Drop Out of School Essay

Today many young people do not realize the importance of an education so dropping out of school becomes an option. They just easily end up dropping from school without thinking about their future. They are thinking that their parents will support their financial daily lives, thus they do not feel worried about continuing their education. Moreover, there are several reasons that make young people decide to drop out of school some of which are getting poor grades, not getting along with teachers and/or students, or having a drug or alcohol problem. Those reasons make the young people end up by dropping from school. However, if the parent has been guiding their children well, they may be able to be solving the problem. There are no easy solutions to the school dropout problems. However, here are two ways to solve these problems; parents should encourage their children to do the right things and parent should meet with the school counselor. There are some solutions to the problem of dropping out of school. First, parents should encourage their children to do the right things, so that one day the children will become a better person and will be useful for the children’s future. For example, parents should talk with their children about how important the education is for their future; help them understand that the choices they make can seriously disrupt their future. The parent should not give up trying to make conversation with their children. Furthermore, the parent should start a conversation by asking their children how school is doing or make other conversation where both side feels comfortable with each other. In addition, by being open to one and another would give the children confident to talk about what they have been observed from school. This type of communication is sometimes hard to do but it is necessary to keep their children remain in school. Next, when a parent notices that their children want to drop out from school, the parents should follow this solution: workings with school counselors or teachers that can help their children remain in school. For instance, the parent may arrange for help by making up a schedule to meet the school counselor. The parent has to inform their children to meet with their school  counselor at least once a week to solve their children problems in the school. Especially, for children who has a problem in certain subjects which make them to think about dropping out of school. As an expert, the counselor will give advice to the young people by explaining how important education is for them on the future. Moreover, education is one of the requirements to get a better job, which they will later need for their future and for personal responsibilities. In conclusion there are many reasons why kids drop out of school. Primarily they have to do with a poor understanding of what good education is, struggling to make the grades, and due to drug problems. By maintaining good open communication with their children and seeking advices from school advisor which are preventing their children drop out from school. In the end, the parents and children can work together to keep the children remain in the school. Thus, by having good communication with their parents, teachers, or school advisor, it is important for children to realize that the adults in their lives do want them to remain in school and are willing to do a lot to make it possible. Hopefully, these tips might be helpful for parents who have problems with their children who want to drop out from school.

Additionally it may be beneficial Essay

Thank you for such an insightful post! How great is it that you were able to directly relate to Tammy in moving into a position of leadership within an organization where you had previously been working? I completely agree with you in that Tammy will need to foster relationships that promote productivity. I wonder if Tammy will be tempted to lean towards a more 1,9 managerial style where she focuses more on relationships than on production. â€Å"His aim as a manger, however, is to avoid pressuring for production at a rate higher than that which would win acceptance from organizational members† (Blake-Mouton, 191). I imagine that it would be difficult to focus as much on production as on relationships when you already have established friendships with the people that you are trying to lead. It sounds as though you were able to accomplish more of a 9,9 managerial style, which is quite a feat! In order to focus more on production, she will need to adopt a leadership style that is high in initiating structure. As Dr. Wagner talked about in his video, â€Å"Initiating Structure and Consideration,† Tammy will need to set and maintain definite standards of performance for her team if she hopes to turn the YMCA around. Thank you again for an excellent post! Julia Teresa, I agree with you when you say Tammy will have to initiate structure and consideration. In this case I think these styles of leadership are both equally important. Additionally it may be beneficial for her to not only understand her staff but to understand her own unique leadership styles. She posed several questioned pertaining to her own leadership, stating, â€Å"do I have the skills and competences to effectively change the current situation?† Tammy is wise in posing these questions and understanding that merely having consideration may be futile, as there is no direct relation between consideration and job performance. How beneficial do you think it will be for Tammy to know her managerial style? Where do think Tammy falls on the grid? I would venture to say she maybe The 9.9 Managerial Style. It will be important for her to set a structured environment whereby staff can freely think, be creative, and express. According to Blake & Mouton  Ã¢â‚¬Å"when people can think, when they have influence on outcomes, they support rather than comply or resist. â€Å" (Blake & Mouton pp. 196) Blake, R, & Mouton, J (2010). The Managerial Grid. In J.T. McMahon(Ed) Leadership Classics(pp185-199) Long Grove, IL: Waveland Press. Bowers, D.G. & Seashore, S.E. (2010) A Four-Factor Theory of Leadership. In J.T. McMahon (Ed.) Leadership Classics(pp 200-210). Long Grove, IL. Waveland Press. Ken Mark and Gerard Seijts, â€Å"The Scarborough YMCA: Getting Back on Track,† in Cases in Leadership, ed. W. Glenn Rowe and Laura Guerrero (Los Angeles: SAGE Publishing) 107-115. Your post was insightful. You mentioned that Tammy will do well for three reasons: 1. Her colleagues already view her as a peer and trust hrialer. 2. She will not have to go through an initial stage of having the team become familiar with her and vice versa to be able to establish a trusting relationship. 3. Since they already see her as a peer, her ability to motivate and inspire them will be enhanced. This is true. Additionally I have found that peer leadership doesn’t always constitute for positive outcomes. Tammy may experience some push back from staff that persist to remain in mediocrity and complacent. Some staff may think that Tammy has gotten â€Å"big headed† due to her newly assigned leadership role. When I took on my new managerial position unfortunately, some staff had to be released. It was painstaking but necessary. In the case of Tammy, she agreed to take on the position if she had the authority to fully manager staff. I would venture to say Tammy was being proactive and may have foreseen this inevitable fate for some of her former peers. While Bower & Seashore state the findings confirm there is significant and strong relationship between managerial and peer leadership characteristics, there are other considerations.(Bower & Seashore, pp 209) One consideration is sited in Leadership Classics as â€Å"seven of the eight leadership characteristics outlined in â€Å"A Four Factor Theory Of Leadership† play some part in the predictive model generated from data; only peer interaction facilitation seems to play no unique role.†(Leadership Classics, p 209) In the case of ‘peer leadership’, it is no argument that there are  pros and cons and the outcome is unpredictable.

A Litte Kindness Goes a Long Way Illustration Essay

A simple smile or an honest compliment can change somebody’s life. One example of showing kindness or curiosity for somebody elses feelings happened to me at the Country Market, the store i work at. It was about 8:00 p. m. on a tuesday night when I had just finished for the day and was coming home from school and the gym. I stopped at Country Market, and I went inside to get a drink and pay for my gas. The lines for the cash registers were filled on both sides with about 10 customers waiting at each. I was third in line, behind a middle aged man in his 40’s, and finally an elderly man in front of the line was checking out. The elderly man was in his upper 70’s, and he had a handful of groceries. The cashier asked the man if he needed help out, he replied â€Å"No thank you I can take this out myself†. The old man was struggling to get his groceries, and I noticed the middle aged man was hesitating to help him, so I set my drinks down and went up to the counter and grabbed his groceries and took them out. Little did I know when I was carrying out the mans groceries the middle aged man saw my act of kindness, and he paid for my drinks and my forty six dollars in gas. Another example of ways to show kindness and how it can impact other people’s lives is just by smiling. The power of smiling is amazing, and it takes little or no effort and does not cost you anything. There is a website called To Write Love On Her Arms. TWLOHA is an anti-suicide non profit organization that aims at random acts of kindness or speaking out to those in need. They have a forum on their website about smiling and there has been a handful of cases where teenagers were thinking about committing suicide or feeling so down that they did not wanna live. These teenagers told their stories on this website and there were two that I read that was very sad. This girl said that she was going to kill herself, and the only reason that she did not is because a random old man opened a door for her at school and said â€Å"Smile it looks beautiful on you†. Now this young woman works for TWLOHA and is helping other people with their problems. Other examples of kind acts giving good karma is a story of an old man that works out at my gym with me by the name Jason Overstreet. Jason told me that he was in the drive through for Taco Bell when he decided to pay for the vehicle behind him. He said â€Å"he felt like a million bucks the rest of the day†. A week or so went on when Jason decided to go back through Taco Bell again when he went to get his food from the drive through window. The girl that was working the window recognized him, and told him â€Å"It was really an amazing thing you started the other day. While you bought that lady’s lunch then she bought the car behind hers. It was like a chain reaction that lasted about 7 cars†. Jason was astonished at what he had started just by one simple act of kindness. Anyone can give random kindness anytime of the day. All they have to do is share a bit of their lives with others, or make a simple smile. When you are kind, you bring joy and happiness into the lives of others, and you will also be happier, too. Share your happiness with others, because happiness and kindness make the world go around. You never know when you can change someone’s life with a simple smile. A Litte Kindness Goes a Long Way Illustration Essay A simple smile or an honest compliment can change somebody’s life. One example of showing kindness or curiosity for somebody elses feelings happened to me at the Country Market, the store i work at. It was about 8:00 p. m. on a tuesday night when I had just finished for the day and was coming home from school and the gym. I stopped at Country Market, and I went inside to get a drink and pay for my gas. The lines for the cash registers were filled on both sides with about 10 customers waiting at each. I was third in line, behind a middle aged man in his 40’s, and finally an elderly man in front of the line was checking out. The elderly man was in his upper 70’s, and he had a handful of groceries. The cashier asked the man if he needed help out, he replied â€Å"No thank you I can take this out myself†. The old man was struggling to get his groceries, and I noticed the middle aged man was hesitating to help him, so I set my drinks down and went up to the counter and grabbed his groceries and took them out. Little did I know when I was carrying out the mans groceries the middle aged man saw my act of kindness, and he paid for my drinks and my forty six dollars in gas. Another example of ways to show kindness and how it can impact other people’s lives is just by smiling. The power of smiling is amazing, and it takes little or no effort and does not cost you anything. There is a website called To Write Love On Her Arms. TWLOHA is an anti-suicide non profit organization that aims at random acts of kindness or speaking out to those in need. They have a forum on their website about smiling and there has been a handful of cases where teenagers were thinking about committing suicide or feeling so down that they did not wanna live. These teenagers told their stories on this website and there were two that I read that was very sad. This girl said that she was going to kill herself, and the only reason that she did not is because a random old man opened a door for her at school and said â€Å"Smile it looks beautiful on you†. Now this young woman works for TWLOHA and is helping other people with their problems. Other examples of kind acts giving good karma is a story of an old man that works out at my gym with me by the name Jason Overstreet. Jason told me that he was in the drive through for Taco Bell when he decided to pay for the vehicle behind him. He said â€Å"he felt like a million bucks the rest of the day†. A week or so went on when Jason decided to go back through Taco Bell again when he went to get his food from the drive through window. The girl that was working the window recognized him, and told him â€Å"It was really an amazing thing you started the other day. While you bought that lady’s lunch then she bought the car behind hers. It was like a chain reaction that lasted about 7 cars†. Jason was astonished at what he had started just by one simple act of kindness. Anyone can give random kindness anytime of the day. All they have to do is share a bit of their lives with others, or make a simple smile. When you are kind, you bring joy and happiness into the lives of others, and you will also be happier, too. Share your happiness with others, because happiness and kindness make the world go around. You never know when you can change someone’s life with a simple smile.

How to Improve Nonverbal Communication Assignment - 14

How to Improve Nonverbal Communication - Assignment Example Physical Appearance: This is how other people see us and how we perceive them and is an important part of the nonverbal dialogue. How we look is what others see on first meeting and this creates perceptions about us in the other person’s mind. At the same time, we apply this to others and receive important nonverbal information, based on our perceptions. For example, if I meet someone who appears to have taken the trouble to be tidy and clean, I think they will behave in ways that match the appearance, such as a friendly and natural manner, well-spoken and polite, smiling and responsive. I am more likely to respond to them in a positive way, mirroring their behaviors. The people I relate to best in social and work situations are those who try to present a pleasing appearance because, in my experience, this goes together with behaviors that help communication, as mentioned above. I have seen how such a person reacts to praise or criticism quietly and thoughtfully, and this also increases my positive perceptions of them. On the other hand, I have met people who are dirty and untidy in appearance, who do not return a smile or greeting, and my perceptions of them are negative, causing me difficulty in establishing communication and rapport. Kinesics: (external displays of human feelings and emotions). These are expressed through such actions as a look, mimicry, gestures to emphasize meanings, poses, and visual communication (sight and movement of eyes). These nonverbal components provide a great deal of information when interactions take place. This is most helpful in cases where people are speaking in different languages, something I have experienced, as I am Russian. Gestures thus become the unique means of dialogue and carry out vital communicative functions.

Case study Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Case study Analysis - Essay Example This approach is associated with mass production, in which goods are produced and stored in warehouses and stocked by suppliers with the anticipation of increased prices. The first major difference between BTO and BTS is the specialization. Derived from the definition, BTO is founded on the needs of the customer, meaning that the products are developed to suit individual customer wants. Following the consumer placing an order with included specializations, the manufacturer engages in the production of the placed request. In BTS, the customer has little influence over the manufacture as well as specialization of the product. The product is developed to meet the market demand, and specialization of the product design is within manufacturers. BTO is more suited to individual needs and has a higher production cost footed by the consumer while BTS is more focused towards mass production thereby lowering the production cost. Inventory demand is different for both BTS and BTO approaches. The inventory in the BTO case is eliminated via committing the consumer to a product as opposed to accumulation of inventory by the BTS approach. The consumer has their product developed as per specifications provided in the BTO approach, meaning that the materials used are specific to the placed order. In addition, the inventory of the producer is comprised of partially and wholly sold products. BTS concentrates on increasing the amount of inventory, with the intention of meeting the demand in the market, and often engage in a lot of marketing and promotions to ensure the sale of the products. The market is faced with a low supply where BTO is involved, meaning that the customer cannot walk into a store and acquire a product immediately. Since orders are taken individually and filled to meet the customer’s needs, there is no product readily available for a free market. This concept may mean a loss in profits and employment as well

Critique Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 2

Critique - Essay Example arates humankind from the rest of creation by establishing a dominionship of the former over the latter; but it is still below God who has as absolute dominion over humanity in the similar manner. Ms. Johnson states that under this model women are situated somewhere between â€Å"poodles and men,† (p. 29). So according to this pattern, men, as kings, can do what they like with both nature and women, which are subjects of the man. Ms. Johnson disputes this model. Ms. Johnson calls her theology panatheism. It’s a belief that all things are in God, as opposed to pantheism, which sees God in all things. Yet she does admit that traditional Christian theology does view God as above and apart from the world. Likewise, she does not accept the biblical Genesis story as the basis for her understanding of the world, but accepts a â€Å"cosmic history† that includes a long, slow-pace creation over billions of years, and the evolutionary creation of man as opposed to God’s act. She does mention belief in the Trinity, however, and she apparently accepts Jesus as God incarnate, although this is not clearly defined. But it is in this Creative Spirit that she most closely believes. She does seems to admit that a Creative Spirit is within the world, yet the activity she sees is not the one that we traditionally associate as the God that man can commune with, but rather she states that the â€Å"†¦Spirit fills the world and is in al l things. Since the Spirit is also transcendent over the world, divine in dwelling circles round to embrace the whole world, which thereby dwells within the sphere of the divine,† (p.42). Ms. Johnson’s cosmological belief then is not in a personal God, but in a real God who is separate from his creation. Ms. Johnson’s Creative Spirit may be real too, but implies only a belief in God who is part of that creation, a Creative Spirit that has been creating since the very beginning, but is in no sense an entity of itself. Ms. Johnson suggests that

Mythical man-months Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Mythical man-months - Essay Example One of the first problems that existed previously was that any activity was taken up with a sense of over-confident optimism with the belief that nothing could go wrong at all. But, even the biggest of corporations and the most intelligent of people make mistakes. Therefore, the industry experts have devised new techniques for debugging any errors that are encountered. Any occurrence of an error is considered as a risk and under such a scenario, Risk mitigation and monitoring management techniques (RMMM) are adopted. Under this approach, all possible risks that may arise in the development of the application are identified and they are prioritized according to their impact and efforts are made to eliminate them beforehand or whenever they are encountered. The second deficiency is with estimation of the Cost and effort. Though, the man-month is considered to be a fallacious concept, it is still used in estimation, with the only change being that industry has come up with certain concrete mathematical formulas under different techniques by which the man-months can be estimated and the effort can be calculated. One major observation in these modern techniques has been that the formulas for these methods has been devised using historical data from previous projects that have been taken up by the industry. Thus, the only limitation in this aspect is that any project may not conform to stay with the historical limits and may go out of range at any time. Thus, it is extremely important to devise concrete techniques even today.Earlier, scheduling the testing stage for any Software project was the most mismanaged aspect and the industry was not particularly concerned about it. But, today's software products are very specific and in order to s atisfy the customer, products are examined in minute detail. For this, the industry uses the concepts of '' and '' testing that uses the approach of enabling the user to assess the product and help the maintenance team to unearth all underlying errors. Even prior to this stage, the Spiral Model of Software development, which is popular in the industry today, is of a cyclic nature, which uses the concept of evolutionary prototyping and constant customer feedback, that minimizes the chances of any errors, thereby ultimately reducing the burden on the testing team.Today, Large software systems are developed in a planned and systematic manner, which eliminates yesteryear problems of understandability and clarity. Under this approach, complex tasks are broken down into simpler ones and each simple task (that is known as a module) is assigned to a team, wherein each individual solution is then assimilated through proper & preplanned interfaces that connect every individual module hierarch ically. Present software is developed in such a manner that there is always scope for adding enhancements and additional features to it. This is done under the concept of adaptive maintenance. The interesting thing with present SW engineering methodologies has been that such provisions for all possible add-ons are predetermined at the planning stage itself, with a major emphasis on reusability and platform independence.A major difference SW engineering and any other form engineering say in the construction domain is that analysis is much more complex, with some

Social Welfare Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Social Welfare - Essay Example This situation is especially terrifying because social service is supposed to help people who get into troubles, but when social workers dont trust you it feels like the whole world is against you and you have no support of society. The most surprising thing in this entire situation is that Barbara Ann got support where it wasnt expected at all - from homeless people. It turns out that those who are already living in difficult conditions of constant surviving are more likely to be helpful and supportive than those who are supposed to provide you with help, according to their civil responsibilities. Actually, the fact that representatives of the societys so-called misfits are more humane than the societys supporting service makes me suspicious about my safety. The life circumstances of Barbara Ann are totally complicated and tragic, but as far as there happened to appear the people who believed in her story and helped her, there is a chance for her to improve her life some

Ebay and Market Entry Challenges Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Ebay and Market Entry Challenges - Essay Example eBay maintains the seller platform much like the United States that is set on fixed auction philosophy, which limits real-time discussion with sellers. GMarket is also more innovative in setting up excitement with buyers and sellers, acting as a middleman for various lottery schemes that provide more incentives (Ihlwan, 2006). eBay attempted to simply export in its market entry strategy, using the same business model that had found success in the United States. In a market where GMarket was an innovator creating incentives-based packages, eBay was having a tough time being the dominant auction and selling site of choice. eBay’s fixed price selling concept was considered unfavorable by Chinese customers used to more direct sales tactics between buyer and seller. The use of mobile technology in China is also limited based on distribution of cellular technology and cultural adoption of this modernized selling format. Therefore, the ability to gain more market share through mobile technology sales was limited or eBay (Chan, 2007). Lack of ability to use mobile sales and marketing in this region limited the brand visibility of eBay with potential target markets and thus made it difficult to establish brand loyalty for eBay. The inability to use technology to improve the competitive position of eBay posed significant expansion problems. Pricing was another reason why eBay found difficulty in Asia, where the fixed price auction format made it appear to buyers and sellers that product listing costs were much higher than competition. The ability of sellers to contact customers and the flexibility of GMarket gives the buyer the ability to instantly reduce prices or add certain incentives, which makes eBay look rigid in pricing structures that is a turnoff to the price-sensitive Chinese buyers. Thus, it should be said that place, product, price and promotion were all negatively impacted by competition and the current sales platform being used by eBay. Simply export ing American talent and technology to this market was a poor market entry strategy since the Chinese online sales environment differed culturally than in the United States. It was a mistake to think that Chinese buyers would maintain the same market characteristics and therefore eBay entered this market without adaptable tools to better fit market conditions and buyer/seller attitudes and brand familiarity with other auction and sales competition. eBay simply did not have any quality tools to differentiate the business from competition other than mobile marketing which is not a common sales practice in the Asian markets. References Chan, Isabelle (2007) â€Å"EBay Has Its Eye on Southeast Asia â€Å", 29 Oct 2007, Business Week. Retrieved August 27, 2012 from http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/oct2007/gb20071029_295570.htm Ihlwan, Moon (2006) â€Å"Gmarket eclipses eBay in Asia†, 28 June 2006, Business Week. Retrieved August 27, 2012 from http://www.businessweek. com/globalbiz/content/jun2006 /gb20060628_910393.htm?chan=search RUNNING HEADER: Google and Asian Online Censorship Google and Asian Online Censorship BY YOU YOUR SCHOOL INFO HERE DATE HERE Google and Asian Online Censorship In Asia, Google faced many problems with establishing a market presence and gaining consumer revenues associated with its search engine business. In China, the government censors much of

The Ethical and Legal Issues Which Arise with Health Care Essay

The Ethical and Legal Issues Which Arise with Health Care - Essay Example The case of Martin is one which carries interest because of the known concerns that pertain to stroke as well as the capacity which the hospital had to respond, but didn’t. This first began when Martin was admitted to the hospital, which raises ethical concern with the responses that were required and not acted upon. It is known that when an individual suffers from stroke, certain reflexes began to be prompted, specifically to try to balance out the body in a different manner. With this, is a known change with the body that leads to pneumonia, often which leaves the body too weak for an operation. Feeding tubes and alternative feeding methods are common expectations with patients, especially if the stroke is too severe for post – stroke patients. It is noted that this is the only way to not have reflexes respond and to make the right movements for nutrition and alterations for feeding among patients. The known problem which arises is one which indicates that the hospita l should have immediately responded to the conditions in terms of feeding and nutrition, as opposed to hiring a speech therapist to try to change the condition of Martin first. Another problem which is associated with the case of Martin is based on the inability for him to talk and the dependency which was created with his condition in the hospital. This issue is furthered with the processes which were not carried through, not only in terms of the nutritious and physical state, but also in response to the other difficulties which are known to accompany those suffering from a stroke. This is inclusive of psychological responses, social difficulties, changes in cognitive ability and personality processes. Hospital personnel are required to understand the ethical concerns and the way in which this links to the

Homosocial Communication Practices Essay Example for Free

Homosocial Communication Practices Essay The issue on mixed or single gender school has raised very many arguments; interestingly there is no profound truth that single-sex schools provide quality education compared to mixed school. But mainly the choice of school depends on where the parent fill their child won’t get good education. The school choice can as well be determined by the individual child’s abilities and weaknesses. Being a parent with a school going girl child, and with much interest to sent her to a public school, my choice would be in a K-12 single-sex school for girls. The reasons behind my decision are that single-sex educational setting often controls student’s academic ability. Girls and boys do better in single-sex schools than in mixed-sex schools (Becker, 2001). Single-sex girl’s schools provide them with confidence and achievement; this is evident since they can take non-traditional courses considered for boys especially advanced mathematics and Physics. The girls have freedom of expression in absence of boys who would make jokes upon what the girls say assuming they where in a mixed class thus learning becomes more comfortable (Forgasz Leder, 1995). Better expression gives the girls the much desired inside to conceptualize scientific concepts. There is also a better teacher-student relationship because teaches do not compare between different sexes. The single-sex class setting provides and creates very many opportunities that cannot exist in mixed classes, these opportunities result to better understanding of life concepts Teaches in single-sex schools undergo specialized training on how to interact with the students thus a one-to-one specialized handling of issues which would otherwise not be solved in a mixed gender school, test scores and grades improve significantly (Forgasz, Leder, 1995). The major disadvantage of same sex school for my child is that they lack enough exposure in interacting with opposite sexes; this reduces their level of maturity and even self-discipline. These can result in shy behavior traits since they lack exposure Later in life it becomes a big challenge interacting with men since they lacked the exposure, do not understand their beliefs and way of life from their early ages. Emotional development is as well not fully established in their lives (Haag, 2000). The establishment of single sex schools means that districts must have twice the number of school as opposed to if they had mixed sex schools within the same district. The number of teacher employed is twice even if classes are small and uneconomical teaching. These would result to a nightmare in timetabling, logistical and budget challenges. This could affect the quality of education being offered within the institutions. The required same-sex education skills and extra training provided to the teachers handling these classes may not be provided and the full benefits of the single-sex school may not be accomplished in the long run (Edison Penelope 1982). In conclusion, though same sex school offer children all the opportunities to effectively explore and maximize their potentials in an open and friendly environment, they mainly equip the young ones with one side of what they need in life which is the academics and offer less of other life knowledge skills required later in live. So as parents we must be considerate on our children whole being without laying much emphasis on the academics and ignoring the social part of life. References Edison T. Penelope T. (1982). The independent school experience: aspects of the normative environment of single-sex. Journal of Educational Psychology. Becker, J. R. (2001). Single-gender schooling in the public sector in California: Promise and practice. Forgasz, H. J. , Leder, G. C. (1995). Single-sex mathematics classes: Who benefits? Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. . Haag, P. (2000). K-12 single-sex education: What does the research say? ERIC Digest.

The Medea by Euripides and The Aeneid by Virgil Essay Example for Free

The Medea by Euripides and The Aeneid by Virgil Essay In The Medea by Euripides and The Aeneid by Virgil the characters of Medea and Dido respond to desertion by their husbands, the individual they love most, in the form of a quarrel. Both characters go on to attempt to alleviate their pain via revenge. Their judgments and actions are impaired by each womans great eros and amor. Euripides and Virgil illustrate their vision of passion and love through the effects of Medea and Didos actions under the influence of these emotions. Both women could choose a healthier course for their pain by thinking rationally. Ultimately what matters is Medea is permitted to be distressed because she truly is abandoned by her husband, while Dido, on the other hand, is betrayed and destroyed by a lover she cons herself into believing is her husband. In response to the abandonment of their lovers, both Medea and Dido quarrel with their husband in an effort to sway him into altering his resolution. Medea attempts to make Jason leave his new bride and come back to her while Dido tries to influence Aeneas into staying with her. Each woman vents by launching their monologue with an introduction of insults. Although Medea straight forwardly calls Jason a coward in every way, Dido is more controlled and implies that Aeneas attempts to slip away in silence (Euripides, 465) (Virgil, IV.419). Throughout the remainder of the speeches, they attempt to get the men to bend to their wishes. The women use logic. Medea reminds Jason of the shame he will face as a result of having children wandering as beggars. Dido informs Aeneas of the bad weather he will encounter if he leaves now. Both women remind their lover of all they have sacrificed for him and everything they have not asked for in return. Medeas raging comments continue on about the broken marriage oath. Like Medea, Dido tries to force Aeneas to remain by her side because of the marriage that [they] entered on (Virgil, IV.432). Medea and Dido seem to end their side of the argument with final jabs at manhood of their husbands, but in her last breath, Dido asks for pity on her utterly bereft self (Virgil, IV.454). In the course of her speech Medea is seen as a very angry, vengeful woman while Dido is seen as desolate and pitiful. Both women, however, only want to be with the man they love. As a result of the abandonment of their husbands, both Medea and Dido hope  to quench their furor through revenge. Medea satisfies her thirst by killing four innocent victimsthose closest to Jason. Conversely, Dido constructs a funeral pyre that is a reconstruction of her life with Aeneas and throws herself upon it. Medea seeks revenge on others with the intention of mak[ing Jason] feel pain (Euripides, 1398). In hopes to extinguish her furor through her own demise, Dido stabs herself twice in the chest with the sword she gave to Aeneas; this way she says is a blessed relief to go into the undergloom (Virgil, IV.1048). Medeas rage ends with the satisfaction of innocent lives lost. Dido feels compelled to satisfy herself even further by hoping Aeneas painfully views the funeral pyre from his ship and by cursing Aeneas as well as her own people and all the children of their children (Virgil, IV.875). Ultimately, both women succeed in dousing the burning fury within. It is important to follow the paths these women select to satisfy their hurt because these paths are the result of both women allowing their eros and amor to cloud theirr judgment and influence her actions. While Medeas heart [is] on fire with passionate love for Jason and he returns her love, Medeas power and passion were enlisted for his aid (Euripides, 8). Didos love and passion for Aeneas overcome her passion for that of the city she founded. The moment either woman is betrayed, their passionate love for their husbands becomes passionate hate against them. Consequently, this is the motivation for Medeas bad judgment in her quest for revenge. Like Medea, Dido uses very bad judgment and so projects [are] broken off in Carthage (Virgil, IV.124). Both women refocus all of their eros and amor intended for the good of others to a single selfish purpose. Through Medea and Dido, two maddened lovers, both Euripides and Virgil illustrate their outlook on the effects of eros and amor (Virgil, IV.92). Both women allow their heart to rule, which brings trouble for many people. As a result of Medea following the wishes of her heart, she destroys or alienates her entire family. Because Dido uses her violent heart as a compass, Aeneas is almost derailed from his destiny (Euripides, 38). Aeneas is only back in line with destiny and the gods after he leaves to found Rome and begins to navigate with his head. Both Virgil and Euripides prove that  Medea and Dido create chaos as a result of allowing passion, not reason, to rule. Even in the midst of their turmoil it is feasible that Medea and Dido could choose to begin ruling with their minds and not their passion. Medea could kill Jason as a result of his hurtful act and not destroy four innocent people. If Dido truly loves Aeneas, she could risk going with him even if the consequences could be that she continues to be his mistress or that the Trojans tire of her and throw her overboard, as opposed to senselessly committing suicide. Medea could overcome her barbaric culture and allow Jason to live his life while she cares for her children as a loving mother should. Euripides and Virgil leave many options for both Medea and Dido if they can only get past the desires of their hearts and see past them to what is the superior good. Each development of Medea and Dido builds their similarities, but the crucial difference between the two wives in their justification for their actions and emotions is in the very foundation of their relationship with their husbands. Medea is married to Jason. She has gone through a marriage ceremony viewed by many and contested by none. Conversely, as Juno has intended, Dido misinterpreted the events which took place in the cave after the hunt. Virgil says she called it marriage. Thus, under that name, she hid her fault (Virgil, IV.237-238). Medea reacts to her betrayal atrociously. Although she kills the innocents, Euripides justifies the horrendous actions of Medea because she is married to Jason. He has left her for another woman. Because they had no commitment, Dido cannot justify her suicide and curse with the abandonment from a man she has an affair with and chooses to develop this affair into a liaison. Virgil does not specifically condemn Dido, but the tone of her commentary seems to put the blame on her. While Euripides Medea and Virgils Dido have similar reasons, reactions, and motivations, Medea is understood and Dido is just seen as bitter, vindictive, and pathetic.

The Great Masturbator by Salvador Dalí: An Analysis

The Great Masturbator by Salvador Dalà ­: An Analysis Surrealism is defined as a 20th century art movement which represented the subconscious mind of the artist. This style of painting involved creating fantastic imagery and ideas that seemed to contradict each other. In a surrealistic work of art, the world of dream and the world of fantasy are joined in the everyday. Surrealistic work can have a very rational, along with an irrational style. The surrealistic movement was first founded by Andre Breton in his painting titled Manifesto of Surrealism. Along with Breton, many other artists who have used surrealism in their paintings have previously belonged to the Dada movement. Surrealism was practiced with the use of various forms of expression. Salvador Dali, for example, used dreamlike perceptions of space as well as dream inspired images in order to create surrealistic images. Such artists have been labeled by the name of verists because their paintings were perceived as transformations of the real world. Salvador Dalis contribution t o the surrealistic world was a paranoiac-critical method. As it is stated by Aaron Ross; The paranoiac critical method provides a window into that unknown world of unconscious, and yet does not present the danger of psychic inundation. This method was responsible for Dalis famous double images. It required the artist to perceive and paint different images within a single shape. Dali was capable of examining his own paranoiac perceptions and interpretations (Ross, 5). A perfect example which represents how many images are melted into one shape is Salvador Dalis painting titled The Great Masturbator. Through the use of surrealism, Dali was able to incorporate more than one image into one shape. The Great Masturbator was painted by Salvador Dali after he has married Gala Eluard. Nathaniel Harris, an art critic has also states that According to Dali, it [the painting] was inspired by a 19th-century picture of a woman smelling an arum lily (15). At a first glance, the  viewer might not realize how disturbing, but at the same time brilliant, the painting really is. It is very hard to interpret what The Great Masturbator is about without first taking a very close look at the painting per se. At the center of the painting, one is able to see an upside-down face. A lot of critics state that this face is that of Salvador Dali himself. From the back of the head, one is able to point out a womans head emerging. Once again, the woman is recognized as Dalis wife, Gala. The womans mouth is painted to be facing a male crotch. In addition to that, the male figure is seen only from the waist to right below his knees. As if this image was not disturbing enough, the cuts on his legs appear to be fresh and they look as if they were still bleeding. In addition to those more obvious images displayed in The Great Masturbator, the viewer will eventually be able to point out the smaller, but also very essential images. Right below the self portrait of Salvador Dali is a dead grasshopper. Just as all the other images mentioned above, the grasshopper represents Dalis great fear of insects. The viewer is also able to point out the ants which are crawling all over the grasshoppers belly. These ants are also moving upward on the upside down face. Concluding from the fact that Dali had a fear of insects, one may conclude that this represents Dalis loss of control. Finally, the images of the white lily (which is painted right below the female body), and the lions head, are understood to be representations of fertility. Along with these images, there are other images which I was not able to find any representation for. For example, towards the bottom right of the painting, the viewer is able to notice a very small figure. I believe that this is the figure of Salvador Dali who is looking at his subconscious, which in this case represents his sexual frustrations. Along with the small figure, more to the midd le bottom of the painting one is able to point out another small shape. In my opinion, this shape represents a small male figure that  is making love to a rock shaped like a woman. In my research regarding The Great Masturbator by Salvador Dali, I was not able to find any interpretation of these images. The only explanation as to why Dali has placed this image of a small man in the painting is that this might possibly be Dalis ex-best friend and Galas ex husband. Overall, the painting of The Great Masturbator is one in which Salvador Dali is able to let out his sexual frustrations as well as his inner fears. (Masters of Deception) I find the painting of The Great Masturbator to be a very disturbing, but at the same time very fascinating painting. When viewing this painting, one is able to see how graphic it really is. The feeling that this work of art gives off is that of sexual frustration and of fears which Dali held inside of him. This is clearly shown by the womans head leaning towards the male crotch. This painting also gives off a somewhat painful feeling. When the viewer is looking at the male crotch, they will automatically realize the cut off, bleeding legs. The viewer, just as Dali was, might also be disturbed by the image of the dead grasshopper as well as the ants. Because dead insects are not a pleasing sight, this image might come as a disturbance to many who view it. The Great Masturbator is a painting that is charged with energy. Even though everyone knows that there is no movement going on in the whole painting, the energy is greatly radiating. As a result, the viewer is able to imagine the wo man moving closer and closer towards males crotch, as well as the ants crawling high and higher on Dalis self portrait. Although the theme of The Great Masturbator is very essential, the mode of expression also plays a great role in the paintings context. The mode of expression in which The Great Masturbator was painted in is known as abstract. In a way, abstract art is one which resembles real form. Generally, abstract art is  understood to mean art that does not depict objects in the natural world. Instead, it uses shapes and colors in a non-representational way. Abstract art may also be defined as one which has no reference to reality. The Great Masturbator can be classified as an abstract work of art because of the way that Salvador Dali played with its context. First off, the self portrait of Salvador Dali is an abstract work in itself. When the viewer first takes a look at it, it does not necessarily resemble a head. It is only after a while; however, that he or she will be able to recognize that it is in fact, Salvador Dalis head. In addition to that, abstraction is also displayed through the woman (Dalis wife). Although she looks very realistic in the painting, the way that she is melted into Dalis head is a sign of abstract ion. The same thing can be said for the males legs which also give off the illusion of being molded into the image. In addition to that, another abstract image that the viewer might point out while observing the painting are the hanging rocks on a wire right above Dalis deformed head. I would say that this is the most abstract image because while writing this analysis, I was not able to determine what it represents. Aside from the abstraction which is obvious in The Great Masturbator, the painting is also said to be highly representational. In order to understand the theme that is incorporated into The Great Masturbator, one may first take a closer look at the painting as a whole. When a work of art is said to be representational, it is a à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦type of art in which the subject is presented through the visual art elements so that the observer is reminded of actual objects (Art Fundamentals, 341). The Great Masturbator is a highly representational painting because the females hair looks like real hair, and her eyes as well as face also look like they were derived from reality. In addition to that, the male body resembles that of a real male body, and the grasshopper resembles a  grasshopper that one would see in a natural environment. Those images mentioned above and other images which I had not mentioned, such as the ants, are ones that Dali painted to represent the natural environment. It is almost as if they were taken out of reality and placed in the panting and because of that it is classified as highly re presentational. In order to express himself in an abstract, as well as highly representational manner, Salvador Dali had to use various mediums. The type of medium that Salvador Dali used while painting The Greta Masturbator was oil paints on a canvas. Concluding from my research on this type of medium, I am able to say that after Salvador Dali painted The Great Masturbator it must have taken a long time for it to dry, since oil paint tends to dry very slowly. Salvador Dali painted this work of art flat on a canvas. However, because oil paints have a thicker consistency, the whole painting has a feeling of texture. To begin painting, Dali first had to prepare the canvas. To do that, he first had to stretch the cotton fabric over a wooden frame which is also called the stretcher. Next, he had to apply gesso to make the surface more able to accept the paint. In order to paint The Great Masturbator, Dali used various types of materials. Most of the time, when an artists uses oil paints, they use a brush to apply the paint. To achieve the effect or realism combined with abstraction, Dali had to use different kinds of brushes. All those brushes must have varied in size and shape, as well as the texture that they possessed. Along with the medium used to paint The Great Masturbator, Salvador Dali used two techniques what were essential in creating his work of art. One of the major techniques applied while painting The Great Masturbator is expression. Expression is defined as The manifestation through artistic form of a thought,  emotion, or quality of meaning (Art Fundamentals, 338). Just as previously mentioned, Salvador Dali painted The Great Masturbator as a self portrait. Everything that is included in this painting was in one way or another meaningful to him. For example, the reason that Dali painted a dead grasshopper with ants crawling up to his mouth was because as a child he was said to have a great fear of insects. In addition to that, the reason that he has painted a female leaning toward a males crotch was because he thought that painting such images would relieve all the sexual frustration which he held inside. Through expression Salvador Dali has figured out what he wanted to paint. His second step was to somehow make this painting a work of art. Aside from expressionism, shading is another technique of painting that Salvador D ali used while creating The Great Masturbator. In the Art Fundamentals textbook, shading is defined as the darker value on the surface of an object that gives the illusion that a portion of it is turned away from or obscured by some source of light. A perfect example of shading would be represented by Salvador Dalis self portrait. Although the whole side of Dalis profile seems very well lit and bright, the top of his profile is significantly darker. Because his head as well as his forehead and nose are darker, the viewer is able to imagine where the source of light is coming from, in this case from the front of the painting. This casting of shadow (shading) is a technique which is very essential to a lot of artists. Salvador Dali used shading as one of his techniques in order to enhance the appearance of the painting. The pictorial field is a shape that dominates all the other shapes in a painting. It is an image which always contributes to the structure as well as the expression of the painting. Most of the time, a picture plane is situated on viewers eye level. While observing The Great  Masturbator, the viewer is able to see that there is only one surrealistic image which dominates the picture plane. This image is one of Dalis self portrait, which includes the female as well as the male figure molded into it. In this painting, the picture plane seems to dominate the whole painting. Because it is so great in size, and because it is painted as only one shape, some viewers might have a more difficult time of studying the painting as a whole. Being that the picture plane is so large in size, it takes over the appearance of the whole painting. Speaking from my own experience, I was able to conclude that while studying this work of art; it was not till much later on that I realized what its backgro und consisted of. Another method of painting that Salvador Dali used while creating The Great Masturbator was illusionism. Illusionism is defined as the à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦imitation of visual reality created on the flat surface of the picture by the use of perspective and light-and-dark shading (Art fundamentals, 338). Illusionism, also known as the trompe loeil effect is a technique which in the case of this painting is intertwined with chiaroscuro. Just as chiaroscuro, illusionism gives an effect of reality. However, illusionism shows a sense of reality through not only the distribution, but also by the shading of light and dark. The Great Masturbator is a perfect example of an illusionary work of art. As I previously mentioned, in order to learn more about the painting, one must take their time to study it. This surrealistic work of art created by Salvador Dali is one which holds many hidden images. When the viewer first looks at this painting, he/she will most likely not know what it is about. To some who observe it, the painting at the first glance may give off an illusion of a woman. However, Dalis sel f portrait, as well as all the other images in this painting, are so well intertwined with each other, that it is very hard to distinguish them without first taking a hard look at the whole piece. As a result, The Great  Masturbator might fool the observers eye into thinking that it sees an object, which in reality is not there. In contrast to that, the image may also create an illusion of hidden images which are waiting to be discovered by the viewer. Push-pull color is another method used by Salvador Dali which can also create the illusion of fooling the eye. The Push-pull effect is a method used by artists which represents two or more colors that alternate places with each other. For example, a person may see two images, green and orange. At first, the green image may look like it is closer than then the orange image. However, all of the sudden, the image fools the eye and the orange color appears closer, and vice versa. In The Great Masturbator, such a push-pull color effect is obvious. First off, the image in the picture plane is much brighter then the background of the painting. However, when one takes a closer look, he or she will realize that involuntarily, the two colors keep on changing place by moving back and forth. Because of the color synchronization, the viewer will be able to recognize that push-pull color effect. In addition to the push-pull color effect, the dominant areas in The Great Masturbator play a very symbolic role. The areas in The Great Masturbator that play a dominant role are the same areas which the viewer is able to see in the picture plane. First and foremost, the most obvious area that plays a dominant role in the painting is the upper body of the female. The factors that contribute to the dominance of this specific area, is that when a viewer looks at this painting, they will automatically see the female. This is because she is the most recognizable shape in the painting. In addition to that, her hair color also stands out, and automatically brings the readers attention. Another dominant area in the painting would be Salvador Dalis self portrait. The reason for this image not to be the most dominant is because it is not as clearly  identified as the woman. Another reason is that Dalis self portrait is upside down, and it takes a while for the viewer to recognize it. In addition to that, the third dominant image in this painting is the grasshopper, which is followed by the image of a m ales lower body. On the other hand, the negative areas painted in The Great Masturbator are the horizon, as well as the two tiny male figures in the background. They are classified as negative space in the painting because they are just there in order to fill the space between the subject and the rest of the canvas. The negative and the positive spaces are combined by the shading and brightening up of the canvas where it was appropriate. The Great Masturbator is painted with approximate symmetry. Stated in the Art Fundamentals book is that approximate symmetry is the à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦use of similar imagery on either side of a central axis. The visual material on one side may resemble that on the other but is varied to prevent visual monotony. The Great Masturbator is a great example of a work of art which employs approximate symmetry. First off, Salvador Dalis self portrait shows his profile; however, the face is upside down and as a result, his nose is pointing toward the floor. Also, on the same side of the canvas, right above Dalis head, one is able to notice the rocks that are hanging on a wire. On the other side of the canvas, however, the viewer is able to see the upper-half of the womans body leaning towards the male crotch. In conclusion, one is able to realize that Dalis self portrait (which is painted with his nose down), balances out with the female on the other side of the canvas leaning toward the male. Al so, if one were to draw a vertical line down the middle of the canvas, the grasshopper would be split on both sides of the line. In addition to that, the two small figures in the back are also situated so that they will keep the symmetry on both sides of the canvas. Although the whole painting may not have been  painted exactly symmetrical, every shape and image balances one another, and because of that approximate symmetry is achieved. Obviously, The Great Masturbator would not exist today if it were not for the line which has made it. A persons eyes see boundaries of objects in terms of lines. Also, we have been taught to draw using line, shape and form. Lines are a very essential part of creating a good work of art. When used correctly, lines can symbolize various feelings. The first type of line which is visible in The Great Masturbator is the contour line. A contour line is the à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦line that defines the outermost limits of an object or a drawn or painted shape. It indicates an edge that also may be defined by the extremities of darks, lights, textures, and colors (Art Fundamentals, 76). Such lines are shown through the whole painting. Contour lines are also present in Dalis self portraits wrinkles, as well as in the stand that the male figure is painted on. Another form of lines which are present in the painting are the cross contour lines. Those lines are defined as lines that cross and define the s urface between the edges of shapes or objects. An example of cross contour lines is shown on the grasshoppers wings. Another example of a type of line that one can point out from the painting is the implied line. An implied line is a line that à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦dims, fades, stops, and/or disappears (Art Fundamentals, 76). Implied lines can be seen in Dalis hair on eyelashes as well as on his whole self portrait. Implied lines can also be seen disappearing after they have outlined the womans shoulder, as well as from the stem of the calla lily. In addition to line, shape also plays a very important part in the representation of a work of art. Shape is a two dimensional space which is usually defined by a line, or another. Artists may decide to use basic shapes, or they may want to choose to use a different type of shape. The shapes they use may be representational, or nonrepresentational. The shapes that play a key role in The Great Masturbator are known as biomorphic shapes. Biomorphic shapes are ones that à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦resemble the freely developed curves found in live organisms. Such shape is apparent in almost the whole painting. Starting from Salvador Dalis profile, and including the stand on which the male is standing as well as the two small people figures. He reason that these shapes classify as biomorphic is because although they do not represent anything in real life, when painted as something, they will morph and transform into an object or a person figure which one would see in everyday life. In addition to the biomorphic shape, objective shape is also present in this painting. An objective shape is one that is à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦based as nearly as possible, on physical actuality or optical perception (Art Fundamentals, 76). Objective shapes tend to appear very natural or real. An example of an objective shape would be the female as well as the male figure present in the painting. In addition to that, the grasshopper would also qualify as an objective shape. Through those shapes Dali was able to create an illusion of wonder, but at the same time, reality and consciousness. Value is related to the degree of light and dark. One may experience the feeling of value when they get to see a solar eclipse or the sunset. Through value, one is able to distinguish many shapes as well as sizes. One example of value that the viewer may notice in The Great Masturbator would be chiaroscuro. The Great Masturbator is known for the rich chiaroscuro incorporated in the painting. In simpler terms, chiaroscuro can be defined as à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦the distribution of light and dark in a picture (Art Fundamentals, 327). Through this technique Dali was able to create an illusion of three dimensionality. In addition to that, chiaroscuro makes all the images, as well as the painting as a whole, look alive. Although the  images are painted on a flat canvas using shading done by chiaroscuro, they seem to look alive. While observing the painting, the viewer will have the illusion of the objects being in motion. Because most of the painting is melted together to form one image, the v iewer might only glance at that image and realize how alive it appears. This perception of movement and liveliness can be created through chiaroscuro. Value also serves a great role while speaking about texture and volume. While looking at the painting, one may conclude that the darker texture (the negative space), is the one which exhibits a rough and deep texture. The observer may conclude that the lighter texture (positive space), appears to be softer to the touch; therefore shallower. One may conclude this by taking a looking at the value of the positive and negative space. The negative space is darker, and therefore seems rougher and deeper. The positive space, on the other hand, seems to have lighter value in it; therefore, one may conclude that it may by softer and shallower. Texture is the tactile quality of visual expression. Texture can qualified as real or implied. It is created by using other elements such as value, line, and color. One type of texture which one the observer will be able to point out in The Great Masturbator is accent. Accent is a à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦texture which places an emphasis to elements of composition that makes them attract more attention then other features that surround or are close to them. (Art Fundamentals, 134). Accent texture may be achieved by a adding a brighter color, a darker tone, or by any other means in which a difference is exposed. In other words, Salvador Dalis self portrait is an example of accent. It distinguishes itself with a brighter color then any other image on the painting. Accent texture serves as a great addition to the overall painting. First off, it makes the  whole painting very shiny and bright. In addition to that, the bright color in contrast wit the dark color, gives off a very smooth (light) v ersus rough (dark) feeling. Color is the most universally appreciated element (Art Fundamentals, 149). Color surrounds everyone. Everywhere we go, we are always in contact with color, and from time to time, we are being introduced to new colors. The Great Masturbator, for example, is a work of art that is very rich with many different colors. This painting by Salvador Dali contains a mixture of warm and cool colors. For example, the head which symbolizes a self portrait of Dali is yellow; a warm color. Same thing can be said for the female, she is also painted in warm colors. However, it is hard to tell whether or not the male is painted with worm or cool colors. A part of him can be perceived as if it was painted with warm colors. Another half, on the other hand, looks as if it was painted in cool colors. The background of The Great Masturbator, however, is a mixture of warm as well as cool colors. From the horizon, and a little more to the top, the viewer is able to see the yellow, warm, color. However, from the yellow color, and more to the top, one is able to see all the dark hues, and as a result, the hue here is classified as cool. In my opinion, the overall tonality of The Great Masturbator is tranquil and peaceful (not paying attention to the images, only color). I am able to say that because even though it is a lighter color, the yellow is overpowering the green. Simultaneous contrast happens when two different colors come into direct contact. As a result, the contrast intensifies the difference between them. Simultaneous contrast means that when a person makes a couple of white holes in a red sweater, and then lays it down on white table, we will perceive the table color different then the white hole color, even though it is the same thing. I believe that this happens because people are not used to experimenting with  color. We are used to perceive color for what it is, whether it is yellow, blue or red. However, when someone puts us through a test such as the one I mentioned above, we cannot believe that it is not the white that changed, but the background which was laid on to make us think that the color has changed. . Local color is something that we see every day. Local colors brighten our day and make us feel good. Colors are classified into three properties: Value, Hue, and Intensity. Value can be defined as the quantity of light reflected by a color. Value can be classified as chromatic value, which distinguishes the lightness and darkness of colors. The high key colors are the colors that are above middle gray. Low key colors, on the other hand, are all the colors below the middle gray. Hue is only the real name for color. In reality, it is not the color red, the color blue; it is a red hue, a blue hue and so on. Every hue exists in many other variations. Many reds have different shades; many blues have different shades, and so on. Intensity, on the other hand, refers to the quality of light in a color. Intensity distinguishes the brighter colors from the duller colors. As a matter of fact, color can actually loose its intensity. After its whole intensity has been lost, the color stays gray. However, there are a couple of ways to change a colors intensity. In order to increase a colors intensity, one must place the dull color right next to its complement. In order to decrease a colors intensity, it is required to mix the color pigments. People very often mistaken value for intensity, however, it is not the same. Symbolic color plays a great role in painting various subject matters. Symbolic color is used by an artist to represent a mood or a feeling in a given painting. Depending on a person and their origin, colors may have many different symbolic meanings. For example, the color gold is often associated with royalty. The color red, on the other hand, may have many different symbolic meanings such as alert, blood, love etc. Through the use of symbolic color, the viewer may develop a greater understanding of a certain painting. The Great Masturbator does not consist of any symbolic color that would help the viewer determine the mood or feeling of the painting. However, the colors used by Dali in painting have to be symbolic in one way or another. Just as color is needed to describe the mood or feeling of a painting, unity and harmony are essential. Unity is defined as the à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦result of bringing the elements of art into the appropriate ratio to achieve a sense of oneness (Art Fundamentals, 324). Harmony, on the other hand, is the à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦quality of relating the visual elements of a composition (Art Fundamentals, 32). Harmony is achieved by repetition of characteristics that are the same or similar. Harmony is one of the principles of organization which helps to produce balance. There are many ways that harmony can be incorporated in a work of art. Repetition uses the same visual effects, such as color or shading, in order to produce one dominating visual idea. Through repetition, the viewer may start to feel a harmonious relationship with the work of art that is viewed. Rhythm, on the other hand, is achieved when many of the same shapes or images are repeated. Lastly, economy distills an image to the basic essentials for its clarification or presentation. In the painting of The Great Masturbator, Salvador Dali uses the technique of rhythm. In my opinion this is a rhythmic painting because of its soft flow. When taking into consideration the foreground of the painting, the whole image consists of a continuous flow. Very soft and almost musical lines connect the images together. There is no sharp breaking or snatching of lines; they all have a perfectly finished ending. After my analysis of The Great Masturbator, I am able to state that this is one of the most brilliant works of art that I have ever studied. While taking the time to look at the painting, one cannot forget the great artist himself, Salvador Dali. His magnificent talent and imagination have awakened in me the need to learn more about him as well as his other works. Salvador Dali knew what to paint in order to make his art as well as his intelligence well known. It fascinates me how he used his life as well as feelings to paint a painting, such as The Great Masturbator, that can be so personal, but at the same time so open to interpretation. His brilliant use of abstraction, color, value, shape, as well as all the other techniques, take the breath of anyone who has ever looked at his artwork. I am also convinced that The Great Masturbator is one of his classic works by which he will always be remembered.

Comparing Cyrano de Bergerac and the Movie, Roxanne Essay -- Compare C

Comparing Cyrano de Bergerac and the Movie, Roxanne   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Isn't it easier to accept the idea that a main character would be engaged in a fist fight, rather than a sword fight? Aren't fire fighters, as characters, more believable than a bunch of olden day French cadets? I certainly think so. To me it is just more real to have the setting of a story in modern times and in the United States. Rostand's Cyrano De Bergerac is written about a time that no one alive now has experienced. There is the same plot idea that an ugly man wants the pretty girl, but she is too busy being infatuated with the pretty boy to notice the intellect of the man she truly comes to love. Steve Martin's Roxanne and Rostand's Cyrano De Bergerac are similar in the sense that they both appeal to the people of the same time period in which each one was written and performed.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ever been to Paris, France in the year 1640? No? Well neither have I, but I have been residing in the United States in modern times. I related more to this version of Cyrano de Bergerac because the settings are familiar. In the original version there is a sword fight at a theater. Well for one, most people nowadays have the mind set that sword fights are for the aristocrats and Romeo and Juliet. Roxanne has fist fights and many events happen in a bar. I?ve seen fist fights and I have been in a bar and grill which is why I can relate to Roxanne. Another modern twist to Roxanne is the occupations of the characters. The fire figh...

Essay on Race in Invisible Man and Black Boy -- Invisible Man Essays

The Question of Race in Invisible Man and Black Boy      Ã‚   In the early twentieth century black American writers started employing modernist ways of argumentation to come up with possible answers to the race question. Two of the most outstanding figures of them on both, the literary and the political level, were Richard Wright, the "most important voice in black American literature for the first half of the twentieth century" (Norton, 548) and his contemporary Ralph Ellison, "one of the most footnoted writers in American literary history" (Norton, 700). In this paper I want to compare Wright's autobiography "Black Boy" with Ellison's novel "Invisible Man" and, in doing so, assess the effectiveness of their conclusions.    Both books have many striking parallels. Each tells the story of a young and intelligent picaresque character who goes through a painful odyssey of racism and prejudice during which he intellectually matures. Disappointed by institutions like family, church and political parties, mainly because they try to deprive them of their individuality by instrumentalizing and categorizing them, both protagonists grow more and more disillusioned. At the peak of their cynicism they eventually reject the American society as a whole. They now have only two logically consistent ways out of their dilemma: Flight or fight.    Ellison's protagonist chooses to take the first way. He believes that he can now finally see how society really works and he finds that in it he plays the role of an "invisible man". His invisibility is due to the fact that the other people are blind for the characteristics that distinguish him as an individual human being and instead apply to him the same stereotypes they associate with A... ...llison ends. His protagonist does not have to look for the individualism that the invisible man is always struggling for because he seems to have been born with it. Therefore his efforts are much more focused and constructive.    In conclusion I can say that I understand Ellison's point of view on the emotional level but that I have to give Wright right on the political level.    Works Cited: Berry, W. Abner. "Ralph Ellison's Novel 'Invisible Man' Show Snobbery, Contempt for Negro People." The Daily Worker: 8 Nov. 1999 <http://www.english.upenn.edu/~afilreis/50s/berry-on-ellison.html>. Ellison, Ralph. Invisible Man. 2nd ed. New York: Vintage International, 1995. W. L. Andrews et al., ed. The Literature of the American South: A Norton Anthology. New York: Norton, 1998. 58 Wright, Richard. Black Boy. New York: Harperpennial, 1993. Essay on Race in Invisible Man and Black Boy -- Invisible Man Essays The Question of Race in Invisible Man and Black Boy      Ã‚   In the early twentieth century black American writers started employing modernist ways of argumentation to come up with possible answers to the race question. Two of the most outstanding figures of them on both, the literary and the political level, were Richard Wright, the "most important voice in black American literature for the first half of the twentieth century" (Norton, 548) and his contemporary Ralph Ellison, "one of the most footnoted writers in American literary history" (Norton, 700). In this paper I want to compare Wright's autobiography "Black Boy" with Ellison's novel "Invisible Man" and, in doing so, assess the effectiveness of their conclusions.    Both books have many striking parallels. Each tells the story of a young and intelligent picaresque character who goes through a painful odyssey of racism and prejudice during which he intellectually matures. Disappointed by institutions like family, church and political parties, mainly because they try to deprive them of their individuality by instrumentalizing and categorizing them, both protagonists grow more and more disillusioned. At the peak of their cynicism they eventually reject the American society as a whole. They now have only two logically consistent ways out of their dilemma: Flight or fight.    Ellison's protagonist chooses to take the first way. He believes that he can now finally see how society really works and he finds that in it he plays the role of an "invisible man". His invisibility is due to the fact that the other people are blind for the characteristics that distinguish him as an individual human being and instead apply to him the same stereotypes they associate with A... ...llison ends. His protagonist does not have to look for the individualism that the invisible man is always struggling for because he seems to have been born with it. Therefore his efforts are much more focused and constructive.    In conclusion I can say that I understand Ellison's point of view on the emotional level but that I have to give Wright right on the political level.    Works Cited: Berry, W. Abner. "Ralph Ellison's Novel 'Invisible Man' Show Snobbery, Contempt for Negro People." The Daily Worker: 8 Nov. 1999 <http://www.english.upenn.edu/~afilreis/50s/berry-on-ellison.html>. Ellison, Ralph. Invisible Man. 2nd ed. New York: Vintage International, 1995. W. L. Andrews et al., ed. The Literature of the American South: A Norton Anthology. New York: Norton, 1998. 58 Wright, Richard. Black Boy. New York: Harperpennial, 1993.

MIT Oxygen, Network Technologies :: Essays Papers

MIT Oxygen, Network Technologies The more advanced our civilization becomes the more stress we endure. The Oxygen project at MIT is attempting to make our lives easier by taking out the little things to give us more time for the more important jobs in life. A small but significant part of the Oxygen project is WIND wireless networks of devices project. With the ability to have everything in your life networked through automatic wireless technology will make our devices in our world interact quickly with no setup time. The WIND project is developing middleware and protocols that will enable applications networks of devices, sensors, and computers to communicate with each other with minimal manual or a priori configuration. With the main goal is to provide the system infrastructure for a large class of pervasive computing applications for a world in which communication is everywhere and computation extends to even the most specialized of devices to make them connected to the network. The WIND software addresses several inter-related areas such as configuration and message routing, the task of automatically creating topologies and adapting them to mobility, making sure that messages are routed even in the face of dynamism, taking bandwidth, latency, and energy consumption into account. Resource discovery, the task of automatically discovering and using networked resources, without manual configuration or administration. The last goal is to be able to adjust to changing network conditions, including congestion, wireless errors, latency variations, and route changes. They have been working on developing location-dependent applications that use automatic location discovery and active map dissemination techniques to navigate new geographic environments and discover resources and people there. WIND uses the late binding technique provided by international naming system. Which integrates name resolution and message routing to track mobility and change, and uses intentional names to describe what its applications want or provide, rather than simply where in the network they might be found? WIND also uses self-configuring application-level overlay networks to achieve flexibility and deployment with minimal prior configuration. Ensuring secure and authenticated access to devices and maintaining device and user privacy is the most important factor in the WIND project.

Nursing code of ethics

Ethics refers to the adherence to practices and processes, which are morally acceptable.   Ethical issues are what shape public opinion about an organization. In addition, a code of ethics serves as the benchmark for decision-making. In nursing and healthcare, the issue of culture is more pronounced than anywhere else. In deed, it is in the understanding of the need for a more diversified an ready to serve call that led the University of phoenix to develop a code of conduct for students which guides the nursing students and indeed a the whole university community into understanding how best to deal with the issues of professional relations . The fact that nurses are required to serve many people from various ethnic, religious, racial and cultural backgrounds who come forth to hospitals and healthcare centres in search of health solutions means that, the conduct of nurses must be guided by a common concept which in this case is the code of ethics. Due to these cultural disparities, patients often fail to receive quality services because of practices that are lacking in cultural competence. As a result, the American Association of Nursing has in place a code of ethics which aims at offering guidelines for nurses in the course of service. A code of ethics for nurses and indeed for nursing students is aimed at making sure that, nurses offer service with competence and in an efficient manner in a cross-cultural setting thus enhancing the system’s or institution’s capacity to function in effective ways. The American nursing code of ethics emphasizes on integrity, honesty, care giving, and accountability. Under the provisions in the American code of ethics, nurses are required to strictly act in accordance with the guidelines so as to ensure a smooth running of health care provision in the United States of America. The code of ethics for both nurses and students at the University of Phoenix is aimed at ensuring that, in their professional growth, professional attain qualities which influences the individual’s values, perceptions, beliefs and opinions in corresponding to the professional standards expected of nursing professionals. The US is comprised of the most culturally diverse population.   A big percentage of the world’s ethnic, religious and cultural groups are represented in this population.   This has created a most unique opportunity as well as challenge to many professionals including nursing professionals.   Nurses are presented with patients with very diverse cultural backgrounds. Culture influences how different people will respond to the different ways of health service delivery, interventions and treatment, as a result, the code of ethics is designed to streamline the actions of the nurses in regard best practice. In deed the American nursing code of ethics is designed to guide the nursing professionals into the future. In more the same way as a business strategy, the code of conduct imparts discipline and control in the nursing profession thus making sure that, the profession is ready to face future challenges. Because of the demographic situation in America service providers are under pressure to provide more culturally correct services.   The nursing profession cannot be left behind and therefore the need to comply with the changing needs is overwhelming.   One ethnical principle that guides nurses in their endeavour to provide culturally appropriate care is the appreciating that everyone regardless of their cultural persuasion is entitled to receive quality health care. Cultural differences can influence the caregiver’s prejudices and bias towards a patient.   In a similar way a patient can misconstrue the caregiver’s actions and words.   This can serve to lower the quality of care given to this particular patient.   Professional ethics require that there be no form of discrimination in the provision of health care but in a situation where there is prejudice on either party, then the quality of care is compromised. Nurses are usually supposed to care for the general well being of a patient, they ought to be able to understand and empathize with the patient inorder to cater for their physical and emotional needs.   On an individual level, a nurse has a responsibility to learn the practices that are in accordance to cultural competence. In the year 2010 more than 45% of all patients in the US will come from minority cultures.   This is due to immigration that is the greatest contributor to the cultural diversity.   The health sector has realized the reality of these facts and medical practitioners are now given incentives to encourage them to take up learning on cultural diversity. The above reasons amongst others are worthy considering in regard to how nur4ses in this country are governed. To achieve the health goals, the American nursing association must constantly address the issues at hand and specifically consider reinforcing high values. This is what the American code of conduct seeks to achieve as well as the University of Phoenix Student Code of conduct and the American code of conduct. University Phoenix student code ethics. American nursing code of ethics. http://www.nursingworld.org/ethics/ecode.htm accessed on 07/05/2007   

Bad News

Bad News Letter Guidelines Tips: Before you start writing the letter, you have to ask yourself the following questions: 1. Is the letter for internal or external communication? * How close are the sender and the receiver? The Salutation (Dear / Hello / Mr. / Wolfgan? ) and the Closing (Sincerely / Best / Love / Regards? ) should pay attention! 2. How many parties are involved in the event? (a Mainland company IS NOT the name of the supplier!! ) 3. Do you understand the basic manufacturing process of a product / the product? NO Google it then!! Make sure you understand the meaning of ‘supplier’, ‘electrical component’, ‘assemble’, and ‘end product’ because components are very different from end products). 4. What is the role and duty of each part involved? 5. What is the event happened? What is the damage to the factory? Why is it related to the large consignment? What is the bad news exactly What is the real problem led by the incid ent in the factory? What is the immediate impact on the large consignment? 6. Is there any damage involved in the case? What kind of damage (e. g. financial, relationship†¦etc.? ) will bring to the company?And recommendations on solution? What kind of short- / long- term effect will bring between the company and the supplier? 7. What’s the immediate solution to the immediate problem? Why and How is it going to solve the problem 8. What other concerns is arose from the incident that constitute impact / damage to the company in longer term? What’s your suggestion / solution? What are the reasons to support your suggestion / solution? 9. Some of you mention about ‘customers / clients’. Where are they in the chain? What’s their role? If they are involved, what kind of damage will cause to them due to the incident?Why is it important to keep relationship with the clients? What is / are the solution(s)? What are the benefits of the solutions (in the short-term or long-term? ) Salutation| Internal or External? Dear / Hello†¦ Billy / Mr. Chan†¦ | Buffer| Think of it as an introduction of an article. It should briefly preview the main messages of the letter. The last sentence leads in to the next paragraph. | Reason & Bad News| Begin with the incident Bad New Implication to the consignment? | Immediate Impact & Solution| Begin with a sentence linking last paragraph’s last sentence. Briefly and clearly states the mmediate impact to the company or other party involved the solution why will it solve the impact| Longer-term Impact & Solution| Begin with a topic sentence hinting this paragraph is about longer term planning Briefly state the concern clearly states why the concern can be an issue to the company explain the solution clearly and logically (using â€Å"logic transitional words†) states the possible positive outcome. | Closing | Short and simple. Simply asking for approval / comments / meeting for fur ther discussion†¦ etc. And be positive| Complementary Close| Internal or External? Sincerely / Regards / Best / Best Regards? | Bad News Bad News Letter Guidelines Tips: Before you start writing the letter, you have to ask yourself the following questions: 1. Is the letter for internal or external communication? * How close are the sender and the receiver? The Salutation (Dear / Hello / Mr. / Wolfgan? ) and the Closing (Sincerely / Best / Love / Regards? ) should pay attention! 2. How many parties are involved in the event? (a Mainland company IS NOT the name of the supplier!! ) 3. Do you understand the basic manufacturing process of a product / the product? NO Google it then!! Make sure you understand the meaning of ‘supplier’, ‘electrical component’, ‘assemble’, and ‘end product’ because components are very different from end products). 4. What is the role and duty of each part involved? 5. What is the event happened? What is the damage to the factory? Why is it related to the large consignment? What is the bad news exactly What is the real problem led by the incid ent in the factory? What is the immediate impact on the large consignment? 6. Is there any damage involved in the case? What kind of damage (e. g. financial, relationship†¦etc.? ) will bring to the company?And recommendations on solution? What kind of short- / long- term effect will bring between the company and the supplier? 7. What’s the immediate solution to the immediate problem? Why and How is it going to solve the problem 8. What other concerns is arose from the incident that constitute impact / damage to the company in longer term? What’s your suggestion / solution? What are the reasons to support your suggestion / solution? 9. Some of you mention about ‘customers / clients’. Where are they in the chain? What’s their role? If they are involved, what kind of damage will cause to them due to the incident?Why is it important to keep relationship with the clients? What is / are the solution(s)? What are the benefits of the solutions (in the short-term or long-term? ) Salutation| Internal or External? Dear / Hello†¦ Billy / Mr. Chan†¦ | Buffer| Think of it as an introduction of an article. It should briefly preview the main messages of the letter. The last sentence leads in to the next paragraph. | Reason & Bad News| Begin with the incident Bad New Implication to the consignment? | Immediate Impact & Solution| Begin with a sentence linking last paragraph’s last sentence. Briefly and clearly states the mmediate impact to the company or other party involved the solution why will it solve the impact| Longer-term Impact & Solution| Begin with a topic sentence hinting this paragraph is about longer term planning Briefly state the concern clearly states why the concern can be an issue to the company explain the solution clearly and logically (using â€Å"logic transitional words†) states the possible positive outcome. | Closing | Short and simple. Simply asking for approval / comments / meeting for fur ther discussion†¦ etc. And be positive| Complementary Close| Internal or External? Sincerely / Regards / Best / Best Regards? |

To What Extent Does Restructuring Transform Corporate Market and Financial Performance?

To what extent does restructuring transform corporate market and financial performance? Discuss using an extended example. Restructuring is simply the reorganisation of a company’s structure to combat external or internal forces that hinder the maximisation of shareholder value. The term restructuring is quite broad an is an umbrella term for any action taken by a firm to maximise shareholders wealth (Wright et al) or a company’s reaction when it’s under pressure (Usui and Colignon, 1996). These actions â€Å"bracket mergers and acquisitions with much else† (Froud et al. , 2002, P. 2).This essay should explain in great detail how restructuring can transform corporate market and financial performance. It will focus on financial, portfolio and organisational restructuring and more specifically the following restructuring actions: mergers and acquisition and outsourcing and off-shoring. In addition Marks and Spencer and British Airways would be used interchan geably as extended examples to further illustrate stated points. Restructuring actions usually occur to revive failing businesses. By delayering or merging with another business firms are likely to become more competitive and more profitable.It is also not uncommon for restructuring to be used as a preventative measure to stay ahead of the game and react to competition. If done correctly and when necessary, it should result in economies of scale, decreased operational costs and easier communication. Financial restructuring refers to changes in a company’s financial structure. It involves managing debts, stocks and shareholder payments. Portfolio restructuring on the other hand deals with products, acquisitions and diversification. Finally organisational restructuring is mainly concerned with the human resources in the company.Mergers and Acquisitions are the most common forms of restructuring. â€Å"In value terms, the merger of whole companies through (often hostile) takeov er continues to be the most important form of restructuring†. (Froud et al P 3). Companies prefer to restructure in this manner as it brings numerous instant benefits and can aid in transforming market and financial performance immediately. Firstly, merging with or acquiring a company gives an instant increase in market share. It is the easiest way to enter into a new market and have a larger customer base overnight.British Airways' recent merger with Iberia has been beneficial to shareholders, employees and customers. According to the airline their corporate market would be transformed as they would be flying to more destinations, own more aircrafts and have more passengers. Thus making it more competitive and strengthening the company's image and brand. In addition, their financial performance would be transformed as they stand to benefit from a significant decrease in costs and benefit from economies of scale the merger is bound to provide.These costs savings can be then pa ssed on to the customer and might enable British Airways to be competitive on price; a luxury it might have not been able to afford prior to the merger. The merger might also help British Airways break into the South American market; a market in which it had no prior expertise or significant market share in. In addition to an increased market share, Kotler’s 8 C framework details how a firm’s market power could be increased through mergers and acquisitions (Kotler et al 2005).Firms gain greater control of every aspect of their products, greater efficiency, greater control of customer experiences and increased buying power if they have links with their competitors, challengers, collaborators, commodities, components, customers or consumers. Despite aiding in transforming corporate market and financial performance to some extent, mergers and acquisitions aren't exempt from critique. This form of restructuring despite being the most common is also the most critiqued. Firs tly, there is the issue of Monopoly and fair competition. The Acquisition of a competitor could instantly make a firm the market leader.Consumers suffer as a result. There might be little product differentiation, increased prices and barriers to new entrants could be put to prevent other smaller companies from entering the market thus giving a single organisation too much power. The government sometimes has to step in to minimise the formation of monopolies. British Airways were hopeful for a merger with American Airlines which would have made them a dominant airline in major airports across the world. The deal was eventually stopped because of its anti competitive nature. In addition to monopolies, a popular critique on mergers and acquisitions is they just don't work. †¦ the Boston consultancy group estimate that 64% of recent US acquisitions actually destroy value for the acquirers shareholders† (Kotler et al 2004) â€Å"rather than increased profitability, mergers an d acquisitions have come to be associated with lowered morale, job dissatisfaction, unproductive behaviour†¦ † (Meeks 1977, Sinetar 1981, Attendorf 1986, Cartwright & Cooper 1993). Three major reasons for the failure of mergers and acquisitions are a clash of organisational culture, human relations dilemmas and abandoning core competencies. Different organisations have unique styles of going about their day to day operations.When a company merges with or acquires another the dominant culture usually prevails however employees from the organisation with the less dominant culture might still carry on doing things the way they've always done it thus causing this clash. Errors associated with clashing cultures could range from minute to disastrous and if this carries on for a prolonged period of time, the opposite of the perceived benefits of mergers and acquisitions is most likely to occur. Employees also tend to feel worried about their job security when any form of restruc turing takes place.Their insecurities are manifested through their actions that usually prove costly for the newly merged or acquired organisation and can eventually drive it to failure. High labour turnover, absenteeism and decreased productivity are some of the actions that could be manifested as a result of job insecurity. A disparity in core competencies is a final reason why mergers and acquisitions are becoming more prone to failure. Hamel and Prahalad (1994) argue that an organisation can never gain long term financial rewards if its core competencies are ignored.Thus merging with or acquiring a company with contrasting core competences isn't likely to be successful. The merger between Daimler Benz (makers of Mercedes Benz) and Chrysler is a perfect example of a failed merger. Due to a clash of organisational culture and contrasting core competencies, the merger eventually ended in failure. There were good intentions behind the merger but finding the balance between Daimler B enz's high end auto mobiles and Chrysler's middle of the road range proved more difficult than anticipated thus Chrysler was eventually sold off.Druckers (1985) critique of mergers and acquisition argued that managers often seek to restructure in this manner to spread risk but it doesn’t guarantee success and usually results in failure. His five rules for successful acquisition give useful steps that managers might want to take into consideration prior to restructuring their organisation in this fashion. Outsourcing is another restructuring initiative used by firms when they find it necessary. Outsourcing aids in transforming the corporate market and financial performance of a firm to a great extent.It enables firms to focus completely on their core competencies as other organisations are hired to carry out activities that aren't directly related to the company's operations. It saves costs, improves efficiency and aids in the implementation of rapid change. In addition, findi ng workers with the necessary qualifications and skill in a specific country required might be difficult, thus offshore outsourcing becomes a necessity (King, 2009). One of the most outsourced operations in the United Kingdom and the USA is Information Technology. †There are more IT positions in the USA than there are graduates† (Morrill, 2009).Mark's and Spencer's indulge in offshore outsourcing to aid with its IT operations. As a result they have been able to focus on areas of more importance to them which is the quality of their products and their customer service. Additionally, offshore outsourcing aids in creating jobs in developing third world countries where unemployment rates are high. Some of the accounting and research operations on Wall Street are outsourced offshore. The companies are usually based in India where the best candidates are selected for the job and would be paid a good wage according to the standard of living in India.However if the very same ope rations were to be performed in New York, the staff may not be as skilled as those in India and would demand triple the salary in accordance to the higher standard of living in New York. All in all, Outsourcing is intended to ensure that the most skilled and most efficient people do the job at a mutually beneficial financial cost. On the other hand, there are so many ethical and political concerns associated with outsourcing. Many believe that it’s damaging to the economy as creating employment offshore decreases employment in the company's home country. â€Å"†¦ utsourcing is a poor alternative to a firm's internal management of Information Technology and services because it is tantamount to selling your ‘birthright'†¦ † (Clark et al, 1995). Also, ethical issues such as exploiting local workers in offshore countries in a desperate bid to keep overheads to a bare minimum and maximise profits have been connected to outsourcing. Numerous companies have be en scrutinised and criticised for this. The likes of Nike and Primark have endured the embarrassment and scandal of engaging in child labour in an attempt to keep overheads unrealistically low.Pisano (2009) argues that outsourcing operations especially manufacturing can provide a leak in information which might enable competitors overseas to hone their skills and possible surpass the skills of the company outsourcing. Other criticisms of outsourcing include quality control, loss of managerial control and hidden costs or the service being outsourced proving to be more costly in the long run. British Airways outsources almost all its operations. Back office operations, finance and accounting and its in-flight retail business are all outsourced.This has resulted in poor employee relations, a breakdown in communication and poor customer service amongst a host of other things. Whilst Marks and Spencer's restructuring included outsourcing IT operations which resulted in some employees bei ng made redundant and other transferred to their outsourced off shore location. To conclude, restructuring transforms corporate market and financial performance to a significant extent. Every firm needs to change especially when it is at risk of failure or it’s not as profitable as it once was.Mark's and Spencer’s restructuring ensured the company was re-branded in the customer's mind and an emphasis was placed on quality. As a result sales soared and market share was gained. On the other hand their restructuring initiatives also led to the company making the strategic decision to close all shops in France; thus bringing about bad press, criticism from trade unions and the French government, law suits and parties calling for consumers to boycott Mark's and Spencer's stores. Restructuring is however necessary if a business is to remain competitive.If competitors are changing and a firm decides to remain stagnant, it is only a matter of time before it becomes irrelevant. The decision to restructure must be dependent on the overall business strategy. â€Å"Strategic management as a discipline is concerned with how firms formulate and implement strategies in order to accomplish desired performance goals. † (Schendel and Hofer 1979). A more aggressive proactive strategy might be better suited for companies pursuing mergers and acquisitions whilst an organisation with a cost saving and value adding strategy might prefer to outsource.Restructuring does transform corporate market and financial performance but should only ever be used in synch with the overall corporate strategy to reap maximum benefits. Bibliography * MN220 Strategic Management: Lecture 18- Restructuring. Sukhdev Johal. 2012 * Restructuring for Shareholder value and its implications for labour. Cambridge journal of economics. Julie Froud, Colin Haslam, Sukhdev Johal and Karel Williams * Bbc. co. uk/business – Why firms bother to restructure. 12 Feb 2003: http://news. bbc. c o. uk/1/hi/business/711722. stm * Caterpillar: Two stories and an argument.J. Froud, K. Williams, C. Haslam, S. Johal, J. Williams. Accounting organisations and societies vol 23, 1998 * Globalisation, shareholder value, restructuring: The (Non)Transformation of Siemens Alexander Borsch * The Psychological impact of mergers and acquisition on the individual: A study of building society managers. Sue Cartwright, Larry L. Cooper. 1993 * Principles of Marketing. Phillip Kotler, Veronica Wong, John Saunders, Gary Armstrong. Fourth European Edition * The Outsourcing of information services: Transforming the nature of business in the information industry.Thomas D. Clark Jr, Rober W. Zmud, Gordon E. McCray. 1995 * An evaluation of the impact of corporate strategy and the role of information technology on IS functional outsourcing. V Grover, M Cheon, J TC Teng * Theoretical perspectives on the outsourcing of information systems. Myun J. Cheon, Vraun Grover and James T C Teng. 1995 * The U. S is outsourcing away its competitive edge. Gary P Pisano. HBR Blog network. 2009 * Offshore outsourcing: Practical and ethical arguments for and against from a small business perspective. Danny King. 2009 *