Tally

TALLY . ERP9 FEATURES Advantages of Tally. ERP 9: †¢ Powerful remote capabilities that boost collaboration †¢ Easy to find qualified personnel †¢ Easy to customize †¢ Low cost of ownership via quick implementation, Tally Integrator, Support Centre†¦ Functions & Features: Accounting All your accounting requirements are supported and more. Accounting, also known as bookkeeping, is the recording and classifying of financial transactions into the books of accounts and associated registers.Let us look at the some of the ‘needs' for which businesses maintain books of accounts: †¢ To fulfill legal requirements – records as per standards and practices †¢ To pay taxes to various bodies – statutory needs †¢ Keep the business running – manage receivables & payable, cash, bank†¦ †¢ Keep a watch on the pulse of the organization – key performance indicators †¢ Respond to queries – to locate the right tr ansaction immediatelyWe have been perfecting this ‘simple' recording – accounting – from over twenty years. All this to deliver better, faster and more flexible ways to fulfill your needs, not just maintain books of accounts. A few examples will illustrate: †¢ With the entry of a voucher (this is what we call all accounting transactions) all books of accounts, all reports, all totals & sub-totals are updated instantly.There is nothing more that needs to be done – whether you are inserting a forgotten entry, or correcting one †¢ Taxation requirements of all the states of India are available, in the prescribed formats †¢ Supporting tasks like reminder letters, delayed interest, ageing, bank reconciliation †¢ One single dashboard to look at all important business ratios †¢ Drill down from any report, even the Balance Sheet, right to any voucher or filter and search †¢ Data entry in the language of the users choice – and re port in any other language (from the languages supported) †¢ Mark vouchers that are draft as ‘optional' and convert these to final- with one button click Financial Management & Controls Tally. ERP 9 comes with rich features & financial reports that give you the necessary management and control of your business. A few of these are listed below: †¢ Funds Flow & Cash Flow reports – help you ocate bottlenecks †¢ Bank reconciliation – keeps your bank books in sync, and identify unclear instruments †¢ Customer Credit Limits – to limit risk of default and large losses †¢ Budgets – keep tabs on projected expenses against actuals †¢ Mark vouchers postdated – these will reflect into the books of accounts only on/after that date †¢ For needs where reports have to consider a transaction that has not happened (say salaries for this month that get paid the next month) vouchers (called ‘reversing journals') can be ma rked to ‘disappear' for reports post a specific date †¢ â€Å"Scenario† management – helps you with your business forecasting and planning. You can use optional, reversing journals and memorandum vouchers, to aid in recording provisional entries that are useful for interim reports †¢ Multiple inventory valuation. You can decide one valuation method for the business, and be able generate financial reports using any other valuation method – as the statutory method may not be appropriate for your needs, your bankers and for other decisions †¢ Cash balances can go negative – you can get warned if this is about to happen, or see reports and make the necessary corrections Several business exceptions are available (negative stocks, negative ledgers) – for you to exercise control over these activities †¢ A one-screen business ratios with drill down right up to the transactions – help you to correct course frequently †¢ Item wise & document wise profitability statements to control revenue leakage and inappropriate pricing †¢ Internal audits are supported with audit controls – authorized users can mark vouchers as ‘audited' and can get to see reports on changes made post audit, and the name of the person making the change Inventory Accounting & Management If you deal in goods, of any type, you'll appreciate the Inventory capabilities in Tally. ERP 9.You can comprehensively record all types of inventory transactions, using goods receipt notes, delivery notes, stock journals, manufacturing journals and physical stock journals. All stock movements are fully recorded and maintained in stock registers. Developed for all manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers or traders a small list of features are briefly described below: Manufacturers: †¢ Bill of materials and Manufacturing Journals, to record material conversions †¢ Compound bill of materials support, for units that conta in assemblies †¢ Multiple locations (go downs) †¢ Excise for manufacturers, including all documentation and invoice †¢ Costing for jobsDistributors ; Wholesalers: †¢ Multiple price lists, with effective dates of applicability †¢ Use multiple units of measure (say KG's & grams) †¢ Dual units of measure (say KG's and bags, to support variations as happens in commodities) Traders: †¢ High speed billing, with support for POS printers †¢ Bar code support †¢ Automatic application of taxes †¢ Service billing ; service tax †¢ Integrated sales return in bills †¢ Print bills (and any other document) in the customers language Common: †¢ You can choose to de-link the computed inventory value to automatically appear in your financial statements – and enter this figure manually. †¢ Stock ageing reports, to identify slow and non-moving stocks †¢ Invoice profitability reports to keep a pulse on sales †¢ Multi-cur rency transactions – buy and sell across the world – with integrated forex gain/loss calculations †¢ Physical stock take records to adjust physical vs. actual stocks †¢ Maintain batch ; expiry details Purchases ; Payable's: from Order to Payment Tally. Read also Recording General Fund Operating Budget and Operating TransactionsERP 9 delivers the entire purchase cycle whether the need is the complete purchase order goods receipt – rejections & returns – advances, debits & payments or a single payment entry, fulfilling all needs. To ensure that you have the right stocks and minimize carrying costs, Tally. ERP 9 delivers the following to improve purchase orders: †¢ Define Re-order levels as a definite number or based on consumption †¢ Define minimum quantity to order as a definite number or based on consumption †¢ Pull up a report that shows the stock position, including complete details of open purchase orders, sales orders that need to be fulfilled – check on past purchase history, and then place orders †¢ Optionally stagger delivery dates in the POWhen receiving goods: †¢ Make entries in accordance with supporting documentation, including errors your suppliers could have made (say of mu ltiplication & round off) †¢ Incorporate additional costs †¢ Automatically manage input taxes †¢ Flexibility allows receipt of goods, quantities and rates different from that ordered – since this is common in real life †¢ Record samples & free items (using different ‘actual' & ‘billed' quantities) †¢ Multiple receipts for one order or one receipt for multiple orders, or against verbal orders In case there is a need to add other costs (say coolie and cartage) these additional charges can be apportioned to the cost of goods purchased. Supplied goods may not match your needs and these are managed by the ‘Rejections Out' inventory voucher. Supplier dues, input taxes and inventory positions are updated.Suppliers often indicate likely profits, which may not be met. In case such assurances are made, you can look at Item profitability reports, and get the facts right. You could then negotiate a rebate and record this as a debit note. Keep ta bs of how much is due to whom, when. Manage advances, payable s & postdated checks. Ensure there are no errors in payments – print checks from Tally. ERP 9. Sales & Receivables: from Order to Receipt The lifeline of a business, efficiencies in sales operations, both of goods & services, directly impact growth and profitability. The need to optimize and keep a close watch here requires exceptional capabilities from your business IT system – and Tally.ERP 9 meets these demands. The sales process is supported with the following documents: †¢ Quotations – records of quotes †¢ Sales orders – accepted customer orders †¢ Deliver Notes – documents that accompany goods †¢ Sales Invoices/Cash Bill – to record the sale †¢ Credit Notes – for financial adjustments †¢ Rejections in – for goods returns †¢ Receipts – for advances and receipts Do you have cash sales (sales across the counter)? With supp ort for Point of Sale printers, bar codes and receipts in multiple tenders, you POS enable your business at no additional cost. Product sales may come with added services – and the integrated product & service billing will close this.Enforce credit limits, where needed. Along with the Payment Performance of Debtors report you can identify persistent problems and take necessary business decisions. Interest for delays & reminder letters aid in collection. For businesses engaged in Excisable goods, you get full support for Excise for Traders & Manufacturing Excise – matter of fact a business could be both! Make multiple deliveries from one order, or one from multiple orders – this common need is available across all documents of the sales process. Do you have multiple classes of customers? You can easily setup multiple prices (even in advance and specify the date from which they are effective).Discounts against the line, or for the document, additional charges as a percentage or lump sum, automatic round off of bill totals, automatic computation of VAT & Service tax, returns & exchanges are all available. Need to verify that you are making the desired sales margins? Item wise and bill wise profitability reports will help you keep tabs. Multi-company A set of account books represents a ‘company' in Tally. ERP 9. Therefore, if you decide to maintain your personal accounts you would create a ‘company'. Many businesses do have more than one legal entity – and so will require multi-company support. Since each company is a distinct ‘data base', building technical support for this is not difficult.However, with multiple companies, several needs often arise beyond the mere facility to record transactions that need to be addressed,. Principally, you would like to look at consolidated reports since these are often more meaningful to you than statutory reports of each company individually. You can therefore ‘group' compani es and have the reporting ability as if this were a ‘company'. You could also ‘group' these on demand or as required. So Partner A, could group companies in which he is a partner (say Companies P, Q ; R) and Partner B could have a group with Companies Q, R ; Y. With multiple companies, you would probably need to compare them to see relative figures. In Tally.ERP 9, while seeing a report for Company P, you could pull up another column alongside that shows figures from Company Q (and any more companies). You can now continue to drill down the report and continue to see these comparisons. Quiet often with multiple companies, the need arises to create the same ledgers ; post transactions to more than one company. This can be accomplished with the click of a few keys – you save immense time by not having to re-enter data and avoid data entry errors. In special circumstances, where there are needs like a Purchase Order entry becoming a Sales Order in another company, ou r Service Partners will be able to work with you, understand specific requirements and build a solution around the Data Synchronization capability.Security: With multiple companies, possibly including personal accounts, you may need to control who gets access to which companies, and to do what. You can set up users, grant or deny access and these are defined for each company. Remote Access: You choose to specify which company is accessible remotely. You choose which remote users have access; you decide what access a remote user gets. Central User Management: Users come and go. You might also have a password policy requiring users to change passwords every few weeks. You can take advantage of the ease of central user and password management that Tally. NET identities carry – and even remotely manage these while not in office. Multi-Period A ‘financial year' is truly suited to business reporting and statutory needs.In reality, business spans across financial years, so â⠂¬Ëœreal needs' get constrained by these financial periods. As an example, receivables (Sundry Debtors) is an area that is frequently plagued by ‘confusion' the need to send reminders, resend statements of accounts and persistent follow up – may require that you need to look at figures from date ‘x' to date ‘y' – and one or more financial periods can be between these two dates. With Tally. ERP 9, you can specify any date range and perform any operation that you need to. Comparison of Periods, say Q2 this year vs. Q2 last year, often required for shareholder and statutory reporting are easily accomplished. You may also need to break up periods into smaller chunks, instead of the ‘year'.While looking at the reports, you can instantly view them broken into periods of your choice (daily, monthly, quarterly etc). For studying trends, locating unusual figures, or comparing activities for different periods, this is invaluable. Take the case of budgets. Say for a five year long project – and for various ledgers you need to have a budget set up for five years, another for each year, another two that are 2 ? years†¦ you can setup such budgets, and compare budget vs. actual for any! In effect you can ‘zoom out' as well as ‘zoom in' to any period of your choice. Any changes made or a transaction inserted anytime, are instantly carried forward – no matter how far back these are made (from a security standpoint, you might need to restrict data entry or hanges to transactions prior to a specific date – this is available via the User security control features). Multi-Cost/Profit Centers As a business transacting in multiple currencies, you will appreciate the effortless usability of Tally. ERP in this area. Say, you make purchases from a supplier, and transact in a currency different (say $) from that of your base currency (say INR). You'd like to keep track of the dollars due, as well as the $ amount s due for each bill. This way you get to know your foreign currency requirements as well as cross check the accounts in $. At the same time you would want to see outstanding and other financial reports in INR.Since this figure depends on the exchange rate as on the date of the report, generating these are time consuming. With Tally. ERP 9 all reports are generated automatically – all that is needed is that the forex rates be available for reference. Foreign exchange gain & loss entries are ‘posted' automatically (as a notional entry), whenever any report is taken. The day you decide to make these entries regular (say end of the financial year) you can post the required accounting Journal (with software assistance). Importers and exporters maintain bank, customer & other accounts in foreign currencies (like the example of the supplier) – you can maintain these in any currency required.As a branch or subsidiary of a foreign entity, or for reporting, you may need to generate reports in a currency other than the base, at some exchange rate. This capability is available across all reports. You may need to compare companies having different base currencies – switch one company to use the currency of the other, or switch them both to a third! Basically, every amount field in a Tally. ERP 9 voucher is multi-currency enabled. This allows you to conduct business in ways that manual systems permit and most IT systems fail to provide. It is possible for a supplier to, say, send a quote for items in INR, some in US$ and some in â‚ ¬. Multi-units Most businesses will use several units of measure, even if the belief that just one (pieces) is used.Take purchases – you could order in the units you are comfortable with, and you receive goods in a different unit – for e. g. , order in Pcs, receive in KG's. Similarly you could record sales in the units that your customer is comfortable with. The flexibility of this ‘compound' unit of measures is to ensure that Tally. ERP 9 does not get in the way of your way of working. Like in the case of multi-currency, every quantity field is inherently multi-unit ready. Some commodities, say cotton, have ‘peculiar' problems – the unit of stock used for this commodity is ‘bales', yet trade is in Kg's. With changes in weather, cotton looses or gains weight due to changes in moisture content.If you used Kg's for your records, you would loose the ability to manage stock count and stock take of bales; if you used bales, you would have a mismatch in the actual quantity transacted. This problem is compounded in real life – since each bale carries a different weight of cotton. With Tally. ERP 9 you can manage all these, with the support for multiple units of measure. Now, you can record both units in transactions – Kg's and bales at the same time. Stock valuation will be done in Kg's; inventory count can be managed in bales! You receive some supp lies – the Invoice shows 5 Pcs. and the actual count shows 6 Pcs.! Were you to enter your receipt as 6 Pcs. there will be a mismatch with the voucher and physical document which will result in an audit objection. Entering as 5 Pcs. would mean that one piece is not recorded†¦ Tally. ERP 9 supports ‘actual' and ‘billed' quantities – thus delinking the inventory count from the financial impact of the transaction. With this you can also receive and deliver free samples and manage the many variations that occur now and then. Therefore compound units, alternate units and billed/actual quantities should deliver the capabilities needed for most, if not all, of your requirements. Multi-Location Inventory Even the simplest of organizations will have inventory in more than one physical location.As organizations get bigger, inventory will require active ‘management' with more warehouses (go downs, as we call it in India), racks ; shelves and stocks at projec t locations. Take the case of multiple sales outlets, each with one go down. Each purchases items at different prices and sells them over time. You need to take a call on the value of stocks at each of these outlets as if they were independent units – and not apply the company average. With Tally. ERP 9, each outlet will act as an independent unit from a costing perspective. Sales from each outlet will reflect the appropriate cost, and not the company average (which can skew profitability of both outlets).Seen at the company level, the cost behavior ignores these go downs – making reports and financial analysis appropriate at that level. Go downs can contain go downs – to allow management to the bin level. For various jobs (projects) and sub-jobs, the use of go downs and cost centers in Tally. ERP 9 give a high level of reporting and analysis – on inventory and financial aspects of jobs. Multi-Budgets ; Scenarios Budgets are a measure of the results expec ted for the planned activities for a company. Whether you formally plan budgets or not, you will be working against several budgets – Revenue, Production, Expense, Financial, Investment and so on. Once these budgets are recorded, you would periodically want to check up how your business measures up against this plan.And once you get a handle on the variance, you would probably take decisions on course corrections – record possible outcomes of these changes (as scenarios) and compare against the budgets once again. This is a powerful planning mechanism that provides the flexibility to work in a changing /dynamic environment. With Tally. ERP 9, you can set up any number of budgets – and to make this easy, budgets can roll up into ‘group' budgets and these can roll up again into ‘master' budgets: the people who come up with the budgets can make entries and the roll-up is automatic (and can be overridden at the rolled up level as well). While viewing any report, you can choose to pull up the budgeted figures as well, along with a variance column. You could just as easily pull up budget figures alone – and make these available to various people.A ‘scenario' is the name given to a specific combination of vouchers that will be included to deliver a report – you can include and exclude different voucher types and build as many scenarios as needed – say one where a product launch is on time and another where it is delayed by three months. You could then view actual figures against a scenario. You could also see the variance between a scenario and the budget! Budgets and Scenarios are powerful tools when used by themselves; used together they deliver unprecedented power to help plan ; monitor your business. TALLY REPORTING ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?Modifying Reports (Options) Balance Sheet Profit ; Loss Account Stock Summary Trial Balance Day Book Cash Book P etty Cash Book Bank Book Journal Register Ledger Purchase Register Sales Register Ledger-wise Outstanding Reports Interest Receivable Interest Payable Cost Category Summary Statistics Stock Transfers Stock Valuation Methods BOM – Cost Estimate Daily Balance of Cash/Bank Book Stock Query Negative Stock Item Movement Analysis Stock Ageing Analysis Multi-Column Cash Book Purchase Register-Extract Sales Register-Extract Cash Flow Summary Funds Flow Summary Budgets Overdue Receivable Overdue Payable Age-wise Receivable Negative Ledger Debit Note Register Credit Note Register Reminder Letter Confirmation Letter ? Comparative Profit and Loss Account ? Vertical Balance Sheet with Working Capital ? Comparative Quarterly Balance Sheet ? Income ; Expenditure Statement

Accounting: Accounts Receivable

The note payable to Rent-lt is good for one year. $100,000 and the accumulated interest are due on November 30, 2012. The account payable for office supplies is due in thirty days, or January 2, 2012. The account payable to Universal Utilities is due in thirty days, or January 30, 2012.The company declared a dividend of 10 cents per share, payable on January 1 5, 2012. Income taxes are payable in 2012. 3. Susquehanna Equipment Rentals was named as a co-defendant in a $25,000 lawsuit filed on behalf of Kevin Davenport. The extent of the companys legal and financial responsibility for this accident cannot be determined at this time. f) It does appear that the company is headed for insolvency. It has $100,000 is notes payable that are due January 2, 2012, and it only has $65,000 cash.The company is expecting $9,900 in accounts receivable, but that s still not enough to cover the notes payable. A majority of the company's assets are tied up in rental equipment, which is not a liquid asse t. Thus, the company will not be able to meet its financial obligations to its lenders. g) It would be unethical for Patty Driver to maintain the accounting records for this company since she is one of the owners of the corporation. The accounting records must be maintained by someone independent of the organization in order for the reports to be fair and ethical.

Irish Culture Essay

My first encounter with Ireland and its culture was rather trivial. I saw some Irish dancing and was fascinated by its rigor, energy, and emotional charge. I am not a dancer myself but Irish dances that I saw on TV made me want to get on my feet and start tap-dancing. Unfortunately, at our English classes at school we mostly study the history and traditions of Great Britain. We have not had any special lessons devoted to Ireland yet. I was surprised to learn that the Emerald Isle is a unique country with its own special culture, traditions and even its own peculiar and mysteriously sounding Gaelic language. The first things I learnt about Irish culture made me want to explore more about this enchanting land of poets, musicians, dancers, saints, and scholars. Not only did I learn about Irish jigs and reels, but I also found out about great Irish poets, writers and playwrights, traditional music and songs, world famous musicians of Irish origin, St Patrick’s parades and parties. I have discovered to my own surprise that here in Russia I have been surrounded by Irish culture without even realizing that it is Irish. I have learnt a new word â€Å"craic† which has no equivalent in the English language. Craic† is a mixture of fun, entertainment, and enjoyable conversation. I suppose that this word alone can explain the nature of the Irish national character and be the answer to the question why Irish culture is so popular around the world. I suppose that the international popularity of Irish culture is closely connected with the history of the country and the national identity of its people. Firstly, the Irish have traditionally been â€Å"one of the biggest wandering peoples of the world. † Due to mass emigration many countries got familiar with Irish cultural traditions a long time ago. Thus, Irish culture is not confined to one piece of land. Secondly, Irish culture is adaptable, pliant, and flexible because of the openness and friendliness which run in the blood of the Irish. For example, anyone can participate in St Patrick’s parades or try Irish dancing. Other reasons of the world-wide obsession with the Irish culture are its beauty, freshness and originality. ‘Original’, ‘fresh’ and ‘beautiful’ are the words which come to my mind when I read a poem by W. B. Yeats, watch an Irish dance, see a colorful St Patrick’s procession or listen to Irish traditional music. Despite its international popularity Irish culture on the whole retains its uniqueness and authentic spirit. That is why people around the world still see Ireland as a spiritual reservoir and turn to Irish culture when they need to feed their souls. In the era of globalization when boundaries between countries and nations are becoming more and more blurred, it is really important to preserve and promote your own culture. The Irish are very good at it. They have managed to make their culture a visiting card. Although some people say that Irish culture is losing its authenticity and is becoming commercialized, I don’t see it that way. By weaving traditional elements into popular culture the Irish make more people familiar with their country. For instance, some popular songs by U2 contain traditional Irish melodies. Songs like ‘In the Name of the Father’, ‘Tomorrow’, or ‘The Ballad of Ronnie Drew’ are really Irish despite their rock and pop style. The Riverdance and shows of Michael Flatley revolutionized Irish dance culture by introducing new elements, colorful costumes and even adding features of other dance cultures into the shows. Some people might argue that it was a change for the worse, but this was the change that made Irish dances so extremely popular around the world. Being a commercial event, St Patrick’s parades popularize Irish traditions among people of all nationalities worldwide. Our first encounter with Ireland may start with a popular thing like a Riverdance show, a traditional song â€Å"Whisky in the Jar†, or a green shamrock leaf on St Patrick’s Day. But these are the things which make us want to explore more. That is why I would like to finish with the Irish slogan, ‘Eire go Brach! ’ Ireland Forever!

Proposal to Review How Previous Instances of Global Financial Crises Assignment

Proposal to Review How Previous Instances of Global Financial Crises can be used to Forecast Developing Financial Crisis - Assignment Example These can be used to analyse how such crises could be avoided. This proposal includes detailed descriptions of my methodology for collecting data, schedule for the review as well as my relevant qualifications that make me well suited to this job. Justification of Review The twentieth century witnessed its first financial crisis early within the first quarter. Consequently, the world drifted into another greater war in an effort to gather enough fiscal resources to claim complete financial independence. (Friedman and Scwartz) The financial imbroglio is considered to have emerged as a result of loose ended banking policies. Multiple symptoms were experienced before the financial crisis in the shape of minor fiscal hiccups such as the New York Stock Exchange Crash of 1901, the banking panic of 1907, the panic of 1910-11 and the Shanghai rubber stock market crisis. (Bernanke) The final manifestation came through in the form of the Wall Street Crash of 1929 which crossed the Atlantic and caused militant ideologies to spring up throughout Europe. Consequently, the Second World War broke out which plunged the entire world into untold misery and conflict. This major upheaval was followed closely by the oil crisis of 1973 that was brought about by OPEC in response to the stock market crash of 1973-74. This crisis was followed closely by a scramble for the Middle East which has had far reaching consequences as authoritarian rules sprung up and fuelled militancy. It would not be an exaggeration to relate that the attacks on American soil on September 11, 2001 had roots in the oil crisis and its consequences. Moreover, the oil crisis of 1973 redefined the ways in which consumption patterns were organised. The escalation of oil prices encouraged the use of more efficient vehicles and promoted a drive towards more sustainable forms of energy such as LPG (liquefied petroleum gas). (Eichengreen) Other than the financial crisis listed above, South America saw the development of a debt crisis that soon engulfed the region. The problem began with the â€Å"Mexican Weekend† bank default in 1982 that served as a catalyst for the entire region’s banking systems to crash. The resulting imbroglio witnessed the Latin American debt crisis that forced these already marginalised nations to cut further spending on social development programs. Consequently, the eighties and nineties played host to the development of large drug cartels and mafias that employed the scores on unemployed youth. The resulting struggle in South America left scores dead and saw drug trafficking to the First World increase by leaps and bounds. Names such as Pablo Escobar became legends by becoming philanthropists out of drug money while millions of youth spoiled their lives around the globe using the same drugs. The onset of the nineties saw the development of financial crisis in both the United States and Japan. The high point of financial crises culminated when Japan was hit b y the 1997 stock market crash. Large names such as Casio and Yamaha defaulted and Japans’ position as the prime producer of precision goods declined. However, the financial crisis did not limit itself to Japan but spread to other parts of Asia and caused a storm of devaluations to take place. This was followed closely by the Russian financial crisis of 1998 that saw the government weakened to an extent that it could not pay off pays for its employees. Large banks collapsed and mafias

Performance & reward mgt Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Performance & reward mgt - Essay Example It keeps the management aware of the importance of focusing on results rather than concentrating on whether the management or employees in an organization are busy. More over, it serves as a reminder of the fact that employee training, motivation and enthusiasm in the workplace are not sufficient for the accomplishment of organizational goals. In other words, Latham et al (2005) observes that results go beyond employee capacity and the level of satisfaction. They can be enthusiastic about their work, and the management may offer attractive packages that enhance satisfaction, but their output may not be satisfactory. This means that the organization may not be able to achieve the desired results. In order for an organization to accomplish its goals, it is important for it to have several operations taking place, such as classifying and giving priority to results, establishing the performance standards and the manner through which results need to be realized. Evaluation of progress is important while focusing on the results and also reviewing the manner in which they were accomplished (Facteau and Bartholomew 2001). Organizations use results as a measure for evaluating the performance of the business. A literature review concerning performance management is important in generating a better understanding of the concept. This paper describes a personal experience of performance management and analysis using concepts drawn from performance management literature. In many instances, organizational managers and overseers of organizational operations usually make a mistake of conceptualizing that the conduct of employees and the organizational operations are similar to the desired outcome. As Viswesvaran and Ones (2000) observe, employees within an organization may seem to be busy to a great extent, while in reality they do not add to the realization of organizational goals. Such cases are evident amongst employees

Thornton Dial Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Thornton Dial - Essay Example In 1940 Thornton relocated to Bessemer, Alabama. In Alabama he was exposed to various forms of art and artworks that inspired to create his own pieces of art. After having been employed at the Pullman Company for close to 30 years, the factory was closed in 1981. This prompted Thornton to dedicate more of his time, creativity and thinking to developing and expressing his artistic capabilities. In 1987 he met Bill Arnett, a local but very influential art collector who helped Thornton and his works gain prominence (Thornton & Herman 59). According to Thornton & Herman (16), Thornton Dial’s work mainly focuses on pressing issues that can be found within the realm of American history and politics. These include racism, homelessness, war and bigotry. Using discarded items ranging from buckets to bones to ropes, he constructs assemblages on a large scale. He combines whatever materials he has found with paint and in the process creates an interesting interpretation of politics and history in the United States. Thornton has participated in many exhibitions and his works can be found in many well-known private and public collections. These include the Indianapolis Museum of Art; the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; the High Museum of Art, the American Folk Art Museum, New York; The Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Washington D.C.; the Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington D.C.; and the Philadelphia Museum of Art (Thornton & Herman

Overcoming the Financial Challenge of Going to College Essay

Overcoming the Financial Challenge of Going to College - Essay Example This finding is due to the fact that the average cost of a college education is around $23,000 per annum and that meant a lot of money for many Americans especially that the economy is still reeling from the financial crisis (Reuters). Many opted and forced to work than pursue a college degree because they simply cannot afford it and thus drop out rate in the United States continue to rise. This case of students dropping out due to financial difficulty is not isolated. This is so pervasive that it can be said that the drop out figure in college in the US is already alarming to the point that it could already undermine the country’s competitiveness. In a study conducted by Harvard with data from Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, United States has the highest dropout rate in the industrialized world. Among the 18 countries surveyed, United States lagged last with a drop out rate of 46 percent. This figure is very far from Japan which has a huge 89 percent gr aduation rate and former Soviet states such as Slovakia with 63 percent and Poland with 61 percent (Reuters). These figures are considered alarming because drop out rates are increasing in an inversely proportional manner to what is required in the workforce in the near future. Instead of increasing the graduation rate as it is projected that 59 % of jobs will already require a college degree by 2018, it is the drop out rate that is increasing with the country having the graduation rate of 38.3 percent (O’Connor). It seems that jobs in the future especially the high paying ones will not be filled by Americans especially with what the current unemployment statistics show that people without a college degree has twice the chance to be unemployed. In the state of Florida, the figure is also equally startling. O’Connor reported that the State is not producing enough college graduates who would fill up future job market demand. It is even below the already national low nati onal gradation rate of 38.3 percent, graduating only 36.5 percent of its enrollees. This same issue was highlighted was Dr. Eduardo J. Padron, President of Miami Dade where he is not pleased with the graduation rate of those who are college ready registering only a 39% graduation rate. He stressed that given this not so pleasing figures, the focus to complete college today â€Å"is very intense and urgent† – â€Å"to have a standards and practice from outside the College, or to define completion from within; to define it by our success† (Padron). This concern of Dr. Padron about â€Å"Standards and practice from outside the College, or to define completion from within; to define it by our success† was about the quality of education that students receive in schools and their appropriateness in real world setting. The problem about low graduation is further beset by this issue because it implies that the already low graduates in the United States does not s atisfy the quantity and quality of what is needed in the workforce. The current educational system of the United States has been widely critique as not grounded on the realities on the workplace as do not teaching the students how to succeed and become financially independent (Kiyosaki). So the actual problem of the educational system in the US is not only confined to low rate of graduates but also the quality of its graduates. Dr.

What are the rules that apply for collecting unemployment compensation Research Paper

What are the rules that apply for collecting unemployment compensation in Rhode Island - Research Paper Example The Universal Declaration of Human Rights states "Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment."However, every right enjoyed must fulfil responsibilities that go with it. Hence labor laws the world over have been laid down to protect both the employer as well as the employee, so that neither can take undue advantage of the other. In the US, the Department of Labor has laid down statutes and regulations that govern wages, benefits, safety, health and non discrimination policies. The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs clearly states in its executive order, â€Å"The contractor will not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.† (Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs) The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) lays down standards for minimum wages and overtime pay that can be claimed by worke rs under various categories. FLSA covers over 130 million workers employed in public and private sector enterprises. Under this Act basic hourly wages are defined under various categories wherein age, skills and other considerations of the employee are taken into account and exemptions are given to certain categories of student workers who can be employed below standard minimum wages. However it is mandatory for the employer to post a notice explaining the minimum wage act in places where it can be easily accessed by employees. The Department of Labor strictly enforces the requirements of the Act and when violations are discovered, the employer is requested to pay back wages wherever applicable. Employees also have the right to file a suit in case of violation of the Act and can be reimbursed up to two years back wages, in addition to damages, attorney’s fees and court charges. The Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) ensures that employees work in a safe and healthful e nvironment that is free from hazards to their health. The employer must ensure that adequate training has been given to employees in the use of safety equipment. However, the employee’s conduct and actions too must comply with safety rules set down by the employer, like use of protective equipment where necessary. The general duty clause of the OSHA clearly states that the employer "shall furnish to each of his employees employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to his employees" (Basic Provisions of OSHA). Although OSHA has separated its safety standards into different categories, some provisions that address issues like personal protective equipment and hazard communication are similar for all employees. OSHA also offers information in various formats as well as training and consultation services to educate people about safety and health hazards, as well as precautions t o be taken to ensure safe work environments. This act is geared to prevent injury and work environment related illness or disease and strives to maximize the safety and health of every employee. The Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) is responsible for administering the Employee Retirement Income Security Act. (ERISA) EBSA has the authority to ensure that employees receive these benefits promised by the employer. ERISA includes welfare plans that benefit employees while they are in active service as well as at the time of retirement or termination of employment. Such welfare plans include health benefits, disability or death benefits as well as scholarship benefits, daycare benefits, training and apprenticeship and a host of other such benefits. Unemployment Insurance is a program funded by taxes paid by the employer. This program ensures that economic stability is maintained among the unemployed. It provides temporary and often partial wages to those who have lost the ir jobs through no fault of their own. The Unemployment

Changing Labor Markets and Demographics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Changing Labor Markets and Demographics - Essay Example Based on this, economic security is not only achievable by one being in employment but also the amount of work and the remuneration he or she gets from employment (Schiller, 2008). Two approaches are instrumental when measuring the length of time that one works. These include the number of weeks one spends at work in a year and the number of hours one spends in a week. Cumulatively, this leads to the computation of the sum of hours a worker spends in employment for a whole year. According to available statistics, the higher the number of weeks spent at work by households, the lower the rates of poverty. This statement directly affects workers who work part time. There are more full time workers than part time in the economy. This insinuates that the work experience of the poor is not properly highlighted by such a rate of incidence. According to the U.S Department of Labor, â€Å"persons who have devoted 27 weeks or more to working or looking for work and who lived in families with incomes below the official poverty threshold† are denoted as the working poor (U.S Department of Labor, 2012). In chapter 8 of the same book, Schiller traces back the poverty situation in America during the 1960s. During this period, many Americans believed that targeted assistance and economic growth could eliminate poverty. This was the War on Poverty initiated by Lyndon Johnson. The results of the war include an improved economy, 70 per cent rise in house incomes and an expanded employed labor hitting the 70 million mark. The U.S government dedicated a significant proportion of its expenditure than ran into billions of dollars into programs that aid the poor. However, poverty is yet to disappear in totality (Lofquist, Lugaila, Lofquist, & Feliz, 2012). This is because even the 1980s and 90s, economic expansions have only reduced the population of the poor in the U.S dismally. The fact that increased economic growth is unable to tame poverty levels is an issue that has elici ted numerous debates. One such debate focused on the existence of an underclass. These poor people have been alienated along social lines. These persons fail to match with the conventional values, prosperity and incentives (Jenkins, 2012). Schiller decided to explore the culture of poverty to understand the reason behind the existence of this group within the American population. This culture spans back to the colonial times when poverty was regarded as the symptom of sin or a vice. This was attributable to the availability of opportunities of economic security that could be acquired by self except the black man. In this context, the poor people were considered as morally bankrupt and received harsh treatment. For instance, the shoulders of the paupers in Pennsylvania were marked with letter P to serve as warning to unsuspecting members of the population. These kinds of culture portray how some behaviors and norms contributed to the difficulties when addressing poverty (Lofquist, Lu gaila, Lofquist, & Feliz, 2012). Mishel, Bivens, Gould and Shierholz in The State of Working America, examine how the policy driven inequality blocks affect the living standards for the low and middle income Americans. The authors share the view that the United States’ economy has done nothing to improve the living standards for majority of American households. This is because wealth inequality accruing from unfair rise in income and wages characterizes the economy. The rise in this trend is attributable to policy responses that

Testing on Animals. Some people are FOR and some people are against Essay

Testing on Animals. Some people are FOR and some people are against - Essay Example Animal testing or animal research involves using animals other than humans for doing research. While such studies may involve mere observation of the animals or their behaviors, in most cases, tin many cases, they involve subjecting the animals to unnatural situations such as in the case of drug testing. Some of the animals that are commonly used in research include mice, guinea pigs, frogs, birds, zebra fish, and primates, to mention but a few (Humane Society International, 2014). Different organizations offer different statistics relating to the number of animals that are used for research across the world and in the U.S. annually. According to Speaking of Research (2014), between 13.6 and 25 million animals are used for research in the United States annually. According to ProCon (2014), roughly 26 million animals are subjected to research tests for commercial or scientific purposes in the United States of America alone annually. In New Zealand and Australia, in excess of six milli on animals are used for teaching and testing annually according to Animals Australia (2014). The statistics, as varied as they are for the few countries mentioned, are nothing short of appalling. The reality is that millions of animals are used for experimentation throughout the world, and more so in developed countries. Do Something (2014) notes that more than 100 million animals suffer burns, abuse, or are poisoned in labs in the United States annually. Many of the animals used for testing die accidentally during the tests or are intentionally killed by researchers. One wonders whether or not it is right for animals to be subjected to pain and suffering by humans as they try to look for solutions that face the world. Different people have different views concerning animal testing. While some experts note that animal testing is useful because it goes a long way in saving humans from preventable deaths and provides good testing grounds for new products, others note that the

Why did the First Crusade erupt Essay Example for Free

Why did the First Crusade erupt Essay The First Crusade was a monumental event of the 11th century, where thousands of ordinary people took up the cross to make the extremely long and perilous journey to Jerusalem to fight the ‘other’; the Muslim threat. Inspired by extreme devotion to God and His church, people made this decision based on a single speech. Jonathan Philips argues that Pope Urban II’s speech in 1095 had managed to draw together a number of key concerns and trends, synthesising them into a â€Å"single, highly popular idea†, which led to the First Crusade. Described often as an ambitious politician, it is certain that the Pope intended this to happen, for various motives, and his audience were ready consumers of the information he proclaimed to them. Pope Urban’s motives for his iconic speech in Clermont were largely restorative and ambitious. He wanted to restore Papal authority in the East, towards the Mediterranean, by recapturing the place known as the centre of the world, Jerusalem. The Holy Land had been taken from them 400 years earlier, so it would be fair to agree with Asbridge that the situation â€Å"hadn’t deteriorated significantly in the years before 1095†. It can be argued that the Pope was recycling old events, dressing them in inflammatory language to create the â€Å"explosive material† he needed. Following in the footsteps of his ambitious predecessor Pope Gregory VII, he wanted to establish himself as the greatest leader in Europe; emphasising his papal role as God’s representative on Earth; above mere kings or emperors. The act of commanding great forces of the people of Europe for a single cause would demonstrate this kind of power. It would also act as a kind of unifying force for Europe that was fractured since the Great Schism of 1054, an event which undermined the Pope’s authority. The schism created the rival body to the Pope; the Greek Orthodox church, seated in the great Byzantine Empire. Pope Urban’s source material for his speech which caused the eruption of the First Crusade came from a plea. Preceding the eruption of the First Crusade, its new young leader Alexios I was in trouble, and improving relations between the two old rival Churches made him able to request help from Urban II in 1095. Seemingly attacked from all sides, Alexios had sought the help from mercenaries to help with the first of his problems, the Pagans in the North. In 1082 the Pope helped him stall Norman insurgents, although typhoid was a better eradicator of the threat they posed to Alexios. However the greatest  of his problems lay in the militant Seljuk Turks, new Muslim converts who were swiftly taking East Byzantine and swiftly crushed the limited Byzantine forces at the Battle of Manzikert. For this threat Alexios needed a greater force than he could muster. In March 1095 he sent envoys to interrupt a papal council in Paicenza, asking for the Pope to send aid to help the Muslim threat in Asia Minor. He also exaggerated the threat facing him, as although it was â€Å"serious, it was not necessarily as catastrophic as Alexios depicted it at the Council†. Therefore when Urban gave is speech, it was under the premise of passing on Alexios’ message to the people of Western Europe, so it was twice exaggerated, making it more sensational and causing the eruption of the First Crusade. It can be argued that Alexios’ request was not the most important factor as it was merely a tool used by Urban to fit in with his own agenda. If it had not occurred Urban could still have relied on historical skirmishes with Islam over the Holy Land, inflaming them enough to seem an urgent responsibility. Whilst Urban may have had his own personal motives, and these may have conveniently coincided with the Byzantine crisis to create a compelling argument, this alone would never have caused the eruption of the First Crusade if it hadn’t been for the fanatical reaction garnered from the people. This was because of the extremely important religious factor, the centuries-old medieval phenomena which Urban was not totally responsible for. It may be difficult for contemporary audiences to fully understand that total, unconditional, and unquestioning faith in God and religion â€Å"knitted every human together in Western Europe†, as Asbridge put it. The rituals of the Church dictated the rhythm of everyone’s lives, and doctrine of the Church was of ultimate importance as it represented the key to heaven. Medieval introspective and sin-obsessed societies focused on this end goal. Sin was feared but still was a common occurence, particularly in a society where violence was normalised. Penance, or absolution of sin, was the answer, and whilst standard Confession with a priest was thought of as being sufficient for more minor (venial) sins, the ultimate act of penitence was undoubtedly the Pilgrimage. In a largely allegorical, illiterate culture, the pilgrimage was shown to have magical qualities. In a world where the lines between the figurative and literal blurred, for some there was little distinction between the Holy Land and heaven itself. Urban indicated eternal bliss as  near guarantee as a result of this crusade. The more dangerous, the more sacrificial it was, the more devotion was shown to God, worthy of reward. However this strong religious culture alone would not have caused the eruption of the First Crusade; without a world leader with his well-heard message of God’s calling the fractured peoples of Europe would not have been able to organise on that scale. In conclusion I would argue that Pope Urban was the primary cause of the eruption of the First Crusade. His â€Å"rousing sermon† was very cleverly calculated to manipulate the vulnerable masses to the greatest extent possible, demonstrating the power of emotive rhetoric. The religious culture was one that existed many centuries before the event, and conflicts like the one experienced by Alexios were not uncommon. Instead it was Pope Urban, the politician, who tied these two factors together, if not for the benefit for his Church, then for his career. Bibliography Phillips, J. (2002). The Crusades, 1095-1197. 1st ed. Pearson Education. Jones, T. Crusades. (1995). BBC. Riley-Smith, J. (2014). The Crusades: A History. 3rd ed. London: Bloomsbury Academic. Purser, T. (2009). The First Crusade and the Crusader States 1073-1192. 1st ed. Oxford: Heinemann Notes

College Development Essay Example for Free

College Development Essay Residential life is part of almost every college or university. When most people think about residential life, they think of dorms and roommates; however, residential life is much more. The organizations are mostly divided into three units that make it all work: residence life programs, housing operations, and room assignments. (College and university,) Residence life is one of the major parts of a student’s environment. They only spend about twenty percent of their time in classrooms, as they spend most of their free time in housing. Residential life helps students to develop as young adults and future leaders. â€Å"The purpose of residence life programs is to provide educational programming, nonclinical counseling, and support for student learning†. (College and university,) People who are employed in residential programs mostly focus on improving student life and its safety, which helps to develop communication skills among people and also increase personal growth among student peers. The second unit of resident life is housing operations; they deal with daily tasks such as cleanliness, construction, and management. In a residential setting, is important to keep the environment clean and the buildings running properly in order for the community to work. The last unit of residential life is room assignments, in which finding the best-fit roommate is the most important. This area of residential life is designated to make room changes and monitor the occupancy of other housings. If there is a situation where problem occurs among roommates, the roommate assignment staff tries to find the best solution to find a resolution. Although it is often not realized, Residential Life is a big part of student life as it is a major factor in shaping a student’s experience in the institution. To ensure that residential life is at its best, the institution hires educated and professional staff. Almost every floor in each dorm has a residential assistant, who is responsible for maintaining a positive environment and be there for students if they are having a hard time adjusting. Residential assistants also welcome the students back to their dorms and inform students about upcoming activities and clubs. At the beginning of the school year, the RA creates a Facebook page for the people that they are responsible for and have group meetings to discuss issues and regulations. This helps new students feel welcome in their dorm and creates an environment where students can interact with other people in their dorms. Most dorms also have residence directors or graduate assistance. â€Å"Their responsibilities usually include staff development of their RAs, student counseling, educational programming, enforcement of institutional policies in the residence halls, and may also include other functions such as academic advising, intramural sports adviser, and facilities management†. (â€Å"College and university,) If the RA cannot deal with a problem, they report to residence director or graduate assistance, depending on who is available to their building. The staff goes through training to make sure that every need of a student is met. â€Å"There is a strong need for well-qualified, educated, and trained entry-lever live-in professional staff in campus residence halls to support and achieve the academic and educational goals of the institution† (Belch, Wilson Dunkel). It is important for students to be engaged and connected to school spirit, as it is more likely that they will remain in that institution. (Brooks). Each institution wants to give the best experience and education possible to their students. The person that oversees the Residential Assistants, Residential Directors, and Graduate Assistances is the Assistant Director of Residential Life. Keyne Cahoon is the Assistant Director of residential Life at Northeastern University and has many tasks during the day that keep her busy: â€Å"My primary responsibility is to directly supervise 5, 2 GAs, and indirectly supervise approximately 50 RAs. Additionally, I am responsible for the overall administration of the residential student conduct process (so I work with OSCCR to review and assign cases where residential student are involved), I am in charge of the professional staff recruitment and selection process (so I recruit and coordinate the process to hire all RDs and Assistant Directors of Residential Life), and I serve as a core team member of We Care†. (Cahoon, 2013) Being an Assistant Director of Residential Life is more than just dealing with housing situations. It involves a lot of communication among co-workers, documentations, and solving sometimes-unrealistic problems. Keyne Cahoon enjoys this challenge: â€Å"I enjoy students’ energy and excitement. I enjoy helping them figure out a problem and helping them solve it themselves†. (Cahoon, 2013) She is really involved in the community and enjoys every second of it. She finds her job very interesting and her passion makes her job a hobby. The only person who oversees her work is Brie McCormick, the Associate Director of Residential Life. She supervises the Assistant Director of Residential Life and deals with a lot of day-to-day issues for the department as a whole. The Associate Dean of Cultural, Residential Spiritual Life of Northeastern University is Robert Jose. He represents the Residential life as a whole unit. The theories that Residential Life uses are theories of organizations and campus environments, typology theories and models, and student success theories. All of these theories have the main focus to improve on student life outside of the classroom. Residential Life aims to provide complex learning by giving students the opportunities to make friends, be part of a groups or a clubs, play a sports, and much more. Living in dorms teaches them how to deal with every day situations in classrooms or outside. Students will be able to be â€Å"able to apply acquired knowledge to everyday situations, able to communicate clearly and effectively, acts responsibly to others, is civic minded, understands and appreciates those of other nationalities and cultures, is self-aware, and has a sense of connectedness to the university†. (Brooks) Living in the dorms helps students prepare for life after college or university and enables them to apply the things they have learned to a variety of situations. References Belch, H. A. , Wilson, M. E. , Dunkel, N. (n. d. ). Cultures of success:recruiting and retaining new live-in residence life professionals. The College Student Affairs Journal, 27(2), 176-193. Brooks, S. E. (n. d. ). The connection between residence life and first-year student retention at the university of Pittsburgh. The Journal of College and University Student Housing, 37(1), 12-23. College and university residence halls purpose of residence halls, organization and administration, residence hall staffing, residence hall student government read more: College and university residence halls purpose of residence halls, organization and administration, residence hall staffing, residence hall student government. (n. d. ). Retrieved from.

Reflection Paper: Socialization and Self-Identity

Reflection Paper: Socialization and Self-Identity Introduction I grew up in an average middle class family, whereby I attended a public primary school during early years of my life. Life was quite simple in primary school because almost all pupils were friendly and there were no social divisions both in class and outside. However, life was different when I went to high school, with the existence of a caste system that drew distinct boundaries between the middle class students who were well behaved and the lower class students associated with rudeness and truancy. Socialization in Relation to Self Identity According to Styker (1980), sociological approach to self identity is based on assumption of an existence of a relationship between oneself and the society, whereby the self influences the society through individual actions thus creating groups, networks and institutions. Likewise, the society influences self through shared meanings and language that enable someone to engage in social interactions and reflect upon himself/herself as an object. My primary school life was greatly shaped by society within a conducive environment that never encouraged social divisions among pupils but embraced a unified community, where everyone seemed to conform to norms and regulations of the school. This is further supported by social identity theory that emphasizes on identity as being embedded in a social group or category rather than role behavior (Turner, Hogg, Oakes, Reicher, Wetherell 1987). Life in high school was quite different from that of primary school as I had to identify with either the middle class students who conformed to school regulations or identify with the lower class students, who were truant, rude and cared less about school rules and regulations. This called for need to reflect, evaluate and plan accordingly in order to bring out my future state and achieve consciousness with respect to my own existence in school. Initially, I was torn between the two cliques of students because much as I desired to perform well in school, I also wanted to drink, smoke and do the crazy things that teenagers do. After critical self evaluation, I found myself striking a balance between the two sets of students and had two different sets of social lives. I could occasionally identify with the middle class students who were well behaved when I needed to study and equally strike a balance in being popular with the truant group, especially when I needed to smoke, drink and m isbehave. Such decision came after some crisis (Mercia 2008). According to Marcias identity status theory, ones sense of identity is largely determined by choices and commitments made in respect to personal and social traits. Focusing on adolescent development, Mercia (2008) points out that adolescent stage consists neither of identity resolution nor identity confusion, but rather the degree to which one has explored and committed to an identity in a variety of life domains from education, religion, relational choices and gender roles among others. Marcias theory of identity achievement argues that two distinct parts form an adolescents identity, namely; crisis and commitment. He defined a crisis as a time of upheaval where old values or choices are being reexamined and further argues that the end outcome of a crisis leads to a commitment made to a certain role or value. Living comfortably with the two sets of students explains the notion that there are as many different selves as there are different positions that one holds in society as well as to different groups responding to self (James 1890). This brings out my overall self that has multiple identities, with each identity being tied to aspects of the social structure (Burke 1980). When associating with the truant group of students, the only things we did and discussed were those relevant to the group such as planning how to misbehave, where to drink, smoke and do other things that were against school rules. On the other hand, identifying with disciplined group of students restricted me to discuss and do things that were relevant to identity of the group such as class assignments and group discussions. This boosted my psychological well being as well as social skills that enabled me to fit well in school society as supported by Thoits (2001), who argues that greater psychological well- being all ows individuals to actively acquire multiple role identities over time. Furthermore research has proved that making roles and accumulating role identities equally fosters greater psychological well being. Being able to identify and associate with two sets of students in high school can be attributed to identity theory. Stryker (1980) describes identity theory as a micro- sociological theory that links self attitudes or identities to the role- related behavior of individuals. It takes into account individual role relationships and identity variability, motivation and differentiation. This implies that my behavior in any of the two groups was dependant on shared responses and behavioral expectations emerging from social interactions. Exchange theory further supports my interaction with two sets of students as it views commitment as being influenced by repeated exchange agreement, which generate emotional connection among group members in the form of satisfaction (Lawler Yoon 1996). Socialization in Relation to Academic Performance Ability to identify with the disciplined set of students gave me satisfaction, both academically and psychologically as learning requires diligence and obedience, qualities that are widely associated with feminists. On the other hand, associating with truant group of students gave me the excitement and drive to enjoy my teenage life as well as performance of masculinity, which is associated with the highest social status in state schooling environment, a status that I could only achieve through identifying with truant group of students (Fine 2003 Renold 2006). I was an extrovert, popular with my peers and a high academic achiever. Friends were my most enjoyable aspect of school and I accentuated communication and relationships with friends, while maintaining good heterosexual relationships that invested more in emotional instead of physical aspects of the relationships within the two sets of friends. Research has shown that high achievement in class does not necessarily constitute classroom isolation and unpopularity, thus students identified as high achieving are equally popular. Based on this observation, it can be argued that high academic achievement is not impending the popularity of a student and the sociability of a student may indicate that strong social skills contribute to high academic achievement as was my case (Jackson, 2006). Francis, Skelton Read (2010) indicate in their research that sociability of students results to increased levels of confidence for boys and girls regardless of their social class, pointing out that high performing students are often highly aware of their high academic achievement and this achievement awareness preoccupation delineates the notion of giftedness. I was able to excel academically because I was comfortable with my perceived high academic ability and I never underestimated my achievement in relation to my peers, unlike what most girls do. Being vividly aware of my own authenticity, I managed to construct my popularity based on my intrinsic merit factors such as friendliness, sociability and kindness. I was actively engaged in class work and worked hard, completing all assignments even in challenging conditions. Furthermore, I was an enthusiastic participant in class and was always ready to execute given tasks during classes. I was in good terms with teachers and this added value to my performance of attitude. My talks and actions frequently dominated during my days in high school as I was loud, assertive and at the center of events, unlike my low achieving and less popular peers, who were more extrinsic and obsessed with factors such as good looks. I however considered myself good looking and fashionable in appearance during those days. My physical attractiveness and stylish clothing enhanced my classroom relationships and contributed greatly in bringing a balance between my popularity and academic achievement. This i s in agreement with Butler (1993) and Kehily (2006) who indicate that physical appearance facilitates and contributes to sociability, confidence and sometimes academic excellence. My performance enhancing qualities are in agreement with self categorization theory that describes how people define themselves at group level as well as at an individual level, considering group and individual identities to be different levels of self categorization and more distinct from each other as opposed to social identity theory (Hogg and Terry 2000). Employing this theory gave me an opportunity to have unlimited range of identities based on context and convenience to achieve desired objectives based on targeted achievement with any particular kind of behavior. In their contribution to social identity theories, Lucey and Reay (2002) observe that academic success and excellence cannot exist without failure, supporting the fact that some students must be marked as failures for others to be identified as successful. This explains my academic excellence and equally explains poor performance for some of my peers. Conclusion Human beings are social beings and need each other to coexist, a fact supported by the existence of social theories of identity, which explain personal, interpersonal as well as group relationships. As a teenager and a student, social theories of identity worked to my advantage as I managed to strike a balance between different categories of social groups in favor of my performance and social life. I lived well in high school because I could use social theories to manipulate situations for the sake of a peaceful and harmonious existence, while at the same time quenching my curiosity for exciting teenage experience. If well used, social theories can bring success to ones academic performance and fruitful relationships that support peaceful coexistence within a given society.

Essay --

Introduction The recent combat operations in Afghanistan and Iraq have exposed our military personnel to intense ground combat and hazardous duty. Studies are needed to thoroughly assess the mental health of military personnel who have served in these operations and to reform policy with regard to effective delivery of mental health services to returning veterans. The US Armed Forces has been trying to implement different programs to encourage military service members to seek help when needed; but are these efforts enough? It is true that the prognosis for a better quality of life for veterans suffering with PTSD is increased through early intervention but no one can force anyone to seek help. According to the national studies 1 in 5 veterans report symptoms of mental disorders. In recent years the VA has developed the Seamless Transition Program which targets the group of soldiers who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. The focus of the program is to deliver a high level of care in a short amount of time but, most importantly, they're using a holistic approach. This approach requires c...

Clothing Is a Mode of Non-Verbal Communication Essay -- Nonverbal Comm

Crossed arms, dilated pupils, and fake smiles are all examples of nonverbal communication. However, the one that may have the biggest impact on a person’s opinion of the wearer is the type of clothing he or she is wearing. Clothing is often the first impression of a person that someone gets, whether it is accurate or not. People often use clothing to indicate their age, gender, political views, and economic class. Without even realizing it, most people make assumptions about a person based on their clothing. People make assumptions and pass judgment about other’s emotional, moral, education, and social prestige (Dynamism of Fashion Among Female Undergraduates and its Effects in the Sight of Beholders in a University of Education, Nigeria 2011). We commonly expect people to dress a certain way before we learn anything about them personally, or their qualifications. So often, people try to pick out their nicest outfits when they are attempting to make a good first impression before the employer ever ask them any questions. First impressions are very important and clothing is usually one of the prime factors in determining them (Pelham 2010). A person’s personality and cultural beliefs can be communicated through their clothing options. Clothing can also be used to tell whether the wearer is conventional or audacious, outgoing or aloof, casual or organized, a leader or a follower, or poised or insecure. However, making assumptions like the ones previously stated can be mistaken (Dynamism of Fashion Among Female Undergraduates and its Effects in the Sight of Beholders in a University of Education, Nigeria 2011). Clothing styles such as very tight clothes may be suggestive, showing off, or possibly even unappealing, while clo... ...be identified as an Indian or as Hindu while she may very well be neither (Pelham 2010). I am often told that people are watching me. Not to hear what I say, but to see what I do, how I do it, and even what I’m wearing. While they watch me, they are forming their own opinions. Whether or not their opinions are factual is not the point, the point is that they are basing their assumptions on nonverbal communication. The outcome is that nonverbal communication can be misconstrued at any time; it just depends on the person analyzing it. Works Cited "Dynamism of Fashion Among Female Undergraduates and its Effects in the Sight of Beholders in a University of Education, Nigeria." Academic Leadership The Online Journal 9, no. 2 March 2011. Web. 20 March 2015 Pelham, Libby. Clothing as a Form of Non Verbal Communication. July 12, 2010. Web. 20 March 2015

Creating a Strong and Unified America :: Exploratory Essays Research Papers

Creating a Strong and Unified America Motoring down the roadway, I take in blurs of red, white, and blue, whizzing past my scope of vision. I am referring to, of course, the vast number of American flags attached to the cars of local residents and residents throughout the nation. This sudden splurge of patriotism can be attributed to the war, but that is not to say that patriotism has not existed before this war—it has also existed during the course of every American war, along with the cries of anti-war protestors. But does patriotism stand as strong during times of peace? One of the many duties of citizens is to love the nation they are born into because a nation depends on individuals who understand what it means to be a citizen. To begin understanding citizenship, we must first have an idea of America’s past. In David McCullough’s essay â€Å"Why History?† he writes, â€Å"The Department of Education reported that more than half of all high school seniors hadn’t even the slightest basic understanding of American History†(88). We must know our history to know where we came from, and according to a speech by Alan Kors, professor of history at the University of Pennsylvania, it is important for us to understand mistakes made by our nation in the past so as to not â€Å"†¦lose sight of human moral weakness†¦Ã¢â‚¬ (9). The moral weaknesses Kors references are anti-Semitism, racial discrimination, corruption of power, and, of course, slavery. Kors explains that we should not look down at our nation for the existence of these flaws, but rather look at how they have been for the most part abolished. America welcomes Jews; racial injustices were addre ssed in the 14th and 15th Amendments. Slavery, which is â€Å"the most universal of all human institutions,†(Kors 9) was dubbed as an immoral practice by American â€Å"†¦values and agency†¦Ã¢â‚¬ (Kors 9) and was abolished. A nation cannot exist without citizens who understand the morals and values by which it was established and also what responsibilities they must live up to. In an essay by Peter Gomes, he quotes the American judge at the Nuremberg Trials as saying, â€Å"†¦it is the function of the citizen to keep the government from falling into error†(Jackson qtd.

“A Modest Proposal” Essay Essay

Word choice gives Swift artillery to create satire in â€Å"A Modest Proposal†. In â€Å"A Modest Proposal†, Swift uses several different words to create satire, one of which is the word ‘breeders’. He uses the term breeders in reference to the women. In several paragraphs he talks about these breeders and their role. â€Å"I calculate there may be about 200,000 couples whose wives are breeders;†(Swift 2) The way that he refers to the women as breeders instead of mothers, wives or women creates satire. Instead of talking about them he talks about what they do. Or what they are supposed to do. This makes good artillery because referring to the women as breeders gives them a significant role and satire is created because instead of being known as women and mothers they are now breeders. In beginning his proposal Swift uses the word ‘scheme’ before he gets into too much detail about what he has in mind. This word is an excellent word to use to start off. â€Å"As to my own part, having turned my thoughts for many years upon this important subject, and maturely weighed the several schemes of our projectors†(Swift 1) Scheme meaning â€Å"A systematic plan of action† very well describes the plan that is later laid out by swift to solve the issues he talks about. â€Å"There is likewise another great advantage in my scheme†.(Swift 1) He immediately explains how his scheme will â€Å"prevent voluntary abortions, and that horrid practice of women murdering their bastard children†.(Swift 1,2) It’s ironic how he says that then a little bit further down he says: â€Å"I have been assured by a very knowing American of my acquaintance in London, that a young healthy child well nursed is at a year old a most delicious, nourishing, and wholesome food, whether stewed, roasted, baked, or broiled†.(Swift 2) It’s pure satire to not abort the child so that they can be eaten at the age of one, don’t murder them before they’re born, wait a year. The word scheme makes excellent artillery as it is used to signify that the plan that Swift has is a clever plan and wasn’t just thought up over night. He also uses the word advantage throughout the text. â€Å"There is likewise another great advantage in my scheme†.(Swift 1) â€Å"Many other advantages might be enumerated.†(Swift 3) The word disadvantage cannot be found. Therefore  everyone has something to gain from the proposal and nothing will be lost. The word advantage is definite artillery, especially if you’re one of the wealthy people. They have nothing to loose and Swifts’ Proposal would benefit them entirely. It also creates satire; as for those who are not wealthy there is not an advantage except for only having to live in poverty for a shorter period of time, being able to contribute to society and for the general public, less beggars and homeless on the streets. Therefore the streets are cleaner, less hectic, not as crowded and just plain better. Works Cited Swift, Jonathon â€Å"A Modest Proposal† 75 Reading plue ed. Santi V. Buscemi, Charlotte Smith. McGraw-Hill. USA, 2000. www.dictionary.com

Apply Problem Solving

Problem solving is not always an easy task to tackle. During my years of work experience I have seen and been part of several problem solving situations, and everyone is different, and everyone handles these situations differently. In order to solve them successfully sometimes you have to persuade certain people and sometimes science needs to prove it wrong or right. Working in title and escrow can be frustrating, challenging, long hours, and most importantly extremely stressful.This was the career path I was on over nine years ago, and my thoughts were that I would be doing this position for the rest of my career. The mortgage industry was very hectic and busy at the time and people were refinancing their homes and some were refinancing twice a year. The rates were incredible and housing prices continued to rise, and it seemed as if everyone was either buying new homes or refinancing their existing homes. The economy at the time was doing well and many people were buying new items a nd charging them.We would cut many checks to credit card companies to pay off their balances through the refinance stage. The better the rates became the busier we became, but we didn’t higher any new employees. We were all working long hours and as the months went on instead of working until six in the evening we were working until eight or nine in the evening and sometimes on the weekends. My manager kept expressing to the higher management that we needed to higher more employees to keep up with the demand and give the same high quality of service.They continued to ignore her and continued to brush it off. Until one day when she crunched the numbers and showed them that the company was burning out their employees and spending so much money on overtime. In the last six months with all the overtime they, spent they could have hired an additional three people and still would have been less expensive for the company. The management finally realized that they needed to hire on t wo more people to keep up with the work and continue to strive with our quality of customer service and not burn out the employees they had.In the following two weeks we had two new assistants and we were all able to work until our scheduled time five in the evening and no more weekends. About 10 years ago I was diagnosed with gastritis which is when the lining of my stomach becomes inflamed, irritated, or erosion happens. This is caused by stress, eating spicy foods, dairy products, and eating acetic products such as tomatoes or oranges. I went through different tests to be diagnosed and when the doctors diagnosed me they wanted me to take antacid prescribed drugs such as Prevacid and Nexium.Yes these were both scientific drugs, but they were not helping the situation. I was still having nausea and stomach pains while I was taking the prescribed drugs. Eventually I spoke to a friend who was going to a holistic doctor and would not stop talking about how great she was. During this t ime I was married and my husband was a paramedic so of course he did not believe in alternative medicine. He was against it and thought it would never work. Even though he was not opened to alternative medicine I was. Being miserable I realized and figured out that it would not hurt to try and talk to her.I meet with her and she put me on some natural herbal release pills and probiotic pills. Within days I was benefiting from those natural herbs. I was able to slowly bring dairy and acetic products gradually back into my diet and not feel the nausea or receive the stomach cramps. Since that day I have not taken Prevacid or Nexium and I feel great. I do believe in scientific medicine, but I also believe in natural herbs that come from the ground. Through this process I learned that we cannot be closed minded and need to be opened to other possibilities at certain times.Through my experiences in title and escrow I realized that you cannot change everything, and if there are certain is sues or problems that need to be changed or fixed that at times certain people need to see the facts before they believe it or change it. With my diagnosis I am very happy that I was opened to new ideas and didn’t only believe what others believed because if I did I might not have been able to manage my gastritis. In life we experience many things, and there are always problems to be solved, but what matters is how you go about solving them.

Jane Addams and Civic Housekeeping Essay

In the early 20th century, more and more issues began to face cities of the United States. Specific issues that cities began facing more and more included the rise in poor sanitation and health concerns in local tenement housing. In order for women to gain access to the public sphere and emerge out of the private sphere, and gain some sort of status with the men of society, Jane Addams proposed the idea of â€Å"civic housekeeping† which would let women use their skills from the home in order to clean up the issues in local tenement housing and ultimately, in the local government. Growing up in the post-Civil War era, Jane Addams was born into a wealthy family, fueled by her father’s political and business success. Jane was raised in a way, by her powerful father, John Addams, that she was instilled with a strong sense of leadership and pride. John Addams died while Jane was at a very young age of 21, and was changed emotionally for the rest of her life, and it even affected her relationships with men later in life, as she was never married. Jane was very devoted to her father and loved him very much, and their close relationship was important to Jane as she kept his memory for the entirety of her life. While the idea of educating women in the post-Civil War time period was not very popular, Jane Addams was encouraged by her father to attend college at the Rockford Female Seminary. This encouragement was not given with love, but with the idea of John Addams expressing his power and wealth, which enabled him to send his children to college and get an education. Jane was very successful in her time at Rockford University, being an integral part of her college debate team and a huge participant in her classes. Jane Addams, so highly educated and respected among women, and even men in society, was called the â€Å"model of feminine excellence in the American terms4,† and was seen as a savior for women across the United States who wished to spread their roots and do something more important with their lives while serving their country at the same time. Jane Addams was a very intellectual and prominent female for a woman of her time period, considering she attended college, which was uncommon for many females until more recent years. Attending college as Jane Addams did in her time period, was an opportunity that women were just starting to get as colleges for women began to open, in addition to universities already in existence beginning to accept women into their programs5. Addams was seen as a great influence among women in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. She was also viewed as progressive and conventional, which was essential for someone to be in the quickly emer ging, industrializing future of the United States. Her topics of speech were ones that were talked about across the country, and more specifically and especially, at the University of Chicago, where she was praised. Addams’ interest in social activism would lead to her, and a college friend, Ellen Gates Starr, to beginning their first venture in social activism and seen as an act of genius, opening their first settlement house, also known as a â€Å"Hull-House,† in which the name was given due to the previous owners of the homes in Chicago. This Hull-House that Addams and Starr opened would later, while not the first in the United States, become the most known settlement home in the nation. This was only the beginning of Jane Addams’ personal journey into the public sphere, and more importantly, the inspiration for many women to try and start their own journeys towards gaining entry into the public eye and gaining any sort of right that would grant them the abilities to do what the men in their lives, which were their husbands, sons, fathers and brothers have been doing since before anybody could remember. The starting of Jane Addams’ journey was one that would bring only positive impacts to the United States, with a few bumps in the road of course. By starting the tenement houses in Chicago through the Hull Houses, Jane Addams and Ellen Starr had already begun their journey into the  public sphere. Through opening the tenement houses and allowing people to see them and come live in them helped the two women make a name for themselves, with the more well-known woman of the pair being recognized for much more, was Jane Addams herself. Addams saw rights and freedom for women as a â€Å"perfectly possible† thing to attain, as she was optimistic and very assertive on her way to work for women’s equality and rights. The optimism that Jane Addams had was not without a price to pay on her part, as there were many negatives that had to be dealt with along the way like setbacks in acting, legislation, supporters, etc. These settlement housing complexes, along with other emerging municipally supported housing and projects, were failing considerably as time went on, in more ways than not. Ways these housing and government projects were failing were in hygiene and sanitation, in addition to perishable products that went uninspected, like meat and dairy products, which eventually made citizens very ill, and even killed a few. Local factories emitting toxic fumes also did not help the issue at all. Toward the late 19th century, as more and more women began entering the workforce and emerging from the home, into the public sphere, the need for women in local government and important jobs began to be pressed on local leaders. Getting women out of the home, being the private sphere, and into the public sphere through her ideas of â€Å"civic housekeeping† was Jane Addams’ main goal in society. â€Å"Civil Housekeeping,† was a term that Addams used to refer to the cleaning up that women needed to do in tenement homes, local buildings, and more importantly, and more discretely, local government. Addams’ main goal was to eventually bring women into the public sphere and local government, through civil housekeeping. Since men were so fond of keeping women in the home, in order to clean, cook, or even just stay out of the men’s business, women began seeing themselves as possible saviors for issues that cities were facing. The way that women began seeing themselves was through expressing their  skills that they used inside the home and applying them on a much larger scale, which would hopefully assist in resolving the problems in tenement homes and other areas of cities that were being affected by environmental circumstances. Jane Addams proposed her ideas to the men of society by explaining how well women work in the home, be it cooking, cleaning, etc., so why would they not be able to help clean up the tenement homes and other parts of the city, to help out other citizens and keep their families and homes alive. Addams’ of course had the ulterior motive of working her way, along with many more women in society, into the realm of local government, in the hopes of gaining more and more rights for women in the future. The reason that Jane Addams was so influential in her speeches and movements was not only because of the fact that she was educated, but that she had been born of a very rich and politically powerful family in the post-Civil War, which was a time of peril and misfortune for those devastated by the effects of the battles that tore across the south in the Civil War. Although a feminist ideal, the proposal of â€Å"civic housekeeping† was appealing to men in power in the local governments. With many health violations and many previous, failed attempts at keeping up appearances and up to code in municipalities, â€Å"city housekeeping has failed partly because women, the traditional housekeepers, have not been consulted as to its multiform activities.†12 This aspect of women entering the public sphere, as proposed by Addams, was never examined or considered by men because they had always forced the socially constructed gender roles and affirmed that women can and will only stay in the home to perform their family duties. The good and welfare of the people, including their health and living conditions was never considered by men of local government and Jane Addams proposed to change that, in order to rejuvenate and maintain the health and welfare of local citizens, especially the women and children who were suffering due to the failur e to keep up the cities, specifically tenement housing. Another part of Addams’ proposal while discussing women being brought in to clean up the homes, was bringing diverse and multitalented people who can perform many different tasks and complete them well, which would eventually show improvement across the board. In part, this was attractive to the men in  power, because in the long run, it would make them look good. While creating and executing her ideas of civic housekeeping and advocating for many other rights for women like suffrage, Addams was very distinguished from other women only hoping to attempt and succeed as much as she did. Jane Addams was very fortunate to have the quality of being able to successfully execute in fields that women normally did not participate in, which included professionalism and business fields. A key characteristic and factor that Addams possessed to successfully attain her credibility and position in society. Jane today is seen as a woman who cannot be compared to any other woman of her time period, and even today, as some goals that she strived for and eventually attained were only attainable through ways that were common in the early twentieth century, as she used her tenement houses and her local salon to spread word and expand her ideas among people. A product of her time period for sure, Jane Addams was a woman who achieved many things in a society that discriminated against and belittled women. Addams was a woman who saw things differently than other women, and that is what helped her achieve what she achieved. Eventually, her goal of getting women out of the private sphere of the home and oppression by man, was successful. Camilla Stevens stated that, â€Å"men set about trying to run the city as a business, and women aimed to make the city more like a home,†14 which Jane Addams quickly changed in her efforts for women that made a new presence for women in America. Through civic housekeeping, women slowly but surely made their way into the public sphere. Without Jane Addams’ strong advocating and activism, efforts made by women may not have even been made to achieve rights and a sense of equality to men, and the oppression of women by men of society would have continued and could have been much worse today. Jane Addams was a successful woman of her time period and through civic housekeeping, began the cleanup of homes and communities in and around Chicago, which led for a much brighter future for not just men, but women and children who wished to have much healthier and happier lives at home. Bibliography Addams, Jane. The modern city and the municipal franchise for women. Baltimore, Maryland: National American Women Suffrage Association, 1906. (Jane Addams Article from Moodle Site) Hamington, Maurice. â€Å"Two Leaders, Two Utopias: Jane Addams and Dorothy Day.† NWSA Journal 19.2 (2007): 159-186. JSTOR. Web. 3 Dec. 2013. Shields, Patricia M.. â€Å"Democracy and the Social Feminist Ethics of Jane Addams: A Vision for Public Administration.† Administrative Theory and Praxis 28.3 (2006): 418-443. JSTOR. Web 3 Dec. 2013. Conway, Jill. â€Å"Jane Addams: An American Heroine.† Daedalus 93, no. 2 (1964): 761-780. JSTOR. Web 3 Dec. 2013

Reaction Paper Self Concept

Angela Foster Reaction Paper Communications 11/26/2010 â€Å"Self – concept is such a powerful force on the personality that it not only determines how you see youself in the present but also can influence you future behavior and that of others. Such occurences come about through a phenomenon called the self-fulfilling prophecy. A self-fulfilling prophecy occurs when a person’s expectations of an event, and his or her subsequent behavior based on those expectations, make the event more likely to occur than would otherwise be true† (57).Self-fulfilling prophecy is a very powerful source on your personality. For me this is basically just positive thinking, and if you think you will do well then you will. For example, when I first started school, I really didn’t know how to study, and for my first psychology test I went in totally unprepared. I lacked confidence because I was unprepared and nervous because I hadn’t studied much, and when I went in to t ake the test I just knew that I would not do very well. It was no surprise to me when I got my test back that I had failed it.I knew that I was going to have to get it together if I was going to pass my classes and the first step was to learn how to study. I found ways to study that worked for me, and when I went in for my next test I was more confident. I had an optimistic attitude, and confidence that I would do well on the test, so it was no surprise when I got my test back I had made an A. There are two types of self-fulfilling prophecy, self- imposed prophecies and when someone’s expectations govern another’s actions. â€Å"Self-imposed prophecies occur when you own expectations influence your behavior† (57).If you think you can, and set your mind to doing something the results can be great. It isn’t just the observer’s beliefs that causes one to do well, â€Å"the observer must communicate that belief† (58). For example if a teacher ha s hopes for a child but does not encourage them or push them to the next level, then the child may not use their full potential. â€Å"The effects of teacher attitudes, beliefs, and values, their expectations have been tested repeatedly† (Wilkins). Another example of other’s expectations influencing one’s behavior is that of a parent towards a child.If a parent has faith in a child they must let them know or a child may not have the confidence they to need to blossom. Positive results do not just happen because of a positive attitude though. Just like the saying â€Å"Faith without Works† is very true. People cannot just lie around and expect good things to happen. You must take action and put footwork behind what you are working on and plan to accomplish. So with the combination of some knowledge and a positive attitude, you can accomplish anything you set your mind to.