Understanding the Management Role The WritePass Journal

Understanding the Management Role Introduction Understanding the Management Role , Accessed 5 June 2012 wdp-drugs.org.uk/pages/what-we-do.html)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Recently have WDP gained some prison based services in which we have a presence within some prisons offering advice and support to people with substance misuse problems. WDP’s is committed   to creating a society that is healthier and safer because it is well informed about drug and alcohol use, where people adversely affected can get effective help. Evidence of this can be seen in the services being provided to the community as a whole. The Finance Team The Finance team handles all aspect of the company’s finances. From the preparation of budgets for tendering purposes, to the raising   sales invoices, to the processing of both staff expenses and purchases invoice, also giving a breakdown of actual vs. budgeted spend to both internal and external stakeholder’s. The finance team ensures that there is a proper utilisation of the financial resources against all aspect of the organisation. The team is made up of 4 staff we have the: Financial Controller who has the overall responsibility of leading and guiding the team and also handles the strategic aspect of the company’s finances and ensures that there is a proper utilisation of the financial resources against all aspect of the organisation. Financial Accountant: dealing with the everyday running of the department and responsible for managing the finance administrators Finance Administrators: There are two people in this position. They deal with processing purchase invoices and other administrative tasks There is a strong emphasis upon teamwork within the department dealing with finance.   The ethos is one of understanding how decisions made by individuals form part of a much larger picture. This ethos of teamwork extends not just to our department, but is part of the overall organisational vision, which is predicated upon the notion that every one of us has a responsibility to society as a whole. The organisation’s structure, functional areas and managerial roles, in relation to its purpose WDP   has a broadly hierarchical structure, that is it consists of several levels with fewer people at the higher levels holding more power, both in terms of authority over others and in terms of swaying decisions about the organisation. At the top (see illustration) is the chair, working with the CEO and other directors. The CEO reports directly to the board, and in turn manages the Directors and Financial Controller of individual departments.   Ã‚  There is then a layer of middle management, consisting of the directors of various departments within WDP.   This layer is also known as the senior management team, and is made up of the HR director, Director of Operations and the Director of Development.   Below this layer are individual managers. There may be more than one manager within a department. Although lower levels are not shown on the diagram, they do exist, for example the administrative staff in the finance department.  Ã‚   The structure at WDP is not as hierarchi cal as some organisations, and there is an ethos of teamwork and cross-level communication, however some division of power between ‘top’ and ‘bottom’ of the scale offers opportunities for progression within work, and allows WDP to deliver its objectives better.   Lower organisational levels can concern themselves with day-to-day tasks, while long-term perspectives and strategy are decided by the board (Dunnette et al 1994).  Ã‚   As well as a division into hierarchical levels, WDP divides into different functional levels (these are also shown in the diagram below): human resources (handling recruitment, discipline, grievance and other aspects concerned with people as a strategic company asset, such as training and education), finance (covering all aspects of finance), development (future planning and ensuring plans are carried out as decided), and operations (covering ongoing running of what we do as an organisation, smooth running of existing contracts and looking for new business opportunities). Things to do:- Investigate the organisational structure (hierarchical structure) Explain the role of the chair The organisations’ stakeholders and their objectives Ideas about stakeholders originate in attempts to introduce ethical practices into business, and move focus away from shareholders. The stakeholders of any organisation are the set of people who are affected by, or who have an effect on, the organisation as it carries out its purpose(s) (Visser et al 2010).  Ã‚   WDP has a number of stakeholders, with different perspectives. What one group holds as the interests most important to them is not always shared by other groups. The main stakeholders of WDP are: Our service users: people with drug and / or alcohol problems Their families People in their community who are affected by the problems of our clients (friends, people who are impacted by their behaviour) The wider local community WDP employees and directors Other community, local authority organisations and / or service providers, for example the police, the courts, prisons and others in the criminal justice system, healthcare providers The local authority commissioners who commission WDP to provide services in the boroughs we work in Each group of stakeholders has a different set of interests, each of which impact on the organisation in different ways. Within each group, there may also be conflicting interests. For example, our service users seek support and help overcoming their drug / alcohol problems overall, but some users might hope for more intensive interventions while others might attend as a consequence of family pressure or pressure from social workers.  Ã‚   Families’ main interests are helping their relative overcome their addiction, but often have unrealistic expectations of the degree and kind of intervention we can make.   The local community’s interest is also varied, from wanting us to make a visible drug / alcohol problem go away, to supporting what we do. Broadly, all employees and the board of WDP are committed to supporting people with addictions and helping them overcome them, but again there is a diversity of opinion here, with some employees wanting or expecting different things from WDP. Overall, WDP need to understand the differing viewpoints of stakeholders, and try to achieve a balance between them in addressing them.  Ã‚   In general, our service users are the priority, but it is also important to take the other positions into account.   Problems arise when stakeholder perspectives are incompatible, for example we have had demands from the community to be less visible, as it is perceived that our presence impacts upon house values in the neighbourhood. Clearly, this is incompatible with our objective of supporting users. In cases like this there is a need for someone to take an overall perspective and decide which need overrides the other, then be able to explain this decision in a diplomatic way. The role of management in achieving goals Management plays a big part at WDP in reaching organisational goals.  Ã‚   My own role has some managerial functions, however I should point out that my own role is not akin to that of middle managers in the organisation, although I do have responsibility for overseeing other people’s work, particularly in supervision, training and mentoring departmental administrators. I also take on some other managerial functions, for example honing office and organisational systems and feeding into board-level decisions, and helping people grow individually and as a team. It is possible to see an organisation in tiers: at the top are the highest levels of management. The concern at this level is the operation of the organisation overall. At the lowest level, different sections of the organisation carry out their function (for example, financial accounting and transactions for the finance department). Middle managers act as a buffer or co-ordinator between the two levels, managing entire departments and feeding into higher level decisions (Hewison 2004).   While I have some input into higher level decisions, I have a line manager, the Financial Manager, who performs the middle management function for my department. In our organisation, middle managers are responsible for the overall efficient and correct running of their department, and for having input into organisational decisions at board level. Because of the ethos of the organisation, there is a strong focus upon taking the views of all employees into account when planning at board level, so the middle manager is also responsible for ensuring that the views of the staff she or he manages is fairly and fully represented, and also that board decisions are clearly fed back to staff.  Ã‚   As well as making sure that lower levels of the organisation have a ‘voice’ at board level, middle managers at WDP need to translate the organisational strategy, developed in its most general form at board level to a workable version, cashing it out in terms of particular actions to be carried out by staff at lower levels.   Middle managers have to be particularly flexible, as they have to ‘translate’ between the everyday workin g role of grass roots level staff and the long-term focus of the board.  Ã‚   There are also issues of accountability. Middle managers are accountable for their entire department, to the CEO and board. Personally, I am accountable to the Finance Controller, and the two Finance Assistants are accountable to me.  Ã‚   I am responsible for all aspects of the day-to-day running of financial matters, and for feeding back to my line management other issues raised by the staff, for example working conditions, co-ordination of leave, training requirements and other issues.  Ã‚   As a manager, like managers higher in the organisation, I am expected to lead both through directing others but particularly by example. The effect of communication and interpersonal relationships on managerial performance Communication skills and interpersonal relationships play a particularly important part at WDP, perhaps because of the high emphasis placed upon teamwork and shared communication, but perhaps also because of the need to be particularly sensitive to our main client group, people with drug and alcohol problems.  Ã‚   Both areas can have negative and positive effects on managerial performance.  Ã‚   Good communication can make the manager’s job much easier. It has been estimated that managers can spend up to 80% of their days communicating with others (Daft and Marcic), and certainly communication plays a central role at WDP.   Personally, I have found that communication can be positively enhanced through careful listening to people, asking questions to draw out what they mean, rather than offering them one or two alternatives (‘open’ rather than ‘closed’ questions, to use a term from neuro-linguistic programming) (Linder-Pelz 2010).   It can als o be improved by paying attention to staff’s body language, for example being aware through non-verbal cues how people really feel. This skill has helped me read people during presentations, and tailor them to people’s boredom level. In both these ways, good communication can help the manager understand his or her staff better, and this is a first step to getting more out of staff, through building a relationship of mutual trust and respect (Templar 2011).  Ã‚   Interpersonal relationships can also have a positive impact on managerial performance. WDP places a large emphasis upon teamwork, because everyone needs to be committed to our goals to make them a success. Therefore, there is also a big emphasis on people working well together.   If the atmosphere in a division is positive, people are willing to help other colleagues out, for example covering for someone when they are ill, and being less resentful of others.   This impacts upon overall productivity. However, both communication and interpersonal relationships can have a negative impact upon managerial performance.   On occasion,   staff have become too close, for example entering into a romantic relationship which alienates other staff members, and creates a difficult atmosphere, particularly if one or both partners in the relationship are already in a formal relationship. This has made, in my experience, managing the situation extremely difficult, as the staff in question are reluctant to see the negative impact of their behaviour, and even more reluctant to end the work relationship.  Ã‚  Ã‚   Poor communication can also have negative impacts upon productivity. Where channels of communication are blocked, for example where lower level staff feel unable to approach their line manager, this can lead to frustration and poorer in-work performance, as staff feel they lack the trust and support in which they work best.   I have also seen the effect of rumours about redundancy and the negative impact these can have on workplace performance.  Ã‚  Ã‚   There is also what I see as a natural human tendency to keep information to oneself or share with one or two trusted others, which works against teamwork. Some employees are also more prone than others to gossip and manipulative behaviour. If such an individual is on the team, he or she needs careful management to mitigate the impact of these destructive behaviours. Barriers to communication and effective interpersonal relationship in WDP, strategies to overcome these I have identified a number of barriers to communication and interpersonal relationships: Poorly managed circulation of information: information is ‘leaked’ from higher managerial levels, so some staff know about it before others. This builds an atmosphere of mistrust and secrecy, and divides the workforce. Relatedly, information is often told to people on a ‘need to know’ basis, that is, in passing and not as part of an overall strategy. This has similar negative impacts as above, leading to division between staff and tension Lack of investment in team building: because we are so busy, important exercises which will build us as a team such as regular feedback meetings and ‘bonding’ sessions where we socialise together are either missing or mis-managed. Lack of listening skills on the part of some managers: everyone can improve their listening skills, but certain managers at WDP seem to lack the skills altogether. They seem bored to listen to anyone else but themselves, do not pick up on non-verbal cues, and don’t employ strategies to draw people out in conversation. On a positive note, I believe all these barriers can be overcome. The first and second could be eradicated by better managing the flow of information. It is easy to identify the source of leaks, and the person concerned should be reminded of the repercussions of what they are doing, and perhaps disciplined if the practice continues. There should be a clearer policy at board level about how information is to be circulated to others. I believe that if people saw the wider context of their ‘leaks’ and disclosures, the problem would be reduced if not eradicated.  Ã‚   In terms of the third barrier, I believe that team building needs to be built into the work schedule. All middle managers should be told they must arrange more regular meetings between staff and develop imaginative ideas for ‘bonding’ exercises. There also needs to be financial investment in these exercises. Finally, listening is a skill, and one which can be learned. The barrier caused by poor l istening skills can be addressed by a training programme in listening and communication, perhaps for all managers so the ones with poor skills do not feel singled out. Development opportunities I have used a process called reflective learning to work out which areas in my working life are problematic, and trying to work out how they can be opportunities for development. Reflective learning is   a process of looking at ones experiences in the workplace, particularly reflecting upon areas of concern, in order to isolate the elements of the experience, interpret them and possibly change the way one behaves in the future (Jasper 2007).  Ã‚  Ã‚   Through identifying problematic areas and critically analysing them, I have found several areas which impact upon my managerial ability (see table 2) Area Knowledge Skills Personal Attributes Behaviour Impact on Managerial Ability ‘Can do’ attitude I believe I know everything I need to know I feel I can do everything well enough Control Refuse to allow staff to do things for themselves, hard to delegate Negative – staff become frustrated, can’t make decisions for themselves Independence N/A Accounting tends to be fairly autonomous: something one can do in isolation I am used to working on my own. Not used to having the responsibility of others I tend to let them manage themselves, even when they are struggling People do not function as a team. My staff struggle to cope.  Ã‚   I tend to resent advice from ‘above’. Staff don’t feel they ‘belong’ Not sure what role involves I haven’t been given the information about what my role involves N/A I am reluctant to ask what my role is, in case I look less than competent I struggle along, don’t ask for help or clarification, become bad tempered with staff Staff lose motivation, lack direction and sense of purpose Table 2: breakdown of problem areas Overall, I feel that I am struggling with a new role as a manager. I’m used to working in isolation from others, and see asking for help as a form of weakness. However, I can recognise that I need to be able to enthuse my team more, and build cohesiveness within it.  Ã‚   I feel I’ve not really been adequately trained for the role, and now realise it is not a question of simply teaching other people to do the financial things I do. Rather, there’s a lot more to the role of manager including team building. Although I feel I have good listening and communication skills, I feel I am lacking in other areas such as enthusing others about the organisation as a whole.  Ã‚   I also believe that leadership can be learnt, and is something I can get better at. Action Plan Based on your assessment, determine priorities for further development of your own managerial behaviour and plan activities to achieve these Priority Area to be addressed / developed or improved Precise action to be taken Date to be completed by Job role I need clarification of what role involves Ask line manager for job description, full details of role 1 week Management skills I lack experience in managing others, particularly communication and team building Ask for support / mentoring / formal training 1 week. Control I am used to doing everything by myself. I need to delegate more Break down daily / weekly / monthly tasks and start to delegate at least some of them 2 weeks Independence I am too independent, used to working on my own. Now I need to be able to support others and lead a team Ask for training in building a team / communication. Read around the subject Ask for training: 1 week. Reading ongoing References Daft, R L and Marcic, D (2012)   Understanding Management, Cengage Learning, Belmont, CA. Dunnette, M D, Hough, L M and Charalambos, H (1994) Handbook of industrial and organizational psychology, Consulting Psychologists Press, USA Hewison, A (2004) Management for Nurses and Health Professionals: Theory Into Practice, John Wiley Sons, Hoboken, NJ Jasper, M (2007) Professional Development, Reflection and Decision-Making, John Wiley Sons, USA Linder-Pelz, S (2010) NLP Coaching: An Evidence-Based Approach for Coaches, Leaders and Individuals, Kogan Page Publishers, London Templar, R (2011) The Rules of Management: A Definitive Code for Managerial Success, FT Press, London Visser, W, Matten, D, Pohl, M and Tolhurst,   The A to Z of Corporate Social Responsibility, John Wiley Sons, Hoboken, NJ MARK SHEET: WORK BASED ASSIGNMENT (M4.01) Centre Number Centre Name Learner Registration No Learner named below confirms authenticity of submission NAME: Criteria WBA Strengths WBA Areas for Improvement Assr mark QA mark The organisation in relation to its purpose and its stakeholders  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The organisation’s purpose and its stakeholders are described  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The organisation’s structure, functional areas and managerial roles are explained       / 24 marks (min 12) The role of management in achieving goals     ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The specific responsibilities of middle managers in enabling the organisation to achieve its goals is described       / 20 marks (min 10) The effect of communication and interpersonal relationships on managerial performance  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The effect of interpersonal relationships and communication on managerial performance is explained  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Barriers to communication and effective interpersonal relationships in the organisation are identified and strategies devised to overcome these          / 30 marks (min 15) Development opportunities  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Own knowledge, skills, personal attributes and behaviour and their effect on own managerial ability is critically assessed  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Areas for personal development to improve own managerial behaviour is identified  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Priorities for future development are planned and set       / 26 marks (min 13) (External) Assessor’s Decision Quality Assurance Use Total Marks Outcome (circle as applicable) Total Marks Outcome (circle as applicable) Total 50+ overall, AND minimum in each section   PASS/REFERRAL Total 50+ overall, AND minimum in each section   Ã‚   PASS/REFERRAL Section fail if applicable: Date of QA check: Name of Assessor Name of QA Assessor Signature and date QA Signature and date

Human Sacrifice Rituals and the Ancient Maya

Human Sacrifice Rituals and the Ancient Maya We forbid and place strict sanctions on cannibalism, incest, and human sacrifice, considering they epitomize savage or barbarian behavior. Not everyone or every civilized group has shared our sensibilities. Many groups of people have performed human sacrifices as a way of pleasing or appeasing their gods. The Maya were no different in this regard. Inscribed stones bear witness to the Maya practice of human sacrifice. Precious feathers appear where blood would be expected coming from the wounds in some depictions of Maya human sacrifice ritual. Perhaps this symbolizes how valuable the life-giving fluid is to the gods. In the accompanying illustration [see larger image], instead of spurting blood, there are serpents. The common method for human sacrifice seems to have been for the ah nacom (a functionary) to extract the heart quickly, while 4 people associated with Chac, the rain/lightning god, held the struggling victims limbs. Human sacrifices seem to have been made, as well, with arrows, by flaying, decapitation, hurling from a precipice, and throwing the victim into a limestone sinkhole. Warfare was one source of human sacrificial victims. It is thought that losers in the ballgames may also have sometimes been victims, and sacrifice appears to have been connected mainly with ballgames, festivals, and the assumption of power by a new king. Besides humans, the following objects were offered as sacrifices: manatees, jaguars, opposums, parrots, quail, owls, turtles, pumas, crocodiles, squirrels, insects, feathers, dogs, deer, iguanas, turkeys, rubber, cacao, maize, squash seeds, flowers, bark, pine boughs and needles, honey, wax, jade, obsidian, virgin water from caves, shells, and iron pyrite mirrors. Why did the Maya Practice Human Sacrifice? Sign up for the Maya Newsletter Sources: Archaeology and Religion: A Comparison of the Zapotec and Maya, by Joyce Marcus. World Archaeology, Vol. 10, No. 2, Archaeology and Religion (Oct., 1978), pp. 172-191. Procedures in Human Heart Extraction and Ritual Meaning: A Taphonomic Assessment of Anthropogenic Marks in Classic Maya Skeletons Procedures in Human Heart Extraction and Ritual Meaning: A Taphonomic Assessment of Anthropogenic Marks in Classic Maya Skeletons, by Vera Tiesler, Andrea Cucina. Latin American Antiquity, Vol. 17, No. 4 (Dec., 2006), pp. 493-510. Human Sacrifice at Tenochtitlan, by John M. Ingham. Comparative Studies in Society and History, Vol. 26, No. 3 (Jul., 1984), pp. 379-400. Gordon R. Willey and American Archaeology, by Jeremy A. Sabloff, William Leonard Fash

Retinopathy of Prematurity Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Retinopathy of Prematurity - Research Paper Example The aftermath is a scarring of the surface of the eye which exerts pressure on the retina forcing it to be more taut and detached from the wall of the eye. This can easily lead to loss of vision in the affected infants. Due to the lack of symptoms that can help in detection and early diagnosis of the condition in infants, the services of an ophthalmologist are required to carry out a specialized and intense eye examination. In many case, the problem does not escalate to an acute level, the condition clears up without the need for any treatment. The eyes however require to be continuously examined to ensure that the blood vessels do mature. Additionally, if the severity of the disorder in an infant exceeds what can naturally be outgrown, they can be administered with laser treatment to avert the loss of vision in infants. Keywords: Retinopathy of Prematurity, Infant, Retina, Eyes, Vision Introduction Wormald, Smeeth and Henshaw define Retinopathy of Prematurity as a â€Å"vasoprolife rative disease of premature, low birth weight (LBW) babies, which occurs as a result of aberrant vascularization of the immature retina† (2004, p. 57). ... Retinopathy of Prematurity occurs in five stages. A number of treatments have been tried and tested for the treatment of the condition. However, to date, the treatments that have been regarded as exuding the most efficacy in dealing with the condition are Laser Therapy or Cryotherapy (National Eye Institute, 2009). Risk Factors The greatest risk factor contributing towards the development of Retinopathy of Prematurity is premature birth (Hartnett, 2005). According to Kids Health, commencing from 16 weeks into the development of a baby in the uterus of their mother, the blood vessels begin to grow within a baby’s eyes; originating from the center of the eye (2013). By the eight month of the pregnancy, the blood vessels gradually branch out to the sides of the retina. For babies born prematurely, the normal process of the growth of retinal blood vessels may be upset. This may result in abnormal development of vessels, or the growth of abnormal vessels. As a result, the vessels t hat are abnormal may leak or bleed into the eye. The vessels that may have grown randomly in the eye may result in scarring, whereby the scars on the retina may shrink and tag on the retina. The effect of this tension on the retina may trigger the detachment of the retina from the back of the eye. This may result in the baby becoming blind due to the essential role that is played by the retina in the facilitation of the ability to see (Kids Health, 2013). Another risk factor that is suggested as being a cause of the condition is light, due to the fact that it â€Å" leads to a release of free radicals that can cause oxidative damage, death of endothelial cells and release of angiogenic compounds† (Hartnett, 2005, p. 399). Researchers however pose differing

The Effect of Milling on the Triboelectrification Properties of Literature review - 1

The Effect of Milling on the Triboelectrification Properties of Flurbiprofen Salts - Literature review Example This literature review seeks to investigate some of the electrostatic concepts as well as the potential effects of milling on the triboelectrification properties of Flurbiprofen salts. Electrostatics is a phenomenon which generally involves the build up of charges on the surfaces of particles and objects which are in contact with each other. One of the most fundamental equations commonly used in electrostatics is Coulombs law which effectively describe the force between any two point electric charges. According to Coulombs law, the magnitude of electrostatic force between any two point charges is dependent on the magnitude of each charge as well as the distance between the charges. The concept of work function generally refers to minimum energy (in electronvolts) required to remove an electron from a solid and transfer it to any point outside the surface of the solid. Work function represents the least amount of energy needed to get rid of the weakest electron from its location. Consequently, electrons are often moved to a function with the lower work function of the substance with a higher work function (Bailey, 1993). Based on these rules, Elajnaf’s group (2006) suggested a triboelectric sequence where the substance with the highest sequence, but with a lower work function would experience the highest level of electropositive charge when it came in contact with the substances in the lower sequence. Contact Potential difference is an important concept that can be used to measure the changes in work function of a particle surface. An electrostatic potential usually exists between any two dissimilar electrical materials (such as conductors and semiconductors with different electron work functions) which are brought into physical contact. According to Elajnaf et al. (2006, p.102), contact surface characteristics such as surface texture, surface resistivity and contamination and particle properties such as surface resistivity, crystal properties and

How Do Artists Use Symbols in the Meaning of Their Work Essay Example for Free

How Do Artists Use Symbols in the Meaning of Their Work Essay Artists use symbols in different ways in their works to define their true feelings and to illustrate ideas and experiences. The three artists I will use to demonstrate how symbols can be used to gain different meanings are, Joseph Cornell, Salvador Dali and Rosalie Gascoigne. Cornell uses symbols to represent his fantasies and dreams, Dali also uses surrealist symbols to represent his desires and dreams and Gascoigne uses symbols to represent the landscape where she lived and decay. Joseph Cornell is an American sculptor and filmmaker. He was born on the 24th of December 1903 and died on the 29th of December 1972. Bebe Marie was created in the early 1940’s. It is made from a papered and painted wooden box that contains a doll in a dress made of cloth and a flower made also of cloth. If you look closely you will notice the intricate detail on the doll that has been placed behind the cluster of twigs. Because there is a doll in this sculpture, it perhaps has something to do with childhood and the numerous dark twigs suggests that the childhood portrayed was not a very delightful or happy one. Cornell likes to depict fantasy inspired and illusory images in his works, like in his work The Hotel Eden. Because Cornell lived in New York, he found many interesting and strange objects. He was also interested in second-hand bookstores, so he found a way to incorporate that in his work. Salvador Dali is a Spanish painter, sculptor and filmmaker. He was born on May 11th 1904 and he died on January the 23rd 1989. The Persistence of Memory was made in 1931. It was created by using oil on canvas. The work mainly features melted clocks and sky above the horizon. The clocks in this particular work are what give it a meaning. These symbols represent the facts that dreams can change and become strange and distorted. This work revolves around dreams and personal psychological fantasies. In fact, all of Dali’s work is based around dreams and psychological fantasies and generally things that simply do not occur in reality. For example, Dali’s work Dream Caused by the Flight of a Bumblebee around a Pomegranate a Moment Before Awakening. This work also goes back to the idea of reality and fantasy because of the tigers attacking the nude woman and the elephant hovering above the ocean. Rosalie Gascoigne is an Australian artist and sculptor. She was born on the 25th January 1917 and had died on the 23rd of October 1999. Regimental Colours was started in 1990 and finished in 1991. It was made using sawn soft drink crates on plywood. The work features various brands of soft drinks such as Schweppes. The main symbol in this work is the worn down surface. Many of her works are created around her interest in her surroundings. She likes to use older, worn down materials and signs that show age and have a history. Just like show has shown in Regimental Colours and also her work Sweet Lovers, she does this to show the memories and experiences through the aging material. In conclusion, symbols used in artworks are a very great way to express your inner feelings and emotions. Artists use this to their advantage so they can make their works more interesting and in depth.

Comparing Edgar Allen Poes The Cask of Amontillado, The Black Cat, and

Comparing Edgar Allen Poe's The Cask of Amontillado, The Black Cat, and The Tell-tale Heart The short stories of Edgar Allen Poe demonstrate the author's ample gifts in the psychology of the mind, regardless of the fact he was decades ahead of Freud.   Poe's short stories are often from the deranged and murderous point-of-view of the narrator, who often illustrates the inner-workings of his own psychology and the disintegration of the self brought about by psychological disorders, aberrations, and other factors (anxiety, substance abuse, etc.).   Perhaps two main factors omnipresent in the Poe psychological realm are substance abuse (i.e. alcoholism) and taphophobia (exaggerated fear of being buried alive). In short stories like The Cask of Amontillado, The Black Cat, and The Tell-tale Heart, Poe constructs a psychological world where alcoholism and the fear of being buried alive are inextricably intertwined.   So, too, the combination of them has an impact on the narrators and characters in his stories.   Poe's own alcoholism and taphophobia are inextricably intertwined in the psyche of his narrators and/or characters. In all three of these short stories, the narrator an... ...xacerbates the psychological symptoms being manifested due to taphophobia.   Yet, these stories amply demonstrate Poe's own preoccupation with alcohol and drinking as well as his neurosis with respect to being buried alive.  Ã‚   References Anonymous.   (2001). Criteria for Substance Dependence Diagnosis.   DSM-II-R, NIDA, Available: http://www.nida.gov/DSR.html, 1-3. Anonymous.   (2001). Let's talk facts about phobias.   APA, Available: http://www.guggenheim.yourmd.com, 1-4. Poe, E. A.   (1966). Complete Stories and Poems of Edgar Allen Poe.   New York, NY: Doubleday & Company, Inc.

Cellular Phones: A Reliable Source In Society Today Essay

In today’s society it is hard to find someone who does not own a cell phone. It is almost like cell phones appeared over night, since we used to see nothing but rich guys in the 80’s carrying around large, chunky mobile phones to now where we have a variety assortment of smaller cell phones that we can choose from. Now a days, cell phones are used in just about every aspect of life, from work, to school, to emergencies, to browsing the web to get information, to playing games or just plain talking with a loved one, we use our cell phones. Some families have even gone strictly cellular and do not own a separate home phone. This is how popular cellular phones have become. Can one say that it is a form of technology that has enhanced our society? One would say â€Å"yes† it is. Just a few years ago, pagers were the thing to have, now with the advance technology of cellular phones, who needs pagers anymore? It has come to the point that now you will see a 10 year old with a cellular phone. Many parents feel better if their child has a phone to where they can reach them at any given point. However, is this really necessary? I mean, when I was 10, if I was not at home with my mom, I was either in school or over a relative’s house, nonetheless, my mother knew where I was at all times. This is just one example of how cell phones have become heavily relied upon in society. Let us explore how useful cellular phones have become and how we as a society rely upon their use each and every day. To begin let us go back into history of how cellular phones came about. According to Jamie Brown at Yahoo! Yahoo! Voices. Contributor Network, Cell Phone History: Technology and Innovation Over the Years. (January 12, 2009). Retrieved from: http://voices. yahoo. com/cell-phone-history-technology-innovation-over-2414208. html. â€Å"The very first cell phone was developed in April 1973 by Dr. Martin Cooper, a manager at Motorola, and a group of fellow inventors. Cooper called his competitor on the cell phone he had just invented. The technology was called AMPS (Advanced Mobile Phone Service). It took ten more years for the first analog cell phone to be developed for commercial use by a company called Ameritech. As I have done my research on the use of cellular phones today, I have come to find that much of society have many uses for the cellular phones. Many own a Smartphone and some may be like me and still own a basic phone. Nonetheless, just to own a cellular phone is a plus, and you are looked at strange if you say you do not own one. As I was reading an article on CNN Tech, by Amy Gahran, October 22, 2010, she referred to her â€Å"aha! † moment when she realized how the significant cellular phones were back in spring of 2009. She told the story of when she was on the bus sitting across from an elderly gentlemen who looked homeless. When all of a sudden a cell phone rang, and the man reached into his pocket and pulled out a flip phone and commenced to having a conversation, confirming an appointment to get off the streets. Now just looking at this, I realized that there are many people out there who may not have a place live, actually living in shelters, but they will have a cell phone. When I asked my husband Michael how prevalent are cell phones in shelters (because he used to be in one through the Salvation Army back in 2010), he stated: â€Å"yes there were plenty of people in there who had cell phones, they had to have a way for people to get in contact with them. And you have to realize, there are so many government programs that issue out free cell phones, anyone could have one. † Now based on that fact alone, I realized that our society, really could not function properly without the use of cellular devices. Since their inception, technology has evolved to where we basically need the use of cellular devices, just to get by in our day to day lives. Thinking back when I was younger and wished I had a way to get in contact with my mom, about when to pick me up from school. Only way I could reach out to her was to call the house, not realizing if she was not at home she would not receive my message. Oh boy, how I wished we had the luxury of small mobile cellular devices back then, instead, we had the big bag mobile devices, that only those who could afford it carried them around. After further research, there are many who believe that cellular phones have been a very much needed and great asset to our society. According to Foram Mehta, on an article done on Buzzle website titled: How Cell Phones are Changing Our Society. They do break it down on how society has been using cellular devices and for what reasons.

Compare and Contrast Sir Gawain and Beowulf

Heroes come in many forms, yet traits such as: courage, honor, and loyalty, reappear as themes throughout the personality of a hero. The characters of Beowulf and Sir Gawain each represent a version of a hero, yet each comes across quite differently in their respective story. A hero can be said to truly win if he remains constant to his noble values when put in any situation that crosses his way. When measured by that criteria, Sir Gawain stands out above Beowulf as a true hero, due to his command of both personal and spiritual power through the use of thought, as well as valiant deeds.Gawain embodies many of the characteristics of the chivalric knight and hero, among them, modesty, honesty, commitment, loyalty, and courage. Although he is almost beyond reproach, he does commit a single error, accepting the lady's green girdle. This sets him apart from Beowulf. Distraught with his sin, Sir Gawain, concerned with maintaining his reputation and image as a chivalrous knight, admits he a ccepted the lady's green girdle to the host. This lie, once it is revealed, becomes the means by which the mild hubris that afflicts Gawain is exposed and also the means by which the hubris can be corrected.This flaw completes the character of Sir Gawain, for in his humility he becomes a lasting hero. Beowulf, is quite different in this respect, written in a perfect light in the absence of any flaw. This exemplifies the superior honor of Sir Gawain over Beowulf, because he is able to confront his sin and gain virtue, while Beowulf is portrayed as void of any wrongdoing, unable to denounce any defect in his person for lack of its existence. Beowulf is indeed an epic hero and king.What is especially interesting is that the way in which the tale is structured and narrated permits the reader to observe two different types of heroism: the heroism of youth and the heroism of an older, wiser, and more mature warrior. In his youth, the physical characteristics of heroism are emphasized. Beo wulf is recalled as having performed physical feats that no other man was capable of doing, and such feats required immense reserves of courage, such as his battle with Grendel in the hall, Herot, and his journey to Grendel's mother's lair inthe glimmering pool where he fought and defeated her. In his older age the feats of heroism are more subtle, more abstract, and one might question his decision to battle the dragon, which would ultimately result in his death. However, the code of the hero compelled Beowulf to defend his people one final time; he seemed to trust that a younger hero-warrior would rise to the occasion should death befall him, as it did. In â€Å"Beowulf,† the hero-king is faced with challenges that are both physical and moral, both threatening his life.Like Sir Gawain, Beowulf has all the requisite characteristics of a hero and like Sir Gawain, he is invested in protecting his reputation, yet in this respect, Beowulf chose pride over being humble, which Sir Gawain emanates. Beowulf does not know when to stop fighting; even in old age he is still waging war against evil forces, this is a prime example of his selflessness, sacrificial, yet boastful personality. Sir Gawain, was also selfless when he volunteered to behead the Green Knight, sacrificial when he chose to approach the Green Knight at the end of the tale, yet he never boasted or praised himself for these accomplishments.Sir Gawain was virtuous in his deeds, adhering to the chivalric code of earning the praise of God rather than the praise of fellow peers and subjects. Surely Beowulf and Sir Gawain are heroes. They hold heroic qualities such as bravery, valor and chivalry. But it is interesting to note that there greatest qualities are often their downfall. Beowulf, void of any downfall, was a great king and warrior, dying in his last feat of slaying a dragon.To the contrary, Sir Gawain fell to the sway's of women by accepting the lady's green girdle, yet after he had heroically faced the Green Knight, he continued to wear the girdle to display his shame. However, In considering heroes it is important to remember that for as strong as the values are, if they are to be considered true heroes, they must have their faults. This should not discount from their achievements, but serve to enhance them. For this reason, Sir Gawain is more honorable than Beowulf.

Munich Olympic Massacre Aftermath

Munich Olympic Massacre Aftermath The 2012 London Olympics marked the 40th anniversary of the tragic massacre of Israeli athletes at the 1972 Munich games. An international calamity, the murder of the athletes by the Palestinian extremist Black September group on September 5, 1972, naturally spurred increased security measures at all subsequent Olympic games. The incident also forced the United States federal government, especially the State Department, to modernize the way it handles diplomatic security. Black September Attack At 4 a.m. September 5, eight Palestinian terrorists broke into to the Olympic village building where the Israeli team stayed. As they attempted to take the team hostage, a fight broke out. The terrorists killed two athletes, then took nine others hostage. A globally televised standoff ensued, with the terrorists demanding the release of more than 230 political prisoners in Israel and Germany. Germany insisted on handling the crisis. Germany had not hosted the Olympics since the 1936 Berlin games, in which Adolf Hitler tried to showcase German superiority in the pre-World War II years. West Germany saw the 1972 games as a chance to show the world it had lived down its Nazi past. The terrorist attack on Israeli Jews, of course, stabbed right at the heart of German history, since Nazis have perpetrated the extermination of some six million Jews during the Holocaust. (In fact, the infamous Dachau concentration camp sat about 10 miles from Munich.) German police, with little training in counter-terrorism, botched their rescue attempts. Terrorists learned via TV reporting of a German attempt to rush the Olympic village. An attempt to take them at a nearby airport where the terrorists believed they had passage out of the country, collapsed into a firefight. When it was over, all the athletes were dead. Changes in U.S. Readiness The Munich massacre prompted obvious changes in Olympic venue security. No longer would it be easy for intruders to hop two-meter fences and stroll unchallenged into athletes apartments. But the terror attack also changed security measures on a more subtle scale. The U.S. State Departments Bureau for Diplomatic Security reports that the Munich Olympics, along with other high-profile terrorist incidents in the late 1960s and early 1970s, caused the bureau (then known as the Office of Security, or SY) to reevaluate how it protects American diplomats, emissaries, and other representatives abroad. The bureau reports that Munich caused three major changes in how the U.S. handles diplomatic security. The massacre: Put diplomatic security in the forefront of U.S. foreign policy concerns; Changed SYs focus from background checks and evaluations to committing the personnel and technology necessary to combat terror; Put the State Department, White House, and Congress all in the diplomatic security policy-making process. Executive Measures U.S. President Richard Nixon also made executive changes to Americas terror preparedness. Foretelling the post-9/11 administrative reorganizations, Nixon ordered that U.S. intelligence agencies cooperate more effectively with each other and foreign agencies to share information regarding terrorists, and he created a new cabinet-level committee on terrorism, headed by Secretary of State William P. Rogers. In measures that seem quaint by today s standards, Rogers ordered that all foreign visitors to the U.S. carry visas, that visa applications be closely screened, and lists of suspicious persons code-named for secrecy be submitted to federal intelligence agencies. Congress authorized the president to cut U.S. air service to countries that aided hijackers  and made attacks against foreign diplomats on American soil a federal offense. Shortly after the Munich attack, Rogers addressed the United Nations and in another tactic that presaged 9/11 made terrorism global concern, not just that of a few nations.  The issue is not war...[or] the strivings of people to achieve self-determination and independence, Rogers said, it is whether the vulnerable lines of international communication...can continue, without disruption, to bring nations and peoples together.

The Best Blog Format to Improve Every Post (Includes Templates)

The Best Blog Format to Improve Every Post (Includes Templates) How much time do you spend worrying about your blog format when you sit down to write a post? However much time that might be, there’s a better way: establishing an outline and a set of editorial standards that you follow on every piece. This way, you can focus more on writing, and waste less time on mechanics and presentation. In this post, you’ll learn everything from formatting best practices to where all your visual components should go (and beyond). By the time you’re done, you’ll be sure to have picked up a few tips that’ll help improve your content and retain more readers. What is ? is the industry’s favorite marketing management calendar platform. Manage every project, schedule your content + social media promotion, and more, all in one place. Start your free trial. Download Your Free Blog Format Template Advice is only worthwhile if you can put it into practice. And to make applying this post simple, use this blog format template. Fill out each section and your post will come out well-formatted every time. The Best Blog Format to Improve Every Post (Free Templates)Why Worry About Formatting? Even the best content can underperform if it looks sloppy. In general, most people stick around on a website for less than a minute. Consider this graphic from Nielsen Norman Group: People are most likely to drop off right away, unless they see something compelling that they want to stick around and read, or otherwise interact with. And guess which factors determine whether people leave, according to Neil Patel: The content is irrelevant. It’s tough to read on mobile devices. It isn’t clear what the page wants them to do (like sign up or make a purchase). The design is either too busy, or not interesting enough. The site takes too long to load. Why are these points relevant? All five of these factors can be influenced, positively or negatively, directly and indirectly, by your formatting. Plus, there are plenty of other benefits behind making your content presentable. Here are three. Save Time Writing Like the intro to this post suggested, setting formatting guidelines for every post helps you save time since you won’t have to think about it each time you create a piece of content. Multiply the amount of time you save on one post, times the number of posts you’ll ever write, and it adds up. Ensures Posts Are Easy to Read This helps solve problems #2 and #3 from the numbered list a few paragraphs back. Provided your content is on point (solving point #1), making sure people can read your stuff on whatever device they’re on while making conversion steps clear, you can put yourself on the path to success. Improve Your SEO Performance Incorporating keywords into the right sections of your post, along with using header tags (H2, H3, etc.) smartly throughout your content can have considerable influence over its search performance. 8 Formatting Best Practices to Follow Before this post digs into an actual formatting process, it’s time to cover some basic best practices that apply more or less universally. Sentence Length: Aim for 25 words or less per sentence. Paragraph Length: Stick to three sentences or fewer per paragraph. Word Count: The best post length is however long it takes to make your point. Image Placement: Consider adding at least one image per 300 words. Form / Lead Magnet Placement: Make opt-in forms easy to find. They can either be placed in-line (aim for somewhere near the beginning or end) or using a (tasteful) pop-up. Links: Make links open in a new window so users aren’t taken away from what they’re trying to read. Usage of Header Tags: Use one H1 header for your headline, H2 tags for sub-headers, and H3 tags for points beneath sub-headers. Use header tags H4 through H6 sparingly. Flow of Information: Have a clear introduction, body, and conclusion. Diagram of an Ideal Blog Post Format You’ll probably need an example to follow before setting forth on formatting yourself. So, what does a crisp and clear blog post look like? Check out this illustration: Formatting Your Blog Post in 7 Simple Steps So, say it’s time to write a blog post. How should you approach structuring each section? And how can you get that advice in plain English? Start with this process. Step 1: Write an Outline This is the first thing you should do before writing a piece of content: figure out what you’re going to write, and what sections your post will include. The simplest way to write an outline is to sketch out section subheaders in bold text, and add specific details in bulleted lists beneath each one. Here’s an example: Introduction Point 1 Point 2 Point 3 Next, add in sub-sections and label which sub-header levels they’ll use: Introduction Point 1 Point 2 Point 3 First Section: Thoughts on Point 1 (H2) Sub-Point 1 (H3) Sub-Point 2 (H3) Sub-Point 3 (H3) Why worry about this stuff? Here are a few reasons: Using clear sub-headers makes content easier to read. This post you’re reading right now uses H2 and H3 subheader levels throughout. Now, imagine how much harder it’d be to read without them. Figuring out up front which header levels to use saves time later: And time is of the essence, right? Less time writing means more time to †¦ do more writing. Or something else. Good content structure supports good SEO. Search engines want to see well-structured content with a logical header structure. Mapping that out right away helps keep smart SEO practices a part of your process right from the start. Step 2: Structure Your Introduction When the actual writing starts, everything begins with the introduction. There’s a lot of weight riding on this one section, too. So, how should they be formatted? Follow these guidelines: Keep it concise. Stick to three or four paragraphs maximum (and keep each sentence brief and punchy). Add links. Reputable sources can immediately establish accuracy and authority (and keep readers around). Recommended Reading: How to Write Irresitible Blog Post Introductions That'll Keep Your Readers Reading Step 3: Consider Content Upgrade and Lead Magnet Placement After the introduction, it’s worth considering where your lead magnets (free downloadable resources locked behind an email opt-in form to build your email list) should go. The Blog frequently places these shortly after the introduction. That’s because they often include resources that are required (or at least helpful) for implement the advice in the rest of the post. But, whether that’s the best placement for you depends on your content. Here are some options and examples: After your introduction: At the end: In a pop-up: It’s worth experimenting with different placements and monitoring which appears to work best. From a formatting perspective though, what matters is knowing ahead of time where it will go, so you can plan and write accordingly. Step 4: Write Each Subsection Following your outline, each subsection will need to be written next. Each one should start with its appropriate sub-header level. If you’re using WordPress, you can find your subheader controls here: Why are these important? This has been touched on before in this post, but it’s worth reiterating a couple of key points: Using consistent subheader levels improves readability. Having logical and consistent structure looks better than using headers and bold text at random. Search engines use sub-header HTML tags to understand your content. When assessing how relevant your content is in relation to keyword search terms, Google (and others) will take the contents of your sub-headers into consideration. This also helps search engines (and readers) understand which points of a post are most important (an H1 is more important than an H2, an H2 is more important than an H3, and so on). As has been stated before, stick to 25 words or less per sentence, and three or fewer sentences per paragraph to make your post easy to skim. Step 5: Where Should Images Go? The general best practice is to include an image every 200 to 300 words. This helps to add more visual appeal to your post, giving readers a rest periodically to look at something more interesting than an endless scrolling wall of words. Some other images to consider: Header graphics: These are great for using as the featured image in WordPress. Call to action graphics: Inline graphics linking to conversion steps (like signup forms) can help drive more clicks. Infographics / long graphics: They can go a long way toward helping provide information using less inline text, and they’re highly shareable on social media. Step 6: Adding s Great content deserves to be shared. And people will often want to share something great that I’ve read, while they’re reading. This is where click-to-tweet boxes (which can be created using a variety of plugins) come in. Here’s an example of what they look like:

Iron Jawed Angeles- Movie analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Iron Jawed Angeles- Movie analysis - Essay Example They were not given the rights to vote because the society on the whole though they cannot choose candidates rationally. They simply lacked the understanding necessary to comprehend the complexities of politics. Alice Paul approaches Ben purely to further her agenda. Ben fancies her the moment they have their first conversation. It would have been compromising for Alice to get political and PR favors from him and secretly harbor a romance story. She was only interested in business and not pleasure even if she wanted to. Had she gotten romantically involved with Ben it would have hindered her efforts promoting the full voting rights for women. The way how the movie progresses showing Ban asking for dinner/lunch frequently shows that it is Ben who initiates the romance fling. Alice agrees to eat with him only after he had given her something in return. The other reason is Alice thinks if she would get romantically involved with Ben it will prevent her from reaching her goals. Somehow she will get distracted from her mission. During the scene when Ben is teaching her how to dance, he tries to kiss her. Even though she wanted to kiss him but somehow she turns her head away. Despite the fact that she fantasizes about him while taking a bath. The movie immediately shows a police officer listening to this threat. However, he does not react at all to such threatening insults. Even after one person throws a bottle at women, there is no reaction from the police authority. Thomas Leighton, the senator for the democrats sees the paper one morning and reads to his wife that her name is among the notable contributors to the National Women’s Party (NWP). Upon learning that the NWP is urging women voters not to vote for the Democrats, he takes away the monthly funds from his wife’s account. During the confrontational debate between Inez Milholland and Woodrow Wilson, the president is clearly preventing the