Operations management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 4

Operations management - Essay Example distribution to clients or customers along with purchasing activities with other vendors (Chidambaram, Whitman, & Cheraghi, â€Å"A Supply Chain Transformation Methodology†). With this concern it can be said that Ben and Jerry’s is playing a significant role by rendering its customers quality service through providing right product at the right time (Ben & Jerry’s, â€Å"Company†). The paper will be focused on providing a brief discussion about supply chain management of Ben & Jerry’s, an American ice-cream manufacturing enterprise along with its transformation methodology of providing their products in the global context. The various scopes of supply chain management of Ben & Jerry’s in the global operations has also been highlighted within the discussion (Chidambaram, Whitman & Cheraghi, â€Å"A Supply Chain Transformation Methodology†). The organizations in the present day context are highly focused to deliver their offerings according to the desires of the customers due to the immense growth in the communication networks along with changing face of globalization. Therefore, the competition within the enterprises can be considered to be extended globally in the modern business environment (Chidambaram, Whitman, & Cheraghi, â€Å"A Supply Chain Transformation Methodology†). The supply chain management system of Ben & Jerry is one of the effective tools for the organization in its endeavor to expand to more than 30 countries of the world. With the concept of effective global supply chain management system, the strategy of Ben & Jerry’s consigns transformation methodology along with making use of appropriate management techniques that help the enterprise to lead among the various competitors around the globe (Ben & Jerry’s, â€Å"Company†). In order to address the transformation related challenges on a global basis, Ben & Jerry’s focuses on various transformation steps for efficient supply chain management around its different units of enterprise.

Revolutions and their significance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Revolutions and their significance - Essay Example liberate forces of production .The first Russian revolution (1917-1918) was a result of public’s demand for a freer inner market and the French revolution (1789-1799) happened because public became frustrated of the ongoing aristocratic scenario. These instances show that it was a particular aspect that provoked the public to revolt. A country’s revolution does not necessarily affect another country since no two governments are alike and so are the problems of its populace. However, the fact cannot be negated that revolutions always induce an everlasting impact on the world because governments learn to mend their ways to avoid similar situation in the region. Alternately, occurrence of revolutions whether in the past or in recent times provokes another nation to stand against injustice and socio-economic imbalance in their country. Revolutions act like processes that force institutions to realize the power of public and alternately these also make public realize its own capability. â€Å"The revolutions in France and Russia liberated the enormous power of social reality of the people, creating powerful images of democratic equality to come† (Foran and Lane et al., 44). In France, not just its society underwent an epic transformation by favoring democracy over aristocracy, the world also grew fond of secularism and liberalism and a rapid rise in democracies and republics was witnessed afterwards. Similarly, 1917 Russian revolution shook the balan ce of powers during World War I and gave the world its first communist state, which as a concept was soon adopted world over and generated many other revolutions. The 1989 Russian revolution resulted in changing history by creating 14 new states and promoting abandoning of communism. Therefore, revolutions are not merely historical incidences or dates but highly impactful reflections of a group of individuals that in-turn produce everlasting impression not only within the society but globally as well. Revolutions

Types of organizational structure

Types of organizational structure What is the definition of an organization? Is a social unit of people that is structured and managed to meet a need or to pursue collective goals. All organizations have a management structure that determines relationships between the different activities and the members, and subdivides and assigns roles, responsibilities, and authority to carry out different tasks. Organizations are open systems they affect and are affected by their environment. A business organization is an individual or group of people that collaborate to achieve certain commercial goals. Some business organizations are formed to earn income for owners. Other business organizations, called nonprofits, are formed for public purposes. These businesses often raise money and utilize other resources to provide or support public programs. The term business organization refers to how a business is structured. The business organization is defined in the bylaws when the business is formed with the name and contact information of those who own and run the company with their roles defined. The bylaws state the purpose of the organization and what it does. A sole proprietorship does not have bylaws because one person owns and controls the business. What is an organizational structure? Is the typically hierarchical arrangement of lines of authority, communications, right and duties of an organisation. Organisational structure determines how the roles, power and responsibilities are assigned, controlled, and coordinated, and how information flows between the different levels of management. A structure depends on the organisations objectives and strategy. In a centralized structure, the top layer of management has most of the decision making power and has tight control over departments and divisions. In a decentralized structure, the decision making power is distributed and the departments and divisions may have different degrees of independence. A company such as Proctor and Gamble that sells multiple products may organize their structure so that groups are divided according to each product and depending on geographical area as well. Organizational structure is a system used to define a hierarchy within an organization. It identifies each job, its function and where it reports to within the organization. This structure is developed to establish how an organization operates and assists an organization in obtaining its goals to allow for future growth. The structure is illustrated using an organizational chart. There are two types of Organizational structure. Formal Structure which is the organisation of business that hierarchical the nature. For a company, formal structure can be found on its organisational chart that includes the staff names and their official job titles. It is easy to understand and to the point is unlike the long drawn out definitions while reading, one do forgets the previous sentence after moving to the next. The other defines the term in its crudest form. A formal organisation structure shows a recognisable chain of command, it also has many levels of management. This makes communication slower and decision making harder to implement. Informal structure Informal structure consists of the social structure of an organisation. It includes the corporate culture, behaviour interactions and social connections which occur within an organisation. Many organisation have a formal, written structure, and a more informal, cultural structure. A good advantage for the informal structure is, it evolves constantly. And it can easily respond quickly in a changing situation. An informal structure is much more relaxed, with very few levels of management. This makes communication much easier between levels and decisions and made faster. Centralization Decentralization Centralization is said to be a process where the concentration of decision making is in a few hands. All the important decision and actions at the lower level, all subjects and actions at the lower level are subject to the approval of top management. According to Allen, Centralization is the systematic and consistent reservation of authority at central points in the organization. For example Company A is run by Stephen Clarkson B. Delgado. Company A is being controlled by a centralized or a top level superior; this is an example of an centralized organization. The implication of centralization can be: Reservation of decision making power at top level. Reservation of operating authority with the middle level managers. Reservation of operation at lower level at the directions of the top level Decentralization is a systematic delegation of authority at all levels of management and in all of the organization. In a decentralization concern, authority in retained by the top management for taking major decisions and framing policies concerning the whole concern. Rest of the authority may be delegated to the middle level and lower level of management. Decentralization is the distributing power and decision making among different people, departments, or locations within an organization. For example, a national retail chain may allow its store managers to make decisions on the merchandise that will be carried in their particular stores. Some benefits decentralization would include decisions are made by those who have the most knowledge about local conditions greater managerial input in decision- making has a desirable motivational effect managers have more control over results Business Structures As a government has different types of organization, Organisations have a formal structure which is the way that the organisation is organised by those with responsibility for managing the organisation. They create the formal structures that enable the organisation to meet its stated objectives. Often these formal structures will be set out on paper in the form of organisational charts. However, in the course of time an informal structure develops in most organisations which is based on the reality of day-to-day interactions between the members of the organisation. This informal structure may be different from that which is set out on paper. Informal structures develop because: people find new ways of doing things which they find easier and save them time patterns of interaction are shaped by friendship groups and other relationships people forget what the formal structures are It is easier to work with informal structures. Sometimes the informal structure may conflict with the formal one. Where this is the case the organisation may become less efficient at meeting its stated objectives. However, in some cases the informal structure may prove to be more efficient at meeting organisational objectives because the formal structure was badly set out. There are two types of Organizational structures Tall Structures Tall organizational structure is one which has many levels of hierarchy. In these organizations, there are usually many managers, and each manager has a small span of control they are in charge of only a small group of people. Tall structures tend to be more complicated and complex, and may be slower to respond to market changes than organizations where managers have a larger span of control. Tall structure has many levels of management and its supervision. Long chain of command is one of it. It means, running from the top of an organisation. The advantage of tall structure is clear management structure, narrow span of control, the function of each layer will be clear and distinct, and a clear progression. Pros and Cons of tall structure The pros of tall structures lie in clarity and managerial control. The narrow span of control allows for close supervision of employees. Tall structures provide a clear, distinct layer with obvious lines of responsibility and control and a clear promotion structure. Challenges begin when a structure gets too tall. Communication begins to take too long to travel through all the levels. These communication problems hamper decision-making and hinder progress. Flat Structures Flat structures have fewer management levels, with each level controlling a broad area or group. Flat organizations focus on empowering employees rather than adhering to the chain of command. By encouraging autonomy and self-direction, flat structures attempt to tap into employees creative talents and to solve problems by collaboration. Pros and cons of flat structure Flat organizations offer more opportunities for employees to excel while promoting the larger business vision. That is, there are more people at the top of each level. For flat structures to work, leaders must share research and information instead of hoarding it. If they can manage to be open, tolerant and even vulnerable, leaders excel in this environment. Flatter structures are flexible and better able to adapt to changes. Faster communication makes for quicker decisions, but managers may end up with a heavier workload. Instead of the military style of tall structures, flat organizations lean toward a more democratic style. The heavy managerial workload and large number of employees reporting to each boss sometimes results in confusion over roles. Bosses must be team leaders who generate ideas and help others make decisions. When too many people report to a single manager, his job becomes impossible. Employees often worry that others manipulate the system behind their backs by rep orting to the boss; in a flat organization, that means more employees distrusting higher levels of authority. Diagram of Tall and Flat Structure Tall structure http://www.emeraldinsight.com/content_images/fig/0291020503007.png Diagram 1: Tall structure By: http://www.emeraldinsight.com/content_images/fig/0291020503007.png Flat structure http://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-UYB474BaaCY/Te0Hxo459jI/AAAAAAAAE1k/3gIGD7S0614/Flat-Organisation-Structure-Advantages-Disadvantages.jpg Diagram 2: Flat structure By: http://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-UYB474BaaCY/Te0Hxo459jI/AAAAAAAAE1k/3gIGD7S0614/Flat-Organisation-Structure-Advantages-Disadvantages.jpg Span of control Span of control is the term now used more commonly in business management, particularly human resource management. Span of control refers to the number of subordinates a supervisor has. In a business of more than one person, unless the business has equal partners, then there are managers and subordinates. Subordinates are workers controlled by the manager. A hierarchy describes the structure of the management of the business, from the top of the company the managing director, through to the shop floor worker, who reports to their foreman, in a manufacturing business. The hierarchy of a business is usually best understood by drawing an organisation chart showing which levels of management and employees report to whom. An example of a hierarchy is shown in the diagram below: http://www.tutor2u.net/business/gcse/organisation_public_sector_clip_image002.jpg Diagram 3: Span of control Created by: http://www.tutor2u.net/business/gcse/organisation_span_of_control.htm The advantages of a narrow span of control are: A narrow span of control allows a manager to communicate quickly with the employees under them and control them more easily Feedback of ideas from the workers will be more effective It requires a higher level of management skill to control a greater number of employees, so there is less management skill required An example of a wide span of control is shown in the diagram to the right:http://www.tutor2u.net/business/gcse/organisation_public_sector_clip_image004.gif Diagram 4: Wide span of control By: www.tutor2u.net, (n.d) There are also different types of organizational structure Product Structures An organizational structure is a framework in which companies outline the different responsibilities in their company. A product-based organizational structure separates the company by products, activities, projects or geography. This allows a company to have a particular focus on specific items in its business operations. Organizational structure refers to the different hierarchies or levels in a company. An organizational structure appears as a series of boxes, vertical and horizontal lines. The boxes represent various titles within the organization, and the vertical lines represent to whom that position reports. Horizontal lines show which employees are on the same level. The appearance of an organization structure is usually pyramidal because there are fewer executive-level positions at the top of the company. Advantages and disadvantages: Product-based structures allow companies to remain flexible in the business environment. This allows the company to add or remove structure sections as necessary. However, it can prohibit companies from achieving company-wide goals since each unit operates on its own. product-business-organization-structure.jpg (516ÃÆ'-344) Diagram 5: Product structure By: http://the-business-plan.com/wp-content/uploads/product-business-organization-structure.jpg Geographical structure Organizational structure defines the hierarchy in which an organization will operate. There are many defined types of organizational structure, but some organizations may create their own, or use a combination of several structures to efficiently run business operations. Geographic organizational structure is used for organizations that have offices or business units in different geographic locations. Geographical structure is the firm organized into geographical units (regional, national, international) that report to a central headquarter which administers the core functions such as planning and marketing. example-geographic-org-chart.jpg (600ÃÆ'-159) Diagram 6: Geographical Structure By: http://thethrivingsmallbusiness.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/example-geographic-org-chart.jpg Function The term organizational structure refers to how the people in an organization are grouped and to whom they report. One traditional way of organizing people is by function. Some common functions within an organization include production, marketing, human resources and accounting. The classic organizational structure where the employees are grouped hierarchically, managed through clear lines of authority, and report ultimately to one top person. Advantages Some advantages of a functional organization are that the lines of command are clear. Individuals specialize and departments tend to develop common knowledge across the group. There may be an advantage to individuals in that career paths can be fairly easily defined. Disadvantages Disadvantages of the functional organization include poor communication across groups and slow response to changes in the environment. Too much work may be referred upward due to the lack of decision making authority, and serious problems can ensue when groups develop a narrow perspective. http://thethrivingsmallbusiness.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/example-functional-org-chart-jpg.jpg Diagram 7: Function Structure By: http://thethrivingsmallbusiness.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/example-functional-org-chart-jpg.jpg Multi divisional Companies use organizational structures to characterize their hierarchical and reporting structures. The organizational structure shows the superior-subordinate equations in the organization. A multi-divisional organizational structure is used by large organizations. Here, the scale of operations is very large; hence the number of employees is also very enormous. The company divides all of its strategic functions into departments. All these departments do their share of the allocated work, and all the work is later collated as the organizational tasks. According to the Human Resource Management Guide, a multidivisional organizational structure consists of self-contained units that operate as their own separate entity. For example, Procter and Gamble owns multiple national brand names and creates a self-contained business model and organizational structure for each product. Each brand is given its own corporate identity, leadership and organizational design. Advantages A multidivisional organizational structure promotes motivation among team members because of the performance/reward connection. This structure makes it easy for leadership in the organisation to maintain keen oversight and reward those who perform well. The service provided to customers meets their needs more appropriately because leadership and employees work more closely with customers. There is also clear identity and purpose in this structure that increases team member loyalty, dedication and satisfaction. Disadvantages A multidivisional organizational structure does have some disadvantages. The disadvantages deal directly with external relationships. Although the department itself is very close and possesses a defined identity and purpose, communication between departments can be difficult. Conflict between departments is common due to competition and differences in values, systems and expectations. This structure also costs more to operate and manage because each division is considered its own entity. http://www.emeraldinsight.com/content_images/fig/0410130305001.png Diagram 8: Multidivisional diagram By: http://www.emeraldinsight.com Matrix Matrix structure is defined as a type of management system in which workers report to more than one person, effectively having two or more supervisors at the same time. This can be illustrated by the example of a project environment, where professionals with different types of expertise are brought together to work on a projects. They report to a number of managers of different projects, as well as to a functional supervisor. The idea is to share knowledge and personnel to maximize effectiveness. The matrix structure is an organizational design that groups employees by both function and product. The organizational structure is very flat, and the structure of the matrix is differentiated into whatever functions are needed to accomplish certain goals. Each functional worker usually reports to the functional heads, but do not normally work directly under their supervision. Instead, the worker is controlled by the membership of a certain project, and each functional worker usually works under the supervision of a project manager. This way, each worker has two superiors, who will jointly ensure the progress of the project. The functional head may be more interested in developing the most exiting products or technologies, whereas the project manager may be more concerned with keeping deadlines and controlling product costs. Advantages The cross functional teams of a matrix structure reduce the functional barriers between departments, and increase the integration of functions. Matrix structures open up for communication, and may provide an opportunity for team members to learn from each other thus distributing valuable knowledge laterally within the organization. The matrix structure makes it possible to assign specialized resources to projects when needed. Disadvantages A matrix structure lacks the effectiveness of bureaucracy, and will potentially not work if the organization does not need to react swiftly to changes The flat hierarchy may be the cause of conflict, and different stakeholders may pursue entirely different goals. The great focus on integration between functional areas requires a great amount of lateral communication, and it may require great resources to get information distributed efficiently between team members. As said before, the use of a matrix structure seems more feasible for organizations operating in business environments characterized by change, dynamism and uncertainty. This could e.g. be organizations operating in high-tech industries such as computing or telecommunication http://thethrivingsmallbusiness.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/Example-Matrix-Organization-Chart-jpg.jpg Diagram 9: Matrix Diagram By: http://thethrivingsmallbusiness.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/Example-Matrix-Organization-Chart-jpg.jpg Definition of Culture Is the values and behaviours that contribute to the unique social and psychological environment of an organization. Organizational culture includes an organizations expectations, experiences, philosophy, and values that hold it together, and is expressed in its self-image, inner workings, interactions with the outside world, and future expectations. It is based on shared attitudes, beliefs, customs, and written and unwritten rules that have been developed over time and are considered valid. Also called corporate culture. Company culture is the personality of a company and defines what a company, from an employee perspective, is like to work for. Company culture includes the company mission, values, ethics, expectations, goals, and work environment. Whether written as a mission statement, spoken or merely understood, corporate culture describes and governs the ways a companys owners and employees think, feel and act. Your own businesss culture may be based on beliefs spelled out in yo ur mission statement. It could consist in part of a corporate symbol, like the rainbow-colored apple that symbolizes Apple Computer. Whatever shape it takes, your corporate culture plays a big role in determining how well your business will do. There are four types of cultures: Power Is one based on the dominance of one or a small number of individuals within an organisation. They make the key decisions for the organisation. This sort of power culture may exist in a small business or part of a larger business. There are some organizations where the power remains in the hands of only few people and only they are authorized to take decisions. They are the ones who enjoy special privileges at the workplace. They are the most important people at the workplace and are the major decision makers. These individuals further delegate responsibilities to the other employees. In such a culture the subordinates have no option but to strictly follow their superiors instructions. The employees do not have the liberty to express their views or share their ideas on an open forum and have to follow what their superior says. The managers in such a type of culture sometimes can be partial to someone or the other leading to major unrest among others. Role Exists in large hierarchical organisations in which individuals have clear roles (jobs) to perform which are closely specified. Individuals tend to work closely to their job description, and tend to follow the rules rather than to operate in a creative way. Role culture is a culture where every employee is delegated roles and responsibilities according to his specialization, educational qualification and interest to extract the best out of him. In such a culture employees decide what best they can do and willingly accept the challenge. Every individual is accountable for something or the other and has to take ownership of the work assigned to him. Power comes with responsibility in such a work culture. Task Exists when teams are formed to complete particular tasks. A distinct team culture develops, and because the team is empowered to make decisions, task cultures can be creative. Organizations where teams are formed to achieve the targets or solve critical problems follow the task culture. In such organizations individuals with common interests and specializations come together to form a team. There are generally four to five members in each team. In such a culture every team member has to contribute equally and accomplish tasks in the most innovative way. Person There are certain organizations where the employees feel that they are more important than their organization. Such organizations follow a culture known as person culture. In a person culture, individuals are more concerned about their own self rather than the organization. The organization in such a culture takes a back seat and eventually suffers. Employees just come to the office for the sake of money and never get attached to it. They are seldom loyal towards the management and never decide in favour of the organization. One should always remember that organization comes first and everything else later. There are certain organizations where the employees feel that they are more important than their organization. Such organizations follow a culture known as person culture. In a person culture, individuals are more concerned about their own self rather than the organization. The organization in such a culture takes a back seat and eventually suffers. Employees just come to the offi ce for the sake of money and never get attached to it. They are seldom loyal towards the management and never decide in favour of the organization. One should always remember that organization comes first and everything else later. Task 2 Explain how the relationship between an organisations structure and culture can impact on the performance of the business All businesses have Business organization has structures and cultures that have been followed to apply great impact on the productivity of their business. These organizations could have applied either a product structure, Multi-dimensional, Matrix structure etc. And have followed a power type culture or person type culture and so on. Each of these has its own effect and impact on their business. These structures and cultures play an important role of setting the definition of an company, setting their goals and how they could organize its members to meet their goals As The behaviours and beliefs characteristic of a workplace are its culture. The culture and structure of an organization affect one another. A structure appropriate to the organization helps to develop a healthy culture. In companies with rigid structures, communication tends to follow reporting lines. In companies with flatter structures, communication may occur more easily across departments. Studies have found a relationship between job satisfaction and organizational structure. Organizations with flatter structures may foster more feelings of self-actualization and create less anxiety in employees. Relationships with customers may suffer if departmental relationships cause the customer difficulty in getting problems addressed. Multi-functional teams that can answer a customers questions and resolve issues have a positive effect on customer satisfaction. Organizational structure impacts the success of a companys projects. If project personnel also perform routine operational work , it may be difficult for them to focus on projects and meet schedules. If the flow of information across departments is difficult, it may affect ability to share resources effectively. Task 3 Look at the factors associated with individual behaviour and discuss how they influence an individuals behaviour at work. Each individuals work has its own effects on organizations. There are many factors on how individual or group goals have affected an organization. These goals could also be the life force of the performance both could be positive or negative depending on how the scenario goes. Either way all these factors are important as a single employees goals and ambition could lead any organization to success if in proper standing and worked on accordingly. Collective goals These are goals that are collected or shared by individual to form a same goal coming from the same ideology. For instance a basketball teams belief in practicing and training other people with the game or making basketball more accessible to others, this could lead their team to complete objectives like win in an inter-basketball tournament, gaining new players and earning more money. Or to simply fulfil the need of its members to gather more players to gain more company and improve their basketball abilities. Within these goals there are many different types of goals as it is shown Ideological Goal, These are the goals or objective that has a connection with an individuals belief and values. These Goals usually are the inspiration of what an individual have for example. An Archery clubs mission or ideological goal is to share to other people their own knowledge of archery. Formal Goals are goals set by an dominant individual, These goals are usually organizational based goals that is set by a higher supremacy. These goals move an organization on how that individual or owner wants his organizations to be. Shares personal goals are goals pursued when the individual members agree and collide with their own individual ideas as missions. These are the goals shared by all individuals of a group to form one centralized mission where they can all complete as a group. Controlled performance Every organization needs to take responsibility to its owners and other stakeholders for the achievement of its collective goals. These goals cannot simple move on its own and needs to be moulded step by step being controlled accordingly so that to ensure the success of their goals and missions. This ensures that All goals whether ideological, formal, or shared personal goals are understood by all members The necessary resources are secures and utilised in such a way that goals will be reached without undue risk, disruption or waste They can tell whether, or to what extent they have reached their goals. This is why all organizations has a centralized management, to ensure that the employees who are working on these goals and mission carry out their individual tasks positively and with no mistake to avoid negative backlashes and effects.

Uncle Toms Cabin :: Uncle Toms Cabin Essays

BOOK:  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Uncle Tom’s Cabin AUTHOR:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Harriet Beecher Stowe COPYWRITE: 1852   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Uncle Tom’s Cabin is a historical book that I feel is one of the most mind enduring books of all time. This book put me in the place of every northern citizen in the 1800s. I felt as if I was in the story. My knowledge of how slaves were treated was enhanced greatly. To finally have read this book, I now know why this book was one of the main causes to the Civil War. To read the details about the pain and suffering that Tom and all of the other slaves faced really sickened my stomach and opened my eyes. I am glad to say that I have read the greatest book ever published about slavery, and if you ask me about any topic.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The information that I was able to gain from this book was and will be very useful to me for the rest of my life. In no way do I think of myself as a racist individual but never again will I allow myself to look at another person differently for their skin color, their disabilities, or look. This book really was a great learning experience; it has changed a small part of my mind that I will never lose.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Uncle Tom’s Cabin starts off with one setting and one story line and then breaks into two separate plots. In the beginning the story takes place on the Shelby plantation in Kentucky. The first chapter of the book is showing you the difference the author sees in Northern and Southern men. You can tell that the book is going to support the Northerners outlook on slavery. Mr. Shelby is in debt and he is trying to negotiate a deal with Mr. Haley to sell slaves to him. Mr. Haley notices a young boy Harry, who comes onto the porch to sing and dance, and wants to take him. Right after this Harry’s mother comes in and Mr. Haley wants her also because she is so beautiful. Mr. Shelby tries to explain he can’t get rid of either of them.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  As the book progresses you learn more about the story of Eliza.

Cultural Influences On Emotional Expression and Perception Essay

Everyone is uniquely shaped, and should not be compared with others. Expressing ourselves can differentiate from other expressions since we are unique in each and every way. Some similarities may exist, but not necessarily every aspect of what we tend to express. As defined in the textbook, â€Å"emotional expression is the most important representation of our emotions, and may be similar to others† (Adler, Proctor, and Towne 137). Perception is part of the emotional expression because â€Å"it is the process of selecting, acquiring, interpreting, and organizing sensory information† (wikipedia.org). These two are important because we express what we express with the perception of our emotional expression. Different situations will result in different perception of emotional expression. For example, we may jump when we feel excitement or cry when we feel grief. Every expression we make is appropriate on what we feel in that particular event. We live in a country with a very diverse culture, and everyone is raise differently base on their culture. This paper will talk about the cultural influences on emotional expression and perception. Examples, description, and explanation will also be given to further explain the topic. Although many emotions and expressions of emotions are universal, some differences exist among many cultures. The comparison of both cultural similarity and difference has been very important in the area of emotional expression and perception (Matsumoto par. 2). It is very helpful to know the similarities and differences in emotion across cultures. It helps us understand the role of emotion in our lives and the importance of emotion to our thinking and behaving. People in different cultures categorize emotions differently. Some languages have classification for emotions that are not classified in other languages. It is a belief that nonverbal expressions of emotion differ across cultures, due to the fact that different cultures have different display rules. Display rules are norms that tell people whether, which, how, and when emotions should be displayed (wikipedia.org). The power of cultural norm determines how and when to show emotions that is not actually felt. The comparison of emotions helps us understand the role of emotional expression and nonverbal behaviors in social interactions to improve interaction among people from different cultural backgrounds. In addition, when comparing expressions, people of different cultures agree on which is more strongly expressed? Cross-cultural research indicates that the answer to this question is yes. Itziar and Fernandez compared these differences in paired expression of the same emotion (par. 5). According to the research, the result was that â€Å"ninety-two percent of the time, the ten cultures in their study agreed on which of two expressions was more intense† (Fernandez, Carrera, Sanchez, Paez, and Candia par. 5). For example, looking separately for each emotion, American and Japanese agreed on which photo were more intense in 24 out of 30 comparison. These findings are important because they suggest that people of different cultures use the same visual cues in judging others (Fernandez, Carrera, Sanchez, Paez, and Candia par. 8). The role of culture in emotional control is shown most explicitly through the use of display rules. Display rules are learned, culturally determined norms that govern people’s display of emotions in different social situations (Matsumoto, 1990). Matsumoto (1972) found cultural differences in display rules when a group of Japanese and American students were shown stressful film stimuli in two conditions. In the alone condition, both the Japanese and American students displayed the same negative facial expressions of fear, disgust, and distress. However, when the experimenter was present, the Japanese students smiled to mask their negative emotions while the Americans continued to exhibit their negative affects. Furthermore, a study by Matsumoto (1990) found that Americans rated disgust and sadness as more appropriate in in-groups than did the Japanese. In contrast, the Japanese rated anger as more appropriate in out-groups than did the Americans. The above findings suggest that the Japanese and American students utilized different sets of display rules which influenced either their expression or inhibition of their emotions (Matsumoto par. 2). The different sets of display rules can be understood in terms of the American and Japanese emphasis on individualism versus collectivism respectively. Individualism and collectivism are dimensions of cultural variability that refer to the degree to which a culture encourages individual needs, wishes, desires, and values over that of the group  (Matsumoto, 1990). For example, individualistic cultures emphasize individual goals and independence. Collectivist cultures, on the other hand, stress collective goals and dependence on the group (Matsumoto, 1989). It could be understood in this context that the expression of negative emotions in an in-group setting is regarded as extremely negative in collectivist countries, since the manifestations of such emotions threatens the interdependent relationship of the group. In an individualist country, however, the expression of both positive and negative emotions may feel right and good since such expressions highlight both the separation of self from others and the individual’s private, internal attributes (Forgas and Bond, 1994). What may feel good then, in this case the inhibition or expression of emotions, is largely dependent on one’s culture and socialization. To take this idea a step further, the correlation between emotional inhibition and well-being, either negative or positive, may be dependent on one’s respective culture. A past research on the relationship between emotional control and well-being has yielded conflicting findings. Where one line of research suggests that the active inhibition of emotions will lead to an increase in physiological arousal and a decrease in well-being, the other proposes that the inhibition of emotions will result in a higher level of well-being. The aim of the present study is to unravel parts of the conflict by examining the influence of gender and culture on the relationship between emotional control and well-being in two ethnic groups, Asians and Caucasians (Aeker and Williams par. 10). Furthermore, seventy-nine participants were asked to fill out questionnaires assessingtheir level of emotional inhibition, subjective well-being, and identification with anindividualistic versus collectivist culture. Results found that Caucasians and Asians differed onthe individualism-collectivism scale, with Caucasians being more individualistic and Asiansmore collectivists. The effect of culture was found with Caucasians having a negative correlationbetween emotional inhibition and well-being while Asians having an almost zero correlation. Influence of gender was also found in which increases in the level of emotional inhibition isnegatively correlated to well-being for the female sample, but for the male sample, there wasagain a zero correlation. An interactive effect of culture and gender was also found with Asianmales having the most positive correlation between emotional inhibition and well-being, andCaucasian females having the most negative correlation between emotional inhibition and well-being. Explanations of the findings in terms of gender and cultural norms are discussed(Matsumoto par. 5). The interacting effects of cultural and gender norms were also demonstrated. Asian maleswho were high on emotional inhibition were highest on well-being and Caucasian females whowere high on emotional inhibition were lowest on well-being. The results could be understood inthe context that Asian males are socialized by both their gender and cultural norms to inhibit their emotions. The act of inhibition is then consistent with what they believe they should do. Caucasian females, on the other hand, are told by both their gender and cultural norms to express their emotions. The act of inhibition is then contradictory to these expectations. It makes sense then that when one’s actions are consistent with one’s perceived cultural and gender expectations, the result would be a higher level of well-being than when the actions are contradictory to the expectations. Though the results demonstrate that both culture and gender influence the relationship between emotional control and well-being, the present study also has important limitations. First, the emotional inhibition scale measures the inhibition of both positive and negative emotions. It can be understood from a collectivist context why the inhibition of negative emotions is valued because the expression of such emotions is deemed threatening to the group. However, the expression of positive emotions is not only non-threatening but can actually facilitate group harmony. It can then be predicted that for negative emotions, inhibition will correlate positively with well-being. However, since the inhibition of positive emotions is contrary to the cultural norms, the inhibition of positive emotions will correlate negatively with well-being. Since the emotional  inhibition scale combined both types of emotions, we can speculate that there might be a canceling effect, resulting in the zero co rrelation found for the Asian sample. Furthermore, the Asian sample in the present study consists of students from U.C. Berkeley. It can be speculated that these students have to some extent acculturated into the American system and perhaps have embraced parts of the individualist culture, such as the value of expressiveness. Though the ICIAI depicts significant cultural difference between the Asians and Caucasian sample, the issue of acculturation can be reduced with cross-cultural research comparing the U.S. population with the Asian population. To investigate further the meaning of differences, Matsumoto (1993) showed ratings from Japanese and Americans on smiling versus non-smiling faces with regard to intelligence,attractiveness, and sociability. Americans rated smiling faces as more intelligent than neutral faces; the Japanese, however, did not. Americans and Japanese both found smiling faces more sociable than neutral faces, but for the Americans the difference was greater. These differences suggest that cultural display rules cause of Japanese and Americans to attribute different meanings to the smile, and serve as a good explanation for perceived major differences in communication styles across cultures. Evidently, the study has contributed to the understanding of the relationship between emotional expression and culture. Although results have shown that there are definitely effects of culture on emotional expression and perception, the future research is needed to extend the influence. For example, a study measuring the expression of positive and negative emotions separately will be easier to understand on how cultural norms affect the emotional expression and perception. The finding of cultural influence is a great step forward in understanding the role of emotional expression. However, it is just the beginning in investigating the complex between the control of emotions and our perception. Summing up, this paper talked about the different expressions the people in  different cultures gave. Everyone is brought up differently and taught differently. Therefore, we express our emotion differently because of the surroundings we grew up in, and the people that influenced us. Although people in certain parts of the world are different in terms of the background, tradition, and norm and so on, all of us are crossing that barrier on having friends by effective communication. We shouldn’t prejudice other persons before thoroughly knowing them because stereotyping is typically wrong. If people start to get to thoroughly understand differences of others, then this will become the beginning of making best friendships than ever. Bibliography Adler, Ronald B., Russell F. Proctor, and Neil Towne. Looking Out Looking In. Belmont, CA: Thomson Wadsworth, 2005. Aeker, Jennifer L. and Patti Williams. â€Å"Empathy Versus Pride: The Influence of Emotional Appeals Across Cultures.† The Journal of Consumer Research 25.3 (1998): 241-61. Fernandez, Itziar, Pilar Carrerra, Flor Sanchez, Dario Paez, and Luis Candia. â€Å"Differences Between Cultures in Emotional Verbal and Non-Verbal Reactions.† Psicothema 12 (2000): 83-92. Forgas, Joseph P. and Michael H. Bond. â€Å"Cultural Influences on the Perception of InteractionEpisodes.† Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin 11.1 (1985): 75-88. Matsumoto, David. â€Å"American-Japanese Cultural Differences in Judgments of Emotional Expressions of Different Intensities.† Cognition and Emotion 16.6 (2002): 721-47.

Importance of Art in Our Life

It is usual human nature to admire beauty around us, such as we are often awe-struck when we see a painting, or read a beautiful poem, or listen to soothing music! Art is everywhere around us in many forms and holds a significant value in our lives. It is difficult to describe â€Å"Art† in literal terms, but broadly it is understood to be a form to express one’s feelings through any object or medium like paper, music, colours, technology, magic, photography etc. It could be abstract, realistic, naturalistic, conceptual, and inspirational.It is agreeable that we are surrounded by Art and also rely on it in our daily routine. When we enter someone’s home, it is difficult to stop ourselves to appreciate the way the living room is decorated. You would find rhythm and harmony in the way furniture are placed; photographs adorn a wall, paintings hung above the sofa or any particular artefact placed in a corner or centre piece on a coffee table etc. This is also art, on e doesn’t have to be a painter to be an artist, how an individual expresses him/herself, uses imagination and creative energy to embellish and decorate the surrounding.Arts have many forms — visual and performing arts are the ones that could be related easily. Visual arts broadly comprise of paintings, drawing, clay modelling, architecture, photography etc. and performing arts include dance, music, opera, theatre, magic, spoken words, circus art and musical theatre. It is inter-related with Entertainment. When you make people enjoy, laugh, cry, and angry by your performance, that is the art of entertaining. There is a big world of Entertainment and almost all of us find solace watching their work.Music has a great impact on our mood; it makes us joyful and relaxes us and keeps the energy on. Not only music, but also movies, plays and theatre also makes us active. This reveals how much we are hemmed in by Arts and Entertainment. It could be concluded that importance of Arts in our lives is very similar to entertainment. Now-a-days Art and Craft Education are encouraged at schools for children as it provides a platform for the young ones to express and explore their imagination. It could be very inspirational as well.

The Portrayal of the Body as a Medium of Culture in Stanley Kubrick’s A Clockwork Orange Essays

The Portrayal of the Body as a Medium of Culture in Stanley Kubrick’s A Clockwork Orange Essays The Portrayal of the Body as a Medium of Culture in Stanley Kubrick’s A Clockwork Orange Paper The Portrayal of the Body as a Medium of Culture in Stanley Kubrick’s A Clockwork Orange Paper The clockwork metaphor has long been used as a tradition of Western science as a means of portraying a condition in which human behavior is modified to the extent that it is plausible to predict as well as control human behavior. Stanley Kubrick’s adaptation of Anthony Burgess’ novel A Clockwork Orange presents a scenario in which such a condition is enabled in society. A central message of Kubrick’s aforementioned film lies in its emphasis on the necessity to scrutinize the assumption that both science and the state may be considered as the guardians of human civilization. The movie’s story follows the escapades of Alex, a reasonably intelligent young criminal and his three gang members, Pete, Georgie, and Dim. As they drink milk with narcotics, the gang spends their evenings entertaining themselves with ‘ultra-violent’ acts. As the movie develops, one is presented with examples of these ‘ultra-violent’ acts which involve beating a homeless man, raping another gang, as well as beating and raping a woman. It is the later act which led to Alex’s imprisonment and later on involvement in a voluntary behavior modification experiment which conditioned him to associate pain with sex and violence thereby turning Alex into an individual devoid of free will and a model member of society, hence ‘a clockwork orange’. This modification of Alex’s behavior however turned him into a victim of social retribution, the experience of which led him into an attempt to commit suicide. After such an attempt, Alex was once again placed in the control of the state who decided to undo the effects of his earlier behavior modification. The movie ends with a portrayal of Alex who was once again in possession of his free will filled with thoughts of the various ways in which he may once again commit ‘ultra-violent’ acts. The movie ends with Alex menacingly stating, â€Å"I was cured all right† (Kubrick np). Stanley Kubrick’s A Clock Work Orange may thereby be seen as presenting a narrative of an individual who experiences four subject positions: Alex as a criminal, Alex as a convict, Alex as a patient, and Alex as a citizen. Through his shift from one subject position to another, Alex experiences different modes of power and at the same time different modes of subjectivity. It is interesting to note that by enabling the different shifts in power through Alex’s character, the movie was able to portray the different points in which subjectivity is shaped in an individual. In line with this, what makes Alex’s character interesting are not his physical traits but the different traits which have been ascribed upon him as a result of the constitution of his personality by the rules and norms of the different institutions that gained access and control over Alex’s body. Alex may thereby be seen as an entity who presents the film’s spectator with the different ways in which the body stands as a medium of culture as it derives its meanings from the social constructs of the body determined by its position within society. Susan Bordo, in â€Å"The Body and the Reproduction of Femininity†, emphasizes the manner in which the body becomes a ‘powerful symbolic force’. She states, â€Å"The body†¦is a powerful symbolic force, a surface on which the central rules, hierarchies, and even metaphysical commitments of culture are inscribed and thus reinforced through the concrete language of the body† (Bordo 162). Bordo’s claim regarding the body’s existence as a powerful symbolic force and a mirror of culture is based on the assumption that the body is defined by the social constructs of society. Such a definition however occurs not merely by placing emphasis on the physical property of the body but also by placing emphasis on the mental property of the body. In â€Å"Feminism, Western Culture, and the Body†, Bordo argues that the body is defined in terms of a dualistic conception of reality which perceives the body as an entity which is â€Å"something apart from the true self†¦and as undermining the best efforts of that self† (5). The body is thereby depicted as an entity composed of a physical component and a mental component. The physical component adheres to the scientific conception of the body as â€Å"a purely mechanical, biologically programmed system that can be fully quantified and (in theory) controlled† (Bordo 4). The mental component of the body, on the other hand, adheres to the conception of the body which refers to the self or an individual’s identity. According to Bordo, Western philosophy has traditionally perceived the physical component of the body as that which must necessarily be controlled by the mental component of the body (Bordo 2). The problem with such a view however is evident if one considers that the conception of the mental component of the body is based upon the physical component of the body. In the case of women, for example, this is evident in the identification of the physical component of the female body with sexuality and the mental component of the female body with irrationality. Bordo argues that this distinction between the mind and the body has pervaded the social construction of both the male and female figure and as such its â€Å"continuing historical power and pervasiveness†¦ (enables) certain cultural images and ideolog(ies) to†¦ (make) not just men but also women†¦vulnerable† (Bordo 7-8). The continuation of a dualistic conception of reality leads to the vulnerability of both men and women as it enables the proliferation of certain social constructs which identifies the male and female body with particular identities. Dualism enables the perpetuation of these identities as it emphasizes the impossibility of enabling the union between both the physical and mental components of an individual. In â€Å"We the Other Victorians†, Michel Foucault argues that this adherence to dualism is a discursive strategy of certain social groups that enables them to take control of the body. He states, The central issue, then†¦ is not to determine whether one says yes or no†¦, whether one formulates prohibitions or permissions, whether one asserts its importance or denies its effect, or whether one refines the words one uses to designate†¦; but to account for the fact that it is spoken about, to discover who does the speaking, the position and viewpoints from which they speak, the institutions which prompt people to speak about it and which store and distribute the things that are said. What is at issue†¦is the overall â€Å"discursive fact†. (Foucault 11) David Gauntlett (2002) in his discussion of Michel Foucault’s work in his book Media, Gender, and Identity, emphasizes that this characterizes the earlier phase of Foucault’s thought wherein he places emphasis on how institutions create and proliferate certain images of groups in order to enable the control of these groups. He states, â€Å"the discourses of institutions, and their formally recognized ‘experts’ work to constrain certain groups (by) limiting their opportunities by promoting certain views about them† (Gauntlett 116). In line with the importance Foucault places on the predominant discourse in society in determining the mode of power on the subject, one might state that Foucault understands the emphasis on dualism as a manifestation of society’s desire to limit the positive power of the subject by leading him to believe that his physical properties or condition determine his identity and since society perceives individual X to possess a Y identity as opposed to a Z identity, it follows that is impossible for the individual to possess a Z identity [e. g. females ought to be feminine and males ought to be masculine and hence females cannot be masculine]. In the case of Stanley Kubrick’s A Clockwork Orange, this is evident in the character of Alex mentioned above as Alex’s identity was determined by the conditions of the physical component of his body. As was mentioned in the initial part of the paper, Alex was able to experience four subject positions: Alex as a criminal, Alex as a convict, Alex as a patient, and Alex as a citizen. It is important to note that all these subject positions are determined by the actions on or upon the physical component of his body. For example, Alex’s subject position as a criminal was determined by his freedom from the constraints of the law which enabled him to commit violent actions towards others. On the other hand, Alex’s subject position as a convict and as a patient was determined by the level of control that the system possessed upon Alex’s body. Finally, Alex’s subject position as a citizen was determined by the effects of his position as a transformed body. It is important that this transition from one subject position to another mirrors Bordo emphasis on the social construction of the subject. This is apparent if one considers that Alex’s subject position was determined by the institution which has control over his body and hence the manipulation of this institution upon Alex’s physical body has led to the manipulation of the conception of Alex’s self or Alex’s identity. These changes enabled by Alex’s shift from one subject position to another is also in line with Foucault’s emphasis on the way in which discourse manifests the modes of power prevalent within society as well as the individual’s access to these modes of power. Consider for example that Alex’s transition to a citizen stands as a result of his transformation from being a subject acting with and upon others to a slave or object for others to act upon. By being submerged within the different discourses and hence different modes of power that delimit the individual’s positive freedom, Alex was turned into a body that was stripped of his initial identity that was not controlled by society and hence he has turned into a subject defined by society itself as he has been manipulated and molded in order to gain his final subject position as a citizen. Within this context, one might note that the body becomes a medium of culture as the body stands as the means through which culture controls the subject. By advocating associations between the physical and mental component of the body, society enables the control of the individual as it delineates the individual to one particular identity hence as can be seen above Alex cannot occupy the subject position of a convict and citizen at the same time. The problem with this is evident if one considers the intersectionality of identity which refers to the possibility in which an individual may have one or more characteristics of another group [e. g Alex’s subject position as a patient still enables him to occupy the subject position of a citizen]. To assume that an individual is delimited to one identity as a result of his physical properties amounts to a form of hasty generalization which fails to account for the complexity of the human being and his ability to occupy different positions within society. Bordo, Susan. Unbearable Weight: Feminism, Western Culture, and the Body. Eds. Susan Bordo and Leslie Heywood. California: U of California P. , 2004. Foucault, Michel. â€Å"We the Other Victorians. † The History of Sexuality. Volume One. New York: Penguin Books, 1988. Gauntlett, David. â€Å"Michel Foucault: Discourses and Lifestyles. † Media, Gender, and Identity: An Introduction. London: Routledge, 2002. Kubrick, Stanley. A Clockwork Orange. Perf. Malcolm McDowell. Np, 1971.

bowling for bombs essays

bowling for bombs essays a great movie, Michael Moore is a great comedian and he did make some interesting point. But it was anything but a documentary. It was very biased and I would even go as far as saying it was a brilliant piece of propaganda. Don't get me wrong, there's nothing intrinsically wrong with producing a piece of propaganda in a free environment. But then you should admit it. Bowling for Columbine was good propaganda, but not a documentary. Let me give you some examples: Did you notice that the people in favour of liberal gun laws appearing in the movie were nearly all total morons whereas the people who support stricter gun laws were generally educated and/or intelligent people. It was hilarious to hear the brother of the Oklahoma bomber say that, 'There are lots of whackos out there', and it certainly illustrates well Moore's point. However selecting stupid people to oppose your argument is not really the way to make a documentary. As a matter of fact, documentaries are meant to expose issues and ask questions instead of giving answers. Another example would be the interview with Charlton Heston. Did you know that Heston announced shortly after the interview he had "Altzheimer-like symptoms". Isn't it wrong to take advantage and make fun of a sick person? Now, as has been put forward by Moore, Heston might be faking it in order to make us THINK Moore is just a reckless bastard who tries to manipulate us. Yet, that seems unlikely to me: First of all, Heston would hence have sacrificed his career in the NRA for a movie (which didn't go that well in the States BTW) and secondly, why did Moore not point this Altzheimer-thing out in the movie anyway? In doubt, we should, I think just ignore the interview and not interpret it in a fashion that reflects either positively or negatively on Moore's movie. Third example: The animated-movie, which most people thought was quite funny. Though Moore may have a point about the American ...

Suspense 101 Definition and Tips for Building Heart-Stopping Narratives

Suspense 101 Definition and Tips for Building Heart-Stopping Narratives What Is Suspense in Literature? They say curiosity killed the cat - but satisfaction brought it back. Suspenseful stories depend on these very same traits in a reader. But just what is suspense in literature, and how can you weave that gripping tension into your own stories?This thorough guide will give you all the information you need†¦ and more. (See, we’re creating suspense already!)Check out the 50 best suspense books of all time over at Reedsy Discovery!What is literary suspense?Suspense is the tension a reader feels when they're not sure what will happen in a story - either during a single scene/chapter or throughout its overall arc. You might create suspense around anything that stokes readers’ curiosity, whether it’s a love triangle or a killer on the loose.You can use suspense in a story to:Heighten tension during a dramatic sceneConceal answers you don’t want to give awayBuild up to a twist and make it more powerfulKeep your reader turning the pages!While suspense is mos t frequently employed in mysteries and thrillers, it should be present in every work of fiction - curiosity is what compels readers to finish your book! However, the amount and type of suspense you use depends on exactly what you want your reader to experience. Learn all about literary suspense and how to create it in your novel! The 5 types of suspense (with examples)First of all, there are two types of suspense to know in terms of story structure: narrative suspense and short-term suspense. The first engages the reader with the central issue of the narrative, while the second keeps them intrigued minute to minute. A good novel has both.1. Narrative (long-term) suspenseWhile technically any literary suspense might be described as â€Å"narrative,† this refers to tension that builds throughout the entire story. In narrative suspense, you pose a question, problem, or mystery at the book’s beginning, divulge more about it as the plot progresses, and wrap it up near the climax or ending.Well-written narrative suspense makes it nearly impossible for readers to put down your book. However, that means the payoff has to be huge - if you’re going to tease readers for 300 pages, you need an incredible ending! This is part of why suspenseful stories often culminate in a plot twist or big reveal (o r both, as in the arc of Amy’s disappearance in Gone  Girl).When constructing this kind of suspense, you want to continuously hint at its resolution. But you also don’t want to overwhelm your reader; the constant pressure of an impending reveal can make them feel overly anxious as well as impatient. With that in mind, temper this pressure with character development, non-suspenseful plot progression, or even a different suspense arc, as in the example below.Example of narrative/long-term suspenseIn To Kill A Mockingbird, there are two arcs of narrative suspense: 1) the question of what will happen to Tom Robinson, and 2) the suspense surrounding the mysterious Boo Radley. Both issues are introduced near the beginning, gain traction throughout the story, and eventually collide at the end, when Boo Radley saves the kids from Bob Ewell after the Robinson trial.Having more than one arc of narrative suspense keeps the reader invested and gives the story added layers of dep th. You can also accomplish these goals by using short-term suspense, which we’ll discuss in our next section.What's the best suspense you've ever read (or written)? What are your tips for recreating it? Let us know in the comments below!

Global Management of Information Systems- MISM 3303, Information Research Paper

Global Management of Information Systems- MISM 3303, Information Systems Theory and Practice - Research Paper Example This document also encourages for the adoption of new research methods by researchers in global information systems research. Advances in information technology and globalization trends have for the last two decades dominated the business world. Globalization reflects the interconnection of societies in terms of political, cultural and economic aspects (Giddens, 2002). Opportunities and feasibility of globalization have been enhanced by information and communication technology, by enabling new structural organizations, new modes of work and communication across space and time (Walshan, 2001) as well as facilitation of movement of goods and coordination of services (Palvia and Wang, 1995). Businesses today find it necessary to incorporate global information systems in their organizational structure due to its usefulness and impact. A firm’s global business strategy can be achieved through global applications such as using information technology platforms to transmit, store, and manipulate data across diverse cultural environments (Wang, 1995). Global Information systems deal with development, management and use of information systems across the globe. Implementation and use of information systems may be affected by national differences such as infrastructure capabilities, physical environments, cultural issues, economic and political factors. Hence, it is essential to understand the challenges and opportunities related to global information systems in the volatile business world. Research on global management of information systems goes across national boundaries to include research spanning on multiple countries. Recent research studies have focused only on particular aspects of global IS. It has been revealed through a literature search (Lehman & Gallupe, 2004) that, less than 1 percent of the IS literature published in academic

End-of-Life Ethical Dilemma for Nurses Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

End-of-Life Ethical Dilemma for Nurses - Essay Example In a qualitative study, the differences in the ethical burden on end-of-life decisions between nurses and doctors were determined.   Although the research covered small sampling, which included seven doctors and 14 nurses working in critical areas, it never failed to convey the universal dilemma encountered by healthcare workers which is the struggle to arrive at a conclusive and moral decision regarding euthanasia.   Furthermore, the study’s findings concluded that the main difference in mercy killing is that physicians are to deal with the â€Å"decision making itself† whilst nurses have to â€Å"live with these decisions†.   Mercy killing is the kind of problem that does not leave the patient the sole right to decide.   It comes in varied forms of condition where the end result is the termination of the life of the patient.   Although a patient voluntarily requests for the termination of his life, ethical considerations must be taken into account.   More often a terminally ill patient is depressed so that the only solution he regards to, is death.   This issue leaves nurses and physicians the responsibility of determining the mental and emotional capability of the patient to decide for himself.   There is also the issue of the legality of the family to represent the unconscious, clinically dead patient and to request for discontinuation of life support.  Ã‚   Across the world, euthanasia has occupied a constant seat in the debate regarding morality.

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Communicating a Strategic Plan - Research Paper Example Since there are several functional areas that need to be synchronized for cohesive functioning as per the updated strategic plan, communication across entire organization becomes extremely important and necessary. Usually, a strategic plan needs to be updated and communicated from the top person of the organization such as Managing Director or Chief Executive Officer of the company to bring entire organization in a single common platform so that each functional area clearly understands how and in what way to proceed for the overall goal achievements. It is extremely important that all departments and sections of the organization perform and function in a most cohesive and synchronized way and that is possible only when the top person of the organization keeps on not only updating the strategic plan but also communicating to them its importance and likely impact on the

Middle Childhood Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Middle Childhood - Research Paper Example Prenatal as well as postnatal biological attentions of the infant dictate much the functional development of the infant’s brain as noted by Benson and Haith (2009). Structural brain development takes place mostly during the prenatal period of the infant’s growth. Biologically, the prenatal experiences of the infant are likely to affect their brain growth directly. These experiences include poor nutrition and poor maternal health. For instance, exposure to pharmacological agents at the prenatal stage may result in the infant showing symptoms of withdrawal in their behavior. The infant may also experience changes in their stress-regulating capabilities which are associated with prenatal maternal stress. Physical health effects include the care needs of the child, the caregiver’s response to the needs of the infant, the infant’s capacity for mental growth and development as well as normal physic of the infant. The temperament factors include behavioral inhibi tions and their physical attributes. Both physical and temperament factors may affect the interaction between the caregivers and the infant thus affecting the caregiver’s response to the infant’s behavior. For instance the caregiver may feel disconnected from the infant, protective of him/her or even drawn to him/her. The physical as well as behavioral attributes of the infant may trigger either negative or positive interactions, or later have exacerbating interactions which are negative. In studying biological effects during infancy it is good to focus on the infant’s behavior and hormonal response. For instance, immature sensory development in infancy is associated with the infant’s social world. Immature limb systems are associated with locomotion at infancy while immature cortex is associated with the search behavior of the infant according to Freedheim (2003). Social/Cultural Issues Related to Infancy Social issues affecting infancy revolve around ac cess to resources as well as support provided by those around the infant’s life. The environment in which the infant lives affects the infant’s needs depending on the availability, prioritization and type of resources. Lower social class leads to a probability of the infant being faced with environmental risks as noted by Benson and Haith (2009). For instance, frequent experiences with poverty negatively influence the infant development at the early stages of life. This is due to the association between psychological and environmental stress. The risks associated with this type of stress such as community violence may affect the infant’s social behavior like being rude or rough in facing life issues. Social factors associated with crowded areas, rural areas and unhealthy living situations limit the infant’s access to necessary resources for development. This is because each of these social environments is characterized with competition for available resou rces. In the context of child development, culture is concerned with the norms used in parenting practices and beliefs. Cultural factors impact the way the infant is taken care of and influence the role of the family in molding the infant’s behavior and beliefs. According to Benson and Haith (2009), despite the fact that there are different cultural backgrounds, there are certain cultural values which are found common across the world. These include, providing safety and good health to the infant, ensuring that the infant

Analyse the impact of a range of contextual influences on classroom Essay

Analyse the impact of a range of contextual influences on classroom processes - Essay Example To effect learning, a teacher prepares for her daily lesson from the motivation or preliminary activity to make students relate prior knowledge to new concepts about to be learned to the evaluation or assessment of students’ learning either through paper and pencil exercises or performance-based activities for better retention of concepts. Classroom Management, on the other hand, refers â€Å"to the set of strategies that teachers and students use to ensure a productive, harmonious learning environment to prevent disruptions in the learning process,† (Rothstein-Fisch, and Trumbull, 2008, p. 2). Finally, Instruction refers to orchestration of student learning. The second part of classroom processes is student behaviour which comprises of the actions a student would make in the classroom which highlights one important variable which is Academic Learning Time – the time spent for learning tasks (Huitt, 2003, p. 5). Other variables which complete the classroom processes include home, peer groups, community, religious institutions, society, culture, and international conditions. Variables related to home involves educational levels of parents, socio-economic status, age and marital status, and other variables including educational materials and equipment in the home like books, magazine, computer technology, etc. (Huitt, 2003, p. 8) Other important context subcategories include the community – its location, emphasis on education, peer groups; the society – emerging TV/Films; state and national policies- laws, programs, and funding; the culture – prevailing values, language, art, music, etc.), and international/global conditions – knowledge explosion or information age movement (Huitt, 1995 as cited in Huitt, 2003, p. 9). To further illustrate how cultural diversity works at students’ advantage, take a social studies class, for instance. For students to have a full grasp of any concept of war, they have to be situated in a context either direct

Public Health and Health Policy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Public Health and Health Policy - Essay Example Lack of shelter is regarded as homelessness state. Vostanis, Grattan & Cumella (1998) highlight that many times, homelessness is interchangeably used with the term rooflessness. It is an example of social exclusion that can be incorporated in the equalities in terms of health agendas. Individuals without shelter are often termed as homeless. Baggott (2011) explains that homelessness is not an entity but multiple entities that encompass housing needs. It entails the need for individuals to have short term or temporary accommodation. Sometimes living on the short term or temporary accommodation presents the uncertainty of the future. Wilson & Mabhala (2009) elaborate further by highlighting that the temporary accommodation includes the rough sleepers; individuals sleeping at their friends’ or relatives’ houses; and homeless shelters. Some of them live in accommodations that are supported such as temporary accommodation (bread and breakfast) or in the hostels. It is elaborated in Homeless Link (2010) that that homeless individuals who seek accommodation from friends or relatives are sometimes compelled to either stay on the relatives’ sofas or squat. Moreover, individuals who are driven out of their homes due to factors such as disasters or violence are also faceted as homeless. This is inclusive of the immigrants. Despite the fact that they are the widely known group as illuminated by Baggott, Allsop & Jones (2005), the majority of culprits are of homelessness state are single individuals who live in either insecure or temporary (short term) accommodation. Carr, Unwin & Pless-Mulloli (2007) illuminate that homeless is not a homogeneous group and individuals faceted to be homeless are in most cases families that are young and headed by females who are lonely. They tend to experience general health problems, as well as mental health. However, Douglas (2010).reveals that those who are not officially homeless are

Analyse the impact of a range of contextual influences on classroom Essay

Analyse the impact of a range of contextual influences on classroom processes - Essay Example To effect learning, a teacher prepares for her daily lesson from the motivation or preliminary activity to make students relate prior knowledge to new concepts about to be learned to the evaluation or assessment of students’ learning either through paper and pencil exercises or performance-based activities for better retention of concepts. Classroom Management, on the other hand, refers â€Å"to the set of strategies that teachers and students use to ensure a productive, harmonious learning environment to prevent disruptions in the learning process,† (Rothstein-Fisch, and Trumbull, 2008, p. 2). Finally, Instruction refers to orchestration of student learning. The second part of classroom processes is student behaviour which comprises of the actions a student would make in the classroom which highlights one important variable which is Academic Learning Time – the time spent for learning tasks (Huitt, 2003, p. 5). Other variables which complete the classroom processes include home, peer groups, community, religious institutions, society, culture, and international conditions. Variables related to home involves educational levels of parents, socio-economic status, age and marital status, and other variables including educational materials and equipment in the home like books, magazine, computer technology, etc. (Huitt, 2003, p. 8) Other important context subcategories include the community – its location, emphasis on education, peer groups; the society – emerging TV/Films; state and national policies- laws, programs, and funding; the culture – prevailing values, language, art, music, etc.), and international/global conditions – knowledge explosion or information age movement (Huitt, 1995 as cited in Huitt, 2003, p. 9). To further illustrate how cultural diversity works at students’ advantage, take a social studies class, for instance. For students to have a full grasp of any concept of war, they have to be situated in a context either direct

The Next Dance Company Concert Essay Example for Free

The Next Dance Company Concert Essay Yesterday I went to a dance concert Next Dance Company Concert whose presented work by The Sharon Disney Lund School of Dance. The dance was performed by the graduating students of this school. The performance was combined with eight pieces of dance, each of them has its own theme, mood, and phenomenon. With simple music and costume, performers and audiences were delighted and having spirit communication. One thing that most impressed me was the way they designed music. Many sounds from daily life can be heard in the music. I heard people wheezing, screaming, crying. I heard clock’s ticking. I heard sound’s in office, like keyboarding or pouring coffee. They are not composed by instrument, but they are pretty familiar to us. These sound, after editing, provided us a strong sense of rhythm. Combining the dance, it allows us to think of the deep meaning of each theme. Amount of eight pieces of dance, the one I like the most is Bad Faith. The two performers displayed a strong depressed feeling through their repetitive actions with some change in each repeat. They had a dialogue, but they didn’t act like talking. They rely on each other closely but sometimes they have problems and get separate. They used their bodies to express feeling each time they talked. Such movement is oppressing to me. I love it although it is not as large-scale as others performance I saw before. And because of this reason, I sat really close to the stage and the dancers. I could hear musicians tuning their instruments, I could see light refected on performers’ faces and, the most important thing, I could see dancers’ facial expression. Sometimes they even had no background music. Instead, they used the sound of dancer’s feet rubbing the floor or footsteps as the beat. Attending a live performance is really more enjoyable than watching the same event on television. Dancer is not just a job that repeats movement that other instructs he or she to do, but an artist that use their body as a tool to express emotion, story, or ideas in a nonverbal way. From viewing this concert, I discovered the motion of dance , I feel the change of my mood with the fluctuation of motion performed in different parts of the concert. From these eight pieces of dance, I feel like I have eight times of experience. From this dance, I discover that the dance has its own motion. It might show happiness or sadness and audience will experience the change of mood of their own. All I want to say is, this was a wonderful evening and it was really worthy to go!

Determination of the pKas for Glycine

Determination of the pKas for Glycine Name: Aleksandra Redlinska Lab Partner: Adrianna Czerlonko Lab Instructor: Jenq-Kuen Huang Lab TA: Chandra K.Ailneni Objectives: The purpose of this experiment is to titrate glycine and determine its pKa values. This is done to show that glycine is a dipolar ion. This experiment will help explain how pKa values and pH are closely related and will help show the importance of pH in amino acids. Background: Amino acids consist of an amino group (-NH3+) and a carboxyl group (-COOH). When they are in an acidic solution, the amino group becomes protonated and the carboxyl group gets dissociated. When in a solution with a neutral pH, amino acids will usually be dipolar and the amino group will be protonated while the carboxyl group becomes deprotonated. When amino acids are in basic solution, the protonated amino group is the only one that changes, by losing a proton (Biochemistry). The equation used to find the equilibrium constant, Ka, of a reaction is the products divided by the reactants. The Ka can then be used to find the pKa by taking the negative log of the Ka. The Ka value can be used to figure out whether the acid will dissociate or not and how strong an acid is. Glycine is an amino acid which contains both acidic and basic pKas. This shows that it can react to changes in the pH. By adding NaOH to glycine, the proton ion will dissociate. This dissociation will occur due to the tit ration done using the glycine solution. Materials: 0.1 N Sodium hydroxide (60 mL) Glycine (0.6 g or 8.0 meq) 0.1 N Hydrochloric acid (60 mL) Deionized water 100 mL volumetric flask Two burettes Four 250 mL beakers Funnel Graduated cylinder pH meter Procedure: Glycine (0.6 g) was weighed out and put in a 100 ml flask. Water was added to the flask to make 100 mL of solution. The sample (25 mL) was transferred to a 250 mL beaker and distilled water was added (100 mL). The solution was titrated with 0.1 N NaOH (30 mL in 1.0 mL increments). The pH and volume of base were measured after each 1.0 mL of NaOH added and the data was recorded and plotted. Distilled water (125 mL) was placed in a 250 mL beaker. The solution was once again titrated with 0.1 N NaOH (30 mL in 1.0 mL increments). The pH and volume of base were once again collected and plotted. The original glycine solution (25 mL) was transferred to a 250 mL beaker and distilled water (100 mL) was added. The solution was titrated with 0.1 N HCl (30 mL in 1.0 mL increments). The total volume of acid and the pH were recorded. Distilled water (125 mL) was placed in a 250 mL beaker and the solution was titrated with 0.1 N HCl (30 mL in 1.0 mL increments). The volume of the acid and the pH wa s recorded and plotted. Results: Table 1. Titration with NaOH. Table 2. Titration with HCl. Calculations: Determining pKa1 (HCl titration) At pH = 2.5, 30 mL of 0.1 N HCl was used for the glycine titration and 16 mL was used for water. 30 mL – 16 mL = 14 mL 14 mL = 0.014 L 0.014 L was used to titrate glycine at pH 2.5 The normality of HCl used was 0.1 N N = #eq/L 0.1 N = X/0.014 L X = 0.0014 eq 0.0014 eq = 1.4 meq It takes 1.4 meq of HCl to convert glycine to an acidic form The amount of glycine at the start of the titration was: (8 meq)(25 mL/100 mL) = 2 meq The amount of glycine left after the titration was: 2 meq – 1.4 meq = 0.6 meq Formula: pH = pKa1 + log [conjugate base]/ [acid] Conjugate base = 0.6 meq Acid = 1.4 meq 2.5 = pKa1 + log [0.6]/[1.4] 2.5 = pKa1 – 0.368 pKa1 = 2.868 Determining pKa2 (NaOH titration) At pH = 9.4, 18 mL of 0.1 N NaOH was used for the glycine titration and 1 mL was used for the water. 18 mL – 1 mL = 17 mL 17 mL = 0.017 L 0.017 L was used to titrate glycine at pH 9.4 The normality of HCl used was 0.1 N N = #eq/L 0.1 N = X/0.017 L X = 0.0017 eq 0.0017 eq = 1.7 meq It takes 1.7 meq of NaOH to convert glycine to an acidic form The amount of glycine at the start of the titration was: (8 meq)(25 mL/100 mL) = 2 meq The amount of glycine left after the titration was: 2 meq – 1.7 meq = 0.3 meq Formula: pH = pKa2 + log [conjugate base]/ [acid] Conjugate base = 1.7 meq Acid = 0.3 meq 9.4 = pKa2 + log [1.7]/[0.3] 9.4 = pKa2 + 0.753 pKa2 = 8.647 Discussion and Conclusion: The average pKa1 calculated for the titration using HCl was 3.013. The true pKa 1 for an acidic amino acid is 2.3. The average pKa2 calculated for the titration using NaOH was 8.863. The true pKa2 for a basic amino acid is 9.6. This difference could have been caused by dirty glassware or improper measuring of the 0.1 increments of HCl and NaOH using the burette. The error could have also been due to the absence of an analytical scale to make precise measurements of glycine and the pH meter not being cleaned thoroughly enough. Since there was not enough time for each group to complete both parts of the experiment using HCl and NaOH, each group only did one of the titrations. Since my group did not have time to do the HCl titration, we got the results from another group. This could have also caused an error because we did not monitor how precise the other group was. This experiment shows that the pKas of amino acids are important. They could be used to calculate the pH and strength of the amino acid. This observation is displayed in the data above and the graph. This experiment helped me understand how pKa and pH are related. References: Berg, Jeremy M., John L. Tymoczko, and Lubert Stryer.Biochemistry. 6th Edition, W.H. Freeman and Company, New York, (2002). Cronk, J. (2012, January 1). BIOCHEMISTRY Dictionary. Retrieved September 23, 2014, from http://guweb2.gonzaga.edu/faculty/cronk/biochem/dictionary.cfm?letter=front Cronk, J. (2012, January 1). CHEM 440 lectures. Retrieved September 23, 2014, from http://guweb2.gonzaga.edu/faculty/cronk/CHEM440pub/L05-index.cfm Huang, Jack. Experiment 2: â€Å"Determination of the pKas for Glycine† Chem 421 Laboratory. Sep 15, 2014. Answers to Questions: 1. The pKa associated with a typical aliphatic carboxylic acid is 2.3 and the pKa associated with a typical aliphatic amine is 9.6. The pKas associated with an alpha-carboxyl group in an amino acid are between 2 and 3. The pKas associated with a gamma-carboxyl group in an amino acid are between 4.3 and 4.5. The pKas associated with an alpha-amino group in an amino acid are between 9 and 10. The pKa associated with an epsilon-amino group in an amino acid is around 10. The pKas associated with an imidazole group in an amino acid are between 6 and 7. The pKas associated with a guanidine group in an amino acid is around 12.5. The pKas for these groups are taken away once the amino acids are incorporated into proteins. The groups form bonds and the only pKa values that can still be seen are the ones that are at the C and N terminus of the chain. 2. The top equation is correct because the top equation contains a Zwitterion. This Zwitterion would cause it to be able to react with HCl (a strong base) and NaOH (a strong acid). The bottom equation shows no charges on the nitrogen or oxygen, making the reaction not able to happen. My data supports this because when adding HCl, the pH went down and when adding NaOH, the pH went up. This shows that ions were taken away and added causing deprotonation and protonation of the glycine. 3. The structure of Lys-Ala-Asp is: The N-terminal is the NH3+ on the very left side and the C-terminal is the OH on the right side. The net charge of this tripeptide at pH 2 is +2. The net charge at pH 6 is 0. The net charge at pH 13 is -2.

Morality and Computer Games, Where do you draw the line? :: essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Many people are fine with computer games for various reasons. Computer games promote education by helping draw people to computers and using educational games.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Computer games help gain attention from people who do not normally use computers. Games are a great way to teach people not only how to use computers, but also that computers are not hard and can actually be fun and handy to use. There are all different types of games that can be used to do this, so everyone can be attracted through some type of game.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Games not only can be used to teach people about computers, but also anything else that can be thought of! Games are used throughout many schools to supplement teaching subjects from typing to science and even english. Educational games are extremely effective and efficient because through appealing to the student they can learn more because they are interested in what they are doing. For example, I can tell you about all sorts of diseases threatening settlers during the origin of America simply from playing Oregon multiple times in elementary school.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The conflicting view with the effectiveness of computer games is that some people view them to be too effective in some areas. The problem is that some people have trouble separating fantasy from reality. When this problem persists, computer games are seen to promote violence and hostility Violent media was blamed for the Columbine High School shootings. Some argue that this type of media is getting too real and desensitizing the human perception of death of violence.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Obviously from the above material we can conclude that violent computer and video games are only suitable for those who can actually separate the fantasy from reality. The problem is finding a way to police this distribution of material. Music has tried the stickers for â€Å"explicit content†, however it is up to the parents to decide what their children can handle and what they should not listen to. Sometimes parents don’t even know their children’s boundaries when it comes to this type of media. If parents can’t even figure it out, how are we? Another complication is that it is not just children we have to police.

Discuss How Art Can Be Used To Promote, Reflect Or Challenge :: essays research papers

Discuss how art can be used to reflect, promote, or challenge cultural beliefs. Art, throughout the times have reflected, promoted and challenged the cultural beliefs of many different societies. To reflect a culture or society the artwork must create or suggest a particular impression of that era. To promote the cultural beliefs of a society the artwork must encourage and support the beliefs. For the artwork to challenge the beliefs it must question tradition. Gislebertus and Michelangelo promote and reflected the society and religion in which they belonged whereas Kruger and Serrano reflected yet challenged their society and religion. Gislebertus was a "sculptor of genius" of the Romanesque period. His sculpture of the last Judgement in progress on the West Tympanum of St. Lazare, Autun, France in 1130, reflected and promoted the strong Christian beliefs of this society. This artwork is extremely detailed and reveals many Christian icons and symbols. In the middle of the artwork is Christ, who is the focus of the composition and on either side of him are devils and angles blowing their trumpets. The weighing of souls is depicted throughout the artwork and next to each scale, are angles and devils competing for each soul. Below Christ are the dead rising, one being "plucked" from the earth by giant hands. Here humanity’s pitiful weakness in revealed in these terror stricken people as the angles summon them to judgement. The devils have legs which end in sharp claws and lean from hell as they drag souls in and are accompanied by howling and roaring demons. Gislebertus’ sculpture was affective in influencing and inspiring the viewers of his artwork as he created a sense of terror and fear by revealing the awful consequences for the damned which encouraged the viewers to follow the Christian and as a result increased the power of the church. Gislebertus was commissioned to depict biblical stories as the majority of the population was illiterate and this was the only way which God’s message could be heard. Therefore, Gislebertus reflected the Christian dominated society and promoted the Christian religion. Michelangelo also reflects and promotes his Italian; Christian dominated culture and the religion itself through his artwork. Michelangelo’s fresco in the Sistine Chapel, Italy, was created between 1508 and 1512 and depicts the most solemn biblical story of the creation of man in the High Renaissance style. The large size of 18’18" X 9’22" reflects the grandness and power of the God and the church.

In what ways does Eliza Doolittle change in Pygmalion?

Based on classical myth, Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion plays on the complex issue of human relationships in a social world. Phonetics Professor Henry Higgins, tutors the very Cockney, uneducated Eliza Doolittle, not only in the refinement of speech, but also in the refinement of her manner. When the end result produces a very ladylike Miss Doolittle, the lessons learned become much more far reaching. Shaw took the title of his play from the legendary King of Cyprus, Pygmalion, who was also a famous sculptor. Pygmalion sculpted a beautiful woman from ivory, called Galatea, with whom he fell in love. On begging Aphrodite (the Greek goddess of love), to breathe life into his creation, his wish was granted and he married her. Pygmalion is therefore an appropriate title for this play, for Galatea is created from a block of stone, and Eliza herself originates from similarly unpromising beginnings, with Professor Higgins as the ‘Pygmalion' character, as it is he who creates a ‘new woman' from such raw material. It is Eliza's metamorphosis, from downtrodden flower girl to a polished young lady (the highs, the lows, the intense drama and the comic moments) which provide the basis for Pygmalion's well crafted story-line. Eliza's Appearance Our first introduction to Eliza, is in the form of the Act 1 stage directions (page 8), where her appearance comes under scrutiny by Shaw's vivid writing. She is described as being, â€Å"not at all a romantic figure† whose â€Å"hair needs washing rather badly† and whose clothes are â€Å"coarse† and â€Å"shoddy†. All of this, plants a very vivid picture of Eliza as a lowly, insignificant figure- another bleak form on the miserably wet London skyline, which is a far cry from the mental images of her appearance conveyed later, as a cosmopolitan and fashionable young woman who, rather than paling into insignificance, as she previously did, is quite striking. This is one Eliza's major transformations, -her change in her appearance. It is a major key in the metamorphosis from flower-girl to lady, and is beautifully executed with the help of Mrs Pearce's severity on the insistence that cleanliness is vital, -â€Å"Well, don't you want to be clean and sweet and decent, like a lady? You know you can't be a nice girl inside if you're a dirty slut outside†, and Prof. Higgin's vast funds which kept dressed in the latest fashions. She makes particular impact at the ambassador's garden party, her final test, where she must be passed of as a duchess, (for a bet). The character of the hostess is clearly very taken with Eliza, and acts as an indication to the reader (by whom the transformation cannot be witnessed) of the enormity of Eliza's change in appearance, with her comments of â€Å"She will make a sensation†, â€Å"†¦wonderful young lady† and â€Å"They tell me there has been nothing like her since people stood on their chairs to look at Mrs Langtry†. Eliza's Status Much of Pygmalion revolves around a very divided class system. The play's theme that a person's success in life should not be dictated and limited by their social class, speech and status, was a belief of Shaw's that clearly held a lot of importance for him. This is evident due to his early membership to the Fabian Society- a socialist organisation dedicated to the establishment of an equal and just society for all citizens. Shaw's apparently cruel and even insulting comments on Eliza's initial appearance may seem harsh, however they have very important relevance. The Eliza's shabbiness at first not only amplifies the dramatic transformation which results, but also highlights the vast difference between her and Miss and Mrs Eynsford Hill, which conveys to the reader Eliza's lower status and class. Eliza herself behaves, as though she is inferior (she is still very polite to Miss Eynsford Hill despite her rudeness in Act 1), however Eliza's status, by the play's end has soared from a poor, uneducated Cockney, to a much more respectable young woman. Before her transformation in Act 1, Freddy pushes past Eliza quite abruptly, barely noticing her presence, however after meeting her in all her finery at Prof. Higgin's house (Act III), he is besotted with her. Although Freddy is far from wealthy or aristocratic (Shaw describes the Eynsford Hill's as having the air of â€Å"genteel poverty†), to seem respectable enough to be worthy of his attention, to be unrecognisable to Mrs Eynsford Hill and considered fashionable by the previously haughty Miss Eynsford Hill, is quite a vast leap in status for Eliza, and a credit to her teaching. *Eliza's Speech Shaw himself, was a crusader for many changes to be made to the English language, believing it to be in need of great reform. He fought long and difficult battles throughout his life to change the spelling system of the English language, because of his views that it was illogical that most English spelling did not relate to the way words are pronounced. So this is probably one of the reasons he has made language and pronunciation major themes of the play, and as he says in his comprehensive Preface to Pygmalion, made an â€Å"energetic phonetic enthusiast, the hero of a popular play†. Shaw began Eliza's speech (in Act I) in a mixture of written broken English and phonetic symbols, quite unintelligible to the reader (and as he describes it, â€Å"unintelligible to anyone outside London†). This has a dual purpose, for it clearly shows the reader the distinctiveness of Eliza's accent (and the large distance between her â€Å"kerbstone English† and her ambitious aim of being able to speak like â€Å"a lady in a flower shop†). This will not only increase the reader's awe at the magnitude of her transformation, but it will also show the amount of work that would have had to go into the transformation (Shaw does not show the many months of tutoring in the play- he just surprises the audience with Eliza's ‘new found eloquence'). The other purpose of spelling out Eliza's pronunciations is to enhance the element of confusion the scenes of Act I are intended to evoke from the reader (and no doubt the audience of a staged Pygmalion). The confusion arises in a variety of places; the true identity of some characters (the ‘Note Taker', the ‘Daughter', the ‘Gentleman', etc.) and Eliza's hysterical confusion when she wrongly accuses the ‘Note Taker' (Prof. Higgins) of being a â€Å"copper's nark† (police informant) when a ‘Bystander' warns her that someone is writing down her speech. Eliza's character It seems that confusion follows Eliza relentlessly throughout the beginning of the play, embarrassingly highlighting her uneasiness and ignorance when she finds herself in many unfamiliar situations. Not only is it present in Act I, but it is clear in Act II as well, when she bravely seeks out Prof. Higgins to request elocution lessons. In this scene, Eliza finds herself lost and misunderstanding, -drowned in a sea of complex words and jokes used by everyone around her, leaving her totally bewildered. For example, when Eliza offers Prof. Higgins a shilling for her lessons, he comments to Colonel Pickering that a shilling in relation to Eliza's earnings is about the equivalent of about sixty pounds from a millionaire, which Eliza misunderstands and fearfully thinks is the sum of money she must pay. However, by the end of the play Eliza has gained masses of confidence, which compliments her raw, fiery spirit and gives her the ability to argue her point well and defend herself. For example later in the play, she confronts Higgins on the subject of his insensitivity towards her- â€Å"..I'm not dirt under your feet.† (Page 102) and is no longer prepared to be suppressed by his haughty egotism. There is no doubt that Eliza's transformation is a successful one, however, I think something very important to realise about Eliza is that despite the radical changes that take place in the play with her appearance, speech and status, her character still remains as strong-minded, fiery and emotional as it was on that bleak, rainy day in the heart of London's Covent Garden. The fact that this is one of the few things that do not change in Eliza, is a huge indication of the tremendous sincerity of her character. Prof. Higgins has created something which is unnatural and out of place in society, with his intensive training of Eliza. Her appearance and behaviour are doll-like, her movement is robot-like and her speech too careful and precise to ever be real. To create the outward appearance of the lady she becomes, Eliza is forced to sacrifice and suppress her own personality, leaving her empty and without any vitality or energy. This is the reason why Eliza clearly strives for a rich combination of her original vigour and strong-mind, and the new manner and speech of the middle and upper classes introduced to her by Higgins to create a true identity for herself which she is happy with. Higgins, typically for him, claims all the credit for the transformation in Eliza, showing him not only to be big-headed, arrogant and conceited, but to also undervalue Eliza's own hard work. â€Å"You will jolly see whether she has an idea in her head or a word that I haven't put into her mouth. I tell you I have created this thing out of the squashed cabbage leaves of Covent Garden†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Page 92) I think it is vital for the reader/audience to remember that Eliza and her own character and personality have achieved her transformation. Although, there is no doubt that Eliza would have remained in the gutter if Higgins had not taken her into his home and changed her speech, dressed her fashionably and shown her how the upper classes behave, I personally, resent any direct comparisons between Eliza and her mythical equivalent, Galatea. This is because I think that her initial character had the foundations present for the creation of her ‘new self'. Whereas Galatea was created from nothing (a block of ivory) by King Pygmalion,- Prof. Higgins, Colonel Pickering and Mrs Pearce merely enhanced and remoulded many of the qualities Eliza already possessed to create the end result. Without Eliza's self discipline, raw talent, commited and swift learning, it would have been impossible to pass her off as a duchess after just a matter of months. I think the way Shaw portrays her as growing more and more confident and independent throughout the play, does well as a message to the reader that Eliza herself, was in a sense, her own creator. I think that Eliza's need to liberate herself from Prof. Higggins to become a teacher herself, was more necessary than she herself even knew, for just like Galatea, she could never truly like Prof. Higgins (the equivalent of King Pygmalion) for as Shaw cleverly points out, â€Å"his relation to her is too godlike to be altogether agreeable†. Throughout his life, Shaw's plays often tended to attack what he felt to be bad elements in society and make his audiences feel uncomfortable with the bitter truth of society's flaws. If this is what he intended for Pygmalion, I think he was certainly successful. Pygmalion challenges many of the damaging root elements of society including the segregation of the class system, and the ruthlessness of human nature, themes that almost all of us are guilty of either condoning or ignoring- both of which are detrimental if there is ever to be any kind of social reform.