Foundations of Nursing Practice Essay

A reflection on how the module content and associated practice experience has contributed to the student’s development as a nurse. This essay is a discussion on how the module content and practice experience has contributed to personal development as a nurse. Therefore it will focus on firstly the concept of individualised care and its relevance to nursing assessment and care delivery, secondly the ethical and professional issues that impact nursing such as confidentiality, consent and dignity. The essay will also focus on exploring the various communication models and the development of the therapeutic relationship between the nurse and the service user, and finally the organisation and delivery of care within the practice environment. With particular reference to a recent placement, at a palliative care nursing home, this essay will discuss Harriet, an 88 year old lady with chronic bronchitis and suffers with multiple sclerosis. For confidentiality purposes the names of service users have been changed to comply with the Nursing and Midwifery Council, Code of Conduct (NMC 2008). This assignment will firstly discuss the individualised approach to nursing, which developed in the USA during the 1950’s and 1960’s, which coincided with the development of the nursing theory and models of nursing which began to challenge the medical model of health care (Lloyd, Hancock, Campbell 2007). The nursing process can be carried out successfully by implementing a popular model used extensively in the UK originally by Roper et al Activities of Living model in which it is based loosely upon the 12 activities of daily living; however Henderson acknowledges 14 activities that people engage in (Kozier, Erb 2008). This model identifies any deficit in their care usually upon admission; it is reviewed as the care plans of the service user evolve; after which an intervention may be given to the service user. The nursing home that was attended for placement had person centred care plans in which they based them on the 12 activities of daily living from sleeping, eating and drinking to mobility and communication; these were short term care plans that were reviewed monthly. Another model that is frequently used described by Ellson (2008, pg22) is the Nursing Process, when it was initially identified; Yura and Walsh (1978) showed that it is a four stage cycle that begins with assessment. Harriet was assessed by the Doctor as the registered nurse in charge (RGN) noticed a change in her health; she had developed a wheeze when talking and had a chesty cough, the RGN suspected a chest infection. A care plan was then devised to follow up the assessment. Harriet was to be started on a course of antibiotics for a week, and was to be resumed on her nebuliser. The care was then implemented the following day during the morning drugs round. An evaluation of that care completes the cycle; in which Harriet was to be seen by the Doctor the following week after completing her course of antibiotics and was to remain on her nebuliser. Additionally, more than one stage can be occurring at the same time, for instance assessment may coincide with implementation (Carpenito-Moyet 2007). If goals are achieved after the first cycle, care maybe terminated or in some cases modified and the service user reassessed. (Ellson 2008, pg22) This process is designed to enhance systematic care, drive communication amongst team members and encourage continuity (Mason 1999 cited in Habermann, Uys 2006).The RGN wrote in Harriet’s daily report and updated her care plans, identifying her change in medication and change in her health. Throughout nursing there are many ethical and professional issues that impact on it from confidentiality, consent to respect and dignity, to clear and accurate records and working as part of a team. The Nursing and Midwifery Council Code of Conduct (NMC 2008) clearly states that nurses should ensure they gain consent (NMC 2008) from the service user this can be anything from examining, providing care and giving treatment. Consequently a nurse has to be prepared if a service user declines their help as they have a right to refuse treatment based on knowledge of the outcomes and risks (Wilkins and Williams 2008). Informed consent is a communication process between the provider and the service user; this is now recognised as a professional standard of conduct (Westrick and Dempski 2009). However if there is a case where the service user does not have the mental capacity to give consent, they are protected by the Mental Capacity Act 2005 in which during the decision making process their rights and interests are accounted for (Griffith and Tengnah 2010). My first task at placement was to try and feed Harriet, I introduced myself alongside a health care assistant and asked if I was able to feed her lunch, I was refused, on the grounds that I was a fresh face and that she did not know me so I let the health care assistant feed her. The following day after assisting the RGN with Harriet’s medication, she kindly said to me that she would let me feed her today if I was able to; so at lunch time I went along with another health care assistant to feed her. Another important ethical issue is maintaining a person’s dignity as Watson (1994) citing (Watson 2008) states that maintaining human dignity is a vital nursing duty and function, that needs to be recognised and respected in which people make to their own care and well being (NMC Code 2008). This can be associated with many aspects of care such as bed bathing, stoma care, peg tube care as Westrick and Dempski (2009) go on to say that it is down to the service user to say what is to be done with his or her body. Fenton and Mitchell (2002) cited in Franklin, Ternestedt and Nordenfelt (2006) argue that elderly people receiving care regarding dignity is a state of physical, emotional comfort, subsequently when this is not always adhered to it can leave the service user feeling embarrassment, shame, humiliation, foolishness and degradation (Mairis 1994 cited in Watson 2008). However nurses themselves can become emotional if the standard of care given is not sufficient this is supported by the Royal College of Nursing survey (2008) asking nurses for their views on dignity in care in which over 80% said they sometimes or always left work distressed due to not being able to deliver the quality of care they thought they should give (Gallagher, Tschudin 2010). When asked to give a bed bath to Harriet, I made sure that only the area being cleaned was exposed thus covering up other private areas in case anybody was to enter her room. When Harriet was seen by the Doctor regarding her chest infection I treated the information sensitively and maintained confidentiality with all her health records. The presence of the therapeutic relationship lies at the heart of patient centred nursing. However the nature of this one to one relationship is very dependent on the context in which nursing care is delivered (McCormack 2004 citing O’Connell 2008). Therefore the building blocks for this relationship should focus on genuineness, empathy and respect, which should leave the service user feeling supported as well as listened to, whilst the nurse feels value in their role (Dossey, Keegan, American Holistic Nurses Association 2008) Whereas Bynum-Grant and Travis–Dinkins (2010) go on to say that whilst the therapeutic relationship is at the core of nursing it is the knowledge and skill along with the caring attitudes and behaviours applied that build the foundations of this relationship. I spent a lot of time with Harriet getting to know her, and building a relationship of trust with her, in order for me to attend her personal care needs, give her medication orally under dire ct supervision. This assignment will now discuss the effective communication skills throughout nursing that helps practitioners to engage with the service user, by making sure arrangements are met for people’s language and communication needs (NMC Code 2008) Studies have shown that the relevant communication means given to an individual can improve well-being (Bell 1996, Happ 2001 cited in Batty 2009). Means of communication that have proved successful are non verbal techniques such as writing, drawing or by gesture, therefore communication aids have been made available such as providing a pen and paper, or alphabet charts (Batty 2009). Effective communication is seen as a fundamental competence required for registration as a nurse (Nursing and Midwifery Council 2004 cited in Timmins 2009) Timmins and Astin (2009) also goes onto explain that continuity of care supports high quality communication as it builds up the relationship between nurse and service user and is a main feature of patient centred care. Crouch and Meurier (2005) cited in Cox and Hill (2010) defines communication as a two way process in which information is transmitted and received. However listening to service users and their families is central to the communication process (Timmins and Astin 2009) Harriet could communicate easily, her hearing was slightly impaired therefore you had to speak loudly and clearly; she was on eye drops as her sight was deteriorating and she was very well spoken and if I was to say something incorrectly she would be very quick to correct me. Harriet however was slightly confused and sometimes repeated things she had said a few moments ago, she also had imaginary friends she would refer to whilst talking to me. This essay will now explore the delivery of care in nursing which is very important as this can impact the service users’ experience. There are three ways in which care can be delivered; this is by primary care, task allocation and team nursing. Primary nursing began in the 1970’s as a way to overcome dissatisfaction with functional and team nursing’s emphasis on tasks that directed nurses’ attention away from holistic care of the client (Huber 2006). Walsh and Crumbie (2007) explain that primary care nursing involves one nurse being liable 24 hours a day for all care delivered to a patient. However Thomas (2006) identifies this is not always necessary as care can be delegated to other nurses or health care assistants †¦ yet the primary nurse carries responsibility for writing care plans and ensuring that long term goals are met. Skelton (2001) cited in Timmins and Astin (2009) suggest that this approach fosters autonomy and gets them involved with their care rather than health professionals dictating their care to them. Within the nursing home the primary nursing approach to care was not suitable as there were too many service users for one nurse to focus all their attention to at one time. Many health care settings would deny using task orientated care however in reality it still goes on and tends to induce apathy and reduce team morale. Task allocation on the other hand may be the most suitable way of allocating the workload (Thomas 2006) especially during staff shortages or certain health care settings. Despite the nursing home having person centred care plans and making individualising the care needs, the nursing home still took on the task allocated approach as all the residents had breakfast by 8am and were washed and dressed by 9am. However as Harriet was unable to feed and dress herself due to having multiple sclerosis she was often left until last to have these needs addressed as two health care assistant’s were required. Team nursing was developed in the early 1950’s it was designed so that staff strengths can be used to the maximum and aids group productivity and growth of team members. By using this system nurses should still be able to provide individualised nursing care (Lloyd, Hancock and Campbell 2007) therefore nurses take on certain roles such as temperature, medication or a nurse for the right side of the ward (Kalisch and Kalisch 1978; Reverby 1987 cited in Huber 2006). Communication is therefore key for this model to be effective as the team leader continuously evaluates and communicates changes of the patient to the team members (Zerwekh, Claborn 2006). It also allows the nurse to delegate patients to the strengths of the staff with what their care focuses on (Tiedeman and Lookinland 2004 cited in Zerwekh, Claborn 2006). Unfortunately the care given can become fragmented and thus ineffective and productivity decreased among team members if there are staff shortages. Harriet’s care followed this approach, as she was bed bound the arjo hoist was the only way of transferring her from bed to chair; this required two people, as did log rolling Harriet for her bed bath so she was cleaned effectively and appropriately. I feel the module content has contributed to my development as a nurse as it taught all the relevant information needed for my first placement. I was able to see how the theory coincided with the practice which also contributed to my development as a nurse. For example I was able to see how the individualised care approach was introduced into the person centred care plans used within the nursing home. I was also able to see how the therapeutic relationship was built amongst the nurses in charge, the health care assistants and other members of the multidisciplinary team, they each had their own style of approaching the service user in regards to their attitudes, body language and behaviour, this I was able to pick up and use myself which made me handle situations better. The module content went into great depth and was given in a variety of learning styles which suited my learning pattern having come straight from school; I feel the type of learning given has strengthened my ability to learn and the relevant theory made me feel more confident when attending placement. Having learnt the theory I was able to put some of this knowledgeable experience into practice, as having had no previous experience within health and social care I felt uneasy at first but as more faith and confidence was put into me via my mentor and other staff members, this helped me feel more involved and more comfortable with working within this environment giving me the confidence boost I needed. Throughout the placement I was guided throughout every task that I had to carry out, I was taught it first by mentor and then throughout the weeks I had to improve on what I had learnt, the registered nurses I shadowed were very supportive and approachable which helped me greatly. In conclusion this essay has discussed the concept of individualised care by incorporating the nursing process and models that evaluate the service user’s health and identifies the care needed and any deficits in their care. Nurses uphold a reputation in which the ethical and professional issues are the foundations of this. As explored throughout this essay it shows that confidentiality, consent and dignity are fundamental throughout nursing and need to be incorporated into the care provided by the nurses. Various models of communication have been identified throughout this essay its relevance shows how the nurse must interact with service user, this is very important as the service user needs to be able to express their concerns of their health either verbally or non verbally. The therapeutic relationship is at the epicentre of nursing as this can impact a service users experience within a health and social care setting. The essay has also explored the organisation and delivery of care needed to be most effective throughout nursing. Overall the essay has focused on various fundamental aspects of nursing that contribute to the way care is delivered to service users. Reference List * Batty S. (2009) ‘Communication, Swallowing and Feeding in the Intensive Care Unit Patient. Nursing in Critical Care. 14(2,July/August). pp.175-177. * Bynum – Grant D and Travis Dinkins M,M. (2010) Schaum’s Outline of Psychiatric Nursing. [Online]. Available at: http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=ru57ujcVO6sC&printsec=frontcover&dq=schaum’s+outline+of+psychiatric+nursing&hl=en&ei=XcZmTeb7HZSyhAfUkJy4DQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=book-thumbnail&resnum=1&ved=0CEUQ6wEwAA#v=onepage&q=therapeutic%20relationship%20is%20at%20the%20core%20of%20nursing%20&f=false. (Accessed:25 January 2011). * Carpenito-Moyet L. (2007) Understanding the Nursing Process; Concept Mapping and Care Planning for Students. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. * Cox C. and Hill M. (2010). Professional Issues in Primary Care Nursing. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing. * Dossey B,M., Keegan L. and American Holistic Nurses Association. (2008). Holistic Nursing; A Handbook for Practice. 5th edn. London: Jones and Bartlett Publishers Limited. * Ellson R (2008) ‘Assessment of Patients’, in Richardson R. (ed.) Clinical Skills for Student Nurses. Devon: Reflect Press. pp. 22-25. * Franklin LL., Ternestedt B,M. and Nordenfelt L. (2006). ‘Views on Dignity of Elderly Nursing Home Residents.’ Nursing Ethics; An International Journal for Health Care Professionals. 13(2). pp131-134. * Gallagher A, Tschudin V (2010) ‘Educating for Ethical Leadership’ Nurse Education Today, International Journal for Health Care Education. 30(3,April). pp.224-226. * Griffith R. and Tengnah C. (2010) Law and Professional Issues in Nursing. 2nd edn. Exeter: Learning Matters Limited. * Habermann M. and Uys L,R. (2006) The Nursing Process; A Global Concept. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone * Huber D. (2006). Leadership and Nursing Care Management. 3rd ed. Philadelphia:Saunders Elsevier. * Kozier B., Erb G., Berman A., Snyder S., Lake R. and Harvey S. (2008). Fundamentals of Nursing; Concepts, Process and Practice. Harlow, Essex: Pearson Education Limited. * Lloyd H., Hancock H. and Campbell S. (2007). Principles of Care. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing. * Nursing and Midwifery Council (2008) The Code of Conduct. * O’Connell E. (2008) ‘Therapeutic Relationships in Critical Care Nursing; A reflection on Practice.’ Nursing in Critical Care. 13(3). pp,138-143. * Thomas J. (2006). Survival Guide for Ward Managers, Sisters and Charge Nurses. Elsevier Health Sciences. pp. 91-93. [Online]. Available at: http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=pG-AzNFign4C&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q=primary%20nurse%20carries%20responsibility%20for%20writing%20care%20plans%20&f=false. (Accessed: 1 February 2011). * Timmins F. and Astin F. (2009) ‘Patient Centred Care Reality or Rhetoric’ Nursing in Critical Care. 14(5,September/October). pp.219-221. * Walsh M. (ed). and Crumbie A. (ed). (2007). Watson’s Clinical Nursing and Related Science. 7th edn. London: Elsevier Health Sciences. * Watson J. (2008) Nursing: The Philosophy and Science of Caring. Revised edn. Colorado: University Press of Colorado. * Westrick S, J. and Dempski K. (2009). Essentials of Nursing Law and Ethics. London: Jones and Bartlett Publishers International. * Williams L. and Wilkins. (2008). Nursing Know How; Charting Patient Care. pp.67-90. [Online] Available at: http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=4e1hGOu7AusC&printsec=frontcover&dq=Nursing+Know+How%3B+Charting+Patient+Care.&hl=en&ei=DcVmTbP6EYKKhQed5amuDQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=book-thumbnail&resnum=1&ved=0CEQQ6wEwAA#v=snippet&q=right%20to%20refuse%20treatment%20based%20on%20knowledge%20of%20the%20outcomes%20and%20the%20risks%20&f=false. (Accessed: 25 January 2011). * Zerwekh J,G. and Claborn J,C. (2006) Nursing Today Transition and Trends. 5th ed. pp.342-346. [Online] Available at: http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=Il41NcOI3c0C&printsec=frontcover&d q=nursing+today+transition+and+trends&hl=en&ei=rMRmTfLPCdCwhAeAnrSTDg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=book-thumbnail&resnum=1&ved=0CDIQ6wEwAA#v=onepage&q=team%20leader%20continuously%20evaluates%20and%20communicates%20changes%20of%20the%20patient%20&f=false. (Accessed: 1 February 2011). Bibliography * Funnel R, Koutoukidis G, Lawerence K. (2008). Tabbners Nursing Care: Theory and Practice. [Online]. Available at: http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=iyGLjn0Md0sC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false (Accessed: 17 December 2010). * Davis C. (2009). ‘Team Health and Safety.’ Nursing Standard. 24(2,September). pp.24-25. * Donnelly M. (2002). Consent: Bridging the Gap between the Doctor and Patient. Ireland: Cork University Press. * Mayberry M and Mayberry J. (2003). Consent in Clinical Practice. Oxon: Radcliffe Medical Press Limited. * Pembrey S,M. (1980). The Ward Sister – Key to Nursing. London: Royal College of Nursing. * Pilcher T. (ed). ‘Collaboration and Teamwork in Critical Care.’ (2009). Nursing in Critical Care. 14(2). pp.45-46. * Radwin L,E and Alster K. (2002). ‘Individualised Nursing Care: An Empirically Generated Definition.’ International Council for Nurses: International Review 49. pp.54-63.

Francis Turbine Conclusion

FFRANCIS TURBINE QUESTIONS & DISCUSSIONS 7. 1 QUESTIONS 1. Plot a graph of: a. Turbine velocity versus flow rate. b. Turbine velocity versus output torque. c. Turbine velocity versus hydraulic power. d. Turbine velocity versus mechanical power. e. Turbine velocity versus efficiency. 2. Give your comment(s) from the graph obtained. ? Based on the graph Turbine velocity versus flow rate, it is shown that line for both z=50% and 100%is increasing when turbine velocity increase, flow rate also increasing. From the graph Turbin velocity versus output torque, it is shown that output torque for the both line will increase slightly when turbine velocity is increase ? In the Turbin velocity versus hydraulic power graph,the line shows water speed is increasing due to increasing of hydraulic power. Overall, when turbine velocity become large then it will increase hydraulic power. ? Graph of Turbin velocity versus mechanical power shows mechanical power increase when turbine velocity is going do wn. ? For the graph of Turbin velocity versus efficiency, it shows its efficiency decrease when turbine elocity increase. 3. State five (5) safety factors that have been taken in the experiment. There is five safety factors that should be taken while doing the experiment in laboratory: ? Make sure our hands are dry when switch on the switch of the machine ? Make sure the turbine is not stopped immediately as it tends to overspeed with emergency stops. ? Make sure the equipment function well before experiment get started. ? Must follow procedure going on the experiment so accident could be avoid during experiment. ? Make sure handling well the equipments during experiment and void silly behavior.DISCUSSIONS Francis turbine is a type of water turbine that was developed by James B. Francis. It is an inward flow reaction turbine that combines radial and axial flow concepts. Francis turbines are the most common water turbine in use today. They operate in a head range of ten meters to sev eral hundred meters and are primarily used for electrical power production. In real life, the basic operating system of the Francis Turbine is applied to generate hydroelectric power. To design the most efficiency hydroelectric generator, several factors -head, low rate, velocity, power and efficiency of the area should be taking into account. Hman is the differences of pressure head position which measured the pressure and the turbine shaft bar. It is a kinetic parameter which cause by water velocity. The height differences between the pressure gauging point position and the point of water level at the outflow of reservoir will influence the power of outlet. Lower river flows because of drought, climate change or upstream dams and diversions will reduce the amount of live storage in a reservoir therefore reducing the amount of water that can be used for ydroelectricity. The result of diminished river flow can be power shortages in areas that depend heavily on hydroelectric power. T he turbine overall efficiency, is calculated as the ratio of power at outlet point compared to the generated power. It is because in natural the head and velocity of water source is not possible remaining constant. It will influence capacity factor lower than 100%. During the experiment, there might be some error that affects the result of this experiment. The errors that might occur are parallax error while recording the readings or inaccurate time counting.Besides, before starting the experiment, the water lever of the tank storage should be checked for remaining at acceptable water lever. CONCLUSION From the experiment that was done, we can conclude that the turbine velocity is increase with the flow rate, output torque, and hydraulic power but decrease in efficiency and mechanical power. REFERENCES †¦ Ab Aziz Abdul Latiff, Zawawi Daud, Noor Azila Ahmad, Hartini Kasmin, Wan Afnizan Wan Mohamed,†¦ Zarina Md Ali. (2007). Hidraulik. Penerbit UTHM APPENDIX †¦ Original Data Sheet

Premarital sex Essay Essay

Our fathers understood that sex was a blessed experience made only for married couples as a way to express their love and desire for each other. However, our youths today think of sex as a fun-thing; they have the belief that it is okay to have sex with who ever one is having a relationship with, and youths engage in several relationships before deciding to settle down. Yet, our fathers were right with their opinion about sex; sex should be a blessed ordeal and not a fun thing. Youths should try and preserve themselves for marriage, but in a situation where a person cannot hold himself he should then try and protect himself by using a condom because of the effect that unprotected sex would have on him. One of the major effects of unprotected sex is the risk of the female getting pregnant. In some situation the youths involved might not be ready to raise a child yet, and with the female getting pregnant they have problems deciding on what to do. The man might decide to deny being the father of the baby and puts down the woman. This leaves her with the decision of either aborting the child, raising the child as a single mother or dumping the child off anywhere. Each of these three choices is not to the best interest of the child. If the mother aborts the child that means she has taken the life of a human being, and it doesn’t matter if the child is unborn yet or not the child has the right to his life. Even if the mother succeeds in aborting the child she may encounter some complications in the process, and this may affect her later life when she will finally decide to get married and have kids. Another dire option is to dump the child. Some mums dump their kids off in trash, in front of people front doors or at the motherless baby centers. There was even this case of a woman trying to flush down her baby down the toilet; the neighbors heard the baby crying as if it was drowning they called the police, but when the police arrived the child was already dead and the mother too because she killed herself. The best of the three options is the mother raising the child as a single parent, but this is also not a very good idea knowing that no child would want to grow up without his father, at least I know I don’t. Also some of  the kids who turn out to be a menace to the society fall in the group of kids raised by a single parent. This is because the parent may not have enough time to spend with the child since she has to work a great amount of time so as to provide both of their necessities and to pay bills; the child therefore spends more time with friends and on the streets since he is not being monitored by his parent. All these are caused because of one small mistake; having sex unprotected. In many American Universities college students engage in unprotected sex, but most of them are not conscious of the risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases (STD). Among college students who live away from home, 56 percent had been sexually active while attending college, and 73 percent of that group reported having unprotected sex while in college, says the survey by the Society for Adolescent Medicine. (http://www.healthfinder.gov/news/newsstory.asp?docID=514693). From the above survey it means that youths in colleges who engage in sex have high risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases. These students are very well exposed to these diseases because they would have the tendency of having intercourse with several people due to the fact that they converge in an enclosed environment, and also peer pressure. The female involved may also get pregnant and would have to drop out of school and get a job so as to earn some money to take care of her and her kid. Unprotected sex can also result to early marriage. When a female conceives after having sexual intercourse, the couple involved may decide to get married and raise the baby together, but things don’t always turn out well after the marriage; these couples may not know themselves too well. In the event of the marriage they might find out different sides of the opposite person that they don’t like, and they may finally break up. This doesn’t go to the betterment of the child either because he may end up being raised by a single parent and deprived of the other. All these dreadful things can be avoided by merely abstaining from sex till one is married, but when the urge to have sex cannot be overcome then the person involved should use a condom to protect himself.

Research Memo Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Research Memo - Assignment Example Last but not least Lewis incurs other expenses in terms of purchases made for wigs, fake mustaches, fake beards and special clothing meant to make him appear heavier. According to IRC  §162 (a) deductions are permissible for all the conventional and indispensable outlays or sustained for the period of a tax year. All ventures or trade are, for this reason, taxable. IRC  §165(d) on the other hand applies to gambling losses by just stating that losses from wagering transaction are deductible to the extent of wagering gains. This provision serves to limit the usage of  §162 (a) to the charges made to cover gambling losses. In Offutt v. Commissioner, 16TC1214, the tax court decided that taxpayers’ losses cannot be covered with income from other sources or the gambler’s salary. This means that under limitation of  §165 and Offutt, Kevin’s gambling losses are only deductible to the extent of his gambling gains of $ 1000,000. In Mayo v. Commissioner, 136TC No 4, the tax court judged that a gambler’s business expenses incurred in the course of his trade are deductible under IRC  §162(a) even though these losses may not offset other income. The court reasoning in this case founded on the fact that the court in Mayo held that non-wagering expenses were not within the loss limitation defined by sec 165and reversed Offutt on this matter. To further strengthen the judgment, the court in Mayo quoted Boyd v. Commissioner, 56 AFTR 2d 85-5266, which indicated that restrictions of  §165(d) do not take into account more than direct expenses from wagering. The Boyd case also gave a clear difference in losses arising from wagering and expenses associated with the gambling activities. It, for this reason, makes it easy and clear that the limitation of the  §165(d) does not affect peripheral expenses. This provision, for this reason, implies that losses resulting from direct wagering are subject to the

Is Japan a Democracy, or Not Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Is Japan a Democracy, or Not - Essay Example They too are popularly elected for a term of six years. The eligibility age for a vote is 20 years. Japan is a Constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary government. It's post- World War II constitution was adopted on May 3, 1947. Universal adult suffrage with a secret ballot for all elective offices is followed. Sovereignty, previously embodied in the emperor, is vested in the Japanese people now. Japans current political system has something tangible to do with its defeat in the World War II. Subsequent to its occupation by the United States, the post-war constitution of 1947 is anti-militarist. Japan has no rights to wage war and it has no armed forces. A limited Self-defense Force exists. The Constitution of Japan was drawn up subsequent to its occupation by Allied Forces. As per the constitution, Japan is a democratic country. The Liberal Democratic Party is in power without break for more than 50 years. The Executive Branch: Before World War II, Emperor was hailed as divine. Now he is the ceremonial figurehead. The Prime Minister is appointed by him for a term of four years. The Cabinet Ministers are chosen by the Prime Minister and he can have a maximum number of 14 Ministers. Additional three special members are permitted. Half of the Cabinet Ministers must be from the members of the Diet. The Legislature Branch: This is named as Diet. Decisions are by majority vote and in special cases, a two-thirds majority is required. Of the 480 seats of House of Representatives, 300 are elected from single-member constituencies and 180 are elected from multi-member constituencies as per the system of proportional representation. The Sangi-in or House of Councilors has 242 seats. In every three years, only half of its membership is re-elected. Of them,73 are elected from 47 prefecture districts and 48 are elected from a nationwide list by proportional representation. The prefectures are not sovereign entities as compared to the States in the USA.

Cigarettes and Lungs Cancer Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Cigarettes and Lungs Cancer - Research Paper Example Lung cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality all over the world. There are basically 2 predominant types of lung cancer and they are small cell lung cancer or SCLC and non-small cell lung cancer or NSCLC. The latter constitutes 85% of all lung cancer cases. NSCLC is further divided into large cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and adenocarcinoma (Molina et al, 2008). All these types of lung cancers are different in terms of clinical presentation and histopathological characteristics. But management plans and prognoses are similar. The most frequently encountered NSCLC is adenocarcinoma arising from the mucosal glands of the bronchi. It represents 35-40 percent of all lung cancers. It is mostly seen in the peripheral portion of the lung. It is the most common histologic subtype. It can also manifest as scar cancer. This subtype is mostly seen in non-smokers and may present as a bronchoalveolar form of multifocal tumors. Squamous cell carcinoma accounts fo r about 25 percent of lung cancers. Unlike adenocarcinoma, the cancers are mainly seen in the central parts of the lungs with the classical clinical presentation being proximal bronchus cavity. It is characterized by keratin pearls and has the tendency to exfoliate. It is often associated with hyperkalemia. 10-15 percent of lung cancers are caused due to large cell carcinoma that is easily diagnosable by chest X-ray. Lung cancer metastasis to liver, bones, adrenal glands, brain, spinal cord, and pericardium.... Unlike adenocarcinoma, the cancers are mainly seen in the central parts of the lungs with classical clinical presentation being proximal bronchus cavity. It is characterized by keratin pearls and has the tendency to exfoliate. It is often associated with hypercalemia. 10-15 percent of lung cancers are caused due to large cell carcinoma that is easily diagnosable by chest X-ray. Lung cancer metastatises to liver, bones, adrenal glands, brain, spinal cord and pericardium (Molina et al, 2008). Regional incidence pertaining to lung cancer is actually variable and it predominantly depends on the prevalence of cigarette smoking. For instance, in Utah, the incidence of lung cancer is lowest and smoking is lowest there (Molina et al, 2008). On the other hand, in Kentucky, the incidence of smoking is highest and so is the case with lung cancer (Molina et al, 2008). Another interesting aspect is, with the decline in the prevalence of smoking, the incidence of lung cancer is predominant in form er smokers than in current smokers. For example, according to a study by Yang et al (2005), "more than 5000 patients whose lung cancer was diagnosed between 1997 and 2002, only 25% were current smokers and more than 60% were former smokers" (cited in Molina et al, 2008). The epidemic of lung cancer in the 20th century is undoubtedly caused by cigarette smoking. The development of lung cancer secondary to smoking is directly related to the number of cigarettes smoked per day and the duration of smoking. The nicotine content and tar content also influence the development of lung cancer. Tobacco contains about 300 substances that are harmful of which more than 60 are potent carcinogens (Lee, 2001). Nitrosamine-NNK and poly-aromatic hydrocarbons for DNA

Thread #4 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Thread #4 - Essay Example e that Subway is the undisputed leader in fast and healthy food because they offer easy to prepare sandwiches which are â€Å"made to order-right in front of the customer - using freshly baked breads, select sauces and a variety of delicious toppings† (Doctors Associates, Inc., 2011). And the third reason which is very important is the continuous support network that it offers its franchisees. Subway’s support system includes training, product development, advertising, purchasing cooperative and field support (Doctors Associates, Inc., 2011). The total investment in starting a Subway franchise is somewhere between $84,300 to $258,300. This amount includes the franchise fee, on-going royalty fee, start-up cost, equipment, payroll and inventory (Entrepreneur Media, Inc., 2011). This means that a franchisee must also consider looking into the possible financing options open to him to fund the total investment to be made. Aside from these costs, a business experience is needed to own a subway franchise. The manpower needed to run the franchise will be around six to ten employees. There should also be a total commitment from the franchisee because Subway does not allow absentee ownership and the terms of agreement is for 20

Organisations and Behaviour Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words - 2

Organisations and Behaviour - Essay Example The organisational culture plays a very important role in the business and if the culture of an organisation is strong, then the businesses will be faced with a support to face the periods of low business performance. The cultures of an organisation help the business in the overall performance and also permit the organisation to learn from its mistakes and to overcome the challenges. The structure on the other hand refers to the structure of the management and the various levels of management that are present within the organization. Together both these play a very important role in the overall performance of the company and also provide a wide range of impact on the overall business performance. There are a number of factors that affect the individual behaviour at work and these include the MARS Model. Here in this model four interrelated elements have been described as the main cause that affects the employee performance. These include, motivation, Ability, Role Perception and Situational Factors (US Army Handbook, 1973). As explained by Bourassa, 2010, ‘These factors are highly interrelated; for example, a data analyst is skilled in running reports (ability), self taught on how to use the latest tools to extrapolate data (motivation), and understands how this information will help management make decisions (role perception), but does not have the required access to the data files (situational factors). Unless all of the elements of the MARS model are satisfied, employee behaviour and performance will be negatively impacted’ (Bourassa, 2010). Apart from these factors, there are also a number of other factors that impact the employee behaviour at work and these include the leadership styles used within the company and the overall working conditions of the company (Beer, et.al., 1985). a) Michigan Model of

Banning of gun ownership in the united states Research Paper

Banning of gun ownership in the united states - Research Paper Example There is a high correlation and strong relationship between higher levels of firearm ownership and higher firearm homicide rates. The states with higher levels of firearm ownership have disproportionally larger number of lethal gun incidents from firearm-related homicides. Gun incidents reported daily through the various mass media channels also accumulate aggressive relationship among hundreds of millions of other Americans. The fear of becoming one of the gun victims acts destructively on society, and people tend to underestimate the risks of gun ownership at home. An idea of self-protection with a gun fails to be successful as a vortex of emotions often doesn’t allow sensibly assess the situation. In addition to the above stated factors, the study reveals that gun ownership right also has oblique economic consequences as governments, companies, and individuals are paying medical expense premiums, escalated due to inflated prices of medical, life, and disability insurance. I n addition to medical and insurance expenditures, firearm also results in increased costs of the work of various regulatory bodies. For today, gun ownership regulation in the United States is relatively lax due to its â€Å"permissive† position and the right for private gun ownership guaranteed by law. There are some obvious gaps and leakage in the gun control regulation and until all the issues are solved and severely regulated, right for gun ownership should be banned. List of illustrations I. Chart 1. Total Number of Gun Deaths in the United States, 1999-2011†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.....10 II. Chart 2. Total Number of Gun Homicide Rates in the United States, 1998-2011†¦...10 III. Chart 3. Handgun Homicides in the United States, 1999-2011†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦...11 IV. Table 1. Overview of the Mass Gun Massacres in the United States†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..15 Table of Contents Letter of transmittal†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã ¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦5 Introduction†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦....6 The Second Amendment – a Trigger for Gun Violence†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦....7 Lax Gun Regulation in the United States†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..8 Suicide and Homicide Rates†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..9 Correlation between Gun Ownership and Homicide and Suicide rates†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦...12 Overview of Mass Gun Massacres†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦...13 Negative Impact on Society†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.17 Economic Impact of Gun Ownership Rights†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.....18 Conclusion†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦19 Bibliography†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.20 Letter of transmittal Date: 03/12/13 Professor†¦ Assistant Professor,†¦ Department of †¦ †¦..university (or other organization) Dear Sir: Subject: Submission of research proposal on â€Å"Ban of Gun Ownership Right in the United States† Here is the research proposal that has been completed by the knowledge that had been gathered through the secondary research method of literature review. I

Appearance of Pre-Hispanic Filipinos Essay Example for Free

Appearance of Pre-Hispanic Filipinos Essay The natives of the Philippine islands already wore different types of clothing and ornaments before the arrival of Spanish colonizers. The men usually wore short-sleeved, collarless jackets that reached just below the waste. The jackets were also symbols of their status in the community. The chief usually wore red, for example. The bahag was worn for the lower part. It is a strip of cloth wrapped around the waist which passes between the things, leaving the thighs and legs exposed. A head gear or a putong is a piece of cloth wrapped around the head. This is also important like the color of the jacket. A red putong meant that the wearer has already gone to war and killed an enemy. An embroidered putong meant that the wearer has killed at least seven enemies. Adornments such as necklaces, armlets or kalombiga, anklets, earrings and rings were also worn. These were usually made of gold and other precious stones. Women also wore sleeved jackets called baro and skirts called saya or patadyong. Women fancied wearing ornaments as well such as gem-studded bracelets, necklaces, earrings, and rings. Tattoos Tattoos played an important part in the appearance of pre-Hispanic Filipinos both for the men and women. Tattoos were considered to be the equivalent of medals, one had to work for and earn it. The more tattoos a person had, the more impressive was his or her war record. The Visayas was known to be the Islas del Pintados or Islands of the Painted People because it was the there that the early Spanish colonizers observed very tattooed people and Spanish writers referred to them as the pintados, meaning â€Å"painted†.

Air France KLM Business Report

Air France KLM Business Report Air France-KLM is an international airline company and a member of the skyteam airline partnership. The company was formed on May 2004, following the merger of Air Frances and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (KLM), thus creating the worlds largest airline group by earnings and second largest worldwide cargo operator in terms of revenue-tonne kilometers. The company operates under two major networks hubs, Paris-CDG and Amsterdam-Schiphol. The Companys three main businesses are passenger transportation, cargo operations, engineering and maintenance. The company counts more than one hundred thousands employees all over the world. Passenger transports being the major business of the company with more than three hundred destinations worldwide. The majority of the employees are based in France and the Netherlands. Both Air France and KLM continue to operate flights under their distinct brand names as subsidiaries of Air France-KLM. List of Acronyms AF Air France NWA Northwest Airline CSR Corporate Social Response SWOT Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats MRO Maintenance Repair and Overall CDG Charles de Gaulle IT Information Technology E M Engineering and Maintenance IMS Information Management System GDP Domestic Growth Product Table of Contents Executive Summary i List of Acronyms ii CHAPTER 1 Introduction 1 CHAPTER 2 Organisational structure 8 CHAPTER 3 Organisational culture 10 CHAPTER 4 -Leadership and management 12 CHAPTER 5 Teamworking and Mentoring 13 CHAPTER 6 Resourcing and Training 14 CHAPTER 7 Communication skills 15 CHAPTER 8 Performance and Motivation 15 CHAPTER 9 Management systems 17 CHAPTER 10 Management of change 18 CHAPTER 11 Future Directions 19 Conclusion and Recommendations 20 References 21 Appendices 22 CHAPTER 1 Introduction AIR FRANCE KLM AIR FRANCE KLM is the combination of two big airlines such as Air France and KLM. Since their merger in 2004, KLM works closely with Air France within the AIR FRANCE KLM holding company. In terms of financial turnover, AIR FRANCE KLM is the worlds largest airline partnership; it also transports the most passengers and is the worlds second-largest cargo transporter. Air France and KLM carry more than 71 million passengers per year. They operate more than 594 aircraft enabling them to fly to 236 destinations worldwide with 2,500 daily flights. The two airlines world networks can be combined, forming a vast network organized around the two major hubs of Amsterdam-Schiphol and Paris-CDG. The head offices are located at Amstelveen and Paris. Alitalia AIR FRANCE KLM and Alitalia agreed to strengthen their partnership in January 2009 by AIR FRANCE KLM taking a minority stake in Alitalia. The agreement gave AIR FRANCE KLM greater access to the Italian market. SkyTeam Alliance SkyTeam is a global airline alliance which includes AirEuropa, Air France, Alitalia, China Southern Airlines, , Delta Air Lines, Aeroflot, Kenya Airways, KLM, Korean Air (including Northwest Airlines), CSA Czech Airlines, Tarom and Vietnam Airlines, Aeromà ©xico. Air France and KLM are members of the SkyTeam alliance. Income Over the fiscal year 2009-2010 the turnover of Air France-KLM was 20.9 billion euros. Together, the two airlines have over 107.000 employees. For more information on AIRFRANCE KLM Finance, please go to www.airfranceklm-finance.com. Shares The Air France-KLM shares are listed in Amsterdam, Paris and New York. Aim Air France-KLM comprises a holding company which controls two airlines, Air France and KLM, each of which retains its own separate identity and brands. The group is the worlds largest air transport group in terms of revenue, second largest in terms of air traffic (in passenger-km) and cargo (ton freight-km), and third largest in terms of maintenance revenue. Both airlines run their own operations from their respective hubs Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Amsterdam-Schiphol. Passengers Passenger transport is the largest of the groups three core businesses, generating around 80% of its revenues (as of 31 March 2008), with 74.8 million passengers carried. Cargo Cargo was the first fully-integrated commercial activity at Air France-KLM in 2005. Client companies now have a single point of entry, and a full, simplified offering with flights departing from both hubs and benefiting from both networks. Air France-KLM Cargo ranks first worldwide among air freight carriers (excluding integrators). Maintenance The combination of Air France Industries and KLM Engineering Maintenance allows the group to offer a comprehensive range of aircraft maintenance and overhaul services with complementary areas of specialization. Maintaining the two fleets accounts for two-thirds of the groups maintenance operations, further supplemented by maintenance repair and overall (MRO) operations for 150 third-party airlines. Mission and Vision The mission of Air France KLM is to provide its customers a high quality service adaptable to their changing needs. The overall vision is to become the worlds biggest and leading airline company. Company Background Air France Air France founded on 7 October 1933. The background of the company has been striking by a number of milestones, including investing the acquired capital of UTA in early January 1990 and the combination with Air Inter in 1997. Air France and Delta Air Lines joined forces with Aeromà ©xico and Korean Air to launch the Sky Team alliance in June 2000. Air Frances main hub at Paris-Charles de Gaulle is Europes number one in terms of connecting opportunities. KLM Meanwhile KLM was first founded on 7 October 1919 being the oldest airline still operating under its original name. The recently background has been marked by the formation of a joint venture with Northwest Airlines (NWA) in 1989 and its achievement of the investment of Kenya Airways in 1996. KLM has Amsterdam Airport Schiphol as its home base. Air France and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines have become the largest European airline group Since May 2004 but each airline has retained its individual identity, trade name and brand which mean three businesses, two airlines, and one group SWOT Analysis Mullins (2007) explained that, in order to evaluate the nature of the business environment and its strategic capability an organization may undertake a SWOT analysis focuses on Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats facing the organization. STRENGTHS Strengths are those positive aspects or distinctive attributes or competencies which provide a significant market advantage or upon which the organization can build. Against a backdrop of increased Liberalization which serves to intensify competition, the profitable growth strategy plays to the groups strengths, the following are the air France KLM group strengths. A modern fleet the groups chief asset Guaranteeing energy and economic efficiency and greater safety levels, the groups aircraft fleet is its chief asset when it comes to meeting the challenges of sustainable development. The dual Roissy Schiphol hub and a balanced network The Air France and KLM route networks complement each other extremely well. The dual hub concept is central to group strategy and is designed to make the most of this. The benefit of dual brand strategy Air France and KLM took an original approach to the merger, choosing to retain the two brands while developing a unified strategy. Air France and KLM each enjoy strong brand identities and are extremely complementary. Enhanced competitiveness thanks to cost control To maintain its competitiveness, the group launched Challenge 10,designed to save 1.4 billion euros by 2009-10, through a 3% cut in unit costs. The plan is four-pronged: Process optimization and productivity gains; Fleet modernization, which will generate fuel and maintenance cost savings; Purchasing, and optimizing group synergies; External distribution costs. The development of high growth areas The groups ambition is to seize growth opportunities in countries driving global economic growth, mainly Brazil, Russia, India and China. In the years ahead, the Air France-KLM group plans to grow by 4.7% per year in terms of available seat-km on its long-haul network. WEAKNESSES Weaknesses are those negative aspects or deficiencies in the present competencies or resources of the organization, or its image or reputation, which limit its effectiveness and needed to be corrected to minimize their effect. International economic instability Faced with soaring oil prices, international economic instability, and signs of waning demand, air transport has entered a period of great uncertainty. Our Group can count on its strategic assets, the quality of its fuel hedging and its resolute policy of cost control to meet this challenging period of turbulence and low visibility OPPORTUNITIES Opportunities are favorable conditions and usually arise from the nature of changes in the external environment. The organization needs to be sensitive to the problems of business strategy and responsive to changes. Sustained demands In an increasingly global society, the demand for mobility is also increasing. Air transport is a key factor in a countrys economy. Over the last 20 years, air transport has grown twice as quickly as gross domestic product (GDP). In 2008, the rapid development of emerging countries is stimulating growth in Latin America, the Middle East and Asia. This will compensate for the slowdown in the US economy. As for the future, IATA forecasts an increase in global capacity of around 5% per year by 2011. A key contribution to the economy Air transport carries over 2 billion passengers annually. Tons of cargo shipped by air each year represent 35% of the total value of export trade in manufactured goods. By connecting people, businesses and goods around the world, air transport makes an essential contribution to global economic activity. Both directly and as a promoter of growth in other industries. THREATS Threats are the converse of opportunities and refer to unfavorable situations that arise from external developments likely to endanger the operations and effectiveness of the organization. Air France KLM like any other organizations is faced with a number of threats, these includes Increased pressure Growth in European low-cost carriers has been strong for some years and Middle Eastern carriers are planning considerable expansion: Gulf carriers plan 20% seat growth per year for the next three years. This represents stiff competition for European airlines on traffic between Europe and Asia or Australia. Development limited by infrastructures Europe is experiencing air traffic congestion, leading to significant delays, increased costs and CO2 emissions. This is partly a result of the fragmentation of airspace and of the air traffic control process. There is considerable room for improvement. For 10 million flights a year, it is estimated that the actual route flown is 5% longer than ideal. For some routes, such as Amsterdam-Zà ¼rich, it is even 20%. The annual cost of fragmented European skies is estimated at 3.4 billion euros. A sector subject to heavier taxation Air transport is subject to strict regulation, mainly regarding security, safety and infrastructure. The sector is also subject to high charges, among them airport or navigation charges, plus dedicated fees to finance security. Moreover, air transport is the only means of transport to finance soundproofing measures, as it does in numerous European countries. Climate change awareness General awareness of the reality of climate change continued to increase in 2007. This was coupled with local environmental constraints that have always affected air transport activities. Air transport accounts for between 2 and 3% of all man-made CO2 emissions. In Europe, its relative contribution will increase due to growth in traffic and the expected reduction of emissions in other industries. In the past 40 years, the sector has made considerable progress, reducing CO2 emissions per passenger by more than 70%. Summary In spite of its merger Air France KLM is still operating under its identity and brand name with their home bases located at Amsterdam airport Schiphol for KLM and Paris-Charles de Gaulle for Air France. The main core duties of the group are to transport passengers, cargo and engineering and maintenance. As any other organization Air France KLM has the opportunities to grow much bigger and become the first largest airline company in the world. CHAPTER 2 Organisational structure The pattern of relationship between various positions in the organization and among members of the organization is referred as structure. Organization is essentially a group of people with a common objective or goal to archive. The structure can either be formal i.e. documented or informal i.e. unofficial. Mullins (2007) defined, Organization Structure as the division of work among members of the organization, and the co ordination of their activities so they are directed towards the goals and objectives of the organization. It is the relationships among positions in the organization and among members of the organization. It makes possible the application of process of management and creates a framework of order and command through which the activities of the organization can be planned, organized, directed, and controlled. It defines tasks and responsibilities, work role and relationships, and channels of communication. Essentially there are various types of organizational structures depending on the nature of organization, such as centralized, complex, stratified and formalized structures. An effective structure is the one that coordinates various parts of the organization and different work areas. Meanwhile the structure of the organization can either be tall i.e. with a long hierarchical chain of command where the freedom and responsibility of the subordinates is restricted or flat i.e. with a short chain of command, there is more effective between management and workers but employees may have more than one manager. However both of two structures above are highly affected by the number of employees who reports direct to a certain manager that is Span of Control. Hellriegel et al (1998) explained, that span of control refers to the number of employees reporting directly to one manager. When the span of control is broad, relatively few levels exists between the top and bottom of the organization. C onversely when the span of control is narrow, more levels are required for the same number of employees. Although there is no correct number of subordinates that a manager can supervise effectively, the competencies of both the manager and employees, the similarity of tasks being supervised and the extent of rules and operating standards all influence a managers span of control. Consider the Air France and KLM corporate and social responsibility (SCR) organization structure CHAPTER 3 Organisational culture According to Hellriegel et al (1998), the organization itself has an invisible quality a certain style, a character, a way of doing things that may be more powerful than the dictates of any one person or any formal system. Armstrong M (2006) defined, organizational culture as the pattern of values, norms, beliefs, attitudes, and assumptions that may not have circulated but shape the ways in which people behave and get things done. Values refer to what is believed to be important about how people and organizations behave; norms are the unwritten rules of behavior. To understand the soul of the organization requires that we travel below the charts, rule books, machines, and buildings into the underground world of corporate cultures. Indeed there are several ways in which organizational cultures are formed, maintained and changed. Meanwhile there is a very possible relationship between organizational culture and performance, the relationship between organizational culture and ethical b ehavior, the challenge of managing a culturally diverse work force and finally how organizations socialize individuals to their particular cultures. There are several types of organization cultures, these includes labels of baseball team, club, academy and fortress. Organizational culture represents a complex pattern of beliefs, expectations, ideas, values, attitudes and behaviors shared by the members of an organization. More specifically, organizational culture includes routine behaviors, norms, and dominant values held by organization. Essentially the issue of cultural differences and cultural compatibility in mergers between Air France and KLM has gained much attention among the two companies. Since the two companies operate under its brand name and culture, the effects of cultural clashes on the result of a merger and their employees are numerous. Cultural differences may result to poor or low productive behavior among the employees, such as low level of commitment, trust and cooperation between the groups of employees from the two merging companies. Loss of productivity caused by luck of trust and cooperation is particularly frequent in case of top managers. This is because cultural clash is strongest when the contact between the opposing cultures is greatest; and executives is the people involved in the merger from its beginning till its end. This is a very bad sign for companies, since motivation and commitment of the top managers has a major influence on the motivation of other subordinates. Cultural differen ces mainly influence employees of the merging companies, but perceived cultural distance may also influence potential foreign investors and shareholders who may want to avoid direct ownership because of high information costs and the difficulty in transferring management techniques and values. Organization cultural aspects may be beautiful both for the investors, who find the business models of the foreign partner a considerable advantage and for the managers who expect more opportunities for themselves by working for the partner firm, which they perceive to be high prestige worldwide leader firm and which corporate culture better addresses their expectations. In this situation managers are willing to adopt new culture. Whether cultural differences hinder or facilitate the integration process, their meaning is undeniable. Only some of them notice the complexity of the international mergers where not only two different organizational cultures come together, but organizational culture s which are deeply nested in national cultures. Common cultural differences embrace differences in communication styles, planning and decision making practices, negotiation strategies, and management or leadership styles. All of them are shaped by both national and organizational cultures, considering the role managers play in the merger and post-merger integration process, it is at the top management level that national cultural differences play the most important role in the life of merging organizations. That is why Air France KLM before making any decisions and signing any contracts should conduct an in depth cultural audit of the future partner. It is important to realise that cultural distance and cultural differences do not necessarily have to mean troubles. Cultures do not have to be the same; it is sufficient if they are complementary. Consequently, the major advantage of such a cultural due diligence is that it raises awareness of issues that should be managed during the i ntegration process. CHAPTER 4 -Leadership and management As Hellriegel et al (1998), defines leadership as the process whereby a person influences others to achieve a goal, i.e. is a process of creating a vision for others and having the power to translate the vision into reality. The ways in which leaders attempt to influence others depend in part of the power available to them and in part on their competencies. Leaders draw on five sources of power to influence the actions of others: legitimate, reward, coercive, referent and expert. Vision, empowerment, meaning through communication and self understanding are the competencies that help leaders become more effective. Mullins (2007) defined; management is active, not theoretical. It is about changing behavior and making things happen. It is about developing people, working with them, reaching objectives and achieving results. Indeed, all the research into how managers spend their time reveals that they are creatures of the moment, perpetually immersed in the nitty gritty of making things happen. Air France-KLM is now introducing a new combined executive management structure on a functional basis, replacing the separate management structures in Air France and KLM. In place of the Strategic Management Committee, which had supervised the development of Air France and KLM over 2004 to 2007, the business is being managed from 2007 through an Executive Committee whose members has a group level responsibility and can come from either Air France or KLM while retaining their responsibilities at a company level. CHAPTER 5 Teamworking and Mentoring As defined by Katzenbach and Smith (1993) cited in Armstrong M (2006), A team is a small number of people with complementary skills who are committed to a common purpose, performance goals and approach for which they hold themselves mutually accountable. For example, after KLM and Air France merged, management decided to create teams of people from both companies to exchange information about particular topics. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬ ¢The most valuable part is the intangible part, teaming up the guy from IT with the guy from marketing, with the network planning guy, who normally dont speak together. CHAPTER 6 Resourcing and Training According to Bratton Gold (2007), human resource planning is the process of systematically forecasting the future demand and supply for employees and the deployment of their skills within the strategic objectives of the organisation. Armstrong M (2006) said, people resourcing is concerned with ensuring that the organization obtains and retains the human capital it needs and employs them productively. It is also about those aspects of employment practice that are concerned with welcoming people to the organization and if there is no alternative, releasing them. It is a key part of human resource management. Mullins (2007) explained that, one of the major areas of human resource management function of particular relevance to the effective management and use of people is training and development. Few would argue against the importance of training as a major influence on the success of the organization. Staffs are crucial, but very expensive resource. In order to sustain economic and ef fective performance it is important to optimize the contribution of employees to the aims and goals of the organization. The purpose of training is to improve knowledge and skills and to change attitudes. It is one of the most important potential motivators which can lead to many possible benefits for both individuals and organization. Since the combination of Air France KLM, each company has kept its own set of policies, especially for Human Resources issues, while developing new common policies in some other areas. Air France-KLM rates as the sector leader on human resources issues and actively addresses all of the challenges relevant to its business Overall, Air France KLMs performance on human resources issues remains stable compared to the last rating. Alongside the environment of the recent merger, severe competition and tough boundaries, the major labour relations issues for the company are to develop employability and staff mobility, essentially through training and proactive social exchange of ideas. Other critical issues for the company entail promoting non discrimination, diversity, and equal opportunities, and safeguarding health and safety in the workplace. CHAPTER 7 Communication skills Cook et al (1997) describes that, communication begins when one person sends a message to another with the intent of evoking a response. The effective communication occurs when the receiver interprets the message exactly as the sender intended. Effective communication is essential for the functioning of any organization. Managers need to transmit orders, and polices, build cooperation and team spirit, and identify problems and their solutions. It is believed that managers have traditionally spent the majority of their time communicating in one form or another. Communication within an organizations may take place through several ways, these includes; meetings, face-to-face discussions, memos, letters, e-mails, reports, etc. Recently, however, more and more employees find that an important part of their work is communication, especially now that service workers outnumber production workers and research as well as production processes emphasize greater collaboration and teamwork among workers in different functional groups. Moreover, a sea change in communication technologies has contributed to the transformation of both work and organizational structure. For these reasons, communication practices and technologies have become more important in all organizations, but they are perhaps most important in knowledge-intensive organizations and sectors and, as such, are of great significance to science organizations and to public sc ience management. The study of organizational communication is not new, but it has only recently achieved some degree of recognition as a field of academic study. It has largely grown in response to the needs and concerns of business. The first communication programs were typically located in speech departments, but most business schools now include organizational communication as a key element of study. The study of organizational communication recognizes that communication in organizations goes far beyond training managers to be effective speakers and to have good interpersonal communication skills. Moreover, it recognizes that all organizations, not just business organizations, have communication needs and challenges. CHAPTER 8 Performance and Motivation Armstrong M (2006) defined; a motive is a reason for doing something. Motivation is concerned with the factors that influence people to behave in certain ways. All organizations are concerned with what should be done to achieve sustained high levels of performance through people. Giving close attention to the individuals can best be motivated through such means as incentives, rewards, leadership and importantly, the work they do and the organization context within which they carry out that work. Essentially motivation can take place in two ways; such as people can motivate themselves (intrinsic motivation) by seeking, finding and carrying out work that satisfies their needs and secondly people can be motivated by management (extrinsic motivation) through such methods as pay, praise, promotion and punishments such as disciplinary action. In terms of career management, AF-KLM has put increased emphasis on developing careers for older employees. Extensive means are put in place to deal with health and safety issues, although key performance indicators are not disclosed on a group-wide basis, but separately for Air France and KLM. Air France KLM is one of the few companies who show transparency on how to deal with atypical working hours. Air France-KLM has an above average performance compared to its sector peers on Business Behaviour issues. The Group scores very well on its product safety and security commitments and has thorough commitments and implementation measures on responsible contractual agreements, making its management of client issues among the best in the sector. The Groups performance in terms of passenger satisfaction has been stable over the past three years. Air France-KLMs approach to suppliers issues (embedded in its Procurement Charter for Sustainable Development) and anticompetitive practices is similarly comprehensive, although AF-KLM faced a minor allegation related to anti-competitive employment legislation. Overall, the Groups performance improved slightly compared to last rating, and remains far above the sector average. CHAPTER 9 Management systems Since both Air France and KLM introduced Integrated Management Systems (IMS), which cover quality, environmental management, and food safety concerns. Air France was awarded comprehensive certification for its IMS. The Air France and KLM maintenance business units use their complementary approaches and their multi-skilled workforces to offer customers a unique, customized portfolio of services, in-line maintenance. The constant dialogue with third-party airlines and the combined experience of Air France and KLM ensure that their maintenance departments have in-depth knowledge of the sector and its needs. Customers are also invited to take part in regular satisfaction surveys. Not only that, also Air France KLM promotes environmental friendly solutions which they promote among customers. CHAPTER 10 Management of change Hellriegel et al (1998) explained, many sectors of the economy, organizations must have the capacity to adapt quickly and effectively in order to survive. To a certain extent all organizations exist in a changing environment are themselves constantly changing. Increasingly organizations that emphasize bureaucratic or mechanistic system are ineffective. Organizations with rigid hierarchies, high degrees of functional specialization, narrow and limited job descriptions, inflexible rules and procedures, and impersonal management cant respond adequately to demands for change. Organizations need designs that are flexible and adaptive. They also need systems that both require and allow greater commitment and use of talent on the part of employees and managers. Organisational change can be difficult and costly. Despite the challenges, many organizations successfully make needed changes. Adaptive, flexible organizations have a competitive advantage over rigid ones. Thus managing change has become a central focus of effective organization worldwide. There are so many pressures for change, these includes global market, the spread of information technology and computer networks and changes in the nature of the workforce employed by organizations. Thereby, we conclude for the organization to exist there must be innovation process to constantly integrate with the new technologies worldwide. Air France KLM has managed to cop with those technological changes at various aspects so as to comply with customer needs, these includes the revolution of electronic ground services. Air France KLM satisfied the demand autonomy and transparency expressed by passengers. The company is extending the use of the current technologies, i.e. mainstreaming electronic ticketing, extending check in at self service kiosk. The spread of e service offers the company genuine opportunities to reduce the cost and improv

Gender Differences in Nonverbal Communication

Gender Differences in Nonverbal Communication The Gender Differences in Nonverbal Communication Abstract Introduction Aim/ Purpose Theory Participants Procedure Results Conclusion References Abstract This research will attempt to test the hypothesis whether there is gender difference in use of non verbal communication between male and female with use of gestures. The participants were 47 males and 26 females, individuals comprising of 20 males and 20 females, categorized separately, all above the age of 21.The Individuals were all found in a social bar setting located in downtown San Jose. The participants were between the ages of 21 and 40, this is just an approximation because the participants were not approached or inquired. For the purpose of this study, nonverbal communication was defined as communication other than written or spoken, such as hand gestures. Hand gestures were only recorded when there was a definite distinction between the end of one gesture and the beginning of another. The difference in the mean of hand gestures used by men (M=2.85, SD=3.18) and the mean number of hand gestures used by women (M= 6.9, SD=6.24) was statistically significant t(38)=2.59, p 0.05,two tailed. The data collected did support our hypothesis that women would use more hand gestures than men. There is a significant difference in the number of hand gestures used by women and men. Introduction According to Briton and Hall (2005), in a very general sense, non-verbal communication simply includes all forms of communication, which are not achieved purely through the use of words or other symbols that perform the same task as words. This has been emphasized by Semnani-Azad, Adair, (2011), who reiterate that this is simply not a reference to our behavior (although, of course, some people do act like animals). It is a reference to the fact that humans are biological creatures, as much as crocodiles, cougars, and capybara (Semnani-Azad, Adair, 2011). We are the product of millions of years of evolution, our physical make-up changing to make us fitter to survive and reproduce. Aim/ Purpose This Essay will attempt to analyse whether a gender difference exist in use of verbal communication between male and female this can contribute towards understanding the literature about the elements of non verbal communication. Although humans are animals, we also have something that no other animal has: the most complex social structure on Earth (Eriksson, et al., 2012). We gather in families, tribes, clans, and nations. We have an incredibly sophisticated method of interacting speech. We can communicate over time and distance through printing and broadcasting. Our memories are the longest, our interactions the most intricate, our perception of the world simultaneously the broadest and most detailed (Semnani-Azad, Adair, 2011). The difference between humans and other animals is that, unlike any other animal (as far as we know), we can and do consciously respond or alter our response to a stimulus (Keogh, 2014). The greatest example lies in the existence of amusement parks, where people deliberately subject themselves to stimuli that any other creature on earth would go to great lengths to avoid (Van Beek, Van Dolderen, Dubas, 2006). Imagine, if you can, the reaction of a dog to a roller coaster. If it did not leap out at the first movement, it would cringe in bottom of the car until it probably had a heart attack. Regardless of the occasional demarcation disputes, non-verbal communication occurs within the same basic framework (i.e. output, transmission and input, to condense thousands of pages into three words) as does communication, which is dependent on discrete symbols such as words (Keogh, 2014). Mehrabian found that, on average, words contributed 7% of the total influence on this assessment, while tone of voice and visual clues contributed 38% and 55% respectively. These three aspects of communication are sometimes referred to as verbal, vocal and visual (or the three Vs). It is not always immediately obvious whether an instance of communication should be considered verbal or non-verbal (Caspi, Chajut, Saporta, 2008). Some gestures have agreed meanings which are at least as precise as those of some words. Perhaps, like writing and signing, specific gestures should be considered as verbal communication via the visual input. By the same token, a word which is screamed loudly and harshly could be thought of as non-verbal communication via the auditory input – especially if its meaning did not fit the context (Eriksson, et al., 2012). Another way of looking at this issue is to consider whether the meaning is explicit (precisely defined) or implicit (imprecisely evoked). Words are usually explicit, and gestures are usually implicit. However, in the above examples, the gestures were examples of largely explicit communication, and the screamed word was an example of largely implicit communication. Gender Differences in Nonverbal Communication has always been an important skill that all people should develop. Previous studies have hinted at the idea that men and women communicate differently. Spangler, (1995) suggested that women tend to be better at using and decoding nonverbal communicating cues, especially facial expressions. In a stereotypical beliefs study by Caspi, Chajut, and Saporta, (2008), it was suggested that women were believed to use the face and hands to express their ideas more than men. While another study by Schmid, Schmid Mast, Bombari, and Mast, (2011) suggested that women are believed to employ more expressive and involve more nonverbal communication than men, and that they are more skilled at sending and receiving nonverbal messages. Theory Nonverbal communication represents two-thirds of all communication. Nonverbal communication can portray a message both verbally and with the correct body signals. Body signals comprise physical features, conscious and unconscious gestures and signals, and the mediation of personal space .The wrong message can be established if the body language conveyed does not match a verbal message. In this research, women are more likely than men to perceive touch from opposite-gender strangers as unpleasant and an invasion of privacy. Moreover, the more women perceive a touch as sexual from a male stranger, the less they perceive the touch as warm and friendly; whereas, the more men perceive a touch as sexual from a female stranger, the more they perceive it as warm, pleasant, and friendly (for a review, see Hertenstein et al. 2006b). In the present study, we tested predictions regarding gender differences in the accuracy with which individuals can communicate distinct emotions through touch in human communication, relying on previously published data (Hertenstein et al. 2006). This study included the requisite four different dyad groups (encoder-decoder): female–female, female–male, male–male, and male–female. Overall accuracy across 12 emotions did not vary by gender, as reported in the original article. However, gender differences were not analyzed for each emotion separately. These aggregate analyses limited the inferences that could be made regarding gender differences in the communication of emotion via touch. In the present study, we analyzed each of the emotions separately focusing on two emotions that evolutionary and social role accounts both suggest should vary by gender: sympathy and anger. We also focused on happiness, an emotion that has shown consistent gender differences (e.g., LaFrance et al 2003). Researchers have documented empirical support for such stereotypes (Brody and Hall 2000); women report experiencing more happiness than men (Brody 1993) and they smile more than men (Hall et al. 2002; LaFrance et al. 2003). Predicated upon theory and the empirical work demonstrating that women experience and express more positive emotionality than men, we predicted that dyads comprised solely of females would communicate happiness with touch at above-chance levels. In summary, based on theoretical and empirical evidence reviewed above, we made predictions regarding three different emotions: sympathy, anger, and happiness. More specifically, we predicted that when females are in an experimental dyad, sympathy will be decoded at above-chance levels. We also predicted that dyads involving males would accurately communicate anger with touch. Finally, we predicted that dyads comprised solely of females would accurately communicate happiness with touch. Participants The participants were 47 males and 26 females, individuals comprising of 20 males and 20 females, categorized separately, all above the age of 21.The Individuals were all found in a social bar setting located in downtown San Jose. The participants were between the ages of 21 and 40, this is just an approximation because the participants were not approached or inquired. In order to further investigate the idea that women have better communication skills than men, my partner and I constructed a study where 40 participants were observed. Twenty men and 20 women who were in a bar setting were observed for 2 minutes each. While the individuals were engaged in a conversation, the two-minute timer was set and the amount of times hand gestures used were tallied. We hypothesized that because women have better communication skills than men, that women will have a higher average use of hand gestures than men. Procedure While in a highly social setting, 36 males and 26 females were identified and observed. As the observers we identified the male or female participant and set our timers for two minutes. Making our observation as discreet as possible, every use of nonverbal Communication was recorded. For the purpose of this study, nonverbal communication was defined as communication other than written or spoken, such as hand gestures. Hand gestures were only recorded when there was a definite distinction between the end of one gesture and the beginning of another. The chi-square (pronounced ‘kai’) distribution is the most commonly used method of comparing proportions. It is symbolized by the Greek letter chi or c 2). This test makes it possible to determine whether the difference exists between two groups and their preference or likelihood of doing something is real or just a chance occurrence. In other words, it determines whether a relationship or association exists between being in one of the two groups and the behavior or characteristic under study. If in a survey of 692 respondents, we asked whether or not they are interested attending attractions and events that deal with history and heritage during their vacation, and we wanted to determine whether there is a difference in how men and women respond to this question, we could calculate a chi-square. C 2 determines the differences between the observed (fo) and expected frequencies (fe). The observed frequencies are the actual survey results, whereas the expected frequencies refer to the hypothetical distribution based on the overall proportions between the two characteristics if the two groups are alike. For example, if we have the following survey results: Choose 1 data set and use this data for the research report for NVC Date set 1: Observed frequencies Then we can calculate our expected frequencies (fe) based on the proportion of respondents who said ‘yes’ versus ‘no’. It can also be calculated for each cell by the row total with the column total divided by the grand total This second table, we hypothesized that because women have better communication skills than men, they will have a higher average use of hand gestures than men, also representing the null hypothesis or Ho. (Therefore, if a study says that it fails to reject the null hypothesis, it means that no relationship was found to exist between the variables under study.) Hence, the calculation is as follows: The critical value for a level of significance of .05 (or 95% level of confidence, the normal level in this type of research) is 3.841. This means that you are confident that 95% of the distribution falls below this critical value. Since our result is above this value, we can: Reject the null hypothesis that no difference exists between interest in attending historical attractions and events and gender (in other words, there is a difference between genders); and Conclude that the differences in the groups are statistically significant (or not due to chance) You will not need to memorize all the critical values since computer programs such as SPSS will not only calculate the c 2 values for you, but will also give you the precise level of observed significance (known as p value), which in our case is .039. If this level of significance is above the standard .05 level of statistical significance, you are dealing with a statistically significant relationship. Increasing your understanding of non-verbal communication is the first step in improving your own use and comprehension of this vital aspect of interpersonal interaction. In order to determine the difference between the average amount of nonverbal communication used between men and women, my partner and I constructed an observational study where 40 selected participants were observed for 2 minutes each within a bar setting. The sample group of participants consisted of 20 males and 20 females. The study showed that there was a significant difference in the amount of times women use han d gestures in comparison to the amount of times men use hand gestures Results The difference in the mean of hand gestures used by men (M=2.85, SD=3.18) and the mean number of hand gestures used by women (M= 6.9, SD=6.24) was statistically significant t(38)=2.59, p 0.05,two tailed. The data collected did support our hypothesis that women would use more hand gestures than men. There is a significant difference in the number of hand gestures used by women and men. We believed that women would use more hand gestures than men because of the stereotype, that women are more social and outgoing than men. Women are also believed to express their feelings more than men, which we believed is connected to the way women communicate and the amount of hand gestures they use. Conclusion I believe that further research in this area would be extremely helpful in analyzing why women are better at expressing themselves. Some of the sampling problems in this study could have been that the individuals being observed may have mild case of Tourette’s syndrome that causes to have constant movement, that movement could have easily been confused for a hand gesture. Another sampling problem could have been the attempt to grab a drink or a straw could have been counted as a hand gesture, when the gesture had nothing to do with communication. References Briton, N J, Hall, J A (2005). Beliefs about female and male nonverbal communication. Sex Roles: A Journal of Research, 32, 79(12). Retrieved November 5, 2008, from Expanded Academic ASAP Database. Caspi, A., Chajut, E., Saporta, K. (2008). Participation in Class and in Online Discussions: Gender Differences.Computers Education,50(3), 718-724. Eriksson, M., Marschik, P. B., Tulviste, T., Almgren, M., Perez Pereira, M., Wehberg, S., Gallego, C. (2012). Differences between Girls and Boys in Emerging Language Skills: Evidence from 10 Language Communities.British Journal Of Developmental Psychology,30(2), 326-343. Keogh, E. (2014). Gender differences in the nonverbal communication of pain: A new direction for sex, gender, and pain research?.Pain. Schmid, P., Schmid Mast, M., Bombari, D., Mast, F. (2011). Gender Effects in Information Processing on a Nonverbal Decoding Task.Sex Roles,65(1/2), 102-107. Semnani-Azad, Z., Adair, W. L. (2011). The Display of Dominant Nonverbal Cues in Negotiation: The Role of Culture and Gender.International Negotiation,16(3), 451-479. Spangler, L. (1995). Gender-Specific Nonverbal Communication: Impact for Speaker Effectiveness.Human Resource Development Quarterly,6(4), 409-419. Van Beek, Y., Van Dolderen, M. M., Demon Dubas, J. S. (2006). Gender-Specific Development of Nonverbal Behaviours and Mild Depression in Adolescence.Journal Of Child Psychology And Psychiatry,47(12), 1272-1283. Page 1

A Comparison between To His Coy Mistress and Sonnet 116 Essays -- Andr

A Comparison between To His Coy Mistress and Sonnet 116 The poem "To His Coy Mistress" was written in the mid 17th century by Andrew Marvell, being written in this time Marvell's poem was unable to be published as its taboo content was unfavoured by the puritans in power at the time. Whereas "Sonnet 116" by William Shakespeare was written in the late 16th century, a time of liberation and freedom for the stage and literature. Both poems are similar in theme and yet different in approach, they both pursue the theme of love although Marvell in a satirical Carpe Diem love style whereas Shakespeare in a traditional sonnet style. "To His Coy Mistress" by Andrew Marvell is about a young mans attempts to lure a woman into bed the true theme of the poem being more lust than love, the poem is in fact a parody of Carpe Diem love poetry and critiques the approach of an over eager young lover. "Sonnet 116" takes a more serious approach to the theme of love addressing the concept of eternal love "love alters not with his brief hours and weeks, But bears it out even to the edge of doom". The voice of the two poems also changes dramatically with Marvell there is an eager young lover willing to change tactics often in order achieve his goal. The voice is fickle and immature it evokes little sympathy from the reader and has rather a comic tone to it, this comic tone is highlighted by the fact that the poem is written in an iambic rhythm with four heavy stresses generally a rhythm used for comic value as it short and snappy allowing just the right amount of time for punnery and wit this effect is backed up by the poems rhyming couplets generally a rhythm used for comic value as it has a light tone to it. Shakes... ...imself merely a victim in a constant struggle to keep righteousness alive and if winning is impossible then better to lose a lot than a little "Thus, though we cannot make our Sun Stand still, yet we will make him run.". Shakespeare also ends on a rhyming couplet though this modest couplet is to lighten the serious tone "If this be error and upon me proved, I never writ, nor no man ever loved." though Shakespeare stresses that unless love is timeless and priceless and infallible it is nonexistent for Shakespeare believes there are no half measures in love. I personally enjoyed both poems though I preferred William Shakespeare's "Sonnet 116" as I feel the more serious classic approach to love makes more enjoyable reading, although the comic approach of Andrew Marvell's "To His Coy Mistress" was entertaining it did become quite tedious after a while.

The right to live, the right to die. Essay -- Euthanasia Essays

Euthanasia, along with all other forms of medical involvement concerning the ending of human life has been a subject of great controversy for some time, dating back to the times of Socrates, and is a topic which has long attracted the attention of both medical and legal professionals, ethicists, and is often brought up in general public debate (Huxtable & Campbell, 2003) The term euthanasia derives from the Greek 'eu', which means 'good', and 'thanatos', meaning 'death' (Ladd, 1979). In a medical context, the Hippocratic Oath popularly believed to be undertook by all practising physicians suggests all medical practitioners will endeavour to ensure all patients' well being, it is all too easy to misinterpret the oaths' meaning in order to manipulate and justify actions that would otherwise be deemed unethical; specifically for the act of euthanasia. This essay will discuss the arguments both for and against euthanasia, with careful consideration given to all aspects related to the debate. Perhaps the most well known arguments in the euthanasia debate are that of the sanctity of life, of which holds palpable religious connotations which will be further discussed; the ending of suffering or 'low quality of life'; and the respect for patient autonomy (Huxtable & Campbell, 2003). In terms of extremities of the euthanasia debate spectrum, the Church of England (2000) have published a document greatly opposing euthanasia, whilst on the other hand, Otlowski (1997) has thoroughly researched and published an analysis of the law with the ultimate aim of ensuring euthanasia as a legal option. In terms of a religious perspective, and for purposes of extended clarity; Christian views, there is much contradiction to be found regarding euth... ...ts will invariably disagree with utilitarianists, and visa-versa, thus deeming all cases as requiring ethical investigation on an individual scale. Seemingly similar cases may have entirely different circumstances altogether, and may or may not have different outcomes. Although religion can play a major role in many cases of euthanasia, it is unlikely witnessing a relative suffering chronic untreatable pain will override any alleged desire to prolong life longer than required; however, certain circumstances often provide members of some religions with no other choice, for example, as in the case of Jehovah's Witnesses, where blood transfusion is not allowed. In conclusion to the available evidence, case studies and theoretical aspects of euthanasia, it can be argued that whilst people have the inherent right to live, they also have the right to die with dignity.

The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet

William Shakespeare's classic, The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, is about two lovers that are forbidden to be together and their solution. The writing style of this Shakespearean play reveals the era of the play by highlighting the social classes. Skillfully using his writing, Shakespeare develops his characters by implying the social classes of each character. Shakespeare uses language usage and style to suggest the individual social standings. In the Renaissance Era, the separation of the social classes is prominent. The four main social groups are the nobles, merchants, the middle class, and laborers (Dowling, â€Å"Renaissance Social Hierarchy†). At the top, the nobles have extensive property, live in large lavish homes outside of the city, and are owners of large businesses (Dowling, â€Å"Renaissance Social Hierarchy†). Since the nobles own most of the land, they have a lot of power and tend to be military officers, advisors to royalty, and politicians (Dowling). Nobles are trained to be warriors, to have social skills, to dance properly, and to carry themselves with a certain air about them (Dowling). Laborers, on the other hand, do not live in such luxury. Their employers did not guarantee them employment and their employment status and paycheck depended on their performance in their duties (Dowling). Despite the hardships in a laborer's life, the life of a peasant was far worse. All of society frowned apon the peasants. The separation of social standing during the Renaissance Era was obvious. Language usage between the different classes was quite different. Those who are higher up in the social ladder have more education opportunities and as a result are more educated. In Shakespeare's writing, the language usage by each character helps to identify the social classification of the character and develop the character. Romeo and Juliet often use an oxymoron or an antithesis when talking to and about each other (â€Å"Bitesize†). † †¦ † (1.1.44–69). Characters like Romeo and Juliet tend to speak in an iambic pentameter blank verse. Common folk or people that are considered laborers tend to speak prose. † †¦ † (1.1.44–69)