Othello Essays (1528 words) - Othello, Iago, Roderigo,

On a recent episode of House, a popular television show, a competitive bicyclist was admitted to the hospital after having a close encounter with death. The doctors completed examination after examination until they concluded that the patient?s illness was the result of his use of illegal paraphernalia. At this point, the doctors had to make a moral decision as to whether or not to report their patient on the basis of his cheating. On one hand, the patient was worshiped by children and his reputation would be ruined if he were to be turned in. Dr. Allison Cameron believed that the patient deserved to be turned in and that the children who worshiped him deserved to know the truth about the patient. She said that the patient ?isn?t who he says he is.? However, Dr. James Wilson questioned, ?Who cares who he says he is In today?s society, just as there was in the House episode, there is a disconnect between appearance and reality. A person?s appearance, how an individual is described from what can be seen on the outside, may be far from reality, or what is on the inside. The theme of appearance versus reality, however, is far from being something that has just appeared in recent years. In fact, this theme is present in many of William Shakespeare?s works, specifically Othello, which date back to the late 1500?s and the early 1600?s. The first instance in which the theme of appearance versus reality appears is with Othello. Othello appears to be loved and respected by his peers. And even though most of his peers describe him as the ?valiant Moor?, ?valiant Othello? or the ?brave Moor?, some characters do not truly see Othello as described (Shakespeare I,iii,47-48; I,iii,288). For instance, Iago?s statement of ?I hate the Moor? clearly demonstrates how some characters show abhorrence toward Othello (Shakespeare I,iii,350). Also, during the initial acts of the play, Othello is portrayed as a strong and confident character. However, all of the allegations that Iago makes about Desdemona being unfaithful to Othello quickly breaks Othello down and he becomes easily ?driven to jealousy? (McCulloch 77). Othello is also socially insecure, which may be attributed to him being a black man in a white man?s world. Not to mention, he is a black man in a high ranking position that requires him to give orders to white men. Addi tionally, Othello appears to be one who is calm and has self control, even under the most difficult of circumstances. But, Othello turns to rage and revenge in the final acts of the play. In fact, Othello, who had never struck Desdemona before, strikes her during one of their conversations and, on many other occasions, raises his voice at Desdemona. These actions, which are far from the actions of a calm and collected man, surprises other characters, including Lodovicio who makes the following comment: Is this the noble Moor, whom our fill senate Call all in all sufficient? Is this the nature Whom passion could not shake, whose solid virtue The shot of accident nor dart of chance Could neither graze nor pierce? (Shakespeare IV,i,249-253) Othello is not the character that others thought he was. Another instance in which the theme of appearance versus reality appears is within Othello and Desdemona?s relationship. According to Cahn, the love between Othello and Desdemona, the foundation of the story, is itself based on illusion (17). When Othello is describing to Brabantio how Desdemona fell in love with Othello, he makes the following comment: My story being done, She gave my story for my pains a world of sighs. She swore, in faith, ?twas strange, ?twas passing strange, ?Twas pitiful, ?twas wondrous pitiful. She wished she had not heard it, yet she wished That Heaven made her such a man. (Shakespeare I,iii,157-162) Desdemona, being wooed by the ?hero at the core of this story? and the story of his life, is not in love with, but is infatuated with Othello (Cahn 17). ?She does not know Othello as a man, but only as a fantasy figure? (Cahn 17). In essence, Desdemona is in love with the heroic actions and noble deeds of Othello rather than his inner being, his character, and his personality. Similarly, Othello is not in love with

The Donner Party essays

The Donner Party essays It's one of the greatest tragedies of all time, yet few of us know the whole story. The story is of the misled, inexperienced Donner Party. It is the story of eighty-one emigrants who traveled in hopes of reaching the land of California. Forty-seven, whose hopes were crushed by many contributing factors. The most horrible and misleading factor of all was the human mind and its persistent need to explore and conquer everything, whether within reach or not in the shortest and fastest way possible. This aspect of taking the shortest route that led to the downfall, and in some cases, to death, of the Donner Party. It was advertised as a new and shorter route west to California and saved pioneers 350 to 400. Unfortunately some crucial things weren't mentioned in this advertisement, one of which was the fact that the new route had never been traveled upon; and two, that the writer was a power hungry man whose only motive was to lure settlers into California under his direction so he could establish the area as an independent republic. This route was known as Hasting's Cutoff and was mentioned in Lansford W. Hasting's book, "The Emigrant's Guide to California and Oregon." Many pioneers eager to make their fortunes, escape disease, or to satisfy their hankering for a new experience read this book and, I might add, all as quickly as possible. Among the readers of the book was James Reed. James Frasier Reed was a business man who had made a small fortune in his Illinois practice. He had logical reasons for moving to California. One, his wife, Margaret Reed, suffered from horrible headaches and it was assumed that she would fare better in a nicer climate and James Reed wanted more money. He felt that this could be accomplished in a land as rich as California. Reed also had four children: Virginia, Martha, James, and Thomas whom he wanted better lives for, and he believed this could be attained in California. When James Frasier Reed firs...

IT Oversight Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

IT Oversight - Case Study Example Consequently, these issues have created greater demand for the organizations to adopt effective IT governance and address the issue of oversight in order to effectively deal with the emerging issues. Presently, companies are identified to face problems in the area of IT governance and oversight framework with respect to proper management and maintenance of existing IT infrastructure. Additionally, companies fail to understand the importance of IT in formulating organizational strategies. Due to increased complication associated with management of IT infrastructure, companies are witnessed to be challenged with ensuring reliability, security and quality of the existing IT system which are deemed to be important for carrying out the day- to-day operations of a company. Companies lacking knowledge about IT infrastructure are unaware regarding software, information and hardware that are owned and implemented, which in return is affecting the companies from leveraging the best outcome from their IT investment. The failure of companies to review reliability and security measures has led to service disruption. There is also the issue of inappropriate project management system owing to which companies are identified to face problems in tracking inventory, orders and revenues. A number of organizations are also identified to face IT-related issue in relation to the implementation of legacy system. Inappropriateness of legacy system adversely affects accounting department of companies in updating as well as accounting financial information and other relevant data due to which data might become out-of-date. Companies are also under the threat of legal problem of intellectual property which in turn is causing a rise in distraction costs and affecting business inefficiency (Nolan & McFarlan, 2005). Companies are required to develop a matrix based on which the management might be able to determine the position of the

Journal Entry See Below Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Journal Entry See Below - Essay Example The group’s origin dates back in 1999-2003 during the Iraq war, and a time when Sadam was under scrutiny by the US Government. The group was formed to promote the existing war in Iraq between Sunnis and Shiites, where Shiites were supposed to die because it was heretic. In addition, the group wanted to expand its control over Iraq and Syria. It emerged from Al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI), which was a major character in Sunni insurgency. The group was then under the leadership of Musab al-Zarqawi then. However, after his death, the group merged with other extremist groups to form the Islamic State of Iraq (ISI). However, in 2007, things lost balance in the group after many Iraq Sunni groups differed with ISI because of boundary disagreements. In 2011, the group emerged after foreign troops withdrew from Iraq and when Abu bakr al-Baghdadi was appointed the group’s new leader, who chose former Ba’athist military and intelligence officials as his personal assistants. However, in 2012, it adopted a new Moniker and branded itself the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS). The group has 7,000 members, 3,000 of whom are foreigners mainly from Britain and Belgium. According to reports published on CBS News website, ISIL (S) uses social media to recruit most of its members, especially from the west. In addition, it has a multilingual media group called Al Hayat, which specializes in printing and distributing glossy magazines and videos that aim at influencing people into being part of the group. Its main sources of finance are smuggling, extortion, and outlawed crimes. It is estimated that the group can make up to $8 million per month. The group’s organizational structure is composed of a supreme leader, who currently is Al-Baghdadi, who is has two deputies, one in charge of Syria, and the other in charge of Iraq. The leader has cabinet ministers, who offer advice, and have independent roles including being in charge of salaries, transport,

Pursuing Criminal Justice Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Pursuing Criminal Justice Paper - Essay Example In order to ensure that the innocent person is protected against harm, the federal government has established various departments and structures to facilitate these duties, namely the courts of law, correctional facilities and other agencies, which are very independent. In the United States, it is very important to recognize the existence of a criminal justice agency. In every 50 states, this totals to 51 criminal agencies in the United States (William, 2011). Indeed, one cannot deny that justice is synonymous to law enforcement. Therefore, the law enforcing agencies are tasked to treat both the individuals encountered and perpetrators with utmost unfairness. This touches on the morality of the law enforcing agencies and their ability to enforce laws of the land while at the same time; they maintain a moral and honorable move. It is justice that encompasses upholding of right and respect of individual freedom by the law enforcers. The origin of the criminal justice, particularly in t he United States dates back to 1967 when the presidents’ commission mandated with the powers of law enforcement and administration of justice came up with a report called â€Å"The Challenge of Crime in a Free Society.† The report was seen by many as a ground-breaking since it provided more than 200 proposals in an approach towards fighting and prevention of crime (The National Commission on Terrorist Attack, 2011). This commission created a structural approach on criminal justice and among its recommendations was a methodology that would ensure coordination among the legal court systems, correctional agencies and law enforcement improve. It is this commission that tried to define criminal justice as the enforcing standard of conduct that could be significant to protecting communities and individuals from committing crimes. Moreover, the discipline of criminal justice dates back to 1920 with August Vollmer, the Berkley police chief, an established criminal justice depa rtment at the University of California. It was O.W. Wilson, a student of August Vollmer, who started and researched on the meaning of the criminal justice (The National Commission on Terrorist Attack, 2011). Throughout the evolution process of the criminal justice, its scope has included the additions or removals of certain forms of punishments. Precisely, policing has led to change in customs and rights of offenders that are considered among other transformations in the criminal justice system (Ritter, 2006). Essentially, it is of the best interest to promote justice in the society, having the knowledge of how many people have suffered as a result of the injustice. It is important to uphold the moral values of the professional law enforcement agencies, which demands that one remains partisan at all times and have the utmost sobriety when carrying out justice. This means that both the victims and the offenders have the right to fair treatment. Therefore, it is the responsibility of every stakeholder in the judicial system to make sure that proper legal procedures are set in place (Ritter, 2006). One can be able to achieve promotion of justice as a law enforcing agent, through the protection of the freedom of speech, affirmative action, gay rights, and gender rights, build anti-poverty and economic opportunities that would help the poor. In addition, ending the mandatory arbitration to provide legal

Overcoming Cultural Differences And Understanding Organisation Culture Commerce Essay

Overcoming Cultural Differences And Understanding Organisation Culture Commerce Essay What is culture? Culture is something you belong to. Here a few definitions of the word culture. Geertz describes culture as a system of shared meaning, (Griffin, 2003, p. 273), Pancanowsky said culture is not something a organization has, a culture is something an organization is. (Griffin, 2003, p. 273) Philipesen describes culture as a socially constructed and historically transmitted pattern of symbols, meanings, premises, and rules.(Griffin, 2003, p.420). In this case study EUROCOM Systems is a German organization and SOFTCOM is an IT organization in New Zealand.EUROCOM Systems is taking over SOFTCOM. According to the above definitions about culture, we can see that EUROCOM Systems and SOFTCOM are two different types of organizations with two different cultures. Firstly their languages are different, and also the German organization has a very traditional management style. Their staff are expected to wear traditional business suits and ties and keep to fixed daily working hours. The New Zealand organization has an easygoing and relaxed atmosphere, including a dress code and flexible working hours that suit their customers. There are also other problems that could happen in the new organization. As the case study mentions that EUROCOM will send their own managers to New Zealand. These managers have to face a new environment, so could have a lot of anxiety. During the takeover, it will be two different countries with different cultures merging together; obviously this could cause culture conflict. How can these cultural differences be overcome? The above provides two hypotheses, using some theories to help to achieve the hypotheses. Agenda-Setting Theory Maxwell McCombs Donald Shaws Agenda Setting Theory uses framing where they select a feature and put this into the mind of people making them think about it. For example, SOFTCOMs flexible working hours change to fixed daily working hours. If at lunch time or outside working hours, the customers has some software problems needing speciality help, who can serve them to figure out the problems. Does the customer have to wait until the speciality staff are back from lunch? No, no one has the patience when they have a problem. They want the company solve the problem at once. As no one can run a business without customers, SOFTCOM should put those points to frame the cultural differences, and let EUROCOM think about by changing SOFTCOM culture it may cause many problems, and even lose customers. Social Penetration Theory Cultural approach to organization Theory Social Penetration Theory is when the onion is peeled by layer the two nationalities will soon be friends and appreciate each other. (Griffin, 2003, p. 133) Once they penetrate well below the surface, the Germans and New Zealanders will become close. Story and ritual (Using the metaphor) can help to understand an organization culture. So in this case, SOFTCOM can tell some stories through ritual that will help EUOROCOM Managers to understand SOFTCOM culture. Below is an provide an example combining these two theories. When the managers of EUORCOM come to New Zealander at first, they might feel uncomfortable and not know what to say to SOFTCOM staff, but after a few days they will start to know each other. Also SOFTCOM can provide some rituals such as a party or a BBQ, and by corporate stories, collegial stories or personal story telling increase their relationships and help them understand the SOFTCOM culture. Understanding organization culture Communication theories: Information Systems Approach to Organisations Cultural Approach to Organizations Face-Negotiation Theory Narrative Paradigm Theory From the case study, it seems that SOFTCOM Systems is a culture system and belongs to Individualistic culture. EUOROCOM Systems is an information system and belongs to collectivistic culture. Below are some theories to identify the statement, and also will provide a strategy for SOFTCOM to keep the unique features of the organisation. Information Systems Approach to Organisations Theory According to Weicks Information Systems Approach to Organisations theory, every organisation as living organizations that must constantly adapt to changing environment in order to stay alive. (Griffin, 2003, p. 259). Weick talks about the information and how it relates to the organisation, whereas organisation systems depend on the information system. Weick considers in his theory the hierarchy structural of the organisation. Every employee is put on different levels of positions. The boss is at the top, flows down to the associate managers, along the path to the next level will be the workers at the lower level. From this hierarchy structural, Weick forms up the chain-of-command lines of communication. Information is pushed down from the top, where the boss is, down to his associates and from the associates to the workers below. Information flows in the organisation. Cultural Approach to Organisation Theory Geertz and Pacanowskys theory of the Cultural Approach to Organisation base on Information Systems Approach to Organisations theory, but they state that culture is not something that an organisation has; culture is something an organisation is. Geertz describes culture as a system of shared meaning, (Griffin, 2003, p. 273), From the above explanations of the two theories, we can see EUOROCOM is an information system, because the boss at top level pushes information down to the next level associates, and to the workers. The workers do not have a chance to raise opinions to the managers. As the case study said the EUOROCOM organization has a very conservative management style. SOFTCOM is a culture system. As EUOROCOM the boss from the top pushes the information to the next level and to the workers. But SOFTCOM have effective communication and a shared meaning about the information. The case study says SOFTCOM has an easygoing relaxed atmosphere, which is why SOFTCOM is an innovative and creative software development. Face-Negotiation Theory According to Ting-Toomeys Face- Negotiation theory, she distinguishes national cultures within collectivistic and individualistic categories. (Griffin, 2003, p. 436). Collectivistic culture means where people identify with a larger group loyalty thus acting from a We-identity. The collectivistic culture has a high context communication or message. Individualistic culture means where people look out for themselves and their immediate families thus acting from an I-identity. The Individualistic culture has a low context communication Using these definitions we can see that EUOROCOM is a Collectivistic culture, because the EUOROCOM System values collective needs and goals over individual needs and goals. In EUOROCOM, staff behaviour is controlled by the company, for example, the EUOROCOM System boss asked the SOFTCOM staff to wear traditional business suits and ties everyday, and they had no choice, but to do it no matter whether they want to it or not. EUOROCOM has a very high context on sending messages from their boss to staff. The power gap between the boss at the top and his associates below is wide. It is hard for the worker to communicate their thoughts to the top level. The SOFTCOM system is an individualistic culture; because SOFTCOM treat every person as unique. SOFTCOM has a very low context communication between their boss and staff. Its a narrow hierarchy structure. The power gap between the boss at the top level and his associates below (the workers of the organisation) is narrow. In other words, communication between the workers is easy and they help each other, not like the high context communication staff of EUOROCOM Systems. So their company is conducive to more innovation than EUOROCOM. How can the take over be effective? In the case study EUOROCOM will create a more disciplined culture in the new organization which means the Germans will run the merged organisation to their collectivistic culture. How could the New Zealanders persuade the Germans not take away the unique features of SOFTCOM? Here using narrative paradigm theory could persuade EUOROCOM to keep the SOFTCOM system, so that SOFTCOM will not lose the unique features of the organization. Narrative Paradigm Theory Using Walter Fishers theory Narrative Paradigm would be effective. Fisher says that people are storytelling animals and to reason to others we use stories. SOFTCOM could persuade the Germans and point out that the organisation is living in its own culture and they do their own work according to the features of the culture of their organisation and their effect on the society. So they can use their customers to tell a story to EUOROCOM to persuade the Germans to confirm the takeover without taking away their unique features. Customers might say they are familiar with the service that SOFTCOM gives them because SOFTCOM serve them on their own way. If EUOROCOM takes that away, loss of customers could turn out to be true which EUOROCOM would not want to happen for the sake of the organisation.

Essay Comparing the Runes and Magic in Beowulf and The Saga of the Volsungs :: comparison compare contrast essays

Runes and Magic in Beowulf and The Saga of the Volsungs      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In the Old English poem Beowulf and in the Icelandic The Saga of the Volsungs, a saga representing oral traditions dating back to the fourth and fifth centuries, we see the mention of runes, which were used with connotations of magic or charms.    An unknown author wrote the The Saga of the Volsungs in the thirteenth century, basing his story on far older Norse poetry. Iceland was settled by the Vikings about 870-930, who took there the famous lay of Sigurd and the Volsungs. Native Icelandic poets loved the story of Sigurd and the Huns, Goths, Burgundians, with whom he interacted. This prose story is based on traditional Norse verse called Eddic poetry, a form of mythic or heroic lay which developed before 1000 in the oral folk culture of Old Scandinavia. In The Saga of the Volsungs the hero Sigurd is the one who corresponds best with the hero Beowulf in the Anglo-Saxon tradition. George Clark in â€Å"The Hero and the Theme† mentions: â€Å"The form of Beowulf taken as a whole suggests both the ‘Bear’s Son’ folktale type (especially as we find it in Scandinavia) and the ‘combat myth’. . . .† (286). The â€Å"combat myth† is what this saga is. When Sigurd was born, he was t he grandson of King Eylimi; when Beowulf was born, he was the grandson of King Hrethel. The king said of Sigurd that â€Å"none would be his like or equal† (55), and this proved true; Beowulf as a young man was so strong that â€Å"he was the strongest of all living men† (196). The similarities between Sigurd and Beowulf continue through both works.    The Icelandic skald is the equivalent of the Anglo-Saxon scop. He was a storyteller. Icelandic material builds on a long oral tradition just like Anglo-saxon, going back in their stories to the fourth and fifth centuries (Byock 2). Skalds stayed in the royal courts of Scandinavia like their counterparts to the south.    Beowulf is an Anglo-Saxon narrative poem whose oral traditions date back to the sixth century. We see the first mention of runes in this poem in connection with the magic sword. When the hero is in deadly combat with Grendel’s mother in the mere, he is at the point of   being killed by the monster when suddenly God shows to him the presence of a special sword nearby on the wall.

Effective Communication in Organizations Essay

Communication is the primary manner in which we humans interact or cooperate. From an organizational perspective, communication serves as the foundation for planning and organizing, stimulating motivation, shifting individual’s attitudes and in socialization. Regardless of the industry, communication is one of the most relevant factors to consider in regard to the success of an organization. There are many different types of communication and methods in which they are utilized within an organization or group. Within a standard company, communication can take the form of internal, external, formal and informal, upward and downward, lateral and diagonal, small group and nonverbal (Rawes, 2013). In this report, the pertinence of effective communication within an organization will be discussed along with the different types of communication, both verbal and non-verbal. I will cover how effective communication and leadership correlate, as well as the possible pitfalls of operating within an organizational environment where effective communication is deficient. What are some real-world examples that pertain to the different modes of communication? How can communication or the lack thereof, effect the success of an organization? What are the differences in particular forms of communication compared to the other? The Importance of Effective Communication Effective communication is extremely important to the success of an organization. Studies have shown that communication correlates positively with many organizational outputs, such as organizational commitment, performance, organizational citizenship behaviors, and overall job satisfaction (Husain, 2013). In contrast, the failure of communication may lead to detested results like stress, job  dissatisfaction, low trust, the decrease in organizational commitment, severance intention, and absence (Zhang & Agarwal, 2009). Present day technologies and organizations have transformed communications access which can create difficulty when attempting to master the concept of communication within an organization. It is safe to state; however, that when all areas of an organization or group communicate effectively, the overall workflow, productivity and in some cases, the moral of the group or organization are greatly improved. For effective communications, there must be a correlation of thinking between the sender and receiver of a message that is being communicated. Regardless of the type of communication, whether verbal or non-verbal, communication must remain consistent. Communication can be defined as the exchange of information, thought and emotion between individuals of groups, in other words, communication plays a fundamental role in balancing individual and organizational objectives (BOYACI, 1996, p. 3-5). Internal Communication Internal communication is that which occurs inside of the workplace. This type of communication can be achieved via any medium, such as email, phone, fax, face to face, website, etc. For example, some organizations have websites that are used to communicate with â€Å"customers† outside of the organization via the internet; however, the same organization may have an intranet that is used within the organization and can only be seen by employees on that particular network, internally. The intranet website at my particular organization, for example, communicates all sorts of information pertaining to the organization and its employees, from birthdays to information regarding benefits enrollment, employee self- service, and more. The practice of internal communication has evolved over time since its implementation in the 1800’s, due to the importance of the survival and success of organizations. The motive of internal communication is creating a dialogue with employees and giving them the opportunity to have an impact on the business through the sharing of ideas and involvement (Takenouchi, 2011) Organizations in the 21st Century have begun to recognize the importance of employee engagement and the contribution employees make toward the success of the organization. There is research that has proven that keeping employees informed and provided with a voice leads to higher levels  of employee engagement. Yearly, within the organization I work for, there are surveys taken by employees. These surveys allow employees to voice their concerns, likes or dislikes about the organization. Today there are many techniques and technologies used to communicate within an organization. Some of those techniques are as follows: †¢One-on-one meetings †¢Staff/team meetings †¢Emails †¢Voice mails †¢Video broadcasts †¢Intranets †¢Audio files †¢Staff-to-staff newsletters †¢Corporate newsletters †¢Annual Reports †¢Quarterly Reports A large number of studies by both professional management groups and professional communications bodies consistently find that ‘communicating with employees’ is a useful and powerful way of engendering greater ‘engagement’ – the propensity of the employee to want to come to work and want to contribute to the success of the company (Hopkins, 2006). External Communication Talking to a customer, sending an email to a potential client or making a phone call to vendors or someone outside of the company you work for is an example of communicating externally or external communication. Although it is challenging to gauge the effectiveness of all the strategies, tactics and tools that are part of today’s external communication options, organizations have a need to continuously adjust to a communication environment that is constantly changing (Newswire, 2011). Traditionally, the method of external communication was print, which is still common, but of course modern technology has changed all of that. Obviously, the internet has become a resource much more frequently utilized in reaching new customers. As with intranet websites are used by organizations to reach members of an organization internally, so are many organizations also utilizing websites  to inform people and/or communities outside of the organization about upcoming products and services. The external form of communication is indeed an effective way to reach outside of an organization but considering how the impression of the organization is judged by the public, it is vital that those driving the external communication procedures be aware of the image and/or message being conveyed. Consider a message sent via email. I happen to communicate often with patients through my place of employment regarding their medical records, lab results and other information we provide externally via a website we maintain called Health eLink. There are times when patients get information misconstrued and respond in an irate manner due to being uninformed. There is practically an art to responding to someone whom is irate, because communications verbally or even through email can sometimes be misconstrued as well. The mission of an organization is to be considered at all times; not the personal feelings of the individual doing the external communicating. This approach correlates to the s uccess of the organization and the patient experience, in this particular situation. Formal and Informal Communication There are distinct differences between formal and informal forms of communication. Simply put, formal communication is any correspondence that pertains to or promotes the organizations objective. It can also be defined as the degree to which information about a job is transmitted by an organization to its member and among the members of an organization (Kandlousi & Abdollahi, 2010). It is formal communication within an organization that relates to productivity, job satisfaction, costs, reduction of conflict, trust reinforcement and overall satisfaction. Informal communication is the exact opposite. Informal communication topics do not pertain to work and are harmless, in most cases. The conversations that employees may have at lunch or after a meeting about things that have nothing to do with work are informal and take place at various times throughout the day. Although informal communication is not related to work or the organization, it can very well have an effect on the success of a group or environment within the organization. Considering the serious problems that may arise due to rumors, gossip and/or crude jokes, it is important to keep the topics of informal communication into perspective when  in an organizational environment. Upward and Downward Communication Upward and downward communication refers to the flow of communication at different levels within an organization. Upward communication flows up to the higher levels of the organization. An example of this would be an employee report back to his or her supervisor whom reports back to their manager who reports to the director and so forth. Subordinates of an organization may use upward communication to convey problems or provide feedback to their superiors. Downward communication flows down. When we consider the superior in a chain of command, the colonel in the military for example, speaking with a subordinate, such as a sergeant, we are recognizing downward communication. Downward communication is necessary in order for subordinates to know and understand what is expected of them from management. Important elements in information flow are factors that affect the level of downward communication, such as the relationship between superior and subordinate (Anderson & Level, 1980). Lateral and Diagonal Lateral and diagonal communication is straight forward as well. Lateral communication in an organization is the communication that takes place between employees on the same level. The communication one may have with a coworker in regard to job objectives would be an example of such a flow of communication. Diagonal communication is much like downward communication, but at an angle. A manager from a different department of an organization may request information from a lower level subordinate in the same organization, this would be an example of diagonal communication. It is any interaction 2 or more hierarchical levels apart or one hierarchical level apart but to an organizational member outside the individual’s direct chain of command. (Wilson, 1992) Small Group Communication Two trends have revolutionized the workplace: the increased use of work teams and computers. Organizations are becoming increasingly team based, and work that was once accomplished by individuals is now delegated to teams (Goldstein, 1995). In an organization with many employees, small groups can often give individuals a sense of belonging; however, communication within  these groups must be effective in order for the group to be successful at accomplishing job objectives. Small group communication is pretty self-explanatory; it is the communication that takes place within the small group. Its function is to group together and utilize different skill sets, job objectives, knowledge and expertise for the purpose of nurturing creativity and improving the efficiency and effectiveness of operations within an organization. Individuals within a group whom are unable to communicate effectively, will not be able to share ideas, brainstorm, or discuss direction or project solutions without running into problems. A group with lack of communication skills with likely fail, or have difficulty reaching its goal or completing the objective. Non-verbal Communication Non-verbal communication is a type of communication that is just as important as the other types that have been considered thus far. It has often been stated that it is not just what you say, but how you say it as well. This is never more obvious in informal communication, when gestures and movements are more prevalent. Non-verbal communication takes posture, eye movement, body language and even your appearance into account when exchanging communication. Gestures such as eye contact, expressions or attire and personal space can be powerful non-verbal cues. In my place of business, we have the freedom of wearing casual clothing. Some years back, after my military service, I started getting tattooed and some of those were placed on my neck and forearm. Knowing that this tends to communicate different things to different people, I choose to wear a shirt and tie to work, in an effort to escape whatever may be negatively communicated with the exposure of tattoos on my neck and arms. They do not necessarily show anything offense, but they are there, and not necessarily presentable for a professional environment. The same thing can be said for attire, when considering wearing a t-shirt with a particular logo, an individual should be concerned with what that logo may communicate to the individual perceiving it. Lack of Communication in Organizations The lack of communication in a group or organization can be extremely detrimental for that group or organization. From the highest peak of upward communication downward, laterally, diagonally, in groups, verbal,  non-verbal, formal or informal, effective communication is paramount when considering an organizations culture. In Organizational Behavior, discussions have been held regarding the differences individuals offer that have an effect on the communication techniques we use on a daily basis. Often times we are not even thinking about instances where something is being communicated, whether it’s a shrug of the shoulders or complete silence when verbal affirmation and/or awareness is expected. Poor communication can have an effect on the â€Å"bottom-line† within an organization, relevant to time and money, which prevents goals and objectives from being reached. A lot of employment applications will have good interpersonal skills listed as one of the job requirements and employers expect these skills to show on the job. We as employees or subordinates often times expect upper management to have great communication skills, as we communicate back and forth, receiving tasks and objectives. It is possible that overtime, adequate communications have broken down and need â€Å"maintenance†. There are a lot of objectives that are ongoing in day to day business and it is important that the lines of communication remain â€Å"free flowing†. It is also possible that an organization or group is full of good communicators, but the objectives are just not being communicated effectively. Some of the symptoms of poor communication are as follows: * Conflicting Goals and Objectives * Negative Attitudes * Measurable Financial Loss * Low Morale and Lack of Enthusiasm Leaderships Role in Communication As I stated previously in my article review â€Å"Leadership in Organizations†, Leadership in an organization is very important in the achievement of organizational goals. It is a practice by which management may direct, monitor, and impact the behavior and work of others towards accomplishing these goals. Effective communication should pulse in all directions through an organization like a heartbeat. But it doesn’t just happen. Nor is it solely the responsibility of communication functions. To achieve this level of permeation, responsibility for the communication process must rest with management at all levels across the organization (Facey, 2013). Effective communication utilizes skill sets such as nonverbal communication, listening, stress management, understanding and more. Being an effective communicator is a learned skill set that will adjust over time. Within an organization, communicating successfully is a collective effort on the part of the individuals within the organization. Communicating effectively in all types or forms of communication will benefit the individual, the group and the organization steering toward success. Works Cited Anderson, J., & Level, D. A. (1980). The impact of certain types of downward communication on job performance. The Journal of Business Communication, 17(4), 51. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/195700094?accountid=27313 Boyaci, C., (1996), â€Å"Turistik Ä °Ã…Ÿletmelerde HaberleÅŸme Teknikleri†, Akdeniz ÃÅ"niveritesi BasÄ ±mevi, Antalya. Facey, J., (2013) Effective Communication: Skills that make leaders stand out from the crowd. Mercer Human Resource Consulting. Retrieved August 17th, 2013 from http://www.ceoforum.com.au/article-detail.cfm?cid=6128&t=/JoAnne-Facey-Mercer-Human-Resource-Consulting/Effective-communication-skills-that-make-leaders-stand-out-from-the-crowd Goldstein, I. L., Guzzo, R. A., Salas, E., & , (1995). Team effectiveness and decision-making in organizations. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. Hopkins, L., (2006). What is internal communication? Better Communication Results. Retrieved August 14th, 2013 from http://www.leehopkins.net/ Husain, Z., (2013). Effective communication brings successful organizational change. Paper presented at the, 3(2) 43-50. Retrieved frm http://search.proquest.com/docview/1330861392 Internal and external communication insights: Effective approaches for reaching clients and co-workers. (2011, Nov 03). PR Newswire. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/901880619?accountid=27313 Kandlousi, N. S. A. E., Ali, A. J., & Abdollahi, A. (2010). Organizational citizenship behavior in concern of communication satisfaction: The role of the formal and informal communication. International Journal of Business and Management, 5(10), 51-61. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/821297357?accountid=27313 Rawes, E., (2013). Types of Communication in the Workplace. eHow Contributor. Retrieved August 14th, 2013 from http://www.ehow.com/info_7742528_types-communication-workplace.html#ixzz2c9CfHrc3 Takenouchi, S. (2011). The evolution of the internal communications practice and its importance to the survival of organizations. (Order No. 1497025, University of Southern California). ProQuest Dissertations and Theses., 92. Retrieved August 14th, 2013 from http://search.proquest.com/doc view/ Wilson, D. O. (1992). Diagonal communication links within organizations. The Journal of Business Communication, 29(2), 129. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/195713934?accountid=27313 Zhang, H., & N. C. Agarwal (2009). The mediating roles of organizational justice on the Relationships between HR practices and workplace outcomes: An investigation in China. The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 20(3), 676-693.

How to Pronounce the French Adverb Plus

How to Pronounce the French Adverb Plus The French adverb  plus  has different pronunciations, depending on how its used. Generally speaking, when  plus  has a positive meaning (e.g., more, extra, additional) it is pronounced [ploos]. When it is used as a negative adverb (meaning no more), it is usually pronounced [ploo]. A simple way to remember this is by thinking that the positive sense of the word has an extra sound, while the negative sense does not. In other words, the [s] sound is  subtracted  when the word has a  negative  meaning and  added  when it has a  positive  meaning. (Clever, right?)   This general pronunciation rule applies to  plus  when its used as an affirmative or negative adverb. When used as a comparative or superlative, the rules are somewhat different. Affirmative Adverb  [ploos] In the affirmative, Plus de means more (than) or additional Je veux plus de beurre.  I want more butter.Il y aura plus de choix demain.  There will be additional choices tomorrow.Jai plus de 1 000 livres.  I have more than 1,000 books. Negative Adverb  [ploo] On the other hand, in the negative, Ne ... plus  is a negative adverb, meaning no more or not any more Je ne le veux plus.  I dont want it anymore.   Je ne veux plus de beurre.   I dont want any more butter.   Plus de beurre, merci.** No more butter, thank you. Non plus  means neither or not ... either Je naime pas les pommes non plus.   I dont like apples either. - Je nai pas de montre.- Moi non plus  !      Ã‚  - Me neither! Ne ... plus que  means only or nothing more than Il ny a plus que miettes.   There are only crumbs (left). - Y a-t-il des pommes  ?  -Are there any apples?- Plus quune.**    - Only one Ne ... pas plus  means no more than (pretty much the same thing as  ne ... plus que) Il ny a pas plus de 3 mà ©decins.   There are no more than 3 doctors. - Puis-je emprunter un stylo  ? - Can I borrow a pen?- Je nen ai pas plus dun.      -I only have one. **Note:  There are a few expressions in which  plus  is negative without  ne, because there is no verb for  ne  to negate. Note that these are normally at the beginning of a clause: Plus besoin (de)  - (theres) no more need (to/of)Plus de   noun - (theres) no more nounPlus maintenant  - not any more, not any longerPlus que   noun - (there are) only ___ more In addition, the  ne  is often omitted in spoken, informal French (learn more). This is when pronouncing or not pronouncing the [s] is most important. If you say  Je veux plus [ploo] de beurre, someone may very well think you mean you dont want any more butter. This is actually how you can learn the difference between the two pronunciations. You are eating breakfast and ask,  Y a-t-il plus [ploo] de beurre  ?  and the woman replies,  Mais si, si  !  (yes in response to a  negative question). You should have asked  Y a-t-il plus [ploos] de beurre? Comparative/Superlative Adverb Plus  as a comparative or superlative adverb is the exception to the above rules. When the comparative or superlative  plus  is in the middle of a sentence, it is pronounced [ploo], unless it precedes a vowel, in which case the  liaison  causes it to be pronounced [plooz]. When  plus  is at the end of a sentence, as in the final example, it is pronounced [ploos]. Plus ... que  or  plus ... de  indicates superiority in  comparatives  and can compare   adjectives   Je suis plus  grand  quelle.  Im taller than she is. adverbs   Je cours plus  vite  quelle.   I run faster than she does. nouns   Jai plus damis  quelle.   I have more friends than she does. verbs   Je  cours  plus quelle.  I run more than she does. Le plus  or  le plus de  indicates superiority in  superlatives  and can compare adjectives   Je suis le plus  grand  Ãƒ ©tudiant.  Im the tallest student. adverbs   Je cours le plus  vite.   I run the fastest. nouns   Jai le plus damis.   I have the most friends. verbs   Je  cours  le plus.   I run the most.

Slavery and Freedom essays

Slavery and Freedom essays Morgan in retrospect chronicles the surrounding events of American history, focusing on the asymmetric growth pattern between slavery and freedom, this Morgan reckons to be the central paradox in American History. He states The rise of liberty and equality in this country was accompanied by the rise of slavery. That two such contradictory developments were taking place simultaneously over a long period of our history, from the seventeenth century to the nineteenth, is the central paradox of American History (2 p.52). He analyzes the views and ideals of prominent individuals in that era with reference to their influential and contradictory decisions made therein to fortify his argument of slavery and freedom. He also highlights the events that led to the rise of slave trade resulting in the liberty and equality of the indentured slaves to the African man, resulting in a racially motivated democratic government. Morgan highlights Thomas Jeffersons enigmatic posture towards slavery as controversial to his view of the freeman. He states Jefferson did not believe in slavery but in a freedom that sprang from the independence of the individual. The man who depended on another for his living could never be truly free(5 p.53). Although Jefferson had slaves, he feared their freedom would prove detrimental to the society unless they where well prepared for an independent life in the free world. He held the notion that when slaves ceased to be slaves they would become instead a half million idle poor, who would create the same problems for the United States that the idle poor of Europe did for their states. The slave, accustomed to compulsory labor, would not work to support himself when the compulsion was removed(11 p.54). This view may have also been influenced by his or his countrymens racial prejudice, which solely supports the American paradox. Morgan emphasizes the fact that the ...

Assess the importance of the African American population in US Essay

Assess the importance of the African American population in US politics - Essay Example xi). Historically, the African-Americans have been the largest identifiable minority group in the United States. The earliest writers of African-American ancient history were black men, who wanted to elaborate the achievements, and contributions of the people of African descent, in the United States.By the end of the nineteen century, the African-American historians were not trained in historical methods, instead they were educated than their predecessors (Hornsby, 2011). Nevertheless, the African American historians were better educated than the previous historians. Some of the notable African historians were like W.E.D Du Bois, whose writing was a breakthrough for the African American historian, Carter G. Woodson. During the nineteen century, many African-Americans got access to higher education and were able to travel. It was at this time that they were taken seriously because the wealthy elites in the United States believed in them. African-Americans shaped their own Africa, this process was during the nineteen century and the twentieth century, as the knowledge of African past increased (Painter, 2006). The African-Americans were denied the opportunity to education and personal advancements, until early 1950 and 1960`s. It was at this time that the National Urban League and the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People, began to fight for the rights of the black, and had an effect on the black civil rights (Cliff notes, 2012). The only way to see a clear picture on the role, purpose, and the potential power of the African-Americans in the American politics system was in a vital outline of the structure, and the system that influenced and shaped the democracy of America. Democracy was referred to as a system of government, where the people elected men and women to serve their interests in the political, economic, and socio-cultural interests (King, 2010). In the United States the rule of the people or by the people is exercised after every four years. In the American democracy, the participation of the African-Americans in the political system has been obstructed by several reasons. Firstly, the African-Americans have succumbed to persistence of institutional disadvantage, such as refusal of certain states to acknowledge their rights as stated in the United States constitution that were established through the Supreme Court ruling, and implemented by the executive and the legislature branches of Government (King, 2010). Secondly, the African American involvement and incorporation has been limited by manmade fear and intimidation tactics. This was well known as the period of the Black Code and Jim Crowism, and some of these intimidations methods were like hanging of nooses and cross burning, which were the well-known instruments to keep black people oppressed and in fear (King, 2010). There were historical legal and extra legal tactics used to intimidate the African-Americans political involvement, some people stated that the African-Americans operated under a facade of democracy in America. Facade â€Å"represents a superficial and symbolic presentation of equality which distributes markedly different democratic tenets such a liberty, freedom, and justice† (King, 2010, p.12). In American democracy, this is referred to as a facade because it not only limits particular groups, it also interferes with the main purpose of government, all which are established for justice, to insure domestic tranquility,

Development of My Interest in Business Economics Personal Statement - 2

Development of My Interest in Business Economics - Personal Statement Example Availability of land and water, and the region’s blue mountains and waters identify agricultural opportunities tourist attractions. The locality, however, has been isolated from the rest of the world and this informed and motivated me to improve it. My experience from my community and from cities such as Hong Kong and others around the world has also influenced personal and professional goals and determined my choice for business economics as a major. I lived in Wuyuan for the first ten years of my life and witnessed its economic development, which has been significant. The locality has gradually improved its interaction with the rest of the world. Economic activities have emerged and grown, an occurrence that has informed me on the power of economic reforms. Interaction with economic development in Hong Kong, however, challenged me because of its rapid pace and power. It shocked me and influenced my desire to initiate and influence economic development, first for myself and then in my community. My volunteer work experience also identifies my passion for my community. I have been volunteering in USC Pacific Asia Museum on the second Sunday of each month for the last few years. This has informed me on Asian history that I have also taught children. I am also a member of John Chinese Young Volunteers Association. At Pasadena City College, I am a member of business club, economics club, global club, Helping Hands Club and International Socialist Organization club in which I share my ideas on communal empowerment. As part of my community initiative, I will send some clothing, together with defective ones to needy children in rural China, especially orphans. My entrepreneurial experience and growth are my most important accomplishment. It began as a passion but success followed, and it has shaped my academic and professional goals.