How the Constitution Limits the Power of Government

The Founding Father of America believed that freedom is a cornerstone of the nation. Therefore freedom had to be protected from any kinds of abuse including abuse by the Government. In order to achieve this purpose the Constitution has been designed in a manner that allowed to limit the powers of governing authorities and protect human rights. This paper shall investigate some of related constitutional provisions and demonstrate how the Constitution limits powers of the Government. First and foremost powers of the Government are limited by the American Bill of Rights which includes inalienable rights of every citizen which under no circumstances can be terminated. These rights include a right of free speech, right to carry arms, right to privacy etc. In fact the Bill of Rights does not limit the Government, yet it provides abilities for individuals to protect themselves from abuse by the Government [1]. The second feature that allows to limit power is principle of separation of powers. There are three branches of power: legislative power represented by the Congress, executive power headed by the President and judicial power vested by the Supreme Court. Neither of the branches has absolute power and each of them has certain rights and obligations together forming the checks and balances system – a second guarantee against abuse of powers[2]. The third opportunity to limit the Government is federalism. The principle of federalism means separation of powers between the central power and the states. Federalism restricts exercising absolute power by the Government because some powers can be exercised exclusively by the States. On the other hands, some powers can be exercised exclusively by the central government, so power of the Government and power of the States are mutually limited[2]. The fourth opportunity to limit powers is a right of citizens to elect their governments (both Federal and State). The Government which abuses human rights and misuses it’s powers would simply not be elected for the next term, thusly being deprived of opportunity to further infringe it’s powers[3]. Works Cited: 1. Constitution of the United States of America. Amendments 1-10 (American Bill of Rights). Available at: http://www.usconstitution.net/const.html (last viewed: May 3, 2008) 2. Cooray Mark The Australian Achievement: From Bondage To Freedom. Available at: http://www.ourcivilisation.com/cooray/btof/chap174.htm   (last viewed: May 3, 2008) 3. Jacob G. Hornberger (2000) The Constitution: Liberties of the People and Powers of Government. Available at:   http://www.fff.org/freedom/0900a.asp   (last viewed: May 3, 2008)   

The hotel owner cared so much about the wife

Ernest Hemingway's â€Å"A Cat in the Rain† is about a couple who were staying in hotel in a foreign country.During their stay in the hotel, the wife of the American saw a cat outside the hotel who was trying desperately not to get wet in the rain by crouching under a table.The wife wanted the cat so badly so she went out and tried to save the get the cat. When she wasn't able to get the cat, upon her return to their room she then told her husband of how she wanted the cat so badly and of other stuffs that she now desires. By the end of the story, the hotel owner sent his maid to the room of the Americans to give the wife a cat.Thesis statement: the latter part of the story attributes that the wife and the hotel owner have growing feelings for each other.First main point: First show of attractionThe wife adored simple gestures from the hotel ownerâ€Å"The wife liked him. She liked the deadly serious way he received any complaints. She liked his dignity. She liked the way he wanted to serve her. She liked the way he felt about being a hotel-keeper. She liked his old, heavy face and big hands.†These lines from the story are a clear indication of how the wife is charmed by the hotel owner's aura. There was even a part when the wife felt a knot inside her as she passed by the desk of the hotel owner. She said that she felt little around the owner yet really important at the same time which is typical anxiousness among budding relationships. This discomfort and admiration that the girl has towards the owner is a solid proof of the infatuation she has for the owner.Second main point: Mutualism of attractionâ€Å"‘You must not get wet,’ she smiled, speaking Italian. Of course, the hotel-keeper had sent her.†The care the hotel owner is cherishing towards the American girl is not the same as to that of any typical hotel owner. There was something special in it because he even sent a maid to see to it that the American girl doesn't get wet in the rain.

Petrochemical Industry of Saudi Arabia Dissertation

Petrochemical Industry of Saudi Arabia - Dissertation Example The petrochemical industry is regarded as one of the most important of all sectors in the economy of Saudi Arabia owing to the volume and proportion of revenue that it contributes to the national income of the nation. The records of the year 2005 state that Saudi Arabia consists of almost 250 petrochemical firms of diverse sizes which invest a gross yearly amount of US$ 29 billion in the industry. In addition, the nation is accountable for exporting petrochemical products worth US$ 3.2 billion. The nation is also home to the Saudi Arabian Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC), which is the world’s 11th largest producer of petroleum and also one of the world’s fastest growing companies (Shoult, 2006). At present, Saudi Arabia is the largest producer of oil in the world accounting for producing 10.5 million barrels per day annually, which serves the needs of one-tenth of the global population. The nation’s potential capacity is believed to be 262 billion barrels per day (Falola & Genova, 2005). The objectives of the present research paper could be stated as follows – †¢ Factors which enhance investment in a sector, i.e., what are the aspects that investors generally examine prior to making investments in a particular sector? †¢ Importance of investment behind the economic development of a nation. †¢ Petrochemical industry, being one of the pillaring sectors, deserves much of the government’s attention. This necessitates the purpose of the paper and the conclusion to be reached hence. Research aims will be – Figure out the extent to which petrochemical industry will be affected by market fluctuations Reach a conclusion regarding the appropriate step to be adopted by potential investors. Forecast the possible trend that the Saudi Arabian petrochemical industry is likely to adopt over the span of another quarter. This forecast could help the national

Variations between England and Scotland Research Paper

Variations between England and Scotland - Research Paper Example Article 6 stipulates certain additional features, with regard to criminal cases, in the context of the right to a fair trial. For instance, the accused have to be informed straight away about the charges framed against them, and this has to be in the language that they can comprehend. Moreover, the accused have to be provided with adequate time and facilities to prepare their defense. In addition, they should be permitted to defend themselves in person or through a lawyer of their choice. In addition, the accused in criminal cases have to be provided with legal aid, when they are not in a position to afford legal representation. Furthermore, the accused should be permitted to call and question witnesses, in the same manner as the defense counsel. As such, it is incumbent upon the state to establish courts that provide a fair trial to all the accused. Moreover, the state has to ensure that no individual is punished, in the absence of a fair trial.The procedural protection provided by Article 6 ECHR becomes effective only when a criminal charge is framed against an individual. This protection remains in force until the sentence has been made or an appeal has been decided. All the same, the judicial procedure requirements of Article 6 do not encompass the pre-charge stage of prosecution. This is especially true of the criminal investigation.With regard to the Article 6 ECHR requirement, to conduct trials in criminal cases within the reasonable time, several cases are in existence.

Enviroment Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Enviroment - Assignment Example With that, there are a number of air pollution challenges that need to be taken into concern by all governments in the world so as to eliminate the chances of air pollution becoming tragic to life. First is the emission of smog and smoke from industries. Ozone smog is lethal when subjected to higher temperatures since it can cause severe health issues to humans. Some of the health issues include: severe asthma for individuals who already have the respiratory challenge, lung burn problems, eye irritations and throat damage. Smog has other adverse effects such as acidic rain due to the fact that it contains sulphur compounds. Acidic rain can be very dangerous to the existing water supplies. For example: If acidic rain would pour on earth; that means that the water we drink shall have higher quantities of sulphur- This is very dangerous to public health. In addition to that, acidic rain will cause damage to plant cover as well as organisms in the soil. In this case, human beings as well as animal life will be affected when they consume plant cover that has higher components of sulphur. Another effect of acidic rain is that it speeds up the decay process of objects that is comes into contact with. With those examples, it can be vividly stated that, smog and smoke air pollutions are very dangerous and both can cause a massive challenges to the existing human life, animal life and the earth. A second form of air pollution is through Green House Gases (GHG) such as: Carbon dioxide, Methane, Nitrous Oxide and Fluorinated gases. Carbon dioxide is as a result of burning fossil fuels, the use of petroleum and natural gas. Methane originates from coal burning. Nitrous Dioxide originates from the use of fertilizers that have higher contents of nitrogen and other waste products. According to a 2011 report released by the U.S Greenhouse Emissions, it was revealed that the total emissions of carbon dioxide were 84%, Methane was 9%, Nitrous Oxide was 5% and Fluorinated gases we re 2%. In addition to that, the report revealed that electricity was the highest contributor of GHG emissions by a total of 33%; the transportation sector had a total of 28%, industries had 20%; commercial and residential sector had 11%; agricultural sector had 8% (EPA, â€Å"Overview of Green House Gases†). This report clearly indicated that GHG are still a challenge due to the reason that they are still emitted from the different sources. However, according to a comparison of GHG emissions from 2010 to 2012 it is clear that GHG emissions are slowly decreasing (EPA, â€Å"Trends in Greenhouse Gas Emissions†). The most intensifying risk about GHG is that they take hundreds or even thousands of years to be completely depleted from the atmosphere. With that, they are prone to affect human life in the long term. The challenge brought about by these gases is that they prevent the release of heat from the earth into the atmosphere – ozone layer. As a result, this cau ses the earth to retain too much heat thereby leading to the global warming effect. The global warming effect causes a change in global climate. That is; it causes warmer temperatures to be experienced in different parts of the world. As a result, these higher temperatures lead to water evaporation from the existing water supplies. In areas where the global warmin

Performance Management assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Performance Management assignment - Essay Example 7-8 Etisalat’s Organizational Policies...†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 8-10 Conclusion †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦... 10-11 Recommendations: Improving Performance Management †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 11-12 Abstract This study explores the significance of performance management to the corporate life of Etisalat, leading telecommunication and internet industry of United Arab Emirates (UAE). Probing on its business management and its contribution to global development, researcher used empirical data to investigate, draw conclusions and make some recommendations on the state of Etisalat performance management. Introduction Performance management (PM) relates about systems on business management and the administration of its huma n resource to attain corporate goals and objectives by strategically directing the delivery of services to leverage in a fast evolving market for want of satisfaction. As global market is evolving in diversity and in complex dynamics, it’s imperative for corporation to develop corporate strategy, set goals, conduct regular assessments, seize opportunities for improvement, and enhance motivations to sustain its corporate life (Armstrong, 2009). In such context, this research aims to critically explore Etisalat’s performance management as a leading telecommunication company in United Arab of Emirates (UAE), correlate its significant contribution to global market, determine the imperatives it adopted to be competitive and resilient from risks, and to draw recommendations to improve company’s performance. Researcher used accessed online documents and other related resources in the conduct of this study. Performance Management defined Performance management is about identifying, measuring and adopting strategic mechanism to align company’s plans with its vision, mission, values, specific goals and translate them into corporate operation. It includes conduct of evaluations, either formal or informal, such as appraisal and constructive feedback mechanism to determine company’s strength, weaknesses, opportunities and strength. As a process, PM deals with structures and systems to set criteria and specify roles to motivate human capital in the performance of tasks, reach targets, earn rewards and enjoy salary with self-esteem. The company may conduct continuing knowledge or skill transfer or trainings to enhance their competence. Since corporate management deal systems, communications and reporting are essential for mutual understanding, coordination, interpersonal exchange of opinions and problems as well as sense of uniformity of thoughts about the nature of their jobs. On the other hand, since PM is about human resource management, organizational goals must be understood by staff; changes are facilitated; salary and rewards scheme are commensurate to expected result; and company is protected from legal impediments. Reward system may include contingency pays to intentionally discourage turn-around rates of good employees and to develop corporate culture on excellence. Absence of corporate system and mismanagement de-motivated workers, pull them out of goals, estranged employee-employers relations and such absence of purposefulness will burn them out (Delaney & Huselid, 1996). The company will suffer high turn-around rate, risks and conflicts would

Communication technology and Westernization Essay

Communication technology and Westernization - Essay Example Although the democratic value of the internet has been cherished, on the contrary, the cyber culture is breaking the boundaries of ethical parameters in many aspects. Initially, it affects the moral perception of the new generation as they are exposed to uncensored websites. They are likely to be influenced by various misanthropic ideologies and racism (Clichà © & Bonilla, 2004, pp.32-33). Education is another notable area that has been affected by internet. In fact, the positive effects of communication technology have opened new opportunities in the field of education and employment. On the other hand, the technology has been widely used for academic misconduct which will have adverse effects on our education system as a whole. Another argument against the technology is that it has a westernizing effect on other cultures. As stated in Forbes & Mahan, (Eds.) (2005, p.135), since the primary language of the internet is English, it would transmit the elements of Western values including emphasis on material goods, entertainment, sex and romance. The other side of the argument is that though internet has a cultural and social influence, it does not necessarily eliminate the values of indigenous cultures. As Nakamura L (2007) states, internet has the potential for challenging western influence; and moreover, it can turn to be an effective device for non-western users. The author points out the example of New Media Center Sarai New Delhi which has developed software for indigenous non-literates. However, the so called potentiality of the technology needs to be further utilized. Obviously, a cyber society that has deep root in Western culture has emerged globally. People participate in the cyberspace social networks and interact with others who have similar interests and tastes. They express their feelings and ideas (whether right or wrong) without the fear of legal restrictions. The effect is that the more

Demutualisation of Insurance Companies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Demutualisation of Insurance Companies - Essay Example It is advantageous to the members as shares can be traded in the equity or stock markets while the membership rights in the mutual companies can not be traded. Thus demutualisation increases the possibility for the involved parties to make profits and at the same time benefit the economy as a whole. Demutualisation was originally used to signify this specific conversion process of the insurance companies. However this term is being used more broadly to describe the process of conversion of any member-owned organisation to become shareholder owned. Conversion of London Stock Exchange and New York Stock Exchange are some of the classic examples in the direction of demutualisation of companies other than insurance companies. The demutualisation of insurance companies is undertaken pursuant a plan of conversion approved by the policyholders and the state legislators Demutualization Claims Clearing House). In the case of mutual life policyholders a time of conversion they may receive stock, cash and/or policy credits in lieu of their ownership rights in the old mutual insurance company. In some cases the compensation is limited only to the subscription rights to acquire shares in the newly formed company. In some other cases the membership rights are transferred to a Mutual Holding Company (MHC) which owns a newly formed subsidiary stock insurance company. In the context of th... These changes include: (1) The traditional life insurance products of life coverage and risk transfers were not favourably looked into by the consumers over the period of time. The consumers showed considerable preference in the wealth management/annuity business which showed good potential for new growth opportunities. (2) The large scale deregulation of the financial services industry with the passing of Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act in the year 1999 eliminated the barriers between the commercial banking, insurance business and the investment banking which paved the way for combining all the business in one entity (3) The modifications brought about in the Internal Revenue Codes abolished the tax advantages which were hitherto available to a mutual insurer and (4) There were a number of foreign insurance companies that showed interest in the insurance market of the United States which changed the structure of the insurance companies Similar circumstances prevailed in the European economies augmented the need for conversion of the insurance companies to stock companies from their original form of mutual companies with the membership of policyholders. Mutual Companies and Stock Companies In a mutual life insurance company the company is owned by the policyholders that make them both insureds and insurers. The policyholders are vested with the right to vote to elect the members of the Board of Directors and also to receive the policy dividends. In the event of insolvency and dissolution, they are also entitled to receive the sale proceeds of the assets of the company. The policyholders as members of the mutual company can have their insurance at the lowest possible cost. They do not have to share the profits of the company

Chinas arms export to the developing countries in Asia Essay

Chinas arms export to the developing countries in Asia - Essay Example In the context of the sudden increase in China’s arm exports in the last decade, two things are worth mentioning. First, the increase is primarily due to a sudden rise in volume of arms purchased by Pakistan in the last few years, wherein it accounts for more than 50 % of arms exported by China in the last five years (Holtom, Bromley, Wezeman and Wezeman, 2013). China has exported combat aircrafts in large numbers to Pakistan, while there are pending orders for frigates and submarines. Besides Pakistan, some of the recent arms deals with other countries, such as Venezuela, Morocco and Algeria, show that China is rapidly turning into a powerful arms dealer (Klare, 2013). Second, currently many research papers have focused on China’s development of advanced weapon technologies; however, these advanced forms of arms are not successful as the traditional ones within the global market. This is primarily because main importers of Chinese arms are the countries that aim at buy ing cheaper and less advanced weapons, even though China may have more advanced systems in offer. As for example, reports show that China exports more of F-7.2, which are technologically less advanced than the J-10 and J-11 models of fighter planes (Holtom, Bromley, Wezeman and Wezeman, 2013). Therefore, it is evident that while China gained significance as a global player within the arms export market, its buyers are mainly from the developing nations. Between 2006 and 2009, (Grimmett, 2011).

The Color Purple Essay Example for Free

The Color Purple Essay Alice Walker’s epistolary novel The Color Purple demonstrates how the mistreatment of a woman cannot prevent her from fulfilling her destiny. The protagonist and narrator of the novel, Celie, is a young, uneducated black girl who is verbally and sexually abused by her supposed father, Alphonso. He fathers two children with her, kidnapping both and presumably killing one, if not both. Because of the unwarranted trauma, she struggles for the rest of her life to recover from his abuse and establish her own power. Celie has a much smarter and prettier younger sister Nettie, whom she loves, and of whom she is very protective. Celie saves Nettie from marriage to a suitor referred to only as Mr. when their father forces her to marry him instead. Celie’s stepson Harpo, weds a strong-minded woman, Sofia, who is the complete opposite of Celie. Sofia’s refusal to be abused by anyone, man or woman sparks a curiosity that makes Celie take a closer look at herself. The catalyst of the story is Mr. ’s lover, Shug Avery. Although Celie realizes Shug is her husband’s lover, she does not resent Shug; in fact, Shug becomes Celie’s best friend, lover and even mentor. These influential women, each trying to find their own happiness, fighting their own personal demons, tremendously impact Celie’s life. The women help to educate Celie, whose natural intelligence and talents have been stunted by years of constant humiliation and abuse by her father and husband. It is through each character’s definition of life and struggle within The Color Purple that Alice Walker is able to tell the story of victorious transformation. Walker’s narrative symbolically illustrates a woman’s psychological journey rising from the mentality of an abused victim of poverty to become a strong, independent and confident woman who establishes her own place within her society. The sexual abuse Celie endures at a very early age leaves her powerless with nowhere to turn. Alphonso’s (Pa) sexual abuse is taken a step further when he gives Celie’s two children away to a family. Celie’s ignorance, due to her age and poor education, prevents her from understanding why the children were taken from her, but she does not believe they are dead. Alphonso entices Mr. , a widower with four children, to take Celie instead of Nettie, so he will not have to care for her anymore, by throwing in a cow with the deal. Walid El Hamamsy characterizes the combination package of Celie and the cow as further â€Å"patriarchal oppression† and a way to continue to â€Å"dehumanize† her. Her brutality is continued in her loveless marriage to Mr. , who beats and uses her for sexual convenience. One way to endure the torture is to tell herself â€Å"Celie, you a tree† (23). The other way she is able to tolerate her plight of isolation and despair is through writing letters to God. The letters affords her a voice which otherwise she does not have. Celie’s relationship with her sister Nettie goes beyond just a sisterly bond. Nettie turns out to be the first person to show Celie true unconditional love. With Celie’s children being taken away from her, Nettie fills her void of motherly obligation. Celie wants to guarantee Nettie’s well-being and puts Nettie first for everything. Celie’s view of Nettie as someone filled with potential is in direct contradiction to how Celie sees herself; however, it never stops Nettie from trying to teach Celie so she can open her mind to what is going on in the world around her. When Celie’s husband tells her Nettie has to leave, it is like a ton of bricks lands on Celie. Nettie is the only person from whom Celie ever felt love. When Nettie leaves, she encourages Celie â€Å"to fight,† but Celie is so broken she says she only knows how to â€Å"stay alive† (18). Celie’s mental state is still that of an abused victim: she is encapsulated in a world of deep despair, but Nettie has planted a seed that will grow and eventually take her to a place of confidence. Alice Walker introduces Sofia, a bold, headstrong woman that illustrates assertiveness and self-dignity. Mr. ’s son, Harpo, marries Sofia because he loves her, but later tries to make her succumb to him through brutal force. Harpo has grown up seeing his father physically abuse Celie in order to get his way and when he asks Celie what he should do to get his headstrong wife to submit to him, Celie tells him he should beat her. Celie sees little or no value in herself. She survives victimization by accepting that fighting back will only cause more harm than good. Anyone can do or say anything they want to Celie since she has accepted her place and submits to the violence. With telling Harpo to beat his wife, Celie is once again showing her abused mentality: she truly believes that physical oppression by husbands is normal. Critic Stacie Lynn Hankinson contends Celie portrays â€Å"a survival-of-the-fittest perspective, which pitted her against, rather than aligning her with, other women. † After Sofia learns of the betrayal of Celie, she boldly confronts her only to figure out Celie is actually on her side. Sofia tells Celie â€Å"All my life I had to fight† (40). Sofia embodies something that would not allow her to be a victim, no matter who she has to fight. Celie professes her jealousy of Sofia because she unfortunately did not have the strength to fight and was continuously a victim. Sofia offers something to Celie she never had before; moral support. Sofia’s constant retaliation against Harpo assists Celie to understand that rebellion, fighting, is a way to escape victimization. Celie’s lack of confidence resides in her fear of not being loved. When Shug Avery, a Blues singer and her husband’s lover, enters Celie’s life, Celie become conscious of an intimate, trusting love, which empowers Celie to assert herself. Shug enables Celie to freely express herself and talk about all the unfortunate things that have happened to her over the years. Shug also helps Celie find her voice and change how she views herself. After Shug tells Celie â€Å"you still a virgin† Celie starts to look at herself less as a victim and gradually lessens her acceptance of ill treatment and stands up for herself (78). Shug shows Celie how having a powerful voice can be pivotal in changing their life. Walker uses the relationship between Shug and Celie as a way to emphasize consistency and a strong bond. Shug is not only Celie’s confidant but there is a role reversal and Celie becomes Shug’s confidant. Their conversations bring up points not only do they think about, but the reader might as well. â€Å"I think it pisses God off if you walk by the color purple in a field somewhere and don’t notice it† (197). After her conversations with Shug Celie realizes she must strip her mind of the impression of God that her male-dominated society has placed on her and replace it with a holistic one. Celie’s recognition of God as a Creator allows her to establish a place in her society and finally love herself, just as she is. Marc A. Cristophe agrees as he writes in his essay The Color Purple: An Existential Novel, â€Å"she has rejoined the community of men and women; she has found herself, her own place †¦and is able to marvel at the creation, at life itself. †

Project Estimation Techniques in Software Engineering

Project Estimation Techniques in Software Engineering The four major parameters that control the software projects are time, requirements, resources people, infrastructure/materials and money, and risks. This is one of the reasons why making good estimates of these variables like time and resources required for a project is very critical. But if the estimation is lower than the project needs it will affect the progress of the project due to the lack of enough time, money, infrastructure/materials, or people. At the same time even if the estimation is over estimated then the company will have to face losses due to the extra expenses or even if the project is sanctioned other projects dont go on since there is less to go around. For any successful project management, estimation is a vital part of project methodology. Estimation has numerous applications like justification of project which has to be applied in the initial stages of the project where in we need to anticipate the benefits which is compared with the costs incurred as well as to decipher comparisons and conclusions that has to be made with technical and functional teams involved in the project. Also, estimation plays a vital role in project management to implement the disciplines required. Estimates help in sharing the resources required to complete the project deliverables successfully. Estimation process: Definition: Project estimation is a process of forecasting or approximating the project parameters like cost, time, effort etc., for a successful completion of the project deliverables [4]. Overview of the Estimation Process: The first point to be remembered about estimation is that it does not finish until the completion of project and is a process of a slow and gradual refinement. For many software projects a project manager can assist the team to create successful estimates by using sound techniques and understanding about what makes estimate more accurate. Staff required for a project estimation are taken from a pool of people who has some prior knowledge of the domain in which the new project is being developed. When we want to start a project we need to know basic parameters required in advance like how long it will take, how many people it will require, how much effort it will require. In such cases it is hard to estimate because in many cases projects overrun or project would go over budget. Always a good estimation practices keep the project on track. In many cases, project estimation can be classified into three categories, Expert opinion: Opinion from Qualified experts from within the organization or service partners is taken into account for estimation. Analogy: A database where tasks previously completed are stored is taken into account. The new project would be decomposed into components/tasks, and compared with the corresponding tasks in the database. Ratios: Whole project will be decomposed into Work Breakdown Structure (WBS), and estimating each component individually to produce an overall estimate. When to estimate: A rough estimate is needed at the initial stage of the project or probably even before the actual project starts. This is because, the final negotiations should be made with the customer, which needs the rough estimate of the cost, time and quality of the project. Also, Estimation is a process of gradual refinement [2]. It should be performed in parallel with the project development, in several phases. Each estimate will be refined to give a converged estimate towards the end of the project. Estimation should be carried out until the completion of project deliverables. There are basically two approaches for estimating project parameters [4]. They are: Top-down estimation approach Bottom-up estimation approach Top-down estimation approach: Top-down estimation approach is usually used at the initial stages of the project. This estimation is usually carried out by the top managers who have little knowledge of the processes involved in the completion of the project. The input to this estimation is either information or the experience of the manager carrying out the estimation. These top-down estimation methods are often used to evaluate the project proposal. In most cases, the best results can be achieved in estimation only when one used both top-down and bottom-up estimation methods. However, it is practically not possible to carry out bottom-up methods until the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) are clearly defined. In such cases, top-down estimates are used until the WBS becomes available. There are many methods in top-down approach listed below [4]: Consensus methods: This estimation method uses experience of a group of people to estimate the project parameters. This method involves project meetings, a place where these people can discuss, argue and finally come to a conclusion from their best guess estimate. The Delphi method comes under this category. Ratio methods: These estimation methods use ratios to estimate project times and costs. For example, in a construction work, the total cost of the project can be estimated by knowing the number of square feet. Likewise, a software project is estimated by its complexity and its features. Approximation methods: This estimation method is very useful when the project to be estimated is closely related to any of the previous projects in terms of its features and costs. By using the historical data of the estimates, good estimates can be approximated with very little effort. Function point methods: Many software projects are usually estimated using weighted macro variables called function points. Function points can be number of inputs, number of outputs, number of inquiries, number of data files, and number of interfaces. These function points are weighted again with a complexity level and summed up to get the total cost or duration estimates of the project. Bottom-up estimation approach: Top-down estimation approach can usually be put in practice once the project is defined or once there is some progress in the project. This means, this estimation is more into work package level, which are responsible for low-cost estimates and efficient methods. It is often recommended that this estimation is usually carried out by people most knowledgeable about the estimate needed. The cost, time, resource estimates from the work packages can be checked with the associated accounts to major deliverables. Also, these estimates in later stages can be consolidated into phased networks, resource schedules, and budgets that used for control. Additionally, customer will get an opportunity to compare the low-cost, efficient method with any imposed restrictions, using bottom-up approach [4]. There are many methods in top-down approach listed below [4]: Template methods: If the project to be estimated is similar to any of the past projects, then estimates of the past projects can be used as starting point estimates for the new project. This is similar to approximation estimation in top-down approach. Parametric procedures: These parametric procedures are same like ratio methods in top-down approach. However, here the parametric procedures are applied on specific tasks. Detailed estimates for WBS work packages: This is usually most reliable method of all estimation methods. The reason for this is that here the estimates are performed by people responsible for the work packages in Work Breakdown Structure. These people have prior knowledge or experience upon the tasks they perform specified in WBS, because of which the estimates are usually most reliable. In addition to the top-down and bottom-up approaches, there is another kind of estimating which is a hybrid of the above two approaches. This is called as Phase Estimating. When there is unusual amount of uncertainty is surrounded by the project, people go for phase estimating. In this approach, two-estimate system is used over the life-cycle of the project. The whole project is initially divided into phases. Then a detailed estimate is developed for the immediate phase, and a macro-estimate is mode for the remaining phases of the project. Difficulties in Estimation: There are two major cases where Estimation problems almost always boil down to estimates that are either too high or too low. Padded estimates, where the team members intentionally over estimates in order to give themselves extra time to work, are a chronic source of estimates that are too high. In such case, the project will take at least as long as it had been estimated even though it was originally overestimated. According to Parkinsons Law, Work expands to fill available time[1]. Other case arises when senior managers give unrealistic deadlines that are a chronic source of estimates that are too low. In such cases, the staff in the project development can burnout and produce low quality components. Also the credibility will be lost because, the deadlines would be missed. Both the cases can lead to morale problems. Estimation Tools: Software tools are very important for estimation. Estimation tools are the software packages implemented using any of the estimation methods as its algorithm, to make project managers life easy. These estimation tools help from skipping important tasks in a method. These tools are useful to organise, update and store the results of the estimates. Also, Estimation Tools are useful to [2]: Estimate project size using Function Points or other metrics. Derive effort and schedule from the project estimates using various algorithms and techniques. Perform analysis with staffing, duration etc. and appreciate how realistic they are. Produce and update results like Gantt charts and other tables easily. Maintain and exploit a database of historic data. Import data from other projects run in organisations with which you have no connection. However, one should very carefully select the estimation tools for a particular project. Principle: Required functional capabilities of estimation tools should match the needs and desired capabilities specific to the project. In selecting an estimation tool, one should match the available tools with the overall requirements of the project. In general, estimation tools should: Be very adaptive to any projects development environment, so that one can customize the tool according to the project needs. Be comparatively easy to understand, learn and use. Be able to produce some early project estimates without waiting for the whole project to be completely defined designed. Be able to provide estimates for different phases and activities in the project, if it is classified so. Understand and support wide range of languages and applications, as it is really important for a tool to provide estimates specific to the applications. Be able to provide accurate schedule estimates, whose purpose is not only to predict task completion given task sequence and available resources, but also to establish starting and ending dates for the associated work packages and life-cycle phases. Be able to provide maintenance estimates separately, which includes correcting errors, modifying the software to accommodate changes in requirements, and extending and enhancing software performance. Evaluation of the estimation tools: There are many tools in the market for project estimation. However, I am investigating a few and very efficient tools in the current market. PROBE: The name PROBE is derived from Proxy Based Estimating, introduced by Watts Humphrey (of the Software Engineering Institute at Carnegie Mellon University) [1]. Principle: If a component being built is similar to one built previously, then the effort it takes would be about the same as it did in the past. It mainly helps individual software engineers monitor, test, and improve their own work. Each component in the database is assigned a type (calculation, data, logic, etc.) and a size (from very small to very large). Also, a database is used to store history of size and effort details of these individual components. Later on, when a new project must be estimated, it is broken down into tasks that correspond to these types and sizes. A formula based on linear regression is used to calculate the estimate for each task [1]. COCOMO: The COCOMO is the most used estimation tool in the market for cost and schedule estimating. The COCOMO is derived from Constructive Cost Model, developed by Barry Boehm in the early 1980s [1]. Principle: The model developed empirically by running a study of many software development projects and statistically analyzing their results. There by developing a database of the analysed details. Boehm developed COCOMO empirically by running a study of 63 software development projects and statistically analyzing their results. COCOMO II was developed in the 1990s as an updated version for modern development life cycles, and it is based on a broader set of data [1]. The COCOMO calculation incorporates 15 cost drivers, variables that must be provided as input for a model that is based on the results of those studied projects. These variables cover software, computer, personnel, and project attributes. The output of the model is a set of size and effort estimates that can be developed into a project schedule [1]. The Planning Game: The Planning Game is the software project planning method from Extreme Programming (XP), a lightweight development methodology developed by Kent Beck in the 1990s at Chrysler [1]. It is a method used to manage the negotiation between the engineering team (Development) and the stakeholders (Business). It gains some emotional distance from the planning process by treating it as a game, where the playing pieces are user stories written on index cards and the goal is to assign value to stories and put them into production over time [1]. Unlike PROBE, COCOMO and Delphi, the Planning Game does not require a documented description of the scope of the project to be estimated [1]. Rather, it is a full planning process that combines estimation with identifying the scope of the project and the tasks required to complete the software. Like much of XP, the planning process is highly iterative. The scope is established by having Development and Business work together to interactively write the stories. Then, each story is given an estimate of 1, 2, or 3 weeks. Stories that are larger than that are split up into multiple iterations. Business is given an opportunity to steer the project between iterations. The estimates themselves are created by the programmers, based on the stories that are created. Finally, commitments are agreed upon. This is repeated until the next iteration of the project is planned. Critical analysis: In order to have the best estimates of a project, it is better to make some rough top-down estimates initially, develop the WBS, using which make bottom-up estimates, and develop schedules and estimates and finally, reconcile the differences between top-down and bottom-up approaches. Also for ideal results, the project manager should allow some time to carry out top-down and bottom-up estimates, there by reliable estimates can be offered to the customer. This will in turn reduce the false expectations for stakeholders. If we compare estimation approaches, there are some uses to use some approaches depending on the context of the estimation. Top-down approaches are preferable over bottom-up approaches in case of highly uncertain projects, whose scope is also unstable. Also, in case of internal and small projects, it is not worth spending lots of time and effort to go for bottom-top estimates. Therefore, in such cases, top-down approaches are preferable. Also, at the initial stages of the project when the decisions and negotiations should be made with the customer, top down is mandatory, due to lack of WBS to that particular project. However, in case of cost and time estimates are really important and plays vital role in the project development, one should go for bottom-up estimates. In case of fixed-price contracts and when the customer demands for exact details of the project development, one should go for bottom-up estimation methods, due to its highly reliable results. Also, Phase estimation approach is much useful in the projects, whose final nature (shape, size, features) is highly uncertain. However, both these methods largely depend on experts opinions. In case if the experts knowledge in a particular domain is insufficient to estimate, one should go for analytical estimation technique which is used in estimation tools like PROBE. In case of estimation tools, PROBE is useful to the early engineers who are in their learning stage. They can perform wide range of experiments and gain knowledge of the previous projects, thereby gaining the real-time experience in Estimation. However, COCOMO series of tools are more of professional kind because of its complex and wide range of applications. COCOMO is useful in many decision making situations including, all kinds of estimates, like cost, time, effort, maintenance. Also, using these estimates COCOMO can produce budgets and schedules. Conclusion: Project estimation plays a vital role in the planning of any project. Estimation of project cost, time, effort and quality act like input for project scheduling and budgeting. Therefore, the domain of the project to be developed should be initially studied carefully to make a decision in selecting the right methods and tools for a good project estimation. In this document, an investigation report on project estimation is explained in detail. Also, all types of estimation methods and estimation tools are critically evaluated and analysed. Therefore, this document could be helpful in the selection of good estimation methods and tools for successful project estimation, in order to make a good project planning for a successful project management.

Reader Response to A Clean, Well-Lighted Place, By Hemingway :: A Clean Well-Lighted Place Essays

Reader Response to A Clean, Well-Lighted Place In 1933, Ernest Hemmingway wrote A Clean, Well-Lighted Place. It's a story of two waiters working late one night in a cafe. Their last customer, a lonely old man getting drunk, is their last customer. The younger waiter wishes the customer would leave while the other waiter is indifferent because he isn't in so much of a hurry. I had a definite, differentiated response to this piece of literature because in my occupation I can relate to both cafe workers. Hemmingway's somber tale is about conquering late night loneliness in a bright cafe. The customer drinking brandy suffers from it and so does the older waiter. However, the younger waiter cannot understand loneliness because he probably hasn't been very lonely in his life. He mentions a couple times throughout the story that he wished to be able to go home to his wife, yet the old man and old waiter have no wives to go home to like he does. This story have a deeper meaning to me because I often am in a similar situation at work. For a little over three years, I've been a weekend bartender at an American Legion Club. I almost always work the entire weekends, open to close, which proves to be a tortorous schedule at times. Like the cafe in Hemmingway's tale, the Legion is a civilized place, often well lit, and quieter than most clubs. Because members have to either have served in the military during wartime or have a relative that did, the patronage is often older and more respectful than an average barroom. And because most members are older, they may not have a family to go home to, or they may be just a little more dismal because their lives have been longer and harder than most. In many ways, they are very much like the old man sipping brandy while hiding in the shadows of the leaves in Hemmingway's cafe. And in many ways, I am like the young waiter, anxious to leave. The young waiter seems selfish and inconsiderate of anyone else. In the beginning of the story, he's confused why the old man tried to kill himself. "He has plenty of money," he says, as if that's the only thing anyone needs for happiness. When the old man orders another drink, the younger waiter warns him that he'll get drunk, as if to waver his own responsibility rather than to warn the old man for his sake.

Mary Flannery OConnor :: essays research papers fc

Mary Flannery O'Connor is one of the most preeminent and more unique short story authors in American Literature (O'Connor 1). While growing up she lived in the Bible-belt South during the post World War II era of the United States. O'Connor was part of a strict Roman Catholic family, but she depicts her characters as Fundamentalist Protestants. Her characters are also severely spiritually or physically disturbed and have a tendancy to be violent, arrogant or overly stupid. (Garraty 582) She mixes in her works a full-fledged gothic eeriness with an authentic feeling for the powers of grace and redemption. O'Connor's substantial literary reputation is based upon her two novels and her short stories collected in Everything That Rises Must Converge (1965), A Good Man is Hard to Find (1955), and The Complete Short Stories of Flannery O'Connor. Despite the fact that her unique style of writing has caused many judgments and rumors about her, O'Connor has received many awards and honors thr oughout her entire life. On March 25, 1925, Mary Flannery O'Connor was born in Savannah, Georgia as a first and only child to a strict Roman Catholic couple. Her parents were Edward Francis O'Connor, a real estate broker, and Regina L. Cline O'Connor. (Garraty 581) Until 1938 O'Connor attended St. Vincent and Sacred Heart Parochial Schools. She was known as Mary in grade school but eventually dropped it and went by Flannery O'Connor. (Garraty 581) During grade school O'Connor claimed that her hobby was collecting rejection slips. Then the family moved to the Cline house in Milledgeville, Georgia when her father became sick with disseminated lupus. Lupus is a disease of the connective tissue, which would later claim her life. While in Milledgeville, O'Connor went to school at Peabody High School (Garraty 582). During high school she wrote and illustrated books while still maintaining a high academic average. Her father died of lupus in 1941. In 1942, at the age of 16, O'Connor entered Georgia State College fo r Women, which is now known as Georgia College. (O'Connor 2) During college O'Connor majored in social sciences (O'Connor 2). She also drew cartoons and made illustrations for college paper and yearbook. O'Connor also edited the college literary magazine (Garraty 582). One of her professors started off her writing career by submitting some of her works to the Writers' Workshop at the University of Iowa, because of this she was awarded a Rhinehart Fellowship.

Reaction About The National Sports and Physical Education Association Standards

The National Sports and Physical Education Association (NASPE) came up with the 3rd edition of the National Guidelines and Standards for the Physical Education Teacher Education (PETE) which provides programs with guidance on the 2008 Initial and Advanced national physical education teacher training standards. Below are the INITIAL PETE Standards and reaction or view about each category: 1. Scientific and Theoretical Knowledge. Physical education teacher candidates know and apply discipline-specific scientific and theoretical concepts critical to the development of physically educated individuals. This standard assures that the teacher candidate has the scientific bases which could explain the concepts critical to the progress of an individual. The elements which must be done by the teacher started in describing and applying the scientific concepts related to the movement, physical activity and fitness, followed by identifying historical, philosophical and social perspectives of physical education issues and legislation, then lastly, analysing motor skills and performance concepts. It is very important for the teacher to know what he is teaching to the learners. This will help the teacher find ways on how to attack or target and plan for a physical fitness activity that is very effective and scientific. This is the most important thing to provide effective and purposeful program for physical education. 2. Skill-Based and Fitness-Based Competence. Physical education teacher candidates are physically educated individuals with the knowledge and skills necessary to demonstrate competent movement performance and health-enhancing fitness as delineated in NASPE's K-12 Standards. After having the knowledge about the bases of the concepts in developing physically educated individuals, a teacher candidate should also know how to demonstrate different movements and fitness activities. He must reach and maintain a health-enhancing level of fitness throughout the program. This is important in conducting variety of physical activities and maintain the level of fitness. It also stated that there should be no discrimination among the persons with disabilities. Teacher candidates with special needs are encouraged to modify or use different ways in providing physical activities. . Planning and Implementation. Physical education teacher candidates plan and implement developmentally appropriate learning experiences aligned with local, state and national standards to address the diverse needs of all students. This refers to the ability of the teacher candidate in designing, planning, managing and implementing learning experiences. Teacher should provide a progressive activities to meet the needs of the learners, especially today there is an increasing number of persons with a poor- healthy lifestyle. . Instructional Delivery and Management. Physical education teacher candidates use effective communication and pedagogical skills and strategies to enhance student engagement and learning. A physical educator must possess an effective verbal and non- verbal communication skills to encourage them to participate and get interested with all the planned physical activities. This is an effective avenue to promote fitness and wellness. A teacher who does not know how to communicate and deliver the competencies is not effective. Delivery and communication is a very important standard to make all the learners understand the importance of engaging to physical activities and enhance their abilities and skills. 5. Impact on Student Learning. Physical education teacher candidates utilize assessments and reflection to foster student learning and to inform instructional decisions. This standard refers to the employment of assessment and evaluation of the physical fitness activities. The importance of the assessments and reflection is knowing how effective the designed program or activities. It is also important to identify which part of the program needs to be improved and be adjusted. This helps the teacher to know the effect of the activities to the learners. 6. Professionalism. Physical Education teacher candidates demonstrate dispositions essential to becoming effective professionals. It is very important for the teacher to be a model of character/ behaviors, dignity and respect. Teacher must believe that all students can become a physically educated individuals. (REFERENCE: 2008 National Initial Physical Education Teacher Education Standards National Association for Sport and Physical Education ) In general, NASPE’s standards for the Physical Education Teacher Education will provide all the professional physical education teachers a guide and tool in achieving its mission- to enhance knowledge, improve professional practice, and increase support for high quality physical education, sport, and physical activity programs. Physical Education teachers must be aware of this standards to properly direct the learners. Sadly, not all physical educators are familiar with these standards. The reason why, especially in our country, Philippines they see physical education as a non- academic subject and always given the less priority. As the head- teacher of our institution, I will make sure that all my physical education teacher will follow this standards.

What is life

What is life? Is it a mystery? Is it an adventure? Is it a way to help others? Or is it so brief compared to the rest of the time in the universe it has no meaning at all? People have been wondering this for thousands of years, yet no one has found an answer. Many look for complicated ways to understand life, yet the answer is so simple; life is a book. Since the day the binding was opened for the first time,and the author began writting the story; every thought, action, and emotion that is experienced is written into the book. Memory is just rereading the book. Some pages torn, stuck together, smeared so we can’t remember it as well, but it is all writtten down. Every hope, every dream, every fear is recorded in time forever. Some books have flashy, tacky covers, but tell the most troublesome stories on the inside. Some have dull, nondescript covers, but tell the warmest, most adventurous stories that causes one to recall some earlier chapter in ones own life. Every experience is a chapter. Some chapters speak of friends and family, some speak of the most horrible fears and the most dreamed about opes, and some tell of Love and Loss that the author experienced. Some chapters are not finished and will be completed at a later time. Some chapters are blurred, because not even the author knows what happened, or what he wishes would happen. And some chapters are blank pages, waiting to be filled. More than once, the author has wished he could go back a few pages and rewrite it differently, but alas, the book has already been published, and cannot be changed. As the book ages, it loses some of its shine, pages tear and fade, and the binding becomes loose. Some pages suddenly become so clear, you can’t understand why you didn’t see it before, while others become so transparent that you can’t even remember reading them. And after the book has become so old that it can’t even be read or moved without falling apart, it is taken out of circulation and stored. Not only in a physical place, but in people’s heart, those who loved the book as if it was their best friend. It is stored with every other book of every person’s life back before humanity could even speak with more than grunts and body langauge. It is stored in the Great Library. As you look around this glorous library, the books stack higher than any mountain, and strech farther than any eye can see. And on every shelf are books, and in the center of the room are thousands of books open to different pages and chapters recording the author’s dictations from the start of the book until it is finished and published. And then there are the old books that are being called out of circulation, catalogued and stored. You reach out and begin reading one of the many books. It is the life of your friend. You take notice of how many times your own book overlaps with your riend’s book, and how similar the stories are. As you read this book, you see the meaning of life, not what the stories are, or what the cover looks like, but how every book tells a different story; and while many may overlap and share dreams, hopes, and fears, they each contain knowledge and together make up life. You see, you can’t judge a book by its cover, nor can you judge a person by appearance, each complete with fears, dreams, joys, sorrows, memories, friends and familes. Together we all make up life, and our stories inspire others to grow and to have the best story they can.

Comparing and Contrasting Detective Stories Essay

The Blue Carbuncle written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in pre 1914 and Indemnity Only from the V I Warshawski series written by Sara Paretsky in 1987 are good examples of the evolution of detective stories. The character, setting, genre and language have changed completely over this large period of time. But each story was very interesting to the people of that time so obviously something would be different. The detective genre has been going for ages now since crime started and it has changed over time because of what a detective does and what crimes are committed. The Blue Carbuncle is one of the short stories for the Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and as you already know is was written very long ago but Indemnity Only was only written a few years ago and is still well known. In the olden days detective stories would involve a person who would leave different clues to make a puzzle but nowadays we just find the clues and catch the criminal so there is less suspense involved in the plot. The characters in The Blue Carbuncle are very different to the characters in Indemnity Only because in pre 1914 most people involved in a detective story were aristocrats and were very posh. But nowadays people in a detective story tend to have more casual people. In the Blue Carbuncle the main character is Sherlock Holmes who is known for being quite posh. He is very secretive and serious about things while the main character in Indemnity Only is V I Warshawski is very open and can be sarcastic during a case. Holmes seems to be a very wise detective but V I Warshawski seems to be just a normal gather the clues and crack the case detective. But I think the reason for that is because nowadays there is more technology to help solve the crime than there was in pre 1914. In Indemnity Only the setting is in Chicago in United States of America so it is quite a known area. The Blue Carbuncle is set in the countryside but does not state where. Sometimes the reader finds it helpful to know where the setting is. Chicago is well known for its industries and pizzas but sometimes for crime while the countryside is known for peace and beautiful scenery so a crime story is quite difficult to build in the countryside. Also technology was not as advance. Often crimes involve hi tech gadgets and top of the range cars while the equivalent in the olden days would have been a musket and a horse carriage. Language has changed quite a lot. Nowadays there seems to be more comedy in the story than n pre 1914. In Indemnity Only V I Warshawski seems very funny and sarcastic while Sherlock Holmes would rarely put a feeble joke. But both stories build up suspense. In Indemnity Only it build up suspense by repetition and short sentences while in The Blue Carbuncle it builds up suspense by Sherlock Holmes interviewing each suspect and each of them giving him something interesting. Also in Indemnity Only it uses sensational language. This is language that appeals to the five senses.  In my conclusion it is obvious that there has been a lot of change during many years to detective stories and these mainly because of the evolution of Earth over that period of time. But some detective stories now are like the ones in pre 1914 because the author is old or was brought up during the olden days.

Herland As A Feminist Work

Feminism is the advocating for social, political, and all other rights of women equal to those of men (Random House College Dictionary). This story depicts just that. It is about a society made entirely of women with no need for men. We see the perspective of men through the eyes of our narrator. He gives us the point of view from three different men about women. Herland takes the traditional stereotypes about women and reverses them entirely. Everything that was once regarded by feminine and masculine standards was taken away. The women had short hair and athletic bodies. Their clothing was not provocative but built for comfort and convenience. They were not coy and flirtatious. They did not need men. Their daily living and whole lives did not depend on a man in any way shape or form. They were builders, farmers, scholars, and most importantly mothers. They lived together, harmoniously. The women of the land do not understand the gender biases of the world because they simply do not make sense. â€Å"There was no accepted standard of what was â€Å"manly† and what was â€Å"womanly†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. Jeff said, ‘a woman should not carry anything,’ Celis asked ‘Why? ’ with the frankest amazement†(93). And why shouldn’t a woman carry anything. To her it was the funniest idea. If none of them carried anything, nothing would get done! The men who â€Å"invade† Herland are filled with typical boyish fantasies of wild maidens in waiting. Their ideals about this place are comical. They expect to find a collection of wild women that are waiting to be tamed by men. They imagine a world of pure, untainted women. They cannot imagine a civilized world without the presence of men. â€Å" They would fight amongst themselves, Women always do. We mustn’t look for any sort of order and organization† (10). This statement was made by Terry, as we come to know him. He is the most â€Å"manly† of the three men. His ideals are the most Victorian and chauvinistic. Jeff’s ideas about the women they would come to find were different than Terry’s. He believed that women should be sheltered and protected without a care in the world. â€Å"Jeff idealized women in the most Southern style. He was full of chivalry and sentiment, and all that. And he was a good boy; he lived up to his ideals† (11). Van’s ideals about their venture were the most practical in nature. He looked over every detail and tried to make the most sensible explanations. I believe he was the voice of reason. We could also compare the three to Freud’s Id (Terry), Ego (Jeff), and Superego (Van). But that is another paper. Perhaps one of the most forthcoming feminist aspects is the fact that the women of Herland reproduce without the assistance of men. This feature of the novel helps to create a truly self -supporting society of women that our narrators cannot seem to grasp. This makes these women superhuman in a sense. The male race is unnecessary to their existence. I believe that this story was told with the purpose of making the gender roles of most of the world look like children’s games. It is clear that this story was intended to show that women were and are self-supporting human beings and not objects to be possessed and kept.

Business Ethics and Their Role in Organizational Development

Business Ethics and their role in Organizational Development Brett Ballesteros National University In business today there are many different forms of operation and ways of achieving a successful firm. Organizational behaviors are key to insuring a business withstands the test of time and does so through the individual employees that are the foundation to firms around the world. These individuals must live and work by a set of ethics that the company and their everyday lives have instilled in them. Ethics can either make or break a company through employees application of this concept in the workplace.Ethics can be defined as a â€Å"moral philosophy involving systematizing, defending, and recommending concepts of right and wrong behavior† (Fieser, 2003). In business, these ethics need to reflect the ideology and morals a company is built upon through the individuals and groups that represent a firm. The code of ethics for any business is put in place to ensure that their posi tion on integrity and conduct are not compromised. A business must maintain a certain level of integrity in order to be trusted not only by consumers, but its employees as well, as this is the cornerstone for corporate relationships.This code of ethics is typically based on the basic principles of right and wrong, whereas the individual must be able to differentiate between the two when formulating decisions that will directly affect the companies integrity. These decisions may not be entirely clear due to the nature and uniqueness to the different possible situations that may arise. Business ethics are there to make sure the business itself is governing good behavior. That’s why there are certain laws to prevent companies from over-working employees, or making sure children are not working for them as well.When companies use business ethics, it gives them a chance to show their morals. Every company should have a set of morals that they conduct their business by. Having thes e moral beliefs in a company gives the business something to set the rules by. It makes it much easier for managers employees to make their decisions based on their set of business ethics because that way they have a set of morals they can abide by when handling business decision-making. â€Å"Consequential theories of ethics emphasize the consequences or results of behavior.John Stuart Mill’s utilitarianism, a well-known consequential theory, suggests that right and wrong are determined by the consequences of the action. â€Å"Good† is the ultimate moral value, and we should maximize the most good for the greatest number of people† (Nelson & Quick, 2012). It’s only obvious that good business ethics include having good moral as is. No one person wants to work for a company that they fell has bad morals. According to the company, Levi Strauss & Co. they set their business ethics up to: honesty, promise-keeping, fairness, respect for others, compassion, and integrity.They state, â€Å"As we seek to achieve responsible commercial success, we will be challenged to balance these principles against each other, always mindful of our promise to shareholders, that we will achieve responsible commercial success† (Stillman). A smart business knows that it must set ethics, character, and personal integrity inside each of its employees. This way each employee knows what is expected of them and that they are comfortable in their workplace. Not every job that I have attained has had good business ethics, but the ones that do are the ones that have stuck with me.If the employer treats their employee right it can only reap great reward. If an employee loves working for their company they are going to want that business to succeed, so they will promote the place and receive more sales that way. When it comes down to it, every person wants to work for a company who has great morals. Whether people actually abide by these â€Å"good† mora ls in life, they always tend to want to find a company who will keep these business ethics in mind. Good business ethics plainly mean that the people working there are going to have good morals.Having good business ethics means the company is going to receive trust of their employees which is going to build business partners and clients alike. In order for companies to attract and retain valuable employees, good ethic treatment is necessary. Every company has a code that they set their ethics to, and as long as they abide by those codes they are going to have people who are willing to work hard for them, also when these employees work hard it makes sense that the company should provide ethic praise.

Innovations management in organizations.Eastman Kodak Company Assignment

Innovations management in organizations.Eastman Kodak Company - Assignment Example Today, organizations perform in very dynamic environments. For example, technology keep on changings, new risks keep on emerging, and competition keep increasing as new players join the industry in which these organizations operate among others In order that organizations keep up with these changes, innovative problem solving techniques are required; otherwise organizations which do not embrace keeping up with these changes risk being edged out of competition by their rivals (Dooley & Lupton 2005). Amongst the worst challenges that organizations are faced with today is keeping up with technological changes (Dooley & Lupton 2005). Change in technology (both technologies required for running activities of organization or their products) has been so dynamic that organizations or companies which do not keep up with these changes may not be able to compete since their products or operations may be rendered obsolete (Dooley & Lupton 2005). For example, everything today is shifting from ana logue technologies to digital technologies which are considered more convenient in terms of cost, efficiency and speed (Harmancioglu et al. 2007). Just to mention a few products or industries which have been tremendously affected by the technology changes: cameras (digital cameras seem to be replacing traditional film cameras), TV (digital transmission is replacing the traditional analogue transmission), and phones (emergence of mobile phones have replaced the traditional telephone booths) among others. It has also been noted that some organizations are more innovative than others, and are likely to embrace technology than others. While their counterparts tend to keep their status quo of maintaining their star products or services, these companies keep examining the environments in which they operate so to identify likely change that may take place in future that has the capability of altering the environments in which these organizations operate. This paper, therefore, aims at exam ining how organization leadership and culture process influence the success of innovation. The paper will also explain why it is hard for an organization to replicate success of other organizations, and why organizations that embrace innovation are different from those that do not embrace technological change. These explanations will be supported by giving real world examples. The difference between these organizations Normally change cannot be managed, all organizations can do is going ahead of change, and it is those who lead change that are able to survive in the dynamics of technological environment. Therefore, organization managements should ensure that their organization go ahead of technological change and innovations. It is the role of the management to embrace change in their organizations, therefore, the difference between organizations that embrace technological innovation change and those that do not embrace these technological changes is that management of the former is more change focused, while management of the latter is more focused on maintaining status quo other than exploring new ways of doing things. Role of leadership, culture and process in the success of innovation Just as mentioned in the previous paragraph, it is the role of organizations leaders to enhance and embrace innovations within the management systems of organizations; it is them who are make policies that govern organizations, and therefore, have powers of developing and enhancing various cultures, including cultures of change and innovations within organizations. Therefore, the management of organizations which do not embrace the technological innovations and changes normally develops strategies of maintaining the market share of their traditional products (Laureate Education 2011). The management of organizations which embrace technological innovations, on the other hand, normally develops

Introduction Of Restorative Justice In The Superior Courts Essay

Introduction Of Restorative Justice In The Superior Courts - Essay Example The current paradigm of the justice system is under immense pressure to showcase its effectiveness as it has been plagued by dilemmas and controversies that could derail public trust, a critical prerequisite for justice systems. A new philosophy/approach to justice issues is being muted as a solution based on a perspective that views crime as a symptom hence seeks to address the underlying causes in a more participative and inclusive direction in regards to all relevant stakeholders. This philosophy termed restorative Justice (RJ) recognizes that crime is injurious to individuals and communities and seeks to involve these two parties in the repair of this injury. The increasing importance of RJ is the justification for this study to inform the Attorney General on the philosophy and practicability in the judicial system. The concept and processes involved will be discussed, followed by establishing the admissibility of various cases to it and finally the legal basis as to why it shoul d be introduced. The Concept of Restorative Justice Restorative Justice has been described as a concept that offers both a philosophy for conflict resolution and a model for criminal justice and can be termed to be a model for resolution of conflict and repairing of harm. The basic tenets of RJ are based on criminology and victimology wherein respective fashion those responsible for harm are encouraged to acknowledge the impact of their actions and are given an opportunity to make amends for their actions while the victims are given the opportunity to have their harm or loss acknowledged beside amends being made. In essence, RJ has the ultimate goal of restoring the well-being of all the parties involved i.e. the victims, offenders and the community with an aim to reduce the impacts of crime and prevent similar occurrences in future (Strang, 2001). Barton (2003) is of the view that RJ is more of an empowerment model of justice where circumscribed/bounded empowerment is availed throu gh restorative processes that are consistent with shared societal norms and standards and the law itself. For a restorative justice definition to be operational it should consist of three elements. To begin with, crime is a conflict between individuals that result to injuries to the victims, offenders, and the community at large hence it is a primary violation to these parties and only a secondary violation to the state. The second idea that informs criminal justice is that the essential aim of the justice system in any nation should be to repair the damage caused by crime and bring peace to the community through reconciling all parties involved. The previous two elements are philosophical in nature while the third one is based on how RJ should be undertaken. It should involve the participation of the victims, offenders and the community actively and not victimise any individual but to find solutions to the initial conflict that brought the crime.

Social Welfare Policies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Social Welfare Policies - Essay Example The study is to explore the origins of public welfare policy created specifically for mother-only families. At first, the Government of Chicago initiated the largest mothers' pension program in the United States in 1911. Evolving alongside movements for industrial justice and women's suffrage, the mothers' pension movement hoped to provide "justice for mothers" and protection from life's insecurities. However, local politics and public finance derailed the policy, and most women were required to earn. Widows were more likely to receive pensions than deserted women and unwed mothers. And African-American mothers were routinely excluded because they were proven breadwinners yet did not compete with white men for jobs. Ultimately, the once-uniform commitment to protect motherhood faltered on the criteria of individual support and wage-earning became a major component of the policy (Goodwin). On the other hand, the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), commonly known as welfare , is the monthly cash assistance program for poor families with children under age 18. A family of three (mother and two children) may qualify for TANF if their gross income is below $784 a month and assets are worth less than $1,000 (TANF, 2000). This revealing study shows how assumptions about single mothers' roles have traditionally shaped public policy and sheds new light on the ongoing controversy of welfare reform. Mothers' Pension Policy and TANF Mothers' pension system is a magnificent addition to the vast scholarly literature on women and the welfare state. There are some analysis of the compromises and contradictions that plagued mothers' pensions from the beginning provides a much-needed historical perspective on the current welfare mess (Goodwin, 1997). Where most previous scholars have examined the motivations, ideology, and political organization that made possible the enactment of mothers' pensions laws in the 1910s, Gender and the Politics of Welfare Reform is the first monograph to analyze their implementation at the local level. Chicago had the largest pension program in Illinois, the first state to enact a mothers' pension law. The 1911 Funds to Parents Act, which permitted counties to provide cash (as opposed to in-kind) assistance for poor parents to raise children in their own homes, set a new direction in social policy by distinguishing pensions from poor relief. In the same way, the TANF is only for low-incom e families include those with children who: Lack the support of one or both parents because of a parent's absence, disability, unemployment, or underemployment. Are less than 18 years old (they may be 18 if attending school and are expected to graduate before age 19). Are U.S. citizens or legally admitted residents of the United States. Live in Texas with a parent or close relative. Unfortunately, political opposition and fiscal constraints worked to limited the new program almost immediately. In keeping with other recent scholars, it is the matter consideration that how mothers' pensions developed as a component of women's rights (Ladd-Taylor, 1998). However, unlike Theda Skocpol, who stresses the role maternalist women's organizations

The Gala Event at Four Points by Sheraton, Darling Harbour Essay

The Gala Event at Four Points by Sheraton, Darling Harbour - Essay Example The objective is to boost the morale of the employees and the stakeholders to achieve even higher growth. With this in mind, the even logo we suggest is the symbol of â€Å"ladder† which shall be maintained at all locations, transport, hotels rooms, convention center, dining hall or wherever the group would be moving. The stakeholders that would be arriving from outstation need special consideration. To ensure maximum participation, there has to be something exciting for the guests to look forward to. The invitation itself would have to stir their imagination and make them expect something different from the usual dinners and conferences. To generate a positive emotional response, a mystical invitation would be sent out. The symbol of the ladder would serve to show heights not just in the physical life but would indicate that the event would transport them to greater heights. To ensure they have a pleasant experience at the hotel, all arrangements would be in alignment with individual needs. The invitation would carry a form with simple questions seeking their choices in certain requirements which would be provided in their rooms. The rooms too would have the symbol of the ladder and the dà ©cor would emanate a WOW from them. We can assure they would carry the memories of the event at their subco nscious level and would remember it for a very long time. Importance of site selection and venue inspection is an important part of any event planning process. Importance has not been given only to the aesthetics or physical appeal of the venue but the facilities combined with relaxation have been considered. The venue is rich in character and meets the specific business or personal needs. The location of the event has been chosen as the clients want the dinner and accommodation to be at the same location. Australia’s largest hotel, Four Points by Sheraton is ideally located and has 650 rooms and 45 suites. Thirty suites and seventy rooms will be provided.

Argument-driven analysis of the essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Argument-driven analysis of the - Essay Example The author has not dealt with the issue at hand in a precise and comprehensive manner, which may easily confuse many readers. This paper will explore an all rounded approach to globalization from the main critical angles which best explain the subject in discussion. The views expressed by the author on globalization suggest absence of any wrong in the presentation of certain practice or object. The blame is set rather on the problem that is the perception of the object. The example of the coffee house and snack shop given by the author does not put blame on the coffee house or the shops, but the reception in different places. It is true in many instances, and people should not blame, Americanization but instead the people ought to change their approach towards such ventures. On the flip side of the above, borrowed cultures are a reality in the current times. It openly means that globalization is responsible for the erosion of some values of other cultures due to the embracing of the Western culture. Jeffrey N. Wasserstrom reasons for failure in the campaign to popularize Disney’s character Mickey Mouse cannot be solely blamed on the way globalization is perceived in different parts of the world. The timing of the animation giant to introduce a character in China was wrong hence the failure of the brand. Jeffrey clearly states presences of a health campaign to get rid of â€Å"laoshu† a Chinese name for a rat (Wasserstrom, 22). The violence received on â€Å"Mi Lushorue† was due to the campaign against rats in China. Wasserstrom fails to present the good side of globalization but concentrates mostly on the failed parts of brands that he relates to globalization. It is important in any analysis not to take sides in presenting your views but to work towards the reader getting the silent voice in the paper that states your position. There are protests in the streets in India with people fearing for their jobs. The above is just one

Supporting childrens learning through the curriculum Essay

Supporting childrens learning through the curriculum - Essay Example at many years ago, leaders upholding the significance of education professed that its takes a universe to make a child and a community to educate them. Heaving context from this agenda, leaders of educational institutions weave collaborative partnership with governments, civil society, parents and of the community as multi-stakeholders in upholding the right of children for quality education. This is because much of a nation’s future rest on the children of today. Thus, by assuming accountability for academic excellence and effective integrated services for children, stakeholders must therefore capture a single comprehensive practice for children’s education and other related interventions that could motivate them to continually attend schools. Miller, Cable, and Goodliff (2009) posit that this millennium will be the most complex and challenging epoch of their profession amid interrelated changes within the social, political, technological, employment patterns, and the impacts of these to school children (p. 1). Due to this, governments are propelled to develop framework and programs to ascertain that needs, problems, and challenges are met adequately. Britain, for instance, established Foundation Stage for early education with integrated plans as schools remodel its system into an Excellence Centers; development of family-friendly workplaces; introduction of Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership; and development of Sure Mart for children beneath four years old (Miller et al., 2009, p. 2). Britain has also developed Qualifications and Curriculum Authority in England inclusive of vocational, occupational and higher level qualifications (Miller et al., 2009, p. 2; Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, 1999). A ccreditations were undertaken under this framework. These demand new roles, accountabilities and opportunities for practitioners taking care for early child education which is prominently tagged by professionals as the most gendered job

Reasons to Quit Smoking Cigarettes Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Reasons to Quit Smoking Cigarettes - Essay Example Smoking cigarettes is a vice that introduces harmful substances into the body. Thousands of people die day globally on a daily basis because of the hazardous effects of smoking a feature that validates that smoking is a harmful act. Smoking poses a number of health risks to both the smoker and non-smokers around those who smoke. Smoking is, therefore, an unsafe practice and a leading cause of preventable deaths as the discussion below portrays. Â  Smoking is a form of introducing foreign participles into the body. Introducing particles in such sensitive organs of the body as the lungs are a dangerous process given the difficulty in cleaning and reversing the effects of such particles. Smoking cigarettes contribute to the development of more than fifty health complications in the body. Some of such conditions are always fatal while others are irreversible and long-term damages in some of the most vital internal and external organs. Medical researchers have for example proven that Smoking increases the chances of lung cancer by more than 90%. The introduction of the foreign particles is likely to enhance the growth of cancerous cells. Besides causing lung cancer, doctors attribute smoking to the development of cancer in several other body parts including the lips, throat, kidney, bladder, pancreas, and stomach among others (Crawford 71). Â  Numerous people have given various reasons for justifying smoking, especially among young people. Among such reasons is the claim that smoking enhances acceptance among peers. Some people have given a number of medical excuses explaining that smoking helps relieve stress.

Recognizing Cultural Differences Essay Example for Free

Recognizing Cultural Differences Essay I have worked for Pizza Hut for a total of nine years. This company claims that they are considered an equal opportunity employer. They claim that they follow the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. This means that they cannot and do not discriminate against their employees (current and potential) based on several things: race, gender, religion, or national origin. This commission was set into place on July 2, 1965. Several other protected classes were added later on. These include, age (if the person is over 40), disability, family history, military history, and most recently, sexual orientation (Wikipedia, 2012). Although Pizza Hut does recognize cultural differences amongst their employees as well as their customers, I have seen times where Pizza Hut has faltered. Recognizing Culturally Different Employees Pizza Hut does several things that recognize the cultural differences amongst their employees. The first is that we are closed on Christmas and Thanksgiving days. This not only allows us to spend time with our families, but it also allows us to celebrate the true meaning of these holidays. Our company does not have a Christmas party because we do not want to exclude anyone that does not celebrate these holidays. We do have a couple people who do not. We also have a couple of employees who have had to alter their uniform due to the beliefs that their culture believes in. There are some religions that believe that women should always be in an ankle length skirt. We do have one or two employees that are able to continue to honor this belief, even though our uniform includes black pants. My company also has a variety of different cultures working for us. We have African Americans, Hispanics, Pakistanis, Bulgarians, and whites. To be a part of a crew like this has made for a great educational experience for me and my other co-workers. I learn something new from these cultures almost every day. This company also recognizes the cultural differences amongst our customers. During the religious period, Lent, we offer specials on Fridays for those customers that do not eat meat on Fridays, per Lent. We do have customers that are vegetarian by choice or due to their culture. The way that we accommodate and recognize this is that we make sure that when these types of pizzas are ordered, we cut the pizzas with a clean knife and we change our gloves to make sure there is no cross-contamination. The best way that I have seen our company recognize the differences amongst our employees and our customers is that we take extra special care concerning people with disabilities. We have an employee that has severe attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder. As a co-worker as well as a mentor to the new employees, I have set up different types of training modules in order to accommodate for different learning disabilities. This is one thing that I am really proud of. For our district, we have a binder that has different modules of training to help accommodate the employees that have certain learning disabilities. I have had to experience using the general training methods on people who have a hard time learning unless it is done a certain way. I used to get frustrated when they just did not seem to get it. By using the training kits and tools we have now, our company has helped to train employees of all types. Breach of Cultural Awareness As proud as I am to boast about all the good things that my company does to recognize cultural differences, there are some things that I have seen that make me ashamed to say that I work for them. It is not just Pizza Hut, but there are a lot of companies that say they do one thing but they actually do the complete opposite. For example, my store in particular states that we do not discriminate against anyone based on gender. The truth is my boss does to an extent. All members of management are male. Our entire dining room staff is women. To me, I feel like I am being discriminated against due to the fact that I am a woman. I have the qualifications as well as the knowledge to become a member of management. In fact, I have passed all the necessary tests and interviews, but my boss continues to make excuses as to why I have not been promoted yet. Another example of a breach in cultural awareness is one that makes me really ashamed to say I work for this boss. I have heard on several occasions that my boss does not like hiring African Americans. This is something that bothers me a lot because I think that prejudice and racism is completely uncalled for. Recently, we had an applicant come in for an interview and to take the assessment test. He passed the test better than most of our other employees. I was able to observe this interview and was complete appalled by what I saw. My boss did not really interview him like he did me when I got hired. He truly acted like he was not interested in anything that the applicant had to say. In fact, after the interview, my boss told me that he was not going to hire him. He said he was not qualified. I informed him that I thought he would have thought different had he actually listened to him during the interview. He finally told me what his reason was for not wanting to hire him. He said that he does not like to hire African Americans because they are lazy and he has had bad experiences with them as far as work is concerned. This comment angered me to a point where I almost quit because I did not want to work for a company that would allow this type of discrimination. I talked to my area coach about this. After this talk, the applicant was hired and has become an incredibly hard worker. He is actually one of our best. Both of these examples are inappropriate because not only are they against the law, but they are against any moral that I know or believe. It is wrong to discriminate against people for any reason. The classes the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission protect do not identify the type of worker you are. Just because I am a woman does not mean that I am not capable of running the store when my boss is not there. It does not mean that I do not know how to protect myself concerning my safety as well as my fellow employees. The skin color does not depict what type of worker that specific person is. My boss said he had a bad experience with that particular race. This does not mean that the entire race needs to be punished. Conclusion Just because a company says that they follow the law established by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission does not mean that they do. Of course, concerning rule book, they do. Just like case with Pizza Hut, there is always going to be some type of discrimination. Every company has the good things that they do to recognize the differences amongst their employees, but I also believe that there are going to be the blunders as well. Companies have been getting away with blunders for a long time. The blunders seem to be overshadowed by the recognition that the companies give.

Summer Internships And Their Benefits

Summer Internships And Their Benefits Summer Internship is an integral part of the two year full-time Post Graduate Management Course. It can help a student to gain exposure of the industry and apply the knowledge gained in the first year of MBA to the practical scenarios. The internship provides an opportunity to gain the relevant knowledge and skills required in the field as well as add an important element to the resume. Gaining relevant experience through internships, co ops, service learning, or externships and making professional contacts. There are two best things students can do to prepare themselves for getting a job in their field of specialization after college. The main objective has been to find out factors contributing towards improving the quality of Summer Internship Project. It has been observed over the past that not much importance has been given to the projects by students, faculty as well as the industry. Research studies have been done over the same issue and we have considered all these relevant studies to form the basis for our literature review. LITERATURE REVIEW Many have touted college student summer business internships as highly beneficial experiences that facilitate transitioning into the real world of business. Indeed, a recent survey revealed that 92% of business schools had some type of internship experience (Coco, 2000). To justify the high participation rate among business schools, educational professions recognize that internships seem to offer many benefits: (a) internships may help students to find jobs, (b) internships may be stepping stones that can be directly translated into full-time jobs, (c) internships may create satisfying experiences that motivate students to continue along a career path (e.g., Business Internships, 1994; Clark, 2003; Divine, Linrud, Miller, Wilson, 2007), and (d) internships may create realistic expectations about the world of work and help clarify students career intentions. The fundamental question, however, is do these internships actually make a difference? The purpose of this literature review is to analyze the research findings regarding the perception towards summer internships and how beneficial they actually are. FINDINGS ON PERCEPTION TOWARDS SUMMER INTERNSHIPS AND THEIR BENEFITS Enhanced Employability One of the primary benefits of internships for students is that students with internship experience supposedly have an advantage in the job market, which can translate into their being hired more readily for subsequent jobs. Several studies show evidence of this. Knouse, Tanner, and Harris (1999) found that students who had chosen to complete internships were offered jobs more quickly than those who had not opted for internships. The authors raised the question, however, about whether such job offers were due to the internship experience on students resumes or due to students with internships being better students (having higher grade point averages [GPAs]) than students without internships; that is, interning students might be more motivated and more effective in finding jobs faster. At least one study (Taylor, 1988) found that the first explanation seemed to be the important factor. Recruiters rated students whose resumes showed evidence of internship experience higher than they ra ted students who did not have such experience. This advantage of quicker hiring and overall better employability was also found by other researchers (Callanan Benzing, 2004; Gault, Redington, Schlager, 2000; Taylor, 1988). Although internships were linked to career-oriented employment, Callanan and Benzing did not find that internships improved confidence that students would fit well into the job. An interesting corollary benefit of internships is that even if interns were not immediately hired, companies tended to keep them in the employment pool longer than they kept applicants without internships (Roever, 2000). Gault et al. (2000) also found that interns could command higher salaries and experienced higher job satisfaction in their subsequent jobs. Taylor (1988) showed that interns who had greater autonomy in their internships had better employment opportunities. Moreover, Molseed, Alsup, and Voyles (2003) found that employers rated problem-solving experiences as perhaps the key skill set in internships that enhances employability. Additional research has indicated that internships and projects can make students more marketable by helping them develop desired skills, such as critical thinking and written and oral communication, and providing them with the practical experience that many employers seek from new graduates (Maskooki, Rama, Raghunandan, 1998; Perry, 1989; Raymond, McNabb, Matthaei, 1993). Specifically, Raymond et al. showed that the ability of students to apply the knowledge gained in the classroom and to solve problems is essential to employers and is most effectively learned through internships. Additionally, the study found that internships exposed students to ethical issues and global dimensions sometimes not gained through class work. Realistic Expectations of Interns Another supposed perception of internships is learning to create a set of realistic expectations for work in the business world. Interestingly, Hall, Stiles, Kuzma, and Elliott (1996) found that employers were more concerned than students were about creating realistic expectations. Students seemed to focus more on compensation for their internships and parlaying their internships into full-time jobs after graduation. Research by Hall et al. (1996) showed that students and employers differed on many internship expectations, such as appropriate dress, turning internships into permanent jobs, and corollary efforts (e.g., outside reading, oral presentations of experience, and types of grading). Frederickson (2000) found that interns who had accurate perceptions of the organizational culture had more success in their internships. Satisfaction With the Internship Experience Many believe that the essence of successful internship experiences is whether students were satisfied with their internships (Clark, 2003). Results are mixed. Beard and Morton (1999) and Cho (2006) found a high level of satisfaction among students, whereas Perlmutter and Fletcher (1996) noted a high failure rate associated with dissatisfaction. Rothman (2007) found several factors that related to satisfaction with internship experiences: clear tasks, challenging assignments, ongoing feedback, exposure to different parts of the business, and respectful treatment. In addition, Narayanan, Olk, and Fukami (2006) showed that internships were more satisfying when students had a voice in project selection. Moreover, Cook, Parker, and Pettijohn (2004) showed a relatively stable trend of satisfaction with internships over a 10-year period. On the other hand, Bass (2002) found higher job satisfaction among women, especially when internship experiences were congruent with the job. Internship Prerequisites as Predictors of Internship Success Many internship programs require completion of a certain level of course work and attainment of a minimum GPA (Clark, 2003). Interestingly, Beard and Morton (1999) found that prior course work and GPA were less important predictors than were students attitudes toward internships and interning with approved sites. Moreover, Braswell and Cobia (2000) found that career self-efficacy (belief about successful career performance) before internships was the best predictor of an increase in career self-efficacy after internships. From the employers viewpoint, focused selection for internships may be more effective than open-ended offers. For example, Pan American Airways first develops intern projects and ascertains the skill mix needed to complete the projects and only then contacts schools and begins evaluating students, through resumes and interviews, who match the desired skill mix (Solomon, 1985). Mentoring the Intern Several studies have shown that internship experiences were more valuable if the interns were mentored at the work site (Callanan Benzing, 2004, Snyder, 1999). Particularly in international internships, mentors can produce better socialization into the organization, higher levels of learning, and larger numbers of job offers (Feldman, Folks, Turnley, 1999). Indicator of final placements Summer placements indicate how well the final placements will be to a great extent, not only for the second year batch, but for the first year batch also. As an example, the quality and extent of summer placements for the batch of 2010-2012 will become an indicator of the final placements of both the batches of 2009-2011 as well as 2010-2012. The main factor that must be seen here is to convert as many summer internships into PPOs Pre-Placement Offers, as possible. Niraj Arora, placement coordinator of the Institute of Management, Nirma University, Ahmedabad says, Our prime concern is to set the quality standard for the students during the summer internship so that they are converted into PPOs. If the institute is able to secure a decent number of PPOs for a batch, the process of final placements becomes easier, because you have so many fewer students to place that year. It is also a pointer to B-schools to know sectors are likely to generate more jobs in the immediate future. If a company shows an interest in recruiting a larger number of summer interns than usual, we try and build a steady relationship with that company. A higher number of interns usually mean larger upcoming fulltime openings, new projects or products, says Sapna Pokli, Director of IILM Institute for Higher Education, New Delhi. (5 reasons why summer placements are important to b-schools and you by Vasundhara Vyas on 12 November 2010 in summer placements, Summer placements 2010-12) Feedback from the industry Many institutes are setting up advisory boards for their curriculum comprising people from enterprises in order to make the courses germane to the industry needs. The feedback from the corporate where a student completes his/her summer internships is often used an as input for curriculum advancements. Even, the feedback of the company also adds to the students grades and academic assessment.(5 reasons why summer placements are important to b-schools and you by Vasundhara Vyas on 12 November 2010 in summer placements, Summer placements 2010-12) IMPROVEMENTS TO INCREASE EFFECTIVENESS OF INTERNSHIPS The research findings have indicated that internships seem to have several effective benefits overall. Internships apparently do make a difference. Nevertheless, internships can be improved in several ways. * Active student participation in the process. One important variable is active student participation in the process, whether in the form of an active voice in setting up the intern project (Narayanan et al., 2006) or as freedom in carrying out the project (Taylor, 1988). * Active employer participation in the process. The more effective internships seemed to be those in which the employer first defined the project and skill mix needed and then tried to match student skills with project requirements (Narayanan et al., 2006). * Clear expectations. Students who had well-defined programs with clear tasks seemed to perform better than those who participated in open-ended programs with less-defined objectives (Rothman, 2007). * Change prerequisites to reflect the predictors more closely related to intern success. * Clear expectations. Students who had well-defined programs with clear tasks seemed to perform better than those who participated in open-ended programs with less-defined objectives (Rothman, 2007). * Change prerequisites to reflect the predictors more closely related to intern success. The traditional emphasis on completion of a certain number of courses and attainment of a minimum GPA seems less effective at predicting intern success than evaluation of positive attitude about the project and appropriate skill mix to do well on the internship (Beard Morton, 1999). Beard and Morton used an 18-item scale to measure positive attitude and skill mix (e.g., relevant college courses, proactive volunteering, internship treated as real job, attitude toward learning and work, quality of internship supervision, and adapting internship toward interns interests). Measures of career self-efficacy (e.g., confidence that intern will perform well) could also be relevant (Braswell Cobia, 2000). * Build mentoring into the internship program Students who have mentors in their internship programs tend to have better experiences (Callanan Benzing, 2004: Feldman et al., 1999: Snyder, 1999). Mentors can help students navigate the organization and learn valuable skills for their career aspirations. * Keeping a journal. Writing about problem solving and other experiences in internships can provide insights and understanding about careers and organizations (Clark, 2003). Moreover, keeping a journal can reveal how expectations change over the duration of the internship. Keeping a journal is also a technique for developing the insight process (Burke Miller, 1999) and for providing further information about the experience (Alm, 1996). CONCLUSION Our review of the research on the perception of internships shows that the internship is a beneficial activity overall. Employability seems to be enhanced, and interns generally experience both work-related and organizational learning. We found, however, that the internship experience can be improved. We recommend that both students and employers become more actively involved in the process; prerequisites and expectations be made clear; and hands-on activities, such as mentoring and journaling, be included.