Manufacture In Scotland Today Essays - Economy Of Scotland

Manufacture In Scotland Today Manufacture In Scotland Today Contents Contents page Page 1 Introduction Page 2 Electronics Page 3 Semiconductors Page 5 Aerospace Page 6 Automotive Page 7 Conclusion Page 8 References Page 9 "Manufacturing In Scotland Today" Introduction This report is not so much on the state of the manufacturing industry in Scotland but rather of it's current success. Scottish productivity consistently ranks among the highest worldwide and multinational companies have expanded their presence in Scotland to capitalise on this. Due to the extent of the manufacturing industry in Scotland I am going to focus on four areas these being: Electronics, Semiconductors, Aerospace and Automotive manufacture. Other major areas of manufacture in Scotland include Biotechnology (which I will touch upon later), Food (with annual sales totalling 7.3 billion) and Textiles. Scotland is the home to around 550 electronics companies including multinational giants such as IBM, Compaq, Motorola, Matsushita and Phillips. Scotland also has one of the highest concentrations of semiconductor fabrication companies in Europe including NEC, Motorola, National Semiconductors and Raytheon Systems. While the Scottish aerospace industry comprises of 52 companies including BAE Aerostructures, GEC Marconi Radar and Control Systems, Greenwich Caledonian, Rohr, Bond Helicopters and Woodward Governor and it has world-class expertise in electronics, plastics and aluminium founding, all of which are increasingly important in automotive manufacture. All these companies chose Scotland. Home to Europe's most experienced electronics work-force the Scots are known worldwide for their work ethic, as well as for their skills and initiative they are praised for low turnover rates, low absenteeism, and high levels of responsiveness to training and new technologies. Partly this can be put down to Scotland's educational system which places particular emphasis on electrical engineering, science, mathematics and computer-related studies. Also producing more engineering graduates per capita than all other EU nations. Scotland also offers the ideal location for companies requiring access to the European market through access to Europe in a matter of hours with it's modern airports, motorways, deep water seaports and advanced rail freight connections with Europe. Electronics The so called Silicon Glen area of Central Scotland is one of the most concentrated areas of electronics activity in Europe. Home to many companies from America, Japan, as well as European multi-nationals and of course independent Scottish companies. Many leading electronics companies have operations in Scotland, including IBM, Hewlett-Packard, Canon, Compaq, Packard Bell, NEC, Sun Microsystems and Mitsubishi. Altogether they employ 41,000 people, with another 29,900 supporting directly. Total product sales of the Scottish electronics sector amounted to 15.5 billion in 1996 with Scotland producing: ? 32% of personal computers made in Europe, ? more than 7% of the world's PCs, ? 80% of Europe's workstations, ? 29% of Europe's notebooks and ? 65% of Europe's automated banking machines. Optoelectronics Electrical and optical engineering is Scotland's largest manufacturing area representing 23% of the countries total manufacturing. Scotland is a world leader in optoelectronics with the likes of Pilkington Optronics a major developer in military optical systems including periscopes, military laser range finders and thermal imaging systems. GEC Marconi avionics also use their military expertise in laser targeting and guidance systems. Edinburgh Instruments manufacture all kinds of state of the art lasers. VLSI Vision have developed a new single-chip video camera which is being used used in security systems, medical and automotive products not to mention personal computers and children's toys. Microlase also develop lasers for use in biotechnology and semiconductor research. Telecommunications Scotland is home to four of the worlds top ten telecommunications companies including Motorola, Cisco, Lucent and 3Com. Motorola a world leader in portable communications systems operates from Scotland manufacturing a wide range of products, including mobile phones, for the European market. Hewlett-Packard also who have been operating a plant in Scotland for over 30 years where they manufacture products for testing telecommunications systems. Information Systems Scotland has been at the forefront of the global information systems industry for over 40 years with leading companies like NCR, Honeywell and IBM all of which take advantage of the countries solid support infrastructure and communications links to serve the markets of Europe and beyond. Scotland produces Personal computers, including desktop and laptop models. Processing systems, such as electronic funds transfer and automatic teller machines. Peripherals, including display monitors, keyboards, printers and data communication products. Support products, such as disk drives, cable harnesses and switched-mode supplies. Also the Scottish software industry has a turnover of 1.5 billion and employs around 20,000 people. Semiconductors Scotland's semiconductor fabrication plants employ over 5,500 people, and suppliers to the semiconductor industry employ 2,700. Scotland has a 7% share of the EMEA semiconductor production capacity and a 33% share of the UK capacity. Companies choose to locate in Scotland as it is home to the UK's National Microelectronics Institute which tackles any problems that companies from throughout the UK may have. Whilst providing training and the

Operation Smile Essays

Operation Smile Essays Operation Smile Essay Operation Smile Essay For example, Kent State University; its one of 450 students associations working to ease money and educate students about the values of commitment, leadership and volunteerism, according to Operation Smiles website. This organization raises money by selling items such as sweatshirts and T-shirts, as well as candy and pens. The organization has raised $2,400 and in September of 2006 their money gave 10 children from all over the world the opportunity to have the life-altering surgery (Franco 2). Operation Smile is a nationally known organization open to all majors on the campus of Kent State. So even if someone Isnt Interested in the medical field, here Is still a way to help out with the organization. It looks really good to get Involved In campus actively and on resumes for future Jobs and graduate school applications, said Marcia Thomas, secretary of the Kent State chapter. For those who are interested in the medical field, as Thomas said, volunteering with a world-wide organization such as Operation Smile looks good on resumes for Job applications and graduate school applications. Plus someone could even find that they are specifically interested in working with facial deformities, which could help that errors and the organization. They would get a good Job, which could lead to an even better Job that pays, and they would be helping people all over the world. Cindy Raglan, a mother of two and a registered nurse, is one of the many volunteers who travel the world with Operation Smile. She also works in the newborn intensive care unit of the Childrens Hospital of the Kings Daughters in Norfolk, Virginia, the founding place of Operation Smile. Your charitable donation doesn’t only impact the lives of children abroad. Operation Smile operates a U. S. Care Network as well, providing referrals for children who need assistance. QUICK FACTS * Operation Smile, headquartered in Norfolk, Virginia, is a worldwide childrens medical charity. In 1982, Operation Smile was founded by Dr. William P. Magee Jr. , a plastic surgeon, and his wife, Kathleen S. Magee, a nurse and clinical social worker. * Operation Smile was launched with its first mission to the Philippines in 1982. Operation Smile currently supports international and local, in-country medical missions to 26 countries. * Operation Smile partner countries include: Bolivia, Brazil, Cambodia, China, Colombia, Ecuador, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gaza Strip/West Bank, Haiti, Honduras, India, Jordan, Kenya, Mexico, Morocco, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Russia, South Africa, Thailand, Venezuela, and Vietnam. * Since 1982, more than 115,000 children and young adults have been treated by thousands of volunteers worldwide and thousands of healthcare professionals have been trained globally. For as little as $240 Operation Smile can change a childs life by giving the gift of a surgery. Revenue in excess of surgical costs is invested into our sustainability programs, empowering our partner countries to treat more children on their own and making your investment go even farther. The complete Operation Smile model is an investment of $750 per child. In as little as 45 minutes, one cleft lip surgery c an change a childs life forever. * Operation Smile integrates its partnerships with leading medical teaching institutions into its in-country medical education programs. Our partners in education include Yale University, Chang Gung Hospital and University (Taiwan), Duke University and the University of Southern California. * Thousands of students in more than 500 Operation Smile Student Associations in the United States and around the world build awereness, raise funds and educate students about values of commitment, leadership and volunteerism. * Operation Smile has worldwide offices in Hong Kong, London, Dublin, Brisbane, Rome, Los Angeles, and New York City that raise funds and awareness to support international programs. The annual Operation Smile Physicians Training Program (PTP) brings doctors and nurses from around the world to the United States for advanced training in their specialized skills. Since 1987, more than 700 health care professionals have attended the program, held at our headquarters in Norfolk, VA. * The World Care Program brings children and young adults, through sponsorships, to the United States for surgeries that are too com plicated to be performed during in-country missions. Since 1985, more than 200 World Care patients have received life-changing surgery.

How does sports media affect society Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

How does sports media affect society - Essay Example For instance Woods (2007) maintains that sports is main source of revenue for the media and as such they use techniques to generate public interests and this often translated into unhealthy emotional attachment to specific sports and athletes (p. 72). B. Codes of Conduct: This section focuses on the irresponsible way that the sports press prioritizes and changes the entertainment value of sports. For example Shhultz (2005) reports that the sports media focuses far too much attention on controversy because it generates public interest (p. 27). Rather than focusing on the competitive nature of sports in a healthy way the sports media is becoming increasingly fixated on issues such as athlete’s who have ongoing morality issues such as the Tiger Woods sex scandal. C. Perceptions and Stereotyping in the Sports Media: This part of the paper looks at issues of standards and analyses how the media contributes to society’s penchant for cultural stereotyping. For instance the portray of female cheerleaders as sex symbols, or Latin athletes as entirely hot-tempered. (Pedersen, Miloch and Laucella 2007, p. 322). D. How Sports should be Treated by the Media: This section looks at the negative effects that sports media has on society by reference to the previous sections. This section will then go into analyzing how sports media can portray sports so as to have a more positive impact on society. For instance sports is a manifestation of a rules-based culture. It also promotes healthy eating and healthy lifestyles (Leclerc 2010, p.

Business Ethics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 10

Business Ethics - Essay Example principles and values that determine decision making and right or wrong of contextual issues related to business or profession in accordance with ethical problems such as issues relating to human rights, privacy, discrimination, sexual and other types of harassment, performance evaluation, hiring, firing, safety, security, etc. Immanuel Kant’s principles to explain theory of ethics of duties strongly advise three aspects of ethics: consistency, which everyone else also should follow and can achieve; human dignity, which every individual deserves under every situation; and universality, for all actions and human beings should be acceptable by all (Crane, A & Matten, D; 2007). Ethical problems of sexual and physical abuse have been troubling our communities for many centuries. Even today evidences of child abuse and sexual violence against women are prevalent among all groups and levels of people. A recent lawsuit was filed against a popular African-American preacher for molesting a 15-year old girl and sending lewd text messages to another girl. Many such charges were levied against him in the past too (Allen, B; 2009, 21 May). This depicts the disadvantaged status of the female gender even now. This kind of horrifying violence, systematic discrimination and human right abuses leave damaging effects on the society such as physical trauma, emotional trauma, low self-esteem, and psychological disturbances. Professionally, such behavior causes undesirable violation of code of conduct. Unsafe working conditions pose high risk for health problems and hazardous events. One such violation was reported by an army employee at Lockheed Martin plant who suffered injuries as a result of exposure to toxic chemicals. His appeal for justice at the California Supreme Court did not help as four out of seven justices were stake holders in this oil company (Editorial board; 16 Jan 2008). These health problems could lead to changes in human genetic systems that may

Video report Movie Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Video report - Movie Review Example Despite water being a very important commodity for the people, most of the world’s population has no access to it. There is unequal distribution of water, and thus, the water mandate initiative, a concept of the United Nations, seeks to bring onboard the business community in providing water to these people. This is the most important theme discussed in the videos, i.e. corporate social responsibility of the business community. Despite the business community changing since the 1970s years when the term corporate social responsibility emerged, there is more for the business community to do in relation to the society. Although some of the countries are still in their early stages of corporate social responsibility implementation, there is a considerable growth in the level of corporate social investment globally. Globally, there are different business models, all developed from the nature of the business operations. Over the years, business environment has undergone through tremendous changes to what it is today. However, there is no hope of these changes stopping. Rather, the business models will keep changing, to suit the underlying conditions. According the videos however, the current business model seeks to improve its relationship with the stakeholders and the society in general. This is only possible through corporate social responsibility. Moreover, the business community strives to establish a good relationship with the shareholders. As businesses increase their corporate investment plans, subsequently increasing their public investment budgets, they should strive to ensure that they do not compromise their relationships with the shareholders. The business model invests in various social plans and funds certain activities such as concern for the environment, funding water projects, a mong others. The most important aspect of this model to

Leadership In The Construction Industry Management Essay

Leadership In The Construction Industry Management Essay Among the many variables that have an effect on an organization such as economic condition and competition, leadership is considered to be one of the most important factors that directly impacts the level of success an organization may experience (Goleman, 2000). The construction industry is no exception to these popular beliefs as described in the research reviewed for this paper. Within the construction industry, leaders are exposed to fast-pace, complex, and constantly evolving environments (Riley, Horman Messner, 2008). The styles and skills of a leader are directly related to generating a positive working environment which is crucial to positive performance. The purpose of this paper is to: (1) discuss the classifications of leadership and associated styles; (2) identify the skills that are associated with construction leadership including the aspect of emotional intelligence; and (3) analyze leadership factors that impact the working environment. It is the authors intention th at this literature review and its findings may be used to assist individuals and organizations in their efforts to evaluate past, present, and future leaders. Leadership in the Construction Industry Throughout the construction and engineering industry, there is a growing recognition of the importance and need for improved leadership skills within organizations (Skipper Bell, 2006). Developments such as the growing volume of activity, advancement in technology, intense global competition, increasing number of active stakeholders, and the demand for fast track completion, have generated many distinct challenges for the construction industry (Toor Ofori, 2008). According to Giritli and Oraz (2004), the construction industry demonstrates distinct characteristics that separate it from all other industries. Some of the unique characteristics that have an impact on leadership styles include: project characteristics, contractual arrangements, project life-cycle, and environmental factors. Giritli and Oraz (2004) explain how construction projects are composed of a multitude of organizations or contractors, and typically all of these entities contribute to the project in different ways. These organizations are drawn together for a short time to work on a specific project and then disbanded upon the completion of the project. The temporary or short-term nature of projects in the construction industry, combined with its multi-organizational framework, will almost certainly have an impact on the style of leadership construction professionals choose to follow (Giritli Oraz, 2004). The fact is construction professionals in leadership roles are faced with constant change throughout the different phases of a projects lifecycle. This combined with the responsibility of leading or directing a multitude of different sub-contractors and personnel for short periods of time creates many challenges and gives leadership in construction its distinction (Giritli Oraz, 2004). The necessary tools to be an effective leader in the construction industry include both technical and soft skills. Technical and Soft Leadership Skills Construction leaders often assume the role of design managers, construction managers, procurement managers, contract managers, or project managers (Toor Ofori, 2008). Regardless of the title, leaders in the construction industry are considered facilitators and the focal point of communication (Riley et al., 2008). Approximately 88% of project managers spend more than half of their working time interacting with others (Sunundijo, Hadikusumo Ogunlana, 2007). This leadership requires a set of competencies and traits such as vision, communication, honesty, integrity, continuous learning, courage, tolerance for ambiguity, and creativity. These competencies and traits are considered to be soft skills (Riley et al., 2008). Toor and Ofori (2008) label these traits as general management and leadership skills similarly described in many industries. Technical or hard skills are considered to be more complex and describe traits related to a specific industry. In the construction industry, tech nical skills may include intimate knowledge of the scheduling, installation processes, day to day operation of specific job related activities, and overall knowledge of all sub-contractors/tradesman operating on the project. In short, a leader who possesses technical skills in the construction industry understands the terminology and has extensive knowledge regarding all construction related activities. Process Development and Emotional Intelligence Both technical and soft leadership skills are learned and developed over time. Maxwells (2007) law of process explains how leaders, either natural born with greater natural gifts, or those who become leaders through a collection of skills, have the ability to improve. These skills are not developed overnight, because leadership is complicated and has many facets including: respect, experience, emotional strength, people skills, discipline, vision, momentum, timing, etc. Butler and Chinowsky (2006), report that the level of emotional intelligence of a leader is as important as classical traits of intelligence and experience in developing the leaders of tomorrows construction organizations. According to Goleman (1998), emotional intelligence is the capacity to recognize our own feelings and those of others, for motivating ourselves, and for managing emotions well in us and in our relationships. (Sunindijo et al., 2007, p.166). Leaders with higher emotional intelligence tend to display the traits of transformational leadership found in open communication and proactive leadership styles. Emotional intelligence has been found to assist in generating delegation, opening lines of communication, and improvement of proactive behavior, which can bring positive outcomes to organizations (Sunindijo et al., 2007). Butler and Chinowsky (2006), list fifteen multi-factors which fall within five specific components of emotional intelligence that are related to transformational leadership behavior at a convincing level of statistical significance. The factors are: Interpersonal Skills Self-regard, Emotional self-awareness, Assertiveness, Independence, Self-Actualization Intrapersonal Skills Empathy, Social Responsibility, Interpersonal Relationship Adaptability Reality Testing, Flexibility, Problem Solving Stress Management Stress Tolerance, Impulse Control General Moods Optimism, Happiness The research by Butler and Chinowsky (2006) proves that the relationship between emotional intelligence and the factors listed above have a significant potential impact on construction organizations and the success of its leaders. Leadership Classification and Styles Leadership styles, behaviors, and techniques are typical topics of discussion in the search for what or who constitutes a true and effective leader. Countless research articles examine the preferred methods of developing or identifying the traits of a quality leader. Among the many articles reviewed for this paper, there has been no evidence that clearly shows a particular style of leadership as optimal; hence, it may be concluded that no single leadership style is best for all managerial situations (Giritli Oraz, 2004). Research indicates that most successful leaders in any industry are those who possess the skills to employ a range of styles based on the situation, flexibility is key (Giritli Oraz, 2004). Goleman (2000) reports research performed by the consulting firm Hay/Mcber, draws a random sample of 3,871 executives selected from a database of more than 20,000 executives worldwide. This research reveals six distinct leadership styles, each derived from different aspects of emotional intelligence, and possibly more important, the research indicates that leaders who produced the best results do not rely on only one style of leadership (Goleman, 2000). Giritli and Oraz (2004) explain how different approaches to this subject have led to various classifications of leadership styles. Despite similar labeling of leadership categories, two types of leadership are commonly discussed, accompanied by the six styles that assist in explaining the traits of the two classifications (Giritli Oraz, 2004). Giritli and Oraz (2004), list the classifications and styles which include: Classification 1: Transactional leadership This classification of leadership is defined as an exchange of rewards with subordinates for services rendered. Transactional leaders typically seek to motivate followers through intrinsic rewards. Transactional leadership includes the following styles: Style # 1: Coercive (do what I tell you) Considered to be the least flexible and effective style because leaders manage by controlling subordinates tightly, and motivate by using discipline. Some may refer to this as micro-management. Style # 2: Authoritative (come with me) This style describes a leader who maximizes commitment to goals and strategy; defines standards and provides flexibility in completing tasks. This form of leadership provides a clear vision in the attempt to motivate subordinates to be creative. In the presence of experts and peers, this style of leadership can be received as overbearing. Classification 2: Transformational leadership This classification of leadership is defined as the process of influencing and empowering subordinates. Researchers commonly refer to transformational leadership as a feminine leadership style or approach. However, some view transformational leadership as a gender balanced style. Transformational leadership includes the following styles: Style # 3: Affiliative (people come first) This style is considered to be flexible, which creates emotional bonds and harmony between leaders and subordinates; improves communications; and increases the morale of subordinates. This style displays the importance of people and how they come first, as opposed to tasks which are ranked second. The success of this style typically depends on the level of development of the subordinates, if subordinates require a high level of direction, this style of leadership cannot be successful. Style # 4: Democratic (what do you think) This style generates ideas, builds consensus through participation, but requires highly developed and competent subordinates to generate ideas and take part in the decision making process. This style is typical of leaders who are looking to develop and build trust among subordinates and peers. Negative side effects include conflict, and endless meetings with no consensus. This style is not recommended during crisis mode when subordinates are in need of direction rather than support from a leader. Style # 5: Pacesetting (do as I do, now) A style which characterizes a leader as someone who expects excellence and self-direction, sets high standards, and demands more from poor performers. This style of leadership has little concern for interpersonal relationships, that is, they tend to concentrate on the achievement of tasks. Best suited for highly competent, self-motivated, professional employees, this style is recommended to be used in conjunction with other styles. Style # 6: Coaching (try this) This style of leadership develops people for the future, creates dialogue and flexibility, and establishes long-term goals and plans. Also, this style assists employees in identifying their strengths and weaknesses to help improve their performance. This style is least effective when employees are hesitant to learning or change. Leadership Adaptation and Intuition Goleman (2000) suggests that leaders who are capable of utilizing different styles seamlessly and in different measure, depending on the situation, are typically more successful. Goleman (2000) goes on to compare this type of flexible leader to a professional golfer. The pro golfer over the course of a round is required to pick and choose clubs based on the demands of the shot. Sometimes he may ponder his selection, but quite often, the decision is automatic. Ultimately, the pro assesses the challenge, chooses his tool of choice/makes a decision, and effortlessly goes to work. High impact and effective leaders operate in a similar fashion (Goleman, 2000). The ability of a leader to make quick and accurate decisions while effortlessly adapting to different styles to address continuously changing situations, can be attributed to his/her level of leadership intuition. Maxwell (2007) discusses the law of intuition and explains how intuition is based on facts, instinct, and other intangible factors, such as employee morale, organizational momentum, and relational dynamics. Maxwell (2007) goes on to say that intuition comes from two things: natural ability, which comes in a persons area of strength, coupled with their learned skills (2007). The principles of leadership are constant, but a leaders application must change and adapt to every situation. Without the intuition and ability to adapt, leaders are blindsided, which is one of the worst things that can happen to a leader who wishes to stay at the top (Maxwell, 2007). Giritli and Oraz (2004) explain how the style of leadership changes as the project progresses through its lifecycle. For example, during the design phase, styles may need to allow for more debates, fine-tuning, and deliberation. Conversely, during the complex construction phases, a leader may need to be more structured and dominant. In summary, a leader may need to switch styles to conform to particular situations throughout a project to create the right balance between concern for tasks and concern for people (Giritli Oraz, 2004). Impact of Leadership on Organizational Climate Research shows that committed employees are the most valuable assets of any organization (Rehman, Shareef, Mahmood Ishaque, 2012). However, leadership within an organization impacts the climate, perceptions, and effectiveness of the working environment (Otara, 2011). The leadership role provides the motivating force that may ultimately determine an organizations success or failure. For this reason, many organizations place great emphasis on choosing the ideal candidate to assume the leadership role. Part of this decision can be based on dominant traits demonstrated by a candidate. Goleman (2000) lists six key factors that influence an organizations working environment or climate. These factors can be useful in determining a leaders impact prior to hiring him/her. The six factors spring from different components of emotional intelligence and include: Flexibility: how free employees feel to innovate unencumbered by red tape Responsibility: to the organization Standards: set by the people Rewards: the sense of accuracy about performance feedback and aptness of rewards Clarity: the clarity people have about the mission and values Commitment: to a common purpose Goleman (2000) presents the following table to demonstrate how each leadership style affected the six drivers of climate or working environment: Coercive Authoritative Affiliative Democratic Pacesetting Coaching Flexibility -.28 .32 .27 .28 -.07 .17 Responsibility -.37 .21 .16 .23 .04 .08 Standards .02 .38 .31 .22 -.27 .39 Rewards -.18 .54 .48 .42 -.29 .43 Clarity -.11 .44 .37 .35 -.28 .38 Commitment -.13 .35 .34 .26 -.20 .27 Overall impact on climate -.26 .54 .46 .43 -.25 .42 (p.81) The Data provided by Goleman (2000) reveals the authoritative leadership style has the greatest positive impact on climate, with affiliative, democratic, and coaching styles following closely. This data also indicates that no style should be relied on exclusively, and all have potential, depending on the situation (Goleman, 2000). Of course very few leaders if any possess the ability to change roles and function in all categories. Fortunately, the remedy is quite simple. Good leaders will hire and surround themselves with team members who employ the skills or styles they lack (Goleman, 2000). Maxwells (2007) description of the inner circle confirms Golemans statement and informs his readers of the importance of a support system in regards to a leaders success: When we see an incredibly gifted person, its always tempting to believe that talent alone made him successful. To think that is to buy into a lie. Nobody does anything great alone. Leaders do not succeed alone. A leaders potential is determined by those closest to him. What makes the difference is the leaders inner circle. (p. #127) A true leader displays many traits, one of which is a high level of self-confidence. This individual is not afraid or threatened by the success of others and embraces the fact that the people/team he/she has assembled, possess skills that the particular leader lacks. A good leader will apply the skills of others to improve or progress an organizations performance. All of this is done without worry of his or her competencies. Recommendations After completing a review of literature addressing leadership in the construction industry, it is recommended that further research is needed to address the level of emotional intelligence that a potential leader should possess. The consensus of numerous researchers is that many universities fall short or dont address the multitude of important factors that help in developing potential leaders in the industry. Emphasis needs to be placed on real life situations faced in the construction industry and played out in the classroom environment. It is important to know if an individual has the right level of emotional intelligence to succeed as a leader in the complex industry of construction. Conclusion Although economic factors and competitive dynamics have a tremendous impact, leadership and the working environment created by a leader has been reported to account for one-third of an organizations performance (Goleman, 2000). The conclusions of this research suggest that the construction industry boast a number of factors that separate it from other industries. The construction industry is unique due to its short-term project life cycles, sub-contractor involvement, project characteristics, environmental factors, and contractual arrangements (Giritli Oraz, 2004). All of which affect the style of leadership and its impact on an organization. Due to these distinct characteristics, research has revealed that no one leadership style is optimal for every situation. Leaders who have the intuition and ability to demonstrate multiple styles and possess a high level of emotional intelligence will have greater influence and success.

The Alamo :: essays research papers

Originally named Misià ³n San Antonio de Valero, the Alamo served as home to missionaries and their Indian converts for nearly seventy years. Construction began on the present site in 1724. In 1793, Spanish officials sectioned off San Antonio's five missions and distributed their lands to the remaining Indian residents. These men and women continued to farm the fields — once the mission's but now their own — and participated in the growing community of San Antonio. In the early 1800s, the Spanish military stationed a cavalry unit at the former mission. The soldiers referred to the old mission as the Alamo (the Spanish word for "cottonwood") in honor of their hometown Alamo de Parras, Coahuila. The post's commander established the first recorded hospital in Texas in the Long Barrack. The Alamo was home to both Revolutionaries and Royalists during Mexico's ten-year struggle for independence. The military — Spanish, Rebel, and then Mexican — continued to occupy the Alamo until the Texas Revolution. San Antonio and the Alamo played a critical role in the Texas Revolution. In December 1835, Ben Milam led Texian and Tejano volunteers against Mexican troops quartered in the city. After five days of house-to-house fighting, they forced General Marà ­n Perfecto de Cà ³s and his soldiers to surrender. The victorious volunteers then occupied the Alamo — already fortified prior to the battle by Cà ³s' men — and strengthened its defenses. On February 23, 1836, the arrival of General Antonio Là ³pez de Santa Anna's army outside San Antonio nearly caught them by surprise. Undaunted, the Texians and Tejanos prepared to defend the Alamo together. The defenders held out for 13 days against Santa Anna's army. William B. Travis, the commander of the Alamo sent forth couriers carrying pleas for help to communities in Texas. On the eighth day of the siege, a band of 32 volunteers from Gonzales arrived, bringing the number of defenders to nearly two hundred. Legend holds that with the possibility of additional help fading, Colonel Travis drew a line on the ground and asked any man willing to stay and fight to step over — all except one did. As the defenders saw it, the Alamo was the key to the defense of Texas, and they were ready to give their lives rather than surrender their position to General Santa Anna. Among the Alamo's garrison were Jim Bowie, renowned knife fighter, and David Crockett, famed frontiersman and fo rmer congressman from Tennessee.

Construction of Knowledge

Throughout this course, we have been exposed to various fields of literature that revolve around a specific theme portraying the argument and point being made. It is possible, however, that two very opposite articles with unrelated topics can and may revolve around a similar theme. Beginning on page 239 of Katherine Ann Ackley’s Perspectives on Contemporary Issues, author Jean Kilbourne describes the impact that advertising has had on our society in her write Advertising’s Influence on Media Content. This article shares a close connection Lois Lowry’s Newbery Medal-winning novel, The Giver.In this dystopian society, a society characterized by human misery (Dictionary. com), officials regulate what the members of the Community know and experience. In addition to Kilbourne, published in The Atlantic in 2008 is writer David Carr’s article Is Google Making Us Stupid? Carr explains that the use of the internet and web browsers such as Google has altered the pro cess in which we perceive information. Although these articles discuss very different issues, from contradicting advertisements to the perception of information, one can take notice to a striking resemblance.The construction of knowledge is affected through both the impact of advertisements in society as well as our recent exposure to the luxury of the internet. The regulation of information and the modern, instantaneous method of attaining knowledge contribute to the deterioration of our construction of knowledge. Author Jean Kilbourne describes in her article Advertising’s Influence on Media Content the misrepresentation of information provided by the media through magazines and television.The media exerts their content in two major ways: via the suppression of information that would harm or offend the sponsor and via the inclusion of editorial content that reflects the product in a positive light (Kilbourne, 239). The line between advertising and editorial content is blurr ed by advertorials, product placement, and video news releases (239). Strikingly, up to 85% of the news we get is bought and paid for by corporations eager to gain positive publicity (239).It is startling to see the control that the media has on what advertisements we as a society are exposed of, and how information is being filtered and regulated for the open public. In 1998, a scandal surfaced concerning the working conditions in foreign factories that supply Nike. Nike’s sponsorship of CBS’ Olympic coverage was rewarded when correspondents delivered the news wearing jackets emblazoned with Nike’s symbol (240). The president of CBS News denied that this sponsorship had anything to do with the investigative 48 Hours segment that had been released just before (240).The editor of The San Francisco Examiner likewise denied that Nike’s co-sponsorship of their annual promotion was in any way related to kill a column by a reporter that was highly critical of N ike (240). It is clear that corporations such as Nike have a way with advertising and have mastered the technique of masking their scandalous ways. Nike’s influence on the media and filtering of information is frightening, and its control over the construction of knowledge has deterred society from questioning its actions.In connection to the concealment of truths, Lois Lowry’s novel The Giver is based upon the construction of knowledge of a civilization. The novel revolves around Jonas, a twelve-year-old boy living in a dystopian society, where people lead dehumanized and often fearful lives (Lowry). He is chosen among his community to serve as the â€Å"Receiver of Memory† where he will maintain the past memories of a time before Sameness filled with pain and suffering, and the training for which will isolate him from his family and friends forever (Lowry).He learns through the previous Receiver, known as the Giver, about true knowledge and is exposed to a wor ld shunned from the others of that society (Lowry). Jonas experiences a life full of love, color, choices, and knowledge, but consequently with hatred, suffering and misery (Lowry). The members of his community are content because they do not know of a better life, and the knowledge of what they are missing out on could create major chaos (Lowry). This is relative to Kilbourne’s argument that major corporations are releasing selected advertisements that expose only what they want the public to see.In the case of the Nike Corporation, the concealment of their horrid working conditions is relevant to Sameness in The Giver. By suppressing information from society, a higher power is in charge of regulating what the community is exposed of, and therefore interfering with their construction of knowledge. One of the main strategies that Kilbourne targets is the contradicting placement of advertisements within women’s magazines. Kilbourne points out the contrasting views withi n a magazine, from the front cover, through the context of the magazine, all the way to the advertisement appearing on the back page.The various headlines included on the cover appear to be along the lines of weight-loss advice, how to make the perfect chocolate cake, hair-styling tips, and numerous ways to avoid aging. Once you make your way to the pages within the magazine, numerous articles feature luscious cakes and pies juxtaposed with articles about diets. This, Kilbourne writes, is an invitation to pathology, fueling the paradoxical obsession with food and weight control that is one of the hallmarks of eating disorders (241). Women’s Day once offered an article on â€Å"Special Report on Deadly Appliances†.Lest we think this is not a serious problem, 80 people died and 370 were injured by these killer appliances (242). On the back cover of the exact magazine, however, there is an advertisement for cigarettes, a product that kills over 400,000 people a year (242) . In 1996, an informal survey was conducted of popular women’s magazines that covered stories varying from countless health issues (242). These issues include skin cancer, Pap smears, and leukemia, as well as outstanding claims such as how breast cancer can be held off with aspirin and the possibility that dry-cleaned clothes can cause cancer (242).The back covers of all of these magazines contained an advertisement for cigarettes, and not a single mention of lung cancer and heart disease caused by smoking (242). The contents within these magazines contradict themselves, and it is obvious how major companies have played a role in regulating the news we receive through the media. The construction of knowledge is interrupted by the filtering of information by these companies paying off the media, restricting exposure to the real problems and issues in our society.Similarly to Kilbourne, David Carr expresses his concern for the construction of knowledge, although through a dissi milar issue. In his article Is Google Making Us Stupid, Carr expresses the influence that the internet has made on how we perceive information. Carr himself has personally been affected by the speedy resource that Google has provided for him (Carr). There has been a change in Carr’s perception of information, where he claims to have lost a sense of focus and that he feels he is literally dragging his way through a piece (Carr).Now, with the assistance of Google, research that once required days in the library can now be done in minutes (Carr). Instead of reading thoroughly the context of an article, Carr finds himself scanning headlines and blog posts, watching videos and podcasts, or just tripping link to link to link (Carr). In his words, Carr describes his own personal spectacle: â€Å"Once I was a scuba diver in the sea of words. Now I zip along the surface like a guy on a Jet Ski† (Carr). Further research has been conducted to explore the phenomenon.A recently pub lished study of online research habits, conducted by scholars form University College London, suggests that we may well be in the midst of a sea of change in the way we read and think (Carr). The scholars examined computer logs documenting the behavior of visitors to two research sites over the course of five years. People using these sites exhibited a â€Å"form of skimming activity†, hopping from one source to another and rarely returning to any source they had already visited (Carr). It is apparent that our society has experienced a huge deterioration in the construction of knowledge.The perception of information has been influenced by the fast-paced and ever-expanding internet. Because we cannot fully absorb the content before us, our construction of knowledge has worsened and eroded. At a first glance, the articles Advertising’s Influence on Media Content and Is Google Making Us Stupid, written by Joan Kilbourne and David Carr, respectively, have nearly nothing in common in terms of their surface context. Kilbourne’s article relates to the impact of advertisements within the media, while Carr’s piece explains the deteriorating perception of knowledge.In addition to these two articles is the novel The Giver written by Lois Lowry, describing a dystopian society and the effects of regulating information. These pieces, while covering a vast span of topics and issues, commonly cover a deeper meaning: the construction of knowledge. All three sources explain the influence of media and other outside sources on how we perceive and stimulate knowledge based on our exposure. The regulation of information and the modern, instantaneous method of attaining knowledge have in fact contributed to the deterioration of our construction of knowledge.Works Cited Carr, David. â€Å"Is Google Making Us Stupid? † The Atlantic Day July/August 2008. Magazine. â€Å"Dystopia. † Dictionary. com Unabridged. Random House, Inc. 13 Apr. 2013. . Kilbourne, Jean. â€Å"Advertising’s Influence on Media Content. † Perspectives on Contemporary Issues: Readings Across the Disciplines. 6th ed. Ed. Katherine Anne Ackley. Boston: Wadsworth/Cengage Learning, 2012. 230-233. Print. Lowry, Lois. The Giver. New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin, 1993. Print.

Cultural Barriers When Negotiating with Women and Minorities Essay Example

Cultural Barriers When Negotiating with Women and Minorities Essay Example Cultural Barriers When Negotiating with Women and Minorities Essay Cultural Barriers When Negotiating with Women and Minorities Essay A surety dialogue occurs when a condemnable utilizations guiltless people as bargaining french friess. The scenarios for these fortunes vary from a despairing female parent possibly who in fright may block herself with her ain kid to a bank robber who utilizes the people around to help in his pickup. In add-on. a more publicised type of surety state of affairs would be the terrorist type state of affairss where a wholly new set of regulations must be utilized to cover with these type incidents. For illustration. a female parent may be despairing and responding in fright. Most likely this type of individual the head set is non that of a felon and she has no existent purposes of aching anyone but for the most portion is making out for a solution of some type. The first occupation of the surety negotiant should be to make safety. When a negotiant arrives on the scene there may be several armed officers with emotions running high and general confusion. The environment escalates the fright that is already present in this adult female and she is most likely fearful for her life every bit good as the kid or surety she may be keeping. Brute force would non be the best method to utilize in this type of state of affairs as the adult female most likely is non looking to harm anyone and is really seeking some manner of flight. For the most portion the per centum of adult females who take sureties are well lower than that of a male perpetrating the same offense. Upon geting on the scene. it would be important for the negotiant to acquire organized and set up some kind of communicating with the surety taker to find what her issue may be. If the dialogue looks like it might take some clip it would be wise to see a place that would offer some type of lasting adjustment. The following measure would be to try to find as much information about the state of affairs as possible. For illustration. it would be of import to cognize how many sureties and if possible their names. Then it is important to find what they are demanding and from at that place find what is it that they are truly inquiring for. Since typically by nature. adult females tend to be more emotional it would be wise to find where her frame of head is at this clip. The inquiries to see is whether she is despairing and fearful or are her emotions running high with a sense of hopelessness where she feels she has nil to lose? Besides. if possible it would be good to find is she under the influence of any type of drug or intoxicant as these factors could do the state of affairs much more hard as it is frequently times impossible to ground with a individual under the influence. Their appreciation on world is greatly altered and what is apparent logic will non register obviously to them. Another type of surety state of affairs to see is a terrorist type state of affairs where the individual who the negotiant is covering with is non from this state and so a whole new set of issues would necessitate attending. Most terrorists who apprehend sureties may believe that they are genuinely making a heroic act and it is most likely a spiritual type of motivation. It is difficult to ground with a individual like this without understanding that this individual has no fright of decease. In fact. they most likely welcome it as they are under the feeling that they will be greatly rewarded in the after life because of what they are making. In add-on. many times when covering with surety takers from the in-between E they are so heartsick as they have lost much in the manner of ownerships and more significantly they may hold lost household members. In the instance of these type surety state of affairss they are non keeping the individual. for the most portion. in a edifice like possibly a bank robber type state of affairs. In these instances the sureties are more likely to be picked up from a public topographic point and carried off to another secret location. The surety takers in bend contact whomever they feel are the appropriate people and from that point make their demands. For the most portion they may supply some type of cogent evidence alarming the governments on the figure of people taken and confidence that they are still alive. In these type cases they may look. and frequently do. hold the upper manus and it is the negotiator’s responsibility to equilibrate the state of affairs. It is imperative to find at this point what the terrorists may be inquiring and if the petition if realistic and one that could be honored. From this point the cooperation of several authorities functionaries may come into drama and the determination on who to reach should be made well speedy. Another type of surety state of affairs would be when an person from an urban community is the condemnable. Many times these people are despairing and will non be unfastened to dialogue. Often times they are determined they will non be caught and their manner of life has reduced the regard of other people’s lives. as they have no great regard for ain. Another issue that is prevailing in these type state of affairss would be at that place besides may be the engagement of drugs and intoxicant so the negotiant may non be covering with a limpid personality.

Negative Impact of Technology essays

Negative Impact of Technology essays  ¡Negative Impacts On Technologies ¡ Advanced technologies are potential threats to devastate the living environment. Although technologies has helped human beings to adapt an easier way of life, however, in the long term it might not be as beneficial as people realize. Many technologies have led to chronic devastations in the environment this includes automobiles, industrial power plants and medicines. The invention of automobiles have brought convenience to people, on the other hand, it also causes air pollution. Driving is probably the most polluting act an average citizens commits. Pathogens in car exhaust like carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, benzene and polycyclic hydrocarbons are toxic to human body organs. These substances have been shown to produce harmful effects on the blood, bonemarrow, spleen and lymphnodes, any of these pollutants can cause anemia, cardiovascular disease, hypertension and the possibilities of developing several types of cancers. Furthermore, combustion car engines contribute to carbon dioxide accumulation in the atmosphere is responsible for climate changes. Carbon dioxide is the main culprit of greenhouse effect. Meteorological reading taken in the stratosphere over the Arctic show that in six of the past 10 winters, ozone has thinned to half its concentration. Ozone protects the Earth from the Sun ¡s ultraviolet radiations and doctors are concerned that if it is eroded more people will suffer from skin cancer. Moreover, the greenhouse effects is also a main reason responsible for global temperature to increase slightly every year. Report indicates that during the past 20 years, average temperature has increased 0.5 degrees and in the following century the temperature will increase 2 to 5 degrees worldwide. Scientists are concerned about that consequently as the temperature incr...

Vibrators in American society Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Vibrators in American society - Research Paper Example Terming vibrators as massage devices is commonly regarded as a euphemism for having vibrators for sex toys as it is the most usual word applied by those that are found with the said devices. The above is rampant in American societies that do not condone the use of vibrators for sexual pleasure let alone being in possession of the same for massage purposes, while in highly religious American societies; this is shunned upon and termed as evil. Looking at families, the use of this device is common but usually occurs without other people as the use of vibrators is termed as confidential and not public knowledge, which is the same way in which issues of sex are treated. When children come across these devices they are told that these are massagers and are even shown how they work, but not in a sexual manner. In addition to the use of vibrators as massagers, the American society is quite innovative in that it has found novel ways for their use in massage. This can be seen in the case of vo ice coaches using vibrators to massage the throats of singers in an attempt to release tension in the vocal cords for better voice projection (NewsBite, 2013). As a result, these sex partners or sex toys have more uses than just sexual pleasure despite their procurement from sex shops. Another look at vibrators indicates that these devices may be more popular than marriage in the American society based on different studies conducted on Americans. One such study was conducted by Indiana University, where the prevalence of vibrators is higher than the popularity of men. This is especially so amongst women who were found to prefer the use of this device rather than engaging in actual sexual activities with real life men. The above is especially fascinating considering that the studies show a majority of women in the American society as having used a vibrator at one time or the other in their entire life time (Selim, 2009). Further analysis in marriages indicated that women who were mar ried still used the same devices and a comparison of married women at 51% of the entire American female population against 53% of all women that have used the device either in marriage or not shows the popularity of the vibrator. To eliminate gender bias by looking only at the female population, a look at the male population indicates that a large number of men have also used vibrators. The number ranges anything between 40% to 50% of men aged between 18 and 60 and these are just the ones that have used a vibrator at one time of their lives whether individually or with partners (Selim, 2009). The above is also the case for women who used vibrators as sexual partners, where some used them with partners and other just alone. Vibrators over the years have been deemed as an important part of sexual experience in light of their usage by the American society, especially based on early mechanization and electrification of the device. Analysis on the use of vibrators from the early 1900s is indicative of this fact, where there original use was to treat hysteria and other elusive disorders by physicians in the privacy and convenience of their own clinics (Maines, 2001). It is from this that the mechanical use of vibrators

Change and Development in the English Language222 Essay

Change and Development in the English Language222 - Essay Example Topic Sentence 2: As a result of the prominent place of the East Midland dialect, particularly after London became an East Midland-speaking city, the other dialects began to lose their original importance. Topic Sentence 3: Kentish, which was originally spoken over the whole south-eastern part of England, lost its importance in region the during Middle English period mainly due to the impact of the East Midland dialect. Topic Sentence 4: In spite of the existence of several dialects in the Middle English period, it the dialect of the East Midland that became the standard dialect of the England in the period and this dialect was derived from the Mercian dialect of Old English. One of the most distinguishing characteristics of the Middle English has been the existence of a diversity of dialects and they generally correspond to the Old English Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms such as Northern, Southern, East Midland, and West Midland kingdoms. The Northern dialect of the Middle English corresponds to the Old English Northumbrian whereas the Midland dialects were close to the Old English Mercian and the Southern dialect to the West Saxon. In the course of history, the London speech with its East Midland characteristics became the standard dialect of the land. ... .is a development of the speech of London." (Pyles and Algeo, 131) The other major dialects of the Middle English included the Kentish, the Northern, and the Southern and the progress of a major dialect from among many in the Middle English contributed to the development of the language as a whole. As a result of the prominent place of the East Midland dialect, particularly after London became an East Midland-speaking city, the other dialects began to lose their original importance. Thus, Kentish, which was originally spoken over the whole south-eastern part of England, lost its importance in region the during Middle English period mainly due to the impact of the East Midland dialect. Similarly, the Southern dialect of Middle English which was mainly spoken in the area west of Sussex and south and southwest of the Thames also was greatly affected by the emerging main dialect. However, the descendants of this dialect still continue to exist in the plebeian country dialects of the extreme southwest of modern England. The Northern Middle English, in contrast with the southernmost dialects, developed quickly and the Scandinavian influence helped its growth tremendously. However, it is the dialect of the East Midland which is recognized as the dialect of Middle English and this was derived from the Mercian dialect of Old English. "Since the London dialect steadily gained in prestige from that time on and began to develop into a literary standard, the northern, Scandinavianized variety of East-Midland became the basis of standard Modern English. For that reason, East-Midland is by far the most important dialect of Middle English for the subsequent development of the language." (Dialects of Middle English) In conclusion, though there were different