surroundings, these may cause demand characteristics as the baby may be intimidated and act differently as a result.However, some say it may still be valid because children experience this on a regular basis when being left with a babysitter or at a nursery. Furthermore, there are ethical issues because the unfamil iar environment, separation from the mother and interaction with the stranger can cause mental distress for the baby. Finally, there is also the concern that not all babies can fit into the categories of attachment created, which is why a fourth one was added in 1986 called ‘disorganised attachment’ where babies behaviour was inconsistent.

Radio for Education in Bd

History of Radio in Bangladesh_ Bangladesh Betar (Bengali: ) or BB is the state-owned radio broadcasting organisation of Bangladesh. It was also known as Radio Bangladesh between 1975 and 1996. Radio transmission in the region now forming Bangladesh started in Dhaka on December 16, 1939. Initially, the station was located in old Dhaka. Later, the station was relocated to Shahbag. It played an important role during the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971.On March 26, 1971, the broadcasting center of Radio Pakistan was used to transmit a declaration of independence, which was picked up by a Japanese ship in the Chittagong Harbor and retransmitted. During the war, it was known as Shwadhin Bangla Betar Kendro (Independent Bengal Radio Station). Due to heavy shelling, the station had to be relocated several times, and ultimately moved to Calcutta on May 25, from where it would broadcast until the end of the war. On December 6, it was renamed Bangladesh Betar. Today we have 10 radio statio ns running in Bangladesh. Those are_ * ABC Radio (Bangladesh) * Bangladesh Betar * DHAKA FM 90. * Radio 2fun| * Radio Amar * Radio Dhaka * Radio Foorti * Radio Metrowave * Radio Today * RadioGoonGoon Types of Radio_ ————————————————- FM (Frequency Modulation) Radio Frequency modulation, FM is widely used for a variety of radio communications applications. FM broadcasts on the VHF bands still provide exceptionally high quality audio, and FM is also used for a variety of forms of two way radio communications, and it is especially useful for mobile radio communications, being used in taxis, and many other forms of vehicle. n view of its widespread use, frequency modulation, FM, is an important form of modulation, despite many forms of digital transmission being used these days. FM, frequency modulation has been in use for many years. However its advantages were not immediatel y apparent. In the early days of wireless, it was thought that a narrower bandwidth was required to reduce noise and interference. As FM did not perform well under these conditions, AM predominated and FM was not used.However, Edwin Armstrong, an American engineer looked at the use of wideband FM for broadcasting and introduced the idea against the trend of the thinking of the time. Since its first introduction the use of frequency modulation, FM has grown enormously. Now wideband FM is still regarded as a very high quality transmission medium for high quality broadcasting. FM, frequency modulation is also widely used for communications where it is resilient to variations in signal strength. FM, frequency modulation basicsThe most obvious method of applying modulation to a signal is to superimpose the audio signal onto the amplitude of the carrier. However this is by no means the only method which can be employed. It is also possible to vary the frequency of the signal to give frequ ency modulation or FM. It can be seen below that the frequency of the signal varies as the voltage of the modulating signal changes. Concept of frequency modulation The amount by which the signal frequency varies is very important. This is known as the deviation and is normally quoted as the number of kiloHertz deviation.As an example the signal may have a deviation of  ±3 kHz. In this case the carrier is made to move up and down by 3 kHz. ————————————————- Community Radio Community radio stations are community owned and operated entities that serve either localized geographic communities or communities of interest, such as minorities, religious groups and universities. Community radio is unique because the stations are run by the communities themselves. They are owned and managed by the people they serve. The management is usually a small team of paid staff with the pro gramming onducted by volunteers. Unlike commercial stations, community stations are not allowed to run for profit. They must be established as voluntary associations, not-for-profits or trusts. The station’s constitution must say that any profit will be channeled into further developing the station. To ensure the stations are not run for profit they are usually subject to strict advertising controls. Commonly the regulator stipulates that advertising content ought to be capped to allow, for example, a maximum of five minutes per hour of programming. New stations often start with a public meeting.Members of a community (either geographic or community of interest) come together as a working group to create a   vision for the station, plan programming and develop facilities. Over time, more and more members of the community are recruited and trained (FETAC training is available through) to help out behind the scenes, produce and present programmes reflective of their community and experience. 100 day broadcasting licenses are secured from the BAI and as a track record is built with regards to programming, operations, and community involvement, a multi-year licence becomes available.To operate full licenses, groups constitute themselves as cooperatives or limited companies with no share capital, and a board is elected from the community to manage the station transparently and with accountability in the interests of all. Community Radio has the capacity to reinforce what is good about Irish Society and to help find solutions to its failings. Community Radio facilities individuals, groups, and communities to tell their own diverse stories, to share experiences, and in a media rich world to become active creators and contributors rather than passive consumers.It presents a unique vehicle for the community and voluntary sector, civil society, agencies, NGOs & citizens to work in partnership to make a difference. Community Radio offers- * rare and direct media access for all perspectives in our communities,   * the potential for innovation inherent in non-profit, community owned and operated media * Diversity in the provision of programming, especially where there would be insufficient profit for the commercial sector and too much cost for the public service sector. Offers a resurgence of local media highlighting local issues, opinions and voices in contrast to mainstream medias increasingly centralised content production. * The skills, resources and the opportunity to understand media by members of our communities through actively participating in its creation and delivery. * a unique mechanism to engage with social exclusion by acting as a vehicle for outcome-driven personal and professional training and development * a powerful tool in providing services and supports to communities, especially disadvantaged and excluded communities. the opportunity to promote democracy, human rights and sustainability. * a challenge to global media blandness in reinforcing local identities while acting as a catalyst for integration and inclusion. ————————————————- Public Broadcasting Public broadcasting is broadcasting made for the public, funded by the public (through tax) and controlled by the public (through parliament). The defining feature of public broadcasting is its inclusiveness. Public broadcasting must be accessible to all and diverse enough to appeal to all.Unlike state broadcasting, which serves the interests of the state, public broadcasting is uniquely positioned to serve the public in all its diverse forms. Further, public service broadcasters (PSBs) are protected from political and commercial pressures, which positions them to best serve the public’s rights to freedom of expression and freedom of information. This is why public broadcasting has such a crucial role to play in democratic societi es. Defining features of public service broadcasting: * Accessible to all * Serving the public interest in all its shapes Emphasis on quality, balance and impartiality * Provisions for minorities * Commitment to education of the public * Freedom to produce challenging and controversial programming * Independent from political and commercial interference * Forum for expression of national cultural identity Independence of a public broadcaster is vital: independence for the board and editorial independence for management. Securing independence means overcoming the prevailing mindset among those in power that the airwaves belong to the state.MISA believes the independence of a public service broadcaster in Swaziland will only be ensured if it is guaranteed in law. MISA is advocating for such a law to include the following: * A description of the composition of the PSB board to ensure it is broadly representative of the public and excludes office bearers with the state and people with f inancial interests in broadcasting; * A public and transparent board appointments procedure that minimizes political and commercial interference; * A stipulation that no one has a right to influence the work of the board; * Editorial freedom for the PSB management; Accountability of the PSB is to the public through parliament, not an individual minister or ministry; * An adequate and secure funding mechanism that protects from arbitrary interference. For more detail on public service broadcasting law see the Article 19 Model Public Service Broadcasting Law under Law Reform. MISA calls on the government to: * Enact legislation establishing a public broadcasting entity, recognizing its full independence and public service mandate. * Conduct organizational restructure allowing the merger of television and radio with one independent board to develop the organizational policy. Allow editorial policies that capture the unique responsibilities of public broadcasting. * Ensure training of m anagement and staff on the ethos and purpose of public broadcasting. * Secure a reliable funding mechanisms that will support program diversity and innovation. ————————————————- Campus Radio Campus radio (also known as college radio, university radio or student radio) is a type of radio station that is run by the students of a college, university or other educational institution.Programming may be exclusively by students, or may include programmers from the wider community in which the radio station is based. Sometimes campus radio stations are operated for the purpose of training professional radio personnel, sometimes with the aim of broadcasting educational programming, while other radio stations exist to provide an alternative to commercial broadcasting or government broadcasters. Campus radio stations are generally licensed and regulated by national governments, and s o have very different characteristics from one country to the next.One commonality between many radio stations regardless of their physical location is a willingness — or, in some countries, even a licensing requirement — to broadcast musical selections that are not categorized as commercial hits. Because of this, campus radio has come to be associated with emerging musical trends, including genres such as punk and New Wave, alternative rock, indie rock and hip hop, long before those genres become part of the musical mainstream. Campus radio stations also often provide airplay and promotional exposure to new and emerging local artists.Many campus radio stations carry a variety of programming including news (often local), sports (often relating to the campus), and spoken word programming as well as general music. Often the radio format is best described as a freeform, with a lot of creativity and individualism among the disc jockeys and show hosts. A number of these rad io stations have gained critical acclaim for their programming and are considered by the community in which they are embedded to be an essential media outlet.Although the term campus radio implies full-power AM or FM transmission over the air, many radio stations experiment with low-power broadcasting, closed circuit or carrier current systems, often to on-campus listeners only. Some radio stations are distributed through the cable television system on cable FM or the second audio program of a TV radio station. Some universities and colleges broadcast one or more Internet radio feeds — either instead of, or in addition to a campus radio station — which may differ in radio formats significantly from licensed traditional campus radio. ———————————————— Internet Radio Internet Radio – Internet Radio describes a technical achievement which allows audio to b e digitized and split into small pieces for transmission across the Interent. The ultimate effect is to create the illusion of â€Å"radio†. The audio is â€Å"streamed† through the Internet from a server in one location and reassembled on the listener's end by a software player on a computer or Internet Radio receiver. Internet Radio is not really radio by the traditional definition but an incredible simulation.This term also describes the conglomeration of streaming audio which is available on the Internet which can be listened to by using a software player or browser which supports streaming audio. In another way, an audio broadcasting service that is transmitted through the Internet. Internet radio is similar in nature to Internet broadcasting, also called webcasting. However, those listening to the continuous stream audio broadcast have no control over the stream, similar to traditional radio broadcasting.Many radio stations worldwide offer their broadcast via Int ernet radio to a worldwide audience. Today dedicated hardware devices, commonly called Web radio or Internet radio appliances  , can be purchased that connect to a home network and then to the Internet to play live audio streams. Internet radio is also called e-radio. The benefits of an internet radio_ More station choice An internet radio gives you access to more than FM or DAB digital radio, including some foreign language stations. Find new stationsThe menus on an internet radio enable you search by different methods including by genre. So you could search for all of the rock stations available and find new stations that play the types of music you love. Podcasts and BBC listen again You can access podcasts from BBC and commercial stations and just as you might use listen again on BBC iPlayer or Radio player on your computer, you can access listen again to   shows through an internet radio, too. Music player/ media sharing Most internet radios have a music player mode for str eaming music from devices on your home network.If you keep your music collection on your computer at home you can use the radio’s screen to choose music from your collection and listen using the radio's speakers. Forget DAB reception Internet radio works using your internet connection. It doesn't rely on getting a signal from a transmitter the way DAB and FM do, so it doesn't matter if DAB reception is poor where you live – you can get your digital radio fix via the internet. Education System in Bangladesh The education system and structure of Bangladesh  has three major stages-primary, secondary and higher educations.Primary education is a 5-year cycle while secondary education is a 7- year one with three sub-stages: 3 years of junior secondary, 2 years of secondary and 2 years of higher secondary. The private schools also receive strong financial support from the state. The tertiary education (3-5 years) is provided through universities (31 public and 51 private un iversities) and affiliated colleges under supervision of University Grants Commission. Establishment of private universities has gained momentum in recent years. At all levels, students can choose the medium of education from Bangla or English.The Ministry of Education is the supreme state office for education which again is subdivided in different directorates for each level while running numerous development projects (Education Projects and Technical projects). According to the article 17 of the Constitution, all the children of Bangladesh are supposed to receive full free education up to secondary level. Secondary and higher secondary schools are affiliated under  ten (10) education boards. The boards administer two public examinations – one is the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) Examination and the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) Examination.The higher secondary schools are known as colleges. There are also Madrasah (religiously inclined) and English medium school s which are enrolled under Madrasah Education Board and Foreign Education Board respectively. Besides this, a Technical Education Board has been established to administer the vocational training schools at post-secondary level in Education Board. The National Curriculum and Textbook Board is the authority to develop, approve and manage the curriculum and text books for primary, junior, secondary and higher secondary level.Government has also established Bangladesh Bureau of Educational Information and Statistics (BANBEIS) which keeps educational information at all levels. Bangladesh Government has published an Education Policy which is developed based on the inputs taken from different education commissions over the years. There are also many non-profit organizations which operate informal and semi-formal education for underprivileged children under supervision of Bureau of Non-formal Education. Linking Radio with EducationDue to potential diversity, the CR technology can most effec tively be used for non formal education for adult people, awareness programs, youth development programs, local community knowledge sharing, recycling of knowledge, ethnic community preservation programs and in areas, where density of population is sparse, where access to school is difficult like char (land within a river) and hilly areas of the country and also isolated places because of less access to road or other communication, and where access of qualified teachers are very few. Sweeney and Parlato (1982, p. 3) stated, â€Å"Radio plays an effective educational role both as the sole medium or in conjunction with print and group support†. So, Community Radio has a prospect for education expansion and community schools. Community Radio can also help, develop and mobilize social capital. This technology is cheaper too. For example, Interactive Radio Instruction (IRI) is a well-tested teaching and dissemination method that is inexpensive, accessible and flexible. In Africa, Community Radio has speeded up and expended the process of information exchange. The second goal of MDGs is to achieve universal primary education.Education is the backbone and foundation for a nation. This is one of the fundamental goals as Nobel Lauriat's Amarta Sen argues, â€Å"Development is freedom and education is the royal road of freedom† (Daniel, 2006). As most developing countries underscore its educational potential and importance, many writers have proposed that educational radio can be most effective when supported by trained facilitators, group learning, group discussion, feedback and the use of multimedia approaches, thus interactive and independent learning help develop social software which is considered essential for quality education.The dynamic potential of radio in motivating listeners to take action, modifying behavior, and undertaking activities is evident in the literature thus far. ————————†”———————- Distance Learning Learning is the liberating force of human development and every individual has a right to education. To serve the aforesaid considerations, ODL helps create democratization in education for flexible learning system. In ODL, student centered teaching approach is used. Tutors and learners are hysically separated in the system, and distance education institutes usually use technology like state-owned Radio and Television for a particular time to disseminate contents of learning to the learners, which might not be effective and accessible to all distance learners due to inflexible time allocation. Since CR is covering a limited geographical area and focusing on the local needs, culture and social events, educational and academic programs can be incorporated into the CR programs at any time of any location as it is more flexible than national broadcasting.In addition, distance education institutes have long ex periences in using the technology of Radio and TV. They can apply their experience for CR on segment base as well as programs base. Most distance learning organizations generally have several outlets for tutorial or other instructional services in distant and remote areas. Having their own infrastructures, these distant teaching outlets could be turned into Community Radio Learning Centers (CRLC) for the open and distance learning institutes and these stations can be worked as local facilitators for the academic programs of both formal and non-formal education.Anyanwk (1978 p. 15-16) mentions, â€Å"Through collective listening, discussion, and the use of audio-visual aids, the radio can contribute substantially to the process of transformation of agricultural traditions, as well as some social and economic attitudes in general†. Radio has been used extensively as an educational medium in developing countries like India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, South Korea, Mali, Guatemala, Bots wana, South Africa, Zambia, Uganda, Mexico, Philippines and also proved its impact and efficiency in health, agriculture and other development issues. ———————————————— Open University Radio-based educational opportunities are very much commensurate with the delivery system of ODL. After 15 years of the establishment of the Bangladesh Open University (BOU), it has accumulated huge resources in terms of technology and media oriented human resource and infrastructures to put forward a new look to the Community Radio applications.Bangladesh Open University needs to adopt the segment base strategies to provide education for all. The case of Bangladesh is similar as to Louw’s (Paris, France 2007) statement, â€Å". to ensure that communities who have been denied access to resources, take part in producing ethical, creative and responsible radio that encourages them to co mmunicate with each other, to take part in decisions that affect their lives, and to celebrate their own cultures†.The reason for establishing Bangladesh Open University nearly echoes Louw's statement as in the Mission statement, of the BOU Act 1992 envisages that â€Å"the objectives of the University shall be to expand all levels of education, knowledge and science by a diversity of means, including the use of any communication technology to improve the quality of education and to provide opportunities for education to the general public through mass-orientation of education and to create efficient manpower by improving the quality of education in general†.To accomplish these goals of BOU mission statement, it is no denying the fact that BOU needs immediate steps for adopting the Community Radio approach. In terms of preparation, BOU has Media Centre fully equipped with the transmission equipment, full-fledged radio recording studios, editing suites, portable radio re corders and modern radio broadcasting technology. However, BOU has already sought the permission from the Government for having its own frequency allocation. ———————————————— Adult Education About adult education Dhaka University VC Prof Arefin was highlighting on the role of mass media in the socio-economic and the educational development of a developing country. His message was that both the print and broadcast media can play a vital role in enhancing education in a developing country. It can shape and create public opinion towards on related issues by applying its strength and bring changes among individual.Bangladesh is now in a state of â€Å"Media Expansion†, we have lot of TV and radio channels and every day new channels are coming. Broadcasting media is the most common & popular media in our country. In the cases of developing countries, like Bangladesh, imp lementation of education fully depends on appropriate use of broadcasting media technology. And the government as well as private organizations are using Radio and television for meeting these demands.A significant result has already been achieved in the field of mass education of Bangladesh by using broadcasting media. All the TV and Radio channels present various educational programs for the students. These programs become very popular in the country. Bangladesh is now in a state of media expansion. A large number of people here depend on newspapers and broadcast media for entertainment. But media also has an important educational role: Adult students from rural even from city areas can take lesson from watching certain television programs Like â€Å"BBC Janala

Free Essays on Holy Grail

The Holy Grail The Holy Grail is one of the most lasting symbols in medieval Christianity. It’s history dates back to Christ’s time and the Last Supper. The Holy Grail also holds many powers in itself. The Grail has held and still holds a great fascination. It promises mystery, secrecy, and knowledge available to all, but found by only a few. It also holds a special communication with God or the knowledge of God as well as invisibility to evil or unworthy eyes. It is by it’s nature very mysterious, and it is that mystery that catches the eye of historians, writers, poets, and many other people. The history of the Grail starts with a man called Joseph of Arimethea who receives the Grail used by Christ in his Last Supper. After Christ’s death, he collects some blood into the cup. Joseph is then accused of stealing the Grail and his sent to prison. After being released, together with his sister and her husband Bron, he goes to Glastonbury with some disciples and there they build the first Christian Church in Glastonbury, along with the First Grail’s Table. Around it, 12 people can sit; the 13th seat is left empty to remind everyone of Jesus’ place. The Grail is guarded in the church at Glastonbury and is used at masses on Sunday’s. After Joseph’s death, the Grail is committed to Bron, and after him it is given to a man by the name of Alain to guard the Grail. At the famous Round Table, also known as the Third Grail’s Table, the Grail appeared to all the knights at the time of Pentecost, and from then on the knights decide to go in sea rch of the Grail. Lancelot, Perceval, Galahad, Bors and Gawain face many adventures but only Galahad is able to reach it, but dying in a moment of glory. From then on no one has been able to find it, and wherever it was, it still should be there.... Free Essays on Holy Grail Free Essays on Holy Grail Since the beginning of time man has searched for a source of immortality or some form of fountain of youth. Many cultures have developed myths and stories telling great tales of immortality and ways to achieve everlasting life. One of these myths associated with Christianity is the myth of the holy grail of Jesus Christ. If acquired it is foretold that the gift of immortality will be granted to anyone who drinks from the cup of Christ. How did this myth come into existence and does the holy grail of Jesus Christ really exist? It is fair to say that to most people in the western world the Holy Grail is a cup or goblet associated with Jesus Christ. This image was popularized by such writers as Sir Thomas Malory in his ``Morte D'Arthur''. It is however not the only object that has been linked to the Grail. Indeed, it has been claimed that the Grail is not a physical object of any type but is a blood line or even a spiritual ideal presented in metaphor. One thing is certain, despite, its elusive qualities; the Grail has continued to hold a great fascination in the minds of many. The Grail promises mystery, secrecy, adventure and the obtaining of a prize or knowledge available to all but found by no man. The Cup was the cup used at the last supper from which wine was drunk as a symbol of Jesus' blood. It is also the cup which Joseph of Arimathea used to collect the actual blood of Jesus after his crucifixion while preparing the body for burial. The legend then follows many differing stories about Joseph and the Cup. The most well known is that Joseph and his sister and her husband left Jerusalem and sailed to France. Here Joseph left his sister and his brother-in-law and sailed to England where he set up the first Christian church at Glastonbury. Some legends claim that he left the cup in the care of his brother-in-law in France while most stories tell of him bringing the Cup to Glastonbury which to this day is still associated with... Free Essays on Holy Grail The Holy Grail The Holy Grail is one of the most lasting symbols in medieval Christianity. It’s history dates back to Christ’s time and the Last Supper. The Holy Grail also holds many powers in itself. The Grail has held and still holds a great fascination. It promises mystery, secrecy, and knowledge available to all, but found by only a few. It also holds a special communication with God or the knowledge of God as well as invisibility to evil or unworthy eyes. It is by it’s nature very mysterious, and it is that mystery that catches the eye of historians, writers, poets, and many other people. The history of the Grail starts with a man called Joseph of Arimethea who receives the Grail used by Christ in his Last Supper. After Christ’s death, he collects some blood into the cup. Joseph is then accused of stealing the Grail and his sent to prison. After being released, together with his sister and her husband Bron, he goes to Glastonbury with some disciples and there they build the first Christian Church in Glastonbury, along with the First Grail’s Table. Around it, 12 people can sit; the 13th seat is left empty to remind everyone of Jesus’ place. The Grail is guarded in the church at Glastonbury and is used at masses on Sunday’s. After Joseph’s death, the Grail is committed to Bron, and after him it is given to a man by the name of Alain to guard the Grail. At the famous Round Table, also known as the Third Grail’s Table, the Grail appeared to all the knights at the time of Pentecost, and from then on the knights decide to go in sea rch of the Grail. Lancelot, Perceval, Galahad, Bors and Gawain face many adventures but only Galahad is able to reach it, but dying in a moment of glory. From then on no one has been able to find it, and wherever it was, it still should be there....

The Future Of Hierarchical Management Structures The WritePass Journal

The Future Of Hierarchical Management Structures Introduction The Future Of Hierarchical Management Structures ). The current competition between companies has changed and is more inclined to creativity than prices of goods and services. The nature of work within organizations is also transforming from repetitive pre-arranged tasks to tasks that are more cognitive and spontaneous. This also applies to the managing styles and employee expectations. Effective adaptation to these inevitable changes requires companies to encourage a creative and innovative organizational culture (Singh Waddell, 2004). There are many organizations that are being run by the hierarchical management structure, which is characterized by strict adherence to chains of command (Daft Marcic, 2010). This limits the flexibility of an organization by slowing down decision making processes. As a result, such structures limit creativity in organizations (Bilton Cummings, 2010; Tseng, 2011). With the future expected to have a higher demand on creativity and change management, it is highly likely that hierarchical organizational structures shall be replaced by structures that emphasize more on innovation and creativity. Despite the increase in the focus on creativity and innovation, it is difficult to abolish the hierarchical structure. While some companies such as Apple, Microsoft and Google stand out for having abolished hierarchical management structures, such traditional organizational approaches still remain appropriate for many companies. It is difficult for current hierarchies to self-destruct. Whether such structures shall be replaced by an innovative and creative culture in the near future is a subject of debate. In this regard, this paper discusses whether in the near future, management in organizations shall involve nurturing of creativity and innovation, which shall reduce hierarchy in organizations. Some of the areas that are covered in relation to this include changes in the global economy, factors affecting innovation in the workplace and change management in organizations. Changes and Shifts in the Global Economy According to Henry and Bruin (2011), there is an on-going shift from a traditional knowledge economy to a creative economy. Creativity, in this context, can be defined as the process by which novel ideas are created. Not long ago, creativity was confined to arts like photography, music and painting. However, many companies have started to realize that creativity can also be applied in business, albeit, in a manner that is somewhat different from that of arts and humanities. Whilst creativity in business is about developing new ideas, it also involves solving issues that affect the business operations innovatively (Burkus, 2013). The current fast moving economy has made companies push their efficiencies to the limit so as to keep up with the market competition and ensure effective delivery of goods and services to clients. To overcome the limits that knowledge based organizations have in delivering quality and satisfaction to clients, many companies are opting to differentiate themselves from their competitors by becoming innovative and creative (Brown Osborne, 2012). An example can be drawn from the use of technology over the years. For most companies, getting ahead of the competition simply required the acquisition of the latest technology that existed at the time. For instance, the invention of computer technology revolutionized record keeping, communication and other operations. Organizations that acquired and utilized this technology gained an edge over their competitors. However, the accessibility of computer technology has become easier with time and currently, almost every company utilizes it. Therefore, being ahead of the competition in business has shifted from simply acquiring computer technology to acquiring and utilizing it in a way that is creative and unique in the industry. This is points out to the fact that lack of creativity in present-day organizations can be detrimental to organizational performance. Technological development, globalization forces, increased competition, market demand and expectations have all led to the growi ng interest on nurturing employee creativity in the workplace. Some of the companies that have been known to nurture creativity and innovation include Apple, Facebook, Microsoft and Google. Even during the past recession period, entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley continued to establish start-up companies founded on creativity. According to Dervitsiotis (2011), the success of Apple has been achieved by recognizing the crucial role that innovation plays in present day businesses. To attain its business objectives, Apple Inc hires employees that are dedicated to creating innovative and unique products. With reference Jobs’ interview published in The New Yorker by Surowiecki (2011), the company has maintains its competitiveness in the computer industry by designing products that are user friendly to a wide range of customers. Some of these products include the iPod and iMac computer that were innovatively manufactured and advertised, making Apple to stand out among its competitors. As companies recognize the need to be creative in the design of their products and services, they have also realized the importance of creativity in their management. According to Von Held (2012), effective management of a creative workforce requires motivation and inclusion. Companies ought to create a culture or environment that allows employees across all ranks to feel important by encouraging them to make contributions towards organizational development. One of the ways in which this has been achieved is through encouraging open horizontal communication structures. Whereas the trend has been towards a creative and innovative work environment, critics have pointed out several setbacks that creativity and innovation can cause in an organization. One typical characteristic of innovation is the fact that it involves taking risks, which may even threaten the existence of the organization. In addition, outcomes of innovative ideas or changes within the organization are usually unknown. Whilst some innovative ideas have positive revolutionary outcomes, there are also chances of failure (Henry Bruin, 2011). Failed innovations may be detrimental to organizations, especially if the innovation involved high costs. Factors to be managed to Enhance Creativity in Organizations There are several factors affecting creativity that have been identified by researchers. According to Andriopoulos and Lowe (2000), organizational creativity is affected by the organizational culture, organizational environment, management styles and structures, skills and resources. Amabile et al. (2004) argued that creativity is influenced by employee motivation, management practices, organizational resources and group characteristics. Other factors affecting individual creativity include personality, IQ levels, capabilities and dispositions, among others. This section explains how management of these factors can enhance creativity and innovation at the workplace. Employee Motivation Researchers have established that for employees to be innovative in the organization, they ought to have the passion and drive to do so. Employee motivation can increase their passion for innovation if it is managed appropriately. As argued by Daft and Marcic (2010), employee motivation is a complex issue that is influenced by social, biological, emotional and intellectual factors. Therefore, there are several strategies that have to be effectively managed so as to keep employees motivated and encouraged to be innovative. One of the strategies that can be used by corporations to increase employee motivation is communication. While vertical communication that characterizes hierarchical management structures may be ideal in some situations, innovative organizations thrive more on horizontal communication structures (Tidd Bessant, 2011). It is necessary for the organization’s management to frequently communicate with its employees on the organization’s vision. In addition, organizations also need to recognize and reward individual innovative contributes towards the overall good of the company.   Rewards motivate employees to compete constructively and as a result, encourage innovativeness and creativity. Organizational Resources According to Yazdani et al. (2011), employees are among the most important resource in the organization. Therefore, innovative organizations ought to hire employees that have the personality and intelligence needed to make creative contributions. . a classic example of a creative individual was Einstein, who made contributions in various fields are . In addition to his contributions to Physics, it is documented that he had interests in visual arts (Runco, 2010) . Other traits that human resource managers need to look for when hiring include mental flexibility, originality in thinking self-confidence and the will to take risks. Time and financial resources also have an influence on the creativity or innovation in an organization. These resources ought to be managed effectively because their availability can either support or suppress creativity of employees (Amabile et al., 2004). Organizations need to establish a â€Å"threshold of sufficiency† within which these resources can positively contribute to creativity. Once this threshold is set, companies can be able to avoid allocating either insufficient or too much time and financial resources. Organizational Environment and Culture The conduciveness of an organizational environment for creativity can be gauged from the levels of employee participation, employee freedom of expression and experimentation and other creativity stimuli available within the organization (Amabile et al., 2004). One organization that has effectively managed its culture and environment to encourage creativity among employees is Google. For instance, the company offers social amenities to employees that are not offered by other companies. These include cafà © stations that offer free food for employees, rooms for exercising and entertainment rooms where employees can play several games. Whilst these amenities do not directly contribute to the profitability of the company, they create an environment that allows them focus more on their contribution towards that growth of the company without thinking about how they will cater for these needs while at work. Hierarchical barriers at Google are limited, encouraging employees to work closely and learn from each other regardless of their positions in the firm. Therefore, creating an ideal organizational environment, keeping employees motivated and allocating resources that are within the threshold of sufficiency for creativity are among the ways of encouraging creativity and innovation among employees. The Change Management Process With the inevitability of change in present day organizations, several researchers have established steps that ought to be undertaken in managing change. Reasons that necessitate change include the need to overcome challenges that are posed by the dynamism of the business environment (Kotter, 2007). The need for organizations to effectively manage change is drawn from the fact that it may affect several business stakeholders that include suppliers, employees, customers and distributors. Whereas good change management procedures and practices are likely to improve the brand position of the company, poor change management is likely to adversely affect its performance. Anderson and Anderson (2010) point out that some of the impacts of poor change management include reduction in morale among employees and a drop in the company’s competitive capability. Kotter (2007) suggested an eight-step model of managing change in an organization. In establishing this model, he identified the errors that are commonly made by leaders in initiating change and based his change management model on these errors. The eight steps presented in the table below. Table 1: Kotter’s Change Management Process Step of Management Explanation 1.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Establishing urgency This involves the creation of a sense of urgency within the organization to motivate involved parties to start the change process. 2.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Forming a powerful spearheading coalition Involves identification of organizational members to form a cross-level team that is capable of leading the rest of the company in implementing the identified change. 3.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Development of the change strategy Involves formulating a strategy for implementing the change process. This should consider all the factors influencing the change process. 4.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Communicating the change   strategy The change vision should be presented to all organizational members and stakeholders that will be involved in the process. The most effective communication paths ought to be used to ensure speedy and efficient message delivery in the organization. 5.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Elimination of barriers This involves empowering a broad based action that removes barriers to the change process and targets certain elements of change in the transformation of the organization. 6.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Generating short-term wins This is achieved by setting short-term goals that contribute to a larger long-term goal. Short term wins can be generated by rewarding employees who contribute towards meeting the short-term goals to keep them motivated. 7.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Consolidating the short-term gains Credibility from several sort term wins is collected to create a bigger change. Here, a reinvigoration is brought to the process. 8.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Anchoring changes into the organization. Involves reinforcement of transformations made to be part of the organizational culture. This enables the change to be passed on in case of a change in the management or when employing new members of staff. Adapted from Kotter (2007) Even though Kotter’s approach has been approved by many researchers, critics have pointed out some flaws associated with it. For instance, O’keefe argues that it assumes that changes are one-time processes that promise stability if managed meticulously. However, the existing global uncertainty does not give an assurance that the intended goals of the change will be attained (O’Keefe, 2013). According to Anderson and Anderson (2010), effective change management benefits individuals and the overall organization. It benefits individuals by enabling them to maintain or improve their morale and performance before, during and after the change process. It also increases the acceptance of employees to the change process (Andriopoulos Dawson, 2009).Benefits of change management to the organization include enabling it to respond effectively to client demands even during the change process. It also enables the company to assess its performance by comparing its state before and after implementation of the change. Ineffective change management, on the other hand, can distort the transition of the company from its old state to the intended new state. With reference to Kotter’s eight steps, inefficient change management may cause the process to stick in one of middle stages. Therefore, it is important for organizations to ensure that they avoid negative impacts associated with the change process by ensuring that it is managed effectively. Conclusion This paper has presented an in-depth discussion on the need of change and innovation in present-day organizations. While the hierarchical structure of management has several benefits, the need for organizations to adjust to the current dynamism in economic and social conditions has prompted many companies to go for management techniques that nurture creativity and innovation. Some of the organizations that have attained high levels of success through encouraging innovation and creativity include Apple and Google. The shift in the global economy from knowledge to creativity has also been extensively discussed, which also explains why hierarchical management structures are likely to be less evident. Among the factors that have to be effectively managed to enhance creativity are employee motivation, the organizational culture and the organization’s resources. Steps to be undertaken in managing change as suggested by several researchers have also been extensively discussed. References Amabile, T. M., Schatzel, E. A., Moneta, G.B. Kramer, S.J., 2004. Leader behaviors and the work environment for creativity: perceived leader support. Leadership Quarterly , 15(1), pp.5-32. Anderson, D. Anderson, L‎. A., 2010. Beyond Change Management: How to Achieve Breakthrough Results Through Concious Change Leadership. New Jersey: John Wiley Sons. Andriopoulos, C. Dawson, P., 2009. Managing Change, Creativity and Innovation. London:   Ã‚  Ã‚   Sage Publications Ltd. Andriopoulos, C. Lowe, A., 2000. Enhancing organisational creativity: the process of perpetual challenging. Management Decision, 38(10), pp.734-42. Bilton, C. Cummings, S‎., 2010. Creative Strategy: Reconnecting Business and Innovation. West Sussex: John Wiley Sons. Brown, K. Osborne, S‎. P., 2012. Managing Change and Innovation in Public Service Organizations. Oxford: Routledge. Burkus, D., 2013. 10 Practices from the Most Innovative Organizations. [Online] Available at:  Ã‚   creativitypost.com/business/10_practices_from_the_most_innovative_organizations [Accessed 3 November 2013]. Coy, C., 2013. Office hierarchies which one is best for your business? {viewed on 28th November 2013} available from   Ã‚   cornerstoneondemand.com/blog/office-   hierarchies#.Updr99KshsI Daft, R.L. Marcic, D‎., 2010. Understanding Management. Mason: Cengage Learning. Dervitsiotis, K.N., 2011. The challenge of adaptation through innovation based on the quality of the innovation process. Total Quality Management Business Excellence, 22(5), pp.553-66. Von Held, F., 2012. Collective Creativity: Exploring Creativity in Social Network Development as Part of Organizational learning. Munich: Springer. Henry, C. de Bruin, A‎., 2011. Entrepreneurship and the Creative Economy: Process, Practice and Policy. Glos: Edward Elgar Publishing. Hinks, G., 2013. The failure of hierarchical management structures. [viewed on 28th November 2013] available from   Ã‚   financialdirector.co.uk/financial- director/feature/2282581/the-failure-of-hierarchical-management-structures Kottler, J., 2011. Hierarchy and network: two structures, one organization. Harvard Business   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Review. {viewed on 28th November 2013} available from   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   http://blogs.hbr.org/2011/05/two-structures-one-organizatio/ Kotter, J.P., 2007. Leading Change: Why Transformation Efforts Fail. Harvard Business Review, pp.1-10. Kreitner, R. Cassidy, ‎C. M., 2011. Management. Mason: Cengage Learning. Lawrence, J., 2013. Conflict in the matrix the challenges of moving away from hierarchical   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   structures. {Viewed on 28th November 2013} available from   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   hrzone.com/topic/strategies/conflict-matrix-challenges-moving-away-  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   hierarchical-structures/139398 O’Keefe, K., 2013. Where Kotter’s 8 Steps Gets it Wrong. [Online] Available at: executiveboard.com/communications-blog/where-kotters-8-steps-gets-it-wrong/   [Accessed 3 November 2013]. Runco, M.A., 2010. Creativity: Theories and Themes: Research, Development, and Practice.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Oxford: Elsevier. Singh, M. Waddell, D‎., 2004. E-business Innovation and Change Management. London: Idea Group Inc (IGI). Surowiecki, J., 2011. How Steve Jobs Changed. [Online] Available at:  Ã‚   newyorker.com/talk/financial/2011/10/17/111017ta_talk_surowiecki   [Accessed 3 November 2013]. Tidd, J. Bessant, J‎., 2011. Managing Innovation: Integrating Technological, Market and Organizational Change. New Jersey: John Wiley Sons. Tseng, S.-M., 2011. The effects of hierarchical culture on knowledge management processes. Management Research Review, 34(5), pp.595-608. Yazdani, B.O., Yaghoubi, N.M. Giri, E.S., 2011. Factors affecting the Empowerment of Employees. European Journal of Social Sciences, 20(2), pp.267-74.

Learn the History of Ice Hockey

Learn the History of Ice Hockey The origin of ice hockey is unknown; however, ice hockey probably evolved from the game of field hockey that has been played in Northern Europe for centuries. The rules of modern ice hockey were devised by Canadian James Creighton. In 1875, the first game of ice hockey with Creightons rules was played in Montreal, Canada.  This  first organized indoor game  was played at Victoria Skating Rink  between two nine-player teams, including  James Creighton  and several other  McGill University  students. Instead of a ball or bung, the game featured a flat circular piece of wood. The  McGill University Hockey Club, the first ice hockey club, was founded in 1877  (followed by the  Quebec Bulldogs  named Quebec Hockey Club and organized in 1878 and the  Montreal Victorias, organized in 1881). In 1880, the number of players per side went from nine to seven.  The number of teams grew, enough so that the first world championship of ice hockey was held at Montreals annual Winter Carnival  in 1883. The McGill team won the tournament and was awarded the Carnival Cup.  The game was divided into 30-minute halves. The positions were now named:  left and right wing,  center,  rover,  point and cover-point, and  goaltender. In 1886, the teams competing at the Winter Carnival organized the  Amateur Hockey Association of Canada  (AHAC) and played a season comprising challenges to the existing champion. Stanley Cup Origins In 1888, the  Governor-General of Canada,  Lord Stanley of Preston  (his sons and daughter enjoyed hockey), first attended the Montreal Winter Carnival tournament and was impressed with the game. In 1892, he saw that there was no recognition for the best team in Canada, so he purchased a silver bowl for use as a trophy. The Dominion Hockey Challenge Cup (which later became known as the  Stanley Cup) was first awarded in  1893  to the  Montreal Hockey Club, champions of the AHAC; it continues to be awarded annually to the  National Hockey Leagues championship team.  Stanleys son Arthur helped organize the  Ontario Hockey Association, and Stanleys daughter  Isobel  was one of the first women to play ice hockey. Todays Sport Today, ice hockey is an Olympic sport and the most popular team sport played on ice. Ice hockey is played with two opposing teams wearing ice skates. Unless there is a penalty, each team only has six players on the ice rink at a time. The puck is a vulcanized rubber disk. The aim of the game is to knock the hockey puck into the opposing teams net. The net is guarded by a special player called the goalie. The first artificial ice rink (mechanically-refrigerated) was built in 1876, at Chelsea, London, England, and was named the Glaciarium. It was built near the Kings Road in London by John Gamgee. Today, modern ice rinks are kept clean and smooth by the use of a machine called the Zamboni. Fibreglass Canada worked with Canadiens Goalie Jaques Plante to develop the first-ever hockey goalie mask in 1960.

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep - Essay Example Richard Deckard, the lead bounty hunter experiences a paradox when he bemoans the killing of Luba Luft, the android impersonating opera singer against the backdrop of the previous killing of androids. Death is the overriding theme that dominates the narration of the two stories. These stories draw feelings of depression and sadness that engulf readers as they come to terms with the realities of pain and anguish. It is impossible to ignore the destructive consequences of war in Slaughterhouse-Five. The devastating bombing of the town of Dresden in Germany is at the height of world war situates seemingly random events. Throughout the time of suffering in Dresden, Billy Pilgrim shifts in and out of the meat locker. Luckily, he survives incineration that characterizes every aspect of life in the city. Billy’s ascendancy to become the president of Lion Club takes the efforts of his father-in-law. In the post-war era, he works as a prosperous optometrist. Vonnegut injects the aspect of Tralfamadorians to underscore the devastating consequence of war. Billy seems not to understand his world. He hallucinates about his moments with the Tralfamadorians in order to evade a world destroyed by the war. Traumatized by the destructiveness of the war, Billy fails to come to terms with the consequences of the war. Vonnegut’s description of the events in Dresden during war reflects the kind of destruction that is seen in Dick’s world. Dick develops a world in his imagination. This world is in a state of decay due to the dust of nuclear fallout that covers the whole landscape. He uses Kipple to represent a metaphysical decay of the world. The destruction that takes place in Dick’s world is constantly evolving. At the same time, Dick posits that the decaying world has a way of surviving itself through decay. The animals that appear when the novel comes to the  end confirm this claim. John Isidore’s spider reflects the ability of new life to renew itself through regeneration while the mechanical toad of Rick Deckard manifests the ability of all forms of life to discover how they can exist in the decaying world.

Mesopotamia Civilization Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Mesopotamia Civilization - Research Paper Example Since there were seasonal rains in Mesopotamia, agriculture was initially unsustainable due to massive floods that visited the plains during the springs and summers (Mark). Due to the scarcity of rains in other times of the year only irrigation agriculture was sustainable from the rivers (Apte 81). Besides, both internal and external trade boomed in the ancient days majorly because there was scarcity of natural resources in Mesopotamia (Algaze 32). This, coupled with other civilizations that were encountered over the years, led to massive growth of the empire before its final collapse (History Guide). In this regard, this essay explores and reflects on the ancient civilizations in Mesopotamia in terms of Culture, Art, and Architecture (Temples and Tombs). Essentially, the Sumerians who normally referred to their state as Sumer inhabited Mesopotamia where the first history of the world is believed to have originated (Mark). In this respect, Mesopotamia was largely composed of three st ates that included Sumer-Akad that lied to the north Babylonia, Sumeria, and Assyria that stretched to the extreme north. When it comes to the cities that defined Mesopotamia, the list included Babylon, Uruk, Ur  Kish, Lagash, Assur, Nippur, Niniveh, Susa, Nimrud. All the states of Mesopotamia became empire but perhaps Babylon became the most famous under the rule of King Hammurabi (History Guide). This was majorly because he, together with those under his empire, formulated certain codes of laws that led to the success of the empire. A famous city in Mesopotamia that was situated 20 miles from river Tigirs was called Mashkan-shapir. The river in this city enabled the construction of canals, which were instrumental for the agrarian revolution (Algaze 37). When it comes to the various civilizations in Mesopotamia, it is worth noting that the civilizations came in three phases that ranged from the pre-civilization phase to the post-civilization phase (Annenberg Learner). Due to the seasonality of the two rivers that flowed in Mesopotamia, a vast majority of the communities that stayed there migrated to the southern part that was rich in alluvial soil (Mark). This happened in 5000 B.C. when most of the communities reside in villages that composed of 100-200 people on a permanent basis. Primarily, the southern part of Mesopotamia had soil that was more fertile despite the low rainfall levels (History Guide). As far as the history of Mesopotamia is concerned, it is understood that various periods through which the civilizations took place existed and in this sense, they were classified according to the ages (Annenberg Learner). First, there was the Pre-Pottery  Neolithic  Age that encompassed the earliest signs of archeological settlements and wars that made the error to be referred to as the Stone Age (Algaze 26). In essence, this error came in at around 10,000 B.C. although the existence of humans is believed to have been there even much earlier (History Gu ide). During the Stone Age, the inhabitants of Mesopotamia are believed to have used stone carvings as their major sources of tools especially in agriculture and warfare (Mark). This means that even as men were using stones for virtually all practical uses in their daily lifestyles, the agrarian revolution had started to take off. Although agriculture was not practiced on an extensive scale during

Rational Analysis of Oral Communication Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Rational Analysis of Oral Communication - Essay Example Unlike oral interaction which requires immediate processing of information to turn them into comprehensible messages, writing can evaluate and process information in a longer period of time (Rosenberg, 1987, p. 125). Thus, the impenetrability of orality to certain language processes can be processed by writing. Scholars Marlene Scardamalia and Carl Bereiter also supported the existence of Goody-Havelock-McLuhan-Ong theory. They demonstrated that knowledge can more easily be transformed in writing composition than in oral communication, thus giving way for man’s cultivation of knowledge. Scardamalia and Bereiter constructed a knowledge-telling model in writing. The first element is the mental representation of assignment followed by several knowledge-telling processes towards perfection of the composition. These include locating topic and genre identifiers, constructing memory clues, retrieving content from memory and run tests of appropriateness. (Rosenberg, 1987, p. 144). Such processes are rarely executed in oral communication because of immediacy orality requires. Therefore, writing as the driving force of man’s civilization is beyond doubt, considering its several knowledge-cultivating processes.

Assess and arguments for the law of karma, and discuss whether the law Essay

Assess and arguments for the law of karma, and discuss whether the law implies or refutes the ex - Essay Example Sankhya believe that the material of creation is made of earth and stone and could possibly not be created by ‘Isvara’ whose own characteristics are not consistent with the same material (Radhakrishnan 43 b). The Sankhya doctrine holds that it is not possible to prove the existence of God and therefore he cannot be said to exist (Larson 83). I would opine that the doctrine contention aligns with the view that a benevolent God would have no motive of creating a world of mixed happiness and sorrows. The Purusa takes an important place in the understanding of the Sankhya doctrine. The Sankhya offers that the Purusa is not caused (Collins 106). The Purusa is usually likened to consciousness. In most doctrines, consciousness is usually attached to the idea of the existence of a Supreme being. The Sankhya position that the Purusa is not caused directly contradicts the idea of the existence of a creator God. However, problems arise within the doctrine with the supposition that Purusa does not have any qualities. In my opinion, this view would imply that all beings are same. Such a thesis would refute the possibility of the existence of different fates for different actions as understood within the overall framework of the Karma. The position adds weight to some of the problems and contradictions that have been identified within the Sankhya doctrine with regard to the nature and qualities of the Purusa. The character of the ‘Isvara’ according to the doctrine developed by the Sankhya is that he is not attached to the universe (Radhakrishnan 40 b). According to the Mimamsa doctrine, the ‘Isvara’ does not provide the fruits of actions, which essentially distinguishes them from other doctrines that assign roles of reward and punishment to the deity (Radhakrishnan 22 b). Instead, the rewards or consequences of actions are purely depended on the actions of individuals. Good actions beget positive consequences, while bad actions bring ab out negative consequences. The Mimamsa doctrine does not mention whether or not the ‘Isvara’ created the universe (Radhakrishnan 19 b). In my view, I would conclude that the positions adopted by both doctrines acknowledge the fact of divine being but do not agree on his nature or tasks. In general terms, the Sankhya philosophy is governed by the concept of dualism. The philosophy challenges the view of the God as central idea that controls the cause and destiny of humanity. The destiny of man, according to Mimamsa is dependent on the actions and will of man in accordance with the Verdas (Radhakrishnan 74 a). In this sense, God is only a benevolent power that grants to human beings their due share in accordance with their character on earth. It is therefore important to consider the fact that the actions of man are integral in the destiny of the universe. The cultivation of ‘Dama’ or self-control as a way of pursuing a virtuous and upright life (Radhakrishna n 13 b). Samkhya adopts the position that the harmony in the world is born out of the paradoxical dualities as argued by Sage Kapila. Samkhya philosophy is founded on the idea of harmony numerals. According to the terms of this philosophy the collection of elements and characteristics of things in the universe work to maintain some sense of balance between the systems. The underlying meaning in the Samkhya philosoph

Take Ways from Leadership Skills Speech or Presentation

Take Ways from Leadership Skills - Speech or Presentation Example A concluding portion would highlight relevant concepts and lessons learned from the essay. Take ways from Leadership Skills Leadership is an important component in the existence, survival and functioning of any group or organization. Many organizations have been aware of the fact that their success is greatly dependent upon the quality and effectiveness of this dimension. As an organization grows in size and complexity, the requirements for an efficient and effective leadership multiply. In this regard, the essay aims to define leadership using one’s own words and to indicate what components or elements are involved in leadership. Further, the discourse would describe the different leadership theories in simple words. In conjunction with the discussion of the leadership theories, one would present a theoretical application in one’s workplace (convenience store) through the provision of an example. Finally, one’s personal view on the best leadership skills and a d escription of the follower's role in leadership process would be proffered. A concluding portion would highlight relevant concepts and lessons learned from the essay. Definition of Leadership The term ‘leadership’ has received various definitions and explanations depending on the perceptions, experiences and understandings of those who discuss it. One’s personal definition of leadership sees it as an act or behavior manifested by a person possessing qualities and traits that enable that person to influence others into achieving a well defined goal. At the simplest, leadership have three key elements: leader, followers and the situation (Martires & Fule, 2004). To determine what leadership involves, one must take into consideration various points of views. From the view point of the leader, there are skills and traits that are commonly manifested and exemplified by leaders. According to Martires & Fule (2004), leadership is at once personal, interpersonal, and sit uational. But it can be viewed from one perspective at a time. At the personal level, traits and skills are highlighted. At the interpersonal level, style comes to the fore. Finally, at the situational level, the contingent nature of leadership manifests itself. Murray Ross and Charles Hendry drew a personality profile of effective leaders from many tests conducted to identify leadership traits. In general, they found that effective leaders have attibutes as follows: (1) self-confident, well-integrated, and emotionally stable; (2) warm, sensitive, and sympathetic toward other people and give practical, helpful suggestions; (3) intelligent in relation to the gorup members; (4) identify with the goals and values of the groups they lead; (5) want to take leadership responsibility and are competent in handling new situations; (6) can be relied on to perform leadership functions consistently; and (7) in elected or public positions, usually possess more enthusiasm and capacity for express ion than other types of leaders (Ross & Hendry, 1957). On the other hand, various skills are exhibited by leaders as essentially described by Henry Mitzberg, to wit: (1) skills of introspection; (2) entrepreneurial skills; (3) conflict-resolution skills; (4) peer skills; (5) information-processing skills; (6) skills in unstructured decision-making; and (7) resourse generation and allocation skills (Mitzberg, 1973). Leadership Theories There are diverse leadership theories that evolved through the years

Assess and arguments for the law of karma, and discuss whether the law Essay

Assess and arguments for the law of karma, and discuss whether the law implies or refutes the ex - Essay Example Sankhya believe that the material of creation is made of earth and stone and could possibly not be created by ‘Isvara’ whose own characteristics are not consistent with the same material (Radhakrishnan 43 b). The Sankhya doctrine holds that it is not possible to prove the existence of God and therefore he cannot be said to exist (Larson 83). I would opine that the doctrine contention aligns with the view that a benevolent God would have no motive of creating a world of mixed happiness and sorrows. The Purusa takes an important place in the understanding of the Sankhya doctrine. The Sankhya offers that the Purusa is not caused (Collins 106). The Purusa is usually likened to consciousness. In most doctrines, consciousness is usually attached to the idea of the existence of a Supreme being. The Sankhya position that the Purusa is not caused directly contradicts the idea of the existence of a creator God. However, problems arise within the doctrine with the supposition that Purusa does not have any qualities. In my opinion, this view would imply that all beings are same. Such a thesis would refute the possibility of the existence of different fates for different actions as understood within the overall framework of the Karma. The position adds weight to some of the problems and contradictions that have been identified within the Sankhya doctrine with regard to the nature and qualities of the Purusa. The character of the ‘Isvara’ according to the doctrine developed by the Sankhya is that he is not attached to the universe (Radhakrishnan 40 b). According to the Mimamsa doctrine, the ‘Isvara’ does not provide the fruits of actions, which essentially distinguishes them from other doctrines that assign roles of reward and punishment to the deity (Radhakrishnan 22 b). Instead, the rewards or consequences of actions are purely depended on the actions of individuals. Good actions beget positive consequences, while bad actions bring ab out negative consequences. The Mimamsa doctrine does not mention whether or not the ‘Isvara’ created the universe (Radhakrishnan 19 b). In my view, I would conclude that the positions adopted by both doctrines acknowledge the fact of divine being but do not agree on his nature or tasks. In general terms, the Sankhya philosophy is governed by the concept of dualism. The philosophy challenges the view of the God as central idea that controls the cause and destiny of humanity. The destiny of man, according to Mimamsa is dependent on the actions and will of man in accordance with the Verdas (Radhakrishnan 74 a). In this sense, God is only a benevolent power that grants to human beings their due share in accordance with their character on earth. It is therefore important to consider the fact that the actions of man are integral in the destiny of the universe. The cultivation of ‘Dama’ or self-control as a way of pursuing a virtuous and upright life (Radhakrishna n 13 b). Samkhya adopts the position that the harmony in the world is born out of the paradoxical dualities as argued by Sage Kapila. Samkhya philosophy is founded on the idea of harmony numerals. According to the terms of this philosophy the collection of elements and characteristics of things in the universe work to maintain some sense of balance between the systems. The underlying meaning in the Samkhya philosoph

My Life in the United States Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

My Life in the United States - Essay Example My father called one of his friends who was studying at the US and enquired about the university in which he was studying. In 2009, I came to the US. I began studies in English Language Program at VCU and this was because I was not a native speaker of English. After that, I improved on my English as a second language day by day. When I was in ELP, I had difficulties in two classes, these were Listening and Reading, but despite this, I performed well in the tests. While in ESL, I met new students from different countries and I had a great time with them. My professors were also understanding and helpful, making my learning much easier. At the Fall semester in 2011, I completed my English Language Program. Since then, I have registered 16 credits which are Public Health, LS 100, ESL Reading, Mass media and ESL Communication. These classes make me confused, considering the fact that this is my first time as an academic student in my whole life. I found this semester to be hard and confusing at the beginning. This is because some teachers speak very fast and I find it hard to take notes in class. However, I believe that as the days go by, it is going to get easier and normal for me. Besides, I have to concentrate on what I came to do in this institution. In addition, UMU is a great university and the professors are going to teach me what I have to learn. I hope that my classmates and I will get good grades in all our classes. I believe in my father's famous quote that says, †would never reach your goal without difficulties.†

Same Sex Marriage Essay Example for Free

Same Sex Marriage Essay Same sex marriage is a legally or socially recognized marriage between two people of the same biological sex or social gender. This topic is an issue in marriages and families today because there has been an ongoing debate, arguments and so much confusion involved with same sex marriage for a very long time. There are many reasons that are given as to why same sex marriages should be discouraged. Some of these include; others feeling that marriage is an institution between one man and one woman while others feel that this type of marriage is not a good environment to raise kids. Same sex marriage affects almost everybody, some people are unhappy while others are happy with lots of confusion that needs to be cleared and at the same time other people are dying due to the choices that they make. If one decides to go for same sex marriage, they are either shunned by family, friends and the society. Others might be beaten to death or even tortured. In other gay marriages, I feel that the children in the families might be going through a hard time in trying to fit in. Children have a hard time in school which might lead to more issues with the children and trying to fix the situation. In this course, one learns ways and means of dealing with all these issues and they can be in a better position to avoid some of them. Through this paper, I intend to explain the benefits of same sex marriage to those that are in this type of marriage and why it is essential to them; the children in these types of marriages and their living situations and at the same time, I will include some of the reasons why a lot of people are so much against this idea. Same sex marriage is one of the biggest debates that has been going on for a very long time since people can never come to a consensus about this whole issue with lots of different Same sex marriage3 reasons. People feel that churches would be forced to marry gay people against their will. If gay marriage is legalized, homosexuality would be promoted in the public schools. The 2000 United States Census revealed 594,000 same-sex couples nationwide, with 46,490 in New York alone figures that may undercount the true number of couples by as much as 62 percent. There’s a gay baby boom accelerating over the past decade, 34.3 percent of female same-sex households and 22.3 percent of male households have children nationwide (the figures for New York are 34.3 percent and 21.7 percent, respectively). These rates are not that much below the national rate for married opposite-sex couples of 45.6 percent and of unmarried opposite-sex couples of 43.1 percent. Using reasonable estimates, this would suggest around 400,000 children being raised by same-sex couples nationwide, and 31,000 in New York. Same sex marriage should not be encouraged because there’s so much controversy involved around it. There are different reasons given for the benefits for those in the same sex marriage. (www.religioustolerance.org) Examples include; the financial security, dignity respect and the equal rights. Denying one group the right to marry has many adverse emotional and financial consequences. Examples of these are Social Security, Medicare, medical leave, and other benefits; property inheritance; the right to visit their spouse in hospital, and make medical decisions if they are incapacitated; security of the couple and of their children. In todays economic environment, it often takes two incomes to live. A married couple shares rent, utilities, and other bills, which are often difficult for one person to take on alone. This is especially truly if a dependent person is involved such as a child. In addition, a married couple can often financially support each other when times get tough, such as when one of the two is out of work. The other can continue to pay the bills until the unemployed person gets back on his/her feet. Same sex marriage4 As for the equal rights, denying marriage to same-sex couples removes from one group a fundamental, important human right which is the right to marry the person that one loves and to whom one has made a commitment. That is unfair and unjust in a democracy. At the same time, The institution of marriage conveys dignity and respect towards a couple that make a lifetime commitment to support each other. â€Å"Same-sex couples deserve this dignity and respect. Another benefit is that it encourages people to have strong family values and give up high-risk sexual lifestyles. One of the main arguments against gay marriage is that it would further erode family values; however, the opposite is true. www.balancedpolitics.org. The problems related to sexuality in our society such as STDs stem from carefree, frivolous lifestyles; in other words, having frequent, unprotected sex with many partners. Marriage encourages people to settle down and to give up that type of lifestyle. Married people commit themselves to one partner and work to build a life together. Isnt that the type of behavior we want to encourage? (The marriage and family experience Bryan strong Pgs. 368-369); talks about the children in the same sex marriage. Aware of the social stigma and lack of support, gay and lesbian families face, there may be a tendency to minimize differences in the children’s behavior. In so doing, some differences that might be strengths of gay and lesbian families may go under-emphasized. According to (www.religioustolerance.org); those opposed to same-sex marriage (SSM) often point to studies which show that children raised in families headed by a father and mother fare much better, both in childhood and later as adults. But further examination shows that most of these studies are not applicable here, because they compare families with opposite-sex parents to single-parent families, not with those headed by same-sex parents. Of course, many perhaps most children in single-parent families will be disadvantaged because of Same sex marriage5 poverty and the lack of a second parent to give the children more care and attention than one parent can provide. Those who advocate same-sex marriage often point to studies which show that children raised in two-parent families do well, regardless of whether the parents are of the same sex or opposite sex. But most of these studies are deeply flawed because: They involve self-selected subjects, and/or, they do not study families over a sufficiently long interval, and/or they demonstrate bias on the part of the researchers. Children raised in families led by same-sex parents would be continually exposed to homosexuality. They may choose to become gay or lesbian at a higher rate than those raised by a father and mother. Men and women have very different personalities, brain structure, talents, etc. They are designed to fit into very different roles within the family. In order for children to be properly socialized, they need to be brought up by both a father and a mother. The long range effects on children who are brought up by two women or two men are unknown and can only be speculated upon. Children of same-sex couples will be exposed to a great deal of ridicule and hatred by their fellow students and this could negatively affect their development. The desire to marry and settle down with a companion for life is very strong in some adults. So is the desire to have children. Other people also believe that if same sex marriage is not allowed, then at least some homosexuals may well be motivated to marry a person of the opposite sex, to leave the homosexual lifestyle, and to become an ex-gay or ex-lesbian. Others feel like same-sex marriage would weaken the institution of marriage by creating a counterfeit version of marriage which will harm the entire population, including children. Some studies show that the incidence of Same sex marriage6 violence between same-sex couples is higher than that between opposite-sex couples. This may also be true of same-sex couples in loving, committed relationships. If so, then children are bound to be harmed by the presence of violence in the home. These are some of the more reasons why many people are against same sex marriage. www.bidstrup.com. Most religions consider homosexuality a sin. Virtually every religion in the world, including the major ones in this country, consider homosexuality unacceptable. It is offensive and a swipe to the religious freedom of the majority to have to recognize a relationship they consider sinful. The legal system in the United States evolved out of the laws contained in the Bible. We shouldnt go even farther to tear down those laws. It would weaken the definition and respect for the institution of marriage. The 50 percent divorce rate has already weakened the definition of marriage. We shouldnt be taking further steps to define what marriage is. A law allowing gay marriage would increase the number of joke or non-serious marriages, such as a couple of friends who want to save on taxes. Marriage is the most sacred institution in this country, and every society considers it the joining of a man and a woman. It makes biological sense since only a man and woman can pro-create. It would further weaken the traditional family values essential to our society. The building blocks of our society and the thing that makes it strong is the traditional family of man, woman, and children. It is what has sustained us through two world wars, terrorist attacks, a Great Depression, and numerous other challenges over the centuries. While friends lovers come and go, your family is always there. The main reason our culture and values have started to crumble is the weakening of families. Introducing another form of family would only make the Same sex marriage7 situation worse. It could provide a slippery slope in the legality of marriage (e.g. having multiple wives or marrying an animal could be next). Gay rights activists claim that these marriages should be allowed because it doesnt hurt anyone, but it could start a chain reaction that destroys the whole idea of marriage. If someone wants to marry his dog, why shouldnt he be able to? What if someone wants to marry their brother or parent? What if someone wants to marry their blow-up doll or have 10 wives? Unless we develop some firm definition of what a marriage is, the options are endless. If these options sound absurd, remember that all it takes is a few activist judges to use the statute to open the door. It doesnt matter if 95 percent of the population disagrees with the policy; one judge can interpret the case the way he or she wants. Do you remember how two judges in California recently declared the Pledge of Allegiance unconstitutional? If the decision hadnt been overturned, it would have prevented millions of children from being able to say the pledge every morning, despite the fact that 95+ percent of Americans disagreed with the decision. A lot of people feel that same sex marriage is not something to be encouraged, as a lot of research shows it leads to a much lower life expectancy, psychological disorders, and other problems. Studies show that homosexuals, for a variety of reasons, have life expectancies of approximately 20 years less than the general population. Just like a lifestyle of smoking, drinking, unhealthy lifestyles should be discouraged. www.religioustolerance.org. Same sex marriage is a debate that will always be there no matter what happens but people should never judge the same sex couple who decide to come together and get married. So long as they are happy and the children are well cared for, we should be happy for them. Same sex marriage8 REFERENCES Bidstrup, Scott (2009, June 3). Gay Marriage, The Arguments And The Motives http://www.balancedpolitics.org/ same sex marriage The marriage and Family Experience http://www.ibiblio.org/gaylaw Same-Sex Marriage in the United States: Focus on the Facts Post-2004 Election Edition by Sean Cahill. You tube Video The ViewArgues over Gay Marriage www.religioustolerance.org