Essays on Social Networking

SOCIAL NETWORKING SITES AS IMPORTANT TOOLS TO FOSTER RELATIONSHIPS Main ideas: 1. Social networking sites in schools and universities play an interesting role in order to improve abilities. 2. The advantage of social networking is reconnecting people. 3. Social networking sites offer some useful services to create a good environment among friends and family members. SOCIAL NETWORKING SITES AS IMPORTANT TOOLS TO FOSTER RELATIONSHIPS Nowadays, internet and social networking sites have become in useful tools that allow people around the world to communicate and to spread interesting information.They have been used to support politicians during presidential elections. For this reason I do agree with the fact of considering social networking sites as important tools to foster relationships. In the field of education, these sites are very useful, since students have the opportunity to interact with others by planning and working on school assignments. Teachers on their part also find inter net as an interesting tool, using it in their classes realizing that it will be helpful to improve students’ skills and also to foster their relationships and create new ones.On the other hand, it would be important to mention that one of the advantages of these sites is that they give people the chance of reconnecting with friends and family members that have not been in touch with for a long period of time; allowing them to strengthen and build good relationships. Besides that, the social networking sites, offer some services, such as free messaging, photo storage, games among others; that people can use to spend their free time and also to share memorable events with the family and friends.This aspect is very important when looking for a good environment with family members and friends. As a conclusion, it would be relevant to mention that one of the purposes of the social networking sites is to give spaces of interaction to people and also to let them get informed about i nteresting and updated topics. These two aspects build and foster their relationships with the society through the communication.

Three major Sociology theories

There are three major sociology theories known as functionalism, conflict theory, and interactionist perspective. Symbolic interactionism is the use of symbols and is face-to-face interaction. Functionalism has to do with relationships between the parts of society and how the aspects of society are adaptive. The last, conflict theory is the competition of scarce resources and how the elite control the poor and week. The symbolic interactionist perspective which is known as symbolic interactionism directs sociologist to consider the symbols and details of everyday life, what these symbols mean, and how people interact with each other(1).George H. Mead Introduced this perspective to American sociology in the 1920s. According to this theory people attach meaning to symbols. An example of symbols are wedding bands, vows of life-long commitment, a white bridal dress, a wedding cake, a church ceremony, and flowers and music. These are all examples of symbols explain in the theory. Symbolic interactionist may miss the larger issue of society by focusing too closely on the â€Å"trees. † An example would be focusing too strongly on the size of the diamond in the wedding ring rather than the â€Å"forest,† which would be the quality of marriage.The functionalist perspective, known as functionalism, is when each aspect of society is interdependent and contributes to society’s functioning as a whole. This was brought to sociology by Emile Durkheim. The government, or state, provides the education for the children in the family, which in turn pays taxes on which the state depends to keep itself running. Functionalists believe that society is held together by social consensus, or cohesion, in which members of the society agree upon, and work together to achieve, what is best for society as a whole.Durkheim suggested that social consensus takes two different forms, mechanical solidarity and organic solidarity. Mechanical solidarity is a form of social co hesion that arises when people in a society maintain similar values and beliefs and engage in similar types of work. Organic solidarity is a form of social cohesion that arises when the people in a society are interdependent, but hold to carrying values and beliefs and engage in varying types of work.Karl Marx was the originated the conflict perspective, which focuses on the negative, conflicted, and ever-changing nature of society. Unlike functionalists who defend the status quo, encourage social change, and believe rich and powerful people force social order on the poor and the weak. Conflict theorists find social conflict between and groups in which the potential for inequality exists: racial, gender, religious, political, economic, and so on.This constant competition between groups forms the basis for the ever-changing nature of society. I agree most with interactionist perspective because it fits me and what I believe. I believe at looking at the big picture not little stuff in the way. It is important to concentrate on the bigger picture. They are all good theories and each are made for different people I’m sure people agree and disagree with all the theories but that doesn’t mean they aren’t good in their own way.

Hiv / Aids And Aids Essay -- AIDS, Immune system, HIV, South Africa

The entirety of the population of South Africa has been adversely affected by HIV/AIDS both in regards to the health of the people, and the economy of the country (Barks-Ruggles). For a few years now, the GDP of South Africa seems to have peaked in 2010, and has consistently lowered since. While not all of this is the result of HIV/AIDS, some of it is related. HIV/AIDS can affect the economy of South Africa in many ways, one such way is that it can it can lead to the death of many current and potential workers. As of 2015, the percentage of HIV prevalence in the population of population of South Africa is 19.1 (HIV). Another concern for the economy of South Africa comes from how productivity could be... ... middle of paper ... ...s languages of South Africa, who could teach communities about the virus, and could teach them how to treat those with the disease themselves would be a great step forward. I would also advise that we set up more clinics trained to help those with HIV/AIDS in areas of South Africa where it is most prevalent, such as KwaZulu-Natal, where as of 2009 around 39 percent of the adult population are infected (Dugger). If the areas with the highest amount of those with HIV/AIDS are targeted, it could lead to the information being spread out from there. The charity program AVERT based out of Brighton, United Kingdom, has been suggesting similar ideas, and is currently focusing their efforts towards helping those in the hotspots in South Africa. In short, HIV/AIDS must be combated if the world, let alone South Africa, wants to be able to control the rate at which it is spread.

Goals and Objectives Enhanced the Authority Within the Organization Assignment - 1

Goals and Objectives Enhanced the Authority Within the Organization - Assignment Example All-out efforts should be in place to make sure that the accountability aspects are also taken care of and proper consideration needs to be paid on the fact that the goals and objectives of the organization geared for the long term are adequately met. This is significant because it will turn the tide its own way and make the organization stand out in a league of its own. It will tell the employees what to expect from their own selves and how to tackle long-standing problems with a collective vision and a sense to do something right for the organization. The element of authority and even that of accountability is talked out loud when the organization is willing to expand its circle of influence and get out of the rut that it has been stuck within, for the last many years (Crawford, 2000). This brings to mind the essence of inculcating new bred values and understandings that an organization has of the people who are working within its folds, and who want to professionally grow with the passage of time nonetheless. However, this requires proper planning and tact, which remains aloof on most occasions within the organizations of present day and age. The authority and accountability elements, therefore, make the organization stand tall amongst the relevant mix of its activities and processes and allow immense growth and development for the sake of the employees so that they can grow and develop, not only their own selves but also the entire organization. For accountability and governance within an organization, it is important to understand that the employees have a major role to play. This does come along well with the essence of the top management realms who are working to good effect to make sure that the organization remains ahead.

Details are below Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Details are below - Essay Example The article begins by stating the essential skills that a nurse should possess to make the patients comfortable while answering the questions posed by the nurse. According to the article a nurse who possesses good communication skills can make the process of taking the patient history more constructive. The article guides a nurse through the entire of process of taking patient history, by providing details about the manner of approach that should be followed by the nurse. For taking an accurate history of the patient, it is vital that the nurse is proficient in communication skills. â€Å"The nurse should be able to gather information in a systematic, sensitive and professional manner. Good communication skills are essential.† (Lloyd, 2007). And it is the development of these communication skills that is discussed in the article. The article also aids a nurse to communicate efficiently with the patients, by providing the kind of approach that the nurse should adopt while deali ng with the patients. â€Å"Practitioners should avoid the use of technical terms or jargon and, whenever possible, use the patient’s own words†. (Lloyd, 2007). When the patient is comforted by the approach of the nurse, he/she will not be hesitant to disclose the information needed by the nurse. The article also presents the requirement of obtaining the consent of the patient and the necessity of this procedure. It also mentions the various methods through which the consent of the patient can be acquired. The process of taking the history of the patient is divided into various sections. And the course of action that should be followed in each part by the nurse is presented in the article. In the article, the author has suggested some questions that can help the nurse in starting the process of taking of patient history. It also provides the details of the

Gramification Literature review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Gramification - Literature review Example This often leads the customers to act in such a way that under their motivation of earning benefits, they actually work in favour of the firms’ objectives. Different companies use different ways to gamify their non gaming applications. Organizations develop their own customer response measurement criteria on the basis of the gaming mechanics. These criteria help in assessing the level of customer engagement and evaluating the success rate of the gaming program. Table of Contents Gamification 4 Uses of gamification 5 Examples of gamification 6 Response of target group 7 Reference List 9 Appendix 11 Literature review Gamification Gamification is a concept that is sued for a variety of purposes in businesses. According to most scholars, there is no standard definition that would be appropriate for defining this term. However, it has been generally agreed that gamification â€Å"refers to the design process of taking things that are not games and trying to make them feel more lik e games† (Molesworth and Knott, 2013). In terms of marketing, gamification might be reflected as an art or as the science of converting the everyday interaction of the customers into games in such a way that the new design would be beneficial for the business. Gamification effectively integrates the mechanics and dynamics of games into various non-gaming applications such as, community building deeds, employee training programs, websites building and maintenance as well as marketing procedures or customer service (Happiest minds, 2012). Characteristically, as the name suggests, gamification is the process of applying gaming pattern of thinking to applications that are not games, so as to make these applications more fun oriented and for engaging higher number of customers towards the company providing the service. Industry experts claim that in the modern day business atmosphere, gamification has become an important trend which possesses huge potential for the future (Otnes an d Tuncay-Zayer, 2012). In the era of technological advancement, gamification has been considered as one of the most important emergence that can be applied to most growing firms in various industries. The process involves the creation of fun applications that would engage customers in the form of players. The experiences and views of customers would be used by decision makers in businesses for the improving their business performance. Gamification aims at incentivising consumer engagement with the enterprises and invoking loyalty towards organisations (Martinez, 2012). This is done in the form of launching games, customer interactions as well as membership benefits. It has been argued by various researchers that the prime objective of gamification is to maximise the concerned company’s share in the total expenditure made by consumers. It is aimed at ensuring that consumers express a specific bias towards some particular organization while making purchasing decision of some pr oduct or service. Uses of gamification Gamification provides various benefits to the firms. These benefits are enjoyed by firms according to the extent to which the gamification practices are implemented. One of the most important benefits earned by firms is higher profits. Besides, this process is capable of increasing efficiency of the firm while reducing costs incurred in the

Politics in Modern Art Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Politics in Modern Art - Essay Example The essay "Politics in Modern Art" investigates politics in modern art. The artistic movement against the polity during the 1960s and 1970s is particularly high in California. Here, there is a striking confluence of political agitation and passionately engaged art. The San Francisco Bay area took the lead role nationally with the foundation of the free speech movement.Then, the state gave birth to the Beat and hippie countercultures, which was responsible for many profound social change across the country. In writing about the contemporary art Peter Selz, Susan Landauer observed: While the civil rights and peace movements grew simultaneously in cities nationwide, California played a significant role in their development. In their wake came the Chicano labor movement in the San Joaquin Valley, the revolutionary Black Panther Party in Oakland, as well as some of the most radical manifestations of gay liberation, Red Power, and environmental activism. All of these activities was accompa nied by an outpouring of political art unmatched elsewhere in the United States. Recent commentary of the subject to date has been made by Richard Candida Smith’s Utopia and Dissent: Art, Poetry, and Politics in California. Candida explored and examined the ideological , socioeconomic and historic roots of both political ferment of the recent times and its artistic expression. He pointed out that many of the values of liberty and dissent taken up by the New Left were first articulated by the community of artists and poets.

Roles of Industrial Engineers and Supply Chain Managers of Hospitals Essay

Roles of Industrial Engineers and Supply Chain Managers of Hospitals - Essay Example This role is also performed by hospital supply managers. The supply managers also have a particularly significant role in the purchasing of the hospital inventories and manage the inventory of the hospitals. Supply managers are of immense help to hospitals since they can be able to minimize running costs of the hospitals. They also are able to give the hospitals noteworthy inventory management. They help in the stocking of hospitals and all the machinery that is used in therein. They also help in supply of the medicines, the food that the patients use in hospitals, and all the equipment and materials that are used in hospitals. In short, the supply manager is responsible for all the running operations in the hospital. Purpose statement (Thesis) Industrial engineering deals with optimization of the most complex processes and systems in the world today. This industrial engineering is concerned with the job of development, improvement, and implementation. It is also associated with the evaluation of the integrated systems of people, knowledge, the information, the equipment, the energy, the materials, the analysis and synthesis. The concept of industrial engineering overlaps different business oriented departments like the operation management in hospitals; the industrial engineering department takes the emphasis of the mathematical proficiency and the use of the quantitative methods in order to ascertain that the running of operations is done in a good manner (Schlick, 2009). Many hospitals are able to maintain the inventories of thousands of their supplies which range from bandages, syringes, drugs, surgical equipment, medical gadgets, and all forms of medical facilities and equipment. It is crucial when a hospital is well s tocked because from this, noteworthy services are offered to customers, and when this is done, patients become satisfied with the services offered. In average, a hospital will require seven thousand stock keeping units in the in-house inventory every day. The supply costs run up to more than forty percent of the costs that are used to run the hospitals. The supplies expense becomes second after the labor expense in the operation of the hospitals. Industrial engineering is also known as systems engineering or operations management or even manufacturing engineering. These terms are used depending on the motives of the people who use the services of these engineers. In the health care department, industrial engineers are commonly referred to as health management engineers or health systems engineers. On the other hand, the supply chain management is just known by the name of the supplies that they bring to the table. For a hospital to be able to run efficiently and at a remarkably low cost, the hospital management has to look for methods to improve the services of the hospital. Moreover, the hospital management needs to try to keep the costs of offering these services at a remarkably low cost. The hospital management employs the services of the health care systems engineers or the industrial engine

Airport Passenger Process Mapping Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Airport Passenger Process Mapping - Coursework Example Developing a comprehensive operation plans calls for the involvement of all stakeholders responsible for the running of business ventures (Magali). The Dubai airport has instituted its operation management plans to address the ever-changing intricacies as well as regulatory compliances of safety issues in the modern world. The Dubai airport handles millions of passengers all year round. For instance, in 2010, it handled close up to fifty million passengers. To manage the passengers the Dubai airport has instituted an operations management approach, which has integrated technology to manage both cargo and passengers (Dubai Airports). With numerous systems offering information, an operating system can be weighed down with information burden. Therefore, connecting and managing this data entails careful planning as well as a means of transforming the information into knowledge, which can lead to the smooth running of an airport (Rees). Security operational management With an array of ope rations platforms, all probable contributors to the general security scheme, it can fastidiously become challenging to manage security operations. The main aspect to overcome a security challenge in an airport setting like Dubai airport is in the initiation of a scalable response, which has the capacity to manage all elements of airport security from a central position. For instance, the Dubai airport consists of various terminals handling both domestic and international flight as well as cargo destined for the United Arabs Emirates and beyond (Emirates). At Dubai airport, systems that enhance airport security operations management are endless; some of the most notable include freight and baggage handling and screening, accessibility control, metal detectors, alongside video monitoring and surveillance. The security operations management of an airport has benefited a great deal from visual surveillance. Integrated visual analytics in security operations has the capacity of recognizi ng unattended passengers load, irregular behavior activities, as well as irregular passengers and vehicle flow. All these components enhance airport security rejoinders, particularity, if the number of visual streams to be monitored, is significant (Emirates). Passenger operations Dubai airport handles millions of passengers all year round. Therefore, to manage these passengers the emirate group has stepped up its operations to ensure the smooth flow of passengers in and out of Dubai. Since the majority of aircrafts traffic from Dubai airport is international, the three key passenger terminals in operation have been fitted with state-of-the-art immigration management amenities for worldwide travel (Dubai Airport Guide). The average annual passenger growth rate at Dubai airport stands at eighteen percent. This growth parameter represents a likely passenger congestion scenario at Dubai in future.

The legal, ethical and operational issues Essay Example for Free

The legal, ethical and operational issues Essay In this task i will be going over the legal, ethical and operational issues regarding Vodafone. There are many laws/acts that have impacts on businesses such as Vodafone. Some of these acts are The Data Protection Act 1998 , The Computer Misuse Act 1990 and The Freedom of Information Act 2000. The Data Protection 1998 This act makes sure that a company can not share any information with anyone except from inland revenue. All of this information must be kept securely for example in a locked filling cabinet or a secure data which requires password and username. Personal information must be kept safe online as well, For example if somebody wants to make a online purchase on the Vodafone website they must make sure that the website is secure. The website must have a locked padlock at the top of the page and a HTTPS URL. All secure websites must have https and the padlock around the URL. If it does not have that, then it is not a secure website and will not be wise to give personal information. The Data Protection Act 1998 makes sure that all secure websites include these features. The Data Protection Act makes sure that Vodafone keep all their employees and customers information secure. The Computer Misuse Act 1990 This act prevents people from accessing data that is restricted. It is illegal to hack into somebodys computer and access unauthorised data. This act is very beneficial to businesses such as Vodafone as it means anyone who accesses unauthorised Vodafone data will be prosecuted. Vodafone will also have protection on their computers which will require staff to have a login and password. The Computer Misuse Act also prevents people from modifying/corrupting data, along with using viruses to gain access to computers. The Freedom of Information Act 2000- This act gives everyone the right to request information from public authority such as hospitals. This means that you can ask for any information the hospital or GP has regarding you and if they refuse the commissioners office would declare whether the information should be released or not. Ethical Issues are moral principles that concern acceptable and unacceptable behaviour by businesses. Whistle blowing- This is when a employee of a business raises concern about certain acts that impact people. For example if Vodafone where deliberately charging customers more money that they should and a employee raised awareness in the media, which ended in Vodafone getting in trouble with the law and also losing customers. Whistle blowers ensure that businesses such as Vodafone follow the law and act morally as they do not want bad media attention. Internet A lot of companies and organisations have policies regarding the internet. This can be the regulation of certain websites in company computers. For example many schools and business black social networking sites, as they distract people from work. Vodafone can black websites like Facebook and Youtube if they feel that it is distracting employees from work. Use of email- Businesses can use emails for a lot of thing such as sending standard information to people and sending reminders. However businesses can not use emails to to send a lot of things such as confidential information e. g. bank details, they also cant send large documents to many people. Vodafone employees will not be able to send bank details or complicated queries which means that they will need to do these face to face. Operational issues summarise how businesses keep their information safe. Security of information- Businesses will have a lot of vital information saved within their computers. This means that they will need to protect their computers from hacking and viruses. A lot of business and organisations have staff log in accounts which require a password. Along with this they also restrict a lot of actions, for example Vodafone staff may not be able to access information in certain areas of the system. Backups- Businesses will need to backup any information they have in order to not risk losing it. Any vital information should be backed up to another hard drive or a USB memory stick. Large companies like Vodafone will need to backup important information such as customer details in a secure location to not risk losing it and prevent from theft. Some businesses will automatically backup information every hour in order to keep information safe. Health and safety- As a lot of jobs require people to sit in front of a computer for long hours, there are a lot of health and safety issues regarding this. Business like Vodafone will need to regulate employees and make sure they know how to sit with correct postures and make sure computer screens are at correct distance/level in order to prevent eye sight problems.

Sustainable competitive advantage

Sustainable competitive advantage 1. Introduction to the Topic: Over the years, the understanding of how a firm can attain and maintain sustainable competitive advantage is major area of research in the field of management. Sustainable competitive advantage is an edge a firm enjoy over its competitors by offering superior values to customer that result in superior profit and growth. Building on these underlined assumption this dissertation the link between a firms success and the competitive advantage. The paper examine the role human resource strategies that leads an organization to enjoy competitive advantage that are sustainable, non-imitable, substantial and that adds superior values to the organization by providing opportunities to the organization to reap the benefits of super profit and market growth. An organisation is regarded as a unified organism that constantly learns and adopts to find better ways of doing its business processes in response to the dynamic environment it faces. Human resource management is a critical area of concern in today dynamic business environment, due to increased competition. It now more difficult to hire and retain highly qualified associates as the growth and profitability of the organization depends on how well the organization managed it human resources. According to Newman and Hodgetts, â€Å"human resource management is the process by which organization ensure the effective use of their associates in the pursuit of both organizational and individual goals† (Newman Hodgetts, 2005). In this paper efforts are made to analyze the varied human resource functions that an organization perform in pursuits of its goals and missions, and how these efforts might lead an organization to competitive advantage, as the success or failure of the organi sation depends on how best the organisation performs its functions as compared to a competitor (Competitive Advantage). In fact the long-term survival of the organisation depends on how best the HR department of the organisation performs its various functions that leads towards creating a competitive advantage over its rivals and how it sustains it. 2. Literature Review: Coff argues that human capital is the key to sustainable advantage because of causal ambiguity and systematic information creating them incomparable (Coff, 1994). According to Boselie and Paauwe (2004), top performing firms has HR professionals who have the main input in the strategic planning. These professionals make possible the change management, shape and manage organisation wide culture, contribute to strategic level decisions, and create market led connectivity of the business process (Boselie Paauwe, 2004). Researchers in the field of strategic HR have emphasised that human resource practices result in superior organisational performance and create sources for continued competitive advantages (Wright, Dunford, Snell, 2001). As the world has become a global village, competing in todays confused environment have posed additional challenges to the HR function in creating the anticipated value to shape and uphold competitive advantages. For effective functioning, HR executives must possess the necessary competencies. That is the possession of HR knowhow which comes from knowing the concepts, communication skills, judgment, research, and practices ofHR (Brockbank, Ulrich, Beatty, 1999) Du Plessis states that HR can play a vital role in the future of an organisation by enacting organisational change to get competitive advantage (Plessis, 2007). He is also of the opinion that resistance to change can serve as an obstacle for successful execution of planned changes, as it encompasses behaviours that may slow down or even terminate a planned organisational change. If the organisation uses an appropriate HR strategy during the period of change, an employee may feel that he is being treated and looked after by the organisation. If such sort of feelings arouse in employees it can change the employees attitude and their resistance towards the planned change. Peters and Waterman in their book â€Å"In search of excellence† says that all the excellent organisations that they have surveyed made efficient use of their HR, by employing sound HR strategies (Peter Waterman, 1982). According to Losey technology is advancing so rapidly that it is forcing organisations to c hange their strategies, in respect to product mix and the way HR is organized and delivered (Losey, 2005). 3. Overview of the Organization: Crossroads Inc. has been formed as a result of merger between Tradco and Hardpharm is a pharmaceutical company that is dedicated to the productions and marketing of quality pharmaceutical products. The merger that we have just is the largest transformation in the history of the organization and provides us with a platform, in terms of capital and other resources, to compete at a higher level. Crossroads Inc. is a medium-sized organisation, with 1,500 workers employed at three sites: one in Scotland, County Durham, and Kent. Crossroads Inc. develops and produces medicines for the global market in competition with industry giants such as Bosch, Pfizer, Lilly, gsk etc. 4. HR Planning Forecasting Planning forecasting in the modern age is a matter of life death for organizations of modern age. The same is true for pharmaceuticals industry. Each every consecutive day new research product is developed, deployed for trails testing. All these effort require skilful, trained and experienced workforce. It is for this reason organization plan and forecast for human resource so as to remain competitive. The HR manager of Crossroads Inc should use the planning forecasting procedures to cope with human resource requirement. The propose HR planning process for Crossroads Inco has been depicted Crossroad Inc can use the process for both short-term as well as long-term basis. Crossroad Inc should continuously monitor the availability of skill workers. For this purpose Crossroad Inc should scan internal environment to find out suitable employee and promote to fill the vacancy, if there are no such employees available, then HR Department should scan external environment for skilled and experienced employees. Once the internal environment along with external environment is scanned, a draft forecast should be prepared. 5. Recruitment and Selection: Once the forecast is developed and approved by the top management, the HR department of Crossroads Inc should start recruitment and selection process to fill the vacancies. Like all good plans, HR Manager of Crossroad Inc should builds employment plans on premises basic assumptions for employment requirement by forecasting three things: The supply of inside candidates; Personnel needs; The supply of outside candidates according to their company requirements. The HR department should first check that either there is any job placement or company is expanding their business so that new jobs are open for new candidates. These issues should be tackled by the HR Manger. If staff is required then the company should try to find them inside the company by upgrading their employees if it not possible then new jobs are created and fill by the outside market. The overall aims of the recruitment and selection process in Crossroad Inc should be to obtain, at minimum cost, the number and quality of employees required to satisfy the needs of staff requirement. The three stages of recruitment and selection in Crossroad Inc should be: Defining requirements: Preparing job descriptions and specifications; deciding terms and conditions of employment; Attracting candidates: Reviewing and evaluating alternative sources of applicants, inside and outside the company, advertising; Selecting candidates: Sifting applications, interviewing, testing, assessing candidates, offering employment, obtaining references; preparing contracts of employment. 6. Training and Development: Training is one of the most important tool any organization using to cope with the rapid change in technology and way of doing business. According to Newman and Hodgetts, â€Å"training is the process of providing associates with specific skills or helping them correct deficiencies in their current performance (Newman Hodgets, 2005). HR department of Crossroads Inc should be responsible for the training and development of existing as well as new coming employees. When a new employee is selected, an orientation of the new employees should be conducted Orientation is basically a one to two hour activity in which the new employees should be informed about the organizational structure, term conditions of employment, the duties of incumbent, the ethical behavioural requirement for the new employee and the so. New or existing employees are trained in HR department via three methods. Employees Handbook Training by concerned department Manager. Training visits to other pharmaceuticals. Tradco tends to largely focus on the needs of the technicians and scientists, and give them right to make decision of employ. However the training programs that HARDPHARM has traditionally used have some problems. In order to reduce the cost, employers are trying to hire labour in with low wage, and then what they have got is low quality staff. Ignoring the development of technology is the main problem. All these people will get together in the future, for the sake of the new company. The period of training should not be specified and should depend on individual circumstances. In some cases it should cover a week and sometimes it should be extended up to 6 months. The process of training should be initiated by first going through the process of training need assessments. The training needs assessment find out the deficiency in the current level of skills the employee possessed and the skills that a job required. For filling up the gape an organization designed its training and development programmes. A planning process is being implemented in which Crossroads Inc can ensure the proper training, awareness and competence development of people. The objective is to provide people with knowledge and skill, which, together with experience, improve their competence and capabilities. Crossroads should establish and maintains a procedure to ensure proper capabilities of personnel working. This includes: Identification of competency needs for personnel performing activities affecting quality. Providing training or take other actions to address identified needs. Evaluating effectiveness of the training provided. Ensuring that employees are aware of the relevance and importance of their activities and how they contribute to the achievement of the quality objectives. Maintaining appropriate records of education, experience, training and qualification. Training needs for Crossroads Inc should be based on the following different methods: Performance Analysis: What tasks the analyst is currently performing? how can the current performance be improved? Is training the best method? Job Task Analysis: What is the best way to do analysis? How can analysis process are broken down into small steps? According to Newman and Hodgetts development is the process of â€Å"providing associates with the experience and attitudes needed for success in the future† (Newman Hodgetts, 2005). The management of Crossroads Inc should constantly monitor the latest development in the field of pharmaceuticals and should design its various development programs accordingly. By this was the HR department will not only transmit the needed knowledge and skills to various employees but will also pave the way for the change management process. Training and development should serve as an investment in the form of human capital for Crossroads Inc. The process will not only facilitate the goal achievement but will also serves as potential source of loyalty across the organization. The new company should understand that the training and development program should be designed by utilizing the latest available methods that has proved its efficiency in the pharmaceutical firm. 7. The Pay and Reward: The pay and reward system of Tradco that was a family-owned business by MacHutton, was largely focus to meet the needs of staff, so the workforce regard as main stakeholders in the company, and to be an important role in the company as well. However, HaedPharm is a company that established as a facility of a group of venture capitalists. This firm put more attention to its various stakeholders including employee and management. They are trying to get maximum return and lowest cost. It is clear that these two organizations are stand on the different side of the point of view of benefit of staff. In the interest of the new company, all of these two should change their pay and reward system. The Crossroads Inc should use the proper remuneration system that is fair to both the company and employee. The organization should variety of remuneration system including monthly salaries, straight commission, combination of salary and commission coupled with monthly, quarterly and annual bonuses. When the organization will have a fair remuneration system it will ensure the proper motivation across the organization and the organization will be able to achieve its goals and objectives effectively and efficiently. 8. Union Relation: Unions serve important purpose by working as a link between the labour and the organization. Generally, trade unions are recognized for collective bargaining purpose, and communication between employer and employee. In Tradco, unions playing a good role between employer and employee, more than 50% workers are members of labour union. In the past 15 years, only one sympathy walk-out happened. On the contrary, unions in HardPharm are not as popular as Tradco. A very small number of employees are members of the unions as the company discourage unionization. After merger the unions will serve an important role in the new firm. Like what happens in former companies, if managers want corporation to manage the affairs of the company in appropriate manner, they have to adjust the relationship between unions and staff. The top management of the newly merged company must admit that union is a necessary and vital component of the organization process, they should talk with unions. If the organization failed to admire the role and relationship between the organization and union, the hostile relationship will serve as impediment for the company development. Contemporary, if there are no unions, or company does not recognize unions, then leaders would not know the needs of staff, they could not adjust the management detail. It will affect the development of company in the long run and the company will not be able to achieve its goals and objectives effectively and efficiently. 9. Career Management: Crossroads Inc should consistently monitor its employees and should proper strategic plan through which it increases the skill level of its employees. To achieve this objectives the company should arrange workshops, seminars, visit of key employees to other pharmaceutical industries training courses which will focus on injecting skills and professionalism into employees. These courses will help Crossroads Inc to improve the skills of their employees so that not only company can get maximum out of them but also employees can enrich their nature of job and life standard as well. Along with these training programs, Crossroads Inc should make their employees fully aware of their job requirements by mean of job descriptions so that they can develop a clear picture about at what are necessary requirement of their job and want are not. Indirectly the promotions, transfer to other department also plays a key role in employees job satisfaction. 10. Performance Appraisal: Employees job performance is an important issue for all employers. A performance management system consists of the processes used to identify, encourage, measure, evaluate, improve, and reward employee performance at work. Every functional department of Crossroads Inc should be responsible for carrying out and preparing its performance appraisal report. However these reports must be submitted to HR Department. The performance appraisal system in the company will help the organization to better focus its efforts on the attainment of the organizational goals and objectives by giving timely feedback regarding an individual employee that how best he is going to achieve his objectives. This will also help him to rectify his shortcoming. Moreover the use of appropriate performance appraisal system that is just, equitable and timely serve as a motivating factors and one of the vital component of the successful organization. 11. Conclusion: The Crossroad Inc is taking turning point towards a bright future in which a lot of opportunities might be available for the organization; however the organization still faces a lot of challenges. Crossroads Inc should focus on finding incremental change in its organizing process. The incremental change is change that the Crossroad Inc will undergo through in the natural evolution process. For Crossroad Inc the incremental change process may take the form of introducing new HR system and process (as proposed above) that will augment the organization performance further and help the organization to get competitive advantage over its competitors. But in order to experience this incremental change the organization must be able to constantly monitor and evaluate the environmental forces and take actions in response to change that will provide opportunities to the organization and minimizes its threats. The organization must possessed the needed intellectual capital (Human Resources), who should be able adapt the organization policies according to the demand of the environment. These manager and leaders are known as change agent. According to Robbins Judge, â€Å"change agents are individuals and groups who lead and support the change process by taking responsibility for changing the existing behavior patterns of other people or the social system (Robbins Judge, 2005)†. Furthermore Crossroad Inc should established fair paying and reward system that best on justice and efforts. The organization should also facilitate the creation and execution the labour union approach that will serve as joining link between the organization and its workers. Moreover the Crossroad Inc should invest in its corporate cultures that are going to be form through the merger of two opposite culture. The organization should see this as opportunity to form a strong culture by initiating the proper change. Though training and development could be in progress in short term, the purpose is difficult to achieve at once. Therefore Crossroad Inc should adapt the medium or long-term training and development program for various functional department of the organization. Crossroad Inc can create a positive impact due to the fact that formation of the organization is the result of merger between two different companies who have two different management styles, corporate culture, traditions and workforce management system. Hence, the HR department assume a leading role in shaping the values of employees by creating an organization-wide culture that is based on shared values that will help the organization to realize its mission in the most coherent way. Works Cited Boselie, P., Paauwe, J. (2004). Human Resource Function Competencies in European Companies. Journal of Management , 120-122. Brockbank, W., Ulrich, D., Beatty, R. (1999). The Professional Devlopment: Creating the Future Creators at the University of Michigan Business School. Human Resource Management 38(2) , 111-118. Coff, R. (1994). Human Assets and organziation Control: Implication of the resource-based view. John M. Olin School of Business , Washington University. Losey, M. (2005). Future of Human Resource Management: Leaders Explore the Critical HR Issues of Today and Tommorrow. New Jersy: John Wiley Sons . Newman, D. R., Hodgets, R. M. (2005). Human Resource Management: A Customer Oriented Approach. USA: Prentice Hall Publishers. Newman, D. R., Hodgetts, R. M. (2005). Human Resource Management: A Customer Oriented Approach. USA: Prentice Hall. Peter, T. J., Waterman, R. (1982). In Search of Exchellence. New York: Waner Books. Plessis, D. (2007). Change, Organziational Devleopment and Culture: Human Resource Managements Role in the Future of South Africa. International Review of Business Research Papers 3(1) , 1-10. Robbins, Judge. (2005). Organizational Behavior. USA: Pearson. Wright, P., Dunford, B., Snell, S. (2001). Human Resource and the Resource Based View of the Firm. Journal of Management 27 , 701-721.

The World Turned Upside Down :: essays research papers

When the Europeans established colonies in the New World, they sought to convert the Indians way of civilization. Their obsession was to spread Christianity and their culture throughout all of the colonies including the Indian villages. Some Indian people accepted these traditions because they felt as if they had no where else to turn. When the settlers invaded the new land they brought with them many diseases which wiped out many Indian villages and tribes. The Indians also had a hard time excepting the invasions on new territories, which led to many wars. This resulted in a large decrease of the Indian population, so some Indians turned to Cristianity and other European traditions. On the otherhand, many Indians insisted that European beliefs should exist only amongst themselves. They had no business trying to introduce a new religion when the Indian's traditions have been practiced for years. The Indians during this time were forced to accept the Europeans establishing new territories, even if they did not belong to them. As the Indian populations continued to decrease, some Indians intermarried with the Europeans and even the Africans to try and boost the population once again. This of course produced mixed children who were confused and could not decide which culture they would accept. This mix of people changed the ways of living for the Native Americans as well as the Europeans throughout early America. It is obvious to me that land was the largest reason for war among the Indians and the Europeans. It was simple: the Indians did not want to give up their land that they had claimed for so many years to a bunch of irrogant settlers who take what ever they want. The English felt that God had granted them the land and the Indians should be removed. However, the Native Americans also wanted something from the new colonists, trade. The American Indians were great hunters who collected many furs that were valuable trade products. After time some Indian tribes grew in debt with the settlers and the only way they could pay their debts is by giving them land. That is where the Europeans and the Indian's attitudes differ over land. The Indians were willing to sometimes negotiate about certain territories, where most of the Europeans were going to take the land whether the Indians were going to cooperate or not. Battles often broke out when larger Indian tribes felt they could fight for their land. Sometimes they were able to defeat the English in battles, but most of the time they were out numbered. During this time the English were very greety.

Interpersonal Conflict :: Human Resource Management

Hocker (1991) defined conflict and specifically interpersonal conflict as an expressed struggle involving a minimum of two interdependent individuals who have incompatible goals, scarce resources, and they perceive obstruction from the other party in achieving their goals. Hocker’s definition of conflict is criticized for its ambiguity. Rather than being a source of incompatible goals, conflict is caused by incompatible positions. When the term power is used in connection with communications between opponents, it is understood to mean the ability to control some other individual’s behavior (Burgoon & Dunbar, 2006). Individual perception is an important key concept to understanding the origin of conflict between parties. Conflict has also been de-fined as â€Å"a breakdown in the standard mechanisms of decision-making so that an individual or group experiences difficulty in selecting an action alternative† March and Simon (1993). Jehn and Mannix (2001) described conflict of an interpersonal nature as a recognition shared by two people in a dispute that they have irreconcilable needs, incompatible goals, and incongruity. During group situations, conflict frequently manifests itself when members of the group express opposing opinions and goals (Eisenhardt & Schoonhoven, 1990). Research by Amason (1996) revealed that conflict manifests itself in a group’s decision-making processes in spite of everyone in the group sharing the same goals. Amason (1996) and later Jehn (1999) theorized the reason for this disconnect was due to each person in the group having their own unique perspectives, varying levels of knowledge, and different life experiences that created an environment ripe for the collision of values. Interpersonal conflict is viewed by a vast majority of people as dysfunctional and costly to companies because of the time and money spent on conflict resolution strategies. Furthermore, many believe conflict stifles performance, reduces group cohesion, and it ultimately hinders the process of decision-making (Gladstein, 1984). Language also ascribes negative attributes to the word conflict. Typically, dysfunctional be-haviors whether they are verbal or physical like disputes, quarrels or hostilities -- all are associated with the word â€Å"conflict.† With the word â€Å"conflict† being used in great abundance globally to describe

New Physical Properties :: Science Chemistry Physics Papers

New Physical Properties Discussions about physicalism, reduction, special sciences, the layered image of reality, multiple realizability, emergence, downward causation, etc., typically make the ontological presupposition that there is no room for new properties in the physical world. The domain of physical properties would thus have been established once and for all. It is my purpose in this paper to explore the alternative hypothesis that there can be, and that in fact there are, new physical properties. In the first section, I propose a brief analysis of the notions of property, physical property, and new physical property. In the second section, I present four general situations in which it would be plausible to speak of the existence of new physical properties. All of this is used to evaluate the content and scope of the hypothesis of physical novelty. Lastly, I examine certain interesting consequences of such a physical novelty in relation to some of the above mentioned topics. I. Properties, Physical Properties, and New Physical Properties My aim here is to explore the hypothesis that there can be in the world, and that in fact there are, new physical properties. But, before doing it, we need to make clear the sense in which we are going to speak of properties, of physical properties and of the existence of new physical properties. A. Referential Expressions for Properties Strictly speaking, nominalizations and quotations are the usual procedures by means of which we get to construe referential expressions from the predicates of our languages. And it is through certain nominalizations, but not through quotations, that we get to construe from predicates something able to refer to properties. Which nominalizations would lead from predicates to referential expressions for properties? Consider a sentence like the following: 1. The sky has a salmon color. There are three possible kinds of nominalizations that we could construe involving all the elements presents in 1: 2. The sky that has a salmon color. 3. The having a salmon color the sky. 4. The salmon color of the sky. Here, the sky that has a salmon color is an object. And 2 is a referential expression for an object. Just for the same object which is referred by the subject of sentence 1. The having a salmon color the sky is an event. And 3 is a referential expression for an event. Finally, the salmon color of the sky is a property. And 4 is a referential expression for a property.

Managing Resources Essay

The learning resource I have chosen is actually also used as an ice breaker for a lesson and then used to build on students communication, reading and understanding skills. The task is used to put students under a time constraint to complete a task of ready and answering simple and possibly trick questions in a short time frame. This resource is not used in a way to trick students but used to then get them to reflect on their ready and interpretation of a question. For example, the first part of the document tell them what they must do and this also asks them to use the space before the number to write their answers. Many students do not do this and proceed to write their answers at the end of the question. When a student is under stress, they may be able to learn skills in much less than the â€Å"usual† time. This is the theory also used in military basic training. It is known as ‘Quick Learning Under Pressure’, it reduces the time it takes to learn a skill through study. This theory has been interpreted under many different ways and Ann Dupuis suggests that under pressure students will gain new skills without taking time to study. Her theory goes onto describe how a Physician caught on a battlefield will under pressure help other people and learn surgery to assist other. I feel this adapts itself to my resource. Many students do not know how to adapt their skills under a timed period such as an exam and placing them under pressure for a short period of 5 minutes will get them later to reflect on their actions. This learning resource however may not be suitable to all students and it is not always used where I am aware of slow reader or maybe people who suffer with dyslexia. The choice to use this is based upon group dynamics and ability. When I thought of designing this resource I took into account how learners who complete this task can reflect on each question and question other peer group member answers. This then is reflected within Kolb’s idea on the learning cycle. Kolb works on a four stage cycle of Concrete Experience, Reflective observation, Abstract Conceptualization and Active Experiment. The experience side of things is the student actual having to complete the task. The reflective observation is covered by completed a group review of the answers. So at the end of the 5 minutes I will lead the students through the questions and statement finding out the students answers and getting them to reflect both personally and as a group on what they had originally written. Now they are reflecting are they changing their mind about the answers? Do they see their initial error when reading the question? The 3rd stage Abstract Conceptualization is then covered by the students looking at the task and ideas or concepts of others around them. The other student interpretation of the questions. The student will then process this information and is able to make a more informed decision. Final the Active Experiment part. 9/10 students want a copy to take a way and try on friends and family so they can put their new skills or understanding into practise of others. This theory is adapted from Kolbs 2006 theory which he updated added extra reasoning behind the 4 main stages. The learning resource once we have gone through the answers can now have the idea and new acquired skills in practising exam questions or exam papers under timed conditions. It also teaches the students not to read something once and immediately think the understand what is being asked of them. When I am moving on from this learning resources onto practise exams I am conscience of the different learning styles I have in the room. I have to ask myself what type of learning styles I have in the room. Do I have the reflector, the theorist, the activist or the pragmatist? The understanding behind this is designed by Honey & Mumford. They came up with these 4 titles. Reflectors like to stand back and look at a situation from different perspectives. They like to collect data and think about it carefully before coming to any conclusions. They enjoy observing others and will listen to their views before offering their own. Theorists adapt and integrate observations into complex and logically sound theories. They think problems through in a step by step way. They tend to be perfectionists who like to fit things into a rational scheme. They tend to be detached and analytical rather than subjective or emotive in their thinking. Activists like to be involved in new experiences. They are open minded and enthusiastic about new ideas but get bored with implementation. They enjoy doing things and tend to act first and consider the implications afterwards. They like working with others but tend to hog the limelight. And finally; Pragmatists are keen to try things out. They want concepts that can be applied to their job. They tend to be impatient with lengthy discussions and are practical and down to earth. The one good thing about this resource is as long as I have it on paper to hand out (good planning) I don’t need any other resource or technology. I have used this learning resource as a back up lesson in the past when either our computer systems have gone down, or I have arrived at a venue that does not have ICT facilities of some way of showing resources on a smart board or projector. This learning resource is shared out so widely. As mentioned earlier many students ask for a copy to take away with them so I ensure I always have spares to hand to give out and share the experience. Even if it is just for fun.! The main learning outcomes are to show the students that they need to read the question carefully, even if under pressure. To look out for trick questions or two part questions. And finally extracting the information out of the question that is not relevant to exactly what is being asked of them. In relation to legal requirements, this learning resources has been adapted from a many similar styles. I have used a number of my own questions, however I have added questions I have seen elsewhere and this includes from magazine riddles for fun and other websites. This resource has been changed several times and questions replaced with what I felt where better one to get the students thinking more. This then I believe fall under my Intellectual property right. This is the ownership of ideas or work. Copyright is different as copyrighted material means information created by someone else and a you are not allowed to copy it without the owner permission which may incur costs. An easy understanding of this would be music. If I brought a cd from a store and copied it onto a blank disc and then sold it I would be breaking copy right laws as I am selling something someone else owns. This is the same with learning materials.

Describe the Process Consultation Essay

Describe the  process consultation. Discuss when it should be used and how it applies to organization development. Process consultation (PC) is a general framework for carrying out helping relationships. It is oriented to helping managers, employees, and groups assess and improve processes, such as communication, interpersonal relations, decision making and task performance. Schein argues that effective consultants and managers should be good helpers, aiding others in getting things done and in achieving the goals they have set. Thus, PC is more a philosophy than a set of techniques aimed at performing this helping relationship. The philosophy ensures that those who are receiving the help own their problems, gain the skills and expertise to diagnose them, and solve them themselves. Thus, it is an approach to helping people and groups help themselves. Schein defines process consultation as â€Å"the creation of a relationship that permits the client to perceive, understand, and act on the process events that occur in (her/his) internal and external environment in order to improve the situation as defined by the client. † The process consultant does not offer expert help in the form of solutions to problems, as in the doctor-patient model. Rather, the process consultant works to develop relationships, observes groups and people in action, helps them diagnose the way they are carrying out tasks, and helps them learn how to be more effective. In the OD literature, team building is not clearly differentiated from process consultation. This confusion exists because most team building includes process consultation—helping the group diagnose and understand its own internal processes. However, process consultation is a more general approach to helping relationships than is team building. Team building focuses explicitly on helping groups perform asks and solve problems more effectively. Process consultation, on the other hand, is concerned with establishing effective helping relationships in organizations. It is seen as key to effective management and consultation and can be applied to any helping relationship, from subordinate development to interpersonal relationships to group development. Thus, team building consist s of process consultation plus other, more task-oriented interventions (Cummings & Worley, 2009, p. 253). Describe the key success requirements for a microcosm group intervention. A microcosm group onsists of a small number of individuals who reflect the issue being addressed. For example, a microcosm group composed of members representing a spectrum of ethnic backgrounds, cultures, and races can be created to address diversity issues in the organization. This group, assisted by OD practitioners, can create programs and processes targeted at specific problems. In addition to addressing diversity problems, microcosm groups have been used to carry out organization diagnoses, solve communications problems, integrate two cultures, smooth the transition to a new structure, and address dysfunctional political processes. Microcosm groups work through â€Å"parallel processes,† which are the unconscious changes that take place in individuals when two or more groups interact. After groups interact, members often find that their characteristic patterns of roles and interactions change to reflect the roles and dynamics of the group with whom they were relating. Put simply, groups seem to â€Å"infect† and become â€Å"infected† by the other groups. The following example given by Alderfer helps to clarify how parallel processes work. An organizational diagnosis team had assigned its members to each of five departments in a small manufacturing company. Members of the team had interviewed each department head and several department members, and had observed department meetings. The team was preparing to observe their first meeting of department heads and was trying to anticipate the group’s behavior. At first they seemed to have no ‘rational† basis for predicting the top group’s behavior because they â€Å"had no data† from direct observation. They decided to role-play the group meeting they had never seen. Diagnostic team members behaved as they thought the department heads would, and the result was uncanny. Team members found that they easily became engaged with one another in the simulated department-head meeting; emotional involvement occurred quickly for all participants. When the team actually was able to observe a department-head meeting, they were amazed at how closely the simulated meeting had approximated the actual session. Thus, if a small and representative group can intimately understand and solve a complex organizational problem for themselves; they are in a good position to recommended action to address the problem in the larger system (Cummings & Worley, 2009, p. 279). Discuss why the matrix structure is the best and most flexible organization structure. Some OD practitioners have focused on maximizing the strengths and minimizing the weaknesses of both the functional and the self-contained-unit structures, and this effort has resulted in the matrix organization. Matrix organizational designs originally evolved in the aerospace industry where changing customer demands and technological conditions caused managers to focus on lateral relationships between functions to develop a flexible and adaptable system of resources and procedures, and to achieve a series of project objectives. Matrix organizations now are used widely in manufacturing, service, and nonprofit, governmental, and professional organizations. Every matrix organization contains three unique and critical roles: the top manager, who heads and balances the dual chains of command, the matrix bosses (functional, product, or area), who share subordinates: and the two-boss managers, who report to two different matrix bosses. Each of these roles has its own unique requirements. In a matrix organization, each project manager reports directly to the vice president and the general manager. Since each project represents a potential profit centre, the power and authority used by the project manager come directly from the general manager. Matrix organizations, like all organization structures, have both advantages and disadvantages. On the positive side, this structure allows multiple orientations. Specialized, functional knowledge can be applied to all projects. New products or projects can be implemented quickly by using people flexibly and by moving between product and functional orientations as circumstances demand. Matrix organizations can maintain consistency among departments and projects by requiring communication among managers. For many people, matrix structures are motivating and exciting. On the negative side, these organizations can be difficult to manage. To implement and maintain them requires heavy managerial costs and support. When people are assigned to more than one department, there may be role ambiguity and conflict, and overall performance may be sacrificed if there are power conflicts between functional departments and project structures. To make matrix organizations work, organization members need interpersonal and conflict management skills. People can get confused about how the matrix works, and that can lead to chaos and inefficiencies (Cummings & Worley, 2009, p. 319). What is the TQM approach to employee involvement and how does it differ from other approaches? Discuss Deming’s influence on this approach. Total quality management (TQM) is the most recent and, along with high-involvement organizations the most comprehensive approach to employee involvement. Also known as â€Å"Continuous process improvement† and â€Å"continuous quality,† TQM grew out of a manufacturing emphasis on quality control and represents a long- term effort to orient all of an organization’s activities around the concept of quality. Quality is achieved when organizational processes reliably produce products and services that meet or exceed customer expectations. Like high-involvement designs, TQM increases workers’ knowledge and skills through extensive training, provides relevant information to employees, pushes decision-making power downward in the organization and ties rewards to performance. When implemented successfully. TQM also is aligned closely with a firm’s overall business strategy and attempts to change the entire organization toward continuous quality improvement. TQM is a philosophy and a set of guiding principles for continuous improvement based on customer satisfaction, teamwork, and empowerment of individuals. TQM applies human resources and analytical tools to focus on meeting or exceeding customer’s current and future needs. There are a series of planned improvements that will ultimately influence the quality and productivity of the organization. Like high-involvement designs, TQM increases workers’ knowledge and skills through extensive training, provides relevant information to employees, pushes decision-making power downward in the organization and ties rewards to performance. When implemented successfully TQM also is aligned closely with a firm’s overall business strategy and attempts to change the entire organization toward continuous quality improvement. (Cummings ;amp; Worley, 2009, p. 359). Discuss the motivational approach to job design. What are the key dimensions that lead to high work quality and internal motivation? The motivational approach to work design views the effectiveness of organizational activities primarily as a function of member needs and satisfaction, and seeks to improve employee performance and satisfaction by enriching jobs. The motivational method provides people with opportunities for autonomy, responsibility, closure (that is, doing a complete job), and performance feedback. Enriched jobs are popular in the United States at such companies as AT;amp;T Universal Card, TRW, Dayton Hudson, and GTE. The motivational approach usually is associated with the research of Herzberg and of Hackman and Oldham. Herzberg’s two-factor theory of motivation proposed that certain attributes of work, such as opportunities for advancement and recognition, which he called motivators, help increase job satisfaction. Other attributes that Herzberg called hygiene factors, such as company policies, working conditions, pay, and supervision, do not produce satisfaction but rather prevent dissatisfaction—important contributors because only satisfied workers are motivated to produce. Successful job enrichment experiments at AT&T, Texas Instruments, and Imperial Chemical Industries helped to popularize job enrichment in the 1960s. Although Herzberg’s motivational factors sound appealing, increasing doubt has been cast on the underlying theory. Motivation and hygiene factors are difficult to put into operation and measure, and that makes implementation and evaluation of the theory difficult. Furthermore, important worker characteristics that can affect whether people will respond favorably to job enrichment were not included in his theory. Finally, Herzberg’s failure to involve employees in the job enrichment process itself does not suit most OD practitioners today. Consequently, a second, well-researched approach to job enrichment has been favored. It focuses on the attributes of the work itself and has resulted in a more scientifically acceptable theory of job enrichment than Herzberg’s model. The research of Hackman and Oldham represents this more recent trend in job enrichment. Considerable research has been devoted to defining and understanding core job dimensions. Figure 50 summarizes the Hackman and Oldham model of job design. Five core dimensions of work affect three critical psychological states, which in turn produce personal and job outcomes. These outcomes include high internal work motivation, high-quality work performance, satisfaction with the work, and low absenteeism and turnover. The five core job dimensions—skill variety, task identity, task significance, autonomy, and feedback from the work itself—are described below and associated with the critical psychological states that they create (Cummings ;amp; Worley, 2009, p. 377). References Cummings, T. G. , ;amp; Worley, C. G. (2011). Organization development ;amp; change (11th ed. ). Australia; Mason, OH: South-Western/Cengage Learning.

Reading skill Essay

Highlighting or Underlining Key Ideas When you highlight or underline key words and ideas, you are identifying the most important parts of the text. There’s an important skill at work here: You can’t highlight or underline everything, so you have to distinguish between the facts and ideas that are most important (major ideas) and those facts and ideas that are helpful but not so important (minor or supporting ideas). Highlight only the major ideas, so you don’t end up with a text that’s completely highlighted. An effectively highlighted text will make for an easy and fruitful review. When you jump back, you’ll be quickly reminded of the ideas that are most important to remember. Highlighting or underlining major points as you read also allows you to retain more information from the text. Skim ahead and jump back. Mark up the text. Make speci? c observations about the text. Skimming Ahead and Jumping Back Skimming ahead enables you to see what’s coming up in your reading. Page through the text you’re about to read. Notice how the text is broken down, what the main topics are, and the order in which they are covered. Notice key words and ideas that are boldfaced, bulleted, boxed, or otherwise highlighted. Skimming through the text beforehand will prepare you for what you are about to read. It’s a lot like checking out the hills and curves in the course before a cross-country race. If you know what’s ahead, you know how to pace yourself, so you’re prepared to handle what’s to come. When you ? nish your reading, jump back. Review the summaries, headings, and highlighted information in the text. Notice both what the author highlighted and what you highlighted. By jumping back, you help solidify in your mind the ideas and information you just read. You’re reminded of how each idea ? ts into the whole, how ideas and information are connected. When you make connections between ideas, you’re much more likely to remember them. Circling Unfamiliar Words One of the most important habits to develop is that of circling and looking up unfamiliar words and phrases. If possible, don’t sit down to read without a dictionary by your side. It is not uncommon for the meaning of an entire sentence to hinge on the meaning of a single word or phrase, and if you don’t know what that word or phrase means, you won’t understand the sentence. Besides, this habit enables you to quickly and steadily expand your vocabulary, so you’ll be a more con? dent reader and speaker. If you don’t have a dictionary readily available, try to determine the meaning of the word as best you can from its context—that is, the words and ideas around it. (There’s more on this topic in Lesson 3. ) Then, make sure you look up the word as soon as possible so you’re sure of its meaning. Marking Up the Text Marking up the text creates a direct physical link between you and the words you’re reading. It forces you to pay closer attention to the words you read and takes you to a higher level of comprehension. Use these three strategies to mark up text: x – HOW TO USE THIS BOOK – Making Marginal Notes Recording your questions and reactions in the margins turns you from a passive receiver of information into an active participant in a dialogue. (If you’re reading a library book, write your reactions in a notebook. ) You will get much more out of the ideas and information you read about if you create a â€Å"conversation† with the writer. Here are some examples of the kinds of reactions you might write down in the margin or in your notebook:  ¦  ¦  ¦  ¦ Making Observations Good readers know that writers use many different strategies to express their ideas. Even if you know very little about those strategies, you can make useful observations about what you read to better understand and remember the author’s ideas. You can notice, for example, the author’s choice of words; the structure of the sentences and paragraphs; any repetition of words or ideas; important details about people, places, and things; and so on. This step—making observations—is essential because your observations (what you notice) lead you to logical inferences about what you read. Inferences are conclusions based on reason, fact, or evidence. You are constantly making inferences based on your observations, even when you’re not reading. For example, if you notice that the sky is full of dark, heavy clouds, you might infer that it is going to rain; if you notice that your coworker has a stack of gardening books on her desk, you might infer that she likes gardening. If you misunderstand what you read, it is often because you haven’t looked closely enough at the text. As a result, you base your inferences on your own ideas and experiences, not on what’s actually written in the text. You end up forcing your own ideas on the author (rather than listening to what the author has to say) and then forming your own ideas about it. It’s critical, then, that you begin to really pay attention to what writers say and how they say it. If any of this sounds confusing now, don’t worry. Each of these ideas will be thoroughly explained in the lessons that follow. In the meantime, start practicing active reading as best you can. Begin by taking the pretest. Questions often come up when you read. They may be answered later in the text, but by that time, you may have forgotten the question! And if your question isn’t answered, you may want to discuss it with someone: â€Å"Why does the writer describe the new welfare policy as ‘unfair’? † or â€Å"Why does the character react in this way? † Agreements and disagreements with the author are bound to arise if you’re actively reading. Write them down: â€Å"That’s not necessarily true! † or â€Å"This policy makes a lot of sense to me. † Connections you note can be either between the text and something that you read earlier or between the text and your own experience. For example, â€Å"I remember feeling the same way when I . . . † or â€Å"This is similar to what happened in China. † Evaluations are your way of keeping the author honest. If you think the author isn’t providing suf? cient support for what he or she is saying or that there’s something wrong with that support, say so: â€Å"He says the dropping of the bomb was inevitable, but he doesn’t explain why† or â€Å"This is a very sel? sh reason. † xi READING COMPREHENSION SUCCESS IN 20 MINUTES A DAY Pretest B efore you start your study of reading skills, you may want to get an idea of how much you already know and how much you need to learn. If that’s the case, take the pretest that follows. The pretest consists of 50 multiple-choice questions covering all the lessons in this book. Naturally, 50 questions can’t cover every single concept or strategy you will learn by working through this book. So even if you get all the questions on the pretest right, it’s almost guaranteed that you will ? nd a few ideas or reading tactics in this book that you didn’t already know. On the other hand, if you get many questions wrong on this pretest, don’t despair. This book will show you how to read more effectively, step by step. You should use this pretest to get a general idea of how much you already know. If you get a high score, you may be able to spend less time with this book than you originally planned. If you get a low score, you may ? nd that you will need more than 20 minutes a day to get through each chapter and improve your reading skills. There’s an answer sheet you can use for ? lling in the correct answers on page 3. Or, if you prefer, simply circle the answer numbers in this book. If the book doesn’t belong to you, write the numbers 1–50 on a piece of paper and record your answers there. Take as much time as you need to do this short test. When you ? nish, check your answers against the answer key at the end of this lesson. Each answer offers the lesson(s) in this book that teaches you about the reading strategy in that question. 1 – LEARNINGEXPRESS ANSWER SHEET – 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b 3 c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d – PRETEST – Pretest The pretest consists of a series of reading passages with questions that follow to test your comprehension. Cultural Center Adds Classes for Young Adults The Allendale Cultural Center has expanded its arts program to include classes for young adults. Director Leah Martin announced Monday that beginning in September, three new classes will be offered to the Allendale community. The course titles will be Yoga for Teenagers; Hip Hop Dance: Learning the Latest Moves; and Creative Journaling for Teens: Discovering the Writer Within. The latter course will not be held at the Allendale Cultural Center but instead will meet at the Allendale Public Library. Staff member Tricia Cousins will teach the yoga and hip hop classes. Ms. Cousins is an accomplished choreographer as well as an experienced dance educator. She has an MA in dance education from Teachers College, Columbia University, where she wrote a thesis on the pedagogical effectiveness of dance education. The journaling class will be taught by Betsy Milford. Ms. Milford is the head librarian at the Allendale Public Library as well as a columnist for the professional journal Library Focus. The courses are part of the Allendale Cultural Center’s Project Teen, which was initiated by Leah Martin, Director of the Cultural Center. According to Martin, this project is a direct result of her efforts to make the center a more integral part of the Allendale community. Over the last several years, the number of people who have visited the cultural center for classes or events has steadily declined. Project Teen is primarily funded by a muni? cent grant from The McGee Arts Foundation, an organization devoted to bringing arts programs to young adults. Martin oversees the Project Teen board, which consists of ? ve board members. Two board members are students at Allendale’s Brookdale High School; the other three are adults with backgrounds in education and the arts. The creative journaling class will be cosponsored by Brookdale High School, and students who complete the class will be given the opportunity to publish one of their journal entries in Pulse, Brookdale’s student literary magazine. Students who complete the hip hop class will be eligible to participate in the Allendale Review, an annual concert sponsored by the cultural center that features local actors, musicians, and dancers. All classes are scheduled to begin immediately following school dismissal, and transportation will be available from Brookdale High School to the Allendale Cultural Center and the Allendale Public Library. For more information about Project Teen, contact the cultural center’s programming of? ce at 988-0099 or drop by the of? ce after June 1 to pick up a fall course catalog. The of? ce is located on the third ? oor of the Allendale Town Hall. 2. Which of the following statements is correct? a. Tricia Cousins will teach two of the new classes. b. The new classes will begin on June 1. c. People who want a complete fall catalogue should stop by the Allendale Public Library. d. The cultural center’s annual concert is called Pulse. 1. The Creative Journaling for Teens class will be cosponsored by a. The Allendale Public Library. b. The McGee Arts Foundation. c. Brookdale High School. d. Betsy Milford. 5 – PRETEST – 6. The title of the course â€Å"Creative Journaling for Teens: Discovering the Writer Within† implies that a. all young people should write in a journal daily. b. teenagers do not have enough hobbies. c. writing in a journal can help teenagers become better and more creative writers. d. teenagers are in need of guidance and direction. 3. According to Leah Martin, what was the direct cause of Project Teen? a. Tricia Cousins, the talented choreographer and dance educator, was available to teach courses in the fall. b. Community organizations were ignoring local teenagers. c. The McGee Arts Foundation wanted to be more involved in Allendale’s arts programming. d. She wanted to make the cultural center a more important part of the Allendale community. 7. Which of the following correctly states the primary subject of this article? a. Leah Martin’s personal ideas about young adults b. The McGee Foundation’s grant to the Allendale Cultural Center c. three new classes for young adults added to the cultural center’s arts program d. the needs of young adults in Allendale 4. Which of the following factors is implied as another reason for Project Teen? a. The number of people who have visited the cultural center has declined over the last several years. b. The cultural center wanted a grant from The McGee Arts Foundation. c. The young people of Allendale have complained about the cultural center’s offerings. d. Leah Martin thinks classes for teenagers are more important than classes for adults. 8. This article is organized in which of the following ways? a. in chronological order, from the past to the future b. most important information ? rst, followed by background and details. c. background ? rst, followed by the most important information and details. d. as sensational news, with the most controversial topic ? rst 5. From the context of the passage, it can be determined that the word â€Å"muni? cent† most nearly means a. complicated. b. generous. c. curious. d. unusual. 6 – PRETEST – (excerpt from the opening of an untitled essay) John Steinbeck’s Grapes of Wrath, published in 1939, was followed ten years later by A. B. Guthrie’s The Way West. Both books chronicle a migration, though that of Guthrie’s pioneers is considerably less bleak in origin. What strikes one at ? rst glance, however, are the commonalities. Both Steinbeck’s and Guthrie’s characters are primarily farmers. They look to their destinations with nearly religious enthusiasm, imagining their â€Å"promised† land the way the Biblical Israelites envisioned Canaan. Both undergo great hardship to make the trek. But the two sagas differ distinctly in origin. Steinbeck’s Oklahomans are forced off their land by the banks who own their mortgages, and they follow a false promise—that jobs await them as seasonal laborers in California. Guthrie’s farmers willingly remove themselves, selling their land and trading their old dreams for their new hope in Oregon. The pioneers’ decision to leave their farms in Missouri and the East is frivolous and ill-founded in comparison with the Oklahomans’ unwilling response to displacement. Yet, it is they, the pioneers, whom our history books declare the heroes. 11. Which of the following excerpts from the essay is an opinion, rather than a fact? a. â€Å"Both Steinbeck’s and Guthrie’s characters are primarily farmers. † b. â€Å"Steinbeck’s Oklahomans are forced off their land by the banks who own their mortgages†¦Ã¢â‚¬  c. â€Å"John Steinbeck’s Grapes of Wrath, published in 1939, was followed ten years later by A. B. Guthrie’s The Way West. † d. â€Å"The pioneers’ decision to leave their farms in Missouri and the East is frivolous and ill-founded in comparison with the Oklahomans’†¦Ã¢â‚¬  9. From the context of the passage, it can be determined that the word â€Å"frivolous† most nearly means a. silly. b. high-minded. c. dif? cult. d. calculated. 10. Suppose that the author is considering following this sentence with supportive detail: â€Å"Both undergo great hardship to make the trek. † Which of the following sentences would be in keeping with the comparison and contrast structure of the paragraph? a. The migrants in The Way West cross the Missouri, then the Kaw, and make their way overland to the Platte. b. The Oklahomans’ jalopies break down repeatedly, while the pioneers’ wagons need frequent repairs. c. Today’s travelers would consider it a hardship to spend several days, let alone several months, getting anywhere. d. The Joad family, in The Grapes of Wrath, loses both grandmother and grandfather before the journey is complete. 12. The language in the paragraph implies that which of the following will happen to the Oklahomans when they arrive in California? a. They will ? nd a means to practice their religion freely. b. They will be declared national heroes. c. They will not ? nd the jobs they were promised. d. They will make their livings as mechanics rather than as farm laborers. 7 – PRETEST – Bill Clinton’s Inaugural Address (excerpt from the opening) When George Washington ? rst took the oath I have just sworn to uphold, news traveled slowly across the land by horseback and across the ocean by boat. Now the sights and sounds of this ceremony are broadcast instantaneously to billions around the world. Communications and commerce are global. Investment is mobile. Technology is almost magical, and ambition for a better life is now universal. We earn our livelihood in America today in peaceful competition with people all across the Earth. Profound and powerful forces are shaking and remaking our world, and the urgent question of our time is whether we can make change our friend and not our enemy. This new world has already enriched the lives of millions of Americans who are able to compete and win in it. But when most people are working harder for less; when others cannot work at all; when the cost of healthcare devastates families and threatens to bankrupt our enterprises, great and small; when the fear of crime robs law-abiding citizens of their freedom; and when millions of poor children cannot even imagine the lives we are calling them to lead, we have not made change our friend. 15. When President Clinton says that â€Å"most people are working harder for less,† he is a. reaching a reasonable conclusion based on evidence he has provided. b. reaching an unreasonable conclusion based on evidence he has provided. c. making a generalization that would require evidence before it could be con? rmed. d. making a generalization that is so obvious that evidence is not needed. 13. What is the central topic of the speech so far? a. how Americans can keep up with global competition b. ways in which technology has undermined our economy c. ways in which technology has improved our lives d. how change has affected America and our need to adapt 14. By comparing our times with those of George Washington, Bill Clinton demonstrates a. how apparently different, but actually similar, the two eras are. b. how technology has drastically speeded up communications. c. that presidential inaugurations receive huge media attention. d. that television is a much more convincing communications tool than print. 16. Assuming that Clinton wants to add something about crime being a more serious threat in our time than in George Washington’s, which of the following sentences would be most consistent with the tone of the presidential speech? a. If I’d been alive in George’s day, I would have enjoyed knowing that my wife and child could walk city streets without being mugged. b. In George Washington’s time, Americans may not have enjoyed as many luxuries, but they could rest in the awareness that their neighborhoods were safe. c. George could at least count on one thing. He knew that his family was safe from crime. d. A statistical analysis of the overall growth in crime rates since 1789 would reveal that a signi? cant increase has occurred. 8 – PRETEST – The Crossing Chapter I: The Blue Wall (excerpt from the opening of a novel by Winston Churchill) I was born under the Blue Ridge, and under that side which is blue in the evening light, in a wild land of game and forest and rushing waters. There, on the borders of a creek that runs into the Yadkin River, in a cabin that was chinked with red mud, I came into the world a subject of King George the Third, in that part of his realm known as the province of North Carolina. The cabin reeked of corn-pone and bacon, and the odor of pelts. It had two shakedowns, on one of which I slept under a bearskin. A rough stone chimney was reared outside, and the ? replace was as long as my father was tall. There was a crane in it, and a bake kettle; and over it great buckhorns held my father’s ri? e when it was not in use. On other horns hung jerked bear’s meat and venison hams, and gourds for drinking cups, and bags of seed, and my father’s best hunting shirt; also, in a neglected corner, several articles of woman’s attire from pegs. These once belonged to my mother. Among them was a gown of silk, of a ? ne, faded pattern, over which I was wont to speculate. The women at the Cross-Roads, twelve miles away, were dressed in coarse butternut wool and huge sunbonnets. But when I questioned my father on these matters he would give me no answers. My father was—how shall I say what he was? To this day I can only surmise many things of him. He was a Scotchman born, and I know now that he had a slight Scotch accent. At the time of which I write, my early childhood, he was a frontiersman and hunter. I can see him now, with his hunting shirt and leggins and moccasins; his powder horn, engraved with wondrous scenes; his bullet pouch and tomahawk and hunting knife. He was a tall, lean man with a strange, sad face. And he talked little save when he drank too many â€Å"horns,† as they were called in that country. These lapses of my father’s were a perpetual source of wonder to me—and, I must say, of delight. They occurred only when a passing traveler who hit his fancy chanced that way, or, what was almost as rare, a neighbor. Many a winter night I have lain awake under the skins, listening to a ? ow of language that held me spellbound, though I understood scarce a word of it. â€Å"Virtuous and vicious every man must be, Few in the extreme, but all in a degree. † The chance neighbor or traveler was no less struck with wonder. And many the time have I heard the query, at the Cross-Roads and elsewhere, â€Å"Whar Alec Trimble got his larnin’? † 18. Judging by the sentences surrounding it, the word â€Å"surmise† in the third paragraph most nearly means a. to form a negative opinion. b. to praise. c. to desire. d. to guess. 17. Why did the narrator enjoy it when his father drank too many â€Å"horns,† or drafts of liquor? a. The father spoke brilliantly at those times. b. The boy was then allowed to do as he pleased. c. These were the only times when the father was not abusive. d. The boy was allowed to sample the drink himself. 9 – PRETEST – 22. Which of the following adjectives best describes the region in which the cabin is located? a. remote b. urban c. agricultural d. ?at 19. The mention of the dress in the second paragraph is most likely meant to a. show the similarity between its owner and other members of the community. b. show how warm the climate was. c. show the dissimilarity between its owner and other members of the community. d. give us insight into the way most of the women of the region dressed. 23. The author most likely uses dialect when quoting the question, â€Å"Whar Alec Trimble got his larnin’? † in order to a. show disapproval of the father’s drinking. b. show how people talked down to the narrator. c. show the speakers’ lack of education. d. mimic the way the father talked. 20. It can be inferred from the passage that Alec Trimble is a. a traveler. b. a neighbor. c. the narrator’s father. d. a poet. 21. What is the meaning of the lines of verse quoted in the passage? a. Men who pretend to be virtuous are actually vicious. b. Moderate amounts of virtuousness and viciousness are present in all men. c. Virtuous men cannot also be vicious. d. Whether men are virtuous or vicious depends  on the dif? culty of their circumstances. 10 – PRETEST – (excerpt from a letter to a pet-sitter) Dear Lee, As I told you, I’ll be gone until Wednesday morning. Thank you so much for taking on my â€Å"children† while I’m away. Like real children, they can be kind of irritating sometimes, but I’m going to enjoy myself so much more knowing they’re getting some kind human attention. Remember that Regina (the â€Å"queen† in Latin, and she acts like one) is teething. If you don’t watch her, she’ll chew anything, including her sister, the cat. There are plenty of chew toys around the house. Whenever she starts gnawing on anything illegal, just divert her with one of those. She generally settles right down to a good hour-long chew. Then you’ll see her wandering around whimpering with the remains of the toy in her mouth. She gets really frustrated because what she wants is to bury the thing. She’ll try to dig a hole between the cushions of the couch. Finding that unsatisfactory, she’ll wander some more, discontent, until you solve her problem for her. I usually show her the laundry basket, moving a few clothes so she can bury her toy beneath them. I do sound like a parent, don’t I? You have to understand, my own son is practically grown up. Regina’s food is the Puppy Chow in the utility room, where the other pet food is stored. Give her a bowl once in the morning and once in the evening. No more than that, no matter how much she begs. Beagles are notorious overeaters, according to her breeder, and I don’t want her to lose her girlish ? gure. She can share Rex (the King’s) water, but be sure it’s changed daily. She needs to go out several times a day, especially last thing at night and ? rst thing in the morning. Let her stay out for about ten minutes each time, so she can do all her business. She also needs a walk in the afternoon, after which it’s important to romp with her for awhile in the yard. The game she loves most is fetch, but be sure to make her drop the ball. She’d rather play tug of war with it. Tell her, â€Å"Sit! † Then, when she does, say, â€Å"Drop it! † Be sure to tell her â€Å"good girl,† and then throw the ball for her. I hope you’ll enjoy these sessions as much as I do. Now, for the other two, Rex and Paws†¦ (letter continues) 26. According to the author, his or her attachment to the pets derives at least partially from a. their regal pedigrees and royal bearing. b.having few friends to pass the time with. c. these particular animals’ exceptional needs. d. a desire to continue parenting. 24. The tone of this letter is best described as a. chatty and humorous. b. logical and precise. c. con? dent and trusting. d. condescending and preachy. 25. If the pet-sitter is a business-like professional who watches people’s pets for a living, she or he would likely prefer a. more ? rst-person revelations about the owner. b. fewer ? rst-person revelations about the owner. c. more praise for agreeing to watch the animals. d. greater detail on the animals’ cute behavior. 27. The information in the note is suf? cient to determine that there are three animals. They are a. two cats and a dog. b. three dogs. c. a dog, a cat, and an unspeci? ed animal. d. a cat, a dog, and a parrot. 11 – PRETEST – 29. From the context of the note, it is most likely that the name â€Å"Rex†is a. Spanish. b. English. c. French. d. Latin. 28. Given that there are three animals to feed, which of the following arrangements of the feeding instructions would be most ef? cient and easiest to follow? a. all given in one list, chronologically from morning to night b. provided separately as they are for Regina,  within separate passages on each animal c. given in the order of quantities needed, the most to the least d. placed in the middle of the letter, where they would be least likely to be overlooked. 30. If the sitter is to follow the owner’s directions in playing fetch with Regina, at what point will he or she will tell Regina â€Å"good girl†? a. every time Regina goes after the ball b. after Regina ? nds the ball c. when Regina brings the ball back d. after Regina drops the ball (excerpt from a pro-voting essay) Voting is the privilege for which wars have been fought, protests have been organized, and editorials have been written. â€Å"No taxation without representation† was a battle cry of the American Revolution. Women struggled for suffrage as did all minorities. Eighteen-year-olds clamored for the right to vote, saying that if they were old enough to go to war, they should be allowed to vote. Yet Americans have a deplorable voting history. Interviewing people about their voting habits is revealing. There are individuals who state that they have never voted. Often, they claim that their individual vote doesn’t matter. Some people blame their absence from the voting booth on the fact that they do not know enough about the issues. In a democracy, we can express our opinions to our elected leaders, but more than half of us sometimes avoid choosing the people who make the policies that affect our lives. 33. By choosing the word â€Å"clamored,† the author implies that a. eighteen-year-olds are generally enthusiastic. b. voting was not a serious concern to eighteenyear-olds. c. eighteen-year-olds felt strongly that they should be allowed to vote. d. eighteen-year-olds do not handle themselves in an adult-like manner. 31. This argument relies primarily on which of the following techniques to make its points? a. emotional assertions b. researched facts in support of an assertion  c. emotional appeals to voters d. emotional appeals to nonvoters 32. Which of the following sentences best summarizes the main idea of the passage? a. Americans are too lazy to vote. b. Women and minorities fought for their right to vote. c. Americans do not take voting seriously enough. d. Americans do not think that elected of? cials take their opinions seriously. 12 – PRETEST – Improving Streamside Wildlife Habitats (excerpt from Habitat Extension Bulletin distributed by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department) Riparian vegetation [the green band of vegetation along a watercourse] can help stabilize stream banks; ? lter sediment from surface runoff; and provide wildlife habitat, livestock forage, and scenic value. Well-developed vegetation also allows bank soils to absorb extra water during spring runoff, releasing it later during drier months, thus improving late-summer stream ? ows. In many parts of the arid West, trees and shrubs are found only in riparian areas. Woody plants are very important as winter cover for many wildlife species, including upland game birds such as pheasants and turkeys. Often this winter cover is the greatest single factor limiting game bird populations. Woody vegetation also provides hiding cover and browse for many other species of birds and mammals, both game and nongame. Dead trees (â€Å"snags†) are an integral part of streamside habitats and should be left standing whenever possible. Woodpeckers, nuthatches, brown creepers, and other birds eat the insects that decompose the wood. These insects usually pose no threat to nearby living trees. Occasionally a disease organism or misuse of pesticides will weaken or kill a stand of trees. If several trees in a small area begin to die, contact your local extension agent immediately. 36. Assume that the author has done some other  writing on this topic for a different audience. The other piece begins: â€Å"Remember the last time you walked along a stream? No doubt thick vegetation prevented easy progress. † What is the likely effect on the reader of this opening? a. an aroused interest, due to the reference to the reader’s personal experience b. resentment, due to being addressed so personally c. loss of interest, because the opening line makes no attempt to draw the reader in d. confusion, because not every reader has walked along a stream 34. What is the effect of the word choice â€Å"riparian†?